Category Archives: Nader

Roundball Oracles Year 19

It is time once again for the greatest sporting event of year. It is that time known as March Madness. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Once again, I will be sponsoring a NCAA Tournament Pool. There is no cost to enter the pool, except for pride. And if pride is nothing to you, well done.

The winner gets a trophy. The dead last place person gets a trophy known as The Sara*. Nobody else gets a trophy. I’m not made of trophies people!

By winning, you get your name etched on the List of Immortals:

PAST ROUNDBALL ORACLE CHAMPIONS – LIST OF IMMORTALS

2023 – Will Baier
2022 – Ben Baier
2021 – Micky Augustin
2019 – Becky Parmelee
2018 – Paul Golden
2017 – Paul Golden
2016 – Michelle Haupt
2015 – Derek Dohrman
2014 – Brandon Kahler
2013 – William McAlpine
2012 – Lowell Davis
2011 – Carrie Baier
2010 – Mark Wolfram
2009 – Mark Wolfram
2008 – Mark Wolfram
2007 – Tim Peterson
2006 – William McAlpine
2005 – William McAlpine

But I said that there are 2 trophies. The 2nd trophy, The Sara, goes to the adult that finishes dead last, while trying. A person can not tank on purpose and win The Sara. The reason The Sara winner has to be an adult is that I don’t want to mock children, to their face. Does that mean I have no problem mocking children behind their back? Does it make me a bad person if I say yes? Probably a better rule would be that to “win” The Sara, you have to be at least a teenager. I have no problem mocking teenagers to their face. At least, back when there was a Youth Group.

Past “The Sara” Winners:

2023 – Ben Baier
2022 – Joey Randazzo
2021 – Rachel Gildersleeve
2019 – Russell Kennerly
2018 – Robert Henning
2017 – Shannon Bardole
2016 – Laura Priest
2015 – Derrick Gorshe
2014 – Sara Lockner

The Sara doesn’t have the long storied history of the championship trophy, but it will get there. I have no doubts. This will be the 9th winner since its inception after all.

These were the final standings from last year:

1. Will Baier – 204
2. Toby Sebring – 200
3. Sarah Karber – 193
4. Tim Peterson – 189
5. Cathie Morton – 188
6. Elizabeth Nordeen- 185
7. Andy Sharp – 184
8. Russell Kennerly – 184
9. Linda Bennett – 183
10. Micky Augustin – 183
11. Carrie Baier – 180
12. Dawn Krause – 178
13. Corey Faust – 177
14. Jesse Howard – 176
15. Jason Baier – 173
16. Angie DeWaard – 171
17. Michelle Haupt – 170
18. Carla Stensland – 170
19. Jackson Faust – 168
20. Frank Meiners – 157
21. Lowell Davis – 155
22. Andree Jauhari – 154
23. Christopher D. Bennett – 154
24. Robert Henning – 154
25. Nader Parsaei – 147
26. Logan Kahler – 145
27. Rachel Gildersleeve – 145
28. Joey Randazzo – 144
29. Olivia Baier – 141
30. Jordan Toot – 141
31. JJ Baier – 141
32. Brandon Kahler – 136
33. Becky Parmelee – 131
34. Derek Dohrman – 122
35. Sara Lockner – 112
36. Shawn Lockner – 111
37. Ben Baier – 111

If you are a basketball fan, or are just interested in having fun, click on the link below to join my pool:

Roundball Oracles – Year 19

The rules are as follows:
Round 1 = 1 point + seed
Round 2 = 2 points + seed
Round 3 = 4 points + seed
Round 4 = 8 points + seed
Round 5 = 16 points + seed
Rounds 6 = 32 points + seed

The Play-in Games (AKA the First Four) don’t matter. You can wait for those games to complete before filling out your bracket. The deadline to fill out your bracket, is tip-off of the first game on Thursday. Roughly 11 AM.

Under special circumstances, I will allow you to turn in a paper bracket to me. So, don’t be afraid to ask.

Yes, your child can fill out a bracket. Your dog, no.

There were 37 competitors in 2023. A 1 person gain from 2022. Hopefully there is continued growth in participation this year, but I don’t know that I have 1 more friend than I did in 2023. It is possible I have gained even more friends since 2023. I might be a pretty great person.

*You have to be 14 years or older to win “The Sara”.

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: Audubon Field Work

A couple months back Jesse and I hit the open road and ended up at The Feed Mill Restaurant in Audubon, Iowa. It was the 9th stop (technically 10th – but I’ll cover that) on the Tenderloin Trail 2.0. Leaving me just one stamp short of earning my Tenderloin Trail 2.0 shirt!

Despite being one of the closer Tenderloin Trail 2.0 restaurant stops to Boone, I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to cross this one off the list. Their hours are pretty awful. They are only open a few hours a week. Which is too bad, because their food is excellent!

The Feed Mill Restaurant is inside Waspy’s Truck Stop and that gas station itself has really good food. There are two Waspy’s. One in Audubon and another in Templeton. If you are in the area, I think it is worth the stop. But you know me, I’m partial to food in gas stations. Casey’s Pizza. The Filling Station in Madrid. The Filling Station in Ames. Joe’s in Kansas City. You get the point.

Here are some pictures from the outing:


Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

Tenderloin Trail 2.0: The Feed Mill Restaurant

As you know, in addition to being a noted tenderloin fiend, I also love me a great cheese curd. Fried or otherwise. If I remember correctly their cheese curds were muenster. It made a fine cheese curd, but it wasn’t decidedly different from your standard cheddar cheese curd. So I’m saying it was pretty great!

As for the tenderloin. It was a pretty great tenderloin! Now the question is, would I eat there again? Would I go out of my way to go there? Would I make a special trip to get this tenderloin?

It is a great tenderloin. The problem is that it is just down the street from Darrell’s Place and the Darrell’s Place tenderloin is the O.G. great tenderloin in Iowa. So being put in the situation of having to choose one, if I was in the area, I would choose Darrell’s Place.

That isn’t a reflection on The Feed Mill. Just nothing is Darrell’s Place.

The Feed Mill Restaurant is located at:

2079 US Highway 71
Audubon, Iowa

Located in Waspy’s Truck Stop.

But I’m not done with this post quite yet. Earlier I wrote that this was the 9th Stop on the Tenderloin Trail, but technically the 10th. That is because back in 2022 I visited the Wood Iron Grille in Oskaloosa with Carla and Teresa and knocked down their tenderloin. However, I didn’t have my Passport on me, so I didn’t get it stamped.

You can understand my frustration because it takes 10 stamps (out of 14, but really 13) to get the free shirt. So shortly after my trip to Audubon with Jesse I made a return trip to Oskaloosa with Teresa. With passport firmly in my hands.

I don’t need to cover the Wood Iron Grille tenderloin again, but I thought I could share 2 pictures from that trip:



The last bite of Tenderloin Trail 2.0.


The passport.

I got my shirt and this letter within a couple weeks of mailing in my Passport:



I’m not going to share a picture of the shirt yet. I have a whole photo session for that worked up in my head. Which means you will probably never get to see it, unless you catch me in the wild wearing it.

However, I would be a poor tenderloin enthusiast if I didn’t thank those people that helped me in fulfilling this dream. An accomplishment that some are calling “the greatest in the history of mankind”. So thanks to everyone who at least sat across from me while I knocked down a tenderloin on this trail:

+ Austin Degeneffe (Iowa Taproom)
+ Porter Degeneffe (Iowa Taproom)
+ Scott Degeneffe (Co-Founder of the Tenderloin Appreciation Society) (Iowa Taproom)
+ Jesse Howard (The Feed Mill, Birdies, Burgers & Brews, and The Pub at Pinicon)
+ Dahlia Kahler (Whatcha Smokin’)
+ Logan Kahler (Whatcha Smokin’)
+ Teresa Kahler (Whatcha Smokin’, Grid Iron Sports Bar & Grille, Stumble Inn, and Wood Iron Grille)
+ Nader Parsaei (Darrell’s Place, Birdie’s Burgers & Brews)
+ Carla Stensland (Wood Iron Grille)
+ Phil Webb (Grid Iron Sports Bar & Grille)

The only stop on the trail I made solo was PrairieMoon on Main.

You might be asking yourself what my future tenderloin plans are since I am eating healthier these days? It is true. I don’t really eat much fried food any more. Really hardly at all. That doesn’t mean tenderloins are off the menu. I have a plan for a more structured tenderloin quest this year. I want to make 1 special tenderloin trip a month. 1st on my list is the reigning 2023 Best Tenderloin at Cliff’s Place in Manning.

I haven’t had this month’s special tenderloin, so I’m going to effort to go to Manning next week and if that doesn’t work out, some place else. Also on my list are the 3 tenderloins on the Tenderloin Trail 2.0 that I haven’t tried. Jethro’s is also on the list, but I’ve had that tenderloin. It isn’t great. Plus my understanding is that the owner of Jethro’s is not a great person and I have limited desire to line his pockets with any of my green. Also on that list is the other finalists from last year. Plus any of the past champions that I haven’t tried.

Drop me a line if you want to go on one of these tenderloin quests. I already have you marked down Michelle. I haven’t forgotten.

The next food adventure I will share will be the last time I ate ice cream. At least I’m pretty sure the last time I ate ice cream.

Calendar Favorites

Today is Lowell’s birthday so I need to wish him a happy birthday!


Day 138 - May 18, 2022
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOWELL!

If you don’t know, Lowell is not Kim and is not the tall guy.

It is one of my most profoundest birthday wishes that today is a good day.

+++++++

This is one of my favorite posts of the year. To share what people said was their favorite calendar image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. There is still 1 calendar left to distribute, but I don’t know when that will happen. I got a response back from most people I gave a calendar to. Some people must have just immediately thrown it in the garbage and never given it a second thought. But that’s okay. Maybe opens up new calendar recipients for 2025…*

Some of these picture below are of different people in the same family that got one calendar, in case you are wondering if I gave, say 6 calendars to the Baiers.

Here we go:

FRONT COVER
2024 Calendar Favorites
Brandon Kahler

2024 Calendar Favorites
Nora Yoon

JANUARY
2024 Calendar Favorites
Jay Janson

2024 Calendar Favorites
Jen Ensley-Gorshe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Sabas Hernandez

2024 Calendar Favorites
Sara Lockner

FEBRUARY
2024 Calendar Favorites
Jesse Howard

2024 Calendar Favorites
Kevin Krause

2024 Calendar Favorites
Layla Gorshe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Olivia Baier

MARCH
2024 Calendar Favorites
Andree Jauhari

2024 Calendar Favorites
Andy Sharp

2024 Calendar Favorites
Bill Wentworth

2024 Calendar Favorites
J.J. Baier

2024 Calendar Favorites
Kim Barker

2024 Calendar Favorites
Russ Kahler

2024 Calendar Favorites
Scott Degeneffe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Will Baier

2024 Calendar Favorites
Willy McAlpine

APRIL
2024 Calendar Favorites
Colleen Hobe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Joe Duff

2024 Calendar Favorites
Michelle Haupt

2024 Calendar Favorites
Monica Jennings

2024 Calendar Favorites
Teresa Kahler

MAY

2024 Calendar Favorites
Ben Baier

2024 Calendar Favorites
Fran Duncan

2024 Calendar Favorites
Beck Gorshe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Jason Carpenter

JUNE

2024 Calendar Favorites
Carrie Baier

2024 Calendar Favorites
Logan Kahler

2024 Calendar Favorites
Mike Vest

JULY

2024 Calendar Favorites
Jason Baier

2024 Calendar Favorites
Russell Kennerly

AUGUST WAS UNIVERSALLY UNLOVED

SEPTEMBER

2024 Calendar Favorites
Becky Parmelee

2024 Calendar Favorites
Elizabeth Nordeen

OCTOBER

2024 Calendar Favorites
Alexis Stensland

2024 Calendar Favorites
Derrick Gorshe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Jorge Rios

NOVEMBER

2024 Calendar Favorites
Carla Stensland

2024 Calendar Favorites
Elainie Hernandez

2024 Calendar Favorites
Jeanette Duff

2024 Calendar Favorites
Johnathan Stensland

2024 Calendar Favorites
Kio Dettman

2024 Calendar Favorites
Melissa Degeneffe

2024 Calendar Favorites
Nader Parsaei

DECEMBER

2024 Calendar Favorites
Anders Runestad

2024 Calendar Favorites
Dawn Krause

That is it. I’m done writing about the calendar until the next one comes out!

*This is facetious.

The Weekly Photo Challenge Year in Review

As yesterday closed the book on Year 10 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, now seems like a good time to review all that happened.

There were 59 different people that submitted photos. Ranging from submitting 1 picture to 124 pictures.

There were 2,311 photos submitted.

The average week was 31.1 participants.

The average week had 44.4 submissions.

The most popular week was Week 422. The theme was #INSTAGOOD. There were 41 participants.

The most popular week by submissions was Week 405. The theme was FLOWER. There were 62 submissions.

3 themes tied for least popular theme by participants. TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES; REFLECTION; and SUNRISE, SUNSET each has only 25 participants.

TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES was the least popular theme by submissions. It received only 30 submissions.

Here is my favorite submission from all 59 different people that submitted and some statistics about each participant.


WEEK 397 - FRIENDS - HEATHER COURTNEY
Heather Courtney
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - PEPPER DUNCAN
Pepper Duncan
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - COREY FAUST
Corey Faust
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE -  ADAM GORDON
Adam Gordon
1 week – 2%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE - HARRISON GORSHE
Harrison Gorshe
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 382 - TRAINS, PLANES, & AUTOMOBILES - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 400 - HAPPY - STEPHANIE KIM
Stephanie Kim
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WPC 433 - HUMANS - CARRIE MOELLERS
Carrie Moellers
1 week – 2%
1 submission
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 398 - ROAD TRIP - MIKE PARMELEE
Mike Parmelee
1 week – 2%
1 submission
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 418 - SKY - ERNIE REDD
Ernie Redd
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 426 - FOOD - DIANE SHARP
Diane Sharp
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 425 - SIGNS - JULIE SHARP
Julie Sharp
1 week – 2%
1 submission
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - LORI BACKOUS
Lori Backous
2 weeks – 4%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - MELISSA DEGENEFFE
Melissa Degeneffe
2 weeks – 4%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - DERRICK GORSHE
Derrick Gorshe
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 403 - TEXTURE - LAYLA GORSHE
Layla Gorshe
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 388 - FRAME - SARAH KARBER
Sarah Karber
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 405 - FLOWER - JOHNATHAN STENSLAND
Johnathan Stensland
2 weeks – 4%
2 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 401 - HAPPY - NADER PARSAEI
Nader Parsaei
3 weeks – 6%
3 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 421 - RELIGION - MYRIAH SHARP
Myriah Sharp
3 weeks – 6%
5 submissions
No current streaks

WEEK 394 - BLUE - PORTER DEGENEFFE
Porter Degeneffe
4 weeks – 8%
4 submissions
No current streaks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - EVIE GORSHE
Evie Gorshe
6 weeks – 12%
6 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 406 - 'SCAPE -AMY PETERSON
Amy Peterson
10 weeks – 19%
14 submissions
Current Streak: 1 week

WEEK 429 - HOMETOWN -ELAINIE STENSLAND
Elainie Stensland
12 weeks – 23%
15 submissions
No current streak

WPC 430 - LINES - SUSANNA FUNK
Susanna Funk
14 weeks – 27%
19 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - JEN ENSLEY-GORSHE
Jen Ensley-Gorshe
19 weeks – 37%
22 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 387 - PLAY - BECKY PARMELEE
Becky Parmelee
23 weeks – 44.2%
26 submissions
No current streak

WPC 430 - LINES - SHERI FAKHOURI
Sheri Fakhouri
29 weeks – 56%
53 submissions
Current streak: 29 weeks

WPC 430 - LINES - SCOTT DEGENEFFE
Scott Degeneffe
32 weeks – 62%
46 submissions
Current streak: 19 weeks

WEEK 409 - A SHAPE - MARY GREEN
Mary Green
32 weeks – 62%
68 submissions
Current streak: 2 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - SARA LOCKNER
Sara Lockner
33 weeks – 63%
39 submissions
Current streak: 1 week

WEEK 416 - NATURE - WILLY MCALPINE
Willy McAlpine
34 weeks – 65%
37 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 395 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE - SUZIE BRANNEN
Suzie Brannen
35 weeks – 67%
50 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 410 - GUILTY PLEASURE - ALEXIS STENSLAND
Alexis Stensland
35 weeks – 67%
72 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 408 - TIME - SABAS HERNANDEZ
Sabas Hernandez
43 weeks – 83%
43 submissions
Current streak: 20 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - MONICA JENNINGS
Monica Jennings
43 weeks – 83%
60 submissions
No current streak

WEEK 399 - SCHOOL - MINDI TERRELL
Mindi Terrell
46 weeks – 88%
124 submissions
Current streak: 46 weeks

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE - NATHANIAL BROWN
Nathanial Brown
47 weeks – 90%
77 submissions
Current streak: 31 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard
49 weeks – 94%
62 submissions
Current streaks: 31 weeks

WEEK 396 - SCENES FROM YOUR COUCH - MIKE VEST
Mike Vest
50 weeks – 96%
50 submissions
Current streaks: 25 weeks

WEEK 402 - PARK - BRANDON KAHLER
Brandon Kahler
51 weeks – 98%
55 submissions
Current streak: 1 week

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - LOGAN KAHLER
Logan Kahler
51 weeks – 98%
81 submissions
Current streak: 30 weeks

WEEK 416 - NATURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson
51 weeks – 98%
56 submissions
Current streak: 34 weeks

WEEK 395 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin
52 weeks – 100%
55 submissions
Current streak: 104 weeks

WEEK 418 - SKY - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley
52 weeks – 100%
55 submissions
Current streak: 113 weeks

WEEK 420 - ARCHITECTURE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker
52 weeks – 100%
60 submissions
Current streak: 90 weeks

WEEK 396 - SCENES FROM YOUR COUCH - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett
52 weeks – 100%
52 submissions
Current streak: 537 weeks

WEEK 408 - TIME - LINDA BENNETT
Linda Bennett
52 weeks – 100%
91 submissions
Current streak: 75 weeks

WEEK 427 - PORTRAIT - KIO DETTMAN
Kio Dettman
52 weeks – 100%
107 submissions
Current streak: 115 weeks

WEEK 404 - TEXTURE - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard
52 weeks – 100%
59 submissions
Current streak: 80 weeks

WEEK 423 - VINTAGE - JOE DUFF
Joe Duff
52 weeks – 100%
71 submissions
Current streak: 91 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - TERESA KAHLER
Teresa Kahler
52 weeks – 100%
111 submissions
Current streak: 102 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - DAWN KRAUSE
Dawn Krause
52 weeks – 100%
89 submissions
Current streak: 84 weeks

WEEK 395 - ODD CAMERA ANGLE - CATHIE MORTON
Cathie Morton
52 weeks – 100%
58 submissions
Current streak: 110 weeks

WEEK 422 - INSTAGOOD - ELIZABETH NORDEEN
Elizabeth Nordeen
52 weeks – 100%
72 submissions
Current streak: 111 weeks

WEEK 416 - NATURE - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp
52 weeks – 100%
72 submissions
Current streak: 105 weeks

WEEK 419 - BLACK & WHITE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland
52 weeks – 100%
90 submissions
Current streak: 102 weeks

WEEK 406 - 'SCAPE - SARAH TOOT
Sarah Toot
52 weeks – 100%
96 submissions
Current streak: 76 weeks

WEEK 385 - SILENCE - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth
52 weeks – 100%
54 submissions
Current streak: 106 weeks

Here are a few quick stats from last year:

+ 44 different participants
+ 1811 photos submitted
+ Least popular theme for participation was ROCK with 16 participants
+ Most popular theme for participation was SELF-PORTRAIT with 31 participants
+ Least popular theme for submissions was ROCK with 20 submissions
+ Most popular theme for submission was LINES with 51 submissions
+ The average week had 24.6 participants
+ The average week had 34.8 submissions

To put in perspective compared to last year:

+ 15 more different participants.
+ 500 more submissions.
+ The most popular theme had 10 more participants.
+ The most popular theme by submissions has 11 more submissions.
+ The average participation was up almost 7 participants per week.
+ The average submissions was up nearly 10 per week.

Hopefully Year 11 has a similar amount of growth!

Dysart Illusion Road Trip – III

This is the final collection of images from the road trip to Dysart to see their illusions I took with Nader. This collection starts in Traer, but also goes through the Matchstick Marvels Museum in Gladbrook.


Dysart Illusions Road Trip
Traer

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip
Gladbrook

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip
Toledo

Dysart Illusions Road Trip
A different town sign.

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

It was a good road trip, even if I confess, the Dysart illusions were a little bit of a disappointment. But the Matchstick Marvels Museum was definitely not a disappointment!

Dysart Illusion Road Trip – I

Back in April I loaded up the car with Nader and we drop over to Dysart because I wanted to check out their collection of illusions. It turns out that many of them aren’t in great shape and I think 2 of them are completely gone. At least we went to where they are supposed to be on the map and there was nothing there.

Despite that disappointment, it was a really good trip.

Here is the first collection of pictures from the trip:


Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

Dysart Illusions Road Trip

It is tricky to photograph an illusion. Often the illusion doesn’t translate to photography. But I think you get the idea. There are still plenty more pictures to share from this road trip.

Sinners, Saints and Fools

Where the winds of change were blowin’
There lived a God-fearing man
He was turning through his Bible
When he came up with a plan
He painted up a sign
And held it high above his head
Waved it proudly in the air, and this is what it read

You can’t break the law
There are reasons for the rules
I keep things safe here for everyone
The sinners, saints, and fools
The poor and huddled masses
Who are hungry and afraid
You gotta do it by the Book and there’ll be
No exceptions made

To the weary, desperate souls
Who washed up on the sand
He said, “We hadn’t seen your paperwork”
And he withdrew his hand
You know he never felt any safer
All the peace he hoped he’d find
And up until the day he died
He never changed his mind

By the time he got to Heaven
It was surrounded by a wall
The pearly gates were locked up tight
The golden chains and all
They said, “We cannot let just anyone
Walk in here anymore
You didn’t do it by the Book, ”
And then they pointed to the floor

You can’t break the law
There are reasons for the rules
I keep things safe here for everyone
You sinners, saints, and fools
The poor and huddled masses
Who are hungry and afraid
You gotta do it by the Book and there’ll be
No exceptions made
-Brandi Carlile

I particularly like Brandi’s answer to what this song was about in that Stereogum interview:

CARLILE: To me, there’s nothing on planet Earth more maddening than the religious right’s rejection of displaced people. It’s just baffling. It could only be from a place of abstract evil, that there would be anything Christian about the concept of rejecting someone who’s had to leave their home, which no one wants to do for any reason, war, hunger, unrest, economic impact. For any reason that a person should become displaced and then systematically rejected is just antithetical to everything… I won’t even use the word “Christian,” but everything Gospel-based.

STEREOGUM: How do you personally stay close to faith, if you will, when there’s such a prevalence of people acting like the “god-fearing man” you describe in this song? The man who thinks he’s living according to scripture, but once he gets to heaven, it’s surrounded by a wall.

CARLILE: Well, because I realize that’s the powerful delusion. I realize that the powerful delusion foretold in scripture will be a complete rejection of love and generosity and enduring patience, tolerance, mercy, that it’s the faith revealing itself in ourselves every day. And it’s renewable. We can fix it. We can change as a species if we want to. It’s not hurtling towards some fiery end. It’s a living, breathing faith.

I was like 19, and I went to Urban Outfitters, and I saw a T-shirt with Jesus on a Harley, and I bought it. It said, “What the fuck is a Christian?” And you realize Jesus did not know what a Christian was. He didn’t know what the Bible was. Jesus is a concept of mercy and enduring love, not love, the feeling, but love, the action. And I subscribe. I follow. Anything you like about me, it’s because of that.

STEREOGUM: That’s pretty deep for Urban Outfitters.

CARLILE: Thanks, Urban Outfitters. You’re more likely to find Jesus in Urban Outfitters right now than you are in church.

Preach!

But Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography collection came from a trip to the State Center Rose Garden with Nader:


Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Still more rose pictures left to share from this day!

PHOTO DROP-OFF ROAD TRIP II

Today is Suzie’s birthday. So I need to wish her a happy birthday!


Day 128 - May 8, 2021
Happy birthday Suzie!

Suzie is the short one in the picture, in case you didn’t know! I hope you have an amazing birthday!

+++++++

Time to share more pictures from the road trip I took with Nader after I dropped off my pictures for the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon. This collection starts where the first collection ended, hanging out with Albert the Bull in Audubon.


Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Audubon, Iowa

Gray, Iowa
Gray

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Gray, Iowa

Manning, Iowa
Manning

Manning, Iowa

Manning, Iowa

Manning, Iowa

Still one more collection of images to share from this road trip.