By the time this entry publishes, Baby Got Rack will already have competed in the State Fair Cookoff. Pictures from that will be coming in the future.
I will remind you that I have two pictures on display at the Photography Salon in the Cultural Building. I’ll reveal what pictures I entered and what pictures got displayed this coming Sunday.
But for now, here are the balance of pictures from my trip to the Iowa State Fair in 2017.
I do love me some Iowa State Fair!
One of the things that stunk about the end of 2017 was the closing of The Legal Limit. Despite having an absolutely terrible name, The Legal Limit had great food. I ate breakfast there with my Mom about every Saturday. Sometimes I would go up there on Thursday nights for $2 burgers. However, the main thing I loved about The Legal Limit was they had a great tenderloin. A tenderloin that was a direct descendant of BK’s great tenderloin.
With the closing of The Legal Limit, Boone was without a great tenderloin. Boone. The home base of the Tenderloin Appreciation Society. Doesn’t have a great tenderloin. The humanity!
Then in early 2018 rumors began to percolate that the building that The Legal Limit occupied was going to house a new restaurant. The first people that bought it, backed out and never opened their doors.
Then another person bought it and opened it back up under the name Roosters.
I was excited. As long as they had a great tenderloin.
Shortly after they opened up my Mom and I went there for breakfast. Since The Legal Limit’s closing we had begun breakfasting at The Whistle Stop. Nothing against The Whistle Stop. They have great service and great food. However, it is really small. Really small. Sometimes there isn’t any place to sit.
The first Saturday we tried Roosters, things were promising. Our old The Legal Limit waitress was there. The food was good and the service was good.
So we came back the next Saturday. Our old waitress was gone. She was replaced with what I’m guessing was a high school girl (I’m really bad at telling the ages of anybody under the age of let’s say 25) and this had to be either her first job or at least her first food service job. Anything you wanted, you had to ask her for 3 times. This is not an exaggeration. It was like on the 3rd time hearing something, something magically clicked and she would actually bring you the drinks you order 15 minutes ago. It just wasn’t drinks though. We had to ask 3 times for silverware. 3 times for sugar substitute for the coffee. 3 times for syrup for the pancakes.
I am pretty forgiving of bad service. If it occasional. Or if it a new restaurant just starting up. Or if there is some contrition.
So, we went back there again the following Saturday. It was the exact same story. The food was good enough. The service was still atrocious. Every time you needed something, (LIKE SILVERWARE), you had to ask 3 times. What made it frustrating was that it was an entirely different waitress. The entire staff (minus our old waitress) apparently is given zero training. Just a figurative ((hopefully) slap on the rump and told to get out there and do some waitressin’. Doesn’t matter if they have no clue what to do. Even the basics, like people need silverware to eat things like biscuits and gravy.
My Mom and I have returned to breakfasting at The Whistle Stop Cafe and haven’t looked back. A place where pretty much every Saturday the owner stops by our table and asks how everything was.
So it was under this shadow that Scottie D. and I decided to give them a try. Even before having atrocious service in back to back weeks I offered to Scottie D. that maybe we should give them 2 months before bringing our extremely high standards to their doorstep.
Scottie D. (who is still in the management field) offered, “They should be firing on all cylinders as soon as they open their doors for business.”
While I agree with Scottie D. in principle, I also live in the real world, where I know that just isn’t the case for most businesses. Especially restaurants/bars.
We picked a Thursday night and agreed to meet up there at about 7:30. I got there a little before 7:30. I sat down and ordered a Pepsi and their chicken wings for an appetizer. They talk up their chicken wings on their Facebook page. The place was virtually empty. There was a guy drinking at the bar. There were maybe a couple more people there.
Scottie D. was waiting to get done with Porter’s ball practice. Scottie D. brought Melissa, Austin, Porter, and a spare kid with them. They showed up about 8 PM. They arrived before the chicken wings.
Here are the pictures from the night:
Austin’s Chicken Tenders Meal. That is 1 Chicken Tender and 5 French Fries. Yep.
It took forever to get our food. I guess I will say this, the waitress was for the most part competent. She got our order right. She checked in on us now and again. It wasn’t her fault that it took forever to get our food.
That being said…
When we asked about the new owner, she pointed to the bar. The owner was sitting at the bar drinking. Not a good sign. What made it worse was every once in awhile our waitress would go over to the bar and have a shot with him.
The kids Chicken Tender Meal consisted of 1 chicken tender and 5 french fries.
Nowhere on the menu does it indicate that there are any dipping sauces for the chicken wings. Nor were any offered. But on the receipt it was marked with Ranch. Which I didn’t get, nor was I offered.
When Scottie D. went to the restroom he noted that nobody in the kitchen was wearing gloves. Also, there was nothing in the bathroom to wash your hands. Which makes the fact that they weren’t wearing gloves, worse.
Yet, the tenderloin was pretty good. Not 45 minute wait when there is nobody in the restaurant good, but pretty good.
THE GOOD
THE BAD
THE UGLY
We had our experience the first week of June. We haven’t been back. If the tenderloin was say Nick’s or Cole’s quality, I might be willing to wait 45 minutes. It isn’t.
Next time I write about tenderloining, it will involve a special tenderloining guest. The location for the tenderloining will be Ames, Iowa.
There is a bit of variety in the folders 06-22-08 & 06-23-08.
There are pictures of Elainie playing softball.
There are pictures of an Ames on the Half Shell concert. Vivace I believe.
There are pictures of Scottie D. and I tenderloining.
Have a look:
By adding these pictures to the Photography 139 Photo Gallery, I was able to restore the following “An Artist’s Notebook” journal entries to their original glory:
Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will involve more Ames on the Half Shell, tractors, the most accurate nickname I was ever given, and a wedding. The wedding if I’m feeling ambitious.
First of all, thanks to everybody who voted to determine what pictures I will enter in the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. I have the 6 entries determined and will be ordering them this weekend.
Pufferbilly Days is September 7, 8, and 9 this year. You can see the photos at the new KWBG Building. That is located on the corner of 9th and Keeler. I don’t know for certain, but my sister Carla will most likely be entering photos as well. She did last year and did very well. There is also a fair chance that frequent WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE contributor Mike Vest will be entering as well.
Other Pufferbilly Days activities you might enjoy watching. Bethany will be running in the 10K. I don’t that Willy is, but I bet he does.
I normally don’t recommend going to parades. They are boring. Too long. Also, they are boring. However, you might want to give some consideration to going to the parade this year. While it isn’t a certainty, there is a pretty good chance I’ll be in the parade for Boone First United Methodist Church. Represent!
Also, on September 8, I’ll be opening the doors of the Union Street Theater* for an Iowa State-Team Out East Game Watch. All Cyclone fans are invited! Hawk fans, I think I can find an old analog television I can set up for you to watch in the garage. Kickoff is 4 PM. There will be snacks. You never know, I might have a popcorn machine by then. Probably not though. I have an electricity thing that I need done and all my electrician type friends have fallen through.
There is a rumor that Baby Got Rack will be competing in a barbecue contest on the Sunday of Pufferbilly Days, but they don’t list such a contest on the Pufferbilly Days website, so stay tuned for more information on that. Otherwise, you can come down to the Iowa State Fair on Tuesday to support us as we compete in the barbecue contest down there. Although, admittedly, we won’t be going all out down there. If there is a Pufferbilly Days contest, we will be bringing out the Cow. Probably Sir-Pigs-a-Lot as well. Stay tuned!
+++++++
This is your reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is FEAR!
I would describe the difference between a FEAR photo and a SCARY photo as a SCARY photo is a picture of something SCARY while a FEAR photo is a reaction to something SCARY. However, feel free to interpret the theme any way you see fit.
Happy photo harvesting!
+++++++
A week or so back, a nice little storm ripped through Boone. I used it as a good opportunity to knock out Page 86 of THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT:
This is the water tower that is about a block from where I live. The exposure compensation for this picture was set at -2.3.
Although I took several pictures, only one can be physically adhered into the physical PHOTO JOURNAL. The physical PHOTO JOURNAL is housed at Photography 139 Studio. It can be seen by appointment. It is protected by the Photography 139 security dog when I am not there.
Here are the ones that won’t be in the book:
-3.0
-2.7
-3.0
-4.0
-2.3
-2.0
-2.3
-2.3
-3.7
-4.0, but this one also had a lot of Photoshop tinkering done to it.
Next time we check into THE PHOTO JOURNAL PROJECT, we will probably visit Page 52, but nothing in life is certain, but death and taxes and Iowa football players getting arrested. For mistaking a police car. For an Uber.
*The Union Street Theater Movie Club’s August meeting will be August 26. Projector rolls at 6 PM. This month the double feature is bird themed. The B movie will be BIRDEMIC 2: THE RESURRECTION. The feature film will be the Alfred Hitchcock classic THE BIRDS. Snacks may also be bird themed. Or not. I have to talk to a guy.
2018 Pufferbilly Days Runoff Polls.
Don’t forget to hit the vote button after making your selection.
Vote in both polls!
Thanks for your participation!
+++++++
Today is the first day of the Iowa State Fair. Don’t forget that I have 2 pictures on display at the Iowa State Fair Photography Salon in the Cultural Building. You better go check them out!
+++++++
Hitting up the 2017 back log. A bunch of tractors came to Boone back in July of 2017. I honestly can’t remember the reason why right now. I’m pretty sure it was part of the annual WHO tractor ride thing.
The reason is irrelevant though.
What matters is I went out to where they were parked during the last few drops of sunlight and took some photos.
Here are those photos:
The weird thing is that some of the tractors were the right color, but had weird names like Oliver on them. Strange.
2 Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest polls ended in ties. Therefore, there will be a 24 hour run-off for both of those polls.
Polls close 8 AM Friday, August 10.
Therefore, go to this link and vote in these 2 polls to determine the last 2 Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest entries.
Or, if you are already on the website, you can just scroll down and vote in the polls here.
2018 Pufferbilly Days Runoff Polls.
Don’t forget to hit the vote button after making your selection.
Vote in both polls!
Thanks for your participation!
REMINDER
NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN’T VOTED YET, VOTE!!! 4 CATEGORIES ARE SEPARATED BY 1 VOTE. 1 IS SEPARATED BY 2 VOTES. THE LAST CATEGORY IS SEPARATED BY 3 VOTES.
It is once again time for me (and by me, I mean you guys) to pick out my photos to enter in the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. Once again, I am going to leave it up to a popular vote.
The Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest allows you to enter up to 6 photos.
There are 4 Categories:
1. Nature
2. Photojournalism
3. Photoshop Enhanced
4. Hidden Treasures of Boone County.
I have selected 60 images for you to consider. To simplify things, I have split the 60 photos into 6 sets of 10. If you wish to exercise your enfranchisement, clicking on the link below will take you to Poll #1. Vote for one of those pictures and then move onto the next poll, until you have voted in all six polls.
The winner of EACH poll will be entered into the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest.
Click on the link below to start voting:
Voting will end at midnight, August 8.
+++++++
REMINDER!!
1 week today Baby Got Rack will competing at the Iowa State Fair. We will be registered and set up by 8 AM. Probably well before that. We judging is at 10 AM. Awards will be announced at 12 PM. We will be making Baby Got Rack’s award winning pizza.
If you are going to the Iowa State Fair early next Tuesday, stop by and say hi to me and Scottie D.! There will probably be a couple more there as well.
+++++++
Hitting that back log. Here are some pictures from my trip to the Iowa State Fair last year!
i got a few more pictures from last year’s trip to the State Fair still to come!
REMINDER
It is once again time for me (and by me, I mean you guys) to pick out my photos to enter in the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. Once again, I am going to leave it up to a popular vote.
The Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest allows you to enter up to 6 photos.
There are 4 Categories:
1. Nature
2. Photojournalism
3. Photoshop Enhanced
4. Hidden Treasures of Boone County.
I have selected 60 images for you to consider. To simplify things, I have split the 60 photos into 6 sets of 10. If you wish to exercise your enfranchisement, clicking on the link below will take you to Poll #1. Vote for one of those pictures and then move onto the next poll, until you have voted in all six polls.
The winner of EACH poll will be entered into the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest.
Click on the link below to start voting:
Voting will end at midnight, August 8.
+++++++
If your name is Micky and you are a purpose of a cowardly disposition, be warned, snakes lie ahead!
Normally I don’t like to warn people that there might be something they find scary or offensive ahead. However, I know Micky is particularly scared of snakes. So much so, that he brokered a deal with his wife that she handles any snakes that they come across along the path of their wedded bliss.
The hype about him being a great outdoorsman might be a little overhyped.
Now that little bit of unpleasantness is out of the way, the images that come from the folder 06-14-08 are mostly from Ames on the Half Shell. However, some involve a snake. Some involve the Ames Party Bus.
Here are the pictures:
The snake was in Shorty and Doris’ flowerbed. The band that was playing Ames on the Half Shell was Burnin’ Sensations. They are still together and still playing. I haven’t seen them in several years, but back in the day, they used to be a real fun band to watch play.
By adding these pictures to the Photography Gallery, I was able to restore the following historic “An Artist’s Notebook” entries to their original glory:
There are more pictures from the Burnin’ Sensations that I didn’t include in this blog, but you can peruse them by clicking on the link below:
Next week’s walk down memory lane will involve more Ames on the Half Shell, some Little League, and maybe, just maybe some tenderloining.
REMINDER
It is once again time for me (and by me, I mean you guys) to pick out my photos to enter in the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. Once again, I am going to leave it up to a popular vote.
The Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest allows you to enter up to 6 photos.
There are 4 Categories:
1. Nature
2. Photojournalism
3. Photoshop Enhanced
4. Hidden Treasures of Boone County.
I have selected 60 images for you to consider. To simplify things, I have split the 60 photos into 6 sets of 10. If you wish to exercise your enfranchisement, clicking on the link below will take you to Poll #1. Vote for one of those pictures and then move onto the next poll, until you have voted in all six polls.
The winner of EACH poll will be entered into the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest.
Click on the link below to start voting:
Voting will end at midnight, August 8.
As of this writing, if there are no votes between now and the end of the voting, these will be the Entries:
+++++++
A friendly reminder that this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is TREE:
A TREE picture is any picture that involves a TREE or a TREE byproduct.
Happy photo harvesting!
+++++++
I must have flowers, always and always.
-Claude Monet
Monet is one of my favorite painters and his work is definitely an influence on my photography. There was a point that I could argue that my most popular photo was named after Monet’s personal garden. I called the photo “My Giverny”.
I respect Monet’s love of flowers. I like to have a wide variety of flowers in my yard. Of course, I always have to visit the Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fair.
These are the balance of pictures from my trip to the Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fair last year:
I have more State Fair pictures to share at some point in the future. The near future.
REMINDER
It is once again time for me (and by me, I mean you guys) to pick out my photos to enter in the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. Once again, I am going to leave it up to a popular vote.
The Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest allows you to enter up to 6 photos.
There are 4 Categories:
1. Nature
2. Photojournalism
3. Photoshop Enhanced
4. Hidden Treasures of Boone County.
I have selected 60 images for you to consider. To simplify things, I have split the 60 photos into 6 sets of 10. If you wish to exercise your enfranchisement, clicking on the link below will take you to Poll #1. Vote for one of those pictures and then move onto the next poll, until you have voted in all six polls.
The winner of EACH poll will be entered into the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest.
Click on the link below to start voting:
Voting will end at midnight, August 8.
+++++++
This is the final collection of photos from my road trip to Maquoketa Caves State Park with Willy and Jay. All the way back in July of 2017.
It was a great road trip and I want to go on another road trip here in the near future. Just need to find a crew. Hmmmm…
Any ways, here are the balance of caves pictures
I can’t endorse Maquoketa Caves State Park enough. Although when you go on a Saturday in the summer, that place is beyond packed!
