βFor the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.β ββ2 Corinthiansβ¬ β12:10β¬ βESVβ¬β¬
When I am weak, then I am strong.
Sometimes you need the right people to help you get back on track.
We are again muzzled at work. It’s a requirement. I wouldn’t say I like this at all. I believe we’re 500+ days into this βslow the curveβ thing.
It’s not natural. It’s not something a free people do. We don’t bend to the will of the government, do we?
Things will change. If enough people finally wake up and refuse this.
Tomorrow is a big day for me in more ways than one. But for tonight…
This morning we started early and got to work around the house; I went to the bank and got groceries.
Back to the regular humdrum of everyday life.
Then the texts start. Work never stops.
This morning I found out I was on the schedule to work today even though I had a planned vacation day. No problem. I sent a text to the boss and got my schedule changed.
I’ve said it before. He’s a good man. It ain’t his fault. We rely on a computer to do our scheduling. I’m not too fond of it, but I don’t pay for it either. At least not with money.
We were supposed to start resets for a customer today. All the stores have resets this week. Usually, this is spread over two weeks, but no. Why do it that way? Why use a tried and true method?
In a text to one of my part-timers this morning:
Make the plan.
Execute the plan.
Plan goes off the rails.
Throw away the plan.
Weβre already at #3 Iβll bet and no one even made it to work yet.
It doesn’t have to be this way; there’s always a plan. I have plans A, B, and C always ready. We should never be at a point of no plan or lousy plan and just let those be the two choices. No.
I’m losing my focus.
I’m losing my drive.
I’m losing my want to show up for the job.
That ain’t good.
If I had another job to go right into, I would drop notice tomorrow. And that ain’t good either.
First things first, today marks twenty-three years we’ve been married.
Has it been all sunshine and roses? No.
For one, life has its storms. Secondly, she has all kinds of allergies, and she doesn’t like flowers.
All you young guys, find yourself someone who will put up with who you actually are. Donβt settle for someone that you have to be fake in front of. Get you a woman who will love you for all of your strengths and all of your weaknesses.
Thatβs what I did. Her strengths shore up my weaknesses. My strengths shore up her weaknesses. We are a perfect match.
It isn’t easy to find someone like that. But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it for twenty-six years. I think Mags has too.
Happy anniversary, Mags! Hereβs to twenty-three more and going back to the top of some random mountain.
We’re headed home today and that means a last drive along the BRP and a trail or two.
But we gotta fuel up.
We’re creatures of habit.
We find a place we like, and we go there. The prices here are great, and the food is phenomenal.
It’s not crowded; many people don’t even give the place a second glance because the road is just a means to get from point A to point B. We take it slow and find neat places. And that’s what the journey is all about.
Good coffee. No-frills food. My kinda place.
Foodβs here. I’ll be back later.
We headed on down the BRP after breakfast trying to get over to finally hike Devilβs Courthouse.
It was rough driving this morning due to fog.
BRP in the fog.
I need to stop here and do a little PSA.
If you’ve never driven this road, then your first time attempting it shouldn’t be in the fog. There are signs posted warning against driving in these conditions.
IF you do take this chance, please, for the love of God, turn on your blasted headlights.
I’m extremely comfortable with this road. It’s one of the few things in life I can call a real passion. I know this road.
I saw so many people not slowing down for road conditions, no lights on, pulling out in front of folks this morning.
I want to get home safe. I want her home safe. I want everyone to get home safe.
We finally made it back to Devilβs Courthouse today.
Mags taught me an important lesson today; she doesn’t rush because of her knees. I tend to power up the hills. She had me slow down to her pace, and I was barely winded when we reached the summit. Another life lesson, find someone who can always make you better.
The view from here is impressive, even when it is hampered by cloud cover, like today. There’s a cave underneath where peregrine falcons come to breed. I’d love to see the cave, but it is understandably off-limits.
We said we would. We did.
We made great time going up today. Probably because we already knew what to expect. I was still impressed. Neither of us even broke a sweat.
And this was kind of our thing for our anniversary and a theme for our marriage. We said we were going back to the summit of the Courthouse today, and we did.
We said I do twenty-three years ago, and we have. We will continue to do so.
Twenty-three years ago today, we both went all in.
We headed out to Graveyard Fields today expecting a leisurely walk to a nice waterfall. We were sorely mistaken. Literally sorely mistaken.
There are many things we could do and want to, but as she said today, we aren’t in shape enough to do some of them.
The Upper Falls we’re worth the hike, and the soreness, though. We will pay for it over the next couple of days.
Devils Courthouse is tomorrow. We’re pacing ourselves, and we can pick it up on the drive out home. It’s right off the parkway.
Masonic Marker
We decided to take a ride and visit some old haunts the rest of the day.
One of these is the Masonic Marker off the parkway down past Mile High Overlook.
There’s supposedly a Deep Underground Military Base there or D.U.M.B.
A couple of years ago, we saw a military vehicle parked at Mile High overlook one night, and it was still there the following day.
Now you can believe what you want, everywhere else along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the phone service is terrible. Running most of the stuff on this blog this week has had to go through Wi-Fi. Iβm lucky I stayed at hotels with great Wi-Fi because thereβs not a lot up here.
Out at the Masonic Marker, though, Iβm uploading five or six pics for an IG post, checking email and Twitter. Go figure. Maybe they finally got a good signal up here, or maybe thereβs a bit of truth to what people talk about.
Cherokee Veterans Park
There are a few places you can feel pride and see pride in the service of others anymore.
One of those is the Cherokee Veterans Park in Cherokee, North Carolina.
I am proud of my service. I am proud of anyone who served in anyone who served with me. No greater sacrifice can a man make than to lay down his life for his brother or sister. And all my sisters in service or who have served this goes for you too.
And then this, but you can feel the pride of the Cherokee people for those who have served. I know this park is all about the Cherokee tribe members, but I feel like theyβre glad to have had all of us, and I am thankful for that.
I am very curious about the statue of PFC Charles George. The placement of the statue in the way it faces seems to be symbolic of something. Iβm thinking Iβm going to contact someone in the Cherokee tribe and find out why itβs placed like itβs placed.
PFC George was a Medal Of Honor recipient. He was killed in action November 1952.
After all that, it was visiting friends here and grabbing coffee, trying to catch the sunset, grabbing dinner.
And she suggested we head to Soco Falls. Itβs an impressive little waterfall just off the old route between Cherokee and Maggie Valley. Itβs always hard to park there, but we slid right in.
Soco Falls
Weβve had a good couple of days up here together. Trafficβs been like the crowds havenβt been bad. Itβs been pretty much perfect.
Cade’s Cove. She won’t let me escape that. (I secretly enjoy it.)
Look Rock.
Sevierville and Pigeon Forge.
Clingmanβs Dome.
“Make the plan. Execute the plan. Expect the plan to go off the rails. Throw away the plan.β
L. Snart
Not a bad view for breakfast.
This did not go as planned.
Cade’s Cove was great. We saw three bears! A full-grown one and two cubs. Along with the various other wildlife we usually run across. Always a good time, especially when she gets so excited.
Look Rock started out odd and we got lost a bit.
We ended up walking on a closed road due to a bad Google review. Apparently they didn’t know where they were in relation to the actual observation platform.
If you know how to read and don’t drive on by the signs, you’re okay. We do know how to read and passed right by this one.
It’s a neat little hike, paved the whole way although it’s got some steep incline throughout. We ain’t in the best of shape so some heavy breathing happened. Not the good kind.
Worth going to at least once. For us anyway.
Pigeon Forge was kind of a bust but we continued on to Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountain Knife Works.
It’s the world largest knife store and my kind of place.
The 23rd wedding anniversary gift is a silver plate by tradition. We got each other knives and the blades are silver in color. We will take it.
Clingmanβs Dome didn’t happen today. We opted for taking the other way home and seeing more of the state. Then dinner at a favorite restaurant.
I started the day with the sun to my back which is odd; usually, I’m headed in to work being blinded by it.
Nope. Today we head off to the mountains for a couple of days. I had to take off the trash and get some things sorted before we left.
We spent the better part of our day travelling to where we’re staying.
πΆNo particular place to go…
The original plan was to hit Graveyard Fields and hike out to the Upper Falls. But it’s hot and we were tired.
The road takes it out of ya.
Here. Showered. Rested. Time to go out and forage for grub.
We ended up going over the mountain and into Tennessee to find supper. We’ve never been in Gatlinburg in the evening. It was actually kind of pleasant. Not a lot of people, still hot though. Did a little window shopping, stopped by the tobacco store and then took the ride back. Just spending time together.
Mags. Not gonna have it.
Back in the valley and I wanted to do something I’ve never really had the chance to do with the kids, and that’s to get some night shots. She is supportive of my hobbies like photography and this blog. BUT, when it comes to chilly, she would go with me, but she doesn’t wanna.
One of the dippers. Not too shabby from an iPhone.
Back at Route 19 Inn, there are many nostalgic pieces to go with the theme of the place. I’ll add more pics later, but I saw this tonight.
Almost twenty-three years ago, I married a gal who just happened to be the love of my life and my best friend all wrapped up in one sweet package.
Thar she be!
To celebrate that union and twenty-six actual years together, we are taking off for the weekend sans kids (and cats) for some much-needed time alone together.
The past year and a half and all the pandemic insanity kept us at home our last anniversary, but now we are venturing back out into the world.
From postcardgems.blogspot
And if you need to find us, you probably won’t be able to, but Iβll narrow it down for you. We will be somewhere along the BRP and in the GSMNP.
We’ve found a couple of new spots and will be visiting old haunts.
The adventure starts tomorrow morning but tonight…
This came up in my memories on FB today, and I can admit when I’m in the wrong.
I received a free code from my company for the movie, so I didn’t pay for it. But I would have.
The wife loves this movie, quite possibly because one of the heroes is a PTA, and she is a PTA. I catch her rewatching the movie several times a year.
The board game is barely even referenced in the film. The writer could have left that out and made a great sci-fi adventure just the same.
There are several actors that I’ve enjoyed in a lot of other films and shows. Taylor Kitsch, Alexander SkarsgΓ₯rd, Liam Neeson just to name a few.
More importantly, featured in the film, is Col. Gregory D. Gadson. A real American hero.
Image from IMDB
From his IMDB profile:
Col. Gregory D. Gadson assumed command June 25, 2012, of Fort Belvoir, Va., a 47,000-strong garrison in its 100th year of service. Gadson graduated from West Point in 1989 and holds Masters Degrees in Information Systems and Policy Management from Webster University. He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the Advanced Field Artillery Officers Course and in 2010, he became an Army War College Fellow at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C.
Gadson, was returning from a memorial service in Baghdad for two Soldiers from his brigade on May 7, 2007, when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. He lost both legs above the knee and suffered a severe injury to his right arm.
He became one of the first Soldiers fitted with a next-generation powered prosthetic knee. It allows amputees to walk with a more natural gait. Rather than taking a medical retirement, Gadson requested to stay on active duty. Gadson returned to active duty to serve almost two years as director of the Army Wounded Warrior program before being selected to command Fort Belvoir.
And then there’s my favorite scene:
From the trivia on the IMDB Battleship entry:
The veterans of the U.S.S. Missouri that Stone Hopper mentions are real life vets of the U.S.S. Missouri.
Alex Hopper’s calling upon the retired veterans to help crew the Missouri is inspired by actual historical events.
When the Iowa class battleships were reactivated in the 1980’s, the Navy had to recall veterans who had served on the ships during World War II and Korea, so they could teach the new crews how to operate the guns, fire control systems and other 1940’s era technology.
It’s a fun movie and a great way to spend a couple of hours.
Wholly unbelievable, big explosions, and the American military kicking ass. Just a good time.
The wife and I have been watching CBSβ Instinct. We both love crime dramas, and this fits the bill.
Former CIA operative is lured back to his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer. Dr. Dylan Reinhart (Alan Cumming) is a gifted author and university professor living a quiet life teaching psychopathic behavior to packed classes of adoring students. But when top NYPD detective Lizzie Needham (Bojana Novakovic) appeals to him to help her catch a serial murderer who is using Dylan’s first book as a tutorial, Dylan is compelled by the case, comes out of retirement and taps into his old skill set. Though Dylan and Lizzie initially clash, when it comes to catching killers, they realize they will make an ideal team if they both trust their instincts. Based on the James Patterson book.
I love everything about the series. The partnership of the leads and the writing are top-notch.
Alan Cummings character being a gay lead in a married relationship, is written into the show and not forced. Itβs not there as a push but more of a way to tell the story normally. Iβm having a hard time coming up with the words to express this. Itβs not something I would usually watch, but the parts are played so well and not forced that the relationship between Dylan and Andy is enjoyable to watch develop.
It also helps that Naveen Andrews is in the cast, and he was one of my absolute favorite LOST castaways. I just like the guys style.
Bojana Novakovic is easy on the eyes and very funny in a sarcastic sort of way. Her pairing with Cummings plays extremely well.
The show puts me in mind of Elementarywhich may be a part of its downfall. Maybe itβs a little too close to the previous show.
Unfortunately, we are wrapping up our watch on this. Not because weβve binged it, but because it was canceled. The ratings werenβt there for it to continue, and itβs not likely that any of the streaming services will revive it.
