A New Post for Posting's Sake

I've been nudged by a few peeps to provide a new post. Unfortunately all I have to offer is the promise of a new post soon. Who knows what it may be about or when it will hit... maybe as soon as this afternoon.



I have a few things (ok, a bunch of things) in operation but will add a post soon. I promise. Until then enjoy this fun shot of my day at the mall with three wonderful, fantastic, brilliant, fun, encouraging, beautiful 15 year olds - MM, MW, & AB.




Trying on rings at Forever XXI. Such fun. Can you guess which hand is mine? Hint: it's the old one. HA!

I See The Moon

Last night there was an exquisite, full moon. The photograph doesn't do it justice by any stretch. I wish I had the proper equipment (and know-how) to have been able to capture the beauty God placed in the sky last night.

For those that missed it, let me describe the view from middle Tennessee. Our sky was filled to capacity with clouds. But these weren't mountainous, corpulent clouds. Instead, the sky looked as if it had been covered in a thick, luxuriant down comforter. The clouds stretched over the entire sky and moved at a significant pace. There were a few rips in the fabric from time to time but the blanket remained intact for the most part. Despite the prominent cloud cover the moon was so brilliant it shone through clearly.

By now you are wondering why I spent so much time looking at the moon. Well, I've been watching the moon for the last 4 nights waiting for it to be full. You see full moons are special. And I don't mean special in the way my friend Cara would convey. (Cara is an ER nurse and full moons mean something altogether different to her.)

Each month, during the full or new moon my daddy and I call each other and look at the moon together. And since Daddy works nights we are able to do this rather easily. I don't remember how this little tradition got started but we have been doing it for years. When there is a full moon and the phone rings late in the evening we know who will be on the other end.

I know what most of you ladies are thinking. "Ahhhhh. That is so sweet." (I say ladies because I seriously don't think there are any guys, to which I am not related, reading this blog.) And you ladies would be spot on. It is sweet. This is a sweet, sometimes funny, always enjoyable occasion with my daddy. In fact, we've spoken on the phone for the last 4 nights in anticipation of our prize.

Somewhere along the way this little ceremony was no longer reserved for full moons. Now any time the moon is particularly nice or interesting we call each other. I remember once when the entire moon was visible but only 1/4 of it was actually bright and shining. I called Daddy and said, "Daddy you should see the moon. It looks like it has a French manicure." His response was, "What? I don't know that is!" HA! Do you guys remember the post about my Marine Corps Daddy? Why in the world did I think he would know what I was talking about.

So, last night I called Daddy at 11:04 to look at the moon. His shift ends at midnight so I had plenty of time to catch him before I went to bed. There was just one, itty-bitty problem. Daddy wasn't at work. He was in bed. I had gotten so wrapped up in watching our treasure that I forgot it was Daddy's night off. When he answered the phone I heard a small commotion. He had knocked all the pictures over on the side table trying to answer the phone. I felt dreadful. However, Daddy didn't mind at all. He was happy to talk to me about our moon.

The moon will be beautiful again tonight if the storm clouds allow. I want to encourage you to go out and enjoy a glimpse of God's creativity, and maybe start some traditions of your own.

Worth a Look

Hi friends. I wanted to take a moment to direct your attention to a friend's blog. Recently Christa went to India on a mission trip and she has posted her journal online.

There are 11 entries but don't be scared because they are very quick reads with fabulous pictures. You can find a link to "Oh My Soul" on my list of "friendlies" to the right.

Enjoy! I know I sure did.

Fun Times & Family Photos

Last Saturday I spent the day with sweet friends. We started the day by taking casual, family photos then we went to lunch, rode bikes, and washed cars. Good times! Here is a small sampling of the pictures.


Miss Grace at the Opryland Hotel.

Katrina

On the walk between Opry Mills and the hotel.

I love this candid shot of Jim & Kellie laughing.

And this one is just sweet.

On the greenway in Two Rivers Park.


Clover Bottom Development Center

The Steam Plant at Clover Bottom.

Thank you, my friends, for a lovely day.

You Asked For It

You guys should have NEVER encouraged me. It your own fault. Ahhh. The Frist Center. There's nothing fab about this photo except that it is of one of my favorite Nashville locations.

For the non-Nashvillian readers, Nashville's main post office was built in 1933 & 1934 with a classicism style exterior and an Art Deco style interior. The post office moved to a modern facility in 1986 leaving a small branch open on one floor in the three story structure.

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts opened as an art museum in 2001. There is still a post office branch on the bottom floor, accessible from the outside. The Frist Center's logo comes from an Art Deco pattern inside. A notched edge was added to make the design resemble a stamp, paying homage to the building's origin. To see the logo and learn more about this wonderful place visit here. The building alone is worth visiting but then there's the art... such a happy place.

A column at the front entrance.

A corner of the ceiling of the front entry.

The Lobby

When the building was being refurbished into an art museum there was a lot of cleaning needed. When workers were cleaning the ceiling they found stars. The stars had been hidden from years of coal smoke from the old furnace.

The original lobby tables from the post office are still in place. The beautiful granite tables are accented with decorative metalwork. This is a view from the underside of the table.

This is a side view of one of the table legs. I really like the detailing coupled with the flag in the background.

More ceiling stars in sepia tones. The original colors are navy or black and white.
Standing under the stairs in the stairwell. I really like this shot.

An outside window of the Frist.

This star is on the base of the flag pole at the Frist Center.

The decorative bars on the post office windows on the lower level. You can see Union Station in the reflection.

One of the patio areas at the back entrance of the Frist. This is just outside of the cafe.

This is the covered patio. I've enjoyed several meals at these tables.

A magnolia at the back of the Frist.

This was taken near the covered patio area at the Frist Center. The marble ledge gives a beautiful reflection of Union Station.

Union Station

The back porch of Union Station.

A close shot on the back porch.

The back staircase leading from the porch to the old train yard and current parking lot.

A corner view from Broadway. Notice the archways on the bottom level - they are below street level.

The stained glass windows are exquisite.

More than the stained glass I enjoy the iron scrollwork all around Union Station. I couldn't decide which of the next two photos I liked best so I decided to post both.

The lower level archways. You can see the bridgeway in the background that leads from valet parking to the entrance.

Finally, the Batman Building. Okay, it's really the AT&T building (formerly BellSouth) but we all know it by its obvious knickname.

This shot is from Union Station. It's funny how short the building looks from this angle. It sure doesn't look like the tallest building in TN.

For The Love!

Could someone please give me some drugs? I have a headache eating its way through my skull. Let me warn you that this post may suddenly drift into nonsensical keystrokes.

I've taken 1,500mg of Advil and have seen no ease in my pain level. This fact tells me that the medication is only keeping my headache from getting worse - as in migraine.

My headaches are almost always irritated by visual stimuli, and I am able to handle auditory invaders much easier. Not so today. Not only do I want to turn off my office light, but I would love to rip the phone from the wall. I have to admit that answering the phone all day has begun to be a constant irritation. However today is worse than ever, and it isn't the constant ringing and feigning politeness as I answer. You see the volume on my phone is stuck on LOUD. The callers on the other end sound as if they are speaking into a megaphone superglued to my ear. Even on a non-head splitting, eyes watering, crawl under-my-desk-and-die day the volume is ridiculous. I am able to turn down the volume ever so slightly from Heavy Metal Concert Level to Wind Tunnel Level. Unfortunately I can't turn down a call until I've picked up the receiver. I've been in a constant race all day to punch the volume button (3 times only) before the caller is able to speak. So far I'm losing.

And the light. Why, oh why, do we have to work under fluorescent lighting? It's harsh AND ugly. Not that anything in my office is even remotely attractive. The walls are covered in a sea-grass wall paper and EVERYTHING is brown - doors, metal desks, chair, table, and pictures, or grey - carpet, chairs, computers, file organizers. The office hasn't been updated since the early 80s. Gee, maybe this is why my head is hurting.



Anyway, I thought I would sit and write to my friends. And no, looking at the computer screen doesn't feel good. That is why I am typing with my eyes closed. Laugh if you want, but it's true. (I hope I'm still making sense because I am not reading this as I type it.) So here I am writing for my friends and any random stranger that may trip over my blog. Writing through my pain.

I've had several people tell me that I sometimes go too long between entries. I'm trying hard to do a better job of posting. As the previous post stated, I am reading about Marines, and they have inspired me. I mean if they can do what they do on our behalf, then surely I can suck it up and sit at my ugly brown desk, in my ugly gray chair and write a few words while my head slowly melts before eruption. It's the least I can do. I love you guys.

Now, for the love, will someone please give me some arsenic or cyanide?

Keep Your Honor Clean

Keep your honor clean.

Those words are part of the Marine Corps anthem. What a beautiful thought and respectable challenge to us all.

Recently I read a letter written on March 20, 2003 by Major General J. N. Mattis, USMC, to all the battalions under his command who were about to cross the border into Iraq. The letter is recorded in A Table In The Presence by USMC Chaplain Lt. Carey H. Cash. I would like to share the letter with you.

For decades, Saddam Hussein has tortured, imprisoned, raped, and murdered the Iraqi people; invaded neighboring countries without provocation; and threatened the world with weapons of mass destruction. The time has come to end his reign of terror.

On your young shoulders rest the hopes of mankind. When I give the word, together we will cross the Line of Departure, close with those forces that choose to fight, and destroy them. Our fight is not with the Iraqi people, nor is it with members of the Iraqi army who choose to surrender. While we will move swiftly and aggressively against those who resist, we will treat all others with decency, demonstrating chivalry and soldierly compassion for people who have endured a lifetime under Saddam's oppression.

Chemical attack, treachery, and the use of the innocent as human shields can be expected, as can other unethical tactics. Take it all in stride. Be the hunter, not the hunted; never allow your unit to be caught with its guard down. Use good judgment and act in the best interests of our Nation. You are part of the world's most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon. Share your courage with each other as we enter the uncertain terrain north of the Line of Departure. Keep faith in your comrades on your left and right and in the Marine Air overhead.

Fight with a happy heart and a strong spirit. For the mission's sake, our country's sake, and the sake of the men who carried the Division's colors in past battles (who fought for life and never lost their nerve) carry out your mission and keep your honor clean. Demonstrate to the world that there is "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy" than a U.S. Marine.

(Thanks to my friend Cpl Wayne Rial, USMC, for loaning this book to me. I am enjoying this read.)