Early Voting is Underway

Saturday, one of the first things that I did was to go vote. Early voting makes it so much easier. Also, this election, not only did I have to produce my voter registration card, I also had to show my driver's license. It's difficult for me to understand why that is now required. Oh, I know, the reason why it was explained in the press, but my driver's license picture doesn't look anything like me. I now look worse!

And, of course, I had to deliver a joke to the precinct workers. They have come to expect that from me. The one that I told this time was about the elderly lady who upon leaving church had said to the pastor at the door that she didn't like the second song that they had sung during the service. The pastor with a smile on his face looked the elderly lady squarely in the eyes and with that broad smile still in place said, "That's okay. It's alright not to like that song. We were not singing it for you."

As I came out of the polling place, I pumped my first and said, "Oh! that felt good". The older I get, the more I understand how much a person can accomplish without spending vast amounts of energy that occurs when you are younger. Saving energy can be done mentally as well as physically. Anyway, I briefly talked to a couple in the parking lot that were staked out 100 feet from the polling door as required by law. They had ask if I had gotten any good pictures. When telling them what my project for the day was, one of the ladies responded that she knew about the HAARP project and she and her husband were very interesting in the same thing. That, to me, was amazingly interesting because very few do know about the project. Yesterdays post was about that subject. Then, today, there was an article about the Great Lakes Freezing over with a view of the ice from the International Space Station. While I do remember the Lakes freezing over years ago, what caught my eye of this article was  cryospheric scientist Nathan Kurtz, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, saying to  the Earth Observatory that,"secondary factors like clouds, snow and wind play a role."

For those of you who do not have the time to read the post, or for any other reason, the HAARP Project is about weather manipulation. Clouds, snow and wind are three parts of the equation for HAARP. I found that dreadful but interesting all the same.

Putting another orr in the water, Dallas Delite had two of their rowing boats that they compete with at the annual Dragon Boat Races and Kite Festival in Las Colinas each May. Last year I photographed them doing the same thing that they were doing yesterday and I had also photographed them during the competition last year.  But, what made it most interesting yesterday was that I got a picture of the "seed" paddle that had been given to the team three years ago by the Austin team.  

Then, I stopped by for a little "FREE ADVISE" from Roddy. Next month, he begins the 19th year at the Lake. Roddy said that some 20,000 people had stopped by over the years. An old friend, Policeman Ray was on his bike. He and his partner where riding the 9.3 mile route around the lake on their bikes.

By the time I headed for home, I was tired and hungry. But, I didn't fail to notice the chem trails and contrails in the grid pattern and the haze that was dimming the sunlight before sunset. Here are a few pictures from the day.

Early Voting Is Underway

Part of the Crew of Dallas Delite

The "seed" paddle given to Dallas Delite team three years ago by the Austin Club.

 

The Fire Boat Was Back !

The Annual Dragon Boat and Kite Festival kicked off this morning on the canals of Las Colinas and Lake Carolyn. This was my fourth year to attend. The first year, the Irving Fire Department had just gotten their fire boat and were having fun shooting streams of water in the water with a few mis-directed that sprayed a few on-lookers. It reminds me of a mis-fired seltzer bottle in the hands of a circus clown. It brightened the day of many people. Then, for the past two years, I've ask," where is the fire boat?" and with grim looks, a fireman would say, "it's not here this year."
Today, walking along the vendors and food vendors row of tents I ran into a group of water rescue firemen. The first thing I ask was: "Is the fire boat here this year?" Laughing , the reply came. "Yes".

So, I set off to find the boat. Nothing else was in focus. There it was. That little boat with a canon  that can shoot a powerful stream of water 75 to 80 feet.  Wow! She was beautiful resting there in the water along the brick and concrete wharf. There was only one fireman sitting at the wheel. He said he was working overtime today and didn't know that the boat had not been at the festival the past two years. In fact, there were a lot of people who didn't know that the boat had been missed by a few more than just myself.

Then, out of the blue came this young Asian girl and her tag along "friend". Before the fireman and I had completed our conversation,she butted in telling the fireman she had been "hired" by one of the event planners to take pictures and informed the fireman that she had also been told that they would take her and her "friend" out on the water. They exchanged cell phone numbers and were still talking as I walked away toward the Marshal's tent to find the team  I had photographed a couple of weeks ago practicing at White Rock Lake, the Dallas De lite Team.

The Crew of Irving Firemen



Welcome Home little fireboat

I found the team, shook hands with one of the members that I had meet at White Rock and like a bad penny, there is this rude little girl and her "friend" and that whinny little voice. With that, I headed toward the wharf on the other side of the even ropes where the teams came down to board their boats and run their scheduled heats. Finding some amazing kites being flown, I walked the entire wharf  around the kite field and headed toward the car stopping here and there to photograph as I made my way closer to the car. The last look I had of the festival was of the fire boat heading out for their water-shooting playtime. I took a quick shot  only for the honor of the boat and the  crew of Irving Firemen who are a class act.

Never Judge An Event By The Color of the Portapotties!

Here's the scoop: There were only about a hand full of protesters at the Arboretum this morning. By 1 P.M. only one lone man was out in front with his sign.The city begins cutting grass and destroying the wildflowers on Monday after the judge's ruling on Friday.

The porta- potties had arrived for the European and Classic Car Show at Dreyfull Point tomorrow late morning and early to a little after mid afternoon. A group of 12  bright orange porta-potties were at Winfrey Point but I would imagine that there was a big rental of the facility for tonight as several large stage speakers were already on the circle grass. The porta-potties at Dreyfuss Point were blue and grey,hence: you can't judge an event by the color of the porta-potties, but if there's 12 bright orange ones in a row......you are NOT at the European and Classic Car Show --most likely!

The surprise of the day was to find the Dallas Delite Professional Dragon Boaters working out on the lake at the Filter Building docks. Two weeks from tomorrow the 2012 Dragon Boat and Kite Festival will kick off at Lake Carolyn in Las Colinas. I understand that the Delite have already won a medal in Austin this year! Congratulations! and because of the metal......well, here's a view of the Delite crew! Good Luck at the Red River and at Sugarland later on this season.