Blog Archives
the real show
Remember a couple of days ago when I confessed that I had a bad attitude about the 4th of July celebrations this year?
A few minutes of watching things like a mechanical bull ride at a street fair helped me feel better.
Now, about this triptych…I thought initially that the story was that guy on the bull and his inevitable slide from the bull. However, check out the kid on the left. His facial expressions and gestures are really the story. Zoom in, if you want: I think it will be worth your effort.
Slaton, Texas
photographed 7.4.2026
he had some opinions
This guy had plenty to say. He was quite verbose on the subject of highway speed limits, particularly the way the speed limit is 75 mph in Texas and then immediately drops to 55 at the New Mexico state line, even though the roads are otherwise exactly the same. Anyone out here who’s ever driven to New Mexico shares his pain. And, yes, random dude on a bike, it DOES feel like a speed trap.
Slaton, Texas
photographed 7.4.2026
as american as a car wash
I was waiting for the small-town July 4 parade and street fair to start, so I took a photo walk. I specifically walked directly from where the car was parked to this out-of-business car wash. My eye was caught by the word “American” and it seemed like July 4 was a pretty good day to look around at something that was dilapidated: it matched mood.
However…the town’s street fair made me feel better.
Slaton, Texas
photographed 7.4.2026
city holidays
This wall looks like it’s made of damp cardboard. Or a bunch of OSB panels.
Lubbock, Texas
photographed 3.4.2026
the roof-giants
One of my favorite things I see during wanders through small towns are the civic-pride murals. I can’t recall ever seeing one that looked new – mostly they look like they were left over from the town’s centennial that’s already a quarter-century in the past. The paint is likely to be faded and/or chipped. Sometime’s the perspective is wonky. Or the scale is weird. Sometimes what was an accepted depiction of people a few decades ago seems terribly inappropriate now. There’s always something to see, though.
This time there was the the rare spotting of a whole family of giants standing on top of the farmer’s co-op gin. How frightening that must be for the workers and the horses way down below, like little ants compared the the local giants.
Slaton, Texas
photographed 5.29.2026
