Up a Tree

23 August 2007
This day was done. I was done. Completely shattered and not wishing much in the way of company. I was nearly relieved when Terrill decided not to join me at the bar (that doens't happen very frequently). With no company, I decided to go home and spend a quiet evening at the house. I pulled into the driveway, got out of my little Mitshubishi and walked to this massive Black Oak that resides in my front yard. I placed the camera against the bark and shot upward not even bothering to compose. I took four shots that way, moving the camera a little each time to achieve a different view. I like this one:

It sort of composed itself with the ivy moving to a vanishing point that exists at about the spot that the overhead branches diverge. I might very well have even composed the shot that way. On the left hand side there is a fuzzy little blur. That is a web-worm, or tent-caterpillar, or whatever you call those vile little parasites. I killed it.
Cheers.

~KR (23 August 2007)

Listening to:
Coverville-051018 by Brian Ibbott

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PHOTOBLOG, OAK, TREE, NATURE, PHOTO, TEXAS, COVERVILLE

The Tap-In

22 August 2007
How very little time it takes to get back to the common, the familiar, the mundane. I've only been home one day, yet after work, because there's no one to go home to (dogs only slightly count on that front), I went to a bar with Terrill. I do this frequently for several reasons. I love the way it affords me an opportunity to wind down after yet another stressful day at work. i enjoy Terrill's (and whoever else shows up) company. I like beer.

This is the Tap-In. It's in Grapevine. Not my normal stomping grounds, but Terrill had a meeting up North in the Grapevine/Southlake area and I went up there. It caused me no pain, and the Tap-In is a nice enough joint. I would prefer it much more if the cigars they sell next door weren't allowed to be smoked. But, hey it's a bar, right? Although rumour has it that Grapevine is about to go smoke-free. Maybe Ft. Worth would grow some balls and follow suit since they seem incapable of leading the way.
Cheers.

~KR (22 August 2007)

Listening to:
Chickenman by Indigo Girls
on Rites Of Passage

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 58 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PHOTOBLOG, TAP-IN, GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, INDIGO+GIRLS, PHOTO, JOURNAL

The Stack

21 August 2007
Tuesday, and I'm home. What a wonderful last few days this was. One of the best trips I think I've ever had to Wisconsin. Weather was great (I love the rain, thank you very much), many good times and laughs were had and shared. Could it have been more grand? The only sad part is that there now exists some 2000+ miles between my family & friends in Wisconsin and myself. That, and this stack of mail!

That's four days worth of crap that filled my mailbox. A handful of bills, some Netflix videos, a few magazines & catalogues, but the majority of it will end up in recycling in the very near future. It's so very, very wasteful. But, I have my dogs back (thanks again, Ron & Family) and that pleases me. So, I'll continue on my merry way here in Texas while some of my dearest friends, and my wife, continue to enjoy their lifes & lifestyles in Wisconsin.
Cheers.

~KR (21 August 2007)

Listening to:
There You'll Be by Faith Hill
on Pearl Harbor Soundtrack

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.8 sec (4/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: MAIL, USPS, VACATION, JUNK+MAIL

The Window

20 August 2007 How could we possibly top yesterday's events? We tried. It was a late start to the day and when we finally did get moving, I was pretty famished. My only criteria was "someplace I've not been." So, off we went for some, fairly decent, Tex-Mex at El Sarape in Kenosha. We were joined for sustenance by Shannon, Kelly & Joseph. A short shopping trip and a little bit of driving later, we found ourselves pretty near our ultimate destination for the day. Since we were a little early, we stopped by this German-looking...and named, placed, Gerhard's. We were the only two in the restaurant so had the full attention of the bar-tender. Marita Beth was kind of beer'ed out, but I can almost always be talked into one. I had a delightful season brew from Berghoff's and took this photo of the stained glass in the bar area.
I hope to return there some day for dinner (the menu looked very inviting). From Gerhard's we made our way a few blocks to Chad's house for a house-warming party that was, once again, great fun and filled with fine food & friends. A batch of noshes & a gallery reading later, and we were both shattered and ready to head home, sadly. Tomorrow, I head home.
Cheers.

~KR (20 August 2007)

Listening to:
Cinderella Search by Marillion
on Kayleigh

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 30.7 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, GERHARD'S, STAINED+GLASS, FLOWER, WINDOW

What a Day

19 August 2007 What a day. For the first time since Bristol Faire became Bristol Faire, it did not open on a day it was supposed to open. The rain was soft and gentle and sporadic most of Saturday until about 8pm. The skies opened. It rained hard and harder and then hard again until about 8am. That 12 hours and nearly 7" of rain prompted a difficult decision -- to not open. It was primarily for the safety of the patrons that this decision was made, and I for one, applaud the choice. But, you know what this meant? Exploration day! We had been meaning to go to Kenosha on Monday, but presented with this opportunity how could we not take advantage. So, into town we went in search of what had been described to me as, "the best hamburger you'll ever have." The description wasn't far off. Spanky's truly has one of the best burgers I've ever had the pleasure of eating. The joint itself wasn't too bad, either. I could spend time there. From there, we went out to the shore of Lake Michigan and took many photos of rocks and water spray and waves and lighthouses and each other. Much fun. Then, we joined Kat & Sean and Amber for a few more beers and made hystericals over my lack of hearing ("Don't Make Me Fuck a Latte, No!"). The day was starting to get a little long in the tooth and we were still in Kenosha, we'd made plans for dinner with Joseph and Kelly (even having so recently seen them for lunch at Spankys - we really do love those two). So, we trundled through the rain and floody places toward Racine on the WI32. Suddenly a loud "ohhh, I want a picture of that!" spun my head, but not in time. I turned around and drove into the parking area of Carthage University to get a photo of this Red Bridge that Marita Beth had espied from the 32. I had to escape the car in order to get a photo, but being in sandles I didn't wish to walk too far in the wet, muddy grass. Nonetheless, I think the photo is quite nice in and of itself, even without the surrounding narrative.

And still, the day wasn't over. We picked up J & K and headed to the Carlton Grange in Milwaukee for a delightful meal. That's a place I could easily spend too much time and money in. Quite late in the evening, Marita Beth and I returned home to her abode sated, happy and in love.
Cheers.

~KR (19 August 2007)

Listening to:
Lullaby by On the Rocks
on OTR

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: Carthage, Bridge, Racine, Wisconsin, Cloudy, Storm, Rain, Kenosha

Through the Screen

18 August 2007 Some would call Marita Beth's life glamorous, or full of adventure. Some are even jealous of her travelling schedule. I think if those folk knew the truth, they might think otherwise. Certainly there are aspects of her life that are to be envied or emulated. But, when you recall the specifics of her living arrangements, perhaps it's not so grand.
This photo is taken from inside her living quarters. It spans across the catwalk that she must traverse every time she wishes to leave her space; the photo continues on to look over the roof that she must walk on to get to the stairs; there we get a view of the rail that prevents her from falling off the roof in the middle of the night. The photo is taken through the screen, which causes a little bit of fuzziness to the photo and a cool star-pattern from the lights, but ultimately is there to keep out the dog-sized mosquitos that litter the air. Yes, there is much to admire about Marita Beth and her lifestyle, but at times, I don't envy it so much. All I can say is that I miss her terribly when she's gone.
Cheers.

~KR (18 August 2007)

Listening to:
Post Script by Gary Burton & Chick Corea
on Native Sense

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.3 sec (3/10)
Aperture: f/3.1
Focal Length: 21.3 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: Bristol, Renaissance, Faire