You can never get it back…you can only let it go

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The title of this post comes from one of my favorite Grasshopper Takeover songs, and it sure is fitting for the way I’ve been feeling lately. I haven’t spent much time motorcycling or even with my cameras, unless it’s with my family. We went for our first-ever bike ride together this weekend, since everyone is now big enough to participate on their own bike! I had Monday off, so I used it as an opportunity to give my boys an awesome, fun filled day. Their love of life and enthusiastic joy is giving me a new perspective on life, and I’m lovin’ every minute of it!

Our two little fellas got to ride bike until the sun passed over the horizon, a term they’re more than happy to add to their vocabulary. I suppose that’s because they associate it with staying out late! While they got to go for a late bike ride to bookend the day, I used the opportunity to get in some camera time and capture my two favorite little subjects.

Their puppies came with on this trip, posed with the boys, and then provided me an opportunity to photograph something that’ll actually sit still while the boys finished their ride. Then we loaded everything up in the truck, went to a friend’s house, watched the stars come out, and even saw a satellite fly past overhead! Then it was home to beds and blankies, one more memorable day in the books. I’ll never let it go.

Sunny Day Playlist

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If you’ve read this blog for even a few weeks, you know that I love skies. I particularly enjoy blue, sunny skies. I attribute much of this to my formative years as a boy growing up in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana. In fact, I returned to the mountains on a sabbatical to work a couple of years as a snowboard bum, working at 10,000 feet and getting closer to those blue skies than ever.

Since then I’ve seen so many forms of sunny days…long, hot drives through the New Mexico desert; lazy days out on a blanket with a Walkman and a good book; blazing sunsets and uplifting sunrises; solitary treks through the Badlands on my mountain bikes. I can’t say I’ve seen it all, but I’ve seen a lot. The memories formed thereby have fortified my love of wide open, sunny skies.

One of the best ways to capture or recall the mood of many of those sunny days is through music, and I have a series of playlists for such things. I have an intense Stargazing playlist I’ll share someday, a Sunrise/Sunset playlist which overlaps in places, and my more recent Sunny Day playlist. I was actually inspired to do the Sunny Day list when my friend Monte posted a request for sunny day music suggestions on his Facebook page. It didn’t take long.

This is by no means comprehensive, but it’s a good first draft. There’s a link to each song on iTunes if it’s available, although a good chunk of music in my collection is very hard to find.

Perfect for a sunny photography outing, here’s an eclectic mix ranging from mostly alternative to fusion jazz to classic rock and all points in between, here’s my Sunny Day Playlist, version 1.0:

The War on Drugs – Comin’ Through

Craft Spells – Party Talk

The Clean – Stars

Memory Tapes – Wait in the Dark

Republic Tigers – Buildings and Mountains

Primal Scream – Higher Than the Sun

MillionYoung – Hammocks

Frightened Rabbit – Swim Until You Can’t See Land

Generationals – Ten Twenty Ten

Crocodiles – Sleep Forever

The Radio Dept. – Heavens on Fire

Citay – Careful With That Hat

America – Ventura Highway

The Go-Betweens – Cattle and Cane

Ringo Deathstarr – So High

Washed Out – New Theory

Innocence Mission – Keeping Awake

B-52’s – She Brakes for Rainbows

The Jesus and Mary Chain – Head On

Amon Tobin – One Day In My Garden (Instrumental)

Love Tractor – I Broke My Saw

Cocteau Twins – Heaven or Las Vegas

The Daysleepers – Summerdreamer

Fleetwood Mac – You and I, Part II

Grasshopper Takeover – Up and On My Way

Guadalcanal Diary – Litany (Life Goes On)

The Love Language – Heart to Tell

Jamaica – Jericho

Throwing Muses – Dizzy

The Dylans – I Hope the Weather Stays Fine

Cloud Cult – Lucky Today

Math and Physics Club – Love or Loneliness

Herman Dune – I Wish That I Could See You Soon

Stranglers – Always the Sun

Truckasauras – Angels Sound Like Bottle Rockets

Ten Bears – Braces

Cinammon Chasers – Luv Deluxe (Instrumental)

Kitchens of Distinction – Drive That Fast

Love Tractor – Fun to be Happy (Instrumental)

Ian Brown – Northern Lights

Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies – Boogie King

Yppah – Again with the Subtitles

Material Issue – Valerie Loves Me

Missing Persons – Walking In L.A.

Throw Me The Statue – About To Walk

Laura Veirs – July Flame

Sheryl Crow – Soak Up The Sun

Spyro Gyra – Bob Goes to the Store (Instrumental)

Wall Of Voodoo – Lost Weekend & On Interstate 15 (Instrumental)

Dreadzone – A Dream Within a Dream (Instrumental)

The High Dials – Teenage Love Made Me Insane

One Dove – Breakdown (Radio Mix)

Peter Gabriel – Solsbury Hill

Pink Martini – Anna (El Negro Zumbon)

Slowdive – Rutti

The Sundays – Here’s Where the Story Ends

Pixies – Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf Mix)

The One AM Radio – Sunlight

Surfer Blood – Swim (To Reach the End)

The Expendables – Wells

Stone Roses – She Bangs the Drums

Chad Valley – Fast Challenges

Aberfeldy – Summer’s Gone

Forro In The Dark – Perro Loco

Deer Tick – These Old Shoes

Tennis – Marathon

Big Spider’s Back – Warped

Ganglians – Jungle

Gui Boratto – No Turning Back

REM – Near Wild Heaven

Royal Crescent Mob – Nanana

Luke Graner – Drops (Homemade Music version)

The Farm – Groovy Train

Daysleepers – Loved by the Sun

Diesel – Sausalito Summernight

Blue Sky Black Death – Sleeping Children Are Still Flying

Frankie Knuckles – Whistle Song (Instrumental)

Rephrase – Oldtimer

General Public – Taking the Day Off (Instrumental)

Hectic Redd – The Thumb

Joe Satriani – Surfing with the Alien (Instrumental)

The Ladybug Transistor – Fallen and Falling

Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter – In the Summertime

Nickodemus – Sun Children

Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros – Chickens in Love

Jazzhole – Free the Robots (Instrumental)

The Joy Formidable – The greatest light is the greatest shade

There we have it, for now…I’m sure I’ll update it along the way. If you hear something on this list that seems really out of place or makes you wonder, “What does this have to do with a sunny day?” it probably is a song that triggers a memory for me. Any suggestions? Use the “Contact Me” link on the upper right of this page.

Bismarck Citizens’ Police Academy

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Last fall my friend Lee and I were accepted into the Bismarck Police Department’s “Citizens’ Police Academy” for several weeks of education into what the Bismarck PD is all about. A couple dozen of us spent each Tuesday night from September through December learning about the various aspects of police work, the structure of the department, the special duties of various officers, and the standards of accountability and professionalism to which they hold themselves. It was a real eye-opener.

Some of the people in the class were interested in pursuing careers in the criminal justice field. Others, like me, are simply average citizens who support our local law enforcement personnel and jumped at the opportunity to learn more. I’d spent plenty of time in the Mandan Police Department growing up through the Explorers program, working in the control room and doing traffic control, color guard, etc. but I didn’t know much about things here on the Bismarck side.

While most of the Academy consists of classroom time, it’s not boring. It’s an informal environment, the chief and/or deputy chief are usually on hand to help answer questions, and there are always some interesting tales to tell. While the class went until 9pm each night, it was not uncommon for that night’s officer to stay until 10pm chatting about what we discussed in class.

Of course, there was a mandatory ride-along in a police car on a Friday or Saturday night. I think everybody had an eventful time, especially myself. I go on ride-alongs from time to time other than in Bismarck, and my rule is “what happens in the car stays in the car.” I respect people’s privacy as much as a value my own, and that sort of confidentiality is very important when dealing with people in the sort of situations that require a visit from a police officer. That wasn’t the only thrilling part of the Academy, however:

I think everybody was looking forward to the shooting portion of the class. One night a week we went through an evening discussing firearms and then going to the indoor range to fire some Simunition. We each were given the opportunity to fire eleven rounds from the same firearm carried by Bismarck police officers. It was performed under very close supervision after great attention to safety details.

I had to chuckle at my target, which I got to keep: six shots to the heart, five to the chin. I didn’t want to look like an idiot, so I intentionally aimed low for the head shots to avoid hitting the clamp holding my target. I think the groups would have been tighter if I’d had my own Glock, but I still think Lee and I had the tightest performance out of the group. I got to keep my shell casings as a souvenir of the evening as well.

It was bittersweet to reach the completion night for a “graduation” celebration. We had pizza and got our pictures taken with the chief & deputy chief and were presented with some additional memoirs. As you can see we each received a framed certificate, Bismarck PD patch, and Citizens Police Academy mug. My little boy PJ had come with to see Daddy’ graduation and insisted that he be in the photo with us. Later he talked ’em out of a CPA mug of his own, and he’s still very proud of it.

It’s a great opportunity and speaks volumes that our police department wants to reach out to the public like this. It’s amazing how much misinformation is floating around out there about how police officers operate, and those of us who have received a little bit of education to dispel the rumors can act as ambassadors for the department. I gladly embrace such an opportunity, because I’m proud of our local law enforcement in Bismarck-Mandan. I’m fortunate to call several officers and deputies my friends and am grateful for their service to our community.

I know this is short notice, but according to the City of Bismarck’s website, they’re still taking applications for this fall’s Citizens’ Police Academy for two more days. You can download the application PDF here and get it in immediately if you’d like to try for a slot…I don’t know how many they have filled.

There are some requirements for application, including a clear criminal record and passing a background check. If you are an adult resident of Bismarck and can meet these criteria, you’re able to apply. I highly recommend availing yourself of the opportunity to do so!

Fort-night

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My boys love chasing sunsets with Daddy and their little cameras, so last night we did both. Unfortunately for the sunset goal, clouds rolled in and prevented much from happening in the sky. It didn’t seem to matter too much, however, since we got to ascend to the top of some blockhouses anyway. Note the boys’ stuffed puppies seated patiently on the sidewalk…it was their first trip to the blockhouses, I’m told.

PJ took this shot with his V-tech camera as the clouds filled the sky…

and Jonathan grabbed this one at the same time.

Then it was off to the next big fort to look at the receding Missouri River flood, marvel at the hazy skies due to overwhelming humidity, and back to the truck to dodge the mosquitoes and gnats who had discovered our presence.

Checking the barn indicator…yep, still working

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North 26th Street is a gateway to photographic fun, and one landmark along the way is this barn with the droopy weather vane. While I can’t vouch for its accuracy as an apparent wind indicator, I can say that it’s got a sterling track record as a barn indicator.

This device first caught my eye a long time ago when it seemed to perfectly align itself with the brilliant red structure below. As you can see, this is a totally different angle, yet it seems to be pointing the way home quite clearly.

What I could use right now is a taco indicator!

Play day

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Gotta love these sunny Saturdays! Our camera club met at the coffee shop today, my wife insisted that I get out and take a motorcycle trip, and of course I decided to play with the camera. I set one camera up on a tripod with my intervalometer snapping away every ten seconds, then combined some shots for some fun. Now it’s time to go back outside and see what awaits in the backyard and Garage Majal!

Slugbug!

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Our family plays Slugbug wherever we drive. We have as long as my little boys can remember, as we started ’em young. They’re getting pretty sharp at it, too, which is why this was one of the highlights at Buggies & Blues for them this year.

We made it to B&B but were unable to continue because of the heat and humidity. There are limits to how far you can take two little boys in the sun and heat, especially walking up and down a hot slab of concrete like Main Street. The humidity was oppressive, and actually fogged up my camera when I pulled it out of its bag. As a result, we headed back to the air conditioned truck…but not without someone enthusiastically calling, “Slugbug!”

Railroad Days returning to Mandan

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I read that Railroad Days will be held this weekend at the North Dakota Railroad Museum, located on Old Red Trail in Mandan. My family and I visited the museum earlier this summer and had a blast. There is SO much to see and do, starting with a collection of train cars and signals to peruse outside.

The museum has multiple buildings containing multiple rooms full of railroad souvenirs, memorabilia, and other displays. There are seats from old passenger cars, items from old rail depots, model trains, and such a variety of items that I can’t begin to describe. You’ve got to see it all for yourself.

One highlight of the trip was a ride on the Sky Line Railway, a miniature steam train operated by Ed Duke from Hensler (Don’t Blink). Tickets were free, and my boys took a ride before I climbed on with my camera to shoot a little HD video. You can check it out below:

The next big event at the ND Railroad Museum will be this weekend on the 28th, so be sure to save the date and pay them a visit. Check out all the memorabilia, climb around on the caboose collection outside, go for a stroll around the grounds, and check out the various buildings and exhibits. Top it all off with a ride on the Sky Line, and tell them you heard about it here!

I’ll tumble for ya

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I took my little boys to Safety Day at the Bismarck Civic Center last week and, although most things there were for slightly older kids, they did enjoy this demonstration. Two dummies are seated in a small truck on a trailer. A Highway Patrol officer then activates the motors which spin the truck’s cab and hilarity ensues. It wouldn’t be so hilarious if you’re the dummy who gets tossed around inside the vehicle and eventually ejected!

Here’s what it looks like from another angle, as a series of stills. Not good. The dummy actually got ejected, bounced on top of the vehicle briefly, then slammed down onto the trailer and rolled over. It’s a good illustration of what can happen very quickly.

Naturally we are seat belt users in our family. As a passenger in a friend’s car, I once went partially through a windshield. If my knee hadn’t gone through the dashboard I probably would have been ejected completely. It opened my eyes and I’ve been an ardent supporter of seat belt use ever since.

By the way, I don’t believe in seat belt laws for adults, but I do encourage their use. The same thing goes for helmet use; as a former motorcycle racer, I’ve ruined multiple helmets but kept my head intact as a result. I’m not going to go around trying to force others to wear seat belts and helmets, but I will give an enthusiastic testimony of their effectiveness.

Sometimes, of course, people just have to see for themselves, and that’s what this machine is all about. In addition to my fatherly guidance, I’m hoping demonstrations like this will open the eyes of my boys as well!

Let the Day begin

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Here’s to the babies in a brand new world,
Here’s to the beauty of the stars…
Here’s to the travelers of the open road,
Here’s to the dreamers and the bards…
Here’s to the soldiers on the desert dunes,
Here’s to the farmers in the fields…
Here’s to the preachers of the sacred Word,
Here’s to the loving God who heals…

Here’s to you, my little loves, with blessing from above, now let the Day begin.


Just sharing a friendly good morning with you and the windmill perched near Farmer’s Livestock southeast of Bismarck and some lyrics lightly modified from one of my favorite songs by The Call.

I’ve been awfully busy lately, and that has been reflected here on the ol’ Blog. In addition to husband and Daddy time, I’ve had a lot of freelance work and been building a new monster computer for my photo and video work. A guy’s got to have priorities. I have managed a little bit of photography from time to time, it’s just a matter of getting it posted here. Soon…very soon.

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. -Psalm 118:24