Random Thoughts and Geekery

As time has gone on I think I've grown accustomed to the leaps and bounds by which Layla grows weekly. Every once in a while, though, she'll really drop a stunner that leaves me reeling, bringing me back down to earth with just how much she's progressing. Just last night as I was getting her ready for bed, she looked up at me and matter-of-factly said "I want to see the video with the rhino with the horn." We'd been watching some Youtube videos of rhinos that she'd really enjoyed, and I'd been talking to her about the horns on top of their nose. For most of the night she'd say one or two words about the videos, but nothing like the complete sentence that came out later.

She's just shy of 23 months old today, and I find it totally jaw-dropping that she'd come up with a sentence of that complexity this early. I guess it reaffirms my belief that she knows full-well how to speak in her mind - she's just working on how to get it out! I'll certainly continue to speak to her in full sentences. From the looks of things soon enough she'll be responding in kind!

This is another glance at the patch of Pickett's charge. A different picture emerges today in the area where so much metal flew through the air long ago.

On the path of Pickett's Charge

I did something I hadn't done before on this past weekend's trip to Gettysburg battlefield: I walked the line of Pickett's charge! I find it unbelievable that thousands of troops walked this path in the direct line of fire of lots of artillery directly to their front. No wonder they were decimated! Walking this same path well over a century later I still felt exposed and vulnerable.

Along the advance path of the third day

While visiting a friend in Raleigh he recommended two different sites for me to shoot. The first place was Umpstead Park, located about five minutes away from his house. We woke up early to catch the good light there. A short walk down a hiking path led us to a huge, calm lake. I eyed the walkway and the main entrance area for immersive panos. Here are the results!

Umpstead Park

Umpstead Park