Butler 4

This lovely waterfall just off the side of the road.
We pulled over for further exploration - this required us to jump a fence. As we were strangers in a strange land trespassing was of little concern.

Camera's were not the only device implemented to document this find.
Ben got in close and personal with his audio recording equipment to round out the experience.

Kristian and Reghan. And I couldn't be happier about it.

Have you ever wanted to visit the big city and stare intently into an international artist eyes for as long as you wanted? Forever becoming part of the performance? Well Marina Abramovic´is having a open invitation stare down at the MOMA for the next three months. Friends – this stare down is intense.

Yes that's right, from opening to closing the artist sits at a table and anyone is welcome to join her and stare into the cosmos of the her eyes. I personally had no desire to sit and be stared at for any amount of time by this lady. But it was fascinating and intriguing to watch others get gazed upon.
Upon entering the room, I sat down on the floor and watched. There was a electric reverent atmosphere around. People spoke hushed comments of curiosity and whispered questions excitedly to their friends. I watched a lady sit down with the artist right when I arrived and she remained there for the next hour and a half. I would duck into a gallery and when I came out she was still there. I went to the upper floors and would look over the balcony and she was still there. Finally, moments after I took this photo, she left the table. The participant's friends circled her and she relayed the experience to them with a look of exhaustion like she had just swam the English Channel. Apparently staring at someone for an extended period of time really takes it out of you.

So you want to be involved?

The rules are as follows:
1: Wait in line for your turn
2: When it is your turn sit down in the chair opposite of artist
3: Gaze at artist for as long as you want
4: When you no longer have desire to look at the artist get up and walk away

Straight forward performance art stuff really.

Good news for those of you that will not be able to make it to NYC in the next three months. The whole thing is broadcast live on the internet. Click here for the stare down.

I must state a warning. On the fifth floor there is a retrospective of the artist work. I'm sorry to say that there is nothing praiseworthy or of good report about it. Do not seek after these things. You have been warned.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a road that starts in Waynesboro Virginia, winding it's self through the tops of the mountain to Cherokee, North Carolina. There are no commercial signs or advertising along the path of the road and it occasionally crosses other state roads. Every view is delightful to take in. It curves and drops and rises. It so happens that driving cars is not the only enjoyable activity to be had on this dream strip of highway.

Stonewall Jackson did while he was a professor at Virginia Military Institute.
Near these same guns he stood at First Manassass when he won his nickname.
The guns are a reminder that although Jackson became a great exponent of the war movement, he was primarily a master artillerist. The Cadets call these cannons - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

In April 1865 General Lee singed the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. In October 1865 Lee rode into Lexington Virginia to become president of Washington College. Later changed to Washington and Lee University in honor of Robert E. Lee.
In 1867 he oversaw the building of a new chapel. It is know as Lee Chapel. Lee and his family are buried below the chapel. There is also a wonderful museum about Lee and Washington in the basement. The museum has preserved Lee's private office just as it was on the day he retired from the position of the University's President.
A new student once asked President Lee for a copy of the rules for Washington College. Lee replied, "Young gentleman, we have no printed rules here. We have but one rule here, and it is that every student must be a gentleman." Well said General.
Lee's horse during the Civil War – Traveller – is buried just outside the chapel.
Behind the pulpit in the chapel is an awing statue of Lee by Edward Valentine that depicts Lee resting on the battlefield. (Photo by Mike Lynaugh) (Picture taking not permitted in the chapel without written permission from the director of the chapel)

New York Herald's Obituary of Robert E. Lee:

On a quiet autumn morning, in the land which he loved so well and served so faithfully, the spirit of Robert Edward Lee left the clay which it had so much ennobled and traveled out of this world into the great and mysterious land. Here in the North, forgetting that the time was when the sword of Robert Edward Lee was drawn against us—forgetting and forgiving all the years of bloodshed and agony—we have long since ceased to look upon him as the Confederate leader, but have claimed him as one of ourselves; have cherished and felt proud of his military genius; have recounted and recorded his triumphs as our own; have extolled his virtue as reflecting upon us—for Robert Edward Lee was an American, and the great nation which gave him birth would be today unworthy of such a son if she regarded him lightly.

“Never had mother a nobler son. In him the military genius of America was developed to a greater extent than ever before. In him all that was pure and lofty in mind and purpose found lodgment. Dignified without presumption, affable without familiarity, he united all those charms of manners which made him the idol of his friends and of his soldiers and won for him the respect and admiration of the world. Even as in the days of triumph, glory did not intoxicate, so, when the dark clouds swept over him, adversity did not depress.

Highlights of Lee Chapel Visit:

1) The lovely tour guide informed us about the chapel while barefoot
2) The statue by Edward Valentine
3) Traveller's gravestone
4) The reverent and respectful atmosphere

While in VA Steven took us around to his old college stomping grounds and introduced us to some of his southern friends. We had to climb a little mountain to get up to the first one.
Of course this is Thomas Jefferson's house at Monticello that he started construction on in 1769 and take residence in 1770. (Pictures are not permitted inside the building)
Yeah we know Thomas – you did a lot of important things in your day. You don't need to rub it in.


Ben reflects the nature of Monticello and it's impact in Jefferson's life (this takes him 3.5 minutes).

Highlights of Monticello:
1) It's a smooth running operation logistically.
2) Original pieces of furniture.
3) Discovering that Jefferson slept sitting up to facilitate digestion.
4) Overhearing someone get interviewed about their trip to Charlottesville and being asked "did you just come for Monticello or anything else?" "Just Monticello... oh and the wine. In fact where do we go for the wine?"

First we did web based research.
Then we picked up the rental car. A little Toyota. It didn't accelerate with out my permission once. I don't know what all the fuss is about.
Then we stopped at a Waffle House in West Virginia... which is as awesome as it sounds.
Turns out that the Waffle House in West Virginia is made for a recession. Order of biscuits and gravy – only $3. Two Waffles – only $3.50. Local people watching spectacular – only $0. We were the only people in the joint that didn't know all the other people chowing down. But they treated us like they did. Oh... heart the south.
West Virginia interests me. I feel an urge to explore it and know about it. I've done my wikipedia research and it seems lovely. But! I delved to deeply and found that among the US states WV came in last! What the deal? What's going on in WV?

I know you're wondering and Hawaii came in first (shocker), followed by a tie between Utah and Montana (also shocker).

Oh yes... I'll pick back up with the narrative thread of this story. I found the most wonderful L.L. Bean Sweater. It's going to be my new standard. I'm only sad that spring has come and I won't get to much opportunity to wear it around. My fall/winter wardrobe is much better then my spring/summer.

Here is a hint of where I've been.
Here is a bigger hint of where I've been.

This guy with his bird.

Signs of spring are all around! People are throwing out last seasons color filing cabinets to make room for this season color filing cabinets.
People wearing purple are starting to converge in public places.
Youth are listening to the wizened.
Students are pretending to study for an excuse to be outside.
People with bikes are saying "Hey – Over Here!"
Kings and Queens are falling on the battlefields.
The Empire State Building is starting to grow up out of the ground after it's winter hibernation.
And... Neon Milk is on the menu again.

Above is a great example of a traditional youth public proclamation of love. I'm sure many of you are familiar with this type.

–But–

Below is what the kids these days are doing now on the Brooklyn Bridge. I'm calling it The Locks of Love Public Proclamation. The youth in effect are saying our love is locked – until a bridge maintenance man come with bolt cutters.