Next Up... the Track and Field Post-Season

Last night was the final track meet of the regular season. It was actually an invitational meet billed as "Under the Lights" (even though it was over long before dark). But there were a mere five schools there. One school may have only participated it half of the events. I think everyone who has qualified for Districts stayed home. Why exert yourself, why risk injury? This meet has become a do-or-die meet. Last chance to qualify. If you're a senior, run like it's your last meet. It just may be. The boys went 1-5 this season. Not to find excuses but they were a young team. Some races this year were 100% freshman. Team wide seniors make up less than 10%. Will it make them a better team next year. You have to hope it does. But track and field is as individual as a team sport can be. The elation of breaking the almighty PR, your personal record. I've seen kids get excited after losing because the beat their own time. I saw a school record beaten this year. I've seen the joy in one athlete's eyes for just completing his event, regardless of the time. And I saw the sorrow and sadness from the loss of one of their own. Next, Saturday is in line for Mid-Penn's. Cross your fingers and wish them luck.

The Beatles Hit New York

Actually all this is is a billboard advertising that the Beatles are hitting iTunes. It even looks like they're getting a police escort. This picture is taken along Canal Street near Mott Street in New York City.

SHS Pre-Prom Mock Crash 2011

As you look over the pictures below, know this, this was a Pre-Prom Mock Crash. A tow truck brought in the cars, make-up people painted on the gore and the blood was poured from a 2-liter bottle.

The purpose of this is to remind these young people and young drivers that there are consequences to the things you do. (Notice the "drunk driver" being led off in handcuffs in the next to last picture) The "casualties" were carried off in body bags. The cars were opened up and "survivors" were taken to the ambulances and awaiting helicopter. Scared straight, maybe that what you would call this. If it saves one it was time well spent.

Organizations helping out with the drill we both Cumberland and Franklin County Communication Centers, the Shippensburg Fire Department (West End Fire and Rescue, Vigilant Hose Company and the Cumberland Valley Fire Company), Shippensburg Area EMS, Franklin County Coroner, Shippensburg Police, Shippensburg Fire Police and Life Lion Helicopter.

As I said at the beginning, this was only a test. No one was injured or harmed during this test. Scared? Hopefully. But not injured.

Somewhere

The first is the promise of no more rain, we could go one with the track meet. Seems this year that the 4x400 relay is suppose to be run in the rain. Tuesday they ran as the thunder and lightning crept in over the North Mountain. The bottom is a scan of two pictures I took in 1984 somewhere out in the Great Salt Lake Desert. It's not often when a rainbow appears that you can actually see both ends. And no gold at either one.

Glowing Logs Cabin

At a banquet last spring I bought the last few raffle tickets they were walking around selling. I won. It doesn't happen often. When it comes to luck with these things I'm out of it. When they got done giving all the luck to Dad and my big brother I got what little was left. Not much. What I won was a free night stay in the Glowing Logs Cabin right here on the outskirts of town. Never heard of it. When we drove up I realized that we had done a drive-by on it when it went up for sale. I walked by this place many times as a kid growing up. The guy who bought it took the main house (shown here) and gutted the 2 story - 4 room original log house and turned it into one large room. It was cool to spend the night. No TV, no phone, no traffic, no neighbors. We actually brought the kids out and took what would become our Christmas pictures here. (The walls are actually relatively straight. In the close quarters I used my fish eye lens)

NYC, August 2000

Today I thought I would be topical. I thought I would mirror the headlines. I thought I could scan a few moe old pictures I had laying around gathering dust. These are from August of 2000. The first is from the observation deck of the Empire State Building . The second is from the boat to/from Liberty Island.

Cherry Blooms

My cherry tree is in full bloom. Spring must be here. And if you can overlook the beautiful day we had Saturday you would realize that April showers bring May showers.