New Home

I haven't completely moved in yet, but you can now find me at http://www.drilleraa.blogspot.com. I am working on cleaning up this blog because there are still some thing about this place that I really like and the new place is acting like this one used to before I got all of the bugs ironed out. At any rate, Driller's Place is up and running....kind of, so stop by when you get a minute. I will put the link in my side bar. Later all.

I'm Moving!

As a result of the issues stated in the previous post, I will soon be moving...or starting over. I am putting together a new blog on Blogger. It will be called Driller's Place. It will probably be ready by the end of the week. It will look a lot like this blog because I like the colors and format of this blog. I will just be considerably more attentive to the photos that I upload and be sure that they are the smallest file size I can use and still have photos that you enjoy viewing. Sorry for the inconvenience. I will place a notice here when everything is ready to go, so stay tuned, coming to a Blogger site near you, the new and improved Driller's Place.

What a Revolting Development This Is

This morning I was working on my next Ruby Tuesday post when I kept getting an error message telling me that an error had occurred when trying to upload my photo. When I pressed the help link, I was told that I had exceeded the free storage capacity of my Google account. What a revolting development this is. I can purchase 10G of storage for $20 per year. Since this is just a hobby, it kind of goes against my grain to purchase anything on this "free" account. I guess I could delete old posts with photos or YouTube clips, but this is kind of an electronic journal (diary) of my life for the past couple of years and, since I am part pack rat, the thought of tossing my old posts out the window also rubs me the wrong way. It seems that I am faced with either not being able to post photos on this blog (that'll never work) or shutting down this blog and starting over somewhere else (that just seems wrong). What to do, what to do. I guess I could use one of my other blog names that I have created (Driller's Place or Driller's Photos)but have never posted anything to. That would get me another couple of years of posting. If you've got any suggestions, I'm open to all ideas.

Friday Thoughts

Not much to say. If the rains don't come, I've got a major project to do outside this week end. I need to attach drain pipe to a couple of my downspouts and run them to the ravine on one side of the house. This is going to involve digging a trench around 50 feet long. It doesn't need to be very deep, but it does have to be hand dug. I'm not exactly looking forward to it. However, it will stop some excessive erosion that is currently happening. I guess I better go buy an extra bottle of ibuprophen. Something tells me I'm going to need it.

Let's see, what about a little inspirational music to wrap up the week. What to play, what to play. How about something a little different. Most of these entries are Southern Gospel in nature because I LOVE Southern Gospel. However, I also like Contemporary Christian music. Here is something from Chris Tomlin. If you were asked to describe God, what would be your answer? After much thought, I believe Chris has the answer. Considering all of the attributes of the Almighty, one must confess the He is "Indescribable". Enjoy.

Indescribable - Chris Tomlin

Wordless Wednesday

Have a Rough Night, Did Ya?

Ruby Tuesday

Our daughter presented these lovely begonias to her mother and my bride for Mother's Day. My first thought, "Get the camera, you've got a ready made Ruby Tuesday here.





As always, click to enlarge and enjoy.

Wedding Anniversary

Monday, May 11, my bride and I will celebrate thirty-five years of marriage. In honor of that event, here is what I posted last year at this time. I just changed the number of years. The secret is still the same.

May 11, 1974

So, What's The Secret - May 8, 2008

So what's the secret to being married for thirty-five years and looking forward to celebrating number fifty one day? All I can tell you is that our marriage is centered around our faith and that the message from God's Word is critical to the happiness that each of us enjoys.

First of all, God loves us and everything He does for us is for our benefit. He created the institution of marriage to be enjoyed by a man and a woman and to bring each of them happiness. The Bible tells us that God loved us so much that He gave His Son to die on a cross for us so that we might, through faith, have eternal live. Christ tells the husband that he is to love his wife with the same love that Christ loves the church and gave himself for that church (Ephesians 5:25). If I love my wife with that kind of love, then everything I do, I do because I love her and I want her to be happy. I want her to be pleased with this relationship. I want my Lord to be pleased with me as a man who loves his wife and realizes that his wife is a gift from God created especially for me and for my happiness.
Secondly, marriage is a partnership. Like any relationship, it takes work to maintain that relationship in peak condition. A happy marriage doesn't "just happen". Both of us are committed to the relationship and to each other because we love one another and it is our desire that our partner be happy in this relationship. No major decision in this relationship is made without prayer and conversation. God is not the author of confusion, therefore He will not give my wife a different answer to an issue than the one that He gives me. Again, God created the institution of marriage for our benefit, not for our demise.
Finally, I married a woman far better than I deserve. I thank my Lord and Savior for her every day. My wife is the most thoughtful, caring and giving person that I know. Proverbs 31:10-12 says, "An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." I have found that woman. Proverbs 31:25-30 further states, "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and teaching of kindness is on her toungue. She looks well to the ways of her houselold, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying: Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." I married such a woman.
So, back to the original question, "What's the Secret?" The answer is, you have to give yourself to the marriage. You have to give yourself to your spouse. Whatever you have within you, you have to "Give it Away."

The Red Green Show

For years, whenever my wife and I would travel to Branson, Missouri for a vacation I would always look forward to a special event. On Saturday nights, at 10:30, on PBS television was the Red-Green show. It was a cross between Hee Haw and Saturday Night Live. Some of the comedy was pure genius. I don't know if the show is still on or not, but here is a clip I found on YouTube for your enjoyment. Anytime you need a laugh, just head over to YouTube, do a Red Green Show search and take your pick. Like the guy says, if the women don't find you handsome, may they at least find you handy.




You can find more information at www.redgreen.com. I think I saw dvd's of the first three seasons at SAM's Club the other day. I just may have to purchase them.

Ruby Tuesday

The cream of the crop, a Z21 Ranger Comanche bass boat. You are looking at about $60,000 worth of fishing machine at a local boat dealer. It's 21 feet long and has 250 hp hanging off the back. This little jewel will run down the lake in excess of 80 mph! If money were no object (but it always is), this would be sitting at my house. As always, click to fill your screen with a Ruby Red accent stripe.

Just What We Need

From ESPN.com...

Tackling an issue sure to rouse sports fans, lawmakers pressed college football officials Friday on switching the Bowl Championship Series to a playoff, with one Texas Republican likening the current system to communism and joking it should be labeled "BS," not "BCS."


This is JUST what we need, Congress jerking around with the BCS! This is one Obama campaign promise that should have been left unkept. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a big fan of the current bowl system. If you're going to crown a national champion in any sport, there should be some sort of playoff, but the U.S. Congress is the LAST group that should be involved in establishing the rules. The results will be another 1100 page document that no one has read before they vote, it will cost eight hundred billion dollars to implement and will have Cal Poly playing Grambling for the national title. There will be money set aside to bail out schools that don't have large donors like the major schools. There will be revenue sharing to ensure that the small schools have an equal opportunity to recruit the best players and soccer, as well as Australian rules football will be included in the interest of equality. Nope, this is NOT a good idea. The system might be broken, but Congress is not the one needed to fix it.

Friday Thoughts: Take Me Out to The Ballgame

Soooo, this week has pretty much focused on the great American Pastime, baseball. Today we'll wrap up this unintended theme with a trip to the ballpark. Wednesday night Nana and I took The Big Guy to see a college baseball game between the Oklahoma Sooners, ranked No.9, and the Arkansas Razorbacks, ranked No. 12 in the country. The Razorbacks play in one of the nicest facilities in all of college baseball. The weather was absolutely perfect and a friend of mine got me seats just to the right of home plate! I'm an OU alumni and my grandson is a Razorback, so this was going to be fun. Every time the Sooners scored he would just look at me and roll his eyes. Every time the Razorbacks scored he would look at me and give me a double "thumbs up." The game went into extra innings and the Razorbacks prevailed 8-7. When the winning run crossed the plate, my grandson tapped me on the shoulder and said "Good game." Well, yes it was...it just didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. At any rate here are some photos of the evening.

There was a great crowd of over 8,000 on hand for the game. Like I said, we had great seats.

This field is manicured as well as any in the major leagues. Oh, did I mention that college baseball has cheerleaders? Well, they do. The grandson was NOT impressed, but then, he is the president of the local chapter of the He-man Woman Haters Club.

Nana and The Big Guy are discussing some of the finer points of the game. She's pointing out that these batters don't stick their tongues out when they swing the bat like he does in the header of this blog.

Here we are before the game started. We're both all smiles right now. At the end of the evening we were both still smiling. We had a wonderful night, the weather was perfect, and it was a great game.

Okay, now it's time for the inspirational song of the week. Here is Brian Free and Assurance singing Real Faith. Enjoy.

Thursday Thirteen

This Thursday I've combined two meme's. The first is Thursday Thirteen of course. The second is a modified meme that I saw over at Bond's Big Leather Couch. Write down the best opening lyrics of your favorite songs ever. It's supposed to be your own top ten list, but since this is Thursday, I added three more to make it my Thursday Thirteen. These are not necessarily listed in any particular order of preference. They're just thirteen of my favorites.

13. "If I was a gamblin' man, never would'a let you play your hand
with a broken down cowboy like me" Song: Broken Down Cowboy by John Fogerty

12. "Blame it all on my roots, I showed up in boots and ruined your black tie affair" Song: Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks

11. "Thanks, but no thanks, baby, I've already got more trouble than I need" Song: Honky Tonkin (I Guess I've Done Me Some) by Delbert McClinton

10. "Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner, but he knew it wouldn't last" Song: Get Back by The Beatles

9. "I get up in the evening, and I ain't got nothing to say" Song: Dancing in The Dark by Bruce Springsteen

8. "Well since she put me down, I've been out doin' in my head." Song: Help Me Rhonda by The Beach Boys

7. Bet you're wonderin' how I knew, about your plans to make me blue." Song: I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye or Creedence Clearwater Revival

6. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me" Song: Amazing Grace written by John Newton

5. "There is a house in New Orleans, they call the Rising Sun, and it's been the ruin of many a poor boy and God I know I'm one." Song: House of The Rising Sun by The Animals

4. "There's a peace I've come to know know, though my heart and flesh may fail." Song: I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin

3. "As I was motivatin' over the hill, saw Maybelline in a Coupe DeVille." Song: Maybelline by Chuck Berry

2. "Somewhere in Heaven there is a place waiting for your and me." Song: Somewhere In Heaven by Carlos Santana

1. "Wake up Maggie, I think I've got something to say to you." Song: Maggie Mae by Rod Stewart.

Wordless Wednesday

Son, there is no crying in baseball

Ruby Tuesday

A League of Her Own

The Boys of Summer

The Boys of Summer

Spring is in full bloom and Tee-Ball season has started. The son-in-law (first photo) is coaching and the grandson (last two photos) is playing. Here are a few images from last Saturday's contests.

Fun With PhotoShop Elements 7.0

As you can see from Wednesday's post, I do enjoy photography. Thank you to those of you who complimented me on my shots. Truth is, it's not that hard, at least not since the innovation of digital photography and PhotoShop Elements. Any good photo editing software will work, but I just happen to like PhotoShop Elements 7.0. It will do EVERYTHING the average photo hobbist could ever want and do it for $600 less that PhotoShop CS4. The key to any good photo is the subject and the composition of the photo. In sports photography, you don't get much of a chance to compose the photo. The action just happens and you have to shoot what you can and edit later. Here are a couple of examples.

While there is nothing wrong with this photo, your eye has a hard time trying to figure out what is important. The three players on the left keep drawing your eye to them while the action is actually happening on the right side of the frame. So...let's crop it.

Bang! Now there is no doubt where the action is and your focus is on the most important part of the game. Nothing was done here but a simple crop.

Again, there is nothing really wrong with this photo, but it has a little too much information in it. That player on the right is distracting and that goal in the background is not even a part of this game. So...let's crop it.

Bang! Again, we're focused on the important part of the game and the one on one match-ups that are often the heart and soul of this team sport. This photo is much more intense than the raw shot. Again, I did nothing but a simple crop.
So, what did we learn today. Buy a photo editing program. Take lots of photos. When you get home from a photo shoot, look for the photo within the photo. I guarantee there are some gems among your snapshots.

Okay, now it time for a little soul music, or should I say music for your soul. A brother and two sisters make up one of my favorite groups, The Martins. Here they are singing "I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever" Enjoy.

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever - The Martins


And here they are doing one of my absolute favorites. The song is commonly know as Doxology, but what I love is the family harmony of the Acapella performance. It is wonderful.

Doxology - The Martins

Thursday Thirteen

Alphabet Facts Part II

Here is the second half of the alphabet fun facts. If you want to see the first half, refer to last week's Thursday Thirteen.

N - Nickname: I've never had one.

O - Overnight Hospital Stay Other Than Birth: I had a cyst removed when I was 21.

P - Pet Peeve: People who believe that parking in the drive lanes of a parking lot is okay just because it's closer to the front door.

Q - Quote that you like: "I am the way the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus Christ

R - Righty or Lefty: Yes, I bat left handed and throw right handed. I also shoot a rifle and swing a golf club left handed. Everything else is done with the right hand.

S - Siblings: None. Yep, I'm it. One look at me and the folks decided "We're not doin' that again!"

T - Time You Wake Up: 0600

U - Useful tool: Smart phone. I just wish it was smart enough to teach me all that it can do.

V - Vegetable that you dislike: Turnips just stink!

X - X-rays You’ve Had: Knees, Chest

Y - Yummy Foods You Make: I can smoke a pork loin that will buckle your knees and make you slap your momma!

Z - Zodiac: Scorpio, just barely.

Wordless Wednesday

Spring Soccer Tournament in Tulsa

Ruby Tuesday

This past week-end we were in Tulsa for a soccer tournament. And what is more appropriate for a Ruby Tuesday, than having the oldest grand daughter (No. 17 in yellow) shoot the ball past the red clad goalie and into the net? Nothing is more appropriate, that's what. Use your clicker to make it bigger!

She shoots! She SCORES!!!

Friday's Thoughts

It's been an interesting week. It started with the worst part of my job, having to terminate someone due to poor performance. I want to see everyone succeed and I would like to see them succeed in our firm, so it just kills me to have to let some one go. I just hate it. There were many performance reviews that went very well, and for that I am thankful. The week will end on a good note.
We're taking the oldest grand daughter to Tulsa for a soccer tournament. That means I get to drag out the telephoto lens and practice my photography skills again. It also means you're going to have to suffer through more soccer pics next week.
It is weeks like this that make me thankful for my faith. It makes me thankful for uplifting music of the faith. I love the hymns of the faith and I love southern gospel as well as contemporary Christian music. Since I don't have anything else on my agenda, I'll share several examples with you. Stop by several times this week-end, pull up a chair, put on your headphones and enjoy the concert. Let me know which one you like. See ya next week. Enjoy.


Gaither Vocal Band - Yes, I Know


Jerusalem - The Hoppers


Holy Highway -Gaither Vocal Band/Signature Sound Quartet

Days of Elijah - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir


The simplest and one of the nicest arrangements I have ever heard...
Amazing Grace - Randy Travis

Thursday Thirteen

Alphabet Facts:

Here is a meme that is supposed to be played on your birthday, but I'm going to do it now...well half of it anyway. For each letter of the alphabet you reveal a fun fact about yourself. Here are the first thirteen.

A - Age: Let's just say that I qualified for Social Security last November.

B - Bed size: King

C - Chore You Hate: Doing semi-annual performance reviews for 80 staff members.

D – Dad’s Name: John

E - Essential Start Your Day Item: Personal laptop. I even use it like an MP3 player at the office. I plug it in to a pair of speaker with a sub-woofer and I can rock the office if I'm of a mind to do so.

F - Favorite Actors: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts

G - Gold or Silver: Gold

H - Height: 6'

I - Instrument(s) you play: In high school I played the clarinet, but never very well.

J - Job Title: Director of Architecture

K - Kid(s): One daughter, but we have four grand crew that are more than enough fun.

L - Likes: Ice cream, almost any flavor

M - Mom’s Name: Frances

Okay, that's my thirteen fun facts. Now it's your turn. Come back next week for the second half of the alphabet.

Wordless Wednesday

Local chapter of the "He-man Woman Haters Club"

Ruby Tuesday

This is NOT my boat and I didn't take this picture. So why is it posted for my Ruby Tuesday? Well, by the end of this year I intend to have one just like it. I haven't owned a boat in seven years and I am tired of fishing off of the bank. I want to take the grand crew fishing. I want to spend some quality quiet time on the water. So, this is a preview of things to come. It will probably be October or November before I make the plunge. That's when the new models come out and they begin to discount the current inventory. See you on the water!

8+9=89!

There were two birthdays in the house this week-end. The middle grand daughter celebrated her ninth birthday, while my father celebrated number eighty-nine.

First we lit the 9 and let "M" blow out her candle.

Then, we lit the 8 and the 9 and let dad blow out his candles!

Oh yeah, It was Easter Sunday, so there was an opportunity for a family photo of the grand crew and their great grandpa. Papa got changed out of his Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes and into his comfy clothes before we could get the pictures taken. It was cold and rainy all day, so there was no Easter egg hunting in the back yard this year. However, since we always end the hunt by throwing the Easter eggs into the trees behind the house, the kids did take all of the colored eggs out back and toss them at the trees and into the ravine. Some traditions are just too much fun to let a little weather spoil. All in all, it was a good day.

Happy Keester!

Ruby Tuesday

That's the oldest grand daughter standing next to the "Ruby Red Ref". She's preparing to come into the match.
If you want to know more about the opening of soccer season, just scroll down to the next post.

Game On!!!

The turf isn't green yet, but spring is in the air and soccer season has started. The oldest grand daughter (No. 17) is playing in an Under 13 traveling league. This past week-end their club hosted a tournament and the fields are only three miles from our house. So, there were several photo opportunities.

This is also the first opportunity I've had to pull out the 50-500mm telephoto lens and try it out. This team shot is taken from across the field and then cropped. That soccer ball in the first photo was sitting at mid-field awaiting the start of the second half. I think I'm liking this lens a lot!!

We lost the first match 2-1. As you can see, No. 17 in yellow, is not shy about getting to the ball. It's gonna get better during the second game.

Thank you very much, but that ball belongs to me! Now where is that goalie? I'm also liking our black uniforms. We won the second match 3-1.

The ball got just a little too far out in front of "Scooter" on this break away and the goalie got to it first. There was about a 25mph wind coming from her back. Maybe next time. Oh, I forgot, I'm not supposed to call her "Scooter" any more. I'm gonna have a hard time breaking that habit.

Like I said before, that ball belongs to me! Now, I need to find a team mate before more red jerseys show up.

Uh oh, more red jerseys. Okay, time to give this up to another team mate. Why do I always draw such a crowd. She got a couple of shots on goal today but nothing went it the net. I think it's going to be a good season. In two weeks we travel to Tulsa for another tournament. That's great, because my dad lives in Tulsa and he will get to see his great grand daughter play. Yep, I'm gonna like this lens a lot when I learn how to use it properly.

There was a game Sunday. We lost 1-0 and that kept us out of the championship match. However, since the temperature had dropped to 40 degrees and the wind was still blowing 25 mph out of the North, no one was terribly upset about not playing another match.

Friday Thoughts

Spring has sprung. Soccer season begins Saturday for the thirteen year old grand daughter. The following Saturday TeeBall starts for The Big Guy. Easter is just around the corner. My father's 89th birthday is next week. The middle grand daughter will be nine years old the following week.
April is gonna be busy. It looks like there will be plenty of photo opportunities and even a chance to use that new telephoto lens I bought last winter.

It is Friday, so it's time for a little inspirational music. I have chosen an upbeat number from Crabb Revival. Enjoy.

Runaway Train - Crabb Revival

Ruby Tuesday

This young lady will be nine years old in a couple of weeks. She's 19 months old in this photo. Looks to me like she's been over to Vinnie Bond's food blog for dinner. M-m-m-m good!
What did she have? Read the recipe "Shankopotamus"!

Friday Thoughts

Wednesday my bride left for a road trip with a couple of her friends and that leaves me Home Alone, which is never good. Well, I won't starve, that's for sure. I'm no Emeril or Bobby Flay, but I can fend for myself. During my lunch hour Wednesday I stopped by the local butcher shop and picked up a NY strip steak, some worchestershire sause, and montreal seasoning. I got a plastic freezer bag and did a little food prep when I got back to the office. The steak marinated for about 6 hours prior to tossing it on the grill. Buy a little salad-in-a-bag and you've got a decent meal.
Thursday night I was in full Home Alone mode. Turn on the TV, watch rubbish and eat junk...kind of. While I had the grill fired up Wednesday night, I tossed some boneless chicken tenders on. I basted them with EVOO, a little soy sauce, and Italian Herb seasoning. And now, for the rest of the recipe.

The key here is to keep it simple. I started with the grilled chicken tenders, a bag of salad, a bag of spinich, and a bag of frozen, microwavable veggies. Nuke the veggies first according to the directions. Then pop the chicken tenders into the microwave for a couple of minutes. While the chicken is heating, add some of the baby spinich leaves to the salad. Slice a few more carrots, add a couple of grape tomatos and then chunk the chicken when it comes out of the microwave. Add your favorite salad dressing. It's a meal in five minutes.

There ya go. Not bad, and it's pretty tasty. Now for the dessert course.

If you haven't tried this, stop what you're doing, go straight to the store and buy a half gallon. Notice that it says "Limited Edition" so it won't be around long. It tastes just like the cookies. This is not gonna last long around my house. In fact, it will probably be gone before my bride returns.
So, now I'm watching American Idol, next is NCAA basketball, and I have no idea what I'll watch after that, maybe a Jason Bourne movie. Watching rubbish and eating junk...Home Alone!!!

Okay, it is Friday, so we have to find an inspirational song to finish the week.
I could have sworn that I posted this song recently, but I don't see it when I go back through the archives. At any rate here is the thought.

^13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen ²asleep, lest you sorrow ^tas others ^uwho have no hope. ^14 For ^vif we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him ^wthose who ³sleep in Jesus.

^15 For this we say to you ^xby the word of the Lord, that ^ywe who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are ⁴asleep. ^16 For ^zthe Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with ^athe trumpet of God. ^bAnd the dead in Christ will rise first. ^17 ^cThen we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them ^din the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus ^ewe shall always be with the Lord. ^18 ^fTherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

There will come a day when I will step into eternity. There will come a day when friends and relatives will gather around a grave to place my remains in the ground. I face the future with the calm assurance that when that day comes, Jesus will call my name and I will rise!


I will Rise - Chris Tomlin