My dad passed away twelve years ago. Since then, compounded by the fact that I’ve never impregnated a woman, the traditional June holiday for dads hasn’t held much water for me. So I’ve invented “Farthers Day” on which I will attempt to push my limits whether they be — sleeping, running, cycling, drinking, swearing, whatever — farther then I ever have before.
Today I’ll present two, perhaps three stories mostly because I’m a sucker for stories. But first I must show my juvenile side…
When I first started thinking about today’s blog and started writing it last night WordPress saved a draft for me:
“happy-fart” indeed.
ITP Flickr Pic (And Story)
I’m a sucker for a story, especially when said story costs me a mere $4.
Last Sunday before heading to the Gwinnett Braves baseball game I shopped at the Goodwill store on Pleasant Hill. Shopping at Goodwill is nothing new to me, in fact it’s been a fairly constant activity since I dated someone with whom I shared the interest of oddity shopping. Over time my shopping interests have changed, I am mostly looking for bargains on camera equipment these days, but I always make sure that I search the art section to see if anything piques my interest.
I don’t know what “art” is, but I do know what I like. One of the things I like are old “paint by numbers” paintings when they are done well. So when I saw the following I was hooked.
The painting was marked $3.93 in wax pencil on the back and since I’m a big rolling Splenda Daddy dropping four (dollar) bills was nothing for me.
But wait, there’s more…
Another reason that I purchased this piece was that it came with a story, well some information that I’ve conjured into a story. On the back of the painting was also scrawled
Jan Carpenter – 1963 (Age 15)
I started wondering about Jan Carpenter, who by my calculates would be 61 years old now. Why would Jan have given up this painting now? Had Jan (which I picture as a female) passed away?
Further intriguing me about this painting was the marking I saw on the back of the frame
12 x 16 – 1.89
One dollar, eighty-nine cents in 1963 must have been a fair price for a frame, these were the days prior to ramped inflation, when cars cost $1500.
C’mon, how could I not purchase this artwork?
Tonight I’ll Be Trampled, By Turtles
When I was in Denver having beverages at a bar with coworkers back in May I heard music over their stereo system that intrigued me. I asked the waiter if he could find out the music playing, and when he returned the words he spoke were Trampled By Turtles.
I like to pretend that I’ve heard of any band who has put out more than one record. Often times I get confused looks when I tell people who I am going to see in concert. So obviously Trampled By Turtles must be new…. WRONG! Their current release “Duluth” (referring to the one in Minnesota not the one in Georgia, nor the one in Alabama) is their fifth release!
So why am I blathering about this band? Because by good fortune I have come to find out that Trampled By Turtles will be playing tonight at Smith’s Olde Bar and I will be there to see and hear them. I’ll also be packing the camera so I hope that I’ll be able to wander about and get some quality photos.
Miscellanea
I shan’t be riding tomorrow. It’s not that I am lazy (although I am), it’s because it’s going to be bloody hot tomorrow, and I’m choosing to go to a far away place called “White, GA” in order to photograph at a place called Old Car City. There has to be some good stories there…
On Sunday I shall be hashing with the Black Sheep Hash. This go-round the hares are One Ball and Dorothy Camel Toe and I’ll be interested to see what sort of crowd they draw by laying a hash in Woodstock (read “Goddamn sonnabitches are using one of the areas I was thinking about using for my Black Sheep Hash exactly one month from today!).
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – fair
Current Music – listening to the “Nick Drake Cover Story” podcast put out by Coverville this week.
Website Of The Day – Say you’re a person (“You’re a person!”) who needs to raise money in order to accomplish your dream project. Use Kickstarter to advertise your dream and see if people are interested in helping out financially.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 19 (19)
Vegetarian Days – 0, Carnivorous Days – 19 (I’ve already included today since I ate a chicken biscuit from QuickTrip for breakfast)
Marta Rides – 0
June Goals
– lose four pounds… plain and simple (not going to happen)
2009 Goals
– Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
– Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
РEarn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalape̱o Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Attend at least one professional photography workshop
The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
I did a bunch of paint by number paintings back in the day….. do they still sell them? Maybe you should search for Jan on Facebook (hahaha)
We are going to a pool party for Father’s Day, I just hope Allan’s dad doesn’t change his mind and say he does want to do something after all for Father’s day.
Here’s how the evite starts out (how can you say no to this pool party?):
If your momma was a slut and you don’t know who your daddy is by now, you ain’t gonna know by Sunday so you might as well join us for the Orphans’ and Bastards’ Fatherless Father’s Day Party.
They probably do still sell them, I’ll check the Hobby Lobby next time I go in.
That does sound like quite the party! Have fun.
Mother’s/Father’s day – I just try to ignore them for the most part. My mom has been gone 30 years now (WOW) and it will be 13 this year for dad.
I’ve still got two paint by number paintings that my mom did, long ago. However, they are of clowns, I hate clowns, I can’t get rid of them but I can’t have them hanging anywhere either. So I just have to live with the fact that there are creepy clowns in my closet.
Any do the lach hook rugs as kids? I think they still make those also.
We are going to Veni Vidi Vici for dinner tonight, anyone been? Any recomendations?
Never did lach hook rugs, nor those pieces of art made by hammering in brad nails and making patterns with strings. Now sand art… there’s something I did as a child.
Veni Vidi Vici? Nope, not me. It was always more than I wanted to spend an they (used to?) require that men wear jackets. Funk that!
I guess, as usual, it all depends on where you been and where you are going!
Father’s Day you will find me boozing it up with the little woman in Decatur!
It hasn’t always been easy and being a (physically) distant Father sucks, but I do enjoy being a Father and hearing Jasmine’s voice when she calls, it is always very heartwarming to hear her greetings!
I am fortunate that my Dad is still around… now if he would stay put long enough since he retired for me to find him!
Actually found a latch rug a few months back that I was given for a Bday gift long ago… could the frame be younger than the picture?
Martha –
Veni Vidi Vici – I wish I knew you were going – I have/had a $30 gift card for there to use in June. I gave it to Allan’s dad, I hope he took Allan’s mom out for dinner with it. IF I used it in June, I’ll get another one for July for another Buckhead Life Group restaurant. I’m not sure how I got on that mailing list, but hey – it at least makes me think about going to a nice, expensive restaurant.
I loved that string art – I think there is at least 1 owl still hanging on a wall at my parents house. I did the latch hook rugs too – but never did too much with sand art.
haha!
http://www.paintbynumberstore.com/?gclid=CJuskpLAlpsCFQKHxwod5gOftw
What were those nail/thread kits even called?
Well played Gentri, I should have Googled to see if I could have found that paint by numbers website.
“So I’ve invented “Farthers Day†on which I will attempt to push my limits whether they be — sleeping, running, cycling, drinking, swearing, whatever — farther then I ever have before.”
but you are not cycling because it’s too hot?
Squid is setting the dark side/So Co hash for Father’s Day Weekend 🙂 For some crazy reason, he’s really excited about running 10 miles through the woods in the dark. This is what Father’s Day looks like when hashers procreate LOL.
According to their web site, it is moderatly priced and upscale casual, what ever that means. Its a bit of a departure from our regular Smyings/EAV chicken wings & beer evenings.
I think it was mandatory that all the string art was either a ship or an owl…I can’t remember seeing any other theme.
Now I’m thinking about all the arts & crafts projects I did as a child…who made the terrarium out of the coke bottle, the ‘sit upon’ in girl scouts or homemade potholders?
That is absolutely hysterical – thanks for the laugh this morning!!
My Dad passed away a little over 12 years ago, too. It’s always a bit of a sad time of year for me, what with Father’s Day stuff everywhere right now. This giggle was way much appreciated. 🙂 Happy Fart indeed!
@bob: That’s my thinly-disguise veil to say “I’m a pussy, and I don’t want to exert myself too much because I am going on vacation next Thursday”
@Martha : I made terrariums as well, but for some reason was kept away from the Girl Scouts (and Brownies) as a smaller lad.
@beth : Sounds like Brenan has already perfected my Farthers Day concept!
@Stacy : Somewhere you mentioned getting together on Sunday for a photostroll? Let’s get together somewhere for breakfast and photos near Woodstock since that’s where the hash will be later in the afternoon!
the “sit upon” in girl scouts? don’t know what that is. Potholders – oh yeah – with 5 kids, my mom probably still has those somewhere too. As to the string art – yep – lots of owls.
I’m going to some play @ the Kudzu Playhouse in Roswell tonight – another crazy friend that goes to boot camp has a instructor that is in it. I hope it is funny, it is supposed to be, but for $18 at least it doesn’t cost a bunch to be possibly underwhelmed.
What is really strange for me is trying to picture my folks old. My parents died pretty young (35 and 57) and suddenly. Last weekend, visiting Jerry’s parents, was weird (on a few levels) because I felt they were more like grandparents, than parents, even though they are about the same age as my folks would be. In some ways I am thankful that I will always have the vision of them young and healthy to remember.
and Paulie, I hope you are still staying away from those groups mentioned. 😛
Training for Chicago started this week. I still have a week of boot camp so I’ll only be doing the weekend runs for now. Beth is Brenan still doing the track workouts? Need some speed work if I’m going to make it to Boston.
I just wanted to hear you say that Paul 🙂 I’ll keep pushing until you actually show up one day.
Martha, isn’t the girl scout “sit upon” a boy scout?
Oh Barb, I can’t believe you don’t know about these (for some reason I remember ours always being red)
http://www.ehow.com/how_4590401_girl-scout-sit-upon-situpon.html
Bob, that was back in the 70s, I thought boy were yucky until well into the 80s (and sometimes even now)
nope – never made those – but I never made it past Brownies now that I think about it.
And damn – I forgot about wheelhopper, I can’t go to that pool party. Damn being beer miester!
Martha — Brenan hasn’t been to the track since reccying for this DS which is like reccying 3 trails but he will probably resume, heat permitting. He’s running the Peachtree next. Its hard to find time to run when it is hot even at 6AM (I don’t even want to be out there and I’m mostly walking).
I remember the sit-upon! I was in girl scouts until I was in HS and realized that selling cookies in 10th grade was way nerdy!
Hey, where’d everyone go??? (btw- I’m gone in about twenty minutes)
Martha, I went to VVV’s website to find out more. No prices are listed on their menu (I doubt everything is free) and nowhere can I find a good definition of “upscale casual”
I’m still here until 5pm….. wasting time, not busy at all…..