Brandon got his driver’s license this week.

I believe that when you reach a certain age, you are required by social norms to make a few certain cliche jokes when certain events occur.

One such event is when somebody gets their first driver’s license.

An aged person should give out the warning that goes something like this:

“Stay off the streets. Brandon has his driver’s license.”

Then another elder statesman ups the ante with the predictable rejoinder:

“Stay off the sidewalks, too!”

I am allergic to cliches and cheap humor, so I refrained from making any of these jokes. Besides if family history is any indicator, it is only trees that have something to worry about.

This is not meant to be in any way shape or form meant to be bragging. It is merely meant to be informative, since not everybody makes it to the Boone County Fair.

I wanted to enter a couple of pictures in the Boone County Fair “photography contest”. As it turned out, I didn’t have time to order 2 new pictures, so I selected 2 8x10s out of a stack of about 25 8x10s I have stored in a manila envelope for just such an occasion.

Even though I didn’t order any new pictures, but only entered a couple of pictures that are a couple of years old, I still couldn’t seem to find time to mount and mat the pictures. Luckily, Vest from work was willing to do that for me.

Here are the pictures I entered:

The orange flower picture got a Blue Ribbon.

The black and white bus picture got a Purple Ribbon for Outstanding Home Department Project or something like that.

I have a fairly firm rule about never entering a photo in more than one contest, but I was distressed to find out when I got home late Sunday night when I was putting the pictures in their bag and putting them in the trunk, that I had entered the orange flower picture in the 2007 Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest.

That frustrates me and lead to a re-organization of the trunk. Even though that kept me up until 2 in the morning.

I’ve posted some pictures from Kountertop’s performance on Ames on the Half Shell on Friday.

The weather was a bit chilly but it was a solid evening.

For more pictures from Friday night, click on the link below:

Friday was Alexis’ birthday.

Happy Birthday Alexis!

A little before the 4th of July, I purchased a box of sparklers. I had some thought of what I wanted to do with them, but seeing how I’m never at home and few people visit me at night, I had not much of an opportunity to do what I wanted to do with them.

Then a few nights back Sara came over and I got to light up the sparklers and do a little playing. Although I have to confess, lighting these cheap sparklers took quite a bit more effort than I would have expected.

Here are the results of what happened after these buggers finally lit.

Although I love my backyard, I really hate the street light that constantly bathes it in light. It really makes night photography a drag.

On Saturday, after going to the gym, helping Becky move, having lunch at Papa Chubby’s, touring Andree’s new digs but before going to Jeff’s birthday barbecue, I went down to check out Midnight Madness.

On my way from the car to the event, I took these pictures:

Once I got to where the competitors were congregating, I snapped a couple more pictures.

I believe that Logan was trying to throw down the badass vibe in this picture. It is a family trait of men with Bennett genetic material.

There is no doub about this one. Brandon is definitely throwing down the badass vibe in this picture.

Geri D. showing off her time clock. I made a deal with Geri that if she walked Midnight Madness next year, I would walk it with her. I don’t know if this is a “real” deal or if this is the type of deal I made with Becky last year where she was supposed to hold me accountable for volunteering for Special Olympics. I did not volunteer for Special Olympics.

I’m not going to describe this picture. In fact, there is only one regular reader of this blog that will even understand this picture. I hope they enjoy it.

Once the race got started, Becky joined me and I took a few more pictures of the competitors.

The beginning of the 5K.

Willy

Willy nearing the finish line.

Logan

Blake (The World’s Best UPS Guy)

Scott

It was an interesting event.

So the garlic might not have been the last mystery of my backyard. I still didn’t know what color my lilies would be when they bloomed. I got that answer late last week.

Although I’m not in love with the color, it is satisfactory enough. At least they aren’t something as cliche as tiger lilies.

Today is the birthday of some very special people!

Happy Birthday to all of them!

Derrick Gorshe

For more pictures of Derrick: Click on Me

Jill Gorshe

And of course…

My Nephew Logan

For more pictures of Logan: Click on Me

“Home is where you hang your head.”
-Groucho Marx

On Saturday, Baier and I finally got to see Andree’s new digs.

It is a pretty sweet house. It includes a double decker deck. I already want to have parties there.

Friday Night Bonne Finken played Ames on the Half Shell. Here are a couple of images.

For about 50 more images, click on the link below:

This Friday the band will be Kountertop.