On Salem Pond

Browsing through the photo album brought me to this photo I snapped last year on my way home, passing through Salem with the setting sun glowing through the trees and reflecting off the pond.  The snow on the ground, the leafless tree silhouettes and the bench in the shadows recall memories of winter camps with my sons and other boys.  In fact, today I shook hands with and hugged a very tall, very slender former scout of mine whose younger brother passed away at the age of 24 last week.  The memories of the difficult times with a much younger BJ whom I had to send home from a campout, yet who later became my Junior Assistant Scout Master and earned his Eagle, flooded back and I was reminded of the opportunities we have to offer friendship to those around us and perhaps help them along life's byways. And, perhaps, to judge less harshly those whose moccasins we've never worn.

To change the tone a bit, I'll anticipate Justin's comment relating to my last sentence with the altered version of the proverb: Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes—that way he'll be barefoot and you'll be a mile away before he realizes you've stolen his shoes.

Northern Spain

I really enjoy skies and sunsets.

Mt. Timpanogos

The view from my window today.

Michaelangelo

Michelangelo is quoted as saying "I hope that I may always desire more than I can accomplish." I remember the few times when I had nothing to do, and it was much worse than when I have had much more to do than I could handle.  One such time was after graduating from Ohio State and being unemployed.  My first job with Ph.D. in hand was to manage Unca' Bucks' car wash in San Fernando. California.  Then I was able to get a part time temporary position at BYU for $5 an hour for a few months, and when that ran out, it was back to looking for cars to detail.  I did that for a while until some friends at BYU put together a permanent administrative position for me, which I held for 3 years until a professorial slot opened up in the Spanish Department. 

It is nice to know, though, that I can always go back to cleaning cars if it were necessary; or delivering newspapers; or doing custodial work; or delivering dinner for Chicken Delight; or pumping gas for Chevron or Texaco; or washing cars for the US Postal Service; or teaching junior high; or . . . anyway, it's been good to be able to do a lot of things.  I still have a lot to do, so I'd better get busy.  I'll post a few pictures to improve the post first, though.

Autumn in the Rockies

While Justin may be gloating over the Atlanta fall season, we here in Utah have seasons of incomparable beauty, too.  In fact, some days you just have to pull over to the side of the road and stare in awe at the mountains that rise suddenly from the valley's edge.  Sometimes, you are even fortunate enough to snag a few photos to share.  Here you are:

Why worry?

Marie and I had a short discussion about worry, and judging from news reports regarding the economic problems, the wars, the lack of a good candidate to vote for in the upcoming elections, the health of babies born and unborn, ad nauseum, I recalled a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson that I felt was apropos:

Some of your hurts you have cured,

And the sharpest you still survived,

But what torments of grief you endured

From the evils which never arrived.

I also remember a wall hanging that reflected the needlessness of worrying:

Why worry?

There are only two things to worry about:

You are either healthy or ill.

If you are healthy, there is nothing to worry about;

If you are ill, there are only two things to worry about:

You will either recover or you will die.

If you recover, there is nothing to worry about;

If you die, there are only two things to worry about:

You will either go to Heaven or you will go to Hell.

If you go to Heaven, there is nothing to worry about;

If you go to Hell, you will be so busy greeting all your friends,

you won't have time to worry!

And Calvin Coolidge had this to say:

"If you see ten troubles coming down the road, 

you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you."

And finally, from the tummies of Steven and Justin and FRIENDS:

"Don't worry. Be happy!"

(Remember those days!?)

More boats

This photo shows the Tormes River with the cathedral in Salamanca in the background.

Green and Blue Spain

There are many parts of Spain that are blue and green. Here are some photos of northern southern Spain.

The 502 (Discussed below)

(Click on any picture to see a larger version with details.)

Back from Berdoo

Each year about this time, the City of San Bernardino, affectionately known as Berdoo, hosts the Route 66 Rendezvous -- a unique style of classic car show wherein some 1900 cars drive and park, park and drive, drive and park, and so on, for 4 days, all the while revving their engines (with open headers) in some sort of my-engine-can -make-more-noise-than-yours competition while some 500,000 spectators walk, waddle, sit, stand, mingle, photograph, film and swap "I used to have one of those" stories and consuming literal truckloads of artery-clogging bacon-wrapped grilled-onion-covered sausages, hot dogs, tri-tip steak sandwiches, Johnsonville Brats cooked on the world's largest outdoor grill (in truth, a semi-trailer-long grill, towed by a semi-tractor), a variety of other carnival-style eats ranging from cotton-candy to ice cream to caramel corn and candied almonds, and guzzling immeasurable quantities of Pepsi (they had the beverage contract), water, energy drinks, beer (only sold and consumed within a chain-link fenced area reminiscent of the smoking cages at the airport), and inhaling enough carbon-monoxide to justify their bizarre behavior.

Unca' Buck and I made our annual trek, imposing on the hospitality of the Grogans (got to see David, Shannon and kids, too), and shot a few pictures.  We were also able to team up for a bit with Daniel and Hillary who were then subjected to my non-stop verbiage on the differences between the trim on the Tri-Five Chevys; the Bel-Airs v. the Impalas v. the 210s; the sedan v. the coupe v. the hardtop; the small-block v. the big-block Chevy V-8s; and so on.  All of this over the roar of the informal open header competition.  Hillary got a headache which saved them more of my torturous explanations.

As you've noticed, if you've been following my blog, I am the proud owner of a yet unrestored 1961 Impala 2-door hardtop (Bubbletop) with a 265-inch small block with a 4-bbl and Powerglide; therefore, I focussed my camera mostly on other '61 Impalas that I saw, unless they had been ruined by converting them to low-riders with teeny-tiny wheels and ridiculous air suspension systems that either make them sit lower in the back than in the front (very east coast, yuck) or worse, that make each corner go up and down independently like some sort of malfunctioning robot trying to step over some doggie doo doo. (They make me wanna puke.)

The red and white Impala wasn't actually in the event when I shot it but was parked in a lot adjacent to where we parked; so I took advantage and snapped a few shots.  The engine (which got posted later and is up above this post) is a big block Chevy, a 502, that was installed in a 1954 Chevy, but looked so good I had to shoot it. Now, scroll down for the photos.

The Impalas of Berdoo

Baiona Bay

This is the first place Columbus landed upon his return from the Americas.  The ship you see in the background is a replica of the Pinta, the ship that sailed into the bay March 1, 1493. The port is on the Atlantic Ocean just north a few miles from the Miño River that forms the border between Portugal and Spain.

This photo is the one I cropped to create my new banner, in case you hadn't recognized it.

The Alcazar (Castle) of Segovia

One of Spain's most recognizable castles overlooks a moat-shaped ravine in Segovia, about an hour northeast of Madrid.  It was the abode of Ferdinand and Isabel, the Catholic Kings who ruled over the final days of the reconquest.  It was also here that Christopher Columbus first met with Queen Isabel regarding her financing his trip to the Indies, which of course, resulted in the discovery of America.

Here are some shots taken during the day and at night.  As a side note, David and Melissa were carried the 152 steps up the circular stone stairs to the top.  Steve also climbed up the stairs with me in 2007 when we visited Spain.

Street Cafe in Burgos

Burgos, about two hours north of Madrid, was the home of the famous El Cid who led in the fight against the Moors. A great place to enjoy the camaraderie of good friends, a light snack and a beverage—still the Spaniards' preferred way of keeping in touch, even in an age of the ubiquitous cell phone and Facebook.

Arcos de la Frontera

A typical sidewalk cafe as evening falls in one of the pueblos blancos (white villages) in southwestern Spain.

Ribadesella

One of my favorite photos, used as the cover photo to one of the editions of the textbook, shot in Ribadesella on the Cantabrian Coast in northern Spain. 

The Ebro River passing through Logroño, Spain

I like this shot of the Ebro river, the train station, the Roman-style bridge, taken near Logroño in the Navarra region, which is in the Basque country.  

El Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Madrid's popular central park; a nice place to go to get away from the vehicular traffic.  I say "vehicular" traffic because the pedestrian traffic can be overwhelming at times.  This is a shot of the pond.

Time flies . . .

Someone once said (and impressed me with their wisdom and depth of understanding to the point that I must quote them): 

"Time flies like the wind, . . . 

and fruit flies like bananas."

A new school year

A new school year begins! Lots of new things to learn; lots of new people to meet; perhaps some new friends. 

Every little thing we learn, we get to keep forever.  Every friend we make can also be a friend forever.

I hope I can be a good friend to those who choose me to be their friend.  I think that means asking myself "What would my friend like?" before deciding what I would like.  Perhaps it will make me happier to do some things my friend likes, rather than to do the things I like and be alone.

Does that make sense?

GrandDaddy's new car, as he would like it to be

GrandDaddy's new car, as it is now

My new spot

GrandDaddy's here to give advice, answer questions, and perhaps entertain a bit.  Since I'm encouraging everyone to set up a blog site so we can keep in touch a bit better, I thought I would do the same.