Category Archives: Willy

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 30 – RUINS

I’ve been looking forward to this week’s theme since I wrote it on a green Post-It Note and dropped it in the hat. Jesse Howard, long time Photography 139 supporter and apparent beard lover, entered his first submission. Hopefully it is the beginning of many more.

Let’s look at the submissions for RUINS:


WEEK 30 - RUINS - CARLA STENSLAND 1
Carla Stensland 1

WEEK 30 - RUINS - CARLA STENSLAND 2
Carla Stensland 2

WEEK 30 - RUINS - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland 3

WEEK 30 - RUINS - BILL WENTWORTH
Bill Wentworth

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

WEEK 30 - RUINS - JESSE HOWARD
Jesse Howard

WEEK 30 - RUINS - KIM BARKER 1
Kim Barker 1

WEEK 30 - RUINS - KIM BARKER 2
Kim Barker 2

Time to look to the future. This week’s theme is…


WEEK 31 - OLD
OLD!

Maybe it is unfortunate that these two themes got drawn back to back, but they are different ya know. While RUINS calls for you to photograph something that is deteriorating. This just calls for you to photograph something that is old. OLD can still be in very good shape. See William MacAlpine.

HOUSEKEEPING

No new email subscribers this week. Maybe next week.

As we are over halfway home, now is a good time to share the remainder of the themes. If this continues into another year, please put ideas for new THEMES in the COMMMENTS section of this here blog.

THE REMAINING THEMES

BLUE
HOMETOWN
PORTRAIT
MACRO
COUNTRY
FLOWER
PERSPECTIVE
ARCHITECTURE
LETTERS OR NUMBERS
GLASS
ART
SKY/CLOUDS
WINDOW
SMOKE
TRANSPORTATION
ROAD TRIP
SPORTS
REFLECTIONS
EMOTIONS
SUNSET/SUNRISE
WILD CARD

ROUNDBALL ORACLES – YEAR 12

Once again, the Madness is upon us. It is time to put your basketball knowledge to the test and try to take your place upon the list of immortals.

If you are interested in joining this year’s pool. Contact me via email at bennett@photography139.com.

Once again this year, there is no fee.

The champion will win The Roundball Oracles Trophy.

The last place adult (that gave full effort) will receive the Sara Lockner Good Effort Trophy.

League rules, how to get in, past champs below.

Rules

First Round: The weight for each correct pick is 1. The seed of the winning team is added to the correct pick total.
Second Round: The weight for each correct pick is 2. The seed of the winning team is added to the correct pick total.
Sweet 16: The weight for each correct pick is 4. The seed of the winning team is added to the correct pick total.
Elite : The weight for each correct pick is 8. The seed of the winning team is added to the correct pick total.
Final Four: The weight for each correct pick is 16. There is no bonus applied.
Championship: The weight for each correct pick is 32. There is no bonus applied.

Tiebreaker: The total score of the Championship game. Constitution:

Past Roundball Oracle Champions:

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

Past Sara Lockner Good Effort Recipients:

2015 – Derrick Gorshe
2014 – Sara Lockner

Use Them. Enjoy Them. Dominate Them.

Over 4 years ago, I felt it was time to retire The Friend Wall and replace it with something else. After reading a book from THE DAILY SHOW I came upon the idea to have 9 people pose while conveying 9 different emotions.

Many times I’ve thought about bringing back THE 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT with more people. Not just 9 more people, but more people. I even had a false start with Dawn that resulted in a photo shoot where the images have since been lost.

However, I now have began the process of starting again. I’m not sure where this will lead. There isn’t a timeline or a plan. I don’t know if any of the original 9 will come back and recreate their original photo shoot. Anything is possible.

So meet Michelle, who has become the first person to pose for the next generation of THE 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT photos.


9 Emotions - Michelle Haupt
Michelle Haupt

Read the 9 emotions left to right. Top to bottom. Take Tylenol for any headaches. Midol for any cramps.

1. Joy
2. Sadness
3. Anger
4. Amusement
5. Fear
6. Jealousy
7. Surprise
8. Sympathy
9. Boredom

I have even created a Gallery that is dedicated to housing the images from THE 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT.

The original 9 were:

1. Cousin Amy
2. Sara
3. Derrick
4. Jen
5. Jesse
6. Jay
7. Shannon
8. Willy
9. Jlll

If you want to visit that gallery, click on the link below:

THE 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT

Inside that gallery, for the first time for public eyes, I have released my photo shoot for THE 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT.

A question you might ask is this:

Will this pathetic mining of the past lead to future past mines?

The answer is maybe. I have tentatively been thinking about bringing back THE LABELS PROJECT as well. However, I really need to meditate on that one. I’ll get back to you on that one.

Another question might be:

Will these new images go on the THE 9 EMOTIONS PROJECT WALL in my living room?

The answer is no. I have a plan for that wall, but it is extremely expensive. What is that plan? Donate to my Go Fund Me page and maybe I’ll tell you*.

*I don’t have a Go Fund Me page.

Incidental

Here are a few pictures I like that come from New Toy, but don’t fit into any particular narrative.



Went to Hilton Madness with Willy and Derrick.

Fizer and Frese mixing it up with the young pups.


Youth Room


Mike, John, and Tim at the Event Formerly Known as the Methodist Men Steak Fry.


A packed house.


View staring out my living room window.


Teresa’s paint.


Ernie painting.

The New Toy has come in handy now and again. I think it is a keeper.

New Toy

We recently held an auction at the Computer Mine. The one thing in the auction that I really coveted was a blue Canon A4000 IS. I’m not a Canon guy at all. However, I’ve been sans point and shoot for a couple years now and there are times (like mission trips) where a little point and shoot would come in handy. While it isn’t the most powerful camera, I thought if I could get it for $50 bucks (while it retails for $150) I could slum and add a Canon to the arsenal.


I am notoriously tough on point and shoots, so hopefully it will last me a couple years or so.

I thought I would crack it out and document my weekend, to get a feel for it. Below are those pictures.



Spirit Week Super Dog! (Photo by Jorge Rios)


Spirit Week Gyro! (Photo by Joseph Lynch)


Seriously! Data migration call 10 minutes before I’m off!


Houlihan takes over my data migration! (Photo by Joseph Lynch)


Commitment to consumerism.


Supplies for Friday Night Supper Club


Willy grilling. Naima observing.


Firetub Swan Song… Or is it?


Breakfast with Mom at The Legal Limit. She loves having her picture taken.


Finally getting the studio put back together. Might re-do the 9 Emotions Project.


This is what $150 or so looks like.


Helping paint Teresa’s house.


Yeah. Nice try Cyclones.


Happy birthday Greg!


Worshiping an Awesome God!


Thinking about Fall Project #1.


Assisting with Jay’s Ice Skull Project.


Preparing for the Weekly Photo Challenge Photo Shoot.


Stan bringing over some firewood. Naima greeting him.


John grilling at the event formerly known as The Methodist Men Steak Fry.


Monday morning. Back to the grind.

I couldn’t wait for Monday night when I finally got a chance to breathe and have a small bit of free time again.

Coming Soon…

Actually, not coming soon. They are already there.

Recently my sister Teresa came across a collection of theater seats at the Funky Rooster. She was able to negotiate a sweet deal and after borrowing a truck from the Petersons and getting Derrick to help load them and Willy to help unload them and place them in The Union Street Theater, they are home.

Here are a couple of cruddy cell phone pictures for you to admire my recent addition and commitment to consumerism.



Derrick strapping the seats in.


Willy and I testing them out.


Another view of the test.

This addition will seat four people or two straight males.

My understanding is that these seats came from the old Century Theater that was on Duff all those years ago.

I also recently added a computer to the Union Street Theater to make it easier to stream music or watch YouTube videos down there.

I’m not sure how many people can sit and watch movies at the Union Street Theater, but currently there are 4 theater seats, 2 recliners, 1 couch, a daybed, a trundle bed, and 1 bean bag chair. However, the couch will probably bite the dust at some point.

The Union Street Theater will start hosting more formal events in the future. Including:

-Probably at least 2 viewings of MANOS: HANDS OF FATE.
-A Network Engineering viewing of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.
-A possible Youth Group event.
-A Nader birthday movie viewing.
-Another undetermined movie viewing.
-Many a Cyclone sporting event watch party.

I think I might be done tinkering with it for awhile, but I would have made that same claim a few weeks ago.

Painting Vol. III

Here are more painting pictures. YEAH!!! These are from my other sister Carla:



Jesse, trying to break my window. Jeff watches on.


Anders, painting away!


Anders and Ian painting away!


Melissa and Scottie D. painting the east side of the house.


Anna painting!


Teresa cutting some plastic as Willy and I hold it.


The north wall.


Alisa and Erica painting the front “porch”.


Jeff and Terrence painting.


Teresa painting.


Teresa painting.






Alisa and Erica painting the gate. Terrence supervises.


South wall.


I think Shannon is in there somewhere.




Note the excellent scallop work that Carla did!


The front porch.

Painting!

The great national nightmare, or maybe it was just my nightmare, is finally, virtually over. The 2 day house painting party this weekend is over and my house is painted!

Just a couple splashes of paint here and there, and hanging a few things up and it is over.

So thanks a million to my amazing Saturday Painting Crew:

  • Jesse
  • Teresa
  • Baier
  • Will
  • Ben
  • Monica
  • Jeff
  • Scottie D.
  • Melissa
  • Porter
  • Dalton
  • Anders
  • Ian
  • Mom
  • Shannon

Equally as great was my awesome Sunday Painting Crew:

  • Willy
  • Jesse
  • Derrick
  • Teresa
  • Carla
  • Jen
  • Evie
  • Layla
  • Jay
  • Kelly
  • Anna
  • Anthony
  • Alisa
  • Erica
  • Shannon
  • Jeff
  • Terrence
  • Mom

I’m in such good spirits that I’ll even thank the people that just stopped by to gawk:

  • Terry
  • Grandma
  • Sherrie
  • Steve
  • Andy (In fairness Andy would’ve helped if there were any work left to do).

 
Since I wasn’t able to photograph anything on Saturday on Sunday because I was covered with paint, at this time I don’t have any pictures of the actual painting to share. However, I do have some pictures of the aftermath. Some of the things might make you wonder about the cleanliness and skill level of my people. You should know that many of them are highly skilled painters: Derrick, Baier, Carla, and to my admitted shock Willy (to name a few), but everybody contributed on some level. Therefore, imperfections, spills, messes, I actually love these things. These are reminders that on one beautiful fall weekend 15 people on Saturday and 19 people on Sunday decided to come to my house and help me paint rather than do something that society may have considered more fun and more interesting. Society can go suck an egg!

I call it the house that love painted and that is even at least partially true. If nothing else, I have at least a healthy start to my Birthday Party Invite List. Don’t worry, there will be other chances to earn a coveted invite to The Party of 2016*. Not many granted, but I’m sure those chances will be out there.

Any way, here is a collection of photos of my Painting Party Aftermath:



A piece of tape leftover from where Alisa and Erica did a crackerjack job of painting the front porch!


An unintended sweet design left behind from Carla painting the house numbers!


Paint left behind from where my frog rain gauge sits. Possibly left from when Anna or Willy painted the rain spout? Actually that is probably my spill.


That cardinal even looks sweet on the brick.


Normally I would be sad if my beautiful, lush lawn looked so downtrodden and pathetic, (I pay good money for somebody else to fertilize it for me) but this is actually a sign of how many people were there painting my house at any given time. Can’t hate on that.


Cleaning out paint trays lead to this sweet white streak of grass.


The gold paint. The finishing touch that really adds some flair. Alisa and Erica also knocked it out of the park with this paint and my gate. Shannon also rocked the front threshold with this paint.

Another awesome aspect of this painting project was how much equipment I was loaned. One neighbor Stan loaned me 2 scaffoldings. The other neighbor Roger loaned me a ladder.


Stole the idea of using dish tubs to hold paint from my mission trip to South Dakota. Fortunately while painting cedar siding sucks, it doesn’t suck as bad as painting stucco.


More than a few people were infatuated with my house’s “nipple”. It is my kitchen vent. Don’t be weird, creeper. Either way, Anders and Ian did a dynamite job of painting it.


Just a few of the ladders that were used in the project. Not pictured is 1 of 2 family heirlooms used in during the project. A ladder my Grandpa Bennett bought in 1969 to paint the house at 415 Greene Street.


A few of the rollers that survived usage by Teresa the Roller Killer.


It took about 10 gallons of cardinal paint, 3 gallons of white paint, and 1 gallon of gold paint to complete this project.


Lots of experimental painting was done by me on this project. Some paint tools are excellent. Some are a waste of money. Such a waste of money.


On Saturday night I bought a gallon of gold paint and a whole set of paint brushes to use with the gold paint. When the time came around to use the gold paint, all those brushes, except one had been used for cardinal. This solo cup is an artifact left behind by Alisa and Erica from painting the gate gold.


Earlier this year I moved this wood pile from where it is pictured to the brick patio for use in the Firetub. I have had exactly zero social fire tub fires this year. Will and Ben moved the pile back to its original location. Very thankful I didn’t have to do that. Although since I am retiring the Firetub this fall, I should have one last social fire soon. What will become of the Firetub? Stay tuned. Same bat time. Same bat channel.


The other family heirloom that was used in this painting project. This step stool also belonged to Grandpa Bennett. When it isn’t being used in painting projects, it holds frog statues. It will no doubt be used when I complete Fall/Winter House Project #2 sometime soon-ish.


This was the Painting Party Cafeteria. Many a burger and dog were consumed here over stimulating conversation. Such as what do you do when you have to go to the bathroom on a 100 mile run? Loyal Instagram followers will recognize the chairs I stripped and painted John Deere colors and the plastic chairs I did a very poor job of painting Iowa State colors. The bench was built by Teresa. It normally is housed between the cherry trees and holds rain gauge no. 2 and more frog statues. Naima enjoyed her time in the cafeteria. Especially when Evie tried to bribe her with a hot dog to go on a walk.


This dog. She was in heaven with so many people around. She converted a couple of kids that were afraid of dogs and was a wonderful playmate for Layla and Evie as well. She even tried to help with the painting.


I set up the tent for its annual airing out and as a place for children to play. I think Jay might have been the one who played with it the most. Willy and Jesse helped set it up. It is always my pleasure helping people learn survival skills.


Naima’s tail got an extra shade of gold when she tried to help with the gate painting.


The best part of painting during the fall is that it doesn’t matter what happens to the flower that surround my buildings. I would have photographed the hosta that Melissa dumped (much to the chagrin of Scottie D.) quite a bit of white paint on, but we all know that hostas are weeds. So who cares what happens to them? Not this guy!


I did almost all the scraping myself. Let me tell you, scraping cedar siding is the worst. Here is just a small sampling of the piles of scraped paint chips that surround my house.


I think I had 5 paint trays going all at once on Sunday. Might have been 6.

So once again. Thanks to everybody that helped me with this project!

If you are wondering what the house actually looks like now, you might have to visit**. Or maybe that will be covered in a blog post in the future. I don’t know what the future holds.

*Actually, I can’t guarantee that the party will be that great***, but the invitations will be very amusing to at least 3, maybe 4 people.
**But don’t ring my doorbell, that freaks me out.
***Although the partial party playlist was endorsed by Anna and she knows about such things. I’m sure.

Insta

Feel like revisiting my Instagram account. It has been a long, long, time.

Obviously, if you follow me on Instagram, like a boss, you’ve already experienced these.

A few of my favorites:


That was fun! We’ll have to do that again sometime!