Baby Carrot

carrot#1
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I picked this little carrot a few moments ago. I couldn’t resist. Yes, it is just a baby. A delicious baby.

Jerry

jerry
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Here is a picture of Luke’s father. We were out target shooting in the desert in Western Idaho. He died this morning. I only met him once but I will never forget the experience. Luke and I drove to Idaho for his sister’s wedding but first Jerry managed to round up the family, a sizable amount of guns and ammunition, and take us to the desert for a day of target practice. We shot at plastic gallon jugs full of water. Water would come out of the hole so we knew whether or not we hit the target. It’s hard to see a bullet hole at 300 feet. We also shot bottles and cans. After a few hours of shooting, Luke’s brothers and nephews and in-laws went home. Luke and I had planned on camping that night. A while before sundown Jerry said, “I am going to go home and get some steaks and some more ammo and spend the night out here with you.” He came back with a tent, lawn chairs, a BBQ, steaks and more ammo. It was pitch dark by then. He drove his car up to where the targets were and aimed his headlights so we could continue to shoot in the dark. In the morning he loudly admonished his poodle for breathing too loudly (or some such offense) saying, “BE QUIET. YOU’LL WAKE THE BOYS. TOO BAD THEY'RE STILL SLEEPING; THEY'RE MISSING A HELL OF A SUNRISE.” Two seconds later we got out of our tent and Jerry said, "You just missed a beautiful sunrise."
He’ll be missed.

Idaho

I am in Chicago. Luke left this morning for Boise. His dad is not doing well and is not going to get better. I do not know what more to say, what I should say, or if I should say more. A guess the point of this post is to let Luke know that I am thinking of him and his family.
Luke, you are like a brother to me and I feel like I should have gone with you.

Interview

Some of you are aware that I interviewed for a job today. It was in Milwaukee and, you’ll be happy to know, I was the tannest one in the room. It was really no contest.

Kehlsteinhaus

alpine_cough
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Here is a picture from our recent trip to Europe. This is an Alpine Cough, a member of the crow family. This picture was taken at the Eagles Nest or Kehlsteinhaus, high in the Bavarian Alps. This teahouse was a birthday present for Adolf Hitler who is famous for being evil among other things. These birds apparently fill the niche that House Sparrows fill in lower altitudes – that of begging for food at outdoor cafes.




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Music Appreciation

I am in my house listening to records (Queen, Sheer Heart Attack at the moment).
During lunch today we were talking about people we had known who had been in a coma and became Christians afterward. I said, “That’s when Jesus strikes, when you are at your weakest.” *
As we left the restaurant, J. noticed Robert still had his napkin in his hand. It was a linen napkin. I tried to get it and he said, frustrated, “I’m taking this to UCLA. Every time I have a banana . . .” He trailed off and I can’t recall what else he said but he was not going to let go of that napkin.

Now I am listening to Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Opus 92. I know what some of that means. “Beethoven” is the composer. “Symphony,” I think, implies that it was written for a large ensemble and “A major” must be the key. I am not sure what Opus 92 means. Is that part of the symphony? In other words, did the orchestra just play a section of a larger piece?

*To you Christians out there, that was not meant to be offensive - just an observation on how your savior operates.

Bat

batt2
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I found this bat on the side of Highway 14 Sunday afternoon. Are you starting to think that my interest in natural history has gone too far? Perhaps too many dead animals?
My other question is, do you or any of your friends know what kind of bat this is?

Lee Friedlander

Friedlander-Self_PortraitPS
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is for Mr. Holmes. I understand your indignation. My fault. Here is a picture of Lee Friedlander by Lee Friedlander. This photo alone does not explain why he is one of my favorites. My admiration of Lee’s work has developed over years of study and a picture, being worth a mere thousand words, must therefore fall short.

Party

This evening we (the ABQ family) went to a party in Santa Fe. The occasion was an event that I did not understand completely but Photographers and curators from all over were there. On the way there we stopped for gas. I tried to explain to Robert that we were just stopping for gas and would be leaving shortly so "please stay in your seat." He started to try to climb out from the confines of his seatbelt (without unbuckling it) so I tried to put it back on. I was seated behind him. Robert grabbed my hand with his superhuman strength and angrily said, “Your Fat!” I did not take his anger personally because I figured he didn’t know who I was. I think the “Your Fat” comment proves it. Because I am not fat. Maybe a little chubby or “big boned” but not fat. (This writing was just interrupted when I heard the quiet whine of water pipes. I followed the sound to the source: Robert had decided to get out of bed and take a bath. He was very good though. I coaxed him out of the tub and he stood perfectly still with his eyes closed while I blew his hair dry).
The party was lousy with women who remembered Robert from the good old days. Men too, but the women were all over him. We sat with Lee and Maria Friedlander. I think I may have been inadvertently photographed by Lee. Incidentally, he is one of my favorite photographers.

Obituary

Sphinxandblack
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Left: Black-chinned Hummingbird, deceased.
Right: Sphinx Moth, also deceased.

The hummingbird hit a window I think and I believe the moth died of old age.

The moth is survived by a whole bunch caterpillars from eggs that were probably laid here and there while migrating north.

We can hope that Mr. Hummingbird had no family. Otherwise there will be some fatherless hummingbirds and we have all read the statistics on single parent families. Sure it can work but its not ideal.

Not the Best Gardener in the World

nightbeast
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Last night, after watching the Tour De France, I realized I hadn’t watered the garden. It was dark so I put on my headlamp and found this gopher walking around. He kept heading to my feet so I went in and grabbed my camera. He seemed to not see me because of the light shining in his face. This is one of the reasons I am not a great gardener. A great gardener, I think, would have smashed this guy with a shovel. I followed him around with my camera and then, when too many bugs were drawn to my headlamp, said, “Goodnight little enemy.”
Another reason I am not a fabulous gardener is my aversion to killing bugs. There are these lovely little grasshoppers for instance. They come in several colors including bright green with red and a nice cream-colored variety. They could be the same kind - the color depending on other circumstances. One thing I do know is that they are nymphs; they haven’t developed wings yet. See? I am more interested in the grasshopper itself than in its habit of eating the leaves of my plants. I am getting better though. I kill cucumber beetles between my thumb and forefinger. One thing I will not do is resort to spraying.

Randy and Diane

randydiane
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I bought these fish for my little pond yesterday. Unfortunately, I cannot find them today. I haven’t given up hope completely but there was an animal near the pond last night and it was huffing at me. It was dark so I could only make out its vague shape. I fear it may have been a fish eater. On the bright side, there are plenty of good hiding places in the pond so hopefully Randy and Diane still there.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

toadpond
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Back in Albuquerque and, in case you were wondering, Robert did recognize me. I walked into the house around 6:00 AM and his wife said, “Jon?” and Robert jumped out of bed saying, “Where is he?” And when he found me he hugged me with his head pressed against my chest saying something about not believing I found him. Then he asked the following questions: “Who did you bring with you?” looking at the dogs behind me; “Did you bring your girl.” And “What’s that,” pointing to the air purifier. Then I offered the following answers: “Some dogs;” “I don’t have one,” and, “That’s an air purifier.”

And a toad moved into the pond. Before I left I put 12 mosquito fish in the pond. When I saw the toad I figured he'd eaten them. Maybe he did, but there are about a hundred more to take their places. These fish are prolific. Not only that but notice the plant next to the toad’s left hand - the water hyacinth. When I left there was just one; it has quadrupled in three weeks.

Chicago, Illinois, USA

We are back in the United States, the most powerful country in the world. I think that is what I missed the most while in Europe – the power. I admit it was nice lording my country-given power over the Europeans for a while but its good to be back.