What a great idea

Wed 9/30 Blog Prompt: In 1894 Walter Hunt invented the safety pin. What invention(s) do you think really took off in a direction not anticipated?

I think the first thing that would come to most minds in the world wide web. And who could have predicted how large it would become and how close it would bring people. I know that being able to see my grandchildren and talk to them even though they may be a couple of hundred miles away or even have a world away is so thrilling. And what about cell phones which now can take pictures, text and email, as well as connecting to the web. Technology has certainly given us the ability to stay closer. Even the video games kids have today can interact with one another.

And what about the 3D holograms that are being developed so that you can appear anywhere in the world and interact. So exciting.

Dear Son

Tue 9/29 Blog Prompt: On September 29, 1789, the U.S. Congress passed an act that officially established the U.S. Military. What would you write in a letter to a serviceman or servicewoman who is currently serving our country overseas.

I can't tell you exactly how proud I am of you. Of your choose to serve our country. To put your life on the line so that your sister, wife, brother, nieces and nephews can grow up with freedom.

I worry. About the danger you must face. The choices you must make and then live with. No one can carry those for you but I wish I could.

Thank you for being a perfect son, a perfect person and a perfect citizen.

How Neighborly

Mon 9/28 Blog Prompt: Today is “Good Neighbor Day.” Make a list of everything you can do to be a good neighbor for those who live around you.

#1 would be to actually meet my neighbors. Okay, so I do know them. But only because the Princess and Indy were friends with their children.

#2 be a little more sociable when I see them. Maybe wave or smile. I do that to the people who are jogging, walking their children or dogs; but don't ever seem to catch myself doing it for my next door neighbors. Possibly because when we are out, both parties are preoccupied. Them with taking kids to school, me trying to get to work before the road gets to congested with school and DOD traffic.

#3 offer to keep an eye on their homes while they are not there. (I normally do this but guess it would be nice to let them know, huh?)

I'm sure more will come up as I think about it. Maybe I'll even get around to posting the additions. But don't count on it.

This past couple of weeks I have been working on a sweater for the Princess and finally got it finished. I have never made a cardigan before so was somewhat pleased with how it turned out. Still have a lot to learn though. Just hopes she likes it enough to actually wear it when I get it up to her.

Touch Pool

f/5.6, 1/80 sec., ISO-400, 200 mm (digitally enhanced)
Keeping Indy away from the touch pool was nearly impossible. Although he liked the shows, the idea of actually being able to touch urchins, hermit crabs and horseshoe crabs appealed to him much more.

Hula Babies

Spring Shimmers (c)Colie's Corner; Fonts: Arial, Pea Heather's Handwriting, Pea Heather's Doodle Phrases

My little hula babies. Up top, the Princess at 5 years of age. Below, her mother, at 5 years of age. I was thrilled when I found these two pictures.

The list of prompts

9/15: Describe your favorite or most influential teacher.

9/16: In high school were your classes geared more for college or starting work right out of school?

9/17: What was your ideal school experience?

9/18: What was your most memorable summer vacation?

9/21: What did you do if you left your homework at school?

9/22: Would you rather read a paper book, listen to an eBook or a combination of both?

9/23: The fourth week of September is "National Dog Week." Write about your feelings regarding our canine friends.

Apologies

I know I haven't been posting. I'm tearing my hair out with more computer problems. This time internet related. I don't know if it is my computer, the cable company, internet explorer or a combination of two or more. For those few who pick up the blog prompts, I will try to put a list of last week's up later this evening or tomorrow. Crossing my fingers when I hit publish that it doesn't crash again. :)

The fabulous and poisonous Lion Fish

f/4.5, 1/20, ISO-400, 121 mm
Lion fish are so beautiful, sometimes it is hard to remember just how deadly they can be.

Awesome Tours

Changing Winds (c)Colie's Corner; Fonts: Arial, Birth of a Hero

We had a fascinating tour guide while in Hong Kong. And a wonderful time.

Extra-Curricular

Mon 9/14 Blog Prompt: What extra-curricular activities were you involved in?

You know, I don't even remember. Oh wait. I did with the POW/MIA organization for several years. That really wasn't a school activity. But it did take up a good deal of my time in the afternoons and one that I felt was a worthwhile activity. In fact, all of the activities I participated in after school were not school related in any way. Guess that is the way of things some times. :)

Flight of the Pelicans

f/29, 1/160 sec., ISO-400, 55 mm
While watching the multi-species show, Indy and I happened to look up to see a flock of pelicans fly by in a straight line. There must have been 30 or 40 of them.

Summer on the Gulf

Precious Mei (c)Armina Designs; Font: Birth of a Hero; Edwardian Script

Old photos that need to be preserved. I need to get with my aunt to find out who they are (except for the kids, I know them).

A Prayer for Those Who were Lost

Fri Sept 11 Blog Prompt: Let's time some time today and remember those who were lost. Do you remember where you were and what you were doing? How did you react/feel?

It's hard to believe that it has already been eight years. I was working full-time at the paper and my boss had just gotten cable installed in his office to keep up with world news. I had just stepped into his office when it came on the television, it may have just been repeating as my boss seemed to be glued to the tv. Shock and rejection. It was hard to believe what I had just seen. I stood in stunned silence until the phone rang.

Nuke was in Guam, eating at a restaurant when some Japanese gentlemen came over to offer their condolences. He and his buddy headed back to the boat immediately. I don't recall where Scamp was at the time. Except in Okinawa.

On another note, today is my boss' wife's birthday. Happy Birthday S. Hope it is a great day.

Catching up

Tue, Sept 9 Blog Prompt: Did you have P.E. in junior (middle) and/or high school?

Of course I did. And we had to wear uniforms. The one I remember best is the orange and white one-piece uniform. They definitely were not made to be sexy or anything like that.

The p.e. class I remember most fondly was in my senior year when one semester was devoted to what they called "recreation." We learned sailing, canoeing, fishing, shuffleboard, chess, darts, croquet, biking, edible wild plants and various other "recreations" that we might encounter in our adult life. What is now, I believe, lost arts, LOL. Many of the things we learned are those that were popular for genteel people at the turn of the century.

Of course there were some not so fond memories, like the time I had to take the canoe out by myself and then return. I got 3/4 of the way across the resevior and then just turned in circles. The teacher had to send someone out to help me. Or the time a snake dropped out of the tree into my canoe.

Yep, real memorable moments.

Wed 09/09/09 Blog Prompt: Does this day have special significance to you?

Normally I probably wouldn't have even noticed that it was a special day, and that we won't see another single digit date again until 01/01/01 (Jan. 1, 2101.

That all changed yesterday when I got into work and my computer was working so slow that it would have taken me nearly 10 minutes to write one check (that does not include printing it). After doing all I could, I told my boss that I would come in today to enter the tickets and write the checks. Arggg. This is not looking to be a good day.

School Starts...When?

Mon, Sept 6 Blog Prompt: Did school start before or after Labor Day when you were attending?

School always started right after Labor Day way back when I was going. It didn't seem to matter whether I was attending school in Florida, Nebraska, California or Guam. I guess it is possible other schools started at different times, just not the ones I went to.

It seems to make sense. I mean school here started on the 24th. They got a half-day off on the 2nd and then will have all today off. But then maybe it gives the kids a chance to acclimate to the classroom, their fellow students and the teacher.

Pier Wildlife

f/18, 1/160 sec., ISO-200, 52 mm
What an amazing sight to be walking down a pier and have a beautiful heron land right in front of you.

Autumn in the Air

Arthur (c)Carena's Designs

School started and autumn is around the corner.

Hardly there

Fri, Sept 4 Blog Prompt: Which class do think was the hardest?

I think I covered this yesterday. Thing is, algebra wasn't that hard. I really liked it. I have always been partial to math. Guess that is why I do bookkeeping now. I can't think of any class that was extremely difficult from a learning angle.

Ode to a Class

Thu, Sep 3 Blog Prompt: What was your favorite class?

It would probably be better to ask what was my least favorite class as to which was my favorite, because I loved them all. But if I had to chose it was probably algebra. Not the subject, I adore math. The instructor kept insisting I was cheating and copying off my friend Beck's papers. I wasn't but there was no way to prove it, just as she couldn't prove that I was. It made for a stressful hour each day.

High school was a great time for me. I had some of the most amazing teachers. My history teacher had short, curly red hair and wore jeans and t-shirts to class. She would sit on her desk to give the lessons and just drew you in. Both of my science teachers were fantastic and came up with some pretty amazing experiments for us to try. I had the same teacher for Latin and English. And I can't say enough about her. I was really fortunate and happy that I had the chance to learn from all of them. Even the algebra teacher.

Oh those yearbook pictures!

Wed Sep 2 Blog Prompt: Did you like your yearbook pictures?

I think for the most part, I liked my yearbook pictures. Above are my pictures for elementary & junior high. I have no idea what I did with my high school pictures. They are probably filed away in my steamer trunk.

My senior picture was definitely memorable. This was back when they would have you put the velvet wrap around your shoulders so that it came to a "V" in the front. And because it was off the shoulder you had to take your blouse and bra off. No biggie, that is until my wrap fell off. I don't know who was more embarassed... Me or the photographer. Still the pictures came out pretty good.

Teacher's Desk

Tue, Sep 1 Blog Prompt: Write about what you would find in a teacher's drawer and why you think it might be there.

This ought to be easy for some of you. Me, I kind of figure I would find a teacher's log, grade book, pens & pencils, paper clips, markers and maybe a couple of confiscated items.

I would imagine that the pens, pencils, paper clips would be found in just about any desk in any office (except mine) as they are so pertinent to the jobs at hand. I don't even know if teachers keep logs and grade books now or do it on the computer but I like the idea of being able to open a teacher's drawer and seeing them there. I never had anything confiscated in school, but had a couple of boys who did and they told me that is where the teacher put them.