dear miss manners

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Dear Miss Manners,

Today I found myself in an awkward position and need your advice on how I should have responded.

I drove to a local park and got out of my car with camera in hand to watch the geese and ducks gathered along the river bank. As I exited my vehicle, I heard a loud whistle. When I turned around to see who was whistling and at whom, I found myself face to face with a grinning man driving a large blue conversion van. The man had a welcoming smile and motioned to the back of his van.

Thinking that he probably wasn't inviting me in for tea, I panicked, got back in my car, and drove away. I am not exactly known for my grace in these social situations and need to know which of these resposes would have been more acceptable.

 

A. Should I have thanked the greasy looking man for his invitation and politely declined? Perhaps indicating that I was not properly dressed for the occasion or had a prior commitment?

B. Should I have cheerfully waved at the man with my middle finger while telling him in no uncertain terms where he could park his van?

C. Should I have run for my life, screaming like a frightened little girl while covering my backside with both hands?

 

As I am not accustomed to being whistled at in public nor receiving such unseemly offers (these normally being the kind of thing that happens to my wife) I would like to know how you would have handled the man's offer.

 

Awaiting your informed reply,

Still driving like hell in Springfield

 

 

its just a flesh wound

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Flashback

 

I was walking around downtown Springfield after lunch and noticed the marquee at the old State Theater. The theater has been closed for years and the last message I can remember on the marquee indicated that some Holy Tabernacle of of some kind was meeting there on Sunday mornings.

So…. Are they really showing movies there again and if so why start with an old Monty Python movie? Even more importantly, will I be able to get the Knights of Nie out of my brain now that they have entered it? What is the wind speed velocity of a laden sparrow in flight? Is Sir Robin really a coward?

I might just have to run by there tomorrow to see if it was just a mirage.

 

 

el2k

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

El2k

Congratulations to all of you ephemeral life readers around the world. In the first six weeks since el hit the internet with its new overhauled web site, more than 2000 individual visits have been recorded. That is an average of more than 50 per day.

I want to thank you for all of your enthusiastic support. I will continue to bring you the best images that I can capture as well as original stories and the ever popular Jodi-isms. Starting next week, I will also start to bring you photography tips and how to's. 

Keep reading and I will keep posting. Once gain, thank you all for your support and if you haven't commented yet, I encourage you to add your own comments to those being posted on the site.

Tim

 

 

spring floods

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Flood 3

 

During yesterday's hike, the star performer was the river roaring through the gorge. The tremendous rains that we have endured for the last month have caused the river to overflow its banks. We could hear the deep booming sound of the flow long before we climbed down into the gorge.

 

Flood 2

 

This is the highest that I have seen the river in all of the years that I have been here , though the debris lining the banks indicated that the water has recently reached further afield than what we saw.

 

Flood Geese 2

 

Even the geese were reluctant to enter the water and could be seen huddling on rocks above the foam. I hope that their nests were not washed away but, the likely hood of that happening is pretty high.

 

Flood 1

 

Given some time and sunny weather, the river will subside and return to it's normal course. However, with the current forecasts for rain this week, I am not crossing my fingers that it will be any time soon.

 

 

columbine found

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Forrest Flower

 

I had a great hike in the Clifton gorge today, along with my good friend Gerd. Lucky for me that I had him with me because he spotted this Red Columbine (aquilegia columbine – Canadensis – Another friend had to help me identify it). I'm pleased to have seen it because we were a week too late to see any trillium or blue bells in the gorge. There is always next year.

 

 

strange dream

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Lights 3

 

Last night I had a dream that there were three perfect lights. They were my world and I needed nothing else. The lights hovered in the air and provided everything I needed. Soon though, the world began to change.

 

Lights 2

 

The three lights were joined by hundreds if not thousands of smaller pink lights. And other vague shapes began to form.

 

Lights 1

 

It soon became apparent that I was inside of a large space. Something like a small circus tent. The strange shapes formed into giant poles wrapped in pink. The sheathed poles stretched to the ceiling of the tent and were connected with strands of the little pink lights.

 

Audience

 

Suddenly an audience appeared from no where. They sat in long rows and chatted with each other. I could feel a sort of tension in the room as the audience waited for something big to happen.

 

Sword Dancer

 

Soon a beautiful goddess appeared and began to dance with a sword in her hand. As she whirled and swung the sword around her, the little pink lights could be seen to flash reflections off of the polished blade.

 

Pink Hair

 

Suddenly and army of women with pink hair rushed into the tent and frightened the beautiful sword dancer away. The intruders swept around the interior of the tent until they had chased the entire audience out through the doors and into the world beond.

 

Stage

 

And then all was quiet and I found myself alone inside the giant tent. Alone with the towering pink poles and the little pink lights. Alone, I found myself longing for the three perfect lights again.

It was a strange dream but, then aren't they all?

 

 

betty waits

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Betty Waits

 

Our cat, Betty, seems to have an instinct for when somebody is coming home. Last night, she popped into the bay window and intently watched the end of the driveway. Sure enough, a few minutes later, my wife, Jodi, came home from her belly dance practice. Either Betti knew she would be home soon or she was enjoying the beginnings of a beautiful sunset.

 

Storm Clouds

 

For a few minutes yesterday evening, the semi permanent storm clouds broke up a bit and we had some sunshine peaking through. Just enough for me to mow the yard and pretend that summer had arrived and that the spring rains were gone. Alas, tis not true. When I awoke this morning, the heavy bank of clouds had returned. The endless cold of winter has turned into the endless rain of spring. Come on May flowers!

Today is my wife's belly dance troupe's opening gig for 2011. They will be dancing at a breast cancer benefit in Tipp City, Ohio. While they dance their feet off, I will be the designated videographer. I'll try to sneak in some still shots. If I am able to snap some pictures, I will be sure to share some with you tomorrow.

 

Enjoy your weekend everybody.

 

 

interview with barnaby millstone

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Rooster

 

Barnaby Millstone is an unassuming figure. When I first met him, he was strolling around the farm yard looking like a portly chicken wearing black overhauls. The truth is that Barnaby is the key to success in the hen house. We asked Barnaby about his reputation as a rising star in the egg laying industry.

 

Mr. Millstone, how long have you been working on the farm?

I was transferred to Carriage Hill in 2008, so it has been three years now. Prior to that, I was the night supervisor over at Epson Hills farm.

That was quite a change, were you intimidated by the move?

Not really, I have been working towards the responsibility my entire career & the move was the natural next step. I was actually excited to join such a well respected organization. The hens here are well known around the farm circuit and I wanted to work with the best.

How have you been able to impact such a well running egg producing machine?

By listening to the hens. They are in the trenches every day & can see what needs to be done to take us to the next level. I put an incentive program in place that rewards the girls with extra cracked corn for every bonafide suggestion they make. Take a look at Gladys over there. She thought that adding a little more hay to each nest would lessen the chance of egg breakage. And she was right. In addition, the nests became more comfortable and the hens are happier. Morale is important. The result? More eggs and more corn for Gladys.

So teamwork is the key to success?

Absolutely! Each of us play a role on the road to success. My job is to guide and facilitate. The ladies in the hen house are the ones that actually produce. Without them, I am just a pretty rooster in a feather suit. When they are successful, we all succeed. That means more corn for Banaby Millstone… and Mama Millstone likes that!

 

On that note, we ended our conversation. Barnaby was called to the hen house to celebrate the fourth anniversary of one of his best hens. More corn for Edna!