Category: Musings

Let’s hop into the o&j WayBack Machine about 232 years ago, and see what they had going on…

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

God Bless the United States, and remember…VOTE THIS NOVEMBER!  VOTE MY PEEPS!  VOTE!  Keep our freedom alive!

MuchLove & Happy Fourth!
o&j

Hello my dear citizens of Blogville!  On this fine Sunday morning/afternoon, the traditional day of big ol’ editorials, for the first time in our little blog history, we’ve decided to step out of our little blog bubble, and into the actual world – and in particular – our hometown of Minot!

Our issue that we’ve chosen is that of the Flat Iron Building, and its future.  For those of you not sure of what the flip we’re talking about, here are a some links for you to get up to speed (arranged by date):

Flat Iron Building Demolition, Fix-Up Would Cost Same (MDN 4.23.08)

Committee Chooses Demolition Over Sale of Flat Iron Building (MDN 5.1.08)

Flat Iron Building (KXMC 5.2.08)

Flat Iron Building Becomes Hot Property (MDN 5.6.08)

Flat Iron Building Draws Interest From Several Sources (MDN 5.24.08)

Well, now that you have that reading out of the way, we wanted to share a letter with you that we wrote our City Council members a couple of weeks ago.  We decided to share this with you now, because the next scheduled meeting is tomorrow, June 2, 2008 at 7:00PM at City Hall.

Dear City Council Members,

We just wanted to pass on to you our opinion that the Flat Iron Building should not be torn down.  Our voice is in favor of trying to save a piece of our downtown – one that will not be replaced by anything if it does fall under the wrecking ball.  Downtown Minot has become block after block of surface level parking lots.  The heart and the soul of this area is slowly disappearing, and for what?  To remove eyesores?  To us, an empty block is far more detrimental to our area and our progress.

Of course there are many obstacles that would have to be overcome, but speaking as partners that  own and operate a business in a building that is over 120 years old – the obstacles are worth it.  Buildings like these are not made any more.  Over the past three years, we have seen major renovation projects at 10 North Main, at our building (Otis & James Photography), next door at Off The Vine, the Merle Norman building on Central, and the Mr. Wish building (now Main Street Books), the Bricks Studio building, not to mention the building directly across the street from the Flat Iron Building (The Former Westlie Building) and the current renovation of the B&B Drug building.

Any and all of these buildings could have been given up on.  They were all in varying degrees of disrepair.  The effort, however, was made – and the results are great.  We are not only speaking as a business owners, but as residents of the downtown area.  Matthew has lived both above our current studio and in an apartment above Off The Vine.

When the Off The Vine building was in previous ownership, we toured it while it was on the market.  The main floor was in decent shape, but the upstairs was far from habitable – and that might be putting it mildly.  But the effort was made with both buildings, and – again – it has been well worth it.  In particular, the apartment above Off The Vine is gorgeous – a true example of realizing potential!

In regards to the parking issue that was raised during the last meeting, we don’t feel that this is a truly valid concern.  There is a public lot not even a block away from the Flat Iron Building.  This is downtown, and parking – whether it be in this downtown or any other – will always be an issue.  If it is hart to find parking, that is a good thing – it means that people are here; working, living, spending money!  If there is an abundance of parking, the opposite is true.

Any of us will go to Dakota Square on the weekend, and if you were to measure the distance that you walk from your car to the mall entrance, it could very well be a block away – and we don’t even think twice about it.   During the holidays, that distance can be even greater – how is this any different?

By giving this building every chance, what does the city have to lose?  In our opinion, it has far more to lose by deciding to tear it down.  Thank you for your time, and have a great day!

Matthew Bieri
Jamie Rennich

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o&j

All Images ©2008 Otis & James Photography

Even if we’re not in the office, we’re always in constant communication with the office.  Because we use fancy interweb technology.  You know, the kind from the 21st century.  Come with me now, as we pull back the curtain and show you a little bit about how we harness this awesome technology (and let you in behind the scenes, backstage, or whatever else you would like to call it) – Enjoy!

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All Content ©2008 Otis & James Photography

Uhhh…yeah, so, it’s not really Thursday anymore, but I’m still determined to get everything up that needs to go up.  We will continue this adventure of the BITTE series of blog posts momentarily, and we will not rest until all that (and I say we, but I’m really refering to ‘me’, but it’s more of a multiple personality thing, and I’m gonna stick with it, no matter what anybody says, even the other part of ‘we’.  Got that?  Even I’m confused) is good to go up has gone up.

Anything for you, my dear friends of blog, whom I hold so dear to my heart.

So with that, onwar and upwar (see my business card to understand that), and continue to – Enjoy!

Greetings my good Peeps of Blog (POB’s…but really, if I still have to tell you what it is that you are, I don’t know how this thing is going to work out), I come to you on this Thursday so fine with the good news that you are about to have your mind expanded, contracted, expanded again, and eventually filled to the brim and the exploded with wonderful pictographic goodness!

Behold!  I’m about to lay on you a ton (well, since we’re on the interweb, I’m not sure how much that truly is, as I thought we were still going to be converting to metric soon and I’ve been devoting all of my attention to that since about 1977) of sweetlysweet posts.  I invite you now to sit back, relax, if you are at work, just forget about getting any work done the end of the day, and enjoy what is about to unfold.

OK.  That’s all.  Let’s rock this mutha.

MuchLove!

Lead Vox:  Janis
Back Vox & Git-Fiddle: Orville
Prancing & Sqeak: Suzie

 

Hello my good People of Blog (POB’s), I’m writing to you in this hour so fine with a short and sweet missive of a local establishment know as The Barley Pop.  Now, I’m sure that some of you may be wondering why it is I’m coming to you with this story, but one of your faithful members of the Otis & James Team, none other than the ever lovely and wondrous Emily, is the daughter of the owners of this establishment, none other than the equally as wonderful Cheri & Reuby Reile!

We’ve had the pleasure of getting to know the whole family over the last few years, and couldn’t be any happier to call them friends to our o&j family!  Well, as those of you that live in Minot know, the last part of the North Broadway construction has started, and the Reile family bar, none other than The Barley Pop [ed.  What’s the deal with you and ‘none other’ tonight?  Just wondering.] was one of the buildings scheduled for demolition.

Scheduled, I should say that it already has been torn down.  Don’t panic though!  For the bar is moving just a half of a block to the South from its former location, in a completely renovated totally sweet azzkickin’ new bar!  We’ve had a sneak peak at it already, and we can let you know that it is gonna be awesome!  It’s going to incorporate tons of memorabilia and keepsakes from the old bar, and also be totally new at the same time.  Best of both worlds sort of thing.  We know that we’re excited, as I’m sure all the Barley Pop peeps are too.  Look for the new bar to open very quickly (we’re talking real quick!)

Before the old bar became a memory, one fine Sunday morning, the Otis & James Traveling Caravan of Love had the good pleasure of pulling into Barley Pop station for a couple of pics to remember the place by.  Well, to my good People of Blog that are over the age of 21, we encourage you to visit the new Barley Pop as soon as it opens, and may The Barley Pop have 30 more years of wonderful memories!  Oh, and by the way – Enjoy!

 

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All Content ©2008 Otis & James Photography

Narcissus |närˈsisəs| Greek Mythology

‘A beautiful youth who rejected the nymph Echo and fell in love with his own reflection in a pool. He pined away and was changed into the flower that bears his name.’

And we’re pretty much ready and waiting to turn into that flower.

MuchLove!

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All Content ©2008 Otis & James Photography

Yeah, we got new glasses.  Jealous much?

Thought So.

Let me tell you a little bit about the FunCenter.  For those of you that have been here before, you know that when you walk in, you first encounter our gallery area.  If you were to venture behind the orange curtain in the corner, you would wind up in the studio.  If you were to venture to the left and down the stairs, you would find yourself in our client reception area.  The red couch zone.  This is the area where you place your orders, take naps on the couches, or just plain ol’ chillax.

If you were to go through a door in our basement that says ‘Employees Only’, you would find yourself in the NerveCenter of the FunCenter.  This is where the sausage is made…or…this is where the magic happens…or…this is where the wizard lives.  This is also where we spend most of our day.  In the windowless basement, with only a TV monitor image of what it looks like through the front door to let us know what is happening in the outside world.  It’s like being in a casino – you don’t know if it is day or night, as it’s always relatively well lit and 71º; the monotony occasionally broken up by the hideously garish wail of the buzzer that goes off when you walk through the front door, the ringing of the phone, or the constant tapping of Otis’s foot to some unheard song.

We are the basement dwellers.  We make the sausage.  The thing about making sausage is that you really don’t want to know how it happens, you just want to be able to enjoy the final product.  It’s not all rock-and-roll all the time.  In fact, we sometimes forget that about ten feet above our heads is a totally awesome studio, just waiting to bring joy to whomever steps foot inside!  Today, we let it bring joy to ourselves.

After our last shoot, I called downstairs and notified the basement dwellers that they needed to come upstairs immediately.  Now, I’m going to let you in on another little thing that – as boss – I love to do.  I like to call employees to meet with me for an unknown reason.  When they arrive, I will say to them something to the extent of, ‘There’s something that I need to talk to you about…’, and I’ll do this in my most serious voice.  I can tell that they’re starting to get freaked out…I can see the gears in their heads spinning and wondering what it is that they are going to get in trouble for.  Panic!  Alas, my friends, they are never in trouble, it’s usually to tell them some relatively useless piece of information, or to tell them that they are doing a good job, or are getting a raise, or something like that.  If you find yourself in the boss position, try it someday – it’s fun!

Continuing on with the story, I called the dwellers upstairs, which on this fine day consisted of Emily & Maureen.  I could hear the pitter-patter of their feet as they ascended the stairs and rounded the corner into the studio where I was seated.  I motioned them to come over to me, and when they were near, I notified them that it was time for an emergency picture taking session.

Rejoice!  We were able to escape the basement for a few precious moments, and experience the love stu-stu-studio has to give!  We have to practice from time to time, we have to stop and smell the roses.  What good is having a rockem-sockem good time studio if we’re not able to use it from time to time, right?!  After a few minutes, we shut the lights off, turned the music down, pulled the backdrops up, and wandered back down to the basement, back to work making the sausage.

Even on the worst days, we have an incredible job!

MuchLove!

All Content ©2008 Otis & James Photography