Pirates--At World's End

Ahh, we have all been waiting for the 3rd (and final?) Pirates of the Caribbean movies to arrive. (It will come to the big screen in May.) I have posted a few screenshots from a popular trailer that you can enjoy as well. From the looks of these previews, this could be the best one of the three, that is, if you like this sort of thing.

Pirates--At World's End

Tom Hollander plays Lord Cutler Beckett here, and you would think he should be a good guy, but don't be too sure. You know the saying that power corrupts, and the more you get the more you want. A word to the wise--be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.

Pirates--At World's End

Here is the lovely Elizabeth Swann, played by Keira Knightley, and most you know that she is the female lead in the three Pirates of the Caribbean movies. What could she be thinking here?

Pirates--At World's End

Now this just doesn't seem to be the time for a very romantic kiss, or maybe I am wrong. (Will Turner and Elizabeth are the couple in the center of the screen.) If you are about to die maybe you would like leave this world in a tender embrace with your sweetheart in a passionate mood oblivious to the danger around you. Again that might be you. I would think that it is time to fight the enemy, and when things quiet down a bit you can turn your thoughts to love. But this is the movies...

Pirates--At World's End

Here Jack is reminding us of some old westerns where the shooter blows on the end of the barrel apparently to cool it off after some hot shooting.

Pirates--At World's End

And here is Jack (that's Capt. Jack Sparrow) as he is lighting the cannon.

Pirates--At World's End

You might miss this "shot" when you watch the movie, and I do say when not if because I know that everyone has to know if Jack is coming back, or really how he comes back. Notice the little man inside the cannon as it is being fired. I may be wrong; that is, it may all be explained, but I watched the trailer several times and didn't see him until I did some stop-action on the computer.

Nice Ride

I saw this little Italian job at Whole Foods (on Miller St. in Winton-Salem) on Friday. I suppose we should allow him two parking spaces since it is more important that this car is protected from door dings and other superficial damage. And there weren't that many in the parking lot at that time as well. I have to say that is the first car of this class I have seen here. I have seen some Minis, Hummers, Mercedes, BMWs, Volvos, Subarus, and other more popular cars but this is he first Ferrari at Whole Foods.

I remember...

I remember taking Ben to a Winston-Salem Spirits game when he must have been in middle school, and we sat with the VP of my company for most of the game, and then about the 8th inning he said, "I want to go over there (right field side foul area) and try to catch a foul ball." We both just happened to have gloves with us, and so we both headed over there. When we arrived, there were several other kids that had been waiting all game, and I could hear them saying, "He won't catch anything." And I was thinking the chances are slim in catching a foul ball at any game. Knowing Ben had never played little league, and I had not really played that much catch with Ben that I could remember, made the chances even smaller. Well, it wasn't long before what seemed like a rocket came our way, no, really right to Ben. I was thankful it had bounced once on the bank, before it hit Ben in the chest, and then landed right in his glove. After the game we were able to get three players to sign the ball, the name at the top is Rick Juday, and the second Ozzie somebody. Last time Ben was home I offered that ball to him, and he refused it. (Maybe it had to do with laying aside every dead weight or something.) I will keep that ball, and unless I develop Alzheimer's or get amnesia, I will remember that day for a long time.

The Brick House

Due to popular request I have posted the above two pics of the house up the street (2 houses up) showing the beautiful landscaping job that has been done. I have lived on this street for over 20 years and never thought anyone would be able to build on the two vacant lots that were where this house now sits. Modern engineering can work what seemed to be an impossible job, that is to get the land to perk, when it never would before.

More about spring

I can't help but enjoy spring after a cold winter. And we haven't really had a cold winter this year. Sure I like to ski down the mountain and enjoy the winter to some degree. But I really do like the warm temps we are enjoying now. Just look at the Bradford pear trees, they look like they are covered with snow. And the weeping willow is starting to turn green again. And look at these lovely flowers that Whole Foods has out in front of the store. Yes, spring is a wonderful time of year.

BOY FOUND ALIVE!

Glad to hear this news...

(The following story is from the Winston-Salem Journal)

BOY FOUND ALIVE!

By Monte Mitchell and Sherry Youngquist

Twelve-year-old Michael Auberry, who disappeared from his Boy Scout campsite Saturday afternoon, was found alive this morning.

Tina White, a spokeswoman for the National Park Service, said, "we have received word via radio communication from the field that young Michael has been found."

"We heard this through radio traffic and we’re hopeful this is the news we were waiting for."

Searchers were walking with Michael to reunite him with his parents, she said. He was found Northeast of the campsite from where he wandered away on Saturday.

There was no word yet on his condition.

I did hear on WSJS radio that he was weak and dehydrated, but the fact that he is alive is wonderful news to all concerned. For those of you that haven't heard, Michael was missing from a scout outing in Doughton Park, NC on Saturday.

Signs of Spring

As you can see from the above pic we are experiencing a bit of spring already. Actually last Thursday it was warm enough to ride a bike with shorts and a T-shirt, but it is quite too cold for that now. Tomorrow its supposed to get to 62 though. I wonder what it will be like in Fairbanks, Alaska. Oooh, I just checked out Yahoo! weather and it will be a high of 13 and 10 tomorrow and Tuesday. Brrr!! Looks like Louisville, KY will have a high of 61 tomorrow, but with a chance of rain. San Francisco should be 62 and partly cloudy. I am ready for spring; how 'bout you guys. How about all of you up there in Fairbanks, AK?

Fallen Officer

Sgt. Howard Plouff of the Winston-Salem Police Dept. was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 23, 2007. Plouff, 41, had gone to a local nightclub after a call for help from off-duty sheriff's deputies who were working security. Looking at the list below of fallen officers in the city makes one think that although it has been some time since an officer has lost his life in the line of duty, it is still a risk that can happen in just a moment.

Winston-Salem officers
fallen in line of duty

• Michael M. Vickers. May 6, 1895.
• Thomas G. Anderson. Aug. 15, 1927.
• Sgt. Leland G. Teague. Dec. 26, 1927.
• William G. Willard. Nov. 1, 1938.
• John M. Sampson. Dec. 8, 1940.
• Gurney G. Royal. Aug. 1, 1941.
• Grover C. Hailey. Nov. 24, 1945.
• John Wimbish. Nov. 1, 1952.
• Al C. Kinard. Sept. 9, 1961.
• Donald W. Allred. Jan. 3, 1983.
• Lt. Aaron G. Tise Jr. June 26, 1992.
• Michael R. Jennings. Jan. 29, 1993.
• Bobby F. Beane. April 23, 1993.
• Robert Buitrago. Jan. 15, 1994.
• Stephen L. Amos II. Feb. 28, 1995.
• Howard J. Plouff. Feb. 23, 2007.

Source: Winston-Salem police.

My heart goes out to the family and friends, and I pray that God would comfort them in the days ahead.

A Perfect Game

The picture above is of Ben Jackson, who has bowled another 300 game. I say another because this is one of several. Also pictured is Ben wearing a perfect game ring. He also has an 800 series ring (for bowling over 800 in a 3-game series.) Not many can boast of an achievement such as this. Is there a tradition that the bowler of a perfect game buys everyone drinks?

Wii Golf

Well, I suppose that after you play something long enough, you will eventually obtain some level of perfection. I did get a hole-in-one on hole no. 2 on the Nintendo Wii Golf game. (I do understand that doing something like this on a real golf course takes quite a bit more skill.) Still it was rather exciting for me, and I will keep working on doing this on the other par 3s. Somehow I feel that if my younger son Ben were to play this long enough he would end up with a hole-in-one on each one of the nine holes. And that would be really something on the par 5s. Enjoy the links!