Thought I'm Pondering Today:

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. " Benjamin Franklin

Musical Monday

Tree of Life

Thomas D. Mangelsen

Not really up to writing, so I thought I would post a piece by one of my favorite photographers.

Also, check out Blue Morning Acacias, which is another beautiful photograph by Thomas D. Mangelsen.

Dinosaur FootPrints Found

I have always thought that dinosaurs are fascinating creatures. Both in life,and now long after their extinction.

It seems that, recently, on the Arizona-Utah border an area covered with over 1,000 dinosaur footprints was discovered. Tail prints as well! How cool is that?

Below is an article that was written by The Associated Press, that goes into more detail.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah geologists say they have discovered prehistoric animal tracks so densely packed on a 3/4-acre rock site, they're calling it a "dinosaur dance floor." The site along the Arizona-Utah border is offering a rich new set of clues about the lives of dinosaurs 190 million years ago.

Back then, large stretches of the West were a Sahara-like desert. More than 1,000 tracks were found in what would have been a watery oasis nestled among towering, wind-whipped sand dunes.

Those footprints could provide fodder for future researchers trying to understand dinosaurs that survived in what many considered a "vast, dry, uninhabitable desert," said Marjorie Chan, professor of geology at the University of Utah and one of the authors of a new study of the site.

"Maybe it really wasn't as lifeless as we think," Chan said Monday.

The discovery adds yet another site to the region's long list of dinosaur hot spots. The difference, though, is sheer numbers. Scientists estimate there are more than 1,000 — and perhaps thousands — of tracks at the site, which is in a protected area of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

In some places, there are a dozen footprints in a square yard.

"It was a place that attracted a crowd, kind of like a dance floor," Chan said.

Researchers identified four different kinds of tracks in the rock but haven't determined the specific species that left them behind.

Some of the footprints — once thought to be potholes formed by erosion — measure 16 inches across and have three toes and a heel. Others are smaller and more circular.

The area also includes what researchers think are rare tail drag marks.

Winston Seiler, who studied the site for a master's thesis, said the area may have been a popular gathering spot for adults and youngsters alike. The location may have been one of many where Early Jurassic dinosaurs stopped for refreshment before moving along.

Seiler imagines dinosaurs were "happy to be at this place, having wandered up and down many a sand dune, exhausted from the heat and the blowing sand, relieved and happy to come to a place where there was water."

The study's findings were published in the October issue of the science journal Palaios.

"It's an exciting site and deserving of a lot more work," said Jim Kirkland, Utah's state paleontologist, who was not involved with the study.

He's hoping paleontologists begin a large-scale survey of the site to better understand what's there and what stories the tracks might tell.

Dinosaur tracks can provide important insight about dinosaur behavior and movements across the landscape, said Andrew Milner, paleontologist at the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm in southwestern Utah.

The newly discovered site, about three miles from the nearest road, is part of a protected wilderness area that also includes a much-photographed geologic formation called "The Wave" — a gallery of striped, twisted sandstone.

Twenty permits are issued each day to enter the area. Linda Price, the monument's manager, expects interest in the area will jump with word of the dinosaur track site.

"I'm thinking this could be just as big as The Wave," Price said. "It's really, really cool."

My Pet Haiku

Below is a Haiku that I wrote about Rufus, my dog. Normally writing Haiku poetry is not my thing (all those silly syllables to figure out.), but when Gary the Potter (who writes one of my favorite blogs) started a Pet Haiku Challenge I wanted to partake.

So here goes:


Dog contently waits
until the doorbell buzzes
barking will commence.


Write your own if you wish! It's loads of fun.
Here are the instructions per Gary:
1. should be nature themed (but don't worry about that)
2.does not have to rhyme
3. lines: 5 syllables first, 7 syllables second and 5 syllables third line.

Criminals in the Police Force?

I wanted to share something that I was scared and bothered by, but didn't really surprise me. Apparently, 1 in 3 recent Atlanta Police Academy graduates have criminal records. This bothers me for a whole bunch of obvious reasons. (read the full article here) One that I've really been thinking about is the rational behind why these people might want to join the police force. I fear that in some cases they are seeking power. Now, I'm not saying all fall into that category, however I don't like the thought of someone without the best of intentions in a position of law enforcement. Let me know what you think about this issue? I would love to hear your thoughts.

A Friday Laugh!

Don't know if you've seen this yet, but it's pretty funny. :D

Thoughtful Reflections Turns One!

This week marks my one year Blogoversary! I had no idea where this blog would go when I started it. (Honestly I still don't! :) ) That's actually one of the things I love about blogging--it's flexible.

I started Thoughtful Reflections as a place to disperse my creative energy, and release emotion in a productive, positive, and meaningful way. Writing here has allowed me do that and much more.

Along with providing me with a creative outlet, I've met many wonderful friends, and have been inspired and enlightened by truly amazing people.

Just by being aware and active in this community, I grow and learn much about myself and the world, everyday. Which, by the way, is extremely awesome.

I want to thank all of my readers. It means so much to me that a portion of your valuable time is spent looking at what I post here. :)

If you don't have a subscription to my feed yet, I encourage you to do so. The best is yet to come! You can sign up for an email or feed reader version--I have links to both on my side bar.

Also, I want to invite you to browse through my archives, there is some good stuff buried in there. Comment too, if you wish--I will always respond.

Here's one of my very early posts about pancakes. It's not very thought provoking, however, it is the one I get the most hits from. Let me tell you-- people LOVE to look at pancakes.

So there you have it--Thoughtful Reflections turns one!

A Tease

One of the many pictures I took the other night at the show. I will being doing a complete review sometime this weekend. For now--this is Adam Duritz from Counting Crows!

On Me...and Some Pictures

I've been busy turning 30, reflecting, and having fun! I will be back to posting and commenting soon! Until then, here are a few pictures I took on my trip to Asheville to see Iced Earth.

Oh, and tonight I'm going to see Counting Crows, where I will be enjoying them from the front row! :) I wrote about my ticket purchase in June.

Enjoy: