December 2015 – Random Connections

2016 RandomConnections Calendar

December 26, 2015December 1, 2015 Tom No Comments

Photography

It’s that time of year. Once again I’ve put together a calendar for family and friends featuring photographs from previous years. In 2015 I did LOTS of traveling, and these photographs reflect those adventures, from Ireland to the Florida Keys to spots all around South Carolina. In years past I’ve done a blog post describing … Read More “2016 RandomConnections Calendar” »

Christmas Eve Kayaking and Full Moon

December 24, 2015 Tom No Comments

Family, Paddling, Photography, Travel

It’s hard to believe that Christmas has rolled around again. Earlier in the week we made the trek down to Laura’s sister’s house in Florida so that we could spend the holiday with Amy and their mother. It was hot, but so far we’ve had a good time.

The Hype Awakens

December 23, 2015December 23, 2015 Tom No Comments

Entertainment

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past six months, everyone knows that the latest movie in the Star Wars series opened last week. To say there was been hype would be a HUGE understatement. Coming out before Christmas, just about all of the stores were stocked with movie merchandise, and there were lots of advertising tie-ins.

The problem, of course, is that a movie might not live up to the hype. It could be as bad as, say, the Phantom Menace. Many fans were holding their breath, me being one of them. Despite the hype, bad things could happen.

Birthday Banjo

December 15, 2015December 15, 2015 Tom No Comments

Miscellaneous, Music

I’ve made one more pass around old Sol. Laura says that this is an auspicious birthday because my age is divisible by both five and eleven, two of her favorite numbers. Last year was complicated by family matters, so I spent the day by myself climbing a mountain. This year was complicated by singing engagements, … Read More “Birthday Banjo” »

The Mills of the Pacolet River Basin – Part Two, Converse to Pacolet

December 14, 2015 Tom No Comments

Local, Photography, Rambling

I’d been out and about, exploring a couple of historic mill locations. So far I’d spent most of my time at Glendale Shoals, but I was eager to see more. The rest of the day was spent exploring along the banks of the Pacolet river proper, through the mill villages of Converse, Clifton, and Pacolet.

The Doctor in Dillards

December 10, 2015December 10, 2015 Tom No Comments

Local, Miscellaneous

I’ve got several singing gigs this holiday season, and my performance wardrobe was in dire need of an update. I had already gotten a new tuxedo, and now I was after a red sweater vest for the informal holiday gigs. That’s how I found myself in Dillards talking with one of the most fascinating people I’ve met in a long time.

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The Mills of the Pacolet River Basin – Part One, Glendale

December 10, 2015December 10, 2015 Tom 14 Comments

History and Genealogy, Local, Photography, Rambling

I have a confession. When things get chaotic I have occasional bouts of depression. One of the best ways to combat this is to get away from the house and start exploring. Such was the case Tuesday of this past week. I needed out of the house. I wasn’t sure where I was headed, but preferably somewhere interesting where I could take some photos. I headed east. It was familiar territory, and places I had already visited and photographed, but even familiar ground can yield new discoveries. My explorations took me across Spartanburg County and to the mills along the Pacolet River Basin – Glendale, Clifton, and Pacolet itself, with a couple of outliers thrown in for good measure.

Greenville Poinsett Christmas Parade 2015

December 7, 2015 Tom 1 Comment

Family, Local, Photography

I have distinct memories of Christmas parades when I was growing up in Laurens County. Parade units would assemble on Fleming Street and march around the square. We would usually take up our spots on the corner in front of the old Winn Dixie. The smells of cigarette smoke entwined with sugary cotton candy pervaded the air. I remember the vendors – piles of inflatable crap, some related to Christmas, and some not. These came only with the aforementioned cotton candy, as well as other goodies such as candied apples.

So, with these memories, Laura and I headed out to meet Chip and Anna to enjoy watching the Greenville Christmas Parade with their little ones.

Thanksgiving Wrap-up

December 3, 2015 Tom 3 Comments

Family, Photography, Travel

Wow. November is gone, and now we’re on our way into December. The depth of my writer’s block increases. I’ve only made two posts all this month, and one of those was a copy-and-paste job. Maybe I’ll get out of this slump, but we’ll have to see.

I think I’ve realized that I don’t have to write a documentary-styled, viral-ready article for every post. This blog used to be just that – a blog of the random stuff I encountered. I decided to get back to that, just so that I’m writing again on a regular basis. So, expect more of the mundane, with an occasional gem sprinkled in. In that vein, I’m starting with Thanksgiving, even though it was exactly a week ago as of this writing.

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