313: Memories... The Gazebo .... OOPS!

The Gazebo by Morning Light.

Several days ago I saw this scene and  envisioned it in the morning light.  This morning I braved the chill and the image was even better than I had envisioned.. AS I made the image capture, I started thinking of the romantic scenes involving gazeboes,  Like in "The Sound of Music".  OH, the thoughts of our youth..

But, as I stood there shivering in the morning chill, I got a revelation. Over the past few images I had thoughs about the memories of my youth portrayed in the images, but the revelation was:  I was not photographing memories I was photographing things that reminded me of warm weather.  So I went home and sat by the fire...

Have a nice warm blessed day....

THElmo


PS: Maybe I am not as melancholy as I thought, Just cold...
E.

232: YEP!! That is what it is Alright

It Sure is One,
Isn't It

228: Freedom of Flight

The Freedom of Flight

226: By the Fence Post

By the Fence Post

Note: This is just the way it was, nothing set up or arranged.

223: The Stairway of Learning

The Stairway of Learning

216: Big Door, Little Stair

Big Door, Little Stair

214: Door and Columns

Regressing to last Sundays photo shoot. In case you have not noticed I tend to be drawn to old run down stuff. I wonder if that is some internal reflection of myself?

Door and Columns

212: The Balcony

The Balcony

DISCLAIMERS::My comments and images might be seen, by some, as a little derogatory. This is not my intent.

The Revenuers I encountered there have been extremely professional, friendly and helpful. The did their job by conferring with me as I would have expected. One needs to keep in mind I am a Texican and Texicans seem to have a tendency to state the facts in a manner which enhances the story line.

The images I am showing are from an area on the campus far removed from the hospital. My images are for artistic purposes and are to say nothing about the condition of the location. From my understanding these building are listed on the historic register, therefore they cannot be removed. Considering their apparent age I suspect they contain asbestos which would complicate their removal. The Asbestos, if present, would greatly increase the cost of remodeling, which is currently being undertaken as funds are available. The old pealing paint ( lead based, I suspect ) poses another expensive hazardous waste removal expense. It is a shame to see such architectural masterpieces become downtrodden but such is today's society.

And such it is "Documenting The Human Condition."

209: Hallways

Good Images? Come on man!

You carried me to a hospital what is their to shoot at a hospital. There is little there except endless cluttered hallways.

Endless Hallway

202: Political Correctness -- The Spa

Reflections

As my tact, diplomacy and political correctness are internationally known (Shameless Plug -> the blog was viewed in 40 countries last month). And as I do not want to be known as a Male Chauvinist Pig, I feel compelled to give equal time to the institutions that I grew up knowing as Beauty Shops. Before continuing I need to clarify something. As my mother passed away when I was very young I have no actual experiences with beauty shops, therefore, I am relaying information from what might be considered by some as reliable sources.

As I stated in my previous post Barber Shops and their purpose has changed and it appears beauty shops have also changed. I do remember certain special ladies who have been part of my life commenting about having to have an appointment to go to the Beauty Shop We can see in the image above Walk-ins are now welcome. Also we note that the names/descriptions have changed. They are no longer Beauty Shops but are now Salons or Spas. At least they have admitted to the change Barber Shops have not, Shame on you guys.

As for their purpose, please recall I have never been in one, but having experienced a couple of wives and four daughters and also based upon the eyewitness accounts I conclude "relentless fodder"(moderated comment on last post) might be a good description. So maybe the purpose of the beauty shop might not have changed.

Any one think I might need too quit while I still can?

201: The Barber Shop

Well I thought it was time to get back to normal and off the crusade. Maybe, Maybe not.

The Barber Pole.

This morning I got a call from a friend who said he would be by for coffee after his barber shop appointment. While I was waiting on him to arrive, I got to thinking about the past when I used to go to the barber shop. What stuck in my mind was we used to enter the barber shop and take a seat to await your turn. During this time you joined the discussion with the others who were waiting. The discussions involved the latest happening, politics and other such happening. Now I have to admit it, but on"rare" occasion the discussions became a little biased, but you did get the latest "truths".

During the barber shop visits visits you learned how things were effecting and understood by others in the community. Usually some sort of decision was reached on the subjects at hand. It was the barbers duty to relay any and all decisions made to the new group as the individual discussion precipitants changed.

Life has become so fast That we now get appointments at the barber shop we loose the interaction and input from those around us on important issues. We subsist on our own preconceived ideas no matter how it might effect those around us. Maybe it is time to stop and smell the roses.

Better yet I propose a new law. No barber shop appointments. No one can be given a haircut until he has been in a discussion with a minimum of three patroons for a minimum of one hour. Penalty is to do barber shop service for a minimum of 80 hours for each offense. Barber shop service is defined as sitting in the barber shop in a discussion with a minimum of three patrons. This law would make about as much since as some we already have, but serve a much greater service.

If you think the barber shop tradition is not dead, I had to go to 4 barber shops before I found one that had an operating barber pole.

199: Homeless and Horseshoes

Part 6 of ?

Horseshoes
The Clang of these will no longer
Ring through the camp.

This image will remain embedded in my mind and remind me of John. As mentioned in the last post I helped carry John's cherished possessions to a place he thought might be safe. Among the items John kept was this set of horseshoes that had been used at Dodge City tent camp.

It seems to me the biggest issue relating to the homeless is we know nothing about them, most consider them a bunch of druggie alcoholic derelicts. So lets meet John. I wanted to use a picture of John but due to my respect for him and his feeling about being homeless, the one image I have of him well remain as a memory for me.

I first met John in November of 2008 when he first came to the camp. Prior to that John had been a cabinet maker. In this day and age of pre-made and ego branded cabinets , the demand for a true cabinet maker is limited. As the construction business faltered his work dried up. He survived for a while on his benefits and savings. When his resources ran out he found himself homeless.

John kept up hope he would go back to work so he kept his essential tools he would need to go to work. These tools bared him from living in a shelter because they could be used a weapons. His only alternatives were to give up hope of getting a job or move to the tent camp. John had hope so the tent camp was his only alternative.

Several months later as the building industry continued to dwindle his son, a carpenter, joined him in the camp until they could get enough money to get him to WV where he could be with family. You might ask why John did not go. According to John the family could only afford to help one and he felt his son should be the one. The one high point of this whole sad eviction affair is as John and I parted company late yesterday he looked at me and said " The longer I know you. the better I like you. You are not one of the typical fly by night do-gooders."

At the beginning of this post I mentioned that John kept his horse shoes. While helping him load his things I noticed another item he brought with him, His Lunch Box. After all this John still has hope.

I must admit this story is not true of all homeless people, but after being around most of the homeless in the area for the past two years it us typical of the group the police targeted. Others has asked, if I was so concerned why I did not open my home to them. I did check and as I have a reverse mortgage (the only thing that keeps me from being homeless) I am prevented from having non-family members living in my home. As I feel that if the police found out they were here, the mortgage company would find out.

190: The Narrow Way

The Narrow Way

The only safe passage on this frozen bridge is right against the left rail, everywhere else is slick.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matt 7:13-14

188: The Sidewalk Cafe

The Sidewalk Cafe

184: Tracks in the Snow

Tracks in the Snow by Street Light

183: Lamp Post in Snow

Lamp Post in the Snow

Seems I am developing a fetish for lamp posts.

176: Boy in Snowsuit

Boy in Snowsuit

171: The Cross and a Flag

Most times I go out without a plan today was different I had a plan. The plan was to shoot a Nativity Scene. Guess what after looking for a couple of hours I found 4. Two were in a single yard and were not lit. One was in a church yard and was covered with glitter, not very photogenic. The fourth which you might see when it stops raining. But this lack of Nativity scenes led me to a new train of thought and the image was right by my house.

The Cross lights the Flag

Over the past few years there has been a lot of controversy over the phrase "In GOD We Trust" on our currency. My search this evening lends some insight to this matter. As a nation do we trust in GOD? Seems not, as even churches no longer promote this sacred event outside our closed walls. So to be very blunt I think we ether need to take the lie off our currency or have a REVIVAL. I am praying for REVIVAL, remember what GOD did for the Hebrews when on the occasions when they got their act together, He will do the same for us.

170: Main Street Decorations

Well I have been waiting several weeks for the city to get the electrical problem corrected for the downtown street decorations. Well tonight they were working. I really needed glass that very long or very wide. As I had neither with me as I was not expecting them to be on. So here is what I got.

The City's Snowflake

157: Chtistmas Decorations

Bulbs on a Rail

As I reflect on this image, I recall Christmas decorations of the past. Far back in my past I seem to recall that Christmas decorations played only a small part at Christmas but was not the focus. Over the years decoration have become more important and are now the focus of many folk's Christmas. As Christians I wonder how much this has caused us to loose focus on the real REASON FOR THE SEASON.