Category Archives: Nature

Vacation Day 6 – Campus

I don’t recall if I woke up in my own bed or on my own couch on Thursday morning, but I definitely slept good and solid after getting home close to midnight the previous night. I think that I was able to fall asleep rather quickly after the 3.5 hour Funyun and Grape Faygo fueled drive.

I met Shannon for lunch at Battle’s. She explained to me her current sources of stress. I explained to her the Christopher D. Bennett Apathy Method of Stress Management. Although she possesses the intellect to grasp the basic tenets of the system, I have my doubts that she will give up her stress to the brilliance of my system.

After Shannon returned to work I picked Nader up from the west Ames location of the Evil Clown Empire. Since VEISHEA we had discussed spending part of a day on the beautiful Iowa State campus taking pictures. I had one spot in mind in particular to complete a Personal Photo Project, but those pictures will have to wait until it is their turn to be revealed to the world.

However, here is quite a sizable collection of other pictures that I took on that day:


Vacation - 2010
Nader by one of his favorite trees.

Vacation Day 6

Vacation Day 6

Vacation Day 6

Vacation Day 6

Vacation Day 6

Vacation Day 6

Vacation - 2010
Nader next to his favorite picture.

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Vacation Day 6

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Vacation - 2010

Vacation Day 6

Vacation Day 6

Vacation Day 6

Still Laughing - 2010

Vacation Day 6

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

After the time on the ISU campus we hit a movie and had dinner. It was a perfectly acceptable way to conclude the month of the Lone Wolf Off. I have yet to submit the panel to the 3 judges, but I have no doubt that I won this baby with ease! I think Willy has even conceded and fully endorsed the fact that he is The Salmon!

Vacation Stuff – Two

Here are a few pictures from another mini-adventure. I will not answer questions about this trip, (it was a spiritual quest and that is all you need to know) but I will let leak the following tidbits:

  • Faust really hates nature. Perhaps even more than Bill fears nature.
  • I was proud of Jay. He confronted his fear of waterfalls by not immediately running out of the park when he came face to face with the trickle of water that fell down a face of some rocks.
  • Jackson will make a great Ranger some day. He already lives by the creed: “No man left behind.”


Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009

Mankato Road Trip - 2009


I look forward to another trip to Minnesota at some point in the future.

Lousy with People

I spent a good portion of Sunday at Ledges. Unfortunately, the place was packed, but I was able to take some photos.


Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

Lousy with People

While I was sitting on the Lost Lake Trail, a gust of wind blew that baby bird out of a tree and onto the trail. A few minutes later, I was several feet away taking pictures of bullfrogs, when an elderly couple and their dog came walking down that trail.

The dog didn’t even break stride while scooping the baby bird into its mouth. The elderly couple spent quite some time pulling that bird out of their dogs mouth and then removing its remains from the trail with a pair of sticks.

Skin to Win

A lifetime ago I knew this girl that was entering a wet t-shirt contest. She was explaining to Jesse, Jay and I her strategy for winning this contest.

We tried our best to explain to her that there really is only one strategy for winning a wet t-shirt contest.

That strategy, of course, is “Skin to Win!”

She didn’t believe us.

While you are probably wondering why I am telling you the story of somebody that would sell their dignity so cheaply, the answer is simple. On a recent wet morning, I wandered out of my house and took a few pictures of some wet plants.

I hope you find them to be as sexy as I do.


Wet Stuff

Wet Stuff

Wet Stuff

Wet Stuff

Wet Stuff

Wet Stuff

Wet Stuff

Wet Stuff

If you are wondering, this girl’s strategy was about teasing. She did in fact lose to a girl that knew the cardinal rule of wet t-shirt contests.

Arizona Day 6

Day 6 in Arizona was more work. At the conclusion of the work day, we were bused out into the “middle of the desert” for a “western roundup” party.

If you could get away from the cheeseball band that was lip syncing and playing to backing tracks, it was a pretty good time.

This was a costume party and I had made a deal with Jesse that if he paid for a costume, I would wear it. Well as it turns out, the costume did not fit, unless I desired to become a eunuch.

I do not desire to be a eunuch. Fortunately, no pictures of me in this costume currently exist.

Jesse’s bull costume, did fit and it was a smashing success.


Arizona Vacation

Arizona Vacation

Arizona Vacation

Arizona Vacation

Arizona Vacation

Arizona Vacation
Jesse bull riding.

Arizona Vacation
Jim

Arizona Vacation
Eric

Arizona Vacation
Frank

Arizona Vacation
Jennifer

After the party, there was only a half day’s worth of work left.

Arizona Day 4

Jesse and I woke up in Coolidge, Arizona and made our way to a local diner for breakfast. This place was certainly McCain Country.

We sat at the breakfast counter and listened to a couple locals complain about the governor for “being nice” to Obama. They agreed that the governor was not going to be re-elected and what made her near criminal offense even more difficult to fathom – “And she’s even a Republican!”

As I sat down at the breakfast counter I noticed that staring back at us was an NRA poster. Next to the NRA poster was a poster of John Wayne in front of an American flag with the line:

“Tell me again, why the hell do I have to dial “1” for English.”

Although I wasn’t going to order a side dish of prejudice with a sprinkling of racism with my breakfast, I got it any way.

Next to the poster of John Wayne was a poster for a fundraiser that was related to Easter. The fundraiser was a raffle. The winner of the raffle won a Glock 9mm.

I guess that makes sense, if you recall John 23:

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again, packing heat, perhaps a Glock 9mm.”

There was also some terrible artwork for sale in this joint.


Arizona Day 4
I don’t know what is more confusing. The lighthouse, the clock or the reference to the comic stylings of Larry the Cable Guy.

Arizona Day 4
Tag’s Cafe

Arizona Day 4
Tag’s Cafe

Arizona Day 4
Tag’s Cafe

Arizona Day 4
The owners of this establishment did not like me taking pictures of their building.

Arizona Day 4
It is probably for the best that this game has been lost to the ages. It would be just one more game that I would dominate.

Arizona Day 4
Did you get a picture of a cactus?

Arizona Day 4
Did you get a black and white picture of a cactus? Okay, nobody asked that question.

Arizona Day 4
Cliche picture of a guy next to a tall cactus.

Arizona Day 4
Hohokam ruins.

Arizona Day 4
Jesse getting his learn on.

Arizona Day 4
The Big House, not the one in Ann Arbor.

Arizona Day 4
More mud ruins.

Arizona Day 4
More ruins.

Arizona Day 4
Jesse all tuckered out from a big day of looking at Hohokam ruins.

It should be noted that despite having a culture that runs contrary to my value system, Tag’s Cafe was easily the best meal I had my entire time in Arizona. Sorry Del Taco.

Arizona Day 3 – Part B

After we Del Taco, we returned to the park with the small mountain.


Arizona Day 3
A hole in the roof of the mini-mountain.

Arizona Day 3
Eric looking down on all that he rules after he ascended the peak of the mini-mountain.

Arizona Day 3
More Eric.

Arizona Day 3
The view from the mini-mountain.

Arizona Day 3
Lowell and Jesse

Arizona Day 3
Mini-mountain

Arizona Day 3
Lowell, Eric and Jesse

Arizona Day 3
Eric descending the mini-mountain.

Arizona Day 3
Another view.

Arizona Day 3
Eric on the mini-mountaintop.

Arizona Day 3
The not so rugged group photo by a parking lot.

Arizona Day 3
Look, we could be out in the middle of the wilderness!

Arizona Day 3
Yet another view.

Arizona Day 3
Air Force One

Arizona Day 3
The tomb of some guy who was such a big jerk, he wouldn’t let anybody else be governor of Arizona.

That evening we dropped Eric and Lowell back off at the resort and made the arduous journey out to Coolidge, Arizona. McCain Country.

Arizona Day 3 – Part A

Some pictures from Day 3 in Arizona.


Arizona Day 3
Peavy and Young

Arizona Day 3
The guy that I hope wins the #5 Starter Spot

Arizona Day 3
The new closer.

Arizona Day 3
Some Mariner

Arizona Day 3
Some Mariner

Arizona Day 3
Spring Training Home of the Cubs

Arizona Day 3
More Hohokam

Arizona Day 3
Image from the Road

Arizona Day 3
I’d never eaten at a Del Taco. I endorse it and its slogan of going “Bold or Going Home”.

Arizona Day 3
Prior

Arizona Day 3
This guy kicks us out of Hohokam.

Arizona Day 3
Lowell and Jesse with their purchases.

Arizona Day 3
A dead cactus.

Jesse and I spent the morning watching the Padres and Mariners practice. Then we picked up Lowell and Eric at the resort and went to the Cubs practice field. Plus we ate at a Del Taco. Then when went to the “mountain” that Jesse and I had visited on the previous day.