Jack and mom drove up for the week of the Fourth and just in time for the “Cornerstone Baptist Fly-in”. Stan, the pastor, hosted a fly-in and Russell O’Quinn was the guest. Russell is an active experimental test pilot for the US Military and is 78 years old, yes, he still is testing top-secret experimental air-craft for the Military. Mr. O’Quinn started his speech off from the beginning of his life-life aviation adventure which promptly started at the age of five when his father needed to watch him and shingle the roof of their house, so his father nailed him by the seat of his pants to the roof. While nailed to the roof, Russell would watch the air-plains fly over head and from there on he secretly learned how to fly since his parent’s were afraid of aviation. His family was not Christian, but one of his aunts was and she paid for his college education (Christian college) where not only did he get an education but also purchased an old military fighter plane and learned how to continue his love of aviation. I won’t go into anymore details other then with the help of aunt and a caring professor he was led to Christ and was enabled to fulfill his dream and whiteness to others at the same time.

After the speech, the entire church and guests (~500) ate at the BBQ which hosted an “All-you-can-eat” buffet.

After work on Monday I ate dinner with Jack, mom and two members of Jack’s family at Angeler’s in Newport. I took I-95 from Bangor to Newport and the view was beautiful, the sky was filled full of large Cumulonimbus clouds as they are associated with thunder storms. When I had reached the restaurant it started to rain heavily and as we were leaving the rain had ceased in the distance stood a rainbow, unfortunately power lines and buildings were in the way so I did not take a photograph. We headed to the camp Jack & mom stayed at and when I say camp, I use the term loosely as it was built in the 1930’s and had very little up-keeping, very rustic. After the tour of the cabin we sat around the fire and watched a beautiful sunset over Sebasticook lake.

Tuesday evening right after work I headed to Dexter to watch their fireworks show at the local high school. As I was driving through Corinth a light shower let up and two rainbows appeared over a potatoe field and another just down the road. The latter photo was so close to me I could have walked through its amazing light spectrum of vibrant colors illuminating the surrounding trees.

I arrived shortly after the rain shower and was able to photograph another image that I find to be interesting due to the row of corn and different cloud formations. The fireworks were about the same as they always are, sporadic and quick to end but enjoyable none-the-less. The evening sky was fairly clear but not clear enough to see the Milky Way; I wanted to take advantage of the un-polluted skies of Dexter to attempt my first astrophotograph.

Mom stopped by in the evening of the Fourth; we decided to watch Bangor’s fireworks show which is usually a decent showing. We drove to a local store, parked and walked about a mile to reach the waterfront. We found a nice hill with a flat surface that overlooked the Penobscot River and was above most other people. I set up my tripod and had everything positioned and configured just right to photograph the fireworks but as I was shooting, the camera battery ran out which was a little upsetting. The next day I purchased a second battery.

When mom was up last week for Mother’s day I purchased the book in my title to compliment the book mom gave me for last Christmas, A man, a can, a plan. I decided to try out one of their recipes on this patchy & cool day. The name is “Greenhouse Grinder”, it consists sour dough crusty bread, pesto, caponata, tomato and mushrooms. Top it with butter and grill it for 5+ minutes. It was very filling. A few nights ago I made a spicy burger consisting of Angus hamburger (80/20) mixed with pepper, crushed red peppers seasoning, A-1 steak sauce, topped with American cheese, honey mustard, sweet pickles (to counter the spice) and tomato. I had a chocolate and banana smoothie to wash it down.

My Sunday school class at Cornerstone Baptist starting on the “The way of the Master” study plan, it basically gives you the knowledge and courage to witness to others. I’m really excited about it and hope that I will be able to use whatever I learn in class.

Obligatory photos: Spicy burger | Greenhouse Grinder

It’s almost time for another month to end and another to begin. Fall has been a bit bland this year, but still enjoyable. Today is a nice cool and sunny day (60º). Did everyone set their times back? The only thing I actually have to set back are my clocks on the walls and stove, everything else is synchronized via the official military time, my Windows 2003 domain, forums, Linux server, cell, etc. Wouldn’t it be great if wall clocks required a CAT5e or wireless connection to synchronize? It would be neat, but it’s always a fun tradition to go around the house and adjust the clocks too. I remember always trying to beat my brother to it. :)

I went back to Cornerstone this Sunday… I have really missed Pastor Stan’s preaching and the Church goers. The upcoming month is my turn to run the multimedia overhead. My new manager at work starts tomorrow, it will be interesting to see how things change and improve. I purchased gas in Stetson for $2.29, gas has gone down about 40¢.

The North East experienced some very heavy rain fall this weekend, especially Maine. It poured all weekend long, in fact, it’s still raining. The last time it rained like this was back in May. I left my moon roof open in my car Friday night, come Saturday morning my car seat was pretty wet… no worries though, it’s leather. I watched a few movies this weekend, I, Robot, which looks amazing on my new TV and The Incredibles.

Today a few new people visited Sunday school, one of them was a girl on the radio station that I listen to, Solution FM, her name is Jolie, she’s a very nice girl… I’m hoping she will come back next Sunday so I can actually talk her. :)

Well, I’m off to bed, my back hurts from sitting up in bed like this.