Before I show you some of the Images that I had taken while in Lancaster County that I changed over to High Definition, I'd like to tell you about the rain we have been having here. For the past 2 day's it has done nothing but rain, rain, and more rain. Most of the time the rain has been on the light side with a few times of heavy rain that did not last very long. The ground is just totally soaking wet and really can't absorb much more. The bad weather has been preventing me from working on the outside storage shed. I have to replace the whole front of the shed with new weather resistant plywood, re-trim the outer edges, and re-paint what I have to replace. I had vacation from work for 4 day's and was planning on doing this, but the rain has put a stop to all that. Today was much the same. More rain, but this time it rained so hard that it was a real deluge. A real "toad soaker", as they say. It rained so darn hard that you could barley see what was outside. It came down in buckets for about 15 minutes and then just let up to a drizzle. Trying to get home from work was a real pain in the butt. Streets were flooded, and had traffic all snarled up so bad that I had to find an alternate way to get home. Usually, it takes me only 15 min. to get home here, but because of all the flooding and streets that were blocked off, it took me more than a half hour! As I write this, there is a Flash Flood Warning coming over the radio. More heavy rain is expected. This is not good. The River below us is already close to over-flowing. More rain, just might send it over it's banks and flood out River Road. The water will never reach our home, cause we live up on higher ground. I think that I have had enough rain for awhile, but there is not much I can do to stop it. I'm ready for some sunshine!
My High Definition Program, known as HDR, does a pretty good job in bring out more of the color in the Image. This is just one of the Images that I chose to convert over to HDR.
This is one Image that I didn't Post about in my last one. As you can read it's just one of the many little stores in the Kitchen Kettle Village. I went in here to "snoop around" and see if I could find a nice Country Candle for my Wife. There was all kinds of stuff in here. I did find a nice Candle and holder for her, which she did enjoy getting.
Now, for a complete change from Lancaster County to something that has been wrong with me for more than 40 yrs. As most of you may know by now, I served in the US Navy for 11 yrs. and had a Tour of Duty over in Vietnam. The above picture, taken on the USS New Jersey, is a Duel 5"54 rapid fire gun battery that was my Battle Station aboard the Destroyer I served with. Because of a gun battery like this, firing in my Left ear many times, my hearing in my Left ear has been bad for all these years. The Ear Specialist I went to confirmed that I have "diminished hearing" in both ears. Well, now after filling out paper work more than 2 months ago, I finally got the Veterens Administration, in Lebanon, PA to give me a complete physical and maybe address my hearing problem. I am told by other Vietnam Vets that they will pay for a hearing aid, pay for any medicine that I take, pay for glasses that I wear, and much more that I don't know much about yet. I'll have to find out more when I get there. I will also get discounts from different places of business, that I have already used. Lowes Hardware Store is just one of them that offer a 10% discount to all Veterans that served their Country. To get this discount, you have to show proof that your a Veteran, such as your DD-214 paper. They just don't hand it out to anyone. This is the way it should be.
Some of the time, I wear a hat that say's "US Navy Vietnam Veteran." I usually don't say much about what I've seen over there and what I did, because most people really don't care, so I have been led to believe. When I do wear it, I have had people come right up to me, stick out their hand, and Thank me for serving our Country in time of War. I have never met these people before! I'm not used to that! I've had this happen more than 5 times, so far. The first time it happened, I did not know what to say. I was dumb founded, if you can believe that. Things are changing for us Nam Vets since the bad times in the 60's. It has been a long time coming. Would you believe that I could still load and fire this battery just like I did more than 40 yrs. ago? I remember to this day. It will remain in my memory until I'm dead and gone.
Until the next time . . . . Thanks for reading & commenting.
Les
Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting, Les. I appreciate your thoughts very much. I was a serious hunter until 1997-98, but then decided I liked photography much better, quit hunting and have not been sorry. I still respect those that hunt in an ethical manner, but really have problems with the Pa elk hunt as all too often relatively tame bulls are taken and they are best utilized as a viewable resource.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your photography and story telling and will link to your blog in my side bar in the near future. We have gotten a lot of rain here too since Sunday, but it seems to have slacked off for now. The streams are high, but not as bad as in your area and are not causing serious problems unless we get some more heavy rain.
Very nice post, Corker! I like the High Def photo and what you did with it. And yes, thanks for serving our country. You are much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThe HDR brings out the colors of the horse beautifully. I guess those batteries made a helluva noise. As an American by Choice I thank you for your service.
ReplyDeleteLes, we've had rain for the last 3 days too, but not near as much. Yesterday we had sun for about 1 minute. Enjoyed your HD photos. I love to visit lancaster. Its one of my top ten places to go. Love all the beautiful farms. It's about time people and administration give it's Veterans what is due to them. The Viet Nam veterans were the bravist of the brave. Your service as well as all the many others are appreciated...debbie
ReplyDeleteI like your HDR photo!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on getting through all the VA paperwork. It's the least the government can do for the service you gave to our country. Vietnam vets got a bad deal and I'm so glad that everyone now recognizes the sacrifices that were made by so many.
I hope the flooding in your area doesn't get too bad. What a very strange weather year this has been.
There, I fixed my "commenting" problem. Love your music, by the way.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get your Veterans benefits to pay for all you need. You've earned it. During those Vietnam years, I lived in a very small midwestern town that cherished our men returning from Vietnam. I am so sorry for the way many were treated when they/you got home.
I hope more people thank you for your service. I know I do. Those were hard years. Of all the young men that I knew that served, non volunteered, unlike today. Our generation, for the most part, was drafted. Good luck at the V.A.