Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Gleaning Facebook: Nunsense

 The show (Nunsense) is over, Brannon is a protestant again. And with child!

How I wish I could have seen this show. I remember what a hoot it was with Nora E. Dundervill and others a quarter century or so ago at Rome Little Theatre.


Renata Carlin: Brannon was "superior" as usual!

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Gleaning Facebook: Kitties Through the Ages


In memory of Phoebe, Blossom, Shadowfax, Tigger, Tess, Miss Kitty, 
In honor of Bea & Waffles


 

A Free Hour

I have never been busier than during the five years since I retired in 2013.

Today was a typical hectic day. I showed off gray and green treefrogs to kindergarteners in four classes at Pepperell Primary School and got to tell them Pete Seeger's story "The Foolish Frog".  I've been telling that story for over fifty years. I finished up there at 1:30 and had exactly an hour to get to Naomi Elementary School in Walker County to lead a YoungTales Storytelling session there. So, with the pedal to the metal I took off on this beautiful daffodil-spangled February day through Lindale, Rome, Mt. Berry, Armuchee, Gore, Subligna and arrived at Naomi exactly on time.

Wow. No buses lined up out front. The usual bumper to bumper queue of parent cars is missing. There are a few cars though. I make my way to the upstairs room where we meet. No one there. A teacher is working in the room next door. She is the one who let's me know; Walker County Schools are on their winter break.

Some might be angry or frustrated or pouty in that situation. Actually I would not be surprised to learn that I was told about this and somehow managed not to get it on the calendar. I do hate to miss a session with that great group of kids, as they prepare to compete in the Debby Brown Storytelling Competition.

But on a day like today? I had just been given a free hour.



I drove toward Villanow, stopping to read the historical markers then taking the gorgeous Pocket Road toward Everett Springs.

I thought about stopping at the spot where the Pinhoti Trail crosses that road and maybe hiking a ways along that, but instead pulled onto the gravel National Forest Road to Keown Falls. on the east side of John's Mountain. There were two other vehilcles in the parking lot when I reached it.

I'd only climbed a little ways along the trail when I decided to check my fitbit --- already 11 flights of stairs.



I heard the little stream before I saw the evening sun skipping across the water as it bounced around the stones cascading down the side of John's Mountain.


The path makes an exaggerated zigzag up the long ridge. There are no blooms of any kind except a lonely bluet I found near the top. But the leafless trees allow for more expansive views as you climb the ridge.... 


... and a clearer appreciation for the "lay of the land," ....

....long wrinkles in the earth's surface called the Armuchee Ridges..... 


.... pushed up between the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Plateau.




Near the top I suddenly came upon four nice young fellows out for an afternoon hike and the picturesque little Keown Falls tumbling over a roch shelf. Steep steps carved into the rock face lead to the top.


Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides) finds a foothold in crevices of the rock steps. 



From a wooden overlook platform you can witness a great view of the valley....


.... and this overhead view of the falls.


Here near the top of the falls several trails cross, including the long Pinhoti Trail which begins in Alabama near Cheaha Mountain and crosses the Northwest corner of Georgia to join the Benton McKay Trail in the Cohuttas, which in turn leads to the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain near Amicalola Falls and, of course, from there you can walk to Maine, if you have the time.


The quiet scene above is the little stream calmly trickling along the ridge with no idea that just beyond the fence it will tumble over the brow of a deep recess in the mountain's face.


Standing against the back wall of the cool recess you can view the Pocket of Horn Mountain though the small free fall shower of Keown Falls.


Crossing under the falls the path follows the base of the seeping rock face, marred occasionally with graffiti...


...and another falls, perhaps just a wet weather one.


Just before juice ran out on my iPhone I snapped this bit of color, lichens and mosses along the trail....


I wish I could have captured the beauty of the mass of these organisms ...


....making a lustrous green border for this section of the trail.

The walk down the mountain is harder on the feet and ankles. As I finally see my vehicle again I meet a young couple just beginning their ascent with a beautiful spotted dog that must have been part Dalmation.


From there to Arrowhead was another ten miles of memories past the Pocket Recreation Area, the DNR check-in station (and thoughts of the big rallies we had there to battle the Reagan administration and preserve our National Forests) along John's Creek, through beautiful farmland, past Camp Misty Mountain, Camp Sidney Dew, Camp Gazelle Dew, Wint Barton's old homeplace, Everett Springs, and Floyd Springs.

I was sorry to miss my storytelling session, but what a glorious afternoon I had.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Arming Teachers?!

 Some of my Facebook friends have written about current nonsense about arming teachers...

From Chris Parker's Facebook:

I’m a veteran. I’m a teacher. I’m licensed to carry a concealed weapon, and I own more than one.
And I firmly believe that arming teachers is a reactionary idea that ignores reality. It’s a fantasy.
Who really believes that a pistol wielding teacher who came to work to mentor children is going to win a gunfight against a crazed-killer armed with a rifle and carrying twice as much (if not more) ammunition? It’s possible, but very unlikely.
Arming teachers is just not a realistic solution. It speaks to our desire to stop violence with violence, but it doesn’t address the fact that a mentally ill person (or terrorist, depending on your label system) armed and with the intent to kill innocent people is capable of destruction regardless of what steps we take.
Fewer mentally ill people with access to firearms? There might be some realistic ways to get there. But not without facing some hard truths and working together.
Hattip to Ray Barton for sharing this cartoon.

From Chris Ozment's Facebook:

There is a current discussion about arming Floyd County teachers. As someone who has shot a lot of guns, been around guns my whole live, had many hours of training that is required by a job involving a gun, interviewed/hired hundreds of people who would have to be certified with weapons, made out post assignments and detail assignments involving individuals who would have to draw a firearm from the armory and go out in public, etc, I have made a general observation about the people I crossed paths with: In most cases, the specific individuals who are so gung-ho about having a gun are usually the absolute last people that you would want to give one to
I'd like to encourage Floyd County BOE member Jay Shell to do two things:
1. Go to the staff at each school. Ask specifically "Who would volunteer to be trained and armed?" At this stage, I'm assuming specific staff members would be known to Mr. Shell. I think that a lot of people who would be the first, and loudest, to volunteer may be great teachers, but they would probably be less than ideal candidates. Once a picture starts to form of the potential volunteer tactical team, ask your self who from these individuals can successfully be trained to hit a target, be competent in weapon retention, in maintaining constant situational awareness, and stay focused on all of that at the same time they are teaching? Who will master the criteria for using deadly force and be able to apply it in a fraction of a second on the spot? Who can make a quick accurate assessment of any situation and respond appropriately? Of these individuals, who is being motivated more by testosterone/ego needs, the desire to present a bad ass image, etc? Who has an accurate understanding of exactly what is involved in what they are volunteering for, the liability involved, the level of expertise and continual training that is needed, etc. This is not meant to imply that these individuals are not good teachers, but individuals with the temperament, ability, and proficiency to preform a job that involves carrying and possibly using a weapon are few and far between. Finally, in private, ask the experienced teachers who remained silent during the call for volunteers how they would feel about the specific volunteers being allowed to carry a weapon.
2. Talk to commanders of the various local professionals (Floyd County/Rome City SWAT/Tactical response teams, state patrol, GBI, the local FBI people, etc) who will respond. Ask them how half a dozen or so armed teachers in a school that is in the middle of an active shooter situation will fit in to their current response protocols. Notice, in the videos of past incidents, how everyone exiting the school (adults, students, etc) are coming out in a single file line with their hands in the air.

Sadly, we live in a world now where individuals who can respond quickly with firearms are needed to protect our kids, and us. I'm glad that we are having discussions and being proactive in attempting to keep our kids safe. Steps need to be taken, and response plans/drills net to be constantly improved upon, but adding armed teachers to the equation is not the answer. 

Monday, February 19, 2018

Gleaning Facebook: Chief Justice Burger on the Second Amendment


 

Gleaning Facebook: Shadow of Things to Come

Here's the pic I intended to share earlier! I obviously don't know how to use Instagram, so I just audaciously did a screen-shot.... this is the precious shadow that elicits such joy from my soul!


Ruth Pinson
Really???? Is this Brannon? Congrats, Granpa!!


Terrell Shaw
April is a much anticipated month this year for the Shaw/Carlin clan! 

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Marilyn Murdock McLean
Terrell Shaw
congratulations! You’re about to join the best club in the world...the grandparent club:)!!!


Ruth Pinson
Marilyn Murdock McLean
Glad Terrell is FINALLY as old as we are!!!!

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Terrell Shaw
Ha! My grandchild will be sooooo much younger than y’alls! 

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Ruth Pinson
Yep! Good things are worth waiting for, Grandpa!!!

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Galen Dale Foster
Congratulations old friend grandchildren are REALLY SPECIAL. You can spoil them and send then home.

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Lynne Crothers Williams
Nothing better than grandkids. You have such joy on the way. Be warned that they grow up even faster than their mother did so enjoy every second.


Betty Smith Franklin
so good.....


Claire Clowdus
Great , Terrell and Shiela! I know you are excited !!!


Terrell Shaw
Yes!


Claire Clowdus
I am so happy for y’all!


Anita Stewart
How exciting

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Laurie Craw
Better stock up on batteries for your phone or camera

Saturday, February 17, 2018