They've all faded out of view

One of my favorite television shows is MythBusters on Discovery Channel. It's an incredible hour of amazing science fun, and many times it has real life applications. Two Dutch students decided to make their own version about phone books, which I'd never heard of this and it is remarkable to watch. But, they don't explain why like the Mythbusters do.

Lord, I was born a ramblin man

It's a good thing that I love to travel and 'be on the move.' I'll be wrapping up early here in Georgia-South Carolina on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, I'll be driving back to St. Louis where I'll quickly pack a new bag and then drive on to Chicago (all in a day's work). Kristi has an appointment at the embassy in Guatemala City next Friday for Matt (and hopefully Addison), and we should get to the airport just in time to check-in for our flight. We fly out of Chicago at 3:00 AM on Thursday, April 3 and we'll return at 1:45 AM on Thursday, April 10. However, my boss told me to probably expect to be re-deployed again right away after my vacation is over (after Friday, the 11th). So, we'll see where the road takes me next, but a lot can change in the next two weeks.

Speaking of the road, the land in southern South Carolina is littered with striking pine forests. I really haven't had any time to be a tourist or take photos, but I may have some time this Sunday. The best drive I've taken so far is on the Atomic Road (S.C. 125) between Augusta and Allendale, SC. It runs along the southern edge of the Savannah River Site. I thought of stopping to take some pictures, but there is strict enforcement of no stopping since it's next to a nuclear power facility. I don't think my bosses would be too understanding if I was arrested by federal agents.

Here are a couple of pics I snapped the other day (another beautiful, sunny day in the 80's).

This is one of the many red-dirt roads I've had to traverse in my van. I've bumped across a few roads where I really wish I'd been in my Jeep.

Not only has the weather been warm, but this controlled fire in a pine forest was an added incentive to roll down the windows while I drove through the forests near Edgefield, SC.

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I should have more from this area in a few days.

When men on the chessboard get up and tell you where to go

Just another day on the job. I'm staying in Augusta (which is not as nice as I imagined), but I've actually been working in Aiken, SC. My hotel is straight down the street from Augusta National, and it appears that I will have to move before the Masters, if I'm still working here. Aiken is a very nice town, and I'll try to post more from there later. Back to work...

Have a Happy Easter.

Goin' places that I've never been

I got the call today, and I'm heading out first thing in the morning to Augusta, Georgia. I apparently have a hotel room arranged for a few days, but my management is still trying to figure out where to put us during a 10 day stretch for The Masters. I hope I can make it to at least one of the days -- maybe even watch Tiger win his first Grand Slam event this year.

If anyone has any other suggestions for things to do in the area on my occasional day off, please let me know. Thanks.

I've lost my leg.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Some interesting tidbits about wearin' o' the green and ol' Saint Paddy himself.

We grew up together that way

Domino, Domino, Domino.

My mom recently sent me this picture of our beloved Domino, our deaf dalmation.

He came to our family when I was in the sixth grade. He came from a local breeder that couldn't bring herself to put him down, but she couldn't keep him after he killed one of her peacocks. My Aunt Peg heard an ad on the radio about a free Dalmatian or he would be put down. She brought him to our house since we didn't have an outside dog at the time (she had been breeding Shar-Peis), and she was going to look for a permanent home. My mom forgot that we got out of school early that day, so when all four of us got home we decided we were keeping him. I think Kristi or Jennifer called Dad at the shoe store to tell him we got a new dog (whether he liked it or not).

Living next to the post office, Dom became the most popular dog in town, and we were known to live in "Domino's house." Many nights he would eat better than us, because we heard from all sorts of people that would bring him steak and ice cream. Many people would come to take pictures of him, such as this photo. I remember once a girl had walked into our backyard (through the gate!) to take a picture, but he was such a big dog that he knocked her down trying to play. I had been in my room and looked out to see him on top of this girl, so I had to run down and pull him off. The smart puppy was also known to like boobies, and frequently ripped girls shirts.

He was a hyper-active dog, and he was not that easy to control because he was deaf. Although, he seemed to have a natural obedience with our dad. When he had free reign of the entire yard, Mike or I would be sent outside to have him chase us around until visitors could get inside unmolested. We eventually built an interior fence to keep him in the back-yard, and the back gate is still pad-locked to this day.

There are so many stories that I alone could share about Dom, but I'm happy to hear anyone else's in the comments. I've loved all of our family pets with each of their own personalities (like my parents currently have an epileptic dog and a diabetic cat), but Dom was a force of his own nature. He was the biggest lap dog I've ever had, and my best friend growing up. He died several years ago, and I miss him still. I don't imagine I'll ever have another dog like him.

By the way, isn't he one of the best looking dogs you've ever seen. He was beautiful, and he knew it. Such vanity, he always knew when to pose for a picture.

People need the cover of another perfect wonder

It was just two days ago that I had the top off of my Jeep, but today there was a snow storm in St. Louis. Does anyone else think that thunder-snow sounds funny, but thunder-sleet sounds kind of dirty?

I had a seminar in Clayton today, but my one of my friends convinced me to go sledding on Art Hill in Forest Park this evening. My sled didn't perform very well, but it was fun to get out for a little while.

Saint Louis himself keeping watch over everyone.

Unfortunately, the rest of my pictures didn't turn out well. I was testing different selector modes with the nightscape. It all came out blurry or blacked out.

Get yourself an egg and beat it

This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but I baked my first cake (ever) on Sunday night. I'm rather impressed with myself, and I don't even like cake all that much. I've always been more of a pie guy.



Buttercream icing on orange-cream cake. You know you wish you had a piece.

Cause I eats me spinach

What a great day! It was nice to finally have some warm weather around here, again. Which of course means it was half past time for me to get outside. I started out at Little Grand Canyon, where it is completely dangerous climbing on the wet rocks but totally fun. Though, it was strange walking on the canyon floor in shorts and a t-shirt where there was still snow on the ground. Then I enjoyed the fresh air of the open road, and I stopped to pay homage to Popeye in his hometown.
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Now, it's back to cold, wet and snowy weather, again. St. Louis has a winter storm warning through tomorrow.

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