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An over-arching theme
By Silver Blue
The building I work in on campus, though renovated in 2000-2002, has some beautiful architectural aspects. As with every building on campus that is new construction, or renovation, it includes arches:
Former University president Rosanne Runte said that the arches are a salute to our past — our “college” (now University) was formed in 1930 as the Norfolk Campus of the College of William and Mary (the second oldest institution of higher education, after Harvard, and one of only 2 to have a Royal Charter (W&M’s was from King William III and Queen Mary II in 1693; the other is Columbia University, chartered in 1764 as “Kings College” by King George II.) Some would argue that there is a third, but in actuality (from the Wikipedia): Dartmouth College 1769 – was founded by Letters Patent by King George III via the Governor of the province of New Hampshire. The distinction between the Letters Patent forming Dartmouth versus those documents founding William & Mary or Kings College (Columbia) is that the seal of the Province of New Hampshire appears on the Dartmouth document, while the Great Seal of the Realm appears on the William & Mary and King’s documents.
I’m not sure if Columbia had to give up their royal charter when they changed names; I do know that W&M qualifies as a University (due to the number of Doctoral programs it offers) but will not change its name from College of William and Mary to William and Mary Univeristy due to the charter issue.
Interestingly enough, even though Old Dominion University is now autonomous from William and Mary, we carry another part of our past formation by them with us to this day.
The William and Mary Seal:
and the Old Dominion University Seal:
as you can see, the center of our seal is the seal of William and Mary. The break wasn’t easy. ODU awarded its first bachelor’s degrees in 1956, became Old Dominion College in 1962, and attained university status in 1969.
Silver Blue, who sometimes thinks I know too much trivia.
[audio:https://www.eyesofsilverblue.com/litp.mp3]
One day my ship will come in.
By Silver Blue
The USS Wisconsin, before the Navy deeded her back to the City of Norfolk, berthed beside Nauticus. I love the angles, the lighting, the colours…the way the camera captured the mood as the sun slipped below the horizon.
Silver Blue, who still gets misty eyed when he sees the harbour lights.
[audio:https://www.eyesofsilverblue.com/hl.mp3]When Autumn Comes…
By Silver Blue
Silver Blue, who says sometimes words are not needed…
[audio:https://www.eyesofsilverblue.com/wac.mp3]You’re no bunny, till some bunny loves you…
By Silver Blue
Taken in the Ghent Section of Norfolk in February 2007, the Ghent Pharmacy revs up for Easter. Something about a drug store that still closes at 6pm, even in 2011, makes me nostalgic for a simpler time. Don’t get me wrong. If I’m away at 2 a.m. and need something from CVS, Walgreens, or Wal-Mart, I like the convenience. But is almost as if some of our innocence has disappeared… because it has.
Silver Blue, who thinks that sometimes the past and the present do collide.
[audio:https://www.eyesofsilverblue.com/mncsg.mp3]A bird’s eye view…
By Silver Blue
…on life.
There existed, for a while (it may still be there, but I don’t travel that section of Norfolk any more) an apartment complex in Oceanview, Norfolk, VA that was…ready for flight. (These photos were taken March 20, 1999.)
The owners of the building had taken the time and expense of hiring a professional painter to deck the building out in multi-coloured flamingos.
The mural wrapped around the building, but the birds were only on the front section. Who ever thought of a “blue” flamingo? Let alone a green one? How about a purple? Yellow, orange and pink…well, you can get those by changing the diet of the birds.
The last time I was down in that section (between 4th View and 15th View) was … Oh good heavens. About 7 years ago. I just don’t have a need to go to that section of town, so… it’s anyone’s guess if this has weathered well, or if perhaps it’s been painted over. (I do know that if it had been in Virginia Beach, it would have been painted over already because they do not allow murals to be painted on buildings.)
Silver Blue… who realizes that at times, life really IS for the birds.
In memorium
By Silver Blue
In memory and honour of all who lost their lives on 9-11. Years may pass, but you are not forgotten.
This graphic was created by Glenn Wallace (I hope I’m right on that. I know his first name was Glenn, and he was affiliated with a church I used to go to.)
Silver Blue, asking “where were you when the world stopped turning…that September morn?”
The Days of Wine and Roses…
By Silver Blue
…and you.
A couple of things that bring joy to my life.
My Waterford Wine Hocks and a good, sweet Sauternes wine…
(Sauternes, for me, is a treat, as it’s more than I’d normally pay for a bottle of wine. Above, a mere 1/2 bottle, ran me $31. A top of the line (98 point) full sized bottle can be more expensive than Dom Perignon, and run in the hundreds of dollars.)
Then of course, there are my roses. Even now, as the summer is coming to an end, their little engines are starting back up and I’ll get one more bloom (or possibly two) before the snow flies.
The magnolia tree is severely confused, too. It is on the third bloom cycle this year.
Silver Blue, who wishes to remind you to find beauty in the things of now, before they fade away to just a memory.
[audio:https://www.eyesofsilverblue.com/dowar.mp3]I dream I’m an eagle…
By Silver Blue
…and I dream I could spread my wings… (“Eagle”, ABBA)
Years and years ago (24 years ago, to be precise) I was at the now demolished Coliseum Mall in Hampton, VA when a jewelry show was going on. I bought a brooch that I gave to my mom. What I didn’t realize is that it was actually two pieces that had been attached to each other:
The pearls may be real, but the green stones are just cut glass, and the “diamonds” are mere rhinestones. (I am going on this assumption though I’ve never had it tested.) Behind this adorned eagle is another piece — a two headed eagle with a crown, sceptre, and orb. You can barely make out the crown behind this eagle’s head, so let’s flip it over…
Here you can more easily see the second brooch that was used in the piece. I’ve never attempted to separate the pieces to see what this actually looks like, though I would hazard a guess that it is something like the emblem of Russia:
It would be nice to be able to separate the pieces without destroying them, but I don’t think that’s possible. So, Mom’s still enjoying it, and I’ve now photo evidence of what I am referring to when I try to tell people about it.
Silver Blue, who is an eagle who rides on the breeze….
[audio:https://www.eyesofsilverblue.com/eagle.mp3]There’s got to be a morning after.
By Silver Blue
A shot taken prior to the arrival of Hurricane Irene. I was in introspective mode, but love the way that Mother Nature says, in spite of everything, life will go on. Hampton Roads was spared a great deal of devastation from the storm, which at its peak, was a larger storm in size (but not in intensity) than Hurricane Katrina.
Managed to make it through without much damage at all. I had a piece of my siding trim blow off (which I retrieved from the yard):
I just need someone with a 25′ ladder and a hammer to put it back in place.
The house took on no water in the basement (which means the furnace and hot water heater were saved), but the back yard, above the old septic tank, held quite a bit of water:
I gave this lawnmower to the neighbours. They were going to put it in their shed, once they made room for it. It sits above the abandoned septic tank. The storm water came to within 2 inches of covering the mower.
I give credit to numerous deities for keeping my property safe, but also to my Northern Star. They kept an eye on things here… I know they did because of the clues they left behind:
Silver Blue, who knows there’s got to be a morning after, if we can hold on through the night…
Take 2.
By Silver Blue
Just because I can.
Dad, at 25. Me, at 42. I should look so good.
Yes, I get my dimples from him. LOL.
The one thing that I always wanted, however, was to have blue eyes like him. Even with the coloured contacts, however, I never looked right doing so. Work with that you’ve got, I’ve been told. LOL. All I can say is….thank God for hair colour.
Silver Blue… who reminds you, for better or worse, you’ve only got one family.
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