Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Need a Haircut?

Like breasts?

Who doesn't?

Hate cancer?

Who doesn't?

Need a haircut?

Then do I have the event for you!

This Sunday, head to Younkers and get your hair looking good for 25 bucks and all of the money goes to help breast cancer research.





I'm going to be in Kansas City, but I am going to do my part (considering Breast Cancer Awareness Month starts tomorrow)in October. But more to come on that in the future.

Labels: ,

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Army

I posted some pictures from the Army game in the Snapshots Gallery.

Once again, it was a night game, so the pictures are limited, but a few are posted below.



A few thousand kids formed the player's entrance tunnel.



4 Black Hawk helicopters performed a fly-over before the game. Not to be confused with the Apaches that did a fly-over before the Kansas State game.



Returning to where they came from.



The Army mascot.



#82 was 6'10" and played wide receiver. Lucky for us, he has bad hands.



The Cyclone Defense



Robinson with the carry.



The Army team standing at attention while their pep band played a song that was too quiet for me to make out.



Robinson limps off the field with a groin injury.


There are about 40 more images in the ISU vs. Army album. To view them, just click on the link below:


Seeing of our military academies playing in Jack Trice was an amazing experience. In the next 10 years the Navy and Air Force both come to Ames. I hope that the pageantry of those games equals this game.

Labels: ,

Sunday, September 20, 2009

The Iowa Hawkeyes

I don't know if there is much reason to dwell on the Iowa-Iowa State game. I think the only positives to come out of the game is that if you are going to lose, play your absolutely worst game that you can possibly imagine. Plus, Iowa is a quarterback away from being a pretty special team and with the weakness of their schedule, they have a decent shot at a BCS Bowl bid.

I have loaded pictures into an album in the Snapshots Gallery. Here are a few of my favorites from the day.



Robinson before the 1st Game of his 100 yard game streak.



ISUCFVMB Pregame Entrance



Gravity!



The coin toss. Is there a better name for a linebacker ever than "Angerer".



The "space" guy kills me.



Kind of the story of Iowa State's day. 1 second too late. Although this pass was picked off.



"Money" before he broke his leg.



We weren't shutout!



It would be nice if my shirt like this would show up at some point.



At least he isn't 6'10".



Done for the day.



Tiller gets some PT.


There are about 70 more pictures in the ISU vs. Iowa album. Just click on the link below:


At least better times were ahead.

Labels: ,

Saturday, September 19, 2009

North Dakota State

I've taken the time to post some pictures from the Iowa State-North Dakota State in the Snapshots Gallery.

It was a night game, so regrettably there are only a few images, but these are some of my favorites.



Me with my Aunt Barbara, Cousin Mary Beth and her husband Michael.



This dude has to be the shortest, fattest dude in all of college athletics. You could watch his belly jiggle while he was warming up. Unfortunately, he never got into the game.



Stretching



Plumes



Watching these guys hitting on the cheerleaders was priceless. Sitting right behind them while they were working the magic... their girlfriends with clearly low self-esteem. Perhaps that isn't fair. Maybe they have great self-esteem and these guys are as good as it gets in North Dakota.



Banks in a simpler time.



A moment of "silence" for Ed Thomas.



Robinson on the carry.

Of course, there are about 50 more images in the ISU vs. North Dakota State album in the Snapshots Gallery. Just click on the link below to be whisked away.


ISU vs. NDSU

Labels: ,

Friday, September 18, 2009

A Dog

A few weeks back Becky picked up a new (to her) dog. She brought it over and we communed over a photo shoot.



































She is a Great Dane, if you were wondering.

Labels: , ,

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Vacation Stuff - Two

Here are a few pictures from another mini-adventure. I will not answer questions about this trip, (it was a spiritual quest and that is all you need to know) but I will let leak the following tidbits:
  • Faust really hates nature. Perhaps even more than Bill fears nature.
  • I was proud of Jay. He confronted his fear of waterfalls by not immediately running out of the park when he came face to face with the trickle of water that fell down a face of some rocks.
  • Jackson will make a great Ranger some day. He already lives by the creed: "No man left behind."





































































































I look forward to another trip to Minnesota at some point in the future.

Labels: , ,

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Vacation Stuff - One

I was on vacation last week. I had a few mini-adventures. Here are some pictures from one of those mini-adventures.
















































































If you have specific questions about certain pictures, I am willing to answer direct questions. But the answer will be in 5 words or less.

Labels: , ,

Think I'll Go Eat Worms

Here is a look at the pictures that the committee had to choose from, but received no love.



"Nobody likes me, everybody hates me,



Guess I'll go eat worms,



Long, thin, slimy ones; Short, fat, juicy ones,



Itsy, bitsy, fuzzy wuzzy worms.



Down goes the first one, down goes the second one,



Oh how they wiggle and squirm.



Up comes the first one, up comes the second one,



Oh how they wiggle and squirm.



Nobody loves me, everybody hates me,



Think I'll go and eat worms,



Long ones, short ones, fat ones, thin ones,
See how they wriggle and squirm



I bite off the heads, and suck out the juice,
And throw the skins away,
Nobody knows how fat I grow,
On worms three times a day
Ohh... nobody loves me."


Great song, isn't it? I'm kind of partial to this version:

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me,
I'm goin' down to the garden to eat worms,
Long thin slimy ones, short fat fuzzy ones,
Ooey gooey, ooey gooey worms.

Long thin slimy ones slip down easily,
Short fat fuzzy ones don't,
Short fat fuzzy ones stick to your teeth,
And the juice goes slurpin' down your throat

Labels: ,

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Becky Perkovich

Becky made the final selection.



Misplaced Plant


Becky also had other pictures that she liked. They are below with the reason she liked them.



"Fire Pit - Everyone can relate to this photo."



"Fireworks Fallout - This photo is original"



"Color Daisies - This photo feels hopeful."



"Story St Fire - There may be lots of these photos there (like trains) but it's relatable."



The weirdest thing is that I don't even think that there was a single train photo there this year.

"Interesting."

"Yes. Provocative."

Labels: ,

Charlotte Bennett (Mom)

My mom doesn't own a computer or even know how to use one, so I had to bring her over to the Honest Abe office to have her look over the pictures for her to pick one.



"Pardon and Sanctify Me"


I actually thought that she would pick this one. It is a picture of the cross on the top of our church. It actually looks much nicer than that now as it has been recently painted during the tuckpointing process. It is prettier now, but perhaps not as photogenic.

There were a couple of other images that she also considered.








The truth is that she doesn't like the picture of Logan's eye at all, but she thought it was artistic. I don't think any of my weirder images got much love, but at least this one got mentioned.

Labels: ,

Jill Gorshe

I was pleasantly surprised by Jill's choice. Since I had decided to have all people of the female persuasion pick the photos this year, I thought a frog picture would get very little love.

But Jill came through for the frog.



"It'll Do Fine"


I actually struggled with the naming of this picture. Even now, I think that I'm going to rename it to "So Many Other Ordinary Things". I'll have to meditate upon it further.

There was a point when I wanted to name this picture after the prince from The Frog King or Iron Heinrich, but as I looked into the story a little bit deeper, I found that the Frog King doesn't have a name. But perhaps even more importantly is that I don't think that the princess really deserves the Frog-King. At least not as the story was originally written.

In the original story, the princess doesn't break the spell with a kiss. She throws the frog against the wall in disgust.

"Now, thou wilt be quiet, odious frog." The princess says and throws the frog against the wall. This turns the frog back into a prince. For some reason he still wanted her?!?!?!?

He should have stood up and told her to bugger off. There are other fish in the sea. Some of those fish probably aren't spoiled little brats that try to go back on their deal. He did get her stupid golden ball for her out of the well. He should have known how small and petty she was then. It is just a stupid golden ball. No need to offer up your clothes, pearls or jewels, princess.

But I digress...

Jill of course had other pictures she liked, before deciding on the frog.














If Jill can pick a frog, I have hopes that one of the guys will pick a flower picture in 2010.

Labels: ,

Shannon Bardole

Shannon set the land speed record, by making her choice in 80 minutes. She made that speed while being at work.

She chose the picture below:



"Friend for the Lonesome"


This picture may or may not be the background on Shannon's computer.

Labels: ,

Monica Henning

Monica had the next choice. She struggled between 2 pictures as well. She finally picked the picture below, even though it wasn't her favorite.



"The Solace of Ordinary Humanity"


A picture that I have titled: "Monica's Childhood" was actually her favorite.



"Monica's Childhood"


Monica wrote perhaps my favorite ever description of that picture in her email where she chose "The Solace of Ordinary Humanity":

#13 is great. It reminds me of growing up on the farm. I would lay in the grass as a little girl and just stare up at the clouds for hours. I would think about all sorts of things. Just lay there in the grass and dream! I remember the cool breeze blowing across my face and the warm sun beating down on me. The clouds make this picture. It gives it perspective for me.

I also like how the one flower on the left is just kind of sticking its head in the pack to see what's going on. Much like life. It gives it a bit of humor too.

Labels: ,

Monday, September 14, 2009

Sara Junck

This past weekend was the Pufferbilly Days photo contest. I had 6 different people pick the 6 different entries this year. The first person to pick was Sara Junck. She picked the picture below:



"Cozy Combination"


Sara actually took slightly over the 24 hour deadline. She waffled back and forth between her final pick and the picture below:





None of the other five members of the selection committee chose the fire picture. I think Sara was saddened by this fact.

Labels: ,

The Taiwan Times - August 2009

The Taiwan Times
by Mark Wolfram
Reporting on God's mission in Taiwan

Quick Update

Hello everyone from Taiwan. Just wanted to write and let you know that I made it back over here safely, after a wonderful time in the United States. I spent 7 weeks in America this summer, which is the longest I had stayed since coming overseas as a missionary. I really enjoyed the chance to meet many of you and come speak at several churches.

One prayer for the summer, was for the necessary funds to be raised for the coming year. Praise God that He always provides. I am elated to say that I am fully funded for the coming year. I thank so many of you who provided financial support for the mission work that is happening here in Taiwan.

As I write this, Concordia Middle School has just begun a new semester. After a month of optional summer classes, the students are now beginning their mandatory school. I am excited for another opportunity to teach Bible and English classes here at CMS. My schedule this year will include 7th,8th, 10th, and 11th graders. The 11th grade will be a new class for me, although I am blessed to be able continue teaching an amazing group of the students I had last year as 10th graders.

In addition this month will start up our Thursday evening On-Campus Student Fellowship, and Friday Night Bible English Bible Study. The Salvation Youth Group has continued through-out the summer, and I have been able to attend the last two Saturdays.

That’s right boys and girls, it’s the start of a new year, and it brings excitement, energy, and many chances to share the love of Christ through words and actions.

It's Prayer Time!

1. Pray for me as I start a new school year. Pray that I may get all of my classes organized and off to a good start. Pray that I may love my students and share Jesus with them in all things.

2. Pray for Friday Night Bible Study, On-campus Student Fellowship, and Salvation Youth Group. Pray for God’s blessings as these start and that many kids may come eager to hear about the love of Jesus.

3. Pray for all of the missionaries here on Team Taiwan. May God bless all of us as we work together and share the Gospel.

4. Pray for my barber (whose name is Sue Hway…some had asked). Pray that she may come to faith in Christ.

5. Pray that God would help me continue to improve my Chinese.

May God bless you all,

Mark

Labels: ,

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Ottumwa

Submitted for your approval, without explanation...
































I'm going to miss that place.

Labels: , ,