SITTING IN DARKNESS LISTENING TO ‘THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE’

A PEACEFUL DRIVE THROUGH OUR RURAL COUNTRYSIDE THIS MORNING
We don’t always miss everyday sounds……..until the sounds cannot be heard anymore. Could be a television in the background, furnace coming on, a whirring fridge motor or the recycling of a water heater. At 6:59 this morning we had all those sounds. At 7 a.m. we did not. It was all part of a 4 hour pre-planned electricity shut down by our power company. Everyone affected received a telephone call a few days ago by the company informing them of the power interruption while they worked on some area maintenance issues.
I skittered about this morning filling jugs of water and lining up some candles. Brewed my cup of coffee, fed the furry guys, grabbed a shower and whirled up my routine breakfast shake. Just made it into my chair with laptop in place as the lights blinked out right on time at 7.  Now it was just candlelight and the glow from my laptop computer screen.  I was enveloped in silence, and silence has never been my friend.  Took me a few minutes to think of my music library on the laptop.  Then, I remembered Simon and Garfunkel and quickly accessed my library and sure enough, there it was, the ‘Sounds Of Silence.’ It was a great song in the mid 60’s and it was a great song this morning again as I sat quietly in my chair:))  ♪♫ Hello darkness my old friend, I've come to talk with you again. ♫♪

A RELAXING STROLL THROUGH A COUNTRY CEMETERY It was 7:45 before the morning sunrise cast enough light through our darkened windows allowing me to blow out the 5 candles I had set around. But, now what to do with the remaining 3 hours. Pheebs was raring to go for a morning walk so off we went.  We couldn't coax Motor to go though, she doesn't like the cold mornings.
On our return I could see it was going to be a nice day so threw the cameras in the Jeep and headed off out into the countryside.  I don’t take Pheebs along when I have camera gear in the Jeep.  Fired up my iPod, plugged it into the Jeeps sound system and spent a couple relaxing hours cruising along with the, 'Sons Of The Pioneers:))  Still a fair few coloured leaves left on many trees so it made for a scenic drive.
<<< MANY LEAVES ARE DOWN NOW BUT THERE ARE STILL BURSTS OF AUTUMN COLOURS TO BE FOUND
343 is a memory number for me.  All the years driving for the Stratford Airporter years ago my driver's number was 343. Many times my words, "343 to 687" meant I was calling my home base in Stratford or "343 to 352" meant I was calling another driver with my vans two way radio. "343 to 510" meant I was radioing a dispatcher in Kitchener Ontario and “343 to 99" put me in touch with a dispatcher at the transportation desk in terminal 2 of Pearson International Airport in Toronto Ontario. Whenever I see that number now whether it be on a digital clock or as in today's case, my Blog Followers list I am always reminded of my 13 years transporting people to and from the Toronto Airport.  With that thought in mind we welcome JOOL as our 343rd Blog Follower.  Noticed some of Jool's interests include, RV Living, Full Time RV, Casita Travel Trailers, Women and Single RVers.  Welcome aboard Jool, nice to have you along:)) 

From time to time I receive questions about photography and am I professional photographer.  Jool wondered this and inquired about my camera equipment in a comment on Saturday's blog.  First, no I am not a professional photographer.  Just a guy with some camera equipment who enjoys photography as a hobby.  I have 4 cameras.  My two main cameras are a Nikon D90 and and a Nikon D40.  The D90 carries a Nikkor 18-55mm lens and the D40 carries a Nikkor 70-300mm lens. Both lenses are interchangeable with either camera.   The camera I carry with me on my belt every day is a point and shoot Canon Powershot SX210is and my fourth camera which generally resides on a table beside my chair is a point and shoot Canon Powershot A730.  All fine cameras that do add to the final photographic image but if you are not aware of your surroundings, a camera can be of little use.  Some folks might be interested in my SEEING WITH A PHOTOGRAPHER'S EYE post which I wrote back in July. 

EVEN THE HULLET MARSH WAS QUIET THIS MORNING
GROANER'S CORNER:(( 
A Russian, an American, and a Blonde were talking one day.
The Russian said, "We were the first in space!"
The American said, "We were the first on the moon!"
The Blonde said, "So what? We're going to be the first on the sun!"
The Russian and the American looked at each other and shook their heads.
"You can't land on the sun, you idiot! You'll burn up!" said the Russian.
To which the Blonde replied, "We're not stupid, you know. We're going at night!"
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-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
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The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.