Beech Tree News Network

Competition may be defined as the process of trying to beat or do better than others. It may involve a planned or an unplanned activity. We see competitions every day, whether it’s a foot race between children or one driver pulling out in front of another. Competitions surround us.

My husband, Garey, measures everything.  He will come into the room where I’m reading and say something like, “I think I can make room between the air compressor and the first kiln to make room for your second kiln.  I measured, and I’m about two inches short, but I can move the first kiln toward the door a bit and the air compressor toward the wall.”

Since I graduated college last winter I have touched base with many artistic styles and disciplines with my photography. You'd be shocked at just how many schools of thought exist simply for photo styles. From panoramic to high speed photography, HDR priority to spectacular monochromatic styles, there are many specific styles. However I am not here this week to discuss any of those. This week I will be featuring a style known as Tilt-shift. 

Douglas Adams said, “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” Some of life’s important events include weddings, graduations, and births. Important events may also include tragedies. Both the good and the bad affect us. Recently, I’ve been thinking about my life, dwelling on the happy moments.
I asked friends and family what little things in life make them happy. Those who answered were both male and female, ranging in age from 12 to 70 something. Their responses are below:
•    Pictures of grandchildren playing

A plain-spoken young woman asked a college professor, “What the devil is sin?”   

On Sunday mornings, I rise at five a.m., have my coffee and Pop Tart, wake my husband, Garey, and we head out to pick up our papers for the Sunday morning paper route.  On the way, Garey always sings some little diddy that becomes stuck in my head for the rest of the day.  This particular morning, it’s “Hot Dog! Hot Dog! Hot Diggity Dog!” (from the Mickey Mouse club—one of our granddaughter’s favorite viewings).

What a beautiful tease of fall weather huh? WOW, I was ready for a break from the heat. It will soon be time for the changing of the colors, by far my favorite time of year for picture taking. But the bees are still around to remind us, there's still more summer yet.

Earlier this week I stopped by Aberdeen Post Office to pick up my mail and pay my box rent for the year.  I have what is called a number 3 box (large) and the cost is $100 per year.  The box rent has continued to increase over the last few years, so I decided to check the price of postal boxes in other parts of the county.  To my surprise, that same box, I pay $100 at Aberdeen, costs $76 in Morgantown, $76 in Woodbury, $100 at Jetson and $100 at Dunbar. Shouldn’t it cost same everywhere in Butler County? 

The passing of time is really a gift from God, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.  Things get easier with time, save for a select few things.  One of those is the tragic events of September 11, 2001.  I sit here writing this on September 11, 2012.  Has it really been eleven years? That is so hard to believe. 

Have you ever thought, “What was I thinking?” I have asked myself that question several times. Sometimes I act before I think, and sometimes I regret doing that.