Two More State Parks

A family on a rock overlooking Center Hill Lake & Dam at Edgar Evins State Park

I've actually been to Edgar Evins State Park more than once before but could not find any photos. When Jason was in Middle School he had a friend whose father also worked for the Sunday School Board and the four of us camped and fished Center Hill Lake at Edgar Evins State Park. And I did an art show near the lake one year of my art show days (2004-2008).

Going to Ft. Loudoun State Historic Park as the rain starts.

Fort Loudoun State Historic Park is where revolutionary war period re-enactments take place which was not happening today but rather a pouring rain by the time I got there. I got photos of two signs and the Sequoya Birthplace Museum across the road. I started driving into the park in the rain (hoping to see a fort) and a scary-looking man was wobbling down the middle of the road in the rain (drunk?), so I made a quick u-turn and got out of there! This park is on Tellico Lake and near the millionaires' Tellico Village of mansions (weekend cabins?). Millionaires, drunks, and heavy rain scared me away from this park and I moved on down I-75 to Cleveland, TN where I will be closer to the three parks I plan to visit tomorrow which will finish my journey to all of Tennessee's state parks. I'm determined to finish the book before going to Costa Rica.

Had a great BBQ dinner with peach cobbler and now a quiet evening in my Hampton Inn room with plenty to read as well as this online time! Did another post on my Moving to Costa Rica Blog tonight too, reacting to Chris Howard's newsletter on Tortuguero, one of my favorite places.

Don't Grow Up - It's A Trap!

Changed mind on Costa Rica Posts Location & Got Apartment

I will continue to post about my preparation to move to Costa Rica on the special blog I started for the decision making notes since several are following it and not this one, at least until I get moved there. See today's post entitled Apartment Arranged.

But this "Adventures" Blog will still be used and probably become my main blog after the move. 

Cost Rica Ranks #2 on Global Well Being Report

Panama Photo from USA Today

See the USA Today report at:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/16/global-well-being-poll-panama/15679637/

And Panama ranked #1 - the other country I was considering retirement in. Did I too hastily dismiss Panama? Nah! They're next door neighbors and I will likely travel some in Panama and if I decide Costa Rica is not the right place to continue living, I can easily move next door!  :-)  But for the natural world, my main draw, Cost Rica still wins out! 

Live in Costa Rica Tour

I'm having a wonderful time and learning a lot on what could be the beginning of my biggest adventure of all, a two week Live in Costa Rica Tour and 4 extra days to explore, including a birding trip.

SEE MY DAILY POSTS  on my newest blog Costa Rica Decision Process. You'll learn why I'm considering a move and lot about Costa Rica too. 

Attacked by a Mockingbird

Wednesday afternoon I was being interviewed on camera by the Fifty Forward FLIP Program (Friends Learning in Pairs reading tutor) in which I participate with much enjoyment. See my FLIP page. Well, the videographer decided it would be outside for better light. At the Donelson 50 Forward we went to that little patio in front of the building with me sitting on a park bench for the interview,  unknown that I was sitting under a Mockingbird nest on the tree limb just above my head. No less than 5 or 6 times the mother Mockingbird dive-bombed into my head to scare me away. It finally worked! She never broke the skin, but it hurt when she hit me!

DISCLAIMER: This photo was not

made during the attach but earlier 

as McKendree Village, but my

attacker wasn't abiding by 

this speed limit.

Boyhood

Tuesday I saw Boyhood the movie at Belcourt Theatre, our Nashville Indie Films theater and it is one of the best I have ever seen! It touches your heart strings or something deep inside as well as being one of the most unique of films. The producer filmed the same boy and the same stage family every year for twelve years to get the most realistic growing up movie yet. The boy goes from 6 to 18 as well as his sister, parents, step-parents, grandparents, etc. all realistically aging and changing their lives too.

Filming the same actor for 12 years, Ages 6 to 18

Because it goes through so many stages of life it did somewhat remind me of my growing up, though more like Jason's, yet even a later generation than his. If you cry in movies, bring your Kleenex! It is so real and touching.

I'm sorry it is rated R for the language and a little teen sex and drug use. I would have put PG13 on it. Maybe that is why it is in art theaters instead of the main stream ones. But I predict it will make the big ones soon and is bound to have many academy award nominations and make lots of money. One of the best movies of the year so far to me.