Fall Foliage

Robby and I went to Tarara Vineyard this past weekend. Tarara was named by the owners after Mr. Ararat, the Biblical landing place for Noah's Arc. Tarara is Ararat spelled backward.

The weather was great. The leaves were beautiful. It was an awesome way to spend our six-month anniversary!

Productivity

I've spent a lot of time lately being "busy". I rush to work early in the morning, I sit in the same chair, staring at the same computer screen, for 10 and a half hours, I rush home or to whatever meeting or class or activity I have scheduled for the evening, I rush home, fall asleep, to get up and do it all again the next day. In between all of this rushing I try to build my relationship with my wonderful husband. He helps me keep it all together and figure out where it goes. Bless him.

But, for all of this rushing and business, I just don't seem to be getting a whole lot done.

I guess that's why I love my camera. It suits my need to sit and ponder. Collect stuff. In my mind, if I take a picture of something, I can take it home and inspect it more closely, analyze its features, appreciate it-- later. I don't have to take the time now. I will get to it. Later.

I can get through the day as long as I know there will be a time, down the road, where I can sit and be still with my thoughts. I guess that's why companies don't, or didn't used to, mind retirement plans. It keeps people going when they have something to look forward to... down the road.

Taking snapshots of life for an eventual "memory" slide show is risky. So much of what I know now has come from lessons I learned during those quiet and still times of reflection. If I wait until later, I'm afraid I will discover, too late, the wisdom I needed for along the way.

The camera doesn't work for maintaining relationships. Taking pictures of family and friends is great, and those pictures are a good thing to have. But, if those people in the photos aren't around to share and recount memories with me... chances are-- regret will be one of the thoughts I will be sitting still with and pondering.. later.

I'm making an effort to reach out more. To connect with people. To grow and strengthen my relationships. The most important relationship in my life, that between me and my Lord, has become more like someone I cc on a forwarded email than the deeply intimate, spirit to spirit one it should be.

What to do? Well, I'm working on it.

But, for now, I'm still going to take pictures. I'm still going to sit in this chair, eating my microwave meals and scrolling through page after page of inconsequential "snapshots" from other people's lives, hoping that one day... I will be able to enjoy the smell of the flowers and not just admire their pretty picture.

Robby's Presidential Run

It isn't often a woman gets to see her husband in a Presidential Race. I consider it an honor to be among the select few who have supported their men through this difficult endeavor.

It was thrilling, exciting, and I'm proud to say that despite the drizzling rains.... it was a clean race! No mudslinging.

A good friend of Robby's works for the Washington Nationals and gave us a call this morning to see if we'd be interested in running in the Presidential Race. Robby was up to the challenge. I respectfully declined, however, and opted to be official campaign photographer instead. (There was no way I was going to go run across a soggy baseball field with a 6+ foot tall head braced to me. No way! But, I would gladly go along and take lots of photos of this madness.)

So, we headed down to the stadium where Robby suited up and took to the field against three strong contenders-- George Washington, Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt.

The team runs the race every game between the top and the bottom of the 4th inning. So far this year, Teddy Roosevelt has had zero wins. You wouldn't believe how quick some "fans" are to heckle a former President. The whole thing is getting to be a little sad. He's had some pretty good starts, but, he has never had a win. As Robby was taking the role of Thomas Jefferson, we were hoping that today was not the day for Teddy to break his streak.

It looked pretty good for Mr. Roosevelt at first. Teddy and Abe were giant head to giant head coming out of the tunnel and onto the field. George and Tom were bringing up the rear. It appeared as though this just might be Teddy's day.


All of the sudden, big Ted pulled out his umbrella and busted into a clumsy rendition of "Singing in the Rain". It was a poor choice of campaign tactics. This brazen showboating lost him the race, as a long-legged Lincoln strode easily to victory.


As for Tom and George, well, they didn't win, but, they both ran a good race.

I was very proud of Robby's performance and would gladly support him should he choose to run again.

They Aren't Kidding

We've had some stormy weather in the area recently. Two major floods and many thunderstorms have already made this the wettest July in Washingtonian memory.

This photo was taken less than a block from my apartment. It shows the playground of a local church with the precient warning for visitors to play at their own risk. Just beyond the sign you will see one of many very large trees downed by the powerful storms of recent days.

Many people in the area have been without power for weeks. Flooded basements and broken water mains are commonplace.

Fourth of July festivities were dampened for many visitors to the Capital as a powerful downpour opened up over the gathering crowds on the national mall.

Thankfully, the rains were brief and the fireworks protected. By nightfall, the grounds had dried enough to allow a place for oohing and aahing spectators to enjoy the man-made thunder and lightening of the fireworks' show.

Robby and I took in the rocket's red glare in the new old-fashioned way--comfortably seated on the sofa-- safe and dry. We had taken in the National's game earlier in the afternoon and witnessed a walk-off homer by Ryan Zimmerman that would have made any fireworks display pale by comparison.

Besides, who wants to sit in a soggy field for hours when the whole thing is televised?

Well, I guess maybe those thousands of people who had traveled hundreds of miles to be there did.

I have more pictures to put up but I've been having some problems with my internet provider lately and that elusive server my computer can never seem to find. Not really a server, now, is it? Anyway, as soon as I'm able I'll post some more photos.

We're headed to South Carolina this weekend for the last stop on the wedding reception tour 2006. I'll get a chance to meet all of the friends and relatives I didn't meet before the wedding and probably hear some interesting stories, but, as a mutual friend of ours recently told me: I might as well tear up the receipt on this one (Robby), there's no taking him back now.


If only there had a warning sign, maybe something like....

"Play at Your Own Risk"

;)

Big Things

Inspired by the large number of objects across the world that are made even LARGER than their intended size, and put on display for all to gawk at, I thought the web was the perfect place for people to post their pictures of these gigantic things. That way, people don't have to take to the roads, they don't even have to get out of their houses to see them.

Since I've only started, there aren't many gargantuan oddities in my collection. And, I've already posted my picture of the very large rocking chair, and the humongous stone, um, pencil?... aka the Washington Monument. So, I don't have many freaks yet in this sideshow. I'm hoping others might be able to contribute their own. I would love to see the big stuff from your journeys.


This is the giant Gaffney peach. It functions as a water tower and therefore is not completely useless. However, I question the designer's use of some sort of spout for the bottom end of the peach. When positioned beneath the large pinkish crack dividing the two halves of the peach, it looks very much like a large hemorrhoid.

I'm thinking some nice trompe l'oeil would have sufficed to create the illusion of a peach. Or maybe even just a stem on the top with some peach paint. But, oh no, the people of Gaffney, North (or possibly South) Carolina would not settle for such. No, no, they did not stop until they had themselves a "real" big peach.

And then there's the other picture I have of something made to be much larger than originally intended. It is also mis-identified. Some people might mistake it for a very small cow, or perhaps a pygmy hippo in need of electrolysis... which it is not. It is, instead, a 60 POUND "miniature" beagle.



Yes, his proportions have greatly affected his functionality. He is still, however, an EATING MACHINE, and I haven't heard of any work stoppages in its 7 year history.

Oh, and there is one last photo I have. It's not actually of something made large and mounted. It is, however, quite an oddity and I just had to share it. I came across this while filling up somewhere in the Carolinas.

I know you've heard that hybrids are the way to go and the car of the future. I wanted to be the first to show you a photo of the next wave in hybrids. I'm not sure if I'm even supposed to be letting this out. More than likely, this one slipped out of the testing facility without approval. I can't imagine they would let such an advancement in automotive technology escape prematurely.

I can't figure out exactly what it is. My initial thoughts are that the public schools of North Carolina requested a more efficient vehicle for transporting large numbers of students. Whatever its intended use, it is obvious that BIG things are happening in the hybrid world!

If you have pictures of interesting things you've come across in your travels, please let me know, I'd love to see them. As you can see, they don't even have to be unusually large to be interesting. I'm sure there are plenty of things that are less useful, and therefore prime to be stared at, because they are smaller than normal (i.e. tiny trains or miniature monuments made of bark).

Sign of the Beast?

Well, it appears my friend Amy was right after all. Squirrels really are a vicious and possibly possessed species. Here's photographic proof:

(ap photo)


Actually, this was the most-emailed photo on the internet today, according to Yahoo. Apparently, I am not the only person in this world that thinks the squirrels of Alexandria, VA are HILARIOUS -- and extremely photogenic to boot.

Speaking of boots, and my squirrelphobic friends-- Robby and I have just returned from the second leg of the wedding reception tour-- TEXAS!

It was great!

Seeing all of my friends and family again was so great for me. Meeting the rest of my friends and family was... um... so great for Robby too! :D





See how happy he looks? (pay no attention to the blood shot eyes)


Perhaps I'll post a few photos from the fancy reception later. For now, I thought I would put up a few pics of some of the simpler things we saw along the way. Well, ok, so maybe the world's largest cedar rocking chair isn't so simple, but it's one of those wacky "ball-o-twine" things that mysteriously pull people from roadways and force them to chronicle their experience.







So there you have it. Other than the rabid rodents, today (6/6/06)has not been so ominous or demonic at all. The weather was beautiful. People were out enjoying the sights. Bison were, um, mooing?, and the other beasts of burden were pretty much keeping to themselves.

In fact, you might just say today was a little more like....

Wild Animals!

With over 1,800 acres dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats, the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park is a true treasure.

What impressed me the most was the difference between my experience at the Wild Animal Park and the trip Robby and I had taken to National Zoo in DC just a few weeks earlier. Instead of feeling as though the animals had been unnaturally placed into the city and surrounded by bars and some plexiglass, the Wild Animal Park makes the visitor just that-- a visitor. I felt as though I had walked into the home of these beautiful creatures and they had kindly taken the extra time to spruce it up for us.


These animals have hit the jackpot! Great weather all year round, panoramic vistas, well-manicured grounds, food, food, and more food, and a world-class vet center on site. The only drawback for the animals-- those pesky humans with their cameras and screaming children that the lions have to see all morning but aren't allowed to eat.

We had a great time. Took lots of photos. Robby only screamed a few times. No one got eaten. It was awesome!

Newlyweds!

It's been almost a month since my last post. I admit, I've been a little preoccupied with other matters. Like-- getting married, moving, honeymooning, etc..

So, please forgive me for my delay.

We had a great time. The ceremony was beautiful. Amazing weather. We wanted to keep things low-key and were (thankfully) successful.



It's been a great time, but, I have found myself to be especially scatterbrained lately. I hope it's just a phase. I'm sure my new hubby hopes so too.

For example, just the other day I managed to lose the same object THREE separate times!

What in the world!?!

And, of course, you can imagine the roller coaster of despair and relief I put myself (and Robby) through. I must say that he was awesome throughout and never doubted that all would be well in the end. He was so calm and confident. Which, of course, was extremely annoying to me as I was attempting to tear the place apart and have a fit.



The good news is, I managed to find the elusive object and get it out of my clumsy hands and to its proper recipient before I had a chance to lose it again. Hooray!
Robby was right. All was well.
He weathered the freak-outs with great style and patience. I like that.

I'm wondering if there are any others out there who have suffered from wedding- related brain loss who might be able to help me. Is this just a temporary thing or are the effects permanent? And, if it is is only temporary, how long will it be before I can expect my ability to focus (on anything, for any amount of time) to return?

I would really appreciate any advice you may be able to give.

P.S. Please use short sentences in your explanation. I'm easily distracte...

Cherry Blossom Time

Along with the rest of creation, I headed to the tidal basin this week for the blooming of the Yoshino cherry trees.

I saw for myself what the big fuss was all about.

In fact, I went a couple of times to see the difference between the trees in early bloom and at their peak. I may go back again in a few days as these millions of tiny pink and white petals take to the air on spirited spring breezes, like so many solid snowflakes, to make way for the sprouting green leaves.




March 27th



March 31st




Beautiful pink and white blossoms, bright blue skies, and tons of marble. The fleeting beauty of the fragile cherry blossoms juxtaposed with the gnarled and knotted wood of these aging trees would be contrast enough to inspire a contemplative moment or two, but add to that the weighty and enduring element of these huge monolithic structures dedicated to our foundational leaders and you can't help but want to honor something.

And that's what we did.

We all came together, walked the circle, crossed bridges, took photos, and enjoyed the freedom and friendship these trees, monuments, and body of water symbolize. These great things were born of difficult times-- war, revolution, and rising tides, yet their beauty and strength are serene and peaceful. The roots and stone convey stability and security.

The founders of this nation had it right. The true honor belongs only to the creator of all things, the faithful provider of life, liberty, and indescribeable joy-- our Heavenly Father. The truths that were so "self-evident" in their time are being veiled and distorted today. We are so easily distracted. Our "pursuit of happiness" has us chasing after what the enemy (the father of lies) tells us will satisfy (sex, money, power, etc.) instead of what the One who made us knows will fill our empty spaces (a relationship with Him through his son Jesus).

Why are lies so much easier to believe than the truth? It's baffling. Especially when you consider how much heartache these wrong decisions cause. The answer is found right out in the open, in the best-selling book of all time, but, strangely it is not understood by many who read it. Truth is foolishness to those who do not have the Spirit of God within them.

How does one get this not-so-secret "secret decoder ring" of spiritual mysteries?

By humbling ourselves-- something increasingly foreign to American popular culture. The act of accepting that we are sinners, acknowledging our need for a savior, and believing in Jesus' death and resurrection as full payment for our debt goes against the popular idea that we, ourselves, are #1 and able to do all things on our own. Our independant spirit, while great for starting a business, is horrible for our positions in eternity. We must not fail to give credit where it is due. Everything we have is a gift-- an endowment by our creator.

I admit, I ran the marathon of worldly 'happiness' for most of my life. I was too proud and too smart for "that religious stuff" and the small amounts of instant gratification I was getting were just enough to get me by. I believed that if I just got a little MORE of it... THEN... I would be happy. It was all about what I did (not, what Christ had already done), and the fact that I wasn't happy, was, in my mind, due to my not trying hard enough.

“God…gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

Now that my eyes have been opened and the mystery has been unveiled, I see the beautiful Truth surrounding me. The things I had been chasing suddenly appeared as the empty lies they are and were no longer appealing. I now happily pursue the desires of God's heart for me.

Now THAT is the Happiness that George and Thomas were talking about.

As Jonathan Edwards wrote, “The pleasures of humility are really the most refined, inward, and exquisite delights in the world.”









As for the photos and the millions of tourists:

While I did my best to keep the photos "stranger free", there were so many people out there it was almost impossible. However, a few of the folks who ended up in my pictures were actually kind of funny. I liked this one of "Mr. Business Man".


He's such a multi-tasker, don't you think? He can capture the beauty of nature and the art of the deal at the same time.


And then there was this kid below in the bright orange shirt. He was having such a time. So completely in his own world. He kept running in and out of the shot, completely oblivious. Uncontrollable happiness. I was thankful to have captured some of his joy in this photograph.










So, there you have it.

No, I haven't forgotten my beloved bluebonnets. They still inspire.
I do, however, have a new fondness in my heart for cherry season. The way I figure it, any time spent being thankful for and appreciating the beautiful gifts of flowers my Father sends me is a good thing. Besides, there can never be too much praise for an infinite God.

I can't wait to see what's next!

Texas Crop Circles

Every year, the miraculous and inspiring beauty of the Texas wildflower springs forward, transforming the normally weary miles of interstate into a river of blues, pinks, reds, yellows and oranges. The memories of these scenic drives to me are enough to instantly transform an overcast visage to a sunny smile.

Streams of royal bluebonnets stirred gently by early spring breezes are as beautiful to a Texan as shamrocks to the Irish and cherry blossoms to any D.C. denizen.


As temperatures finally begin to warm, bringing with them the first cherry blossom season for me in DC, I eagerly await the arrival of these much talked about and lored blooms. Has the relentless hype jaded me? Have my memories of bluebonnets and indian paintbrushes created a bias against these transplanted Japanese cherry trees? Being a transplant myself, I feel a certain kinship, however, and suspect I will be able to find a place for another spring favorite in my mental scrapbook.

Camera at the ready, I am prepared to capture this highly anticipated event. In much the same way most travelers along those picturesque Texas highways cannot help but fancy themselves amateur photographers, and dream of possessing digital happiness for posterity, tourists and natives alike, I'm told, flock to the tidal basin each year for those few days of floral promise. Friends have warned me to expect few photos without a stranger's child, smiling grandmother, or reluctant spouse in them. Getting the trees alone, without several dangling imps, is next to impossible.



Still, I press on in hopes of capturing the beautiful and glorious sight that draws so many people each year, if not in a photo, then at least in my memories. The magic of these historical trees is legendary.

Today is St. Patrick's Day, which reminds me of another similarly revered spring arrival. Perhaps I'll spot a four-leaved clover with my camera too. What is it about these plants that so piques the imagination? Why so many stories of good fortune and good luck to those who find them?




As amazing and miraculous as the arrival of these beautiful blessings each year are the equally mysterious, but much less publicized, annual sightings of the "Texas Crop Circle". These oblong indentations-- patches of trampled and lifeless flowers among the otherwise thriving foliage-- continue to baffle curious passers-by. Every few miles or so, along any flowered path or highway, you'll find another of these strange egg-shaped voids.

How do they get there?

Who creates them?

Could they too be a sign of good luck and good fortune for those who find them? Or is there something more sinister about these flattened plots...


Scientists are stunned by this seemingly unexplainable phenomena.



Perhaps one day, if we're lucky, we will know the source of these mysterious orbs.

Third Day

Some friends and I went to the Third Day concert the other day at the Patriot Center in Fairfax. It was the very first stop on their "Wherever You Are" tour.

It was great!!!

The David Crowder Band opened the show and literally got the whole crowd hopping. If you haven't heard their latest album "A Collision", I recommend you check it out. It reminds me a lot of some of the stuff I used to listen to in college. Really experimental and creative. Kind of Rock Opera-esque with a great sense of humor.

I really wish I could post some pictures from the show, but, like a doofus....
I forgot my camera!!!

Sooooo....

I took a picture of a concert tee.

There was a moving World Vision video during the intermission. This ministry is devoted to rescuing and healing children who have been effected by tribal wars and AIDS in Africa. It attempts to help the children who have suffered unimaginable atrocities and give them hope for a better future. Many of these children have been kidnapped and forced to serve as "soldiers"/killers or sex slaves. AIDS is used as a weapon upon entire villages and those who are not taken are left behind to care for their dying parents. It is almost too much for me to comprehend. I can't imagine how I would react to such a hopeless and frightening situation in my own life, and I'm an adult.

The World Vision booths allow concert-goers to do something for these children who are so far away. I know a few people who have "adopted" a World Vision child and have been so blessed by the letters they have received from these very thankful children. They are even more blessed in knowing that they are answering God's call to help others. This ministry mobilizes people to make use of contributed gifts and resources-- turning them into hope and a future.

After the break, Third Day took the stage. They were awesome, of course. Their set list was, by their own admission "ambitious". There are so many great songs for them to choose from, and I think they played them all (ok, that might be a slight exaggeration).

These guys, who have been playing together since the early nineties are still able to bring it. The difference between now and then? Now they have families, mortgages, and an appreciation for the many blessings they've received over the years. You can sense it in the maturation of their lyrics as well as in how they've chosen to invest their time. They've taken the opportunities afforded them, through their name recognition, and used them to focus on God's glory through service to others (i.e. World Vision). It's so anti-rock-and-roll. The concert was not a salute to ego. It was worship and encouragement and motivation.

Like the World Vision ministry, the Third Day concert was also a vehicle for hope, in that the latest album's focus is on hope and peace and rest to people "wherever they are", and they played many songs from the new album. Think "Cry out to Jesus", the first single from the album, and you'll get the idea.

The only disappointing thing about the whole night (other than sitting in the parking lot for an hour after the show, trying to get out) was the fact that I forgot my camera!

But.....

I did happen to pick up another concert tee......


***warning*** the following photo contains images of small creepy rodents***




Squirrels Rock!

Snow Day!

A foot of snow fell on Washington, D.C. this week. It was the good, fluffy, perfect for snowball making kind of snow too. Not that I threw any, um, at anyone...er... especially not at nice young men working diligently to shovel it away.





Fortunately, the work crews were out in force and speedily cleared the roads up quite nicely. So, after church, we trotted downtown to take some pictures before everything turned to a hard, gray slush.

The city was so serene in its fluffy white blanket.


All was quiet and still. It wasn’t too cold or windy—perfect.



What a beautiful day.