In the last few months one of my favorite magazines, National Geographic, has had articles about two of my favorite Appalachian landmarks: Mount Airy in North Carolina and the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina. Not only were the articles pretty fair (especially the former of the two), they framed up some really wonderful photos. Well, these articles brought to mind another National Geographic venture (specifically from their Traveler magazine) - the "Discover Appalachia" article, map, and accompanying website (sponsored by every tourist agency in the region, it should be added).
That beautiful season the Summer!
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;
and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Well there is my Floydfest photo. When we arrived it had started raining and I didn't want the camera out in the rain. . When I returned to the car (this pic) it was getting darker and decided I didn't want to keep up with it. So I am very disappointed not to have any fun Floydfest photos. This is the onsite parking lot btw. The RV park sold out, our lots were full, the place was hopping. I am glad it was a successful weekend for them.
I had a great time. Loved the music. Love the cool vibe of the people there...the fun happy spirit that surrounds the event. I think my best buddy Sharon enjoyed her 1st Floydfest. I am very tired and have been bumming with Photoshop all afternoon. Toonces has a workshop to teach in Abingdon tomorrow so I am alone and being lazy!
And yes I did get to see Colleen dancing away at the Donna the Buffalo show!
photo by Melanie, my sister.
Delane does a great job getting down the river....no crashes!
River Run 2006....we have a great spot and get to enjoy lots of cool crashes because of the falls right in front of us. I think the kids had a big time playing in the water...
Sitting with Toonces is his buddy Mike A Floydfest regular who comes up from Raleigh and stays with us for the festivities....He now gets the River Run experience along with Floydfest....
The reason my sis had to take Delane's picture was that Caleb and I had gone tubing...(a rough ride on an inner tube down the river..cold, cold river) A tradition and relief from the heat. I didn't want to be the cause of any accidents for the racers but I swear we ended up right in front of my brother. Since Caleb and I wanted him to do well we got out of the way and yelled ahead for everyone to get their cameras ready.
Rollie had a tough time getting her tube re-situated in the current and almost killed myself coming over the falls in front of my friends, family and husband. When I tried coming off the tube the water ended up over my head and scared poor Rollie. I made quite a spectacle of myself and of course my sister and sis-in-law got pics....so here is a series of my wipe out and Toonces having to come save me. No wonder the kids call me a "goober".
You can click on any photo to enlarge.
I added a photo album on the sidebar for those interested in River Run photos....and the Friday night fish fry.
We all wondered how the Webbheads would counter the latest Mason Dixon poll showing Sen Allen leading by 16. The facts of the poll show Allen leading by 16. The opinions are saying it is closer. I agree that it is closer. I believe Allen enjoys a solid 10-12 point lead. This poll showed a huge 20% of voters undecided. If that 20% are the key, then Jim Webb must capture what...8 of 10 undecided voters to make this close. I know that wont happen, they know that wont happen, and Larry Sabato knows that wont happen. Is that 20% number accurate? Well the last Survey USA poll showed only 3% undecided. The last Zogby Interactive showed 5% undecided. The Zogby Telephone poll showed 15% undecided. If we average those polls we have 10.75% undecided. If that holds true Jim Webb must carry all of the undecided voters at the present time to make it close. Could that happen? I guess it could but it is very doubtful.
Another point is that all these current polls are pretty consistent on Allen's lead at around 10 points with the Mason Dixon as the exception showing 16. The undecided numbers range from 3 to 20 percent. I have always looked at consistency in polling numbers and we are not seeing that yet in the undecided category.
My final thoughts on this are: Sen Allen is a strong campaigner and the money will continue to poor in. He will campaign hard in all parts of the state. He started early and will continue to work hard to win. He has already been to SWVA a few times and is returning to Lee and Wise county in a few days. I like that. People here like that. Jim Webb is in trouble folks. His campaign consists of live blogs on Kos and weenie of the week emails. He will not fund raise and the money is not coming in. No tv ads, no radio, no newspapers. Winning an election is hard work and so far, as my grandfather used to say, "That dog wont hunt." Remember the failed nutroots slogan "Where in the world is George Allen?" They are not asking that now are they!
Update- Here is the Red Stater's take. CR and I share the same views. F. T. Rea has his thoughts at Slantblog. Mr Rea is asking where is the money? I think most people are asking where is Webb? We are right back to that dog wont hunt. He also brings up the other talking point about Jim Webb. Just what the hell does he stand for? There is no detailed plan. He offers that same tired democratic rhetoric:We don't have the answers or a plan - But Bush is wrong. That is not going to work.
We all wondered how the Webbheads would counter the latest Mason Dixon poll showing Sen Allen leading by 16. The facts of the poll show Allen leading by 16. The opinions are saying it is closer. I agree that it is closer. I believe Allen enjoys a solid 10-12 point lead. This poll showed a huge 20% of voters undecided. If that 20% are the key, then Jim Webb must capture what...8 of 10 undecided voters to make this close. I know that wont happen, they know that wont happen, and Larry Sabato knows that wont happen. Is that 20% number accurate? Well the last Survey USA poll showed only 3% undecided. The last Zogby Interactive showed 5% undecided. The Zogby Telephone poll showed 15% undecided. If we average those polls we have 10.75% undecided. If that holds true Jim Webb must carry all of the undecided voters at the present time to make it close. Could that happen? I guess it could but it is very doubtful.
Another point is that all these current polls are pretty consistent on Allen's lead at around 10 points with the Mason Dixon as the exception showing 16. The undecided numbers range from 3 to 20 percent. I have always looked at consistency in polling numbers and we are not seeing that yet in the undecided category.
My final thoughts on this are: Sen Allen is a strong campaigner and the money will continue to poor in. He will campaign hard in all parts of the state. He started early and will continue to work hard to win. He has already been to SWVA a few times and is returning to Lee and Wise county in a few days. I like that. People here like that. Jim Webb is in trouble folks. His campaign consists of live blogs on Kos and weenie of the week emails. He will not fund raise and the money is not coming in. No tv ads, no radio, no newspapers. Winning an election is hard work and so far, as my grandfather used to say, "That dog wont hunt." Remember the failed nutroots slogan "Where in the world is George Allen?" They are not asking that now are they!
Update- Here is the Red Stater's take. CR and I share the same views. F. T. Rea has his thoughts at Slantblog. Mr Rea is asking where is the money? I think most people are asking where is Webb? We are right back to that dog wont hunt. He also brings up the other talking point about Jim Webb. Just what the hell does he stand for? There is no detailed plan. He offers that same tired democratic rhetoric:We don't have the answers or a plan - But Bush is wrong. That is not going to work.
