A collection of photography and exploration focusing on Upstate South Carolina and beyond.
Ah, the Dog Days of Summer. So named from ancient Roman times, not because of the languid outlook of canines, but because of a star. This time of year, Sirius, the Dog Star, rises about the same time as the sun. It was thought that that this combination of stellar bodies was responsible for the … Read More “But Siriusly, Folks” »
As I was checking the stats for this site I came across a couple of curious links. As it turns out, my brother Stephen and his daughter Lauren have both started their own blogs, and had linked to mine. I guess I’ll have to return the favor. Lauren’s blog is Constantly Colliding. Stephen had started … Read More “Welcome to the Blogosphere” »
Sounds like a prizefight – kind of like the "Thrilla in Manilla." In a sense, that’s not a bad description. Most of Mahler’s Second Symphony is a struggle, between despair and hope, musical motifs, and extreme dynamic ranges. I left early to make the drive up and over the mountains to Brevard. I was unsure … Read More “Mahler in Brevard” »
Each year the Furman Summer Indergraduate Research Program has an Ironman/Ironwoman competition. There are the typical track and field vents, but there are some that those of us who are less athletically inclined can master. These include table tennis, bowling, darts, and horseshoes. Last night we had the darts and horseshoe competition at the Hanks/Veas … Read More “Darts and Horseshoes” »
I think I can safely say, without giving away any spoilers, that the overriding theme of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows deals with Harry’s coming to terms with his own mortality. Those lessons have hit home in numerous ways this week. First there are the subtle, constant reminders of the unrelenting passage of time … Read More “Bereite dich zu leben!” »
This morning I learned of the passing of a friend – Steve Pace. Steve was a fellow singer, who performed with us for years with both the Greenville Chorale and the Chorale Chamber Ensemble. Last February during one of our rehearsals, we received word that he had suffered an embolism. We were later to learn … Read More “In Memorium – Steve Pace” »
The photograph above is part of a display we keep in our house from our year in Arizona. I carved the fake kokopelli petroglyph as well as the Native American Flute. The year was 1991. Laura was on sabbatical from Furman and had an opportunity to do research at the University of Arizona. I quit … Read More “Native American Flutes” »
Brian Goess has a quest. Brian’s goal is to cook every recipe in the magazine Cook’s Illustrated. Occasionally, he brings along others to share in the triumphs and tragedies. Tonight was the second of our dinner-and-a-movie ventures with Furman connections. Several of the chemistry faculty gathered to try the Cook’s Illustrated version of easy gyros. … Read More “Dinner and a Movie – Part Two” »
No, I’m not talking about that paint-by-numbers buffoon Thomas Kincaid. I’m talking about a true master – Andrew Wyeth. The Greenville County Museum of Art has been featuring an exhibition entitled "Wyeth at 90." This collection includes highlights from each decade of Wyeth’s career. Laura and I made our visit on this rainy Saturday afternoon. … Read More “Painter of Light” »
At least once during the summer we have Laura’s research group over for dinner and a movie. Since Laura is doing a collaborative project with one of her colleagues, this year the group has doubled. We grilled burgers and let the kids select a movie from our DVD collection. Each year Beloit College presents it’s … Read More “Dinner and a Movie – Part One” »