Category Archives: Alexis

RWPE #17 – Feet

Here are the submissions for last week’s theme, feet. Included is a new first time contributor – Alexis. That is good, because there seemed to be fewer contributors this week. Perhaps the subject matter scared some people away. I know not everybody likes feet. After all, most feet are kind of gross, but some feet are funny. Hopefully most people find these feet to be to their liking. (At least the pictures of the feet.)


WEEK 17 - FEET - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland

WEEK 17 - FEET - MIKE VEST
Michael Vest

WEEK 17 - FOOT - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

IMAGE LOST
Becky Perkovich


The random theme generator has spit out the following theme for this week:

Wild

As always, I will be interested to see what people do with this theme.

A couple of late submissions:


IMAGE LOST
Dawn Krause

IMAGE LOST
Justin Whitaker

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 10

I indicated in the first Personal Photo Project entry that the weekly Personal Photo Project wouldn’t always be designing and taking a new picture. This is one of those occasions.

This time the project was cutting and mounting and hanging Psyched Up (Not Out) on the wall.


Psyched Up (Not Out)
Psyched Up (Not Out)

To get a print this large made isn’t chump change, so I enlisted the aid of Teresa because she has a much steadier hand than I do. I didn’t want to be on the hook for buying a replacement print if I butchered the cutting job.


Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 10

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 10

Teresa cut the picture down to the dimensions of the window. Then I mounted it to a piece of foamboard, that Teresa had also cut. I placed the picture in the window and strung wire across the back of it.


Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 10

It was a big enough spectacle that Carla, Johnathan and Alexis came over to witness the picture being placed proudly upon my wall.


Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 10

Or it is possible that they stopped by because their laptop was broken, but I’d like to think that it was because of the picture hanging ceremony.


Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 10

I now have a wall of Jill Gorshe body parts! I think that this is where that picture series will end. I’m not sure if Jill would be game for adding to the collection, but I guess if I figure out what needs to go with her foot and hand, I’ll test my powers of persuasion one more time.

Number 750

This is entry number 750 in this online journal. I’d like to take a little bit of time to archive some data. It is one of my peculiar imbecilities that I love meaningless statistics. Therefore, consider these statistics:

Every journal entry falls into at least one of sixteen categories. This is how many journal entries have fit into each one of these categories:

  1. Photography – 295
  2. Friends – 269
  3. Life – 238
  4. Family – 98
  5. Religion – 63
  6. ISU Football – 41
  7. Jaycees – 40
  8. Movies – 39
  9. Blogging 33
  10. Sports – 25
  11. Work – 25
  12. House – 24
  13. Writing – 23
  14. Comedy – 20
  15. Politics – 17
  16. History – 12

If you measure popularity by how many times a picture is viewed, these are the 10 (or so) most popular pictures in my Artistic Gallery.



#1. Outburst of the Soul (26 Views)


#2. Untitled (23 Views)

Grizzly McAlpine
#3. Grizzly McAlpine (22 Views)

Obama at Mike O'Brien's House
#3. Untitled (22 Views)

Obama at Mike O'Brien's House
#5. Untitled (21 Views)


#5. Jen Smoking (21 Views)


#7. UnHingd Publicity Still (20 Views)

2007 - Living History Farms
#8. 1900 (19 Views)

ACTORS
#8. Untitled – (19 Views)

Boone County Fair Photo Contest - 2008
#10. Campanile Self Portrait – (18 Views)

06-11-08
#10. US30 East of Ogden – (18 Views)

I know these numbers are somewhat controlled by the length of time a picture has been in the Artistic Gallery, but I am pleased by the number of black and white images that are high in popularity.

But it begs the question, what is the most popular subject in the Snapshot Gallery. What do people like to see from the “Daily Grind of My Existence”?


The Big Jesus Road Trip
#1. Jesse and I with the World’s Largest Cheeto – (25 Views)

The Big Jesus Road Trip
#2. Jesse with a Bob’s Dog – LeMars, Iowa (23 Views)

The Big Jesus Road Trip
#3. Jesse and I in backstage of the Surf Ball Room – (21 Views)

Shannon at Backbone State Park
#4. Shannon reading a map on our first road trip to Backbone. (19 Views)

Iowa State vs. Texas A&M
#4. Sumrall catching a pass against A&M. I think this picture is so popular because it was a popular picture to get spammed when I was having spamming problems with the galleries.

The Big Jesus Road Trip
#6. Jesse at the Surf Ball Room – (18 Views)

The Big Jesus Road Trip
#6. Jesse kissing the Blarney Stone – (18 Views)

Eastern Iowa Road Trip - 2006
#8. Jesse and I in Clinton on The Eastern Iowa Road Trip – (17 Views)

Bonne Finken
#8. Jen and Shannon making some kind of deal at Bonne Finken – (17 Views)

Bonne Finken
#8. Cousin Amy, Sara and Jen at Bonne Finken – (17 Views)

Eastern Iowa Road Trip - 2006
#8. Jesse and Jay on The Eastern Iowa Road Trip – (17 Views)

Eastern Iowa Road Trip - 2006
#8. Robert enjoying the view of the Mississippi River in Balltown – (17 Friends)

The Big Jesus Road Trip
#8. Jesse videotaping Big Jesus – (17 Views)

The Big Jesus Road Trip
#8. Jesse and I at the Sgt. Floyd Memorial – (17 Views)

I think what I have learned from this exercise is that people like to see Jesse and I having adventures. I think I’ll have to look into us having a few more adventures in 2010!

I will have to check back in on this when I hit journal entry number 1,000.

Be Aggressive!

On Sunday I descended into the depths of Missouri and Kansas on Sunday to watch Alexis compete in competitive cheerleading.

I had spoken with our Associate Pastor Andrea about good barbecue joints in Kansas City and she recommended Jack Stack for ribs and Oklahoma Joe’s for sandwiches. I looked into both places and found that there was a Jack Stack in the same suburb as the competition so we checked it out.

In a word… divine!

Everything was great. The fried mushrooms, the warm carrot cake, the ribs, the burnt ends, the beans… everything. I was particularly impressed with a cheesy corn side dish. Teresa is researching the recipe and we (meaning not me) are going to try to replicate it for our Thanksgiving meal.

I should point out that the carrot cake was one of the top 3 desserts I have ever had from a restaurant. Right up there with the tiramisu from Cosi Cucina or the warm chocolate cake from the cruise.

Photographing moving targets in low light does not make for the best pictures, but please enjoy a few pictures from the day:


Be Aggressive!
Statue in front of Jack Stack

Be Aggressive!
Alexis

Be Aggressive!
Elainie

Be Aggressive!
Mom

Be Aggressive!
Looking over the program.

Be Aggressive!
Jason

Be Aggressive!
Carla

Be Aggressive!
Iowa All-Stars

Be Aggressive!
Now we get to the point of the pictures where it is more or less: “Where’s Alexis?”

Be Aggressive!

Be Aggressive!

Be Aggressive!

Be Aggressive!

Be Aggressive!

Be Aggressive!

Be Aggressive!

Be Aggressive!

Write down your answers to “Where’s Alexis?” and mail them to bennett@photography139.com. A winner will be randomly selected from all correct entries.

Be Aggressive!
Teresa

Be Aggressive!
Mom

Be Aggressive!
Can you imagine what this many cheerleaders (and their moms) in one room sounds like?

Be Aggressive!
Carla

Be Aggressive!
Elainie

Be Aggressive!
Elainie photographing.

Be Aggressive!
We are the champions, my friends…

Be Aggressive!
The Bennett women. I know Teresa will complain about this picture, but it was the only one of the 3 pictures I took where Mom doesn’t look drugged out.

Be Aggressive!
The medal.

Be Aggressive!
I’m going to call this Alexis’ gangsta look.

Be Aggressive!
No comment.


It was a good trip, but I was glad to get back out of the state of Missouri. Very glad.

Mother’s Day

On Mother’s Day, I hosted the first family event at the new house. I learned the following things.

1. My mom, despite literally knowing me my entire life, will takes something out of my fridge and eat it without looking at the expiration date.
2. If you ask Elainie to get mayonnaise out of the fridge, she will tell you that you don’t have mayonnaise, you only have Miracle Whip.
3. If I have popped a blister and am bleeding from my foot, I can talk Alexis into taking, not 1, but 2 pictures of my bloody foot.

Here are a couple of pictures from Mother’s Day. I will spare you the blood foot picture, unless you explicitly email me at bennett@photography139.com requesting the picture.


Mother's Day - 2009

Mother's Day - 2009

Mother's Day - 2009

Mother's Day - 2009

Mother's Day - 2009

There are about 30 other Mother’s Day pictures in the Family Photo Album. Just click on the link below:


Mother’s Day

Primary Painting Day

Although Carla and Alexis did a wonderful job of taking pictures, one of the downsides of not having taken any pictures myself is that I didn’t get pictures of everybody that helped.

So thanks to my incredible painting crew on Primary Painting Day:

Jason Stensland
Carla Stensland
Alexis Stensland
Jason Baier
Jeff Daniel
Amy Yin
Jen Gorshe
Derrick Gorshe
Sara Junck
Teresa Kahler
Monica Henning
Nader Parsaei
Jay Janson
Jesse Howard
Shannon Bardole
Becky Perkovich
James Strachota

I’m sure I’m forgetting somebody. They all did a wonderful job and if it wasn’t for the stupid moisture, I’m sure we would have been completely done on that day. With everything except the kitchen cabinets.

My mom also cooked up a wonderful lunch and supper. I think a good time was had by most.

Some pictures from that day in no particular order:


Primary Painting Day
The Master Bedroom

Primary Painting Day
The Office

Primary Painting Day
Roger taking the tile out to make room for a shower.

Primary Painting Day
Shannon painting the entry way.

Primary Painting Day
Jen working in the kitchen. Notice the swanky green color that kitchen cabinets used to be before the horrible antiquing.

Primary Painting Day
Jesse, possibly high on something, working in the kitchen.

Primary Painting Day
Jesse doing some primer work in the kitchen.

Primary Painting Day
Sara and Alexis toiling in the kitchen. I do not know what I am doing.

Primary Painting Day
Alexis and I painting the living room wall. It might be the accent wall, but I’m not sure if it is still considered an accent wall if you paint two walls that color.

Primary Painting Day
Carla painting in the master bedroom. To the left of her is the family heirloom, our Grandpa Bennett’s painting stool.

Primary Painting Day
Painting the living room. Jesse, Alexis, Me and James.

Primary Painting Day
The guest bedroom.

Primary Painting Day
Jason painting the living room.

Jason and Carla came over on Sunday to do some more painting.

Jen came over and did quite a bit more work in the kitchen as well. I just don’t have any pictures of that.

Friday Night Paint Prep Club – Part B

More pictures from paint prep night.


Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
I got those green chairs from my Aunt Linda to with a sweet white table she was throwing away. Those chairs are surprisingly popular. That is also Shannon showing off her taping skills.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Carla painting the bathroom.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Life Lesson: When working on a ceiling fan, don’t ask for the fan to be turned on when your heads are still in the blades.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Eric dumping out a bucket.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Eric taping it up.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Willy, Jay, Me, Becky, Shannon and Alexis.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Alexis and Teresa washing walls.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Becky and Teresa in the basement.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Teresa and Becky priming the cupboard doors.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Becky on curtain duty.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
A stack of cupboard doors.

Another health amount of work had been accomplished. The house was ready for painting day.

Day 2 – Things Start to Look Different

Day 2 at the house involved a ton of work on the cabinets. Carla put a coat of paint on the bathroom walls. The carpet removal team started their work.


Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
I don’t remember the actual name of this color, so we will call it green.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
I respect Carla and her painting ability, but I will always think that she is a coward because she didn’t use the family heirloom (she used that fancy yellow stool) to do her painting, but I will get into the family heirloom in more detail at a later date.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Jesse and Roger ripping out the hideous green carpet that was in the office. The wood floor underneath this carpet was a little rough, but nothing too bad.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Jesse working on carpet removal.

Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Jason, Jesse and Roger starting the carpet removal in the living room/dining room.

I spent a good chunk of this Thursday night in the basement sanding kitchen cabinet doors so that they could be primed and then painted. Maybe some of you don’t know about sanding, but when you get into the “zone” you can’t stop. You can’t be disturbed.

On about cabinet door #25, I hit the sweet sanding zone. It was at this time that Alexis came down to the basement and told me that I was needed upstairs.

I politely explained that I was in the zone and I was to be left alone.

She went back upstairs. I returned to the sweet bliss of the zone.

3 or 4 minutes went by and she returned.

“They really need you upstairs. Robowood says he needs you.”

“I don’t know anything about Robowood. Tell them I am in the zone.”

Alexis left and I returned to the sweet bliss of the sanding zone.

5 minutes later Alexis returned.

“They say they really need you upstairs.”

“Did you explain the zone to them?”

“I told them, they say it is an emergency!”

“Of course, they don’t know anything about the zone, tell them I will be up in a moment.”

I finished the rest of the doors and went upstairs to find the first real major hiccup of the new homestead.

Those who know me at all or at least pretend to know me know this one thing, I am a big fan of wood floors. One of the big selling points of this house for me was the wood floors that had been tragically hidden by ugly carpet.

My carpet removal team (consisting of Jason, Robowood and Uncle Roger) had ripped into their job with a great amount of zeal. Perhaps too much zeal.

They had ripped up and cut the carpet in the dining room without looking at the wood underneath. This turned out to be a problem because the wood floor underneath the dining/living room turns out to not be finished.

Turns out I have a summer project I wasn’t counting on.

The carpet removal team turned into the carpet taping back together team.


Day 2 - Things Start to Look Different
Putting the carpet back together under the watchful eye of Mom.

It was a pretty good day’s work.

More Day 1 Fun

I have not touched any of my cameras since I left the resort in Arizona. Luckily for me Carla and Alexis did a fair amount of documentary photography on the work that was done on the house.

Day 1 consisted mostly of swapping out light fixtures and starting the nightmare that was to become the kitchen project. A project that is almost done.

I hated the kitchen cabinets that were in the kitchen. They had this ugly antiqued finish on them and I wanted a clean white finish. So the plan was to paint all the kitchen cabinets white. Change the hardware to a “chrome” finish. Replace the existing appliances with stainless steel appliances and paint the walls Cranberry Punch.

It sounded simple enough, but the kitchen turned out to be more work than I was expecting. I would not be exaggerating if I told you that I’m guessing that over 300 man hours have been spent on that kitchen.

It all started on Day 1 when we took the kitchen cabinet doors off and began knocking the trim pieces off of them.


More Day 1 Fun
Jason working on the new light for the office. This light blast out illumination at the equivalent of 200 watts of incandescent power. Only it isn’t incandescent. It is two ballasted fluorescent bulbs. It is so bright in the office you practically need shades to work in there and I dig it!

More Day 1 Fun
Jason and Alexis working on the master bedroom ceiling fan. The master bedroom ceiling fan is a Hunter. It doesn’t include a remote.

More Day 1 Fun
Jason and Alexis working on the master bedroom ceiling fan.

More Day 1 Fun
The bathroom before the upgrades.

More Day 1 Fun
The bathtub, before the shower.

More Day 1 Fun
Becky cleaning up a mess underneath the entry way register.

More Day 1 Fun
Carla tinkering around in the kitchen. The drawers that she is playing with were eliminated to make room for a dishwasher.

More Day 1 Fun
The only definition of Hell that ever made sense to me has been “separation from God”. A close second might be removing the stupid nails in these kitchen cabinet doors. Although Teresa seems to be enjoying it.

More Day 1 Fun
Jason knocking the trim of the cabinet doors.

More Day 1 Fun
A look at the kitchen before the work began.


A fair amount was accomplished on Day 1.