Blog Archives
Billy and Doris Mae never could agree on that open-door policy
You know that I have a tendency to crack myself up, right? It happens pretty often, and this is a good example. When I was editing the photo, the sentence, “Billy and Doris Mae never could agree on that open-door policy” appeared in my brain and just wouldn’t leave until I made it the title of this photo. It hung on with such determination that I almost believe the veracity of it. Yes! I *almost* believe in the VERY THING I that made up.
Another sentence that ought to show up in my mind but has not (as yet) done so is “I should probably seek the help of a mental health professional.”
Anson, Texas
photographed 2.17.2020
jesus needed a.c.
I was looking back through some older photos when I spotted this one. I barely remember stopping to make the photo except for this part: the door was open but as I was about to go in, I got A Feeling. And not in a good way, either, so I headed back to my car to escape whatever was in there waiting for me.
It was probably a rodent, although it could have been a murderer.
We’ll never know for sure.
Doole, Texas
photographed 6.5.2020*
*I know 2020 isn’t THAT long ago and doesn’t qualify this as an “older” photo. I probably should have started this post by saying “I was looking back through some photos where I may have barely escaped with my life.” Sorry for the confusion.
what is reflected if not truth
The entire block of buildings on the west side Main Street had had a catastrophic roof failure at some point. And the windshields in one of the businesses reflected the other side of the street in a nice way. (You know how I am about reflections.)
For a minute I thought there’d been a fire but then noticed that things inside the buildings didn’t show any smoke or water damage. Also, it didn’t happen recently – satellite images from October 2024 show the damage.
Roosevelt, Oklahoma
photographed 4.25.2026
(pink), white, and blue
Red paint fades fast. And according to the Google, the reason is that is red pigments are highly vulnerable to UV radiation, which breaks down their chemical bonds, and this often leads to the previously-red paint taking on a pink or chalky appearance over time.
When I was taking this photo a local gentleman pulled up and asked me the usual question (“What are you doing?”) and then offered to sell me the building for fifty bucks. He said, “Course it ain’t got no roof.” Later conversation revealed that he is not actually the owner; handing over the cash to him on the spot would have been a Bad Business Decision™.
But all that aside, I find some level of symbolism in the faded red of a flag-painted building in the middle of Oklahoma.
Snyder, Oklahoma
photographed 4.25.2026
one way or another
To be honest, these are two different businesses. But they are on the same block in downtown Paducah and it amused me to make them into a diptych – especially diptych that completely evaded answering the open-or-closed question.
Paducah, Texas
photographed 4.25.2026
One Day | One Image 