Friday, July 11, 2014

Friday Mishmash

Random pictures from our trip to North Carolina:
 Blogger meet up!  This time, Jeff and Sam got to meet Rachel, who I first met in person in March, and we all got to meet her husband, Dave.  Nice picture, eh?  Well, the first go-round didn't turn out quite so well...
 
Turns out not every random stranger you hand your phone to for a picture has mad photography skillz.  To her credit, she WAS really short, so maybe that's why Jeff's and Dave's heads were cut off? 

We met up in a restaurant-y area just outside of the Durham Bulls ballpark.  While we were waiting to ask someone to take our picture, Jeff stepped onto a rock in the water, and I joined him for a picture:
Having short legs meant I had to jump across!  Credit Rachel for getting the action shot.
Durham, NC - a nice place to be!

Rachel brought a little gift along for Paco - a hula girl cookie from Gourmutt's Bakery.  It smelled so good, I was tempted to take a little bite!  But I didn't...Paco got the entire thing, although, not without some tortured waiting:
He's such a good dog - I can give him a cookie and say WAIT, and he will wait, until I give him the OK.
More torture...the tongue licking the cookie kills me.  And, if you look closely at the bottom two pictures, you can see that Paco ate the frosting off first.  I wasn't kidding when I said it smelled good!  He loved it - thanks, Rachel!

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Sam taught Paco to do a high five when he was giving him a treat:
Paco is a fast learner when there's food involved!

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Many states have toll roads, but Georgia makes me wonder why they bother - look how much it costs to drive on this one:
TWO cents!  At what point would this become cost-effective to administer?

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The other thing that we saw as we drove home was a racist billboard in Alabama.  Right out there on the highway - I read it as we drove by and thought "what the hell did I just read?"  I repeated what it said to Jeff, and we both sat there with, jaws dropped.  I know this crap exists, but to be so blatant about it really shocked and saddened me.  I like to believe that everyone in this country has an equal chance at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and it makes me feel sick that others actively try to impede this.  I think I was also stunned to see this in the year 2014 - I know progress in terms of overcoming racism has been made, but this billboard made me question what century it was.  Anyway, I know I don't normally write about issues like this, and I'll go back to normal blogging now, but dang - that was bad.

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Have a great weekend - our running club starts up tomorrow, so I expect to pretty much not sleep tonight from nerves about pulling off a good first day for everyone.  Luckily I have a great crew helping, but until I get through the first day, it's nerves galore over here!

17 comments:

  1. Unfortunately, racism still exists on all sides. I am always a bit shocked when people are so blatant about it, though. I mean - really?

    Paco is smart - he knows that the best part of a treat is the frosting!!!

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    1. I laughed that he immediately picked off all the frosting first. Smart dog, very smart dog.

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  2. My mother-in-law always used to say the difference between the north and the south in terms of racism was that in the south it was blatant and you knew exactly where you stood whereas in the north they'd stab you behind your back. I have many times found myself in a position where I am amongst a group of caucasian people who think it's OK to say racist things - assuming because we all look alike, we all feel the same way. It's almost surreal when it happens. We may overcome one day but, very sadly, we haven't yet.

    Well, you know I love Durham, NC being as Little Helen went to Duke. I almost always extended a couple days when we would drop her off for a new year. To this day I miss Bullock's BBQ and The Biscuit King. Hmmmm, all the things I miss are food - but I picked good food because Duke students have been known to have food from those places shipped to them!

    The Paco pics are killing me. It seems like he had as much fun on vacation as you guys!

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    1. Surreal, indeed.

      Paco did have a blast on "his" vacation, lol!

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  3. I've been in the very same situation as Helen and it was most prevalent after President Obama was elected. The toll amounts for that lane change according to the amount of traffic on the road and it can get very expensive during rush hour so it could be a couple of dollars on a Monday morning. Kills me when I sit in gridlocked traffic, but I'm too cheap to pay the extra!

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    1. Oh, so we were just seeing the toll charge during a cheap time? That would make sense, to change it when traffic is heavier (although it would irk me to pay more).

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  4. Sounds like you had a great time in North Carolina. My son in law is in the Marines and is heading to Camp Lejeune this weekend for two months of training. My daughter loves to visit him when he is there because its so beautiful.

    Sorry your trip was marred by the racist billboard. It's hard to believe that something like that still happens.

    Love the picture of Paco eating the cookie! He is too cute! Hope your running club is a success! I've thought about starting a running/ walking club for people over 55. I started a running club at my elementary school which has now expanded and our local YMCA wants to get involved. When I retire in a year, I plan on starting a club for the 55 and over age group.

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    1. Your daughter should stay in NC the entire two months! :)

      Great idea to start a running/walking club!

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  5. So jealous of your meet up with Rachel and Dave! Glad you guys had a good time. I know tomorrow will go great - no need to be nervous!

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  6. LOL at Paco licking the icing off first. Of course, that 's the only reason for having a cookie, right? And the high five trick is fantastic!

    The racist billboard? Seems like that should be against the law. Other things that are bad for your health are against the law, aren't they?

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    1. You make a great point on the billboard...but I guess free speech and all. Ugh.

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  7. looks like a good time was had by all... and what a character Paco is...

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  8. OH PACO!!!!!!! So cute! Love the pics, and lol at the "head cut off" one and your comments about it! Have a WONDERFUL weekend Shelley!!

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  9. I lived in Alabama for a year back in the early 90's and it was easily the most racist place I've ever encountered. Two things still stand out in my mind...a principal cancelling prom because a mixed race couple wanted to attend and a co-worker calling a college friend of mine "high yellow" because she was a lighter skinned African American. Both of these things happened in/near Birmingham. Seems like not much has changed down there.

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  10. Paco is priceless! Love the shots, especially when he is waiting to attack his cookie :) Wish I could learn Bella tricks but she's got such a mind of her own, she just refuses too :)

    Lovely pics of your trip, looks to me you had a great time.

    Unfortunately racism is still everywhere, here in Holland too. I'm afraid it will never ever stop.

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