We had a bit of a blow come through last night. It's kind of invigorating watching a storm as it approaches. The air becomes thick and it gets almost hard to breath then all of a sudden the wind picks up and you feel the hot humid air rushing against your skin. As the wind increases in speed you see the clouds roll in then the air turns cool and accelerates past you like a freight train. You gotta love it!

I have always liked storms I just never tried to take pictures in them. A digital camera makes that a lot easier. I tried for the longest time to shoot individual bolts of lightning but to be honest the lightning wasn’t that impressive this time. For the most part it hid behind the clouds hiding from me like it knew I wanted to take its picture. After awhile I just set the shutter to stay open for 15 seconds and these are some of the photos I got. Not impressive but fun to try for.

Mood swing.....

I tend to think a lot. I try to keep my thoughts positive but lately that has not been easy and since I seem to relate to the world through picture and song (events bring songs and pictures to my mind and these in turn affect my emotions) lately this song has been playing around up there so I decided to post it. I hope the people of world stop doing the shit their doing!!

"The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead"

Peter Pumpkinhead came to town
Spreading wisdom and cash around
Fed the starving and housed the poor
Showed the vatican what gold's for
But he made too many enemies
Of the people who would keep us on our knees
Hooray for Peter Pumpkin
Who'll pray for Peter Pumpkinhead?
Oh my!
Peter Pumpkinhead pulled them all
Emptied churches and shopping malls
Where he spoke, it would raise the roof
Peter Pumpkinhead told the truth
But he made too many enemies...
Peter Pumpkinhead put to shame
Governments who would slur his name
Plots and sex scandals failed outright
Peter merely said
Any kind of love is alright
But he made too many enemies...
Peter Pumpkinhead was too good
Had him nailed to a chunk of wood
He died grinning on live TV
Hanging there he looked a lot like you
And an awful lot like me!
But he made too many enemies...
Hooray for Peter Pumpkin
Who'll pray for Peter Pumpkin
Hooray for Peter Pumpkinhead
Oh my oh my oh!
Doesn't it make you want to cry oh?

Crash Test Dummies

morning coffee on the deck
these wont make it past the next few minute's

It is starting out to be a nice day on the Outer Banks but it looks like a hot one so I need to get some outdoor work done early but as I was sitting on the deck enjoying my morning “cup” of coffee and contemplating what all had to be done I started to admire my hanging baskets. This year I made my own baskets using cherry tomatoes as the plant and it worked great. The biggest problem with putting plants on my deck is that it faces west and the afternoon sun is brutal. Theses plants require almost a gallon of water each daily but it is well worth the work to me; besides how hard is picking up a hose and watering some plants. You wont see many red tomatoes on these plants because I eat them as soon as I see them!

Today was a great day on the Outer Banks. It has been hot but not the oppressive hot of last week. As you can see from these photos it was a busy beach day. I can’t remember when I have ever seen the beach so crowded. Perhaps the damage done to the gulf coast caused people to come to the Outer Banks or maybe the economy has caused folks to travel closer to home either way its busy this year.

A flower in a bunch of lily pads, my friend says they only last one day.

Fog rolling in over and around the Buffalo, Isn’t that just beautiful?

Zeke and the deer. He just loves to sit high on his perch and look down on the road and fields below.

I got back from the mountains yesterday after spending 6 nights and 5 incredibility relaxing days there. I sure felt the heat and traffic as soon as I hit the beach. No one seemed to give TS Beryl any notice and with clear skies and hot temperatures I can’t blame them. Today the only sign of the storm was Jim Cantore from the weather channel. He seems to show up any time there is even a hint of a storm. Last year a friend of mine actually got his autograph, Oh well. Other than the occasional band of rain the day has been clear and hot perfect beach weather if you like that kind of thing.

This time of year I pretty much stay inside during the day coming out early in the morning and late in the evening. I firmly believe in beating the heat but next month I will be forced to venture on to the beach; my cousin and her kids are coming down and when someone travels 380 miles to the beach you can bet they are going to go to the beach and I will be “dragged” along!

In my back yard I have a cloths line I don’t know why I have it I haven’t used it in ages.

But this year it did not go to waste.

Working in my yard I kept hearing this chirping sound. I knew it was the sound of bird chicks but it sounded so close. I looked in the tree and did not see any nests so I kept on working but the sound did not go away. Then it hit me the sound was coming out of the cloths pin bag. I knew it had been a while since I used any of the pins but I did not realize how long it had been. I hope those little guys make it. Mom and dad did not place the nest in the wisest of spots. This is the dog’s yard and the dogs have noticed the sound also. I will keep an eye out but when these guys start to fly there could be trouble.

*I wated untill all was quiet to take the photos, I was trying not to upset mom or dad.

Weather on the Outer Banks is a bit overcast but the temperature is mild and the air is breathable. last week it was very hot and oppressive, very typical weather for July here. Tomorrow is promising to be nice with a high only around 80 and plenty of sun. the tourist that are leaving will be thankful for good weather on their way home and those that are coming will look forward to the week ahead hoping that it stays nice. Me I'm going to spend the next few hours sleeping, I worked last night and we were busy (a lot of the folks I met weren’t having the best of vacations). This afternoon some friends and I are going to the movies "POTC" is finally out.

Took a quick look at the news, this article seems to me to say wake up and look for those alternative energy sources. Oil prices ease for 2nd consecutive day - Yahoo! News

I must be getting old. Yesterday I went to a party like I do every July 4^th. It was great party, not too many people, a lot of laughter, a lot of food and just plain good fun. The party had all the normal party things including swimming in my friends “pool” which just so happens to be the Albemarle Sound. Well folks after 4 ½ hours of that I was tired and I laid down for a power nap in preparation for the trip to the beach to watch the fireworks. I awoke at 9:15pm to the sound of boom-bang, I had missed the trip to the beach but all was not lost sitting on my deck I was treated to a fireworks display courtesy of many neighbors and their back yard light shows.

Of course a really big fire work went off yesterday. The space shuttle Discovery set “sail” at 2:38pm on independency day. Good luck to the crew; wish I were with them (physically!).

happy 230th birthday America

Last night we had an early fire works show courtesy of Mother Nature. The lightning never really showed its self it just lit up the clouds in shades of pink, yellow and white. The light show lasted about an hour and was followed by a cold wind and rain. From time to time a flash of man made fire works sent up by folks eager for an early beginning to the 4^th of July celebrations would brighten the sky. Today is the 4^th of July the birthday of our nation. Happy 230^th birthday America

Made a quick stop over by the Avalon pier in KDH. Looks like a nice day at the beach

Hazy, Hot and Humid summer on the Outer Banks

Summer has hit the Outer Banks. The past week has been Hazy Hot & Humid the three H’s. Traffic is intense and people are everywhere. The “mass” of people is not that noticeable on the beaches since there are no private beaches and people are able to spread out but when it storms the tourist hit the stores and therefore the streets. Dare county has no public transportation so the only way around is by car. A lot of bike paths have been built but they are of little use when it rains. Now we need a good storm every once and awhile its like a mini Christmas for the retailer but this last week has been a bit much, the Outer Banks has been hit by the same storms that have been flooding the North East, but it looks like sun is on the menu for today so all those folks who have spent their vacation week inside will be able to say they made it to the beach when they went to the beach.

I on the other hand will make one foray out into the world of vacationers to my favorite vegetable stand (Tar-Heel II located at the Seagate North shopping plaza) pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables return home and veg in the AC until late afternoon when I will venture to my little 12’ by 3’ inflatable pool, light a citracel candle and enjoy the last few hours of my day off.

Not much in the garden this year. I kept the plants to the more heat tolereant ones and cut down on the total number so I could better keep up. Does look like its going to be a good year for tomatos, thoes bushes are plum full.

Today my intention was to get up early and go to the beach and get few beach shots but to be honest I don’t like the beach this time of year and I HATE the crowds and traffic so I worked in the yard instead. If you want to see a beach sunrise check out this blog OBX Connection - Weblog he goes out every morning and shoots the sunrise. For live action beach shots try this site for the Nags Head Fishing Pier. Any way I hope your day is a good as mine seems to be.

Mountains June 2006

this photo was taken on one of my morning walks to a friends house for morning coffee.

this is a composit of three photos using Cannon PhotoStich. its a view of one of my "side" yard

another PhotoStich. 2 photos rotated 90 degrees joined and rotated back 90 degrees. gives a feel for the hight of the trees

I just returned from a week in the VA Mountains. I went short on cash this time due to some unexpected expenditures last month but it was just good to get off the beach and go to where I hope to call home some day.

My 16 year old son came with me and it was nice spending time with him. I know that soon he will not have the time nor the inclination to go on trips with his mother. I had encouraged him to bring some video games and movies both of which he declined to do. “You’re not going to have anything to do.” Said I “Exactly” said he.

We did not “do” much but we did visit the Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge park way. We went to The Jacksonville Center in Floyd VA to get some information on Solar and Wind power for the house I plan on building. On Sunday while my son hooked up with a friend I went to a Bookstore/Coffee shop in Floyd to hear Fred First read from his new book “Slow Road Home”. (the bookstore is called Notebooks I cant remember what the coffee shop is called but they are right above the book store and serve excellent coffee at a very reasonable price). Monday we took a friends daughter for her swimming lessons in Blacksburg and swung over to Christiansburg to hit Barns & Noble and check out the mall (we don’t have a mall here). I guess when I read this we were “active” but we spent a lot of time on my little 4 acre piece of heaven.

I did a lot of walking and exploring the land like I do every time I’m there, my son spent his time sleeping. I’m not kidding he slept all the time. When I asked him about it he smiled and informed me that at home he was always busy so he decided to spend his vacation sleeping! Today my son looks fresh, he is out and about doing all the things he does and I look and am exhausted dreading all the laundry and other things that have to be done before I return to work tomorrow.

I envy my son’s ability to just relax, to sleep away a vacation, but I would not give up one of my walks. I enjoy looking at the trees and plants, animals and birds, listening to the sounds that explode in the “quiet” of the country, smelling the air both sweet and foul. I love the feel of the mountain sun and wind. I like finding out about new things and then looking for them. The new life I will be starting in a few years is so exciting to me that I take every opportunity to sneak a peek. I can’t just sleep away my time there. I want to savor every minute I spend on that little piece land I call my own.

It is good being home. I love sleeping in my own bed and taking a real shower. I love hearing from my friends and family. And the Outer Banks will always be home, this is where my children were born and raised and where many good friendships have been formed but I feel more “at home” in those mountains. I know I will miss the beach but I love thoes mountains and one has to follow the heart from time to time.

This is a view from the street of the kites on the ridge

thoes little specks on top of the of the ridge are people
the kites are behind that ridge

view from the deck last night

I saw some odd kites on Jockey’s Ridge Sunday afternoon. I don’t have the slightest ideal what was going on and I did not feel like walking the ½ mile or so up a sand hill to find out. But it turned into a nice day. We have rain again this morning; maybe the rain is going to be a morning event for a while. With the storm down in the gulf we might get some weather latter on in the week.

Well it’s another rainy day on the Outer Banks. For me that’s a good thing. Rain keeps the temperature down and helps the plants but for those folks whose kids just got out of school and who just started their vacation its not such a good thing unless they look on the bright side, this is a day to relax and vacation. Don’t go shopping; read a book, play a game with the kid’s heck if nothing else watch TV. I would like to see some people do nothing on their vacation but that’s not going to happen. It seems to be in our nature to pack every thing we can into that week or two we take off each year. Our lives are so busy that it’s difficult to just sit back and watch the world go by.

Next week I start my first week of vacation in the mountains. I plan on taking a little time each month and going to my little piece of solitude. This year I will be forced to take it easy because I have little money left in the "vacation" till. I don’t have to pay for a place to stay I have my camper. I can buy food at the local store and cook on the grill. I have several books to read, one I bought last summer to read while I was up there. It will be interesting to see if I can make it on vacation with nothing planed to do. Can I sit idly on my deck and just watch the cows and wild life. Will hiking the property line be enough to keep me busy. Will I finally finish that book, heck start that book I bought last year. Tune in in two weeks and find out.

It was a good hockey game last night looked like overtime for a little while there. I was rooting for Edmonton I hate to see a 4-0 win in any tournament but now Hurricanes just get it over with and win!

Yesterday was June 6, 2006 or as some like to call it 666. It was the day that expectant mothers feared to the point that they asked their doctors to induce labor if there was any chance at all their child would be born on that day. It was the day that many rational folks looked at with apprehension I must say that I consider myself rational but I knew that the dark cloud that has been following me this year was not going to let an opportunity like 666 pass me by and I was right.

I spent all yesterday morning working in the yard admiring my tomatoes and flowers just enjoying being home. When I was finished I walked into the basement and noticed that there was a wet spot near the chest freezer," self" I said "that’s not good". I moved the freezer and noticed that the water was not coming from the freezer it was coming from the wall. "Self" I said "this is really not good". I knew there were no pipes in that wall so I went up stairs and looked in the closet that holds the hot water heater and sure enough the hot water heater was shot. "Self" I said "this sucks".

I started shopping around for a plumber to replace the hot water heater and got a case of sticker shock. $600 seemed a bit much for 30 minutes to an hour of work. I had seen a hot water heater replace but I had never actually done it before, "self" I said "you can do this".

Folks I have now officially installed a hot water heater and it only cost me $320 and 3 hours time!!!

It’s a beautiful day on the outer banks!!

By the way 06-06-06 comes by every 100 years just something for you superstitious folks to think about.

traffic stopper

How to stop traffic on a busy Saturday afternoon coming out of Manteo NC
I love the way the parents walk with their offspring. One at the front and one towards the rear.

My brother’s neighborhood has become a FEMA trailer park
Believe me when I say my brother lives in one of the nicer parts of town

I took my camera with me when I went to the gulf coast but in all honesty I just wasn’t in a picture taking mood Biloxi is an absolute mess and New Orleans while trying to put on good face is still a mess. Both my sister and my brother live in FEMA trailers. There is a lot wrong with FEMA BUT they provided both my brother and sister with a roof over there head. Each of the trailers was equipped with everything needed to live, pots and pans blankets and towels. My sister was provided with a cell phone. The conditions are not ideal but like my brother says “you have a place to sleep and take a shower”.

Another long two weeks has gone by but this has been a less than enjoyable one for my family. My sister’s 21 year old son died on the 22^nd of May in Mobile AL. As could be expected my sister took it very hard and I was asked to make the arrangements. Needless to say it was a bit of a logistical nightmare I live in North Carolina, the boys father lives in Atlanta GA and my sister lives in Biloxi MS. I have found out why there are funeral directors. If not for Rick of the Ascension Funeral home in Mobile I don’t know what I would have done. He helped me coordinate this whole mess and now my sister can have some closure. In her mind her son is at peace.

Jason Couch
August 29, 1994 - May 22, 2006.

Looks like another great day on the Outer Banks, could not ask for better weather. I worked this weekend, nights, so today is a piddle around the house day, between light duty chores I’ve been sitting on my deck listening to a new CD by Springsteen called “We Shall Overcome the Seeger Sessions” folks if you like blue grass and jazz you will like this CD. It’s a bunch of old songs; I mean OLD songs put to music featuring horns, strings and percussion instruments. The music by it self is worth buying the CD. I’ve always liked Springsteen but this is not his typical work if you get a chance to listen to it do so it's fun music.

The next few days promise to be good weather wisw but with the Memorial Day weekend coming up and with it the beginning of the summer tourist season on the Banks things will be hopping. I have to work a lot this next week so between my stints in the ED and on the MS floor I’m going to be seeing a lot of folks who really don’t want to see me. Take care out there an ounce of prevention is worth 6 weeks in a cast.