"Don't Touch That Dial", y'all.

 

Usually on Saturday mornings at the coffeehouse, the younger baristas man the counter and the drive-up window. Mary, the "don't call me a barista!" barista, usually opens the place just before seven. Mario, the only male that has ever worked at GiddyUp follows shortly after and turns on the radio on Sirius to a rather "alternative" scene. It's not head bashing or heavy metal grooves, but for drinking coffee and trying to ease into the morning, it is a bit... odd!

Between 8am and 9am, the girls stroll in, and I can tell by what's on the radio by who has control of those "dials!"

The older ladies prefer the Fifties and Sixties. In that rotation is always Etta James, "A Sunday Kinda Love" even though it is Saturday. You know, Frankie Baby, Peggy Lee, Johnny Mathis, Sara Vaughn, etc.

Laura, who only now works on Saturday afternoons, always played the Beatles catalogue with a few Beach Boy tunes thrown in. I love it!

Madison, who is an early morning staple, doesn't really have a particular favorite though I can tell when she changes the channel. By her own admission, she likes music that one can "study by!"

Mary says, "Maddie, play some music, but nothing "too sleepy!"

When Isabella, the woman who had a radio program called "Girls Up Front!" arrives, suddenly, there's this ethereal, celestial, sounds, heavy with breathy reverb that, in a way, seems too perfect for this world!

Everyone is copacetic with the choices of the morning until someone goes on break...

"Quick, Mario's away, change the channel!"

No one 'cept Sandra and Mary understood my reference to the living room battles created when someone got up to change the TV channel only to lose their favorite chair in the process.

Ah, the good ole days!

Copyright 2024/Ben Bensen III

"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

"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

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!

"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

“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

"It Don't Matter None!"

Badass Hat

 Well, Good "I guess" Sunday Morning, all bodies.

Lost a good Giddy Up friend over the weekend. Larry Leonard, aka: "BadAss Larry", passed away from a life long struggle with Mesothelioma...

Please refrain from posting those praying hands icon. It's not that kinda thing. Larry managed to enjoy life as much as anyone considering his illness. He certainly will be missed here at the coffeeshop and most especially by me. Over the four or five years that I knew him we shared the good, the bad and, well, the sometimes ugly.

Hopefully, Larry, you've found that mythical Montana that eluded you for so many years... Love you!

First melancholy cup!

Copyright 2024/Ben Bensen III

"Just The Basics!"

My bass guitarist buddy...

 Good "from the bottom on up" Monday Morning, y'all.

Starting the week off with a sketchy post from a photo of bass guitarist and old time friend, Reggie Scanlan.

No cups, yet!

Copyright 2024/Ben Bensen III

"Just Thinkin' About Wears Me Out!"

Coffeehouse sketch

Good "waitin' on it" Wednesday Morning, all bodies.

While I'm home waiting for the pest control company to arrive, I decided to sketch a bit. This drawing is from a photo I took at Giddy Up about a month ago.

I love the pose of being deep in thought.

I should try it sometime since it appears a quite appropriate thing for me to do since the doctor I was supposed to see today is for tomorrow. And, since the doctor appointment was wrong, I decided to check with the pest control company to confirm a time for this morning and, guess what?

That appointment is wrong also. That appointment is for Friday!

Well, I DO like the sketch so the morning ain't all that bad!

Second cup. I may need a third!

Copyright 2024/BenBensen III

"A Companion For His Magical Montana Mystery Tour!"

A breakfast quiche at Giddy Up coffeehouse

Good “Sandra likes me best” Wednesday Morning, y’all.

Saw Badass this morning. He’s recuperated from that alumni gathering he was a part of last weekend. He said he had a good time, but lamented the fact that only fifteen friends made it to the reunion.

"I seem to be outliving everyone," he said in a rather conflicted way.

"Cuz you're a stubborn sonofabitch, Larry!"

Changing the subject, I asked him if he went to have another biopsy on Monday. He said he did and it “didn’t hurt!” He said that he would get the results back in a week. They’re checking out his lungs for any returning mesothelioma tumors… so far, so good!

“It don’t make no difference, Ben,” he said. He always says that!

Thinking that wasn’t a good topic to further pursue, I asked him about giving the sketch that I fixed for him to his old “use-to-be!”

With a smile, he said, “Yeh, she really liked it with all the changes!”

“I told her that I paid six hundred dollars for it. I almost got a “smooch” out of it,” he said with a wink.

“She might have given you one, if you hadn’t told her how much you spent on the sketch,” I replied.

“She probably thought you were a spend thrift, ha!”

“I know. I, later, told her that I was lying, but she didn’t believe me!”

“It don’t matter none!”

I have a hunch that he wants a companion for his Magical Montana Mystery Tour to frolic with amongst the buffalo… preferably a female one!

Just then, Sandra came by and derailed our conversation by delivering my Greek Frittata.

“You gonna eat all that, alfalfa sprouts and all?” Badass asks.

“Of course,” I replied. “It’s Sandra’s Special" 'cuz...

“She likes me best!”

“She must,” Larry said.

First cup!

Copyright 2024/Ben Bensen III

"Venomous Caterpillar Critters"...

One of four found in the New Orleans area this time of year!

Good "It came out of the sky" Wednesday Morning, all bodies.

Well, sitting on the deck yesterday to seize a little fresh air from a humid, but breezy morning without any warning appeared a caterpillar that is the scourge of all oak tree line parks like Audubon and City Park in New Orleans.

What is the dreaded buckmoth caterpillar doing here in Folsom. The buckmoth caterpillar is one of four of the most common venomous critters this time of year in New Orleans. They have venomous spines and hairs that cause pain when touched. The spikes are bad enough, but I'm told, the smaller green thorny bush below the black spikes work just as well. Ouch!

I think I'll settle for a twenty minute sketch and then, slowly back away with coffee and sketchpad in hand.

Ain't Mother Nature nice?

First wacko Wednesday cup!

Copyright 2024/Ben Bensen III 

"Wooden Coons!"

Raccoon at Giddy Up in Folsom, LA

 Good "Wake 'em" Wednesday Morning, y'all.

A marker sketch I did about a week ago of Steve Tresvik's chainsaw Raccoon carving! His incredible wooden gems are located in the Paddock which is behind the coffeehouse.

Haven't been doing much sketching lately... Too many other things going on to really enjoy doing any, lately...

Giddy Up coffee and then off to enjoy the company of another doctor... Sheesh!

Copyright2024/ Ben BensenIII

"A Busker Festival Sketch Created For The Lacombe Artist Guild"

A sketch for a fund raising event...

Well, here’s my drawing of the Abita Springs stage with a lot going on. It was fun, but it was also quite tedious. It all turned out pretty well and made our deadline of 4 PM... painted!

It was started with photos of the museum that I took with the background and stage because that's where our art club's tent was assigned and that's where our artists were gonna paint from. The seated audience was drawn from a friend's photo. Everything else was drawn from my scrap files... or out of my head.

Copyright 2024/Ben Bensen III

"I Was Visually Seduced."

Her name is Monique, but everyone calls her, "Mo!"

 Yesterday morning driving out of 'da Bayou, I paused to put on my seatbelt and to my amazement discovered a blue heron skulking around the shallow part of the front pond. We seldom get visits from waterfowl, ducks, herons and egrets and every time we do, I am unprepared to record the visit. I just knew by the time I got iPhone out to photograph the bird, it would be disturbed and fly away.

But, not this time. The heron was obviously stalking prey, and just like seen on "Wild Kingdom", it finally flung its beak into the pond and pulled out a small fish. It gave the fish a shake or two and in short time, swallowed breakfast, spread its wings and glided on to the next tasty endeavor.

The camera never left my front pocket.

Working on my second cup at Giddy Up, a woman unloads her briefcase full of papers, her cellphone and computer directly across and facing me. We couldn't help not seeing one another, stealing glances from each other as we went about our business.

I noticed one of those glances as particularly intriguing, and then I could not stop looking at her. She kept flinging her long black hair as she spoke on the phone and then, flung it away again and again switching from one device to another.

But, one full fledged fling tilted her head to the right which elongated the length of those ebony locks, rather seductively over her shoulder and down toward the black covered computer.

For whatever reason, she held that pose for a minute or two. I decided it was time to pull out my iPhone just in case she did that one or two more times. I lost my chance with the big heron, I wasn't gonna miss another chance to capture the moment... I was visually seduced.

But, she never did!

Ten minutes after she picked up her mobile office, she acknowledged me with a smile, nodded and left, I decided to capture the moment as fleeting and futile as it seemed.

Inspiration is like that. A charcoal stick was messy, but the perfect tool for the task... that, and, a kneaded eraser.

Still hoping for another cup!

Copyright 2024/BenBensenIII