Adults Are So Mean . . But It's So Funny

Hope y'all like the new look site.
 ---------------
Later in the show I have some photos of Caydence's first experience with Birthday Cake. Can you believe she is 1 year old? 

Also some news from my first outdoor Art Fair.
-------------------

WELL - the first bit of news is that as of yesterday the world has fundamentally changed with that little discovery in Afghanistan. It probably will not be HUGE news but it's a long run BIG news for the world.   All of a sudden world leaders are sitting back and saying  whoa - let's sort of rethink Afghanistan.

In case you have not heard - Afghanistan could soon be rich with the discovery of $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits including huge veins of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and the big one lithium.  Now this sounds boring but this will make Afghanistan the one of the most important countries in the world for mining.

This is truly a game changer and will make Afghanistan like Saudi Arabia in wealth over time. Mark my words.  Look back in 10 years and tell me I was wrong. Not gonna happen. 
-----------------------------------------

I was walking down State Street Friday going to UW Bookstore and was completely enjoying myself.  . I love the fact that there are so many different odors that waft from store to store. The Soap Opera carried me for almost a block and after that it seemed every open doorway had a different aroma. Even the bike shop brought back old memories from the past and sort of reminded me of a newspaper printer I had worked for in the past.

Booths of restaurateurs eating food that I had no clue what it was but if they were not looking I would grab a bite.  

I reached the bottom of State Street and managed to get past all the beggars and where were food carts everywhere.  

So I took a shot of the Hibachi Cart.  I'm working on a little project and today I'm going to try to meet with the Street Vending Coordinator of Madison.  I was told by the FIBS cart guy that I HAD to talk to him because he is writing a book about the carts and my shots would work well. 

This one COULD be a little bright - I don't have my good monitor yet (we're getting duel 19 inch flat screens today or tomorrow as opposed to a 1979 dark greenish screen I have now).

I purchased my portfolio thingy and started up State Street again.

I walked past more beggars (many actually but all harmless) making their $20 an hour and I came upon one guy that was beating some cans. I liked this guy as his girlfriend "God Blessed" me for tossing 35 cents into the can. I don't mind giving change to some people, it's not like I don't waste 35 cents in any particular day.

Here he is - I'll have to print one and take it to him

---------------------------
Sunday was the big Number 1 Year Birthday Party for Caydence, Josh and Jenny's happy little girl and she was a real trooper for the entire party, laughing and watching and having a great time (as far as I could tell).  All was going well and the present's were opened and she loved the paper and one really cool ball that all the adults all loved also and then came time for the birthday cake.

Jenny gave her a piece and just let her explore it. 

She was enjoying the frosting and the gooyness and all the adults were oooing and ahaaaing and making and so forth

And then things went horribly wrong

It was at this point when all the adults stopped ooooing and ahaaaing and in complete unison, broke out in giant guffawing laughter.  OH MY!!!!     

 
After the first 15 seconds the 30 adults regained their composer and were laughing at themselves for laughing an poor Caydence's. 

Josh came to the rescue and all was well in a little while and Caydence was all purple and smiley and gooey purple and enjoying herself again.

-------------------------------------

I had my first outdoor Art Fair Saturday and I am pretty happy with results. I learned a lot and am rethinking a few images. One woman said  "This looks like paint by numbers"  which taken out of context sounds bad . . . . . . wait . .even IN context it was not one of my high points!  LOL

But over all I have to think that was the ONLY negative-like comment.  In fact I have to say that I am very very happy with response (and sales).  I had some high school girls with their parents in the booth all asking questions and one said "That is what I want to do I love it" and she told me she was taking her first digital class next year. 

My booth - one couple really loved the booth itself and I offered to sell it to them . . .for a profit.  They looked at all the details and said it was so professional compared to the others.

Not to toot my own horn but one of the biggest compliments came from a guy  who was obviously totally bored. He was hanging back and then walked into the booth.   He came up to me and was looking at some of the canvas and he said  "My wife drags me around to all of these shows every weekend and I have to tell you, your work is the first I have seen that is actually different and interesting, well done".

WOW - that sort of pumped me up.  That was worth a sale right there. . . .well . . almost. 

I learned some things about some of the images. The Popcorn Cart and the Cows in the Field were huge attractions. No one purchased a large print of either of them but they had the most attention by FAR.  The problem is that they are not actually center pieces, so I'm thinking of a way to make them more marketable.  The panoramas were pretty much a loss.  People glanced but that was it.

So it's a learning experience, seeing what works and what does not - I LOVE the challenge!!  It's like a game. One thing - stay away from MOST pictures of Madison unless they are something different.

That my story.

Have a great Monday.

Rod