Friday, April 10, 2009

Wiregrass Musings

The weather and temperatures are so pleasant that we went for our daily two mile stroll this morning. I call it a stroll, because at our age anything over 2 miles per hour is brisk.

Mill Creek Road

Can you believe the locals actually trash this beautiful scene? Yep. So, when I walk, I also carry a garbage bag and the proper tools for picking up trash. It's so pretty here that I want to keep it that way. Just my way of saving the world, one beer can at a time (and these are not mine). [giggle]

Ssssave Our Sssssnakessss

Met with Mr. Greensnake for a moment. He was laying in the road sunning himself. Lazy thing. "Get a job, you bum!" He didn't want to help, so, husband shoo-ed him off the road. At least he wouldn't get run over. We saw a brillant reddish colored young rat snake about 3 feet long yesterday. Hubby helped him off the road too before some local toothless yocal can brag "Yep, I kilt a rattle snake 10 feet long ..."

"See a penny, pick it up.
All the day you'll have good luck."

It's about time I got paid for picking everyone else's trash! :o)

"A penny saved, is a penny taxed."

Who said that?

Anyway, it makes me wonder how many folks will be attending "Tea Party's" this April 15th? There's one in Atlanta, GA, I know that. We will watch Fox News all day and hope that others can make the events across country. Hey, I can't save the world on my own you people! Ya gotta meet me halfway here. [lol]

"I'd rather stay in my shell, thank you."

With all the rain, a box turtle decided to get up and move around. I love meeting up with all these creatures on our walks. Country living is so much fun!

Happy Passover and Happy Easter. Have a great weekend y'all. God bless.

Postcard Friendship Friday (04/10)

Peek-A-Boo

My husband snapped a picture of me after traveling over 2,400 miles in two weeks. [lol]

Nah, it's a postcard photo of a Budda statue with a tree growing around it. He looks sleepy too. Source: Zazzle.Com

Postcard Friendship Friday is hosted by Marie at Voila! Vintage Postcards. Join in the fun! Everyone is welcome.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Texas Rocks!

Gruene, Texas

The above photo was taken in Gruene (pronounced "Greene") a German town near San Antonio.

We are home from the two week Texas Hill Country vacation. We dragged in about 2:00 pm today with our motorcycles in tow. Whew. What a long drive! Especially when towing over 2,000 pounds across uneven pavement for countless miles. The trip was happily uneventful though. So no complaints (at least, no loud complaints ... ha ha).

Anyway, here's a link to all the photos from the trip: MyPhotoAlbum . I may still be labeling some of them, so, if in doubt as to where we were, feel free to ask.

Now we can't wait to go back again!

A Unique Way To Display Your Boots

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Ready To Head Home

The bikes and other non-essential items are loaded on the trailer. We're ready to head out in the morning. What a great place this is! The Texas Hill Country is our kinda place. The Hampton Inn has become a second home to us this week. It's been lovely and comfortable.

We did a big loop today. From Kerrville to Camp Verde. Then over to Leakey (pronounced "Lakey"), down through Utopia to Medina, then back to Kerrville. So, I thought I'd share a few photos of our trip today. See y'all in a few days!

FM 337 to Leakey, TX

We where privileged to ride the wonderful Texas roads. Some turns are off camber with steep grades making them a bit dicey, but they're still quite a bit of fun ... as long as there are no slow pokey cruisers in front, slowing the approaches ... jingle, jingle. [giggle] Sorry, personal joke. For those of you who don't ride, our local friend, Pappy, very kindly lead us around the Hill Country one day and he rides a cruiser style motorcycle. He told us later that the bells under his floor boards kept 'jingling' on some of those tight turns which means he was dangerously close to dragging. This is NOT a good thing on a motorcycle.

Anyway, we had such a good time while he was here. Pappy was very missed after leaving. Thanks for showing us Greenhorns around pal!

Camp Verde Creek

There is some breathe taking scenery, especially around the creek beds.

Dam Store

We even stopped at that dam store. [lol]

"Where the deer and the antelope play ..."


Nanny Goats (but not in panties)

Margaret, are you missing any goats? The one up front kept 'talking' to us "baaa, baaa, baaa". Then when we didn't feed her, she started spitting. It was so comical.


Time to replace this user. I'm tired. Goodnight until the next post! God bless.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Welcome To Obama's USSA

This one is no shock. I had the TV on not too long ago and was watching a live feed of the illegal new 'President' Mr. Obama speaking. He very flippantly stated something similiar to "I have to do something about this internet ..."

"Excuse me!!??" I remember shouting in the general direction of our TV. I turned to hubby and said "Oh brother, what do you suppose he's up to now?! 'Do' something about the internet?"

Well, here it is folks. This is what he wants to 'do' to the internet. And it's straight from the horses ass ... mouth Mr. Obama himself.

Cries of protest, censorship meet news of cybersecurity bill

Communism, Fascism, treading on liberties, censorship and other political cries greeted the news of proposed legislation in the U.S. Senate that would give the president power to disconnect the Internet.

While many Network World readers thought the story on a bill introduced April 1 in the Senate concerning cybersecurity was an April Fools' gag, it was not.

"This was an April Fools, right? Please say that it was," one reader wrote.

The bill was introduced by West Virginia Democratic Sen. John Rockefeller, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Sen. Olympia Snowe, a Republican from Maine.

The sweeping legislation included a provision to give the president the power to "order the disconnection of any Federal government or United States critical infrastructure information systems or networks in the interest of national security."

Critics of the measure said the provision needed to be more clearly defined, but expected the Internet, along with telecommunications and banking systems, to fall under "critical infrastructure."

Many Network World readers said the bill gives the government too much power and liken the scope of its provisions to China and other communist countries or regimes.
And many criticized President Obama for abuse of power even though he had nothing to do with the bi-partisan legislation that would pertain to any sitting president.

"This guy is taking over banks, auto and now the internet. Is it time to move to a small deserted island in the Pacific until this madness runs it's course." wrote one anonymous responder.

Still others said that cybersecurity is a serious issue that will take some difficult decisions to combat.

"...Some good may come off the mere existence of this idea. As for security standards: It can be something sweeping, or something as basic as "Use of a hardened OS is required," which is loose enough to permit variety," said reader N. Secure.
Some were put off by the ill-defined reference to national security that was part of the bill.

"You would be amazed at what the government can consider 'national security.' Let's see... A report about black water goes public on CNN. Government feels report undermines its authority... Next thing you know, CNN is disconnected from the world due to "National Security," said G3iMacMan, on Network World's Web site. "This is government censorship. That is what is happening in China. Do you know what to do in the event of a cyber attack? You unplug YOUR OWN network cable. And you ADVISE others to do the same. This is a VERY BAD IDEA."

The references to other forms of government were a recurring theme.

"The walls keep getting closer. Regulation keeps increasing while the opposition is targeted by name. Welcome to fascism," wrote one responder.

"Hello Comrads! Welcome to the United Socialist States of America. We have become them...we just don't know it yet. Any co-incidence that every position filled by Obama is aptly named 'czar'?" wrote another.

A poster called Spee said, "We already have the new GM, aka Government Motors. What's next? Government approval of internet services? Yeah, great, let's imitate countries like North Korea, China and Saudi Arabia.

Others said the bill just needed to die.

"I like Obama, as a rule, but this legislation has got to die on the vine," said an anonymous poster.

Despite the questions, concerns and complaints some saw good in the bill's intent
"If such a crisis should ever happen then fine give the president the authority to 'pull the internet plug' on all government owned systems and systems that must connect to government systems. But to shutdown the internet for the entire country and everyone is a scary thought," responded an anonymous poster.

And some thought that congressional time could be spent better in other areas.

"There are already policies and procedures in place in government IT departments to shun traffic at the router in the event of an attack, whether it be worm/botnet related or any form of DoS," said an anonymous poster. "For the most part, government networks are monitored and administered by capable and competent government IT professionals or contractors. Congress would spend it's time better by looking at how our current defense stance could be improved, and allot funding for upgrades and infrastructure redesign. There is no need for a law that gives the executive branch such autonomous sweeping power."

Source

Either we do something about this now or we learn to live with the consequences of further lost liberties. I know I'm going to get in contact with my representatives, etc. come Monday and make my voice heard.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Southeast Georgia Flood Warnings

Here in the Texas Hill Country, it's cool and sunny with heavy winds. Back home it appears our roads are all but washed out!

Gee whiz, we're only gone for 5 days and the 'world' falls apart. [lol]

I hope that the Pierce County Road Department will have our dirt road repaired by the time we have to traverse it with a motorcycle trailer. Our road is one of those on the list of closings.

List of road closures and washouts at The Blackshear Times.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Texas Hill Country Trip

I am fatigued from too much fun this evening. But very briefly, I wanted to share how we are having a wonderful time in the Texas Hill Country. Unfortunately, the Texas Bluebonnets haven't bloomed here yet. Darn, I'm so disappointed. Aw well, that'll just give me another excuse to return next year!

Pappy met us here in Kerrville and very graciously showed us all the sights. He has made our stay here even more enjoyable. His Mother was in surgery today and we all said special prayers for her speedy recovery. (We just heard she came thru fine and is even hungry ... always a good sign!)

First though, I must share how we drove through some of the worst weather we've been in for many years. The storms that plowed through the southern United States Saturday March 28th was as scary as any hurricane. There were tornadoes all around us and flooded ditches everywhere. We rarely travel Interstate, preferring instead backroads. US Highway 84 was closed in Alabama because of the flooding, so, we had to backtrack 100 miles from outside of Dothan back to Bainbridge, Georgia. Then travel south to Quincey, FL and get on the Interstate 10. (Yuck) We stayed in the local DeFuniak Springs fleabag because we where so dead tired and couldn't travel another inch. But the next day we drove a butt crunching 534 miles to the quaint little town of Jasper, Texas.

Lesson Learned: Best Western's are so much better than Travel Lodge [aka Fleabag] and Hampton Inns are even better.

Anyway, here's a few 'teaser' photos of the trip so far. The weather has been nice except for the strong winds. My neck is a bit sore this evening from the 130 mile loop ride but there is a *big smile* on my sunburnt face.

Wahoo!!

Yeah, ok, some of the smile is from the wine tonight, but most is because of the trip. [grin]

I wish all my bloggy buddies could be here with us. The folks are friendly, the weather pleasant, and the food devine. I'm sure y'all would enjoy it too.

Hope you enjoy the photos. Here's some more if you want to view the trip to date: LINK. The other couple in the photos are long time friends of ours that met us out here too. They are also motorcyclists ... of course!

Our faithful steeds awaiting their masters.


Pappy and Sparky hamming it up!


Then Wiregrass Steve had to get into the act ... big ham. :o)


Sanibal River in Lost Maples State Park (near Vanderpool)


Texas Mountain Laurel is in bloom right now.


Rivers Edge Tuscan Grill Restaurant, Kerrville, TX


And I'm missing the dogs somethin' fierce, especially Maxie. [sigh] I've already called the kennel twice to check on them.

Have a great evening y'all and thanks for stopping by!