Shooting the Georgia State Capitol

When in a capitol city, Linda and I like to get a photo of the capitol building. This handsome structure is the capitol of the great state of Georgia. Unfortunately, we were unable to enter the building but did get to roam the grounds a bit. Near the building itself is a very nice statue and ring honoring former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. It is a very nice tribute recognizing the various areas where Mr. Carter has served his greater community.

Touring Turner Field

Much like I like to see different NASCAR tracks, Linda and I like to see different Major League Baseball venues. If possible, we like to see a game and sample the foods offered. (Remember the goetta in Cincy?) The season hadn't started yet so the best we could do was tour Turner Field. We right down on the edge of the field, into the locker room and press box, some very nice facilities for fans with deeper pockets than ours, and onto the rooftop. That giant Coca-Cola red Adirondack style char that Linda is perched on is one of the rooftop attractions. It looks like a nice facility but it would have been even better to have seen a game there.

Learning the truth about the Talladega Superspeedway

It took us way longer than I'd expected but we did find the track. You'd think that a HUGE oval, high-banked race track and surrounding grounds would have been easy to find, wouldn't you? Alas, it was not. Linda and I were passing near Talladega so we (more she than me) thought it would be good to swing by and see it, even from the gates. I'd seen it on Google Earth so I knew that it was north of town, didn't look far. Using the gps software we sometimes use on a pc in the car, I saw a large oval area northeast of town surrounded by roads but void of any crossing it; looked like a likely place for a racetrack to me. As we drove into twilight, the road quality got worse and worse as we got closer to our goal. Before we actually got there, Linda was having to drive more left and right than forward to avoid the huge craters in the gravel road; on either side were standing pools of water; this couldn't be right.

I conceded that my memory of the location of the track had to be wrong and we turned back to the business district to find a sign or directions. We stopped at a convenience store, got some vague but helpful directions that included the famous directional statement "You can't miss it." This new route sent us out northwest of town on highway 77. Ten miles later, we're in Lincoln, Alabama; we missed it.

We stopped again for directions. Again they were vague but they did sound plausible so we headed a mile or so back down 77, turned left and found we were on Speedway Boulevard; that sounds better. Sure enough, a few miles later, we saw the sign in the photo. It was too dark to really see anything else but we learned that Talladega Superspeedway is actually closer to Lincoln than Talladega. I s'pose Talladega has a better ring to it.

Stopping by the Kymulga Grist Mill And Park

As Linda and I were looking ahead on our route, the Kymulga Grist Mill And Covered Bridge showed up as a possible place of interest. Having seen most of the bridges of Madison county, it would be interesting to see how they're done in Alabama; they're similar... but different. The bridges I've seen in Iowa have little to no exposed metal. This bridge, built about the time of the Civil War, is one of only two in Alabama remaining where it was originally built. It's a pretty stop and has a small campground to make for an interesting getaway location.

Stopping for a little breakfast...

... but this is not a little breakfast. As Linda and I were crossing Mississippi and Alabama, we thought we should stop and get a bite to eat. Out in the country, at an interchange that wasn't closely related to any town sat a gas station and one of the regional chain restaurants; I forget the name. We stopped in, took a booth, and looked at the menu. When asked if this selection came with eggs, the waitress answered, "Yes. They just throw them on the pile." With marketing like that, how could you not place the order?!

Pausing at Elvis Presley's Birthplace

When in Tupelo, you nearly have to stop at the birthplace of The Kind of Rock 'n Roll. It's not too hard to imagine a young boy running out the front door, jumping off the porch, and off to who knows what. Imagining that young boy would grow into a superstar takes a little more imagination but he did.

Taking a walk on the Natchez Trace

Just outside Tupelo, Mississippi, Linda and I saw an exit for the Natchez Trace Parkway. I'd heard of the trace but didn't really know much; Linda was in the same boat so we took the turn to find out a little bit. The visitor center and parkway headquarters were a couple of miles up the parkway so we stopped in. There, we learned about the long history of the trace as a path taken over the centuries by raftsmen who'd floated goods down from the Ohio valley. (Floating upstream is a LOT harder.) We also learned that a segment of the Old Trace, the actual trail, was just a few miles further up the parkway. Being that close, we decided to go see it. It was clearly visible and pretty impressive to think that old traders and native americans had walked home on that same path centuries before.


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When Linda saw the original post, she asked if I'd forgotten the photos along the trail. I looked back and found that I had indeed overlooked / forgotten these two images from the Natchez Trace. I'm not the sharpest horticulturalist in the drawer so I don't know the name of this tiny flower but it's one of the early bloomers.

Of course, to get a shot like that, you sometimes become worthy of a photo yourself. As I was lying there, that thought went through my mind and then I heard the click of her camera. I was glad that she'd taken the shot; I figured it would likely be every bit as good as "another flower photo."

Walking in Memphis

Linda and I next turned our attention to Beale Street and finding a bite to eat. At the corner where we first set foot on Beale, we found the Blues City Cafe, a busy, local looking place. Not wanting to jump at the first place that we saw, we moved on down the street. Wonderful bluesy music was rolling out of the various joints as we strolled down the street. Like Bourbon Street in New Orleans, the street is blocked off in the evenings for pedestrian traffic. Also like Bourbon Street, good music and mixed drinks are readily available without even entering any one business.

After making our loop and decided to head back to the Blues City Cafe. We found our seats way in the back of an area that looked like it might have one day been a sidewalk cafe but enclosed some time ago. We ordered pork ribs, tamales, and chili. I'd seen an article that said that tamales were a pretty popular item in the area and, if you got six, they offered chili on the side. When it all arrived, it looked great. I didn't take a photo but it all had a great, slick sheen, rich and brown; the smell was sweet and inviting. The tamales were a little bit of work to unwrap but, with a little chili, were a tasty companion to some of the best ribs I've had. It was a great way to wrap up Beale and Memphis.

Stopping at the home of The King

Neither Linda nor I had set foot in Memphis so, when the opportunity to change that presented itself, we took it.

Our first stop was Graceland, former(?) home of Elvis Presley, The King of Rock 'n Roll. We arrived late in the day so we didn't go through the house itself; neither of us felt it a priority but it was something that, when in town, we wanted to at least be able to say that we'd seen it. From the outside, the house itself didn't look all that different from many others. It's located on a very large lot along a fairly busy street south of downtown. It took us a little bobbing and weaving to find but, once in the area, it was pretty apparent that we were almost there. The stone fence along the street is tall enough to deter all but the committed from climbing over it. More interestingly, it has become the journal where visitors pause to write their messages to The King and one another. There are several entries expressing gratitude for the personal experiences that were had as a result of Elvis' time on earth. Some are as brief as "We miss you." while others go on to talk about concerts or close encounters while he was alive. It really was a more poignant experience to read the messages than to see the property.

Playing with my camera: Up close

I recently was given a set of "screw in close up (macro) lenses." When Linda and I have gone to photography day at Living History Farms, we've run into the same guy showing how to take those really close up photos. He taught us how to take them with our point and shoots two years ago. This past year, he told us about these lenses that are sort of like reading glasses for the camera; they screw onto the threads at the front of our other lenses (unlike reading glasses) to provide more magnification of the subject. Of course, with these new toys, I went around taking new shots of some of the things around my house and Linda's.

Using our free Chops tickets

Remember those free tickets from a post or two back? We used them to see the Chops take on the Lake Erie Monsters. These team names are ... interesting. The game was fast paced and entertaining, as usual. It was tied at the end of regulation AND the overtime. It took a shootout but the Monsters pulled it out to win, 3-2.

Watching Jake play some more hockey

Linda and I went north to see her nephew, Jacob, play hockey again. This time, I got down a bit closer to the ice to take some better photos, a bit more eye level than my usual perspective. One of the challenges about hockey photography is that, as a fan in the stands, I'm generally shooting through the glass... glass streaked by high pucks and the occasional face. Anyway, Jake played well but, as I recall, the team lost. It's still a treat to get to see his game develop.

Watching the Chops and the Aeros

Had so much fun last time, we went back to see the Chops take on the Houston Aeros. This time, we had Linda's brother, sister-in-law, and youngest nephew, Jacob, along. The were coming down to play in a hockey tournament the next day and took advantage of the opportunity to see the Chops. The weather was so bad that, at the second break, they announced that, as a token of appreciation to those who'd braved the elements, tickets to next weeks game would be given out after this game. The Chops went into the third period up 2-1 but gave up three goals and lost 2-4.

Watching the Chops take on the Icehogs

Linda and I went back to Wells Fargo arena to see our hometown Chops host the Rockford Icehogs. (Anyone else impressed with the team names in the American Hockey League?) As usual, the pace of the game was quick and the play was fluid. I'm always impressed with the ability of these guys to pass the puck. The Chops play a physical game so there was a fight before the night was done. In the end, the Chops scored four goals to the Icehogs one.

Getting a look at Harrison Barnes

Lincoln and Ames high schools had the special opportunity to play a basketball game at the Wells Fargo Arena. While Linda and I have enjoyed seeing the Railsplitters play at the Round House, seeing them play at the Well against standout Harrison Barnes was not to be missed. We arrived and, to my surprise, I was instructed to acquire my credentials in order to bring my camera. Fortunately, it was about as simple as giving my name but it was surprising to be asked.

We found our seats and watched as the visitors from Ames build their lead by scoring two for every one by Lincoln. Barnes really didn't do much to set himself apart from the rest of the team; he played within the team structure, doing what needed to be done to help his team. As the second half began, so did Harrison's point total. It seemed like a streak of five straight possessions, Ames brought the ball down, passed to Barnes, and he lofted a three point shot that slipped softly through the net. After that display, he took his seat on the bench for the remainder of the game. It's not hard to see why he's so highly sought by the big-time NCAA basketball programs.

Watching Jake play Hockey

Linda's nephew, Jake, plays hockey so, when the opportunity to go see him play came up, we made the drive. We arrived at the ice arena, met family, and settled in to see Jacob play. He's one of the bigger kids out there. He skated well and made some nifty moves with the stick. As a defenseman, he often positioned himself between the puck and the goal without apparent concern that it might sting if he blocked a shot. Jake looked like a hockey player and I look forward to seeing him play again.

Playing with my camera: Winter Driving

Okay, I wasn't really driving while taking these shots but winter passengering didn't read well either. Fortunately, Linda is comfortable driving in the winter and that lets me pull out the camera from time to time. As you can see in the bottom photo, we encountered vehicles that were in need of tow trucks. The night before, a pretty good storm went through with a good deal of blowing snow.

Going to the Dog Show

Ashley and Travis' dog was going to be in his first show here in Des Moines so Linda and I drove over to the fairgrounds to see how he did. That's him in the ring in the upper shot. When it was all said and done, he collected a few nice ribbons and seemed to have a good time; not bad for his first show and all.

Dog shows are pretty interesting visual environments; so many varieties of dogs getting prepared and shown, all looking their best. There's always something going on somewhere nearby.

Watching the Bulldogs take on the Shockers

Linda and I returned to the Knapp Center to see the Drake Bulldogs battle the Wichita State Shockers. The visitors made two out of every three shots in the first half building double digit leads a couple of times in the first half but only took a four point lead into the halftime break. In the second half, the Bulldog defense tightened and the Shockers only made one third of their shots count. After tying the score at sixty-seven in the closing minutes, the Bulldogs went on little run and finished the game up 74-69. Josh Young and Adam Templeton, pictured, played key roles throughout the game.

Playing with my camera: Snow Day

A bright, beautiful January day with fresh snow... time to take out the camera! I went roaming around the capitol grounds and, after seeing the statues and sledders, this image was the one that really caught my eye. Usually, the reflection is of the capitol building; this seemed a bit more interesting that day... and I still like it today!

Watching the Chops take on the Moose

Linda and I had seen the Iowa Chops play an exhibition game at the old KGGO arena; we wanted to see them at their official home, Wells Fargo Arena. The Manitoba Moose were in town so we took the opportunity to see how they'd play. As we'd seen at the exhibition game, the Chops played a fast and physical game and the Moose responded in kind. It was a very close and entertaining game until a rush on the Chops goalie resulted in an injury that sent him to the showers. The backup goalie was not up to the task and soon the Moose were scoring often. As the frequency of Manitoba goals went up, so did the frequency of hard hits and, ultimately, a few fights. On one occasion, over half of the players on the ice had dropped their gloves. Ejections, penalties and warnings got the game back under control and the Chops lost 1-6.

Fixin' some yummy Jambalaya

Shortly after this colorful shot, these lovely bits were bubbling nicely on Linda's stovetop, melding into a very tasty mass of cajun inspired dinner. It took a while to get it all chopped up right and then waiting for the flavors to blend but in the end, the payoff was worth it. It was a nice last meal of 2008.

Ringing out 2008 watching Drake take on Missouri State

The men's Bulldog basketball team got their tenth win showing some excellent defense against the Missouri State Bears, 67-49. I've been trying to get images of the team members in some game action this year. By the numbers, 3 is Craig Stanley, 23 is Josh Parker, 22 is Bill Eaddy, and 44 is Adam Templeton. Most of these guys are new to the lineup this year so it's been fun to watch their game develop and how they work as a team.

Playing with my camera: Black and White

Linda was driving us to a family get together so I had time to play a little more with my camera. I'd never tried setting it for black and white so I gave it a try. It was fairly late in the day and we were goin' a mile a minute (or more) so I wasn't sure what I'd get just shooting out the window. When I got home, this image really caught my eye. I'm not sure that I'll be taking a lot of black and white images but I now know how; the question now is will I know when.

Checking on the Iowa Energy

Linda and I try to get to at least one game by each of our home town teams each season so we stopped in to see the 2008-09 Iowa Energy NBA Developmental League team. Not being big fans of the NBA, the names weren't familiar but the play was entertaining. It's interesting to see the difference in style of the NBA versus the NCAA games at the Knapp Center. The individual talents that are showcased at the Energy games are impressive while the teamwork and sustained hustle of the Bulldogs draws me in more.

Hangin' out in a Christmas Kitchen

Linda and Ashley were going to be working on Christmas treats so, of course, I hustled on over to "help." I generally got to help photo document the process; Ashley had brought her camera as well so there were plenty of shots being taken of the proceedings. My cooking help was generally the tasks given to trustworthy early elementary school age kids: unwrap the chocolates, carry the cookies to the refrigerator, etc. Fortunately, like the kids given these essential tasks, I was forgiven for the occasional quality control sampling of the goods.

Playing with my camera: Christmas Tree

Linda's Christmas tree had so many fun angles and nice little corners to shoot that I brought out my camera and took a few shots. It got me thinking about how our respective trees decorations differed. Mine have always been pretty stock, pretty standard collections of similar / identical balls, garland, what have you; looking around Linda's tree, I didn't see two ornaments that were the same. There were a couple of similar cross-stitch mounting ring things but the actual cross-stitch designs were done in different years. Linda knew when each of her ornaments had first hung on her trees and the story behind how it came to be, what it represented to her. It was nice to learn the lore.

Watching Drake's HyVee Classic First Round Game

Josh Young led the Drake Bulldogs with a 26 point contribution to win 84-73 over Georgia Southern. Josh has been an exciting player the last couple of years and lived up to that reputation in this game. Josh maintained his high caliber of three-point shooting making four of seven from long range as well as ten of twelve from the free-throw line.

Witnessing an NCAA Mens Basketball Record Tying Performance

Linda and I went to see the first round men's basketball game but arrived in time to see an NCAA men's basketball record tied. Ben Woodside of North Dakota State University put on an amazing performance in the early game against Stephen F. Austin University. Woodside put on an impressive display scoring 60 of the Bison's 111 points. Along the way, he MADE 30 of 35 free throws tying the NCAA single-game record set by LSU's "Pistol" Pete Maravich forty years prior! While we weren't aware of the record, we did enjoy the triple overtime game that was in doubt until the final buzzer sounded.

Watching Drake Host Texas Pan American

Linda and I returned to the Knapp Center to see the Drake Bulldogs take on Texas-Pan American in the opening round of the Iowa Realty Invitational basketball tournament. The game was hard fought and Drake trailed often and, with under four minutes left in the game, was down 49-56. The 'dogs showed some grit and fought their way back to even the score at 57 before scoring the final basket of the game in the closing seconds. It was quite a game and showed that this team could rally late.

Tipping off the Drake Men's Basketball Season

Last year, the Drake men's basketball team did SO well that Linda and I wondered what the team would be like this year. We finally got to see a game and were treated to that familiar Knapp Center energy. With the Bulldogs winning three of the first four games, the crowd was already enthusiastic. Most of the players were familiar; it was good to see them back on the court. The game was generally close and didn't have the scoring spurts that we'd seen before. Instead, Drake pulled ahead a point or two at a time to ultimately win 75-65. It was good to see the new team and be back at the Knapp.