tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89896788834192383642024-02-07T11:16:03.241-08:00Liv'n and Lov'n it<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
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|<a href="http://bit.ly/jPmAC"> Forest</a> </u>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-44914230058196529022012-04-01T21:51:00.000-07:002012-04-02T07:47:22.500-07:00Regional Kiwanis Special Olympics - 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIP6Y0iInVZnIDGltpG5Gstt5pSsD58UsKIV23KaFu4mfrOOB8OF5UGikuWyBrHWKovRGdMTUH33V5g5pzo3j0EN8j4GPaN6KbQIFIi-8FGPCrAJ-phYVpcXxJI0c6xhG0awDyi-Ns2Q/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIP6Y0iInVZnIDGltpG5Gstt5pSsD58UsKIV23KaFu4mfrOOB8OF5UGikuWyBrHWKovRGdMTUH33V5g5pzo3j0EN8j4GPaN6KbQIFIi-8FGPCrAJ-phYVpcXxJI0c6xhG0awDyi-Ns2Q/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6073.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camaraderie of seeking excellence in sports, as in life</td></tr>
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The annual Woodlands Texas Kiwanis Club regional Special Olympics was conducted at the Oak Ridge North High School stadium for the 28th consecutive year on Saturday, March 31, 2012. Special people engaged in athletic events, which made a special day in the lives of many local families and volunteers. Modified traditional track and field events were conducted in a way to challenge and to thrill those involved. You could see the energy and emotion in the eyes of volunteers, family and athletes. This was the first Special Olympics I have attended, and I was not disappointed. Some were struggling to win, others to finish and others to beat their own best record. Thanks to the seventeen tournament sponsors and the thirteen volunteer groups. Also thanks to the Montgomery County Hospital District for EMS and SWJ Southwest for donating awards. Oak Ridge Athletics programs provided facilities and assistance. Additional support was provided by seven additional organizations. Photos (below) provided by Woodlands Photo Studio.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuLjDeZpikHQkeKCUu8rh4J-4pa6owoRGY0ATfNnnfQxVC5vgfHJ9ZvWFVFhihz8upsLXYtG_-mmf-QOpQaTHf8UEBOnabMDPYnRRFpnxawz9HRz2r1eLCuP-vQAC1bNW_HOb5hJw1ec/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6000-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuLjDeZpikHQkeKCUu8rh4J-4pa6owoRGY0ATfNnnfQxVC5vgfHJ9ZvWFVFhihz8upsLXYtG_-mmf-QOpQaTHf8UEBOnabMDPYnRRFpnxawz9HRz2r1eLCuP-vQAC1bNW_HOb5hJw1ec/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6000-2.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening Ceremonies - Color Guard, Navy Recruiting, Houston</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-d7SG3hWFcCNwviw3Bl3_mtg-R3JtP6EexTijcZerwrb6Af1AhIzR7aFph_q3MH1fy0j6r05Q75EPmizGCGdLNiiKRIcw8WxT5W0Zxta-2GcBigJGzSbPxjGyTFk4VhCbRBiEN4m3WY/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-d7SG3hWFcCNwviw3Bl3_mtg-R3JtP6EexTijcZerwrb6Af1AhIzR7aFph_q3MH1fy0j6r05Q75EPmizGCGdLNiiKRIcw8WxT5W0Zxta-2GcBigJGzSbPxjGyTFk4VhCbRBiEN4m3WY/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team march: I H Rogers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhEZTeYppCQ6QtbrMCE3lXrbwXWhAX5q12L61WOT0ChYajLv5k75un3Skl8KuXLGWr0B8jXSz7nkZzKvZunu6g3pP59RmAow56lLACL7xLShdTLZ6yu8naUAzd-WArSXUJ-MIwM3xEyI/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhEZTeYppCQ6QtbrMCE3lXrbwXWhAX5q12L61WOT0ChYajLv5k75un3Skl8KuXLGWr0B8jXSz7nkZzKvZunu6g3pP59RmAow56lLACL7xLShdTLZ6yu8naUAzd-WArSXUJ-MIwM3xEyI/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brenham, Texas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYLyV8MEdf1hxYIa6kVZtVI2O8uyHtRdJRxmyRD1OYwJ5a37_w8i8I2sgPRvuawERic_edgWbIUi9holX4PvqfKF-1u7XtlJLaF9CTJjMcfL_KKzAnBRiuGmvtp6HgufzYtW5MXPlzOw/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYLyV8MEdf1hxYIa6kVZtVI2O8uyHtRdJRxmyRD1OYwJ5a37_w8i8I2sgPRvuawERic_edgWbIUi9holX4PvqfKF-1u7XtlJLaF9CTJjMcfL_KKzAnBRiuGmvtp6HgufzYtW5MXPlzOw/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coldsprings, Texas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tMxXjzBSr7_cXu8NeRaQAI3VAgO4l38Yr8I_zRX_qPxoMi-Y5YYhVw0IMKvT4SshuSMS-DsZThB4mbCoN2DRThZnhdcLu69wGt-fDv0ePoiGS6YAKZObOQQB77TMODfhtwU6g1n0BdQ/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tMxXjzBSr7_cXu8NeRaQAI3VAgO4l38Yr8I_zRX_qPxoMi-Y5YYhVw0IMKvT4SshuSMS-DsZThB4mbCoN2DRThZnhdcLu69wGt-fDv0ePoiGS6YAKZObOQQB77TMODfhtwU6g1n0BdQ/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">College Station I.S.D. Texas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTIcCrmhmKRZsd-ty-U2u2qdEnO_qW0hcRcMXco2Vv0VBifGXjcH13eCj2k86sZL5mFbuogIE5oeVSQUG5AuKf2U5gvIPODI9-cA45hwZaBxqnsHLLHC2duVdsWhx3bGjDXzz5W9NyS8/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTIcCrmhmKRZsd-ty-U2u2qdEnO_qW0hcRcMXco2Vv0VBifGXjcH13eCj2k86sZL5mFbuogIE5oeVSQUG5AuKf2U5gvIPODI9-cA45hwZaBxqnsHLLHC2duVdsWhx3bGjDXzz5W9NyS8/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conroe, Texas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2si0Me4EQaUxBPUVWG9kPxAbK7gHolE64Yy7hIgCiYyMD2Mp8uPaz7jXd0uhQc9UcM6KXJj7r0t8FQ4RWCxN6sU3lAGhlGa-cfzI_DqB7PPBtljm84pI0P3PypXzwFRd5NDBLpkVIvto/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2si0Me4EQaUxBPUVWG9kPxAbK7gHolE64Yy7hIgCiYyMD2Mp8uPaz7jXd0uhQc9UcM6KXJj7r0t8FQ4RWCxN6sU3lAGhlGa-cfzI_DqB7PPBtljm84pI0P3PypXzwFRd5NDBLpkVIvto/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6021.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cullen Center for Retardation, Houston, Texas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1M0zaZjsRYRo5wORowoTJCkS6vYgG_OhbSNsfstmBKRb_-Io2HHdl6I9IgxYkLwxHpwsyy_ctJ_U1HOmhCx4PUi7ry_hFDF3QeFlEHLv_ODstTb-Ye0f4EhgTgMrutMOQBxV32lqw4Y/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1M0zaZjsRYRo5wORowoTJCkS6vYgG_OhbSNsfstmBKRb_-Io2HHdl6I9IgxYkLwxHpwsyy_ctJ_U1HOmhCx4PUi7ry_hFDF3QeFlEHLv_ODstTb-Ye0f4EhgTgMrutMOQBxV32lqw4Y/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6036.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Caney, Texas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgpV4EM4Se6w8OSjplf03jtyXfyORXOQI8Ly5ioddnQHPoTXnTFTG-HKQNIADrT9aOdvK5fapnD9Pvr2j7pIUWaCLHz-EhEmx4zG3_O-pRv1zudckF95zW11qAJNMSwSeu0T229yu-z4/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgpV4EM4Se6w8OSjplf03jtyXfyORXOQI8Ly5ioddnQHPoTXnTFTG-HKQNIADrT9aOdvK5fapnD9Pvr2j7pIUWaCLHz-EhEmx4zG3_O-pRv1zudckF95zW11qAJNMSwSeu0T229yu-z4/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6039.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washington County, Texas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgHE2lB7Kdz5wLa02JKYnVDwX4KEx3ahARfj5xi3QqWj0nYpb4c43jBdYEKQnyOBZkkTcZYn-i_eEQfQwF806L6UumwtUhIXXDO_niO89JBE6aYQ4t6qkrI9fWeu3IK8CxBkQcVFbXhI/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgHE2lB7Kdz5wLa02JKYnVDwX4KEx3ahARfj5xi3QqWj0nYpb4c43jBdYEKQnyOBZkkTcZYn-i_eEQfQwF806L6UumwtUhIXXDO_niO89JBE6aYQ4t6qkrI9fWeu3IK8CxBkQcVFbXhI/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6045.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willis, Texas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLp3DrWrY6IxOyO0RSeGRIx574IWfFK_WHvIBaehpjPk4UsmNThR7MVQDV3r6CxryCG5dLCjMVmdcRfxTx-PQwVcjjJoiWpRPA3bXElrAc-mA6asScU4fiWSmmcpwjG9wS9_RlJEpQrug/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLp3DrWrY6IxOyO0RSeGRIx574IWfFK_WHvIBaehpjPk4UsmNThR7MVQDV3r6CxryCG5dLCjMVmdcRfxTx-PQwVcjjJoiWpRPA3bXElrAc-mA6asScU4fiWSmmcpwjG9wS9_RlJEpQrug/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6050.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Woodlands, Texas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm0TwVOx3CUWSz5fsQTCqDgt7WRH2QpyhGYd1Q9Epdq-TknZeZHaT_F8Scvtcd-MyCxENKCNo5Cxps5tof5xqMwUK50ROMbqgF6iPKknDZDFSbn73MxoIBlw1HU922Qf9hKHXKOAzvms/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-5991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm0TwVOx3CUWSz5fsQTCqDgt7WRH2QpyhGYd1Q9Epdq-TknZeZHaT_F8Scvtcd-MyCxENKCNo5Cxps5tof5xqMwUK50ROMbqgF6iPKknDZDFSbn73MxoIBlw1HU922Qf9hKHXKOAzvms/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-5991.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandmother and Mother in support of participating child attending York Jr High, Conroe</td></tr>
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I found the ladies above to be warm co-supporters of their child in this event, as this photo reveals, in the spirit of the mother-daughter partnership of the National Charity League (NCL - founded 1925). <br />
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The NCL is a special organization where mother and daughter join together to support a special child. The <a href="http://nclbluebonnet.chapterweb.net/c_default.aspx">Bluebonnet</a> (Woodlands), <a href="http://www.nclmagnolias.com/">Magnolias</a> (Woodlands), <a href="http://www.nclmontgomery.org/c_default.aspx">Montgomery</a>, (County) <a href="http://ncltexaslaurels.chapterweb.net/c_default.aspx">Laurels</a> (Shenandoah/Oak Ridge) and <a href="http://www.nclthewoodlandschapter.org/">Woodlands </a>chapters were there to help these children.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnRYoi-8xQLJgtMkswmFABZTt1VtdjiJ_HuXR5MXrIoBveuC2i6W1swp4WuC4XehDkyTXRIZ7tRxhm80UTMlO3ZJ3oprRL-eStD3VphvgGIarfCWGFJ4Ozn04bU0EXKYgqJ1efjl-LG0/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnRYoi-8xQLJgtMkswmFABZTt1VtdjiJ_HuXR5MXrIoBveuC2i6W1swp4WuC4XehDkyTXRIZ7tRxhm80UTMlO3ZJ3oprRL-eStD3VphvgGIarfCWGFJ4Ozn04bU0EXKYgqJ1efjl-LG0/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6097.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Van Horn of Kiwanis - organizational leader of the Shot Put , among other things </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKC3vZ0Mk6WPXlBA_tdWS1R8xpFYLJq646lDY353MUOQ6EADifkG5z2gTqeaVdh7EpCPtLtxBt-amCpubv_nA6LPnqMMH95LVyabDbY4R_fq18p3Ll7340OVLNmO8ADHyMEC_mZISLkwk/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-5968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKC3vZ0Mk6WPXlBA_tdWS1R8xpFYLJq646lDY353MUOQ6EADifkG5z2gTqeaVdh7EpCPtLtxBt-amCpubv_nA6LPnqMMH95LVyabDbY4R_fq18p3Ll7340OVLNmO8ADHyMEC_mZISLkwk/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-5968.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royce Brooks, President Kiwanis. Rachell Baldwin, Director, Area 6 Special Olympics</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT791JX5no3GsuN3u7EyW0wITn6_STNOLLGikwirs7ahPOlsyf54ooTZX7rM9hLp9BKagyYZ4vn3VjEZPAnerMMJfMRaN3tyMZYEEX0X8QeuxDx2YnVkGH3-qU5PT6pjG0kMOhXQCRWBM/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-5985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT791JX5no3GsuN3u7EyW0wITn6_STNOLLGikwirs7ahPOlsyf54ooTZX7rM9hLp9BKagyYZ4vn3VjEZPAnerMMJfMRaN3tyMZYEEX0X8QeuxDx2YnVkGH3-qU5PT6pjG0kMOhXQCRWBM/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-5985.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers working the fishing booth</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.keyclub.org/home.aspx"><br /> Key Clubs of Kiwanis</a> is another volunteer program from the High Schools to support this event. This year, clubs were Carl Wunsche Sr High, College Park High, Concordia Lutheran High, Oak Ridge High, Woodlands High and American Heritage Girls Troop 1230.<br />
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All photos by <a href="http://www.woodlandsphotostudio.com/">www.WoodlandsPhotoStudio.com</a> are shared and available for viewing or capture on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Woodlands-Commentary/104574524815">Woodlands Commentary Facebook Page</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBzCJYF-J9qvxrAGgbC0eDOB5SJ_ZOzSn_yb8x7gIogVzD3k5KE_5UVIJ7CSTulQiUhTF64ci627l-htTb5A3_MouPdcQBzdsqY4ppfQu9Y0D7SdRupI7guh1FsBr5i4RzJz6xaL-xN0/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-5958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBzCJYF-J9qvxrAGgbC0eDOB5SJ_ZOzSn_yb8x7gIogVzD3k5KE_5UVIJ7CSTulQiUhTF64ci627l-htTb5A3_MouPdcQBzdsqY4ppfQu9Y0D7SdRupI7guh1FsBr5i4RzJz6xaL-xN0/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-5958.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girls get their photo taken with the ORS football players</td></tr>
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This was a fun moment to see photo time with the Oak Ridge football players, who deserve to be heartily thanked for their efforts in running with the contestants and generally helping them through their events. Faces tell the story. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJP8G13t8EOKqm-3_ek67J_oK_NtJLNGKyk1xaI04aZkt1wUyNFdVCftD-oRn8dr0m-A1ab9GKy6SVu8S61vRaHPqIL6PsvVWjyo4B7xdgAN3B3Svo4Or9Jmj7GNBEkXo5JfEa2bKZww/s1600/Special+Olympics+2012-6081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJP8G13t8EOKqm-3_ek67J_oK_NtJLNGKyk1xaI04aZkt1wUyNFdVCftD-oRn8dr0m-A1ab9GKy6SVu8S61vRaHPqIL6PsvVWjyo4B7xdgAN3B3Svo4Or9Jmj7GNBEkXo5JfEa2bKZww/s320/Special+Olympics+2012-6081.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This young lady beat her personal all time record for the long jump in this jump. Congratulations! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother of a child in Cold Springs, Texas</td></tr>
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As the time to end was drawing near, this lady revealed an event coming. Her husband drives a bus for their team; it just so happened to also be his birthday, so they were all being taken to a Mexican restaurant to celebrate. No real need to to say this, but these kids love group events, so they of course were anxious to go together to a restaurant!<br />
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Beautiful people doing lov'n things together. It was well worth the time spent on this project! There are great opportunities here for volunteering or giving.<br />
<a href="http://www.woodlandskiwanis.com/">Kiwanis website</a>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-37382411177733072992012-01-20T17:26:00.000-08:002012-01-20T17:26:59.628-08:00Kristen Arrendell and her Struggle against Undiagnosed Condition<br />
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<br />Undiagnosed conditions are rare but within this past year, I know two people with completely different conditions. Such conditions completely interrupt the lives of those directly affected, namely the sick person and their family. Such situations put extreme hardships on the family. Here is a case of a group of young ladies trying to help out their friend. <br /><br />"She is one of the bravest women I know. She has been sick for several months now, and the doctors are running out of options. Her heart rate sky rockets and plummets at any given time along with her blood pressure. She gets dizzy and disoriented when there is a lot of noise and commotion. <br /><br />Kristen was a very active person up until the beginning of April 2011. Since then she has been in and out of the hospital for the above reasons and now can’t get up out of bed without feeling like she is about to pass out. The doctor’s have diagnosed her with POTS, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which basically means that she has a higher heart rate when standing. But hers differs from the "normal" cases of POTS because she has a higher heart rate & blood pressure while lying down. <br /><br />She will be going to the Mayo Clinic, in Minnesota, at the end of January for further testing, as the doctors in the Houston area say they have done all they can do for her. <br /><br />At this time, Kristen's father, Nathan, is the only one able to work. Kathy, Kristen's mother, lost her job, because she was always at the hospital with her daughter. As you can imagine the medical bills are mounting and stresses are getting higher with the upcoming cross country trip ahead of them." ...Kans for Kristen Team<br /><br />There is a Barrel Race benefit to help her at at the Willis Ag Arena, in Willis, TX, on January 21st, 2012. There will be a concession stand, raffles, and a silent auction. Everyone is welcome to come out and support this wonderful cause!! <br /><br />Location of the arena: 13551 Rogers Rd., Willis, Tx. 77378<br />
<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?rlz=1C1CHPC_enUS392US392&q=map+13551+Rogers+Rd.,+Willis,+Tx.+77378&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x864715e802471f61:0x8310a3f2ef55cacf,13551+Rogers+Rd,+Willis,+TX+77378&gl=us&ei=0hMaT-LfIurU2AW6scj9Cw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCIQ8gEwAA">Google map of location</a>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-5378651096039880082012-01-13T12:55:00.000-08:002012-01-14T18:31:14.088-08:00Wait a Minute! Halt! Stop! Where are we going anyway?The world tomorrow!?! Have you seen technological advances lately? What about medical advances? Where is the think tank for all the predicted change? Are we spinning out of control? My reading of late has led me to dark corners. How dark? I will let you determine that. This contemplation and commentary has everything to do with the love for life and its quality. I have barked for years about the quality of life in the community we know as "The Woodlands". Nothing compares though to the drama and vision unfolding before us in some circles of humanity seeking "advances" of our species. Our value systems can and will change, but there is a real long range threat for a significant change in the quality of life for everyone. <br />
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Just step back 200 years for a moment. Most of our ancestry lived a placid life in the country somewhere, farming or ranching, living off the land. Lives were relatively short while working the soil and the cattle, and some even threatened by the native Americans. Life was relatively slow and passionate. Plagues and disease from Europe, Asia and Africa brought many of our ancestors to their graves. The human body is designed to live about 70 years, when in a healthy state. Life expectancy has been extended by drugs and technologies in the past 50 years. In 1970, we expected to live 70 years on average. In 2010, we expect to live 76 years on average. In 2020, the US Census sees a continued increase of that number to 79.5 years. The growth rate of this extension is low relative to what we can expect as new advances in medicine comes from altered genetics instead of drugs and medicines. We are on the cusp of a new health era. The first modern era was only 100 years ago when doctors practiced physical medicine. Then they practiced chemical medicine. Organic medicine is now beginning to become a reality. <br />
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Take it back to just 100 years ago. We started using inventions like the light bulb, automobiles, and the telephone. Our lives changed dramatically, so dramatically that we expect those conveniences today, and those inventions actually play a role in our every minute and very existence. <br />
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Do you remember the movie "Star Wars"? Remember how far out that was 50 years ago? Now let's compare what this earth will look like in 200 or even 100 years. Today, many of us have cameras in our pockets. It just happens to also be a video camera, telephone, calculator, newspaper, magazine, stereo, encyclopedia, dictionary, translator, calendar, pen, pencil, paper, graphics easel, paint, crayons, photo album, bird call, and a host of other things that most of us just could not imagine 50 years ago. We don't need outer space to get to new horizons of change. We do need outer space in our lives for research and learning. That enables our vision. We may still very well be unique in all of what exists - a sophisticated organic computer. We could just be an accident of nature, a very remote possibility in organisms and structure. Then too, it could be we exist because we were synthesized into a being for a special purpose in the universe. For the purpose at hand, it doesn't really matter. <br />
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So in 100 years? This is an example of what is happening under the covers as we speak. New electronic devices are being introduced to enable an electronic game that makes you feel the game, not just play with it intellectually with a mouse. Yes, we are talking about an added dimension of experience, not just playing. In 100 years, it will not only be a game, it could very well be a life, that which we normally do, hour by hour, day by day. Today we work, tomorrow we work, but our recreation time may not need much space. We could experience all our recreation in a small room and feel good about it. Our social lives will change dramatically and we will begin to evolve or morph into a species that is chemically and physically auto-balanced by technology. This is inevitable based on what is happening now in the medical field and in technology. <br />
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Our lives could very well extend to 270 years or so by current research and application of that research. There are projects underway right now, showing promise of such extended life. Genetics has taken on sophistication unknown just 50 years ago. Now that we are uncovering the human genome, we find ourselves discovering in more depth what we are made of and how we pass certain attributes from one generation to another. It goes beyond what we once thought was physical. It includes chemical bonding to the genetic structures. Understanding brings change. Why is that? We are creatures which have insight into our flaws both physically and mentally, and we seek to change them. We don't desire to have some traits, but there are traits which we seek as well. The perfect human is what we seek to be. We do not want to disappear from this earth, along with the loss of our intellectual propensities. We wish to forward our intellect not only in ourselves, but save it for our offspring as well. Sure, we are far from being perfect intellectually. Knowledge from past experiences is note worthy but not replacement worthy. Our children develop much of their intellect from the home, but a great deal of it comes from outside the home. They mastermind the development of their own intellect. Social behaviors in this society stimulate growth of the composite race. So the advancement of the human race is individual by individual, while collectively the advancement of the race as a society is greater than that of the sum of its parts. <br />
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Outer space again takes an eventual role in this change. For our species to ultimately survive, we need to be able to colonize other planets and eventually other galaxies and universes. Finding suitable locations is of utmost importance and often under-rated. Social and life changes are to take place in the future and visionaries can see that today. In 200 years, don't you think we will have an explorer in outer space searching for such places? Growing food, creating water and manufacturing will all have to exist in such efforts.<br />
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Do you think that we will be able to save the earth as we know it today? Maybe for 100-200 years but beyond that, who knows? The demand for space and resources is ever growing. Today we have ideas about harvesting the Gulf of Mexico for energy. Yes, harvesting! We have the capability to do that, but there is great fear of the consequences to global weather and ocean life. We can think big today, bigger than ever before. So how big will we think in 100 years? Will our social values limit us or will we go ahead to new frontiers. The mass of humanity is a huge source of diverse thought. We have yet to even begin leveraging that huge source.. China is beginning to break loose towards that end,making the prospects better for a global tank of knowledge. We could separately look at each continent's role towards a 100-year advancement, but not here.<br />
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America will not dominate the world forever, in technology, medicine or politics. The youth of today faces a challenge here. It is important that every American gives thought to their future. Don't ignore politics and all the driving forces of change. Where do we want to go? In America, we have the power and privilege to guide those forces around us, but worldwide, we can only influence it. We are training the world to take our role in the manufacturing and now design of the future. How do I come to that conclusion? Firsthand! National borders will continue to become more transparent. I believe we will inevitably have a smaller role in world politics, and that is not far away. That change will likely be dramatic within the next 200 years, if history indeed does repeat itself. <br />
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And does it matter what our political representatives think about these things?: Of course it does! Looking at internet Think Tank sites, I ran across a reference to this article in Wikipedia for the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. It is by INC called <a href="http://does%20it%20matter%20that%20one%20candidate%20is%20comfortable%20using%20technology%20and%20one%20isn%E2%80%99t/?">Does It Matter That One Candidate is Comfortable Using Technology and One Isn’t</a>? This shows how strategy in government can be formulated based on ideal, value and who you elect. It is not simple. Nevertheless, voting is a responsibility for all of us, to choose our fate and our destiny. Yes it is more than just operational. The voting booth is the place where we the mass can be heard.<br />
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Go vote in the coming elections. Influence your children's future and the future of this world. Start guiding this mayhem of change with your social consciousness and family values. Participate in local and national elections. It all starts at home. Be a part of "home" first. Be a part of your children's future. Have some impact. Ask your Senator or House Representative about some of this. Ask your local politician about it. It is all about the direction that our leaders promote in making decisions for your money. If they are actually governing, they are molding the future for us and our children. Otherwise, they are simply members of a club, which may or may not actually be governing. They call it "government" for a reason.indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-19934579307717896022011-09-01T11:33:00.000-07:002011-09-01T11:46:12.929-07:00Letting them go - loss of loved onesWe all face the loss of loved ones sometime in our lives. As inevitable as it is, there is one thing each individual can do to ease the pain of family loss. We can easily overlook appropriate planning of our estate for such a cessation of life in this world. For ourselves, we plan burial, funeral, trusts, and wills... all necessities. What happens to the things of our lives? Some people go to extreme detailed planning in their wills. Is that necessary or even beneficial? If you anticipate death in the next 10 years, you can do some things now to make it less painful and less work for your heirs.<br />
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Are you a packrat? My definition - one who can't let go of the past through possessions. As a child of a lost parent, you might think - keep it, I might need it or someone in the family might need want it in decades to come; the possession is something attached to my past. Keep it, we can't destroy memories! I say, oh yes, we can! It is our duty to our family to assess what we have and plan our estate accordingly. <br />
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I confess. I have the tendency to keep things. My brother also has that tendency, but my sister holds on to practically nothing. How about assessing family values to anything "worthy" of keeping or attaching real value to them? Then ... what to do with it? Put it under the bed? Rent a storage facility? <br />
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Shouldn't an estate sell what has real value and keep what has significant family value? That seems like the most practical thing to do, yet there remains a tendency to keep more than what is practical. Sentimental value is at least equal in importance to real dollar value. <br />
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Well then ... what to do? For one, make sure your family discusses what to keep in their possession. Estate planning without consulting the family is just an exercise in futility. Keep it flexible. Let the family make decisions after you pass, but establish what is really important to your family members in advance. A family reunion is a good place to start such a discussion. Keep your living and death wills flexible but with the essentials to pass along your valuable family heirlooms. Possessions have value in the hands of the holder and cannot be passed along successfully to future generations unless the recipients have memories in it. Otherwise, your possessions only have market value, not sentimental value. Establish sentimental value for a will, not dollar value. Establish values of artifacts of the estate in advance, but in general do not will things to individuals because of financial value. Let financial value be part of the estate value, but not a personal inheritance. Try to avoid arguments on who gets what, but at the same time, allow positive surprises among family members. Pass along things for sentimental rather than financial value. You will know what has sentimental value only by talking to your family. Don' t impose the rules; get agreement on the rules to pass things along by the will of those inheriting your possessions. You can assume that age and certain other parameters determine sentimental value. If you want something to remain in the family, make sure you get reasonable agreement with the family and find someone who will most likely succeed in keeping the item(s) in the family. Make those very important sentimental items part of your will, nothing more, unless you know of some conflict that must be resolved in advance through your declaration of will.<br />
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Sentimental value is established during your lifetime. If you have not told your family the history of your possessions, you have not established their value with them, and they will not likely remain in the family. <br />
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This is my personal perspective and opinion of value and effectiveness in keeping family heirlooms for future generations. Pieces of our lives are passed along and will be diluted from generation to generation. Our heirs will assume the responsibility for passing along a heritage. Although nothing will last forever, hopefully memories and evidence of heredity will be retained in certain items for centuries. We must concentrate on a few of those items, and make sure they are included in our wills for safekeeping. Communicate your will in advance of your death. Get feedback whether positive or negative. We owe that to everyone in our collective families. Being charged with the safe keeping of family heirlooms is a large responsibility of ours, for our peers and future heritage. We must take care of them, for now and for the future. Sometimes a museum is the best choice, but most of the time, our children are tasked with their safe keeping for future generations. Agreements to care for certain things is important to at least some of our offspring. Heirlooms are not ours, but belong to the entire immediate family, extended family and/or sometimes even the community. <br />
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Estate Planning - to make it easier and quicker, you can choose to establish both an inheritance will and living will through standard forms and service providers available online in the internet. Family legal advisors are also personally available and useful to establish a sound strategy in estate planning. One thing I advise from personal experience is to make sure your will(s) are legally binding in the state in which you live. Dealing with a probate court in some counties of Texas is a big pain! If a will is not self-defining, you will likely be required to go to probate court, especially to resolve claims out of state. I have a provider in mind and will add to this later, as soon as I have results from that provider.indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-62241318669015503542011-07-15T09:32:00.000-07:002011-07-15T09:32:19.570-07:00Amazing discovery in the jungle - Rainbow ToadI am a free-lance photographer who appreciates great opportunities. It becomes extremely important sometimes to really know what you are doing, given the climate, light and opportunity. An amazing such opportunity was put on a silver platter recently to a photographer for National Geographic. This opportunity was from good planning and hard work, specifically engineered to find this amazing tropical creature, the Rainbow Toad, which was previously thought to be totally extinct. This is the first photograph ever taken of this creature, and it had to be right! I suggest you read this amazing story in the National Geographic website, link provided below.<br />
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<a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/07/110714-rainbow-toad-extinct-species-frogs-animals-science/?source=link_fb20110715rainbowtoad">The Rainbow Toad rediscovered</a>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-86460652242702278482011-06-07T10:39:00.000-07:002011-06-07T10:42:18.939-07:00Trivia - Marriage in TexasDo you know that it is illegal to marry a first cousin and that this law is just now being placed on the books? And do you know that it is now against the law to be married before the age of 16, even with parental consent? It was 14 years old. On the other hand, in an Asian country, National Geographic pointed out that a law has been passed to forbid marriage before the age of 18, but in one modern instance, a man took a wife of 6 years of age! <sup>1</sup><br />
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I worked in Kazakhstan and learned of the practice of "taking" a wife. You like what you see, you forcibly take her to your home and declare her as your wife. Eventually in a few weeks, you and her go back to her parents and announce the consummated marriage. This is not practiced openly but still exists out in the countryside.<br />
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<sup>1</sup> <a href="http://www.nl-aid.org/domain/child/looking-deaper-into-child-marriage/">Aid Netherlands - Looking Deeper into Child Marriage</a>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-68367989585317855422011-05-17T10:07:00.000-07:002011-05-17T10:57:14.313-07:00100 Watts of change starts in 2012Turn it on, turn it off. We will be turning off our 100 watt incandescent light bulbs next year. So many people continue to use regular inefficient light bulbs! You know the ones - the old fashioned incandescent round bulb that gets burned out all too quickly. These burn the juice without regard to efficiency and have done so for well over 100 years now. If one sums up all the wasted electrical energy due to the inefficiencies of that technology, it would certainly be a huge number.<br />
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In 2012, we go into the next phase of energy efficiency dictated by the USA government. By 2015 we will be totally phased into the energy and security law of 2007. The incandescent light bulbs fail to meet the energy efficiency requirements as defined in this law.<br />
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Are we ready to abandon the standard 100 watt incandescent light bulb? It will be removed from stores' shelves on January 1st. The best alternative for a 100 watt bulb will be the fluorescent energy saving bulbs with an equivalent lumen output. However, there is a mad scrabble to provide another alternative - the LED technology version. Due to the heat output of this technology however, the maximum available to date has been 60 watts. The 100 watt version will be available later this year and will likely cost about $50. Are you ready for that? The LED technology equivalent of a 100 watt bulb does not seem cost effective, but perhaps it will be by the time it is needed next year. It should use significantly less electrical power than the incandescent or the florescent technologies.<br />
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Resources<br />
+ <a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-6">Energy and safety law of 2007 - full text of HR6 </a><br />
+<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110516/ap_on_hi_te/us_led_lighting"> Yahoo news - LED bulbs hit 100 watts as federal ban looms, May 16, 2011</a>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-4588826097471334982010-10-17T14:44:00.000-07:002010-10-17T14:44:00.712-07:00Faces in the crowd Texans vs Giants 2010I found a few faces that I just had to photograph at the New York and Houston game in October 2010 at Reliant Stadium. Clearly the fans enjoyed this game even though the Texans did not win it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCp2I3RRuf96_8TZ-Z0e8OQkyDyY-16JJhBONsLhp4Xtcy5TTlJ60xqUZvfmP_osGW4cZlr3-WjoQAJWahiFihfZNrz6Us6F_5gA5ibgFNWk7dEKnXK7qU6IkkwONSEZzqY1aRwlKGpSE/s1600/Maria-3731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCp2I3RRuf96_8TZ-Z0e8OQkyDyY-16JJhBONsLhp4Xtcy5TTlJ60xqUZvfmP_osGW4cZlr3-WjoQAJWahiFihfZNrz6Us6F_5gA5ibgFNWk7dEKnXK7qU6IkkwONSEZzqY1aRwlKGpSE/s320/Maria-3731.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-52727210753554488242010-10-15T13:45:00.000-07:002010-10-15T13:45:00.212-07:00Pink Day at Reliant Stadium - Texans vs Giants 2010<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphendlghG3E-9kK3XeFk-pxicf3-S4IxgjUunz1FxUfbqsEM2ZJ7HU9b02p75h1Ol7TFb4MzvxaSFvEKTjvGJ4JgnT6Fl5j3MNRoYbiKr0gv9hpHOdX-bn6f68IZ81NXOrN49fC2f_lFlg/s320/Maria-3605.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We girls carry the banner</td></tr>
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During Cancer month, the NFL supports the fight against Breast Cancer via Pink Day. The players, cheerleaders, and fans dress in pink. Of course the color pink has its issues with many guys, so I asked a number of ladies why guys do not like to wear pink.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made them do it!</td></tr>
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"I don't know but can tell you this, I made everyone in our party wear pink!" Yeah, this is truly a trend in a color gender nation. Blue = manliness, pink = girlishness.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Support by women but where are the men?</td></tr>
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"Tell you what, you ask him!" ... "No, not me. You are not going to get me to wear pink!" So goes the trend, but it is certainly not a 100% sentiment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvhS94tXhVcX_rG4NOMIrYZRm4TjQ5HAoBXa_e3O9f2HjGbpnZN_oWczMnoM-vrZHFpIjPsU-71z_5ADtwvdfPUQvAAgmPf3TixQa5av7Hq8jE_VUyheMa-Gm4_eFIlcWMBeK4IEqBCU/s320/Maria-3617.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Texan Cheerleaders</td></tr>
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I did not find any guy not appreciating the pink the cheerleaders wore. Our eyes were filled with pink all afternoon long. Not a single complaint. Us guys don't dislike the color; we just refer other colors to wear, especially at a macho football game.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBm1CNYuCE_2P-fUxRlAAzsJw2AQlhyphenhyphenHLENyA1l-JPEzzxHdXqYmsGnS78HPtDORdlJNH3wSKqkZ8UiFRpgs2Wj61iUp4gEkVgTAEdeowXRqgaymN8V9Pepsd9jlyJZLa9-rdWJgewwI0/s320/Maria-3618.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Texas Anthem party - plenty of pink</td></tr>
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And those supporting the effort to fight breast cancer were out in force. Pink meant support and pink ribbons were given out at the entrance. But looking at the stands, there were not many pink shirts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQRRNVBsPUvB88xmD_4Ke2_9s1GpuNVXvTiWfpuDosDqHpPCc_5wFgP3Z1lDg5quJb6qh6Ghd9xuyRrFcaIIxMa-z0z4YzMVJLGBM6-nTfLRW9QxDsAA0QmF1l7sE0VC0geZfdXO5Yrc/s320/Maria-3623.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan in war paint - no pink here!</td></tr>
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Instead of pink, the cry was to come to battle by many. This is serious stuff after all! Would you wear pink to war? I don't think so!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdqvThER_AP-nDnauvd4veiILukPVZviPq0x90reBB2oWFhri2Iwpcr133VsQI8clWYmXgiPSvSKwO8mQLmXgS5lZOTxuYPlA2p5jVJti51cQjrV2XICsLJqH0303YETu_ZJkWWBD2_A/s320/Maria-3725.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Players Uniforms</td></tr>
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Notice one shoe pink and the other white. Were these the warriors in the stands? Nope - these were the warriors on the field! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5k4fhl19RJAZb3f32si7Cgcr8CysN6nfoN6Y2SA4_5IvRJCdFFc6aA7psIX7STDpkBJe5l4QrEUNu1eJmzuen0IscrWgjmMlUmmqk-nVUgkdUKswNubVxZgbNPm1lrlZvIrj5lKwFjgA/s320/Maria-3707.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guy or girl? </td></tr>
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I think you got that right! What red blooded American man would wear pink socks for everyone to see anyway?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheerleaders showing off their uniforms</td></tr>
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What can I say! They were in front of us the entire game. All guys seemed to agree that they support the cancer research by watching these ladies and getting "pinked out".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little girls in pink</td></tr>
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But I have nothing to share that shows little boys in pink. They were wearing Texan jerseys. One lady answered my question this way, "My husband is really hot in pink. I love the way he struts with his button-up shirt on. He has only one pink shirt, but it is at the cleaners." I figured this to be a little white lie so I found her husband who said he would have wore it except it was dirty. Hey I found one guy who likes to wear pink! (well now and then anyway).<br />
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Another lady responded to the question - my husband refuses to wear pink. Just not a manly color. Do you realize we are the only nation in the world with colors that are associated with genders? "Hmmm ... I'll look that up", I responded. I did and found her statement to be questionable. The story of pink and blue did not really become cast into concrete until the 1950's.<sup>1</sup> That does not change anything though. Face it, the women say it takes a real man to wear pink and the men say they just prefer to wear the colors of the team. Cop-out?<br />
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Just another great American fetish in life. Yes, my grand-daughter's room is going to be pink!<br />
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And what did I do? I was bullied into not wearing my pink shirt by my friend. I did find a bargain Texan pink cap and wore it the entire game, over my red UofH cap. Now that is a compromise! <br />
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<sup>1</sup> <a href="http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/05/01/11-great-color-legends/">Color Lovers</a>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-10210395838530565982010-10-13T13:34:00.000-07:002010-10-13T13:44:59.649-07:00Does change in tailgating rules change Texans fans? Texans vs Giants 2010<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPv2iCtyA9nJJGx4qsOG8EgDkJ_70bIsUAIOAOnt_r52H4Hkkv0P_TYTCy6MvFmBI5nsORNiP1P26xK9pKNhnNnYn5vgBCmzgw7f81ZT-Tv-INIZ9b2zCi-XT4nmfsnJHkBFgjwlh6Ns/s320/Maria-3598.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early view of Yellow parking lot where tailgaters camp</td></tr>
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Yes, one week ago, the Texans announced a change that drove down the attendance at the tailgating parties. When questioning fans, there was a mixed reaction. A new term has been introduced to tailgating - "Pedestrian Tailgaters". These are people who do not go to the game but do attend the tailgate parties. They typically watch the game via satellite or the local TV stations who broadcast one of the Texan games. They arrive somewhere around 8-9 AM. This photo was taken at 8:30AM.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concrete section for tailgaters and parking</td></tr>
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Comparing the Dallas game, tailgating was boring this week. Was that because of the rule or the opponent? Probably both. I asked one group who was parked without any neighbors, "sure seems lonely to me". Their response - the new rule!<br />
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Before the Dallas game it was customary for a season ticket holder to bring anyone they wanted. After all, they paid for the parking spot and their friends could come out to enjoy the game with them. The attendants told us about the fights and we read some in the newspaper but never saw one. We tailgated for the Dallas game in the same parking lot. It was almost full when we arrived at about 9AM for the Dallas game. On this Sunday, for the New York Giants, it was virtually empty at the same time of day. The parking lot energy was almost gone. I expected to hear echoes at any time, like when a house has no furniture in it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Police presence to make sure there were no fights this week</td></tr>
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The process to obtain Pedestrian Tailgate tickets was to get them purchased via those who have season tickets for $10 each. When the game started, the parking attendants would check tickets for those still on the lot. There was an uncertainty how this would work out, so I believe many people abandoned tailgating this week and some perhaps forever. Slowly, they might come back to tailgating if they perceive the energy has resumed in the parking lots. In the meantime, there will be lonely tailgaters on the grass and pavement.<br />
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The shock waves of management's announcement was generally mixed. Some people thought it would be good for tailgating and spectators and was sorely needed. Others who were more adventurous and fun loving thought it would have a negative impact. Bottom line is that before the Dallas game, the Texans had the best tailgating in the country in number and quality; now that reputation is on the line. Fans were not as enthusiastic in the stadium as prior games. Do you wonder as I do if it was the unexciting opponent or was it the less excited fans coming off the tailgating parking lots? In the remaining few home games, we will see what unfolds. I clearly felt the difference in and outside of the stadium. indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-6228493210109060242010-09-30T10:21:00.000-07:002010-10-08T20:19:57.129-07:00Memorable Texan and Cowboy Faces in Reliant Stadium<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing at entrance</td></tr>
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Watching a football game in Houston's Reliant Stadium is full of fun. The people and the place makes any game a memorable experience. On this particular Sunday, Hispanic Heritage was celebrated. Here's a few people I enjoyed during the game.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In foreground - super nice fan</td></tr>
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Sitting immediately behind us was this lovely and fun lady. She helped make the day much better. Hello!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMrTxvKmB_hW4PkBoIFrRwHfWKlXgd_n_N3pNE3a5P8mT2XGpXSun-lyf6xO1E6D1Z5Vt8sukYM1hANQAEnmAJWZsDYyW0nuphEKdTBMWLH-vmOUkgsVN6fNGIQiz5OBVXGTIPz6K-ZE/s320/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2968.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Texan colored hair-do</td></tr>
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One row ahead of us was this fellow. I wonder how difficult it was to remove the colors from his hair.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stadium neighbors</td></tr>
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This fan is at every single game sitting right next to us, so we have gotten to know this lady. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearby fans</td></tr>
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This couple was into the game very seriously, paying attention to every detail, watching a play being rerun on the scoreboard TV.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorable faces in the crowd</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very good fans - making noise and showing signs</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorable face</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salute from memorable fan</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytwrCtvfi9exoG4U2DrD0ecjFoKGLxvGuwQp1gsrGoQ0I009PqJ8dNdjXxvReCJaoHBeX4dOmnkv0Z8l9Vbtp8MBuzifRhXnVo5UuHMU5D35HDboaM9ZIiuUgfUBc3nOhrps1t096wMM/s1600/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-3015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
This man is well known at Texans games. The news media often spotlights him in the crowd. He honored me as he has done before, by saluting me. Thanks buddy. We all respect your dedication and strong support for our team.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loyal fans next to us</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H6ylUB7PHmD7fhRrUQBNOdSPueLgsWYxA16WU6h-80eWhB2b6C1ixNW8XyXWYt3HIAJ84f1M5I7xveAR-S6PcKpoCBVeqOzburAjgVdfDU19-j3yHqUlOad5aVLu-vNQalqrQL66BFU/s320/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-3031.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">memorable face / enthusiastic fan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorable Cowboy fan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Cowboy fan</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-U5OiI0cNOKkeJB3yJ9etbBGXmIj15deiB2nTCCAwzOicm7pZQwub1czDq9oDBSOvcC2orBZ5fU8lCUDW_AazN943I_fFIu4qGMw1dQYgY6OtvmtnLtWtI3N-F_4ZIqLIRs5d9KgAlY/s1600/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-3047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QsVtTrqJgEb9m8xJ_5-9b_8OWUi5bd64FQE3_7FlL2NoNX5ri1eYfnM4fg5rwuWuZZpnas-X6ljmel3Q0lIRR3GXiaa99KSp4XHmsgafNnJIWFWH8L0xXBVXbbffKmogk5p2nL4RDBg/s320/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-3048.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Award winning Cowboy fan</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QsVtTrqJgEb9m8xJ_5-9b_8OWUi5bd64FQE3_7FlL2NoNX5ri1eYfnM4fg5rwuWuZZpnas-X6ljmel3Q0lIRR3GXiaa99KSp4XHmsgafNnJIWFWH8L0xXBVXbbffKmogk5p2nL4RDBg/s1600/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-3048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
This young lady is 11 years old. She has always been a Cowboy fan even though her family supports the Texans. She knew the players, the rules and was very aware of the action on and off the field. Everyone loved her and her enthusiasm. I heard a couple of people yell to her "I want to adopt you". I would have said it also but didn't need to. She talked to me the entire game off and on. In the third quarter, my heart melted when she said - "Mister, it will be alright. You can win next week." My hat off to you sweetie. You made the game super enjoyable for many Texan fans around us, as well as the Cowboys, even though we lost. The award? My special award goes to her for sportsmanlike conduct! Lots of people can learn how to be a better fan and competitor from this girl. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZM-X0OuTuh9P8tGKdL5gfPFOgfLTHuUmWvGbK-nkV16-55HvlsXQ2z1x600HhrpctLd1jzcPtb_WMhzBnIrVUBIQQCxIZTrDzqYDk7Pfl8HhW2AdrjjBJG8ABEg3oEO8bQoFdWv2wnQ/s320/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-3057.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foster is definitely making a difference for us this year </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZM-X0OuTuh9P8tGKdL5gfPFOgfLTHuUmWvGbK-nkV16-55HvlsXQ2z1x600HhrpctLd1jzcPtb_WMhzBnIrVUBIQQCxIZTrDzqYDk7Pfl8HhW2AdrjjBJG8ABEg3oEO8bQoFdWv2wnQ/s1600/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-3057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poise and class</td></tr>
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A standout in the crowd, she demonstrated a serious demeanor and intense concern for the game.<br />
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<i>This is one of several articles on the Cowboy/Texan game of September 26th, 2010.</i> <i>Click on any photo for a full screen view.</i>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-79067519419970320402010-09-29T15:45:00.000-07:002010-09-29T15:45:00.729-07:00Can't help but love the Texan and Cowboy Fans at the Tailgate partyWe are one in this great state of ours. That was shown by the gentleman behaviors at the stadium in the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans game on October 26th, 2010, at Reliant Stadium. It was also evident in the smiles and congeniality among those on opposite support positions. I am going to share that with you here. Such lovely people with which to enjoy the Tailgate party.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkO4qMsgJaFgHXqzwWSIaJCXvQwRqTPLGZWsbNx47qzMpDv0mjVT-NXTAnZx0r3ZhbVA2tLH6Nq0Juj1CyWiLrmLViMoqLhRtgZbp7GaISoBkIjKzgQJn34fcrb3R_XiaURq6xlUzFik/s400/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2892.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My tummy hurts from laughing! </td></tr>
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I saw this lovely lady when she was giggling over a joke with her friends. I seemed to make it a lot worse when I started kidding her about her tattoo! She was trying to explain to me that the tattoo wasn't real and I wasn't buying it. She wins the award on best laugh! Would we all have such a personality! She had me rolling on the floor before I could get out of their tent.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7OD23U-hn0fKiZez7Z9sLT5MXrsPDcP6saPk1wFbGnpuItFo5FoDVD_-bEtZtzQDjxFPKyqlD9d534Q3_b6jwilHVbYyyewx0BtADjC00B9Ig2lY0Wjary8XluX01bW8m2ciXvqHgH8/s400/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2895.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Want a chiller? Who can say no to that sweet face? </td></tr>
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Miss Miller Light had a great smile. She was passing out some nice Texans chillers. You don't think the guys behind her noticed her, do you?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq26sE_X-fHw9CCYqzudkVgu2kDm6xMYbGEcMdmsiK47FTK_AZ4ayLstAsxnVi3KK5aUR8Bj29ABq8J1V3NVpuU6JC9H3IUKNAzuUIA5loY0fvloG0ZV5v5gzzE_FuMxwvvIXBE2J6sPw/s400/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2898.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't believe you did that!</td></tr>
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This guy had just finished off a Tequila shot(s) with whipped cream. The girls are laughing as he has come out of it unscathed but wait a minute! He has water in his hand! A feeble attempt to detox?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaNpXYU83K3HImcDJQnX-jdoTDMBDKAT_SMhQUFwDEOhCYi5cLuGduG69JLlQR8DFpIetiQ3nNqUJZjba0cvgxpoVAWYFzgRZsfXnYx_F8i2wmKgniRkOXX_E8WUi50rZuoXML47uhf0/s400/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2918.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are the Texans!</td></tr>
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This was Tejano day, a celebration of the rich culture in the latino community who support our Texans. Some folks won't let Earl Campbell be forgotten. To us, he played for the Texans, not the Oilers.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPij7oicZyOUPvKIqh-KJeNpcFhI-Tr9IC6ltdpX3rZa5mnD2cDTZTAAyv3yucYhfNYPmBvzeB81V6C2HZmGlaJgwz2OLVu5yHmIWoVYWcyFpzJ1GCKb1KDaPQRo6MZ04eUbOfMx-ezo/s400/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2923.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So you like my red hair. Ok then I will show it to you in the sun! </td></tr>
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This young lady was destined to be featured before I left the tent. Her red hair I found to be amazing as it glowed in the sun. And that is why her smile is so genuine. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZyBuZReBAoHjJ0dCa_hLSGsg580mc-bzxK4AzjNZuTJTkZTnKq6AQCQAPLwm_dchGha1x5f7ZM7LuO6nvbT6AG6fxthfbM8h69ha2TqpeOfc3APPLzBPk_WzIpVoPY1ApZYgcYyPDG0/s320/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2925.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the way it goes. We <u>are </u>going to win!! </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZyBuZReBAoHjJ0dCa_hLSGsg580mc-bzxK4AzjNZuTJTkZTnKq6AQCQAPLwm_dchGha1x5f7ZM7LuO6nvbT6AG6fxthfbM8h69ha2TqpeOfc3APPLzBPk_WzIpVoPY1ApZYgcYyPDG0/s1600/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Listen pops, I am proud of my Mexican heritage. Tengo muchisimo orgullo de mis parientes de Mexico. Hablas el español? Porque no?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aVd_mkwmRX9uaQ8S9OhfsoC91zvquTbkK5Cf01eudBQR_QylSIVSWk1MzJ0WTq7N0azP0QewTQOqUjl-3bxmW2B0u6klhTwGspr3B_l3zqDl9soye-Zt8XETV2G3spxFvwA7ZpVyMDw/s400/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2927.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey pops, look at me! I'm ready!!! </td></tr>
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Hey pops! I am about to show Dallas what a real man is like! I AM READY FOR WAR on the turf! Let me at 'em.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You and I both know that I am the sweetheart of the Texans fans </td></tr>
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Another lovely lady making a statement. Texans it is, has been and will continue to be! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can I help that I am a Dallas fan?</td></tr>
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All ages were represented at the Tailgate and in the stands of Reliant.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great boots</td></tr>
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I think this lady was waiting for me. I saw her cleaning the front of the truck and apparently waxing the front bumper. Then I figured it out. She wanted a clean place to sit down. Now she was ready for a photo to be taken! Please .... No problema!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You gotta be kidding me!</td></tr>
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You want me to do what? ... Geez buddy! The lady just before you <u>wanted </u>her photo taken! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Guy award - going right in the ole bread basket</td></tr>
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Watch me put it where Schaub #8 would put it, right into the hands of Andre Johnson, #80!</div>
<br />indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-7397006326127955552010-09-28T16:34:00.000-07:002010-09-28T16:37:12.047-07:00Smok'n at a Tailgate Party - Dallas vs Houston<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-86CvHXHhubf089aUN8zKk24wWftdj9uFqkLGE_MTcIKpGbuxUI1XWxx48T6efRlMC67E82bsOI0a7722HrQ6kaWO6zkEIXsGIzMGj51y96ZA_ECMzKKZM7TXAvS0GqYFpbNSL0KTh8/s320/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2864.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoking BBQ</td></tr>
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Yep, fans were smok'n at the tailgate party for the Texans. Houston fans hosted the Dallas fans for a rip-roaring Texas party on the grass and pavement in the parking lots outside of Reliant Stadium. Lines of traffic at 8AM testified to the fact that this would be a great I-45 Championship game at 12:00. Some started with coffee but were well into the beer long before they got to the stadium.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcTzwBt9xdeSQbd42aKQf10uerxvNRng3Pn-D4yvCkxtj7f-uV8u5REsY4uygOgM6UCeqPjb_HEUtMqtisOjHDgXX9T-k9ANtaLE9yPvC4jMoY1hb3-0rO9wpQEN8QTfB8VJ_U7mtDnY/s400/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2875.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Custom omelets</td></tr>
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Some cooked by smoke; some by steam and other by direct fire.<br />
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These omelets in a boiling pan was the breakfast shortly followed by grilled steak at one tent. Each omelet was custom built by the person and put into a bag with their name on it. In just 12 minutes, it was ready! Served with coffee .... yum yum! Judging from the alcohol and bar next to it, I assumed the breakfast table was closed soon after I left, and the party commenced to get under way here!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Links are ready! Let's eat!</td></tr>
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These links were cooked on the grill. I got to taste many fans' cooking on this day. Yum! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foot remedy</td></tr>
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Last Tailgate against the Colts, feet were smoked by the sun and 100 degree heat. This time, these folks came prepared. Honest! This ice was for their feet!!!! Smok'n in reverse ...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shish Kbob heaven</td></tr>
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Grill'n and smok'n some juicy bobs!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Football war dance</td></tr>
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Smokin some steaks as they danced the might Texan war dance. Might have been smoking something else too. Hold it! I see an enemy warrior in the camp!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serious Smoker</td></tr>
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Commercial BBQ places show their stuff off here as well, but this just happens to be a grill won in a $20 lottery last year. The owner loves it! Check out the signatures when you are out there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VBp-uSoSuJZAFBJ9LvtWHWTN5UVhE9m0Qx7KcCB8kDySMFGQpjitEG7eM-BQkMscd9tZq8atm5fPk61nv23lXg6DcsaVaiExQJJKIw67yJcgMKj-4uaJvrzewOV53-E1-LHiacU87DM/s320/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2920.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bacon wraps</td></tr>
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Now that's smokin! Just getting started on the food but the beer is well on its way.Texans all the way!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot dog!</td></tr>
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Cook up some chili and boil some wieners and you got a family dinner! Don't they look great!?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrapped Jalapeños</td></tr>
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Stuffed jalapeños. They called them Jalapeño wraps. "Mildly hot." After I ate the one or two they offered me, I ran looking for a beer or two or three!!! ANYTHING COLD!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjvO2pYKgkHAVLVUhP3mejMNmi9FG_ENTIs6W1Aq0hCZqlcmypGghnFjT6tb9Gwu5jz1WkANT7pk5cH0b3IhGAKRxxBI9EGzbV0s1SjV4kII1z4wtN1d8OWOghPfiQzc-0B31sE9S1bQ/s320/Texans+vs+Cowboys+2010-2949.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wings</td></tr>
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I asked about these but did not sample their wings. The cook said they were <u>very </u>hot. Well, after the not-hot Jalapeños, I figured I had better not eat anything that required a gallon of beer. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sausage Dog</td></tr>
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My buddy and cook made this for us. When I got back from sampling all these foods and a gob of beer, he puts me in front of this and expects me to eat it! I ate a few bites which were delicious but I needed a gallon of beer to go with it, so I told him, are you trying to kill me? Spicylike never before had I eaten anything spicy! He ate this one and made me another. So good!<br />
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This is one of several articles I am writing on this ball game. Stay tuned, there are more to come. You can click on any one photograph in the commentary to view a full screen photo.indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-67359330059158778292010-08-25T12:19:00.000-07:002010-08-25T12:22:05.622-07:00Mama made beansI remember the good old days when grandma shelled beans that
she grew in the garden and baked them in a wood fired oven. Nothing smelled as
good as food from that oven! To make baked beans, she had to shell the beans,
boil them and then bake them in the oven. This was a long process and made a very
hot kitchen in the summer. Then there
was the baking of the bread in the same oven. That was a lot of work, a lot of
time and took a lot of love. Every meal
was unique in some way and planned to the hilt! My job was to stay out of the kitchen. A meal was often was prepared by multiple family
members. Lots of things were discussed in that kitchen that my ears were not supposed to hear.<br />
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I also remember mama cooking baked beans. She did it in a
gas oven but bought the beans already shelled from the grocery store. My job was to thoroughly wash the beans, because the bag had rocks and dirt in it. Then she soaked the beans overnight and baked them the next day. The oven was closed tightly so you could not smell
the food baking in it. And were they
good! Bread? That was too much work! Instead, we just ate sliced bread or cooked
prepared dough from the grocery store. Every meal seemed to be by recipe, usually
Betty Crocker. It was semi-planned and fun to do. Dinner cooked while watching the
soap opera.</div>
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Today, I go to the super market, buy a big can of beans and
precooked mini-loaves of bread. I open the can of baked beans with an electric
can opener, heat them up in the microwave and serve them in five minutes. Then
I lightly toast the loaves of bread in the electric cooker. Yum! Every meal is by the skin my teeth,
whatever can be thrown together in the shortest time, because when you get
hungry, you got to fix the meal! 15 minutes
to open the can, heat up the beans and bread and eat dinner. Every one to serve himself!<br />
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All of this change happened over just 70 years. Now the next
70 years? Maybe we will say “abracadabra” and the baked beans with bread will just
appear out of nowhere and go straight to the gut. That’s progress folks! … in the next 70 years … </div>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-4972567016572091072010-08-23T20:21:00.000-07:002010-08-23T20:22:00.093-07:00Last dog day of summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On the last Sunday of the summer school break, some people went out to the beach, others went shopping and then there were those who went to the local park. I did the latter and ran across these cuties selling their lemonade at their lemonade stand!<br />
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To tell you the truth, it was a scorcher! Who would be so crazy as to be out and about in the park itself? Let me tell you, I was not the only one by far! I spent the afternoon exploring a park that I had not explored before - Windvale. Can you imagine the thirst after walking in near 100 degrees for about an hour? That lemonade tasted great! It had a special ingredient. <br />
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This stand was attractive and functional. Accompanied by their father, these girls spent their last dog day of summer having fun selling lemonade. They did it with very little assistance from any adult.<br />
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Sales volumes are not high and therefore vendors are not interested in setting up commercial businesses at our parks. But a stand such as this was certainly welcome by some of those who passed by. Dog days? The star Sirius is the dog star. It aligns with the sun in late July. Some say it adds to the heat of the month of late July and August. This was about the very last day of the dog star alignment; therefore it was really the last dog day of summer for these youngsters (and myself). What did you do on your last day before school started again? <br />
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<i>Thanks to the father and these children for permitting me to publish this.</i> indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-89445684636334001892010-07-31T08:10:00.000-07:002010-08-01T10:26:48.905-07:00Day Trip - East Texas history trail along The King's Highway, El Camino Real<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From time to time, I go visit historical sites. Not that I am a history buff, but someone who appreciates the past to understand the present. Residents of Montgomery County have a very real and close connection to the origins of the nation of Texas. The daughters of the American Revolution have preserved history in a way where we can step back into the past on location and imagine what happened there. El Camino Real, The King's Highway, or otherwise known as the Old San Antonio Road existed from the 1600's, winding through the great east Texas forests of tall pines and hardwoods, providing a means to travel through East Texas to San Antonio. Part of it is less than two hours away, on state highway 21. This segment was just part of a highway from Saltillo, Mexico to Louisiana. It was a key road for travel and goods transport throughout early Texas history. <br />
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The Daughters of the American Revolution placed granite markers every five miles along the highway in 1918. What I like to do is to travel down the road and stop at every marker. You get a one mile notice in advance, look at your odometer and be ready to stop in one mile. I like to get out of the car, but some people just read the markers from inside the car. A marker like this is difficult to read even when outside your automobile.<br />
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You can start at Crockett, Texas. I will show you some of the places you will likely want to stop at along the trail, but remember there are many more than I will show. It will take you through part of Davy Crockett National Park. <br />
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One of the places you likely will want to stop is at the Caddo state park to see the burial mound of thee Caddo Indians. This highway was originally part of the old American Indian trails of East Texas.<br />
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And here is one of the mounds inside the park.<br />
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A number of the markers are not so old and much easier to read.<br />
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Imagine the Indians coming to visit this mission. The word was out that there were gifts and the white man was trying to teach them their religion. They would come through the thick forest and suddenly appear without notice, without warning and sometimes while nearby, hunting game and not exactly the best smelling of the animals in the forest after running along the trails.<br />
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And then in another era, you could hear the sound of running horses as the stagecoach approached. Then the red dusty travelers would get out of the coach, tired and ready to freshen up and sleep the night, all the while threatened by the presence of local Indians and the wildness of bears and wolves nearby.<br />
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There is beauty and interesting images to see all along the way. This is one very old barn that caught my eye.<br />
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Some old springs are located in this forest where the Indians and the settlers stopped for water.<br />
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Peaceful farms dot the landscape, providing opportunity to smell the countryside, and watch cows and horses calmly grazing on a summer afternoon. Hay had just been harvested when I went through in July.<br />
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Remember that Texas was a nation only 160 years ago. That is six or so generations, but many of our great grandparents saw those days during their lifetime. <br />
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Now its your turn to go on a ride down that road. From The Woodlands, you can take I45 to Huntsville, head northeast on SH 19 to Crockett, then proceed northeast on SH 21 to Alto or even further to Nacogdoches. Plan on at least a half a day trip, if not a full day. This time, I took this outing as part of a trip back from Tennessee. <br />
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Recommended references:<br />
1. <a href="http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/OO/exo4.html">The Handbook of Texas Online</a><br />
2. <a href="http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/flagsandmaps/kings-hwy.html">Texas State Library and Archives Commission</a>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-2543932608236587272010-06-09T05:40:00.000-07:002010-06-09T05:40:21.812-07:00Small step is every one's responsiblityHave you ever seen something that is not correct and you know someone will be affected by it sometime? Many of us just go on our way and ignore it. A few months ago, after three years irritated by incorrect data on Google, I decided I would just report the problem and be done with it. I did and wow! Google researched it, found their error, corrected it and gave me feedback to check it out. It was a simple little thing. A pond in a park here was misnamed on Google Maps. It was labeled Mooney Pond. Now it is correctly labeled Reedy Pond and anyone can Google the pond. GPS systems will probably be updated as well over time since GPS objects generally start with Google. One minute little change that will affect someone in the future. We all can make some difference for others, even if is just a little thing such as this.indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-3208013936383718932010-05-30T11:43:00.000-07:002010-05-30T11:43:18.049-07:00Church Activities - important for character and personal developmentFor many of us, our minds often separate church from our lives. In reality, our lives are governed by the linkage of what transpires spiritually to what transpires in our routine lives at home and at work. Some people don't separate the two at all. They actually live a spiritual life.<br />
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Today, I had the privilege to attend an adult Sunday School that helped me to connect better. Connecting can really make a difference in your enthusiasm, your recovery from problems, your work ethics, your reasons for doing things, just about everything in your life can be affected by the seriousness and quality of your spiritual life.<br />
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Today, we considered Abram. What was life in his days? How can we connect to the real person Abram? Well, he was the father of the people of Israel. The question - was he your 165th grandfather? He could very well have been! How did he connect? What lessons are there in his life that guides us to our destiny in this life?<br />
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His father probably worshiped or at least honored a heathen god, the moon god of Mesopotamia. That god protected most of the cities that Abram visited. Abram was asked by Yahweh to leave his country and he did. His faith was beyond imagination! Of course that is the primary lesson that we learn from him and the reason he is an important figure in the Bible. He went as directed and was rewarded for his faith.<br />
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What other things do we know about him that helps us to identify with him and lead us to make such decisions in our lives? He lied; his wife actually went to live with another man since he said she was his sister and not his wife. Yes, he made deliberate mistakes and paid the price. He did not want to leave his family and travel hundreds of miles from one place to another. He resisted but obeyed. How tired he must have been traveling a journey from the land of Ur to Canaan - three 500 mile legs of a tremendous journey only to find bad drought in the land which required moving on to Egypt until the land was more productive.<br />
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We are called like he was, but sometimes we do not recognize that we are. This is what happened to me today. I have not recognized my call as a call. We do learn something every day and our lives are sometimes turned in one direction or another as a result. Mine is not turned; it is now more focused, more defined. We do have a calling, and we become better when we respond.<br />
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This is where we consider our children. Like Abraham, we must consider the fate of our children and teach them to learn as we have. Have them attend Sunday School. Let them learn the principles of life survival that have been passed down through the ages. Character is the root of success. It brings happiness and self-worth. Everything else takes a back seat to our spiritual strength. With it, we can move mountains; without it every mole hill is a mountain.<br />
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I feel very lucky to have been brought to the awareness of one particular teacher in the Spring area. He opens my eyes from his studies and insights into the Bible. I hope you find someone like him. If you want to know who he is, I will gladly tell you, not to bring you to "my church". I do not fall back on loyalty for certain individuals or institutions. I simply admire and learn from those to whom I best connect. I would hope that you gather your self confidence to do the same.<br />
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Man is fortunate to be able to pass along what he learns through various means of communication. In 165 generations, we have not yet refined it well enough to prevent falling away from so much wisdom. indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-10844057044936676122010-05-25T06:17:00.000-07:002010-05-25T06:17:35.374-07:00Teaching children politics and responsbilitiesIn my recent campaign, I ran across several families that I admired for their parental consciousness in politics. While some children were watching TV, involved in sports, and many parents too busy to tend to their community responsibilities, there were others who leveraged the time to teach their children. One family I remember well had a "family meeting to determine pros and cons of candidates". I love this practice. It taught the youngsters what is important and how to go about finding information. By discussing it with others, it also teaches how to reach a conclusion on candidate selection. They were learning how to do political homework. At the end of the exercise, each family member had their personal list, even if they were not of age to vote yet. To me this is a best practice. It did not take but a couple of hours, and it was quality family time. This practice began when the first child approached voting age.indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-86695431649364121242010-05-16T13:11:00.000-07:002010-05-16T13:13:53.293-07:00The Divine Rescue - a short inspiratonal, informative story about the BibleToday, I went to a book review to hear about this new publication by the author Edward William Fudge. In colorful but simple language, the author highlights Biblical stories in today's prose, without referencing scriptures, to tell the overall chronological story of the Bible. It is intended for all audiences in all walks of life. Some people will read it in one sitting.<br />
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The author is impressive as a scholar of Greek and of the Christian Bible. This book is far from comprehensive; it is intended to serve those pressed for time, those who want vision from the Bible, those who want sound bites rather than detailed explanations of content. Several children, as well as adults, at the book review asked the author very good questions. <br />
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If you are interested, Mr. Fudge offers volume discounts to help those who wish to spread the word in a concise manner. The book is available by mail order and is expected to be on the shelves of Costco late this summer. I have my autographed copy and have read parts of it already. There is of course some doctrine from the author's assumptions, but all in all, he does paint pictures, like a video in words, to present accurate mental images of ancient stories. <br />
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<a href="http://www.edwardfudge.com/DR_sales_sheet.pdf">The Divine Rescue webpage</a>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-86855010026178430172010-03-01T09:31:00.000-08:002010-03-01T09:31:44.223-08:00Relating to the RobinThe human race learns much through observation. Each individual sees something of himself in the mirror when observing a creature of this earth. Such is the Robin. We have songs about them. We have sayings about them. Yet the truth can escape us. The Robin is a creature of comfort, just like about any other creature on the earth. One wonders exactly what drives "comfort".<br />
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One person told me once that a man should enjoy shaving his face. That seemed beyond me. Then he taught me to heat up the shaving cream, make sure the razor is sharp, turn on some music and think positively or daydream and proceed to enjoy the moment. Then I discovered what he meant and I now enjoy shaving (when I want to).<br />
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So this Robin, as it sits on the birdbath in the cool breeze, relaxes in the sun, taking in the moment with ruffled feathers, to dry and enjoy his surroundings. He stayed there for 20 minutes, soaking up the sun. Ahhh.... a nice warm sun after a cold bath without a worry in the world. Maybe he needs some music - oops ...<a href="http://www.learner.org/jnorth/sounds/RobinSong_LangElliott.mp3"> he produces his own</a>! indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-76627421926024638442010-01-23T20:23:00.000-08:002010-01-23T20:30:52.379-08:00Lover's Lane South American Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In Cartagena, an old tradition among the youth of that city makes one appreciate the need for a boy and girl to have a private place to talk. The tradition is to meet your love in the evening on the wall of the old city, perhaps sitting on an old cannon overlooking the city or on the wall in a rifleman's slot that does not have the cannon.<br />
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Lovers have many different views. One can choose to meet at a place overlooking the Caribbean, typically facing into the wind. Colored lights on the wall keep the amount of light low but romantically beautiful.<br />
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The place can be quite private if you choose the right location, but many times there are others nearby on the wall.<br />
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Sometimes, there are three persons, sometimes two. This pair was observed talking and kissing under the low lights on the wall.<br />
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So why is this a story to write? Typically, an entire family lives in one home. There is no privacy. Most teenagers have no automobile. They are limited to traveling by foot or taxi or carriage or bike. Most use motorcycles or bikes to get around. That does not provide any privacy either. Therefore, one solution is to go to the wall. A girl says, I want my sister to be there. I saw that in several cases although I had the thought that the notion came from parents rather than the girl. <br />
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Here are two young people talking across the gap of the cannon. Notice that it is safe. To get to know each other is a formal process and depending on the time in the relationship, the need to be close but not too close is apparent in the process. The light is not exaggerated. It was perhaps a little darker than it seems in this photo.<br />
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In the night, the temperature at this time of the year is very comfortable and in fact almost all year long, it is quite comfortable being out at night. That adds to the convenience of the wall. <br />
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Then there were lovers in more advanced stages, turning the location into what we might call "lovers lane".<br />
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Gringos don't typically understand this culturally, but sure understand what they see going on the wall of this great city - Lover's Lane! <br />indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-74586832206610165732010-01-22T08:31:00.000-08:002010-01-22T08:31:43.742-08:00City of Cartagena Colombia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Technically speaking, the larger city is composed of several suburbs as we know them. San Diego is where we went and prefer to stay. This is one of the ancient parts of the city, dating back to the 1600's - with a history of conquistadors and pirates. It is quaint, under a type of metamorphosis where old timer homes are being displaced with renovated buildings and tourist facilities. We stayed in two bed and breakfast hotels this trip. In its narrow streets, you will see few motorcycles, since they are banned here. People walk but there are many taxis on the streets, taking tourists and residents to and fro. The cobblestone streets makes one feel like he is in a European city.<br />
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It can be quite warm during the heat of the day, but at this time of the year, it is tolerable. In the summer months one is less likely to go to the market in the heat of the day, but 90 degrees is not that bad at this time of the year.<br />
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The public beach near downtown is very busy and crowded with tourists and locals. From the beach there is quick and easy access to the downtown markets just a couple of blocks away. Here is a city on the Caribbean with a sheltered and guarded harbor.<br />
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Cars, carriages, bicycles, horses, donkeys and the whole works mix on the streets. It is a colorful place in terms of people, places and history.<br />
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Near San Diego, one can see the protected commercial port across the bay and the modern high rise downtown area where the very active beach is located.<br />
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At night, the place is lit up in colors that make tourists want to walk about and see.<br />
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In the plazas of the walled city of San Diego, there is a wide variety of entertainment from singing, dancing, juggling, and just about anything you can imagine.<br />
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During the day in one of the plazas, you might want to watch the guys play cards. They gambled with a few pesos- young and old. The bottom left guy lost 10 American dollars that morning but was still in the game. I was unfamiliar with their game.<br />
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You might go out to a bar in the walled city to listen to music and talk. The surroundings are superb - sight, sound and people.<br />
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From the fortified wall, one can see the modern city as well as the ancient fortifications within.<br />
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Just outside the wall, there are very interesting markets - plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables available.<br />
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Here, I stopped to purchase a new belt. It was customized for me. I walked out wearing my new 15 peso ($7) belt.<br />
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At night the spectacular fort guarding the city can be seen under its lights.<br />
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Occasionally, one will see the classical woman carrying fruit on her head.<br />
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Modern flashy malls are available also.<br />
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A tour through the fortress will provide great insight into the history of the place and how the structure was built to ward off pirates and other enemies arriving by ship.<br />
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<br /></div>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-66000469219432469142010-01-20T17:03:00.000-08:002010-01-20T17:13:13.166-08:00Down the Road to Cartagena, ColombiaOver the holidays I had another travel experience which I have been asked to write about. The idea of this trip was to have our family travel together by road so that I\we could see the Colombian countryside. Danger? That is what I was initially told but after research, I found it to be safe statistically, that is, if all the data was on the platter. So here is another episode of "On the road again". We traveled by bus - an 11 hour trip from Maracaibo, Venezuela to Cartagena, Colombia.<br />
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Nearing the border with Colombia, we began heading along the coast in the country of the Guajro, the native people of this area.<br />
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One is not likely to be greatly enamored with this dry and hot area, although the ocean water is great. This arid marshy sand is full of cactus and dry brush.<br />
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Traditionally, as in most of South America, the color of a home is important and preferred tones are soft.<br />
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In pueblos such as these, the towns wake up early and people are outside working.<br />
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The Guajira woman will wear her traditionally full length dress, often very colorful.<br />
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As you might expect, there are cows, goats, donkeys and horses along the side of the road, often not tied to anything. The road is only two lanes.<br />
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People are on the move along the highway to commercial markets in nearby pueblos on their bicycles, motorcycles, donkey carts, ... any means of transportation possible. You have to be able to tolerate the frequent honk of the horn, as the bus driver warns everyone and thing alongside his side of the road. No one seemed to be annoyed at the noise.<br />
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When finally reaching the border, we had to do the normal paperwork to leave Venezuela and our bags were opened to look at everything inside. After exiting Venezuela, we had to walk about 100 yards in "no mans land" to arrive at the Colombian border, where we would go through customs ad immigration there. Colombia was much easier and laid back than Venezuela. After getting the passport stamped, we were welcomed by this sign. No more checkpoints. I felt much freer in Colombia.<br />
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Down the road, the terrain became much more green and lush. As you can see, this toll road is in excellent condition.<br />
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In the pueblos, one would see vegetable markets and peddlers like this one, selling ice cream or fruit drinks. Lemonade is a popular roadside drink. <br />
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The military were certainly present, conducting an exercise. We saw tanks and infantry everywhere.<br />
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As the day progressed, we began to see mountains in the distance.<br />
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And the terrain just kept getting better with deep greens combined with creeks and rivers. <br />
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Now the land became a jungle. This is the area near where we stopped for lunch.<br />
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But first we would start to see the Caribbean again. The coral blues were outstanding and provided a fresh look at the world as we were discovering it here in Colombia. <br />
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Bus driver - cant we stop here for a while????? Please!!! Darn... on with the trip ... <br />
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One thing for sure - we saw many children outside and families along the way on this fairly busy road.<br />
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Now we found ourselves amongst the Plantain farms.<br />
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And those crops are for sale along the road, like they are everywhere in this part of Colombia. <br />
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Finally we arrive for lunch on a river in the high peaks of these hills or "mountains". A beautiful cool place.<br />
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After taking a look at our options, we elected grilled chicken. Don't eat the lettuce I was told.<br />
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Our journey takes us on further to the north through more mountains.<br />
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And the terrain becomes less hospitable as we approach Cartagena. <br />
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But there was this beautiful yellow bloomer all about the countryside, to make the trip more enjoyable. I saw hawks and bald eagles along the route also. The eagles were a surprise to me.<br />
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Sometimes I thought about the power lines and how much more beautiful this world would be without them.<br />
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Finally - arrival in Cartagena, the ancient walled city.<br />
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Perhaps I should footnote the photos - in these travels, rarely did I have the opportunity to photograph something while not moving at a very fast speed, shooting through dirty bus windows. I made the photography challenge my project as we traveled. <br />
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<br /></div>indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8989678883419238364.post-2266713210496126972009-11-22T07:06:00.000-08:002009-11-22T07:28:39.395-08:00Christmas on the Woodlands Waterway - Lighting of the Doves 2009<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On a dreary cool rainy day, our 2009 holiday season began. I'm sure many people did not come this year because of the weather. We were, however, fortunate at the end to have clear skies and cool temperatures. It felt like winter in the air. Even before the skies cleared, it felt like a snowy day here in paradise.<br />
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If you look close or click on the photo, you will notice the light snow. This was a truly an event that children adored! There was no doubt as one looked at the faces of these children. <br />
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As adults sloshed through the muddy grass, it was apparent that some wished it was a little drier, but the rain did not dampen the spirits of anyone I saw there. One lady in nice shoes was stuck in the mud and commented on her predicament, but even she was smiling and in good spirits! <br />
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Employees of the Township with their families were here and there, enjoying the fruit of their labor. We know it takes a lot of work to put these events together and appreciate such quality in our community. Y'all did a great job again this year! Thanks!!! We are all family.<br />
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Have you ever eaten deep fried Oreo cookies? They are "to die for", quoting the M.C. of the event. I DO agree! A dollar a cookie and worth it!<br />
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At 5 P.M., the featured entertainment took stage - Needfire. What a show they delivered! Tremendous energy and superb Irish/American electric guitar music and songs.<br />
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This high spirited group came offstage with their wireless instruments and mingled with the crowd while they played.<br />
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Sometimes, I could not even find the energetic young man playing the fiddle. He was simply spectacular with his showmanship!<br />
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In fact, here he is in mid air playing his music like he was on the ground. Incredible!<br />
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But he was not the only energetic performer! This year like last, the Irish dancing group showed off their energy. You can't help but clap and dance with them when you see these girls perform in their colorful costumes. The sound of their feet synchronized to the beat of the music is enough to lift anyone's spirit on a dreary day!<br />
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There were many young couples present such as these two lovely people.<br />
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Some families really did get into the holiday spirit. Sure it is before Thanksgiving, but then again, winter was in the air, and you just can't get much better than that to jump start the season.<br />
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Local ballet talent reminds us of the tradition we have in the arts, especially the Nutcracker, which many of us will see this season. The elegance of this young lady certainly caught the eye of those around the stage.<br />
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This lovely and talented "Woodlands Idol winner" prepared the youngsters (and adults) for the arrival of Santa - his debut for 2009! Her Christmas songs and beautiful voice could be heard throughout the park.<br />
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And there was of course Santa who attracted a very large crowd as he arrived in his traditional style, by boat on the waterway.<br />
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This family caught my eye, all having been to the face painting booth to be branded in the holiday spirit.<br />
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Many families enjoyed this evening. A few had to ride daddy's back to be able to see what was going on above boot level!<br />
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More photos of the event can be seen at <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://woodlandscommentary.shutterfly.com/woodlandsonly/201">this link. </a><br />indianspringsguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039507565333544019noreply@blogger.com0