They were preceded by John (of Twitter and Facebook) from South Carolina on Saturday.
As everyone hopefully knows, Monday is Beveraging Monday. And Mark and Ben arrived just in time! We ate dinner at Fred’s Hickory Inn, and then went to JJ’s to meet up with my regular beveraging buddies. Good beverages and conversation was had by all.
At JJ’s: Ben, Mark, myself, and John.
On Tuesday, I tattooed both John and Mark. It was John’s first tattoo, and Mark’s second.
John’s most awesome Calvin & Hobbes tattoo! His first!Mark’s Doctor Who/10-Year Anniversary tattoo!Mark sporting his new tattoo!
After the tattooing, we all went out for dinner and were joined by J.P. and Earl when they arrived in town. My buddy Dwayne and the Husbear even managed a visit! Beverages were had (mostly by me, hence the blog title) and much conversation was had.
That doesn’t seem like an exit to me…J.P., Mark, Ben, and Earl. They were waiting on me. Because I couldn’t get my butt around this morning.One of the paintings I like. (“The Lantern Bearers” by Maxfield Parrish)Apparently I also like curves and lights that aren’t meant to be art.The view out one the North Bridge Gallery.She seems… independent. (“Jessica Penn in Black with White Plumes” by Robert Henri)Another favorite painting of mine. (“The Steel Mill” by Thomas Hart Benton)J.P. seems lost in thought…Earl looking at some art.Mark… posting a picture on Instagram? 😉One of the gallery ceilings/roofs.The view to one of the other bridges.Someone’s got wood. (I didn’t get the name of the artwork or artist.)J.P. figuring out what’s going on in that painting.Au Café (Synchromy) by Stanton MacDonald-Wright, which would make an awesome tattoo.Mark in the background… (“Modern Madonna” by John Bradley Storrs)An early Muscle Mary? (“Madawaska—Acadian Light-Heavy” by Marsden Hartley)At first, I thought this guy was real. (I didn’t get the name of the artwork or artist.)I want this piece for the house. Or the studio. (“Big Red Lens” by Frederick Eversley)Another tattoo possibility. (I didn’t get the name of the artwork or artist.)I found the composition of the older people and the artwork rather interesting. (“Hammer and Sickle” by Andy Warhol)I swear they sell this at Lowe’s. (“Untitled 1989 (Bernstein 89-24)” by Donald Judd)Lucky Strike? (“Round” by Kenneth Noland)Ginger fisherman? (“The Lobster Wars” by Bo Bartlett)Mark and “Old Self: Portrait of the Artist as He Will (Not) Be. Variation #2” by Evan Penny.What? I can’t hear you? (“Beethoven’s Trumpet (With Ear), Opus #132 Reverse” by John Baldessari)Sweeping lines of the ceiling.Moi!I find it amusing that the little girl is choking the cat. (“Family and Pink Table (Mary and Sons)” by Will Barnet)You know “shit’s just gone down!” when all the birds are flying away! (“Enassamishhinjijweian” by Tom Uttech)Romulan? (“Angel” by Seymour Lipton)Ben and Mark.J.P. and Earl in reflection.I love the ceiling in the gift shop.It’s like my own art exhibit.A view of the bridges from above.
After wandering around Crystal Bridges, we all said our goodbyes to Mark and Ben as they had to get on the road to start heading home.
J.P., Earl and I then headed to a lunch place I had never been to before in town that recently opened called Maid-Rite. It’s a loose meat sandwich place. And was tasty.
Lunch at Maid-Rite!
Later this evening, J.P. and Earl swung out to the house for a visit. We lost track of the time conversing (or at least I did), and next thing you know it was 9pm. We totally missed dinner!
Laughter!
As they have to get on the road early in the morning, we all said our goodbyes and they headed back to their hotel room for the night.
I had a great time visiting with everyone. In each case it was as if I picked right up with a friend I hadn’t seen in ages. After this week, maybe the Husbear now understands a little better about how I feel about my blogging buddies and the connections I have with them.
What a delightful coming together of great men! And it was good to get more views of the museum itself. I had only read about it and like the spaces very much from seeing them via your shots.
We had a wonderful time meeting IRL and you’re right, it was a very comfortable experience and had felt like we’d known each other IRL for years. We are looking forward to the next visit!
Very nice photos.
There are some really nice works of art there, including the tattoos you’ve made. When I make up my mind and get one, I’ll try to come to you!
What lovely photos!
I am mad-jealous of all the meetings !
Modern art is groovy, but I don’t care for ‘blood heads’.
Thank you. Maybe one day you and some other bloggers can all meet out in these parts!
I had to look up the blood heads. Kind of… interesting.
There are some great pieces in that museum.
There are a lot. They have started rotating exhibits finally, so I’m excited to see new stuff coming in.
What a delightful coming together of great men! And it was good to get more views of the museum itself. I had only read about it and like the spaces very much from seeing them via your shots.
If they place ever went up for sale, and they took the art out, I’d love to live in one of the bridges.
We had a wonderful time meeting IRL and you’re right, it was a very comfortable experience and had felt like we’d known each other IRL for years. We are looking forward to the next visit!
I had a great time, and I too look forward to the next!
Very nice photos.
There are some really nice works of art there, including the tattoos you’ve made. When I make up my mind and get one, I’ll try to come to you!
That would be quite the distance to travel for a tattoo, but I’d be honored!
Awesome post! Love all the art pieces! But my favorite seems to be the cat with the birds, I just love it! 🙂
It’s like a Cylon explosion happened and everyone is heading for the hills.