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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

Thursday, June 20, 2024

"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

Saturday, May 25, 2024

"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

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

"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 

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

"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