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Monthly Archives: April 2015

365 Day Photo Challenge 118/365 “Great Weekend Ahead”

30 Thursday Apr 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Codie Lynne, Cycling, deep south, Friday, Photography, Weather

It’s been a great week and I’m looking forward to an even better weekend.  The weather has been nearly picture perfect here in the deep south.  The only thing is that I haven’t had time to get out and enjoy it.  The last few evenings, instead of getting on the treadmill or riding my bicycle, I’ve been sitting at my laptop either editing pictures or editing videos of the trip I took last weekend.  I had my sights on going riding this evening but I had a tire on my truck start showing some steel so once I got home I took the tire off and replaced it with the spare.  Looks like I’ll be purchasing tires this weekend.

Just heard on the news that we’ve received over ten inches of rain this month.  The normal rainfall for April is four inches.  I will have to say that it’s rained more than we’ve seen the sun. At least we haven’t seen any really bad weather.  I like to see and hear thunderstorms but I hate storms that can spawn tornadoes.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 117/365 “Sickness is in the House”

29 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Photo, Photography, Sickness, Travel

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The wife came down with something yesterday evening and she’s not doing too good at the moment.  I slept in my sons room last night because I can’t really afford to take off sick.  With my immune system the way it is I will probably get it anyway.

Do you see the fisherman?

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 116/365 “Test Results”

28 Tuesday Apr 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Bluegrass, Cancer, CML, Dixie Stampede, Guitar, Oncologist, Pigeon Forge, RBC-Abl, Tennessee, Test Results, Travel

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I finally heard back from my oncologist yesterday.  It was such an emotional day yesterday that I forgot to post something about it.  It took them three weeks for them to get around to find the time to read to me my results.  Anyway, I know their busy and no news is good news, right?  Two months ago my RBC-abl test was .135 which is not bad but remember we’re looking for zero.  Yesterday I found out that that the new number is .08 which is better but again, not zero.  The oncologist did say that it was not uncommon for it to take eighteen months for it to get to zero.  It’s been 14 months as of the 14th of this month.

The above picture is of some pre-show entertainment for the Dixie Stampede, a diner show in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.  If you’re ever there it’s a must see.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 115/365 “Four Years Ago”

27 Monday Apr 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

2011 Tornado, 365 Photo Challenge, Alabama, Band, Damage, High School, Photo, Photography, Pleasant Grove, tornado

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Our little community was hit by an EF-4 tornado and as you can see it destroyed much our our great city.  Thirteen people died on this date four years ago.  A total of 64 tornados were recorded that day with 250 recorded deaths for the state of Alabama.

My son and I woke up to the news that morning of a tornado that hit Pell City, a city east of us.  It did a lot of damage including my sister in law’s house.  My son and I was getting ready to leave out on a trip with the high school band heading to Orlando, Florida leaving behind my wife and two young twin daughters.  Little did I know that I would later on fear that they had perished in the storm that would hit around 4 pm later that evening.

We were on a bus near Tallahassee Florida when we started getting messages that a EF-5 tornado had hit Tuscaloosa and was heading toward Pleasant Grove, my hometown.  We all watched in fear as we saw the tornado inch closer and closer to our city.  I had called my wife and told her to take cover because it was on it’s way.  The radar program I had installed on my computer showed the path leading dead center of Pleasant Grove.  I hung up the phone not knowing if I would ever see my wife and girls again.

I watched in horror as the storm reports started coming in on the tv on the bus.  Reports also started coming in from loved ones on the bus.  Friends, neighbors and loved ones had died and their homes destroyed.  Reports of fires and heavy damage all over our city were flowing freely throughout the bus but I could not get through to my wife.  I tried her cell phone, the house phone and I even called the neighbors phone.  It wouldn’t even ring.  All circuits were busy.  I couldn’t text my wife because she didn’t want to spend the money on text messaging.  I cursed her for that.  After about 15 minutes of not knowing I started getting that sinking feeling that I had indeed spoke to my wife and kids for the last time and I would not see them alive again.  People all over the bus were crying because of the news of their loved ones either being hurt or loss of life.  The lady behind me knew I was concerned and started trying to calm me down.  I went to my son who had also been trying to contact his mother and I could tell he had been crying too.  We held each other in our arms for a few minutes.  Other people started trying to call our numbers but were having the same luck.  Finally, after what seemed a lifetime, I finally was able to get the phone to ring.  I can’t remember just how many times the phone rung but I remember thinking to myself that even if the phone rang it didn’t mean that she was still alive.  I also remember hearing the most beautiful sound that I could ever hear at that time, the sound of my wife answer the phone.

The tornado had missed the house by about five hundred yards.  She had went outside and looked around and saw no damage, just a few limbs down and a lot of insulation all over the yard.  She wouldn’t know until the next day just how close we were to losing everything we had.  At that time she didn’t know just how close the tornado came and just how much damage was done to our city. We were truly blessed.

The buses were instructed to stop at the next rest area and the parents and band leaders met to decide what we needed to do.  Several of the parents wanted to go home and check on their homes.  The decision was made to continue on to Orlando and let those parents that wanted to, make arrangement to rent a car and let them go on home.  All the kids were made to stay on the bus and head to Orlando.  We had some opposition from the kids but the kids needed to stay out of the way of the cleanup.  Later on I think the kids realized that we just wanted what was best for them.  It all worked out for the best.

This happened on a Wednesday and we stayed in Orlando until the following Sunday.  The ride home was a somber one.  The realization had set in and we were about to find out first hand what type of damage was done to our families.

Our city is still trying to rebuild from the 2011 tornado.  Many people packed up and left never to return.  The band went from nearly 200 students to 80 in less than a year. The same effects were felt in the high school.  We’re slowly getting back to where we were but it’s going to take some time.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 114/365 “Feels Good to be Home”

26 Sunday Apr 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, 365 Photo Challenge, Alabama, Cline Bus Company, Coal Dust, Locomotive, Photo, Photography, Pigeon Forge, Steam, Tennessee, Travel

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It was finally good to get home early this morning. Today I have been reacquainted with my recliner.  Haven’t moved much all day.  I didn’t sleep well on the bus after leaving Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, never could get comfortable.  I had gotten a little motion sickness trying to work on my computer right after we left and that may have had a lot to do with it.

I absolutely love steam locomotives. Always have and I guess I always will.  Wife and I went on a steam excursion about 20 some odd years ago from Birmingham to Chattanooga, Tenn. and that’s the last time I’ve seen one in operation.  These workhorses are so majestic but yet have such a mournful sound when you hear their whistle blow off in the distance.  One of these day’s I’d like to do some traveling just to find all the locomotives still in operation and do some photography work.

This locomotive can be found in Dollywood in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 113/365 “Great Trip”

25 Saturday Apr 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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On our way home Fran a great trip to the mountains. Can’t stand long bus rides and after four hours we still have three more to go.  I’m looking forward to  hot shower and my bed. 

“Life Goes On”

365 Day Photo Challenge 112/365 “Day in the Mountains.

24 Friday Apr 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Band, Gatlinburg, GoCart, Mountains, Photo, Photography

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Go Carts and Bumper Cars were the highlight of most of these kids day.  We also spent some time at a dinner show in which we all had a blast.  Tomorrow continues with a band performance and then the kids gets to do the rides all day, weather permitting of course.  Speaking of the weather,  They are predicting some severe weather for our trip home tomorrow night.  The Tornado word was even used a couple of times.  These kids don’t do well in weather like that since that tornado came through and destroyed our city in 2011.  Right now all we’re thinking about is having a good time tomorrow.

“Life Goes On!!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 111-365 “No Internet Service”

23 Thursday Apr 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ 5 Comments

Cant get my laptop on wifi. It’s been a fun day hanging with the kids. Going to be a busy day tomorrow as well.  

 

365 Day Photo Challenge 110/365 “Short and Sweet”

22 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Photo, Photography, Trip

Happy Earth Day!!

I’ve got to go finish packing.  It’s an early start in the morning.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 109/365 “Tomorrow’s my Friday”

21 Tuesday Apr 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Band Trip, DollyWood, Gatlinburg, Kalah Mack, Photo, Photography, Tennessee, Twins

And I really need this little mini vacation.  I’m going with my twin daughters to Gatlinburg, Tenn. on a band trip.  They are playing a couple of pieces in Dollywood on Saturday.  If you’ve never been to Gatlinburg Tennessee, it’s a beautiful city in the mountains.  It’s been several years since I’ve been there and I am so looking forward to spending some time there.  However, I’ll be on a buss with other parents and teens so I won’t be able to go where I want to go.  But it’s away from here and at work.  That’s the main thing.

“Life Goes On!”

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