just a few more days - the 28th is coming

See that helpful looking state employee sitting there, eager to help a citizen or corporate entity or local government in our fair state.  Yes-sir-ree-bob, you can bet your sweet you know what he is -- just as ready as he used to be.

Now somedays this employee was able to get out and around some of the more scenic and interesting sites and locals in the state.  We are talking from mountains to the sea, from Virginia to South Carolina, and in many of our eastern counties, the highest peak in the county

This state employee, helpful as he is will soon be leaving behind lot of opportunities for the next generation of environmental workers.  The problems are not yet solved.  We gave it a good run, but the problems are still there.  Some not as big as they were, but they have not gone away.

See that chair it does not have the employee or more specifically me, Paul, in it no sir, Paul is not there, he has gone,  see you later alligator, in a while crocodile, that is an empty chair.  you betcha -- Paul is leaving -- someone else can be of assistance to those who are in need, and want information shared and laws enforced.

  To the lower right of the world map is a Chinese scroll with two verses from the sixth chapter in Matthew -- verse 33 and 34.  The last phrases of 34 were the clincher for me to buy this when in China some years ago.  It is perfect for my office.    (Matthew 6:34  "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. [Each] day has enough trouble of its own.)   -- appropriate huh ? 

 There were times when this job was not easy.  I have liked the job a lot, but it has not been easy, and I am happy to be seeing that chair without me in it. -- and that starts real real soon !!

You see, he has thought of something he would rather do.

Went to Winston twice this past week to see the Deacons, get my popcorn and pepsi, tease the the counter help, and am on my way. -- looking for a good time -- an am still looking --

we had excellant seats, note the camera angle and view.  We were close, in this particular game, but of course no cigar

This was despite the halftime entertainment --  above of the juggling piano player,  yes you saw it here.  This guy bounces balls on an over sized piano keyboard (as you can see he as four going here) and plays some catchy tune which I can no longer remember, but which you would easily recognize.  we are talking good times !! !!  This is why I went to the game.

this is the second game -- notice the change in uniforms.  the visitors now wear red -- the wolfpack -- the home team Deacs are trying out gold home uniforms for a change of fortune -- they should change back to the white, check out the trajectory of that ball -- both photos the one above and below.

I was changing seats trying to change luck -- I did it and luck went from very bad luck to much much worse.  Check out the Deacon player on the floor in the photo below.  That is our season.  Just like the rebounding position in the photo above -- (i.e. not in any)

one last post on the All Star hockey game

last weekend for the AllStar Hockey  game, Raleigh went all out -- the downtown area was turned into party central and showtime as people from all over came to enjoy food, drink, entertainment, meet the stars, participation stuff, and so on.

the crowd in front here was carefully watched by the plain clothes police but was not asked to leave as they cleaned up their act and toned down the argumentative nature of the younger set.

The RBC center was appropriately decorated with hockey like figures.

the place was packed as in really really full of people right up to the rafters.

and the mascots or whatever you call those guys who dress up like what ever were all over the arena, here the Buffalo Saber and the Florida Panther were in our section.

and the hockey was suburb.  even Mark and I recognized that we were watching really good hockey and that it was being played at a very high level.  The speed of the all stars without having the less skilled  rough guys trying to knock them down like in normal games made this one very very fast and the passing was incredible.  We had a very good time.