O.K., I promised not to bore everyone with photos of fawns this summer, but these guys have long passed the fawn stage.
In the summer months before the rut begins in November, bucks seem to congregate apart from their female counterparts (sort of like those awkward grade school dances). When autumn comes and the velvet gives way to awesome and sharp headgear they become solitary, feisty and challenge anyone (4 or 2 footed) who might invade their space.
Although we often see these velveted (is that a word, Mike?) bucks in parks and open meadows, usually in the evenings, we seldom spot them in our yards during daytime hours. This group of four wandered by in mid afternoon and so I grabbed a camera and caught them before they quickly vacated the area.
I just got home from another wonderful "feel good" movie. Go see the film "Yesterday". A clever twist on the idea of a world without the Beatles.
It is perfect for our generation. I think one of the most enduring memories of our generation was the music of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. This film is a thoroughly enjoyable, fantasy story - a much better film than I had expected. Laugh, cry a little, and be touched by the music and the clever plot.
***** Forgot to mention - Kate McKinnon is excellent as an over-the-top bitch of an L.A. music talent manager. And I think I should have known the black guy who runs the "Marketing" meeting with a hundred applauding "yes-people" - a great scene, by the way. The film is just plain fun!
And, I finally recognized the young girl who is the female star - she was in Downton Abbey (which was in the "coming attractions" clips). Let's see if anyone who sees this can recognize her.
Oh heck, let's delve even further. I think the father of the young star was the Mumbai police station officer in Slumdog Millionaire - another wonderful "feel-good" film a few years back.
added (NO, he was not. but he was in something else that I liked. Oh well.)
Just thought I would add one of my "Change the subject" items.
This coming Sunday I am going to a special party for some friends of the last eight to ten years back in California. (Yes Tim I was invited and Yes they are friends, at least so far). Anyway Norma and Ray are a wonderful couple. Ray just retired last year after a settlement was reached between the Homeowner's association he was working for as an expert witness (Structural Engineer) on the Leaning Tower of San Francisco (a.k.a. the Millennium Tower). Ray's earlier work included being the Lead Structural Engineer for, among other projects in Florida -Space Ship Earth (otherwise known as EPCOT Center) as well as the Monorail and most of the park.
Anyway, in honor of the Special event I am going to give Norma and Ray each a 1939 Jefferson nickel to remember the day and the events. Norma and Ray were both born in 1939 (yes they are turning both Eighty this year). And the nickel represents their 5th wedding anniversary. Silly, but I thought the nickels from 1939 were perfect.
You may now resume with your normal entertainment.
Joe -- Are you sure your friends were structural engineers? I thought they were union organizers?
I'm sure they are woefully tired of that joke, but couldn't resist, sorry.
As for movie recommendations, Dave and Janie, you might want to also check out Wild Rose starring Jessie Buckley as a wildly improbable (at first glance) Scottish mother of two, an ex-con, and wannabe Country singer (not Country-Western, as she is quick to point out, if one makes that mistake). Who knew this music was so popular in Glasgow? Here's a clip from her performing one of the best songs from the film on Colbert a few weeks ago. Even if you don't go to see the film, I am sure you will enjoy this performance. In my opinion, it's actually better than the way it is done in the film.
A quick orientation for the song--she has had a very contentious relationship with her mother who has been forced to be there for the two small grand-kids due to the aspirations and wild ways of her daughter. Having become somewhat of a stranger to her kids, she is forced to make an important life choice, and this song is a reflection of that decision and what she might say to her mother. (At least that's my take on the lyrics.)
In keeping with the spirit of July 4th - I well up with pride when I see that my home town is still the epicenter of the major world-wide news events. And fortunatly, the city still not passed any laws against stupidity - yet.
(sorry I couldn't get it to load directly.)
paste this into your browser and enjoy the many freedoms we have - including the freedom to watch morons behaving like.....whatever!
(note: your view is from th front seat of the officer's car)
During the Gulf War, just about every uniformed doctor, nurse and support personnel from our hospital was sent with the 10th CSH to aid our soldiers. Some were assigned to forward support units. One morning three Iraqi tanks were approaching their position and a call for help was made. ONE M1 Abrams tank and it's crew responded, took out two enemy tanks and the third surrendered.
We also mark this day as the death of both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams - perhaps within hours of one another, on the 50th anniversary of their signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Two men who at first loved one another like brothers, then parted ways to the point where Jefferson hired "professional slanderers" to ruin Adams' re-election. And then finally, reconciled and became close friends again.
History is strange.
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Hope our classmates in Southern California are okay - - - Mark?
My brother (a life-long Pirates’ fan) gifted me this framed picture a few Christmases ago. It is a photo of Lou Gehrig, star 1st baseman of the NYY, who at the age of 35 was diagnosed with ALS. On this day 80 yrs. ago, he made his final appearance at Yankee Stadium, declaring himself to be, “the luckiest man on the face of the earth”.❤️
Dave --Fortunately, the rumble beneath our feet yesterday was quite light where I live, so nothing happened. Althouggh it does cause some momentary pannic as one wonders "Is this just starting and will it ...?" Luckily before I could too caught up in that thought process, it died away. Thanks for asking.
The tank did not save me since, as a civilian, I was safely back at our hospital in Colorado while the uniformed staff was in theater.
Tanks may be a fighting machine of the past but they and the crews who operated them, just like all military hardware from muzzle loading rifles to drones, have played a role in America's defense. They are a part of our history and are worthy of remembrance on Independence Day.
I thought the NYT piece was spot on. I marvel at his childish shallow attempts to evoke some assumed form of courage - a trait he couldn't identify with it if smacked him in his face. Despite these feeble attempts, I think he will go down in history as one of the greatest cowards of our time.
Shame on him for trying to manipulate our military for his own political theatrics.
Note: I know we aren't supposed to get political here, so I left out the part about his cheating, lying, whore-mongering, draft-dodging, etc.)
I love this Forum, but I also enjoy a little bit on Facebook. I never know which to spend time on. I think the Forum is my favorite. But lately, we're having a really "lively discussion" with some classmates on Facebook. I won't give away the names, but we're having more fun than we may be legally allowed about "religion" - boy, howdy it's gettin' good!
Problem with Facebook is that it's too scattered for me - just too much at times. Whereas this Forum is focused and limited to just us. I cannot believe how much time some people spend out of their day just posting on Facebook.
I freely admit some of my addiction comes from not having anyone (close) to talk to all day. I mean other than at work. Both of my next door neighbors are gone most of the time and my best friends just sailed off to Maine until Thanksgiving. I'm gatefull for Tim and Jim, and Mark and Mike, John, Jack, Janie and Larry - etc. Wish you "lurkers" would chime in from time to time.
OOPS! I left out Mary Margaret and Joe (and probaly others). How could I leave out Mary Margaret and Joe? My Bad!
Jim, I worked with tanks while in the army. I don't share your romantic notion concerning the use of these behemoths. I suggest you spend a sub zero morning in the motorpool at an armor training battalion at Ft. Knox jump starting thirty frozen M60 Pattons, warming them up with a 2000 rpm idle. The noise, deafening and the diesel fumes suffocating. My job was to ensure all onboard commo was working properly. One week we had a freezing rain depositing a two inch coating of ice on everything. An amazing three day period of my life trying to stay vertical long enough to be effective. It's hard to unlock a hatch with a two inch coating of ice on it. After three days my arms ached from ice picking paths up to the turrets and the hatches. Fortunately the designers installed a trap door on the bottom under the driver compartment. In order for me to work on these creatures, I was required to get a military driver's licence. Turns out there is no similarity between driving a tank and a VW microbus. Wheels versus tracks. And changing a tire, well, bring a twenty pound sledgehammer. One morning I was driven out to an exercise location to recheck onboard commo apparatus. Only time for one cup of coffee that morning and I really hadn't fully awakened until some guy grabbed me and threw me about five feet on to my ass. As I turned to see who the knucklehead was, an M60A1 Patton rumbled over where I was just standing. Had that angel not been there old sleepy Jack would have conformed my body into the shape of the tank tread with tinges of red for effect. With all the tank rumbling and motors roaring it was impossible to hear them coming from behind. Two months later I volunteered to go back to Vietnam. I knew I'd be safer. I must say the tanks were impressive, but the RV88 was even more impressive. The recovery vehicle (tow truck for tanks), had no turret and plow blade stretched across the width of the rear of the vehicle with gnashing tiger teeth painted full size on the blade. The seasoned team comprising the operation plattoon were the real Hell's Angels. Truly an amazing experience. Prior to my departure I spent a month and a half as an Honor Guard pall bearer burying fallen soldiers in the surrounding states including Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. Not too much stress there. I encountered tanks again in Vietnam. I was greatful for my previous experience at Ft. Knox. I was assigned to a contact team to check all tank commo assigned to the eleventh armored cavalry headed to Cambodia. I also continued calling into direct support the numbers for a variety of supplies and spare parts. I finally felt I was doing something productive. Moving supplies into the jungle and spare parts to fire bases and landing zones is an art. First you have to find a source, then schedule pick up and drop off. You kinda want a body at the end of the line to sign for that replacment cannon barrel. While watching officers trade goods for war souvenirs. Or in some instances cash. Chaos presents opportunity. Opportunists flock to war, where the greatest opportunities seem easy to take advantage. And since we've been waging war for over 50 years here and there in order to keep alive what Dwight Eisenhower warned us about our government being controlled and manipulated by military industrial contractors. Guess he was just kidding.
Profound post Jack. Many questions...but memory serves to remind me that many weird occurrences took place back then (in the service) that sent us off in odd directions. I am asking about the Honor Guard duty you pulled. First, thanks for doing a psychologically hazardous job well...I am sure you did it well...for people who needed to feel some uplift in their saddness. Can you recall how you wound up with that duty?
Dave, you are very open. I am very much the opposite and I don't really know why I would prefer dogs to people. Do you know why you need that continual interaction? I mean, dude, you could not pay me enough to be on Facebook...I would never have time to smoke dope!
Jim, you are missing the point on tanks. But you are very smart so likely missing nothing. Nobody denies the value of tanks in real warfare. The thing is, we have always honored our military without stooping to anything like the Soviet Mayday celebrations with massed heavy weapons. But don't worry, your favotite guy is going to have demonstrations of water boarding and a Guantanimo village next year for "the truly patriotic".
