Cari A. Taplin, CG.

I attended a seminar today in Shreveport, Louisiana conducted by the Ark-La-Tex Genealogical Association. Cari was the guest speaker. What a grand affair! These folks know how to conduct a seminar. I had such a good time and enjoyed the seminar all day long. Cari is such  good speaker and knows her subject well. (She is a Certified Genealogist. It is not easy to be certified.)

Cari gave four lectures. They are listed in the program below.

I especially enjoyed the talks on Canada and Mapping. However, I enjoyed all four lectures.

Program Chairman Jim Johnson warms up the crowd.

 These two pics show how intense Cari can be!She enjoys her subject.

Richard Maxwell joins me at Starbucks.

In this time lapse video you can see Richard doctor his coffee and then join me at my table to eat a piece of Banana Nut Bread.

Rear-ended on the way to lunch!

Here is Jewette Farley and his Classic 2004 Thunderbird. What a beauty!

But look at the rear end. On the way to lunch with Rhonda Ray and Chuck Monson, Jewette's car was rear-ended.

So sad. It is going to be hard to find parts for the repair job. But life goes on. Here is Jewette with Rhonda and Chuck.

Lunch went on.

When the going gets tough the tough get going!

Sunday morning with the Koi.

Vital Signs for July 2017.

I am playing a game. The game is "Stay alive as long as you can!" Every day that I get up and go is a victory. I really feel like a winner everyday. Taking these readings is a help to my game.

My blood pressure is running a little high. Have to keep an eye on it. Sure do not want it to go any higher. 

Having trouble with my weight scales. Gained weight (4 pounds) on my trip to the family reunion. Had erratic readings lately. Need to get some good scales. I believe that my weight is a very important factor in my health. I have trouble with it. 

Beehive.

John and I were so excited! There was a beehive in the yard. In good view from the deck and gazebo. We were set to watch the wonders of nature and maybe get some fresh honey. The bee had moved into a squirrel house that John had installed. Look at them swarm.

Then we were so blue. The bees all left. I guess the Queen wanted more privacy. Anyway they are all gone. They did not leave any honey.

VFW Commander JD Harper brings music to the Dixie.

I spent several delightful hours in Ruston's theatre district last night. VFW Post Commander JD Harper hosted a great musical group, the Southern Classics, at the Dixie last night. The event was a fund raiser for a new building for the local VFW Post. Here are some pictures of the affair. Sorry, no names. The musicians and singers were all very good. I enjoyed the evening. I think that we raised a lot of money too.

Trolley Tour of Louisville, Kentucky.

I went on the Trolley Tour of Louisville while I was attending the TMF Meeting. The Trolley went by many sites of interest. We really did not get out out of the bus (except at Churchill Downs). We slowed down enough to take a picture. The driver kept up a constant stream of information. He was good. He pointed out that 98 per cent of American bourbon is produced in the Louisville area.

Points of interest that the Trolley went by.

Kentucky Colonel Yum Center, Louisville Slugger Museum, Mohamed Ali Center (the most famous native of Louisville), Churchill Downs, and a street of magnificent Victorian Mansions.

Big buildings downtown. From he looks of the cement truck they are building more.

Statue of Thomas Jefferson. Another famous Thomas.

Statue of Louis the IV. A Frenchman I think.

Churchill Downs. They hold horse races here.

It was a fun Trolley ride.

There is a water fall on the Ohio River?

Yes the river level falls 26 feet going by Louisville. A portage was required until a canal and locks were built in 1830. I heard that it cost one million and took five years to build. Of course this facility has been much improved over the years. The term used is The falls of the Ohio.

A couple miles from my hotel in Clarksville was the Falls of the Ohio Interpretation Center. What a grand thing just full of natural and historical displays. I really enjoyed my time there.

This is a statue of Lewis and Clark. Their historic journey to the Pacific Ocean started here.

I spent some time in the bird watching gallery.

Murals of the Falls of the Ohio.