Periodic Journal of my wanderings

Art for my new place.

thumper@alderflats.com — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:04:58 GMT

Because I am feeling more at home in the new place than I have for a very long time, I feel the need to put some art up. Not just as a nesting thing, but also because I am proud of where I live and proud of my art. So it's time to get it up. Also it's a important first step towards maybe selling it. I need to get off my ass and do that, but that is another matter.

So here is what I have so far. With help from those who care, this line-up might change. But for the most part, I think this is all the print worthy art I have space for.

For the giant blank wall:

For the bathroom:

Over the front door:

If you have strong opinions on the matter, you can find the pool of photos on Flickr and my web site.

Worst.Prank. Ever.

thumper@alderflats.com — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:56:35 GMT

Someone pulled the Active Shooter Alarm at school today. Today being the one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings.

The alarm went off this morning at about 10:15 Pacific, while I was in Spanish class. The first ring I think we all put it off as a cell phone, second the class went silent, and the third the teachers face went cold and limp.

I spoke up and said, "That is the active shooter alarm. Everyone move."

The teacher shoved everyone in the corner where you can't be seen from the door, which was bound with a belt to prevent it from being opened, and the lights were turned off.

The point of all of that was to make the classroom look unoccupied, so the shooter moves on. Not sure what that will do since a shooter is likely going to notice that all classrooms have the lights off and people are not visible from the door. It's a college, there are people around. Most of them in class, learning.

It was very interesting to me to see how people reacted. One guy told off color jokes, some people seemed to not care, while some of the more manly guys in class were pushing the hardest to get in the corner.

My reaction was to get hidden with as many women between me and the safety of the wall as I could, crouch down, and message Meghan, Tim, and my mom. All three of them responded very quickly with reports on if there was any news sites or PCC web site reporting anything. Which was nice to have that information line handy and prompt.

I have awesome friends.

Lesson's taught

thumper@alderflats.com — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:31:44 GMT

It is 1988 or so. My mother and I are on the green couches with the huge pink rose prints. We are watching TV.

On the TV is a woman at a cocktail party. By some comedic turn of events find herself with her dress mostly ripped off. She looks horrified, screams, and everyone in the party turns and looks at her as she storms out of the room.

My mother turns to me and tells me that if I am ever in public and I find myself with my pants pulled down or in a similar situation, that I should just calmly pull my pants back up or fix the issue and move on. That way less people see, and those who do see you're not affected and they won't make a fuss.

Fast forward to April 10th, 2008. I am walking out of Health class with a classmate. We are on the way to the library, talking about class. I wonder if my wallet is in my back pocket or not, so I reach back to see. I feel underwear. Somehow in the course of class I tore right through my jeans, right up the right ass-cheek. Not just any jeans, but the sexiest pair of jeans I own.

Before I can think to see who is around, "Shit." slips past my lips.

Of course by genuine luck, I am never alone when I swear Un-needingly. My art history teacher, and her entire class of students are standing 10 meters off looking at a painting. Knowing that there was no escaping anyone seeing my ass at this point, I turn around ans show her, her class, and the classmate I was walking with.

I then excused myself, went to my car, and thanked my mother. Some lessons it takes a long time to ever use. In this case, 20 years. :)

Double your pleasure with double foot pics!

thumper@alderflats.com — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:50:43 GMT

Bald Peak Feet - Benjamin Kaufman

While I should have been doing homework for Spanish class, I drove on up to Bald Peak State park and tried my hand at some landscape photography. I failed, but my feet were ready to debut the Crocs I have been wearing a lot lately!

Seiffert Feet - Benjamin Kaufman

During the first few days of spring break the weather in the morning was pretty alright. So I went on some hikes up Seiffert Rd, Down Mountain Home Rd, and then back around to my own side of the hill on Hwy 219. They were really a blast from the past, seeing all that landscape again in a way you can't do from a car. On three hikes around the loop I came to know every piece of litter, attaching a story as to why the piece of garbage made it to the side of the road. I also noticed patterns in the trash, seeing similar items in bunches, and some of the same types of things everywhere.

The backpack pictured I bought with a gift card from my grandmother Nancy she gave me on my birthday. I'd been wanting a nicer backpack that fit well for these sort of hikes. I'm sure this is just the start of more long hikes this summer with this new pack.

See the rest at http://flickr.com/photos/leroy_brown242/

http://alderflats.com

1190 KEX, our local AM news station.

thumper@alderflats.com — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:46:55 GMT

I was in my car when I heard a story of an local man who was arrested in Florida for saying wacky stuff online talking about one of the college killings. When they found him they said he had a few AK47 rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition in a cache.

Since I failed to pick up why he was arrested I called in to ask. The response from the newsman was, "Yeah thanks, Buddy." and he hung up.

Fuck you KEX.
Fuck you for fear mongering that does no good but to increase fear of guns and people.
Fuck you for hanging up on me.

Now when I'm not sitting in my car surfing over 3G, I'll have to figure out who this guy was arrested and the whole story. But for now, just FUCK YOU KEX.

MLK's last speech

thumper@alderflats.com — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:40:46 GMT

MLK's speech on April 3rd, 1968
The day before he was shot.

Even saw the lights of the Goodyear Blimp...

thumper@alderflats.com — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:36:02 GMT

The second check arrived from my little writing gig. I am for the first time in a very long while comfortably not on the jagged edge of broke.
I did my 10,000th push up since I started keeping track this last June. According to my rough guess, I've moved just over 27 tons of Benjamin off of the floor.
After a few moment of terror after a mare at work decided to suddenly try to jump out of the exam chute right over the top of me (Including me getting bit in the back of the head), my boss informed me that he thought it was about time they give me a raise. So this shit flinging knuckle dragger is going from $12 an hour to $13 an hour!

The future is here.

thumper@alderflats.com — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:20:48 GMT

The milk in my mom's fridge says, "This milk is not from cloned cows".

So I went for a walk this morning.

thumper@alderflats.com — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:10:10 GMT

Walked up Seiffert, down Mountain Home, and back home via Hwy 219 (Map) this morning with my backpack. Two pairs of Carhart jeans, my laptop, USB 3G adapter, camera, and water. I have no idea how much it all weighed, but more than just me which is what I'm going for.

The route is 4.4 miles and a good amount of elevation change. The google map doesn't do the size of the hill justice. My goal is to do the walk every day spring break unless I start the move. That should knock me back into shape quickly I think.

Bring Back the Campfire

thumper@alderflats.com — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:55:51 GMT

Since it has gotten good response from those I've shown it to, I thought I'd share it here for all to consume.

I put it together so I wouldn't have to make a Powerpoint and speak in class for a presentation on a proposal. This was a lot more work, but a lot more fun.

Like a magical liopleurodon

thumper@alderflats.com — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:30:50 GMT

Farm Stuff:
Last week we had only three horses at the farm. Mindy (Guest mare about to give birth), Zoe (Bosses' daughter's horse) and Bunny (Our 10 month old philly). THis week we now have Prince (Our stallion), and Maggie our philly that has been gone to training for a couple months. It's nice to have a bit more work to do.

Living Situation:
While I appreciate my father allowing me to live in the trailer next to his place while he is selling his house and I am waiting for the new apartment to be ready, it's getting old. I can't shower at home, which means I don't work out so I don't smell. I wake up each morning and wash my hair in the sink so I don't look like I didn't shower. Sleeping nearly always involves some level of being cold. usually when I get up in the morning, but some times through the night. it also sucks not having my own space, and not having all my things.

In the new apartment, the hardwood floors are down. Shelli informed me that it will be a couple weeks or so before the vinyl is down in the kitchen, bathroom and entryway, but we really are in the final stretch. The list of what needs to be done is getting short. Vinyl, pop on the trim after the flooring is down, have appliances delivered, drop in the two sinks and plumb. Then I can move in! I'm getting quite antsy.

School:
End of the term stuff now. I only have a few days of stress left, and then it is only finals ahead. I never worry about finals, so the light at the end of the tunnel is near!

Stuff:
Looks like I am going to Indiana in May.

You're welcome.

thumper@alderflats.com — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:30:43 GMT

When I am in the car I listen to a lot of OPB radio. Oregon Public Broadcasting for you non Oregon Locals. They have NPR and all that, so that includes a lot of phone interviews and such. One thing I have noticed is a lack of people that say "you're welcome" when told "Thank you".

"Thank you for talking with us." Is responded by any number of non "You're welcome" responses.

"Thank YOU!"
"My Pleasure."
"Yup"

I'm not just hearing this one the radio, but in person as well. Whatever happened to "You're welcome"? I've started using it, and have gotten a pretty good response from people.

College advice

thumper@alderflats.com — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:22:34 GMT

There are some things that people can't help but give you advice about. College seems to be one of those things.

"You might want to see if you can get some writing scholarships"
"Have you looked into the University of Phoenix?"
"You don't want that major, you'll never get a job in your field"
"Why don't you try this other major, I liked it a lot."

While I do enjoy hearing other people's points of view it just seems that everyone, college experienced or not, has some sort of earth shattering advice that they can't wait to shove down my throat. Then if I don't act like they just gave me the Rosetta stone to my life, they act offended.

* * *

Along these same lines of people thinking they are saying something unique to them, is horses. It may come as a shock to you, but girls like horses. Every time I meet someone new the topic eventually goes to what we do for a living. I say I work with horses and their response is almost always the same.

"Oh, I love horses. I've liked them since I was a little girl!" Always said in a manner that would lead me to believe that she thought that she was some sort of singularity among girls. Where most girls liked ducks and cats, SHE liked horses.

It all comes down to this.

You think you're special. You are not. Now stfu.

People are wacky today.

thumper@alderflats.com — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:03:18 GMT

I called the Portland State University (PSU) yesterday and left a voicemail. This morning she called me two times in a row and left a grunting email after the first call while I was in astronomy class. So I answered the second call. She asked if it was a bad time after I told her I was in class. it was of course a bad time, so we agreed we could chat in her office at 11:30.

I rolled into her office at 11:30 and she told me that she was far too busy to talk to me, and to come back later at 2:30. If she's too busy then, I'll have to go downtown to the college at some point to chat with someone.

Then after leaving her office I went to go print up something for my noon class. As I sit down and log in I notice that two gentlemen next to me are having an "outside voice" conversation about their pregnant girlfriends.

"Hey guys, this is supposed to be a quiet study area. Can you keep it down?"

"I don't really care, so fuck you and mind your own business."

So I stand up and tell the lab attendant about the situation.

Coming over the guy asks them to be quite.

"I wasn't talking. This guy came over and started talking to me and I ignored him. He must have gotten his feelings hurt." The dude lied in his outside voice again.

The lab attendant asked me to just move if it continued to be a problem.

As the problem dude left, he amped up his voice just a tad more and said, "Good bye dude I've never met!"

This is the sort of thing I hope to not really have to deal with any more when I move on to PSU. PCC is just an extension of high school. Same kids you went to high school with, but staff is just teaching and not controlling those problem kids.

Prince

thumper@alderflats.com — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:45:51 GMT

I have been working at the farm for 1 year and 5 months, and tonight for the first time I was entrusted to excersize the bosses horse.

Rum Brook Immortal Prince (Prince) is the #1 Morgan in driving (Pulling a cart), Saddle Seat (What Morgan people call English saddle riding), and honorable mention for in hand.

So it really is a big deal to let me take him out and run around a bit. I didn't ride, but we ran around the arena for a while and had fun. He is such a great athlete that it is hard not to have a smile on your face when he's running around like a little boy.

President's Day Vancouver, BC photo breakdown.

thumper@alderflats.com — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:59:59 GMT

The drive up was long, mostly because it was dark and rainy. It was made longer by a wrong turn on 99 coming up to Vancouver and a nearly 2 hour wait at the border.
A great night of sleep and good coffee Saturday morning. Just walking around commercial, it's pretty obvious that Meghan and I both love the place already. Though I fell in love with Vancouver long ago.
We went to the Chinese Gardens downtown and took the tour. We then went to Science World and were kids again, watched an iMax film about being white, married and having babies, then played some more.
Sunday we drove up to Squamish to see the sights. Fun road, awesome mountains you can reach out and touch, and some wicked good bar food in Squamish. I love a good cider.
Sunday night it was determained that I am more awesome in Canada than I am in the states because of the metric conversion. In the US I am only awesome, but in Canada I am measured in centi-awesome.
Monday morning Meghan and I got up and took off. An hour at the border and on and off traffic in various places put us too far behind to share a meal with Ry in Seattle at Mary's and as it was I got to work quite late.
Over all, a pretty spectacular weekend.

Petunia is the cutest, most troublesome and cuddle-able little bunny ever.

The Chinese Gardens are awesome; no detail is forgotten. I felt at peace after 10 minutes.

Vancouver is growing so damned fast. Lots of prep work under way for the 2010 Olympics.

I could get used to the mountains being so close.

Here is some awesome graffiti near Science World.

Colin is a stacking fool, and a wonderful host.

Awesome morning

thumper@alderflats.com — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:32:09 GMT

Meghan called me to ask me if I would sit in on a meeting Friday morning as training for a position writing little blurbs about products in the catalog she works for. 10 blurbs to start, $25 per blurb. This is my first paid writing position, so a giant step.
1450 AM radio this morning played "Do The Bartman", then a dance rave electronica version of the hamster dance.
Meghan then called and interrupted the hamster dance which I was definitely not blasting and dancing to in the car to tell me that the guy who was going to send me info about the job got curious about the domain in my email address and had a look at my photography, and now wants me to do product shots for them as well.

If this morning gets any more awesome, I might explode.

Happy Birthday

thumper@alderflats.com — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:09:47 GMT

Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln!!!

Vagina Update

thumper@alderflats.com — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:34:05 GMT

The Vagina Monologues were awesome. Not ask expected, but better.

I ended up taking some random girl from a local LJ community. She was groovy and we had a nice awkward time.

Fog

thumper@alderflats.com — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:31:06 GMT

I forgot how comforting and wonderful drives out in Scholls are when it's foggy. I know all the roads so well that the fog is just a fun, and almost like a nice blanket.

New glasses, rocking out, atacking a horse.

thumper@alderflats.com — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:56:43 GMT

I got new glasses. Two pairs, but the others haven't arived yet.

Meghan singing, myself on bass. Yay I'm in a rockband!

No horses were harmed in the making of this photo.

Angry Vagina

thumper@alderflats.com — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:52:13 GMT

I have two tickets to the Vagina Monologues at PCC Sylvania for 8pm this Friday night.

I would like to see it, but I can't scrounge up a date.

Are there a really really hot woman who would like to stand in for my absent girlfriend this Friday?

Failing that, does anyone want to buy them off me for what I got them for, $12 a piece?
(Tickets not purchasable at the door)

Lets be popular!

thumper@alderflats.com — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:55:50 GMT

My feet are looking for adventure! - Flickr - Benjamin Kaufman

See the rest at http://flickr.com/photos/leroy_brown242/

http://alderflats.com

Above is one of my favorite foot pictures I have taken. It's sharp, I love the contrast, and it reminds me of me sense of adventure and the habit of getting into those adventures that I am so proud of.

Completely beside that point, I would like to perform an experiment with this picture on flickr. I have the dream of getting into the "7 days most interesting" pool on flickr. This is all based on how many people have favorited a picture, how many views from inside and outside flickr, and how many comments have been left.

So do me a favor. head on over there, leave a comment and favorite the picture. Hell, post your pictures on flickr to this thread and I'll do the same. I just think that having my photography seen by so many people would just be a super feeling. So help me out!

The photo is HERE in case the link ab

Grandpa's Barn

thumper@alderflats.com — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:48:02 GMT

Grandpa's barn - Benjamin Kaufman

http://alderflats.com

American Gangster

thumper@alderflats.com — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:22:11 GMT

American Gangster - Benjamin Kaufman

http://alderflats.com