Daily Photos

< September 2004 >

September 1, 2004
Day 1 of the Montgomery County fair. I made sure I looked my best before heading to the fairgrounds. Lots of Amish people came to the fair in their quaint little buggies. A good time was had by all. And an ecstatic time was had by at least one.

September 2, 2004
Fair organizers hoped to boost attendance by booking Britney`s country cousin, Bobbie Sue Spears. Wilbur! A kid and a kid. Moves pretty fast for only one horsepower. She`s still riding from last night!

September 3, 2004
Another day spent hanging around the fair. [But today I was virtually blind after a trip to the eye doctor.] A kid`ll eat ivy too, wouldn`t you? [He gave me some nasty eye drops so I couldn`t see through the viewfinder.] Looking for Seymour Butts. [I just pointed the camera and waited for it to beep to tell me it was ready.] The Roundhouse isn`t round. [So thanks to autofocus and creative cropping, the results weren`t too bad.] All week, the carnies ignored me. I guess I don`t look like an easy mark.

September 4, 2004
An obvious candidate for Botox therapy. I decided not to risk it. Worth standing in line for. I came down with a pretty nasty case of pink eye. There she is -- Miss Miami Valley!

September 5, 2004
I had to be airlifted due to a week`s exposure to hay. The verdict of the judges: That`s one dirty horse. Awaiting the results of the horse grooming competition. Today I learned that there are referees in a demolition derby. Somehow it seems a contradiction . . . Did I ride any of them? Of course not! I only observe other people having fun -- I don`t do it myself.

September 6, 2004
The fair ends with an auction where animals are adopted by loving families, ensuring them long, happy lives. A pep band kept the auction exciting. Now that`s excitement! A clean cow is a happy cow. I knew I shouldn`t have used the valet parking!

September 7, 2004
Is that all there is to the circus? I mean -- to the county fair? It was a cool and cloudy day, foreshadowing the season to come. Last call for new buds. Somebody tell David to get out here and do some pruning. It seemed like the end of summer.

September 8, 2004
Part One of my fascinating photo essay, Bricks I Have Known. Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month. I wanted to get a head start on photographing next year`s flowers. What with my curling iron, blowdryer, flat iron and crimper, I really have to pay a lot to be beautiful. Inside the ViewMaster (a very difficult shot involving three flashlights and a lot of patience).

September 9, 2004
Part Two of my fascinating photo essay, Bricks I Have Known. You`d think they`d make it out of something other than cardboard. Gnarly! Thankfully, not everything we see is functional. If you haven`t got enough junk in your attic, step inside.

September 10, 2004
`Step into my parlor.` Possibly `stuck` due to the paint applied to the keys. A very tactful, yet pointed, message. The Marian Library at U.D. contains the world`s largest collection of information about the Virgin Mary. The term `information` can cover a broad range.

September 11, 2004
I tried to get a closer shot, but the cardinal was uncooperative. The berries, however, were more obliging. I don`t think I could possibly get much closer to this guy. A fabulous career as a stock photographer awaits me. Sure they overcharge me for gas, but at least they`re polite about it.

September 12, 2004
Morning has broken -- but I think it can be repaired. Today`s berries are blue -- though not blueberries. I`d like to thank you all for coming to my lecture `Adventures in Amateur Photography`. It`s all Greek to me. In a Greek family, it`s clear that the men wear the pants -- er, the skirts.

September 13, 2004
Currently I`m counting currency. I was on a roll until I ran out of rolls. The buttons on the right say `Regular Action` and `Gentle Action`. The ones on the left say `Indoor` and `Outdoor`. The fallen remnant of some speckled curiosity. Rumors about the end of summer have been greatly exaggerated. The purpose of a gazebo is to provide a beautiful view (a `belvedere`). But they themselves can be beautiful.

September 14, 2004
It`s only for decoration. Time to cut the grass around the on-deck circle. See how I can lift her with one hand? See how I have brown curly hair now? They weren`t doing it right, so I had to get out there and show them. Like some Degas chanteuse.

September 15, 2004
Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset. Swiftly fly the years. One of these things is not like the others. It takes a lot of heart to play the dulcimer. Normally my photos are very literal and straighforward, but this one is full of symbols. Captive lavender, held against its will.

September 16, 2004
I like `em with chocolate and peanut butter fudge. What`s straight and flat, and round at the same time? He just saw `Spiderman 2` last night. Just the black eyes. Step C: Insert tree branch [Part 14] into receptacle [Part 22].

September 17, 2004
The Grapes of Wrath. The Raspberries of Remorse. The Kiwi of Destiny. The Blueberries of Happiness. The Fruit Salad of Freedom.

September 18, 2004
We pay homage to these great artists by walking on them. Join Captain Brick Manly and the crew of SPACE PATROL every Saturday morning on this station! Tiny leaf, tiny life. Enjoy the sun while you can! Everything looks more interesting in front of a blue sky.

September 19, 2004
`Why not come and chat with me,` said the Grasshopper, `instead of toiling and moiling in that way?` I for one feel much more at ease since the Department of Homeland Security installed him there. It wouldn`t have the same effect waving on the back of a Kawasaki. Long blonde hair is a prerequisite for this job. Don`t ask me.

September 20, 2004
Summer will soon be leaving, autumn will soon be leafing. Yeah, I`ve been there, kid. But I had to wait for my ride home carrying a piano. Didn`t catch his name . . . Here the name is obvious. In the Chapel of the Marianist Martyrs.

September 21, 2004
If you like this, you should`ve seen RB1267! Decaying art. Decaying, yes, but clearly certified as not art (by some OTHER aesthetic critic, not by me). I`m just nuts about squirrels. Not exactly the Hubble, but it was my first attempt to photograph stars.

September 22, 2004
Is it good luck if I cross ITS path? Can`t quite hear out of the right ear. Isn`t it time to eat? This one I actually had to TOUCH. Future lawyers.

September 23, 2004
I learned from experience: try NOT to be standing here when the bells ring. That poet was a long fellow. Suddenly the claw of a vengeful mutant berry tree descended from the sky. Suddenly a two-headed, but friendly, mutant rushed to attack the vengeful mutant berry tree. And the city was saved.

September 24, 2004
Shaken, not stirred. The botanical name is Littlebus kindareddish floribus. Was the donor named Emanuel or Hall? The remnants of many years of lost dogs, cookouts, parties and concerts. The kitchenette of a typical U.D. student residence.

September 25, 2004
Not a promising start to the day. But things brightened up by the afternoon. Was the donor named 12? Please do not leave me. I have a feeling his name is Paco.

September 26, 2004
Life is but a dream. Either oar. Should`ve taken the bus. The Dayton skyline. .enilyks notyaD ehT

September 27, 2004
Storing and retrieving nuts is a whole lot easier thanks to the new global positioning system. From water, sunlight and soil -- comes this. Tell me how. This picture will definitely start tongues waggin`. Taken at only 5:45pm, but notice the low angle of sunlight. That`s about as low an angle as it gets.

September 28, 2004
Window to the world. Do not cross this line. For reasons of national security, I can`t tell you where I was when I took this. Hmm? It`s a cow made of chalk, obviously. I`m not sure if they`re being patriotic, or if the dryer`s broken.

September 29, 2004
Like a row of hungry birds -- a row of neatly alphabetized hungry birds. What starts out pale green . . . . . . grows up to be garish blue, purple and white. Heavy with fragrance. Berries: a tree`s life insurance.

September 30, 2004
I hear some new buildings are going to be constructed around here. Oh, there they are. Filled with holy water. The female cardinal isn`t as hot-looking as the male. When next we meet again, it will be October.

×