I never cared for history class when I attended school. Lately, though, I've been a real nut for digging into the past, especially involving the era of railroading. I don't know, but for some reason, I find the whole idea so magnetic and addictive. My imagination soars at the thoughts of those by-gone days when trains were the king of transportation. Hearing that whistle blow, the brakes screech along the tracks, hunting for your car, viewing the passing landscape through the window...*sigh* Ahh, it simply calls to me.

Recently, hubby and I toured an historic depot. This one was more than just the town's hub of travel. It was the southern headquarters of L&N Railway.

The lower floor was for passengers. The upper storey housed the company's offices.

Inside at the ticket office:

Arriving passengers would enter here:

Look at all the beautiful woodwork. Especially the upstairs leading to the bosses' "abodes".

Lovely workmanship:

This portico was added about three years after the original structure, but the furniture is taken from the pullman coaches:

On our way home, we saw this "motor court" that's no longer in use:

Take a closer look. Clothes still hang in the window. Maybe it had also served as apartments?

Places like this stir my curiosity.  I wonder...Why did the owners lose interest and not maintain it? Why is it deserted? At some point, it must've attracted customers.

I survey the area and consider. Possibly, just possibly, could location have been a factor?

Greetings! I'm so happy to participate in this fun contest! Thanks to Teralyn Pilgrim for conceiving such an original idea!

Below is the cover I designed for an author friend, and her book titled  "Dancing with Fate".

Thank you for stopping at my blog, and enjoy the hop!

Please make your vote at this link.

Attention! Attention!

You're in the spotlight!

A new weekly feature will appear right here at Miss Mae's site cleverly titled, "Member Spotlight".

And what does it entail? Why, a better chance to become acquainted with members on this site, of course!

You know, we're all regular folks. But like that feature on CBS News, "Everyone Has a Story", the same goes for us. We all have a kindred tale, a human spirit, that we can relate to in some kind of way. But how can we learn that, and in the process become better friends, unless we take the time to share?

That's what "Member Spotlight" is all about. No one has to reveal anything they don't want to. It's simply an opportunity to say, "Hello, my name is...." and the rest of the conversation will happen naturally. Really, it will!

On July 7, the first member to leap into the spotlight will be Linda Banche. Read her article, leave a comment, and just get to know her better. While you're at it, why not friend her right here at the site? (Did you know members can do that? ) 

Have fun! Share the news! Join the site, and schedule your day for when you will be able to trumpet:

(photos courtesy of Photobucket)

April 27, 2011 has become a historic date that will forever be etched in my memory. It's the day when tornadoes ripped through my area causing so much devastation and the kind of terror you read about but never expect to experience yourself.

We knew this system was coming. One meterologist predicted the day of its arrival as "wicked Wednesday". Another said, "I'm very concerned."

My comments will be added at the end of the post. Right now I'd just like to share some photos of what so many had to endure through.

*Thanks to WRCB Channel 3, and to Lauren Martinez for permission to repost images*

Paul Barys at the radar helm. All of those red colors were imminent danger "hot spots".

One of the many "super cells". NWS confirmed EF-4 tornadoes. Windspeeds up to 200 mph.

We have three local television stations, and I can not give enough praise to all of them for their stedfast dedication. For more than 12 grueling hours (working past midnight) they remained at their jobs in order to report each approaching storm and to give adequate warning.

We hear incredible stories of those who made it through. One woman with her son and grandchild inside a mobile home were blown across the street. The home was destroyed, but all three walked away. Three young men huddled in a bathtub, clinging to each other. Their house was flattened, they sailed across the yard, but they were unharmed. Today they've become known as "the bathtub brothers".

Humanitarian relief efforts are remarkable. We all feel the desire, the need to give aid. In some way, some how, we're all forever changed by this tragedy. Maybe in a sense we'll no more be strangers. Maybe it took this for us to become neighbors.

My heart goes out to all of those who lost so much. I understand survivors guilt now. While my family and property were spared, that meant others weren't.

Here in the South the terror of April 27, 2011 will not be forgotten. It'll be remembered as our own 9-11.

#######

Do you remember the days of when we ran out of telephone numbers? I can still recall how astonished I was when I heard that on the news. I don't know why it surprised me. That was just something I never considered.

Well, who would've thought (again, not me!) that the internet is going to run out of IP numbers? I guess I just never considered that computers, like telephones, used numbers to "call" each other.

So now we've rather reached a dilemma. What to do?

Currently the 32-bit IPv4 scheme which the network uses is out of numbers. The new 128-bit IPv6 system is steaming along to handle the increasing traffic.

What does that mean for you? Well, you need to test if your computer, router, and IP network operator is geared up to make the switch. On June 8, 2011, a World IPv6 Day will be held to see how smoothly the transistion might be.

This preliminary test site allows you to gain an idea of how difficult --or not-- you'll find this dawning of a new era. The scan looks like this:

I don't mean to try and alarm anyone. Of course, all those powers that be who oversee the great 'universe of internetting' are working ahead to iron out any wrinkles.

More than likely, June 8 will come and go with nary a tremble in our own personal cyber world.