Peace and Popsicles

Free ferry ride back to Hatteras Island from Ocracoke Island. ...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:25:06 -0400

Free ferry ride back to Hatteras Island from Ocracoke Island. The current ferry route is about 25 minutes longer than normal because Hurricane Sandy restructured the channel. Dredging will hopefully allow the normal ferry route to resume soon, otherwise a fee may be placed on this ferry that transports several thousand cars a day during the summer months.

Feeding the gulls on the NC 12 ferry.

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:17:53 -0400

Feeding the gulls on the NC 12 ferry.

Photo

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 22:11:58 -0500

Wisconsin winter wonderland

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 22:08:45 -0500

Wisconsin winter wonderland

I had the pleasure this past summer to take the high-speed ferry...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:28:50 -0500

I had the pleasure this past summer to take the high-speed ferry to Nantucket Island, off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It was a different world with its cobbled streets, wood-shingled houses, abundant whale pants, and whaling history. One place I had wanted to visit for years was the Nantucket Whaling Museum, which details the island’s roller coaster dependency on the hunting of Sperm Whales throughout the 1800s. It was well worth the wait, especially to marvel at the size of the skeleton of a baby Sperm Whale hanging in the museum’s great room.

Of course the beaches of Nantucket were not to be missed. At the suggestion of our Inn Keeper, we took the Wave bus to Siasconset Beach on the eastern side of the island. It was pleasantly secluded, however, the tide was churning in an odd red plant that a regular islander said rolls in every few summers to this side of the island. Thus, we didn’t make it far into the water, leaving lots of time for a lengthy stroll on the beach.

Photo

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:14:10 -0500

All paths lead to the ocean, at least they should.

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:10:00 -0500

All paths lead to the ocean, at least they should.

A busy beach

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:03:59 -0500

A busy beach

Sconset Beach, Nantucket, Massachusetts

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:01:23 -0500

Sconset Beach, Nantucket, Massachusetts

Cruising in to Nantucket

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 19:57:12 -0500

Cruising in to Nantucket

staysandstories: Christian Group Shows Up To Chicago Gay Pride...

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 15:55:16 -0400

staysandstories:

Christian Group Shows Up To Chicago Gay Pride Holding Apologetic Signs

Since seeing this photo, a friend of mine had introduced me to more of the story. A man, by the name of Nathan, is the one you see above hugging the gay guy in his underwear, or Tristan rather. Well, Nathan wrote a blog about this day and this moment and what his and his fellow church-goers had done. Here is what he had to say:

I hugged a man in his underwear. I think Jesus would have too.

I spent the day at Chicago’s Pride Parade. Some friends and I, with The Marin Foundation, wore shirts with “I’m Sorry” written on it. We had signs that said, “I’m sorry that Christians judge you,” “I’m sorry the way churches have treated you,” “I used to be a bible-banging homophobe, sorry.” We wanted to be an alternative Christian voice from the protestors that were there speaking hate into megaphones.

What I loved most about the day is when people “got it.” I loved watching people’s faces as they saw our shirts, read the signs, and looked back at us. Responses were incredible. Some people blew us kisses, some hugged us, some screamed thank you. A couple ladies walked up and said we were the best thing they had seen all day. I wish I had counted how many people hugged me. One guy in particular softly said, “Well, I forgive you.”

Watching people recognize our apology brought me to tears many times. It was reconciliation personified.

My favorite though was a gentleman who was dancing on a float. He was dressed solely in white underwear and had a pack of abs like no one else. As he was dancing on the float, he noticed us and jokingly yelled, “What are you sorry for? It’s pride!” I pointed to our signs and watched him read them.

Then it clicked.

Then he got it.

He stopped dancing. He looked at all of us standing there. A look of utter seriousness came across his face. And as the float passed us he jumped off of it and ran towards us. In all his sweaty beautiful abs of steal, he hugged me and whispered, “thank you.”

Before I had even let go, another guy ran up to me, kissed me on the cheek, and gave me the biggest bear hug ever. I almost had the wind knocked out of me; it was one of those hugs.

This is why I do what I do. This is why I will continue to do what I do. Reconciliation was personified.

I think a lot of people would stop at the whole “man in his underwear dancing” part. That seems to be the most controversial. It’s what makes the evening news. It’s the stereotype most people have in their minds about Pride.

Sadly, most Christians want to run from such a sight rather than engage it. Most Christian won’t even learn if that person dancing in his underwear has a name. Well, he does. His name is Tristan.

However, I think Jesus would have hugged him too. It’s exactly what I read throughout scripture: Jesus hanging out with people that religious people would flee from. Correlation between then and now? I think so.

Acceptance is one thing. Reconciliation is another. Sure at Pride, everyone is accepted (except perhaps the protestors). There are churches that say they accept all. There are business that say the accept everyone. But acceptance isn’t enough. Reconciliation is.

But there isn’t always reconciliation. And when there isn’t reconciliation, there isn’t full acceptance. Reconciliation is more painful; it’s more difficult. Reconciliation forces one to remember the wrongs committed and relive constant pain. Yet it’s more powerful and transformational because two parties that should not be together and have every right to hate one another come together for the good of one another, for forgiveness, reconciliation, unity.

What I saw and experienced at Pride 2010 was the beginning of reconciliation. It was in the shocked faces of gay men and women who did not ever think Christians would apologize to them.

What I saw and experienced at Pride 2010 was the personification of reconciliation. It was in the hugs and kisses I received, in the “thank you’s” and waves, in the smiles and kisses blown.

I hugged a man in his underwear. I hugged him tightly. And I am proud.

Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:22:08 -0400

Last week a few friends and I headed West to Shelby, North Carolina, for some down home BBQ. We heard about the restaurant from a fellow teacher and then saw it mentioned in Southern Living’s BBQ Top Ten and knew it had to be on the summer 2012 to-do list. And let me tell you, I’d put it on another to-do list in a heartbeat.

Bridges smokes their pork in smokehouse behind the restaurant and the result is a tender meat served either chopped or sliced. There is no menu, just a list of the different trays and plates that your server will be able to clarify in a sweet southern accent. I ordered a chopped BBQ plate that came with fries, baked beans, coleslaw, hush puppies and an extra cup of sauce. And every BBQ lover knows the sauce is key. Bridges has the vinegar flavoring of a North Carolina style sauce mixed with a sweet BBQ sauce, the result is a delicious tangy, sweet combination that has a thicker consistency than the traditional vinegar sauce. The sauce is also mixed into the coleslaw for a fresh spin on a classic side.

Overall, Bridges had a great, small town feel with big time taste. We three diners agreed it was some of the best barbecue we’ve ever had, and the sweet tea wasn’t bad either.

Kure Beach, North Carolina

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 20:59:56 -0400

Kure Beach, North Carolina

After the fog lifted.

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:52:54 -0500

After the fog lifted.

Foggy morning at the Latta Plantation.

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:18:52 -0500

Foggy morning at the Latta Plantation.

Morning web at the Latta Plantation.

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:17:14 -0500

Morning web at the Latta Plantation.

Rockport Boats

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 23:27:53 -0400

Rockport Boats

Rockport Harbor

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:59:08 -0400

Rockport Harbor

Rockport, Massachusetts near the quarry.

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:54:54 -0400

Rockport, Massachusetts near the quarry.

Photo

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:15:34 -0400