Category Archives: Carla

Becky, Carla, Cathie, Kim, Micky, Shannon, Steph, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 54 – OLD

September 26, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

The week’s theme triggered an interesting and solid week of submissions.

Here are the submissions for OLD:

Shannon Bardole

Becky Perkovich

Stephanie Kim

Kim Barker 1

Kim Barker 2

Kim Barker 3

Christopher D. Bennett

Michael Augustin

Cathie Raley 1

Cathie Raley 2

Cathie Raley 3

Cathie Raley 4

Carla Stensland 1

Carla Stensland 2

Carla Stensland 3

Mike Vest

Dawn Krause 1

Dawn Krause 2

A good, healthy week of submissions!

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:

SIGNS!

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind. Do this. Don’t do that. Can’t you read the sign? There are signs everywhere. Telling us what to do. Telling us what to buy. Telling us what to think. Telling us how to vote. Telling us what to wear. Telling us where to go. Telling us to wash our hands. Some are new. Some are old. Some are filled with buckshot. But signs with words on them are not the only kind of signs out there. Much communication is done through nonverbal signs. Some believe that God give us signs to help us along our life’s journey. As always, feel free to define signs any way you see fit.

Just get out there and find a sign that speaks to you.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

1. The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

2. Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge. It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

We are pleased to announce that Linda Toot is the latest person to display, taste, class, and sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. Linda is my aunt on my Dad’s side of the family. While she was raised in Boone/Jordan her life adventure settled her into Easton, Kansas. This makes the 3rd or 4th subscriber (I need to check my records) residing in the Sunflower State. Making the Photography 139 empires presence strong there. If I were to check the heat map, I believe Kansas now ranks 3rd behind Iowa and Minnesota for Photography 139 subscribers. If you see Linda out and about walking the mean streets of Easton, feel free to give her a knowing glance and show her the Super Secret Photography 139 Handshake.

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise (thinking of you eastern Iowa), we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a Monday filled with signs!

Baby Got Rack, Carla, Contests, Flat Earth Joe, Jesse, Mom, Pufferbilly Days, Scottie D., Teresa

Can You Smell What the People’s Champ is Cookin’?

September 22, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 14 Comments

I’m sure I mixed up that pro wrestling reference. I don’t watch pro wrestling. I went to college.

That being said, here are some pictures from Baby Got Rack’s day at the Pufferbilly Day Barbecue Contest:

Marcus whipping up a batch of Marfins. Not to be confused with Scuffins. Which is an entirely different thing.

That’s not Tone’s. That is our proprietary rub.

Vote 5! Stay alive! It sounds like a threat but, well maybe it was a threat.

Not all of our trophies are on display. That Coke can might have been self-awarded.

I made 6 gallons of Thick Soul Sweet Tea. Secret ingredient… more sugar.

Marcus’ sidewalk chalk rendition of Sir Pigs-a-Lot.

Pork loins going on Fat Boy. (The bigger smoker isn’t really named Fat Boy.)

Chicken coming off Little Man. (The smaller smoker isn’t really named Little Man.)

Scottie D. and I (mostly Scottie D.) brokered a deal for a silver pig from Paradox. We partnered with them (Baby Got Rack is all about synergy) at first to borrow the pig for the day. But then we sweetened the deal with a gallon of Thick Soul Sweet Tea and a ton of barbecue and that pig came come with me. Part of the partnering process included our bull getting a picture taken with their bull. If you have never checked out Paradox, I would highly recommend it. It is a pretty sweet store with some pretty sweet stuff.

We handed out pork loin sliders. Marcus cut the meat. I cut the buns. Scottie D. worked the crowd.

Scottie D. working the crowd.

The line for Baby Got Rack! Is that famous Flat Earth Theorist Joe Lynch in the crowd. You better believe it!

Bull working the crowd. My Mom pouring people stiff cups of Thick Soul Sweet Tea.

Did we win the kid’s vote? You bet your bottom donut! I’m being told that most people don’t use donuts for currency. I’m confused.

Baby Got Rack currently has two kinds of barbecue sauce. S + M and for the more daring sorts Anaconda Picosa. Story about that later.

Look at that line! People’s Champs!

Mmmmmmmm… Do you want to know what is in our injection? Love and goodness and other stuff.

Maybe we’ll do pork loin for my birthday next year. Maybe I won’t do a birthday party next year. One never knows.

Fat Boy cooling off.

This guy stopped by in the morning when we didn’t have any food to give out. We recruited him to come back and HE DID! Feeling the Baby Got Rack love!

Always time for a selfie with Bull!

Look at all these votes!

Note the silver pig.

People’s Choice!

First, thanks to Carla for taking many of these pictures.

Second, 2 quick stories.

Story 1

I told you we had two sauces: S + M and Anaconda Picosa. Anaconda Picosa is our spicier sauce. Scottie D.’s job while working the crowd was to explain the difference between the two sauces to the people. One guy approached the table and Scottie D. said, “Are you trying the Sweet + Mild?”

The guy stared Scottie D. down. There was 5 seconds of silence. Then he said, “Do I look Sweet + Mild?” He paused and then continued, “I’m an anaconda!”

He might’ve flexed after that, I’m not sure because I was laughing so hard.

Story 2

This one is creepier.

One of the other barbecue combatants arrived at Baby Got Rack’s tent early in the morning. To deliver this message:

“I’m going to win the People’s Choice Award this year. My niece… well she’s smokin’ hot. When it is time to give out samples, I’m going to have her come up here and hand out the samples dressed all sexy.”

There was some manly banter that I definitely don’t want to bore any females in the audience with.

A few hours later, he came back. This time, he had his niece with him. Holding a pan of samples for us to try.

“See what I’m saying?” He blurted out.

All I’m going to say is he better get a sexier niece for next year, cause you know who went home with that People’s Choice Award!

Finally, if you want to see all the Baby Got Rack images from 2016 (there might even be a picture of that niece in there) click on the link below:

BABY GOT RACK – 2016

That concludes the competitive barbecue season for 2016, but I’m sure Baby Got Rack will be back with a vengeance in 2017! Winning all the hearts and minds and trophies!

Angie, Becky, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Kim, Mom, Shannon, Steph, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 53 – BODY PART

September 19, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

A new year. Well, a new 52 weeks. I’m excited for what this new year will bring. But you don’t want to listen to me talk all tommyrot about my aspirations for the next 52 weeks. You just want to see the submissions.

Here are the submissions for BODY PART:

Bill Wentworth 1

Bill Wentworth 2

Bill Wentworth 3

Shannon Bardole

Angie DeWaard

Dawn Krause 1

Dawn Krause 2

Dawn Krause 3

Christopher D. Bennett

Mike Vest 1

Mike Vest 2

Becky Perkovich

Stephanie Kim

Kim Baldus 1

Kim Baldus 2

Carla Stensland 1

Carla Stensland 2

Cathie Raley 1

Cathie Raley 2

Cathie Raley 3

A good, healthy week of submissions!

OLD!

I’m running behind, so I don’t have a tremendous amount of time to be witty about OLD. You know OLD when you see it.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

We are pleased to announce Paul Golden is the latest person to display taste, class, and sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. Paul plays a mean baritone and sings with one as well. By virtue of being in Connecticut, he is the farthest east of any Photography 139 email subscriber. The empire has grown! So if you see Paul out walking the mean streets of Connecticut, feel free to give him a knowing glance and if you have the inclination, show him the Super Secret Photography 139 Handshake.

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very olden times Monday!

Baby Got Rack, Carla, Flat Earth Joe, Jay, Jesse, Mom, Pufferbilly Days, Sara, Scottie D., Teresa, Willy

The People’s Rack

September 14, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 5 Comments

Team Baby Got Rack competed in the Pufferbilly Days Barbecue Contest this past Sunday.

I will take away many cherished memories from this Sunday, I’ll share those when I share the majority of the Baby Got Rack images at a later date.

Here is what is important to know.

At this contest we debuted our two signature barbecue sauces:

Sweet + Mild
Anaconda Picosa

We also debuted our new signature drink: Thick Soul Sweet Tea.
We also debuted our new logo: Sir Pigs-a-Lot.
We also debuted a mascot, that at this time we are going to just call Cow or Bull.
We also attempted to debut a new signature style shirt to go with our signature fedoras. We weren’t quite there on that.

But what about the results? Well it wasn’t our best day. But even on a tiger’s worst day, it still gets to be a friggin’ tiger! We came home with the People’s Choice Award for the second straight year. Proving that you can’t spell D-Y-N-A-S-T-Y without Baby Got Rack.

Here is the team picture (with Cow or Bull) from Sunday:

Photo Credit: Melissa D.

Another unofficial category we dominated was The Fun Department. As you will see in a later post where I tell some of the stories of Saturday. Including my favorite guy from the day, who delivered the best line of the day.

In closing, I would just like to thank all the people that came up and supported us (helping ease the pain of Baby Got Rack Superfan Willy McAlpine’s absence), like my sisters and Mom, WB Joseph Lynch and his posse, the Howard Clan, the Thornburgs, and the Petersons to name a few. And of course, those that were there in spirit. Too many to name.

And to Sara for loaning us her chalkboards. To Jay for offering us the use of his can opener too!

Angie, Brooke, Carla, Cathie, Kim, Shannon, Steph, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 52 – WILD CARD

September 12, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

As we close the books on the first year of the rebirth of the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, we have not ONE but TWO first time submitees! Welcome aboard Brooke Milligan and Cathie Raley!!!

You know I could talk tommyrot about first time submitees all day, but you want to get to the submissions. So let’s get to it!

Here are the submissions for WILD CARD:

Brooke Milligan 1

Brooke Milligan 2

Bill Wentworth

Carla Stensland 1

Carla Stensland 2

Shannon Bardole

Stephanie Kim

Christopher D. Bennett

Kim Barker 1

Kim Barker 2

Cathie Raley 1

Cathie Raley 2

Cathie Raley 3

Cathie Raley 4

Cathie Raley 5

Mike Vest 1

Mike Vest 2

Angie DeWaard

A good, healthy week of submissions!

BODY PART!

BODY PART? Yep. BODY PART! This should be easy enough. Just about everybody you know has a body part or two or three or four hundred. Heck! Did you know that more than just humans have body parts? All sorts of animals have body parts! But as always, feel free to define the theme however you see fit!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

We are pleased to announce that Cathie Raley is the latest person to show her taste, class, and sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. The only real thing to tell you about Cathie is that she is a witch. Not a wiccan, but an actual witch. She also helps secure the Photography 139 Footprint in Nevada, Iowa. So if you see Cathie out and about walking the mean streets of Nevada, feel free to give her a knowing glance and if you have time, show her the Super Secret Photography 139 Handshake.

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be an anatomical Monday!

Alexis, Animals, Baier, Bethany, Brandon, Carla, Elainie, Flowers, Holidays, Iowa State, Jason, Jay, Johnathan, Logan, Mom, Nature, Road Trip, Tenderloining, Teresa, Willy

05-19-07

September 10, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

There are a ton of pictures in good old 05-19-07. Probably should’ve broken this up into different posts, but that is quitter talk!

Next Saturday’s post will be much shorter, I’m sure.

Angie, Baseball/Softball, Carla, Jodie, Kim, Shannon, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 48 – SPORTS

August 15, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

SPORTS was clearly not as popular as ARCHITECTURE, but that was to be expected considering the time of year and all that.

Here are the submissions for SPORTS:

Angie DeWaard 1

Angie DeWaard 2

Carla Stensland 1

Carla Stensland 2

Carla Stensland 3

Jodie Bennett

Shannon Bardole

Christopher D. Bennett

Kim Barker

Still, a very healthy selection of submissions!

REFLECTIONS!

What a great theme! I’m glad I thought of it. There are reflections everywhere you look. In mirrors, in water, in windows, in aluminum foil, in shiny metal… The list goes on an on. My advice (if I’m allowed to give any) is to find a reflection that alters the appearance of what it reflects. Or maybe take a picture of somebody doing some mental reflection. Or maybe take a picture that is a reflection of your actions. As always, define the theme any way that you see fit.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody this week showed class, taste or sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 Email Subscription. I’ll try to do better next week.

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very reflective Monday.

Angie, Bill, Carla, Dawn, Iowa State, Kim, Monica, Steph, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 47 – ARCHITECTURE

August 8, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 5 Comments

Quite a large selection of submissions this week. It is almost as if THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE has hit its stride. I hope that there is this much passion in the middle of winter!

Dawn has made her first submission(s). I expect big things from her in the future!

Here are the submissions for ARCHITECTURE:

Angie DeWaard

Carla Stensland 1

Carla Stensland 2

Carla Stensland 3

Dawn Krause 1

Dawn Krause 2

Dawn Krause 3

Bill Wentworth

Monica Kewer 1

Monica Kewer 2

Monica Kewer 3

Monica Kewer 4

Monica Kewer 5

Mike Vest

Stephanie Kim 1

Stephanie Kim 2

Stephanie Kim 3

Kim Barker

Christopher D. Bennett

While I know most people will appreciate my throw away ARCHITECTURE pictures to my submission, but that is okay. I’m dedicating it to somebody, with whom, I have a special relationship.

That being said, a very solid week of submissions. I’m proud of all of us, everyone.

SPORTS!

But what are SPORTS?

Well, one definition would be:

“an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.”

But of course another would be:

“a person who behaves in a good or specified way in response to teasing, defeat, or a similarly trying situation.”

So go out an do some physical exertion, or bully somebody. Do whatever it takes? Or define the theme in any way you see fit!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody this week showed class, taste or sophistication by signing up for a Photography 139 Email Subscription. I’ll try to do better next week.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS REMINDER DIVISION

Just a reminder, that if you ever want to look back at previous submissions for the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, visit the Gallery by clicking on the link below:

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE TAKE 3

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very sporty Monday.

Andree, Angie, Baier, Basketball, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Dawn, Derrick, Faust, Flat Earth Joe, Frank, History, Jen, Jesse, Jill, Jorge, Laura, Lowell, Mark, Michelle, Micky, Nader, Robert, Russell, Sara, Shannon, Shawn Lockner, Tim, Toby, Willy

ROUNDBALL ORACLES – YEAR 12

August 5, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

I recently presented The Trophy for winning the 12th year of the Roundball Oracles to this year’s champion… Michelle Haupt

It was an exciting NCAA Tournament and an equally exciting Roundball Oracles NCAA Tournament Pool. If North Carolina would’ve won the NCAA Championship Game, Sara Lockner would’ve come home with the trophy this year. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Congratulations Michelle! May your reign be short.

Roundball Oracles - Year 12 Champion - Michelle Haupt

Michelle Haupt – Newest Immortal (Pictured with Lily)
Past Roundball Oracles Champions (The List of Immortals)

2005 – William McAlpine
2006 – William McAlpine
2007 – Tim Peterson
2008 – Mark Wolfram
2009 – Mark Wolfram
2010 – Mark Wolfram
2011 – Carrie Baier
2012 – Lowell Davis
2013 – William McAlpine
2014 – Brandon Kahler
2015 – Derek Dohrman
2016 – Michelle Haupt

Here be the final standings.
1. Michelle Haupt – 275
2. Sean Clubine – 270
3. sara lockner – 259
4. Yours Truly 255
5. Micky Augustin 245
6. Angie DeWaard 241
7. Jackson Faust 241
8. Derek Dohrman 237
9. Frank Meiners 233
10. Toby Sebring 230
11, Lowell Davis 230
12, Mark Wolfram 228
13. Jason Baier 227
14, Corey Faust 221
15, Paul Golden 220
16, Wily McAlpine 218
17, Jordan Toot 217
18. Jesse Howard 216
19. Shannon Bardole 215
20. Benjamin Baier 214
21. Liz Nordeen 214
21. Jill Gorshe 214
23 . Jon DeWaard 207
24. JJ Baier 204
25. Dawn Krause 203
26. Nader Parsaei 202
27, Brandon Kahler 201
28. Carrie Baier 197
29. Jorge Rios 197
30. shawn lockner 194
31. Jen Gorshe 193
32. Derrick Gorshe 193
33. Andree Jauhari 193
34. tim peterson 192
35. Bill Wentworth 183
36. Olivia Baier 180
37. Russ Kennerly 180
38. Carla Stensland 175
39. William Baier 170
40. Rachel Johnson 167
41. Robert Henning 162
42. Joe Lynch 156
43. Laura Priest 152

Laura (Miller) Priest won the 3rd Annual “The Sara” for last place adult that tried. Joining the trophy’s namesake Sara Lockner and Derrick Gorshe as past winners. I don’t have a picture of Laura with her new trophy yet, but I will as soon as I get “The Sara” in the mail, it arrives in Manhattan, and she sends me a picture with her new pride and joy.

Becky, Bill, Carla, Jesse, Kim, Sara, Shannon, Steph, Still Life, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 46 – ART

August 1, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 9 Comments

A few of the regulars were missing this week, but there were still plenty of submissions for ART!

The submissions for ART:

Bill Wentworth

Carla Stensland 1

Carla Stensland 2

Stephanie Kim 1

Stephanie Kim 2

Stephanie Kim 3

Shannon Bardole

Christopher D. Bennett

Sara Lockner

Becky Perkovich

Kim Barker 1

Kim Barker 2

Kim Barker 3

Another solid week of submissions! I feel like this little project is starting to gain some steam. I know that there somebody out there that badly wanted this to return should start submitting soon, now that she is done with school. Hint-hint!

ARCHITECTURE!

But what is this ARCHITECTURE you speak of? According to Wikipedia:

“Architecture” can mean:

+ A general term to describe buildings and other physical structures.[3]
+ The art and science of designing buildings and (some) nonbuilding structures.[3]
+ The style of design and method of construction of buildings and other physical structures.[3]
+ Knowledge of art, science, technology and humanity.[3]
+ The practice of the architect, where architecture means offering or rendering professional services in connection with the design and construction of buildings, or built environments.[4]
+ The design activity of the architect,[3] from the macro-level (urban design, landscape architecture) to the micro-level (construction details and furniture).

For our purposes, I’d say that you should go out and find a building, a staircase, a bridge, a road, or something that was built by humans (or ancient aliens) that is interesting. Or at least take an interesting photograph of such a structure. However. As always. Define the theme any way that you want.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

This was a big week for the PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION. Thanks to Sara Lockner*, (PHOTOGRAPHY 139 STAR OF THE WEEK) not one, not two, but three people showed their class, taste, and sophistication by becoming Photography 139 email subscribers. So if you see Shawn walking the mean streets of Johnston or Steve and Jessica walking the mean streets of Burnsville, Minnesota feel free to give them a knowing glance and feel free to show them the super-secret Photography 139 handshake.

Because my day job lunch hour is growing short, I won’t going into much details about these great, grand, and wonderful people. It is enough to say that Shawn is married to Sara, so he is a winner at life. Steve is a Cyclone and I hope he joins us for a tailgate this Fall. Jessica is a leather artist of some note as well. Maybe she is a future submitter to the WEEKLY PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE!?!?

This means that I believe there are now 5 married couples that are Photography 139 email subscribers. This also makes 4 Photography 139 email subscribers in Burnsville, Minnesota and 3 Photography 139 email subscribers in Johnston, Iowa. For those of you checking your Photography 139 Heat Maps. Those towns are on fire!

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very architectural Monday.

*First trip to that taco bar is on me!