Day One Hundred and Fifty-One: Chooka Chooka Train!

Not a whole lot to say about this picture...just some cool train tracks running off into the distance!  Umm..yeah! That's it!  Enjoy!

Day One Hundred and Fifty: Reflection (Part II)

Pete has mused before about how sunset pictures are like candy for him.  While I like sunset pictures, and I've taken several of them now now, I can't say that I've even fallen into the sunset sugar trap (and subsequent coma from an overload).  That is, until today.  

My friend Jeff invited us out for a bonfire at his pond tonight.  The sunsets have always been spectacular out there, and I excited all day about the opportunity to capture one of them. (Although not wanting to press my luck, Pete and I stopped to take a picture of some people doing yoga in South Park.  Had these not worked out, the yoga leader giving me a dirty look for breaking his concentration, would have been my picture of the day.  I think its safe to say, however, that they turned out.)

I get a little frustrated with blogger some times because the colors aren't as true as they are when I finalize the picture.  Hopefully the lack of vibrancy in the blue of this second shot, and the slight dullness of the magenta above don't put you off too much.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Day One Hundred and Forty-Nine: Reflection

I'm not sure why it's taken me nearly 10 months to notice, but as I was walking by Cramer Optometry on Kansas Avenue in Topeka today, the contact lens shaped reflective wall caught my eye.  As I moved closer, I noticed that it was actually a collection of small squares, with about 9 contact lens ripples per square, carefully placed on the wall that spanned about 10 feet across the lobby, creating quite the effect.  This intrigued me, but the girl sitting at the front desk was unable to provide me with any insight about the history of the wall other than that she thought these panels had been in place for about 20 years (sounds about right for Topeka).  Despite the absence of a compelling story, the picture is still cool and I hope you enjoy it!

Day One Hundred and Forty-Eight: A pile of sticks

Last week, the Lawrence Journal World alerted me to a new happening in Lawrence. The Lawrence Art Center had commissioned artist Patrick Dougherty (seen below to your left) to come to Lawrence and create one of his trademark pieces in the city.  Instantaneously, I thought "photo opportunity!"  (Apparently so multiple other people, including Pete and Jeff.)  As I was gone all last weekend in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and this week has been pretty rainy, today was my first opportunity to hop up to 14th and Jayhawk Boulevard on the KU campus to see the work first hand.   Apparently it was fate that made me wait, because when Pete and I ventured up there, we "crashed" the project completion party, and got to hear a lot more about the project.

Now, I've mentioned before that I'm not a huge fan of modern art.  I need to clarify that statement, which in retrospect was much too broad. I appreciate artists like Andy Warhol; in fact, pop art is one of my favorite forms of modern art.  What I can't appreciate is Jackson Pollack-eqse works of art that appear to be nothing more to me than a

 good form of anger management (doesn't throwing paint on a canvas seem like a stress reliever?).  The basic delineation between "good" and "ridiculous" is whether, in my non-professional opinion, it takes talent to do what the artist did.  Andy Warhol...no average Joe could capture Marilyn Monroe, Queen Elizabeth II, and other icons like he did.  Jackson Polllack on the other hand...gimmie a brush and I'll make you your own "Jackson Pollack". 

Some people think this is just a bundle of sticks, but the sculpture at hand...it falls into the Warhol category in my book.  These branches were each gathered individually (from what I understand) from the Clinton Lake area.  They were then crafted together around the 

tree you see and stay linked by nothing more than simple physics.  The project came together through the ingenuity, time and dedication of art, sculpture, architecture students, and people off the street.  Dougherty engaged passers by who questioned what he was doing and have since returned to see the project.  It took the group about two weeks to put together the 6,000 pounds of maple and dogwood; in the end they ended up with "Bedazzler".

The tree which Bedazzler is built around wasn't originally supposed to be included in the sculpture as much as it is, but because Dougherty doesn't come in with any preconceived notions about how a piece is supposed to look, the flow of the project led him to make the tree a focal point.  Bedazzler will maintain its composure for about two years before returning to a pile of sticks, but similar sculptures can be seen all over the world.  In Kansas, Doughtery will be completing a project in Topeka in November.  From the way he spoke, he relayed warm word for the people of kansas and it sounds like he will be looking forward to working with us again soon.

Be sure to visit Bedazzler while you can. Talk a walk through it (how many times do you get to say you get to walk through a piece of art?).  Snap some pictures of the inside and outside.  Look straight up. Run in and out of the entrances.  Examine the different ways the light seeps through the branches at different times of the day (you may get a picture like my feature picture, above).  And most of all enjoy this piece of art that is here for just a limited time.

P.S.  Check out stickwork.net to see other pieces Dougherty has crafted and other places where his work is on display.

Day One Hundred and Forty-Seven: I need to get out more

Today's picture: a bunch of eggs.  I could insert a bunch of egg jokes...saying that this picture is nothing really "egg-straodinary".  I could mention how eggs are an "eggcellent" source of protein and other things that are good for you.  How about we talk about "Egg-clesiastes"...my favorite book of the bible.  Nah.  I could also talk about how Weird Al Yankovic is a really "eggcentric" guy, but I won't.  

Instead, I'll just tell it like it is: I was running out of time to take today's picture and didn't have any ideas.  I've photographed most of the interesting things around my house already and went to these eggs as a last resort.  Can you tell I'm less than "eggcited" about this picture?  I'm not really being fair to myself with the title of this post: I was out and about last night doing quite a bit and had my camera along side me for most of the evening.  But they were all places you and I have already visited and nothing new and exciting "egg-sposed" itself.  (Go ahead and boo.)

The picture itself isn't bad...there is a lot of nice contrast, but it is what it is.  If you want to see some really cool pictures, check out Pete's blog. He's been taking photography to a new level the past couple days.  But be sure to come back...I promise to have something a little more interesting tomorrow.

On a side note, thanks for making yesterday a RECORD day on this blog!  Forty-six people, some new, some old, visited green polka dotts yesterday, and that doesn't take into account the people who keep up to date through a reader of some sort.  I know that doesn't sound like a whole lot, but it's very fun for me.   Thanks for all your support!  Keep on keepin' on and come back daily!

Day One Hundred and Forty-Six: Of Infinite Importance

If you were to ask me what is THE most important relationship or thing in my life, I would, without hestiation, say my faith and my relationship with God. Lately, however, I bet God would contest the sincerity of that statement because it seems that I haven't spent a whole lot of time with Him. Finding a time to sit down and pray has always been a struggle for me. I schedule my time well when it comes to things I have to do, but actually sitting and focusing on something has never been my strength. During Lent it was much easier because I had the "obligation" of the season hanging on my shoulders. But since then, the weather has become nice, events have popped up out of no where, and it when I get to the end of the day, I'm exhausted and haven't spent more than just a few moments talking with our Lord. Hopefully, however, I haven't failed in conveying the importance of my faith to you (which in itself can be a prayer). If not, hopefully I will redeem myself in this post.

Being Christian can mean many different things, but from the looks of this picture, you can probably surmise that I'm Catholic Christian. (Some people don't think Catholics are Christians, but those people are just flat out wrong.) The way you can determine my "Catholic-ness" (beyond my discourse on Lent above) is the picture of the Crucifix, rather than just a cross. From my understanding, other than close affiliates of the Catholic church like the Eastern Orthodox (and possibly Episcopalian), Catholics are the only group that uses the crucifix. Some people think this is because we have a fixation on death, but that is also just not true. We believe and cherish the resurrection just as much as any Christian denomination, but believe there is no context to the resurrection without Christ's suffering and death. There is much to be learned from his torture and walk up Calvary: unselfishness, bearing your burdern, love, following God's will even when you really don't want to, strength, etc. And only in first reflecting on what he did on that Friday can we truly understand what the resurrection did for us. There is a phrase said at nearly every mass that sums up the contrast between these two important days perfectly: dying destroyed our death and rising restored our life. These are two separate acts of love. And He would complete these acts every day for each one of us.

That last statement is the most important reason why I, and you and everyone, must build that relationship with God and pray every day. (I know I'm being the pot -- or kettle-- right now, but I try). He not only died for us, but all the little good things, they're from Him. And the strength to get through the bad times, that's from Him too. It's amazing how the bad doesn't seem as bad and the good seems even more good when you're going through it with the Lord.

I know there are many challenges right now to whether God or a creator or an all being-power actually exists, but in my mind, there is no question. It's the beauty of the mountains, the calm of a rainy day, the excitement of spring, the taste of a delicious hot dog, the love between two people....God is in all those things. When I know that I have expereinced something truly good, I have no doubt that that is God. God is always there, you just have to look for Him, and "looking" for Him is as simple as opening your eyes.

C.S. Lewis, the author of "The Chronicles of Narnia" and a famed Christian writer, once said this about Christianity:

Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. 

I don't think anyone -- believer or not -- can deny this statement. And I choose to (try and) live my life in a way that reflects the latter half of that first sentence. I believe the faith given to Peter and handed down through his successors, is the true way to expereince and return the love of the Lord. I don't succeed in doing everything He asks of me every day, but every day I try and hope that, in the end, it will be enough.

Day One Hundred and Forty-Five: The Way it Should Be

This is how days like Memorial Day should be spent: enjoying the company of family and friends, indulging in a burger or hot dog, savoring a delicious beverage, and remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom.  Although 8 hours of our days were consumed by making the trek from Minneapolis to Lawrence, Pete and I did get a little time to spend the day in the very way it should be.  We started the morning with a wonderful breakfast at his parents' house, and then had dinner with my family in Ankeny.   The day wasn't sunny, but the rain held off enough for us to play trampoline volleyball with my brothers, and for my dad to play with my cousin Cole on our swing set. (Apparently swing sets bring smiles...or some sort of goofy face...no matter what your age.)

Cole kept us entertained all evening long, and even stopped to "pose" for another picture.  Here, he appears to be very relaxed and at home playing guitar hero.  Do I smell a future rock star?

The whole weekend can be pretty much summed up by one word: wonderful.  Now let's hope the 4-day work week goes just as well....

Day One Hundred and Forty-Four: Walking on Sunshine

Pete and I were back in Minneapolis tonight and joined his parents for a concert by "Wild Honey and the Locusts" (a band Pete's Dad used to play in) at Como Park.  (If you will remember, just two weeks ago, Ashley and I ventured to the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory and had a ton of fun.)  The pavilion where Wild Honey played was in a different part of the park than the zoo, but it was directly across from this beautiful waterfall.  The children making their way across the falls (disregarding the "please stay on paths" sign) with the sunset in the background was too good not to use for my photo of the day.   It reminds me a lot of Peter Pan and the lost boys walking through Never Neverland.  Como Park isn't quite Never Never land, but the weather was beautiful and so was the evening and Wild Honey.

Day One Hundred and Forty-Three: All At Sea (sort of)

This weekend, Pete and I made our way up to Wisconsin to help his niece celebrate her high school graduation.  Pete's brother and his family live on Cyclone Lake in the little town Evergreen, Wisconsin.  We took a few moments away from the party to wonder around their beautiful property, brimming with spring colors.  Ironic, I know, when my picture is not of those spring colors or even in color.  But, the lake also provided lots of nice scenery, and Pete posed for this picture that I enjoy quite a lot.

Day One Hundred and Forty-Two: Lines and Spaces

Not a whole lot to say about this. When you're at work all day and then hit the road, there isn't a whole lot of time to take a thoughtful pictures.  So, I took this picture of the perfectly sculpted grass along Highway 152 in Missouri out of the window of the car.  More interesting stuff tomorrow, I promise!

Day One Hundred and Forty-One: Shop Talk

Here sit Bob, Jack, and Gloria. Or at least those are the names I’ve given them.

Every once in a while I allow myself a tasty cappuccino or latte treat (although that “once in a while” has been more frequent this week. Oops). Usually I venture over to Starbucks (please refrain from the hissing) to get my skinny hazelnut latte. (Skinny = using skim milk and sugar free flavoring syrup.) But today, I was going to stay at the coffee shop for a while, and because Starbucks doesn’t provide free wireless, I went to the local coffee shop right across the street: La Prima Tazza. That is where I met Bob, Jack, and Gloria.

My only real interaction with the trio was when I asked them if I could take their picture and provided the URL for this blog. I am now regretting not talking to them, finding out their stories, and who they are. My guess is that they are people who met at the coffee shop because they regularly venture there. When the weather is nice, they sit outside and read the paper and enjoy each other’s company. When it’s not so nice, they make the difficult decision whether or not to get out of bed for the coffee and fellowship. Bob seems to be the type of guy who enjoys a nice cup of black coffee, while Jack puts a little cream in his coffee, and Gloria enjoys tea. Of course, this is all conjecture, but pictures are always much more interesting when stories accompany them.

Bob and Jack did share with me that I was not the first to see them sitting there and recognize it for its photo worthiness; a couple of years ago, “US News and World Report” found them just as fascinating as I and took their picture. (I couldn’t find the picture anywhere on the internet.) Maybe we find them fascinating simply because they look so peaceful. They also “remind” me of days gone by, before the internet and cell phones and twitter and iPods, when life seemed so much simpler. I’m also a bit jealous of their ability to just sit and enjoy the day; as of Saturday, I will be in my seventh state in less than a month, spending a fair amount of time at each location. I’m anxious to just sit.

You probably have your own ideas about who Bob, Jack, and Gloria are and what they (and the picture) represent. Bob, Jack, and Gloria, if you’re reading this, I encourage you to say “hi” (via the comments) and share the story that I failed to discover. Thank you for brightening my day.

And, just for the record, I will be venturing to La Prima Tazza more frequently now. I’ve been there several times before, but only now have I come to appreciate how much better (and cheaper) their coffee is. The atmosphere is wonderful, the memories are great (this picture and a first date with someone special), and it’s home to the BEST latte I’ve ever had.

Day One Hundred and Forty: Batter Up!

Although softball can't really be considered "America's Past time", it certainly is a derivative of the game of baseball.  Thousands upon thousands partake in friendly games of ball and bat around the country every year, including right here in Lawrence, Kansas.  Last night, Lucy and I took ourselves out to the ball game to support our favorite slugger: Pete.  

Pete, and his friend Joe, are part of a team that originated

 in the psychology department at KU several years ago. I'm not sure how many of the people still on the team are from within the department, but I know that at least those two of the guys have really nothing to do with it except that their friends are/once were doctoral students there.  I also believe their team name has something to do with "psych"ing you out, but I can't be sure.

Apparently this is a week of admissions for me, so here comes another one. I'm not a huge baseball fan.  Softball, or at least playing softball, is even worse. I was the kid in the outfield picking daisies who subsequently got benched for the next couple games and ended up directing my talents toward something else after 3rd grade.  Playing in a league with the Sedgwick County DA's Office while I interned there a couple years ago boosted the game's reputation in my mind, but I'm still not a huge fan.

BUT, I LOVE going to the ball park.  There is nothing that tastes better than an overpriced hot dog on a warm summer's eve or afternoon.  I always cheer the mustard bottle on in the "mustard, ketchup, relish" race, and love singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", but I would rather watch paint dry than watch baseball (or golf) in any medium other than "in the flesh."  Nevertheless, we wanted to see what Pete had been up to on Wednesday nights for the past couple weeks.

Although neither Lucy nor I indulged in a concession stand hot dog at the Clinton Lake Sports Complex, the game was just as entertaining and fun as any major league ball park.  Pete's team emerged victorious in the last inning thanks to a nice shot in deep left field by Joe.  Above are a couple of shots of my favorite slugger slamming one into right field, and crossing the plate to add another run to his team's tally.  Maybe I'll venture out again next week....

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Nine: Modern Art

As we’re driving different places, Pete will often point to something and say “click”, indicating to me that he sees a photo opportunity right then and there. Almost half way into the project, I’m finally getting the idea to take mental notes of the things that could be potential photo opportunities. Running is always a good opportunity to see your neighborhood and really take it in, and on a recent run, I came across this piece of modern art, that I suspect is shaped to look like Kansas Wheat, not too far from my house. I took one of those mental notes, and today, I went back and captured the image.


I have to admit something here: I’m generally not a fan of modern art. Splatters of paint on a canvas or cracks in the concrete floor of a building (yes, that was the main exhibit in the Tate Museum of Modern Art when I left London in December 2007) don’t say anything about the world or people and are projects that any bull headed moose could accomplish. BUT, all that being said, there are exceptions to the rule, and this piece qualifies as one of them.


Going to take the pictures, I was excited about what was going to come from them. After taking the pictures, I was disappointed that the trees prevented any sunlight from coming in and reflecting off of the bottles. But after uploading them and getting a closer look, I again became excited both about the work and the picture. Maybe that’s a lesson to me to look a little closer into all modern art and see it from different angles. Maybe not. Whatever it is, I am very happy with the way today’s shots turned out and hope you enjoy the blissful blue coloring as much as I do.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Eight: A Simple Fact

This isn't a commentary on light v. darkness (although I would always recommend you choose light.)

Nor will I be speaking on good v. evil.  (Here I recommend good.)

Talking about black v. white, or men v. women isn't cutting it right now. (How about Oreos and three cheers for girls!)

Heck, the age old debate of pop v. soda (v. coke v. soda pop v. fizzy carbonated beverage) isn't even doing it for me today. (Pop...hands down.)

No, the simple statement behind this picture is that after nearly 10 months of using a bed sheet to cover the window in my room, I finally have a blind.  YEAH!

(Here's the picture again, but in color this time.)

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Seven: On Top of the World

This weekend was graduation weekend for KU, and graduation celebrations encompass more of those great traditions. Ceremonies begin on Friday night and culminate with walking down the hill in front of the campanile at 2:30 in the afternoon on Sunday. Walking down a hill, you say? What's fun about that? 

Well, if it were just walking down the hill, then nothing. But when nearly the entire graduating class lines up to parade through the campanile (which you're not supposed to do until this day or you are, tradition holds, not actually going to graduate) and down the hill that leads into Memorial Stadium (our football venue) where the graduation ceremony takes place, it's much cooler. You march the path with your friends and/or classmates in your caps and gowns, hoods and honor cords, often with some sort of goofy object or balloon so that your family and friends, who are anxiously watching for you on either side of the path, know when you're about to come. (And coming down the hill may take a while...the school of law didn't move for the first hour and a half of the procession last year). People hoot and holler, laugh and cry, as everyone enjoys the day as you celebrate your accomplishment and savor the last few moments at the university that has helped shaped who you are today and has come to mean so much to you during your short time there.

I don't usually plan out what I'm going to take for my picture of the day, but experiencing everything I did last year, I've been plotting for a while to try and capture all the feelings that come along with the ceremonies for my picture of the day. The beautiful 70-degree sunny day lent itself to a handful of great pictures (more of which I hope to post later), but I felt this one best captured the sights, sounds, traditions, joy, and even uncertainty that crossing the threshold of the World War II memorial has to offer. Graduation at KU is truly an unparalleled experience and is just another thing that makes the University very special.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Six: Dancing in the Streets

One of the million great things about Lawrence is that there is nearly always something going on.  This weekend was graduation, so the retailers downtown decided to pull out all the stops in an effort

 to squeeze just a few more dollars out of the KU kids before they went home, and out of the parents who were feeling sentimental that their babies were graduating college.  Keeping the theme, "Brits", the local store that sells nothing but items from Britain (as you probably guessed, I love this store...), decided to have their Brit-fest this weekend.  Pete and I perused the event foregoing some very tempting clotted cream and ginger beer (more like root beer than actual beer), but found the Lawrence school of Irish-step dancing performing out front.

Now truthfully, I'm not sure exactly how this relates to Brit-fest.  Ireland is no longer under British rule, and they haven't been for a LONG time (Bravehart anyone?).  Yes, Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, 

but I've never heard that the origin of this dancing comes from that part of the Irish culture.  

Nevertheless, this girl charmed me and the rest of Mass street that had gathered to watch her on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.  She was obviously nervous, but performed flawlessly (as far as I can tell, anyway).   (For a very funny aside, check out this father-son team doing some "Irish Step Dancing" on Britain's Got Talent.  Watch out Susan Boyle, they may give you a run for your money!! ) 

In the end, she was a very gracious performer, bowing to her fans and thanking them for their careful attention.  I expect she'll be receiving a call from Michael Flately in the very near future.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Five: Child's Play

My office is in one of those lovely spaces that was originally intended for something other than an office building.   Until the late 90's (I think), Memorial Hall was the Kansas History Museum.   When the AG's Office and the Secretary of State moved in, the architects had to get creative in order to create the desired space and number of offices.  As a result, many offices, including mine, have no windows.  It is awful.  If there is one thing I dislike about my job...it's that.

So, in order to get my dose of vitamin D for the day and stop myself from going insane, I took a walk around the Capitol at lunch and caught these kids playing the game "Red Rover" on the Capitol lawn.  You know, the game where you stand in two lines and each line or team takes turn calling someone from the other team over to their side.  The person who is called upon must then run as fast as they can at the opposing team, who have linked arms, and try and break that chain.  If they do, they go back to their home team and take a player from the calling team with them. If they don't, they stay with the calling team.  The first side to get all of the players wins.

This game was never one of my favorites: I'm not strong or fast enough to break through the chains, and let's face it...I'm a worry wart and Red Rover is just too dangerous.  But the kids (I guesstimate 4th of 5th graders) certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves, and very in to the game (as you can see above, they are in the process of selecting a person from the other team to run directly at them...). I'm not quite sure who won, but then again, I'm not sure winning is really the point of the game. :)

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Four: Fountains of Summer

You know warn weather is here to stay when the government decides to turn on the fountains in front of their buildings. I'm not exactly sure when this fountain went on, but I first noticed it this week. Yesterday was a beautiful day and on my way back from getting an afternoon caffeine boost, I stopped and snapped this picture. If you look closely, in the background you can see the capitol reflected in the green glass of the Curtis building, the building across the street from where I work. (I have to admit, it's unlikely I would have noticed this if it weren't for Pete's eye for photography and the picture he took one of the first days of this project. Thanks Pete! :) )  If only I had a friend in the Department of Commerce who might be interested in using this picture in an official state publication....

I also don't quite know how my little copyright symbol got moved from the bottom corner to the middle of the frame. But because I won't be able to edit that really at all today, we'll have to leave it for now. Hopefully it won't distract you from enjoying the picture too much!

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Three: Like a box of Crayolas...

Like a box of Crayola Crayons, this picture seems to capture every color in the spectrum (or so I like to think).  I caught this picture on a delightful walk with my dear friend Kristen and Lucy.  Much like the sun in this picture, Kristen's time in Lawrence is setting...she is graduating this weekend.    Kristen was one of my first good friends here in Lawrence, and although we're both extremely busy people, every once in a while we're able to make time for our favorite tradition: getting ice cream at Sylas & Maddy's.  

Like every good friendship, the sun never actually sets on relationships like mine and Kristen's; it will just shift colors now that the circumstances have changed. And, she  won't be far away...she has a year of grad school and student teaching left, and will be just living around the bend in the Kansas City Area.   Hopefully whatever shade this part of the friendship takes, will be just as beautiful as the last.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Two: Scrappy

As I've lamented before, finding a photo that is "photo-of-the-day" worthy isn't always the easiest task (here and here). But as the project has continued along, my eye is beginning to recognize seemingly mundane as things that are actually quite picture worthy. Taking a phrase everyone knows from the cotton commercials, these little things are the "fabric of our lives" (fabric used figuratively, of course) and are the little joys that make life worth living. All good things-- big or little -- are gifts from the good Lord above. The fact that I got to put strawberries into my yogurt this morning was one of those little good things. It's even more of a blessing that, not only do I get to eat every day, but I get to choose what I want to eat. Somehow those scraps turned into a photo revealing the bright colors the world has to offer you and I, and helps us recognize how lucky we really are.

P.S.  Thanks to Tim for linking me to another photo project/ book which inspired me to look for things like this!

Day One Hundred and Thirty-One: Vino

Someone once told me about how they save the corks from the bottles of the wine they drink, and  write the names of the persons with whom they shared the bottle and where they drank it on the cork.  They then put it in a container so that on a rainy day, they can look back and remember those times.  My roommate Jennifer has been doing something similar to that.  Although she's not writing the name of the people with whom she enjoys the vino, she has been saving the corks and is in the process of making them into a hip bulletin board.  There are corks from bottles of wine enjoyed simply over a nice meal, corks from bottles opened after a hard day, or corks from bottles opened in celebration (including one -- most likely-- from celebrating the end of the bar exam).

As I sit here looking at the corks, each one is different, including the ones from the same vineyard or type of wine.  Each cork has it's own pattern that is as unique as the day that accompanied its consumption.  When viewed as a whole, this cork tells a much larger story than the individual corks could ever tell.  If you were to make multiple cork boards, although they would be similar in content and design, each is unique, and reminds of us of both the whole and individual parts of our lives and each God-given day and year, no part more important than the next. 

Wine itself has long been romanticized and shared over meals amongst friends, but I'm not sure I've ever thought this much about the cork.  Who knew the inch long cylinder could provide so much insight to life?!  

I don't really drink a whole lot of wine, but I think I'm going to start a collection like this with the next bottle I open in an effort to remember the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of each moment of life. 

Day One Hundred and Thirty: Iowa the Beautiful

Although I went to law school in Kansas, chose to stay here after graduation, and consider myself a Jayhawk over a Hawkeye (I've never even wanted to be a Cyclone), most everyone knows that my heart belongs to my home state: Iowa. I take a lot of heat for my Iowa pride; I can't tell you the number of texts and messages I've received from my Kansas friends telling them they're driving through Iowa and how much it they "love it". (I particularly remember a voicemail from Chris and Matt a couple of years ago. Thanks guys....) The number of Iowa jokes I've heard is off the charts and more are added to the list everyday.

But I defend my state as vehamentily as possible. There is no better place to get sweet corn, or attend a state fair, or just enjoy a beautiful sunrise. We get both the snow and the sun, the rain and the heat. We know we don't have everything: there are no major leage sports teams in Iowa, no mountains, and no oceans, but we certainly have a sense of humor. We're good, hard-working people who make the heartland of America what it is who represent (at least in my humble opinion) a lot of what is good in this country. And there is no denying, as this picture illustrates, that that the Hawkeye state can be pretty darn beautiful.

I suspect that someday I'll end up living back in my home state. Until that day comes, I'll keep taking pictures like these as I traverse I-35, and keeping sunsets like these in my memories.

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Nine: And they're off!

I love the dog park.  Using the word "the" isn't quite accurate because there isn't just one dog park I enjoy visiting; Dog parks in general are quite fun.  Pete has been wanting to take his parents, Farley, Lucy, and the Haack Family dog, Dina the 6th, to the dog park in Minneapolis.   This weekend we finally had a chance.  Haack family friend Alice-Ann, who was in visiting for the weekend from the Sunshine State, also got in on the action.

I haven't actually been able to have a conversation with her about this, but I think, in proportion, my love for the the dog park is nothing like Lucy's LOVE for the dog park. She gets to make new friends, run around without a leash, get a dirty and muddy, and cause a ruckus.  Sometimes she gets her best buddy Farley in on the fun, sometimes they do their own thing.

  Here they both are running around the Lake of the Isles dog park, with they're two new friends, raisin' a little dust.

As we left their tongues were hanging out and tails were wagging -- humans and dogs alike.  I think that means we all had a good time.  :)

Special Edition: One bottle pop, two bottle pop, three . . .

You know the old saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade"? I have a new variation to offer on that age old piece of wisdom: "When life gives you lots of 10 ounce glass pop bottles, line then up and take a picture."  What do you think?  

Okay, this may not catch on quite like the former phrase, but does explain this picture.  At the conference in Savannah this week, they offered us mini bottles of coke (meaning pop or soda generally) as refreshments during our breaks.  For some reason, the fact that the little bottles were composed of glass intrigued me and many others.   After people finished, I grabbed the bottles, lined them up, add a pinch of "yadda yadda yadda", and . . . voila!    

Apparently lining a bunch of bottles up and taking pictures of them during a break from a fairly intense conference isn't a normal practice, and as a result, I attracted a fair amount of attention.  I hope that those of you who are viewing the blog for the first time enjoy your visit here and come back often!

Day One Hundred and Twenty Eight: In the Garden of Life, Friends are the Flowers

Pete and I planned to come up to Minnesota this weekend to see his family when I found out I was going to Savannah, so rather than fly into Kansas City and then jump in the car for an eight hour ride up to Minneapolis the next day, I flew in to the Twin Cities on Thursday night.  My dear friend Ashley lives only about an hour from the metro, so we both took the day off to hang out and spend some time together.  She planned out a great day: a trip to the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, to Grand Avenue for lunch, and finally to the shopping mecca, the Mall of America.   

When Ashley and  I get together, and even more so without our significant others, 

we become like two kids in a candy store.  That means different things for different people, but for us at the zoo and conservatory, it means pretending to lick our paws like the lions, or "eating" the sugar cane stalks. Despite all the ridiculousness, we both managed to snap a couple of nice shots of the vegetation and animals.  

The day ended perfectly by meeting Pete at the mall and the two of us enjoying a nice dinner where we got to sit and people watch and really talk for the first time since before I went South.  Ashley, and her husband Adam, will be heading to Lawrence to hang out with Pete and I for a weekend in July. I can't wait!

A shout out to Pete and the Haack family friend Alice-Ann for helping me select this shot for my photo of the day.  Enjoy!

 

Day One Hundred and Twenty Seven: Steel Magnolias

I haven't been lucky enough to see the Cherry Blossoms in bloom is DC, or visit the Tulip Time in Pella (Iowa, which happens to be going on this weekend), but the Magnolias were beginning to bloom during my last day in Savannah.

Apparently magnolias have a long history, evolving even before bees were around.  In the eleventh century, the flowers were used for medicinal purposes in ancient China which is where scientists think they originated.    We're not quite sure how they got to the US, but the Magnolia is the official state flower of both Mississippi and Louisiana.  The leaves of the tree are strong and waxy and grab your attention.  When you look closer, you get the flower and the beautiful site you see above.

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Six: Savannah Sights and Sounds

The conference has proven to be very time consuming (who actually comes to a conference and WORKS!? What an absurd notion.....), but the organizing committee held a little reception for us last night that "required" us to walk from one part of the historic district to the other.  Scattered throughout this area of town are little squares that took me right back to Europe.  I'm not sure the actual name of this square (we walked through so many in our brief journey to the restaurant that I lost track), but most are adorned with some sort of fountain or monument like this.  We happened to be walking by right at sunset and the light peaking through the trees illuminated this square just perfectly.

My time in Savannah ends tomorrow and it is unlikely I will get to explore much before then.  But the town's charm has certainly got a hold of this midwest girl and I will hopefully venture back here sometime very soon.

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Five: True Southern Hospitality

Savannah is a beautiful old Southern town. I haven't yet had a lot of time to walk around (and I'm not sure that time will come), but fortunately, the area around our conference center is a sight for sore eyes.  The Savannah College of Art and Design is right across from our building. Apparently the school took an old depot or stable (or something along those lines) and converted it into their campus.  As a result, that old structure remains in fine working order.  During our lunch break today, I wandered over there an caught this scene for my picture of the day! Enjoy!

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Four: Leavin' on a Jet Plane

After packing all my things to head on my next trip (to Savannha, GA for another work conference), I made a last minute decision to bring both of my computers, meaning you get updates much earlier than expected.  (Why do I have to bring two computers, you ask?  I do all of my photo editing on one mac, but everything else on the other, so in order to keep up with the blog and with life, I needed both. Anyway...) My day today didn't really consist of much other than sitting in several different airports and planes.  Although both of our flights were delayed, we actually ended up in Savannah right on time.

I snapped this picture from the window seat of our flight from Kansas City to Atlanta.   I have to admit that I moved my camera from its position "securely fastened underneath the seat in front of" me before FAA regulations probably allowed, but I think capturing this scene was well worth it the accidents that may occur while we're taxing to the gate.  It illustrates the hustle and bustle of airports, people coming and going everywhere from the far east to the deep south.  

We're all flying for different reasons...some for business, some for pleasure, some as the result of unfortunate series of recent events.  Some are new fliers, and some are seasoned veterans.  Some are afraid of the swine flu, and some think VP Biden is just on crack.  Some get worried with every little bump, and some think turbulence is kinda fun.  I love airports and flying. I love speculating about why people are going the places they are going and, quite frankly, something about flying makes me feel special.  Buying a magazine feels more important, making sure a friend is always watching your luggage takes me to movie star level, and somehow even Starbucks tastes even better in the airport (who knew it was possible!?). I love to fly. :)

My flight "home" actually takes me on a detour to Minneapolis, but it's the last time I will be flying in the near future (as far as I know, anyway).  Until October, that is, when I'll be flying to D.C. to race in the Marine Corps Marathon! More on that soon...

Intermission

I am again venturing to the South (this time Savannah, Georgia) for a work conference.  We fly out this afternoon; I fly into Minneapolis to visit Pete's family late Thursday night and get to hang out with Ashley on Friday. (HOLLA!)  That being said, I won't be updating for a while.  Rest assured, I will still be taking pictures and will, a short time after I return, have a plethora of photos for you to check out!  Until then....

And yes, I will eat a Peach for you. :)

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Three: Watch for Falling Limbs

A walk through South Park (a park in Lawrence that is neither South nor full of boxy cartoon characters) is usually nice and relaxing.  It is not unusual to find families having picnics, games of ultimate frisbee or catch, concerts in the summer, kiddos splashing in the wading pool, college kids swinging and enjoying ice cream from one of the nearby shops, couples hand in hand, strolling along enjoying the weather and each other, or weddings taking place in the gazebo.  This site, however, is fairly unusual.

According to the kids sitting on the bench/ climbing the tree, the limb of this probably very old tree just snapped during the middle of the afternoon.  The winds were fairly calm today, no thunder or lightning. It just broke!  Although Pete and I were in the church right next door when the tree likely came down, we didn't hear anything because it was probably right about the time Scott was rocking out on the drums during the closing song.

The broken limb created a cool canopy and jungle gym for those of us in the park tonight.  Unfortunately, I suspect that this branch, along with the entire tree, will soon be removed from South Park, and along with it, part of Lawrence history.  The kids sitting on the bench pointed out a little light in the darkness, however: somehow the branch fell at just the right angle and narrowly avoided hitting the baby tree planted just across the sidewalk.  Coincidence?  I think not. :)

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Two (Part two): Tuba in the Rose Parade

As I was walking into my brother's basketball tournament today, a familiar sound caught my attention: a drumline.  Many of you know, and I have no qualms in admitting, that I was in marching band in high school.  The Ankeny Marching Hawks were and still are a quality program.  It may not be considered cool by society's standards, but we had a lot of fun, and actually knew what went on at band camp (not exactly what you think...)  Thus, when people make fun of the band, I try and fervently defend them.

As the time keepers of a large group of people, the drumline usually practices a lot more than the rest of the band, which is why they were playing in May when the marching band season isn't until August.  So chastise them if you will for spending time banging on the drum and wearing funny hats, but when they put Thriller on the field again in September and you feel those goosebumps along the back of your neck, you'll be biting your mouthpiece.

Jeff, I implore you to comment and add any insight that you may have about the Marching Jayhawks. :)

Day One Hundred and Twenty-Two (Part one): Ladies Man

Today, I was lucky enough to have two photo opportunities that I just can't get enough of.  So, lucky you, you get two sets of photos-of-the-day!  Here is part one! Enjoy!

This is Nicholas.

Nicholas likes to make funny faces....

... flirt with the ladies...

.

...and take long drinks from the drinking fountain.

But Nicholas will soon learn to be much stealthier in his water consumption because, although the ladies like boys who make funny faces, they don't like boys with wet pants. :)