commonplacebook.com – Page 430 – The online journal, notebook and playground of HFM

Couldn’t be funnier if I made it up myself. Yesterday while addressing a gathering of members of Congress, President Bush told them that entering the political arena is “the ultimate sacrifice.” No word on what the families of the 1,500 soldiers who have died in Iraq think about that statement.

Book Review: Indiana Curiosities

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 4, 2005
Post category:Indianapolis

Indiana Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities, and Other Offbeat Stuff, by local media celebrity Dick Wolfsie. You’ll enjoy this book even if you don’t live in Indiana — and you’ll definitely enjoy it if you do. Packed with the odd and unusual, this book was filled with surprises even for me, and I’ve lived in Indiana for almost 20 years. Strange things you’ll see along the road, folks who collect or build weird stuff, bizarre legends and history… Dick Wolfsie explains them all with both wit and respect, and turns in a first-rate book that you should have with you on any daytrip you take around the Hoosier state.

Holiday recap

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 3, 2005
Post category:Travel

Between the weekend before Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, my girlfriend Stephanie and I:

1) decorated my house and put up my tree, then did the same at Stephanie’s house.

2) Attended Six family Christmases involving 3 road trips (my Grandma’s in Iowa, my mom, my dad, Stephanie’s mom, Stephanie’s Dad and Stephanie’s friend Michelle’s family Christmas)

3) introduced Stephanie to all of my family, and Stephanie introduced me to all of her family (which involved drawing up family trees to keep track of everyone)

4) Attended twelve parties between the two of us (Dan & Doug’s tree decorating party, Mittie’s birthday, Jane Rae’s birthday, Elizabeth’s birthday, Rachel’s baby shower, Jen’s Christmas party, Stephanie’s work Christmas party, John’s skating party, my thanksgiving at work, Stephanie’s thanksgiving at work, my Christmas gift exchange at work, Dan and Doug’s New Year’s Eve Party)

5) Threw a Christmas party, where we watched Christmas specials and drank egg nog and ate cookies

6) Had Christmas dinner with Stephanie’s friend Erin

7) Had my grandparents, aunt and uncle, and Dad and step mom visit to see my house

8) Missed two Christmas parties (Jennifer’s Christmas party and Michelle’s Christmas party)

9) shopped and wrapped gifts for everyone, baked holiday cookies, and sent out around 90 holiday cards

10) Attended Elizabeth’s mom’s funeral visitation

11) had two photo shoots for the Nuvo article

12) Had my furnace break down and repaired, and Stephanie’s roof repaired and front door repaired

13) Had Stephanie’s car broken into and the window repaired, had my gas tank tampered with, had one flat tire on Stephanie’s car, had the CV joint replaced on her car.

14) Loaned Stephanie’s car to her friend Jan

15) Went to Stephanie’s State Skating Competition

16) Were snowed in with a foot of snow, then had sub-zero temperatures

It’s been a hectic holiday season, to say the least. Although it was fun for the most part, I’m very glad it’s over.

Giant Red Arrow Coming to Indianapolis

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 3, 2005
Post category:Indianapolis

A 750-pound, 10-foot-high, 18-foot-long and 8-foot-wide red arrow will travel around Indianapolis to major events throughout the year, to highlight arts and sporting events, building projects and other big attractions, according to Grant County’s Chronicle Tribune, which provides a list of events where the giant red arrow is scheduled to appear. There’s also a list on the Indianapolis Convention and Visitor’s Association site.

Indy Star’s “2005 hotlist” is really not that hot

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 3, 2005
Post category:Indianapolis

The Indianapolis Star put together a list of “what and who will be noteworthy in the Indianapolis arts scene this year.” And it’s a big yawner, to say the least. My favorite noteworthy event is that Deer Creek (I refuse to use the corporate name for the concert facility, and you can’t make me) is getting another gateway and expanded roads to ease traffic snarls at the venue north of Indianapolis. I’m not denying that it needs to happen, but is it one of the hot events of 2005?

We’re getting some new movie theaters, a couple of Broadway shows are coming to town, Herron Art School is moving, geeks are coming to town for a Star Wars convention, blah blah blah.

Honestly, I think it’s the Star’s fault. I know that Indianapolis isn’t this boring.

The only thing I thought was really interesting is that we have a public arts program (headed by Mindy Taylor Ross) that works with Indy’s Cultural Development Commission to plan and fund public art projects. Last year they increased their funding by $200,000, put together an artist’s registry, and created an arts competition that will put create a public arts project for this year. Nice.

IMA Closes for 4 Months

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 3, 2005
Post category:Indianapolis

The Indianapolis Museum of Art will be closed through May 5th while the ongoing $74 million construction project is completed. The project includes a three-story gallery pavilion, a special events pavilion and a glass-enclosed entry pavilion, as well as new and expanded galleries and a fine-dining restaurant.
The Lilly House & Gardens will remain open through the spring on Wednesdays through Sundays, so for those of you who love to picnic on the grounds or enjoy the beautiful 26-acre gardens in the spring time, you will still be able to visit.
On May 6th, the Museum will re-open with a three day celebration including special exhibits and galleries.

Big Things Updates

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 3, 2005
Post category:Site News

In preparation for the Nuvo article coming out this week, I’ve been working on and updating my Big Things web pages. I added photos of the big things I took in Valparaiso over the holidays, and updated and added some other photos. The only thing I haven’t added are the pictures my brother Todd gave me a while back, which had shots of Adventureland from Iowa and other stuff. I’ll try to get those in sometime soon.