Breath our scents, walk our landscape, hear our melodic dialects, delight in our savory morsels, touch each rich texture, and the southern essence remains a mystery. The ethereal south, unfathomable to the five senses, lives in the heart. If you believe in magic, and can survive the devastating passions of an open heart, just possibly, you stand a chance of living a moment as a southerner. Most people aren't brave enough to be southerners, even the ones that are.

Monday, August 29, 2016

Three Years Later and Here I Am

My first post since 2013, and you would think that I have much to catch up.  I do, but I'm not going to all at once.  But, here is a small taste.

The job from 2012, was fun, but made no money, and actually cost me more than I netted after taxes.  When the job changed to not be fun anymore, I left it, and as threatened before, opened my own business.  So far, it actually makes money.  Not much, but it does turn a small profit with each assignment.  That is at least an improvement over working for someone else, and my out of pocket expenses each day costing me more than my net take home pay.

It's been a hot and humid summer this 2016, and I am looking forward, I think, for the first time in my life, to a cool autumn and cold winter.  I usually don't like cold weather, but this year's humidity and heat has beat me down like no other year.  I am ready to brave the cold.

I obtained my lifetime hunting and fishing license this past year, but so far have only made actual use of it for fishing once, and caught nothing.  Whether or not I bag any game this winter, the license will afford me the legality of exploring the woodlands this hunting season from early morning to late evening if I wish, while armed against whatever beasties that may be lurking there.  Much like my fishing trips, hunting for me is most often not about what I bring back with me, but what I carried with me and left behind on my return.  Stress, misplaced priorities, out of proportion worries and concerns, all seem to easily get left behind at the edge of a hunting blind, shore line, or forest edge.  Hopefully I'll take more pictures also, and post the better of them here.

I also started making videos this year and posting them on YouTube.  My editing software leaves much to be desired when it comes to sound, and I have made many blunders with my first few videos.  I hope to improve the videos this fall and winter.  If you are interested, you can search YouTube for Uncle Dread.  New videos will definitely be about the outdoors, bushcraft, survival, etc.  I may try to post some here, if that is possible.

I am deeply worried about this year's election of the President of the United States.  That's all I will say about it here, since I am already expressing my views on that pretty strongly in other venues.

More on life here beneath the Carolina moon later.  After my long absence from here, I don't want to over stay my welcome on my first return visit.

Dread


Friday, January 11, 2013

Sky Eagles

There's no pictures with this post.  I was too awe struck to think of raising the camera.  Cruising up 108 and somewhere off the beaten path in Polk County North Carolina, I looked up to see a bald eagle soaring and circling to ride a thermal up. I pulled off the road to watch.  Another eagle joined the first and they began to call out to each other, as they continued circling the thermal updraft.  Eventually, they reached a fairly high altitude and drifted away.  This was my first fully confirmed spotting of a bald eagle in the wild.  The other two spottings were at such a great distance that I couldn't confirm with confidence that I had indeed spotted an eagle.  This time it was up close, with no doubt left, and two of them at that!  What an amazing and beautiful sight! 

To bad I missed taking pictures.  No doubt, you've seen pictures of eagles though.  I have seen pictures of eagles; plenty of them.  But, never before had I seen a live eagle in the wild.  It's one of those, you had to be there to appreciate it things.  That's one more check mark on my bucket list.

And to think that it happened, right here, beneath the Carolina moon.

Dread

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Bright Spot of 2012

I tried retirement this year.  It stank!  So, I took another job, but I think it is actually costing me more to work than I am making.  I must have one of those jobs the Obama administration brags all the time about creating.  Its not a job!  It's a tax!

I may have to open my own business so that I can at least benefit from the tax write off of loosing money while working my tushie off.  More on this later as it progresses.  Meanwhile I'm enjoying an unusually mild Christmas season.  Lower heating bills!  Lower income!  Shorter shopping lists!

Some things are looking up though.  The price of groceries, the cost of healthcare, homeowner's insurance premiums, auto insurance premiums, clothing costs, electric costs.  Yep.  All up!  As for the folks who call this prosperity?  They can have my share!

Merry Christmas!  The one bright spot of 2012!

Dread

Saturday, September 08, 2012

Could This Be the Opportunity of My and Your Lifetime?

I came across this while looking into methods of making money on-line.  I am initially impressed and fully intending to spend a little time trying various approaches.  This appears to be one of the stronger approaches.  http://clicks2offers.go2jump.org/SHYuK
There is a giant, viral, marketing, loop hole out there! Learn how to earn $65,000+ in 30 days. Endless Traffic, Limitless Possibilities. Learn a proven system that anybody can profit from. Look up their track record!  This is not a get rich easy and quick scheme.  It is HARD work.  But you do it mostly at your computer with your internet connection.  Those two assets you already have, which keeps your investment at a real minimum.  If you can use a computer, and an internet browser, then there is no reason you can't learn this!  It will take effort on your part, but how much effort do you put into a job that you don't even like working for a boss you don't even like?  Just give this a look over!  You owe yourself the exposure to this opportunity of a life time!  http://clicks2offers.go2jump.org/SHYuK  Do it now!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Chattooga

Weekends often call for just getting out and rambling.  Last weekend, the Divine Miss N and I trekked from the Piedmont region to what is referred to as the "dark corner" of South Carolina.  We went about as far north and west as you can go and still stay in South Carolina.  The pictures below are from the Chattooga River.  Famous for dramatic white water adventures, the Chattooga was also the famous setting for Deliverance.  Do you hear banjo music?  I don't know, but we did see a fantastic wild natural area.




And to think that it's all here beneath the Carolina Moon.