my hometown

Weekend Assignment #126: Where You Live

         

i'm from northwest alabama, an area comprised of 4 cities known as the shoals. (lynyrd skynyrd's 'sweet home alabama'). florence is on the tennessee river....and there are lotsa water activities all summer...annual bass tournaments, fishing, swimming, jet skiing, water skiing, sailing, boating....

         

after much debate, the old railroad bridge was turned into a pedestrian walkway.  it is nice to walk out on the bridge to watch sunsets or fish, and eagles have even been sighted.

                                                

we have the beautiful university of north alabama here, known as the una lions, national champions of the ncaa division II  3 years in a row (early 90's).

   

                   

                           and are very proud to have live mascots....ms una and mr leo....

                                           

          leo refused to come out of his den for the photo shoot...so una hogged the show.  ;)

beautiful downtown florence has undergone restoration and renovation of many old buildings and we now have quaint restaurants, gift shops and local businesses.

     

   our historical district boasts of many victorian homes and a couple of bed and breakfast inns...

                                                  

beautiful downtown wilson park  hosts the annual w.c. handy (father of the blues) festival and renaissance faire. (for city name sake, florence, italy)

   

george lindsey (goober from the andy griffith show) attended una and sponsors an annual  film festival at the university.

                

just across the river is tuscumbia....birthplace of helen keller, and home to the annual live summer production of  'the miracle worker'

      

and the beautiful big spring park that was featured on the today show a few years ago....

   

   with free trolley to downtown, carousel and small roller coaster and train for the children...

                                   

lots of pictures taken in front of these waterfalls, and out in the middle of the spring is a big fountain and on weekends  there is a choreographed light show set to popular tunes.

 

the round robin transportation photo challenge

                                                 The Round Robin Photo Challenges

             when i think of transportation...i think of rides....here are some of  my faves.....

                                                                    my largest ride....

              

this was our honeymoon cruise to the western carribbean...docked in cozumel....the one on the left was our ship.

                                                         my smallest ride................

                    

                                         

                          balloon ride over temecula valley, california....our 2nd anniversary.  :)

                                                                my coolest ride............

           

                                            it was fun too....even if it was a ford!  lol

                                                          and then there are these....

               the star of india....san diego bay...has sailed around the world many times...  cool!

        

                      what about this cute lil number....naval aviation musuem, pensacola, florida

                          

                                                                       i love sailing!!!

                                         

never tried parasailing.....might hafta get my face wet!!!!  ewwww lol...but if i weren't so chicken....bet it would be loads of fun!

and these next few are from forcheim, germany's 1200th birthday celebration kick-off parade for annafest....

                        

                                                      just don't think i could handle the stilts....

               

                                those are real beer kegs....lotsa free beer passed out in this parade....

                              

                                                                the first aid wagon??

and then here is johnny  peacefully floating along....this was before he hit those rapids...(lil ones)  lol....

some of my pics...

i told ya i was a wannabe photographer...  :)

the 23rd Psalms - for work

 

Psalm 23 (for work)

The Lord is my real boss, and I shall not want. He gives me peace,when chaos is all around me. He gently reminds me to pray and do all things without murmuring and complaining.
He reminds me that He is my source and not my job.He restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisions that I might honor Him in all that I do.
Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mails, system crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget cutbacks, gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors and an aging body that doesn't cooperate every morning, I still will not stop--- for He is with me! His presence, His peace, and His power will see me through.
He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me.He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go. His Faithfulness and love is better than any bonus check.
His retirement plan beats every 401k there is!
When it's all said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that, I WILL BLESS HIS HOLY NAME.