I spent a little over a year on the line crew. In retrospect, that was the most enjoyable job I ever had. Jack Cain, the real life model for Jack Kane in the Hammer Spade books, thought so too. His career paralleled mine except, instead of being in eastern North Carolina, he worked in Illinois. I liked working outside. I liked the teamwork. The work was complex enough to keep our minds occupied. It helped that I enjoyed climbing poles and became quite skilled at it I thought. I also liked my co-workers and my supervisors.
My line foreman was a ladies’ man. I was riding with him in the company pickup in Greenville one day and we passed by a house with a porch. A young woman was sitting in a chair with her feet up on the railing. She wasn’t wearing underwear, something my foreman spotted at once. He jammed on the brakes, backed up and told me to write that address down. He borrowed somebody’s car that night saying he was going somewhere on a “mission.” She was nice looking and every couple of nights, he went on another “mission” the rest of the time we were in Greenville.
Young men in good physical condition attract women like a magnet picks up metal filings, especially if they are confident acting young men. The team camaraderie was good natured with lots of kidding around. If we worked in one spot for a few hours, college girls would appear to watch us doing manly stuff. Some were quite attractive and fetchingly attired. It was a banquet for the single guys.
On one occasion I was assigned to help two local technicians sting a drop wire across a four-lane road. I was sitting between them in the pickup as we drove through a business district. We saw a very attractive woman walking toward us and the driver, who was a pretentious lothario, started making lewd remarks about the woman. I didn’t say anything and I noticed that the man on my right was quiet too.
After a particularly gross suggestion by the driver, the man to my right said through clenched teeth, “That’s my wife.”
I have never heard a more sincere apology than one the driver made that day. And he repeated it several times.
That’s a more common experience than you would think. Many years later, I was in Cookeville, Tennessee with another general office staff member. All of the women at the phone company in Cookeville Tennessee were lovely. We were taking a coffee break in the break room with the local engineer we were meeting when a particularly attractive representative walked by. My general office companion made a coarse remark. The local engineer turned red as a beet and told him that was his wife. Although my general office co-worker tried his best to smooth that one over, our local host remained cool towards him for the rest of the trip. I made it a point never to travel with that man again.
The driver in the pickup mentioned above Chevrolet loved cars. He bought a new one every couple of years. While we were working in Greenville, he took delivery of a brand new 1958 Chevrolet with all the bells and whistles. He suspected an engine oil leak and one day when he drove it to work he put a big piece of cardboard under the engine. Then he went off on his first assignment.
The guy that was sitting to my right that day we saw his wife watched him lay the cardboard under his car. He took a quart of oil out of his pickup and poured every drop of it on the cardboard.
When the owner of the car returned to the work center for lunch, he saw that oil on the cardboard and took off the rest of the day to return his car to the dealer. I guess revenge was sweet.
Right before the crew moved to Greenville, a man who was an alcoholic was put on the line crew because he had showed his behind at a company party. He had been a cable splicer. Everybody knew he was a heavy drinker and I guess the supervisors became concerned about his drinking enough to move him to a job where he wouldn’t drive a company vehicle. He was a mouthy, arrogant man. Because of his alcoholism he was too physically weak to climb poles. He was also too weak to put down anchors. On the first day he was on the crew the foreman made him climb a pole and hang a crossarm. He made it look so hard that the foreman remarked that he was so weak that he “couldn’t wring a wingnut with a pipe wrench.” Folks, that is pretty weak.
We were in Greenville for about ten weeks and sometimes I commuted back to New Bern where I lived. The alcoholic also lived in New Bern and rode with me sharing the gasoline expense. There was a liquor store beside the work center in Greenville. He would buy a pint of whiskey when we got off work. He drank the whole pint on the drive to New Bern. When we arrived in New Bern he would have me drop him off at the liquor store for another pint. He did this every day.
Talk about choosing a perfect site for a phone company work center, the one in Greenville at that time was beside a Krispy Crème Donut place in addition to being next to the liquor store. When my family and I traveled home to visit our parents, who lived near Warrenton, we always stopped to get donuts in Greenville.
Two weeks of hard work at the hospital last summer didn't scare intern Alyson Boswell. In fact, the physical nature of the work played a major part in her decision to come back this year for the entire twelve weeks. The prospect of "a summer of manual labor" was just too enticing an offer to pass up. But she also gave credit to her college roommate, Grace White (aka "Pong" of our famous intern duo "Ping and Pong") for a rousing and inspiring pep talk.
Excited about returning to our "hot, sweaty environment" she gravitated to food preparation and has become the undisputed mistress of filleting. When you have a bunch of picky little turtles that demand a meal with no bones somebody has to make it happen. Knife in hand, Alyson tackles the catch of the day and serves it up to our patients, hardly ever having one of her customers complain or return their dinner to the chef. She also enjoys doing something many of us find a little fearsome, working with our temperamental water filtration system. At first "it all looked overwhelming" to her but now it's like second nature. Nothing shows off our turtles like clear, sparkling water, and one of the reasons they look so good during open house is because Alyson keeps all those filters squeaky clean.
Although the work is pretty much what she remembered from last year there have been a few surprises. For one thing, we have a lot more turtles, many requiring daily medical treatment. Since our building didn't miraculously expand during her absence she's found that we have to relocate several turtles outside during open house. And she didn't realize just how fascinating our work is to the media. Every week reporters show up, camera crew in tow, ready to document life at the sea turtle hospital.
Two things have been particularly memorable for her so far. Number one was the June release, seeing some of the turtles she cared for last summer go home. The other is witnessing a sick turtle take a major step towards recovery. That emotionally overwhelming moment came when little "Wrightsville" finally accepted food from her, breaking a 3-week fast.
When she's not at the hospital Allyson spends time just enjoying island life, especially the beach. This Wilson native returns to NC State as a junior, where she'll literally be back in the saddle as a member of their Equestrian Team. After graduation with a major in Animal Science, pre-vet, she plans to continue on to grad or vet school. Happy trails!
From "Ambassador Lennie's" journal "Today Miss Jean, Miss Sandy and I drove to Ocean Isle Beach (OIB.) Gloria Hillenberg and the OIB Turtle Patrol invited me to be their guest of honor at their annual Sea Turtle Day event. Since I'm the hospital's official ambassador I was happy to accept their invitation. I rode on Miss Jean's lap and acted as the navigator - talk about the blind leading the blind! When we finally got there I could hear a lot of cheering from the crowd and I found out there were several thousand people waiting to greet us. During the day I could hear kids of all ages having a great time, getting their faces painted and getting special turtle tattoos. Miss Jean described some of the sand sculptures to me and they sounded really awesome. I wish I could have seen them, but because of my injury my sight will never come back. The OIB group also had a silent auction and all the proceeds were donated to our hospital so we can keep helping sick and injured turtles. Miss Jean said they also donated a surfboard with a hand-painted loggerhead on it to be auctioned off at our lobster dinner. I really liked everybody I met today, and I can't wait to go back again next year. PS: I thought Miss Jean's driving was pretty scary, but Miss Sandy takes the experience to a whole new level!"
Got flippers - need wheels Our turtle lady, Lilmar is hoping for Christmas in July: a wheeled cart that she can use to roll her turtle stuff to and from her weekly Turtle Talks. It's not easy to transport a really big turtle shell and all the cool handouts she uses for her program, so we're appealing to our adoring public for assistance. We're thinking about something that looks like a library cart, with two shelves, and it doesn't have to be new. If you can help save Lilmar's back please call her at: 910-328-2374 to make the necessary arrangements (it's tax deductible.)
Turtle Talks continue every Wednesday through Labor Day. This one-hour presentation, 3:45 - 4:45 PM is chock full of visuals and handouts that are appropriate for ages K-adult. Cameras are welcome and there'll be plenty of great photo ops. The site is the Surf City Community Center, JH Batts Rd. (off Rt. 210 between Docksider and Gilligans.) Admission is free but donations for our turtles are appreciated. Please leave food and drinks in the car. For more information call the hospital at: 910-328-3377.
Hospital open house This year we've had record-breaking and very generous crowds of visitors. And we've got some really neat stuff for those of you who'll be leaving us and returning to the frozen north: long sleeve T's and hoodies (sweats) and toasty fleece head bands for when the snow flies. All of our merchandise is printed or embroidered with our exclusive turtle hospital designs, so you can take a little piece of your visit home with you.
We open daily from 2-4 PM, except Wednesday and Sunday. We occasionally close without notice for incoming turtles and dangerous weather conditions, but generally for only a short period of time. Please note that two incorrect phone numbers appear in various places in the "Coaster" magazine: the correct number for reporting turtle activity/strandings is: 910-470-2880. The correct number for the hospital is: 910-328-3377.
Topsail Turtle Project Remember the old TV commercial that went something like: "you tell a friend, then they tell a friend then they tell two friends…" Well, we had that happen last week when a family vacationing on North Topsail spotted a mama turtle coming up to nest. Now this family just happened to be friends with the family of a former summer intern, so they called them. That family called the former intern, who in turn called one of our current interns. Our current interns, who were just finishing a meal at a local restaurant, called our Director of Beach Operations (Terry Meyer) who, in turn, called her area coordinators. (Did I lose you?) Anyway, many folks witnessed this miraculous process, except for Terry, who arrived shortly after mama finished up and headed home. But with the flurry of nesting happening here on Topsail there's still a chance for another sighting. As of this writing we have 63 nests, two more than the total number we had in 2007, and almost twice as many as we had at this time last year. These ladies are working hard, and you can keep track of their efforts on our website: www.seaturtlehospital.org.
Please report all sea turtle activity (nestings, strandings, injured turtles or hatchings) to our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer @ 910-470-2880.Questions, comments or suggestions for storiesContact me at: flippers@embarqmail.com.
Hi folks, Capt. David here with this week’s outdoors report.
Folks no matter what you like to catch, it's biting! The sound is full of hungry Redfish and flounder. The Speckled trout are biting early morning or late evening and Ladyfish are around just about every dock with a light on it at night. The Reds are mostly slot sized fish and most of the Flounder are on the small side but legal. Lots of Blues are still around and some of them are big! I don't know what's up with the chopper Blues but they are still around back in the sound.
Offshore the Kings are biting from the piers on out and some nice Sailfish are being caught slow trolling for kings in the 10 mile range. The bottom fishing is good with Black bass, Snapper, and Grouper on just about every ledge and rockpile you can find! Some Mahi are around in the 10-15 mile range and if you can find some debris or a weedline, fish it hard! Cobia are still around and a few Tarpon are still in the area as well. The Gulfstream is hot as usual this time of the year too!
On the hunting side, less than 2 months till Deer season opens on the 13th of Sept. Folks you better start filling the feeders and checking your stands. Go ahead and get your gear together and start practicing now. It ain't gonna be long till the games begin and I ain't talking about the Olympics either ya'll. Well that’s about it for this week, so remember to take a kid fishing and be safe.
Capt. David
About the author: Capt. David Baxley Lifetime sportsman and fisherman. Fishing Topsail area for 13 years. Full time charter fishing guide specializing in Red drum and Flounder. Light tackle, shallow water,live bait fishing. Owner of Headhunter Outdoors Fishing Charters at Topsail Phone 910-329-0818. Visit Davids web site at http://www.headhunteroutdoors.com/.
Photo above: Intern Carolyn Collier with "Lockwood."
There’s a real scholar in our midst, or more accurately, in the perpetual “mist” of humidity that surrounds the hospital. Carolyn Collier hails from Richmond, Virginia, and attends the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. Over the years, family and friends have related tales of their time at Topsail and their visits to the hospital. But what finally sent her in our direction was the article about our hospital in Guideposts, and her designation as a Monroe Scholar. With that honor came grant money to pursue an independent research project.
Fortunately for us she chose to focus on sea turtle conservation.
Shortly after her arrival, Carolyn found a nest and was recruited to assist in relocating it above the high-tide line. Her research includes placing a probe in selected nesting sites and logging data on sand temperature. Since the temperature of the sand during incubation determines the sex of the hatchlings, the data is a good predictor of what kinds of babies are being born here. After hatching and nest analysis, she’ll crunch the numbers to see if there’s any correlation between temperature and hatch rate. A third aspect of her project involves case studies on several of our patients, documenting treatment protocol and noting the effects on wound healing.
Carolyn shares the view of all our interns, that our 12-week program is everything she expected it to be and more. Since she’s keeping actual records of her observations, she’s really tuned into the progress our turtles make and is amazed at their capacity to heal quickly. She recalls the pitiful states of several patients which is
The June release gave her a clear picture of our goal; what we’re all working towards, getting those turtles healthy and back where they belong.
Her advice to would-be interns is to be passionate and serious about working with animals and to give 110%. Don’t come because you think sea turtles are “cute.”
Even though Carolyn declined Nathan’s offer to become one of his surfer girls, she doesn’t lack for activities to occupy her spare time. She enjoys going to the beach, riding her bike and reading. In fact, the interns have started a book club and I’m sure the discussions can get pretty interesting.
When Carolyn returns to her junior year, she’ll continue her studies toward a degree in biology, with eyes toward vet school or VIMS, (Virginia Institute of Marine Science.)
At school, she plays piccolo in the Pep Band and the oboe “on the side.” You might want to ask her if she “takes requests” from our patients; or what, if any, effect music has on sea turtles or their nests.
Photo right: Students & researchers enjoying themselves on the SC slide.
Spanning the globe
“The sea turtle hospital is small in size, but once inside the positive-ness of the volunteers is gigantic.”
That’s a quote from a 2008 Duke Marine Global Fellow from Belize, Central America. It was international day at the hospital when Dr. Larry Crowder gathered together marine biologists and researchers from across the globe and brought them to our world. Many of these individuals, enrolled in the Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation class at Duke, have invested years in various aspects of conservation, the environment, and particularly sea turtles.
“Jean is very special… …has given me strength to go ahead and dream about my turtle hospital in Chennai, India.”
From a biologist in Bangladesh who has been working with sea turtles since 1996, “I am very much interested in setting up a hospital in our country.”
Conversations with them reinforced our beliefs that sea turtles across the planet suffer the same types of injuries and illnesses we see here:
“In Argentina we have cases of cold-stunning and ingestion of marine debris.”
Several of our repeat visitors were gratified to see, or more accurately to not see, the turtles we were treating at the time of their prior visit. One commented on the remarkable progress of “Snow” who was just undergoing treatment for the propeller wound to her head. Today she’s active, flopping around and greeting guests.
After a morning of in-your-face sea turtles, Rose Peters and her staff of volunteers at The Missiles and More Museum, (just a short walk from the hospital), welcomed our visitors. There they had the opportunity to learn that the Topsail area isn’t only about the beach.
Our part of the coast has seen Native Americans, pirates and an entire industry devoted to the development and perfection of the ramjet engine - “Operation Bumblebee.” After soaking up some history and good old southern hospitality, the group departed with a “goodie bag,” including a copy of David Stallman’s book, Echoes of Topsail.
Finally, our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer presented her power-point look at our Topsail Turtle Project, ending an “exciting day in the sea turtle hospital and with sea turtle lovers” (Bangladesh.)
Odds & Ends
Hospital open house: Daily from 2-4 PM, except Wednesday and Sunday. The gift shop is also open during those hours. We close without notice for incoming turtles and dangerous weather conditions, but generally for only a short period of time.
Please note that two incorrect phone numbers appear in various places in the “Coaster” magazine: the correct number for reporting turtle activity/strandings is: 910-470-2880.
The correct number for the hospital is: 910-328-3377.
Turtle Talks: Every Wednesday, through Labor Day. This one-hour presentation, 3:45 – 4:45 PM includes lots of hands-on materials to introduce you to the enigmatic world of sea turtles. Visuals and handouts are appropriate for ages K-adult, and bring your camera to get some great shots of your kids, or yourself.
The site is the Surf City Community Center, JH Batts Rd. (off Rt. 210 between Docksider and Gilligans.) Admission is free but donations for our turtles are appreciated. Please leave food and drinks in the car. For more information call the hospital at: 910-328-3377.
Topsail Turtle Project: Fifty and counting, much better then this time last year. You can keep track of turtle nests on our website: www.seaturtlehospital.org.
Please report all sea turtle activity (nestings, strandings, injured turtles or hatchings) to our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer @ 910-470-2880. Questions, comments or suggestions for stories:
She came to us “from the middle of nowhere.” At least that’s what summer intern, Annie Johnson, told me when I asked her where she was from. 'Nowhere' turns out to be, “somewhere near Benson.” Wherever she’s from, we’re really happy that she’s here with us, despite the fact that she calls us all “ma’am” and we’re feeling decidedly older! (Secretly, we enjoy it, but don’t tell her.)
Annie professes a life-long love for turtles, and animals of all sorts, but her first real-life encounter with a sea turtle was kind of a back door event. She was volunteering at the museum in Raleigh when we blew into town with, “Ambassador Lennie” for “Reptile & Amphibian Day.” She worked at our table while “Lennie” worked his magic on the crowd. It didn’t take her long to decide that, of the four internships she had been accepted into, ours was the one she really wanted:
“It was everything I believe in.”
With our increasing patient load, Annie gets plenty of opportunity to put her beliefs into practice. She especially enjoys wound care and seeing the dramatic improvement it makes in the healing process. She’s one of “Eight’s” physical therapists, and her biggest cheerleader when that badly damaged flipper starts to move.
Annie says the experience has been everything she hoped for and expected, and sometimes more. One “more” is the daily crowd of 400-600 people who come to see our turtles. She loves it, standing behind a tank or out at the gate regaling visitors with turtle facts and tales. It’s been her, “best experience ever” and she, “wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
She does have one practical piece of advice for would-be interns: save your money before you come so you can concentrate on your internship without having to worry about anything else. Her careful financial planning allows her to keep a perpetual smile on her face and a consistent upbeat attitude towards whatever we throw her way.
Annie will return to NC State as a junior majoring in Animal Science, pre-vet track. But in the six weeks she has left with us, she’s learning to surf, (intern Nathan is a very busy young man), and likes it so much she’s invested in her own board. Stand back and watch her ride!
Holes – can you dig it?
At first I thought our hospital visitors were exaggerating about what they’d seen; a hole in the sand that seemed to grow with each telling, kind of like that proverbial fish that got away. But after checking around, I got official confirmation, (from the Surf City Police), that there was indeed a hole not much smaller than the Grand Canyon on their beach. In fact, they measured it at nine feet. FEET! Why someone thought that was a smart thing to do had us all stumped.
That was a child-eating, pet gulping, adult break-a-leg hole and common sense should have won out when that idea came up! Picture driving down the highway and suddenly dropping into a pothole that size. If the impact can rip your car apart, imagine what can happen to flesh and blood.
Every town on Topsail Island has ordinances in place regarding the digging of holes in the sand. Holes are a very real hazard to the safety of anyone walking on the beach and are potential death traps to a mama turtle dragging her 450-pound body along trying to find a place to nest.
Briefly, here’s what our local laws say about digging holes:
North Topsail Beach: It’s unlawful to dig into the sand to a depth of greater than 12” without a responsible person in attendance at all times. All holes must be filled before leaving the beach, and no later than 30 minutes prior to sunset. The town has the option of issuing a town citation to violators.
Surf City: No holes on the beach. None. The town has the option of issuing a citation along with a $50 fine.
Topsail Beach: Holes greater than 12” deep are prohibited unless a responsible person is in attendance at all times. All holes must be filled prior to leaving the beach, and the filled area must be level with and in the same general condition as the surrounding area.
Persons 16-years-of-age or older who abandon a hole are subject to a civil penalty and a $25 fine.
We’re not saying you can’t come to the beach and have fun. But don’t let your inattention turn into tragedy for another person or critter.
Like your mama always said, put your toys away when you’re done with them. If you’re on the beach and some other kid walked away from his handiwork please kick some sand into it for the sake of both humans and animals.
Briefly noted
Hospital open house: Daily from 2-4 PM, except Wednesday and Sunday. The gift shop is also open during those hours. We close without notice for incoming turtles and dangerous weather conditions, but generally for only a short period of time.
Please note that two incorrect phone numbers appear in various places in the “Coaster” magazine: the correct number for reporting turtle activity/strandings is: 910-470-2880. The correct number for the hospital is: 910-328-3377.
Turtle Talks: Every Wednesday through Labor Day. This one-hour presentation, 3:45 – 4:45 PM includes lots of hands-on materials to introduce you to the enigmatic world of sea turtles. Visuals and handouts are appropriate for ages K-adult, and bring your camera to get some great shots of your kids, or yourself.
The site is the Surf City Community Center, JH Batts Rd. (off Rt. 210 between Docksider and Gilligans.) Admission is free but donations for our turtles are appreciated. Please leave food and drinks in the car.
For more information call the hospital at: 910-328-3377.
Topsail Turtle Project: Our beach crew continues to chase after a very active group of nesting mamas. You can keep track of their exploits on our website: www.seaturtlehospital.org.
Please report all sea turtle activity (nestings, strandings, injured turtles or hatchings) to our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer @ 910-470-2880.
A fan of radio shock jock Howard Stern was overjoyed when he thought he had spotted Stern in Beverly Hills according to the National Inquirer. When the tall, shaggy-haired figure emerged from a limo the man rushed up yelling, “Yo, Howard, I am such a huge fan, man!” Then he realized that it was actress and pop star, Cher. Cher yelled back, “What in hell did you have for breakfast this morning? A bowl of stupid?”
Speaking of love.
Have you heard about the Coral Castle of Florida? Its located twenty-five miles south of Miami on US Highway 1.
This thing was built by a Latvian immigrant named Edward Leedskainin who left his home country in 1918 when his sixteen-year-old sweetheart jilted him for another man. He came to America, bought ten acres of land in what then was a remote area and proceeded to build all by himself a Taj Mahal for the woman who left him. He spent 25, some say 28, years building his monument by himself without any special tools other than rope block and tackle. The coral blocks used in the walls and the tower alone weigh a thousand tons. It has a working sun dial, a Polaris telescope, coral rocking chairs that weigh tons and are so finely balanced that they rock.
The courtyard is full of coral furniture consisting of tables, chairs and benches. The blocks came from a piece of property he owned that was ten miles away. He did the quarry work too. The only modern convenience he used was a hired truck to haul the blocks to the building site. He didn’t own a car. He rode a bicycle three miles to buy sardines and milk. He was five feet tall and weighed a hundred pounds. Photos of him show a man with no sense of humor. He looked like a man who could have driven a hearse and made the corpse wear a seat belt on the way to the cemetery. Her name was Agnes Scuffs and she never saw or set foot in the castle built he for her. Today you can see a Burger King from the castle wall.
You can find out all you want to know about the Coral Castle by typing “Coral Castle Florida” in MSN search. (Photo courtesy of the University of South Florida)
Now you know Dept.
I saw a cartoon where a man is sitting across from fortune teller staring at the crystal ball on a table. The fortune teller tells him, “You have to shake it if you want to see snow again.”
Sign of the times.
A patient in a doctor’s examination room asks the doctor, “Can’t you diagnose me with something you have free samples for?”
Would that I could write such a phrase.
“and the weary moon in heaven lights her lamp in vain.” Anton Chekov (1860-1904) in The Seagull.
And now a failure of language.
Brenda Buescher wrote Word Fugitives in the Atlantic Monthly for a word for her husband’s uncanny ability to ask her if she needs help the precise moment she is finishing the task.
Think we’re bad off?
The annual inflation rate in Zimbzbwe is 165,000%. It took 30,000 Zimbabwean dollars to buy one American dollar in March. The government is issuing ten million dollar bills. Ten million Zimbabwean dollars will buy two rolls of toilet paper. An egg costs 5 million and it costs 1.8 billion to gas up your car.
Update on the glories of political correctness.
Today no respectable fairytale princess would have seven dwarves. Snow White would have instead an agent, stylist, life coach, personal assistant, lawyer, publicist and an accountant.
So you’re not worried about being struck by a meteor?
Scientists in Bosnia are investigating a report that a Bosnian man’s house has been hit five times by meteors. Radivoje Lajic says extra terrestrials have targeted him and he doesn’t know what he did to annoy them. The scientists are testing for unusual magnetic fields in the area. They don’t know either. I think it’s the extra terrestrials throwing rocks myself.
Advice.
“Don’t wrestle with a pig,” says Senator Bob Dole. “Both of you get dirty and the pig likes it.”
The sex scientists are at it again.
According to this bunch, great sex doesn’t last all night long. I confess, sadly, that I wouldn’t know. The optimal time is about the same time it takes to microwave a burrito. They say 13 minutes is about right. Longer and it gets tiresome. They conclude with, “Most people’s sex lives are not as exciting as other people think they are.”
So you’re an artist.
Two paintings by Towan, a 40-year-old orangutan in Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, sold for $1,300.00 at an auction. Wonder if he would do a column?
On being famous.
In a thoughtful article about fame, featuring the travails of Brittany Spears, and the paparazzi in the Atlantic Monthly, author David Samuels concludes that, “The paparazzi exist for the same reason stars exist: we want to see their pictures. Happier, wealthier, wildly more beautiful, partying harder, driving better cars, they live lives that the rest of us can only dream about, until the party ends and we are confirmed in our belief that it is better, after all, not to be them.”
Another great wordsmith.
Vanity Fair editor, Graydon Carter’s famous remark that. “9/11 had slain irony.”
If ye speak good words of truth!
Critic B. R. Myers says, “People who cannot distinguish between good and bad language are unlikely to think carefully about anything else.”
More on our fascination with medication.
Virginia Postrel says in her article, The Art of Healing in Atlantic Monthly, that in a study, “(P)atients in sunny rooms rated their stress and pain lower and took 22% less pain medication each hour.”
Fashion.
At Louboutin Boutique on Horatio Street in New York, a girl can get herself a pair of 28” leather boots for a mere $1,790.00 plus tax. Twenty-eight inches high with no laces or zippers. The salesman, Michael Nitis says, “I’m not going to lie to you. It’s going to take a good five minutes to put them on and a lot of wiggling around.” He also advises, “You don’t want to send a pair of these home with a woman who lives alone. This boot is work.”
I used to be an instructor. Maybe I could teach a class.
I could have said it better myself-Excuses for traffic accidents from the Toronto Sun.
In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole.
Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and hit a tree I don’t have.
The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intention.
I thought my window was down but I found out it was up when I put my hand through it.
I collided with a stationary truck going the other way.
The truck backed through my windshield into my wife’s face.
I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment.
I had been shopping for plants all day and was on my way home. As I reached the intersection, a hedge sprang up, obscuring my vision. I did not see the other car.
I had been driving my car for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident.
The guy was all over the road; I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him. A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.
I was thrown from my car as it left the road. I was later found in a ditch by some stray cows.
The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.
A telephone pole was approaching fast. I attempted to swerve out of its way, when it struck the front of my car.
The pedestrian had no idea which way to go, so I ran over him.
I told the police I was not injured but when I removed my hat I found out that I had a skull fracture.
I saw the slow-moving, sad faced-faced gentleman as he bounced off the hood of my car.
As I approached the intersection, a stoplight suddenly appeared in a place no stoplight had ever appeared before. I was unable to stop in time to avoid an accident.
I was sure the old fellow would never make it to the other side of the road when I struck him.
An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car, and vanished.
My car was legally parked as it backed into the other vehicle.
To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in front, I struck the pedestrian.
I was on my way to the dentist with rear end trouble when my universal joint gave way, causing me to have an accident.
I was just in the midst of changing my tire when my car ran away.
This is AD, or the politically correct, and enlightened 2108 CE.
Important scientific details about human physiology and psychology have achieved spotty dissemination among the menfolk of this vale of tears. The male population in Congo walks around these days like soccer players defending a free kick. It seems that sorcerers in this enlightened West African country have been engaged in penis snatching. A touch from said sorcerer will shrink this appendage and render it incapable of functioning in its God given “Be fruitful and multiply,” function. A few years ago a Ghanaian mob beat a dozen suspected penis snatchers to death. In Congo 13 suspects are in protective custody. A reporter explained it this way. “The threat of being left without your manhood is not taken lightly in West Africa.”
I hope they don’t deport these sorcerers to the United States. Especially during an election year.
Ever wonder how'd they do that? John Pagliuca says "It's a matter of taking lots of pictures, then learning to tweak the desired photo using your favorite photo editor." I recently had a conversation with John about what a novice I was, and I asked him a couple of basic questions on cameras, specifically F-stop and aperture. His answer was the easiest to understand, in plain english and with an apparent excitement for his art.
Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures takes their students into the field for a hands-on learning experience. Recently they have been holding workshops on the Outer Banks of NC and in Raleigh, NC. You can visit the web site at www.BCphotoadventures.com.
The day starts early on a Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventure and can end late. Participants are typically out before dawn to photograph in beautiful early-morning light, then spend the middle of the day working on images, making prints, and joining in a group critique. They're out again making pictures in late afternoon and evening light. It's really a total immersion in photography.
The workshops are small, with a maximum participant/teacher ratio of 6:1, so everyone gets a lot of personal attention. Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures differs from many other photography workshops in that the participants are also taught the basics of digital printing and learn how to make prints that match what they see on their monitors. They print their images during the workshop on an Epson Professional color digital printer.
Barefoot Contessa's motto is, "Create great photos; make great prints."
The name Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures was coined by Margo for tours she led to Alaska, the Southwest, and New England in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2007, Margo, Arnie, and John joined forces under the Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures name, and began teaching photo workshops in great natural locations such as Arches and Moab in the Southwest for stunning desert scenes; New England for beautiful fall colors; France for an intimate look at vineyards and country life in Burgundy; western Virginia for rushing spring cascades and rare wildflowers; Maine for its lighthouses and craggy coastline; and North Carolina's Outer Banks for their lighthouses, wild dunes and wide ocean vistas.
The three principals are working pros, with decades of experience in both photographing and teaching. Each brings a different perspective and knowledge to the workshops.
Arnie has been a top photojournalist and corporate photographer for many years; he started his career in Chicago working for LIFE and Time, before turning to commercial work and joining Black Star photo agency.
Margo is a long-time travel, nature, stock, and fine-art photographer. She and Arnie joined their businesses and work together on commercial and editorial work. She's also the Contessa behind Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures. When people call or email Barefoot Contessa, she's the one who answers.
John started in commercial and advertising photography, and worked as a film and video producer/director for 20 years before going back to still photography. He has a strong background in digital printing and color-managed digital workflow, as well as being a fine art photographer and printer.
All are General Members of ASMP, the American Society of Media Photographers. Margo is the current President of the ASMP's North Carolina Chapter, and John is its Vice-President. John Pagliuca lives in Raleigh, NC, Margo Pinkerton and her husband Arnie Zann live in Hillsborough, NC.
Click the links below for more information on John, Margo, and Arnie.
Capt David holding 30 inch Redfish caught by Casey Shaw
Topsail Island, NC and Surrounding areas.
Hi folks, Capt. David here with this weeks outdoors report.
The fish are biting folks. Now some of you might be thinking, Capt. David you are nuts! I went surf fishing the other day and didn't catch anything. Here's a simple explanation folks, how many people are in the water and the surf temps are in the mid 80's! The best thing I can suggest is to fish at night. No crowds and the beach is quiet.
Well the sound is hopping with the Reds now and they are hitting everything! Topwater baits, live bait, jigs, all you have to do is find a school of fish and that ain't hard folks! Look around creek mouths and along points. That's also a good place to find a nice Flounder as well. Up in the river the Speckled Trout are still biting and Reds are everywhere.
Offshore it's happening folks, from the beach on out anything is possible right now. Sails, Kings, Mahi, Tarpon and cobia are on the reefs and ledges. Bottom fishing is good with lots of Black sea bass and Snappers. Grouper are biting as well. Folks, you need to go fishing! I can't tell you how much good it will do your spirit! Get the wife and kids and go fishing while you can.
Now on to a little bit of instruction on rigs and baits. Now I ain't going to pretend that I know everything but I will share what works for me. Two basic rigs will catch just about everything that swims in the surf or sound. Number 1 is the 2 hook bottom rig. With a 2-3 ounce sinker and 2 hooks above it at diffent depths is a great rig for the surf or sound. According to what you are after, you can bait up with cut bait or live bait. Cut bait works best for Pompano, Spots, Grunts and Mullet. Live minnows will tempt Red drum, Flounder, Trout and Blues. All the bait and tackle shops around can help you get what you need.
Gig number 2 is my favorite. The good old Carolina rig. This rig consists of a weight sliding on the main line above a swivel,then about an 18-24 inch leader of 30 lb test mono, with a circle hook on the end. Put a fat Finger mullet or pogey on it and throw it next to the bank or dock and hang on! Fish it in a foot or two of water because thats where the fish are folks. I'm catching 30 inch Redfish in 12 inches of water, No bull! Right now the bait is on the bank and thats where the big fish are too. Well thats it for this week so be safe and take a kid fishing!
Capt. David
About the author: Capt. David Baxley Lifetime sportsman and fisherman. Fishing Topsail area for 13 years. Full time charter fishing guide specializing in Red drum and Flounder. Light tackle,shallow water,live bait fishing. Owner of Headhunter Outdoors Fishing Charters at Topsail Phone 910-329-0818. Visit Davids web site at http://www.headhunteroutdoors.com/.
Let freedom ring, boom and sparkle! This year's 4th of July celebration was nothing less than spectacular as the Topsail area celebrated the independence of our nation. The festivities began on July 3rd at 6 PM at Soundside Park with a speech by Surf City Mayor Zander Guy and then followed with a concert performed by The Breeze Band.
At 9:10 PM the traditional fireworks show began and lasted until 9:45 PM. Nothing less than spectacular. The young and the young at heart enjoyed the brilliant display symbolizing our independence and freedom won so many years ago. This tradition has continued for over 100 years and continues today as our men and women in the armed forces fight for our "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
The Town of Holly Ridge celebrated our independence on July 4th at the Municipal Park. This celebration is traditionally known as the 4 town celebration for Holly Ridge, North Topsail Beach, Surf City, and Topsail Beach. Once again another spectacular display of our commitment to "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…" as written by Thomas Jefferson.
Why was the Declaration of Independence written? In Jefferson's words, the Declaration was written, "In order to place before mankind the common sense of the matter in terms so plain and simple as to command their assent."
Of the 13 colonies that comprised the Continental Congress in 1776, North Carolina was represented by William Hooper who resided in Wilmington, NC and began representation of Wilmington in the North Carolina General Assembly in 1773, Joseph Hewes of Wilmington who was elected to the Committee of Correspondence and the Continental Congress in 1775, and John Penn of Granville County, North Carolina was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775. All of these men died before the age of 50 and for the better part of their lives, gave service to our country… these United States of America.
A special "Thank You" to our men and women wherever you may be serving.
John Pagliuca has been a commercial photographer and filmmaker for over 30 years. John is a member of the Professional Photographers of America and a General Member of the American Society of Media Photographers. He currently serves on the Board of the North Carolina Chapter of ASMP. John is also a founding member and instructor for Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures.
Hi folks, Capt. David here with this weeks outdoors report.
I really need to come up with a new opening line,don't I? Well anyway lets talk fishing. Folks, the Reds are everywhere and if you ain't catching them you must be fishing too deep. This time of the year the schools of baitfish are up in the shallow water. If you want to know how shallow, knee deep or less! The Flounder are right up on the bank too!
Folks a Finger Mullet on a Carolina rig can't be beat right now. Throw that sucker up next just about any grass bank and you wait for the bite. Heck, I even caught a 4 lb Speckled Trout out of a school of big Redfish last week. If it swims and is in the water, it's biting now. Bonnethead sharks are around as well as the everpresent Bluefish. Some of the Blues are huge too.
The surf and piers are giving up everything for Pompano to Kings and Tarpon. Cobia are on the reefs and are suckers for a live crab. Spanish are thick and the artificial reefs and ledges are full of Black Bass. Farther out the sailfish are showing up and some Mahi are 10-15 miles out.
The weather and this dad-blamed wind is screwing up everyones fun so remember to check the weather forecast and the marine forecast before you go out the inlet. Don't let someone else talk you into going against your better judgement. Just because the boat can take it don't mean hanging on to it with both hands and feet is fun. Stupidity will kill you folks! Remember the Master of the vessel is responsible for everything. Don't meet the Coast Guard the wrong way and wind up on the evening news!
Well thats it for this week, so remember to be safe and come back alive.
Oh before I forget, Take a kid fishing ya'll!
Capt. David
About the author: Capt. David Baxley Lifetime sportsman and fisherman. Fishing Topsail area for 13 years. Full time charter fishing guide specializing in Red drum and Flounder. Light tackle,shallow water,live bait fishing. Owner of Headhunter Outdoors Fishing Charters at Topsail Phone 910-329-0818. Visit Davids web site at http://www.headhunteroutdoors.com/.
