Lake Park Antique Tractor Pull

Nothing says "good time" like the semi-annual antique tractor pull and anvil launch in Lake Park, Georgia. All of the tractors have to be 1957 or older.

These are amazing to watch.
Some could use a little bit more paint.
Of course with the tractor pull you have to be concerned about safety, so our Lake Park Volunteer Fire Department was standing by in their antique fire truck.
Sometimes it wasn't just about tractors, but just engines in general. This one was set up to mix something an boil eggs at the same time. The mixer is the square opening on the left next to the belt drive. The square opening on the right next to the smoke stack was for the cooling water and boiling eggs.
You just can't beat a 1947 Case tractor with custom flames.
The first motor home, a 1953 Dodge.
You can't have a tractor pull (and anvil launch) without some entertainment, and what is better than an accordian.

This was my favorite steam engine. Did really run anything, but the potential was certainly there.

By the way, the anvil launch, where they shot an anvil 300 feet up in the air was canceled due to bad weather and mechanical difficulties. Hey! Even NASA has a canceled launch once in a while.

Great South Georgia Weekend

Nothing says a a great time in South Georgia than football and race cars!

This past weekend we had a double dose of good time.

It started off with the Spring Scrimage for Valdosta State University, between the Black Team and the White Team. It was a beautiful day and was only better because VSU won.





Following the football game, we headed to Cecil, Georgia to the South Georgia Motor Sports Park for the Hooters 250.

To our surprise, when we arrived, there was a second event going on and that was drag racing.



There were an amazing variety of vehicles racing, from a jeep, to top-fuel racers. If you brought it, you could race it.




There was even a scaled-down version for 10-12 year olds.



Sounded like they were using lawn-mower engines.

Can you believe it? There was even a Pinto. (The only thing Pinto was the body).
Here's a ca. 1958 Corvette and a Roadster.
They even let you drag Mom's car.Here is the dragstrip version of the Zamboni!

We then headed over to the 0.5 mile track for the Hooters Series racing. I think Mom found a new friend. (17 years old). I was required to cheer for him. He came in 3rd.
I found some friends too. (It was the Hooters 250!)
Here are a couple of videos to give you some of the action, a top fuel dragster, funny cars, and the start of the race.

The Operation Was a Success

I would like to express the my personal thanks and the thanks of our family for all of the support that we have received during this most difficult past two weeks. Your cards and letters and flowers were greatly appreciated.

For those who didn't send anything, you truly don't appreciate what a close family member Beautee is.

For those of you who might not be aware of the near tragedy that struck our family, on Wednesday, March 19th, while on my way to work that morning Ms. Beautee suffered what could have been a fatal heart attack.

She began having trouble breathing, and was belching white smoke at an alarming rate. I knew from my years of training that this was not good and imemdiately called the doctor (Brumos Porche, Jacksonville, FL). He recommended that I call an ambulance and have Ms. Beautee trasported immediately. Lifeflight helicopters were not available, so I opted for ground trasportation.

As the ambulance left (tow truck), I had a very bad feeling about the prognosis.

Later that afternoon I received a call from Dr. Craig, Chief of Medicine at Brumos Porsche Hospital and he confirmed my worst fears. Beautee had suffered a massive heart attack! The only thing that would save her at this point was a heart transplant. Fortunately there was a donor available.

To make along story short, the operation was successful and Beautee was released from the hospital on Friday, after 10 days in intensive care.

One should never take the life of a vehicle for granted because you never know when, even in the prime of their life, they may be struck down.

I would like to thank those skilled care givers at Brumos Porsche for the job they did in restoring life back to Beautee, and for Porsche and Brumos for the warrantee.

South Georgia Bluegrass Festival

This past weekend we attended our first Bluegrass festival in South Georgia.

It was different to say the least. Some of the groups were really "blue" and others more mainstream. A couple of the groups were actually Grammy winner. Here is a little sample of what we saw for 6 hours. The whole thing lasted two and a half days.

A little something for everyone. Life in South Georgia. The fun just never stops!

In Case You Missed It

In case you missed it last night, February 20th at 10:00 PM EST there was a full lunar eclipse. We won't have another one until 2010. The moon acutally turns red. It was very cool. Here are a few shots I took through my telescope.

Birthday Trip to Walt's Place

I realize that I have been very tardy in getting this posted, but... get over it, I'm old. (I think that is me on the left with Mom.)

The weekend of January 18th was filled with a great trip to The Magic Kingdom to celebrate Mom's birthday. I won't say how old she was but here is a picture of what happened when they brought out her birthday cake.

We were joined by three of our wonderful grandchildren and those two people that they live with. It was a great weekend, with good fun had by all. It was nice having expert tour guides in the form of Rebecca and Clay. I have never seen anyone work the FastPass and Waiting with an Infant system as these two do. We never waited more than 10 minutes for any ride.
We got to have a great lunch with our good friend Pooh and some of his friends.
The great part about spending time in the Magic Kingdom is that it is truly is the land where dreams really do come true. Here I am with some of my new friends.

What can I say, Broderick, Addison and Reagan really ROCK!!

I think that Mom may have found a new fried too!
And not to be out done...
It was great fun for the weekend. The weather cooperated for the most part and I think it will be a birthday that Mom will not soon forget.

Monterrey Mexico January 2008

This past week found me in the beautiful city of Monterrey Mexico, doing an inspection of a medical laboratory. The weather was great!

Monterrey has done something very interesting. Near the center of the city was an old iron smelter where they processed iron ore into steel. With changes in technology the plant became outmoded and stood empty for many years.

The city took the old iron mill and turned it into a park and it is amazing.

They actually created a river that flows from the park to Barrior Antigua (Old Town) and have boats carry visitors along this river. The river is lined on both sides with fountains and various types of art.

More on this fountain (sort of) at the bottom of the blog.

This is a hill side with 5201 statues representing those who have immigrated from Mexico to other countries (primarily the US) and those that have died in the process.

The hotel that I stay at is adjacent to the park.

For security the park is patrolled by police on one these. Very cool.

There is also a small Ward just a 15 minute walk through the park. Everything was in Spanish, but it still worked.

The smoke stacks from the iron mill have become a symbol of Monterrey very much like the Alamo in San Antonio, Golden Gate Bridge in SF. You can actually take a tour that shows how the old foundry worked.

A boat full of nuns. I know that there is a joke in here somewhere.

In the park there are some nice play areas for the kidsThe following is a video on one of the weird fountains.

Monterrey, Mexico; a great city, with great food and great people!