Vacationing on the Big Island

That's right, while Blogger went and took a crap on all my scheduled posts (you would not even known I was gone had it been working) I used up my longest free time all summer and drove the 12 hours to Mount Desert Island in Maine. MDI is the home of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Foggy weather limited the time I had to get any pictures and what I did get were touch and go on lighting. A lot of washed out skies. We did see the sun on a couple afternoons and the day we left. I'm just this evening downloading my pictures, all of about 700 of them. There may be some keepers in there. We'll see.

March to Destiny, 2009

The annual salute to Shippensburg's role in the American Civil War was last weekend and due to other commitments I was only able to attend the Saturday morning festivities. I stuck around long enough to watch the Rebs gather and walk about downtown scavenging for provisions. They usually return with food items given to them by the townsfolk. I didn't take alot of pictures but I do like some of what I took. So, I'm not going to bombard you with all of them at once. Enjoy these couple and I should be back to normal tomorrow.

Sunday Sunset

Actually they're from a Tuesday two weeks ago.

July 4th

I pledge allegiance to the Flag

of the United States of America,

and to the Republic for which it stands:

one Nation under GOD, indivisible,

With Liberty and Justice for all.

I pledge allegiance to the flag

What do those words mean to you?

To me they say, Thank You America for your Strength, your Courage, and for our Freedom, Which has been a Beacon to the World for 200 years.
of the United States of America,
Whose bright stars are 50 states, each bearing it's own stand of individuality. People, 200 million strong. People, who have come to her from all corners of the earth.
and to the Republic for which it stands:
A land of laws that the genius system of checks and balances, that allows no man to become a tyrant and lets no group prevail, if their power is not tempered, real concern for the Government. A land where the right of dissent and free speech are jealously guarded. Where the Ballot Box is the Sword and the People, it's wielder.
one Nation under GOD,
A land of freedom, where worship is the cornerstone of her being. A land graced with temples and churches, synagogues and temples that rise in profusion, to embrace all the religions of the world
indivisible,
A land forged by the hot steel and raw courage and formed forever by an awful Civil War.
With Liberty
Where man, in pursuit of an honest life,will not be denied his chance. Where her citizens move freely within her vast borders, without interference of fear. A land brimming with opportunity,where freedom of choice is the guide line for all.
and Justice
The courts of our land are open to all, it's wheels of justice grind for all causes, all people, they look to every avenue for justice, every concern of the law and the temper their reasoning with mercy,

FOR ALL.

Pledge by Francis Bellamy 1892

Commentary by John Wayne 1973

It's All Fun & Games; Until Someone Gets Hit By a Pitch

Without getting into too many details, these two teams must have a little history. Bottom of the first no outs and they plunk the York batter. He spins and ends up nose to nose with the catcher, then it was go time. The players poured across the railing and converged on home. The Pitcher and the hit batsman both, eventually headed for the showers after a 20 discussion by the skippers. Next batter settled the disagreement with a 4 run homer, aka a grand slam. This would be the only runs by the home team and 4 runs by Newark sent the game through to the 11th when the Bears got two more to finish up the night.

York Revolution Baseball

Add another stadium to the list. Sovereign Bank Stadium in York, Pa. is the home of the independent Atlantic League York Revolution. (hollered as "rev-a-lu-SHUN!"). The entrance to the stadium is named for former Baltimore Oriole and Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson whose professional baseball career started with the York White Roses in 1955 at the age of 18, his contract was later sold to the Orioles. A statue out front shows Brooks signing autographs for some children. I was offered skybox tickets to York just a day after going to an Orioles game. Heck yeah I went. All you can eat and drink and padded seats, heck yeah I went. The stadium, built just a couple years after Lancaster built theirs, is very similar, open concourse, outfield lawn seats and right and left field seat turned to face home plate. the Rev's played the Newark Bears this night, eventually losing in the 11th inning. The independent leagues seem to be full of washed up big leaguers and never been minor leaguers. York was managed by Chris Hoiles, former Oriole catcher and Newark's skipper was Tim "the Rock" Raines, Sr. York was mascoted by that blue and green thing, Downtown. One characteristic of the park is the green wall in left field, known as the Arch Nemesis, it is the tallest wall in baseball at 37 feet 8 inches. More on the game later.

Battle of the Beltway, Post No. 800

First off this is post 800, thanks for coming around day after day. I don't know why but it never gets any easier, I guess I keep trying to get you all something new and fresh to look at the same thing. Anyways, I made another O's game already, this time they were hosting the Washington Nationals. The give-away was a Nick Markakis t-shirt. I don't know if it was the shirts or the Nats coming the short hop up the Beltway but when we got to the stadium the lines were around the block. I dropped off the wife and kids and headed up the street to the parking garage. By the time I got back to the stadium the shirts were gone. I guess with only 10,000 shirts and 39,633 fans I wasn't the only one without a shirt. We did get 3, so we're set. Like I said, it was a full house. After a shaky start by Jeremy Guthrie, the O's starter, (2 hits and 3 walks in the top of the 1st) and thanks to long balls by Zaun, Reimold and Huff the Birds celebrated another victory. The Nationals brought along their mascot, Screech, who played a little wiffle ball with the Oriole's Bird. Also there last Saturday was Matt Hobgood, Baltimore's first round draft pick (5th overall). Matt, a right handed pitcher out of Norco, California High School came to terms with the team last week and is ready to play.