Bell Creek & Wortham

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Time For a Break

I've been on vacation and have done some thinking. I don't feel like I've got all that much to say these days, so I'm going to take a break. I thank all of you who have read this blog and taken the time to comment on it. I'll still be reading yours.

One day I may have more to say and then I'll be back.

Skywatch Friday

Posting my Skywatch Friday entry tonight cause I've got to be in Orlando (shiver) all day tomorrow. Click on the link to see the sky as others see it.

These photos were taken last weekend out at Colt Creek State Park. I really liked the contrast of the one lone palm tree in the middle of the field of hay bales.

Who'd a Thunk It?

Started today (waaay too early) at a Chamber of Commerce Breakfast where the speakers talked about business blogging and using social networking. The audience ranged in experience from adept to clueless...Before this week I might have placed myself somewhere in the middle, but now I'm dropping myself back to maybe the 30% mark...

First, after receiving a number of invitations, I finally opened a Facebook account...Ever since then my friends (and I really do know every one of them personally) have exposed me to a multitude of ways in which the site is used...and I know I've only scratched the surface... It really is a giant spider web where you click on one person and you see the friends you have in common and then click on one of them and then another and before you know it you could be linked all over the world...It's easy to see how it can become addictive...Now I know how people find themselves sitting for hours surfing Facebook...The experience has been daunting as there's a whole etiquette out there that I don't know and don't understand...I hope I haven't hurt anyone's feelings through my ignorance...

Today, on the advice of the speakers, I opened a Twitter account for my office...I did a bit of searching and in minutes I found myself with 3 "followers"...Wow! 3 people cared enough to follow my thoughts...the feeling of power was heady...Again, not knowing the etiquette, I clicked to "follow" each of them, not wanting to be rude...

It seems that the whole world is now playing a giant game of "6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon" and there's no end in sight... Technology is advancing so rapidly that in a few years we'll all be carrying a small device the size of a deck of playing cards (which will, of course be obsolete by then, replaced by online poker) that will act as phone, tv, computer, gps and any other means of keeping in touch that may evolve...We'll all be constantly in touch with everyone...Kind of like the Borg on Star Trek, but without the funky headgear...As a child of the '50's, all I can say is "who'd a thunk it?"

Said Better Than I Could

I don't really write about politics, but there's only one thing on my mind this morning. When I first heard the news last night, I wrote my brother in Chicago to get his take on things...Haven't heard back from him yet. I know there's no evidence at this time, but I can only wonder at the 'willful blindness' of our President-elect. I have to ask how he could be a part of Illinois politics and NOT know that something shady was going on.

Instead of ranting on myself, I invite you to go over to The Troll Report
While I don't agree with some of his characterizations, he does a fine job of recapping the history of this disgraceful episode.

That's My World Tuesday - Manateees

I can't help it...I just love Manatees. Here's a series of pictures taken on the Chassahowitzka in Citrus County. This gentle creature allowed us to accompany him for quite some time. The white lines you see on his back are propeller scars where unthinking boaters ran right over him. Luckily he healed.






If you'd like to particpate, or just want to see the world through other's eyes, head on over to That's My World Tuesday.

For Jim

On Saturday, 12/6/08 at 5 minutes after midnight, Jim Earle left us. It was exactly 3 months to the day after he went into the emergency room because he'd been feeling short of breath.

This loss has hit me on different levels. First, I deeply mourn the loss of a friend. Second, I cannot imagine the pain his wife is experiencing and feel helpless to ease it in any way. And third, I'm just too young (in my own mind at least) to have friends that pass away.

Jim was funny & kind & generous to all. He will be missed by many. A tribute to him that is very worth reading can be found here.

Jim took many beautiful nature photos that can be found here.

Here's a picture of Jim & Evelyn taken at a geocaching event in Richloam (part of the Withlacoochee State Forest) back in September '06.


Jim, I know that you're already out hiking & exploring your new home, so see you out on the trails one day.