February 2012 – Memos for Me

Harlem Gospel Choir and turkey calling

February 29, 2012

I caught myself singing out loud in a crowded auditorium this weekend when the Harlem Gospel Choir came to town.

The performance was amazing and was the perfect cap to a great, yet odd weekend that had me attending my very first turkey calling contest.

I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I definitely prefer duck calling contests to turkey calling contests.

First of all, it’s hard to watch a man act like a turkey (the head jerking, the odd walk, the rustling of leaves) and not laugh. Especially when the rest of the crowd is all serious acting.

I watched only a few contestants before heading outside to the 3D pop-up archery contest. I instantly felt like I was on steadier ground. I even met two guys from my hometown who are related to my cousin’s wife. Small world (OK, my hometown is only an hour-and-a-half away so it’s not much of a shocker).

Overall, it was an odd weekend and busy with a memorial for a former co-worker, local children’s events and a visit to a local wildlife management area.

Play ball!

February 21, 2012

Growing up, I thought the ball players who could hit baseballs out of the ballpark were the coolest people ever. I’m still fascinated today.

On Sunday, I came across this old, falling apart baseball while hiking near my house. The city ball park is near my house but I am more inclined to believe a dog brought this ball to its final resting place.

It helped remind me that baseball (and softball) season is finally approaching. Hopefully, I’ll be able to attend my first-ever St. Louis Cardinals game this year.

Ever-changing weather

February 20, 2012

La Nina’s presence is definitely being felt. Lately, the weather has been unpredictable with 60-degree weather one day, followed by snow the next. I’ve loved the warmer winter — I hate being cold — but I’m ready for a more steady climate.

2-10 icy fountain — The local high school fountain.

eastern meadowlark — Eastern Meadlowlark

Arkansas Post National Memorial

February 5, 2012

Gillett, Ark. — Spanish explorer Hernan de Soto passed through what is now known as Arkansas County in 1542 followed by French missionary and explorer Father Marquette nearly 160 years later.

Later, five nations would all fly their flags within this same area. Frenchman Henri de Tonti founded the initial Arkansas Post in 1686 — the first European settlement in the lower Mississippi Vally (it predated New Orleans by 32 years). The area has since flown flags belonging to the French House of Bourbon, Castillian Spain, Republican Spain, Republican France, the United States and the Southern Confederacy.

Arkansas Post became a part of the United States in 1804 and, 15 years later, would become the Arkansas Territory capital. It wouldn’t last though. In 1821, the capital was moved to the newly founded city, Little Rock. Arkansas Post had about 1,000 residents at the height of its political importance in the 1820s and 1830s.

In January 1863, Union forces would capture the Confederate fort at Arkansas Post and destroy much of its town. The Arkansas Post is located along the Arkansas River and is now part of the national park system.

"This stone was taken from ruins of old bank, built at Arkansas Post, 1839. Arkansas Post State Park. Created by Act of Legislature 1929..."

A Great Egret greeted me as I entered the Arkansas Post National Memorial.

Arkansas Post3 — White-breasted Nuthatch.

Get down Holy Rosary style.

February 3, 2012

I LOVED last night’s talent show at Holy Rosary Schools in Stuttgart. Had to share at least one of the performances I saw (my favorite), which is this little guy getting down.

http://ar-stuttgart.static.ghm.zope.net/resources/deep_dish/flash/flv_player.swf

High winds, sunsets and destruction.

February 1, 2012

It’s been gorgeous weather for the most part this week. The temperatures are in the 60s, the sun is shining and the first flowers are blooming. What’s not to love — well, excluding the mosquitoes now biting me?

Here’s 5 reasons this week was so interesting:

1. There’s storm chasers, then there’s us — damage chasers.

A severe thunderstorm passed through Arkansas County on Wednesday causing power outages to more than 1,000 people. There was not a lot of damage but there were a few accidents including a tractor trailer blown off the road. My co-worker and I teamed up (she drove since I hate to and I took pictures) to get damage pictures.

We first headed to take pictures of the tractor trailer and fallen power lines on a nearby busy highway. However, we got stuck in traffic.

We eventually snapped a picture with our long lens and tried to take a short cut. However, we barely made it through one flooded section of the gravel road before we saw the above. We turned around.

This skunk apparently didn't like the flooded gravel road either. We saw him scurrying away as well.

We snapped a picture of this busy Entergy worker.

Finally, we had this amazing view to our right as we headed back to the office with the rainbow on our left. Not a bad way to end our storm damage trip.

2. Salvaging airplanes

2-1 CAVU-2 — A former Southwest commercial airplane is dismantled.

For work, I visited a local business on Tuesday to snap pictures of the last stage in their work. The company is a parts distribution company that dismantles commercial aircrafts at the end of their life cycle before repairing and reselling the parts. The stripped plane is then sold for recycling. On Tuesday, the recycling company was in town to tear the stripped plane into smaller pieces. Why is destruction so fascinating?