It was a busy 4th of July. I started the day at about 9 AM by moving mortars into place. Then at 10:30 I went over to Half Shell to help set up and serve beer until about 3 PM. Check out some pictures from Half Shell. Shannon and Matthew… Read More »Independence Day
Saturday was my annual lunch with Mark at The Machine Shed. It seems that it is also becoming a tradition that we get an out of focus picture of us taken together. However, I think it is becoming a trend. Take a look at other pictures I’ve had taken with… Read More »Obfuscate
Last year I went to the Des Moines Arts Festival downtown. I can’t say there was a single thing that impressed me. Only things that left an impression on me. The biggest impression that I left with was the thought, “Wow, no need to go to this thing again.” What… Read More »The Other Art Festival
So I went on a small cruise around Boone County with Becky on Monday night. Here are a few images from that experience. What I learned about Becky from this trip is that there is a strange inconsistency in a person that claims that Halloween is their favorite holiday, but… Read More »Enigmatic
“Half the work that is done in this world is to make things appear what they are not.” -E.R. Beadle
Ames on the Half Shell was rain shortened on Friday night. At least we got in about half of the concert. I only had to go on stage to make a brief speech about our sponsors when it started to rain. I didn’t get a chance to announce last call… Read More »Box Brothers
I believe an important part of being an Iowan is having an opinion on what is the “right color tractor”. I don’t wish to get into this debate. I bring this point up because on Tuesday morning Lowell and I served breakfast with the Meth Men (as Lowell and I… Read More »The Right Color Tractor
Sometimes I forget that I cut an impressive figure. Sometimes I forget that when you are 6’3 inches tall and are rippling with muscles, attitude and intensity to spare you can unintentionally strike fear in to the hearts of others. Back when I was running Campus it was not uncommon… Read More »Burden
Monday night, Scottie D. and I hit the open road on our first foray out into the backwaters of Iowa to find the best tenderloin in the state. We had a little pre-season hiccup out to the Lake Shore Cafe, but now it was time to get serious. Last year… Read More »Tenderloin Quest: The Beginning
I managed to make it through this Sunday’s Sermon/Interview. I don’t think that I embarrassed myself too much and I think at least a few people were touched or were able to relate to my message. I don’t want to re-hash the experience, but I would like to thank Jesse,… Read More »Sunday
Friday was another successful night at Ames on the Half Shell. Well over 400 people came out to see Vivace. I worked admissions and checked IDs, so I didn’t take as many photos as normal. Below is a sampling: Little White Lye Soap Promotional Cup (changes colors) Of course there… Read More »Vivace
I understand that most people will be donating stuff to help out Iowans, but say you don’t like Iowans all that much, I have an alternative for you. That alternative starts with a geography lesson. This is Honduras These are Hondurans Jesse is going to Honduras to do some mission… Read More »Donations Requested
Saturday was Julie’s going away party. Tomorrow is her last day of work and on Friday she heads out to Montana.
If you subscribe to this blog via RSS Feed or e-mail, you will actually have to go to the website to see the video embedded below: This video is a rough cut from Ames on a Half Shell from last Friday. My friend Mike Vest came down and shot some… Read More »Video from Friday
Last Friday was another hugely successful night for Ames on the Half Shell. The band was Burnin’ Sensations and they were phenomenal. Here are a few pictures from the evening. Abi and Melissa Dennis Sara Birthday Girl Scott Derrick Burnin’ Sensations Chad Andy and Charby Working the Picnic Table Possibly… Read More »Burnin’ Sensations
Last Friday was Family Night for Ames on the Half Shell. By all measurable criteria the event was a smashing success. More than twice the amount of children made it to Family Night this year than last. Plus I got to see many of my friends and their children. Take… Read More »Family Night
Monica started working at this restaurant on Sundays: Lake Shore Cafe Monica talked up this joint’s tenderloin. Shortly after hearing about this tenderloin I spoke with Scottie D. Scottie D. was all bummed out because I proposed the idea of a Tenderloin Road Trip in 2007 and then never delivered.… Read More »A New Tenderloin Joint
With all due respect to Dante and his circles of Hell, the only definition of Hell that I have ever been able to get behind is “separation from God”. Now that I have that figured out, I should work on a better definition for Heaven. While it is certainly true… Read More »Heaven and Hell