Scenes From My Life (with pictures!)

Because everyone is a show-off at heart, right?

In 1291, despite a hard-fought defense, the Knights of St. John (the Hospitallers) were defeated in the siege of Acre.  The city of Acre (ah-cray) was the last stronghold of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.  Losing Acre was the true beginning of the end for the Christian Crusades even though the fighting would continue spasmodically for nearly 300 years more.  I had once considered getting this scene tattooed on my body, but it would need to be exceptionally large to shoe the necessary detail.  It remains a favorite illustration of mine. 

 

 
This is a picture of me when I was 24 years old.  I was stationed at the MArine Barracks in Washington, DC.  Apparently one of my Marine buddies has been holding on to it ever since (thanks, Matt!) .  He sent it to me via facebook a few weeks ago.  I don't suppose I need to tell you what we were all up to that day.  Look at me.  I was young!

 

 
Fast forward to last Wednesday.  This picture was taken during and Active Shooter training exercise, about two miles away from where the previous picture was taken.

 

 
Another view.  I had some time to kill while the boss was doing a de-brief.

 

 
This is an honest-to-God picture of a chicken crossing a road.  It was taken with my Blackberry in Bridgewater, Virginia, near my daughter's Girl Scout Camp this summer.

 

 
This is Saint Paul Lutheran Church, in Mount Solon, Virginia.  This little tiny church is off of what passes for the beaten track in a beautiful wooded area not far from my daughter's camp, and only about 2 hours from Washingtn, DC.

 

 
This isn't really a surprise in rural Virginia, but I thought I would show you what some peope still feel. 

So there you are, a few scenes from my life to show you on a Sunday morning as I wait for Mrs GF and Soccergirl to finish getting ready for church.  Mrs. GF is doing something to her hair (which she got cut yesterday), and Soccergirl is in the shower singing Kelly Clarkson's "My life would suck without you"

 

See y'all tomorrow... I have a book review to do, followed by an interview!

Aloha!