Japanese drum demonstration
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Misc. other photos from the week—organ and piano
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CN Tower glass floor
…an attraction that is not for the faint of heart.
Good night, Florida
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Into all the world
Session programs were translated into more than 20 languages including French, Russian, Romanian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Serbian-Croatian, Korean, and Japanese. The translations are used for satellite broadcasts as well as for attendees in the local audience who can tune into the desired language on radio frequencies. There are also American English and German sign language interpreters in the SkyDome.
Ark Encounter
Deck floor plans.
Biltmore mansion servant bedroom
Most uncommonly for the period, Biltmore servants had a comfortably furnished, heated, private room. Most servants were allowed two hours off daily, but were still on call. They received one afternoon and one evening off per week as well as a half day every other Sunday.
Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
Threading the sweetgrass weave one loop at a time.
It’s been a long, busy weekend—I’m tired, but it’s been a wonderful Camp Meeting, and the last big meeting is over
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Astonishingly, this nasty weather scooted past Apopka without a drop of rain in my area
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Pediatric section
Photo by Lori Bennett
That feeling when you were doing oh so well with your hand lettering, until… 😖
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Charleston architecture
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Biltmore mansion oak sitting room
This paneled sitting area connected George and Edith's bedrooms. The room is where they usually shared breakfast and was where Edith planned the day with the head housekeeper.
Biltmore mansion laundry facilities
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The "official" photograph
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Biltmore mansion tiled loggia
Looking across the patio toward the tower that houses servant quarters in the basement (behind the stone portion), the music room on the main level, George Vanderbilt's chamber on the second level, and guest chambers above.
Biltmore mansion pool
Though no longer holding water, the 70,000-gallon indoor pool was heated and still has its original underwater lighting. Call buttons located near the doors allowed swimmers to order refreshements or signal they were ready to leave and needed help changing.
Lyonia Preserve is a scrub forest restoration area and, as such, is known for its population of Scrub Jays—one granted us a considerable time to admire before flying away
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Back yard bear sighting at my sister-in-law’s home
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A reasonably successful first-go using a Taylor egg timer
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Ark Encounter
Food supplies.
Love the old camera display
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Day 4
7 days, 7 photos in black and white of your everyday life. No explanation. No people.
I was challenged by no one and I won't be challenging anyone. I just wanted to do this.
Ark Encounter official photo stop—ramp to door version
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Perfect timing
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Anyone have a clue what H-E-double hockey sticks this thing is?
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Biltmore Gardens Railway video
90 seconds of miniature railway footage.
"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Looks like my home has a guardian—guess it’s a good thing I don’t really tune in the satellite channels all that much any more
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A very tired, but very happy family
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Scenery before tomorrow's storm
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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My relocated workspace
It’s been a few months since I posted a photo of my workspace at the time of my relocation from Communication to the Service Center which showed my desk in a still-being-set-up state. Last week I finally finished making the new location my own space by getting my framed art and diploma on the surrounding walls (thanks for the help, Miguel).
Moonfall
When a video doorbell timelapse recording makes the overnight setting moon look like a fireball/meteor descending upon your neighbor’s house.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Good morning from New Smyrna Beach, day 3
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I had set a goal of meeting my 500-calorie goal for 365 consecutive days—blew past it and hit 400 days yesterday, so I’m REALLY ready for a break!
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I have spoken!
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Ladies and gentlemen, I submit to you this nomination for the photo example of the 2019 edition dictionary listing for “redneck”
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Final result of a craft/prop project for a Vacation Bible School event
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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The beach is devouring Mason
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"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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VIP grand opening of the new Florida Hospital Apopka
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Sunday evening visitor
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Seeking a gadget bag to hold my iPad Air 2 plus these items
I'll happily accept advice on a gadget bag that will suit my needs and not break my wallet. I've seen some Tom Bihn bags that I LOVE, but I can't justify the price. Looking for alternatives.
All the items in this photo (plus my iPad) fit in my current bag, but it's crammed full with no organization.
Some comments on the contents: Yes, my rarely used checks are in a Vera Bradley cover. My old vinyl cover wore out and my wife put them in this case, and I've never had an excuse to change it. And yes, I do carry a SIM tray opener tool from a long-ago iPhone model since Apple doesn't bundle them any more. Two sets of earbuds? Yep, one with the 3.5mm jack and one with the Lightning jack for my iPhone 7. Yes, I'm redundant enough to carry the 3.5mm earbuds plus the 3.5mm to Lightning adapter. And yes, I still carry a Lightning adapter for old 30-pin Dock accessories. Why carry the bulky add-on cable for the charger brick? It actually has less to do with grounding and more to do with lengthening the charge cable as I often need to do. Last comment is to identify the gray square at the bottom as a little pouch holding multicolor sticky note pads.
Biltmore mansion post-tour
The weather was much more pleasant when we exited the house after our tour, enabling me to capture a few nicer shots of the exterior.
Any collectors looking for an antique (likely nonfunctional) Brownie?
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Good night, Florida
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Charleston architecture
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"Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates…"
During our return home on Monday, we made a pit stop in Savannah, GA, where the welcome center had a few exhibits including this representation of the famous Forrest Gump bus stop scene.
Depart from me, foul liquid that pricketh my skin—nevermore shalt thou come unto my presence
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Good night, Florida
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"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Good night, Florida
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Good night, Florida
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Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Day 5
7 days, 7 photos in black and white of your everyday life. No explanation. No people.
I was challenged by no one and I won't be challenging anyone. I just wanted to do this.
Mary Poppins also made an appearance
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Ark Encounter
Feeding large animals.
Sunday, July 2—Scenes from the exhibit hall
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A beautiful day in the neighborhood
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Ark Encounter
Ventilation.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Candlelight Processional performers in the holding tent ready for rehearsal
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Operating room
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It was a nice couple of hours at the beach, but then the clouds rolled in
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Brother-in-law Danny Myers joined us for the hospital tour
Photo by Lori Bennett
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore Gardens Railway
Part of the railway miniature ran past an amazing scale model of the mansion.
Happiness is family sharing a dozen different flavors of ice cream
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Y’all, my egg-peeling game is getting strong (and they were perfectly cooked, too)
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Not the worst hotel room view :-)
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My wife, her sister, and their mother took a trip to Texas, so we guys got together for Saturday lunch
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Family pose
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion entrance hall
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Side view of a typical slave quarters (left) built behind a master's home in front (right)
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Celebrating birthdays with a chocolate LEGO cake
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A mural in one of the subway stops
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Took a detour past the hospital where I was born
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Biltmore mansion gymnasium
Rowing machine, parallel bars, Indian clubs, medicine balls, and needle bath shower massages.
My nights this week #MyTreasuredVBS
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I was surprised today to see Calvary Orlando refurbished with brand new multicolor seats, replacing the pews
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Based on available information, let's take a guess what time Lee will get away for lunch
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Biltmore mansion—Edith Vanderbilt chamber
Purple and gold fabrics adorn Edith's Louis XV-style feminine retreat. Eighty years after the original fabrics were created, replacements woven by the same French company were installed during restoration of the room.
2017 Nissan Versa SV
Very cool-looking accents in the form of chrome door handles.
Entering the Lyonia Preserve
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Biltmore mansion laundry facilities
Washing was aided by a belt-driven barrel washer.
Good night, Florida
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LEGO challenge—build something you think is at least 100 years old
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It may have looked like smoke from a catastrophic fire, but it really was just clouds
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Third Annual Myers’ House Easter Egg Hunt
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Trail entrance at Lake Jesup Conservation Area
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Crap, I’m old
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Rosanna Juarez, clown ministry
Part of the NAD web site I curated included a section of "man-on-the-street" style questions put to random attendees. I decided to not include them in this Flickr album, except this one shot because it is so fun. The photo is of Rosanna Juarez who, at the time, was from Los Angeles. The interviewer was Myla (Ferrer) Trenchuk, and I was able to reach out to both these young women on Facebook to share that I had put the web site back online for "funsies."
The original question Myla was asking on this final day of the session was, "What has been your most memorable moment this past week at the General Conference Session?"
Rosanna's response was: "At the subway, there was a man looking at me. So, I approached him and we began to talk. He asked me what I was doing here and I explained to him that I was here doing ministry. He began to tell me his problems and I told him about Jesus and how He can help. I also told him about the meetings at the SkyDome. To my excitement, he said he would try and attend the services this weekend. Praise God!"
Just three minutes to cook a Blaze Pizza
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Mac Mini Unboxing
Apple understands product packaging better than *any* other business. Fight me.
…which is paved with discarded ballast stones from ships
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Biltmore mansion pool
Though no longer holding water, the 70,000-gallon indoor pool was heated and still has its original underwater lighting. Call buttons located near the doors allowed swimmers to order refreshements or signal they were ready to leave and needed help changing.
Family in the Biltmore Gardens greenhouses
It was wonderful that my parents could join us for this portion of our trip.
Good morning from New Smyrna Beach, day 6
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The original sugar mill wheel
In the photo: Local residents pose at the mill wheel in the late 1800s. The building is no longer standing.
This artifact is all that remains of the original sugar mill wheel. The sugar mill was constructed in the 1830s and operated until 1864, when the property was Spring Garden Plantation. The wheel powered the machinery that pressed sugar cane for its juice. It was the only water-powered sugar mill in Florida!
In 1835, the mill was destroyed by Seminole Indians at the beginning of the Second Seminole War. In 1864, it was destroyed again, this time by Union troops during the Civil War because the owner, Thomas Starke, was supplying food to Confederate troops.
The abandoned mill deteriorated from insects and rot in the late 1800s. Around 1910 it was rebuilt, possibly as a tourist attraction. A project in 1998 removed this part of the wheel, replacing it with the current wheel, which is not operational.
I’ve been honing my digital menu board design skills—consolidated to 2-column layout which opened up a LOT of space for more content including a new photo carousel
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So…that just happened—finally cool again after a week without
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City trolley—among the more unique forms of Toronto transportation
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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HMCS Toronto in port, seen from CN Tower
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Beach day
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I lost horribly in my first time playing Ticket to Ride
I was the yellow pieces. First, I missed 20 points coz stinker Mason (blue) blocked my only chance to reach Calgary from Phoenix. Then I missed another 35 points because the game ended *one* round before I would have completed the final leg of my route from LA to Miami.
As such, six-year-old Maddox (red) managed to completely cream me into a distant last place.
Interesting history on a building in Charleston
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Other than the fact I don’t have any paprika, my first go at making deviled eggs was a success
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Biltmore mansion breakfast room
In spite of the breakfast room name, both breakfast and luncheon was served in this room. Portaits in this room include George Vanderbilt's grandfather, Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt (the founder of the family fortune), and his father, William Henry Vanderbilt.
The two smallest paintings in this photo (bottom of the trio of art to the right of the fireplace) are by Renoir: Young Algerian Girl and Child with an Orange.
Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
Meg and Adri really got into the craft.
A great anniversary day at Magic Kingdom
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Merry Christmas from the Bennetts/Bixbys/Myers
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
Threading the sweetgrass weave one loop at a time.
Biltmore mansion upper/exterior view of Winter Garden atrium
This view looks out from a window on the third floor above the master bedroom hallway.
Panorama of the approach walkway to Ark Encounter
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Can we talk for just a second about how ecstatic I am for this Christmas gift?
My former vacuum cleaner was 20+ years old!
Sculpture Unveiling
A sculpture by renowned American sculptor Victor Issa was unveiled during the Session opening ceremony. The artwork, depicting the second coming of Christ, represents the Adventist hope in the soon return of Christ. Featuring 12 life-sized bronze images, the work represents, in three dimensions, one of the central beliefs of the Adventist church—the second coming of Jesus to Earth.
"Words that one usually wouldn't use to describe hard, shiny metal seem to come easily to those who stand among the pieces of this bronze sculpture," says Charlotte McClure, public relations director for the Adventist Church worldwide.
All 12 pieces of the sculpture were later permanently installed in the lobby of the World Church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Time to line up
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Charleston architecture
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The Fountain of Youth
To attract tourists in the 1880s, local business owners changed the name of this property from Spring Garden to Ponce De Leon Springs. The area was advertised in northern states as a winter resort with its own Fountain of Youth, pouring out millions of gallons of "deliciously healthy" water.
In the 1950s, this site became one of Florida's many roadside attractions. Again, the Fountain of Youth was featured. It included two structures. The wall in the next photo is said to have been the location of a small fountain where visitors could drink the water. About 200 feet south (up the hill, two photos after this one), you can see the second structure with basins at different levels. This created a waterfall effect then flowed down into the fountain wall here.
Another popular station was the free kettle corn (yummy) set up outside along with several bounce houses
(Photo by Lori Bennett since my hands were full and couldn't easily snap my own shot here.)
Ironwork by renowned blacksmith Philip Simmons
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Biltmore mansion bowling alley
The house featured one of the nation's first bowling alleys instealled in a private residence.
Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion tapestry gallery
This space was used for tea and music (given that the music room was unfinished in George Vanderbilt's day). The huge Flemish tapestries adorning the walls are part of a 1530s set known as The Triumph of the Seven Virtues, representing Charity, Faith, and Prudence. Among the art displayed here is a painting of George above the library door.
The next day we drove to Pigeon Forge and had lunch at Cheddar's with a few of the family members who would be attending the 50th anniversary party that weekend
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Three down, seven to go
Actually, this was progress two days prior to posting this photo, but I sort of forgot to post it. The photo shows the process of manually adding front and back covers to 500 sets of a 20-page booklet. So yes, that means earlier I ran 11,000 sheets through the copier—21,000 impressions since the inside pages were double sided.
Whopper of a storm raced me home to Apopka from the west as I approached from the east—the storm won
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Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
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Unveiling Canada Post's Adventist commemorative stamp
Three million stamps were produced, issued for June 29, 2000-June 28, 2001 at a denomination of 46¢ CDN. The actual stamps were 40mmx26mm and printed with a six-color lithography process.
Good night, Florida—and good riddance, Dorian
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Friday, July 7—The NAD communication team
Seated: Celeste Ryan, left, NAD media relations manager; and Hans Olson, NAD communication assistant. Standing, from left: Betty Cooney, Southern California Conference communication director; Denise Valenzuela, Columbia Union Conference communication director; Ednor Davison, Atlantic Union Conference Gleaner managing editor; Jean Thomas, Southwestern Union Conference communication director; and Lee Bennett, Florida Conference communication department production assistant. Web site photographer Glenn Mitchell, Maritime Conference communication director, was behind the camera.
Top of the observation tower
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Biltmore mansion laundry facilities
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Mason’s a goner but Maddox will exact his revenge
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Monday, July 3—Schneider elected NAD president
Don C. Schneider was elected NAD president, replacing A.C. McClure.
The NAD press release is available on my Session 2000 archive page.
Terry Shaw, President/CEO of Adventist Health System
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iPad on a monopod—that's a new one for me
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Biltmore mansion grand staircase
Inspired by the staircase at the Chateau de Blois in the Loire Valley, Biltmore’s grand staircase is a marvel of physics built using counterbalance. The weight of each of the solid limestone slab steps is offset by the weight of the wall bearing down.
There is a 1,700-pound electric light fixture suspended from the middle of the grand staircase. It hangs from a single bolt that runs through steel girders under the dome roof. The bolt has been replaced only once since the house was built. Wisely designed, the copper dome opens for easier access to the fixture.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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A Rainbow of Ministry
The Session's host—the North American Division—erected this large banner, making the exhibition booth immediately identifiable. Beneath the banner, visitors found kiosks with brochures and online information about the Division's ministries, resources, organizations, and members. There were interactive web kiosks and presentations given by Division personnel and ministry leaders—live and on video.
Welcome to my weekend—video services for Women’s Ministries Annual Retreat #DareToShare2020
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Charleston alley
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ABC
A full-fledged, 10,000-square-foot Adventist Book Centre was set up in the exhibition hall for the benefit of Session attendees. More than 50 authors participated in book signings.
The masses of performers make their way to the stage
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Biltmore mansion official photo stop—garden version
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I wore a new dress to church; "modest is hottest" LOL
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Prepping my iced tea, I asked Meg to "hand me some yellow stuff" and this is what she gave me
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Not bad for an iPhone Night Mode shot of the Jupiter/Saturn Christmas Star
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Charleston architecture
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More night mode experimentation—character greet facility at Norway pavilion
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Alfond Inn conservatory where the baby shower was held
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My office’s previous bulk cutter was 3-decade-old busted jawn and died a couple months ago—today, we had the new hotness delivered!
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Possibly the most creative thing I've ever seen done with a fork
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Anyone remember BitCam?
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion Winter Garden
The atrium area has a glass roof illuminating the center fountain sculpture, Boy Stealing Geese, by Karl Bitter which was installed just weeks before George Vanderbilt opened the house to his family on Christmas Eve, 1895.
Biltmore mansion music room
This multi-shot stitched panoroama is better quality/exposure than the next photo, but doesn't show as much of the complete room.
This was a bare/unfinished room in George Vanderbilt's time. Before it was completed in 1976 by George's descendants, it was used during World War II as a secret storage location for valuable art from the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.
Good morning from New Smyrna Beach, day 6
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Ark Encounter
Japheth and Rayneh.
Biltmore mansion—Edith Vanderbilt chamber
Purple and gold fabrics adorn Edith's Louis XV-style feminine retreat. Eighty years after the original fabrics were created, replacements woven by the same French company were installed during restoration of the room.
Ark Encounter
We're inside the door!
I presume there was some sort of gas spill or leak (fire also?) at the intersection of highways 437 & 44—foam clumps flying around everywhere!
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North SkyDome Entrance
A bridge over a Toronto rail line, connecting Front Street with the SkyDome, was the path many Session attendees travelled when entering the SkyDome and the cafeteria. The CN Tower is also accessed from this vicinity.
"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Grits and fried eggs, seasoned with black pepper and pink Himalayan salt—both freshly ground, of course! YUM
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Hunted a simple geocache—first one I've looked for in a great many years
Crab Cakes
www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC3M3HY
Z88.3 radio has a splendid beginner geocache perfect for introducing someone new to the game—the cache code to search is GC7TGTE
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Charleston architecture
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The Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant
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Woohoo—congrats, Bucs!
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Biltmore mansion dressing room
Plenty of space for changing into bathing costumes, adjacent to the indoor pool.
Lori and Lisa's kids are dreaming of a white Christmas
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Check out who got straight A's last quarter
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Biltmore Gardens Railway
Model train passing in front of the mansion scale model.
Sign shop: “Do you want that with or without typos?” / Customer: “Without.”
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Biltmore mansion second floor living hall
The two large pantings on the far wall are of architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The left wall features a painting of the Cecil family, descendants of George Vanderbilt.
Sometimes I wish Sunpass transponders were available in black
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Just found out (typo notwithstanding) a submission I made to this year’s Society of Adventist Communicators annual awards was chosen as a winner (hat tip to Alicia and Heidi for letting me know)
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Biltmore mansion organ blower
Near the kitchen is a small room housing this motor which powers the fan that provides are to the large organ above in the dining hall (photos earlier in this album).
Good night, Florida
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Receiving our instructions and introductions for the day in "The Best Friend Room" at The Mills Hotel
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Wow—my Nissan Versa’s average MPG has passed the 40 mark (it’s rated 39 highway)
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Good night, Florida
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Misc. other photos from the week—some sort of large cake presented during the main meetings
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Hippo Tours—among the more unique forms of Toronto transportation
While certainly not one of the forms of transportation delegates used to and from the Session, some attendees chose to enjoy a unique trip on this amphibious vehicle.
2017 Nissan Versa SV
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2017 Nissan Versa SV
The trunk is rather cavernous for such a small vehicle, and the rear seats fold down to allow even longer items to fit.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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The "cake" was a creatively decorated cardboard stand for holding cupcakes
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Ironwork by renowned blacksmith Philip Simmons
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Cooking pancakes and veggie sausage patties
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Went outside to enjoy the brilliant sunset colors and could hardly stand the deafening cicadas
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Good night, Florida
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Ark Encounter
Shem and Ar'yel.
Biltmore mansion banquet hall—opposite angle
This photo was from later in the tour looking from the opposite corner of the room. It has a better view of the overall size.
The largest dinner held here seated 38 people at the large oak table. However, the Vanderbilts and family members often dined at a smaller table near the triple fireplaces in the background.
At the elegant dinner parties, guests were treated to fine linens, and family silver, china, and crystal including five wine glasses per person.
Biltmore mansion—George Vanderbilt chamber closet
None of the clothes displayed here were actually George's, but they are representative of the style of the day. Custom dictacted varying types of attire for different events, so George would often change clothes four to six times per day—a busy prospect for his valet. In George's time, it is generally understood this space was only used for hats and other accessories, with clothing stored elsewhere.
Biltmore mansion post-tour
The weather was much more pleasant when we exited the house after our tour, enabling me to capture a few nicer shots of the exterior.
…and now for the reveal
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Good morning from New Smyrna Beach, final day
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LOTS of awesome BOGOs at Publix right now—love it!
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International women's meetings
Speakers from eastern Africa, the Caribbean, Japan, Australia, and Canada led a series of meetings that organizers said were an "international celebration of faith." More than 2,000 women were expected to attend the event.
Time to update my prescription—went with a whole new look with my frames
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Our Tuesday afternoon tour of downtown Charleston began with a meetup at The Mills House hotel
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Old well found during property renovation
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Lars Houmann, COO of Adventist Health System
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Good night, Florida
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Visited by a beautiful pileated woodpecker as I was leaving the office for lunch today
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We reached the observation tower
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Charleston architecture
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Revealing my creative wife’s transformation for the front room of the house
This is a 10-second iPhone Night Mode exposure of an otherwise very dimly lit room—basically just the string of lights framing the center window.
Ark Encounter
Panorama shot showing the opening between all decks—level 3.
Good night, Florida
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The Barnett ranch is a beautiful property with scenic views
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Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
A few days later, returning to Epcot for a full day of fun
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Daryl Tol, President/CEO of Florida Hospital and Adventist Health System Central Division
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Hot dog, anyone?
Session attendees were delighted to discover that the many hot dog vendors surrounding the Convention Centre and SkyDome began selling vegetarian hot dogs several years ago. The vendors quickly stocked up on veggie dogs when they were told the city would be filled with Seventh-day Adventists who are, predominately, vegetarian. (We who served on the NAD communication team were quick to assure anyone who asked, the veggie-dogs were delicious!)
Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
Reaching the first drop of Dollywood's Wild Eagle coaster
I'm unsure whether we are on the ride vehicle in this particular shot. In any case, this was an amazing coaster. Smooth and fun. There was surprisingly not a long ride, so after the four of us completed one pass, we looped around and got right back on again for a second ride. Lisa and I sat in the front, and we agreed—Best. Coaster. Ever!
Charleston architecture
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The ambiance inside the Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant
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We nearly didn’t go to Epcot today—torrential rain around 8:30am that cleared up very quickly
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Seven floors up in Lake Ivanhoe district looking toward AdventHealth Orlando and beyond
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Ark Encounter
Space utilization.
Biltmore mansion third floor living hall
This was the common space used by special visitors who stayed in the guest accommodations located on the third floor.
Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Millennium Falcon Rice Krispie dessert (yes, the antenna was the first piece to be removed)
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Old well found during property renovation
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Alfond Inn architecture
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Spectacular double rainbow over my home ahead of Hurricane Irma
I'm choosing to interpret this as God's way of telling me we're going to be okay through the storm.
Biltmore mansion oak sitting room
This paneled sitting area connected George and Edith's bedrooms. The room is where they usually shared breakfast and was where Edith planned the day with the head housekeeper.
"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Visiting historic downtown Sweetwater prior to the anniversary celebration
This is my wife, Lori's, shot that she let me use in this album, taken later in our visit when a storm began brewing.
ABC
A full-fledged, 10,000-square-foot Adventist Book Centre was set up in the exhibition hall for the benefit of Session attendees. More than 50 authors participated in book signings.
Trail scenery
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GCTV production
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"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Playing with night mode—China pavilion
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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2017 Nissan Versa SV
Apologies for the somewhat blurry picture here. Didn't realize it wasn't sharp until after I set up this album.
Biltmore mansion laundry facilities
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"Please do not bend" — (there was literally nothing but this piece of paper in the envelope!)
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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We successfully escaped Moriarty’s Game Room—SO MUCH FUN
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Good night, Florida
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Ark Encounter
Panorama shot showing the opening between all decks—level 1.
"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Playing with night mode—China pavilion
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Downtown Toronto seen from CN Tower
Probably the best vantage point of downtown Toronto you'll find.
Pre-fireworks sunset—good night and happy Independence Day, Florida
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My very yummy dinner at San Miguel Mexican Grill in Apopka
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Biltmore mansion salon
Edith Vanderbilt, George’s wife, had a love of drama throughout her life and often hosted masquerade parties and theatrical events in Biltmore House. After setting aside her plan to convert the Salon into an auditorium, Edith furnished the room as a Turkish Sitting Room, complete with Persian rugs, oversized cushions for guests to lounge on, and a draped fabric ceiling treatment that remains today.
Biltmore mansion grand staircase
Inspired by the staircase at the Chateau de Blois in the Loire Valley, Biltmore’s grand staircase is a marvel of physics built using counterbalance. The weight of each of the solid limestone slab steps is offset by the weight of the wall bearing down.
There is a 1,700-pound electric light fixture suspended from the middle of the grand staircase. It hangs from a single bolt that runs through steel girders under the dome roof. The bolt has been replaced only once since the house was built. Wisely designed, the copper dome opens for easier access to the fixture.
Dear Criminal Minds producers: that is NOT Tampa
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Ark Encounter
Three types of lighting.
Got my inner Nerf War on today during my nephew’s 7th birthday party (photos by Lori)
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Family Fun at TopGolf
Yeah yeah yeah, horrible form. You pros in the peanut gallery just hush. It was my very first time. But we had loads of fun and I made a couple drives well beyond 100 yards!
Recovery room
Photo by Lori Bennett
Holy cannoli iPhone 11 Pro night mode is unbelievable—top is standard, nonHDR shot of very dark outdoors, bottom is night mode of same scene!
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“We Three Kings” by Florida Hospital Church Orchestra featuring violin soloist Jordan Jones
This video was an experiment. It’s a mash up of one primary video I shot of the second performance with insertions from the first performance and rehearsal. But my audio was subpar, so I synchronized the video with the house mix audio from the online streaming broadcast.
Apologies this video doesn't seem to play properly in Flickr's mobile app.
Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
Ark Encounter
This True History of the World board was a fascinating display. I kind of wish I had a print of it, which were available for sale, but I wasn't prepared to spend the money.
Biltmore mansion rotisserie kitchen
A separate kitchen for roasted meat (venison, wild boar, and other game) was used to keep the smoke and grease out of the other kitchens.
Adventist Review temporary office
The Review published daily issues during the session. Passers-by could view the production room in the exhibition hall.
Heyward Washington House
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Biltmore mansion detail
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CN Tower
There aren't many outdoor locations in downtown Toronto where the CN Tower doesn't make its presence known.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Picked up a geocache this morning—I hope its owner replaces the broken container soon
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Trail scenery
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Saturday, July 8—Parade of Nations
The much-awaited "Parade of Nations"—complete with national flags, video commentary, and music—concluded the Adventist World Session in Toronto. The colorful spectacle highlighted the 205 countries in which Seventh-day Adventists operate, celebrating achievements and recognizing challenges.
The applause and cheers for the different countries indicated a wide range of nationalities attending the Session, with the loudest being for Jamaica, the U.S., and the host country Canada.
The ceremony is illustrative of the multi-national nature of the Church who are united in a faith that transcends national boundaries and cultures.
Visiting historic downtown Sweetwater prior to the anniversary celebration
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Good night, Florida
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Four family members, one chair
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Made-from-scratch banana bread fresh out of the oven
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Thursday, June 29—countless flags adorned the Session main stage
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The gang's all ready
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Biltmore mansion photo op
A spot in the Halloween room has cutouts of George and Edith from a popular photo of them on the main floor loggia.
Well I didn't plan to sit front and center at tonight's Prophecy Encounter program by Doug Batchelor, but somehow, here I am
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Godzilla vs. the Sandcastles—Mason happily volunteered to knock them down when it was time to leave
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Lori and Meg in the Candlelight Processional performance
Photo by Jeff Krause.
Biltmore mansion bowling alley
Automatic pinsetters didn't yet exist, so servants would set up the pins by hand and roll the balls back down the alley to the players.
Obligatory group photo
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Celebrating 10 years
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Rainbow Row
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Sampling a few of Biltmore's wines
We ended up purchasing a bottle of dry rosé and Century™ Sweet Red which tastes amazing
OH MY GOODNESS I've never had filet mignon before—this was paired with a bit of turkey and perfectly cooked/seasoned carrots atop smooth mashed potatoes with a cream sauce—NOMNOMNOM!
I was so excited about this meal, I forgot to snap my own photo, so my wife, Lori, allowed me to use hers.
CN Tower glass floor
One of the most unique attractions of the CN Tower is its glass floor…
1850s-1870s sugar mill ruins
Description in prior photo.
GCTV production
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Deviled eggs redux—mixed in a little salt as I should have done the first time, and had access to smoked paprika; YUMMO
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See, Ross, it IS possible to not make the "everyday" mistake—as HomeGoods proves
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion official photo stop—Winter Garden version
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Good night, Florida
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On duty all day since 7am to record the HR Summit hosted by my office
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Sun not visible, skies are dark—why travel to Tennessee? There's a total eclipse happening right here in Florida!
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Biltmore mansion—George Vanderbilt chamber
In the background, a mirror in the bathroom doorway gives a glimpse of George's paw-footed bathtub.
Time for another installment of the post-dinner-family-outing-group-selfie series
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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South Hall seen from CN Tower
The South Hall, entirely underground, was the location of the Adventist Book Center and the exhibit hall.
Sorting games at work
I have already stated that my new job is fun. I’m not saying it’s glamorous!
Who Built the Sugar Mill?
The rubble in the next two photos is the sugar train, which was used to boil cane juice to produce sugar. Enslaved Africans constructed the bottom 5-6 rows of bricks in the 1850s. The ruins in the following two photos is all that remains of their work here when the area was Spring Garden Plantation from the early 1800s until the Civil War. Slave labor also constructed the original sugar mill building in the 1830s (rebuilt around 1900), as well as docks and storage buildings.
The top section of bricks was added in the 1870s. In 2011, park staff performed stabilization work, adding missing bricks and mortaring the joints to preserve this important part of the park's history.
We went Soarin’
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
Florida Hospital Voices of Legacy, directed by Vivian Cook
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Sabbath attendance
This panorama was stitched from three photos that weren't originally shot with a panorama in mind. Yet they still give a slight impression of the attendance at Sabbath worship. Conservative guesses placed attendance at approximately 55,000.
The apocalypse approacheth
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Without the Mac Pro sucking power, my UPS should provide LOTS of iPhone and iPad recharge cycles if we lose power
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Biltmore mansion banquet hall
A seven-story high ceiling and Flemish tapestries from the 1500s was the scene of dinner parties and celebrations such as the annual Christmas party for Biltmore workers and their families.
Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Local public elementary school teachers did a drive-by parade through neighboring communities for their students staying at home
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Commence sand, salt, pollen eradication
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Biltmore mansion oak sitting room
This paneled sitting area connected George and Edith's bedrooms. The room is where they usually shared breakfast and was where Edith planned the day with the head housekeeper.
GCTV production
An extraordinary sense of humor and irony is sometimes what makes the difference between a good video editor and a great video editor.
SPECIES:
Television Editor, Editorus Fatigus
Nocturnal & Diurnal
HABITAT:
Often found in dark, damp cubicles, occasionally passed out under the desk.
PRIMARY DIET:
Little Debbie's Snack Cakes.
Visiting historic downtown Sweetwater prior to the anniversary celebration—we had a yummy lunch at Hunter's Cafe
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Alfond Inn lobby, leading to conservatory
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Ark Encounter
Water and waste technology.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Xmas door decor
I swear, this was my boss' idea, not mine! I only executed the production of it. (It might help to disclose that besides the print work I am largely responsible for, the Service Center also processes the building's incoming and outgoing mail.)
Good night, Florida
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Sun, moon, and stars (okay, sun, moon, and planet, but somehow that doesn't sound as inspirational!)
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Biltmore mansion breakfast room
Grainy and poorly exposed, my panorama shot of this dark room gives a glimpse of the elaborately decorative ceiling.
Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Florida spring afternoon
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If I fits, I sits
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Replica water wheel at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Checking out the UK pavilion
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Ark Encounter
Panorama shot showing the opening between all decks—level 1.
Still beachin’ it
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Views of Biltmore Gardens
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Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman
Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman greeted Session attendees during the opening ceremony. He presented keys to the city to Jan Paulsen, General Conference president, and Orville Parchment, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada.
Day 7
7 days, 7 photos in black and white of your everyday life. No explanation. No people.
I was challenged by no one and I won't be challenging anyone. I just wanted to do this.
Biltmore mansion library
A brightened panorama photo of this very dark room gives a view The Chariot of Aurora on the ceiling, originally painted for the Pisani Palace in Venice in the 1720s by Giovanni Pellegrini.
Charleston architecture
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion tiled loggia
Huge rear patio on the main level. It serves as an extension to the adjacent tapestry gallery when the French doors are opened.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Finally spotted some dolphin at the beach (excuse the grainy, digitally enlarged/zoomed video)
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The moon was super-moony tonight!
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Visiting Peach World on the way home from S.C. was, shall we say, an experience
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Lavender in Biltmore Gardens
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Map detail of trail
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Finally enjoying a taste of the Christmas gift from my bro- and sis-in-law; wow, this stuff tastes wonderful!
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We found a Fazoli's!
After our Biltmore trip, we headed to Lexington, KY, intending to reach our hotel before terribly late. Unfortunately a nasty storm slowed us down, even pulling off on an exit for a while, and we arrived in the early morning hours the next day. We had a much-needed sleep-in, and then had lunch at a nearby Fazoli's—a rare treat for us ever since the chain pulled out of Florida except for one store in Pensacola. My meal was essentially free due to a promotion they were running on the overhauled chicken parmesan entree where I just completed a short survey about it.
First time I've ever experienced La-Z-Boy-style reclining seats in a theater—I could get used to this!
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My view of the eclipse: probably could’ve done better if not for the lack of motivation—it’s COLD outside!
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There was just a little bit of a theme to this year’s Christmas
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Looking forward to this view every day this week—hopefully a few sunrises, too
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Merry Christmas—Altamonte Mall style
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
Lori making progress
My wife is part of the choir during two services today at Florida Hospital Church—live stream beginning at 9:30am. http://hospitalchurch.org/sermons/watch-live/
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Charleston architecture
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Back stage
Event participants preparing for their part in a program contribute to the flurry of activity that goes on behind the elaborate stage backdrop.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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I know you guys think this is funny—looking like a turban—but would you please let me have the rest of the blanket?
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Current status
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Biltmore mansion—Edith Vanderbilt chamber
Purple and gold fabrics adorn Edith's Louis XV-style feminine retreat. Eighty years after the original fabrics were created, replacements woven by the same French company were installed during restoration of the room.
Hey pastors—ever accidentally drop your wireless mic transmitter pack while standing in the baptistry?
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Shelf cloud
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Day 2
7 days, 7 photos in black and white of your everyday life. No explanation. No people.
I was challenged by no one and I won't be challenging anyone. I just wanted to do this.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Parent orientation for our new high school freshman—wait, what? We have a freshman‽
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Eric and Adri enjoy the view
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Managed a shot of the eclipse through a coworker's pair of glasses—not a great shot, but it's mine
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Day 3
7 days, 7 photos in black and white of your everyday life. No explanation. No people.
I was challenged by no one and I won't be challenging anyone. I just wanted to do this.
Lee: “Since when does Eeyore smile?” Lori: “Since someone fed him Prozac. It’s wonderful stuff!”
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Biltmore Gardens Railway
There were several different separate railways throughout the greenhouses.
Good morning from New Smyrna Beach, day 2
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Fun art installation in the skylight dome of the conservatory
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Rainbow Row
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Frightening—house fire a block away from mine; apparently began in rear living room, most kids were outside playing, everyone else got out, and all are safe
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The Exodus away from the beach
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Good night, Florida
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Adventist Review temporary office
The Review published daily issues during the session. Passers-by could view the production room in the exhibition hall.
Good night, Florida
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Allow me to introduce our spiffy new SDD full bleed booklet trimmer and square fold finisher—it’s SO awesome!
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YinYang
If a white cat crosses the path, does it cancel out a black cat previously crossing the path?
More night mode experimentation—Mexico pavilion
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It's time for another exciting chapter of "Can Lee publish this month's podcast before the end of the month?"
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Good morning, Florida—time to get back to work
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Moving day
I have officially transferred to a new department now that Communication has been deprecated. I'll tell more in a blog post next week. For now, I'm sharing a farewell image of my previous office and a glimpse at the early stages of setting up my new workspace.
Biltmore mansion pre-tour
The sky was a bit wet and dreary when we arrived. I shot these exterior photos before the mansion tour, unsure that I would have another chance with sunnier skies after the tour.
Just because it doesn’t snow in Florida doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes have to shovel our sidewalks!
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Preparing to sing
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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In case you ever wondered what my LEAST favorite task is at my job
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Biltmore mansion library
Nearly half of George's collection (22,000-23,000 volumes in total) is in this library. A chess set and gaming table in this room was once owned by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Awww, poor guy must either be old/sick or hurt—found him on the sidewalk, wouldn’t move for nothing, and I didn’t know what to do :-(
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Newly remodeled Altamonte Apple Store is SWEET
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Meg gets her sugar fix
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Christmas at Epcot
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Sugar Mill Machinery
Description in prior photo.
The apocalypse approacheth
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Pediatric emergency room suite
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Lunch with the family
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Good morning from New Smyrna Beach, day 3
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Meg loves Winnie the Pooh
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More iPhone 11 Pro experimentation, using the super wide angle lens on this koi pond in the Japan pavilion after a tasty lunch
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Bridge fun
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Congrats to my nephew, Riley Alexander Bennett, on his high school graduation!
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Super bright rainbow
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Florida afternoon skies
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Never knew Uno made a version with these huge cards!
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Time to line up
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25-year recognition
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Ark Encounter
Dining area.
Good morning, Florida
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Ark Encounter
Retrieving the dove with an olive branch.
Good morning from New Smyrna Beach
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Super thrilled to once again have a respectable-looking front lawn, with massive props to my father-in-law, Dean, and his colleague, Dave for the install
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Lyonia Preserve is a scrub forest restoration area and, as such, is known for its population of Scrub Jays—one granted us a considerable time to admire before flying away
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Biltmore mansion post-tour
The weather was much more pleasant when we exited the house after our tour, enabling me to capture a few nicer shots of the exterior.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Greek salad—who knew eating healthy could taste so good
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Bought a humidifier to ease wife’s Covid-induced congestion—seems to be doing its job!
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"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Slave Mart Museum
No photos allowed inside
I officially no longer have to avoid spoilers!
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1,370 pieces printed, collated, stuffed, and stamped in 40 minutes—1.75 seconds per piece: not bad!
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Biltmore mansion music room
Poor exposure in this dark room, but it shows the Meissen porcelain figures of the 12 Apostles from the 1730s-1740s, created by Johann Joachim Kändler. And to the left of the figures is the "Triumphal Arch of Maximilian," an 18th-century woodcut print Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519) commissioned from Albrecht Dürer and others about 1515.
Biltmore mansion laundry facilities drying room
Some of the damp laundry was dried indoors draped over rolling racks warmed by heating elements.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Ark Encounter official photo stop—evening lit-up version
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2017 Nissan Versa SV
It's a relatively basic model, but includes a driver-side armrest (a requirement for my long-ago shoulder injury), USB and 3.5mm jacks which both carry audio, Bluetooth for phone calls and voice control (but not audio streaming), and two conveniently placed power ports—one under the dash and one between the seats which can be reached by the rear passengers.
Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
This is the starter piece provided to us to continue weaving.
Chaperone meeting
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I blinked, and the little girl I’ve known was suddenly a young woman
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Arriving at Ark Encounter
After lunch in Lexington, it was just a 40-50-minute drive to the attraction. (Yes, it was an extremely windy day!)
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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And we're off…
We're loaded up in the Honda Pilot my sister-in-law graciously loaned us for the trip, ready for adventures.
Alfond Inn architecture
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Big flock of gobblers in my neighborhood
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Charleston architecture
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Eric and Adri were tired
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Biltmore mansion gun room
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…with my sweetie
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"The Audience"
Session attendees who reach the SkyDome by crossing the bridge from Front Street can't help but notice this large, metallic-painted sculpture on the side of the SkyDome. This sculpture, and its second part on another part of the building, titled "The Audience" by Michael Snow, depicts various types of baseball fans such as "V for Victory," "Pointer," "Man and Boy," "Camera Man," "Clapper," "Binoculars," and more.
Ark Encounter
Creation vs. evolution.
View from the top of the observation tower
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(My friend, Jeff's, shot) Edward James Olmos was back stage chatting up the theater attendants prior to the show and I had the chance to say hello and shake his hand
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Alfond Inn central courtyard
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Biltmore mansion pre-tour
The sky was a bit wet and dreary when we arrived. I shot these exterior photos before the mansion tour, unsure that I would have another chance with sunnier skies after the tour.
Ark Encounter
Twelve Stones Monument.
A little sightseeing after the show, trying out iPhone 11 Pro night mode in the Germany pavilion
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Prepping for performance
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Good morning, Florida (bonus points if you can find Venus in this photo)
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Kids after dinner
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Boys on the trail
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Adventist Review temporary office
The Review published daily issues during the session. Passers-by could view the production room in the exhibition hall.
Pouring pancake batter onto the in-table griddle
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Heyward Washington House
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Good night, Florida
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Always a treat to come here
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Charleston architecture
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The neighborhood park is a mess #HurricaneIrma
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Enjoying a trip on Dollywood's vintage steam train—except for the tiny specks of soot!
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Luggage is Tetris'd into the van and we're ready to go
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Day 1
7 days, 7 photos in black and white of your everyday life. No explanation. No people.
I was challenged by no one and I won't be challenging anyone. I just wanted to do this.
Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
I wonder what my car is counting down to
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Trail scenery
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Ark Encounter
Welcome.
Looks like a region of relatively young trees
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Good morning, Florida
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I guess that explains the early morning power outage
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GCTV production
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The scenery at the spot I found to wait for my wife’s 1½-hour appointment does not suck
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Sears in Altamonte Mall is shutting down—more than half the upper floor is bare and looks creepy
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Biltmore mansion servant dining room
Between 30-35 servants ate three meals per day in this room.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Chloe and Xander wish you a Merry Christmas
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Information, please
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) is designed to accommodate multiple organizations meeting in the facility simultaneously. Reportedly, the 2000 World Session was the first event that booked the entire MTCC facility (North and South Buildings) and the SkyDome. With so many activities occurring at so many locations, knowing exactly where to go can seem daunting to the uninitiated. The staffed information booths located at nearly every turn helped people reach their destination and either provided or located answers to an endless variety of questions.
Centennial banners greeted incoming visitors
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Yummy Blaze Pizza—and I appreciate they did not make the "everyday" mistake :-)
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Some played…some observed…all fun for continued celebration of Maddox’ 7th birthday
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Waiting in the green room tent
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Awesome storm clouds drifting by in a time-lapse video
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2017 Nissan Versa SV
After having lost both the Pontiac Vibe and the Honda Accord to mechanical issues, I finally bit the bullet and, with my wife's blessing, purchased a 2017 Nissan Versa SV in April 2017.
I didn't initially set out to buy something brand new. In the process of seeking a car for me to replace the Accord and the borrowed Silverado, a number of used options as private sales came to my attention, but none quite seemed right. I eventually chose to talk to a childhood friend of mine who is co-owner of an Orlando-area Nissan dealership. Upon looking at a couple used vehicles in my price range, I was nearly ready to buy a brick red 2013 Versa. I slept on the decision and, the next morning, readjusted some budget numbers which resulted in my ability to increase what I could afford monthly. In doing so, the dealer came up with this brand-new 2017 Versa that was much better equipped than the used model. So, this makes my third-ever brand-new car (or only two that I've purchased—one of them was a lease).
Interesting footnote, it *technically* was not sold as a new car. From what I understand, it was previously sold, but never delivered. I'm not sure if that means the buyer didn't pick it up and reneged on the sale, or some other circumstance. Whatever the case, it had literally been "sold" once prior, thus had to be sold to me as a used vehicle, in spite of never truly having a previous owner and only 8 miles showing on the odometer!
Good night, Florida
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Adventist commemorative stamp detail
Photo by Bryans Stynyk. Painting title: "Storm Clouds."
Picturing the sun breaking through the clouds, this commemorative stamp represents the Adventist Church as a "people of hope." The stamp is the first in North America to honor the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and was unveiled by Canada Post during the Session opening ceremony.
Meg learns about phone booths
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Storm approaching Sanford
This was the scene just as I was leaving Sanford. Skirted the edge of it all the way down Highway 46 home to Apopka and made it without getting dumped on. Yay!
Celebrating Meg’s dual high school/college AA graduation
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I and my cacophony of neighbors are pleased to announce calendar 2020 has officially been blown to bits—thus begins the countdown to January 20 when we can truly celebrate 2021
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Biggs house
One of Sweetwater's oldest still-standing homes, occupied by Sweetwater pioneers, Isabella Rankin and her husband, Alexander Biggs.
Biltmore mansion tapestry gallery
This space was used for tea and music (given that the music room was unfinished in George Vanderbilt's day). The huge Flemish tapestries adorning the walls are part of a 1530s set known as The Triumph of the Seven Virtues, representing Charity, Faith, and Prudence. Among the art displayed here is a painting of George above the library door.
Charleston architecture
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Ark Encounter
Panorama shot showing the opening between all decks—level 3.
Biltmore mansion pool
Though no longer holding water, the 70,000-gallon indoor pool was heated and still has its original underwater lighting. Call buttons located near the doors allowed swimmers to order refreshements or signal they were ready to leave and needed help changing.
Ark Encounter
Feeding and removing waste for small animals.
The view from the Biltmore mansion's main level tiled loggia
The patio has splendid views of Biltmore's Deer Park and Blue Ridge Mountains.
Biltmore mansion banquet hall
I shot a panorama to show a full floor-to-ceiling view, but exposure often ends up yucky in panorama shots.
This photo doesn't even start to properly depict the deep blue of this evening
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Enjoyed assisting a family photo shoot today with this beautiful 1949 Cadillac convertible as a prop
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I’m only mixing for rehearsals and not the actual performances, but it was fun to get back into this seat after such a long time
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Scenic moment at Church at the Cross
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Charleston Harbor where slave ships landed
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
Threading the sweetgrass weave one loop at a time.
Sunday, the day after the anniversary party, our immediate family drove back to Pigeon Forge for a trip to Dollywood
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Marvelous rainbow last night
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Loud and clear
The sound of every spoken word and every musical note coming from the stage was routed through this mixing console in the middle of the Session Floor. Those who sat in the rear portions of the SkyDome experienced an interesting curiosity of science, caused by the sheer size of the venue—it takes almost a full second for sound to travel from the powerful speakers to the back of the SkyDome. Since light doesn't have this perceived delay, the effect was accentuated when the sound was heard while also watching the JumboTron video display above the stage.
Happy kids wrapping up a fun afternoon at the beach
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Peeking at another performance of Candlelight Processional, this time with Lisa Ling as the narrator
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Candlelight Processional group photo upon arrival at the rehearsal area
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Weekend video duty for 2018 Florida Pathfinder Red Zone
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Third of three geocaches found—“Moss Haven”
www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC98NJY_moss-haven
It's been a very busy day
1,000 copies each of 10 Spanish-language Bible lessons, double-sided and folded in half, for a total of 20,000 impressions on 10,000 sheets of paper. WHEW!
Fortunately, these will last the evangelist a LONG time before I ever have to print more.
Oh, and for anyone who follows me on social media, lesson 2 of this batch is the one I was talking about a while ago that had two erroneous booger elements colored blue and causing the entire inside spread to want to copy in color instead of only B&W!
Entrance to Ponce de Leon Springs State Park
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Adri being silly in 2015 to demonstrate new iPhone Live Photos
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Florida Hospital Voices of Legacy
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North Hall seen from CN Tower
The North Hall was primarily used as a mass cafeteria during the Session.
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
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Sunscreen application #fail
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Pre-sunset show
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Friday, June 30—Paulsen re-elected
Pastor Jan Paulsen, world president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, was re-elected at 11:26 a.m. on June 30 for a five-year term.
Paulsen, a Norwegian, has served the Church in this role for the past sixteen months and has extensive pastoral and administrative experience as a missionary, teacher, college principal, and church administrator at the highest levels. Paulsen's re-election came as the first vote of the Adventist World Session on leadership matters.
Ark Encounter
As we were leaving, the girls pointed out that throughout the museum, there were marks in the floor as if they had been scratched by animal claws. Fascinating detail!
Playing with night mode—China pavilion
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Hyperlapse of the varied trail terrain
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Hello from Florida Camp Meeting
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Biltmore mansion Halloween room
Originally used for storage, the walls were painted over the course of several weeks by the Cecils, joined by family and friends, with this unusal theme for a New Year's Eve party in 1925—the year after George's daughter, Cornelia, married John Cecil, a British diplomat.
I'm not quite sure how a metal box with no electronic parts can be "out of order"
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion smoking room
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Salted caramel pretzel—YUM
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Someone chose not to ride
This was hilarious. Adri not only had little interest in riding the more extreme Dollywood coasters, she totally owned her lack of desire. Aunt Lisa and Uncle Danny bought these shirts for the girls. Yes, Adri happily wears her "chicken" shirt.
Florida skies this morning
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Mystery Mine ride at Dollywood
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My parents joined Lori and me for the trip
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First time geocaching for my nephews
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I clearly don’t live in a bear-free community, as evidenced by this guy hanging out in a retention ditch near my home
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The Session was broadcast via satellite
Adventist Communication Network (ACN) and Adventist Global Communication Network (AGCN) teamed up to bring satellite broadcasts of the Session to the world. Their television room (pictured), production offices, and a news desk/interview area were set up in the exhibition area of the Convention Centre.
Enjoying a trip on Dollywood's vintage steam train—except for the tiny specks of soot!
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Dubose Heyward House
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That moment when both pets know mommy isn’t feeling well, set aside their differences, and cuddle to give their care
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Biltmore mansion post-tour
The weather was much more pleasant when we exited the house after our tour, enabling me to capture a few nicer shots of the exterior.
Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Parting singer group shot
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Good morning from New Smyrna Beach, final day
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Good night, Florida
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Good night, Florida (iPhone 11 Pro night mode continues to amaze—this photo was captured at 9:45pm)
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You might think the packets in this themed container are mustard, but you’d be wrong #Hellmans #Mayo #Mayonnaise #fail
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Good night, Florida
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Sprite with a story
On September 6, 2014, I felt as though this bottle of Sprite was perhaps the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
I had been admitted to the hospital with terrible stomach pain which turned out to be pancreatitis. I hadn't really consumed anything for a couple days (nor did I want to) due to the pain, but by September 6, the meds were beginning to work. I was jonesin' really badly for something with flavor.
Looking back, considering that I was ultimately diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, receiving a sugary soda from a nurse may not have been the wisest thing. But, since I couldn't manage to finish even half of it, and I'd consumed virtually nothing for a while, nothing horrible came of it.
I distinctly remember being in tears over being so happy to finally have something with taste. And I'm pleased to report that after some time of being on Lantus insulin, I managed to get off of it. I'm still on a battle with elevated triglycerides and take a handful of various meds every day, but I'm still off the Lantus and doing all I can to stay off it.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion servant bedroom
Most uncommonly for the period, Biltmore servants had a comfortably furnished, heated, private room. Most servants were allowed two hours off daily, but were still on call. They received one afternoon and one evening off per week as well as a half day every other Sunday.
Biltmore mansion vegetable pantry
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Charleston alley
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Family dinner with bonus of my parents and brother
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Nissan advertises the 2017 Versa with highway fuel economy of 39 MPG—real life never reaches perfect testing conditions, but this is quite impressive
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Fountain of Youth—lower portion
Description in prior photo.
Good morning, Florida
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Shelf cloud
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Biltmore mansion—George Vanderbilt chamber
George's grand walnut bed.
Found in a small Mt. Dora bookstore—hilarious stuff inside
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Well this was definitely a project-and-a-half that I helped fabricate
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Crowd Walk Life
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Biltmore mansion post-tour
The weather was much more pleasant when we exited the house after our tour, enabling me to capture a few nicer shots of the exterior.
Second of three geocaches found—“Too easy to get stumped”
www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC98NNP_too-easy-to-get-stumped
Bridge fun
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I hope Friday night’s weather isn’t a foretaste of the entire weekend
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Biltmore mansion kitchen storage
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Playing with night mode—France pavilion
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Entrance to Biltmore Winery
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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas…at my church
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Biltmore mansion third floor living hall
This was the common space used by special visitors who stayed in the guest accommodations located on the third floor.
Arrival
Columbia Union College chartered its bus for guests arriving at Session—a quick photo shows it blending in with the local landmarks.
Musicians for second song performance, "Healing Tower"
Terry Sampson, drums; and Kevin Sorensen, bass. Not pictured: Jason Salagubang, keyboard.
Lots of activities—including balloon artists
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Ark Encounter
Live animal exhibit.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Slave Mart Museum
No photos allowed inside.
Besides enjoying the vastly improved remote of the 6th generation Apple TV, I no longer have to switch to Samsung TV apps to watch 4K UHD, and the 4th generation box will be relocated upstairs
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Biltmore mansion—George Vanderbilt chamber
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Goofy was preparing to meet guests at the park, but turned around when it began to rain
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Charleston architecture
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Evening sky was crazy—no, it didn’t look like this enhanced photo, but my original photo was sort of blah, so I edited it to appear as I felt while seeing in person
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Dealing with locking bathroom tissue holders
Pro tip for workers whose offices use these silly locking toilet roll holders and hate when custodians don't pay attention whether the roll is going over the top. You'll find a little button on one side that you can depress with a small tool, such as the one pictured, to release the lock. Just note that the roll holder only reattaches the same direction, so you will have to take the paper off the holder, turn it around, slide it back on the holder, and put the holder back into place this same direction.
Now, we just need a hack to avoid the wobble these rolls create—I presume to help keep them from spinning out of control and dumping a bunch of paper on the floor.
Scootin' around
Session attendees got used to a lot of walking. John Duroe, Southern Asia-Pacific Division communication director, found a better way.
From any angle
Numerous cameras scattered throughout the SkyDome brought pictures from all angles to viewers tuning in to the Session via satellite on the Adventist Communication Network. In the SkyDome, nearly 60,000 delegates, guests, and visitors watched the proceedings on the 100' x 45' JumboTron video display screen above the stage.
Misc. other photos from the week—puppet ministry
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Candlelight Processional group photo at the church before leaving
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Biltmore mansion oak sitting room
This paneled sitting area connected George and Edith's bedrooms. The room is where they usually shared breakfast and was where Edith planned the day with the head housekeeper.
Obligatory parting Spaceship Earth shot
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Enjoying the treat!
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Caricature time lapse
Clearing old/unneeded files from my computer and realized I never shared this time lapse of Meg and Adri's caricature drawing at 2018 Strawberry Festival.
Good morning from New Smyrna Beach, final day
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1850s-1870s sugar mill ruins
Description in photo two prior.
The Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant seen from across Ponce de Leon Springs
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Time-lapse clip walking back to parking area
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Ironwork by renowned blacksmith Philip Simmons
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Info panel on how sugar was made at Spring Garden Plantation
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At last, proper storage/organization of all my iPad accessories and gadgets thanks to Skooba Design products—thanks mom/dad for the birthday gift!
I. LOVE. THIS. BAG.
After a good many years, I have retired the too-small Case Logic tote which carried my iPad in one sleeve and an absolute hodgepodge of gadgets in another pouch. I had previously bought Skooba Design's Cable Stable DLX (the green-lined organizer) thinking I could use it for my stuff and simply lay the iPad inside and close up, but it was too full to close.
When Skooba confirmed the DLX would fit inside the largest pouch in the V.3 Satchel Mini, I knew I'd found my solution. Most of my gadgets are organized in the DLX with a few larger ones in pockets located in the Satchel's smaller storage pouch (top of photo). Then the iPad slides easily into the third pouch normally designed for a small laptop. My 10.5" iPad Pro fits nicely and I suspect a full size iPad Pro would fit instead in the unlikely event I ever choose to upgrade to that size. Besides not having enough room for my gadgets in the old Case Logic tote, the 10.5" iPad Pro only barely fit, whereas it easily slides in and out of the V.3 Satchel Mini.
Biltmore Estate Gardens
Following an all-day Tuesday drive to Asheville, NC, where we met up with my parents, we spent Wednesday touring the Biltmore Estate, starting with the gardens which was featuring a temporary attraction, Biltmore Gardens Railway with miniature train sets.
Celebrating my mother-in-law’s birthday WHOOOOO happens to love owls—what a hoot!
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Biltmore mansion pastry kitchen
The chef used this kitchen to make elaborate desserts, protected from the heat of the other two kitchens.
Plenty of photo-op locations
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Charleston architecture
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Ark Encounter
Scale model.
Tiffani Casey, soloist for Florida Hospital Voices of Legacy, performing "Together"
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Biltmore mansion grand staircase
Inspired by the staircase at the Chateau de Blois in the Loire Valley, Biltmore’s grand staircase is a marvel of physics built using counterbalance. The weight of each of the solid limestone slab steps is offset by the weight of the wall bearing down.
There is a 1,700-pound electric light fixture suspended from the middle of the grand staircase. It hangs from a single bolt that runs through steel girders under the dome roof. The bolt has been replaced only once since the house was built. Wisely designed, the copper dome opens for easier access to the fixture.
Trail scenery
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Real tacos, real beauty
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Hangin’ out on Orlando Wall Street Plaza’s Big Chair
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Ark Encounter
Inside looking at the bow.
Biltmore mansion banquet hall organ loft
A 1916 Skinner pipe organ looms over the banquet hall. A large motor for the fan providing air to the pipes is in the basement—photo is later in this album.
Moonshot
Glimpsing the pink/full/super moon.
The ancient Apple Cinema HD Display has been replaced by a Dell UltraSharp U2415 LED monitor—half as thick, much tinier bezel, and, at long last, adjustable height!
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Bulk paper cutter hilarity
Sometimes, my job amuses me.
Cute little Mickey ear musical Ferris wheel
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Nifty projection mapping demo seen at InfoComm 2015
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Happy Thanksgiving from the Bennett/Bixby/Myers family
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I usually forget to use portrait mode, but I remembered this time
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Good night, Florida
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Mystery Mine ride at Dollywood
Lori captured Lisa, Danny, Meg, and me on the the Dollywood Mystery Mine ride
Time to line up
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Family meetup
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Scrub Jay Wings of the West
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Masked friends
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Biltmore mansion official photo stop
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Video of my first experience with basketweaving
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What is this miracle product that keeps your food off dirty grill bars but can still leave dark grill lines?
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Tajín takeaway
So—Blaze Pizza had a promotion recently where customers could collect a free mini bottle of Tajín seasoning (chili pepper flake with lime flavoring). I was interested in trying it, but I seldom get all the way over to Winter Park, the closest location to my work.
Generally when I get over that way, it's to pick up a paper order for the print shop. The Mac Paper outlet is not far from Blaze Pizza. Since I had to make a pickup today, and I had a discount coupon, I decided on Blaze for lunch.
I totally assumed the promotion was long since over. When I realized a manager was at the pickup counter handing out online orders, I asked him about it.
Apparently the mini bottles weren’t moving as fast as he would've liked, and the stores get some sort of credit for the number of bottles they give away. He was about to hand me a bottle from a small bag, then changed his mind and just handed me the whole bag! There were eight bottles inside (gave three to my coworker).
Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
After completing a couple loops, Henrietta helped close off my weave into a Christmas ornament.
Ever wonder how you get custom-sized pieces printed multiple-up on a large sheet with ink bleeding to the edge?
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Charleston architecture
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Not all family members were quite in the mood for a group selfie
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Storm a-brewin'
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Ark Encounter official photo stop—daytime angle version
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Cuckoo clocks in the Germany pavilion
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The kids—silliest
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My part of tree trimming is complete; Lori does the ornaments next
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Wednesday, June 28—Session floor and stage
The 60x200-foot stage construction was donated by National Church Furnishing Company. Besides the SkyDome's built-in seating for spectators, 14,000 chairs were set up on the main floor, primarily for delegates. More than 10,000 yards of carpet was laid in the exhibition hall for the Adventist Book Center.
2017 Nissan Versa SV
Ignore that temporary tag. My regular MAC-USER plate will go on there as soon as the registration arrives in the mail.
Famished after a long day at the mansion, we thorouthly enjoyed a late lunch at Cedric's Tavern—my sandwich was DEELISH
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Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
Rockin’ with the sea lions
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Biltmore mansion banquet hall
Looking the opposite direction toward the organ loft.
Real iPads, real beauty
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Neighborhood stepping up tonight from all directions
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Lyonia Preserve is a scrub forest restoration area and, as such, is known for its population of Scrub Jays—one granted us a considerable time to admire before flying away
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I have a back-and-forth, love-hate relationship between the old Modular Apple Watch face and the new Infograph Modular face
The complication sizes on Infograph Modular are great on the Series 4, but I disdain Apple’s mandate for the small ones to be circular based. I really want the old style small Modular complications on the new Infograph Modular face.
Biltmore mansion grand staircase
Inspired by the staircase at the Chateau de Blois in the Loire Valley, Biltmore’s grand staircase is a marvel of physics built using counterbalance. The weight of each of the solid limestone slab steps is offset by the weight of the wall bearing down.
There is a 1,700-pound electric light fixture suspended from the middle of the grand staircase. It hangs from a single bolt that runs through steel girders under the dome roof. The bolt has been replaced only once since the house was built. Wisely designed, the copper dome opens for easier access to the fixture.
Misc. other photos from the week—amateur radio tower
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Mass cafeteria
Metro Toronto Convention Centre Catering gave advance estimates that they would serve more than 400,000 vegetarian meals during the ten days of the Session in this 7,000-seat, 200,000-square-foot dining area in the North Building. They used 112 special cafeteria "speed lines" to expedite service.
Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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The kids—deceptively calm
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Say whaaaaaat‽
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So, a funny thing just happened…
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Rock-painting craft at family camp
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Welcome to adulthood, Meg
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Picked up a few new geocaches today with the nephews
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Church member was showing off his funky socks
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Biltmore mansion grand staircase
Inspired by the staircase at the Chateau de Blois in the Loire Valley, Biltmore’s grand staircase is a marvel of physics built using counterbalance. The weight of each of the solid limestone slab steps is offset by the weight of the wall bearing down.
There is a 1,700-pound electric light fixture suspended from the middle of the grand staircase. It hangs from a single bolt that runs through steel girders under the dome roof. The bolt has been replaced only once since the house was built. Wisely designed, the copper dome opens for easier access to the fixture.
Time to robe-up
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Misc. other photos from the week—South Hall entrance
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Well okay, just so long as the desire is not for a führer
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Seeing these on Wawa gas pumps makes me very happy
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Ironwork by renowned blacksmith Philip Simmons
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Chillin’ (literally) with the penguins
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
Aric and Rainey making progress.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion main kitchen
Biltmore's chef led a team of more than a dozen kitchen workers. The copper pots are original to the house.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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For those who might ask, that’s a Blackmagic Design ATEM Production Studio 4K in the background of the previous photo
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Oh the long list of stores I could name that need a spot like this
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I know—I put up a B&W version for the 7-day project, but I wanted to post the color version as well
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Silly nephew thinks he needs my glasses
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Sweet 16 (photo by Lori)
Well, her birthday was actually last week, but a number of different celebrations at a number of different venues were planned.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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CN Tower
At 1,815 feet, 5 inches, Canada's CN Tower was the world's tallest free-standing structure until 2007 when it was overtaken by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE. It is an important telecommunications hub and the center of tourism in Toronto since it was built in 1976. The observation platform is 1,136 feet or 114 stories above the ground.
Video clip of the closing portion of "Together"
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Biltmore mansion gun room
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Biltmore mansion stone hallway
After descending through a narrow service stairwell below the grand staircase, this long hallway runs along the house's foundation toward the south side.
Good morning from New Smyrna Beach, day 2
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SkyDome seen from CN Tower
Looking down on the SkyDome where the GC Session business meetings and the evening mission pageants are held.
Biltmore mansion walk-in refrigerator
Several rooms used early forms of mechanical refrigeration instead of iceboxes or springhouses.
Y’all are just a bunch of turkeys!
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Beautiful day for an outdoor lunch
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I learned today is International Wear Your Summer Camp T-shirt Day—my childhood camper shirts are long gone, as is my 1989 staff shirt, but I do have this seven-year-old 60th anniversary polo
Now, can someone please explain why a day celebrating summer camp is held in November?
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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The neighborhood park lost an enormous tree #HurricaneIrma
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Session floor and stage
The 60x200-foot stage construction was donated by National Church Furnishing Company. Besides the SkyDome's built-in seating for spectators, 14,000 chairs were set up on the main floor, primarily for delegates. More than 10,000 yards of carpet was laid in the exhibition hall for the Adventist Book Center.
Ark Encounter
A splendid index explaining what "kind" actually means and how the Ark could accommodate what was necessary. (Note that the Bible states Noah brought two—or seven—of every "kind," not necessarily of every single "animal.")
I was quite clear this morning that today was going to be a really long day—good night!
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Crane kick pose
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May as well be brain surgery
Techs have been trying to re-integrate a tri-fold module into this copier that was removed 5+ years ago and added to a different copier, and now needs to go back into this one. But this machine won’t talk to it any more and the techs are all stumped. Best theory is an obscure cable got damaged in the last transfer, which means they have to trace all of them to find it.
At least the copier still works when the module is removed, and it’s not mission critical to have it installed. So I’m glad to be able to allow the time the techs need to thoroughly troubleshoot.
Alfond Inn lobby
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(Pre)Rehearsal dinner at FlameStone for my brother’s wedding on Sunday
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Charleston architecture
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My parents visited today for Christmas gift exchange, a little help updating outdoor light fixtures, and yummy lunch
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Playing with night mode—UK pavilion
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Toronto had a very nice, clean subway system
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2017 Nissan Versa SV
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Biltmore mansion Halloween room
Originally used for storage, the walls were painted over the course of several weeks by the Cecils, joined by family and friends, with this unusal theme for a New Year's Eve party in 1925—the year after George's daughter, Cornelia, married John Cecil, a British diplomat.
Biltmore mansion canning pantry
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Good night, Florida
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Fountain of Youth—upper portion
Description in photo two prior.
Ark Encounter
Live animal exhibit.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Good night, Florida
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Old well found during property renovation
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Ark Encounter
Kitchen.
Afternoon beach time has been cancelled
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Biltmore mansion upper floor hallway
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Tim Cook, Senior Vice President of Florida Hospital Apopka
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Calling grandma
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Charleston architecture
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Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
Biltmore mansion kitchen pantry
Both electric and manual dumbwaiters raised trays of food to the butler's pantry and floors above.
Trail scenery
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Biltmore mansion library
George's collection ranges from American and English literature to history, religion, philosophy, art, and architecture.
Vacation officially begins now!
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A tech glitch prevented video to the system on opening night, but it’s now been resolved and media is ready for Friday morning at Camp Meeting 2019
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Local public elementary school teachers did a drive-by parade through neighboring communities for their students staying at home
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Ark Encounter
Panorama shot showing the opening between all decks—level 2.
Good night, Florida
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Blue tungsten carbide
Don't worry, it's not a replacement. I still have my original. But, with my wife's blessing, I now have a colorful alternative wedding band. I don't impulse-buy things like this very often, but I found this beautiful ring at a Strawberry Festival vendor at an extremely attractive price.
Final positioning check
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The art in the skylight dome made for colorful patterns as the sun shone through them to the floor
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Smyrna sky 360
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First time joining Lisa and Danny at the AHA Heart Walk
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Restroom gender ID signs on restroom doors at Schlotzky’s Deli seen during 2015 road trip to San Antonio; I wonder if they’re still there considering today’s equality climate
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Good night, Florida
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Good morning from New Smyrna Beach, day 5
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Both Spectrum Music Choice and Pandora have kinda been off their spelling game lately
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Good morning, Florida
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Storm clouds swirled most all of the afternoon, but a fair portion of the afternoon avoided rain
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It's install day for our new production copier with an awesome new booklet finisher
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"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Biggs house
One of Sweetwater's oldest still-standing homes, occupied by Sweetwater pioneers, Isabella Rankin and her husband, Alexander Biggs.
Like many other friends, I saw last night’s amazing rainbow too, but just couldn’t get a decent capture; top pic is original/unedited, bottom is some playing around editing but still “meh” compared to how it looked for real
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2017 Nissan Versa SV
It feels like I've attained a certain official-ness by finally being able to ditch the temporary tag and install my custom license plate.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Been a while since I've driven beneath a Hyperlapse-worthy sky
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Old Methuselah
This cypress tree, which is more than 500 years old, got its name in the 1950s when the park was the Ponce de Leon Springs tourist attraction. The tree somehow survived in the early 1800s when cypress trees throughout Florida were cut for lumber.
Tuesday, July 4—Interview studio
GCTV's news desk and interview area were located in the heart of the exhibition hall. Pictured is newly elected North American Division President Don C. Schneider and It Is Written Speaker/Director Mark Finley preparing for a an interview on the Adventist Communication Network.
Adventist Review temporary office
The Review published daily issues during the session. Passers-by could view the production room in the exhibition hall.
This is my scene for the day—production for agapeconference.org (hopefully emcee Darren is cool with the photo swipe!)
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Visiting historic downtown Sweetwater prior to the anniversary celebration
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Current status
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Wekiva River at Wilson’s Landing Park
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Good night, Florida
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Release of white doves
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Visiting historic downtown Sweetwater prior to the anniversary celebration
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Parmesan-crusted baked chicken and boiled yellow baby potatoes—nom nom
Last time I made this chicken was five years ago. It tasted great but appearance was unappealing. I know what I did wrong then and didn’t repeat the mistake this time. Deelish!
Biggs house
One of Sweetwater's oldest still-standing homes, occupied by Sweetwater pioneers, Isabella Rankin and her husband, Alexander Biggs.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
The Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant
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Playing with night mode—Canada pavilion
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Celebrating Adri’s 14th birthday during a walk around Lake Baldwin
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ABC
A full-fledged, 10,000-square-foot Adventist Book Centre was set up in the exhibition hall for the benefit of Session attendees. More than 50 authors participated in book signings.
Ark Encounter
Feeding and removing waste for large animals.
2017 Nissan Versa SV
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Nice day for a trail walk
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With some help from iPhone 11 Pro Night Mode and a trip through PS Express, I managed to capture this image of the C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) comet ☄️
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Replica water wheel at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant
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My brother-in-law has this crazy notion that Apple, Inc. is getting into the cosmetics business
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"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Nominating committee
The Nominating Committee room is, of course, closed to spectators. Our photographers, however, were allowed capture images of the scene. Committee members nominate and elect Church leaders, making use of electronic equipment to tabulate votes.
Photo by my friend and colleague, Ron Quick, formerly Carolina Conference communication director. Photos were generally strictly prohibited in this room. Ron was granted a moment to capture this view when sensitive information was not being shown or discussed.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion oak sitting room
This paneled sitting area connected George and Edith's bedrooms. The room is where they usually shared breakfast and was where Edith planned the day with the head housekeeper.
Red sky at morning…
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Good morning from New Smyrna Beach, day 4
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Many gas street lanterns in downtown Charleston
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
Nathan and Tammy making progress.
Parting singer group shot
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Meeting Terry Benedict
Enjoyed a fabulous workshop day with special guest Terry Benedict, producer of Hacksaw Ridge and producer/director of The Conscientious Objector.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Day 6
7 days, 7 photos in black and white of your everyday life. No explanation. No people.
I was challenged by no one and I won't be challenging anyone. I just wanted to do this.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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CN Tower
There aren't many outdoor locations in downtown Toronto where the CN Tower doesn't make its presence known.
"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Saturday, July 1—Leaders back stage prepare for NAD mission program
"The International Festival of Mission" spotlighted a loving, diverse Church family; intent on reaching out to find souls for Jesus. In Saturday evening's program, July 1, the North American Division (NAD) shared how men, women, and children are joining hands to help finish the work and point the world to Jesus as the answer and The Way. The Trans-European Division's report followed NAD.
Many varieties of stories were related on the huge JumboTron video screen, and many of those involved with the stories came out on stage to add their remarks: The Salt Lake City church offering up their diversity as a strength and a witness in their community…the Inland Spanish church in California equipping all its members for evangelism…youth of the Boulder, Colorado, church building the first Seventh-day Adventist church on the Island of Jay in the South Pacific…a youth crusade using computer technology in Fort Lauderdale…and a women's crusade in South Florida. "This," NAD leaders and members affirmed, "is our Church!"
During 1995-1999, there were more than 750 evangelistic crusades—nine of them broadcast via satellite. More than 185,000 new members have been nurtured. For the first time, in 1999, more than 40,000 people were baptized!
Fast group photo of Florida Hospital Church choir prior to Candlelight Processional rehearsal
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Had a great day with Lori and my parents at Strawberry Festival in Plant City—caught a tiny glimpse of Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots performing
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Home for the next seven days
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Charleston architecture
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Proud of this girl—second chair flute at Volusia All-County Music Festival
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50,000 miles in just two years and 19 days—whew!
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This is the first time I realized the Post Office that services where I work memorialized my high school classmate, Staff Sgt. Stacey Mastrapa, who was killed in action in Iraq
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This is the Strolling Piano I mentioned yesterday with a photo of the guy I found using the disguised remote controller
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Let’s Play Blokus!
A few of my wife’s photos followed by a time-lapse recording of our game.
Mary Poppins also made an appearance
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I offered to Facebook Live my brother’s wedding next weekend—my “compensation” is getting to keep the Glif mount and iRig Pre he bought that will make the broadcast much better (I just tested them and they work flawlessly)
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Lori's selfie shots weren't turning out—night mode to the rescue!
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Biltmore mansion tapestry gallery
This space was used for tea and music (given that the music room was unfinished in George Vanderbilt's day). The huge Flemish tapestries adorning the walls are part of a 1530s set known as The Triumph of the Seven Virtues, representing Charity, Faith, and Prudence. Among the art displayed here is a painting of George above the library door.
Door cam belonging to a neighbor not far from my house caught an image of this guy about the same time I was walking out the house to the car to go to work this morning! 😱
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I'm a material witness to this "materiel" typo (seen on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation)
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The cotton candy station was extremely popular
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Church picnic at Wilson’s Landing Park
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
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Good night, Florida
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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First time encounter with this flavor—my new Favorite Thing™ of the moment
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Family outing to Crepevine
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Ominous weather bearing down on Central Florida
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Impressive thunderhead building over Orlando
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2017 Nissan Versa SV
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The neighborhood park lost an enormous tree #HurricaneIrma
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Xander's vacation
First stop, Pet Paradise Resort where Xander spent the week while we traveled.
Preparing to sing
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On Friday, the camp entrance road was the absolute smoothest I’d ever experienced, but after Saturday’s deluge, my Sunday departure was a 5MPH creep over the bumpiest I’ve ever seen
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Bridge fun
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Good night, Florida
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion billiard room
This room in the bachelors' wing on the main level (although it did not deter female guests) featured custom oak billiard tables made in 1895. There is also a doorway disguised to look like part of the wall which allowed gentlemen to discreetly retire to the adjacent smoking room.
A triumphant and delicious return to Central Florida, extra special because Lori, Meg, and Adri all could come too—we made the excursion to Clermont to partake of Fazoli’s!
Super extra special because our table number was 17 which has significant meaning to Lori and me.
Biltmore mansion—George Vanderbilt chamber
Forgive this horrible grainy exposure of this heavily brightened photo of what I believe was the darkest room of the entire tour. But the panorama shows the entirety of George's master bedroom.
Happy Birthday, USA!
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Fun with light refraction
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Stormy afternoon
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Meg believes she can fly
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Thursday, July 6—Secretariat
Every word of the General Conference Session business meetings must be recorded and transcribed. Secretariat workers performed this function with amazing speed. Every 10 minutes, tapes were taken to be transcribed. The text was available for review shortly thereafter.
Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
Meg loves Winnie the Pooh
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2017 Nissan Versa SV
The trunk is rather cavernous for such a small vehicle, and the rear seats fold down to allow even longer items to fit.
Dollywood's Harvey Water Clock
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I Voted! (local elections—sadly not yet time to vote out DeathSantis)
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Colorful flag entrance
Photo by Lori Bennett
Hangin’ with the local wildlife at my office
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Obligatory departing SSE shot
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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My office's reception desk has been cast as the set of a café counter for Sunday night's Christmas program (printing a large background banner was my idea)
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When designing gas pumps, who decided, more often than not, that the hose has to hang in front of the part a customer uses the most?
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Biltmore mansion banquet hall
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Good morning Mr. Hawk
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Fire!
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Ark Encounter
Ark size and shape.
The kids—sillier
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Good night, Florida
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Good night, Florida
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Rehearsal day at the Barnett ranch in Sweetwater, TN, for the Hunt's 50th anniversary party and vow renewal ceremony
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Biltmore mansion pool
Though no longer holding water, the 70,000-gallon indoor pool was heated and still has its original underwater lighting. Call buttons located near the doors allowed swimmers to order refreshements or signal they were ready to leave and needed help changing.
Lots of activities—including face painting
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My young nephews wanted to try coffee for the first time
Worth while to note that Lisa's drink was flavored and sweet. Danny's, on the other hand, was typical coffee flavor.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
Biltmore mansion entrance hall
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Airport dropoff scenery
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ALL. DAY. LONG. TODAY.
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"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms. This is one of the house's 43 bathrooms—a rarity in 1895 when many homes didn't have a single indoor bathroom.
Got to catch up with these guys on vacation from Texas and have a wonderful lunch and conversation
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Danny and Meg ready to ride Dollywood's Wild Eagle coaster
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I readily admit this isn’t really what the sunset skies looked like; somewhat underwhelming, so I had some fun with the InstaFlash app
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Does a flock of turkeys in my back yard mean Thanksgiving comes early this year?
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Dollywood's Harvey Water Clock
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Biltmore mansion—Edith Vanderbilt chamber
Purple and gold fabrics adorn Edith's Louis XV-style feminine retreat. Eighty years after the original fabrics were created, replacements woven by the same French company were installed during restoration of the room.
Vacation Cross Connection
In planning our June 2019 vacation, it was fascinating to realize all our destinations collectively formed the shape of a cross.
Found this relic of technology last weekend—a 3G iPod that sadly will not power up, even with a charge cable attached
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Joe Kilsheimer, Mayor, City of Apopka
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Good morning, Florida
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Marvelous rainbow last night
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Crazy—nearly 400 kids registered for VBS at my church with more than 200 volunteer staff!
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Biltmore mansion gymnasium
Rowing machine, parallel bars, Indian clubs, medicine balls, and needle bath shower massages.
Eric and Adri were tired
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Whatever it takes
Adam Bujak, director of Adventist Ministry to College and University Students in Ontario and an Adventist News Network photographer, will go to any extreme to get the right photo. "Thanks Adam!"
Dad picked me up from college today and handed me breakfast
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The requisite silly snapshot
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This hired entertainer walked around demonstrating a variety of stunts including plate spinning, juggling, and stilt walking
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Thanksgiving family portrait
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"Moose in the City"
Throughout the city, moose sculptures greeted Session attendees. Titled "Moose In The City," the outdoor art gallery was based on the Chicago art exhibit, "Cows On Parade," and featured hundreds of life-sized fiberglass moose designed by Torontonian artists. Several moose were located around the Convention Centre and SkyDome.
Good night, Florida
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After 15 years, it is finally time to bid this workhorse behemoth Cinema HD Display—which only recently has begun to exhibit signs of failure—a fond farewell
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Biltmore mansion master bedroom hallway
This hallway connects George and Edith's bedrooms along with the sitting room between the two bedrooms.
Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Ark Encounter
Noah's prayer.
Happiness is a freshly washed car
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Good morning, Florida
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Figment went upside down (the only night mode shot on the moving ride that turned out well)
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When there are 1,645 letters with a two-page enclosure to mail out, having a machine to fold and stuff them all is a godsend!
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So this happened today
A few insta-impressions:
(1) LOVE the size.
(2) When can I add Dark Sky to the middle and Fantastical to the top of the Infograph Modular face?
(3) Gonna miss Time Travel. I know people seldom used it but it was great for Dark Sky forecasts.
(4) Obviously I will wear it next time I’m swimming, but coming from a Series 0, I’m paranoid!
(5) Jury is still out whether I’ll keep Digital Crown haptics enabled.
Lyonia Preserve is a scrub forest restoration area and, as such, is known for its population of Scrub Jays—one granted us a considerable time to admire before flying away
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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It's *only* $500! Can't I have one?
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Sugar Mill Machinery
Two examples of sugar cane crushing machinery from the mid-1800s are shown. Dunlawton Plantation used machinery similar to what is seen in the next photo, but the mill was steam powered. Spring Garden Plantation (here) was the only water-powered sugar mill in Florida.
Turns out a colander does pretty well at showing eclipse shadows—pretty, too
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Biltmore mansion laundry facilities
Washing was aided by a belt-driven barrel washer.
Thankfully no appreciable damage, but you can imagine the fear when I came home yesterday to find this—and Elsa hasn’t really even arrived yet!
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Charleston architecture
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Trail map—we took the blue pill…er, I mean the blue trail
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My 2017 Versa is averaging ½ mile per gallon higher than the maximum rated highway economy—way to go, Nissan!
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I wonder if my coworkers will concur
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More celebratory banners
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My neighborhood sits high above three enormous, deep retention ditches—virtually zero flood risk #HurricaneIrma
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After leaving FLA, Lori and I stopped for dinner and I shot this evening sky before walking into the restaurant
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St. Philip's Church
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It was probably for the best that I couldn’t use Flickr while it was down—I had a LOT of weekend preparation work to do
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My wife and I labored on Labor Day, getting our garage straightened up sufficiently to bring the car inside for protection during Hurricane Dorian
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Finally reorganized the shelves for large-size paper stock to something a bit more logical and even created room to get yet-to-be-opened cases off the floor
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Playing with night mode—Mexico pavilion
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Scenes from the exhibit hall
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Good night, Florida
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Celebrating Meg's graduation—three minutes of relevant clips made from the two-hour livestream
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We saw Chalmers Street…
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A list of good reasons to come here is very short, but at least the place is photogenic
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Grandpa was teaching Maddox how to catch the football
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Wednesday, July 5—The first military chaplain
A representative from Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries dressed in-character as Cornelius the Centurion, the first military chaplain in the Bible (Acts 10).
Ambitious Zoom event redux
I had collaborated on an event back in May that streamed participants in Zoom to Facebook and YouTube. My role was managing videos, media, countdowns, etc. It was a huge experiment that came off really well with a couple caveats that we have now worked through. In August, we did it again with even greater success.
Family and guests visiting at the barn venue during rehearsal the day before the event
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Views of Biltmore Gardens
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Behind the scenes of an ambitious Zoom event
Had a load of fun this evening. This weekend was supposed to be the Pathfinder and Adventurer end-of-year Red Zone weekend at Camp Kulaqua. In response to the COVID-19 quarantine, a virtual event was planned called iRedZone. Tomorrow and Sunday will have other events on other social platforms, but tonight was done with program participants in a Zoom conference which was broadcast live on Facebook where many Adventurers and Pathfinders watched live.
I offered to manage media for tonight’s event in the form of me being in the Zoom meeting and sharing content that I prepared in ProPresenter. Other than not accounting for internet latency creating a bit of delay between audio I played from media and people in the Zoom conference singing along, everything else worked out great. I was thrilled to be able to “plus” the overall production, and had a great time doing it. Kudos to all the program participants for a wonderful event.
What you’re seeing in these photos is me juggling two computers. The laptop ran ProPresenter and the Zoom app to which I occasionally shared the ProPresenter output screen. The two other monitors are connected to my personal computer which I used to monitor ProPresenter output and have visibility of the rundown schedule, Bible texts to display during the sermon, and a chat window with the Pathfinder director to keep each other in the loop on what was coming up next.
If you’d like to have a look at the production, go to Facebook and search for the “Florida Conference Adventurers” and “Florida Conference Pathfinders” Pages, then look for the archives for the respective iRedZone live videos.
Geocaching First To Find
Collaborated with a seasoned player who placed a cache at my work property (with permission) enabling me to claim a coveted FTF.
If you’d like to hunt this cache, search for GC85N88.
Biltmore mansion post-tour
The weather was much more pleasant when we exited the house after our tour, enabling me to capture a few nicer shots of the exterior.
Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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Our destination…
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First of three geocaches found—“Got Moss?”
www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC98NJ9_got-moss
The energy of birthday sugar rushes cannot be clearly captured on camera
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Replica water wheel at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant
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Introduction to basketweaving by Henrietta Snype
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I love relaxing piano “muisc” in the morning
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Godspeed, SpaceX crew! (Photos by my wife, Lori)
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As I always say, obligatory parting Spaceship Earth shot
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Subterfuge remote control
One of the amusements at Disney Springs is the Strolling Piano—a pianist/singer who sits at her piano on a roving platform. Another employee controls its movement, and I found him—with a sneaky RC device disguised as a Super Big Gulp-type cup!
Good night, Florida
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2017 Nissan Versa SV
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Biltmore mansion guest accommodations
A scene from within the numerous guest rooms.
