Future Road Trip Master?

Brandon got his driver’s license this week.


Future Road Trip Master

Future Road Trip Master

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.

Boone County Fair

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:


Boone County Fair Photo Contest - 2009

Boone County Fair Photo Contest - 2009

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.

The Most Tolerable Third Party

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.


The Most Tolerable Third Party

The Most Tolerable Third Party

The Most Tolerable Third Party

The Most Tolerable Third Party

The Most Tolerable Third Party

The Most Tolerable Third Party

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

Yet There is Method In It

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:


Midnight Madness - 2009

Midnight Madness - 2009

Midnight Madness - 2009

Midnight Madness - 2009

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


Midnight Madness - 2009
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.

Midnight Madness - 2009
There is no doub about this one. Brandon is definitely throwing down the badass vibe in this picture.

Midnight Madness - 2009
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.

Midnight Madness - 2009
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.


Midnight Madness - 2009
The beginning of the 5K.

Midnight Madness - 2009
Willy

Midnight Madness - 2009
Willy nearing the finish line.

Midnight Madness - 2009
Logan

Midnight Madness - 2009
Blake (The World’s Best UPS Guy)

Midnight Madness - 2009
Scott

It was an interesting event.

DFDA54

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.


DFDA54

DFDA54

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