Scream Art

I made this faux stained glass piece on a chick trip almost four years ago. It sits in one of our living room windows. I didn't really feel like screaming today, though I might have if I were younger son who continues to be unable to take a trip without something potentially unpleasant happening. When not typing or otherwise using them, my fingers are crossed that he makes it to his planned stopping point tonight and is able to get things resolved and make it to Seattle as planned tomorrow.

There's a Reason this Post Has Two Photos

I got a new lens for the new camera today (thanks, Adorama!). It's a pretty sweet 18-270 mm Tamron. These are the first photos I took with the lens: The top one is the 18, and the bottom one is the 270. I'm thinking that this baby and I are going to get along real well in Vietnam and Australia; I do indeed.

Little Things Add Up

Younger son couldn't fit his gym bag into the car, so it's in the to-be-shipped pile. I happened to notice that he had a gym towel or two or ... well, you can see how many towels he put in for a workout and then forgot to toss into one of the many towel-return bins. I was pretty amazed until older son, who has a larger gym bag, told me he'd removed even more than this from his bag once. They don't get it from me. I've never found more than two in mine, and if I do, I return them on my next visit. And, no, these will not be included in the to-be-shipped pile.

And He's Off!

Younger son is on his way west. Tears have been shed, and more are likely to come. We are each moving on to new chapters in our respective lives. I just wish I had the same youthful courage that he does in facing the somewhat unknown.

Yes, It Was a Busy Day

Got home from karate and started to check my email. It occurred to me that I did not remember taking a photo today. Checked the blog. Took a photo. It was just one of those busy days, and that's okay.

Out the Window

It was 60-ish two days ago and is snowing now. Welcome to the wacky weather world that is Central Virginia, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The snow is falling even more heavily now than in the photo and starting to stick to the ground at least in the woods. I am not displeased that younger son is delaying his departure for a day, though this should all be over and gone tomorrow if not later today.

And Biscuit Makes Three

We now have three resident animals, two 14-year-old cats and one 14-year-old dog. It is good to have a resident dog again. Some years ago I was first runner-up in The Washington Post's Style Invitational humor contest with this item for an underachiever's midlife list of goals: Win the admiration of my dog. The same entry was later selected by the outgoing Invitational czar as one of the 10 Best Individual Entries of All Time though it was then listed as "Win the respect and admiration of my dog." Yes, there is something about a dog's eyes that brightens most moments. Welcome, Biscuit. We are honored to have you here.