Barb’s Blog » Archive for April 2009
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum
John’s last full day here in Maryland, and we decided to take a quick trip into Baltimore and visit the B&O Railroad Museum. It had been years since I had been there, and I sure hadn’t seen it since the roof collapsed under the weight of a heavy snowstorm. I had forgotten all there was to see in one place. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum possesses the oldest, most historic and most comprehensive American railroad collections … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Sideling Hill and Blackwater Falls
We made Thursday our day trip to Blackwater Falls in West Virginia. It is a good four hour drive to get there. It had been a long time since I had visited there, and I wanted John to see it too. This was going to take an John, having lived in sea-level Australia for so long, a glimpse of the mountains. Laura also came along with us. On our way, we made a stop in Maryland, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Online
John and I, no strangers to online webcam conversations, had a chance to talk to Enric, Miranda, and Silas! Enric was playing Classical Gas for me, or trying to, as Silas decided to help. Yaya, John, and I got to witness as Silas learned how to spin a ruler on a pencil. A treat for all of us. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Watching the Planes, Again
John really seemed to enjoy our little park on Dorsey Road where one can go to watch the planes land. So, after a day at the zoo, we piled back into the car to watch some more planes land. The late afternoon showed off what a rainy, stormy day we had (it hailed). John did something different this time. He walked along the road so that he could see directly under the planes as they landed. Taking a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Washington D.C. Zoo
John wanted to revisit the Zoo in D.C. Since it was a day when Laura babysits Cameron, we took him and Laura too! It took two tries to get in, but we finally made it. (D.C. itself is a zoo to drive and park in!) It was a chilly, rainy day and the zebras were…frisky. John gives Cameron a better look. John talks with a zoo volunteer about the Cheetahs. The lions were frisky too! In the butterfly section Laura had one … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Granite Game
While John was here, Laura only had one soccer game scheduled. So we definitely took the time so he could see a game to watch Laura, Erin, and the Granite girls play. A goal! At least he got to see them win! … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Surprise Car Show
On our way home from the plane spotting to the hardware store, John and I spotted a lot of cars over at Marley Station Mall. I quickly changed lanes and pulled in, knowing how much he enjoys cars. John unsure about the lighting, as it was nighttime, pulled out his fish eye lens for his Pentax, and tried to get some photos. I think he did a good job. Come to find out, this event happens at … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Plane Spotting
After spending some time at Sandy Point State Park, John and I decided to try our cameras at a park off Dorsey Road right near the airport, the Thomas A. Dixon, Jr. Aviation Observation Area. This is a great spot to watch the planes coming in for a landing, and they get so close! This is actually a very enjoyable past time. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Sandy Point State Park and the Bay Bridge
Last time John was here I took some time to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, so this time around, I took him to Sandy Point State Park where there is a great view of the bridge. I really think it is an impressive structure and proud to show it off. The original span opened in 1952 and at the time, with a length of 4.3 miles (7 km), was the world’s longest continuous over-water steel structure. A parallel span … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Rocks State Park and Jerusalem Mill
On our next day without rain, John, Laura, and I went to Rocks State Park and Jerusalem Mill Park in Harford County, Maryland. Rocks has 855 acres of dense forests and massive boulders rising above Deer Creek. The King and Queen Seat, once a ceremonial gathering place of the Susquehannock Indians, is a natural 190 foot rock outcrop. This cliff, reached by scenic trails, affords a view of the rolling hills and farmland of Harford County. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Baltimore, Aquarium, and Fells Point
We finally got a day without rain and so we headed out to Baltimore Harbor to see the Aquarium as well (again). I decided while we were planning John’s holiday here, to add Fells Point to the tour. We didn’t even wait to get out of the parking lot to start taking photos. Once inside the Aquarium and inside the Australian section, John talked to a volunteer. We saw all the usual exhibits, but on our way out … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Rainy Day With Cameron
Yet another rainy day for John’s holiday in Maryland. Fortunately we had Cameron here to entertain us and us entertain him. Now Mr. Dolphin isn’t a stranger to Cameron, as they talk on the webcam each Wednesday. So in short order, Cam was on John’s lap and looking out the window, through the rain, watching the birds and squirrels. John also built Cam a train track to play on. John himself took some photos, show how much Yaya and I … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Todd Rundgren Concert
I’ve had a few early birthday presents so far this year (It’s not till May). John brought me some Australian Ugg boots, Petra sent a CD from New Orleans, and Chris & Jim treated John and I to Todd Rundgren at Ram’s Head. Not many people I talk to know a lot about Todd Rundgren, but when I was growing up, I was a real fan. Most know at least one or two of his hits … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Conowingo Dam
Yesterday, John and I took our cameras (and his new lens) to Conowingo Dam. We had heard of eagle sightings and went for a long drive in hopes of seeing one. Conowingo Dam is rather interesting in and of itself. The Conowingo Dam (also Conowingo Hydroelectric Plant, Conowingo Hydroelectric Station) is a large hydroelectric dam in the Lower Susquehanna River. The dam, one of the largest non-federal hydroelectric dams in the US, is classified as a medium … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Webcam Fun
Out of the two dozen or so pics taken with the webcam, I think I found two where John wasn’t making a face or something funny. He is modeling one of the birthday presents I gave him, A Beatles shirt. Ice cream cake! … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Easter 2009
This Easter was special having John here with us. First we went to church, and afterwards, we did the typical picture taking in the vestibule. Here is ( l. to r.) Miranda, Laura, and Erin. John joined in with he picture taking, and showed the girls the three beauties he took pictures of, and how it turned in with a fisheye lens. I always have to take one of Miquel and Laura together. After a trip to Dunkin Donuts, John … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
John’s First Day
The first day of John’s holiday began with rain, so we took it slow, which made sense after so many hours of travel. (About 30+ hours in all). Before he turned in last night, we had our usual chaos in the house, with Laura and Jenny making a “fort” to sleep in. John couldn’t resist a photo. Today, with the rain pouring down, it became a time of watching the birds, taking photos, and I grabbed a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Last Leg of the Journey
I just checked Mr. Dolphin’s flight status. This is his last leg of a very long journey. He is not going to like that radar with all that rain headed towards us! Updated: … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Mr. Dolphin is Nearly Here!
As of early Friday morning Pasadena time. (I am not excited or anxious or anything!) … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Spring Comes to Pasadena
Finally, a combination of sun and showers, we get blooms and birds! … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Some REAL Health Insurance Facts
Thanks to Doug Ross, I learned some interesting facts about (the so called lack) of Health Insurance. Data from the Census Bureau debunks the lie continually promoted by the mainstream media of the legendary 47 million uninsured Americans: • 9.5 million people are illegal aliens • 8.3 million uninsured people are those who make between $50,000 and $74,999 per year and choose not to purchase insurance • 8.7 million uninsured people are those who make over $75,000 a year and choose not to purchase insurance This leaves approximately 20 million uninsured; less than 7% of the population. Why do some people choose not to purchase insurance? 60 percent reported being in “excellent health or very good health” and purposefully decided not to buy insurance. Then Doug noticed in different Newspapers, similar headlines appeared … Read entire article »
Filed under: News Items
Special ID to Buy Gas in 2010?
Having been hit by an uninsured motorist, I can understand how a measure like the one slated for Hawaii, might help cut that down, but there is something unsettling about a special card to buy gas. In a move completely ignored by the corporate media, the state of Hawaii has introduced resolutions in the Senate and House to initiate a study by the Insurance Commissioner to determine how best to deny gasoline purchases to uninsured motorists. In order to do this, the Hawaii Senate and House concur that “motor vehicle insurance companies issue motor vehicle insurance cards to insured drivers and to require that the card be either scanned electronically or examined by the sellers of gasoline in order to purchase gasoline.” … Read entire article »
Filed under: News Items
U.S. Now Financially Supports China’s Forced Abortions
“Coerced abortion is explicitly recognized as a violation of basic rights and principles.” — UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND Why are American taxpapers accepting the bill of China’s Forced Abortions? China is still supporting forced abortions and sterilizations – and now America’s tax dollars will help to finance it. One of the reasons President George W. Bush was convinced to drop funding for the United Nations Family Planning Agency (UNFPA) was an investigation by Population Research Institute (PRI) proving China’s role in forced abortions. Now, President Barack Obama has decided to resume funding. So while Congress sits on their high horses and complain about what CEO got what and how much, consider where else your tax dollars are going. News Story HERE … Read entire article »
Filed under: News Items
Smokescreens
According to Chuck Norris, the outcry regarding AIG is a newstory that is keeping us from the REAL story, a smokescreen if you will. First, while people blow a cork over AIG corruptions, far larger amounts of money are being funneled to European financial groups without a peep of protest. AIG employee bonuses are chump change in comparison. Where is the roughly $170 billion AIG received from taxpayers going? Some of the biggest beneficiaries of the bailouts are European financial affiliates of AIG. While AIG’s bailout money was distributed to American companies Goldman Sachs ($13 billion), Merrill Lynch ($7 billion) and Bank of America ($5 billion), European partners were making out like bandits, too. The banks include Societe Generale of France ($12 billion), the Deutsche Bank of Germany ($12 billion), Barclays of Britain … Read entire article »
Filed under: News Items
Obama, TARP, Money and Control
Government forces bank to take TARP money Bank gives it back. Government says no, keep it. Why? Control. Obama and team wants to have CONTROL over all our financial institutions. By STUART VARNEY I must be naive. I really thought the administration would welcome the return of bank bailout money. Some $340 million in TARP cash flowed back this week from four small banks in Louisiana, New York, Indiana and California. This isn’t much when we routinely talk in trillions, but clearly that money has not been wasted or otherwise sunk down Wall Street’s black hole. So why no cheering as the cash comes back? My answer: The government wants to control the banks, just as it now controls GM and Chrysler, and will surely control the health industry in the not-too-distant future. Keeping them TARP-stuffed is … Read entire article »
Filed under: News Items
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Ok, I have to sneak in a movie I like once in a while, so I made this movie part of our study of the French Revolution. Interestingly enough, the term, “New World Order” was used in the movie, the same as spoken in the recent G20 Summit. The Plot: In 1792, during the bloodthirsty, early stages of the French Revolution, Marguerite St. Just, a beautiful French ex-actress, is the wife of the wealthy English fop Sir Percy Blakeney, a baronet. Before their marriage, Marguerite had said unintended things in private that had resulted in sending French aristocrat the Marquis de St. Cyr and his sons to the guillotine. When Percy found out, he became estranged from his wife. Meanwhile, a secret society of 19 English aristocrats, the “League of the Scarlet Pimpernel”, … Read entire article »
Filed under: General
Obama, Oh No.
Pledge Broken To be sure, Obama’s tax promises in last year’s campaign were most often made in the context of income taxes. Not always. “I can make a firm pledge,” he said in Dover, N.H., on Sept. 12. “Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.” He repeatedly vowed “you will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime.” Now in office, Obama, who stopped smoking but has admitted he slips now and then, signed a law raising the tobacco tax nearly 62 cents on a pack of cigarettes, to $1.01. Other tobacco products saw similarly steep increases. Blunder, Day One The normally savvy media mavens … Read entire article »
Filed under: News Items
Archives
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
Recent Comments