365 Week: 6

365 Week: 6

Day 36

February 5: Happy cloud. Did you ever watch Bob Ross on PBS? You know the guy with the monster afro, who could paint a scenic landscape in a half hour? His clouds were always happy. When I saw this cloud during the sunrise Thursday morning, I thought of Bob Ross. And I was happy. But I still can't paint. 

Day 37

February 6: So I've gotten in this habit of taking at least one picture each week, by pointing the camera out the window of my Bronco, as I drive home from work. You've probably noticed -- they all look pretty much the same. I'm thinking of making it a series. Anyway, I tried that Friday, but the camera kept focusing on the dirt on my window. 

Day 38

February 7: The fence in my back yard. I have no idea how many years it has been standing. This is probably not the best fence in the world. It probably won't last more than a couple of more years. I should probably have a nice vinyl fence installed. But I love the character of my fence. 

Day 39

February 8: Self Portrait. That IS my hand.

Day 40

February 9: WARNING! SOAP BOX! 

This is not the marquee at my kids' school, but my kids are off school this coming Monday too. I have a problem with this. Some holidays are family celebrations, and some are educational. At Christmas time, we gather together and we celebrate joy and family. We should be home with our families that day. School would not be the best place to celebrate Christmas. But what about President's Day? Are kids all over the country going to spend the day thinking about all the Presidents of the United States? 

Exactly.

It's the perfect opportunity for a day long civics class.  

Actually, for my money we shouldn't have President's Day at all. They don't all deserve to be celebrated. When I was a kid (back before dinosaurs became fossil fuel) the holiday focused on Lincoln and Washington. It should be that way again. You should have to earn a holiday -- even if you are the President of the United States. 

Ok, I feel better now. 

Day 41

February 10: In the years leading up to 2002, when the Winter Olympics came to Salt Lake City, there were a lot of odd, celebratory type things going on, all over the state. In the county I live in, we had a painted buffalo (actually it's a bison -- buffalo are only in Africa) contest. Several artists throughout the county were given a blank Bison statue, and told to interpret what Utah means to them. They were displayed at the Winter Games, and since then they have been scattered throughout the county. They are moved around from time to time. You find them popping up in the strangest places. This guy is sitting on the grass (or snow) at the county courthouse. 

Day 42

February 11: Last summer my wife signed up for a magazine subscription. It was from one of those people, from some other state, who come around to your house, VERY LATE in the evening,  with the story about how hard they are working to improve their lives, and pull themselves up by their bootstraps, and can't you please help? Well, my kind hearted wife took pity and decided to purchase a subscription. Besides, it was my son's birthday, and wouldn't it be great to give him a year long subscription to SOCCER MAGAZINE?

Well...apparently, SHAPE MAGAZINE was right  above SOCCER MAGAZINE on the list, and the salesperson checked the wrong box. And the customer service phone numbers we were given get us nowhere. So now every month, my son gets a magazine in the mail, with a beautiful, bikini clad woman on the cover. 

Have I mentioned that Matthew is nine? He's not even old enough to appreciate beautiful, bikini clad women.

Sigh.

What a waste.