"Cold, Wet And Wild"...

Guess I gotta find a framer for this 24"x36" piece.

I just found out my painting entitled,"Thawing Out" has been accepted for the inclusion in the ASAA 2015 International Aerospace Art Exhibition to be held at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, Georgia.

The painting is from sketches and photos that were taken on a trip to document the work an Air Force Reserve unit in Anchorage, AK at Elmendorf, AFB does for the Inuits natives in towns north of Fairbanks, Alaska. We were also sent by the Pentagon to witness the changing of the guard, from the venerable F-15 Eagle to the advanced, multirole, F-22 Raptor.

Apparently, global warming is a real phenomenon and is creating new shipping lanes in the North Pole. The Air Force has the job to defend that airspace and the F-22 is best suited for that job.

As a member of the American Society of Aviation Artists, a non-profit organization founded in 1986, I was invited to submit a painting or two to be judged and if accepted, hung on the walls of the museum.

The ASAA, http://www.asaa-avart.org/, brings together persons who share a love of art and aviation in an organization that challenges itself to the creation of works that are unique to aviation and aerospace, while, also, offering programs and activities of interest to those who are not artists but have a love for art and aviation. Through programs and lectures we continue to present topics of interest that are timely and informative.

The exhibition, at the  National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, Georgia, will start May 4th and will go till the end of August.

Copyright 2015/ Ben Bensen III

"A Delivered Message About Sportsmanship!"

But, But Coach...

A little story about "Sportsmanship" sent to me by a friend of a friend, of a friend... AND, believe me, as a little league and baseball coach for twelve years and a league president for two years, I've been there!

At one point during a game, the coach called one of his 9-year-old baseball players aside and asked, "Do you understand what co-operation is? What a team is?"

"Yes, coach", replied the little boy. "Do you understand that what matters is whether we win or lose together as a team?" The little boy nodded in the affirmative.

"So," the coach continued, "I'm sure you know, when an out is called, you shouldn't argue, curse, attack the umpire, or call him a pecker-head, dickhead or asshole.

Do you understand all that?"

Again, the little boy nodded in the affirmative.

The coach continued, "And when I take you out of the game so that another boy gets a chance to play, it's not good sportsmanship to call your coach a dumb ass or shit head is it?"

"No, coach."

"Good", said the coach. "Now go over there and explain all that to your
grandmother.”

"Well, I Almost Did It Again"...

Sometimes, it just doesn't pay to wake up and start your day.  I had a flight to San Francisco from my home in South Pasadena to do some artwork for an agency's car account. I had, the night before, prepared my bags and art supplies and stashed them in the car. All I had to do, was wake up, clean up a bit, grab a cup of coffee for the road and go. It must have been the coffee that distracted me so, for I left the water running to get hot and walked right out of the door.

The water ran continuously until it spilled out over the sink and filled the bathroom floor. It was starting to soak our master bedroom when, my wife awoke and shut the water off. It wasn't until she called me, that I realized what I had done.

Well, today, about twenty years later, I almost did the same thing. Getting myself together to meet a friend at a local restaurant, I took a good long look at myself in the bathroom window and realized that I needed to shave. Knowing how long the water takes to heat up, I decided to "multitask" by running into the kitchen to get my coffee microwaved. Of course, I had to get my laptop and put it in the computer bag, find my daily reminder book and check to see about some clothes I had washed the night before. I decided to put out the dog, while I threw the clothes in the dryer.

By this time, my coffee was hot enough to transfer over to my metal go cup and wash the cup that I used to microwave the coffee. Naturally, there were a few more dishes in the sink, so I figured I take care of that too.

"Okay, I thought to myself. Where's my cellphone? Is it charged? Got my bag, got my glasses, got coffee in my go cup...okay, I hope I put my keys where they are supposed to be. Good, there they are... let's get out of here.

Uh-oh, where's the dog?

I scream out my dog's name and scream even louder the keyword to his obedience...

"Pierre, come get a TREAT!"

He comes zooming out of nowhere from the back yard, and skids to a halt, and "at attention!'

He gets his treat, and I, move on.

I look around once more and do my daily check down. Even though their was there premonition that I was missing something important, I shrugged it off and strolled out to the car.

"Did I close all the doors in the house so our cocker spaniel won't do something I'd have to kill him for later!" No... everything is cool, and I'm out of here.

I jumped in the car, hang my blazer on the passenger side hook, drop my cellphone into the door panel, put my coffee cop into the holder and start up the car. Backing out of the driveway, I put on the radio and as usual, a commercial was one.

"Oh great, another five minutes of the big sell," I said to myself, as I head out to the main road leading out of the subdivision. I normally turn the sound down on the radio for I am quite familiar with this particular sportstalk programming. This time, I didn't.

Dan Patrick, who now has his own radio talk show,  comes over the crisp, early morning air and asks,

"Have you ever tried the latest in shaving technology, the Dollar Shave Club. com?"

"Aw, shit," I screamed, as I slam on the brakes, turn into someone's driveway, and just sit and shake my head in disgust...

"You asshole!"

Copyright 2015/ Ben Bensen III

"Of Grocery Bags And Car Remotes!"

Why do I have to shop every week? Where does all the food go?

Being a guy, I shop for groceries very impatiently. I don't use a list, but know exactly where to go to get what I need... quickly. It is so aggravating to have to shop for groceries every week or so.

Where the hell does all our food go?

Arriving home, I open up the trunk of the car and with a sigh, I grab as many plastic bags of groceries as I can. ( I blame this all on California Governor Jerry Brown, of course! ) With my right hand, I grab two, three, maybe four bags of groceries and place the handles neatly, but tightly in my left hand. With my left hand full of groceries and my remote car key hanging from an "O" ring on my little pinky finger, I stretched way back into the van to get any vegetables or fruit that's somehow rolled out of the bags and put them back into just about any bag that will hold them. Adeptly, with my right hand, I scoop up the remaining plastic "luggage" determined to not have to make another damn trip.

Feeling quite smug and satisfied, with about half a dozen or more bags in my hands, I gingerly walk to the back door of the house and while balancing myself so nothing falls out, or I, fall over, with a huff and a puff, I try to open the back door with my car remote.

It hasn't worked yet...

Copyright 2015/ Ben Bensen III