MAVERICK 1996-2010 - A MEMORIAL

There comes a time in any pet owner's life when they have to say goodbye to a much loved 'family member,' one that created a constant stream of happy memories and possessed personality quirks that will forever bring a smile to one's face, and that which made them so very special from the very beginning.  And so, it is with great sadness that Debbie and I let you know that our beloved Maverick, aka Mavs, aka Mavelinski, aka Mavies, and finally, aka Mavey went to sleep, free of pain, for the last time on Tuesday, 12 October 2010.

Water Country USA Divers - Williamsburg

The previous post talked about the good time everyone had last weekend.  Part of that good time was the trip to Water Country USA.  This post deals strictly with the diving portion of the day.  The divers at WC are professional divers as well as former collegiate divers.  They dive from various heights as well as a very high platform dive - into 12 feet of water.  Needless to say, "Better them than me!"

Water Country USA - Williamsburg

Well, we had a house-full to say the least.  Last weekend, Jennie, Melissa, Megan, Tori, Ethan, Lexie, and Megan's good friend Lauren came down for the weekend, arriving on Thursday night and leaving on Sunday.  Friday was spent at Water Country USA - were there for the opening bell at 10:00 and for the closing bell at 8:00. 

Landscaping Around the House and a Raccoon Visitor - again

Well, I'm sitting here INSIDE since it is about 105 degrees OUTSIDE right now (and supposed to be hotter tomorrow).  I did spend a little time outside this morning watering getting read for the roaster that was to come today ... and it hasn't disappointed.  I did the yardwork on Wednesday (much cooler to do after work) so I am yardwork-free this weekend.  But, we have done our usual landscaping this year (although at a lower scale).   

Quick Visit to Georgia

While Debbie took off to Wyoming for a week-long visit to Jared and the grand-kids, I took off down to Jonesboro over the 4th of July weekend.  The weather was hot hot hot .... did I mention that it was hot?  Take my word for it - it was a roaster in Jonesboro.  Drove down on Friday before the 4th and headed back on Monday with an overnight stop in Evans (Augusta) at Kenneth's and Barbara's.

Myrtle Beach - Family Album

Here are the family photos from Myrtle Beach 2010.  Don't forget, you can save these pictures to your computer by right-clicking and doing a save-as.

Myrtle Beach - 2010

I am finally getting around to placing some beach pictures on the blog.  I didn't take as many this year as in year's past - no particular reason really - except maybe I slept in more often than not this year ... :P

Visit to USS Enterprise

Part of the perks in being in Government service is being able to go to some places the general public is not apt to go to.  One such occasion occurred last week when a tour was arranged for some of us in the office to go tour the USS Enterprise docked in Norfolk Virgina.

CW Mason in the Civil War

Have been doing some ancesteral research and discovered that my great-great-grandfather (CW Mason) fought in the Civil War, having been mustered in South Carolina's Orr's Rifles on July 20th 1861 at Camp Pickens South Carolina by Lt Sloan at the ripe old age of 19.  He survived throughout, surrendering at Appomattox in 1865.  During my research I discovered he was wounded at the First Battle of Deep Bottom here in Virginia and fought in many battles during the war.  Here is a run-down of his unit, Orr's Rifles:

Return of the Backyard Turtle

Just sitting on the deck this evening when our old friend the turtle darted out from under a bush and scurried across the deer-corn food plot area.  I was lucky enough to grab the camera before it sped back to the under-growth.  I'm pretty sure it is an Eastern Box Turtle.  It has been about a year since we last saw one.  

..... and then there were two!

Made another leisurely trip down the parkway to see 'our' eagle's nest and spotted another eaglet in the nest.  Finally saw the osprey nest just across the parkway from the eagle's nest.

Eagle's Nest

We took another trip down the parkway the other day after work and finally spotted the eaglet in the nest.  Not the clearest of pictures to say the least but they don't exactly listen to you when you say "Be still!"

Return From Boot Camp!

Well, it has taken me about a week to recover from our pilgramage down south to attend the inaugural Landscaping Boot Camp in Charlotte. 

Spring ...... uhhhhh ..... Summer is in the air!

Seems like just yesterday I was enjoying a trek through the snow in Colonial Williamsburg watching all the tourists scurry for cover and now all of a sudden it is Summer again - with the heat in tow.  Not even sure what happened to Spring to tell you the truth.

Fowl Weather Friends - Goodbye!

I have decided not to renew our web page entitled 'Fowl Weather Friends.'

Relaxing at Ft Monroe

I went into the office today to catch up on a project I'm working on.  It's called Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE).  JBLE is a direct result of the last BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure Act) which stipulated, among othr things, that bases/posts close to each other would be consolidated at the support level.

50 Car Pile-up on I-64 West Near Williamsburg

Debbie and I both made it to work this morning in fine shape but there were some folks who didn't quite make where they were going.  There was a 50 car wreck right near the exits we normally use to go to and from home on I-64. WRECK

Super Bowl Sunday - but no football!

Well, it's SB Sunday and I haven't got a clue what the score is; not even sure if it is still on or not.  Sooooooooooo, what else does one do on SB Sunday then?  In our case it was stay inside another day - ice everywhere and coooold outside.

Snow Storm - Take Two

I never thought that last weekend when we were blogging about the snow storm that we would be doing it again this weekend - but here we are.

UPDATE Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!

Well, it hasn't hit us yet but I hope to see it slam into us overnight and tomorrow.  And, believe it or not, we'll actually be in town for the snow this time around!  I plan to head out early for some 4x4 driving on the Colonial Parkway and the historic areas - with camera in tow of course!  I'll post some more tomorrow!

UPDATE ........... UPDATE ........... UPDATE

YES!!

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, what a delight!  "The kick is up, it's far enough, it's good!!!  Saints win Saints win!!"

Hodgepodge (Sp??)

Thought I would drop a note before I went off to bed.  I just spent the last 30 minutes on the back deck 'stalking' another buck in the back yard.   I was actually headed to bed a lot sooner but flipped on the outside light and the buck was at the corn.

A Day Off

Thought I would just add a note on my day off.  Today is of course MLK Day and I'm moseying (isat a word??) around the house and finally doing some filing of bills and such.  By the looks of the document on the bottom of the pile, the last time I filed was around April 2009.  Ouch!  Going to be a long day.

Shauna and the girls in North Carolina

Just got back tonight from another trip down to Brian and Whitney's in North Carolina.  Shauna and the girls were headed home from an east coast visit and were flying out of Charlotte so we drove down to 'see them off' so-to-speak.Debbie and I drove down on Friday morning leaving about an inch and a half of snow in Williamsburg (see, I told you it snowed every time we leave town) and got there in time for Debbie and Brian to drive off to meet up with Shauna and the girls (Shauna's parents drover them half way to Brian's).  Other than the below freezing temps we had a great time with everyone.

Okay .... It is Time

Well, another year has come and gone and it's time for more decisions about weight - mine (David).  Everyone and their brother can tell you that you need to lose weight but until that decision is made by yourself, it won't do any good. 

Happy New Year and Beyond!