Storm Rolling In Wednesday, Aug 22 2007

22 August 2007

Day Fifty at Bristol

The mosquitoes are taking over the world!  They are everywhere, at all times.  And still, it rains.

The rain did quit for most of the day.  The sun even came out for the afternoon—and made us all miserable for a while.  M-U-G-G-Y!  But, at about six o’clock, the most amazing front moved through the area.  The clouds were at once, both beautiful and frightening.  As I left Racine, and headed back toward faire, I tried to capture the mood with this photo, but I’m afraid I failed. 

The rain held off another half-hour or so, and except for a few moments here and there, it hasn’t stopped. 

Let’s just hope it stops before Saturday!

~MB 

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The Pub Wednesday, Aug 22 2007

17 August 2007
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Home to the largest Irish Festival in the United States. Also home to Highbury Pub:

Some weeks back, my friend Joseph sent me an email. Contained in that email was simply www.thehighbury.com/. Now, those who know me, as Joseph so obviously does, know that I have a love (call it what it is…it’s an obsession) with the Arsenal FC. That passion stretches back to the early 70’s when I was but a wee tot on my Da’s knee watching footy on the telly in black & white. To find a pub in Milwaukee so obviously dedicated to the religion that is football and the specific denomination that is Arsenal filled me with an almost rapturous joy. A pilgrimage was on the horizon and I was going to take advantage of the fact that I was headed to Milwaukee for the Irish Festival to visit this mecca. It was closed.
Several more attempts were made to visit this shrine-they all failed to bear fruit. Perhaps the fruit would have been poison, who knows. One day, I will have a pint while watching my Gunners thrash some Spurs or perhaps some Red Devils or Blues while sitting on a stool in this hallowed place. Until then, I can only hope that the envisioned heaven matches the reality.
Cheers.

~KR (17 August 2007)

Listening to:
Go Insane by Lower Class Brats
on a SXSW 2007 Showcasing Artists compilation

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 13.7 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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Blue House Wednesday, Aug 22 2007

16 August 2007

The Maison Manussier in Wisconsin. I try not to be jealous, it’s such an ugly emotion. But, in this case, I well and truly am envious in so many ways. Joseph and Kelly have such a delightful house in such a beautiful old historic city. There’s just not much to not be jealous about.
I arrived in Chicago, made my rounds, had my meetings and listened in on my calls. Long before I was done, I was done—simply because I knew what it was leading to. I was entering vacation mode. Marita Beth was a little later than anticipated in picking me up, but that was fine as there really was quite a bit of work to do. When she did get there, we shot immediately northbound on the 94 to Racine, Wisconsin for a party at the Maison Manussier. A great, fun party with marvelous food, good beer and great friends. What more could I ask for to start the vacation off right? And yes, the sky was every bit as grey as it looks.
Cheers.

~KR (16 August 2007)

Listening to:
Misirlou by E Muzeki
on Mavra Matia

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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Travellin’ Hound Wednesday, Aug 22 2007

15 August 2007
Thank you Ron & Tracy. Thanks for watching our puppies for us while I went North for most of a week. Your ability to do this for us is such a boon, such a blessing. Thank you.
This is Cormac.

You’ve met him before. He loves to travel. I was driving down the highway and I could see him running back and forth along the back seat in my rear-view mirror. Without looking, I snapped this photo over my shoulder of his frantic antics.
Personally I like the abstract; the way the photo composed itself without my assistance.
Cheers.

~KR (15 August 2007)

Listening to:
Round and Round by Perry Como
on Round and Round and Other Hits

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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Abandoned Wednesday, Aug 22 2007

14 August 2007
Some days, even when you take a bunch of photos, you choose one that is not as good as the others simply because of the story it tells. This is the case here.

This ex-Exxon station sits on the corner of an extremely busy intersection at one of the several Arlington - Ft. Worth meeting spots. A major North-South artery meets a major East-West highway right here. And somehow, they couldn’t keep this gas station in business. Years ago, a Chevron sat on the other side of the street (the Southwest corner), but it closed down and is just a shambles of a structure now. This Exxon has only recently closed. No seems to know why, or isn’t telling. I find it very interesting that one of the largest, most-successful (financially) businesses in Corporate American history could not make a go of it at this location. It’s not as though there’s competition in the area; the nearest gas station is more than a mile in any direction from here. It’s not as though the route is not travelled. I know I personally cross this intersection no fewer than 10 times a week…and I’m not alone in doing so. Perhaps, and I admit to pleasure if it’s true, it’s a sign of coming times and the Exxon-Mobile behemoth will soon be brought to task. One can only hope.
Cheers

~KR (14 August 2007)

Listening to:
Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel
on Billboard Top 100 of 1986

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/3.1
Focal Length: 22.2 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash fired, auto mode, red-eye reduction

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