Here are some pictures that I took over the past two weeks.

Also, I have uploaded the video from a couple of previous rail trips:

BNSF 805 West
BNSF 5408 East
BNSF 5990 West

Pictures of UP 6936 on the 15th and two BNSF trains from Ottawa on the 19th.

http://www.route56.com/gallery/photo/042008

Thumbnails of the pictures:

I also have video that I took along side the still pictures of 6936.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj1xA8ETpCk

I also took video of the two BNSF trains… it is not posted to youtube yet.

I’ve posted my pictures of the parade from high atop Kennedy Glass’s rack truck #7, in front of Central Jr. High

http://www. route56. com/gallery/photo/041308

I have recently uploaded my latest train pictures as well as shots
from a bridge hunting roadtrip over April 4th and 5th

The first album:
http://www.route56.com/gallery/v/Season13/040408
http://route56.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=31004
Railroad Pictures: 4/4/08 (same set of pics, different locations)

And the thumbnails to the individual photos

Album 2: The Bridges of Neosho, Allen, and Anderson Counties
http://www.route56.com/gallery/v/Season13/040508

Thumbnails:

We had two teams in the NCAA championship game that were so close statistically, it had to go to overtime to settle it.

It was a little maddening, but the Kansas Jayhawks managed to run the tables in the NCAA tournament. Rock Chalk!

Oh yeah, I’m sure my uncle Marty’s float for St. Patrick’s day will be recycled for the upcoming celebration down Mass Street

I noticed that during the second half of today’s KU-Portland State game, they elected to go to the Georgia-Xavier game rather than play commercials. Georgia was threatening an upset, but Xavier pulled out in the end. While this may be bad for revenue, I’m sure there are some fans out there who appreciate it.

I’ve added a new set of photos from this past month’s work of train-watching action.

http://www.route56.com/gallery/v/Season13/031308/

Between settling in the new house, work, and a model railroad show… I haven’t had a reason to blog about anything. In any case, my internet connection has been established (no DSL, Cable, Cellular, or Canopy service is available here… I have to go off the satellite)

As of now, much of the family possestions, including my entire model railroad equipement, save a couple of items, and my TV and stereo, have been moved to the new house. We have two weeks to complete the move, although we may be done as early as tommorow

Well, the for-sale sign outside our house was changed once when McGrew bought out Lawrence Reality. Now, It’s finally changed to “Contract Pending,” meaning we’ve got ourselves a home-buyer.

We already have moved items into the new house, and we need to be out of our Harvard Road site by Feb. 22, if not sooner.

I’ve added yet another gallery, this time, I have some picture I took today.

http://www.route56.com/gallery/photo/011908

I’ve added a new Gallery page, with some model railroad shots from a recent train show, construction on I-435 and 69, as well as some pictures submitted by my friend Allison of her family.

http://www.route56.com/gallery/photo/011808

Last night, coming home from work, I went to turn on my headlights, and I heard a tone indicating that I had a dummy light come on. I checked the instrument panel and saw a dummy light that I had not noticed before, it was icon of a light bulb with an exclamation point in the middle of it.

It didn’t take me long to realize that it was telling me that I was running in “Cyclops” mode: one of my headlights had blown out.

As soon as I got back to Lawrence, I fueled up, washed the car of all the salt and grime that had accmulated over the past week, and went to the auto parts store and picked up new headlights, as well as an oil and filter.

Needless to say, It’s time to do some car maintenance.

I’m not much of a party person, I’m pretty much staying at home, working on my website and watching reruns of Pyramid (featuring Dick Clark as the MC, of course)

I’ve been scanning and adding photos from my second and third “seasons” of photography, with a special emphasis on Rhiannon, but also never before posted pictures that I had found.

archive pictures from 1996-97 - http://www.route56.com/gallery/v/Season2/
archive pictures from 1997-98 - http://www.route56.com/gallery/v/Season3/

I’ve also posed a new pictures of the kids, the derailment in Grantville, an old bunch of snow pictures.

Thanksgiving and Christmas with the kids - http://www.route56.com/gallery/photo/122907a

Grantville Derailment - http://www.route56.com/gallery/photo/Grantville

Snow Business - http://www.route56.com/gallery/photo/122907b

More random thoughts while remembering my friend Rhiannon Meier, and scanning pictures from her time on the LHS Pom Squad. Some of my memories either evoke, or are eight evoked by, a song.

During her funeral, several over friends mentioned how Rhiannon treated like like a dance. On Thursday, after recovering from bronchitis, just as I was parking my car at work, I heard The Dance by Garth Brooks. With Rhiannon on my mind, I couldn’t help but cried as I sing along to the song.

I have also heard, on good word, but one of Rhiannon’s former teammates, Jenny, had a baby boy on the 14th. Further, after my grandma passed away back in April, my friend Tracy also had a baby, also a boy. It’s sort of a ‘two teardrops’ phenomenon. As a memory of sadness occurs, so does a memory of joy.

As some may have noticed, the website has literally taken a darker tone as one of my “angels”, Rhiannon Meier, passed away last weekend. Obviously, I have tried to place my photos of Rhiannon front and center (and I have notice that there have been a few more “Hits” on her pictures) as many times, those we have lost are remembered with photo collages. However, I do have my memories.

My first recollection of Rhiannon was when I had her in Physics class 2nd Semester of my Junior year. I don’t remember much of what we discussed, but I do remember talking with her quite a bit. She knew about my website, and my interest in photography. She mentioned that she would be on the Pom Squad for the next year, to which I replied: “Welcome to the family.”

The following May, Rhiannon suffered a injury while playing soccer that required surgery. I remember going over to the flower shop an picking out a set of four flowers. The open space around the soccer fields were filled with clover. I was lucky enough to find several four-leaf clovers. I gave one of the four-leaf clovers to Rhiannon. There is also a annual tradition at Lawrence High known as “Senior Wills,” where graduating seniors “leave” their memories in written form. I “left” Rhiannon the four-leaf clover.

I have posted photos of Eric Neuteboom’s Birthday Celebration on the 1st of December

http://www.route56.com/gallery/main.php/photo/BoomBoom

I got word yesterday from Ellen Belot that Rhiannon Meier had passed away in a crash on Saturday. They had a celebration of her life today (12/12) in L.A.

The rest of the information from Ellen’s post is reposted below verbatium:

On Tuesday, December 18th, we will gather to remember Rhiannon in Lawrence Kansas:

Plymouth Congregational Church
945 Vermont St.
Lawrence, Ks 66044

Donations

To honor the amazing woman and creative force that is Rhiannon Meier, gifts can made to the Rhiannon Meier Memorial Fund in lieu of flowers.

Checks can be made out to Stanford University, Attn. Rhiannon Meier Memorial Fund

Please send to:
Stanford University Gift Processing
PO Box 20466
Stanford, CA 94305

Contact:
Kendra Willis or Steve Player, Stanford U. Gift Processing
Stanford University Memorial Pending Fund
650.725.4338
650.725.5509

Website

Rhiannon’s step father Tom has also created a website in her honor:

http://rhiannonmeier.legacy.com

Letters/Notes

For any of you who would like to write to Rhiannon’s family, please send your notes to the following address:

The Family of Rhiannon Meier
5360 Quarterline Road
Kewadin, MI 49648

Four years ago, Scott Bakula participated in an online chat for startrek.com. One of the questions he was asked involve his character, Jonathan Archer, and the choice of water polo as Captain Archer’s favorite sport. The person that asked that question also asked if he had a favorite college football team. Scott’s answer was:

SB: The water polo idea came from the writers, specifically Rick [Berman]. His son plays, one of his sons plays. I actually played some when I was growing up. I pushed for giving me some lacrosse as a second sport also. And my favorite college football team would probably be - this is tough for me - my college, the University of Kansas. [They haven’t] had a good team in years, and I’m waiting for them. In the meantime, I probably would say either USC or UCLA.

With a third straight .500 or better season guaranteed, and the Kansas Jayhawks now 10-0, I certainly hope that Mr. Bakula is watching now.

http://www.route56.com/gallery/main.php/photo/110807

Another new set of photos from the rails. This time, I am at the Louisiana Terrace crossing.

In addition, I have two new pictures of my cousins Cyrus and Carl.

http://www.route56.com/gallery/main.php/photo/31789
http://www.route56.com/gallery/main.php/photo/31792