RIP Wayne Rogers (1933 - 2015)

Actor Wayne Rogers (center) with Alan Alda (left) and Loretta Swit on the set of M.A.S.H. 1972.
  CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

Actor Wayne Rogers, who played the iconic character Trapper John McIntyre on the classic TV series M.A.S.H., died on Thursday, December 31st from complications from pneumonia. He was 82 years old. 

Born on April 7, 1933 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, William Wayne McMillan Rogers III graduated from Princeton University in 1954 with a degree in history and enlisted in the United States Navy before becoming an actor.

Rogers appeared on the TV series M.A.S.H. as Captain Trapper John McIntyre in the first three seasons from 1972 to 1975, with his last on-screen role on the show in the infamous O.R. scene in the third season finale: Abyssinia, Henry.

 

Before starring on M.A.S.H., Rogers appeared on other TV shows such as The Fugitive, Gomer Pyle USMC, and Gunsmoke. After leaving M.A.S.H., he would play a reoccurring role on Murder, She Wrote and on several TV mini-series roles. 

One mini-series role in particular, Wayne portrayed police chief Will Henry Lee in Chiefs - a three-part TV mini-series based on a novel of the same name by author Stuart Woods filmed in this blogger's home town of Chester, South Carolina in 1983. 

Rogers is survived by his wife of 27 years, Amy Hirsh. 

RIP Wayne Rogers - Thank You For The Memories!

RIP Lemmy Kilmister (1945 - 2015)

English rock musician Ian Frasier "Lemmy" Kilmister, best known as the hard living lead vocalist and bass guitarist for the heavy metal rock band Motorhead, died today after a short battle with aggressive cancer. 

Lemmy was born on December 24, 1945 in Burslem, Staffordshire, England, UK and died on December 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was 70 years old. 

Though being more of a Straight Edge person, I did not share his particular hard living lifestyle, I did hold Mr. Kilmister - a dude so cool he only needed one name: Lemmy - and the music he helped write and produce in high regard and respect the man himself as an artist. 

Motorhead and their music were classics when I was growing up and remain popular with me to this day. I have several fond memories of his songs, including many from the album Ace of Spades, which hold a particularly personal adolescent memory for me about an amazing girl I once knew all too briefly one summer just after turning sixteen - sadly she died four years later after dealing with a particularly hard life. Whenever I listen to that album, I am reminded of her memory and the good times we managed to share. 

Thank you Lemmy for your amazing work, for bringing joy and the gift of music and good memories to millions worldwide with your band mates. May you rest in peace, sir.

RIP AND ROCK ON LEMMY!

Also, in loving memory of my dearest Ashleigh. 

You were my first and I'll never forget you, or your beautiful soul.

Night Sky Photography - 12-25-2015 - A Rare Christmas Night Full Moon!

Given the storms that have taken place over the last few days, I was quite fortunate indeed to get this wonderful shot of the rare Christmas full moon before midnight tonight.

The last time there was a full moon on Christmas night was December 25, 1977 - approximately 38 years ago. There will not be another Christmas night full moon in Earth's Western Hemisphere until December of 2034 AD.

This final full moon of the year is referred to as the Full Cold Moon because it occurs at the beginning of the Northern winter season. Despite the name though, this year's first full moon of winter took place on a somewhat mild night for this time of year. 

Merry Christmas To All!

This blogger would like to wish all of my friends and family online a very  
Merry Christmas.

May God bless and keep all of y'all this Holiday Season and never forget the true meaning of the Christmas holiday.

 

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." 
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ~Luke 2:8-14 KJV

Merry Christmas From South Carolina, USA.

Christmas Lights In Downtown Chester

The following photographs highlight the outstanding downtown Christmas lights and holiday displays in my hometown of Chester, South Carolina, USA.  

  

 

Merry Christmas & Happy Holiday Season!

Lowrys Christmas Parade 2015

On Saturday, December 19th, I once again took part in the 34th Annual Town of Lowrys Christmas Parade.
Every December, the Lowrys Christmas Parade attracts well over 10 - 15,000 people to the small rural farming community of around 250 people along US Route 321 right on the northern border of Chester County. It is considered one of the largest Christmas parades in upstate South Carolina. 

This parade is unique because, unlike many small town parades, the Lowrys Christmas Parade does not include the use of cars or trucks. The parade is made up entirely of homemade floats and wagons pulled by tractors and horses. 

Just like last year, I took part in the parade as a participant with members of the Brigadier General Micah Jenkins Camp #1569 Sons of Confederate Veterans from Rock Hill, South Carolina and members of the 6th South Carolina Volunteer Regiment reenactors. 

Unlike last year, this year I knew I would be taking part ahead of time and attended in my Confederate uniform. The parade was even bigger than last year, with the good weather and sunshine a major factor in attendance. People began lining up for good viewing along the parade route about sunrise that morning. Heaters, portable fire pits, grills, coolers, ect. always give the parade a sort of tailgate party feel. 

Once again I am pleased to inform all of y'all that the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the 6th Regiment, and the Chester County Historical Society's restored Confederate cannon were all very well received by the community. A few of those in attendance watching the parade even flew large Confederate battle flags along the parade route. We tossed out candy and handed out over 400 small battle flags - the latter of which were given out to children and teens who asked for them and were gone by the time the parade was halfway over. 

The following are the photos I took of the parade.

Once again I had a wonderful time, and look forward to next year.