A Short Vacation

So I was able to take a couple of days of vacation. On Wednesday evening we went into the Smokies with my cousin and her family. It was drizzling as we were driving up. When we got to the first overlook of the Gatlinburg bypass we were greeted by the sight of this beautiful rainbow.

It faded rather quickly and this was my last shot where it is at all visible. It was a beautiful view even though it was short.

We also went on a short hike on one of the trails. I have no idea who this couple is, but I loved the shot of them sitting on the rocks just enjoying the river on a summer day.


On Friday, I went to Dollywod to enjoy the free refills of popcorn and soda with my 25th anniversary mugs. I also wanted to play with taking some photographs of the planter people they have scattered throughout the park for Kid's Fest. This was also my first attempt at making a collage of multiple photos. It took me all Saturday night, but I was happy with the end result.


I also took pictures of a number of flowers while wandering about the park between shows.

It was a hot couple of days. But I enjoyed them nonetheless, and I hope you enjoy the photos. It was a short staycation, but I think one of the most refreshing vacations I've had.

Just feel like blogging tonight

I'm not sure why but after reading some others' posts tonight, I just feel like putting in an entry tonight. I am watching Biggest Loser tonight. Sometimes I wish I could go on the show, but I don't think in this economy and the way things are that I could take the time from work. And heck, who knows if I could get even get on. I lost a bunch of weight years ago, and was down to 150 pounds. Then, well, life happened. I regained memories of traumatic events in my childhood, and I ate for comfort. I still eat for comfort. But also, weight loss requires money. Eating healthy is not cheap. Any kind of work out that I am interested in costs money, and well we don't have it. At some point, I think I will make an effort again to lose it, but well that time isn't now. For now, I am mostly just trying to get out a little more. Stay active enough to not end up entirely out of shape. And maybe sometime soon, I can get that Wii and at least get a little bit of daily exercise in.

And now, I just thought I would post a few of my favorite pics from trips I have made in the past.

This is from my 2007 birthday trip to NYC. It was a really great trip. I saw 5 broadway shows, and took in alot of the sites. This photo was taken at the top of Empire State Building. That is Central Park behind me. I would not have gone there. It was last morning and I had a ticket to a taping of Good Morning America. But all the hosts had flown out for a shooting, and only Sam the weather guy was going to be there. So I went to the Empire State Building instead. I was quite happy, if quite cold, with the choice. It was really just a great and fun trip.

This is from a November 2007 work trip to NYC. I love it when I get to travel for work. I took this inside Central Park. I just liked how it turned out with the tree framing the right side of the photo and the building peeking in at the background. I used this as a desktop background for quite awhile.

This is from my birthday trip in 2008. I went to Disney World for my 33rd birthday. This was when my mom and I swam in their aquarium. It was an expensive but totally awesome experience. You stay on the top of the water with scuba equipment for breathing so you can just look in the water the whole time. There are tons of fish, some non-lethal sharks, and turtles. Right before the end of our time, I had a huge turtle swim right under me. I think it was less than two feet from me. I think it was coolest experience I have ever had.


For my 34th birthday, money was a little tight, so we just came here to the Smokies from Nashville. While here, I went on horseback ride. These are my favorite two pictures from that trip. I love riding a horse. If I had a way, I would go every day. I took a horsemanship class in college. It was one of the best classes I took while in college. I really just plain love horses. But it too is just one of those things that cost money, so my opportunity to enjoy them is very limited. We also went to Dixie Stampede for my birthday. A fun show that has a lot of horses. The food is also very good. It is probably my favorite show in Pigeon Forge, which is saying alot considering how many options there are for a show here.





















These three photos are from my work trip to Phoenix, AZ in July of 2009. (Yeah, not the best time of year to visit Phoenix, AZ.) I spent my own money to rent a car and take an afternoon and evening to drive out to the Grand Canyon. It was a totally awesome trip. My pictures do not even come close to capturing the beauty that I saw and felt on that trip. I love living here in the Smokies. But if I had to pick another place I would like to live, it might be Flagstaff. It's too hot in Phoenix for me, but Flagstaff was like 10 or 15 degrees cooler. And there is just a magnificent beauty all around it. A different beauty than here in the Smokies, but just as beautiful nonetheless.

So I have satisfied my urge to blog. I hope you have enjoyed the reading and the pictures.

Welcome to My Adventures in the Smokies

I recently moved to near The Smoky Mountain National Park, and I have been trying to think a topic to blog about. Thus, we now have my Adventures in the Smokies blog. It will be mostly about the forays I make into the Smokies and the surrounding areas, mostly on the weekends.

I am an amateur photographer and just love to take pictures. In the month I have been here, I have taken over 1000 photographs. Now of those, I only think just under 100 are good enough to show to the public. I will keep the photographs to my Zazzle page so that they cannot be stolen, but I will post my videos here. Now the videos are not as good because I don't have a steady hand. But they will give you an idea of the beautiful places in the area.

I do have a weakness for the beauty in rivers and waterfalls, so there will be more of that than anything else most likely. Here is one of my videos from my short foray up the Rainbow Falls Trail.


Well, I hope you enjoy this blog. The Smoky Mountain National Park and the tourist attractions near it are a great place to visit or live. I hope to be able to share with at least a glimpse of the beauty and fun in the area.