AUBURN TIGERS

I am very happy that Auburn won again. They have not been consistently good in a long time. Auburn was completely crowded Saturday, and as I got to our tailgate spot late (at 10:00) I ended up driving around for 45 minutes before finally parking about 15 minutes away. It was the last home game of the season, which is sad because some of my tailgating friends I rarely see any other time. I'll just have to wait until next year.

Clingman's Dome

IMG_5452
Originally uploaded by otwelmr.

Here we are at the beginning of the trip (Clingman's Dome to Cades Cove). We made it down the trail with minimal injuries, but many sore muscles. I have never climbed straight up so many mountains and knobs. Usually there are many switchbacks, but not on this section. We had a great time, but it was very tiring.

PRESIDENT BUSH

I am hoping that somehow, the fact that he cannot be re-elected again will lead to a conservative agenda which I voted for in 2000 and haven't seen since. I want lower taxes, less government spending and fewer government programs. I guess we'll just see what happens.

election

I was very disappointed that The Daily Show's coverage of the election was really just an hour long version of the regular show. I would have liked to watch them during the whole primetime election slot. The show was hilarious as usual. Anyway, it looks like Ohio will decide whether we have a grey haired guy who wants to keep us in Iraq and increase federal spending on things like health care and education or the taller grey haired guy who wants to keep us in Iraq and increase federal spending on things like health care and education.

AT July 2004

AT July 2004
Originally uploaded by otwelmr.

Here we were in July.

backpacking

I am planning to go backpacking for the last time in a while. My friend Mark is having ankle surgery and as I usually go with him, I may not carry heavy things on my back in the woods for a few months. We usually go more often when it's cold and right now it's only quasi-cold. We will be in the Smoky Mountains and it should be beautiful this time of year. We will be traveling from Clingman's Dome down to Cades cove over three days.