Bleeding Heart

Title sounds like a soap opera TV show. Where the Bleeding Heart flowers came from in my garden I don't know, because I did not plant it. In fact, I never heard of it before my wife saw it after I asked her about the strange shaped flowers popping up. Those unique shaped flowers I'd never seen before caused me to get my camera up close to capture a scene or two. I learned the plant comes from Japan. Maybe long range birds flew to my yard from there and dropped seeds. Whatever, it makes for a nice picture. By the way, the blooms did not last long. And, I suspect the hot summer will cause the plant to go dormant until next spring. I look forward to more photos.

AEA Scholarships

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2008 Beardslee Scholarships awarded annually to families of AEA members. This is the 20th year AEA has presented these awards, typically four a year. College students receiving the awards are: Ms. Molly A. Mack of Oregon, Ms. Lauren E. Kelly of Missouri, Mr. Matthew P. McDonald of Virginia, and Ms. Paige M. Cox of Texas. To learn more about the many scholarships offered by AEA, click here.

Tripod Terrorists?

Many photographers, amateur and professional, utilize tripods to hold their cameras steady in low light situations, or for other reason…virtually all are unrelated to terrorism. However, you may not know that in most large cities world wide, there are restrictions on using camera tripods in public places, and in most cases "permits" are required. In some cases, photographers have been harassed by local police and security personnel when they "stand too long in one place" outside (or inside) some public place, with their camera mounted on a tripod. If you don't have a tripod and hand hold your camera, then it's usually no big deal. It's the tripod that's to blame. You're a tripod terrorist! I suppose there are reasons why it would be prudent from a security standpoint to check people taking photos (with or without tripod) in certain facilities like those in the nation's capitol, but to have your intent questioned when you are taking a picture of some city landscape is ridiculous. I can also understand liability issues if you set up a tripod in the middle of a subway station, or at the entrance to some sporting arena. "Whoops, sorry about the tripod buddy, let me help you get your legs untangled and clean off your scraped knees." In sum, it seems to me that using a tripod is an essentially harmless activity, and not something that needs to be on the priority list for a homeland security person, looking for suspicious activity. Want to learn more? Click here to get the scoop from a top notch and highly regarded professional photographer.

Learning through sports

One activity that signals the end of the school year are athletic playoffs…like soccer, baseball, softball, track, etc. Around my house, girls high school soccer takes priority. I am sometimes amazed at how much energy the players put into the game, but then on the other hand, I am often disappointed at their seemingly lack of enthusiasm in relation to doing all they can do. When I hear a coach or player say "they were not into the game", I wonder why they are playing the game in the first place. Somehow, too many young people today have lost the same sort of enthusiasm for "doing hard things" that earlier generations had. Later in life they will pay a price for that attitude, since traits they exhibit now will affect how they respond to things in the future. Still, like in the photo here, there are many who do care, who do work hard, and who will ultimately become successful, no matter the challenges.

Dueling GI Bills

I just spent a few minutes searching the internet (Google) attempting to get a fair assessment of the pluses and minuses of versions of the new GI Bill being debated in Congress. I came away with a bit more knowledge than I had previously, but I'm still not clear about it all. One thing that is clear, however, is that in typical political fashion, nothing is getting done. Meanwhile, sitting by waiting patiently are thousands of military men and women who deserve much more support in the way of benefits for what they have been doing so well.

Memorial Day 2008

There's no need to suggest to anyone reading this post that Memorial Day has special meaning, because most of you probably have some connection to the military. However, as you go about your holiday weekend activities (in good weather hopefully) keep in mind those serving in harms way today, and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice throughout history in defense of the United States of America. For those reading this while deployed, (military and civilian) we're with you 100%.

New Growth

The other day when I was out walking in the woods (along with assorted ticks) I was looking for something to photograph (not the ticks). I spotted this and immediately thought, "new growth". Later as I continued my walk, I started thinking about that image, and what it might stand for. I'm a down-to-earth sort of person, usually not prone to get too philosophic about things. I also tend to be rather pessimistic, and have been accused by my wife as being a worrier. But, there are occasions when I stop and think about where I am in this world, and how I feel about it. Wow, this post is starting to get awful mushy sounding isn't it. So, let me get to my point. This picture of bright green new growth sprouting out of a cut-off small tree, deep in the woods, all by itself underneath much larger, more robust relatives, could have special meaning to us. For example, when we get too negative about life or things therein. There's always the possibility of "new growth" regardless of our hardships. Well, that's what it means to me anyway. As for the ticks I walked with that day, at least one followed me home, to be discovered the morning after, in a place I won't tell you about. Besides flies, ticks probably are my least favorite insect. Now there I go being all negative again.

May-June issue of Army Engineer

The May-June issue of Army Engineer magazine is being printed now, in Rolla, Missouri at (ta-da) Scott's Printing Company. AEA has been associated with Scott's since 1989. Obviously, they do good work. OK, with that commercial opening, those reading this post will be getting a first look at the cover for that issue. The theme is "veterans", and there are three especially interesting and well written original articles about WWII vets included. There's lots more too. AEA members ought to be receiving their copy in mid-June. Non-AEA members will just have to wish they had one, or else subscribe here. Note how I started the post with a commercial and ended it the same way.

Hokie-Land

My daughter and I took (her daughter) Jennifer to Blacksburg yesterday for a six-week summer session. She's taking two math courses she could not fit into her schedule earlier. The start of the summer session is no where near as hectic as is the start of the session in the fall, when around 30,000 seem to arrive on the same day. Yesterday it rained hard, but held off while we were transferring items from one dorm to another. Every time I go back to Virginia Tech, I remember the recent tragedy there, but also wonder at the beauty of the surrounding region and the total togetherness of all who call Hokie-land "home". Enrollment is up for the 2008-2009 school year, as is tuition (unfortunately). While there yesterday, I made my usual trip to the campus bookstore to buy a couple of VT logo caps to take the place of others I've worn out. I say you can't have too many baseball caps, no matter the logo. But where we live you got to have at least one VT cap to wear most of the time. That's a Hokie-land regulation.

All kids know this flower

When I was a kid, honeysuckle was without a doubt my favorite summertime smell…and taste. Still is. Today, when I was out with my camera, I spotted some new honeysuckle growth along the Smith River (a part of the Dan River Basin). I wanted to pick some of the flowers, and break off the end and suck out the honey like I always do, but the plants were located in the middle of a large patch of poison ivy, and that is NOT a favorite of mine. So, I just took a photo. Remember the taste? Honeysuckle that is, not the poison ivy.

Busting Chops

It's a term I have used for decades. "Busting chops" with someone is giving that person a hard time, often using language that in a different situation might be considered inappropriate. When I was in the Army, we used to engage in this sort of interaction perhaps too much; however, given that most of those close-knit groups of people with whom I had a relationship seemed to enjoy it as well (both senior and junior) I never thought much about whether or not it was the right thing to do. My problem today with this type of behavior is that many of the same people with whom I once "busted chops" while sitting in a bar in Germany after duty hours, or inside some sort of general purpose (GP) tent while on a field exercise, have since gone on to become extremely successful business people. While I, on the other hand, have taken a different route on a somewhat "lower" road. While we each had our given military ranks and assignment positions then, we all were "common" in that we were essentially doing the same thing. So, busting each others chops seemed OK. However, I found myself last week surrounded by many of these same people in St. Louis during the Engineer Regimental Conference…the difference is that they are no longer in the Army and each has gone on to very successful careers in the civilian world. Sharing drinks and lots of war stories in the Hilton hotel in St. Louis, (typically with me doing too much of the talking…a weakness I have had forever) I found myself reverting back to the past when we were in uniform together. In sum, I started "busting chops" in the same manner we leaders of battalions and brigades and our respective senior staff personnel did then. But, me doing this today as a self employed media type, with CEOs and top management people of major engineering companies somehow does not seem right. This has nagged at me since I returned home. So, I decided to let it all hang out here in this post. Maybe it's just me, but busting chops no longer seems to be a good thing, but perhaps I'm being too self critical. Like I said, I talk too much. Write too much too, I guess.

Candid Camera

Wandering around the large exhibit hall during the 2008 Engineer Regimental Conference in St. Louis last week, I spotted an item of equipment being displayed by a vendor that caught my attention. It was a portable security video device, so I decided to record me, taking its picture. I had to click and run, however, because me standing where I was had foot traffic backed up behind, all grumbling about some stupid camera guy taking his own picture. Whatever. By the way, in case you care (and you probably don't) this is my 200th post with Blogger. Works for me.

Best Sapper Team

Congratulations to Army Engineer Sappers, Captain Jason Winkelmann and Lieutenant Joel Groves assigned to the 8th Engineer Battalion, Fort Hood, TX for taking First Place during the grueling week-long Best Sapper Competition conducted earlier this month at Fort leonard Wood, Missouri. The competition was sponsored by the Engineer School and the 577th Engineer Battalion, and included a wide range of difficult engineer tasks, all both mentally and physically challenging. Over 30 teams from throughout the force participated.

No place like home

After a week of travel from Southern Virginia to Missouri and back, I can tell you that sort of life (e.g. business travel) is not for me…even though being in the Army for almost 30 years certainly entailed a lot of travel. It's just that I now have a hard time doing much of anything, "by the clock". Working as I do from home, part time, means I can do what I have to do, when I want to do it. So long as I meet my business deadlines, I'm OK. Matters not when I do it. But, last week when I was at Fort Leonard Wood gathering materials for future articles in Army Engineer magazine, and reporting on the 2008 Engineer Regimental Conference in St. Louis, my day started promptly at 0600 and ended around 2100, with a need to do certain things at specific times. I stopped wearing a watch long ago, so I found myself having to use my cell phone to keep track of time. Also, there's nothing like "relaxation" while sleeping in a large hotel, or motel, and often eating meals alone is no fun either. After a 13-hour drive back home, I again realized how much I like living where we do, and how much more relaxed I am in familiar surroundings. Was my trip worth it? Certainly it was, or else I would not have gone. I did find the time to take some photos besides those related to Army engineer stuff, such as the one above I shot at 0600, looking out my hotel room window at the glass-faced building across the street. You have to go to the big city to get such an image, so I guess I'll have to train myself over the next year to get ready to do it all over in 2009.

Engineer Soldiers in St. Louis

Engineer Soldiers from all over the world attended portions of the 2008 Engineer Regimental Training Conference in St. Louis and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri this week. One of the most popular spots in the large industry exhibit area in the America's Center in downtown St. Louis was the presence of "Hot Rod" Fuller, driver of a Caterpillar sponsored dragster. Rod Fuller scored his seventh career victory by edging rival Tony Schumacher in the final round of the 12th annual O'Reilly Midwest Nationals near St. Louis last Sunday. It was the 20th career NHRA national event victory for the popular driver who also earned 13 wins in the Super Comp and Super Gas categories. Fuller autographed handouts for engineer Soldiers and told many how proud he was of their service.

Meet me in St. Louis

The 2008 AEA Engineer Regimental Conference is well underway here in St Louis...close to 700 are here today and tomorrow and then many will travel down I-44 to Fort Leonard Wood for a 3-day session there. My only complaint is that it seems to me the more a hotel room costs (even with a special low conference rate) the less things you get for "free". Example: wireless internet. At the motel where I stayed before coming to St. Louis, wireless was free all over. Here, it would have cost me ten bucks a day. So, to publish this blog, I simply decided to use the wireless internet stations set up inside the AEA conference exhibit center, which is, of course FREE. Works for me!

Real American people

If you want to understand why people running for national political office are often so concerned with the opinions of "middle-class" America, go see, talk or otherwise interact with parents and family members of young men and women undergoing basic training at any military installation. These are simple folks, mostly middle class, wearing a mix of city, town and rural clothing, with accents ranging from deep south, to midwest, to upper New England. The thing they all have in common is the fact that a loved one is about to graduate from basic training and enter the force, many soon going in harms way to Iraq or Afghanistan…all with excitement, anticipation and a willingness of one wanting to use the skills they have just been taught, in defense of freedom wherever they are needed. Many parents are veterans themselves, and one can easily recognize pride in their eyes as they follow alongside their son or daughter, dressed in Army green uniform, serving as a "guide" of the installation, all the while talking in quick sentences such as "this is where we did this, and that's where we did that." I sat today in the back of the Army Engineer Regimental Store, located in Fort Leonard Wood's museum complex, watching customers come and go, listening to them interact with the store manager processing purchases one-by-one, while answering questions, and asking his own: "Where did you folks come from?" "I bet you are proud of this fine young man here" And so it went. In less than a couple of minutes, the store manager, mom, dad, aunts, uncles, brothers sisters, cousins and the center of attention (the one wearing the clean and nicely pressed uniform) were carrying on and telling all sorts of stories. Given that the store manager is a retired Army command sergeant major, one can appreciate why it's so easy for him to interact with Soldiers and their families…he's been doing that for a long time, and he's great in that regard. Those I saw today in the store talking to the manager are relatives and close friends of men and women, who made a decision to volunteer to serve their country. From what I heard today, each could not wait to come and celebrate the graduation of their loved one. Proud to be an American? You bet. These are real people who in my view are at the absolute heart of our country.