An Interesting Update

Walter's prediction from back in October has come to pass. See column 3 of today's Drudge Report - "Gynecologist to treat more men..." Be sure to read his original musings.

Snow Day Here in Richmond

Enough of the fluffy white stuff has fallen along with the temperatures to shutdown the schools and a large number of business.

We've got a 'dry' snow here which isn't very good for making snowmen or snowballs, so I guess we will have to wait for the next one (hopefully next year) for any snowmen to appear.

Everyone stay safe out there and stay warm!

Happy 8th Birthday!!

Lexington!

Having started the new year off sick, I spent most of my time focused on getting well in order to attend the festivities in Lexington, VA for Lee-Jackson Day. I was successful in getting better and am thrilled to have made it!

Friday morning began with a gathering at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery and then off to the streets of Lexington. Flagging activities for the afternoon wrapped up with a group photo and singing Dixie at the Mayor's house.

Friday Flagging in Lexington

Saturday's event's kicked off at the memorial service at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery. Followed by a parade down Main Street in Lexington to the Lee Chapel. The Virginia Flaggers marched as the third unit in the parade. They numbers approximately 75, although some of their members were also participating in other units. It was a beautiful sight as all of those Confederate flags were carried along the parade route.

Lee-Jackson Parade Photos

Following a service at the Lee Chapel, the Virginia Flaggers moved to the parade grounds at VMI, where a 22' x 30' Confederate Battle Flag was unfurled and Dixie was sung. Much to the delight of all  many new voices were added as many of the Keydets joined in. The reverbrating Rebel Yell at the end of the song was enough to give you chills.

A very chilly afternoon of flagging followed lunch. Those that were on Main Street had come from far and wide. Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina and from all around Virginia. 

It was a spectacular weekend!

Christmas Flashback

As I uploaded my previous blog post today, Google surprised me with this little enhancement.

Catching Up 2013

I have been so terribly neglectful of my blog. That is not to say I haven't been busy, I just have been so busy posting and sharing all kinds of things on Facebook that I had not updated this site. That being said, I guess a review of whats been going on is order to bring things up to date.

2013

September started off with a quick trip to Lake Mattamuskeet, NC for the Labor Day weekend. A wonderfully leisurely way to end the summer.

The rest of the month I was very busy working with the Virginia Flaggers. I have been their Official Photographer for some time now and they are a very busy group. Flagging twice weekly at the VMFA and their unfurling of the I-95 Battle Flag at the end of September. My weekends were hopping. 

The BIGGEST event of the month was the Unveiling of the I-95 Battle Flag that was to raised at the end of the month. The Virginia Flaggers unveiled the Battle Flag on the steps of the Virginia State Capital - even taking time to singing Dixie, which reverberated off the buildings surrounding the Capital building.

Not only was I shooting photos, I was busy at work doing a few creative projects with them. I had a little fun with the LOVE sign that was in from of the VMFA, making a couple of changes that were fitting for the weekend. 

In addition to the I-95 Battle Flag Dedication and Raising Photos, I also created a commemorative book for the weekend AND a 2012-2013 VA Flagger Yearbook. 

I was honored to have several of my photos used in a new brochure for the Henricus Historical Park. 

The month really was jammed packed and loaded with fun with the Virginia Flaggers. There are tons of photos over on Judy Smith Photography on Facebook of the month's activities.

October

I did manage to make another road trip down to the Outer Banks for some relaxation and to shoot a few photos.

Manteo NC Photos 1

Manteo NC Photos 2

I was still keeping busy with the Virginia Flaggers, but things slightly slowed down for me in October. But as you know when one things slows down another picks up.

We had a bit of fun at the office on Halloween - we all dressed up and had fun posing for pictures with some of the patients.

November

I think by this time, just about everyone that knows me, knows that Bounce gets a trip to Hardee's just about every Sunday morning for his treat of the week. A sausage biscuit and gravy. Here is a shot of him sitting in the backseat of the car waiting for "his turn" at the drive-thru window. He just loves his sausage biscuit & gravy.

I hitched a ride with Barry to Raleigh to attend the Flag Re-Dedication Ceremony at the North Carolina Museum of History. We finished up the day by joining a fellow flagger in flagging  the NC State Capital. It is amazing the people you meet - we were joined at different times - by a groups from Italy and China! International Flagging!

Raleigh Road Trip & Flagging Photos

Meanwhile our the Virginia Flaggers enjoyed some beautiful weather, followed immediately by frosty conditions. While shooting the photo to the left - I was "fussed" at for not being dressed warmly enough to suit everyone. (I did go and purchase a heavier winter coat a few days later, but by the time that I had made the purchase the temperatures had risen to comfortable levels).

Through all the wacky weather the Virginia Flaggers maintained a presence at the VMFA and the Museum of the Confederacy in addition to attending Veteran's Day Memorial Services.

By the end of November I was beginning to get a good feel of the road driving back and forth to North Carolina. It was nice to watch the changes in the country side over the weeks.

North Carolina 1 &  North Carolina 2

I had a great Thanksgiving at Mom & Dad's house. It was one of our better Thanksgiving's. I do believe that everyone had a great time.

December

I feel like I was going somewhere just about every weekend. I was all prepared to shoot the Mechanicsville Christmas Parade the first weekend in December only to have the event called due to rain (there was no rain date). So in lieu of doing that I joined several others for a "quick" Flagger Road Trip to Sharpsburg, MD to assist in setting up luminaries on the battle field.

Now talk about a COLD day. I was SO GLAD that I had that heavy winter coat. It would have been brutal without it.

Driving through the battlefield at night and realizing that each of the luminaries represented a fallen soldier truly gives an idea of how terrible the losses were there.

The trip to Sharpsburg had started very early in the morning and we did not return back home until nearly 10:30 p.m., but my day wasn't over. It was time for me to head off to a Christmas party! Needless to say I didn't arrive until nearly 11pm, but it was a great. I ended up to the end of the get together. Finally falling into bed after 2 am!!

The Christmas season hit full force with parties and outings. The office had our annual get together at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. After a lovely dinner we wandered throughout the garden enjoying the illuminated displays.

Just a week later the Virginia Flaggers gathered at the house for a Christmas party, and it was a FULL HOUSE!! There were 30 people there. It was a terrific event. Can't wait until the next one.

The weekend before Christmas was very eventful. Saturday at the VMFA with the Virginia Flaggers. The weather was unbelievable. You would have thought that it was early September or late May. Awesome weather and the flags were brilliant in the bright sunlight.


The Richmond Pop's Band performed their Christmas Concert on the night of the 23rd with the Richmond Choral Society. This is one event that I've made it to for about the last five years. The performance was excellent as always.

I don't know how I managed to do it but I didn't take a single photo of our family's Christmas Eve get together. Thank goodness Mom did. Even though it is sort of goofy it is really great.


I had a really special Christmas Day, Barry came over and cooked for me. It was absolutely delicious and spectacular to watch!

The flames really did wrap up over top of the range hood, no worries though the cabinets were fine, the food was EXCELLENT! and there was a fire extinguisher nearby had it been needed.

I rung out the year curled up sick on the sofa, definitely looking forward to a new year full of new adventures.

Stolen Equipment!

 Sometime between the morning of Thursday, October 31st and the morning of Friday, November 1st, an Hitachi excavator was stolen from the RVA I-95 Battle Flag Memorial Site in Chester, Virginia.  On September 28, the Va Flaggers raised a 15x15 Battle Flag on the site, to honor the memory of Confederate Soldiers who died defending Virginia in the War Between the States.  

The equipment, valued at $20,000 was an orange Hitachi EX 100, and had a few strips of red tape on the dented engine compartment door.  "Excellent Excavator" is also printed on the side of the cab.  

Evidence has been collected on the site, and the thieves apparently used a truck and trailer to steal the machinery.  

As Chesterfield police officers investigated this afternoon, nearby residents who support the project came out and volunteered to clean up the brush that was to be removed today.  They rolled up their sleeves and quickly completed the work.  The Virginia Flaggers are very thankful for their support and help, as well as the quick response from the Chesterfield County Police.  

This is a minor setback and will cause a brief delay in the scheduled completion of the project, which includes tree removal, lighting, and a security fence.  

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call Chesterfield Police at (804) 748-1251.

Grayson Jennings
Va Flaggers

UPDATE: The equipment has been recovered!

A Few Hypothetical Questions

Since all men are now require to purchase health insurance that also includes OB/GYN coverage, can they now utilize the services of the OB/GYN as their primary care physician? And since the OB/GYN coverage, as understood by the general population, is FREE because it is preventative in nature could not any individual visit the OB/GYN if they were in need of a physician's care for any illness? And would this not still fall under FREE if it was billed from the OB/GYN's office as a consultation visit, which is what it would be.

A few other lingering questions:

1. How many men visiting the OB/GYNs office would it take to have the mandate that everyone purchase OB/GYN and contraceptive coverage as part of their health insurance plans repealed? 
2. How quickly would an OB/GYN discover his new 'niche market' of patients that required none of his services yet provided a steady income stream?
3. Would it not be discriminatory to refuse such services to males who are paying for them?
4. Would the lawmaker be accused of waging a war on women, if they attempted to close this loop-hole?
5. If I as a male, do have FREE abortion coverage, and if so can I go into the place and just take up space?

Happy 21st Birthday Sean!

Raising of the I-95 Battle Flag Published

A commemorative book of the weekend surrounding the raising and dedication of the I-95 RVA Battle Flag, flagging of the VMFA,and the 2nd Annual Virginia Flagger’s picnic. Those interested in purchasing a printed version, they will be available for $23.00 (plus shipping) for a limited time. Please contact me via email to place an order.

The Virginia Flaggers - A Year in Pictures

A Little Photoshop Fun

Virginia Flaggers take a break from Flagging duties to pose with the
LOVE sign in front of the VMFA in Richmond, VA
(and yes they really were standing with the sign)

Proudly Waving Along Side I-95

Event Photos:

• I-95 Battle Flag Dedication and Raising
• Flaggers From Across the South

Just some of the News coverage of the Event:

• Drudge Report! Link to Washington Post
• Richmond Times Dispatch
• NBC 12

COMING THIS MORNING!!

The I-95 Battle Flag that will rise along side I-95 this morning at 10:00 a.m., 

In Memory and Honor the Confederate Dead and 

In Recognition of the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States.

Support the I-95 Battle Flag

The Virginia Flaggers have announced that they will be erecting a 50' flag pole along I-95 South of Richmond on which the Battle Flag will be flown.

The flag will serve to welcome visitors and commuters to Richmond, and remind them of our honorable Confederate history and heritage. The location is also historically significant, as Confederate troops are believed to have camped in and around the area during the Bermuda Hundred Campaign.

Learn more about the I-95 Battle Flag Project or donate online to the Virginia Flaggers at Donations I-95 Battle Flag.

Other News Reports:
15-Foot Confederate Flag to Be Installed on I-95
Kudos to Virginia Flaggers
News Report WTVR

For the Birthday Boy!!

Here's Wishing You Lots of Fun and Happy Times!!

Happy Birthday Alec!!

Love - Grandma

Happy Birthday Sis!

The Virginia Flaggers I-95 Battle Flag Project

The Va Flaggers are THRILLED to announce that we have finalized a lease to acquire property adjacent to Interstate 95, just South of Richmond, and will be erecting a 50' pole, on which a 10 x15 Confederate Battle Flag will fly 24/7, 365 days of the year.

If you are interesting in contributing to the project, contributions can be made through PayPal here I-95 Flag Donation. Or by check made payable to "Virginia Flaggers"(Note: I-95 Flag Project in memo) and mailed to:

Va Flaggers
P.O. Box 547
Sandston, VA 23150

Other links about this story:

• WRIC - 15-ft Confederate Flag to be Installed
• Susan Hathaway - Hollywood Cemetery Interview Channel 8
• NBC12 - Facebook Posting

A Day At The River

Pipeline Walkway

Big day today on the river. I went down to the Pipeline Walkway to capture some shots of the rafters as they passed by in the rapids near the pipeline.

Finding my way down to the Pipeline Walkway wasn't all that difficult, but the access is a little tricky. There is a metal ladder that must be navigated to gain access to the walkway, which runs under the train trellis along the river. The walkway itself is sturdy and affords a spectacular view of the river, rapids and wildlife. It was noted that this area of the river is a rookery for herons and they nest here in April and May. A trip during the Spring will definitely offer a different view of the river with less foliage.

While waiting for the rafters to arrive I took a stroll down nearly the length of the walkway, that is until I reached the end that did not have railings. Although it was wide enough to traverse safely, I thought better of getting too far away from the location I'd selected as my shooting point.

Pipeline Walkway

Juvenile Heron with a Fish

I did discover a juvenile heron fishing for its meal near the edge of the river. I was tucked in the shadows watching for the next unlucky fish to swim by. 

He was so patient and moved quite stealthy. It was a treat to watch as he snapped up multiple fish all the while totally ignoring his audience.

Juvenile Heron

First Kayaker of the Day

Along the journey today I met up with another photographer who was there to take rafting photos as well. It was nice having someone else around. He was definitely more prepared to get a different shot, as he waded on into the river for that new angle. As a warm up for the photos that were to come, I was able to get some practice shots of some kayakers and of a different rafting group as they came past the location where I was set up near the rapids.

On the James

Way to Go Michelle!!

The rafters came in next in a big group. You could tell from the laughter and cheers that they were having an excellent time. This was the group that I had come to shoot picture for.

They really did some cutting up for the camera. There was posing prior to going over the rapids and then even more after they had passed through them. It was great fun for me as well.

Rafting On the James

After a successful shoot on the river, off to the Confederate Memorial Chapel to stand with the VA Flaggers. It was a great group out today taking a stand for the return of the flags to the Confederate Memorial Chapel.

Flagger Gathering

Happy 8th Anniversary!!

Wishing you both many more years of happiness.

Love, Mom