Rob & Tricia in Baltimore

A few shots from Rob and Tricia's October 10 wedding at the Pier 5 Hotel in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore. More images to come. Click on image to enlarge.

Jason & Katie at Westmoreland State Park

I've been slow in updating photos on the blog. Here are a few from Jason and Katie's October 3rd wedding at Westmoreland State Park. More to come in the Wedding Sample Gallery 2009, Part 2 on my website (www.bobupdegrove.com). Click on images to enlarge.

Waste Of Gas

If there is one thing liberal environmentalists would like to see happen when it comes to our driving habits, it is carpooling and/or using public transit. Less gas, less pollution, less traffic, smaller carbon footprint . . these are the arguments they use. I can picture President Obama using these arguments himself. But like everything else having to do with Obama, it is do as I say, not do as I do. Traveling to Copenhagen this week on three separate private planes (big planes) are Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Barack Obama. Three planes. It begs the question: why? Couldn't they use less gas, less pollution, smaller carbon footprint by plane-pooling? Wouldn't that provide a better example to the public when it comes to selling these ideas? It also begs the question: if the president, his wife, and Oprah can take three planes to Copenhagen, why can't I take my car wherever and whenever I want?

I suspect that the president and his supporters would argue "well, he is the president". I realize that, and certainly the expectation is not for him to use public transit. But three planes? Really? To me that smacks of arrogance. They take three planes because they can. Speaking of arrogance, did you catch Michelle's statement while in Copenhagen?

"As much of a sacrifice as people say this is for me or Oprah or the president to come for these few days," the first lady told a crowd of people involved in the Chicago project, "so many of you in this room have been working for years to bring this bid home."

Sacrifice? Again, are you kidding? I'd like to know who the people are she is referring to who believe this is an act of sacrifice by these three, or is it just Michelle who has this view. Sacrifice? Sacrifice would mean traveling together in one plane. Even at that, how can a luxury trip to Copenhagen, pampered like royalty throughout the entire trip, be a sacrifice? And remember, this is paid in full by the American taxpayer. Only in the eyes of Michelle. Arrogance at its best.