9/11

After sitting through a History Channel special about 9/11 I came to the conclusion that I had gorged myself on the images of that day.  I was standing on the football field in high school, our headmaster told us about the attacks, and to go back to our dorms.  Of course I sat down in front of the TV to watch CNN loop the video of the planes crashing into the WTC for the next 6 to 8 hours.

I remember the trepidation I felt while trying to call my Mom over and over again; she was in New York because she had just dropped me off at school.  I remember half of me wanted our military to kill everyone that had been involved no matter what, and the other half was disgusted at my blood lust.

I’m having a difficult time trying to write how I feel…

Welcome to the Family Mason…

Well it happened again.  ”What?” you might ask. Life.  Life happened. The hours turned into days.  The days turned into weeks.  The weeks turned into months and again time has passed by faster than it has before.  I find myself looking back and wondering, “When did everyone start growing up so fast?”  I have been busy with work and life forgetting that everyone else’s lives have also been changing, not just my own.

Fortunately for me I was able to pause my life, if only for a weekend, and catch up with the lives of some other people I care about in this world.  I boarded a flight to Texas to go meet up with my roommate from college, Aaron, to go visit our friends Aaron and Stephanie Castañeda and welcome their son Mason into the family.  Thankfully he looks more like his mother than his father.

Aaron and Stephanie are the first friends my age to have a child, so I wanted to get a sense of what it is like to take care of  little Mason. Here are a few things I learned in only four days with Mason.  It quickly became apperant that sleep is a precious commodity when taking care of a two-month old.

One parent has to catch up on sleep whenever possible while the other takes care of business.

It is important to work out a shift system to best quell the rebellion of feedings, poopy diapers(that’s a technical term), and crying fits.

That there is a fortune to be made in selling adult size devices that are made for putting babies to sleep.  I was envious from the first time I saw Mason passed out in this swing.  I would buy one of these swings in a second if La-Z-Boy made them in my size.

If you happen to find yourself holding a sleeping child, enjoy it while it last.  Aaron knows that better than anyone because Mason was often more fussy with him than anyone else.  Here is one of the rare moments when they were in harmoney with each other.

When a grandparent offers to take care of your child for a night take full advantage.  This is the morning after we went out in Austin while Stephanie’s mom took care of Mason; I got the feeling no one wanted their picture taken here.

Aaron has probably felt a lot better in his life…

Playing with a baby will always put a smile on your face.

But even that can take a toll on you.

Finally I learned that no matter what, once you lock eyes with someone this beautiful everything else seems a little less important. Mason is a very lucky boy to be the son of such wonderful people.  I know they both love him more than life, and will do everything in their power to make his life as amazing as they can.  And he also has two awesome uncles that are always there for him if he ever needs them.

Oh Mr. Moon…

Oh Mr.Moon, moon
Bright and shiny moon
Won’t you please shine down on me?

Oh Mr.Moon, moon
Bright and shiny moon
Won’t you come out behind that tree?

When I was a little boy my mother would sing that song to me when the moon was out and bright.  The first photo is what I saw that got me off the couch and outside.

 

 

Although they’re total clichés…

As the title indicates they are total clichés, but they are still pretty…. Hope everyone is enjoying the heat, Maine is beautiful.

On The Road Again…

As I sit on my couch with the fan quietly humming cool air over my shoulder I relish the feeling because I’m about to get back to Mr. Pitts and the 100 degree heat.  Mr. Pitts has made it to Virginia and I plan to meet up with him on somewhere on Highway 29.  To follow his progress, donate to the USO, and more information you can visit his website by clicking HERE.

These photos are from the second day of walking.

 

Before leaving, Mr. Pitts stopped at a Southern institution…

Here the employees gave Mr.Pitts a Piggly Wiggly t-shirt to wear on his journey.

After words of support it was back to the road.

Well it’s back to the road for me tomorrow, until next time…

Walking Down A Country Road…

On June 1st Leonard Pitts began his journey from Clinton, South Carolina to Washington D.C.  Mr. Pitts’s mission is to raise 500,000 dollars for the USO while educating people on the benefits and aid that is available for the men and women of our military.  I followed Mr.Pitts on his first two days and am heading back out tomorrow to finish the rest of the journey with him to Washington D.C.  Futher information regarding Mr. Pitts’s mission can be found on his website, www.lpitts.com.

The Local ROTC was on hand to see Mr. Pitts off as he left from his hometown of Clinton, South Carolina.

After getting a few miles away from Clinton it was just Mr.Pitts, the road, and the 100 degree heat. Walking in the shade gave relief  from the scorching rays of the sun, but did nothing to diminish the heat radiating from the road.

A chance to rest under the shade of a porch and refill with cool water.

 And one for the road…

For Brenda…

When I was 13 I headed to Andover, New Hampshire to attend Proctor Academy, a boarding school.  There I would meet a woman who has been a role model, inspiration, friend, fan, pseudo-mother, and hero.  Her name is Brenda Godwin.

Brenda has opened her heart and house to all types of people and animals.  Whether it is a ‘big boned’ cat, some enormous mastiff, a varsity basketball player, or an awkward boy from South Carolina, Brenda welcomes them all.

Brenda and her late husband Roger have a larger family than most people.  Officially they adopted seven children, unofficially they have adopted hundreds.  I consider myself to be one of those lucky unofficial children.

Walking around Brenda’s house it is obvious what is important in her life.

Brenda is the definition of a life longer learner. Teaching both political science and computer science classes she is always refreshing what she knows or learning more about what she doesn’t.

I credit all of my love of sports to Brenda.  I remember I had been the only person that picked the Carolina Panthers to win the Superbowl when they played the New England Patriots my sophomore year at Proctor.  I hadn’t picked them because I had any knowledge of sports, I picked them because I am from South Carolina, in fact I knew so little about sports I had them playing the Green Bay Packers in the Superbowl which is impossible because they are in the same conference.  After Brenda discovered I knew nothing about professional sports from the Superbowl bracket fiasco she made sure I would become a sports fan for life.

I have been trying to write this post for a week now and none of the words seem to work.  All I can say is that Brenda is one of the most amazing people I have the pleasure of knowing.  Her ceaseless work ethic, unending love for people and animals, noble modesty, and all around passion for life are at levels I aspire to reach as I grow older.

If you couldn’t tell from all the photos there is one breed of animal that Brenda especially loves…

Behind the Scenes…

These are photos from behind the scenes of a pilot that was shot this weekend throughout Washington DC.  This is a SCifi/Crime Fighting Drama called, ‘Three View.’

Someone else was taking a break…

The Dog Days are Over….

In the continuing saga of  Gwendolyn Dangerous, our heroine comes across her greatest challenge to date, the gargantuan dog beast.  So terrible is this beast it takes several people to hold her back from killing the entire crew.

Getting actors to hit their marks and deliver their lines can be difficult, but that is child’s play when compared to working with animals.

The rest of the day was spent working with Gwendolyn and Philip as they battled more super villains.

I apologize for the shameless product placement, but we are looking for sponsers.

I heard acting is a cutthroat business, but I just don’t see it.

My favorite picture of the day shows Gwendolyn’s bedroom; this is background that will be dropped in place of the green screen. But more importantly it is a picture within a picture with yet another picture and a blurry figure.

 

 

My Date with Miss America…

On March 31,  I headed to MLK Elementary school to spend sometime with the current Miss America, Teresa Scanlan.  Teresa Scanlan is the youngest Miss America at the age of 17.  The GPS on my phone was no help in getting to MLK Elementary; after being late to every event growing up because of my parent’s tardiness I always leave an hour early so I was still there with time to check the lighting and take a few photos while I waited for Miss America.

Here the Principal sits waiting for Miss America…

There she is, Miss America…

Miss America was at MLK Elementary to discuss the importance that balanced nutrition, daily exercise, and sleep have helped in achieving her goals.

For the Miss America Contest Teresa played a remix of Euphemia Allen’s classic, “Chopsticks.”  Here she is playing for some of the older students.

After talking with the older students Miss America went to discuss healthy eating with the younger students.

Miss America stopped by several classrooms before heading back to the main office

Miss America took time to sign books for students and pose for pictures with the faculty.

The reward for always being ready to take a picture…