miscellany

Here are some photos from this year's trip to Beech Mountain. We headed up on Saturday morning and came home on Sunday afternoon. Though short, the trip was very good. We visited a wildlife conservatory on the mountain, where Greg, Brad and I held a 3-month old bobcat! He was a little feisty, especially with Brad and Greg, though I didn't escape unscathed. Genesis Wildlife is the place, started and run (with help) by a nurse who we chatted with. She took photos of Brad and me holding the bobcat. I'm awaiting her email of them and will add them to the album. A phone-cam shot of Greg and the bobcat is already in the album. I also got to pet a raccoon. I'd only seen them from a distance. That was cool, too.

We watched scary movies that night, made pumpkin pancakes the next morning and headed down the mountain to the Woolly Worm Festival. Then we made our way home. I'm glad I got to go, for I've been sick as a dog for the past week. Fortunately, the weekend was low-key, recharging and relaxing with a bit of wonder and the company of good friends. Brad has been going to this cabin each fall for 12 or 13 years. This was my second. I hope to have this become a fall tradition for me as well. Thar's magic in them thar hills!

Here are 2005's post and pics.

Below is an email I sent to Wachovia. I hope they respond wih more than lip service.

I have a growing concern about using Wachovia ATM's. The sound that is emitted upon each button press seems to me to be for robbers like the sound of a bell to Pavlov's dogs. There seems to be no standard for the volume level at these machines. On one, the volume is at or near zero (my preference) and on another, the volume is so loud it can certainly be heard from a good distance away. There are many that are in between these extremes. I'd like to see a way to adjust the volume on these machines presented to me before I have to key in my PIN. I don't want would-be criminals to know when I've entered my PIN. Loud volume on ATM's tells them just that.

Here's the response:

Welcome to Wachovia! My name is Scottie H and I am happy to assist you.
I apologize for the delay in responding to your message.

I appreciate your concerns and have forwarded your feedback and advice
on a customer listening form. Thank you for taking the time to send us
your comments and your constructive suggestion.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us via
e-mail or call 800-WACHOVIA (922-4684). Representatives are available
to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

I value your business as a Wachovia customer and look forward to
continuing to serve your financial needs. Visit us again at
wachovia.com.

Um, yeah.

I've thought on several occasions about what I'd do were I to be driving my car while someone with a weapon was threatening me from the passenger seat. (Yeah, I have this thing about projecting...) Anyway, here's a story about a teen who did kinda what I've envisioned. Though he hit another moving vehicle... I've not considered that and don't want to think I would. My plan is to release the attacker's seatbelt (if he's even wearing one) just before slamming into a bridge pylon or the like.

The story is here.