Spring Fox

I can never seem to photograph the foxes in my neighborhood because they move so fast. But they sometimes hide in the drainpipes that feed into Harvard Gulch. And today I saw this guy peeking out.

Spring Birdhouse

Taken in my neighborhood near the Porter Hospital Emergency Room

Our New President, Barack Obama

Barack Obama in Pueblo, Colorado, September 15, 2008

“This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.” -President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009

Also see: Fields of Peace – Barack Obama and Colorado

Our New First Lady, Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama in Boulder, Colorado, October 1, 2008

Also see: Michelle Obama – Ladies in Red – Mrs. O

First Full Moon of 2009

First Full Moon of the Year, January 10, 2009 from Denver, Colorado

Trumpeter Swan Cygnet

Trumpeter Swan Cygnet at the Denver Zoo, June 30, 2008. The cygnet is about a month old.

Autumn’s Dangling Colors

Fall colors along the Harvard Gulch Trail in my neighborhood.

Fading Summer

Willows blowing in the late summer breeze, Civic Center Park, Denver, Colorado

July Pines

Pine trees on the way to Lake Isabelle, Boulder County, Colorado

Boy Stuff – a Short Story

San Francisco, August 1987

“The Jesus and Mary Chain are ok, but they’re not as good as Metallica.”

“You like Metallica?”

“My favorite band.”

Autumn gave him a sly smile.

Cliff looked at her, questioning the smile. “C’mon, what?”

She slowly shook her head. “Metallica is boy stuff.”

“What does that mean?”

“Heavy metal. You’re such a boy.”

“Metallica is different.” he said. “I’m taking you to see them.”

“I’ve seen them.”

“You have?”

“Four times. I first saw them at the Stone in ‘83.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No. I was still in high school. There were only like five girls in the whole audience. Such a total boy stuff display. Metallica shows are so funny. All those boys shaking their hair and fists. I usually have the shortest hair in the place. It’s so cute.”

“Metallica is not cute.”

“Yeah well Kirk drives girls wild.”

“Shit oh brother.”

“Total boy stuff on overdrive.”

“You’re talking about the most awesome band there is right now.”

“Yeah, ok,” Autum said. “They’re pretty–what was that word?–oh yeah, ‘awesome.’ They are so awesome, dude. Like, they rage.”

“Well they do.”

“All those little boys in their black t-shirts. Oh it’s cute. I love Metallica.”

“You’re just doing this to piss me off. Cute, hell!”

“Ok, Mr. Metallica fan. Do you have the ‘Jump in the Fire’ cassette with the live tracks?”

“Of course. Hey, I have the No Life ‘Til Leather demo tape.”

“Shit, you better make me a copy.”

“No, it’s much too cute for you.”

“You better make me a copy or I’ll hit you.”

“I’m shaking in fear.”

“Do I have to crunch you, Mr. Metallica fan?” Autumn made a fist and playfully shook it at him.

“I’ll make you a copy.”

“Shit head.”

“So what other bands do you like, Miss Metallica fan?”

“Oh, Anthrax just rages, dude. And Iron Maiden…”

“Autumn…”

“Ok, let’s see, I like Book of Love. And Wednesday Week.”

“Probably girl stuff.”

“You’ve never even heard them.”

“You’re right.”

“And I like all the early punk bands,” Autumn said. “Ramones, Undertones, Pistols, Buzzcocks.”

“Really? I like all that stuff too.”

“Velvet Underground?”

“Sorta.”

“Sorta?”

“They didn’t exactly rage.”

Autumn shook her head. “Ok, Motorhead, Guns n’ Roses, Sabbath.”

“Yeah I like those bands.”

“Boy stuff. Figures. Do you like anything that isn’t metal?”

“I like…well I like…” He hesitated.

“C’mon, you can tell me.” Autumn smiled at him, pushed his shoulder.

“Well, I like some classical music.”

“Like who?”

“Wagner, Bach, Beethoven.”

“You really listen to that stuff?”

“Yeah. Wagner was like early metal.”

“Oh right.”

“No, it’s the same kind of thing. Real stormy. Lots of metal kids like classical music. The booming kind, anyway.”

“Booming kind…”

Cliff nudged her. “So tell me what you listen to besides girl stuff,” he said.

“Ok,” she said. “I like some old jazz. Guys from the forties and fifties. I’m just starting to listen to it though. Some of it reminds me of punk rock.”

“Sure Autumn. Jazz and punk rock. Uh, huh.”

She frowned at him. “Same rebellion. Different era.”

“Never thought of it like that.”

“Cause you have all that grungy boy stuff polluting your mind.”

They smiled at each other. Cliff nudged her again. “Boy stuff, yeah sure.”

“Well it is…”

© 1989 Joe Beine