Twins First Christmas

Since the twins were born Jan. 16, 2009, it has been a year full of first. Each one important to each of us in this wonderful world of being grand parents!

This month was celebrating their first Christmas. A trip from Cordova, TN, to Natchez, MS and then to Brandon, MS, for the holidays before returning back to Tennessee on Sunday.

Dianne did the reading of Twas The Night Before Christmas Texas Style as usual. The twins at times seemed to be listening, then at other times distracted by their new surroundings at our house.

From the looks of Joel and Jennifer's Jeep vehicle, it's a wonder they didn't have to leave the twins with us in order to pack everything in the way of gifts in and on top of their vehicle.

The twins learned from their parents the art of tearing thru wrapping paper to get to the "goodies" inside. Still grasping that process, but fully expect them to be experts this time next year.

What wonderful children's toys are made today for these little ones. Tables with different lights, moving parts, voices talking, etc. And of course, Mary Presley's first Christmas baby and Sterling's truck.

While the walking hasn't taken place for either twin, precautions were taken to reduce the potential of physical injury with furniture in the room and of course, covering the brick fireplace shelf.

All in all, a wonderful time to experience Christmas with the twins. Next big event - First Birthday Party in January!

Soldier Home for Christmas!

Christmas comes around at the end of each year. Nothing new about that event. We meet at homes, businesses and eating establishments to continue our relationships with family, business associates and friends under the umbrella of the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of the United States of America. But, there are times in your life when you have the opportunity to experience something unique and touching.


In 2004, I purchased a new Nissan Altima from one of our local Nissan dealerships. Due to poor customer service, I moved my maintenance needs to another Nissan dealership. What did I find at this new dealership--customer service the way you expect and would want to treat others if the roles were reversed. Friendly, professional personnel who have a vested interest in taking care of your automobile needs. Because of that treatment, I don't have any need to take my automobile anywhere else in the Jackson metroplex.


A few days ago I noticed on my Facebook account that my Assistant Service Manager's son had been delayed out of Kuwait to return home for the Christmas holidays. Then yesterday morning I saw on my account he was to arrive in Jackson approximate 12:00 noon. So, I picked up my phone and called Kendall to see if that time was solid or just a good estimate. No, she replied, somewhere between 12:00 and 12:45pm he should arrive from Atlanta's airport. Since I didn't need to be at the GNC store until 3:00pm, I had a window of time to take some digital images of that arrival!

At the Jackson-Evers International Airport, I visited briefly with several employees of Southwest Airlines and Delta Airlines that I have known for years.

Once I had my camera equipment assembled, I turned around and Kendall was checking out the arrival times from Delta. To her surprise, Joshua was already waiting outside the terminal!


Let the fun and excitement begin! Family and friends pounced on poor Joshua outside. Tears of relief that he was safely home for a few days sunk into everyone's mind. The twenty-hour travel time from Kuwait was finally over.


Now it was time to unwind, visit with his personal family of Tammy and Lexi, parents, relatives and probably other friends from the past. All in the comfort of being home for the holidays.


While I didn't know Joshua, Tammy and Lexi until this moment in time, it was an experience in 2009 I won't soon forget.


And that's how every Christmas should be experienced--celebrating Christ, family, friends and food, in that order. Some kind of Christmas for Kendall's family, wouldn't you say?!







There are soldiers and support staff who continue at their outposts protecting our freedoms in the United States of America. Won't it be a grand celebration as each one of them come home to be with family and friends after completing their mission! AMEN

Linden Plantation

Dear friends of ours has two daughters. The youngest, Whitney, is married to Cameron Dinkins and they have a son, Banks, and a daughter, Linden.

Cameron's family has owned Linden Plantation is Glen Allen, MS, for three generations. Cameron is A-1 hunter and fisherman! While he doesn't allow his Hunt Club hunt deer during the season, there is more than enough to hunt ducks, doves and fish on Lake Washington!

Cameron and Whitney are in the process of updating (just completed having the exterior brick re-grouted) the two-story home. It will take time, but the progress can already be seen and it is wonderful.

Four couples, including Dianne and me, travel to Linden Plantation on Friday, Dec. 4th to enjoy a few days of R & R plus playing bridge. The house had been decorated by Whitney and her mother Sharron for the Christmas holidays.

Cameron was busy the entire weekend with a group of duck hunters assisting them in bagging their limit.

One of the spectacular views on the grounds of Linden Plantation is the ginko tree in the front year. Considered to be the largest ginko tree in the state of Mississippi, the image of the yellow leaves of the tree falling to the ground is a wonderful experience. We were at Linden Plantation at the best time for this annual event. So, several images with this blog include the original image, a sepia image, a graphic pen image and a infrared image of the same ginko tree.

The final images on this blog are a picture of our group with the ginko in the background and the second image with the main entrance to the home.

What a wonderful time with special friends. We all look forward to a return visit.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year to celebrate live, family and blessings. This year that was especially true since our twin grandchildren celebrated this holiday with us for the first time in their lives.

As one would expect, the twins slept from Memphis to Jackson. So, our duty as grandparents was to get them wired for a later than normal time to go to bed! We were successful in that duty.

Thursday, my son-in-law, Joel, and I made our way to the Bass Pro Shop building. Joel came home with several new items, but my focus was look only, no buying. My new reduce the money going out policy.

After a grand late lunch by Dianne and the girls, several football games watched, and more playing with the grandchildren, Thursday ended.

Friday was more visiting and playing with the grandchildren and taking images of this family of our at one of our parks. The weather was tolerable with sunshine and moderate temperatures. We took images at several locations to give our daughter and son-in-law options. Well, some of those images are not only located with this blog, but on my facebook page and our daughter's blog page!

For once, I have an image with the two grandchildren and I'm not zoned out asleep!

LSU vs Ole Miss

My last of three trips to the Ole Miss campus came on Friday, November 20th, to prepare for the LSU vs Ole Miss game on Saturday afternoon. For those of you unfamiliar with this rivalry it doesn't come any closer to an all-out war when these two schools meet on the gridiron!


I drove to the campus the night before the game to get a parking spot. This being the last home game for the year and against LSU, parking could easily become a problem on game day. So, I spent the night with one of our friend's son who is a residence director across the street from The Union and The Grove where all of the action takes place before game time.


A nice easy Saturday morning began with overcast skies, but moderate to cool temperatures. The featured event for me was the approval of the band director at Ole Miss approval for me to use his aluminum ladder in The Grove to snap the band before their short "concert" before moving to the stadium.


Using my fisheye lens made this task easier, but I did need to take three images to later photoshop into one image. That task completed it was now time to listen to the band and move to the stadium, pick up my sidelines pass at the Media Gate and collect my thoughts for the game.


While the weather wasn't as balmy and sunny as the prior week, it was a few degrees warmer than two weeks prior for the N. Arizona game.

I delivered the images to my cheerleader contact for her to have a print of the University of Tennessee image I took of them. And, now it was show time for the two football teams.


To say this was a classic game in the SEC was truly an understatement. CBS was thrilled with the entire game and the utter ear shattering noise in the last three minutes of the game.


I was positioned behind the north endzone for the LSU touchdown that pulled them to within two points from tying the game. A successful onside kickoff for LSU and they began their final drive to win the game.


Unfortunately, the LSU coaching staff allowed seventeen precious seconds elapse off the clock before calling their last timeout. That proved to be a disaster because it now was first and goal at the Ole Miss six yard line. But, with only one second left in the game, LSU couldn't get a play off nor bring on their field goal team for what would have been the winning score.








So, Ole Miss fans were higher than a kite during those last three minutes and with the final score.


I moved toward the Ole Miss tunnel where the cheerleaders had store their gear in a room before the game. Unfortunately, someone broke into that room during the game and stole the cheerleader's drivers license, credit cards, cash and cell phones. Such a terrible event after a wonderful game.


So, the images I had given my contact there were now in the hands of the robbers. Those images can and were replaced. But, the items stolen from the cheerleaders could do great damage to their credit and lives. Hopefully, since that time those involved in this incident will have been apprehended, brought to justice and items returned to their owners.

Tennessee vs Ole Miss

The second weekend of November found me back on the interstate traveling to the Ole Miss campus for the Tenneessee game. Since this game had a kickoff time of 11:21am, I had to drive to Oxford on Friday night.

Fortunately, one of our dear friends has twin sons attending Ole Miss and one of them is a Residence Director for Deaton Hall. He was traveling that weekend to the University of Kentucky, so I had his four-room suite all to myself!

As you would expect before a big SEC football game, the Ole Miss fans setting up their tailgating tents in The Grove spent their joyous, loud conversations late into the night. That and other unique sounds found only in dormitory living were heard!

Saturday couldn't have been a better scripted weather forecast. Total sunshine, highs in the upper 60's and a shootout between two rivals in the SEC.

The usual order of things at Ole Miss on game day is to line up "The Walk of Champions" thru The Grove. The Ole Miss coaches and team pull up in their wonderful chartered buses and unload at the entrance to The Grove. As usual, I was allowed on the street and not behind the barriers like the Ole Miss fans. Once the team began making their way thru The Grove to the delight of the fans, I followed the last player thru The Grove and on to the stadium. They went into the locker room and I went to the Media Entrance to the stadium to check in and receive my final sideline pass.

Before the game, I was able to visit with a sophmore cheerleader at Ole Miss. Her dad was an Abilene Christian University graduate and practices medicine in Dallas. Her grandparents are ACU grads, also, and live in Abilene. So, once again, it's a small world and you must be careful what you say!

Tennessee has a new head coach, Lane Kiffen, and the season was an less than required record for the season for Tennessee fans! While they provided an entertaining game, it was basically all Ole Miss, or should we say all Dexter McCluster!

Dexter McCluster, is listed in the program as 5'9", 170 lb. running back from Largo, FL. Standing close to him on the sidelines during warmups, I question both the height and weight. Probably a taller and heavier listing than his actual measurements.

Dexter is one-of-a-kind player you see rarely. He is extremely gifted at any position you ask him to play. Great receiver, great running back, great punt return man. Only one problem--he can't play every down on offense nor be the key person in the play.

Well, when the dust settled at the end of the game, Dexter had set a new school record for total rushing yards of 296 and all-purpose yards of just over 300. A one-man show to say the least.

His first touchdown was directly in front of me and I thought he might hand me the ball in the endzone! Since over 80% of the time I am in the right part of the endzone action, I have decided to alert the coaches as to what clothes I am wearing for the receives and runners to run toward. Oh, did I forget to mention my fee per touchdown?!

Ole Miss beat Tennessee worse than the previous week against lowly N. Arizona. You couldn't tell it from the Ole Miss fans. They were relieved that the Rebels had one and it wasn't that much of a challenge. Now Ole Miss became bowl eligible with this important win.

Ideal weather conditions for fans and photographers alike. A win for Ole Miss. And a three hour drive back to our house in Brandon, MS! A full day and weekend to say the least.

N. Arizona vs Ole Miss

The first weekend of November found me traveling Interstate 55 North and Hwy 6 East to the campus of Ole Miss in Oxford, MS. A delightful town, with a beautiful campus of rolling hills, pine trees and pristine buildings on the campus.

Since this was a night game, I didn't make the trip until Saturday morning. Evening football image work is more challenging in relationship to the lighting at the stadium. Not my choice for when to shoot a game, but Ole Miss didn't ask for my suggestion of a noon kickoff!

Tickets for this game from Ole Miss season ticket holders were going for the incredible price of $.86 each of Stubhub! What a bargain to watch an SEC school play and lower division school that wouldn't count toward the six wins Ole Miss needed to be bowl eligible.

So, expectations were high that Ole Miss would have a basic scrimmage on their hands with no question as to the final outcome. The first quarter provided a different scenario than what Ole Miss has scripted or wanted. Ole Miss scores a touchdown and N. Arizona responds with a touchdown. Ole Miss drives for a second touchdown and N. Arizona responds in kind.

Halftime had Ole Miss leading by the thinest of margins. But, halftime adjustments by Ole Miss was the difference in the second half. N. Arizona didn't score after halftime.

So, Ole Miss fans went home with another win under their belt and N. Arizona traveled back to their campus with additional money in their athletic fund.

Florida vs L.S.U. College Football

I had a problem on my hands. In the late spring and early summer is when you petition the universities for photo credentials. You don't know when you send in the request if you will actually be approved. So, during the process I requested the Alabama game at Ole Miss and the Florida at L.S.U. game for the same weekend, hoping one would be approved.

You guessed it, both were approved. The October 10th Alabama vs Ole Miss game was scheduled for 2:30pm being televised by ESPN. The Florida vs L.S.U. game was to start at 7:00pm with CBS handling the television coverage. At the time Alabama was #2 in the country, Florida #1 and L.S.U. #4.




I couldn't do both games even if I had a private plane to fly me to both stadiums. Since I hadn't been to an L.S.U. game, the choice was easy - drive to Baton Rouge. From Jackson, MS, to Baton Rouge, is a rather easy drive since it is all interstate driving. But, the fun began once I left the interstate in Baton Rouge to snake my way toward the campus.


Remember me saying earlier that the game kickoff was 7pm? I am exiting the interstate in Baton Rouge at 2pm, but don't find a parking spot for one hour. But, the location I found was within six blocks of the stadium.

My son-in-law had told me earlier this year that it was a must to be positioned to watch the players walk down the street to the stadium, watch the band travel the same path, then stop. When all was quiet, the brass section would start the "Hold That Tiger" theme song. The hair on your arm will stand on end.

I noticed on the street both groups would be using there was a parking "arm" where you had to have a pass to enter. Security was there and I asked if I could stand there to take images for the university. No problem for them. All others had to be behind the barriers next to the curb. I had a front row seat to the activity.

At the appropriate time, here comes the coaching staff and players for L.S.U. dressed in suit and tie, except for one offensive lineman wear a bow tie with his suit. Next enter the L.S.U. Tiger Band. Led by the directors, then the spirit squad, called The Golden Girls, majorettes, then the band. The percussion section was on either side of me at "the island" location. At this point I remembered I hadn't brought my earplugs. Where was that coke/water/peanut vendor? Surely he was also selling earplugs!

My son-in-law was right on target. The Tiger Band started "Hold That Tiger" and the hair on my arm and neck moved to attention. Great experience that everyone should enjoy at least one time.

With my photo credentials, I moved with the band the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Basketball arena) for the band's thirty minute concert for the movers and shakers at L.S.U. I was able to walk behind the scorers table to take images of the band on the basketball court.
Now where was that vendor with the earplugs for sale?

After the "concert", we all exited the assembly center and to the stadium area across the street. Once my camera bag had been searched, for whatever that shouldn't enter the stadium, it's a short walk to the field.

To say the crowd was "juiced" for this game, is a total understatement! A record crowd, ready to see two of the top four teams play college football SEC style.

L.S.U.'s team enters the playing field from the north end zone and the visitor's from the south end zone. Both teams came out for warm ups and there's Tim Tebow suited up and warming up with the Florida Gators.

Here's one event that CBS didn't get coverage. L.S.U.'s team is leaving the field after circling up arm-in-arm and doing their "chant". As they leave the field, they notice that the Florida team has positioned themselves at mid-field over "Mike the Tiger" mascot that is painted on the field.

L.S.U.'s players begin to rush the 50-yard line for a "meeting". Coaches and officials separate the players and determine both teams should next exit the field to their locker rooms.

L.S.U.'s team enters the field first to play the game. The band is playing whatever, and now fireworks are going off in the south end zone where I'm positioned. Now where is that coke/water vendor with the ear plugs again?

I had positioned myself where the Florida Gators would enter the field to see about Tim Tebow. (This was his first game since the concussion.) The second string quarterback came out leading the team with Tebow at the very back.

Florida won the toss and chose to receive the kickoff. In the huddle before the kickoff was the second string quarterback for Florida. Tebow is on the sidelines. Interesting, made you believe Tebow would not be playing tonight.

Following the kickoff, Tebow's in the huddle with the offense and ready to start the game. Probably a little cat and mouse with the L.S.U. coaches as to who would start at quarterback.


The game was close for most of the game, but when Tebow completed the only touchdown in the game, I was once again right where the action took place. The Gator receiver caught the pass on the five yard line approximately 10 feet from where I was positioned! He scores and I'm caught on CBS television. Our friends watching the game back in Jackson thought they saw me, backed up their tevo unit, and there I was! Of course, since we don't own a tevo unit, Dianne and the girls didn't catch me on the sidelines wearing a yellow shirt, blending with everyone else!

Following the game was the drive back home, getting in bed at 2am. But, I could now saw I have been on the sidelines of an L.S.U. game with #1 playing #4 in the country and experienced the history of L.S.U. style SEC football.

Day of Disembarkment

Ah, that day finally came. Our time in Alaska has now come to a close and we are back in Seattle, Washington. Before our group left the ship, one final picture on the main stairs.

Every one was in a great mood and ready to head back to their homes.

And, thus, ends another wonderful experience and trip to the great state of Alaska!

Stay tuned. Dianne's sister mentioned recently that she would like to take a trip to----

you guessed it Alaska! Dianne's response--we'll go with you and your husband! That would be trip number five. I think I hear my luggage, camera case and camera equipment calling my name!

Ketchikan, Alaska

Our last port was Ketchikan, a small town which is famous for its "Creek Street", former brothel during the gold rush era. Ketchikan is unique in Alaska since its airport is a ferry boat ride across the inlet of water!

Two unique events took place while in Ketchikan and both had to do with salmon. The salmon were running late in Alaska this year. But, we saw for the first time on this cruise salmon running in the stream near Creek Street. It's amazing to watch these beautiful fish "sit" stationery in the water. What an amazing abilitiy.

The second salmon happening was watching a young boy fishing for salmon next to the boat slips. He worked hard to snare the fish, and began the labor intensive task of reeling his catch to the slip area. As he moved the fish closer to the slip, his dad brought the net to capture the prey. You guessed it. As the father gathered the salmon in the net, he accidently cut the line and the salmon excaped for another day. The crowd watch was wanting the son the push the dad into the water for that mistake!

Back onboard the ms Zaandam, we were pleasantly surprised that Holland American Lines has been raising money for breast cancer research, called On Deck For The Cure. Since Dianne's mother died of cancer, she purchased her t-shirt and joined the others to walk five miles on the deck in honor of her mother. Such a wonderful cause and idea for cruise ship passengers.

This night was the last night all the passengers would be onboard. (Our following night we would be porting in Victoria, B.C.). With that in mind, it was dress up night for the final dinner onboard.

The dinning area passengers were entertained by the wait staff with juggling act and singing. A wonderful night to end with the midnight buffet and the orchestra quartet playing.

Another night's rest, a full day of sailing at sea and porting in Victoria, B.C. early evening for approximately four hours.

Sitka, Alaska

Tuesday, July 21st must mean we were in Sitka, Alaska. This is the year that Alaska celebrates their 50th year as a state in the United States. Before that purchase, Russia owned this beautiful land. Sitka was the capital of Alaska under Russian rule.

Downtown is the small, but beautiful Russian Orthodox Church, wonderful shops, a Russian Cemetery, a wonderful overlook to the harbour area called Castle Hill and on the outskirts of town the incredible Raptor Center to rehab injured eagles.

Our cloudy morning started off early with a photographic tour excursion This particular excursion isn't designed to teach you how to use your camera equipment. It is not especially designed for the first-time visitor to Sitka.




This excursion takes you out of the city to the north to explore areas around Sitka that you normally wouldn't see. We visited several forest areas, noting different trees, plants, eagles, and yes, bear droppings.

During one of the forest hiking trails, our guide told us about the skunk cabbage plant. Black bears don' hibernate the entire winter period. When they do wake up, they are in need of unblocking their intestinal track. Well, the skunk cabbage handles that need extremely well. In fact, the guide continued, the "event" usually works within fifteen to twenty feet from the plant.

It was at this point that we noticed one of the skunk cabbage plants had missing leaves. Up ahead about fifteen feet was the "deposit". One of our traveling members on the cruise works for the 4-H Club in Mississippi. An avid hunter, he told us that deposit happened within the past two hours.









The image I included at this point is Dianne's foot NEXT to the dropping! From the camera angle it looks like her shoe is in the dropping, but actually it is CLOSE to it to show the size. (Granted, Dianne's shoe size is 5 1/2, but still gives you some perspective.)

During our hike his wife made the comment that she thought she could smell the bear near the bridge area. That coincided with the guide telling us it was time to head back to he van to leave the area. Maybe what he was really telling us was he had spotted the bear and it would serve us best to leave.

Our arrival back in downtown Sitka brought us to the lunch hour. A bowl of clam chowder, and other food products. The group decided to trek up the steps to Castle Hill. After seeing the harbour area and the location of our ship, you could then look out over the downtown area.















Our next stop, shopping, shopping and more shopping. Well, at least we looked in the stores. I had been looking on the internet for several months to find a long-sleeved casual shirt that had an animal print. Found it in Sitka! Well, really my 4-H Club buddy found it, but that's what I had been searching high and low.

In one of the fur stores, Dianne asked me if I wanted to purchase this full length fur coat that was on sale. On sale, my eye. The price tag did say it was on sale, but the sale price was over $25,000. Hard to choose, spend the money on a fur coat or a new car. Since I wasn't in the car buyer mode, let's just pass on this decision totally!

We rode one of the tenders back to our ship in the harbour and relaxed before our daily evening food feast and entertainment in the theatre.

Another night to see what towel animal waited on our bed in the stateroom, another good night's sleep and preparation to experience Ketchikan!

Glacier Bay Cruising

Monday, July 21st, was a peaceful day of cruising outside of Juneau in Glacier Bay. As you would expect, surrounded by icebergs and a glacier, the weather was the coolest since Dianne and I had be to Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm Fjord.

The weather was overcast, but didn't stop any of us onboard from taking numerous digital images and enjoying this beauty of nature.

If there was any disappointment at this glacier it was we didn't see any "calving" of the glacier wall. Calving is the term used when a piece or section of the glacier wall breaks off and falls into the icy waters.

On other cruises to the glaciers, we experienced different calving episodes. The process begin with a cracking sound similar to thunder. You draw your eyes toward that sound and within a few moments, you witness the calving event.

Some calving will be small slithers of frozen ice that has made it way to the front wall of the glacier. If you are fortunate, there can be large pieces of glacier ice that breaks off. On our previous cruise to Alaska, we witnessed a large, Christmas tree shaped size break off and fall into the waters. An incredible experience that looses much in writing about it versus seeing for yourself.

While the ship sat motionless in the icy waters, you had the option of drinking hot coffee, hot chocolate and even a bowl of pea soup! Now that's what I call roughing it!

We now begin our short cruise to the former capital of Alaska when Russia owned the country--Sitka.

As you would expect, we had time now to shop on the ship, relax on one of the decks, continue our eating process, relaxing in the room, taking a short nap, or all of the above!