You never know what you'll see- like this sweet art work slapped to the side of a building on Minna St.
Uptown Almanac used it in a post! Thanks, UA!
I'm kinda fascinated with pigs.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
11 views in 2 days...
Why?
I mean, it's not that I don't appreciate the attention to my humble flickr account.
But, why 11 views on this photo and, like, zero on others uploaded the same time?
(and that's not rhetorical, folks. Please feel free to weigh in!)
I mean, it's not that I don't appreciate the attention to my humble flickr account.
But, why 11 views on this photo and, like, zero on others uploaded the same time?
(and that's not rhetorical, folks. Please feel free to weigh in!)
Friday, June 18, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, December 25, 2009
Cheeky the Snowman: A "Tail" of Transformation
I may be treading on Donna's territory here- but I'd like to tell you a crafty, heartwarming tale of holiday how-to redemption.
Once upon a time, there was a snowman paper towel dispenser named Cheeky.
Cheeky was a jolly, happy soul with a big ass whose only function in life was to dispense paper towels. Or so he thought.
A nice lady gave Cheeky to her son and his wife for a pre-Christmas gift to brighten their home. But, the couple already HAD a paper towel dispenser. And they had very little counter space for two dispensers. Their apartment wasn't very big, after all. In fact- they didn't even have room for a Christmas tree!
(also, the son was a cheap-ass penny-pincher and didn't want to kill a tree just to haul it to the sidewalk a few weeks later. Oh, sure- they tried getting one of those potted "living trees" last year. But, that ended up dying because their apartment didn't get enough sunlight. Also, the son forgot to water it. But, that's another story. Which... you pretty much have the gist of anyway...)
And that's when they had an idea!
"Cheeky, with your butt so big- would you like a Christmas tree gig?!"
So, the son bought a plastic garland at a magical place called "Walgreens"...
... and he wound it round & round the dowel Cheeky stood faithfully next to. A few shots of bourbon later...
Then, the couple decorated their "tree" with ornaments and some cool battery-operated lights (also purchased at Walgreens) and soon...
Cheeky was very happy. And the couple was happy, too. And yes, the petroleum by-products used to make the fake garland probably do more damage to the environment than cutting down a tree- but you really shouldn't be so cynical during the holidays. Geeez!
The end...
Have yourself a callipygous Christmas, everybody!
Once upon a time, there was a snowman paper towel dispenser named Cheeky.
Cheeky was a jolly, happy soul with a big ass whose only function in life was to dispense paper towels. Or so he thought.
A nice lady gave Cheeky to her son and his wife for a pre-Christmas gift to brighten their home. But, the couple already HAD a paper towel dispenser. And they had very little counter space for two dispensers. Their apartment wasn't very big, after all. In fact- they didn't even have room for a Christmas tree!
(also, the son was a cheap-ass penny-pincher and didn't want to kill a tree just to haul it to the sidewalk a few weeks later. Oh, sure- they tried getting one of those potted "living trees" last year. But, that ended up dying because their apartment didn't get enough sunlight. Also, the son forgot to water it. But, that's another story. Which... you pretty much have the gist of anyway...)
And that's when they had an idea!
"Cheeky, with your butt so big- would you like a Christmas tree gig?!"
So, the son bought a plastic garland at a magical place called "Walgreens"...
... and he wound it round & round the dowel Cheeky stood faithfully next to. A few shots of bourbon later...
Then, the couple decorated their "tree" with ornaments and some cool battery-operated lights (also purchased at Walgreens) and soon...
Cheeky was very happy. And the couple was happy, too. And yes, the petroleum by-products used to make the fake garland probably do more damage to the environment than cutting down a tree- but you really shouldn't be so cynical during the holidays. Geeez!
The end...
Have yourself a callipygous Christmas, everybody!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Voyage 'Round My Parents' Backyard
I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving.
I was visiting the folks for the holiday. My parents' have a nice house with an amazing backyard. They've both worked very hard to create a mini paradise out there. It's one of the most relaxing places I've ever known. And a great place to photograph suburban flora & fauna!
Below are some photos I've taken out there over the last 2 years.
Please click the pic for a better view.
Thanks, Mom & Dad!
I was visiting the folks for the holiday. My parents' have a nice house with an amazing backyard. They've both worked very hard to create a mini paradise out there. It's one of the most relaxing places I've ever known. And a great place to photograph suburban flora & fauna!
Below are some photos I've taken out there over the last 2 years.
Please click the pic for a better view.
Thanks, Mom & Dad!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Beej Weir's Guide to Graceland: Chapter 4: Working On The Building
Hey, folks! Welcome to the fourth and final chapter of my Guide To Graceland! In this installment, we'll examine the spiritual side of Elvis.
But, before we do that- I'd like to welcome George Clooney to my army of anonymous readers! How do I know he's reading my blog? Well, a week or so after I posted the previous chapter about Elvis' fixation on guns and badges, George announces he's producing a cable TV show about an Elvis impersonator cop in Memphis!
Coincidence? Maybe. But, ah- maybe NOT!
So, welcome, George! It's cool if you don't leave a comment or become a "follower". Sure, I've only got 2 followers (and one of them is my wife- and she's probably only doing it to be nice)- but I don't let it bother me. I'm like Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard: "You see, this is my life! It always will be! Nothing else! Just us, the cameras, and those wonderful people out there in the dark!..."
I'm just glad I can help. And please note all similarities to me and Norma Desmond end there. It's not like I've got dead screenwriters floating in my swimming pool.
Let's get back to Elvis.
As many of you already know, Elvis recorded a lot of gospel music. In fact, all 3 of the Grammys he won were for gospel music. But, Elvis' quest for spiritual enlightenment wasn't limited to Christian beliefs. Elvis was "working on the building" of his soul- and using lots of different tools to do it.
("Working On The Building" was also a gospel tune Elvis recorded, by the way- I didn't just pull that out of my butt)
On the Graceland tour, we saw all kinds of stuff Elvis had around the house- including books (please click the pic for a better view)...
As you can see, there's Herman Hesse's Siddhartha and Khalil Gibran's The Prophet, which indicates his reading material extended beyond Captain Marvel Jr comic books- or The Bible, for that matter. But, what really caught my eye was this (click for the full view)...
This is a book called Cheiro's (Book of) World Predictions by, well, a guy named Cheiro (aka William John Warner).
More interesting than the book itself is what Elvis wrote in the margins. I'm not sure what the "7, 8 & 9" means. The "wo-man" & "man" stuff makes sense given the subject matter of the chapter. I can't quite make out what's on the bottom of page 164. He's obviously written "Enlightenment" on the top of the next page. It's also interesting to see what he's underlined as well.
But, what intrigues me the most is the "Karate" he wrote next to "... great changes have already taken place in the mental outlook of humanity at large, and more particularly so in the position of women."
Why karate? I mean, I know Elvis studied karate...
but what does that have to do with the "emancipation of women"? Did Elvis think karate would free women from male oppression? Forget the ERA- just kick & chop your way to equality? I guess we'll never know for sure.
Another bit of Elvis marginalia was on display in the 'Elvis After Dark' museum (click for full view)...
This is Nicholas Roerich's Leaves of Morya's Garden Book Two: Illumination 1925
As you can see- there's a lot going on here. Everything from Bible passages ("lion shall lie down with the lamb") to modern technology ("computers").
Speaking of the 'Elvis After Dark' museum, this quote greets you when you first walk in to that section of the Graceland tour...
If you want to read more about the spiritual side of Elvis, check out this list of books on Amazon that someone put together on the subject.
And that's it for my Guide To Graceland, my friends. Future posts won't be Elvis-centric. But, I'm glad I had a chance to share these photos and my thoughts with you. If you want to see more photos, please check out my flickr page.
I'll never forget my visit to Graceland- just as the whole world will never forget Elvis. He was a true American original. He had charisma and talent to spare. But, he also had his faults. He had a big heart and big appetites. He was only human. But, I think that's what makes him so likable. At least it does for me. Also, he could sing like a motherfucker.
Thanks for reading!
Previously:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
But, before we do that- I'd like to welcome George Clooney to my army of anonymous readers! How do I know he's reading my blog? Well, a week or so after I posted the previous chapter about Elvis' fixation on guns and badges, George announces he's producing a cable TV show about an Elvis impersonator cop in Memphis!
Coincidence? Maybe. But, ah- maybe NOT!
So, welcome, George! It's cool if you don't leave a comment or become a "follower". Sure, I've only got 2 followers (and one of them is my wife- and she's probably only doing it to be nice)- but I don't let it bother me. I'm like Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard: "You see, this is my life! It always will be! Nothing else! Just us, the cameras, and those wonderful people out there in the dark!..."
I'm just glad I can help. And please note all similarities to me and Norma Desmond end there. It's not like I've got dead screenwriters floating in my swimming pool.
Let's get back to Elvis.
As many of you already know, Elvis recorded a lot of gospel music. In fact, all 3 of the Grammys he won were for gospel music. But, Elvis' quest for spiritual enlightenment wasn't limited to Christian beliefs. Elvis was "working on the building" of his soul- and using lots of different tools to do it.
("Working On The Building" was also a gospel tune Elvis recorded, by the way- I didn't just pull that out of my butt)
On the Graceland tour, we saw all kinds of stuff Elvis had around the house- including books (please click the pic for a better view)...
As you can see, there's Herman Hesse's Siddhartha and Khalil Gibran's The Prophet, which indicates his reading material extended beyond Captain Marvel Jr comic books- or The Bible, for that matter. But, what really caught my eye was this (click for the full view)...
This is a book called Cheiro's (Book of) World Predictions by, well, a guy named Cheiro (aka William John Warner).
More interesting than the book itself is what Elvis wrote in the margins. I'm not sure what the "7, 8 & 9" means. The "wo-man" & "man" stuff makes sense given the subject matter of the chapter. I can't quite make out what's on the bottom of page 164. He's obviously written "Enlightenment" on the top of the next page. It's also interesting to see what he's underlined as well.
But, what intrigues me the most is the "Karate" he wrote next to "... great changes have already taken place in the mental outlook of humanity at large, and more particularly so in the position of women."
Why karate? I mean, I know Elvis studied karate...
but what does that have to do with the "emancipation of women"? Did Elvis think karate would free women from male oppression? Forget the ERA- just kick & chop your way to equality? I guess we'll never know for sure.
Another bit of Elvis marginalia was on display in the 'Elvis After Dark' museum (click for full view)...
This is Nicholas Roerich's Leaves of Morya's Garden Book Two: Illumination 1925
As you can see- there's a lot going on here. Everything from Bible passages ("lion shall lie down with the lamb") to modern technology ("computers").
Speaking of the 'Elvis After Dark' museum, this quote greets you when you first walk in to that section of the Graceland tour...
If you want to read more about the spiritual side of Elvis, check out this list of books on Amazon that someone put together on the subject.
And that's it for my Guide To Graceland, my friends. Future posts won't be Elvis-centric. But, I'm glad I had a chance to share these photos and my thoughts with you. If you want to see more photos, please check out my flickr page.
I'll never forget my visit to Graceland- just as the whole world will never forget Elvis. He was a true American original. He had charisma and talent to spare. But, he also had his faults. He had a big heart and big appetites. He was only human. But, I think that's what makes him so likable. At least it does for me. Also, he could sing like a motherfucker.
Thanks for reading!
Previously:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
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