Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Sunday, October 14, 2018

First snow of the season

Como Park, October 2018. I was going to say it seems too early for the first snow, but I'd claim that even if it was the end of December.

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Daniel


Thought I was going out for a peaceful evening of photography. Then I met this guy, who yelled at me with such an air of familiarity, I was convinced we knew each other and that my memory was once again failing me. When I asked who he was, he laughed like a freight train and roared, "You have no idea who I am, do you?" He introduced himself as Daniel, then told me he was an actor ("a really excellent actor"), a musician, and an electrician ("I want to wire Michael Jackson's house; I'd really like to see inside that sonofabitch"). He dodged every question I asked with some nonsensical answer. I couldn't tell if he was inebriated, deranged, or a spy. Maybe a bit of all three.
 

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Last Stand for O'Gara's

This weekend the Twin Cities bids farewell to two bars, one on each side of the river. In Northeast Minneapolis, Grumpy's bar will be razed to make way for an eight-story, 150-unit apartment complex. Meanwhile, in Saint Paul, the 77-year-old O'Gara's won't shutter permanently, but will be closed until late next year or early 2020, returning at only a quarter of its current size, freeing up space for an apartment building, parking lot, and co-working space. So raise a glass to the regulars, god rest their guts.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Knockout

Taken in Rehoboth Beach, DE, a few days before Hurricane Florence made landfall. Even though Florence was still several hundred miles south at that point, the ocean was as crazy as I've ever seen it, the waves strong enough to have knocked loose part of a wooden jetty. 

Sunday, September 2, 2018

Leinie's Lodge

Brisk business at the Leinie Lodge today during the Minnesota State Fair. I think the thermometer topped out at around eighty-couple, but the humidity made it feel like two hundred and six.

Behind the animal barns

Minnesota State Fair, 2018.

Friday, August 31, 2018

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Onion Rings Flaneur

Steele County Free Fair, Owatonna, MN.

Treats

Smiles all around at the 51st annual Veseli Ho-down, where one can engage in activities such as a Polka Mass, grilled pork & dumpling dinner, bingo, silent auction, and other shenanigans.

Friday, August 17, 2018

Reflector

Contemplating it all, 500 feet above Alma Wisconsin and the Mississippi River Valley.

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

August

I’d like to propose that summer last NINE months, and we fit everything else into the remaining three. Who’s with me?

Friday, July 27, 2018

Industrious

After a cloudy day in Schroeder, MN, the sun finally broke through the clouds, making for some swell conditions for photography. This is just a beach or two away from the Taconite Harbor power plant.

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Love Butter

Regular butter: good.
Love Butter: 10X better.

Little Mekong Night Market, Saint Paul, MN.

Saturday, June 30, 2018

Building blocks

Possibly abandoned house on or near the site of the former Colonel’s Creek Campground, Fayetteville, PA.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Win Win

Outskirts of a block party on a June Saturday in Grand Marais, MN. Folks were dealing with the triple whammy of rain, wind, and chilly temperatures.

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Totem

What appears to be the site of a former flea market or some similar thing that everyone just walked away from and no one has disturbed since, because, you know...THE MONSTER. One of many intriguing sites along Route 30 between Chambersburg and Gettysburg.

Sunday, June 3, 2018

BYOB

Route 30 in Pennsylvania, somewhere between Chambersburg and Gettysburg.

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Last stand

Last stand for the ice and snow for at least a few months (I hope). We've had our share of harsh weather this April; I'm looking forward to some long days of sunshine and warmer temperatures.

Monday, January 1, 2018

Final Approach

It wasn't a long walk to my grandparents' house--maybe 15 minutes in the worst of conditions. A dirt lane filled with sand, gravel, rocks of various sizes, and truckloads of rubber horseshoes, which fit perfectly into a young boy's hand and were excellent for throwing at rusted tin cans. Rain would carve channels into the lane, making the trip treacherous for a nice car, especially if you were a fastidious sort of fellow (hi, Dad). However, for my grandfather's old beat-up blue Rambler, rough terrain wasn’t a big deal: just try to avoid ripping anything off the undercarriage and who cared if a rock chipped a bit more paint.

The lane consisted of an initial steep decline for a few hundred yards, then flattened out for about twice that distance. Next was a sweeping right curve, then a slight rise where the trees closed in on both sides (where this photo was taken). Then a gentle bend to the left and a quick drop before the final flat run to the house. It was a thrilling bike ride, especially when two of my older cousins would set up wooden ramps at the bottom of the hill that's just out of sight here. Soaring through the air on a single-speeder with a banana seat wasn't the issue--landing was. I still have scars that testify to that.