Monday's Memorial Day "Eyes" 05-30-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Monday.  Today is Memorial Day.  Memorial Day is designed as a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to this country.  As I was driving home from work today in the rain, I noticed an interesting cloud formation - it looked like a pair of eyes through a mask.   So, I fished around in my pocketbook and found my camera.

I could say things about this cloud formation.  I could say that it's the eyes of the people who have fought and died for all of us to have freedom.  I could say they're looking down on us making sure we remember and appreciate their sacrifices.  I could say they want to see how we are taking care of this earth that they fought so hard to save.  I could say they want us to remember that freedom is never free - that there is always a price to pay for freedom and we must remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.  I could look up to the sky, at these two "eyes" and say, "Thank you, thank you for your courage, thank you for your sacrifice, thank you for believing that I matter in the universe, because if you didn't believe that I matter, that others matter, that your country matters, you would have looked the other way.  But you didn't.  You made it possible for me and everyone left behind to have opportunities, to pursue our own dreams and desires, to love and be loved, and to remember what matters, who matters to us, and who made that possible.  And today, when I look into your eyes in the sky, I remember, and, I AM thankful!"

I hope you also had a memorable day.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Saturday's Pre Holiday Fireworks 05-28-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  The pre Memorial Day weekend is here and fireworks are on, mostly, everyones agenda.  I went to the Smithsonian.com website and learned that fireworks have a Chinese beginning.  They were heating bamboo over coals and found out that, if they left the bamboo on the coals too long, it would explode.  Later, the Chinese invented a type of gunpowder, put it in the bamboo and, boom!  These were used for battle and for celebrations.  The firework colors are caused by an addition of combining different metal elements for specific colors.  The Italians are accredited with the knowledge of inventing the aerial shells that give us so many "oooohs" and "ahhhhs" at fireworks displays.  The anatomy of the  inner shell is what gives the firework we see its shape in the sky.    I have always enjoyed watching fireworks and appreciating all the people who work to keep me safe during the displays, but I've never really thought about what goes into the making of a firework until today.  If you want to learn more fun facts about fireworks since I'm just paraphrasing a little here, go to http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/14-fun-facts-about-fireworks-180951957/.

I hope you have a happy bang of a Saturday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.