The day after . . .

Roswell. GA.

Today we took some more back roads from Buford and Dacula, GA (where the wedding stuff took place) to Cartersville, GA where we are camping at the Red Top Mountain State Park.

Roswell (not to be confused with the martian town in New Mexico) was a great river town where we had a picnic lunch.




Cherokee County. GA.

I tried to go to the bathroom at a gas station across from this water tower but it was out of order.








Once we set up our tent at the Park, we headed towards Marietta GA to find an internet connection. We saw this water tower in the distance right off the interstate exit for Red Top Mountain State Park.






Marietta had a very cute little downtown. We spent at least 3 hours eating and surfing the net at the Marietta Pizza Company.







Marietta is famous for this unique Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. The eye and beak move.

The wedding of the century

Holiday Inn Express. Buford. GA

Owen and Ronnie give Mike a lap dance the day before his wedding.











Don't they both look cute in their penguin suits. Always hamming it up for the camera.












Here is the happy couple at the reception. I didn't get any still photos of the ceremony but instead took some digital video. It was a very short ceremony and the best part was when the judge that was marrying them started to cry after the couple began to cry.














Owen, the best man, gave a great toast! He thanked everyone he should have, put in a little humor, but ended on a sappy note. I have never seen the guy talk, mingle, organize events, get emotional and have so much fun all at the same time.








Here we are at the end of the afternoon, in 90 degree heat, after dancing and totally trashing the couples car.

Work Trip #1 & Wedding - Visit to SC and GA - May 24 - 31, 2006

Columbia. SC.

I ended my trip with Rachel (from DPPEA) in Columbia, SC and started my trip with Owen in Columbia. Rachel and I had traveled to Charlotte and then Columbia for site visits with local governments, processing facilities and other state agencies. It went very well!






Honea Path. SC.

When Owen and I were traveling from Columbia to Anderson, SC (where we were to camp) we went through Honea Path. This newer water tower was very impressive and had free-range chickens pecking underneath it. The rain was just starting at this time.






We also got to see a house fire in Honea Path.








Chiquola Cotton Mill. Honea Path. SC.

This water tower was near the other one with chickens. The mill recently closed down and has lots of history. Read more about it here.








Belton. SC.

This is a 155' tall, concrete reinforced water tank with a capacity of 165,000 gallons which was built in 1909. It towers over the city and has the appearance of a medieval castle tower. There are only three remaining in S.C. and this is the tallest.






West Anderson. SC.

Owen and I took the back road from Columbia to Anderson and got slightly lost near the end of the trip. Thank goodness for the water tower that was our beacon. That night we camped at a KOA and had dinner in downtown Anderson with Keefe (recently a staff member at DPPEA). Thank goodness the rain stopped after dinner and we had a dry night camping.




The next morning we went hiking at Sadlers Creek State Park (on the SC/GA line). Owen made friends with an interesting looking duck.







Hartwell. GA.

We ate lunch in Hartwell on our way to Buford, GA for Mike Haun's wedding.










Hartwell County. GA.

This water tower had lots of graffiti. I think I know who did most of it - Bubba - aka Chris Baysden. Look closely to the left of the picture.








Monroe Shocks Factory. Hartwell. GA.

We caught a picture of this water tower on our way out of town.









Royston. GA.

Royston is the home town of the Georgia Peach, Hall of Fame baseball player Ty Cobb. Al Gore's roommate once played the role of Cobb in a motion picture. - contributed by Owen Price

New Water Tower Picture Taker - Melanie

Everyone welcome Melanie for her first submission to the blog.











Buies Creek. NC.

This is a picture of Campbell University's water tower. A very cool shape!





Newton Grove. NC.

Mel has a pretty good story about this Newton Grove water tower. When she was in college her car broke down under this water tower and Bob from Acme towing came to pick her up and drove her and her car back home to New Bern, NC. This town has a special place in her heart because of that experience.

No "Surprise" - another water tower picture

David City. NE.

Jerred, my water tower mentee, took this picture on his way to Surprise, NE where they didn't have much of anything but abandoned buildings. I love the spiky tree in the foreground.

The Kelley Renaissance

As I mentioned in my post on March 29th, I have changed jobs. Prior to the job change, I had slowly started "the Kelley Renaissance". It involves me not obsessing about the past and always planning for the future but trying to live more in the moment. I recommend this for everyone, although, it is a struggle for me.

Part of the Renaissance includes changing my hair style. In March I had my mom frost my tips, then I colored my hair orange and then ended up with this hair style that I really do love. An asymmetrical bob with an opposite asymmetrical mullet.

I am not sure if turning 30 caused this Renaissance or not. However, many of my friends have changed paths at this time in their life. I am extremely happy with the new direction I am going.

I have started to garden again and am taking a fused glass art class. Somehow I lost interest in these things (and lost a part of myself) over the last 3-4 years. Thanks in part to Casey, during the last 6 months, I am again striking up conversations with strangers, actively doing my yoga and taking the back road to get water tower pictures!