Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: Photography


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In the Navy – for a day

Hey! Want to join the Navy?

After a stupendous sunrise and a little run/walk along the boardwalk here in Virginia Beach we spent most of today on and around the Norfolk Navy Station, the biggest Navy Station in the world.

Sunrise photo credit goes to my husband.

Sunrise photo credit goes to my husband.

First we went out to visit a lighthouse that is on the base. The soldiers at the gate were very friendly as they explained the process of allowing us entry. Once on base we stopped to see the lighthouses; one is historic, the other is still a working lighthouse.

We got to climb one of these.

We got to climb one of these.

Can you guess which one is which?

We just about sprinted up the older brick lighthouse when we noticed through a window a destroyer (that’s a big ship) heading out to sea when we were part way up the interior steps. I lost count of how many steps up…

View from the top

View from the top

…but we counted them on the way down…181 steps plus 12 steps up to the door, plus 75 steps up the hill to the base of the lighthouse. All of that equals a lot of steps!

We also went to a viewing platform overlooking the ocean and happened to catch a submarine heading out to see. It went right past a big container ship which was headed into port. Later in the day we saw that same container ship docked and being unloaded. Very cool.

That's a submarine in front of that ship!

That’s a submarine in front of that ship!

Then we took a bus tour of Norfolk Naval Station, and after that a 2 hour boat tour of the Elizabeth River and the docks and shipyards there. We saw lots of different types of boats on our way out to the Naval docks. One of the most photogenic was a fishing boat headed out to sea.

Heading out to catch some fish.

Heading out to catch some fish.

But there were docked ships that caught our attention too. Here’s a couple at the coal loading docks…

Loading up with coal.

Loading up with coal.

…and many more.

Red tug in front of three ships at a private shipyard.

Red tug in front of three ships at a private shipyard.

We eventually got out to the Norfolk Naval Station docks where we saw destroyers and amphibian ships…

Huge. Even the smaller one is huge.

Huge. Even the smaller one is huge.

..and learned that the smallest destroyer costs more than $2 billion…

This can carry lots and lots of planes. And soldiers too.

This can carry lots and lots of planes. And soldiers too.

…and the large aircraft carriers cost more than $10 billion. We must have seen dozens of ships and I can’t begin to total up all the money that was represented there. Even the planes on the aircraft carrier cost more than I want to think about.

See those little planes up there? Those are fighter planes!

See that little plane up there? It’s a fighter jet!

Once back ashore we walked over to the USS Wisconsin, which has been turned into a museum. Unfortunately it isn’t open on Mondays, but we walked around the outside anyway. The thing that struck me was how thin it appeared to be from the front.

So skinny it could sneak into any harbor!

So skinny it could sneak into any harbor!

But for those of you that want to see what it really looks like…here you go:

From the side it's very complicated!

From the side it’s very complicated!

After a long day being Naval we headed back to Virginia Beach for our last night spent walking the boardwalk and listening to the ocean waves. I haven’t even shown you the boardwalk, the beach, the ocean.

And there’s still Williamsburg to share with you. Someday, I promise.

So many adventures, so little time.

Coming up or going down?

Coming up or going down?


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Wish they taught history like this when we were growing up.

The 'epicenter' of our country, where it all began.

The ‘epicenter’ of our country, where it all began.


Did you know the birthplace of our country was not in Plymouth Massachusetts? Me either. Or if I knew I’d certainly forgotten. (Click on any picture to make it larger and more clear.)

Today we visited Jamestown, where the English landed in 1607, and the location of their first successful settlement. They attempted four other settlements in years prior at other locations, but each of those failed.

Captain Smith faces the James river at what was once the front entrance to the fort.

Captain Smith faces the James river at what was once the front entrance to the fort.

Jamestown was settled in 1607 as a business venture because the English had heard there were riches to be had in America. The settlers were immediately and continually attacked by the local Indians and by the winter of 1608 were without food in brutal cold. Many died, and by the next spring less than 60 survived.

Archeologists finally found the original fort in the mid-90s after decades of attempts. They are still digging.

Archeologists finally found the original fort in 1992 after decades of attempts. They are still digging.

This is the fort where Pocahontas and John Smith met. She did, in fact, save his life, but she did not have a romantic relationship with him, despite what Disney says. She brought food to the fort during the long winter, and ended up marrying John Rolf and moving to London where she died young, and where she is buried.

The brick tower of the church is the only original structure left and dates from the mid 17th century.

The brick tower of the church is the only original structure left and dates from the mid 17th century.

Our docent at Jamestown reminded us that if this settlement had not survived England would likely not have tried again. The area would have been settled eventually, but most likely by Spain, or possibly France. Our country would not have existed were it not for these few surviving settlers.

Our docent spent an hour and a half telling us about the history here.

He spent an hour and a half telling us about the history here.

Kind of makes you think doesn’t it.

Later in the day we learned the history, just up the road, of the 1781 battle at Yorktown which ended the American Revolution. The British were camped there, led by a very strong and successful Lieutenant General, Charles Cornwallis. General George Washington, in conjunction with French Allies, had far fewer troops than the British, but beat them at Yorktown, in part because they had larger artillery and cannons.

"FIRE!"

“FIRE!”

It’s a much longer and more complicated story than that, but it comes down to the fact that we had the bigger guns. We got to watch a 24 pound cannon be fired at the Yorktown Visitor Center. It was pretty impressive.

The ranger says that while the battle of Yorktown didn't end the war, nothing significant happened after, so essentially it was this surrender of the British that gave The United States independence.

The ranger says that while the battle of Yorktown didn’t end the war, nothing significant happened after, so essentially it was this surrender of the British that gave The United States independence.

Then we drove a bit to the Moore House where the terms of surrender were worked out between the British and us. It’s a pretty little house with a long lawn down to the James River. It wasn’t open when we were there but I enjoyed walking down to the river to see the view.

Where details of the British surrender were worked out.

Where details of the British surrender were worked out.

Yesterday we were in Colonial Williamsburg, and while we were there we toured a bit of the College of William and Mary. I’ve got lots of photos, and it’s going to be hard to choose which to show you.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Today was Mother’s Day, and I’ve associated mockingbirds with my mom for many years. Oddly, or maybe not so oddly, there were several mockingbirds flitting about most of the day, especially at James Fort.

Hey mom! We had such a pretty day today!

Hey mom! We had such a pretty day today!

Somehow I think my mom was exploring right along side of us.

Tonight we’re on the ocean at Virginia Beach. I’m listening to the ocean waves as I sort photos. Retirement is good.

Stay tuned.

The British were here.

The British were here.


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Arlington musings

Gate to the Cemetery and the Robert E Lee house up on the hill.

Gate to the Cemetery and the Robert E Lee house up on the hill.


We meant to spend part of the day at Arlington Cemetery and the rest of the day at the Air and Space Museum. After all, it wasn’t our first trip out to Arlington, and we’ve been to the National Cemetery in Michigan a few times as well.

Turns out we underestimated our time wandering the cemetery grounds.

We spent nearly the entire day exploring, searching for particular grave sites, contemplating, watching. Listening. Listening to taps being played at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, listening to a marching band playing military music off in the distance during the changing of the guard…

Changing the honor guard.

Changing the honor guard.

…listening to a mocking bird singing high over the endless rows of white marble markers.

Probably not a mockingbird, but he was pretty.

Probably not a mockingbird, but he was pretty.

And toward the end of our visit just when I was commenting about how peacefully quiet it was, how beautiful this particular tree was…

Pretty shade.

Pretty shade.

…a military flyover came roaring up from the Potomac, right overhead, shattering the peace, but raising the awesome level of our total experience.

We saw Senator Frank Lautenberg’s grave site. He was always so supportive of our safety efforts. We miss him – he was a good man. His stone should have proclaimed his work toward saving people’s lives on our roads.

It doesn’t, but we know.

You did good work Senator.

You did good work Senator.

But the stone that touched me the most was that of Medgar Evers. A simple white stone, like hundreds of thousands of others, set down over a hill below President Taft, it was evident that several people had come to visit and pay their respects.

Remembering Medgar Evers.

Remembering Medgar Evers.

He did good work too.

Wandering in Arlington was beautiful, but oh so sad. Because we had to acknowledge that every one of the thousands of headstones represented a person, someone’s child. They all belonged to someone.

Each one an individual.

Each one an individual.

And now they all belong to us.

Sobering.

On the back of the stone for Oliver Wendell Lewis, a Major General who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam but was only 71 when he died, was this quote:

Good advice.

Good advice.

I like to think that those of us working for truck safety are doing just that – walking in the world for our loved ones. I think the General has it exactly right.

I wish everyone had the opportunity to visit this cemetery, to experience the solemnity, the sense of awe, the feeling of pride. I have to think the country would be in better shape if everyone spent a day exploring this special place.

There’s sadness here, but there’s peace and hope too.

Visit if you can.

Always vigilant.

Always vigilant.


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April showers

HI!!!!

HI!!!!

Katie here! It’s raining today and I’m bored so I thought I’d share some of my latest adventures with you. Cause I figure you’re bored too and why not share!

Mama says I shouldn’t be sad that it’s raining. We haven’t had any in a long time, and besides, she says, it’s not SNOW! Good point mama. Of course I sort of like snow so I guess I wouldn’t have minded if we got some to play in. Mama, on the other hand, does not want to see any more of that white stuff till next Christmas!

Anyway.

I’ve been to lots of parks lately. Mama is home all the time and we get to go go go! I love that. I think mama does too, though maybe not quite as much as me. Cause she doesn’t get treats at the park, not being a princess and all.

I’ve been over to my park quite a bit already this month. It still doesn’t look like spring over there, but at least the snow is gone. There aren’t any leaves yet, but after this rain I bet things begin to bud out!

This is my majestic look.

This is my majestic look.

It’s been a bit wet with all the snow melt, and windy, but I don’t mind. I even walked through a puddle at the back of the park this year! Mama was surprised; she usually has to carry me through that part of the trail every spring. I guess I’m growing up and taking on more responsibility now that I’m almost ten.

Art in my park!

Art in my park!

Did you know they are advertising the DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts) at my park? There are these big pictures with notes about the artist there! My mama reads them all to me but she says I can’t go to the DIA because I’m a dog. Seems unfair. I mean, why put art in my park if I can’t go?

One day at my park I didn’t feel like walking all the way around, so I took my mama over to the library and we walked around there. And you know what I accidentally did?

Uh, she's on to me!

Uh, she’s on to me!

I walked down this long line of stairs! Without thinking! I forgot that I don’t do stairs! Now my mama is sure that I’ve been scamming her all these years when I made her carry me up and down.

And one time, over by one of the ponds mama thought she’d take a photo of the two of us enjoying my park. But she never did get the hang of setting the camera up. Most of the shots looked like this.

Mama doesn't move fast enough.

Mama doesn’t move fast enough.

I’ve also spent lots of time at home in my own pretty yard. Mama is getting worried that she’s already behind on the weeding, but I think the flowers are beautiful just the way they are.

I look good in blue, don't you think?

I look good in blue, don’t you think?

AND…best news of all! Mama and I got to go camping in the back yard two nights in a row! I was very very good and only barked a little (OK a lot the first night and only a little the second night) at the snorting deer that trespassed on our camp site around two a.m. each night. The second night I slept all night and never even moved around on my princess pillow!

This is MY tent and MY stuff. Mama takes care of it for me.

This is MY tent and MY stuff. Mama takes care of it for me.

Of course I got mama up at 5:15 a.m. each morning but she doesn’t seem to mind now that she doesn’t have to go to work anymore. I love camping! She says we’re going to a real campground in May and another one somewhere up north in June! I can not wait!

And you know what else? Last night I got to go for a wonderful walk with my pal Deuce and his mom at his park! It’s in a town and there’s a creek that runs through it and there’s ducks and lots of people and oh! The wonderful smells!

Deuce and me at his park!

Deuce and me at his park!

I could hardly lift my nose from the ground anywhere, it was heaven! I walked a mile and a half and wasn’t even tired. I didn’t want to leave! Deuce was a real good host and showed me all the best spots to sniff. And his mom was so patient and let me sniff as long as I wanted. Even my own mama was pretty indulgent about it all.

I’ve been having the best time this spring so I guess it’s OK there’s one day of rain. I could probably use the rest anyway. I’m sure mama has more adventures up her sleeve, and I need to be ready!

Signing off now,

Katie.

PS: I got a little damp this morning.

The wet dog look.

The wet dog look.


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How to celebrate 60

Strong women. Every single one of them.

Strong women. Every single one of them.

It’s certain there are about 3,500 women, mostly in this state, who are having trouble walking down stairs today. And tomorrow may be only slightly better.

If you’re not a runner you have no idea the quadricep carnage that occurred Sunday morning over in Grand Rapids the result of the Gazelle Girls half marathon and 5K, a women’s only road race. Thinking about it now, if you are a guy, this was the place to be. More than 3000 fit women dressed in running gear swarmed the city.

But that’s probably another blog.

Friends race for the finish line

Friends race for the finish line

I turned 60 on Saturday, an age I’m not too happy about. But what better way to boost my confidence, convince myself that age is just a number, that I’m not old, that it’s going to all be OK, then to run a 5K for the first time in umpteen years.

Superhero giving out high fives

Superhero giving out high fives

Many of my friends ran the half marathon (13.2 miles), but I was thrilled to be running a 5K (3.1 miles). I’ve been walking so when this race came up, a time to reconnect with many of my cyber running friends, I thought I’d throw a little jogging into the training mix and be good to go.

Superhero sees his mom coming!

Superhero sees his mom coming!

And that’s exactly what I did. I went on more walks than I might have if I wasn’t ‘training’ and I threw in some quarter miles of jogging sometimes. Maybe once a week. Or so. Surely that would be enough.

Enjoying the moment

Enjoying the moment

I didn’t carry a camera with me on my 5K race, but so many times along the route I wished I had it with me. So you’ll have to use your imagination when I tell you I followed a woman with a pink shirt that read “too inspired to be tired” most of the race. And that the shadows of a mom and her two seven year old twins followed mine. And then they caught up with me. I ran either just in front or just behind them most of the race. They were adorable. And yes… they finished before I did. Seven year olds.

Running mom into the finish line

Running mom into the finish line

You’ll have to use your imagination when I tell you many women were wearing tiaras or tutus. Or both. A majority of them were dressed in the wildly beautiful bright colors that seem to be in style these days. The shoes pounding the pavement in front of me were beautiful. I so wanted to shoot them. With a camera. Seriously. A camera.

Suddenly I was tired. I sat on the curb and shot through the fence.

Suddenly I was tired. I sat on the curb and shot through the fence.

Pick up your feet, pick up your feet was my mantra as I kept watch of the crumbling city pavement. I’m too old, now, to fall. I could break a hip, land in a nursing home. It felt quite a bit like that’s where I should be anyway. Especially that last long uphill at the end, that final left turn toward the finish line. Pick up your feet, pick up your feet. Breath.

There was joy...

There was joy…

I went back to the hotel when I finished my race to get my camera because I couldn’t be that long without one. The photos here were taken while I was waiting for my half marathoner friends to come across the finish. There were lots of great people to watch. So many strong women. Such great family and friend support. Beautiful children excited to see their mom or sister or grandmother race by.

...there was angst.

…there was angst.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate my 60th birthday with friends who truly believe you are never old. As evidenced by our “Energizer Betty” who Sunday ran a half marathon at age 72. Who ran a marathon on her 70th birthday.

Our Betty!

Our Betty!

Who I want to be when I grow up.

Politics. It's everywhere. :)

Politics. It’s everywhere. 🙂

And there is one thing I know is true; 3.1 miles is a very long way to run. Thank goodness I didn’t have to do ten more!

Me and my water.

Me and my water.


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It’s a Horned Lark!

In Tuesday’s post I had been walking in a local park and saw a bird I wasn’t familar with. Turns out a friend of mine knew just what it was.

A Horned Lark! From my walk earlier this week.

A Horned Lark!

I’ve never heard of such a bird; I’m beginning to realize that I’m only truly familiar with birds that come to my feeder. Last year, while camping I saw a new bird for the first time and a friend had to tell me that it was an American Redstart. I haven’t seen one since, but I hope to again this summer when I camp at the same park. Also last year, while mowing the back yard, I noticed a King bird for the first time. All of these birds are supposed to be common around here…but I’d never noticed them before. Obviously I have not been observant.

Anyway…to learn more about the Horned Lark, check out this link done by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. You can hear the sounds they make on that site too. The bird I saw was definitely singing, that’s how I noticed him at all.

So thank you Linda for letting me know what this was! Now I’ll be looking for him on my next trip to the park, and around my own backyard too.

Internet photo

Internet photo