Cherry Street

Macon, Georgia

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Enjoy the Views!!!

Candid Views of all the Fun

The Pink High Heel Shoe Race

was a very interesting event

to watch.

2013 Cherry Blossom Festival

Bed Race

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Cherry Street

Macon, Georgia

There were nine entries in this classic race up Cherry Street.  The first nine pictures are of each entry and the final nine are of each bed as it commences the race.  The Macon-Bibb County Fire Department had the fastest Bed.  I was not near the trophy presentation area when the most outlandish bed award was given.  Enjoy these views of the colorful entries.  This event is always a fun to watch race.

By my estimates, several thousand festival goers lined up on the sides of Cherry Street to enjoy this event.

Sequestration

Day Seventeen

"Consideration"

I cannot recall a Cherry Blossom Festival Parade that I missed in all of the 31 years of the festival.  That stated I do wish I had stayed home today, March 17, 2013.  As usual I arrived well ahead of the parade time and placed my lawn chair on the curb near what is now known as the City Hall Annex.

Everyone maintained their position at the curb or behind those who arrived early.  That changed once the parade started.



As you can quickly see this adult moved a chair out onto
Cherry Street.  It did not take long for the Children to
emulate the move of this fellow citizen who did not consider
the impact on the view of others further along the parade route.
This is my view from the chair I had on the curb.

One more view from my chair.  As you can quickly
ascertain it was difficult to view the oncoming parade.



As the parade moved along there was one special
float that I desired to get a few pictures of.  I move directly in
front of the adult who had moved onto the street so
that I could get my pictures without the obstruction
of the people that did not show much consideration
for the parade viewers behind me or to my left.
After I took my shots I turned around to get
this picture of the individual who had moved out onto the
street thereby blocking the view for many other folks who
came to view the 2013 Cherry Blossom Festival Parade

Just as many are now forced to suffer the consequences of Sequestration, this individual did not display much consideration for other people attending the parade.  Our Lawmakers certainly are not displaying much consideration as they failed to do their assigned task for about the last five years.  What a shame that our Society has allowed such a sad situation.

Sequestration

Day Sixteen

March 16, 2013 The Second day of the 31st Annual Macon Georgia Cherry Blossom Festival.  Todays Sequestration Post will relate the fact that life goes on and citizens are still enjoying life.  

The Pink High Heel Run up one Block of Cherry Street
in downtown Macon neted over $8500.00 for the
Susan G. Koman Fund.  The legs in the pink boots
actually belong to a member of the Male Species.



This adult certainly got in to the "Pinkest Party on
Earth" theme of the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival.



The Second Day of the Cherry Blossom Festival concluded
with a Tunes and Balloons Party.  This picture could not capture
the thousands that attended this event.  Families were in the
picnic mode as they awaited the Balloon Glow



Even though it was quite windy three balloons were inflated.
They were located in a valley and they produced quite a
glow.  People are still enjoying life and the opportunity to
interact with other people and also enjoy fun events.

Macon Georgia continued the Cherry Blossom Festival.  It will be interesting to see if the Cherry Blossom Festival in our Nation's Capitol will be canceled in 2013 because of Sequestration.

My own personal observation is that more people than ever before have participated in this Cherry Blossom Festival and I have been involved in all 30 of the previous festivals.

As you can see, this retiree continues to capture images.  Life is Good!!!!

Sequestration

Day Fifteen

Sequestration has had no impact on the annual blooming of the Bradford Pear Trees here in Middle Georgia.  The pictures below prove that they are blooming on schedule.  

Also, every year the Medical Schools in the United States of America conduct a "Match" day on the Third Friday in March where the graduating class learns where they will spend their residency.  The government did not stop that annual event.  Flowers bloom on schedule and other major events have been happening with no impact from Sequestration.  Maybe our duly elected leaders are confused or are they attempting to confuse us Citizens? 

From my own point of view, it is our duly elected lawmakers and leaders who are confused!!!!!!

What is your viewpoint? 

I would encourage everyone who is able to get out this weekend and enjoy our God's Creation.  Have a Great Weekend!!!!   Meanwhile, this Retiree is still taking pictures!!!

Sequestration

Day Fourteen

Maybe is is worse than I have observed here in Middle Georgia.  Today I viewed this chandelier hung in  a tent.  Maybe this family lost their home in a foreclosure and they managed to save one light fixture for themselves.

Sequestration

Day Thirteen

 As you may suspect, I am following the progress that our Nation's Lawmakers are making as regards our debt and credit situation.  Today I am focused on what we may need to do as Voters.  As you can tell the above two images in this post are not very attractive.  They are well past their prime and really do not function well for their intended purpose.  These flowers may well represent our Older Lawmakers who in many cases appear to be self-centered and only concerned about how long they can serve.  Interesting word - serve - although I suspect that a good many of them have also forgotten the concept of "Servant Leadership."  As I view the evening news and read the print media accounts I often get the impression that these "old-timers" really do not have the good of America on their minds.  They are merely focused on the here and now aspect of their Leadership.

Additionally, there are many of us voters that would appreciate it very much if our Nation's Lawmakers were also "Statesmen" with the mantra that they must work together to resolve problems that will benefit the long term success of our United States of America.  I cannot comprehend the fact that many are so "dried up" just like the flowers pictures above, in their thinking that they cannot see the impact of the current crisis on future generations.

Just like the above beautiful flowers, we do have Lawmakers who are focused on the future.  They appear colorful and full of vigor and ready to perform the difficult task of working to eliminate problems; however the old guard refuses to realize that we cannot spend our way into prosperity. 

Then we have the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue who is conducting himself more like a child.  As our Commander in Chief and also President he is acting like a three year old by his actions.  One day he terminates the Visiting Program to the White House and the next day he eliminates Student Aid for our Nation's Heroes.  Of course he has also issued other edicts; however you can comprehend the point I make here.  Our President appears to be so focused on proving his "point" that he cannot see the future.  Maybe our President needs to read Catherine Meeks article in "The Telegraph" today to fully comprehend the concept of "Servant Leadership."

I am currently reading a book entitled:  "Sea of Glory" about the Four Chaplains and the U.S.A.T. Dorchester and the tragic events of  3 February 1943.  The Dorchester was sinking and the four Chaplains give their life jackets away so that others would live.

This type of action is what "Servant Leadership" is all about.  For those who may not know it, these Chaplains were not of the same Faith.  One was a Jew, one was a Catholic, one was a Methodist and one was a Reformed Minister.  These individuals of different beliefs acted for the long term benefit of their fellow mankind.  I suspect that out Nation's Lawmakers could take this example and do likewise. 

Howard High School

Macon, Georgia

Dedicates Baseball Field

March 13, 2013

 Three men involved in the Howard High School Baseball Program three the first pitches.  From right to left they are the Man in charge of the construction, the Director of the Bibb County Athletic Program and the Principal of Howard High School.

 Ready to catch the first pitch from the three at the mound were the three Seniors on the Howard Huskies Basball Team.

 Prior the playing of the National Anthem there was a moment of silence to remember the West Laurens High School Baseball Player, Sophomore Tucker Slaughter who lost his life on February 26, 2013 in a tragic four wheeler accident.

The first pitch.  West Laurens went on to win the game with a score of 16 to 4.  This game was the season opener in GHSA Region 2-AAAA for both teams.

Sequestration

Day Twelve



The Vatican Gardens behind Saint Peters in Rome,
Italy.  I took this picture from the top of the dome of
Saint Peters while on Holiday in the late 1960s.




Saint Peters, the headquarters of the Roman
Catholic Church in Rome, Italy.
The 115 Cardinals are meeting in the
Sistine Chapel to select the new Pope.
I understand that they are Sequestered.



The Headquarters of the United States Government.
The Capitol, which houses our U.S. Senate and
our U. S. Representatives.
Maybe we should sequester these fine elected officials, all 535 of
them until they figure out how to resolve the debt and credit
issues facing our United States of America.
It would even be better if they operated under the
same mantra as the Cardinals in Rome.
White smoke when the duly elected Lawmakers
agree on a viable solution that will not
have a major impact on the future Citizens of our great
United States of America.



Yes, I know our future will be difficult when we consider the terrible debt we now have; however unless we face reality now and take drastic steps the future for our Children and even their Grand Children will be very bleek. 

The Flower Child

as a

Young Iowa Farm Boy

in the

1950s

 Alan is on the far right with three of his siblings and a group of four Jersey Milk Cows at the Clayton County Fair.  I believe this was taken in 1957.

 Alan posing with a Sheep entry at the Clayton County Fair.  I think this was in 1955.

 Every year the Fair Association awarded a prize to the 4-H Club with the best barn decorations.  I took great pride in the fact that the Jefferson Go-Hawks took First Place during my time in the Club.  I was the person who developed the decoration schemes.

I know that this picture was taken in 1952 when I was a twelve year old 4-H Club Member.  That was the only year that both my Brother and I had Baby Beef Projects for the Clayton County Fair.  He had a female which he named "Mamie."   I had a steer  named him "Ike."  I suspect that you can determine who was the President when we had these projects. 

2013 Keep Macon-Bibb

Beautiful Commission

and the

Cherry Blossom Festival

Awards Luncheon

 Today I attended this Luncheon which honored the many Volunteers that Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful and also those who help with the Cherry Blossom Festival.  Shown above is the young Mister Cherry Blossom with whom I had the honor to share a table with.

 The Luncheon started with the rendition of "America the Beautiful" performed by the Central Charger Glee Club of Macon, Georgia.  This teriffic group is directed by Isaac Gibson. 

There was a total of twenty-four awards presented in connection with keeping/helping Macon and Bibb look beautiful.  I was most impressed with the individual who received the "Youth of the Year" award.  He is in the fifth grade at Sonny Carter Elementary School and his name is Marquis D' Andre B. Peek.  As he was presented his award it was announced that he alone was responsible for collecting 500 pounds of items to be recycled. 

Shown here with Marquis is the Cherry Blossom Queen, Miss Hannah Moore and Princess, Miss Kiara Fuller.  I captured this picture after the Awards Ceremony.