Play's Have Been the Thing Lately

The director introduces a play based on one of the most beloved novels in the English language, written by Charles Dickens who is often considered to be the greatest English novelist - in short, David Copperfield.

The hero and heroine of the play, two of the best loved characters from all literature - in short, David Copperfield and Agnes.

And who do you, Dicken's fans, think this might be? Nope, not Mr. Micawber, despite all my "in shorts." ;-) Hint: this character is extremely "umble."

Here's dear old Peggotty, though not so very old it would appear.

(About now, I'm starting to feel for those of you who aren't into classic literature. So we'll move on to something else. History - for instance...)

A Trip to Johnstown, PA

Come with us to Johnstown...

...the scene of one of the worst disasters in U.S. History - the Johnstown Flood.

Before we leave, breakfast.

Wondering about the hard hat? He told us he wasn't scared, just taking precautions.

Precautions needed... But I am getting ahead of myself.

Modern Day Johnstown

The book that brought us here.

If I didn't mention Sally, our excellent guide at the museum, and if I didn't tell you that her grandmother was one of the survivors of the flood, and if I didn't post a photo of her... Dad would not approve of this post. :)

Actual flood water - boy, did that get attention.

This tree was one of the most popular sites for photographers back then.

It's still a popular sight today.

High King Peter

Which means that there are only two possible names for the lady sitting beside him.

More things reminiscent of Narnia.

Vive la healthy snacks!

And you always wondered why the SLR is around my neck most of the time.

Despite all its sobering memorials to the flood, Johnstown claims that the Inclined Plane is its most moving landmark. ;-)

In which the importance of units becomes obvious... Five what? Five pounds? Five people?

Five of us cautiously start across the bridge.

Son, you weigh a ton. I think we'd better wait until the rest get off.

Modern Art meets Modern Editing

(I'm trying to make a good point, not a good picture. :)

To the Dam Itself

A highlight was hearing a recorded interview with one of the just-so-survivors of the flood that we had read about in David McCullough's book.

I guess that means no shooting.

We got away with it.

It's good pen-knives weren't prohibited. Dad would be lost without one.

What is left of the South Fork Dam.

For her sake, I hope that railing is more sturdy than the dam that WAS standing on this spot over a hundred years ago.

I trust it with my arm. That's as far as my faith goes.

As we learned more and more about the broken dam, Candace's faith in local structures waned.

It's raining out there.

Conrad runs a gauntlet of raindrops between our van and the restaurant.

A lecture on the long fork versus the short fork for salad.

The long and short of it is, he couldn't figure out which was which.

Did you ever notice what a phony age we live in?

Heritage Discovery Museum

I've been reading a photography book lately. The author advises taking photos of details that will suggest the whole to the viewer. I figured my part of the deal was to take photos of details; yours is to imagine the rest. :-)

She found the local gossip right off.

The whole museum was geared toward seeing things from an immigrant's perspective. Conrad did his best to see things from this little boy's point of view, but, try as he would, all he could see was the concrete floor.

Children's Museums...

...they can be dangerous places.

*scratches head* Now what could a locker be for?

To lock-her up, of course.

This children's museum was advocating letting children spray water around their museum, all in the name of teaching them plumbing. They must be plumb crazy. :)

The catch? You have to be young at heart to enjoy this place.

Last leg of our trip - a stop at the memorial to the unknown dead.

A victim of the flood being sucked to a watery grave.
________

The end of our Johnstown Trip, but not the end of this post.

April Showers

April 1st - otherwise known as April Fool's Day. It's a fairly calm, relaxing day around our house.

The joke's on you for believing me.

If you ever see that grin, grab an umbrella. Quick.

She's supposed to be washing the dishes, but I think she thought more interesting things were being washed outside.

If there's a way to do it with wheels, then do it with wheels.

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We have reached the ladder end of this post.

God Bless.

Carmen