WrittenPost

Sunday, July 7, 2013

The 4th of July !!...Galveston, Texas

To get to Galveston Island from Houston, you drive South about an hour, to the Gulf of Mexico. It's a coastal barrier island, connected to the mainland by a ferry and two bridges, close enough to Houston for day-trips to the beach, or weekends away from home.

Arriving the afternoon of July 4th, our Independence Day, our goal was to see the beach-front fireworks. So, we took up a position on the upper deck of the 61st Street Fishing Pier, with a nice unobstructed view of the island, and a steady cool breeze.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Off to our left was the western end of the island...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

And far to the right was the Pleasure Pier, with it's high Ferris wheel, roller coaster and other rides, restaurants and attractions.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

The fireworks were based on the beach, not far west of the pleasure pier. We were a bit far away for optimum viewing, but we wanted to make sure we were far enough that the loud booms wouldn't scare our little grand-daughter.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

As it turned out, it was a pretty nice viewing point,

with the fireworks reflecting off the waters of the Gulf.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

The next day we headed over to Moody Gardens, a complex with several attractions, including a very nice aquarium, with penguins...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...and a paddle-wheel boat...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...and a tropical rainforest enclosure with butterflies...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...and interesting looking birds, bats, and other small animals.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Then in the later afternoon, we boarded the paddle wheel boat to cruise around before another round of fireworks. Of course, as I'm looking at the pyrotechnic set-up, on the dock, right next to the boat, I'm wondering about the wisdom of the arrangement (just the night before, somewhere in the US, fireworks had shot off horizontally into a crown, injuring 2 or 3 dozen...).

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

The pyramids are the aquarium, the rainforest and the other main components of Moody Gardens. Several local private boats came and anchored in front, also waiting on the fireworks show.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Unfortunately, the situation was not exactly as advertised. Instead of completing the trip in time for us to watch fireworks from the beach, we found (after we had already sailed) that the boat intended to be on the bay when the fireworks would be going off. This made perfect sense, given that the fireworks were right on the dock...but they had not communicated to us that we would be staying out on the boat until all was over...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Then, there was a technical problem which delayed the start of the fireworks for about an hour and twenty minutes...while we were gently cruising around on the bay (...trying to make "dinner" out of the snack foods available on the boat...). So even though we finally saw them, we were at that point, fairly far away. Oh well, we'll know better next year.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

But, all in all, a very pleasant weekend.

The weather cooperated, and I think we all had a good time.

I hope everyone had a Happy July 4th !!

Take care,

-Mark W. Laughlin

Monday, July 1, 2013

Reader for PC and Mac

Hello,

Some of you may have had trouble downloading copies of The Trail of the Fox.

Amazon has it for Kindle, Barnes & Noble has it for Nook, but you can also download a "reader" that lets you read the book on a PC or a Mac, This web site has links for multiple reader devices, and what looks like good instructions for downloading.

https://ebookstore.sony.com/download/

http://ebooks.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/288/

If you have trouble, just let me know.

Thanks again !!

- Mark

http://writtenpost.blogspot.com/p/the-trail-of-fox.html

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Saturday, June 29, 2013

4,000 Visits !!!

Howdy Gang,

Well, today WrittenPost reached 4,000 site visits since it began in February 2011 !!

The number of people I “announce to” when I post has now reached around 75, but visits are ranging around 300 per month, so many of you visit more than once a month, plus there are several ”Followers” around the world who tune in too.

Thank you for all your support !!

Followers: Send me an e-mail and introduce yourself. We’d love to hear from you !

Y’all Take care !!

- Mark

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

I passed by Mt. Saint Helens last week (the peak over to the right of the photo). In 1980, pressure welled up in the volcano, causing the north flank to expand. On May 18, 1980, a huge landslide reduced the height of the mountain by 1300 feet, basically "un-corking" the volcano in a massive explosion that blew out the Northern face of the mountain.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

The clouds weren't cooperating fully, but you can make out the missing portion of the mountain (the area lit by the sun in the photo).

-ML

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Posting Comments

Friends,

For those of you that have read The Trail of the Fox, please take a minute and leave a Comment/Review in the Comment Section at the bottom of the Trail “page”. These can be any length you like, from a single word to a paragraph. No need to sweat over it…just put a few of your own words.

These comments help others make up their minds to( hopefully) buy the eBook ! So, please take a moment, click on this link, and do it:

http://writtenpost.blogspot.com/p/the-trail-of-fox.html

Thanks to all and take care !

- Mark

…and for those to whom it applies…Happy Father’s Day !!!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Little Girl

While in Hiroshima in 2010, I stayed at a hotel not far from the train station. On the day I arrived, I dropped off my bags and headed off in the direction of Hiroshima Castle.

Photo my Mark W. Laughlin

The Tower at Hiroshima Castle.

The next morning, still rung out from my visit to the Atomic Bomb museum, I slept late. I ate breakfast and prepared to head back to the station to catch a mid-day Shinkansen train to Osaka. After I packed my things and prepared to move out, I took a moment to sit by my 10th Floor window, and gaze out at Hiroshima.

Looking down and across the street, I noticed that the roof of a two story building was painted green. Studying for a moment, I figured out that the building was a Day Care Center, and that the roof was the playground. Not so surprising in a place like Japan where real estate is at a premium. All around the edge was a high chain-link fence, and there were Jungle-Gyms and other climbing structures scattered around. It had taken a while to figure out what I was looking at because at that late morning hour, none of the kids were out playing.

But as I rested and looked out, I noticed a few kids begin to come out and spread around the roof-top play area. Off to the side was an arching set of climbing bars with some heavy pads on the deck underneath it. A little girl stepped in under the arch and raised her arms, with a jump she was able to reach up and grab the bars over her head. She was small, maybe 4 or 5 years old. As I watched, she picked up her feet, bent her knees, and while hanging upside down, put her knees up through her arms as she flipped over backwards, finally letting go of the bars as her feet came down toward the ground.

A “knees-through-the-arms” back-flip! Over and over she did it, feet plopping down on the mats, quickly steadying herself, then jumping up again to grab the bars. Over and over again, pigtails twirling, celebrating her new trick. I don’t speak Japanese, but I’m pretty sure when her mom came to pick her up that day, she was met with “Mommy, come see !”

- M. W. Laughlin

Photo my Mark W. Laughlin

Castle Entrance.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Trying.

I got an e-mail this morning from my friend Victor. He was replying to one I sent yesterday, asking how he’s doing, what he’s up to. He answered in part, “…trying to be the best father I can to my two little girls…” That statement clicked in my head.

Constantly looking for the best route, always trying to determine the best actions, to achieve success. Evaluating, adjusting, improving. I think that applies solidly to anyone who desires to be a good father. I think it also applies to soldiering. That may explain Victor’s success during his tours in Iraq.

As Victor put it back then, “…I roll with the Commander…” He went out with his Colonel, to provide security where the commander would be operating. That particular Colonel was not a fight-the-battle-from-the-command-post kind of officer. He was out there in the field, with his people, always. That mode of operation demands effective security and the leader won’t select a guy to provide security who is willing to earn a “B-“ for his work!

On a trip to the west coast a couple of years ago, I met and had dinner with Victor. As we finished, he said, “Well, I gotta’ run. One of my buddies (one of the guys from his unit in Iraq) is having a few issues (post-tour, trying to re-start his life issues), and I need to go and make sure he’s ok.” There Victor was, nursing a serious wound to his hand, courtesy of a Jihadi sniper, and instead of needing people to take care of him, he was taking care of his buddies.

When my own son’s daughter was born, I told him that I was really proud of the way he has stepped into the role of “father”. I’ve told him that several times since, and now I would like to say the same to Victor. “…trying to be the best father I can to my two little girls…” Es un objetivo excelente…an excellent goal. Estoy muy orgulloso de ti también, mi amigo. (for the gringos: “I am very proud of you too, my friend.”) In a couple of weeks, as Father’s Day rolls around, think about that.

Y’all take care.

- Mark

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Nice Flight !!

I had a chance to fly on the new
Boeing 787 Dreamliner this week,
Houston to Chicago. Pretty cool.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Unfortunately, I didn't have good opportunities to photograph the plane much, had to get on board and go. But I got a couple, and took a few out of the new windows.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Our flight took off just after dawn. I love flying at that time of day. Actually, I love being up and watching the sun come up. I always feel like I'm participating in something wonderful, and that everybody else is missing out.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Actually, I enjoy sitting by a window whenever I can.

Any time that there is something to see,

you'll find me staring out,

studying the items on the ground, checking out the clouds...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

So, the new windows...

They are larger than typical aircraft windows, maybe as much as twice the surface area. There is no "shade" to pull down. There is only a toggle switch below each window so you can "dim" or "lighten" the light coming through. And since they are electronic, the crew can control them all at the same time when needed.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

It isn't opaque, and nothing interferes with your view...
...it just turns blue, until it looks like you are looking through clear, blue cellophane.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Even with the sun shining right in on me, it was quite comfortable sitting and looking out. The only thing I wondered about, was long cross-ocean flights, when everybody is trying to sleep, because this is about as dark as it gets...not nearly as dark as typical shades.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

So, as far as I could tell, the "battery issues" are under control and the 787 is finally flying regularly in the USA. Go check it out.

Take care,

- Mark W. Laughlin

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Herrankukkaro, Western Finland

This week, I had a very nice trip to Finland. I started coming here in 1984, and have returned more or less annually since. But never had I spent time in such an outdoor-oriented place as Herrankukkaro, which is a small spa-resort near the south-western coast of Finland.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Day 1 started quite sunny and cool (one shouldn't be surprised by "cool" in Finland)...

...as we gathered for a cup of tea before we began our meetings.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Originally a farm, it's a very country-like place, with a history going back to the 1930's.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

What looks like a lake is really an inlet to the sea,

which explains the strong nautical theme of the place.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

So, after meetings, we gathered under a sheltered area to cook some starters,

and of course drink some beer and wine.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Nice bird...

...but completely unimpressed with our cooking abilities.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

"Nailing" a large trout filet to a plank, with wooden pegs,

then rubbing down (the fish) with olive oil and spices.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

While the fish cooked, we warmed sausages over an open fire. Lucky for us, the area was covered, because the weather turned to a rather typical rainy, cloudy and cold Finnish day.