A few SCARY pics.... for tonight...

I don't know why... but this cat really creeped me out.
(taken on my parent's road)






(taken on my parent's road)






(taken at my dad's fishing spot)




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New England in Autumn

I need to say that New England is truly beautiful (and cold) in the autumn. We had the chance to get out the other day and do a bit of 'leaf peeping' in the countryside. Now..... I have always known that this time of year was beautiful up here.... but I really had no idea just how breath taking it really is. Here are a few pics I have taken over the last few days... but they really don't capture just how bright every tree really is...


















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Only in America....

I saw the funniest thing the other day. It started with a dog in a bee suit... and then a dog dressed as a hot dog. As I followed the trail of dogs in Halloween costumes I had no way of knowing that there was an actual costume contest going on. A local Boston radio station was hosting the contest at the old hay market. I have seen some funny things.... but this was hilarious! There must have easily been forty dogs dressed to the hilt. The crowd made it hard to take pictures... but I was able to get a few of the faithful contestants.


My only regret was that I didn't get to see the Elvis impersonator... ha!


















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In the streets of Boston...

We had another great day out in Boston. In fact, we were able to meet up with some other old friends (from NC) that are now living up here. Kinda strange.... but we have several old friends that now live up here. We spent the afternoon at the children's museum and just hanging out at a local cafe. Another great day. Here are a couple of pics. This first one was taken in the museum (in one of the exhibits)... the second one was taken as we walked back to the subway (T)at the end of the day.







(Click to see this one larger)



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Today's Random Pic...

A street performer at Boston's Hay Market





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I had a blast today...

Today was a great day in Boston. We met up with one of my old college roommates (Adam) who now lives up here. He and his wife moved here about a year ago so that he could work on another master's degree at Northeastern. Needless to say - they love it here. They took us out to this cool little seafood restaurant down in the harbor for our first chowder. Wow! It was great! We then took the rest of the afternoon to walk around and see some sights around old Boston. We walked down through the Italian section of town and a little street market happening there. I was amazed at how quickly the Irish looking faces turned to look Italian. Everyone had long dark hair, tanned skin, and talked with their hands... There was no doubt that we were in a different section of town. I love it! We eventually went to a little bakery (Mike's) and then all four of us sat and relived old college memories (like our "Pajama's in class Fridays"). I can't believe that I have not seen Adam in ten years! Wow..... Where has the time gone? It was great to pick up our friendship right where it left off...


Adam, I know that you are reading this. Thanks again for a great day. I can't wait to see you again... hopefully in Ireland!








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Today's Random Pic...

Sunset in Virginia







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The thing on the left...

I have been meaning to mention this for a while now... but just have not had much of a chance. You - no doubt - have noticed that there are now ads on the left side of the blog. I have signed up with google for them to advertise here. Sorry to say that we don't have any control over what ads they post, but supposedly they search our site and post ads that are somewhat related to our content. We don't really make in money from the ads... but we do get a bit every time someone clicks on one.... so......... ;) Feel free to click away if you see anything of interest........ lol....

Today's Random Pic...

Hello from Boston!

We have finally made it up the East coast and are now staying with Dee's sister and her husband in Boston! I can't tell you how great it is to be here with them... and how great it is to have in-laws that you love spending time with! I am really grateful that they are some of my best friends.

I have a bit of a problem. I have been taking pictures like crazy over the past few weeks.... and I have not posted them all. So - please stick with me as I am going to start posting some pictures that have not yet been posted. the only thing is that I can't promise that they will be in any particular order. :)

How long is your resolve?

This is Concepcion Picciotto. She - along with her partner - live and protest in a makeshift tent on Pennsylvania Ave - across from the White House. They trade off each six hours, and give the other a chance to go back to a local homeless shelter to rest. They survive on the generosity of others, and have held the "White House 24 Hours a Day Antinuclear Peace Vigil" continuously since 1981.

Some Pics of us...

Dee @ the Supreme Court






Us @ The White House





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Thoughts from DC...

We have really enjoyed our couple of days here... but (WOW!!!) we never knew that we were going to have to walk SO much here! Each night we have crawled into bed absolutely exhausted.... and I don't even feel like we are seeing/doing as much as we could.

The one thing that seems to be the overarching theme here is "war". Whether that is the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or past wars like WWII, the reminders are on every corner. The most sobering part was yesterday when we went to see the National Museum of Health and Medicine. We didn't realize it was located at the Walter Reed Medical Center. For those of you who don't know - this medical center is where many wounded veterans are coming for treatment. I have to say that it was very humbling to walk past so many injured young men.

From DC

DC is a great place to visit. I can't believe that we lived so close... but never really came up here. My sister (Jo) is planning a trip with her kids... so for her.... and anyone else that might want to come here.... here are a few tips.

Don't stay in DC. Find a hotel outside the city. It is safer, cheaper, and less of a headache. We are staying in Springfield, VA. This city is really a suburb of DC and the metro runs out here.

Take the Metro - don't drive. Parking in the city can be up to $30 a day. The metro cost us no more than $5 yesterday.

Find coupons. We picked up some coupons from the VA welcome center and were able to get our hotel for half price!

Ok... I think that might be all for now... I'll post some more if I think of anything.

Now... time for some pictures!











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Going to...

We are on the road again.... guess where we are tonight?









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Today's Random Pic...

My crazy wife...

A Post from VA...

We have been in the Commonwealth of Virgina all this week... We have spent most of our time in meetings and indoors, but we have had the opportunity to get out a couple of times and to see a bit of this beautiful state... I mean Commonwealth. I got up early this morning and went for a bit of a hike, and I saw one of the most beautiful sites of my life. It was a cold crisp morning without a whisper of wind. There was a blanket of fog that was so thick that I could hardly see three feet in front of me. I went down to a beautiful lake where the only sounds were that of frogs splashing in the water and Canadian geese calling in the mist. The sun was fighting to come out.... and slowly.... it was able to cut through the cool gray blanket with a dramatic beam of golden light. I stood there in waist-high grass speechless and awestruck at the beauty of creation.

In Ireland I often think about those early Irish Saints who so loved nature and felt that it has something to teach us........... today I think that I was a student and I learned something unspeakable...

















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More from the Children's Garden...

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Deep in the south….
In the shadows of the live oaks and Spanish moss…
Where the humid air and heat of summer days seem like they will last throughout the year…
During sunshine and warm breezes… rainstorms and hurricanes… ice and snow…

There is a perpetual playground

Where everyday
Children catch fish….
Planes are flown….
Ropes are skipped….
Friends are made…..
Children dance and smile….




Deep in the South
In the shadows of hospital wards and ambulance bays
Where children are born and leukemia patients fight
During times of sadness and times of joy… shock and grief… hope and victory

There is a perpetual playground

Where metal and bronze make children and parents dream of the day when
Fish will be caught….
Planes will be flown….
Ropes will be skipped….
Friends will be made…
Children will dance and laugh… again.




The Children’s Park at the University of South Alabama’s Women and Children’s hospital in Mobile, AL.


















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Wallace's Toy...

I know what the license plate says... but that is not me driving....





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I love being an uncle!

We went to a harvest festival with my sister and her family today. The event was fun... although I missed seeing the moon pie eating contest! (What a heart breaker!!!) Even though I missed every photographer's dream - I had a lot of fun roughhousing and playing with my nieces and nephew! We wrestled with each other.... danced together (with the girls standing on my feet, of course)... They begged me for stuff as we walked through the crafts section.... we shared some boiled peanuts.... and we laughed and tickled each other all day long. What a great day!












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Today's Random Pic...

Sunrise over a church in Oklahoma City








Another update coming soon!