If things have worked out correctly, I’m currently in Chicago working for the Man, helping the Computer Mine sell its myriad of mining products at a convention aimed at our exact clientele. Which mean, I’m nowhere near a computer… Okay I’m probably surrounded by computers, but I still can’t stop and put together a blog that reveals the many stunning and no doubt heartwarming FRIENDS pictures that are waiting for me in my email inbox or on my Pixel 5. In fact, I won’t be able put together something like that until I close down this convention, board an airplane, fly back to the Cyclone State, get off the airplane, get back to my car that hopefully isn’t parked in the Gray Lot… again, maneuvered through the constant construction on Fleur, taken a left and made my customary trip through the Ted’s Coney Island drive-thru, maybe stopped at Jester Park to eat such a delicious meal, waved at the buffalo and elk, drove the rest of the way back to Boone, parked my car, greeted Naima, texted all the people that care if I made it home from Chicago alive that I made it home safely (both of them), taken her for a car ride and weather permitting, a walk around Dickcissel Park, drove back home, unpacked my suitcase, maybe started a load of laundry, sat on the couch, watched an episode of whatever show I’m currently binging, and taken a nap. Maybe.
After that, I will get off the couch, roll into my home office, fire up PHOTOTRON, start downloading the submissions, renaming the submissions, upload them to the internet, categorize and label them in the gallery, open up the STREAKS document that is saved on my Google Drive, login to photography139.com backend, go to Posts, add a new post, and start coding this entry, copy and paste the things that are in the post every week (the reference to GONE WITH THE WIND, the quote from PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, the reference to Hank Williams Sr.), verify if any new states were added to the map, see if anybody reached any new milestones, mourn the end of any streaks, check all the proper categories, make sure the post is Featured, and then click on Publish.
At that point, WordPress will fire up the plugin MailPoet, MailPoet will access the subscriber list and then fire off emails to the inbox (and quite honestly the SPAM and promotional and junk folders) of all the current subscribers. At which point all the subscribers should see an email to open up and enjoy all the wonderful and heartwarming FRIENDS pictures that were no doubt submitted.
But when will all this happen? Either sometime Tomorrow night or the day after.
However, just because I’m in Chicago working like a dog, that doesn’t mean you have to wait to see the FRIENDS pictures to start on this week’s submissions. No, in fact you can start on it the moment after you finish reading this post.
The theme for this week is:
ROAD TRIP
ROAD TRIP! What a great theme for Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE! This is one of my favorite themes for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. It isn’t just because I am one of the few universally recognized Masters of the Road Trip. Okay, maybe it is.
But what in the Sam Hill is a ROAD TRIP photo? Simply put, it is a picture that is taken on a ROAD TRIP or in preparation for a ROAD TRIP. It doesn’t have to be a picture of a road or a car or a map or snacks. I LOVE a good ROAD TRIP snack. For example, if you are taking a ROAD TRIP to Pella to do a little flowertography this weekend, then a picture of anything you encounter on that ROAD TRIP is fair game. It doesn’t have to be a grand ROAD TRIP. You don’t have to leave the state on this trip. And judging by where many of my submissions come from, many of you haven’t left the state since Theresa Becker was the Iowa State women’s basketball coach*. I can cast stones, I’m in Illinois right now. I’m a world traveler baby! I go places. I’m a baller. I ask questions. You want me on your corporate team!
Sorry got sidetracked. Your ROAD TRIP could be a jaunt around the block or down to the grocery store. I don’t judge. Or it could just be a picture of preparations for a ROAD TRIP to PELLA to do some flowertography.
While considering possible subjects for your ROAD TRIP submission, meditate on the following quote and I have no doubt that you will come up with an amazing idea:
All he needed was a wheel in his hand and four on the road.
-Jack Kerouac
I look forward to seeing your interpretation.
RULES
The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge. There is a limit of 3 submissions per participant. To be considered the photographer, you have to be the one that takes the picture. Don’t be stealing the work of other artists. You can submit pictures for other photographers that took pictures with your camera or phone, but give credit where credit is due.
You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.
That is it. Thems the rules!
That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing your idea of ROAD TRIP in this place that is more of a journey than a destination next Monday.