All posts by Christopher D. Bennett

Becky, Carla, Dawn, Julie, Vest, WPC - Submissions

RWPE #30 – Reflections

There were numerous submissions for last week’s theme REFLECTIONS. I know that more than a few of these weren’t actually taken last week, but I will let it slide this time…

So without further adieu, REFLECTIONS:


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Julie Johnson of The Joy is in the Journey
I consider Friday to be a good day to check this website for Photo Fridays!

WEEK 30 - REFLECTIONS - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest of Waxen Media
Mondays are a great day to check this website as Mike posts pictures from his “peeps” for this project then.

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Scott Krause

WEEK 30 - REFLECTIONS - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

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Dawn Krause of Impassioned Versifier

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Becky Perkovich

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Carla Stensland A

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Carla Stensland B

The Random Generator has been generating and generating and generating and it spit out this week’s theme:

PATHS

This might be another one of my favorite themes on the list. After all, everybody walks their own path, so I’m assuming there should be some great submissions again next week.

Becky, Dawn, Derrick, House, Jason, Jen, Jesse, Scottie D., Willy

Megiddo

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“DOWN GOES NATURE! DOWN GOES NATURE! DOWN GOES NATURE!”
-The voice of Howard Cosell inside my head

At exactly 10 PM on July 29. 2010, I popped the top on two bottles of Virgil’s Micro-brewed Root Beer and Dawn and I celebrated the end of Hedgegeddon. We had just dumped the final body of my fallen enemies into the burn pile at Scottie D.’s Mom’s place. It was over. Mankind was victorious!

It wasn’t easy though. Nature put up a good fight. I have complete and utter respect for nature, but on this front, I was the victor.

It took quite the effort though:

  • 3 spades were broken
  • 1 shovel met its demise
  • 2 pairs of gloves were destroyed
  • I was forced to bring a hat out of retirement
  • 3 different trucks were used
  • 2 sets of chains
  • 7 different people helped in the process
  • 2 different neighbors stopped by to say that it looked like “hard work”

Thanks to the following people for helping me win my ultimate battle with nature:

  • Scottie D.
  • Jason
  • Derrick
  • Dawn
  • Willy
  • Becky
  • Jesse

We took a few pictures of the ceremonial removing of the final hedge. Scottie D. was there at the beginning and there at the end, so he gets a very special thanks. Plus he even cut down a bonus bush after we removed the final hedge.


Megiddo
The Last Hedge

Megiddo
The Path of Destruction

Megiddo
Dead Hedge Waiting to be Removed

Megiddo
The Last Hedge

Megiddo
Scottie D. and I with the Last Hedge

Megiddo
The Same

Megiddo
The Beginning of the End

Megiddo
The Battle is Almost Won

Megiddo
A Matter of Time…

Megiddo
Down Goes Nature! Down Goes Nature!

Megiddo
Mission Accomplished

Megiddo
Present Arms

Megiddo
Scott claimed that he would be able to cut down this bush in under 1 minute. I pulled out the old Gra Lab Enlarger Timer and timed him.

Megiddo
I haven’t seen a wife prouder of her husband since Jen and Derrick when he took down the Gunderburger.

Megiddo
He didn’t quite make his 1 minute goal, but Scott definitely took this bush down in under 3 minutes.

Megiddo
Doing a little cleanup.

Now that the destruction part of my backyard plan has been completed (for now… I’m looking at you currant bushes) I will be diving head first into my fence building plan.

I smell a fence building party on the horizon!

Baier, Basketball, Formal Portrait, Mark, Nader

Group Photos

Last Wednesday I had my annual meal with Mark. He was back in the States for a few weeks and will be returning to Taiwan soon to begin his new post over there.

One of the peculiar imbecilities of this world is that for the last 3 years Mark has won the Roundball Prophets NCAA tournament pool. The first year he won I considered it to be more or less blind luck. How does a guy that doesn’t get to watch hardly any college basketball best some of the sport’s premiere experts. The fact he has managed to do it 3 years in a row, well it is just frustrating and as Mark put it “a little embarrassing”.

What wasn’t embarrassing is that I got to present Mark with his trophy for being the best college basketball prognosticator that I know.


Mark with his 2009 Trophy
Perhaps it is no coincidence that his blog is entitled “Live Like a Champion Today!”

Folloiwng the trophy ceremony, Mark and I had our annual picture.


Mark and I
2010

In case you are curious aobut how much we’ve changed since last year:



2009

We had our meal at Hickory Park this year. We discussed many of the most important issues of the year: The hiring of Fred Hoiberg. Conference realignment. Why Facebook is a necessary evil. Why he should take the word “tavern” back to Taiwan. What is more impressive in person: The Great Wall of China or the Taj Mahal. Mark’s new position in Taiwan. The presentation he has been giving at different churches from around the state.

It was great catching up with Mark and I am already looking forward to next year’s meal.

On Saturday Baier and I “helped” Nader movie to his new swanky pad. We really did next to nothing. Our job was to watch the professional movers move his stuff and make sure they treated it with the tenderest of care.

As we moved his stuff into his new swanky pad I realized two things.

1. Nader now has a sweet fireplace.
2. The best thing to put above a sweet fireplace is a picture of true American heroes.

Therefore I arranged a quick photo session and sometime in the near to not so distant future the picture below will be hanging over Nader’s fireplace:



We’ve all seen a Rambo movie in a movie theater!

Makes me kind of wish I had a fireplace now.

Bethany, Black & White, Derrick, Formal Portrait, Jen, Jill, Personal Photo Project, Photoshop, Sara

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 27

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2 of 6
2/6

This is a 6 (in reality a 7 part project but shhhh….. both of you that know the endgame) part project. In case you have forgotten:

Part 1

More pictures from The 2/6 Photo Session:


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Part 3/6 is scheduled to be published on September 17.

I am headed to Minnesota tonight with Sara to eat at Gasthof Zur Gemutlickeit, see Troll 2, witness Flugtag and of course see The Swell Season in concert. I’m also hoping to catch up with some Minnesota friends (Jill, The Britsons, Matthew) and formally congratulate Bethany and John on their engagement.

I’m returning to the Cyclone State on Monday at a time yet to be determined. Since I don’t want anybody to lose a minute of time on next week’s RWPE I will reveal the Random Generator’s choice for next week’s theme now:

REFLECTIONS

Personally I think this is the best of the 52 themes. I hope there are lots of submissions. I’m looking at you people that I have helped buy a camera in the past…