The stars are out tonight

One of the many things I like about living out in the "country" is being able to walk out into my yard at night and look up and see the stars. Not a bunch of city lights that block the bigger dipper and other constellations. I get to see the stars. : )

Tonight as I walked out to the mailbox and observed the stars, I was reminded of living in Raleigh, NC, after Hurricane Fran [9.6.96]. Although the hurricane had done some damage to the area and I had no power for 10+ days, my friends and I enjoyed hanging out under the stars in the middle of the city. It was a treat to see the stars in an area normally flooded by city lights. The nights after the storm were pretty peaceful, actually relaxing. The storm sure as hell wasn't. A storm like that changes your perspective on things. I know my view of hurricanes has changed and I really don't want to go thru another one. I guess it is OK living in Michigan.

Demo Scramble at Ionia

After last week's exciting bus races at Berlin, I decided to check out the Demo Scramble that my old boss was racing in. It was not his normal Figure 8 fare, but a "demo scramble" chock full of cars that had seen many races in days gone by. Well, Figure 8 (in his 2nd number 42 car for the season) was in the first heat. It seemed as though he was off to a good start, and then, something happened. He ended up a wallflower off to the side [not out of harm's way] wanting to take another turn. However, no such luck. I will have to check out his blog, or stop by and drop off the pics and find out what happened.
All in all, it was still more fun than the bus races at Berlin. Lots of cars bit the dust and ended up like an upside down bug needing attention to go any further. Hopefully Figure 8 will get one of the cars up for the last race of the season. Who knows.
At any rate, here are a couple of shots from the race. (in no particular order)

the man on the moon

is smiling cause he's in love with the girl on the world? [from a Harry Connick, Jr song] I can hear the tune, but was never good with all the lyrics of a song. Like the b-52s song love shack, I thought the one line was, Hen-ry, Bust-ed! [instead it is really Tin Roof, Rusted] Hmm, I think it is because of the video where someone walks into the house and then they say, ...Tin Roof, Rusted?
I am sure there are other songs that I have messed up the lyrics on, but I remember the melody.
Well, you can't see the man on the moon here, but that is what I think of when I see the full moon. This shot is from 9.26.04. Kathlee inspired me to go shoot another, but I didn't catch it at the right time. So, this will have to do. Love the full moon.

Bus Races at Berlin Raceway

Sam asked if I would like to go see the Bus Races at Berlin Speedway. So, having nothing scheduled for last night, I decided that it would be interesting to go out there and see the buses race. It was more of a car race with a Bus special event than a bus race but, it was interesting.

It provided a great opportunity to people watch. People that I do not see on a regular basis. There were a few women in evening gowns [seemed odd] but mostly people in jeans & t-shirts which was OK by me. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the giant foam Cowboy hats (which you could not see around if you had one in front of you) and the t-shirt of the day? F... Milk. Got Beer?

Sam and I ate before we went out there as I am not a big fan of overpriced, carni-style food. However, it was interesting to see what others were eating. Buckets of fries, and what I thought were batter dipped french fries [how much grease do you need in one fry?] but Sam insisted they were chicken strips. Hmmm. There were lots of cans of beer and wine-type coolers for sale, along with krispie creme donuts, ice cream, and cotton candy.

Back to the race, the stock cars went around in circles, some hitting the others but mostly trying to avoid hitting others or speeding out of control. Their cars cost a lot more [than fig. 8 cars] so they probably do not want to smash them up. The bus races were a little tense as they are SO BIG on that little track so that was fun.

I think the figure 8 races that I went to were a little more exciting because there was always some smashing going on. Junker cars roaming around on the track smashing into each other at the center of the 8. Perhaps it is because a friend of mine is just crazy enough to ride in the figure 8s that I enjoy those more. Who knows.

Cockscomb

Cockscomb. An odd name for the plant but I guess it does resemble a rooster's comb. It's pretty amazing since even as it dries it retains it's vibrant color. There are a ton of seeds (the size of poppy seeds), so perhaps I will give them a go next spring and see if I will have a nice new batch of cockscomb.

Below is the ornamental eggplant I bought at the farmers market last weekend. I thought they were pretty cool looking. Not at all like an eggplant, but...

Art or Body Debris?

You decide.
I went out with a man I met off the Internet. His name was Brian. 45, an artist, well-educated [4 MFA degrees]. The 4 MFA degrees scared me a little bit as I wonder: who really needs four MFA degrees? In 4 different areas from separate schools? I have 2 degrees. One BFA [in printmaking] and an MFA [in Photography] 2, for me, is enough. I thought about getting my PhD. But, I really needed to start working and pay off the MFA degree. No more school. Enough with teachers, etc.
Anyway, back to the brainiac. When he told me about his art, I found him a little odd.
What do you think? Is it art to cut off your finger nails [gotta be in one piece] and save all the nail clippings until there are thousands of them? (at which point you display them on a wall, in little baggies.) Could you stop cutting your nails after the piece is "complete"? No, apparently you need to keep cutting them and saving them because you have done it for so long it is now part of your life.
Another "piece of artwork" is one of pubic hair arranged on a grid and taped down. Some are curly, some straight, etc. (Oh, look at the pretty patterns...)

I'm sorry, NO WAY! I am an artist, and not all of my art is as conservative as what is on my blog, but fingernails and pubic hair do NOT make ART. They are body debris. Things to be thrown out or washed down the drain! No need to leave it on the soap, the counter, the toilet seat, the bed. Say good-bye to them. They are Pubic Hairs, NOT ART. The only pubic hair that is enjoyable, is that attached to the body. Call me crazy, but it ceases to be "ART" once it is shed from the body.

2 dates with this man were plenty (although the guys at the office wanted me to go out on another just to see what crazy sh-- he would come up with next.)

I could not do it. Let him be an artist. He is obviously too deep for me (and many of my artist friends). I will be a real person who makes art on occasion and who does not save finger nail clippings or pubic hair for public displays. I prefer "pretty" pictures that include the human body, flowers and landscapes; not body debris.

Men and their hair plugs

Ok, so, it is not a man. But last weekend as I walked down the beach of Lake Michigan, it reminded me of a man I know that decided he needed to cover up his balding head and had plugs of hair embedded. I think he was much sexier bald. The plugs looked totally fake; much like this rock covered in algae. My advice to balding men:
Don't put plugs in. Don't do the toupe. Please, please, please don't do the comb-over! You are not fooling anyone. Let it go! Shave it off. It is OK! Men look good without hair on their head.
I used to love the feeling of rubbing my hands on my boyfriend's shaved head. It felt great against my hands. Touch is a wonderful thing.

Ah, if only I had a good man in my life. I miss my pork tartare. : (

my left foot

and then my right foot. Not the movie, but my feet. : )
They felt soo good on the smooth, wet rock in Lake Michigan on Sunday. The water is still relatively warm thanks to the higher than normal temps this summer. Dad and I walked the beach one hour north of his house and back. We had a good talk.
It was a gorgeous day as the light is amazing at this time of year. Just what I needed.

Guardian Frog

Some people have guardian angels, I had a guardian frog this weekend.
I found it odd to see him affixed to the side of my house and then on the screen door. [I believe he is a tree frog due to the cool little suction cups on his "Feet".] However, froggy decided to stay close by my side this weekend. So, I decided to be the paparazzi and shoot him.

Ah, I remember the days when my little sister used to go down the road at the cottage to go froggin. She kissed a lot of frogs back then; even fed one to an unsuspecting horse. I am sure the horse was not very happy (about as unhappy as Keydiddle was when the horse ate the frog she was showing him). Oh well, something new for the horse that day.

Those were the days. Summers up north at the cottage. It was great fun.