I was gone a lot in October. I spent only one weekend at home. Among other places, I went to Chicago to visit my wife, who was on a work assignment. I went "home" to Longview, behind the Pine Curtain. We drove to Corpus Christi and Padre Island to visit my son. This weekend, after braving the crowds of 6th street for Halloween, I traveled to Alamo Beach (near Indianola) to have my butt kicked by seven younger and stronger men. All the while, I was trying to keep up with my OS reading and writing, mostly without success. Mary Kelly wrote me a note saying that I was missed, and that made me feel good. I'd rather be here than be missed, but I've just been away and I couldn't help it.

 Here are some photos I took from my several journeys in October:

This is an ukiyo-e woodblock print from the late 19th century, of a Japanese (probably Jiu Jitsu) wrestler, part of a traveling exhibition of prints. I like the subject, because I am a Judo wrestler.

This is a deKooning, also hanging in the Art Institute. Why would anyone need to stand so close?

Nothing says Red State like Grant Wood's American Gothic. I've got to get me one of those cute little hay forks.

This is a wonderful interactive sculpture in Millennium Park, Chicago. Can you see us?

 This is Laura and me at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Lake Michigan.

This is my friend, and some of his stuff. He has lots more stuff, just like this. I could do a whole series of posts of these.

This is my friend's 1972 Plymouth Roadrunner. It still runs like a top.

"Alas, poor Yorrick. I knew him, Horatio."

These are the Front Porch Gypsies, at Ruta Maya coffee house, for Blaze-O-Rama, an annual event commemorating the life (and untimely death) of Blaze Foley, "the duct tape messiah", Austin's homeless troubadour.

Oh, look! Here's a rare sighting of my friend, noted actor and producer,  "Little Ricky" Perkins.

Yes, I am still stalking the Texana Dames. I can't even begin to tell you the trouble I got into, simply by bringing Laura with me to a bar in Austin, to take pictures. Note to self: when cruising for interesting band photos, leave wife at home.

Here, during the only weekend in October we were in town, my younger son and I planted oak trees for Laura's Uncle Jimmy. The trees were grown from seeds harvested near his home in Camp Wood, Texas. I always liked Uncle Jimmy.

This is a granddaughter, looking better in that hat than I ever will.

No, it's not Spiderman. That's my older son, throwing a net into the Gulf of Mexico. 

I thought this was a hot tub. My son informs me it is some kind of life boat they have on the rigs in the Gulf. Padre Island, post-Ike, was pretty torn up. They had cleaned up the beaches all the way to the 4-wheel drive warning sign, but beyond that, the flotsam that washed up will simply become part of dune formation, and soon it will look pretty again.

Wow, that looks like a rock star and a Scotsman. But, no, it's just Halloween on 6th Street.

Yes, there are a lot more of these. It was difficult to get enough room to take photographs; 6th Street was wall-to-wall.

Finally, to the beach once more. This is my sensei's house on Alamo Beach. If you get tired of playing Judo, you can take a short walk on the beach, and then go back inside an play Judo some more.

That's me, on top, demonstrating poor technique.

 I will try to post more in November.