New "Paul Rainey" Photos I found. Hunting Lions in Africa with Hounds

sorry for the poor quality

Wisdom from the Comedians, (got this from one of my Houndsman Buddys)

You know the honeymoon is over,when the comedians start.

The liberals are asking us to give Obama time. We agree...and think 25 to life would be appropriate. 
--Jay Leno


America needs Obamacare like Nancy 
Pelosi needs a Halloween mask. 
--Jay Leno


Q: Have you heard about McDonald's'
new Obama Value Meal?
A: Order anything you like and the guy behind you has to pay for it. 
--Conan O'Brien


Q: What does Barack Obama call 
lunch with a convicted felon?
A: A fund raiser. 
--Jay Leno


Q: What's the difference between
Obama's cabinet and a penitentiary?
A: One is filled with tax evaders, blackmailers and threats to society. The other is for housing prisoners. 
--David Letterman


Q: If Nancy Pelosi and Obama were 
on a boat in the middle of the ocean and it started to sink, who would be saved?
A: America! 
--Jimmy Fallon


Q: What's the difference between
Obama and his dog, Bo?
A: Bo has papers. 
--Jimmy Kimmel


Q: What was the most positive result 
of the "Cash for Clunkers" program?
A: It took 95% of the Obama bumper 
stickers off the road. 
--David Letterman



Solution to the problem in Egypt:
They want a new Muslim leader, give them ours.

Dogs and Hunting, If you live for the two your already a friend even to those you haven't met yet!

My Warmest Thanks to Liz and Evie!

I've never had the opportunity to be around the sport of Fox Hunting but recently, because of friends who are involved I've been becoming a bit more educated and though I never thought I would have a lot in common with Foxhunters as usual I was wrong. You know the whole process is somewhat  of a major/minor production and depending on the person and the extent he or she wants to take it to this equates to major expense. It looks like a blast regardless and depending on ones ability as a horseman and the terrain, you better be in shape and have a good mount beneath you to keep you healthy.

This weekend friends invited us out for the first Hunt of the season for the Mooreland Foxhounds which was to include the "Blessing of the Hounds" and a few days before the event my two buddies threw a surprise at me as they arranged for me to accompany Benjamin Hardaway during the day's hunt. Mr. Hardaway is for all purposes a "Legendary Foxhunter" but more importantly to me he is the legendary breeder of hunting dogs, (Foxhounds, Lurchers, Cat Hounds) basically living almost all of his 94 years within the realm of hunting, especially Foxhunting.

I listened to his stories, and knew that what little time allowed me to hear was only a fraction of his knowledge concerning dogs and hunting so I can only hope to one day hear more but I am thankful to have at least met him and spent that time with him. He was a gentleman and went out of his way to answer a few questions as mostly I just wanted to listen, man what a good day! I went home and just sat and tried to remind myself of the things he told me, made some notes, went to bed with a smile on my face.

                                          Here is "Trouble," especially the two on the right!

                                                    Mr. Hardaway

The 3 VanSant Women! a force to be reckoned with especially when you add Liz to the mix.

Huntsman, and new hog hunting buddy, Rhodri Jones-Evans

A Favorite Artist, Travis Schilling

Nomad-ism

One traveling man in China has made his home part of his wardrobe by carrying a hand made shelter on his back like a snail. China News caught up with Liu Lingchao, a 38 year old man who makes his living selling plastic bottles and cans he collects from streets across China. Rather than constantly looking for shelter on his journeys, Lingchao has made a portable bamboo and plastic sheeting sleeping “shell” that he lugs from place to place, like a snail carrying its shell.

378 Posts Later,

I went back this morning and read my first post just to remind myself of where I've been, still hoping  I get where I'm going. Time.......don't waste it.

Thursday, February 5, 2009 In The Beginning

The process of creating a visual utilizing words never occurred to me to take any other form other than written stories, articles, books and novels of the hold in your hand variety. So after joining the great migration to Cyber-publishing, first with my website www.apmcgee.com then later www.kurtzandmarlow.com, I have with a bit of anxiety launched this new trivial piece of self-indulgence as yet another means of self expression, one that will hopefully be as entertaining as some say my artwork is. I've had a great life so far and have discovered a few things about myself along the way. I have come to realize that what is true in my life, that meaning, "that which I truly desire", is what I desired most in my adolescent days, the simple things that I believe God put there in my heart of desires, long before I was the gleam in my father's eye. In the beginning I was drawn like bees to honey toward "being outside". Where I was born and raised wasn't out in the country on some southern farm or backwoods homestead, we lived less than a mile from downtown, as the crow flies, but we were country and we lived like it.

There were woods down across our backyard after you passed the tomato garden, after you waded across Sweetwater Creek, after you passed my Grandpa in his little barn like shop standing there sharpening lawnmower blades, sparks flying from the bench grinder.

Woods across the backyard after you passed the outdoor kitchen area where sliced apples, peaches and pears lay drying on homemade sawhorse tables in the fall sunshine, honey bees, flies and yellow jackets buzzing my mom, aunt and grandmother as they washed mason jars and lids in wash tubs getting ready to can.

Woods across the backyard that all us kids shared with possums, coyotes, coons and whippoorwills and all our dogs. I was probably four or five when they finally paved the road in front of the house. By then my Dad and the rest had introduced me to hunting, fishing and the romance of all that was good about "being outside". I didn't realize then that living, loving and working were just by products of what made me tick and ultimately, my tick, came from "being outside".

Many years passed and I drifted farther and farther from the energy that wound my clock. Instead I pursued all the clever enticing enchantments that civilized culture uses to exhort a man to reach his potential. The farther you get down that road however, the harder it is to return. Some never do. It's usually a bad conscious, and the depression that goes with it that saves most, but most aren't conscious of their compass drift. I have lot of work to do myself, making up for that drift. I'm making peace with my conscious as I go.

Many know the truth, but have trouble giving up society's definition of success. That being, "the accomplishment of having lots of stuff!" Have you ignored your compass, ignored being at peace with you mind, preserving your soul and living that long lasting, God given, healthy life? Are your too busy taking care of all that stuff? If you are still wondering what I'm talking about ask yourself a question, this question. This morning when you first opened your eyes in the dim gray dawn, did you have an overwhelming, heartfelt, can't wait, euphoric desire to get up get out of bed and go do whatever it is you do? If you can't answer that the way you wished you could, then you are down that road. Only you can turn it around, but forgive me if I don't hold my breath. 

I'm here for you though, for what's that's worth, I mean well by it anyway. Truth is though, your probably too far gone, you better go do your taxes. Go on now, move along, go do something that your accustomed to and comfortable with, you better go check your credit score and see about trading that last years model Range Rover for a new one.

Now to the faithful, the faithful remain as does the "Dude Abide," the faithful still seek, seek that which was lost. I'm here for the faithful, here to share what I feel when I seek, here to share what I feel when I sink back down into the guts of my remembrance, down into what I've left there untouched for so long, those memories that leave me giddy with childlike happiness. Hopefully I can spawn in you a little enlightenment, pricking you to be aware like me of memories, memories of what made you the happiest, smells of a camp fire burning down low, sounds of the quiet whisper of "good night" from your dad, an owl hootin way off down deep in a hollow, the wind bringing a little rain on the canvas, aware of a deep joy in your soul, smiling at how tired and happy you are, feeling yourself drifitin off, breathing slow, starting to dream, mind clearing, resting, body jerking, fingers twitchin, snugglin down, deep in the bag, nice warm, being there, "Being Outside".

New Painting started, commission piece

Stuff from European Friends

Calvin Coolidge McGee

Wanted to say a bit about my Dad since it's Veterans Day. He served in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific. He was my friend, taught me all I know and led me down a road of many adventures and experiences. He was one that taught me to, 

  "Legitimatize The Urge" and Sustain the Freedom "

I think about him everyday although I am a grown man now and just turned 58 years old he will always be Daddy to me.

Food, Dogs, Friends, Dogs, and more Dogs

Sandi and I met some great friends a few months ago through our friend Garland. This past weekend along with more new friends we got together again. The group made up of Fox Hunters, Chefs, Artists, Dog Men and Beautiful Women and a few Dogs enjoyed some great food and conversation. Thanks to our hosts Bill and Liz for a fine night and for including us!

Thanks to my new friend Rhod for introducing me to the Hounds.