Way back in July Willy, Jay, and I went on a road tip to the Maquoketa Caves State Park. These are not pictures of that park, but pictures taken randomly on the trip to and fro the park:
I just have to say, my hat is off to the Anamosa Fire Department. As far as I know, the Boone Fire Department has never locked horns with a dragon.
Also, I very badly want to eat at this Bluff Lake Restaurant. We drove by it and it looks amazing. Anybody wants to go on a 3 hour (1 way) road trip, let me know.
The following pictures were in the folder 03-01-08 even though most of them seem to be from July of 2007.
The last picture is of my Grandpa Paris’ 1979 Iowa State football season ticket.
Some of these pictures were taken at the Boone County Fair, some at McHose Park, some behind the Computer Mine.
By adding these photos to the Photography 139 Photo Gallery, I was able to restore the following posts to their original glory:
I’m not exactly sure where next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will end up yet.
It is over! The Selfie Project is over! But we should have a couple last looks at all that was “accomplished”!
Here are my favorite pictures from December:
December 4
December 6
December 7
December 9
December 11
December 12
December 13
December 16
December 17
December 18
December 20
December 21
December 22
December 23
December 24
December 28
December 29
December 30
January 1
Here is a photomosaic of the December 31 selfie:
This photomosaic consists of 3000 tiles. 1 images is used a maximum of 10 times. If you would like to see the image at full resolution, click on the link below to download:
I also made a video featuring all 367 images. You can watch it below:
Of course, if you subscribe to this blog via email or RSS Feed, you will have to physically go to this blog entry to view the video!
It was a good project and while at least Michelle is sad to see it go, it is time to put it to bed. Maybe I’ll bring it back in 2019.
The images from the folder 01-18-08 are proof that my reputation for hating cats is often overblown.
The fat cat is Fat Jake. The other cat is Toby. I don’t wish to speak ill of the deceased, so that is all I can write about him in conscience. But okay, that cat sucked. Even by cat standards that cat sucked.
Fat Jake was cool though.
By restoring these images to the Photography 139 SmugMug Gallery I was able to restore the following old-timey blogs to their original gloryL
Next week’s stroll down Memory Lane will include another one of my first steps down a broken road of stupidity.
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
Rather than my standard picture of an inflatable turkey, thought (with apologies to Lecrae, I’d give thanks for some of the many blessings in my life.
Count it up, count it up, count it up.
Line ’em up, line ’em up, line ’em up.
Blessed to be a part of Olivia’s family. Blessed to learn a new definition of the word “family” from Shorty and Doris.
Blessed to be a part of an incredible church family. From Youth Group to Methodist Men to the people I see in the pews on Sundays.
Blessed to have a job and double blessed to have a great work family. 7 AM comes pretty early, but so many of the people I work with make the struggle worth the effort.
Blessed to share a life with this band of brothers. Not one of us has any fashion sense, but I’d still take a bullet for any of them.
Blessed to fit in with this band of sisters as well.
Blessed to be able to share my love of weird cinema with like minded individuals once a month.
Blessed to be a Cyclone and double blessed to have somebody to share so many trips to Jack Trice (a spiritual place for me) with.
Blessed to have a roof over my head that belongs to me. Blessed that I can extend that roof over friends and family when their life needs it. Blessed that when I say, “Want to help paint by house?” 20+ people show up.
Blessed that friends from past jobs are still important pillars of my current life.
Blessed that people that aren’t related to me consider me an uncle to them.
Blessed to have a car that I can drive out of town and not worry about the tire falling off.
Blessed to have so many people in my life that when I say, “I’m coming to your city”, they say, “You’re staying with us right?”
Blessed to have so many people in my life that fill gaps.
Blessed that even though I’m aged, I still healthy enough to still ball. Although pretty poorly these days.
Blessed that even though I’m aged, I still have people in my life that keep me young.
Blessed to have people in my life that want to change the world for the better, when I get cynical.
Blessed to have art in my life.
Blessed to have a beautiful beard. Even if the old guys at my church hate it.
Blessed to have people who will help with projects like this, no questions asked.
Blessed to share a life and a domicile with this crazy beast. Teaches me about selfless love every single day.
Blessed to have a chance to spread my blessings to others, sometimes, with some of my favorite people.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of my blessings. But I don’t want it to start to sound like I’m bragging.
On Monday the world wasn’t ready for these pictures. They were too intense. But I can’t hold them back any longer. Here are the alternates for the theme PARTY from THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE:
These pictures were taken in the Photography 139 Studio with the hat collection that is used for photo booth type purposes.
You’re welcome world.
The world wasn’t ready for these alternate FRAMED images for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE yesterday. Hopefully by laying down some groundwork yesterday the world will be able to handle them. I have my doubts…
That is Willy’s eye behind the brick. The tunnel is located on the most beautiful campus in the world, Iowa State’s.
You’re welcome world!
A bit of a rebound in submissions this week for FRAMED. Let’s keep the positive momentum going!
But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk tommyrot about participation rates. You came here to see the submissions:
Carla Stensland
Christopher D. Bennett
Tamara Peterson
Carla Stensland
Angie DeWaard
Becky Parmelee
Shannon Bardole-Foley
Mike Vest
Stephanie Kim
A solid 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:
PARTY! What a great theme! You don’t need to be going to a PARTY to take a picture of the PARTY theme. PARTY supplies. PARTY invitations. PARTY preparations. PARTY aftermath. They all count. Or you can hang out with me. Cause wherever I’m at, there is a party going down.
Interpret the theme however you see fit and I look forward to seeing your interpretations!
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
Nothing new to report. I’ll try to do better next week.
Want your own Photography 139 email subscription? Call, email, or text me and I’ll get you the hook up.
**************************************
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 partied out Monday!
Now that I’ve been back to reality for 7 days, probably a good time to go over my vacation.
FRIDAY
Left work at 4 PM or so. Vacation starts.
Had FNSC with Willy. Ate at Colorado Grill.
After Colorado Grill. Started watching a new show, NARCOS.
SATURDAY
Breakfast at Legal Limit with Mom.
Photography for Amber and Steve’s Wedding.
SUNDAY
Went to the Lutheran Church in Gilbert with Jesse and Nader to celebrate Nader’s 30th year in the United States.
Ate lunch at the church with some of the people that helped Nader when he got to the country.
Went to Gene’s farm to admire his car collection.
Sent this picture to Russell of Youth Nazis harassing this old woman.
Sent this picture to Logan because he sent me a picture trying to make me jealous of his lunch.
A Studebaker with an El Camino back.
Naima getting her pills.
Went to the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad and Shorty was there working it.
While this food stand looks awesome, the ice cream isn’t that great.
MONDAY
Loaded up Mom’s car and headed for Mount Rushmore.
Stopped in Sioux Falls for gas, human fuel, and Falls Park. It rained all the way to Sioux Falls.
Falls Park
Mom struggles with the selfie concept.
Confused by the bridge they built to seemingly just to wreck the view.
I wonder what this picture would look like with me in it.
Oh. Like that.
I give Falls Park the thumbs up. I’ll have to go back when I have more time at some point.
Stopped for gas again next to 1880 town.
Stopped at Wall Drug right before it closed.
Still don’t have the selfie thing down.
Free Water.
Pretty horrible restaurant across the street from Wall Drug.
I’d give Wall Drug the bird. Don’t waste your time. A bunch of touristy garbage with ridiculous hours.
Got to Rapid City and checked into a hotel with free WI-FI and continental breakfast.
TUESDAY
Got up in the morning and ate continental breakfast at the hotel. Had a lengthy conversation with two women from Arizona that came up there for the Buffalo Roundup.
Left for Mount Rushmore.
First view of Mount Rushmore
View from the parking lot.
One armed woman took this picture for us.
Getting better at the selfie game.
What Mount Rushmore was supposed to look like, but they had to stop because of WWII. Another thing we can blame on Hitler.
I give Mount Rushmore the thumbs up.
At the base of Mount Rushmore we ran into Brad Dighton. The cousin of a member of my church. He gave us several pro tips for the area. We weren’t able to get to all of them, but maybe next time.
One of his pro tips was take the Iron Mountain Road to Custer State Park.
All of these tunnels point back to Mount Rushmore. You can’t tell in the picture, but trust me.
I give the Iron Mountain Road the thumbs up.
Custer State Park is a great example of white privilege. I have no clue why a park is named after Custer. His 2 claims to fame are graduating last in his class at West Point and then getting his buttocks handed to him at the Battle of Little Big Horn.
Custer Park (like the man) was more hype than pay off. We were told we would see hundreds of buffalo. We saw one. That being said, the feral donkeys and the prairie dogs made up for the lack of buffaloes.
I give Custer Park a thumbs up, but it didn’t live up to the hype.
After we left Custer, we went to Needles Highway.
Still working on the selfie game.
We’re starting to get there.
Needles Highway is a road about the width of McHose Park road, but with a 400 foot drop to your death on one side. It is amazing!
I give Needles Highway a big thumbs up!
After that we went to Hill City to eat lunch/dinner at a place recommended to us by Brad Dighton. That place was closed, so instead we dined at the Hill City Cafe.
We bought fudge there.
Hill City Cafe wasn’t terrible, but it certainly was not great. Thumb sideways.
After that, we went to the Crazy Horse Memorial.
Almost there!
We might’ve regressed on our selfie game.
I’d give Crazy Horse another big thumbs up! My only complaint is that all the information seems to be on the family carving the memorial and hardly anything on Crazy Horse himself. You know, the guy that ripped Custer’s buttocks off and handed them back to him. He took out Custer’s brothers while he was ate it. Crazy Horse was an OG.
Pro Tip: Pay for the $4 bus ride.
After leaving Crazy Horse, went back to Mount Rushmore for the lighting ceremony.
Paid and extra dollar for the Thomas Jefferson ice cream.
The lighting ceremony kind of drags on for awhile, but the part where they bring veterans on stage and take the flag down is powerful. While waiting (forever) for them to light up the mountain we became single serving friends with Lance Young. A former Iowa State wide receiver that played in the Dan MacCarney era.
After the lighting we went back to Rapid City and crashed.
WEDNESDAY
Got up in the morning and hit the continental breakfast. Hard. Going home day. No time for single serving friends. Ate and hit the road.
Stopped at Badlands National Park.
Still working on it.
I think we have it. At least we’re in striking distance.
Taken by a woman who was friendly, but strangely afraid of falling down the side to her death. She has no future as a Photography 139 Assistant!
“I’ll take one to the side and one of you in the middle.”
Not afraid of the edge. Pimp.
Badlands. 2 big thumbs up. They just need to work on their rattlesnake game.
Next stop on the way home was to see the Dignity Sculpture. It looks like the Big Jesus in Sioux City, only less creepy. I don’t have a picture with the cell phone, but when I unleash the camera pictures, there is one there.
The next stop was Mitchell. I was going to avoid the Corn Palace but it just lined up with when we needed gas and human fuel.
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER in corn. Well, I can’t hate that.
Mic Drop! I think we finally nailed it!
Last time I went to the Corn Palace, I gave it the bird. I’m going to upgrade it to just a thumbs down. It is worth seeing, if you don’t waste time going inside.
We stopped at a place called The Hungry Dog for lunch.
The Hungry Dog was by far the best eating experience of the trip. 6 out of 5 Stars!!! It only seats about 5 people on the inside and after the only employee took our order, made our food, and delivered it; she locked the door and told us she’d be right back. She had to go pick up her kids from school.
I loved every second of my experience!
The last stop of the evening was in Jefferson for gas and human fuel.
1424.3 miles in 3 days.
Then home for sleep.
THURSDAY
Did not much in the day. Hung up a bunch of pictures in my bedroom. Cleaned out the guest bedroom now that Alexis has moved out.
Picked Derrick up for the Iowa State game.
Well almost everything about that game sucked, except the company.
FRIDAY
I can’t remember next to anything that happened on Friday.
I visited Scottie D. to get a yard sign. He is running for City Council for Ward 5.
Also had FNSC with Willy. Think it was at Jimmy’s Barbecue.
SATURDAY
Don’t remember much about Saturday either.
Went uptown during YesterBoone to complete another page of the Photo Journal Project.
Went out to McHose Park and with Jesse’s assistance completed yet another page of the Photo Journal Project.
After that, we went to a Gender Reveal Party for one of the members of the Youth Group. It’s a Girl!!
Headed up to Jay’s for Chili Lab. Both Jay and Wily made great chilis and we enjoyed a viewing of KONG ISLAND.
SUNDAY
Got up and went to church at Boone First United Methodist Church.
Then lunch with the family.
Meeting for the Council to Elect Degeneffe.
Then I went to the Freedom Flight Send-off to see Jesse’s Dad.
Monica’s mom made a bouquet that they took with them to place on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Then I went home. Sat on my couch and soaked up the last few hours of vacation, before being back at the grind on Monday.
I’ve been back to work one week. Already fantasizing about the next time I dip my toes into the PTO pool.
These pictures are from the folder 11-10-07:
There are many more photos from this Cyclone victory that can be found by clicking on the link below:
Next week’s walk down memory lane will involve more experimental photography.
