Handel's Messiah

I enjoyed an excellent performance of Handel's Messiah tonight by The Nashville Symphony & Symphony Chorus + 4 guest soloists. (photo from web of a different concert in our beautiful symphony hall)

Explaining My Blogs

In case anyone stumbles upon both of my blogs, let me briefly explain. This adventures blog is just that, telling about adventures I am experiencing. Its address is
http://www.charliedoggettadventures.blogspot.com  and you are here!

My other blog is more dear to me and if I tire of two, it will be the one I continue. "Nature Notes" is my effort to highlight at least one experience I have in nature each day (or nearly every day). It is also my substitute for a "Photo-A-Day" gallery which I have done on Pbase before, where I will try to feature a new nature photo each day. This keeps me alert and into nature photography which I love.
http://www.charliedoggettnaturenotes.blogspot.com

And then I added a third! It is my spiritual blog, writing on spiritual experiences at http://www.charliedoggetthisspirit.blogspot.com

The Hobbit

I saw the new movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey today in 3-D IMAX and it was very good, exactly what I expected from Peter Jackson. He follows the book well but to take three years to finish what was not a long book might be a little too much. It is obviously going to be a repeat of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy which needed to be a trilogy, but I think I would have preferred this as one good long movie. And as with Rings, the scenery is spectacular and the acting very good. But it could have done with less graphic violence and over-the-top battles. Tolkien would not have approved of the excessive violence constantly throughout all of these movies. The story is too good for the constant special effects and bloody realism.

Skyfall

Skyfall the movie is a good story and great acting, but like so many "action" movies they use too much "eye candy" and too much violence for it to be enjoyable for me. Judi Dench is good in everything she does and a fav actor for me. The new older Bond was just right and the new villain fit the role though not outstanding. I just wish they didn't depend on special effects violence to make it big - a good story doesn't need violence and can usually succeed without special effects.

"I have a story that will make you believe in God."

The title is a quote from the Francis Adirubusamy, author of The Life of Pi book and movie I saw yesterday. It includes beautiful nature shots, particularly vibrant in 3-D, and a very spiritual story even if the theology is weak or incorrect (the same old "all religions lead to God" story). But I think most people who love God and love nature will like this movie. The photo is mine, one of the Bengal Tigers at Nashville Zoo. (The tiger is the co-star with the boy in the movie.)

Christmas Visitors

Today I had my first visitors in my new home at McKendree Village. Carlos & Nilda Cobos and Clyde & Mildred Hall came by to see my new digs then we all went to the Cobos house for Nilda's wonderful homemade chili. What a treat! And here are three shots of my Christmas decor.

Visit My Website

I'm redoing my website which has gone through many transformations since starting in January 2000. The theme now is much like this blog, "Enjoying Retirement . . ." and I hope you will enjoy. The site is just the facts about me with a growing amount of personal history and quite a bit of my creative expression through photography. This is also where you can find the links to my photography gallery and retail outlets online along with family history and travel information.

To Blog or Not to Blog?

Am I really about to start a blog? I'm still debating with myself and will decide by the first of January which just seems like a good time to start. And do I make it photo-sharing or just thoughts? And what about a purpose? Theme? Got three weeks to decide! And by the way, the photo is from my August Grand Canyons Tour in Arizona-Utah and specifically the view of Grand Canyon from Powell Point.