The Beginning....

The Beginning....
When William Least Heat-Moon toured the country many years ago, his steed, if you will, was a van that he named Ghost Dancing. His journey of America was 13,000 miles. His book is Blue Highways, A Journey Into America. My steed will be a Subaru WRX (traded for an XV Crosstrek). My travels will be, what in the past were called, the blue highways of Virginia. Years ago, maps showed secondary roads in blue. Yes, the ones less traveled.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

The Eagle Has(n't) Landed (Jack Higgins)... The Duck Has!


                                                    
The Chrysler Museum, in the background, is Norfolk's greatest attraction. The museum recently opened after extensive renovations.  To help celebrate, the Duck came to town. Had interesting comments to our local online paper: Yes, many making fun of the Duck.  Some questioning, What is art, and so on?

It seemed a great day for all. Everyone seemed in a good mood
and, of course, wanted their picture taken with the Duck.
The place was mobbed...I parked about a mile from the Duck.

Note: I took a bunch of black and white snaps. Yes, they were all of folks taking and having their pictures taken. Not sure what happened, the composition was OK but they looked like the devil. Washed out and one looked as though a piece of the Duck's head was missing. My processing software is basic and I'm not skilled. So, unless I can figure out a way of saving them, then this is it.


Do You Know Who Christopher Hitchens Is? If Not, You Should!

You know how we buy T-shirts: Vette, Ford, Mustang, Chevy, Bud, and so on.Well, I always wondered about that. Why would I spend my money to promote someone else's product? That surely doesn't make any sense, does it?

Then there's the Jeff Gordon, Red Skins, and so on.....which is a little more understandable. Also, there's the college T-shirts and the travel T-shirts; I went to France and want you to know it.
 
This photo/snap is a T-shirt I just bought. Yep, Hitch Slap!  Yes, Christopher Hitchens.


I do on occasion buy T-shirts that have a message. Yes, that have something to say. And, I couldn't resist this one. I'm not sure what I expect to happen. Maybe, someday I'll be wearing it and someone will ask me about it and I'll have the opportunity to engage them in conversation. Well, that most likely won't happen, but what the heck, it's possible.


Where was I? Though Hitch has written many books, his best known is god is not Great.    

Like many of us, I get these emails saying I can have lunch with the President. Yep, pony up $5,000 and so on. Terrific.



Occasionally, the question will be posed, who would you like to have dinner with? Or have a beer with? Out of everyone out there? Who would you chose?

Well, if he were still alive, my first choice would be Christopher Hitchens.

I'm not going to go on and on about Mr. Hitchens. What I will say, if you don't know about Mr. Hitchens, you should. Here's a good place to start.



Saturday, May 24, 2014

Hwy 55....Great Food, Reasonable Prices, Terrific Old-Time Ambiance, Pleasant Staff, and Attentive Servers.....






Have been a little under the weather lately. Wanted to get out today, temperatures in low 70s, bright sky with no overcast.

Went by Sea Shore State Park for a few minutes and then off to Hwy 55.


Got what I think is called the Andy Burger...though could be wrong. Anyway, it's a huge cheeseburger with a ton of fries.

Lauren, my waitress, is on summer break from Quinnipiac University where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in physical therapy.

Quinnipiac sound familiar? Yep, they are the folks who do all the polls.

Thanks Lauren for putting up with an old guy.

All in all, a pleasant day.

I'm enjoying using black and white. I used the original GR, often called GRI, ASA 400, and little PP.



BTW, He is still alive. But, Hey, you guys knew that, didn't you?



Saturday, May 10, 2014

Don't Want To Go To Hell?....This Limited-Time Offer is For the Original Real Get-Out-Of-Hell Card! Quantities Limited!

Folks, do you really want to end-up in Hell? Seriously, you go to church every Sunday, tithe a little, maybe even go to a Bible study group...you know, all of these efforts are to stay out of Hell and to go to the good place.

Yep, you want to join God and Jesus, angels, and heck, maybe even the Holy Spirit. But, what if you're a little lacking? You know, you've SINNED!  Maybe even by accident, but, accident or not, hey, you're going to Hell, with Mr. Bad, the Devil. And, as we all know, you're going to burn in Hell for an eternity. Folks, there's no way out..... Well, there wasn't until recently.

Listen closely.

This is the genuine, real-deal,
Get-Out-of-Hell card. This is not an imitation like you see all the time on late-night TV. This is the real deal.

This card has been anointed and prayed over. This is not some cheaply made paper
Get-Out-of-Hell card. No, this is the only Get-Out-of-Hell card that you have can faith in. Yes, this is the one that maybe your neighbors have talked about.

Some of the cheaper ones that aren't even made in the good old USA will not work. We hear horror stories about those cards all the time.

Listen, no, we aren't saying you can go out there and sin with impunity??? Well, OK, maybe we are.

Listen, we want you to lead a blessed life in the name of our holy Father and Jesus, but we do understand that dang, we just have to sin sometimes, you know what we mean. No, no, aren't exactly advocates of sin....we really aren't. Well, not actually.

I guess the Get-Out-of-Hell card is the same as an insurance policy. Just like you insure your house and car...you don't want to have a wreck or have your house burn, but it's a just in-case.

And, please remember, presently we can only help you if you have the card when you need it. Don't try and order when you're on your way.... Yes, we are working on that but it will be a while and pretty pricey.

To buy your card visit our website for full information.

Get-Out-of-Hell Card.DON'TGOTOHELL.com

Friday, May 9, 2014

No Frill Grill....Dinner With Mr. Charlie..........


Sage Jennings, 21, helped us with our orders. Did a great job. Sage has been working at the No Frill Grill in Virginia Beach (there's a No Frill in Norfolk) since he was 15! He's presently taking acting lessons and hopes to one day....well, be an actor. He also has an interest in stand-up comedy. A nice young fellow.

As you can see, tonight is a black and white night. I used the original GR digital, that most people call GRI. The snaps are either ASA 400 or 800 with little post processing.

For the past couple of years we've been meeting at the No Frill Grill in Virginia Beach.







Mr. Charlie? Mr. Charlie and I met 20-plus years ago at Virginia Beach Emergency Services. Some of the clients had trouble pronouncing Charlie's last name and referred to him as, yes, Mr. Charlie. Over the years we've met for lunch or dinner. For a time once a week....and, now I guess every few months. It's always great to see Charlie.

Charlie had fish tacos and I had flounder. My snap of the flounder wasn't all that good....so, here's my flounder with Charlie's tacos.

We both enjoyed our meals and as mentioned above Sage provided great attentive service.


Though we rarely get desert, for some reason we split a brownie topped with ice cream and whipped cream. Yes, it was pretty good.



 A great evening......

Saturday, May 3, 2014

So Glad to Be an American and Living in the USA.... Sharia Law Comes to Brunei.

Photo taken September 13, 2001, Norfolk, Virginia.
Do I have complaints about my country? Of course. I think most of us do.

One of my biggest is our political system. It needs a complete overhaul. The way it is now you can't get elected unless you have money-a lot of money. And, how do our politicians pay back the people who are forking over the money to get  them elected?

We need a political system that doesn't have fundraising, period!

And, wise guy, how would that work? Well, I have a few ideas, but that's not the purpose of these few words.


Do I get up in the morning and pray to a god that I'm grateful for living in the US? Nope, actually I don't pray, period. And, while it may not sound like much to many of us, that's a pretty big deal when you look around the world and see what other people have to put up with. Yes, being killed because they believe in the wrong god.

When I read the article on CNN about Brunei going to sharia law, did I know where Brunei is? No, I do now. Yes, it's on the island of Borneo.

What follows is from the CNN article:

Brunei has become the first East Asian country to adopt sharia law, despite widespread condemnation from international human rights groups.

The Islamic criminal law is set to include punishments such as flogging, dismemberment and death by stoning for crimes such as rape, adultery and sodomy. The religious laws will operate alongside the existing civil penal code.

The country already follows a more conservative Islamic rule than neighboring Muslim-dominated countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, and has implemented strict religiously-motivated laws, such as the banning of the sale of alcohol.
Consensual sex between homosexuals will also be criminalized, with death by stoning the prescribed punishment.

A number of UN studies have revealed that women are more likely to be sentenced to death by stoning, due to deeply entrenched discrimination and stereotyping against them.

****************************************************************
September 13, 2001, Norfolk, Virginia. Flags half-mast.
So, anyway folks, I'm glad I live in a country where if I wanted, I can shout out, "Fuck all gods." And, our government can't haul me away, chop off my arms, behead me, or stone me. Yes, I'm sure there are a few of my religious brothers and sisters who might smack me around or shoot me, but at least my government will leave me alone. Would I actually want to say that? Of course not. I don't believe in gods, so it'd be kind of silly to say something like that. And, folks, when you look at many parts of our world, that's a pretty big deal.Yes, to say what we want when we want.

Every once in a while we should all think about all the the rights and privileges we have. And, truly appreciate them. And, heck, if you are so inclined, you can pray to any god you want and give him or her credit for it all. We live in America folks and that's allowed.

If you haven't met Pat Condell, now might be a good time. He has lots to say about lots of things, and yes, he covers sharia law.