On a positive note,  I recently took 5 days off from work and went hiking through the Grayson Highlands where the wild feral ponies live, then over Mount Rogers and Whitetop mountains to Damascus Virginia for a total trek of 34 miles. All I can say is it was strenuous considering I am out of shape but was totally awesome. You can see pics here.

On a sadder note, there have been some recent losses in the entertainment world.

Patrick Swayze died on September 14, 2009 at age 57 having lost his battle with prostrate cancer.   

Also Mary Travers of Peter, Paul, and Mary died on September 16, 2009 at age 72. Another cancer victim this time being Leukemia. I can still here such greats as ‘Leaving on a jet Plane’, ‘Puff the magic Dragon’, ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’, ‘If I had a Hammer’, and ‘Where have all the flowers Gone?’. She recovered from a stem cell transplant but succombed to the side effects of the chemotherapy. She will be sorely missed.

Notable mention, Ted Kennedy died on August 25, 2009 at age 77 after battling a cancerous brain tumor. The Kennedy family has done a lot for this country.