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Prices at the gas pumps rising… inflation. does anybody have money really to travel for vacation?

So its time to adapt. And do a vacation of exploring our local communities. Their is plenty to do around lancaster, we plenty of parks. The Lancaster County Park is partly in the city limits. So today I visited the park and snapped some photos at “Garden of Five Senses”.

I grew up a dirt poor kid in Lancaster. So I have been visiting the parks and fished the Contestoga river.I do not worry when the money belt gets a little tight, pertaining to vacation. I been through it many times before.

Visiting the Park, and the Garden of five senses is free. Its great for couples are kids, and no need for big plans to visit.

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Hard to believe these Eastern Pines Grow in the city limits. I wish i could upload the Smells and odors of this garden. too bad i cannot find the right file format.

Plenty of signs that explain the natural history and life in The Garden of Five Senses. The one on the left is in braille for the vision impaired.

I love to hear the water move in the garden. this is a pond right in the middle.

With no money to travel, we mind as well see how nature flowers in flows at home!

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Senator Barack Obama held a rally yesterday at the Lancaster Train Station. With The Pennsylvania Primaries coming on Tuesday, Lots of supporters came out.

This is not a political website. But this is where I was Yesterday, with several thousand other Lancasterians.

Sen. Hillary Clinton was campaigning in York, Pa. Mean while Sen. Obama was here in Lancaster, with friend and respected Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey.
The weather was beautiful and the air was thick was excitement. and I kinda chuckled when a few young girls nearly swooned beside me. The Political issues are always the most important thing, however you cant underestimate the charisma of Obama, admits the very festive atmosphere.

The Rally included a local, proud veteran, some fine Lancaster Rock bands. Senator Bob Casey (middle right  second pane) talked briefly and stood in support of Obama.
Hootenanny singer Earl Pickens received a couple humorous Jeers for mispronouncing Lancaster (its pronounced LANG-kist-er). his performance was fun and engaging he is definitely worth checking out at is site: myspace/earlpickens.

the Senator from Illinois did pronounce “Lancaster” correctly and that is the most important thing (hehe).

Some overtime for these two fellows.
The Primary is on Tuesday Aprill 22nd. Vote early and vote often!

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With the skyrocketing cost of gasoline; With my truck being worked on, It seem a good chance to look for some alternative modes of transportation. Today I chose to take the bus to work.

I live about twelve miles from where i work. It usually takes me a half hour, through morning traffic to drive to my destination. My beat up truck has a tiny 4 cylinder engine and it uses about 2/3 a gallon of gas to get to work.

So today, in rebellion to the the addiction to the great American Heroin, OIL, I woke about an our early to walk downtown. Not the safest journey in the predawn hour… Detouring through Water st has some hazards… I was only proposition by one prostitute, nothing too dangerous.( i wonder if google has taken its now notorious 3D map of water st. hmm)

I reached the Red rose transit authority lancaster bus stop early. So I took some pictures to kill the time.

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Some people were out in the early morning. Not much traffic yet.

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Their seems to be art studios everywhere in Downtown Lancaster. This window display added a sentimental detour to my trek to the RRTA terminal on Queen st. “Where The Wild Things Are” was a favorite book of mine as a small child. Its regarded as classic.

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Ms. Clintons campaign headquarters on the corner of Walnut st and Queen st. With the Pennsylvania primary coming up on April 22nd. Its impossible not to walk ten feet without tripping over a political sign. (I should of asked that prostitute who she is voting for…)

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And finally to the new bus terminal on the two hundred block of Queen. The Terminal is very clean and attractive. This picture was taken from the bus i was on.
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What i learned today. It cost me $ 2.15 and an extra hour of time to get to work. That time was a pleasant experience. I personally do not believe the price of gasoline is ever going any direction but up.So I found a successful alternative today.
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Chris gets on his soap box: every week is a chance to explore on more way to find alternatives to our out-of-date energies. shutting down unneeded power sources in the house. Using low energy light bulbs.
using mass transit, car pooling or riding a bike to work.
Time for us to beat “America’s Heroin” addiction. mind as well have some fun doing it.
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www.redrosetransit.com

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Julia was part of America’s “Greatest Generation”. She was a poor child of the depression. She was an aspiring musician who played on a couple radio programs in the 1930s.( today I have her saxophones)

She joined the U.S army during WW2 and she was one of the first women stationed abroad in the U.S military.

Julia was a single mother who worked full time to raise her child. She became the first Female council woman of Lancaster City government, while raising her family and working full time.
My fondest memory of Grandma Julia was, when she took me too my first Philadelphia Phillies Baseball game. I was eight years old. (the worst memory of her is when she told me she had become an Atlanta Braves fan.. he)
Julia (1922 - 2007).
We finally got her favorite type of tree (weeping willow) tree…
planted spot on the Conestoga river. tomorrow is her Birthday.
Happy Birthday Grandma.

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Today, i worked a half work day. It was a voluntary Saturday shift… too cold to really do anything outdoors … and i could always use the money. The opportunity of taking some pictures of my ride home was evident as well.

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After work, The feed mill is always the first image to greet me. Often the swirling clouds appear to be interacting with mill. I work out in the rural country, near Mt. Joy . This image of the mill represents a great deal of central Pennsylvania. Both the Blue Collar and Rural values are imminent.
I left behind my forklift and machine workday … took in the view (and odor) of the mill and country side…
And head for home in my beat-up pick up truck.

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heading for home i traveled across the railroad tracks. The Amtrak carrying passengers and the Conrail carrying freight both use these tracks. The farms of both the old-order Mennonites and Amish dot the country side…
(its a myth that these two groups don’t use tractors or any power at all .
Each Amish or “older order” Mennonite community has different views on what mechanical vehicles or appliances they will use.)

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Across the quiet trout streams like the Conewago Creek. When i snapped this picture, four bicycle riders swooshed by me. Bicycling is a popular hobby in Lancaster County…An obsession for some. We have many great bicycling paths here. They were moving to fast for me to take a picture.

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I detoured away from my usual drive home today. it was Saturday after all.

I love walking or even driving by creek in the country..
With Lancaster County’s Population passing the half million mark…and shopping centers popping up more and more frequently,
These quiet and unpolluted scenes are becoming more scarce. But when i am walking along these creeks I am not thinking of that.
I just taken the scene for what is.
If it wasnt so damn cold, i would have spent all day there.

But i did have a couple chores to do so I snap this shot of some old random mill… and continued on my path back to Lancaster City.

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As I headed into into the City of Lancaster, I was greeted by it”s heritage and history immediately. Traveling down Marietta ave. I pass by Wheatland.

Wheatland was the final home of ex President James Buchanan. He was the 15th president, one before Abe Lincoln.
He is best known today for his lack of action during his tenure. Southern states seceded from the U.S. … soon to create the Confederacy. He believed that he could not Constitutionally prevent this. The American Civil War would soon follow.

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Back in “civilization”, I stopped at Manor Shopping Center. The conveniences of Multiplex Movie theaters, grocery stores, and barber shops .. all in one place.

I sometimes wonder, with all of the nature i see on my drive home…
Why the hell Seagulls congregate at shopping center parking lots. perhaps they like the modern conveniences .
Me? I came to the shopping center to pick up kitty litter for this guy..

waiting for me at home…

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Home, finally home.

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my view of Lancaster Pa from my neighborhood.

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There are three types of people in an Art museum:

The Artist–thats the one so free that they can expressions on a wall to interact with.

The Art collector– thats the who wishes to possess and show of their tastes in their den.

And lastly the Art appreciator — the one who is too talentless to create art and too poor (or to cheap) to buy Art.– and that would be me.

Last weekend I scurried of to the Lancaster Museum of Art. I sometimes go with friends…
Usually i go by my self though. I like to just wander around in the small building. Take in the Art and envy the Artist.

The museum is free, but i always donate a few dollars when i visit, so i don,t feel like such a cheap bastard.

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This weekend I went with my mother. This is good thing because she gave the donation tip .

Its also nice because my mother and I have different tastes and different views. In the Art museum you don’t have to intellectualize everything. You don’t have to decide whats a profound. You just go by yourself or with others and say I like this… I don’t know why.

My mother and I both loved this one, even though she is spiritual and I am not.
by Thomas Scullin.

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An Art museum is always a great place to get lost in. I don’t “understand art”, but i don’t think i ever need too. Its good to get lost.

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Ginny’s last Ride

Ginny will be 86 soon. She lived a busy life. She raised eight kids.  she Cleaned linens in a hotel full time to pay the bills. She   survived a house  fire. She took in a homeless family when time were tough.

Later in life, she spent much of her time riding motorcycle with her brother. 1000 of miles, through Nature, mountain tops and to freindly biker stops. She often said she was happiest when she was with her Brother on a motor cycle.

Her Brother, (my great Uncle), died over a decade ago. Ginny, (my grandmother) will be 86 soon.  She has had over ten mini strokes in the last five years, Dementia has an enlarged heart, and cannot walk any more. She lives inside a  special care nursing home. She has lost her freedom.

Recently though,
One of her eight children did something no one thought possible.  Gave Ginny one last motorcycle ride.

This was no easy feet… finding a  motorcycle with a side car that was safe. Getting clearance from the doctors…and there was a lot of risk involved. And, let face it, granma could have been frightened..(o k maybe not)

But all went well. Ginnie got her last ride, with some Motorcycle riders who were willing to spend there day off with a little old lady, to share in the freedom of the ride…and to give an 85 year old woman reason to smile once more.

Thanks uncle “Jon”, for effort, for putting this together

you gave grandma some freedom back.
and you gave Ginny some dignity back.

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Juan Lopez was a leader in Lancaster ’s Community as well as a respected owner of his business. He was beacon and a voice for the Spanish speaking population and well liked by all. I have never met Mr Lopez or his wife. However, friends and family, who now live in other parts of the country have sent their condolences.
R I P his legacy lives on.

Friday night, in downtown lancaster the christmas tree, just like every year…

This can only mean one thing. “Tuba Christmas”!

As part of the tree lighting celebration, an ensemble of roughly 30 to 40 tubas and sousaphones play festive and seasonal carols.
I do not know the history of this tuba ensemble, but they have been giving a christmas season concert at Penn Square since I was a kid.

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After taking in the celebration at the square i did some window shopping.

(above is the display window at Hagars, and a display in the Heritage found.)

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Friday was also the first friday of the Month. This means Art galleries and museums open to the public at night. The “First Fridays” gallery openings started in downtown only a couple years ago. The dowtown tree lighting ceremony has been intergrated nicely..

I will be posting more on “First Fridays” at a later time.

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To End the night, me an my cohorts did grab a bite at the “Starving Artists Cafe “, a small sandwich shop that has joined into the Downtown Lancaster’s art culture… Along with the Art Academy and “First Fridays”".

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I had a hot chocolate and the “Cuban”

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Happy Holidays!
from Chris.

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We shape out our communities through out its history.
In return, our communities history shapes us as well,
When i am walking or driving through lancaster its ghosts are all around me.
Often, when out with friends or family, I am completely unconscious of it yet it still affects me.
monuments, architecture, reminders of past and present…fade in to the landscape in which i live.

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and then , while driving through rush hour traffic, or out doing our chores we see something that grabs our attention,

the monuments,

the tribute to the people in our communties:

This is a lovingly home made monument, a vigil to a young man tragically killed.
what you cannot see in this picture is the two schools across the street. The young man was an innocent victim of crossfire shooting right near an elementary and middle school.

This modern day monument is as powerful and moving as any town full of historic markers… It is fades in with the federalist architectures of lancaster. Affects are consciousness, and reminds of the people and ghosts that have been part of our communities.

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we change and move with are history. Some monuments remain the same, some make way for growth.

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St James epist. Church was built in 1744, thirty two years before the Declaration of Independence was drafted. It stands today, in downtown Lancaster. Many of these tomb markers are older than the United States.

What is no longer visible are the huge ancient Elm trees, that stood outside the church Dutch elm disease killed them, they had to be removed in the 1980s.

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the lancaster skyline is changing.. the old steeples greet the cranes building the new convention center.

heritage and history greets growth and progress

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This guy has had a lot to read about over the years .

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I had just open the package of my first digital camera. I looked out the window today and saw it was rainy and windy. This means the colored leaves were going to fall of the trees…So after finishing up my social service responsibilities for the day, and as i headed to my family’s Thanksgiving dinner. I took some pics

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this pic was through my trucks windshield, Orange st is so attractive this time of year.

Downtown Lancaster is so quiet and peaceful on the thanksgiving holiday

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This morning i headed to the lancaster county park with Cam in Hand. The deer always come out after a windy or rainy day. They find the fruit or seeds that have been knocked off the trees from the weather.

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One of my favorite place to sit and take in nature at the lancaster county park, by the contestoga river.

I hope everyone is having a nice holiday…like am

Peace.

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