Tea time in winter - on the patio

It's been a very mild winter... and I don't mind at all.

It's quite a treat to sit by the patio fireplace in January and enjoy 4:00 pm tea outside.

It's supposed to be in the 60ºs the next few days.

Kayaking on the Weekiwachee

From our Florida trip to visit my parents...

Kayaking on the Weekiwachee River with Iska, Myers and my parents ... we saw a few manatee and lots of fish, interesting birds and turtles.

The water is amazingly clear and blue, with white sand on the bottom.

Nice trip...!!

Tennessee Christmas

At Iska's house in Sewanee...

With Iska, Myers and Lily (the dog) by the tree.

Happy Holidays!!

Green's View in Sewanee - above the clouds

Photo by Iska's brother, Brunson Hoole - Thanksgiving weekend in Sewanee.

Green's View.

(click to enlarge)

William Yelverton in concert: Springfield, IL - 10/29/11

Faith Lutheran Church, 2313 Whittier Avenue.
Springfield Classical Guitar Society concert

Springfield, IL
Saturday, October 29, 8PM

Music of Dowland, Rameau, Turina, Lauro, Gismonti, Assad and more...

Guitar, Alto Guitar, Renaissance Lute

Fontana Lake - October 2011

On the boat for 5 nights on beautiful Fontana Lake.

Click on pics to enlarge

Fontana Lake, NC - in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

The weather was perfect. Two days got up near 80º. The other 3 days were around 70º and clear. I swam a little everyday.

The first day I was there, it was exceptionally windy... a Lake Wind Advisory was in effect for wind gusts to 45 mph. There were one to 2 foot waves with white caps on the main east-west stretch of lake. (see video below). In the many coves, it was a different world, completely sheltered from the wind. I was always comfortable with half my canvass up and my propane heater cranking. I even have an electric blanket for the cabin, so it was cozy.

Iska was able to be there for 3 nights - a real treat. We hiked the Lost Cove trail out of Eagle Creek to the Shuckstack Tower. It was a great hike. The last mile is great for 'firing the glutes' as it very steep.

The first photo shows what it looked like on Tues morning, my last day. It was spectacular. I saw a bald eagle fly over head as the fog was lifting and I was drinking my morning tea.

Awesome place.

Truly the best way to visit the Great Smoky Mountains - by boat.

This is the 21st year I've owned this 1987 SeaRay 230 Weekender. I wouldn't trade it for any other boat in it's class. It's a custom order boat with some unusual options. The teak appointed interior, the three deck hatches, the oversize water (36 gal.) and fuel (70 gal.) capacities give this cruiser a cruising range of about 200 miles. The 5.7 L. Mercruiser can push this boat to 43 mph. I may never need another boat.

William - RIP

My cat William has died.

He was one of three cats I inherited from my ex Jenny in 1998 just before we broke up. I took the entire litter of three cats which I named: Willy, Nilly, and Emma. Emma was the runt of the litter and is now the sole survivor. Nilly ran away after a few years. She was a wild one.

I loved Willy, referred to him as "my only son." He was my favorite. I never expected to lose him so soon. He lived just 13 yrs and 5 months. His exact cause of death is not determined, we think it was a chest infection, probably lung cancer. His organs tested fine but... he stopped eating and went down hill very fast. He had fluid drained from his chest and I gave him subcutaneous fluid, and antibiotics. I force fed him some broth and baby food.

The second photo shows William and Iska on the couch in my kitchen on Saturday. Our last weekend together - the 3 of us.

But just a few days after his vet visit, by Sunday night, it looked bad. I almost never sleep with my cats but that Sunday night, I slept with William. It was his last night.

I had a busy Monday 10/3 with a Nashville doctor's appt. and an errand planned. I felt that morning he needed to be euthanized. I couldn't bring myself to do it before going to the doctor and I left him from noon until 3 pm. I knew that I had to take him in to end his life when I returned home. He was laying on a pad in the kitchen and his breathing was labored and he couldn't sleep. He was not purring anymore when I pet him like he did on Sunday. I left the inside door open so he could see the light from the front door from where he was laying in the kitchen. I turned on the vent so there would be good air circulation. When I returned home, I found him dead by the front door. The last thing he did was walk toward the light of the door. Dying on his own was his last gift to me. I did not want to take him in.

I got him when I was 37 and had just moved into my house. I am 51 now. He is the first animal I ever raised from birth to death. He was a very friendly guy, always coming up to greet visitors. It will be an adjustment ... everytime I see something dark on the floor, I think it's him. William was close with his sister Emma, they were together from birth. They always slept close together when it was cold. She will miss him as well. He had a good life.

William

(4/98 - 10/3/11)

The three litter mates cooling off on the concrete - July 30, 1999. They were just over a year old in this photo.

Aten flag - holiday decoration

I like the Aten flag. It'll be my holiday decoration this year. It seems to fit nicely above my front porch.

Aten is the sun disk in ancient Egyptian mythology.

Ancient Egyptian religion deifies the sun. It is likely that much of Christianity and other religions have been based on the ancient Egyptian religion. (see video below)

There are not many things more important in this world than the sun. Life would not exist without it. One super big gulp of coronal mass ejecta from the sun could exterminate life on earth at any time.

I'm not a sun worshipper, but it's easy to see why ancient cultures did worship the sun. To me, the Aten flag is decorative art piece, not a religious symbol.

The flag looks awesome back lit at night.

This 'hippie pagan symbol' should definitely confuse the local rednecks....

“The Christian religion is a parody on the worship of the sun, in which they put a man called Christ in the place of the sun, and pay him the adoration originally payed to the sun.”

― Thomas Paine - author, revolutionary, inventor, intellectual, and a Founding Father of the United States.

My 2012 Elantra GLS

My first new car.

Since I'm 51 and debt free, I guess I shouldn't feel too guilty about buying my first new car. It is THE top rated compact sedan by Consumer Reports, Motor Trend, and Cars.com.

Arguably, the hottest small car in America in terms of value ... the 2012s are selling fast and there are vitually no new 2011s available. Even my mechanic says Hyundai has surpassed Honda in technology and quality.

My priority was value and economy... and the best warranty in the business. It has the same leg room as some mid size cars and a huge trunk.

I went with an extended 10 year/120,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty.

I got 44 miles per gallon on my first highway trip, (which exceeded the 40 mpg rating). I'm very pleased with the car, but I'm afraid I might scratch it. I don't even want to drive it to work.

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra GLS with the 'Preferred Package' upgrade - in black, of course.

And thankfully ... I'm still debt free.

My new state 400m record

56.09

Breaks the 13 year old M50 mark of 57.00

Double Gold at the TN State meet. More at Sprint Forever blog.

My favorite flower

William Yelverton in concert: Miami International Guitar Festival - 6/17/11

William Yelverton performs at the Miami International Guitar Festival.

University of Miami - 6/17/11, 8:00 PM, Clark Recital Hall, Frost School of Music

updated: concert photo -

400m Gold: Southeastern US Masters Championships

Gold medal in the 400 meter dash Southeastern Masters Championships M50-54

Official time: 55.54

Presently ranked 6th in the USA Men's 50-54.

Silver medals in the 200m and 100m, M50-54

More at Sprint Forever blog...

Tennessee Guitar Festival and Competition 2011 - music and parties!

The TN Guitar Fest 2011 was a great hang.

Awesome music, friends, and parties.

Here are some photos... click to enlarge.

TENNESSEE GUITAR FESTIVAL AND COMPETITION: June 1-4, 2011

Tennessee Guitar Festival is up and running. June 1-4, MTSU.

Concerts 8:00 pm, MTSU

TennesseeGuitarFestival.com

May moon

mid May moon

Perfect Sunday weather on the Cumberland Plateau

Summer-like weather is ahead this week for Middle TN, however it's still spring-like in Sewanee on the plateau.

A great walk on the Caldwell Trail this perfect Mother's Day Sunday afternoon with Iska and kids.

Such beauty in the forest.

Oh, Glorious Spring

Life is so good... another academic year over .... house paid off .... 100% debt free .... the beginning of a vacation ... starting my third year in love with the beautiful Iska ... in the best physical shape of my life - sprinting in college track meets at age 50 ... and it's gardening time ... the weather is gorgeous ... OH, glorious spring!!

My pool is open and warm!

The flowers are potted, and the tomatoes, and cucumbers are in the ground.

My little friend, the tree frog in one of my pots.

My new blog - Sprint Forever

Since my posting here at Bill's TN Paradise has been dominated by training and sprint racing, I've decided that all such discussions need a different home.

SO ...

Here's where I will post on running, track, training, and lifestyle of a 50+ masters sprinter with an ageless athletic spririt. Visit anytime...

Sprint Forever (blog)

I'm back...

UPDATE 2: Pictured here - my new Spira Genesis 2 training shoes with the so-called "wave spring technology" Took 'em for a test drive this morning and they felt great. Springy, comfortable, stable. Goodbye to my old Saucony Pro Grids that served me well for over 3 years. Thanks Dad!

-----------------------------------------------

My first light day of speed work, 12 days after the hamstring injury.

Mile warm up

Long spints at 85-90% effort:

400m in 63 sec

4 x 200m in 27-28 sec

Thinking strongly about running the 400m for the first time at the Vanderbilt Invite on 4/23.

58 or bust!

UPDATE:

Last 2 workouts:

mile warmup

2 x 400m - 61, 66

3 x 200m - 28, 27, 27

mile warmup

800m - 2:33

2 x 400m - 63, 68

200m - 26.5

This sprint training on blacktop is ripping up my feet. My Saucony training shoes will be replaced as I've ordered some Spira Genesis 2's. I am an "under pronator" which means I sprint heavily on the outside of my foot. The skin below my little toes is ripped, bleeding. I'm going to have to tape them next time.

Training strategy is to work on long sprints and strength at 80-90% effort. No consecutive run days. Resistance exercises and leaps on off days. At least one full day of rest, and one light day.

I WILL race my first 400m at Vandy on 4/23 (I'm registered!).

I'll then eventually transition back to shorter speed work and starts. Future races are: May 5 - 400m, May 14 - 100m and 200m, May 21 - 100m. Depending on how I do in this, my first 400m race will determine whether I see this as a competitive race for me. If I think I have a chance to go under 57 in the future, I will continue to train. If I struggle to run 59.75, I probably won't continue competing in it. The result will probably be somewhere in between. I seem to be able to stride a 27 sec 200m with not more than 90% effort, now if only I could put 2 of those together.

Weight is good: 139