I'm a what???

Well it looks like I ran afoul of the law this past weekend. We went out for a late drive heading north and it ended up taking us all the way to Middlesborough, Kentucky with a sliver of Virginia thrown in for good measure. In doing this we passed through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel. Heading into the tunnel we saw someone being pulled over coming out and I made some joke about it. On our return trip through the tunnel a friend riding with me extended his hand from the vehicle to take a picture. Upon exiting the tunnel I noticed a law enforcement vehicle sitting in the median and remarked they seem to be out thick tonight. That's when the lights came on and we pulled off the road. The officer approached and I rolled down the passenger window to speak with him. He asked if we had been brandishing a weapon in the tunnel as "they", I can allow assume "they" were watching cameras, had noticed a red light and a "device" being held out the window. We explained it was only a camera and showed him the picture that was taken. He took our ID's, my car registration and proof of insurance back to his car to check us out. When he returned them he explained we shouldn't be taking pictures because of the current threat of the big T ( I don't want to type the whole word you never know who's watching!). I have no idea what to make of this, and don't want to make too much out of it on the web lest the Men In Black come and spirit me away. All I can take away from all this is that America is incredibly paranoid, you can say what you want about protecting this and that but taking pictures as you drive? Come on, if we had stopped and taken pictures of specific things, I don't know something more than going 45 mph and photographing the road directly ahead, in a small town, hmmm, I just don't know. No pictures to post, if I did then they would be coming after me.

More Dragon Con

I just added a few more pictures to the Dragon Con set. Again sorry for the somewhat poor quality, I'm really kicking myself on this one.

Roll the dice

Sounds like I've been gambling. Nope just gaming (just a little) at Dragon Con this past Labor Day weekend. This is the second year for me at Dragon Con and for all the frustrations there were, long lines, moved panels, cancelling celebs, smelly fanboys, I still think of it as money and time well spent. I saw friends I don't usually get to (Bob, Dave, Andrew, "Onion") make new ones (Will, Harry, Kent, Sarah, and so many others), and of course hang with the usual suspects (Jim, Anna, Allison, Jon, Chris and Maria). I saw celebs (Kari and Eric were looking good) and missed others (Claudia and Vanessa), went to panels on one of my fan faves "The Venture Brothers" where Doc Hammer (one of the creators) talked about the past episodes and discussed some of the upcoming subjects (yes there will be a third season, and we do meet Dr. Orpheus' wife he says) and in the second panel he did a live commentary on one of the episodes and then answered even more questions. Probably the biggest disappointment was that the flash on my camera wasn't working and this in turned caused most of my photos to be just out of focus.

That was last weekend and this one is the TVA&I Fair. I know some people don't like it but I love the people watching aspect. I also find an odd window in to part of American culture that I don't usually see, the agricultural and animal husbandry that are so removed even in this so-called "back water" part of the country. I think it's cool that people still compete in the food contests, the 4H events, the knitting and sewing, it's not my thing but that's what interests me about it. Here's an example, how do you judge hay bailing? Think about it seriously for a minute, what are the properties, or aspects, or whatever you look for when you judge hay in squares? Somehow I think I like not knowing and keeping it a riddle to ponder. Maybe I'm a rube or a simpleton but I do really enjoy going. Check out the first batch of pictures, and yes it's just the first batch, I'm going at least two more times. Next time I'll get to the food that only lives at the Fair.

Over heard at Dragon Con...

Two young ladies dressed as Mario and Luigi, Luigi"Can I kiss you?" Mario "No, Batman might walk by."

BUSY???

Busy, am I? It's been said by me several times in this blog that I'm busy, and I'd love to blame it on LIFE! But I can't, ooo, paying bills, cleaning, cooking, yard work, day job, stress , yeah? MY ASS! Seems lots of other folks have time to do lots of extracurricular activities, I think I've just fallen into a pattern of sloth and laziness. It's easier to use the excuse of being busy than to expend the energy to get off my ass and do it. I've realized this since (of course) seeing someone else doing it. I love the nearsightedness of human nature. Slack on my part does not constitute a problem, only when you're doing it, damn it all! Time slough off this husk of self pity or whatever and get moving ... my favorite TV show is coming on!

Actually I'm beginning to get ready for Dragon*Con this year, and who knows maybe even ReMix Hotel later next month. Travel plans are always enjoyable for me, maybe I have a little OCD in me but that structure, knowing what's coming and the minutia of packing satisfies something in me. Not that I'm great at it, I just like doing it. This Dragon*Con is my second and the first time I'll be there for all 4 days. Lots of panels I want to see, the space elevator, NASA, the apocalypse talks, all the folks in costume (one of THE draws!) seeing friends, and hope making some new ones. Enough for now more later.

Late again, as usual.

I've been neglectful again with my posting. Things have been busy though, lots to do at work and home. If you looked at the retro-moderns you might have seen a couple of pictures from the wedding of a good friend, and ex-roommate Downtown Brown, which was the focus this last weekend. A really good and a cool wedding. Also started a new hobby, making chainmaille, yes like the armor from yester-year and days (or knights if you will) of old. Who knows maybe this'll come in handy some day.

More on the end of things.

If you read the last post you can probably guess that I love those post apocalyptic and disaster type of movies, books, comics, whatever, but I have to say that Cormac McCarthy has written one that stands out in a very crowded genre, "The Road". It is literature, it is eloquent in its stark portrayal of the end, in a world stripped bare and burnt, the characters even lack names. How did the end come about? We as the readers aren't given that info in its complete state, I don't know if the characters know for certain what's transpired. It doesn't matter, the story is the father, his son and their struggle to survive. It won a Pulitzer Prize this year, read it if you dare. This story doesn't pull any punches and I have to be honest that made me love it, but other people I know have said it made them feel sad for days. Just like that first time I saw "The Day After" it served as a stark reminder that those apocalypse scenarios are not the rollicking shoot'em up and it'll be ok later we've seen in some movies. Not that I don't love those as well, but sometimes its good to reminded of the reality and consequences of the actions that we as a species commit have on the world around us.

Whew! Literature and social consciousness in one post, way too heavy. I can't wait to head to DragonCon and lighten up some.