Watching The World Go By by Picsnapper1212

Ohio Spring Wildflower Field Guide

Zoos you can see bats at:

last updated: February 25, 2024

Have a zoo to add? Please send an ask, submissions in replies and reblogs get lost amid the numerous notes this blog gets.

-This blog is not affiliated with any zoos listed here

-A question mark next to information indicates missing or unverified information (and send an ask if you can fill in or verify information, please)

-Please send an ask if there are broken links.

**Guide to Accreditation Organization abbreviations**

AZA: Association of Zoos and Aquariums

APGA: American Public Gardens Association

WAZA: World Association of Zoos and Aquariums

IMATA: International Marine Animal Trainers Association

HC: Humane Conservation

ZAA: either the Zoological Association of America or the Australasian Zoo and Aquarium Association

BIAZA: British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums

AMMPA: Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums

EAZA: European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

CAZA: Canadian Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (AZAC in French)

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Arizona (US)

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (AZA) - Tucson - Pallid Bat? - https://www.desertmuseum.org/

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Colorado (US)

Denver Zoo (AZA, WAZA, HC) - Denver - Common Vampire Bat - https://denverzoo.org/

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California (US)

San Diego Zoo (AZA) - San Diego - Rodrigues Fruit Bat - https://sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/

Oakland Zoo (AZA) - Oakland - Island Flying Fox, Malayan Flying Fox - https://www.oaklandzoo.org/

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Florida (US)

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (WAZA, AZA) - Jacksonville - Seba's short-tailed bat, Straw-colored fruit bat, Common Vampire Bat - https://www.jacksonvillezoo.org/

Lubee Bat Conservancy (AZA) - Gainesville - Various different species - https://www.lubee.org/

Animal Kingdom at Disney World (AZA) - Orlando - Malayan Flying Fox - https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/animal-kingdom/

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Idaho (US)

Zoo Boise (AZA) - Boise - Indian Flying Fox, Ruwenzori Long-haired Fruit Bat - https://zooboise.org/

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Illinois (US)

Brookfield Zoo (HC, AZA) - Brookfield - Rodrigues Fruit Bat - https://www.czs.org/Brookfield-ZOO/Home.aspx

Lincoln Park Zoo (AZA) - Chicago - Egyptian Fruit Bat - https://www.lpzoo.org/

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Kentucky (US)

Louisville Zoo (AZA) - Louisville - Common Vampire Bat, Rodrigues Fruit Bat - https://louisvillezoo.org/

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Louisiana (US)

Audubon Zoo (AZA) - New Orleans - Seba's short-tailed bat, Common vampire bat - https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/zoo

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo (AZA?) - Baton Rouge - Indian Flying Fox - Currently in the process of regaining AZA accrediation, expecting an update in Spring 2024 - https://brzoo.org/

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Massachusetts (US)

Capron Park Zoo (AZA) - Attleboro - Rodrigues Fruit Bat, Indian Flying Fox - https://capronparkzoo.com/

Franklin Park Zoo (AZA) - Boston - Straw-colored Fruit Bat - https://www.zoonewengland.org/franklin-park-zoo/

Stone Zoo (AZA) - Stoneham - Seba's short-tailed bat - https://www.zoonewengland.org/stone-zoo/

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Michigan (US)

Detroit Zoo (AZA, WAZA) - Royal Oak - Straw-colored fruit Bat - https://detroitzoo.org/

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Maryland (US)

Maryland Zoo (AZA) - Baltimore - Seba's Short-tailed Bat - https://www.marylandzoo.org/

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Minnesota (US)

Minnesota Zoo (AZA, WAZA, IMATA) - Apple Valley - Egyptian Fruit bat, Straw-colored fruit bat, Long-haired fruit bat - https://mnzoo.org/

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Nebraska (US)

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (AZA, WAZA) - Omaha - Short-tailed Fruit Bat, Common Vampire Bat, Egyptian Flying Fox - https://www.omahazoo.com/

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New York (US)

Bronx Zoo (AZA) - Bronx - Rodrigues Fruit Bat - https://bronxzoo.com/

Prospect Park Zoo (AZA) - Brooklyn - Rodrigues Fruit Bat - https://prospectparkzoo.com/

Central Park Zoo (AZA) - New York City - Short-tailed Fruit Bat, Rodrigues Fruit Bat - https://centralparkzoo.com/

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North Carolina (US)

North Carolina Zoo (AZA) - Asheboro - Common Vampire Bat - https://www.nczoo.org/

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Ohio (US)

Akron Zoo (AZA, APGA) - Akron - Rodrigues Fruit Bat, Seba's Short-tailed Bat, Straw-colored fruit bat - https://www.akronzoo.org/

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (AZA) - Cincinnati - Indian Flying Fox, Common Vampire Bat - https://cincinnatizoo.org/

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (AZA, ZAA, AMMPA) - Powell - Large Flying Fox - https://www.columbuszoo.org/

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Oregon (US)

Oregon Zoo (AZA, WAZA) - Portland - Rodrigues Fruit Bat, Straw-colored Fruit bat - https://www.oregonzoo.org/

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Pennsylvania (US)

National Aviary (AZA) - Pittsburgh - Malayan Flying Fox - https://www.aviary.org/

Philadelphia Zoo (AZA) - Philadelphia - Rodrigues Fruit Bat, Common Vampire Bat - https://www.philadelphiazoo.org/

Pittsburgh Zoo (ZAA, HC, AMMPA) - Pittsburgh - Jamaican Fruit Bat - https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/

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Texas (US)

Cameron Park Zoo (AZA) - Waco - Jamaican Fruit Bat - https://www.cameronparkzoo.com/

Dallas World Aquarium (AZA, WAZA) - Dallas - Common Vampire bat, Seba's Short-tailed bat - https://dwazoo.com/

Houston Zoo (AZA) - Houston - Seba's Short-tailed Bat - https://www.houstonzoo.org/

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Tennessee (US)

Memphis Zoo (AZA, WAZA) - Memphis - Common Vampire Bat, Seba's Short-tailed Bat, Egyptian Fruit Bat, Bulldog Bat - https://www.memphiszoo.org/

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Virginia (US)

Metro Richmond Zoo (ZAA) - Moseley - Straw-colored Fruit bat, Indian flying fox - https://metrorichmondzoo.com/

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Wisconsin (US)

Henry Vilas Zoo (AZA, WAZA) - Madison - Seba's Short tailed bat - https://www.henryvilaszoo.gov/

Milwaukee County Zoo (AZA) - Milwaukee - Common Vampire Bat, Straw-colored Fruit Bat - https://milwaukeezoo.org/

Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary - Green Bay - Not a zoo, included here because they are open to the public; it is the largest park in the Green Bay Park System and the home of the second largest wildlife rehabilitation program in the state; Accreditation unclear, Sanctuary is run by the city government - Various species native to the area - https://greenbaywi.gov/1418/Bay-Beach-Wildlife-Sanctuary

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Washington (US)

Woodland Park Zoo (AZA, HC) - Seattle - Indian Flying Fox - https://www.zoo.org/

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United Kingdom

Northumberland Zoo (BIAZA) - Morpeth, Northumberland - Livingstone’s Fruit Bat - https://www.northumberlandzoo.co.uk/

Chester Zoo (BIAZA, WAZA, EAZA) - Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire - Rodrigues Fruit Bat - https://www.chesterzoo.org/

West Midland Safari and Leisure Park (BIAZA, EAZA) - Bewdley, Worchestershire - Rodrigues fruit bat, Seba's short-tailed bat - https://www.wmsp.co.uk/

Jersey Zoo (BIAZA) - Jersey - Livingstone's Fruit Bat - https://www.durrell.org/visit-jersey-zoo/

ZSL London Zoo (EAZA, BIAZA) - London, England - Rodrigues fruit bat - https://www.londonzoo.org/

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Australia

Taronga Zoo (ZAA) - Sydney, New South Wales - Ghost Bat - https://taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo

Perth Zoo (ZAA, WAZA) - Perth, Western Australia - Ghost Bat - https://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/

Tolga Bat Hospital - Atherton, Queensland - Not a zoo, they are included here because they do tours of their facilities; They are accredited by different organizations than zoos. - Various species native to Australia - https://tolgabathospital.org/

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Czechia

Prague Zoo (EAZA) - Prague, Czechia - Straw colored fruit bat - https://www.zoopraha.cz/en

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Canada

Toronto Zoo (AZA) - Toronto, Ontario - Straw-colored fruit bat - https://www.torontozoo.com/

Biodôme (CAZA, WAZA, AZA) - Montreal, Quebec - Jamaican Fruit bat, Seba's Short-tailed bat, Pallas's Long-tongued bat - https://espacepourlavie.ca/en/biodome

Vancouver Aquarium (AZA, CAZA, AMMPA, HC) - Vancouver, British Columbia - Jamaican Fruit Bat - https://www.vanaqua.org/

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Croatia

Zoo Zagreb (EAZA?) - Zagreb - Egyptian Fruit Bat - https://zoo.hr/english/

**

Do the recent or right-now-ongoing crazy global weather scare you? Bother you? Interest you?

I'm pulling this from various media sources, because there is so much crazy weather happening now, or that has happened within the last couple of weeks, it seems like no single media source is picking it up.

From Heatmap AM:

Houston’s floods – More than 400 people in and around Houston, Texas, evacuated their homes over the weekend due to flooding. At least one person, a child, was killed. In one nearby county, more than 21 inches of rain fell over five days last week. The rain has tapered off but the cleanup has just begun.

Brazil’s rain – In Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, days of intense rain caused the Guaiba River to overflow and flood more than 340 cities, including the region’s capital of Porto Alegre. At least 78 people are dead and more than 115,000 have been forced to evacuate. One climatologist calledthe catastrophe “a disastrous cocktail” of climate change and the El Niño effect. “It looks like a scene out of a war,” said Rio Grande do Sul governor Eduardo Leite. 

Chile’s fires – Fires in Chile’s Valparaiso region, fueled by an intense heat wave and enduring drought, have killed at least 51 people and burned more than 64,000 acres.

Kenya’s deluge – Flooding and landslides in Kenya from unrelenting rainfall have killed more than 200 people. It is still raining and the weather is forecast to worsen throughout the month of May.

Southeast Asia’s heat wave – A lengthy heat wave has shattered temperature records across Southeast Asia, forcing many schools to close. One weather historian called the heat wave “the most extreme event in world climatic history.” 

From the Associated Press (AP):

A weekend spring storm that drenched the San Francisco Bay area and closed Northern California mountain highways also set a single-day snowfall record for the season on Sunday (May 5) in the Sierra Nevada. The wet weather system had mostly moved out of the state by Sunday morning, but officials warned that roads would remain slick after around two feet (60 centimeters) of snow fell in some areas of the Sierra. “Did anyone have the snowiest day of the 2023/2024 season being in May on their winter bingo card?” the University of California, Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab asked on the social platform X. The 26.4 inches (67 centimeters) of snowfall on Sunday beat the second snowiest day of the season — March 3rd — by 2.6 inches (6.6 centimeters), according to the lab.

From Yale Climate Connections:

For the first time since the 2010s, a high-risk outlook for severe weather (level 5 of 5) has been issued for parts of the Great Plains. The outlook was put in place at 8 a.m. EDT Monday, May 6, and updated at 12:30 p.m. EDT Monday by the NOAA/National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, as a busy few days of severe weather moved into high gear. Dozens of tornadoes could erupt by midweek, including in and near Oklahoma on Monday and across a broad swath of the mid-Mississippi and lower Ohio River valleys on Wednesday. Many of the worst tornado U.S. outbreaks of recent years have played out across the Mississippi Valley and Southeast, but multiple rounds of twisters have hammered the Plains since late April, taking at least seven lives and wreaking what will no doubt be hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

From Wikipedia:

On 16 April 2024, heavy rains caused floods in the United Arab Emirates, affected cities of mainly Dubai and Sharjah, the northern Emirates, and different areas of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. According to the National Center for Meteorology (United Arab Emirates) , this was the country's heaviest rainfall recorded in 75 years. The floods in the Emirates were a part of the greater Persian Gulf floods.

6mi//9.65km -> 52min:38sec ((8:46 mile pace//6.8 mph))

✨ guys i made a playlist ✨

- the sharpest lives (mcr) - mama (mcr) - hold me like a grudge (fob) - ohio is for lovers (hawthorne heights) - in bloom (neck deep) - helena (mcr) - tiffany blews (fob) - death valley (fob) - explode (pstump) - young volcanoes (fob) - g.i.n.a.s.f.s. (fob) - the kintsugi kid (ten years) ((fob)) - rat a tat (fob) - twin skeletons (hotel in nyc) ((fob)) - so much (for) stardust (fob)

Tbh i felt pretty good about this run but when i calculated the time i was a bit annoyed because i wanted to have been faster. I tried to remind myself i still got out and went six miles, and that there are still slow sections because of the snow/ice, and that it's still faster and farther than when i started. I got home 42 seconds into smfs and got to spend the rest of the song stretching and singing along out on the porch, because honestly the song demands it (i mean what can i say. i'm in a winter mood dreaming of spring now? we thought we had it all? what would you trade the pain for//im not sure? the rounds at the end?? meant to experienced with the street lights illuminating your breath passing through your lips) and that was really nice. My phone hates the cold though. I took off with 85% battery and got home with 38% despite only having it in my pocket playing music. There are a few songs I'd change (helena explode young volcanoes im sorry youre lovely i just misjudged the timing of where in the run you'd come up and it was not the vibe)

Jayhawks Tour Update April 2024

Spring has sprung and we've got a bunch of shows coming up - with more announcements on the way.

We're back on the road in a few weeks with a show in St. Louis followed by two nights in Nashville. Our old pal and bandmate Stephen McCarthy will be joining us for the 2 Nashville shows, making for a very rare Jayhawks lineup.

We return to the east coast in early May with 4 shows, including a headlining slot at the Sing Us Home festival in Philly. NOTE: due to an unavoidable conflict, Karen Grotberg won't be able to make these May shows. As in recent years, Stephen McCarthy will be filling in with us again for this run.

In June, we'll be making our only Twin Cities concert appearance of the summer on 6/6 at the cool Utepils Brewing Company location, tucked away in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood. Then we're off to Spain to do some shows with our good friends at Heart of Gold.

On the Fourth of July we're doing the American Music Fest in Berwyn, IL, followed by a one off in Western Michigan. August finds us in the Ohio Valley for a couple of shows.

We're working on more 2024 shows to add to the schedule - the latest tour news can always be found on our website.

Tour dates & ticket links: bit.ly/JayhawksShows

See you soon!

TOUR SCHEDULE (as of 4/10) 4/19 - St. Louis, MO - Sheldon Concert Hall (sold out) 4/20 - Nashville, TN - City Winery (sold out) 4/21 - Nashville, TN - City Winery 5/2 - Beverly, MA - The Cabot 5/3 - Hartford, CT - Infinity Hall 5/4 - Philadelphia, PA - Sing Us Home festival 5/5 - Tarrytown, NY - Tarrytown Music Hall 6/6 - Minneapolis, MN - Utepils Brewing Company 6/13 - Barcelona, Spain - Parallel 62 6/14 - Bilbao, Spain - BBK Music Legends festival 6/15 - Vigo, Spain - Mar de Vigo Auditorium 6/16 - Madrid, Spain - Noches del Botanica 6/17 - Valencia, Spain - La Rambleta 7/4 - Berwyn, IL - American Music festival 7/5 - Three Oaks, MI - The Acorn (sold out) 8/15 - Lexington, KY - The Burl 8/17 - Cincinnati, OH - Memorial Hall 9/13 - Grass Valley, CA - Center For The Arts

Return to Death Valley

Joe Burrow x Reader

Warnings: Some adult language, mention of past abusive relationship, mature themes, mention of nudity, and implied smut. (I think that is all, I’m sorry if I missed anything!)

Description: When Joe Burrow arrived at LSU he met the girl of his dreams but after he graduated they went their separate ways. However, when Joe returned on campus for the annual football spring game he does come face to face with that girl again. Will they reconnect? Find out in Return to Death Valley!

Author’s Note: First of all I just want to apologize for the big delay. I was originally going to post this Saturday but after I came back from coaching I didn’t really want to do anything since my foot was killing me for some reason. Then I was going to post on Sunday but Saturday night something came up last minuet! So, again I am so sorry for the delay! This will probably be my last writing for awhile. I know I promised I would post a special birthday one shot on my birthday which is next Monday but that won’t be happening since I’m not going to be able to write and type the one shot by next week. Also on my birthday I will be attending the Orioles game which I am very excited about! Anyways I don’t know how many people read this but thank you so much for your patience and I hope you enjoy the one shot!

Word Count: 2,583

It was springtime which meant LSU is having their yearly spring game. Joe and Ja’Marr decided to buy plane tickets to Baton Rouge and watch how the 2022 LSU tigers are going to look. Many other former LSU national champions decided to tag along with the Bengal teammates. Joe and Ja’Marr asked Thaddeus if he wants to tag along and he of course agreed so the three of them took a plane from Cincinnati while Clyde, Justin, and Derek are meeting them there. Even though Joe doesn’t play on the same team as Clyde, Justin, and Derek, he still stays in good contact with them since they weren’t just his college teammates, they were also his best friends! The men are happy and excited to reunite at a place that is filled with so many incredible memories. However, Joe is a bit anxious that he might run into a familiar face that he hasn’t seen since he won the national championship. He doesn’t know why he feels nervous seeing her. Y/N Y/L/N, the girl who had Joe on his knees. Joe met Y/N his senior year. He met her through Justin since Justin and Y/N grew up together in Louisiana and go way back. Joe remembers the day he met Y/N like it was yesterday. Y/N was at all the games since she was interning for ESPN for her major in broadcasting, so she was cover LSU since that’s the college she attends. Joe immediately fell for the girl. Anytime Joe was free, or Y/N was free they were together. They spent many nights together whether they went out or stayed in. However, they never went exclusive. No matter how much they liked each other, they knew when the football season was over, they would be going their separate ways. They tried so hard to not get attached to one another but when Joe left to go back to Ohio, it was heart wrenching for the both of them. Joe would love to see Y/N but then again, he knows the goodbye is just going to be a repeat.

Joe just arrived at Tiger Stadium with the guys and so many flashbacks came flooding into his brain. Joe was in the locker with the guys. They were all talking besides Joe because every time someone walked by the doors he would look there. Every time Joe saw someone walk past the doors his heart rate would speed up. He doesn’t know why he’s getting all jumpy about seeing her. Y/N might not even be in town since Justin did mention to him that she’s been traveling a lot the past year because of her job. After Y/N graduated from LSU she got hired by ESPN to be a reporter for college football. “C’mon boys, let’s hit the field like old times.” Clyde said and started to walk towards the tunnel. “Joe and I will meet you guys out there.” Justin told them which confused Joe. “What’s going on?” Joe asked him in with confusion. “You’re wondering if Y/N is here, aren’t you?” Justin asked as he folded his arms over his chest with sly smirk on his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Joe said looking everywhere but his friends face. “Don’t lie to me.” Justin told him with a stern look on his face. “I just really want to see her.” Joe told him with a sigh. “Don’t worry Joe, I’m sure she’ll pop up somewhere.” Justin told him with a wink and made his way to the tunnel. Joe’s lips turned into a smirk. By just hearing Justin say that his chance seeing Y/N just doubled.

  The 2022 LSU spring game has just been kicked off. Joe has been hanging out on the sideline watching. As he’s been watching he’s been chatting with some old faces and new faces. He’s been talking with the coaches that were there when he was but he also talking with the new coaches that have just been hired. A lot has changed in just a couple of years which is a bit crazy to him. Of course, Joe as been talking with the new head coach that was hired at the end of the last season. Joe and all other guys were saddening and a bit angry about the firing of Coach O, but they couldn’t take it out on the new coach. Also, the new coach is a great guy and seems to be getting along with the players very nicely. However, Joe couldn’t lie. It felt strange being on the Death Valley field without Coach O. Joe has also talking with the quarterbacks since they are very huge fans of him and look up to him. Joe is pretty much royalty in Bouton Rouge which isn’t a surprise. Joe gave the quarterbacks a lot of advice which they appreciated very much. After Joe finished talking with the quarterbacks he started talking with Clyde. “Hey boys.” Both boys heard a familiar voice call out to them. When Joe turned around his eyes lit up because there she was. There is the girl he’s been wanting to see since he stepped off that plane. “Long time no see.” Y/N said with a big smile on her face. “Hey Y/N.” Clyde said with a smile as he gave her a hug which she of course returned. “Hey.” Joe said in a shy tone which made him curse at himself. “What? You too shy to give me a hug?” Y/N asked in a teasing tone. “Oh, ha-ha, come here.” Joe said bringing her into a hug. Y/N giggled as she returned the hug. She missed teasing him. “Wow, you both look amazing. I almost didn’t recognize you two.” Y/N said after letting go of Joe. “Y/N, come on we have to get back to work!” Her camera man called out to her which made her groan. “Alright I’ll be right there!” Y/N called back out to him with annoyance in her tone. “I got to get back, but I hope to see you boys around.” Y/N told them with a small smile. Before Y/N walked away she tapped Joe on the ass which shocked him. Joe watched her walk away with wide eyes. “Did she just tap me on my ass?” Joe asked turning back to Clyde who had an amusing smile on his face. “Damn, it really does feel like old times.” Clyde told him.

 After the game was over Joe and Ja’Marr stayed at the stadium to talk to some more people. The sun has now set over Death Valley. Joe was just about to leave with Ja’Marr to go back to the hotel, but Joe had to use the restroom, so he told Ja’Marr he’ll meet him outside. After Joe was done, he started to make his way outside but stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a sweet voice call his name. “Y/N, I thought you would’ve been gone by now.” Joe said turning around to face her. “Same with you.” Y/N said as she walked closer to him. “I had to do interviews with the coach and a couple of players.” Y/N told him. “Oh yeah, that makes sense.” Joe said with a nod still sounding nervous which really was getting on his nerves. “Since you’re still here, do you want to go sit on the field together? Just like old times.” Y/N asked in a curious tone. “Yeah, that sounds fun.” Joe told her with a smile which made her smile. “Let me go tell Ja’Marr to head back to the hotel. I’ll be right back.” Joe told her with a wink and walked away. Y/N’s cheeks turned a bright red as she watched him.

 Y/N and Joe were sitting in the middle of the field together. “What’s been going on Mr. Burrow? I mean off the field of course.” Y/N said to him. “To be honest, not much.” Joe told her. “Seriously, nothing?” Y/N said sounding a bit surprised. “Besides my knee injury, yeah nothing.” Joe told her with a sigh. “Damn Joey, you got boring.” Y/N told him with a teasing smile which made him playfully roll his eyes. “Alright, enough about my boring life. What about you?” Joe said which made her giggle. “All I’m going to tell you is that I’m a lot happier this year then this time last year.” Y/N told him as she looked away from him which quickly concerned him. “What do you mean?” Joe asked her. “Justin told me you have been doing great with broadcasting.” Joe added. “It had nothing to do with my job.” Y/N told him as she fiddled with her fingers. “It’s okay Y/N. You can tell me.” Joe told her as he put one of his hands onto her knee and rubbed it gently. “I was in a relationship with this guy, and he abused me towards the end of the relationship.” Y/N told him as she stared down at her hands and tried to keep her eyes from tearing up. Joe’s heart broke when those words came out of her mouth. How could someone lay their hands on her like that. It’s makes Joe’s blood boil at just the thought of it. “What a sick mother fucker.” Joe said in a hiss. “Don’t worry Joey, that sick mother fucker is rotting in prison.” Y/N reassured him as she put her hand on top of his that was still resting on her knee. When she looked back up at him their eyes locked. “Good, that’s where people like him belong.” Joe told her. “What about you? What’s been your relationship status?” Y/N asked him to change the subject off her. “I’ve just had a couple of flings, but they never lasted longer than a month.” Joe told her which shocked her. “Seriously? How come? I mean look at you! What do those bitches not see in you?” Y/N asked many questions which made Joe let out a laugh. “I’m the one that broke up with them.” Joe told her. “Oh, do you mind telling me why?” Y/N asked as she scooted closer to him. “I guess it's because those girls weren’t you.” Joe answered as he stared deep into her beautiful eyes. Y/N leaned in and placed her lips onto his soft lips. Joe immediately kissed her back. As they kissed it was like all the memories of them together swarmed their minds. They both felt the kiss getting heated, so Y/N pulled away and got up onto her feet. “C’mon.” Y/N said putting her hand out for him to take. “Where are we going?” Joe asked taking her hand as he stood up. “My place. We got more catching up to do.” Y/N told him with a smirk. Joe knew exactly what she was referring to which turned him on. “Oh, so you don’t want me to fuck you on the football field?” Joe said with a smirk as he pulled her body up against his. “I wouldn’t let you fuck me on the field in college so what makes you think I would let you do it now?” Y/N said with a stern look on her face. “Alright, lead the way sexy thing.” Joe said defeated and gave her a kiss on the lips. Y/N let out a giggle and started to walk out of the stadium with Joe.

 ~~~~~~~~~~

It was the next morning and Joe woke up to the feeling of kisses on his neck. When he opened his eyes, they met Y/N’s eyes. “Well good morning to you.” Joe said as he pulled Y/N on top of him. Y/N giggled and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. “I can’t believe I forgot how much I love waking up next to you.” Y/N said as she rested her forehead against his. “Same here beautiful.” Joe told her giving her a kiss on the lips and then rubbed his hands up and down her bare back. “Were we stupid for doing this?” Y/N asked him. “Stupid for having amazing sex?” Joe asked with a smirk on his face. Y/N hit Joe on the shoulder. “Ouch! What was that for?” Joe asked with a whine. “I’m being serious Joe! I mean we both know that when you get on that plane to go back to Ohio, we basically will be strangers again.” Y/N told him with frustration in her tone. “Well, I think this time will be different.” Joe told her. “What do you mean?” Y/N asked him with confusion in her tone. “When we graduated, we had no idea what our future was going to look like but now we do. I’m a professional football player and you’re a reporter that covers football.” Joe told her as he continued to rub his hands up and down her back softly. “But we live in different states.” Y/N reminded him. “But we also travel a lot.” Joe told her. “Yeah, that’s true.” Y/N agreed as she rubbed his bare chest with one of her hands. “When we aren’t in the same city we can chat by text, phone call, and facetime. Whatever you want.” Joe told her and rested his forehead against hers. “I’d love that.” Y/N told him with a big smile on her face. “Me too.” Joe told her and gave her a long kiss on the lips. “What time do you have to be at the airport?” Y/N asked once they pulled away from the steamy kiss. “Two, which means…” Joe trailed off. He picked her up and flipped her over so that he was the one on top which made her let out a squeak. Joe stared down at her with lust as he made sure he didn’t crush her with his big body. “We got time for two more rounds.” Joe told her with that smirk that always turns her on. “Then give it to me Burrow.” Y/N said bringing him down so their lips could connect.

 Y/N decided to go to the airport with the boys and say goodbye to them. After said goodbye to Ja’Marr and Thaddeus, Joe told them to board the plane since he needed a couple of minuets alone with Y/N. “I’m going to miss you.” Y/N told him. “I’m going to miss you too, but I promise I’ll call you right when I get back to Cincy.” Joe told her with a comforting smile. “And I’ll be waiting.” Y/N told him with a smile as well. Joe brought her in close and gave her a passionate kiss on the lips which sent the butterflies in her stomach into a frenzy. When they released from the kiss, they rested their forehead against one another. “I love you.” Joe told her as he put one of his hands onto her cheek and stroked it gently. “I love you too, Joey.” Y/N told him and leaned up on her tippy toes to give him another passionate kiss. They have been waiting so long to say to those three words to each other and it felt so good to finally say it to each other out loud. “I’ll talk to you later.” Joe said letting her go even though he really didn’t want to. “Okay, be careful.” Y/N told him. “I will, beautiful.” Joe reassured with a wink. He gave her one last kiss and then walked away to board the plane. Both of them couldn’t wait to see each other again.

Reblog and share your answer in the tags!

"Their’s was the task (and nobly they performed it) to possess themselves, and through themselves, us, of this goodly land; and to uprear upon its hills and its valleys, a political edifice of liberty and equal rights; ‘tis ours only, to transmit these, the former, unprofaned by the foot of an invader . . . This task of gratitude to our fathers, justice to ourselves, duty to posterity, and love for our species in general, all imperatively require us faithfully to perform.

How then shall we perform it?—At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it?—Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!—All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.

At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide."

Abraham Lincoln

I ask, have we fulfilled our duty to our ancestors? Have we guarded against the danger Lincoln warns about? Or are we dying by suicide as he suggests might be our most probable demise?

Last year, this time, 20 degrees F, high point(Ancient falluvial mound) at trillium trails snp overlooking part of spring valley which contains the mill creek as it splits and progressively gets more channelized and less wild as it heads to thee Ohio River.

This Chinquapin is my favorite to climb, it’s beautiful, the canopy architecture is flawless.

I had gotten my akimbo from bartlet and wanted to try out both it’s srt(now called srs) and drt configurations (now mrs).

Variegated Yellow Pond-Lily by Picsnapper1212

Mysteries Surrounding Lost Souls Along National Road in Ohio County

While growing up in the Triadelphia area I was always fascinated by many of the historical sites and buildings that I observed on my daily travels. Entering the town and seeing the welcome signs which announce Triadelphia as the oldest town in West Virginia always made my mind wonder what this area would have been like to live in over 200 years ago. Triadelphia was incorporated on July 29, 1829, as the Village of Triadelphia by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Wheeling would not be incorporated until 1836. Just the meaning of the town's name alone is quite interesting too. The origin of Triadelphia’s name is derived from three settlers, Jonathan Link, Presley Peak, and William Hawkins who were killed by a band of 20 Indians along Middle Wheeling Creek in 1781. As I explain to my History of Wheeling students at Wheeling Park High School, “The tri-part of the name is easy to figure out, but what does adelphia mean?” Wheeling has a strong Greek heritage and every year a few students always speak up and say “adelphia means brother!” And there you go, Triadelphia is named after three friends or “brothers” who perished there during the frontier era. While traveling east through Triadelphia on the National Road you can find historic brick homes dating back to the early days of the National Road, remnants of the old Valley Camp Coal mine, and shortly after you encounter the unincorporated area of Roney’s Point. The Old Stone House at the corner was a tavern that dates back to 1818, but has since been demolished. The Legends Roney’s Point is sort of a junction that connects you to Dallas Pike Road and, of course, what most people know today as a backway to The Highlands or Interstate 70. Roney’s Point, though, is so much more. I’m sure many of you notice the Old Stone House at the corner that dates back to 1818 as a tavern. It’s since been demolished, but there were also two other structures nearby that housed travelers. There was also the old Southern States Co-Op that served farmers and residents throughout the area, and when the railroad was still running deliveries could be picked up at Roney’s Point. Only remnants of the Schmulbach Mansion remain on Roney's Point these days. At the junction of Roney’s Point, if you turn onto Point Run Road after a short ride you will encounter Country Farm Road which leads you to the ruins of an estate that was once owned by Henry Schmulbach. After his death the property was sold to the county and used as a poor farm, tuberculosis hospital, and later a mental hospital was built on site. I plan on telling more of the Schmulbach story another time, but for this article I would like to focus on the Roney’s Point Cemetery that is located on four acres of the property. Residents of the Ohio County poor farm, tuberculosis hospital, and paupers were buried in this cemetery starting sometime after 1916. Approximately 59 graves that were moved from the Peninsula Cemetery in Wheeling were also reinterred at Roney’s Point to make room for Interstate 70 just east of the tunnels in 1964. I had visited the cemetery for the first time on May 8, 2008, and after doing some more research recently of the property I was motivated to see what has changed in the cemetery since then. This is how the entrance to the County Farm Cemetery appeared on May 2008. Resting Souls In 2008, the gates still remained the entrance to the cemetery. So, on a warm May Spring day, I parked along Point Run Road with Brittany Fehr as my extra pair of eyes to locate the cemetery and explore. At the base of the cemetery, we walked through a small field. Someone had recently mowed a wide path through it which made walking through this part easy. In this field, I remember seeing a few grave markers, but on this day we could not locate them.  As you enter the woods and walk the path which was probably once a small road used to maintain the cemetery we found small cement markers with numbers on them. The markers appear as if they were tossed about on the ground, but after further examination, most have been disturbed from the growth of trees, brush, and years of neglect.  Our hike into the woods was more difficult than my first visit in 2008. Fallen trees and the overgrowth of briers made the trek a challenge. I was convinced that I led us too far into the woods and missed the grave markers I saw in 2008. We persistently kept pushing forward, though, and were able to discover an area that Brittany could tell that at one time was probably a clearing of property. After pushing through more brush we were able to discover small metal markers designating the location of those reinterred at Roney’s Point from the Peninsula Cemetery. A walk through this brush lead to Peninsula Cemetery grave markers The metal markers read “Unknown - Peninsula Cemetery - Grave # 713,” for example. These markers represent some of the 59 graves that were removed from the Peninsula and relocated to Roney’s Point. What has always struck me as odd is why the markers say “unknown.” Glenna Dillion’s Book, The Cemeteries of Ohio County provides a description and history of the cemetery, along with a list of those buried at the cemetery. Grave #713 is not unknown at all. It represents John Bartkovich who was interred on October 19, 1966. The records also state that he was not an inmate and White. Bartkovich was born on June 24, 1892 in Poland, served in the Polish army, and his death certificate indicates that he spent most of his life as a coal miner. He resided at 2148 Main Street at his time of death. It was unknown if he was married or widowed when he passed away. What remains a mystery is why the marker says Peninsula Cemetery when his death certificate says he was interred at the Roney’s Point Cemetery. It’s likely he was interred at Roney’s Point as a pauper, although that fact is not specified anywhere. This is one of only a few grave sites that has remained in clear view. Another interesting point to make about those buried at the Roney’s Point Cemetery is the story of Lucy Zantanna. Zantanna has a monument at the cemetery that is dated 1913, the year that Schmulbach moved into his Roney’s Point mansion. Zantanna died April 22, 1913 in the rear of a home at 1204 McColloch Street. She was married, a housewife, and died from food poisoning. Zantanna ate raw oysters that had been kept in the family refrigerator Saturday afternoon until late Sunday without ice. According to her obituary, “When they were removed it is said they had a disagreeable odor but Mrs. Zantanna ate them, although others refused to do so.” Within a few hours she became ill; a doctor was called who made every effort to save her, but she died shortly after. Zantanna was just 25 years old. Zantanna was interred at the Peninsula Cemetery. Zantanna’s monument must have been moved around 1964 to Roney’s Point. What remains a mystery is where all monuments moved, and what is the story with those metal markers? Upon further research, Zantanna had a 6-month-old child that died March 22, 1911 and was interred in the Peninsula Cemetery. Zantanna’s husband John remarried in 1915 and moved to his wife's hometown in Pennsylvania. What’s unknown is where Zantanna’s daughter is now buried. Still in the Peninsula Cemetery? Possibly moved to another local cemetery? Records indicate she was not reinterred at Roney’s Point. This is another mystery for Brittany and me to solve. A good portion of the Peninsula Cemetery, one of the oldest in the city, was removed to make way for the interstate. The Road Goes Through In September of 1963, it was announced in 60 days 1,100 graves would be disinterred by 14 experts in the field of moving graves to make room for Interstate 70 just east of Wheeling Tunnel. According to state law, it was also required that a certified mortician be on hand to oversee the project. Cemeteries used for reinterment included Greenwood, Mt. Olivet, Mt. Zion, and the county graveyard at Roney’s Point. The article stated that a marker would be placed on each grave at its new location, known or unknown. It was also stated that all monuments would be reset on new foundations. That movement probably occurred in late 1963 and was finished in 1964. Glenna Dillon’s research revealed that the last internment according to Ohio County records at Roney’s Point was in 1987, but her research all discovered internments as late as 1993. Although the current state of the cemetery is in poor condition, it would be much worse if it weren't for the efforts of Gary Kestner. In 1998, Kester spearheaded a movement to clean up the cemetery grounds and make an effort to keep the gravesites clear of future brush and tree growth. Kester sought help from the local community with clean-up, restoration of the wrought iron gate, and a new sign was placed at the entrance. Today, the sign and gate are gone, and every year the woods claim a little more of the cemetery's history. This is just a small glimpse of the history that surrounds the Triadelphia and Roney’s Point area. I plan on researching future topics about this area and the Roney’s Point Cemetery. In my eyes, the cemetery is important because it tells the story of the sick, the unknown, the poor, those who succumbed to tragedy. Their story is important and it must be told and remembered. Ryan Stanton is a 2002 graduate of Wheeling Park High School. In 2006, he graduated from West Liberty State College with a bachelor’s degree in history and later earned a master’s degree in social studies education from West Virginia University. For 12 years, Ryan has been a social studies teacher at Wheeling Park High School where he teaches college-level U.S. Government and Politics and the History of Wheeling. Read the full article

'Magic Mirror' Hidden Image Revealed in Reflection of Centuries-Old Artifact

Amid the thousands of treasures in the Cincinnati Art Museum's East Asian art collection, a small bronze mirror dating back to the 15th or 16th century always seemed rather unremarkable.

Last exhibited in 2017, it had spent much of the preceding decades in storage, where it sat on a backroom shelf alongside other objects excluded from public display.

But the artifact had a secret hiding in plain sight.

While researching so-called "magic mirrors" -- rare ancient mirrors that, in certain light, reveal images or patterns hidden on their reflective surfaces -- the museum's curator of East Asian art, Hou-mei Sung, saw something resembling the examples from Edo-period Japan.

The item in storage in Cincinnati, Ohio, was smaller than the ones held in museums in Tokyo, Shanghai and New York City. It also featured a more complex style of Chinese script. Yet, Sung recalled there was something "very similar" about it.

So, last spring, she visited the museum's storage rooms accompanied by a conservation expert.

"I asked her to shine a strong, focused light on the mirror," Sung said on a video call from Cincinnati. "So, she used her cell phone (flashlight) and it worked."

On the wall before them was the appearance of texture in the reflected light -- not a distinct image, but enough to warrant further investigation. Following experiments using more powerful and focused lights, the mirror eventually revealed the image of a Buddha, rays of light emanating from his seated form. The inscription on the mirror's back spells out who was depicted: Amitabha, an important figure in various schools of East Asian Buddhism.

The discovery makes the museum one of only a handful of institutions in the world to own a magic mirror, according to Sung. The curator is only aware of three others in possession of rare Buddhist-themed ones, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

"We were so excited," Sung said.

Ongoing mystery

Before the invention of today's glass mirrors, people from cultures around the world gazed into polished bronze, from ancient Egypt to the Indus Valley. The ancient art of Chinese magic mirrors was first developed during the Han dynasty, around 2,000 years ago, though they were also later made in Japan.

To create the mysterious effect, artisans began by casting images, words or patterns onto one side of a bronze plate. Scientists believe they then scratched and scraped the plain surface on the other side, before polishing it until it became reflective like a conventional mirror. Because the plate was of varying thickness, due to the embossed design, the process created very slight changes in curvature on the seemingly blank mirrored side. A mercury-based substance was then used to make additional surface stresses that were invisible to the naked eye but matched the elaborate patterns on the back, according to an article in the UNESCO Courier journal.

When sunlight hits the reflective surface in a certain way, a hidden image -- matching the design on the back -- would be revealed, giving the illusion that light was passing right through the mirror. For this reason, they are known in Chinese as "transparent" or "light-penetration" mirrors. (In the case of the Cincinnati Art Museum's discovery, however, a second metal plate was likely soldered onto the back, leaving the original embossed Buddha concealed inside.)

The mirrors baffled Western scientists who encountered them in the 19th century. And while their optics are now broadly understood, Sung said experts still don't know precisely how craftspeople worked the metal.

"No matter how much you can explain theoretically, it all depends on the master who polishes the surface which is tremendously difficult," she said. "That's why they are so rare."

Measuring about 8.5 inches in diameter, the museum's mirror was likely used as a religious ornament and may have hung in a temple or noble household. The museum is yet to decipher whether it originated in China or Japan, though Sung believes it is most likely the former.

The item was first recorded in the museum's Asian art collection in 1961, though the curator thinks it may have been acquired long before then. She also suspects that other institutions and collectors are in possession of magic mirrors without realizing.

"I found a lot in online auctions that have a similar design to ours, but (the auction listings) never say they're magic mirrors," she said, adding: "I believe there could be some mirrors out there that people don't even know are magic."

The mirror will be on display at the Cincinnati Art Museum from July 23.

By Oscar Holland.

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The Flying Eagles of Troop 62  // James Wright

           Ralph Neal was the Scoutmaster. He was still a young man. He liked us.

           I have no doubt he knew perfectly well we were each of us masturbating unhappily in secret caves and shores.

           The soul of patience, he waited while we smirked behind each other's backs, mocking and parodying the Scout Law, trying to imitate the oratorical rotundities of Winston Churchill in a Southern Ohio accent:

           "Ay scout is trusswortha, loll, hailpful, frenly, curtchuss, kand, abaydent, chairful, thrifta, dapraved, clane, and letcherass."

           Ralph Neal knew all about the pain of the aching stones in our twelve-year-old groins, the lava swollen halfway between our peckers and our nuts that were still green and sour as half-ripe apples two full months before the football season began.

           Socrates loved his friend the traitor Alcibiades for his beauty and for what he might become.

           I think Ralph Neal loved us for our scrawniness, our acne, our fear; but mostly for his knowledge of what would probably become of us. He was not a fool. He knew he would never himself get out of that slime hole of a river valley, and maybe he didn't want to. The Vedantas illustrate the most sublime of ethical ideals by describing a saint who, having endured through a thousand lives every half-assed mistake and unendurable suffering possible from birth to death, refused at the last minute to enter Nirvana because he realized that his scruffy dog, suppurating at the nostrils and half mad with rabies, could not accompany him into perfect peace.

           Some of us wanted to get out, and some of us wanted to and didn't.

           The last I heard, Dickey Beck, a three-time loser at housebreaking, was doing life at the State Pen in Columbus.

           The last I heard, Dale Headley was driving one of those milk trucks where the driver has to stand up all day and rattle his spine over the jagged street-bricks.

           The last I heard from my brother-in-law, Hub Snodgrass was still dragging himself home every evening down by the river to shine, shower, shave, and spend a good hour still trying to scrape the Laughlin steel dust out of his pale skin. He never tanned much, he just burned or stayed out of the river.

           The last I heard, Mike Kottelos was making book in Wheeling.

           I have never gone back there down home to see Ralph Neal. My portrait hangs on one of the walls of the Martins Ferry Public Library. Ralph Neal would think I've become something. And no doubt I have, though I don't know just what. Scribbling my name in books. Christ have mercy on me alive; and after I'm dead, as Pietro Aretino of Florence requested of the priest after he had received extreme unction on his deathbed, "Now that I've been oiled, keep me from the rats."

           When I think of Ralph Neal's name, I feel some kind of ice breaking open in me. I feel a garfish escaping into a hill spring where the crawdads burrow down to the pure bottom in hot weather to get the cool. I feel a rush of long fondness for that good man Ralph Neal, that good man who knew us dreadful and utterly vulnerable little bastards better than we knew ourselves, who took care of us better than we took care of ourselves, and who loved us, I reckon, because he knew damned well what would become of most of us, and it sure did, and he knew it, and he loved us anyway. The very name of America often makes me sick, and yet Ralph Neal was an American. The country is enough to drive you crazy.