Let’s Set The Record Straight — I Declined.
Now I can tell “The rest of the story…”
For months B.O’B and I have been in discussion about being running mates. And in this context I’m not talking about the normal running to which I normally refer. I planned a trip to the Denver area under the guise of a “photography workshop” when in reality I was planning on being on the platform in Denver next to B.O’B for the Big Announcement.
All was set until I realized that I wanted to remain Inside The Perimeter, and not Inside The Beltway (a domain which has probably been taken by a domain squatter in hopes that I’d accept B.O’B's offer) so I declined his offer to have me run as the Vice President. Yes, I broke up with him. (Seinfeld reference for all of you old enough to remember)
Have I mentioned that the lack of sleep combined with the altitude has made me rather delusional?
Read Along With Me
It is not that there is no evil, accidents, deformity, pettiness, hatred. It’s that there is a broader view. Evil exists in the part. Perfection exists in the whole. Discord is seeing near-sightedly. And I can choose this broader view — not that I always should — but I always can.
There is a certain beauty in poverty, loss and desolation. There is a certain strength and grandeur in suffering. Grays, storms, ruins, age are powerful subjects for a painting. Even a dump heap can evoke admiration.
To all who have helped me — Thanks.
Travel FAIL! Or More Accurately, Vail
The Tips From The Top Floor workshop has ended. We wrapped around 4pm yesterday and I headed out of Fort Collins almost immediately. Although drinking many of their fine products I failed to make it to the New Belgium brewery. 
My projected destination last night was Grand Junction, CO. At the very least I wanted to avoid one of the state’s well-known ski-towns for fear of higher hotel prices. After driving for about four hours I began to get hungry, tired, and physically irritated. I wound up at the Comfort Inn for a $125/night (this is the price after the 25% discount for my Elite status) in West Vail. The room is okay, but not nearly as nice as The Armstrong Hotel, especially for the nearly $40 price difference.
The workshop was a lot of fun. In addition to learning, seeing some stunning scenery I met a lot of nice people and had good times sharing a few beverages with them. Would I do it again? Yep, sure would.
You Can Call Me “Dave”
During the workshop we spent a few hours learning the basics of portrait photography. We broke into teams of three and were given two hours to work our magic.
For some reason one of the participants thought my name was Dave. For the entire shoot he said things like “Dave, can you please come over here and model?” Even after correcting him, as well as identifying myself as “Paul,” he continued to call me “Dave.” He uploaded that photo to Flickr (which I have “borrowed”) and titled it “Portrait of Dave.” I guess that I’ve been called worse things.
Unrelated: It looks like the hair is really starting to recede.
ITP Flickr Pics
Our excursion day took up to Rocky Mountain National Park. I awoke at 4:00am so that I could meet up with the group for a 5:00am departure in order to arrive at the park by 6:30am.
With the morning light you can get some brilliant light.
After lunch we headed back inside the park to Bear Lake. From Bear Lake we took a short hike up to Nymph Lake, pictured below. “Where’s the water?” you ask? Well in this shot I chose not to emphasize it. In the coming weeks I’ll post more shots.
At Least Animals Are Attracted To Me
This is Oreo, the “house cat” at the Armstrong Hotel.
For days I passed Oreo in the lobby and a couple of times I bent down and pet him. As I was getting ready to check out I opened my door to find Oreo outside of it. While I am certain that he was only there enjoying the air conditioning (I was practicing using one for my return home) that was escaping under the door. As I reentered the room to get a bag Oreo followed me and made himself at home. Oreo jumped on the bed, searched through my camera bag, and rolled around on the floor. About the only thing Oreo didn’t do is sit still for a good photo. Every time I raised the lens he approached it to sniff.
W.C. Fields had it right, never work with animals or children.
Great, Now Good Calendars Fails To Sync
What has happened to software? Perhaps the question should be why I rely on it so greatly. For the past few days I have been unable to sync my Google Calendars with my iCal Calendars on my iBook. The failure of software, or the technologies underlying it, has gotten increasingly frustrating. Perhaps it’s time to revert back to Web 0.01 — paper.
And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood – wish my health problems had solutions
Current Music – listening to the “net@nite” podcast
Website Of The Day – I wish my photography was good enough to be in F-Stop Magazine
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Monthly Foot Mileage – 5 miles
Monthly Wheel Mileage – 50 miles
Mode Of Transportation To Work – n/a 
Monthly Marta Rides – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 27 (110) on hold because it’s not my job.
Books To Read To Earn Kindle – 4
August Goals
1) Run/Walk no fewer than 75 miles
2) Ride no fewer than 150 road miles
3) Ride Marta no fewer than ten times (five round-trips)
4) Read at least two books
5) Make my bed every day
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
(responding to Twitter) Ack! Hope you and all your equipment is OK! I’ve images of you trying to carry all your camera stuff as you run out of a flaming building!
I’m also glad you decided not to run so I didn’t have to vote against ya. (I’m holding out for the Colbert/Nuesslein ticket in ’12)
I had to read the first paragraph 3 times before I could figure out what you were talking about Dave. That will teach me to read your blog before I finish my coffee.
Did I remember right, you went to Estes Park for the shoot? I was out there a few years ago with SuperSuck, it was really pretty, thought I was going to die on the ‘short’ hike her crazy ex took me on….
It’s looking like 3-5 inches of rain are possible today. I’ll run by your house on the way back from the vet and make sure everything is okay if you like.
“Have I mentioned that the lack of sleep combined with the altitude has made me rather delusional?” … but funny as all get out!
Nice pics! FYI, be happy u r out of town! With all the moving/renovating/renting I am doing, I’m calling in all my favors! My Dad came to help me and you know, I should have realized that a person who is a good sociologist, may not be the best plasterer… too late, however! I’ve gotten some refresher courses this weekend on plumbing, floor sanding and “security”… more fun to come!
does the hashing fun start today?
Off to Cortez or Durango. Hashing starts Friday.
Have great fun out there, Dave.
-FP
If I would have know you were going to Vail, you could have stayed with Allan’s grandmother……… I’m sure Anna Mae would have loved you. And since we aren’t going to get to that part of the state this trip, you could have been the stand-in grandson. I don’t think there are any cheap hotels in the Vail area, ever. Thank God we have relatives there, I’m hoping ot find the money for a ski trip this winter.
You really are making your way around the state – there are supposedly some good wineries over near the Utah border.
and – I can’t believe you pasted up the chance to go to the New Belgium Brewery – free tasting of all their beers. Be prepared for Allan to look at you like you are crazy & give you crap when he sees you. (more out of jealousy that anything)
Hey look at me, I’m in Cortez, CO!!!
Barb, I had no idea that I was going to Vail until I decided to quit driving for the night.
I really didn’t pass up the chance for New Belgium. The workshop went later than they were open on Thur/Fri/Sat. The are not open for tours Sun/Mon, and had to leave Fort Collins to see the rest of the state. Believe me, I was bummed when I realized that it wasn’t going to happen.
Well congrats…
I drove by your place, it has yet to float away…but it is still early.
I meant to ask in the last comment, has the rain been as heave as predicted?
It’s coming down pretty good up here in MAR-etta. It’s supposed to be lasting all night (and pretty red and yellow from the radar)…. so I’d say yes.
Yes…It has been raining on and off all afternoon, really heavy at times…looks like this will be going on through Tuesday night.
I’m going to have to mow the yard (again) before Saturday
At least it should keep people from breaking into my house. I mean who goes out in the rain in order to break in? ???
hey- what is in Cortez?
Yippee!!!
All this photo talk has been making me want to buy a new camera…with mine being perfectly good, abet beat up I couldn’t justify spending the cash. Today I tried to use it (to take a picture of my new ‘curly’ haircut) and it wont work…
I’m going shopping!!!!
Oh, this new style just reinforces what I already know, I need to keep my hair straight.
Nope, come on Martha – we want pictures!
are the curls due to all the rain & humidity? Mine is getting curlier & bigger by the minute with all this rain.
Nope the stylist wanted to ‘see’ my hair curly…it is naturally curly/wavy but I straighten it…plus with the rain/humidity it wasn’t going to stay straight. Actually as the day wore on it started to grow on me but I went back to straight today and I really like the new cut
Stacy, sorry no pics the camera is kaput! I’ll be shopping for a new one today. If you EVER make it back ITP maybe you can see it for yourself.
Hey… where is that slacker Dave and his post for today? I need my daily fix!!
-FP
I make it back ITP now and again….usually just to connect to a road that takes me back out though.