Michelangelo's Pieta in Vatican City

Michelangelo's Pieta in Vatican City

Michelangelo created this work of art in 1498-1499. It is housed in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. In May of 1972, a mentally disturbed geologist attacked the marble masterpiece with one of the tools of his trade, a hammer. He shocked onlookers as he chopped away at some of the marble, including Mary's nose, shouting, "I am Jesus Christ." Some people actually grabbed pieces of the marble and absconded, but later some of it was returned. Whoever took the piece from Mary's nose still has it. The nose was reconstructed using a block from her back.


After the attack, the statue was removed for repairs. It is now  protected by bullet proof glass. If you plan on taking photos, take a camera that will shoot in low light. You don't want a flash off the glass.

United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

"Qui Pro Domina Justitia Sequitur."

I just had to take this photo as I was passing by the Department of Justice. I really wanted a good photo of the flag on the opposite side of the building, but the wind was not cooperating, as you can see from the second photo. Next time.

For those of you who don't know exactly what the Department of Justice does, look to the name: they are responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice.

Latin fans may be interested in info on their motto.

Huey Helicopter at Price of Freedom Exhibit in D.C.

Huey Helicopter at Price of Freedom Exhibit in  D.C.

I have mentioned this helicopter before. A few times. And not just because it was a photograph waiting to be taken. We go to D.C. often, and when there, we always visit the Huey. These are new photos. For those who know the story, just skip to the photos. For those who don't....

This helicopter landed in our backyard in Georgia in 2002 for the filming of the documentary, In the Shadow of the Blade. My husband and I sat on her, renewed our vows in front of her, and in the midst of candlelight, watched as our dear friend, Col. Ben Purcell, opened up a case filled with small mementos of his time spent as a POW in Vietnam and told a moving story about each one. Col. Purcell spent 5 years in Vietnam, much of it in solitary confinement.

When this Huey, affectionately known as Huey 091 (for her tail number) to those of us who spent time with her, lifted off from our Georgia river home, my husband and Col. Purcell were aboard. It was the first time my husband, a USMC doorgunner in Vietnam had been on a helicopter since he left Vietnam, and the first time Col. Purcell (United States Army) had been on a Huey helicopter since the one he was riding in on that fateful day was shot down. When he heard he was being released, he joked to his men, "I hope they don't send a Huey for me." They didn't.


Sometimes, things don't tell all the stories. Those who file by Huey 091 on the 3rd floor of the National Museum of American History, are treated to a moving short movie and a few facts about the "bird" that saved so many lives in Vietnam. Lives were also lost in Hueys. Thousands were put into use in Vietnam. Half were destroyed. 

This Huey flew 10,000 miles in the making of the documentary. It landed in backyards and fields, touching the lives of those who know instantly the "whop-whop" sound that only a Huey can make.


A year later, Huey 091 took off on another role and flew many more miles. One of her stops was at Quantico Marine Base. My husband greeted her there where he was allowed to co-pilot her. After that, she made two more stops before making her final landing on the National Mall. We were there to greet her. By that time, even I could tell the "whop-whop" sound, and what a sight she was as she appeared over the National Monument.


Visitors to the exhibit will notice some strange artwork on the door. But there are no placards to explain the heartfelt artwork. My husband, a folk artist, painted his iconic symbols on the door for the filming at our home in Georgia. Around the crude POW symbol, a white dog, fireball, and a squiggly with two hatch-marks, along with my husband's signature can be seen. Except for the POW symbol, these symbols appear in all of his artwork, even in his non-Vietnam paintings.

What do the symbols mean? In Vietnam, a white dog hung around his hooch. He considered the dog a lucky charm. The fireballs in his paintings he calls, "Messages from 'Nam." The squiggly is in the form of a "D" and is there in remembrance of his friend, Danny Dean McGee. They played high-school sports together, and together, they joined the Marines on the buddy program. Danny was killed by a sniper in Vietnam.


My husband pinned a photo of Danny inside Huey 091 during it's travels. It is hard to see, and you may have to stand on your tippy-toes but it is still there, on the starboard side. The patches were pinned inside during its American tour of duty.

Another piece of trivia concerns the pilot in the captain's seat. He was actually one of the people who helped the producers of the documentary pull together not only the team, but the Huey (a relic of her old self that sat in a small Texas museum), and the much needed parts, as well as starting an aggressive fundraising campaign. The captain was a reservist at Fort Rucker and a pilot for Southwest Airlines. And of course, he was an expert in all-things-Huey. Though never in Vietnam, he sat in the pilot's seat from the day she lifted off the ground in Texas until the day she landed at the National Mall. He sits there today, and will for another 15-20 years; the face of the pilot is an exact likeness of Bruce LeMoine

This Huey belonged to the Robin Hoods in Vietnam. Before the filming, the Robin Hood emblem was painted on the nose after extensive work. The producers were also able to find the mechanic who worked on Huey 091 in Vietnam. Naturally, he has a big part in the documentary.


There is more trivia, but a little more commercialized, so I will keep that to myself.

Thank you to all who served in Vietnam. Next time you are in D.C., stop in and see Huey 091. You can practically hear the "whop-whop" as you round the corner. 

Click here to order documentary. Info for teachers and how to host a showing can also be found at this site. It is a must-see for students and organizations like the VFW and American Legion. It is also a must-see for anyone who ever had a family member serve in combat in Vietnam and for anyone whose served in Vietnam. In my opinion, it a must-see for everyone. Students and groups planning trips to D.C. should view the DVD in advance of their trips.

Catnip Kitty

Catnip Kitty

"There are two means of refuge from the misery of life - music and cats." ~  Albert Schweitzer

I think these photos speak for themselves.

As you can see from the tissue paper, we were having a party; the cats are always included, and what better party favor for a cat than an occasional "nip" of catnip.

FYI: these cats are incredibly spoiled, almost royalty, to say the least, so don't send me any emails about them indulging in too much catnip. It was a special occasion.

Salisbury Wheels that Heal Car Club

Salisbury Wheels that Heal Car Club, Sherwood of Salisbury

I had been scheduled to be out of town this weekend, but plans changed, so I took a stroll among some classic cars on Saturday, July 28, 2012. See end of post for an upcoming Wheels that Heal event. If you are sponsoring a Wheels that Heal event, please feel free to send me a flyer.


Note: I have more photos, but I have to move on to something else. When things get slow, I will post more, including my detail photos, because fans of classic and antique cars can never get enough.

Plan now for the 1st annual show and shine truck and motorcycle show, yard sale and swap meet at Sherwood event ground in Salisbury.

If you had a boat

Yacht Pals online boating community

"There is NOTHING--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."
~ Kenneth Grahame

Quote courtesy of Yacht Pals. Yes, they have bigger boats, but the enjoyment of being on the water has no boundaries when it comes to the size of your boat.

Yesterday's Billboards

Yesterday's Billboards

Storm clouds much appreciated

Storm clouds in Delaware
Not sure where this school bus was headed in July, but I know the driver didn't mind seeing the storm clouds. With the drought we have been having, no one seems to be complaining about pop-up storms. Wish we had more in my area.

 

All Aboard Maryland's Best Ice Cream trail

Maryland's Best Ice Cream trail

I made my first stop on the trail at Broom's Bloom in Harford County - circled. Next stop: Berlin (please note that the brochure has Ceseapeake Farms listed as being in Pocomoke. It is in Berlin), then Cecil County, and on to Fredrick. I will have to work the others into my schedule.

Get your passport at any of the creameries and start your ice cream trail blazing today!

Broom's Bloom offers a little of everything, including occassional weekend entertainment. On this day, the crowd was light, but sometimes it is hard to find a place to park! There is a reason why Broom's Bloom is so popular:

Here are a few photos of Broom's Bloom:

 HOMEMADE ice cream:

And of course, the reason for this post: