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Thursday, October 10, 2024

"Who Did Ya Pick in the Fourth Race at Del Mar Today?"

Plays the Horses!


Good "thoroughly"Thursday Morning, y'all.
Here's a sketch of Robert from afar sitting at the Giddy Up window where Carol Flannery's stain glass art hangs.
Robert is a unique character. He likes to hover around conversations instead of sitting in one. I was lucky enough to get this pose from him. Bob likes to play the horses and is probably contemplating his next move as the racetracks at Del Mar and Santa Anita open this coming weekend.
He goes to church on Wednesday and Sunday and I can tell because he dresses up a bit. I like to tease him about praying for a winner at Mass.
"Hey Bob, who did ya pick in the fourth race at Del Mar today?"
And, he tells me... though I haven't a clue what he's talking about!
First cup!

Copyright 2024/Ben Bensen III
 

A Portrait...


 

Oh, and by the way, happy belated birthday to you, Jimmy Carter, celebrating his 100th birthday!


Copyright 2024/Ben BensenIII

Friday, September 13, 2024

"Not A Patch On His Ass!"

To The Bone...

 Good "Bad To The Bone" Saturday Morning, all bodies.


The other day while watching some baseball game, one of the announcers, it could have been John Smoltz, reference a player as being "bad to the bone!" The statement sent in motion the memories of driving to Pomona and back every day for work.

One of those days, KMET's DJ Jim Ladd, replayed an interview he recorded with George Thorogood. At that time I was just getting into his high energy, raucous blues style of performing. He also liked baseball and had a team named after his band, The Delaware Destroyers. I thought that was pretty cool.

I liked him enough to consider including his first two albums in my collection. But, there were so many other albums that I wanted to buy in the waning years of the Seventies, that I just wasn't sure, Until...

Until, in that interview, Jim Ladd compared his blues style of playing guitar to Eric Clapton's.

"You really think so", George asked.

Jim went into his direct, but rather long winded opinion about the comparison of the two.

"Nah, nah, George said. I can't play the blues like him. I'm not even a patch on his ass, but..."

I perked up and turned the volume a bit louder. I can get behind people that respect that space and who can humble themselves accordingly. It's quite refreshing to see and hear, but...

"But Eric can't hit to the opposite field with men in scoring position," Thorogood laughed and I almost choked on my coffee with laughter.

That sold me!


Copyright 2024/ Ben Bensen III

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

I Don't Iron My Clothes Much Nowadays!

 


Good "they call it Stormy Monday, but"... it's a wet Wednesday Morning, y'all...

Today, take a moment or two to reflect on what happened 23 years ago at the World Trade Center in New York.
I really haven't been sketching much lately. I decided to attend and use a pencil and a sketchpad at the Giddy Up Sketching group from LAG last Monday. One of the artists brought this iron iron from Italy from days gone by. The handle is the only thing not made of iron and is quite "handy" to open the top of the tool to fill the cavity with hot coals.
Having a wrinkle free shirt or blouse mustah carried a lot of weight in those days... and, in more ways than one!
First Giddy Up cup!

Copyright 2024/ Ben Bensen III

"The Kamo Kid!"





Good "sketchie thoughts" Monday Morning, all bodies.


Today is another Lacombe Art Guild/Giddy Up get together to sketch whatever comes to mind. A few weeks ago, I sketched this boy with his father on site at the coffeehouse. I can't really call it a portrait because it was more about the concept than it was about the kid.

Maybe, I'll do the same tomorrow, that is, just sketch other LAG artists sketching other stuff.

By the way, I entitled this sketch, "The Kamo Kid".

Another cup, please!

Saturday, July 20, 2024

"Ch-ch-ch-Changes..."

 



Good "glue factory?" Saturday Morning, y'all.

At one time, our former next door neighbor raised thoroughbreds. He was into the horse racing scene and had a foreman that cared for the horses and the entire property. The owner, an architect, rarely visited the place, but the foreman, Harold Fresh took great care and I got to know him over time.

One of the great treats every spring was watching the births of one or two foals from across the driveway that separated our place from the architect's. I believe his first name was Ernest.

In the morning, yesterday, Therese noticed a standard loader digging on the southern end of that property which is now owned by the new neighbor. In the five years that they've resided here, two of their four horses have died and have been buried there.

At one time, the daughter used to ride one of the horses, but now she's been in college and haven't seen much of the home... or the horses!

Kinda sad. I have to assume the horses were cared for and it was just their time to see a "new pasture." But the joy we once shared looking out of our kitchen window has long since disappeared.

Ch-ch-ch-Changes...


Copyright 2024/Ben Bensen III

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

“Bradley’s The Worst!”

It Keeps You Runnin'...

 Good “Sartorial” Saturday Morning, y’all.

So funny. After having attended the Trinity Gym for over two months now, I been having fun teasing the staff, whining too much and eavesdropping on all kinds of conversations. I pretty much gotten to know each trainer and their personalities, which are all quite diverse. But one thing I’ve noticed over time is how color coordinated each trainer is.
I found out yesterday, that the staff was leaving early to prepare themselves for a “company dinner” in the evening.
“Is this a formal affair,’ I asked, knowing full well that it probably wasn’t. “Is this like a “by invitation only” like a black tie event?”
There was, at this time, on the floor, four woman trainers and assistants. Cassidy, a 24 year old trainer overseeing my workout, glares at me, and Katlan comments while doing a fully extended lat stretch suspended from a yellow pulley strap.
“Can you imagine?” I’m not going if I had to wear a dress,” she snaps, staring at Bailey, who’s seated next to the company laptop.
“We’re not doing anything formal,”Bailey replies, And, it is a good thing because I don’t have any shoes to wear that’s not running shoes.”
“What’s the problem,” I asked, as crickets abound… Bunions?”
“Hey, I said, I’ve been noticing y’all and your workout clothes.”
“Katlan, let me ask you. Did you put on a pair of running shoes and then search to find that blue shirt to match, or the other way around?”
“No, she said. Wanted to wear this shirt and had to decide which pair of shoes would go with the shirt!”
“So you have more than one pair of blue shoes to choose from?”
"Yeh!, she replied.
“Yeh, we all collect running shoes,” said Emily whose a wearing rather loose fitting black outfit with only bright red ASICS for accent. At 37, she is the eldest of the group and expecting a baby boy in October!
”I mean, all four of you have shoes that match your outfits!”
Cassidy looks at me kinda confused inquiring what I mean.
“Well, Cass, you’re wearing a cream colored sweat shirt, sporting a white pair athletic shoes that have only two cream colored bars across the spine of the shoe!”
“If you were wearing cream colored anklets, it would be a different thing, but you didn’t on purpose,” I laughed.
“I’m amazed,” I said. Y’all have a different pair of shoes to match your workout each and every day!”
“Women,” I said feigning disgust!
“If you think we’re bad, you should see Bradley’s collection,” they all chimed in…
“Bradley’s the worst!”


Copyright 2024/Ben Bensen III