Observations From Hadleyville: DC AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Saturday, October 13, 2007

DC AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Two summers ago, Karen and I were privileged to spend a month visiting in the Nation's capitol. The former treasurer from my church was doing time in the pentagon and we stayed with her while touring the area. We really had a great time apart from the humidity. As a nearly life-long Westerner I tire quickly of humidity and precipitation. At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier an ambulance took someone away because of heat exhaustion. (doubtless a fellow low-humidifite)

Tonight, while browsing through "My Pictures," I relived our trip. We'd like to go sometime in the fall or spring just to see what all the fuss is about.

Here's a couple shots for you... the first is an inscription in the National Cathedral. The second is a painting by a former church member, hanging in the Capitol Building. The third is Karen and I sitting in George Washington's family Pew in Alexandria. And the fourth us is watching the Beach Boys on the Capitol lawn on July 4th.

1 comment:

Eric said...: The cherry blossoms are very beautiful in spring, but hard to time. I traveled enough on business for a couple of years to get lucky once. The weather is better in fall and spring.; October 16, 2007 at 11:24 AM

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WORDS OF WISDOM FOR WRITERS

The secret of becoming a writer is that you have to write. You have to write a lot. You also have to finish what you write, even though no one wants it yet. If you don't learn to finish your work, no one will ever want to see it. The biggest mistake new writers make is carrying around copies of unfinished work to inflict on their friends.

I am sure it has been done with less, but you should be prepared to write and throw away a million words of finished material. By finished, I mean completed, done, ready to submit, and written as well as you know how at the time you wrote it.
-Jerry Pournelle

WHAT'S THIS HADLEYVILLE THING?

Those of you familiar with Mark Twain’s works might recognize my blog title. As Samuel Clemons grew older, he became increasingly disillusioned with humanity. Towards the end he began referring to the Damned Human Race; employing the secular and religious epithet at one stroke.

I find I’ve not reached that level of despair myself. I still believe in redemption and I still see signs of nobility even among we fallen, damned creatures. So, I could not bring myself to call this blog “On the Damned Human Race.” I do however, resonate with another of Clemmons stories; “The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg.” And viola, there you have it. “Observations From Hadleyville.”