Taking a break

Taking a break from blogging.....
I'll still be hanging around the blogosphere to read & comment.
I appreciate all your blogging endeavors to enlighten, entertain, and just plain make my day.....
Cheers!

Red

Don't Forget to Remember

Every Memorial Day the veterans of Tama American Legion Post 73 arise before dawn to plant American flags along the narrow roadways of Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama, Iowa.

Nothing is so proud as the red, white, and blue against the sky.

There is a flag for every veteran in the cemetery. There is a flag for Meester's father, who served in WWII.

So many flags! So many veterans!

As we enjoy the long weekend with drinks and something on the grill...please remember the veterans who no longer know the pleasures of a long weekend...who no longer relax in the sunshine on this earth. Please remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives so that you and I are free to do whatever we please this weekend. Please give thanks for those men and women who are serving now.

Thank you to all those who have ever served, prayers for safe return home for those serving now, and God Bless America.

High in the Sky on the Eye

I've always thought the London Eye(the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe) was rather a blemish on the classic London landscape.

But after a twirl on the London Eye -- I have to say it's a darn fun ride!

We spent the last couple days of our England tour in London. The last evening was a surprise; our tour group was driven to the London Eye, where it was announced that we'd all get a champagne! twirl and a birds-eye view of London on the famous London Eye. (Meester and several other chickens heights-challenged members of the tour group headed for the cafe to wait it out on solid ground.)

The London Eye does look intimidating from the ground up!

I wasn't so sure about the Eye myself, but champagne was involved. I hopped on -- grabbed the first glass of champagne -- and was amazed at how much I enjoyed pressing my nose and camera to the sides of the clear viewing capsules.

• The wheel design was used as a metaphor for the end of the 20th century, and time turning into the new millennium.
• An experience on the EDF Energy London Eye will last about 30 minutes taking you to a height of 135 metres.
• You can see for around 40KM (25 miles) from the top.
• The total weight of the wheel and capsules is 2,100 tonnes - or as much as 1,272 London black cabs!
• Each rotation takes about 30 minutes, meaning a capsule travels at a stately 26cm per second, or 0.9km (0.6 miles) per hour - twice as fast as a tortoise sprinting; allowing passengers to step on and off without the wheel having to stop.

I always get by with a little help from champagne!

P.S. Wish you had all been with me for this one!