Sometimes I...

...use the word painted in graffiti as my title, but I didn't really want a post titled "urine". It's a 2 shot panorama, so click on the picture for a better view.

Gone, gone, gone

The Imagesmith used a Jack Johnson song for the title of one of his blog posts. I figured I'd do the same. My daughter and I got up early this morning so we could get a good spot for the implosion. We didn't go to the spot we had originally planned on. It was up on the hill above Kanawha Turnpike. We decided we wanted to be close to the boom. We didn't do too bad. Once we got our spot we had to stand about an hour before the blast. My daughter got a video and I got stills. I'll post the video later.

Union Carbide Building 82

Only a few hours left now. My daughter and I went out last Sunday and scouted out some possible viewing locations to watch the implosion. We've decided on a spot with a great view but it's a little far away. I hope we get some good shots tomorrow morning.

Columbia, SC

It was exactly one year ago when I got these photos. We were on our way down to Beaufort, SC to visit my wife's dad. We had stopped in Columbia to get something to eat. After we ate I was waiting on traffic so I could turn out of the parking lot when I saw a Columbia Fire Dept. engine sitting in traffic at a stop light. Just as the light turned the engine flipped his emergency lights and siren on. Being a curious firefighter I said, "man, we'll follow him for a minute." My daughter said, "woo hoo!" and my wife said "hmm". When I turned right out of the lot to follow I looked up and saw a big black column of smoke just a few blocks from where we were. We pulled up right as the engine got there. We parked out of the way so we wouldn't get stuck by the hydrant line and my daughter and I got out and got a bunch of pictures while the guys went to work. The house was in a nice little neighborhood but appeared to be vacant.

Look Up

My wife had forgotten a couple of things she needed at work today, so after I dropped our daughter off at school I headed to Charleston to take them to her. Since I didn't want to waste such a nice morning I figured I'd walk a couple miles around town.

Cox's Barber Shop

Look close and you can see me and my gal.

Washin' Windows

311

After 54 straight hours at the fire station (a record for me) I was getting a little bored and was ready to go home.

Smith Mountain Lake House Fire

One of my buddies (Brandon Price) from work had gone to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia for a few days vacation. He got these pictures Friday evening. When he showed them to me I said that it would probably be on the news somewhere down there. I Googled it and found it on WSLS Channel 10 in Roanoke. Click here to read the report and watch a video. It's quite an interesting story. Thanks Brandon, for letting me post your pictures.

One's

I was gonna post this the other day and forgot.

Capitol Snowfall

B&W Snow

John William Cabell

I was walking around in Springhill Cemetery yesterday and found this headstone. John Cabell was the first firefighter on Charleston Fire Department to be killed in the line of duty. I did a little research and found that he was killed responding to a fire. The steamer and the team of horses (probably similar to the one shown) he was on was struck by a streetcar.

More Firehouse Cookin'

Grilled chicken breast seasoned with basil, rosemary, thyme, garlic and lime served on grilled pineapple. Steamed broccoli and asparagus with brown rice. Man was it good.

Strawberry Road

Uneeda Biscuit

I was checking out Clayton Spangler's latest blog post called "Sign o' The Time". I like old painted signs too. This one is in Lexington, KY.

Shawnee Sunset

Three vertical shot panorama.

Masonry Stars

If I had to guess, most people don't pay much attention to these things and if they do they probably think they're just decoration. They were used for structural reinforcement in the 18th and 19th centuries. Most of the country calls them masonry stars, star anchors or rafter tie plates (some are just square), but on the west coast they call them earthquake stars or washers. All they really are is a great big washer that is slipped over a metal tie rod and is secured with a nut. The rod extends into a masonry building to help reinforce the walls. Sometimes the rod will go all the way through to the other side and will have a star on the other end. The rod has a turnbuckle along it's length somewhere so tension can be applied to the walls to prevent them from bowing outward. I took these while we were in Lexington, KY this weekend.

Look Up. Lexington Version.

View From Our Hotel

The view from out 8th floor room at the Hyatt in Lexington, KY. I can't decide whether I like the color or the B&W better.

Thursday Evening Behind Lowe's

Click on the photo for a better view. 4 shot panorama.

I call this...

...the "Heart of West Virginia". Somebody had cut down a sycamore tree at Kanawha State Forest and this what the heart wood looked like.

First Ave., Saint Albans

SAFD Captains Dwight Pettry, John Philpott and Firefighter Brian Sharp finish up overhauling at a house fire on First Ave. Capt. Philpott was the Fire Department Shift Commander today and was out in the area when he noticed the smoke coming from the house.

Old Engine

This old engine was drug into the woods a couple of years ago and just left by the trail. It must have been quite a haul 'cause it's pretty much out in the middle of nowhere.

Home

14 degrees this morning.

B Street Sunset

Click on the picture for a better view. 4 shot panorama.

Hibachi

We went to Hibachi last night with some friends. It's the first time Kim and I had ever been. I tried to get a couple of pictures but they didn't turn out. The food was really good though.