One thing right in America

Pardon me while I wax eloquent for a minute, but since my life has been pretty solitary and/or quiet for the last week or so I've had time for reading and reflection and not many subjects for picture taking.

Today on my way home from work I went to cast my ballot in early voting at the Brainerd Recreational Center near downtown Chattanooga. I admit, I was a little nervous driving around in that part of town. It seems like I'm more conscious of situations like this now that I've had Ryan around and now he's gone to Florida. As I drove in, there were signs from different candidates toilet papering the lawn as is usual at such places. Those seemed like fresh reminders of all the name calling and demoralizing behavior I see whenever I turn on the news about the election. (I quit watching the news about the election almost before it they started broadcasting it, perferring to gather information other ways.) Needless to say, I went into the building feeling a bit demoralized and dragging my feet toward what I feel like is my civil duty. I even thought about leaving when I saw the long line, but in the end I was glad I stayed...

As I stood in line for about 40 minutes waiting to vote, I noticed several things about the situation. Since there are only 4 places to do early voting in Hamilton County, all kinds of ethnic and social groups were there. Old, young, black, white, Asian, low income, high income, blue collar, white collar, obese, anorexic. But even though none of us knew each other and probably weren't enjoying standing in line, nobody had a bad attitude. Even the voting personel were from all different racial and social strata. Many people struck up conversations with each other. It was very peaceful and relatively quiet. People standing next to each other chatting about the weather even though one might be a Republican and the other a Democrat. And the thought struck me... how amazing is this?

It seems like whenever you see a change in power or differences in political viewpoints in many foreign countries you also see accompanied violence, strife, and anger. Transition is never easy. This principle also goes back into our history. I've been reading about the turmoil surrounding the founding of our country; how many groups had to fight to get others to hear their voice. But what I saw today makes me feel proud to be an American.

No matter our differences, no matter if we vote for McCain, Obama, Nader (or the 5 other independents on the ballot I saw) we have the right to vote peacefully, if we so choose, in a secret, quiet, orderly, (mostly) trusted system. We don't come out of the voting place and throw things at each other or blow each other up with car bombs (even though we may go back to verbally abusing our opponents the next day). Maybe I'm stretching it a bit far, but today I saw a bunch of Americans coming together to exercise their American freedom... and it made my heart proud.

All Night Softball 2008

The last time I played in All Night Softball I was on the Signup team with Carrie. We weren't expecting to go far and ended up in the ER nursing Carrie's broken nose.

This year Ryan's team (Shazam) was looking to get to the championship game for the 3rd time; I was looking to lose as painlessly as possible so I could stop to watch their games. After 4 games, we were out by 2 AM so I got to watch the Rebels play Shazam - probably the game of the tournament.

I finally found out what our team name meant tonight - the last night of the season, funny that - SWAT Softball With Attitude

Stephanie keeps the Ford torch alive

The evening's photographers
Keeping warm became a must as the temp dropped into the 40s. Everybody had layers on and a few charcoal grills popped up. Stephanie and Tanya were wedged into one chair with one scarf wrapped around their heads - quite the sight. Ryan had on a ski coat, gloves, and a hat while coaching 3rd base.

I really enjoyed getting to play with Hollie again this year - we've been playing softball together for almost 10 years!

Coming home amidst cheers of "MRS KNIGHT! MRS KNIGHT!" (mainly from Joey Fuller)

Ryan and Alex




Dr. Greg King - dean of the school of religion
He made a nasty double play in the game against the Rebels fielding a hit to first, getting the out, and throwing to make the out at second.

View from inside the Shazam "dugout"
I stayed up til 4 AM in order to lose my voice cheering on Shazam against the Rebels. I don't even care that Shazam didn't make it to the championship game - in their game against the Rebels they held them in check, made a few amazing plays against them, and came so much closer than most to taking them off their undefeated throne.

Ryan's night ended at 6:30 AM when Shazam went down against a team they'd trounced earlier in the night. The only challenge left for the Rebels was Fresco and they would have had to beat the Rebels twice in order to win. I'm glad we didn't have to stay awake to watch the carnage.

And so ends SAU All Night Softball for the Knights - unless one of us decides to take another degree...

It only takes a starter stick

Ryan, Stephanie, and I went on a weekend campout with the Heilmans and Heilman Jrs. this weekend at Tims Ford State Park.

It couldn't have been a more perfect weekend for camping! We might have liked it a little cooler for sleeping but after our freezing experience two years ago - we can't be too choosy.

Be sure to check out the other participant's blogs - there are some great group shots that I don't have for starters!

Set up

Randy and Mary Jane enjoying TOASTED bread courtesy of the extension cord running to their new acquisition: a pop-up camper.

The bugs weren't too bad - but the little bees liked our food.

On Sabbath afternoon we took a hike.

We were disapointed that we never walked next to the lake unless we got off the beaten path.


We are glad Stephanie is back!


Stephanie... and Boris...

Two years have passed since the Cumberland falls trip. What a lot has happened in those two years!

One of my favorite things about camping is looking up at all the trees above you.

Ryan sharpening his knife by the fire. He enjoyed fire building with his starter sticks - they make fire building as easy as lighting it!

It was also nice to have a bow saw for cutting up the wood we dragged over the bridge from across the lake.

Smores!

Stephanie borrowed a hammock to sleep in

Ryan and I toughed it out on the ground

This morning before everybody was awake, Ryan and I went down to the bridge

In a few weeks, the colors will probably be spectacular!

Ryan brought food for the fish

He even attracted a big carp

Stephanie eats while warming her pancake precariously over the fire

MJ multitasks by avoiding smoke and flipping pancakes while eating

Then it was time to clean up and head home where we are now attempting to get the smoke smell out of everything.

As a side note - we got a visit from Robin and Jake this weekend. He's the newest addition to the Knight family and Robin is keeping him with her in the annex at MPA this year. What a sweet little dog he is (soon to be not-so-little most likely)!

Evening riverwalk

Last night Ryan and I took a trip downtown to see the Dolphins & Whales IMAX, eat at Tony's and walk around. While we were walking, so many good memories came back to me...

One year ago about now we were all jumping in our cars headed up to Asheville for Tara & Erik's wedding. Then plus a week or so, Ryan and I went downtown for supper at Tony's and came back engaged. Plus a few more days, Ryan and Carrie took a walk downtown too while Ryan and I went to the symphony and then they were engaged too. It seems like time has just flown by since then. Nothing like a bunch of weddings and graduations to make it go. And here we are - all married and Tara and Erik about to celebrate their first year together!

We also enjoyed looking at all the sculptures downtown. Although, I must say, half of it leaves you thinking - is this really art? A five year old could design this! Here are a few examples:


This one I affectionately call the FRENCH FRIES

An oil can with wings???


The white blob at the top of the picture below is another one of those I don't understand. It's like a whale with three colored balls stacked up over it. Where did that artistic inspiration come from?

But now lets show you a few of our favorites:
We liked the grandpa talking to his granddaughter by Rembrandts and the great dane by the Walnut Street Bridge but here are our top 3.

3rd place - the baseball game

Ryan stands in front of the pitcher to throw a strike

2nd place - the driftwood horse
This is really bronze but it looks so much like driftwood. A man riding around on a bike told us that a smaller horse done by this artist recently sold for $385,000.

1st place - the hang glider

I'd never seen this one before but we thought it was really neat because of where it sits on a steep slope overlooking the river. There must be some counter balance to hold it up since there is only one TOE touching the ground but you can't see it from our vantage points.

The season ends

Its the end of our summer and what a summer it has been...
Our Lookouts season started the weekend of Carrie's wedding and we went to our last game last night just as school is starting. So much has changed since we went to that game in the end of May!

#1 Stephanie is back!

#2 Being Chik-fil-A night - we had many cows in attendance

They even participated in the chicken dance.

#3 We got to go into the outfield after the game. I am very jealous - the grass is so soft and cushy and beautiful. I would think it would be so much easier to judge bounces when the lawn is so uniform!

We all had to take our shoes off and experience the lush carpet. ;-)

#4 We're now the Carlsons and the Knights!
All 8 of us (actually 12 if you count Kelli and Danny & Nick and Shanin too) have been married between June 1 and August 29 *Congrats to Lindsey and Don!*)
I doubt there will be another summer to top this wedding count.

And what could end it off better than fireworks?

New view

One of my birthday presents (from Ryan, my parents, and Nanna & Pawpaw) was a new-to-me camera lens. Its faster and the focus is really crisp compared to my other lenses. Another plus is that will will go from this far away... (Kelli, Jonathan, Steve, Kimmy, Ryan, and Kristy playing the new frisbee golf course)

to macro... this close up... I can literally hold my hand in front of the lens and focus on it. The one complication is that the depth of field in macro is so shallow I have to be very steady!

Carrie, this is that little fuzzy bug I was telling you about all over the tree in my backyard. Apparently they like other parts of Collgedale too. With some internet assistance, I think its a wooly aphid - what do you think? Apparently they feed on sap from trees and when there isn't enough they grow wings and fly to others. We found yesterday that we could wipe the fuzz off of them.