Scratcher of heads, rubber of bellies
Best known as a great actor and for his extensive charitable work, Paul Newman was also the Newman in Newman/Haas Racing. The team he co-owned had extensive success at the track, although they came close but never won the big race at Indianapolis, I think they won one out of every three races at Portland. Here, Paul watches from the pits during Saturday practice for the 2001 CART race in Portland.
Dario Franchitti sits in his Team KOOL Green car during Sunday practice before the 2002 CART race at Portland International Raceway. As I recall I first became a fan because I liked his helmet when I saw him as a rookie racing for Hogan Racing, but I stayed a fan because he was personable and quick yet fair. He’d eventually win four championships and three Indy 500’s before retiring a few years ago.
Rookie Scott Dixon in his PacWest Racing car during Friday practice for the 2001 CART race at Portland International Raceway. While I spent most of the time focusing on my favorite drivers, I was familiar with Scott from his success in Indy Lights and wanted to get a shot of him in his car. The next year he’d switch to Chip Ganassi Racing where he’d win 4 championships and the Indy 500. He’s currently in contention for the 2017 championship, despite a savage crash at this year’s Indy 500 that almost gave me a heart attack. I love watching him race and am glad I have a photo from the early days.
“It’s about the journey, not the destination, unless the destination is Steve’s house as he gives out treats.”
Ellie
After the hottest August ever recorded, and the hottest start to September ever recorded, the heat finally broke and we’ve had lovely temperatures this weekend (and even a little bit of rain last night). It was in the mid 60’s yesterday when Ellie and I took our morning walk, I was pleased to see that she wanted to go further south than what has become normal this summer. She wanted to turn around a few blocks before Steve’s house, which I was also pleased to see as when she is worn out her footwork gets a little sloppy and I don’t want her to hurt herself. She was panting heavily once we got back home and it took a while for her breathing to return to normal, but she then took a well-deserved nap for the rest of the morning and afternoon.
It was in the low 60’s this morning on our walk, and just two days after I said I wasn’t sure she’d ever see Steve again, she was up for a walk to his house even after spending some time in the dog park. Sadly he wasn’t out but she did her normal inspection of his front yard, trying her best to summon the treat giver. She was up for an hour and fifteen minute walk (!) — she even asked for an extra walk around the block before going in the house — so after plenty of fresh water she again slept off the late morning and early afternoon, snoring quietly on her dog bed while the cats and I watched football.
You amaze me in so many ways, pup, what a blessing you are.
Mo Nunn in the pits at the 2001 CART race at Portland International Raceway. Although Mo had a long career in motorsports, I first became aware of him when he worked for Chip Ganassi’s racing team. He later started his own team and in 2001 ran two of my favorite drivers, Tony Kanaan and Alex Zanardi, so I was thankful to get a picture of him during the race weekend.
Tony Kanaan in the Mo Nunn Racing pits on the weekend of the CART race at Portland International Raceway in 2001. The race didn’t go well for TK but he went on to win the championship in 2004 and the Indy 500 in 2013, so I’d say the young man did well for himself.
I don’t think so pup.
A young katydid nymph looks over the edge of its home, a rose blossom beside our house. At this age it has no wings so it walks everywhere it goes.
Ellie and I meander on our walks around our neighborhood, within limits I let her choose which streets we walk down. There’s only one place she always wants to visit on her long walks, without fail, and that is the house of Steve (I think his name is Steve, I asked once but I forget names as soon as I hear them). He lives on 8th Avenue at the southern end of Irvington, almost as far south as we go, and is frequently sitting on his stoop. He’s an animal lover at heart, feeding not just his cat but the neighborhood crows and squirrels. And he always has dog treats in his pockets and eagerly hands them out to pups who wander up to say hello.
Our pup always wanders up to say hello. His house is her pilgrimage.
She starts looking for him the moment his steps come into view and starts pulling on the leash as soon as she sees him. On days he’s not there she just stares at the steps, trying to work out how to summon the giver of treats. On this winter day with the neighborhood still buried in snow and ice, Ellie took an unusual path south and I thought she was having so much fun in the snow that she was going to forget about Steve. But as we walked further south she suddenly veered back to the west and I knew where we were headed. I warned her that he wouldn’t be out on such a cold day but doubts do not pass the ears of the faithful. Her faith was rewarded for there he was and they spent a moment in mutual worship.
I don’t know if they’ll cross paths again, Ellie has rarely been up for walks long enough to visit Steve the past few months, but it’s hard to say how much of that is from advancing age and how much from hot weather. Should they never meet again I’m thankful for all the times they did, a neighbor’s love and a dog’s devotion.
Yum Yum has adored Ellie since her family first adopted her and always wants to meet us when we walk past. As a pup when she knew Ellie was coming she’d pretend she had to go the bathroom so she’d be let out and could come say hi but you can see how eagerly her tail is wagging even after several minutes of affection. The light was a little odd on this evening from the smoke of distant forest fires. The picture below from a different evening was taken with a wider angle lens so her head seems unusually large, but it does help convey how enthusiastically she greets us every time we meet, no matter that we have met many times.
Boolie 