Lovely Cleveland in the Great State Of Tennessee
Whom Would Jesus Rent?
May 7th
Closeted anti-gay right-wing Christians never seem to learn. George Rekers, a founding member of the anti-gay Family Research Council, just discovered the price of hypocrisy. He was caught by a Miami News Times photographer returning from a vacation in Europe with a male escort he hired on Rentboy.com, which bills itself as “the world’s largest gay escort and massage site.”
A Baptist minister and professor of psychology at the University of South Carolina, Rekers is also involved with the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), an anti-gay “professional, scientific organization that offers hope to those who struggle with unwanted homosexuality.” Doesn’t sound like he was doing much struggling with it on his trip. More >
Nashville Flooding: At Least 29 Dead From Record Rains In Mid-South
May 4th
Just thought I’d share this YouTube video about the flooding that has occurred in Nashville this past weekend…My heart goes out to all those affected by this tragic event…The death toll keeps climbing and they are reporting several of the deaths are homeless people who got caught in the storm…Makes you realize how lucky you are to have a roof over your head…It seems that Mother Nature is showing us who is boss lately with all of the unusual weather…
The cycle
May 1st
Every year my wife and I look forward to the circle of life that springs itself upon us every spring. The bluebirds seem to appreciate the housing we provide by enriching our early evenings with quite the conversation points of how the babies are doing.
Our babies grow each spring an return the following season to propagate a new relationship with the next generation.
Oil, Tea and the Ku Klux Klan
Apr 29th
Whew, what a week. Many issues facing the US of A have seemed to approach a tipping point in the last few days. As is usually the case those with vision; or at the least some since of foresight, are in the minority. Kinda reminds one of a good roller coaster ride. The majority of the body just goes for a ride while the head is whipped back and forth, side to side by the opposing ‘G’ forces. Such has been the last ten years.
Wasn’t long ago the Palin was quoted, “Drill baby, Drill”. Now we have an unchecked disaster rising in the Gulf of Mexico just in time for the tropical storm season. An oil slick which today is the size of Virginia should stand as a symbol of what can and will happen in any system created by man that goes unchecked through proper safety fail safes. Such is the essence of most problems we are facing as a country today. The greed and ignorance of man has to be regulated by some force other than the individual or the center will not hold.This is a fundamental law of nature whether you are speaking of bank bailouts, energy needs,economy or runaway government.
It is no coincidence that ground zero for our countries attention is focusing to the southwest. After all, the enticement of the Latino population into bondage was given birth by this area. Let’s face it, per capita this area has the oldest population as well as the richest in the country. Vote with your pocket book people. Boycott Arizona!
Reality Bites
Apr 23rd
I went to a very intense yet comedic at times melodrama today. Ten years in the making it was not at all anything I expected. The acting well rehearsed in the deepest chambers of small minds seemed to hit the floor wit a resounding thud heard up to 1000 miles away. There were scenes that surprised only because of the stale nature of the set and costumes.
We have the Artful Dodger who obviously was confused about his sexuality and Jiminy Cricket who is a devout homophobe and military reject. These ‘men’ who were more diametrically opposed than the wood-grain in a fine antique dining table, somehow got past their differences long enough to join their vast resources into what seemed to be an unstoppable force to save the sparkle eyed princess from the dark forces of justice.
But alas the fact that no amount of belief can create a truth, their mission was destined to fail. The one redeeming element of this affront to true acting was the supporting cast. Which consisted of the brother, the mother, the aunt and the evil step father; they alone should be recognized for their passion and true love for the princess.
There are some rumors that there will be a sequel but the producers’ track record has shown they either are too selfish or more likely too broke to finance it.
Rest Quietly Rock
Mar 21st
This post is to recognize the passing of an old friend. I met the Ol’man in Hudson FL back in 2000 and we spent quite a bit of time together. The one thing this guy could do very well was dig a hole. So in the summer we took a Jon boat and braced it up so the FL sun was a lot easier for him to bear. Go gently old man and with peace. More >
New York Blizzard February, 2010
Mar 1st
While we in Cleveland, TN were complaining about our “cloudy and cold” weather, our family and friends in New York were battling the “blizzard of 2010″…Our son, Josh, and his wife, Dominique, and her family in Long Island were shoveling out from another foot of new, wet, heavy snow…My friends in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY (my hometown) were buried under 2 and a half plus feet of snow…In addition, power outages, hurricane force winds and downed trees made the past few days absolutely miserable…I finally was able to e mail my girlfriend, Chris, and she sent me some of the pictures below…
Josh, who is a daredevil at heart, decided this would be the perfect weekend to go “snowboarding” so he and three of his friends took off Saturday morning to Hunter Mountain in upstate NY…Finding the resort closed due to no power, they ventured further north to Lake George, NY and Gore Mountain…The mountain had 76″ of new snow so, as he said, falling was no problem…like hitting a soft, down feather pillow…Oh, to be 29 again!!!…He also sent us some pictures which are also below…
According to the long range weather reports, NY could be facing another storm the middle of the upcoming week…We will be keeping them in our thoughts as we may be dealing with a “wintery mix” or a “dusting” of snow Monday night and Tuesday…I promise, we will not complain!!!
Enjoy the pictures and remember, tomorrow is March 1st…Spring is fast approaching…We know the Northeast will be happy and, after the winter we had in Tennessee, warm sunshine will feel good here, too!!!
Long Island Snowstorm Feb. 10, 2010 and Signs of Spring….
Feb 15th
Thanks to our son, Josh, sending us these pictures, I can share the snowstorm from Long Island with our friends and family….This one dumped 22″ on them, as compared to one from the beginning of December which gave them a whopping total of 27″ (a record for the area)…As you can see, Rocky, their Lab, thoroughly enjoys frolicking in the snow…
I remember well the snow storms we had when I was growing up in NY and these pics bring back many memories…Now that I am older, I can truthfully say, I love looking at the pictures but I am glad Cleveland, TN considers a major snowstorm when anything more than 4″ of snow falls..LOL…
Winter will be with us for a while but, Spring is definitely in the air…The robins are returning and this morning, sitting on top of the bluebird house, was a returning bluebird scoping out the house for the next batch of eggs and baby birds…We get the pleasure of enjoying them each and every year…
Hope everyone stays warm and well and just know, Spring will be here before we know it!!!
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- Josh “enjoying” the snow
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- What a shot!!!
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- The grill doesn’t look hot???!!!
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- Where’s the party???
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- How pretty!!!
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- Snow pots???..the flowers will come….
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- “Let It Snow!!!”
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- Rocky, hunting for “just the right spot”!!!
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- WOW!!!
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- “I’m ready to come inside, now!!!”
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- Snow, snow and more snow!!!
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- And still more snow!!!!
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- “I know there is a car under there, somewhere!!!”
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- “Will it ever stop???”
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- Serenity
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- “I think I took a wrong turn!!!”
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- “Whew!!!..back on the right path!!”
Have tree will fell.
Jan 23rd
Kinda proud of myself on this one. This 100′ Red Oak got sick about 2 years ago when we had a very late may freeze that lasted 2 days. I’ve already taken down about 10 trees around the house but this one was in a precarious place. I had to drop it up hill within a zone of about 5 feet wide. Notice the still standing bird house. 8-)Â We use wood for heat and I got the tree down, bucked and split in about 6 hrs. This was made possible with my dear side kick Yankee’s help. More >
Candles?
