Creative Writing

I'm going into MommyBlogger mode today. Son, SuperPizzaBoy came home with a paper last week where he had to create a story. It had me in it so of course I thought it brilliant.

Am I right or what?

Ruby Tuesday - 21

I am a geocacher and this is one of the more unique ones I've found. Near a BMX Bicycle Track near Oklahoma City.

(See this for an explanation of geocaching.)

Check out Ruby Tuesday.

Earth to Earth, Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

"UNTO Almighty God we commend the soul of our
brother departed, and we commit his body to the
ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure
and certain hope of the Resurrection unto eternal life,
through our Lord Jesus Christ; at whose coming in glorious
majesty to judge the world, the earth and the sea shall give
up their dead; and the corruptible bodies of those who
sleep in him shall be changed, and made like unto his own
glorious body; according to the mighty working whereby
he is able to subdue all things unto himself."

(1928 Book of Common Prayer, Prayer for the Dead) Link

One of the most fruitless searches on the internet is people looking for the Bible verse that incorporates "dust to dust". It is not in the Bible. It is in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, 1928 edition.

I love cemeteries. I spend a lot of time in them while geocaching and I feel a real deep and abiding peace in them. I love spending time in the small cemetery that my mother is buried in Idaho. She is there with her parents and many of her brothers and sisters and other family and friends.

While there I think about the people as they were when they were alive, not as their earthly remains are now. However there are many people who don't have that luxury. Medical Examiners and Forensic Anthropologists for example.

Many of our fellow humans are killed violently and their bodies hidden or disposed of by their murderers. Sometimes these bodies are not found for a long time. In order to bring the killers to justice it must be determined when the victims died. That is where the professionals come in to do the unthinkable. Examine the weathered remains and try and determine when and how the victims perished.

I got my new issue of Scientific American earlier this week and it is a special issue on "The End."  They had an article that blew my mind. It was on a laboratory that studied the degradation and decomposition of human bodies after death. I had to check this out.

The laboratoryis in Tennessee, the Outdoor Research Facility of the University of Tennessee Forensic Anthropology Center that provides research and data to medical examiners trying to figure out when and how people died.  Basically the Outdoor Research Facility is several multi acre segments of woods where bodies are left in the woods and then studied as they decay and decompose. They are not only strewn about the woods, there are bodies left inside buildings, buried in the ground, and left in the trunks of cars. I'm not going to show any images here, there are plenty available on the internet if you are interested, but the bodies are completely exposed to the elements and to whatever critters inhabit the woods. The facility is popularly known in law enforcement circles as the "Body Farm."

(photo from damn interesting.com)

I cannot imagine anything more macabre but the facility has provided a ton of data that helps our law enforcement agencies apprehend and convict criminals. It is the brainchild of Dr. Bill Blass who runs the center. A TruTV profile of him, which includes a tour of the facility is here. There is a darn interesting article on the facility by Alan Bellows on his Damn Interesting web site. (Warning, very graphic photos!)

This is one of the most amazing things I have read about in a long time. If you check out the first link above, you will find that the facility needs bodies, lots of bodies, about 100 bodies a year are donated to them. Of course, if you  live more than 200 miles from them you, or your loved ones, will have to arrange transport of your remains to the lab. What got me is that 60% of the donations are "family donations." That is where the family donates the body of a loved one, where the loved one didn't necessarily wish to be donated. Like any good web site, it has links to the documents that you, and two witnesses, need to sign to join the "pre-enrollment list"of about 1300 people who have signed up for the "pre-enrollment" program.

Anyways, such discussions of the disposition of bodies are discomforting to consider but what difference does it make? (Dear wife and family, this is purely a rhetorical question, I don't want my remains dumped out in the woods and strewn about by the various critters who happen to live there nor am I thinking about doing it to anybody else.) Just something to think about.

I have all sorts of questions. What kind of people become Medical Examiners and Forensic Anthropologists?  Do you know any? How do you feel about such a laboratory? I have to tell you that it creeps me out although I think it is a brilliant idea. Would you donate your body to such a lab? (not me!) Would you send a loved ones body there?

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• Dust to Dust (preview) (scientificamerican.com)

Camera Critters - Harbor Seals

We were in Southern California earlier this month. The last day we went through La Jolla and spent a couple of hours. The big attraction at La Jolla, at least to the Yogi's, were the harbor seals who hang out right on the rocks.

You can learn about harbor seals from wikipedia here.

It really is quite remarkable, especially to us land locked Okies that, such marine mammals live so closely to humans. We were fascinated.



Some of them are really cute.



Check out Camera Critters

Geocaching Helped Keep this Soldier Safe

I found the above on video on the geocaching blog. They feature interesting geocachers and I thought this guys story fit the bill. You can follow the link to find out more information about him. He is basically a bomb disposal specialist and has recently returned from Iraq. His geocaching handle is JrBYRDMAN162. 

Back on the Trail Again

Its been a busy six weeks. Vacation to southern California, wife's family reunion in western Oklahoma, two trips to Wichita, Kansas in two weeks, ill advised geocaching outing in the Kansas tall grass without chemical protection resulting in massive chigger infestation (I took pics but deleted them, you can thank me now), and a lingering sinus infection. I finally went to the doctor's office and got to see the PA. (How come doctors are called doctors and PA's just have a first name? I told the front desk I was their to see Miss R****, and they didn't know who I was talking about.)

You know how it goes, chigger bites "resolve themselves," doctors (and PA's) are generally clueless about running injuries but luckily Miss R**** had an orthopedic student shadowing her that day and he pronounced that I had a swollen ITB (shame on you!!!, its the iliotibial band, a tendon that stretches from your knee to you foot on the outside of the leg)but I should be good to go in a week. Miss R**** was doing a furious head bob agreeing with el studiante, at least Miss R**** was able to prescribe some antibiotics.

So anyway I went home, took my medicine, and healed up. Wednesday night after work I went out for a test drive on the Arkansas River trail and ran four miles with no problems.

Life is looking up.

What have I learned. First, never, ever, ever, go into tall grass without Deet. Second, my Doctor's day off is Wednesday. Miss R**** is cute as a button and very nice, but she is not a doctor.

Western Oklahoma Sunset

Interstate 40 Clinton, Oklahoma

Check Out Skywatch Friday

Watery Wednesday - Harbor Scene

Check out Watery Wednesday

I just love Legoland's "Minitown"

Used and abused picnick.com considerably.

Star Island by Carl Hiaasen

"Star Island" is Carl Hiaasen's latest book and it is a hoot (sorry, couldn't resist). Its about a young lady who, although she can't sing, is a superstar and acts the part. She does drugs and alocohol to excess, stays way out way too late, and pretty much sleeps with anyone who stands still long enough. She pulls a few shenanigans and gets cross-ways with a paparazzi who wants revenge. Throw in two very greedy, uncaring parents, a music promoter, a former Florida governor who disappeared into the swamps years ago and a body guard with a weed eater for a hand this book is very funny.

Note, unlike "Hoot" which was a book for young adults, this is definitely rated "R."

I rate this book at 3 stars out of 5. It is a good read but I didn't just love it.

Check out Hiaasen's web site.

Below is a trailer for the book.

My World -Botanica - Wichita, Kansas

Sweetie and I went to Wichita, Kansas for an autism conference a couple weeks ago. After the conference we sneaked to "Botanica, The Wichita Gardens" botanical garden which may be Wichita's best kept secret.

We enjoyed our couple of hours there. The grounds are meticulously maintained and and there are surprises around every corner.





There are many fountains, and lots of shade with places to rest.



In addition to the more formal paved walks Botanica has trails winding through more wild areas. I can't resist a trail through the woods.



with sunlight coming through the leaves.



I love nice sculptures in a garden. This was my favorite at Botanica.





My certified Master Gardener wife was on overload.

Check out That's My World

Camera Critters - Pawnee Praire Park

I was in Wichita, Kansas last week and took some time to go geocaching in Wichita's beautiful Pawnee Praire Park just west of the airport. I was worried that the park's chiggers might be getting hungry.

I came across a couple of white tail deer. You can see the first looking at the camera. His buddy is behind him facing the other way, mooning me I guess.

I come across lots of deer while geocaching or trailrunning and I hardly ever get a picture of them because they don't stick around long enough for me to get my camera out and ready.

Camera Critters.

Visions of Yesterday

While on vacation recently on the west coast, we came upon a scene that reminded me of New Orleans. Sweetie and I haven't been back since the year before Katrina. We are going to have to check it out.

Check out Weekend Reflections



Photo from Legoland in Carlsbad, California. The structures are all legos! I kind of got a little crazy with all the tools at Picnick.com

Skywatch Friday - Split Sky

We were in the big sky country of western Oklahoma last weekend and took I this photograph from my wife's cousin Joe and Cheri's front yard.

Skywatch Friday

Road to a 1000

Those of you that have read this blog know that I am crazy about geocaching. I started about 7 years ago and have been at it ever since. For several years my wife Sweetie, and SuperPizzaBoy geocached with me but they have backslided, fallen of the wagon, and left the one true path so I have been pressing on mostly by myself.

One of my goals over the years was to find 1000 caches. That is not that great a number actually. I have known geocachers that have found that many in a year. I ran into a couple geocachers in California that had over 14,000 each. For my type of geocaching, keeping it fun, I can average about three or four a week and I'm happy.

Recently I got up to 994 geocaches just prior to a family reunion in western Oklahoma this past weekend. I was going to have leave everybody on Sunday to drive to Wichita, KS for the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association annual convention. That drive Sunday was my opportunity to get to a 1000 caches.

So off I went, first a trip down memory lane,



Believe it or not, I hope that you don't hold it against me but I used to work for BP many moons ago. While working for them I bought the above office building for them. It is right on Highway 66 and just over the fence from I-40. I paid only $85K for it during a bad oilfield depression. The addition behind it? My old boss, one of the nicest guys I ever worked with, still gets mad about it, almost 20 years later. We were expanding and I asked him how much money I could spend. He said $100,000. I said OK. So when I bid the building out, I told the contractors that the bid was $100,000. The winner would be the one who gave me the best building for that amount. I thought that was pretty clever. My boss thought otherwise.

And oh, if you think that it looks a little bleak. You are right. The front double door was added by a subsequent owner. When I worked there, whenever somebody walked into the front door on a windy day all the acoustic ceiling panels would raise up. Hey what do you expect for $85,000.

Oops, I'm sorry, this is a geocaching post. Well, guess what there is a geocache close to the building. How did you guess? I think it was number 996.



I headed down route 66 to find a few more caches. I just love Route 66. I love interstates even more!!

In Yukon Oklahoma right outside Oklahoma City, I found this cute cache.



I might use a different shot of this for a Ruby Tuesday post. What do you think?

Later on, I had to get off Interstate 35 to go find a cache.



I just love dirt roads. Love'em love'em love'em.



This is where I found #1000, near a cemetery. Cemetery geocaches are great. I had to poke around a little bit before I found it. Why did it have to be on the other side of a barbed wire fence in some heavy brush? Why?



Wow, a 1000!!!! The crowd went crazy!!



You didn't know geoaching was a spectator sport did you? Shows what you know?

Anyway, now what? I guess that I'll go find some more!

The Gathering

This past weekend Sweetie's family had a reunion in western Oklahoma. They called it "The Gathering" but it was a reunion.



The two matriarch's of the clan. My MIL "Nana" on the left and her sister Sue Carol. Their parents Carl and Lucille started a ranch, "The Rocking W", in 1944. The Gathering was in honor of their parents and the ranch. I never knew Carl but I did know Lucille, she was quite the woman. Unfortunately I find myself without a photograph of Carl and Lucille.



We were supposed to go out to the Ranch and take a tour but with temperatures soaring past 100F everybody decided to not get too far from the pool.



Later in the day we stayed inside.



Lots of good food. Sweetie saw my creation and just grabbed the camera and took my picture. My creation is an guacamole brat burger. Hey, I was hungry. I'm also in need of a haircut and a diet, that probably doesn't include guacamole brat burgers. You can see on my chest a photo of Lucille and Carl.



I much prefer this photo of Sweetie. I don't worry about chopped off heads and such. I like the smile and the eyes.



SuperPizzaBoy getting into the swimming. He's a little fish that kid is.



Here's Bella. She is a sweet dog.



Saturday night we played spoons. I had never heard of it. It is the first card game I've played where you needed personal protective gear. It is wild but we only broke one chair. Sweetie and I fought viciously one time for the last spoon. It is Hard Core.



Photo time folks, get organized!



When it came time to take pictures everybody was just milling around. Former Marine, Glenn took charge and got everybody whipped into shape.



Nice looking bunch huh.



Here is our little group. Boy, do I need a haircut, bad! I was actually wearing a cap but took it off just so you could see my eyes.



This is Heather's cousin Mike's family with his wife Marty and their kids Wesley on the left and Tyler on the right. I blogged about Tyler yesterday, he is a new officer the Marine Corps and is headed off for training. Marty is going to kill me for using this shot since her eyes were closed but I just love Tyler's look on his face.

Anyway, a good time was had by all!

Ruby Tuesday - Good Luck Tyler

My wife's family had a little family gathering in western Oklahoma this past weekend. I'll have more to say about it later but one of the things we celebrated was a young man, Tyler, just graduated from college and is commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He is leaving soon for training and then later deployment. We don't know where he is going for sure or what he is going to be doing but we are all very proud of him.

Check out Ruby Tuesday!

The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

I just finished "The Girl who Played with Fire" by Stieg Larsson. The second novel in the millennium series of novels originally written in Swedish. The author Stieg Larsson is now deceased.

Lisbeth Salander, the "Girl" is back from the the first novel. A fascinating character, she is the "Girl who hates men who hate women." She is also a world class computer hacker, a kick boxer, and although she weighs less than 100 pounds, she doesn't take any crap from anyone.

This book, like the first one takes over a 100 pages to set the scene but once the action starts it is very compelling.

I rate this book four stars out of five. A good read.

You really have to read the first novel "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" for the second to make any sense.

Weekend Reflections -The Beach #2

Son on the beach near Carlsbad, California. It's always interesting to me how the reflective beaches can be after a wave washes out and a very thin film of water remains. Also, since we were at the beach I didn't bring my "good" cameras. I used an old out of date disposable camera. I was pretty happy with the results. Something to be said about the ultimate in point and click.

Check out Weekend Reflections

Skywatch Friday - Carlsbad State Park #2

Check out Skywatch Friday

The Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver

Jeffery Deaver has a new Lincoln Rhyme novel out, "The Burning Wire." It is a crime/suspense novel and it involves electricity. I will never feel quite the same about door knobs, metal doors, street lights, and my friendly local electric utility company.

This a very good read. I got my copy from the library. I rate it a 3.5 out of 5 stars. It's good.

Check out Mr. Deaver's web site here.

It turns out that Jeffery Deaver has been selected to write the next James Bond novel. Read it about it here.

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• Next James Bond book to be written by American author Jeffery Deaver (telegraph.co.uk)