Photoblog: Personal fave shots of 2008 thus far

I've literally taken thousands of shots already this year, but here are a few of my favorites, in no particular order. I think I'm getting a little better at this whole Aviation Photography thing, now if only Air & Space would offer me a job, lol. Of course, that could just be my ego talking. I personally took all these, or had someone take it on my behalf for the ones I am in, with my camera, a Minolta Maxxum 50.
If you want to know where any of these were taken, just ask. WHEN is always in the lower left corner of each shot.
Now I'll shut up and let the images talk....

A Moment of Silence

A Moment of Silence, Please, so we can all take a few moments to remember that it's not just "another day off work". Many of you on here are active or former military, or military Brats, so we all know all to well what Memorial Day is truly about. It's about remembering those who fell to protect those things we hold dear. Which is why I changed my profile picture on both Myspace and Facebook. What I have up NOW is the symbol of the Idea that all those men and women, who we should be thinking about this weekend, died to protect. Yes, I may bitch a lot about the things that are wrong with this country...but believe me, I know how good it truly is, having lived in others.So I ask you, my loved ones, my friends, to take a momen of silence, somewhere this weekent, and honor those that have fallen for your freedoms.Ben, I know you're heading over to see Scott. Though I just saw him a couple weeks ago, say hello for me, ok?
I took the first and second pics, thanks to Christine for finding the third one, which I promptly stole ;)

quick hit for the day

Has anyone else noticed how much Hillary Clinton looks like Robin Williams in drag???

Because I'm annoyed...

You know, nothing ruins an event like Rednecks can. Uncouth, uncultured, unintelligent, and, a lot of the time, unwashed, these people can take something I truly enjoy and make me not want to go.
So, for all of you who are fans of my aviation photography, you can thank the Redneck Population of Lakeland (about 95% of that "city") for my NOT going to Sun N Fun this year and for your not getting to see any shots of the USAF Thunderbirds in action.

As many of you know, I work right next to Lakelend Linder Regional Airport, where they host Sun N Fun every year.

It runs for just about a week, and I had originally planned to go on friday, but I was not feeling well, so I decided, since I had to work yesterday, that i would go today instead.

That was BEFORE I went to get lunch at work yesterday. The Thunderbirds were flying. Anytime one of the planes was in sight, the idiot rednecks STOPPED DRIVING in the middle of the road I was on (A state highway if you were curious) to look.

Ok, maybe I'm a little used to it, having grown up on Air Force bases most of my life, but come the fuck on, people. You are DRIVING. You do not STOP to watch the pretty jets. That's called getting killed.

Then, back at work, about 300 of the lowlifes had made our parking lot into the set of Hee-Haw, without the humour.

And then proceeded to argue with ME when I tried to get through their stupid asses to park.

At my JOB.

I didn't swing on anyone, but it was a near thing.

And, to top it all off, one of them kept telling the others that he was "Glad the Blue Angels could come and bring their F-22s."

Lemme show ya something real quick.

United States Air Force Thunderbirds F-16A Fighting Falcon

US Navy Blue Angels F/A-18C Hornet

USAF F-22A Raptor (Not IN the Navy arsenal and not ON any demo teams)

How can you POSSIBLY mistake the TOP aircraft for the bottom one?

Hmm?

Um. Yeah. Like I said, Ignorance.

So, maybe not everyone knows what aircraft you are looking at. I'm cool with that. Really, I am. What I am NOT cool with is when these SAME people try to convince everyone else that they are experts in the area.

And then, guess what...they are invariably the morons that the local news is going to interview about "what they thought about the airshow".

It's always them or the whiney bitches (male or female, i don't discriminate about bitches) that tell people that the aircraft are making them sick and the noise is terrible. Ok. Two things. ONE: The jets and propjobs at Sun N Fun do not put enough pollutants in the air in that one week to affect you. Period. Two. The airport has been there doing this airshow for 34 years. You moved in 4 years ago. Fuckoff (really, are you Russian?)((Old Robin Williams joke, people)), you know it happens every year.

So, Thank you to the Lakeland Redneck Society for turning me off on going to an airshow.

Fucking idiots.

I hate this damn state.

Trying to find a job so I can move back into the New England area or Denver.

That is all.

Quote of the Day

"Men are men, most of them prefer venality, given a choice, and the world is one great latrine. The basest elements survive and float to the surface sooner or later to offend the eyes of others."
Quote from a book. $50 to the person who can name either the book, series, or author.
So, about the quote. Thoughts? Reactions?

Anniversary

Scott Michael Kimsey

Jan 23 1976-March 19, 2003

Five Years

How on earth has it been five years already?
It's a scary thought.

One of my best friends died on this day, Five Years ago

Still feels like yesterday in my heart.

He'll always be with us, We all know that

But it definitely seems a darker place without the Light that was Scottie

He wasn't a perfect man, our little SB, god knows, but then again, who is?

But he was a good man, a true friend
and, in a very real way, the heart of our little group

I just find it hard to understand why someone like me

Who has done so much that is unacceptable or hard to forgive in this life
Is still here and able to be writing this

when someone who was actually CONTRIBUTING and making a difference in others' lives

has been taken from us all

I know I can never bring him back

But as long as I'm alive, he'll never truly leave

Love and miss you Scott "SB" Kimsey

Missing My Friends

Hmm. Tittle says it all. Everyone is either in a different state, or in a different city and working funkadelic hours opposite mine. Cannot wait to start travelling in a couple months here visiting friends and family. Also, in a few more months, come up on 2yrs at GEICO and will be eligible to change regions. Can't wait to get the hell out of Florida. This place sucks and I've had very little good happen to me here. About the only GOOD thing about Florida is having met Christine here.....damnit I hate feeling alone. ;(