The day in Beatty

Yes I have done a crap load of stupid things in my time. I am not done yet. Just when things look like it's the end and I won't get a chance  to do anything to top my most stupid stunt, God gives me the chance to do just that.

Today I came up with the great idea of going to another town to try to get some good photos. Instead I got to a town that was quite awful, in a charming way. Beatty, NV. When I got there I knew I botched it again. At some point I knew that it was a bad place for me to be. When I wound up selling my photography equipment for $50 to get back to where I started I wasn't sure it was a bad idea. I knew it was without a doubt. Selling my equipment was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

So I went to a dinky town in Nevada that most Nevadans don't know about lost my mind and left a part of myself there in the bargain. Like they say - nobody goes to Beatty. I didn't just go, I left a part of me there.

Dirty Windows

This image was taken with my phone. The window was filthy, the room dark. I have walked past this building hundreds of times while I've been here and could never see inside. Usually the light was wrong. I just couldn't see through everything. On a thought, I used my phone. It was the only camera that I had with me at  the time. To my surprise the shot worked, and I was able to see inside. Really not a lot of things of interest, but I got a peek.

I Love Dumb Machines

This is a crane game. Yes, it's just like the one on SpongeBob SquarePants, that Mr. Krabs used to take all of Squidwards money. It's just not yellow is all. I love this kind of machine. I don't play them. I love them for their durability and simplicity. Sure the new ones have more electronic parts, but that doesn't detract from the joy of the simplicity.

What about the joy, they bring to kids of all ages? It seems like anyone with even a little gambling bug can make a try at any of the prizes. Old, young, in between, they can all make a try, and come away with a sense of accomplishment if they win.

Take a look at the prizes in this machine. Speakers, cellphone cases, I didn't take a real close look, but I am pretty sure that I didn't see a stuffed animal i  there.

I do think that these machines are some of the little things that need to be charished. Like me, they won't be around for ever.

Broken necks - nearly

I went out today for supplies, and nearly broke my neck. Things were slick before, now they are really bad.

I did manage to wander down to the old barbershop, it looks like it is closed. I took some  pictures through the dirty windows. It's so sad.

I got  my food projects done. I called one, a fizzy citrus float. It turned out to be one of my best creations. I put that on thisrustickitchen.blogspot.com I think.

Somewhere I even found time to take photos of snow flakes. As you can see this post was an attempt to cram all my posts into one. I don't like it. I am going to have to rethink this.

All about love

I would love to hide my skepticism about this lovers holiday, but I can't. Love is an illusion that is as fleeting as the wind. Deluding the heart and spoiling the mind. It is a fool's festival where the mind takes a back seat to the heart. The heart being blind leads the soul into all kinds of trouble. Trouble that mortal men can live without. Love becomes blackened with taint just as silver is tarnished by time and the elements. Love, no matter how pure it is perceived to be, will fall apart on a whim. Love is the most cruel of emotions, and man's most devious of machinations. It is not by a small whim that love and death are seen intertwined as man seeks one and finds the other, not on his terms, but on theirs. - David Chappell

I found this in the park

I suspect that it's for kids to play on, or get their tongues stuck on.

I think it's funny, when it doesn't happen to me, when I hear about people who get their tongues stuck time and again. All through their lives. How do they expect to keep getting loose? Maybe they know something I don't, because I lose skin when I get stuck. I stick with my assertion that it's best to not get stuck in the first place.

Strong supports

That's what is needed to make anything that will last. A word from a fool; strong supports only last for so long. Proper inspection and maintenance are needed constantly to ensure that they are doing their job.

Of course, it helps to know what you are looking for. That takes some time and effort to learn to recognize. Sometimes the time isn't there. My only advice is to learn fast. If I had another piece of advice it is to value those with more knowledge or experience than you. They might be your greatest friend in the time of need.

I made it to the river

I actually did, but I didn't dare to get to close. I didn't want to fall in.

Oh my head

It snowed this morning so naturally I had to go out with the camera. Of course, I didn't check the camera until I was out the door, just to find my battery was low, and I didn't have the spare with me. My goal - the river. I didn't really expect to get to it per se, but I thought I would get closer to it than I did. I got to the head of the little trail that would have taken me to the rapids, poked around, decided it was to risky, turned around to leave and, yep. I bit it hard! I thought my brain had come out through my nose. I hit the ground that hard. Except for a slight concussion, and a really big bump on the back of my head, I think I am fine. The camera is fine. I may have to rethink this whole photography thing, to dangerous!

Interesting find

When I was out walking around today I stopped and heard an almost earie creaking noise, with that of the water rushing from the streets. I looked around and couldn't find what was making the noise. Then I looked up. There, lodged in a tree, was this photo. I had to share it with you as one of my odder finds.

Vicious hills

I walked around for a couple hours earlier today. I hurt. If there is one thing that you can find here it's hills. There one big one that I have been trying to climb every day. I had trouble with it today. Not just from my weakened state but in general. I just realized a little while ago why it hurt so much. It's the day after the day after falling down the embankment. I hit the ground hard, but I didn't think it was that hard.

Anyway on this hill there are some beautiful "houses"? It's hard to tell what are dwellings and what are businesses here, sometimes.

Another victim of the last 12 years

I hate to see beautiful old places like this one left empty. Like an old hollow tree, it's just been left, abandoned, empty. It's glory days resigned to the past. It's future uncertain.

A place to plant your keester

One subject that I like to shoot is "places to sit". To me it's like covered bridges, phone booths, or latrines. Some places are beautiful. Some are just hideous. Some, like this one, are nearly invisible, unless you are in the right place at the right time.

A dramatic view

One of the things I love about this town, would be all of the great old buildings. I'm going to have to find some time to get some shots of this one. It's on a busier corner so I will have to try to find a quiet time. For now here's a dramatic view of it.

A good day for grousing

It really is a good day to do just that. It's a beautiful day today and I don't feel like I can enjoy it.

What do you do when you find out that 20 years of your life has been a sham? When you find out that the one person you wanted to spend your life with was barely tolerating you, while telling you how much they loved you? What do you do when the mass populous has only one opinion based on gender, which they cry out "it's your own damn fault".

What do you do when you find out that you are worth so little as a human being that you aren't even worth divorcing before remarriage?

Yes, it's all my fault. I lived. When my death was what would have made so many other lives easier, I was selfish enough to live. For what? To lose everything. To have my son loath me. To see my best friend engaged to another male. To be a burden to a new group of people on top of still leeching off my poor daughter.

I can't go on. Grousing time is over. I have to find a purpose again, or I will die from guilt, shame, and a broken heart.

It wasn't all ice

I thought this was a good shot. Makes me cold to look at it. I guess I'll leave you with this for the night.

I did make it back

To the river, but I took so many photos of it that I'm kind of tired of looking at it for now. I did get  some good shots of it, a huge flock of geese, some wild turkeys, and of course... Ice.

It's a fort - or not

I think this is the rec center. That's what it says on the sign. It's a cool building at any rate.

I fell

Down this embankment, but after an emergency operation the camera is fine. It is about a 10 foot drop, icy, and the ground is frozen. Oh, I'm ok too.

A haunting place

It's a haunting place
That speaks of death and danger.
That drowns the past and bouys the future.
A place where sorrows face the marrow.
Leaving them without a trace.
Disguising the future and what is to be.
It's a haunting place.
              - David Chappell

Somewhere on the other side

For me it was a long, but interesting walk. I did a lot of backtracking. I'll be coming back. There are a lot more photos to capture and this path turns into a bike path that leads on to a lot more places to see. You will hear more about Al's Way, and the water below the bridge.

What the bridge is crossing

I don't know that I need to tell you what this is. I'll just show you.

From 1911

Another sight from Al's Way. This is the longest uncovered wooden foot bridge I have ever crossed, and I did it without any issues or concerns. Maybe the knowledge that it's something like 106 years old and hasn't a weak board helped reasure me a bit.

Look it's my shadow

On Al's Way. You know, I could hear myself singing a song about this pathway. Anyway, there really wasn't a way to get my shadow out of the shot even if I had a mind to, which I didn't. This is petrified wood. Some good sized pieces. The biggest I've ever seen. On Al's Way.

A cute gas station?

Ok maybe cute isn't the word I want exactly, but look at what you can see of it. This is at the head of Al's way.

A park by any other name

Is still just a place to park your butt. This one may look  a little barren without any playground equipment or even proper grass. Look at what it does have! A beautiful place to park your butt.

Just a cool little bug

I KNOW it's probably just a little junker, but I think it's cool. I'm also sure that some of the paint is actually primer. Maybe it does run or will again. Maybe with a little old hippie with long wispie hair, and a headband from 1963, reliving his glory days, not even realizing that he forgot to turn the key.

The Pony Express

For those of you who don't know. The Pony Express was like an elite group of mail carriers. They were fearless, and dedicated in their mission to get messages through war zones, and lawless areas. They didn't stay in service for very long, but parts of their routes are still reopened every year to celebrate their part in seizing the West.