Petra "Atlantis in the sands"

Through the al-siq a wonder - click to enlarge
www.wikipedia.org photo
See the Treasury Building inside

  Back in 1812 a Swiss explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt was in present day Jordan; he slipped through an al-siq (a narrow opening) and saw the wonder of Petra.  Hidden from view the city date from 312BC (that's a long time ago).  The City of Petra was inhabited by the Nabataeans, a nomadic tribe that all of a sudden settled in one spot.
  How?  They were the first recorded "speculators".  They made most of their money with Frankincense, gold, and spices.  They alone could manipulate the price because they controlled more of those goods than anyone else.  Just like "oil speculators" of today they controlled the price of goods in high demand.
  The City had streets, gardens and tombs (a cemetery).  They had little regard for the dead but did keep track of the bodies.
  Traders. High rollers. Successful and rich.
  Is there a lesson here?  In Petra, on the the "New wonders of the world", protected by the United Nations, and scientists for the US, England, Jordan and others are actively working the site.  Interesting in deed.
  Read in www.wikipedia.org or ABC News using the search boxes for "Petra".

And I thought Petra was just a girls name in Dutch!

The Monastery - click to enlarge

The Umm (tombs) - click
 

All photos from www.wikipedia.org

Truth in advertising, or not

www.beerfinder.com photo
Don't think it's too hard to find myself

  Now I've got that subject and photo up here, but I really want to talk about ageing, and if advertisers are afraid of us geezers.
  It's 12:30AM and I am up and wide awake thanks to something called "thrush", that's a fancy word that means I turn bright red and tingle and burn.  Thankfully it last for only 20 minutes or so.  I get that because I take massive doses of niacin to fight tri-glycerides (whatever the hell that is).
  I have the TV on ESPN catching up with the scores of NFL and the Baseball Series.  Cardinal fans may feel uneasy this morning.
  The ads on TV for beer:
1.  No one under 35 drinks beer except that one old guy who much be wealthy because he always has
     3 or 4 young women with him (he drinks that beer from Mexico - but not often).  The ads never
     show anyone get drunk either. Huh?
2.  One ad for a beer with lime juice added (gag!), shows a truck in a business district when people     leave the office.  Notice that men in shirts and ties go down the water slide but the young women have found a way to change in to tiny halters and short shorts.  What's up with that?
3.  The geezers sell life insurance and reverse mortgages.  Other geezers work for companies that take
      advantage of the Medicare money to sell second-rate stuff to diabetics and others.  Especially up
      for the "Go to hell" award are the motorized wheelchairs, scooter stuff.  Can you spell rip off?

You know there's not a lot of truth in any of those ads, but some people believe them.  Scary isn't it?

A visitor to Bar Harbor and visitors to a corn field

The Yacht Rising Sun shown in Germany where it was built - click to enlarge
www.wikipedia.org photo

  Mr. David Geffen, a Hollywood bigwig has his yacht moored in the waters of Bar Harbor.  The 453 foot long traveler has a crew of 43 and can host 16 guests plus the owner and his family.
  Some people just come to Bar Harbor in a Ford or Chevy; and some people like to show off.

  I am continuing to do better, walking without implements around the house, still need a cane to get out of the chair.  I am hoping for some freedom tomorrow so I can have coffee with the guys.  I have coffee mornings with the guys in Bangor at McDonald's.  They might miss me.

Turkeys in the cornfield.  Kelly Road, Glenburn, Maine - click to enlarge
Photo by Linda Grant

Bleck!

This photo from the Portland Press Herald shows
the USS Constitution in Boston Harbor being
flown over by the Blue Angels

  Well, GO NAVY!, the ship is the oldest commissioned ship still afloat in the world.  Constitution will go through a turn around on it's birthday next week.  The photo was taken a couple of years ago, but it's a good one.
  My back may be getting better, but laying down in bed isn't my most favorite thing this morning, I was in bed four hours, and that was more than enough.  Chairs are my friend.  I went to the doctor yesterday and not a lot was done, prescription; to be honest that's about all that could be done.  I am not able to do things I used to do. Period.  I will publicly thank my lovely wife, Linda, for spending three or fours hours waiting in the pharmacy, she's been really good to me.
  Keep up the good work and keep an eye on the World Series; I think the Tigers have an excellent chance of a win.

I'm back (back being the operative word)

Bright in Brewer
Photo by Linda Grant

  The crew finished the floor work yesterday just before noon, my car came out of the shop Wednesday at noon.
  While we were moving stuff back in to the proper place I did a lot of bending over, I am paying for it dearly; my back is killing me, literally almost.
  I hurt my back about 1982 helping to move a grand piano and ever since work that involves bending over is a killer.  I can lift without a problem, but I can't life too much either.
  Any way I'm here, alive and back online.

Reach for the sky
Photo by Linda Grant

Nobody told me

From Lincolnville beach, the ferry is coming in
from Isleboro, it's the farthest one out - click

  The water was placid in Lincolnville when we went by, I just stopped to take a look, the main reason for the trip was anxious in the back seat.
  You have to carefully chose where to go along the coast just to make sure you get to see the water, I guess people like to drive in straight lines.
  I'm somewhat surprised to be online today, I mis-understood  the directions, it's tomorrow and a few days after that we may get unhooked (is that a real word?).
  So, my guess is that you should check every day to make sure I'm an honest man.

Hollie in the small park adjacent to
the Rockland Breakwater - click
It was Uncle Lysles' birthday so she wore
a Muppet shirt in his honor. :)

Trip along the coast of Maine

Belfast, Maine Oct 13 2012 - click to enlarge
at Waterfront Park

  We had a great trip to Rockland, Rockport, Camden and Belfast (that's the list on the way home), the day was nice but cold in the morning.  It was between 27 and 30 degrees during my walks.  The leaves weren't as pretty as those inland very dull shades along the coast with few exceptions.
  We got a few photos taken but travel with "the girl" is always a bit rushed, she doesn't understand taking time to do such things - that's why we have magazines!

  We may or may not be offline Monday-Thursday or so this week, we will only have our cell phone on the landline will be down too.  New flooring in the living room is the reason.  Have to move everything in to one of the other rooms, not an easy task in a small place.  Check in often to see if we're back.

A part of Rockports waterfront. - click

The World (condominium ship) in Rockland Harbor Oct 13 2012 - click
Owls Head Lighthouse, though tiny, is in the photo too, hint think left, but
not too far.