WrittenPost: June 2018

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Switzerland - I ... (Vacation 2018)

OK, so we started in Rome, traveled to Venice by train, and then continued to Zermatt,
where we would catch the Glacier Express.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

This is in Brig. We needed to wait a few minutes as we transferred from the "normal" train to the more "mountain train" that travels from Brig up to the ski village of Zermatt.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Of course, Zermatt is the home of The Matterhorn. By luck, we arrived on the weekend that the ski slopes were shutting down for summer. There were only 2 couples at the hotel, so they upgraded us to a beautiful double-size room, with this view from the balcony !!

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

The next morning we boarded the Glacier Express in Zermatt, The special train is very nice, huge (clean) windows, and wonderful scenery all the way.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

We had terrific luck with weather...beautiful !!

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

So many wonderfully craggy mountains...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...and glaciers of course...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...beautiful

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

As we neared the highest point of our trip, we climbed steeply enough that the train engaged a "cog" (a gear and rack device that makes sure we have enough traction, and don't slip back down the mountain)...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

From Zermatt to Brig to Chur, the Glacier Express is very cool.
Y'all go check it out !
- Mark

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Luther H. Dunegan, 1938-2018 ... (Brenda's dad)

Luther H. Dunegan, c. 1956

Luther H. Dunegan, Jr., 79, breathed his last on Friday morning, 15-June-2018. He was where he wanted to be: in the comfort of his own home, in the warm care of his family.

He was born 15-August-1938 in Muskogee, Oklahoma and attended Muskogee High School. He married Miss Josephine Redeagle on 28-December-1956. Luther served his country in the U. S. Army from 1956 to 1965, in the reserves and on active duty.

He rode camels while stationed in Ethiopia, and was stationed in eastern France when his first daughter, Brenda, was born. The family moved to Houston in the early 1970’s. Luther was a member of Westside Fellowship Church where he enjoyed teaching Sunday School. He devoted his life to his wife and family.

Luther is survived by wife Josephine, daughters Brenda, Deanne and Betsy, two sons-in-law, Billy and Mark, four grand-children William, Rebecca, Joanne and Charles, one grand-daughter-in-law, Kim, and one great-grand-daughter, Riley, and his brothers John and Robert and sister Tish.

If you would like to drop Brenda a line, you can at bslaughlin1020@gmail.com.

Thanks and y'all take care,

- Mark

Sunday, June 3, 2018

Venice I ... (Vacation 2018)

Venice was very nice.
I expected April to be a bit cooler...it was pretty warm and humid, but bearable.

One thing I found a bit difficult, was catching the light reaching down into the narrow canals (pretty easy to catch it on one side, but hard to get both).

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

I had very little pre-knowledge of Venice. Found it quite cool to have not only the larger canals, but also the miles of narrow, tiny canals between houses, and the many, many small bridges.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Easier to catch good light on the wider canals.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Lots and lots of bars and restaurants that open as the sun goes down.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Different light when out for a pre-dawn walk.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

In the pre-dawn, you see the secret to getting all things done in Venice. In the early morning, before tourists clog the sidewalks and the canals, hundreds of narrow boats, each with a small lift-crane, venture up and down every canal, collecting garbage, delivering food to restaurants, picking up hotel laundry, handling everything that needs to get into and out of the city.