Worldless Wednesday

Camera Critters

I took this elephant's photo at the Pittsburgh Zoo last week. They have a nice set up, but it was sooo hot. I felt bad for the animals. The polar bears were miserable and kept trying to get back into their caves, but they were locked out.

Worldless Wednesday

Am I the only crazy one?

We went to the Penn State blue and white (inter team scrimmage) game over the weekend. It started out with an autograph session. I literally had to push people off my daughter as they were pushing her into the metal railing to get an autograph. That ticked me off. Getting hit in the back by a grown adult male really pushed the limits. I'm covered with bruises from it. All this for men to get an autograph?

Then the game started. Parents let their little darlings stand in front where only people in wheelchairs should be. I tried to be nice and tell them to sit down if they had to be there. Finally, one mother flipped out on me. How DARE I talk to her child? Ummmm ...... How dare she allow her precious to be so rude and inconsiderate? My two children sat beside me the entire game. They know better than to stand in front of people. Then that same shining example of motherhood riled up the entire section and had them send their kids to stand in front of me. Ohhhh, they sure showed me!

Am I the only person in the world who believes children should be taught simple manners? One father even threatened me (he was massive, I'm 5'2" and petite) that I better not even look at his daughter. SIGH!

Teaching children that the world revolves around them doesn't do them justice. One day, mommy won't be there to fight for them and they'll get the snot kicked out of them for thinking the world owes them because they're "special."

Sorry for the rant, it just really bothers me.

Camera Critters

We have been out of town since Friday, so I'm a day late on this, but still want to put one up. We were at the Pittsburgh Zoo on Friday, so I'll put up a photo from the zoo.

This gorilla is having a zen moment. :)

President Clinton

Yesterday, I had the rare honor of hearing former President Bill Clinton speak and got to shake his hand twice and got his AUTOGRAPH!!! The crowd had swelled to over 1,000 people by the time the doors opened and the President walked out. They were screaming his name and chanting for Hillary. He still has such extreme popularity that he could be re-elected tomorrow if he were allowed.

My mother and I got to the event at 10 a.m. and it was scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m. I helped out by passing out flags and Hillary buttons and just talking to people there. I wasn't covering the event for the paper this time because I wanted to get an autograph and that's a no-no. Hey, a girl needs to have her priorities! Besides the press had to be at the very BACK of the event, standing on a platform. I was in the very FRONT of the event.

I was in the front row, right in the corner of the VIP section. (It's good to have friends), so I was in the perfect spot for photos. I only took 278! :) The sun got to me and I had to sit down. They had a retired nurse spraying me with water and keeping track of my pulse and kept wanting to call the ambulance, but I wasn't about to leave.

He spoke for almost an hour with no notes, just from memory. He scored a lot of points and the crowd went wild when he talked about needing to fix the education system.

When his speech was over, he went to the railing to shake hands and give hugs. I had my scrapbook out and he took it and handed it to Secret Service along with dozens of other things people wanted signed. He went by me twice and grabbed my arm each time. If you ask my hubby why, he'll say it was the low cut top I was wearing, I say it's because of my beautiful eyes. :p

His staff brought out the books and papers about 15 minutes later and he had signed and dated each thing. I was beyond thrilled. I'll add a couple photos from yesterday to the page and it'll be a perfect memory of the day.

If you get a chance to go hear him speak, I highly recommend it. Even if you don't care for his politics, he is truly magnetic and very friendly.

Worldless Wednesday

Camera Critters

Of course, this is my beloved Adonis getting ready for a backpacking trip. I miss him every day, but especially when backpacking season is here. It's hard to go on our favorite trails and not see his smiling face racing beside me.


Just found this new Sunday meme thing for bloggers called Camera Critters from http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/, so I'll give it a try.

Elk Watching

I was out working near the elk herd's land and had to stop at several spots to photograph the magnificent animals. Have to love a job that allows these side trips.



It was early, around 8 a.m. when I went through the first time and they were out having breakfast. After working, it was around 10 and there was a herd of dozens and dozens at the Winslow Hill viewing area. I have never seen that before. Guess they knew there were no other tourists around. They seem to hide from them. It was lightly raining or I probably would have stood around longer, but the thought of ruining a very expensive Nikon D200 forced me back to the car.

On the way home, there were tons of turkey buzzards around. More than I have ever seen in one place. Guess there's lots of fresh road kill this morning because they were out feasting.

Washington D.C.

WOW! Yesterday was a very long day, but I got to see a lot of our nation's capital. Not everything, but quite a bit. My mother, her sister and I went on a bus trip to see the cherry blossoms, hoping there would be an opportunity to get out and see more. (It was pretty inexpensive and gave me a chance to get there) We left the house at 5 a.m. and got home around midnight.

My daughter made me a beautiful backpack for her school project since I can't carry my normal one. It's sparkly moons, stars and clouds on a dark blue background. It held just enough of the things I needed.

Our first chance to get off the bus once we arrived in D.C. was at the Wall. I had seen the traveling version as well as the permanent one in Altoona, so we skipped that and ran to see the Washington monument instead. Then off we went to see the Lincoln Monument. We were the only ones on the bus who went to either. They are really close, but the rest didn't want to walk the extra few yards. Their loss. The Lincoln was something to experience. We've all seen it on TV and in countless films (including Planet of the Apes where he had an ape's head), but it has to be seen to really appreciate the size and scope.

Our next stop was at the WW2 monument. I had never seen it before and it is another one that needs to be experienced at least once in a life time. It's huge! We only had a half hour there, so I didn't take time to run over to the Jefferson Memorial, just photographed it from across the street. Glad I had a decent lens with that had some zoom.

From there, we went to Union Station. It's impressive to look at, but the shops were WAY overpriced and the one tourist kiosk where they sold pins, spoons, etc... the two girls working there refused to wait on me, so I didn't even get a pin. Not a happy camper at that.

There are statues and a replica of the Liberty Bell outside, so I had to be content taking photos of that. It was sad to see all the homeless people around there. One man was eating out of the garbage. Coming from a very rural area, we just don't have that here.

That was to be our last chance to get out in D.C. because the driver missed a turn and we didn't get a chance to go to Arlington. I have uncles buried there and wanted to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but I guess that will have to wait for another time. Also didn't get to see the White House, except from a distance because the rest didn't want to walk. SIGH!

I did enjoy the trip and would do another bus tour, but think I'll make sure there's more chances to get out and move. My legs were so stiff by the time we got home, I could hardly stand.

Weekly hiking session

We went on our weekly hiking trip on Sunday. The ice was almost completely gone at the tunnel, the frogs were "talking" and the birds were flying and singing, so I guess spring might finally be here! Shhhh... better not say that too loud or Mother Nature will lay the smack down on us for sure.

I did much better this time and was able to carry my backpack the entire time, much to hubby's relief. Of course, he did have to put my jacket in his pack on the way home because it was too warm for it. That made all the difference for me.

The pack is a new one that my daughter made for me in her sewing class at school. It's very lightweight and beautiful. It's sparkly with crescent moons, stars and clouds on a dark blue background. She's very talented and plans to be a fashion designer after she graduates.

My dad and brother went with on this trip, but the kids stayed home with my mom. T can't be out in the wind because of his ear. It'll be another week and a half before he has his post-op check and the surgeon releases him to do all the normal things.

I'll be off to Washington D.C. in the morning, with my mom and her sister. Should be a fun day.

Democratic Spring Banquet

I was invited to cover the annual spring Democratic banquet over the weekend. The two Presidential candidates weren't there, but they had their representatives. For Obama, it was the one and only Jay Paterno. For those who don't know that name, he's the world-famous Penn State head football coach's Joe Paterno's son. Jay is the quarterback coach for Penn State. It was interesting to hear him talk and he was happy to sign my program. He didn't really tell much about what Obama is going to do for the country, but I learned a lot about being a football coach from a family of rabid Republicans.

For Hillary, it was US representative from Arkansas Marion Berry. He was very eloquent and spoke with a real down-home attitude. He explained that he didn't want to have his grandchildren ask him why he didn't do anything when he had the chance to change the way the country is going. (I have to agree big time there). He has known the Clintons for decades and said there is no way Hillary is going after our guns. That's one thing all the fear-mongers keep telling. I'm sure you've all heard it. It's against the Second Amendment and she won't even try. He also knows Obama and McCain. Of McCain, he said, "He means no harm to anyone, but he has absolutely no business in th Oval Office, but for a very short visit." Berry also was happy to sign his fact sheet.

There were several candidates for the 5th Congressional District. The current incumbent is retiring. The only one I had a chance to talk to is Rick Vilello. He's the current Mayor of Lock Haven and seems to be very sincere. I still haven't decided who to vote for though.

I was able to add a few new pins to my political pin collection - one for Hillary, one for Vilello and two different Obama ones.