Author Archives: Jay McLaughlin

About Jay McLaughlin

I am a rehabilitation counselor. I have many friends with autism and traumatic brain injuries. They help me learn new things constantly. I hike with dogs at the James River in Richmond - a lot. I've completed an Iron distance triathlon a year for 11 years. My most recent was in Wilmington, NC in November, 2013. I currently compete in mid-distance triathlons. And work and hike and take pictures and write and eat.

This just in!

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Jay McLaughlin

21 September, 2015 This just in! Perhaps you saw the morning glory picture I put in yesterday’s blog post. I took that picture while visiting my handsome new nephew Wes. I saw a picture of … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowers, Fun, morning glories, People, roses | Tagged Flowers, morning glories, nature, outdoors, People, Roses, smile, Smiles - human AND dog smiles! | 4 Comments

Busy week!

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Jay McLaughlin

20 September, 2015 Busy week! So I regret to say only a few images – not much going on! I apologize. More next week. I took this picture looking upstream at … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowers, Fun, moon, Pony Pasture, Rivers | Tagged Flowers, Fun, james river, morning glories, nature, outdoors, pictures of the moon, Pony Pasture, Rivers, whitetail deer | 1 Comment

Everybody was so NICE!!

Posted on September 13, 2015 by Jay McLaughlin

13 September, 2015 Everybody was so NICE!! If you want to be really happy, spend a weekend at a triathlon. Every single person you meet is nice. I did a triathlon this … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs, Endurance, Fun, outer banks, People, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), triathlons | Tagged Dogs, Endurance, Fun, outdoors, outer banks, People, Smiles - human AND dog smiles!, triathlon | Leave a comment

Zugunruhe

Posted on September 6, 2015 by Jay McLaughlin

6 September, 2015 Zugunruhe What a word. According to my American Heritage Dictionary: zugunruhe or Zugunruhe n. The migratory drive in animals, especially birds. Tucked in there between Zugspitze (the highest peak in Germany) and zugzwang (A situation in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Flowers, Fun, James River, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers | Tagged Barn Swallows, bluebird, Flowers, Fun, james river, nature, outdoors, People, Pony Pasture, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, smile, Smiles - human AND dog smiles!, whitetail deer | Leave a comment

A Starbucks™ koan

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Jay McLaughlin

30 August, 2015 A Starbucks™ koan Barista at Starbucks Huguenot and River Road: “Can I get a drink started for you?” My companion – he often speaks in koans: “Cold hot chocolate!” The … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Dogs, Endurance, Flowers, Fun, Insects, James River, koans, ospreys, People, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), Starbucks, Trains | Tagged Damselflies, Flowers, Fun, GE AC4400CW locomotive, james river, koans, leopard frog, nature, osage oranges, Ospreys, outdoors, People, Pony Pasture, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, smile, Starbucks, transportation | 2 Comments

Unavailable at Amazon

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Jay McLaughlin

23 August, 2015 Unavailable at Amazon Today is my 54th birthday. Because I have priceless friends and relatives, all the gifts I get are priceless. Ev took me out for … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Endurance, Fun, ospreys, Rivers | Tagged bling, butternut squash, david foster wallace, eod warriors, explosive ordinance disposal, howling fantods, quantico, scones, tough guys, triathlon, usmc | 6 Comments

Summertime, and the livin’ is easy

Posted on August 16, 2015 by Jay McLaughlin

16 August, 2015 Summertime, and the livin’ is easy Earlier this week I went to a produce stand on Libbie Avenue here in Richmond. My first time ever, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Dogs, Endurance, Flowers, Fun, Insects, James River, ospreys, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), sunsets | Tagged clouds, Dogs, Endurance, Flowers, Fun, james river, nature, Ospreys, outdoors, Pony Pasture, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Roses, smile | Leave a comment

The more I learn, the less I knew!

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Jay McLaughlin

9 September, 2015 The more I learn, the less I knew! If you’d asked me a year ago how much I knew about Red-tailed hawks and ospreys, I would have been confident … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Flowers, Fun, Insects, James River, People, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers | Tagged Flowers, Fun, james river, nature, outdoors, Pony Pasture, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, smile | 1 Comment

Serendipity – once in a blue moon

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Jay McLaughlin

2 August, 2015 Serendipity – once in a blue moon If you were unaware – even if you were aware – the full moon on Friday evening (31 July) was the second full moon in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, James River, moon, ospreys, People, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | Tagged Flowers, flying, Fun, james river, nature, Ospreys, outdoors, People, pictures of the moon, Pileated Woodpecker, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Roses, smile, Smiles - human AND dog smiles!, whitetail deer | 1 Comment

Brothers and sisters

Posted on July 26, 2015 by Jay McLaughlin

26 July, 2015 Brothers and sisters I’m not used to having guests! But thanks to Evie, I’m starting to like it! Last week, Evelyn’s sister Jackie was here – it was Ev’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, fungus, James River, People, Pony Pasture, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Spiders | Tagged Flowers, Fun, fungus, james river, nature, outdoors, People, Pony Pasture, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Roses, smile, Smiles - human AND dog smiles! | 4 Comments