Tag: Family

Family, For What Its Worth, History, Travel1 Comment

One for the other half

Tim May
castle4_HUGH'S PAINTING

From a family lineage and heritage perspective, the in-law side of the family has a pretty way-cool claim on history…a history of Scotland that is.

The Clan McRae is a proud and noble bunch. Their Scottish history speaks for itself. However, one of the most recognized icons of Clan McRae is not that of its Clan folklore and honor, but that of a small castle on a big stage standing in the middle of some really deep water.

Eilean Donan is the place. And today’s Clan McRae, worldwide, are the stewards of a wonderful Scottish destination. Continue reading “One for the other half”

Family, Fun, nature, Photography, Photos1 Comment

Here we go again

Tim May

Done deal!

Thanks to a simple email question from OFSIL Becky, it got the line cast and look what happened. Everyone got called and sure as a Canadian fishing license, father and sons are trekking back to Canada to try and catch more trophy Walleye this fall!

The four of us will be packing tackle and poles and head off to Halley’s Camps in Ontario!

And even better…OFB Tony gets to join us this time!  Continue reading “Here we go again”

Family, Fun, Humor, Sports1 Comment

Smack down golf

Tim May

OFB TR started it today. There were a few barbs trade via email…creativity was shared without a tee time reservation.

Friday’s golf outing amongst the family should be fun, interesting, and full of…well…lets just saw if history is any indication of what’s in store for the course, I will need to be a designated golf cart driver for the “young’uns” and their run to the liquor store (losers by the beer) will be sobering. Dad and his 3 sons (the old timers 0r “old farts” if you’d rather) versus 4 of his 5 grandkids (the “Young’uns). It is safe to say we talk (and Photoshop) better than we play the game.

Here are the traded smack photos for today. I must say they are kind of funny. The photo-doctoring all started with OFNi Dani’s clever and humorous talent.  Continue reading “Smack down golf”

Family, Food, For What Its Worth, Friendship, Fun, Photography, Photos, Veterans1 Comment

Memorial Day

Tim May

It was a grand 3-day holiday weekend. This Monday also ended the National Backyard Games Week…Tuesday will mark the end of the National Barbeque Month. I did my usual photography stuff…I actually hopped on the bicycle and tooled down to the Corps Park for pictures this morning. We celebrate all that weekend stuff, and most of us, somewhere, sometime, somehow reflect on our fallen military heros. It truly was a meaning full weekend – thanks!

Continue reading “Memorial Day”

Family, Photos2 Comments

Family March Birthdays

Tim May
Guess who?

March birthdays within the family…I have 8 of them. I trust someone will tell me if I need more.

I do need some pictures from family….

In my vast library of photos I have no pictures of David McRae, Sally (May) Crawford, nor any of Morgan May. Don’t make me come over there and take pictures of you guys…OK, do. Who are these people any way – just kidding :)

Send me pictures and I will get these folks the photo recognition they deserve! In the mean time, I’ve robbed one picture of each from Facebook profiles (sorry gang).

Hope everyone had a happy birthday.  Continue reading “Family March Birthdays”

Family, For What Its Worth, Health, History, Life, ProfessionalLeave a comment

Parking it with Purpose

Tim May

On this 9/11 anniversary weekend, flags fly, “what you were doing that morning” memories come back to us, and families directly affected by the attacks are still remembered by all with great sadness of loss and senselessness of reason.

An unforgetable day, I first heard a sketchy report on the radio that a plane hit one of the Towers as I arrived at work. My daughter Tiffany was in school in NYC at the time, and I said to myself “she has no reason to be in that part of the city this morning”, and I set out about my morning with an under-the-breath prayer that the “accident” would not be too tragic for the City. Well the events unfolded, as we all know, and my family’s lives became one of the many chapters written that day, although comparatively insignificant with most others…perhaps that is another post if interested, but know Tiff was safe that day.

Continue reading “Parking it with Purpose”

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365-2009

Tim May
001-365 of 2009

Happy Belated New Year y’all!

So much – sometimes too much – going on, but then so much went on last year…that was documented.

One thing for 2009 for sure: I’m done! That is last year’s New Year’s resolution to take one picture a day is done. What fun I had and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. It brought me more familiar with photography, a decent and knowledgeable understanding of digital cameras (I now have 6 within arm’s reach at any time day or night), a better eye for detail, color, repeating forms, and a favorite…people. Continue reading “365-2009”

Family, Fun, Travel3 Comments

The FD has checked in

Tim May

Who remembered, or knew of FD’s 3 week trip to Ecuador? I did, and it’s about time I heard from her!

FD (aka, T) left out a week ago last Sunday. We had an email from her on that next Monday following, saying she made it to Quito. 

The second email followed on Wednesday expressing concern with the group of noisy, obnoxiously-loud college kids. She was headed up the Andes to a remote community for a week of no outside world communication, teaching English and acting to the village youth, and a noticable lack of personal hygiene luxuries. Don’t we all wish we were with her on this trip :)

From the second FD email: Continue reading “The FD has checked in”

Family, Photos, TravelLeave a comment

History Blogging #1

Tim May

Yup, history blogging for at least the next week. History blogging is simply updates on what has been going on instead of offering up advice and opinions, which in my case demands thought, typing, and editing. And not until after my “test” next week do I want to do any extracurricular thinking. So throw in a few photos, list what happened and when, and call this “Easy Blogging” if you want…. Continue reading “History Blogging #1”

Blogs, Family, Photography, Photos3 Comments

The other side of the camera

Tim May

One issue I’ve realized over the past several months is a lack of pictures. It’s not so much that I don’t have pictures – I actually have 4,565 of them so far this year since I’ve started this 365 / Picture-a-day thing.  I just don’t have a decent one of myself for posting to the blog.  Mind you, I have 293 pictures of OFGNi Madison; 353 pics of OFGNe Mick; and I have 26 of me. That ratio really doesn’t bother me whatsoever.

So if I want a picture in the sidebar of this blog, I’m kind of forced to choose a goofy one from my library (the one uploaded now is looking like I have gas and I’m self-humored because of it). Please know, I extend my sincere apologies for the creepiness pose in the left column even though I look like I feel better…the gas thing and all ya know. Continue reading “The other side of the camera”

Business, History, politics, Preservation, Sports10 Comments

Passions, Preserving, Places to Play

Tim May

Oh how I love these kind of discussions. Late last week, OFSIL, OFNi, and I exchanged commentary on sports venue histories, traditions, and personal perspectives. Realize that OFNi is still relatively young amongst the professional ranks but she has an obvious passion and definite opinion towards this subject(s). Now getting it out of her can be another story, sometimes. With this exchange she opened up a bit and showed me why I become more proud of her every day, and honored to call her OFNi. It goes without saying OFSIL (aka Mom) is more-so more-proud as she develops into a marvelous young lady, displaying her talent professionally, showcasing her passion, and exercising the expensive out-of-pocket education to the rest of our family, and perhaps to her very own colleagues (if she and Mom so chose to do so).

Below is the exchange. This all started with an OFSIL email to her circle of “others” regarding a CNN report on “great basketball towns”. I will stop short of an animated opinion of CNN so as not to diminish the value of content presented here, but know similar sports websites have published a very similar ranking in the past and I have yet to dispute their subject matter claims. What started out as a “yeah Allen Field House and KU” shared e-story evolved into a philosophical, psychological, and sociological discussion. Now that’s what I want this blog to really talk about – not KU, but “what’s up with that” type topics! (how ’bout a blog discussion on why our idiot politicians think it their responsibility to decide/mandate a college football playoff. Don’t even get me started with that one…yet, here, now).

I’m sharing the exchange knowing OFSIL will love it, but unsure of OFNi’s reaction. Why OFB (aka Dad) wasn’t included in last week’s exchange, don’t know. I’m sure he has been told of it by now however. I know he is equally proud of his daughter, and has never been one to shy away from an opinionated statement or two…or three. Maybe we just didn’t want to interrupt his personal quest to get the U.S. out of this recession. The family knows with this posting his “catch up” can be done during his leisure time. And we still expect the “slow-day-at-work” rhetorical question of all of us following his real topic-related response…not even Little Big Bro!

I look forward to your comments. Please tolerate the removal of personal names in the exchange in order to protect the opinionated. If you want to be known, or claim the opinion, you will have to do so through the “comments” process of blogging. This is lengthy I know (go get a fresh cup of coffee before diving in), but I hope you enjoy, or at the very least appreciate the spirited exchange. Continue reading “Passions, Preserving, Places to Play”

Family, Friendship, Life3 Comments

(pause) good day!

Tim May

paul-harveyOn February 28th America lost an iconic, legendary radio man. No one, not his son, not Gil Gross nor any other sit-in voice (Dallasite Ron Chapman) will replace the incomparable Paul Harvey. Many young people have missed out on his folksy, comforting, fatherly, friendly, familiar voice delivering the News! and “the rest of the stories”. It is sad to think the youth of today will know not what they’ve missed.

I for one took great comfort listening to Paul on the radio. My commute into Dallas each day was not complete without Paul telling me the day’s stories at 7:30 a.m. on The Big WBAP 820. While on my way to work, I remember a fateful day in the mid-80’s when Paul reported a Hollywood-style kidnap and murder event in western Kansas over the radio. I took interest because of the story’s geographic closeness to home. It was an incident involving ex-cons, sheriff and state police, and one innocent man. That man – the victim of a violent shoot out – coincidentally was my wife’s uncle. Paul Harvey hit a little closer to home that day with his News! than he usually did. It was his comforting grace – a grace for the family that would be expected from a compassionate preacher at an emotional funeral – that eased the mournful shock and started the healing.

Continue reading “(pause) good day!”

Family, TravelLeave a comment

Hill Country Christmas

Tim May

img_5076Ahhh, Christmas this year was spent a bit differently. Ohhhh we had our kids with us for sure, but it was out of the “home” for the second year in a row. Last year we traveled to San Antonio – that was cool. This year we were again close to San Antonio…about 45 minutes northwest in Wimberley.

Even though it went from 36° to nearly 80°…and then back to 40°, we had a img_5237awonderful time in the Hill Country over Christmas. We had days where we woke up to the furnace running and ate dinner with the AC blowing. Something about not having cold temps and snow on the ground at Christmas just isn’t right.

FD and Mark, FS and Tammy, and Frank and Lupe joined us for a relaxing, special time together.  The time went by so fast and very little college football bowls were watched – which made it even more neat for everyone. Continue reading “Hill Country Christmas”