Awards, Horses, and Fishin' Holes

Working it

Mom and Baby put on a Pose

Two Weeks Old, Bon Appetit

Things back here in western Pennsylvania were quite the ordinary this week. The only thing that was totally reliable was the unreliable and unpredictable weather. Like the worn out yo-yo we had a sine wave for weather highs and lows. Such is a good sign that spring is coming, as the temperature ratchets its way up towards true spring weather. Soon, all of your good trout fishing secret spots will be filled with interlopers, as will mine.

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The weather has been so flighty that some folks have taken to the indoor events to pass the time, and to decompress from cabin fever. It has been too warm for skiing, but too cold to ride a bike … thus, the indoor arena is just right for the fan of equine passions.
The photos speak for themselves in regard to just that. I visited my favorite arena today with my trusty Nikon D2H. As usual, CLICK ON THEM TO ENLARGE THE IMAGES.

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Since the Academy Awards took place this Sunday, I will pass on some of the winners. I do not know how many of these films you were able to view over there, but there were quite a few excellent choices this year. My personal favorites were Juno, Once, and Atonement. All were nominated, and all received an award. Here is a short list:

Best Picture: "No Country for Old Men"
Best Director: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Blood"
Best Actress: Marion Cotillard, "La Vie En Rose"
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"
Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton"
Best Screenplay: Diablo Cody, "Juno"
Best Animated Feature: "Ratatouille"
Best Documentary: “Taxi to the Dark Side”
Best Short Documentary: “Freeheld”
Best Original Score: “Atonement” -- Dario Marianelli
Achievement in Cinematography: Robert Elswit, "There Will Be Blood"
Best Original Song: “Falling Slowly” from “Once” -- Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Best Foreign Language Film: "The Counterfeiters," Austria
Achievement in Film Editing: Christopher Rouse, "The Bourne Ultimatum"
Achievement in Sound Mixing: “The Bourne Ultimatum” -- Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis
Achievement in Sound Editing: “The Bourne Ultimatum” -- Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg
Best Adapted Screenplay: "No Country for Old Men," Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Best Animated Short Film: “Peter & the Wolf”
Best Live Action Short Film: “Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)”
Achievement in Art Direction: “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo
Achievement in Visual Design: “The Golden Compass” -- Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood
Achievement in Makeup: “La Vie en Rose” -- Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
Achievement in Costume Design: Alexandra Byrne, “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”

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If you want to test your friends on their knowledge of history, ask them how long our national anthem. “The Star-Spangled Banner” has been around. It has only been around for 77 years as a matter of fact. Francis Scott Key penned the words as a poem during the war of 1812, but President Hoover and 71st Congress did not officially designate the poem and tune as our national anthem until March of 1931. Another strange fact is, the tune was written in London years before we declared independence in 1776, and it was originally a British drinking song!

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The Penguins have been making a good run at it without Sidney Crosby who has been sidelined with an injury. They are near the top of their conference. Keep your eyes on their progress. They are going to shock some as the end nears.

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

President's Day

President Bush, Commander and Chief

Face Plant

The Pittsburgh Incline making the climb back up the mountain.

This has been a rather slow week back here in Western Pennsylvania with the men folk still recovering from Valentine’s Day. The men who spent too much are still reeling from the bills, and those who forgot are still in pain from the illegal torture they have endured behind closed doors. The day did seem to bring in needed dollars to local businesses in the after-holiday-blues in the world of spending.

If I were to say that the weather here has been inconsistent would be as nonsensical as saying that congress has been flighty; both statements bear more truth than one wants to know. The temperature has ranged from 60 to the low teens over the last month. This sliding scale of nature’s injustice to the youthful fans of winter sports has also punched in enough obstacles to the local drivers to cause a normally steady man to go into a hissy fit.

President’s day is here, and your present Command and Chief is in Africa at the moment. The survivors of the campaign to be the nominees of their respective political party fill the daily news with stories of the current run for office. Both candidates should be sorted out soon, and we will know who will represent each side of the isle.

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Sports news:

The Penguins have been making a great run to get into first place in spite of the many injuries to their star players. Go Penguins!

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Photos:
1. I shot this image of President Bush in Colorado Springs during his last campaign.
2. I shot a few images of Pittsburgh for you this week. This one was shot at the downtown ice rink. This skater did a face plant on a very cold afternoon ... "Ouch!"
3. This wintry scene from a few days ago shows downtown, shot from the top of Mt. Washington. The colors are very dull and dismal in this wintry version of this normally colorful landscape.

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

The Day of Love is Coming!

Macy's Valentine's Day window display

The Kaufmann's Clock ... "meet me under the clock" a Pittsburgh thing!

Valentine’s Day is but a few days away. In the spirit of the pending day I have included an image that I shot today downtown at Macy’s, formally Kaufmann’s. This is what is going on back here, back home for some of you over there. I debated on whether to even address this holiday in this column since most of my readers are overseas, and this presents a quandary for me. I do not want to make those so affected lonely, nor do I want to ignore those who are as such either. You will be aware anyway, so I will do my best to address that.

I know the feeling of being away from home on Valentine’s Day. Those who have a loved one back home will no doubt think deeply and long about her, or he, and there is nothing you or I can do about it. I also know the concentration it takes to survive up and close personal conflict with armed folks. This is where I am going with this, as I want all of you to make it back and enjoy another Valentine’s Day with that loved one.

All it takes is a part of a second to a daydream, or lose focused concentration to an emotion to allow any advantage that your superior skills may have over the enemy. I sincerely hope you do not do this under any circumstance when engaged, as silly as this may seem, it happens all the time. It is OK to reflect on this day of the romantic, but only when in a safe position. The best Valentine’s Day card that you can possibly give her is a message that you are OK. When the day is over and you drift off to sleep, she will be with you, but you must make it back for her to do so. In your dreams may you enjoy the best Valentine’s Day ever, just knowing that you did just that, for her, for you, and for us all over here!

The other image is the Kaufmann’s Clock … now Macy’s … “Meet me under the Clock”

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

GROUNDHOG DAY!

Walking Towards The Inner Circle

Punxsy Phil is Introduced

Phil Strikes a Pose

Phil Speaks

The Proposal

Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there

The road was icy, dark, and very uninviting as I approached Punxsutawney at 0230 hours. The gate at Gobbler’s Knob was open to the Press with a pass; I drove by a large group of revelers who were already lined up waiting for the official opening at 0300. These hardy folks standing in line after making the walk up Gobbler’s Knob from town in below freezing temperatures were there not for the groundhog, but for life, and living it. The area is country and out of town, located on a high hill that overlooks Punxsutawney. It is heavily treed, with the arena divided into two main sections, one for students, and other for adults. This is the outer circle. The inner circle is a small area down by the stage that is for the Gentlemen of the Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle who puts on the event, VIPs, and a smaller area right up against the stage for the Press. This is where I set up shop.

I have been to Punxsutawney after the morning tradition of Phil coming out to do his prediction, but never to the actual all night party and social event. These days alcohol is not permitted on the grounds, which has toned down the wild parties of old, and is now a very suitable event for the whole family. By 0330 hours a couple of thousand people were already in the venue … standing room only … you have to stand until 0725 hours before Phil is brought out. The crowd grew by the minute, and by 0430 hours there were 10,000 people already packed in, a new record for this event. The venue is not that large, so it was filled to the boundaries, not to mention the many who were standing at the huge bonfires keeping warm a short distance from the main area.

One of the pleasant surprises that I discovered, was all of the activities that go on all night long. A team of young women dancers, hand picked from local students, danced all night, and also helped with other smaller events within the main event. A few of the Top Hat wearing inner circle members entertained all night as well, doing game show games such as The Newly Wed Game, where married couples were picked out the crowd. One couple was from the country of Wales, another woman was from Iceland, and other visitors who made the world travels to see Groundhog Day represented so many other countries.

Time passed by while the fun kept me warm. I found the all night outing to be beyond my expectations of just a cold night; it was so much more. Being a part of this small town USA celebration was very refreshing, and a nice break from all the politicking and realities of the below world. This fun time has been going on since February 2,1887 when the first official trek up the hill to Gobbler’s Knob took place; this night was the 122nd Groundhog Day.

Finally, a half an hour before Phil was to appear the lights went out. Then, as usual for Western Pennsylvania, a very nice fireworks display took over in the late night sky. It felt very strange to be at a fireworks show at 0655 hours.

0725 hours, Phil appeared, than talked sublimely to the President of the Groundhog Club—Mr. Cooper--at a whisper level, then came his official forecast:

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Here Ye!

On Gobbler's Knob on this fabulous Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2008
Punxsutawney Phil, the Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators,
Rose to the call of President Bill Cooper and greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths.

After casting a weather eye toward thousands of his faithful followers,
Phil consulted with President Cooper and directed him to the appropriate scroll, which proclaimed:

"As I look around me, a bright sky I see, and a shadow beside me.
Six more weeks of winter it will be!"

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Photos:
1. Walking towards the inner circle.
2. Punxsy Phil is brought out of his little stump house and introduced to his believers.
3. Punxsy Phil strikes a pose.
4. Punxsy Phil talks to the reporter’s microphone.
5. A man who by deception in cahoots with the inner circle, brought his girlfriend up on stage, and proposed to her! Three parts: He gets down, he offers the ring--she is shocked, the hug.
6. I shot this image during the fireworks display in the dark. I noticed the flag flapping and the explosives reminded me of our National Anthem,
"And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there."

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Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

The Pinup Is Back

COMBAT BOOTS TO HEELS

Hittin' a Bump

Laugh Out Loud

The term Pinup became an attested to usage in the English language in 1941; from there it ran amok throughout World War Two, and has not slowed down since. Famous actresses, models, and celebrities of various sorts have carried the name, but the style is not limited to big name celebrities. Just like the girl-next-door that most troops envision, the pinup is a vision from back home, and from perceptions … real or not, perceptions are reality. Used as a moral booster the somewhat sexist imagery is tolerated even in these times of Political Correctness. Troop lockers around the world have had pinup images posted in them since Pearl Harbor, and tonight is retro night.

Not only is the pinup that you see here a wonderful image, but the model is one of you. She is a reservist in the Marines, and wanted to do something for you all over there. Kristen worked outdoors in the blistering cold, in below freezing temperatures, and did so for a long time to bring you her retro-WWII-pinup look. I shot her as snowflakes were still falling. She is wearing a Navy look as she cannot wear official uniforms, especially Jarhead outfits for obvious reasons. She is doing this not as a Marine, but as a private model that wants to do something even if it is small to help some of you keep your head up; maybe even crack a gut busting smile. She is one tough Marine working in such conditions in summer attire. I give you Kristen, she is one of you, and she may be putting it all on the line one day, as you are now. If you require a locker size poster, please leave a comment in the comment box (at the bottom of each column) with an APO address. I will get you one.

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Another local woman does well!

Franklin Regional High graduate Julie Benz is the female lead in the new Rambo movie just released last Friday, titled “Rambo.” She has been an ice skater since age 3, but an injury at 13 sent her to the tryouts for a local play. She got the part, and has not stopped since. I viewed Rambo at the theatre and she is a wonderful actor, and as far as my personal opinion goes, I believe that she carried the movie. Well Done Julie!

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The newly revised Boyce Ski Park has finally opened after a couple of years of down time. They added a new tubing hill, and improved the beginner ski hill, and the main ski slopes to include lift upgrades. The other two hills have the new ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ which carries standing folks back up on top to start their very fast decent which is lead by the screeching sounds of kids having a ball; as you can see in a few images here in this week’s column.

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Next week is Groundhog Day. So remember to look for the little Rat’s forecast right here. Phil and I are good buddies on a first name basis. Last year we had a serious talk about if his forecasts were fixed, or fairly given without coercion. He assured me that it was of his own free will that he spoke with such authority.

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Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

Blonde Bombshell Coming To Your LZ

(Scarlett Johansson photo by: Francis Specker / Landov)

"Some Things Old" ... Time goes by

Colleen, Angel of the USO

Time has a way of changing depending on what you are doing at the moment you measure it. If you are touching a hot stove, a second can seem like an hour; kissing Scarlett Johansson for an hour can seem like a second. I also would entertain the theorem that a tour over there in the sand would be forever. Doing what one must do is so much longer than doing what one wants to do, and so on, as the point has been made here.

Time is going to slow down even more for you males over there with boots in the sand, as you wait for the USO show of the year. This Bob Hope USO style show is all about showing support for all of you. The lovely muse of the romantic hearted, Scarlett Johansson, is coming to the Persian Gulf to entertain you! This 23-year heartthrob, or Blonde Bombshell in military tradition, will visit various military bases during a five-day tour, signing autographs, and doing face-to-face interaction with you. This was something that she has wanted to do for a long time … to come to you and show you how much she loves what you do for her, and for all of America… No date has been announced as of this posting. Guys, get your Valentines Day cards written so you can hand them to this stunning beauty in person … something you will never forget! For more information go to the USO Site:

http://www.uso.org/

On a personal note, I have had great experiences with the USO. I was lucky enough to catch Bob Hope himself at the Air Force Academy putting on a show for the flyboys. These acts of selflessness give much hope to those so far away from home. The effect may not hit you until years later, but it will I assure you. I still remember one of the USO volunteers, Colleen, who was like an Angel at the Memphis USO. Her kindness made a profound change in my attitude and outlook, that will last until my last days.

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The weather has taken a sudden turn for the cold, as the Siberian Express hit Western Pennsylvania late this evening. The temperature has dipped down to 13 degrees, a huge change from the near 70 degrees just last week. The mid-west was hit harder with temperatures below zero in some areas.

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The NFL championship games are being played today. Our Steelers will only see the game in person if they have a ticket! There is always next year…

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Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

Troop Trains Carried Millions of Men and Women to War

The first month of the new year has not bore new life into the gray winter yet, but it is working on it with spring temperatures setting record highs, 70 degrees just two days ago. This oasis was slain as if this were the ides of March by a cold front … again bringing reality back to the area. The pain of the Steelers loss in the playoffs is just starting to wane in most households, with more smiles and greetings on the street. The 250th year of Pittsburgh celebration is just starting to ramp up … things are starting to flow into the new.

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The Second World War depended heavily on the train, as troop trains carried millions of servicemen and women across this vast country; along with the human souls, every conceivable military item or supply was also transported on the vast rail system. This highway to the war wrought volunteerism to America as never seen before, or since. Canteens appeared along the lines where thousands of American volunteers served the millions of men and women food and beverages, among other helpful items, to do their part in the war effort. Their love was genuine, and their impact was immeasurable.

This national pride of volunteerism has shown its smiling face again in different ways since 911, but more is needed. I try and cover events where such is the driving force, and I will continue to do so. The wonderful people who do what they can no matter how small or large, is an in-your-face show of love for what you do.

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Local Military news:

The Governor’s annual Unit Citation Award, which recognizes extemporary conduct in the performance of outstanding service to Pennsylvania, was presented to three Pennsylvania Army National Guard units with the 1st Battalion and the 110th Infantry Regiment yesterday.

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

Concert To Support Our Troops!

NOTICE

WIZZARD

UNAWARE

Now that the holidays are over, and the Steelers quest for a sixth Superbowl is over, it was a somber day here in western Pennsylvania. The redeeming part of this day was the spring like temperatures reaching the mid-50s in this first week of January … mid-60s are expected tomorrow, surfboards will be optional!

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There has been a lot of goodness coming from Pennsylvania to you during the holidays, with one community going all out for all of you over there in harm’s way. Smithton American Legion Post 790 has been sending a variety of gifts/good stuff since 2004 on a regular semi-monthly basis, and these volunteers have been doing so from the heart. Even the best intentions can cost money, and this is a very costly venture, with contributions from private sources and individuals keeping it going, but money is short.

The Smithton Legion Post has put together a concert to support the troops, “Songs for our Soldiers” to be held on January 23, 7 p.m., at Yough Intermediate School. The entertainment will feature the award-winning 36 Madison Avenue, a wonderful group of 10 men from Drew University, Madison New Jersey. The Legion Post commander’s wife, Karen Primm, contacted one of the a cappella group’s members, her nephew Drew Cranisky, to see if they would do the concert while in Pittsburgh to perform at Carnegie Mellon University … Well-Done Mrs. Primm!

The cost of admission is $5.00 per beating heart, and the proceeds go the legion’s program of sending gifts to our troops. Tickets can be purchased at Yough High School, Yough Intermediate School, Smithton Borough Office, and All-Star Pizza in Smithton. It is desirable to wear patriotic colors at this event, but not required of course. A Charleroi Pennsylvania soldier wrote a letter promising to visit the Smithton post next summer when he returns home to thank them for all they do.

I am confident that anyone so obliged, can send a check to the post as their stand-in in case they cannot make it, but feel like showing a little support. I plan on doing just that, or attending the show.

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Boyce Park in Monroeville is almost done with their redo of the ski area. They have added an inner-tube slope next to the ski slope, with snow making machines on both slopes. I visited the slopes today, and there still is a base down, but with the temperatures going up into the mid-60s this week, the unexpected heat wave will take that away in short order. Hopefully, they will get it finished before the real winter temps and snow return. They have also added the, “Magic Carpet” ride. This is a very nice thing for you older folks. You just stand on it and it takes you back up the hill, the biggest excuse for some not to show up. Take the kids out and have a fun day, it is coming soon!

Photos shot today:
1. Notice: a sign at the bottom of the inner-tube slope.
2. Wizzard: one of the snowmaking machines.
3. Unaware: A sign of the off beat January temperatures, a man was sitting at one of the tables at the Boyce Park Cabin reading a book. He was totally unaware of anyone, including my Nikon and me.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

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I have not posted any other sites here, as I try to keep this one clean and on point, but there always is an exception. This is one: http://www.iwo.com/heroes.htm

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania