Mama Tried Slippery Sunday Ice Racing in Milwaukee

by edmakowski

I took a break from homework to swing by the McKinley Marina in Downtown Milwaukee to check out the ice racing for a minute. Got to see the one of many one and only Evel Knievel getting sideways on the ice. The Mama Tried motorcycle show and Flat Out Friday has been taking place this weekend and today is Slippery Sunday.

Riding on the McKinley Marina once Lake Michigan freezes thick enough is a winter tradition in downtown Milwaukee. Drill ice studs into those dirt bike tires and run what you brung. Winter is only so long – get out and enjoy it!

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New Sugarbush House at Riveredge

by edmakowski

I’ve been taking pictures at work, here are some shots of the new Sugarbush House within a winter nature backdrop.

With hundreds of sugar maple trees on the property, maple sugar season is a big deal. I’ve enjoyed watching and documenting the progress of this building as it sits amongst the trees. Complete Maple Sugarin’ details here.

I’m in a photography class this semester, intro to photography. Interestingly enough, it’s a film class. I’m learning to understand the mechanics behind taking pictures: aperture, shutter, ISO, the relationship of how one must compensate for the others, all that necessary stuff. I’m glad those words are beginning to have meaning, and I look forward to developing a greater understanding. Working at it, trying to improve on what I’m doing.

Ode To The Plow Drivers: A Poem on NPR

by edmakowski

During the snowstorms we had in the Midwest, I was driving behind a snow plow and started noticing the nuances of the driver operating the vehicle. I pulled off the freeway, wrote this poem on my phone, sent it to the 89.7 WUWM Lake Effect staff, went home to shovel snow, then went to the studio to record. Give a listen here.

Green Moss and Lichen on the Last Day of Fall

by edmakowski

I went out for a little jaunt to take some pictures of the vibrant, rain glistening greens of lichen and moss on the last day of fall at Riveredge Nature Center. Here are my favorites from my brief walk. Click the arrow on the right side of the image to see more.

Foggy, then Sunlight at Riveredge Nature Center

by edmakowski

Yesterday it was a pretty foggy morning at Riveredge Nature Center…

but then the sun came out for some pretty nice shots of light, shadows, and residual fog. Click the arrow to see a few more.

 

“This Is Just To Report” – Poem as a Journalist Taking a Poetry Class

by edmakowski

When you’re a poet going for a journalism degree, filling out the teacher evaluation after attending your first ever poetry writing class, but stylistically have always been a journalist amongst poets. I added actual constructive criticism afterward, but couldn’t not write this down once the idea occurred to me.

In case the allusion isn’t obvious, check out the original William Carlos Williams poem.

This class was taught by poet Brenda Cárdenas, and I enrolled specifically because she was the teacher. I plan to take another in spring, one which deals with book layout. On my computer sits got a decade-long backlog of poems waiting to be published, so this class should prove convenient and helpful. The writing has been done, that’s the important part. Publishing can always happen later.