Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The Man In Black


This is one of my favorites in Leyna's final AP art portfolio. Let me tell you, my little sister can paint.
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Please let me tell you about my morning...

This morning, I was driving home from work. As I skimmed by downtown Minneapolis, I saw billowing smoke rising from what I thought was somewhere near my apartment. As I got closer, I thought the smoke might actually be coming from my neighborhood. I exited, turned toward our house and felt relieved when I realized we weren't on fire. But, curiousity got the better of me and I kept driving closer to the source. I parked, got out, and walked down the street. Roads were closed to cars, but people were still milling about.

I came upon a very surreal scene: A local business building was definitely on fire and fire crews had already arrived. The flames were no longer visible, but smoke was billowing at an incredible rate. Firemen on ladders and on foot kept a continuous stream of water going over the building, while people watched from across the street. Kids were getting off of their buses and heading into the school right next to the building. While there were many spectators, hardly anyone spoke.

I stood among the crowd, one of many taking photos. It felt completely bizarre to be standing so near a sight of chaos and tragedy and not doing anything to help -- or even attempt to help. But, there truly was nothing to be done. I took pictures and thought of the families that were probably waking up to the worst day of their lives.



But, I think God may have wanted to change the subject, as he threw an odd little splash of comedy into the scene shortly thereafter. I had walked a little ways from the crowd, heading toward my car when a young man walked up to me. He asked me if I was with a news crew, and I said I wasn't, but he stayed and started chatting with me. He asked me what I knew about the fire (which was nothing) and then he told me what he knew (which I think he might have made up). I was still taking pictures and I decided to move to another area to try to get a different angle.

After a couple of minutes, I saw the same young man walking my way again. Again, he struck up a conversation. He told me that he went by Zigi (which, if you can imagine, sent up a tiny red flag). He wasn't at all creepy, but I wasn't at all interested. He persisted in making conversation. Then he said, "So, what do you have going on after this?" Now, to me that just seemed like a funny question, considering the situation, but for once in my life I was glad I worked the night shift....It meant I could truly and honestly say I was going home to sleep after a very long day.

But our friend Zigi, he did not give up. He asked when would be a good time to reach me. And I sort of lied. Okay, I really lied. I told him I was moving over the weekend ("Up North," I said). And he asked if I needed help moving. And I said that my dad was coming with him truck and we were going to get everything in one trip.

Finally, (and you have to give him credit for sticking to his guns) Zigi said, "I'll be honest. I'm trying to get with you."


To make a long story short, he gave me his number and asked me to call. And do you think I will? I'll let you decide....

Monday, June 29, 2009

S***.


Let's be honest. Sometimes that is all there is left to say.
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I need a new job.

It is 4:30 in the morning. I am eating frozen waffles and I have "Rock and Roll McDonald's" stuck in my head. I cannot wait to quit this job.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Refined Sugar for the Soul


Leyna's colorful rice crispy teats were full of things I loath individually... But they came together to make something beautiful, delicious, and fatal.
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Wildflowers and Rhubarb Punch

It is officially summer in Minnesota.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

The Dancers' Studio Showcase

So, the majority of the 389 photos that I uploaded today took place at St. Paul's Dancers' Studio. My lovely sister was in her first showcase there today. She's been taking lessons for a number of months now and is getting very good. It was absolutely the feel-good event of the season!
While I know it would more appropriate to have a picture of my sister as the photo of the day, I was in charge of video and didn't get any solid pictures. Sort of a shame, but we got some great video so I can't be too mad.
But, since I didn't get any good ones of the sis, I got to choose my favorite. And this just might be it. This dance was a combination of belly dancing, martial arts, and sword fighting! It was amazing, and this woman is everything I want to be: she wields a sword, has amazing abs, and totally kicked the guy's butt. How's that for inspiration!?
Also, I swear Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln were there dancing as well. Their photo was a close second...

Farmers Market (Week Five?)


The selection have improved...
This week we got onions, radishes, green chiles, bread, and coffee.
STILL, if things do not get better soon I am going to start cheating on the Greeley market with the farmers in Loveland or Ft. Collins.
I realize that some things are not in season yet, but some things (asparagus) were but never made an appearance at our market.


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Friday, June 26, 2009

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Dog Sitting Round Six

For family. This is Tucker. He looks like a toy and thinks like a cat.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Thank you, Jesus, for the blessing of pools. And Floating devices.


A day of small adventures.

This guy is all over town, a different sign every day.
And he always dances. I want to be his friend.

You would have loved to hate it. It appeared to
have the same proportions as the wiener dog
but somehow it was uglier...

Lunch in the airport, my sixth trip there in as many weeks.

And we got to see Leyna, for about a second
before she got on another flight. She drives
me crazy but I am getting bored without her.
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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Friday, June 19, 2009


We drive by this sign all the time. We have no idea what it means, what it is for, or why it is there.


The most exciting part of my day was a little trip to buy a father's day gift...
My father has been crying himself to sleep at night for six months because he did not buy a bicycle bell the last time we went.
So I went to get him one.
I love this place. The happy feelings and the attractive, cheery menn abound. I did not even have a drink :)
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Lake Como

Only this one has paddle boats instead of George Clooney. Pity.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Big Red Barn

I really don't know what else to say about that.

Stories of My Life

'The French Press Photos' is a title more literal than poetic...
I cannot help myself.

I like to think that my life consists of more than books and coffee (not that either is something to complain about)
but at the moment that is pretty much the case.



** I am pretty sure that the High Plains Library District (or anyone in their right mind for that matter) would not condone the standing-upon of books. Hopefully they are not keeping current on the bog-site.
**Sad day: my camera's light meter thing appears to be confused. E rotto. I can guess at shutter speeds and aperture (thanks to a photography class at the community college with Quade once upon a time- changed my life) OR MY CAMERA CAN BEHAVE, which is really what I would pefer. It was fine today because I had time to take a million photos of the coffee pot an play with it (truth be told I learned some things), but if I ever venture out into the real world it will never do... I will work on it tomorrow. And if I cannot figure it out I will just go to Mike's Camera and see if they can.

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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

A Vision At the Gas Station

Only it was not a vision. It was my reflection.
And I am pretty sure I looked a little crazy taking this...
As with many of the photos-of-the-day.
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Baubles and Beads

Well, sort of. One of my cousins recently got back from Nigeria. She sent me this fabulous purse, which is made out of recycled grocery bags. Being someing of a greeny, I really love it. In fact, I'm pretty sure I love it more than I've loved any man. I don't know what that says about me....Or men.

It now hangs on my closet doors with my bells from Simmy and my faux-globe. Now all I need are some Japanese lanterns and I've got myself a homey little slice of globalization.

While I think the items are great, I was not overly satisfied with the photo, so I played around with it. As a whole, I think it looks odd. But it is still my Photo of the Day.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Banana Bread

Today, I made some delicious banana bread and it reminded me of old times when we would...eat banana bread together? Okay, maybe not. But the smell of warm, melting chocolate and molten bananas really did make me think of The Harem. Then I started thinking about all of the wonderful music, hearty laughter, and procrastination that made that year what it was....A little slice of Heaven.
Plus, I had to steal some butter from my roommates to make it happen, which really reminded me of old times. ;)

Union Pacific


I wish I had photoshop so I could correct the distorted unparallelness... It makes me a little bit crazy.
But I love the train, even when I have to stop for it.


In totally unrelated news, more family/car drama and an adventure at the tire place. Less of an adventure and more of an errand that evolved into something traumatic. But the reason I tell this story is that there were nice boys there. Nice to me. Nice to look at. And do not usually find tire-replacing types attractive. Is Franklin to blame for this? And why can I not encounter such individuals in inexpensive a less painful situations?!

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Monday, June 15, 2009

The Albino Squirrel of Seward/University

Please take extra notice of the shockingly frightening red eyes!

Someeeeeewwhhhhhhhheeeeeeeerrrrrrreeeeeeee.

That is how you sing cheesy songs by typing. Can you hear it?

(Photo coming... From another camera)

The Legend of St. Urho

Under this statue, the plaque reads: "One of the lesser known but extraodinary legends of ages past is the legend of St. Urho-patron saint of the Finnish vinyard workers. Before the last glacial period, wild grapes grew with abundance in the area now known as Finland. Archeaologists have discovered evidence of this scratched on the thigh bones of the giant bears that once roamed through northern Europe. The wild grapes were threatened by a plague of grasshoppers until St. Urho banished the lot of them with a few selected Finnish words. In memory of this impressive demonstration of the Finnish language, Finnish people celebrate on March 16th, the day before St. Patrick's Day. It tends to serve as a reminder that St. Pat's Day is just around the corner and is thus celebrated by squares on at sunrise on March 16th. Finnish women and children dressed in royal purple and nile green gather around the shores of the many lakes in Finland and chant what St. Urho chanted many years ago. "Heinasirkka, heinasirkka, menetaalta hiiteen" (translated, "Grasshopper, grasshopper, go away!"). Adult male (people, not grasshoppers) dressed in green costumes gather on the hills overlooking the lakes, listen to the chant, and then kicking out like grasshoppers, they slowly disappear to change costumes from green to purple. The celebration ends with singing and dancing polkas and schottisches and drinking grape juice, though these activities may occur in varying sequences. Color for the day is royal purple and nile green."


I cannot think of a more anticlimactic legend. And yet, it seemed to fit.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

I love this park.

On the river, halfway up the mountain on the way to Estes Park. Just for the record, I really love it. And the drive there.
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My Soul is Satisfied by the Freshest of Air.


Had the pslamists been driving here they would have said as much.
I am satisfied not only by the air, but by the fact that this photo looks like what it really looked like.
Minus that THING That is still on my lens (Out, out damn spot).

My erractic quoting and misquoting is out of control and I need to stop.
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