So what do you do when its thirty below and the office has a bona fide reason for a party? This is how we do it! We love our boss and did our best to provide an alternative to those sunny greens. Happy Birthday!
Studio party on the fly
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Prayin’ for Gentleman Wade
I don’t feel it’s my place to discuss a friend’s medical details, especially when things are so serious and the time so grievous for his family. If you’re a Facebook user, there are a couple of Wade Westin prayer groups set up where you can receive updates and voice your support. I know they’d appreciate your support on his behalf.
Night Train
I used what I had; the clouds acted as a perfect “bounce” to reflect the lights of the city. I hoofed it out to the end of the boat dock by Merriwether’s, set up my tripod, and was overjoyed to hear the drone of a train whistle across the river. I set up just in time to do a long exposure of the train crossing the bridge – you can see how it’s streaked. The new Memorial Bridge is tucked underneath the east span of the historic NP railroad bridge, and the deep blue night sky on the horizon is sandwiched between a snowy white Missouri River and the wispy haze of the low-flying clouds. Not bad.
An answer to that trio of lingering Memorial Bridge questions you were afraid to ask
The first one: what in the world happened to all that steel from the old bridge (pictured above)? The answer: “The steel became the property of the contractor, who is in the process of recycling it.” I’m guessing that’s a pretty good deal for them; steel prices have risen steadily in the past few years, from my understanding.
The third one, and I don’t have a photo to back this one up that I can remember: I noticed that the lights under the bridge were only on for a short time, and not all of them were working. Are they off until the bugs can be worked out, or is it a seasonal thing? The answer: “Tests are being performed on the pier lights to determine the best effective radiance.” I can’t wait until they’re on for good. They look VERY nice.
Those are the only questions I could think of pertaining to the Memorial Bridge. It will be very weird starting our first year with the new one. All traces of the old one have gone. We have the new riverside parks to look forward to, however. I can’t wait until it’s warm enough to enjoy them!
Taco del Mar. Been there lately?
I first wrote about Taco del Mar in March, 2007. A friend of mine asked me to meet him for lunch there, and I hadn’t even heard about the place. I’m glad he invited me, because it’s now my favorite spot for lunch!
Not only are the owners super nice folks, but the food and service at Taco del Mar are fantastic. They have an enchilada sauce I love so much I’m at a loss for words. The atmosphere at the south store, next to the Dairy Queen by the south Wal-Mart, is really cool in a surf shop sort of way. I haven’t eaten at the north store, part of the Conoco on State Street and I-94, because I always make a short bee-line for the south one!
Ask your boss if he appreciates you. If he answers in the affirmative, encourage him to show it with an office lunch from Taco del Mar! If he says no to either, then stop at Taco del Mar on your way to Job Service during your lunch hour! They’re quick as well as courteous!
Happy New Year 2009!
Happy New Year and have a great weekend!
Tanks for another year
This website continues to serve thousands of pages to a thousand or more visitors every single day. I’m humbled, grateful, and a little astonished that people continue to stop by. Hopefully I can continue to provide pictures and rambling words that people find worth a little bit of their time each day. Here’s to year number four! If the Obamessiah’s people haven’t shut me down by then…
So that’s what happens to my workstation when I’m gone
When I leave home, apparently, my workstation takes on a slightly different duty: virtual aquarium. I won’t say it’s necessarily light duty, because this program actually renders realistic 3D fish on the fly. I found this photo in my wife’s camera. I’m not surprised, because little PJ asks me to “see fish” whenever he sees me at the computer. His other favorite, or standby if I say “no” to the fish, is “bridge go boom!” He saw my video of the demolition of the Memorial Bridge’s west span and now associates my website with that video.
As long as he doesn’t mess with any of the knobs or sliders on my mixer or other gear at the desk, I’m more than willing to donate my computer to the entertainment of my PJ and his little brother while I’m away at work. No worries there; if we tell him not to go into the office and that virtual aquarium is running, he stands obediently by the doorway and gazes in. I hope he and Jonathan always listen that well!
This is only a test
That reminds me…as long as it took to get the Christmas Tree displayed in the capitol windows, those colored shades were GONE already today. Wow…makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
Merry Christmas 2008!
Later in the afternoon, after opening some presents with Grandma, we moved the family to the dining table for the BEST turkey dinner my wife’s ever made. Let’s just sum it up in one word: perfect. Then we read from chapter 2 of Luke from the Bible, watched Charlie Brown Christmas, and commenced play time again.
Anyway, that’s Christmas in a nutshell. Within days I’ll be celebrating the third anniversary of this website. What a time of traditions, eh? Thanks for being a part of it. There’s a tradition worth keeping.