WrittenPost: 2017

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Chalk on my nose ? ... Via Colori-Houston-2017

Update:
Went back over to the festival again today, to see if the sun was better in some spots, and if the pieces were now complete. Lots still going on !
-M

-M

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There was a cool festival in Houston today...
...Via Colori 2017.

The streets around our Cuty Hall were blocked off,
and various artists were working in chalk,
right on the streets and sidewalks.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Quote cool.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Artists from all around the country...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Plenty of "Ammo" on hand...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Amazing results for something that is just...
...street...and chalk !

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Color, and some black and white...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Amazing.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Color all around...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

This one's getting a late start, still sketching and scaling...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Incredible work...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

I think wine may enhance the colors...
...if the observer drinks some.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Look at those eyes.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

"Hurry", she says..."Hurry !"

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

This fellow's picture was born out of the Hurricane Harvey flooding...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Covering up for the evening, hoping the rain will stay away, and the picture will survive for Sunday.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Cracked lips !

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Marcel Marceau. The real irony, I mean real, was that she was wearing a white glove, and the motion of her hand (unintentionally) mimicked the motion Marceau used when he did the "invisible wall".

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

All that work, and in the end, it's just chalk on a street,
...like all of us...all too temporary...

Y'all take care now,
-Mark

Friday, October 13, 2017

Birthday...60 !!

Hello all,
My 60th Birthday today.
I would like to thank you all for the many birthday wishes !!

Although this piece was first written 3 years ago,
I think it deserves repeating today.

Many thanks, and y'all take care,
- Mark

Sixty

As I approached 50, I was depressed.

And now, though it’s still 3 years away,

I race toward 60, and all I’ve got

is a grand-daughter and a great big smile.

She is sunshine and warm hugs,

a romp around the house. We turn chairs

and blankets into Princess Castles,

then relax in Poppie’s chair, and take a nap.

We make snacks out of graham crackers,

and applesauce, maybe yogurt out of a cup.

We mix batter and help Gaga make pancakes,

with blueberries and “Bo-nanas” on top.

We make a mess, and clean it up,

and then we make another one.

Think about 60 ?, no… I smile and think about

my “Little One”…and next Saturday afternoon.

Mark W. Laughlin

December 7, 2014

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Rome - I

I traveled through Rome recently, and had a few hours to walk and take photos...
...my favorite pass-time !

A little different approach to this post, I asked Brenda to select her favorites among the photos, and these are her picks.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

I started on Saturday morning by taking a taxi from my hotel down to the Colosseum. Had to get a few of the obligatory "standard tourist Rome photos" !

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Walking back to the hotel, you never know what you'll find, so I glance down every side street and alleyway.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

I call this post "Rome I" because Brenda and I will return next spring, to celebrate our 40th Anniversary (yes, she was only 4 years old when we got married...) We'll stay here at the Forum Hotel.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

The view across from the hotel (which has a cool roof-level restaurant). The Forum Area is amazing. The people of Rome have excavated as much as 30 feet (10m) down to some of the earliest building remains, more than 2000 years of history !

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

This is the base of a column erected to honor Trahan, a powerful guy who went on a big expedition up into Europe, about the years 110-115...yes, 1900 years ago. If I remember correctly,, the figures in the relief are about a foot tall, the spiral-wrapped relief winds it's way up the column, telling the story of the journey. At the bottom here, they are all pumped, marching straight, and heading out from Rome. Look at the detail that remains, on a monument erected 1900 years ago !!

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

One thing about Rome, when you build a new monument or building,
...you pretty much gotta' go big.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

The statues way up on top...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Just gotta look down every street and alleyway...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Could you drive through there to park every day ?

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

...just never know what you'll see...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Ponte Sant' Angelo, originally built by Emperor Hadrian (in the year 135 !!).

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Then walking after dinner one evening, back in the same area.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Bren asked me if she could just park this way when she goes to the mall...
...I just kept walking.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Y'all take care,
-Mark

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Tree Surgery...

We have a lot to be thankful for.

My friend reminded me that in some parts of the world,
the flooding we have seen from Harvey
would have caused loss of life in the thousands.

In Houston, we have had loss of life, but barely reaching a dozen.
Yes, yes, a dozen is way too many, but it is not hundreds,
and it is not thousands.

For me, I am most thankful we are dry, and that all the family is safe.

I did have one inconvenience, but it wasn't much more than that.
I had a tree fall over onto my garage. So, I called some guys to help.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

There's a garage under there...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

So, before he could start cutting, he needed to climb high, and rig some lines for his own fall protection, and to rig to branches, to lower them in a controlled way.