Going Somewhere?

Photo copyright by Dave Miller

Wordless Wednesday (Attitude Check)

That Was One Fun Ride!
Photo copyright by Dave Miller.

A Perfect Afternoon at the Beach

All photos copyright by Dave Miller.

Typical lifeguard tower on the beaches here in Florida.



Ahhh.... a gentle breeze, a chaise lounge, my favorite companion, and a close view of the surf.... A perfect ending to a perfect day.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Photo copyright by Dave Miller.

In this era of multifaceted non-stop communication, it is hardly unusual to see a cell phone tower (even one with multiple sets of antenna). However, the 5 sets on this particular tower is quite a bit more than we usually see in Oklahoma. This tower is about a mile from the training center I am working at this week. Yep, the phone signal is great!

Got a Light?

(All photos copyright by Dave Miller.)

Lighthouse at Jupiter Inlet, Florida which has been in service since 1860.

A Fresnel lens (pronounced [freɪ'nel]) is a type of lens invented by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel. Originally developed for lighthouses, the design enables the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the weight and volume of material which would be required in conventional lens design. Compared to earlier lenses, the Fresnel lens is much thinner, thus passing more light and allowing lighthouses to be visible over much longer distances. (quote from Wikipedia.org)

Note the two dark panels in the pictures above. The light remains fixed and the lens' rotate around the light. When the dark panels are in front of the light, it appears to flash "off" until the next open panel is in front of the light. The timing of the rotating combination of open and covered lens' create a signature that sailors can recognize. Motorized gear mechanism that turns the lens'.

137 narrow stairs that lead from the base to the top.

Small building that contained oil for the lanterns used for the light until it was converted to use electricity (around 1930 I think).

Downtown Palm Beach Gardens

An outing with TM took us to this upscale shopping center in Palm Beach Gardens. (All photos copyright by Dave Miller).

Yeah... I finally found a coconut palm!

Skywatch Friday

Photo copyright by Dave Miller

It's been a long time since we've seen palm trees silhouetted against the sky in the evenings, but we have been enjoying them a lot on this trip.

Sunny Orlando

In spite of what TM claims, I really have seen more of Orlando than just the inside of the simulators I work on. Granted, I spend a fair amount of time in those too. (grin).

Here's proof I actually have seen the sunshine at least once while we've been here. In reality, I've seen sunshine daily on the drive to work in the morning and back at noon for lunch. I've arrived back at the room after dark most evenings so little daylight then.

All photos copyright by Dave Miller Courtyard area outside our room.

Some colorful plants I've not seen before (at least not in Oklahoma).

I don't recognize what type of palm tree this is, but it brings back memories of the coconut palms we enjoyed while living in the tropics.

I'm An Audi TT

I'm an Audi TT!

You're not the fastest, nor the most nimble, but you're cute and you have style. You're not intensely competitive, but when you pass by, everyone turns to look.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Great Weather

Photo copyright by Dave Miller

It's great weather, if you're a goose (or other waterfowl). There were several geese in the parking lot when I arrived at work today. They were not perturbed in the least by the gloomy skys or cold rain and seemed to actually be having a great time. For me... not so much!

On the Edge

Photos copyright by Dave Miller

A couple weeks ago, the photo challenge was to photograph something narrow. Several things came to mind as possible subjects, but I thought the thin edge of the knife blade might be more fun.

Hearts

Photos copyright by Dave Miller

Something Old

(All photos copyright by Dave Miller.)

A few weeks ago, the photo challenge was to photograph something old. There are several things I could choose from but, this particular clock caught my eye. It has been in the family for over 100 years and I have had it for over 30.

The exact age of the clock is unknown but is similar in style to those built in the 1880's and 1890's. The clock came into our family when it was purchased second hand at a farm sale in 1904 for 25 cents.

Although not obvious, the clock does have an alarm. (You can set the time for it to go off by rotating the small numbered ring in the center of the clock face). In my teens, I returned home late one night from an out of town sporting event. Unbeknown to me, my Dad (also rather ornery), had wound the alarm earlier that evening. I was rudely jarred out of bed by the unfamiliar noise a few hours later. I was rather surprised to find it was coming from the old clock since I didn't know it had an alarm until then.

Book Marked

Tagged by Craver VII

.Pick up the nearest book

(of at least 123 pages).

Open the book to page 123.

Find the fifth sentence.

Post the next three sentences.

Tag five people.


The first (and closest) book would be a journal I just got today. Yes, it has more than the required 123 pages. However, at the moment they're all blank. Hmmm, guess I'll try again.

Let's see now. Where's my Calculus book? That ought to provide Craver with some light hearted reading. If his head doesn't hit the keyboard by the end of three good sentences of proofs, he would have to be a math major! Hmmm. Probably not in line with the idea of this "tag" though. The Calculus book is not close at hand anyway. Oh well, guess I'll try again.

OK, I found one....

Page 123 is near the end of chaper 14 entitled "Good News Faith".

The wrong concept of God generally comes from the inability to separate the old and new covenants. Most Christians have mixed the two together and are trying to relate to God on the basis of a perverted covenant. In Psalm 78:37 God explains that Isreal's problem wwas a heart problem: "For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant." Likewise, we are not stedfast in this new covenant.

Because we are not stedfast in the new covenant, we are quick to pervert it by mixing it with the old. We are continually looking to the Old Testament to understand how God will relate to man....

From the book: "The Gospel of Peace" by Dr. James B. Richards.


Now, who to tag... Ornery's Wife, Julie, Llama Momma, Celine JS , and imac

Standing in Formation

Photo copyright by Dave Miller.

Innertwined... The tree or the vine

These photos (from my archives) were taken in Muskogee at Honor Heights Park on a warm spring day.

There are several varieties of tree climbing vines here in Oklahoma, but I haven't seen one like this before....
(All photos copyright by Dave Miller).

There is an Arborvitae evergreen near the base of the tree the vine is growing on. Perhaps, the "vine" is really saplings from the evergreen tree. Even if that's the case (tree instead of a vine), I've never seen one do this before.

Wordless Wednesday

Type TrayPhoto copyright by Dave Miller

Perspective (Wind Turbines)

Within the last 5 years several wind turbines have "sprung up" in Oklahoma. Since the area is fairly flat (read "Great Plains") and windy (typically 15 to 40 mph) the wind turbines are an energy efficient method of generating electricity. (All photos copyright by Dave Miller).

Even up close, it's hard to get a sense of how huge these really are.



This shot shows the sense of size the best. The "small" windmill (about 40 ft tall) was about 200 yards closer to me than the wind turbine when I took the picture.

Student Driver

Somehow I couldn't help but laugh when I saw this on a military vehicle..... Photo copyright by Dave Miller.

Wichita Mountains #2

Another trip to the Wichita Mountains.... These are are the closest thing to mountains that Oklahoma has. They don't begin to compare with the mountains of Colorado, New Mexico, or Alaska but still are fun to hike through and have some great rappelling spots. (All photos copyright by Dave Miller).



Views from Mt. Scott

The area in the top portion of the photo is representative of much of Oklahoma (incredibly FLAT!!!)


Wilderness Area:
Each of the "rocks" (read BOULDERS) on top of the hill in the distance are are larger than most 2 story homes here in Oklahoma.

Ryan pretending to lift one of the mammoth rocks.