Your permanent school record

027, originally uploaded by edrahe.

I wonder if little school kids these days are ever warned when they misbehave in class that their infractions will be noted in their "permanent school record." I know when I was in school that warning was somewhat of an incentive to behave. I suspects kids these days don't care.

But once I got a little older the prospect of tarnishing my permanent school record didn't worry me as much. Afterall, do employees really look at the record and how permanent is it anyway?

As it turns out I'm am very thankful that I have a permanent school record because it sure came in handy. At the Funeral Service Education program orientation a couple of weeks ago I was issued a medical physical form which told me I needed to bring a copy of my childhood imunization forms befor I would be admitted to class.

I could see several problems with that. First off, I'm 40 years old. My childhood doctor died about 10 years ago. And with a flood and fire at my parents' house I doubt that my immunization records exist.

Ah, but they do, in my permanent school record. I called my alma mater and sure enoough they still have my imunization records in my permanent school record. I'm going to pick them up tomorrow.

Todays shot was appropriately taken at the Livning History Farms in DesMoines Iowa at the 1875 village at the site of the country school house where the teacher is raising the flag.

Greetings From Iowa Part 2

005, originally uploaded by edrahe.

Actually, we're back from Iowa and I got enough pictures to carry me through for a few days. This shot could be used to illustrate articles on heritage breeds of hogs, or about Congress.

Greetings from Iowa

2007 07 07 013, originally uploaded by edrahe.

This corn shot is actually from Illinois. But I'm in Iowa this week visiting the in-laws and generally eating too much. We took in the Living HIstory Farms in DesMoines so I'll have plenty of pictures to upload when I get back.

Radio Days

L1010360, originally uploaded by edrahe.

Since I retired from dead-tree journalism in February I've been hanging out with a varied group of retired and not-so-retired St. Louis radio-type folks for breakfast once a month.

For those blog readers who grew up in St. Louis and remember KMOX under the leadership of Bob Hyland you might understand the situation I found myself in sitting among KMOX alums Jim White, Kevin McCarthy and Frank Absher. I could've listened to those guys tell stories all day, and they sure had some stories.

The monthly breakfast is organized by "the Rev." Mike Anderson, proprieter of stlmedia.net. Thanks to Mike for taking this shot with my Leica pocket rocket. I think he framed it quite nicely.

With todays group were Kevin McCarthy, Jim White, Tom Lyons, Me, Frank Absher, Nancy (whose last name escapes me at the moment) Rich Hehmann and Chad Briesacher.

Cat photo to the rescue

L1010354, originally uploaded by edrahe.

It has been raining for the past two days and that's why I haven't gone out to take pictures. Of course its uncertain that had it been sunny I would have gone out to take pictures. In any case here is yet another of my cat Pepper. People generally like looking at cute pictures of puppies, kitty cats and bunny rabbits so this one will have to do until I can go out and take some real pictures.

A cooling thought

L1010061, originally uploaded by edrahe.

This picutre is why I never complain when it gets too hot in the summer. I'd rather than have the summer heat than the dark bleak, cold snowy winter.

Roll call after today's picture

waterpump, originally uploaded by edrahe.

This is the remains of the water pump at the site of the old neighborhood one-room country school a few yards from the farmstead. After the school closed my grandfather bought the parcel, tore down the school and converted it to a beef finishing pasture. I pumped water for cows many times with that old pump, not to mention all the school children who used it throughout the years.

Now for the roll call part. I've noticed that by now I've had more than 100 visitors to my blog. I originally started the project to achieve the personal goal of posting a picture a day (more or less). Then I noticed other people were actually reading this. So if you are one of those, show your face! Chime in with a hello.

Show me the money

brewery2, originally uploaded by edrahe.

Would you imagine that right here in St. Louis the top news story today is InBev's purchase of our very own Anheuser-Busch?! As the pround owner of a very modest number of AB shares I had mixed feelings about the sale. That was until I tried to read the newspaper this morning, turned on the TV and radio.

The local media is going bonkers, to the point of whatever point the media goes when it goes to far. Shut up already. There has to be other news out there. We know, we get it; The Brewery has been sold. Give it a rest and send me my check!

River Traffic

River Traffic, originally uploaded by edrahe.

This is an interesting shot I took looking downstream toward the JB Bridge. As you can see, visibility wasn't the greatest due to the humidity.

The statue again

bwstatue, originally uploaded by edrahe.

Here's a slight modification of the statue posted earlier. I really need to watch my focusing a lot more.

Back to the river

cityofvicksburg, originally uploaded by edrahe.

Most of the time there's not a boat to be seen for miles when I drive to my favorite towboat picture taking spot and yet some days a guy gets lucky. I parked the car and this postcard shot was waiting for me.

First tomato of the season

tomato2008, originally uploaded by edrahe.

This is my first tomato of the season! It was on the cusp of being ripe but I harvested it anyway before it could be pilfered by a certain bicycle rider who passes my garden on a regular basis.
Its only one tomato but the cucumbers are coming in. I finished canning six pints of dill pickles at 11:30 p.m. tonight, which by now is yesterday.
And today's tomato photo-taking tip is don't rely on the auto focus. The tomato plant is is perfect focus, but the tomato is not. A rookie mistake for sure.

Naked Statue

Naked Statue, originally uploaded by edrahe.

Probably the closest I'll ever get to photographing a naked woman.

A statue study

038, originally uploaded by edrahe.

When all else is unispring a trip to the Missouri Botanical Garden has to help. If you can't find something to photograph there you might as well throw away your camera.

I've been stying this one for a few days and have decided that thought its a straightforward shot on an overcast day I can probably do something interesing with it in PhotoShop. Stay tuned.

The Flood of 2008

St. Louis Floodgate, originally uploaded by edrahe.

I am officially in a photographic rut. In a holiday weekend full of photo ops galore the best I can come up with is a static shot of the flood gates in St. Louis at Lenore K. Sullivan Blvd. and the foot of Cheauteau Ave.

Compared to the Flood of 1993, the Flood of 2008 was almost a non-event in St. Louis. But having been up close and personal with the '93 event I can imagine what the folks to the north are going through. Standing here 15 years leater I can honestly say we came through okay, and those people will, too. But it still sucks to have to go through it.

**Cow Update** -- I'm pleased to report that one of the fugitive bovines I wrote about in an earlier post has been captured and delivered to a local processing plant. The other one is still on the loose.