Some of the vistas that I've been able to see within the last week

This is the view of Rutland from White Rocks in Wallingford
A view of Rutland from Bald Mnt.
A view of the airport from an airport vista on the Long Trail

To some girl out there

Well, we went to Maine for the weekend to watch a game and enjoy the beach...

The game was postponed

I remembered when I got home that I didn't take any pictures while at the beach.

But we had a very good time anyway.

Sometimes you can't make it on your own- U2

Congratulations to Springfield, Vermont for winning the "Simpsons" premiere contest!

On this, the 144th anniversary of the last day of battle at Gettysburg

Pickett's charge

The Civil war was very different in the sense that technology was taking a massive turn.This enabled people to see in black and white just really how horrible war could be. This sniper was photographed by Alexander Gardner after the battle was over.

Union forces engaged: 82,289

Confederate Forces engaged:75,000

Casualties: 51,112 (23,049 Union and 28,063 Confederate)

All in three bloody days.

Four square unlimited

Last week, a couple of us guys decided to make a movie on the playground game,Four square.
At times it got pretty intense but for the most part it remained vague and lifeless, void of any real storyline. Ethan might be putting the edited version onto YouTube, where I will post a link.

By the way, that is fake blood.

And yes, we are still friends.

Marc has left for what will hopefully be a long and illustrious military career,I'm sure he would appreciate mail. His address is:

New Cadet Marc Triller

P.O. Box 4345

United States Military Academy

West Point, NY 10997-4345

To read his latest post, click here

On this day..

1871 - The yen became the new form of currency in Japan.

The wind blows where it will......

It's now down to 5 weeks and counting before I ship out for boot camp. I had another urinalysis today and it came back clean ( I was not at all surprised). My physical assessment test will be next Thursday at 7:00 a.m. The only area in which I am concerned about is the swimming and my Dad is going to help me with that.

In other news, a couple of friends and myself made a YouTube movie last night, I'll get the link as soon as it comes out.

Marc is heading off to West Point in a couple of days, Ethan will be going to Russia. Jed will be in Clarkson and others will be doing other things. The relationships that we have created here will, I trust, continue to be strong even in our absence from each other. The memories will remain.

And as Job inserts into each of his letters:

“The end of a matter is more important than its beginning,and patience is better than pride.”Ecclesiastes 7:8

In memory of Jacob W. Billings, February 25th, 1991- June 13th, 2007.

Remember this?

Change your Mind

King of "Hot Fuss"

I'll be praying for you Buddy...

Two Green Mountain Boys that won't be seeing each other very much for the next few years...

A very Happy 25th wedding anniversary to my parents

After the church service, my Dad gave a short history.....

...with flowers and a ring......




















...with cake afterwards.

Just in time for graduation..

In Need Of Dedication, Yearbook Staff Sacrifices Homecoming King


ALBANY, NY—As their deadline drew near and they realized they still lacked an event significant enough to inspire a moving yearbook dedication, the staff of Albany High School's The Annual decided to take action by brutally sacrificing star basketball forward and homecoming king Ryan Edwards.
"Ryan truly embodied the best of Albany High, and he'll be sorely missed.....

I have begun to develop a rather close relationship with Pine Hill Park in Rutland.
I must admit that there were times I felt like this guy......

Dust to Dust....

On Tuesday, my Great-Aunt Cornelia passed away, she was 93. As my family and I attended the services and burial it drove into my mind the fact that once again, we are all human and will some day be turned back into the dust which we were pulled from. As the ashes were poured into the earth and the hole filled back in again, I though about my own fraility and the uncertainty of this life. There will be and end to all things, we know that.

What truly matters is, where will you end up?

On this day

1804 - Lewis and Clark began their expedition, heading out of St. Louis.