293: Signs

As some might realize I have a thing for signs, stupid signs that is. While driving home from a errand today I noticed just such a sign. The lighting was unusable so I decided to go shoot it in the morning.

When I got home I was thinking about the sign and recalled a discussion with Steven several months ago about another local sign. As most of our discussions they a to say the least weird. This was about some signs recently posted here which started, "Free Prostitute Zone." That sign left a lot of latitude for interpretation. I thought that might do for an image so I set out to find one.

Seems someone has pointed out the possibilities of that sign and replaced them with one a little clearer. I was disappointed with new sign so I took an imaged and headed home disappointed. When I got home I down loaded the image and glanced at it.

I found the dirty old man in me rolling on the floor laughing. Seems the yellow sign behind the main sign took on a totally new meaning.

Clarification

225: An Old Home

Warning - An Old Home

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?

182: Speed Zone

As I look out my window and see vehicles flying by. I think they might need to read the sign.

Street In The Snow

On second thought, are they trying to take the fun out of going downhill in the snow??

180: Memories

Memories

Sometimes there must be an explanation. Several weeks ago I shot this after it pushed my thoughts to bygone days.

WPA-> In my youth some of the highpoints related to regular trips to Ratliff Lake. Ratliff Lake was a CCC project (Close enough to WPA for my thoughts) . It contained a large (at least seemed so at the time) lake for various water activities. Lots of trails and camping sites. Just a great place to go and have fun. I do seem to remember someone or ones loaded down the creek feeding the lake with Dye-Markers (the kind used by the Air Force to mark rescue areas in the ocean). Have you Ever seen a BRIGHT GREEN Lake?

Railroad -> Well my dad was a railroader. When they started phasing out Steam as power he quit stating, "real railroading is dead." As a modern day railfan I tend to agree, there is nothing like a real bellowing choo-choo.

San Antonio contains the Alamo. The Alamo is the defining statement of all TEXICANS. As I was born and raised in Texas what else can I say. And besides all my Childhood memories are from Texas.

115: Signs -- Truth in Advertising

Truth in advertising

113: There Was A Dream

Do we dream in b/w or color? I am not sure, so I chose B/W.

Once Upon A Time
There Was A Dream.

91: Signs -- A Trip to the Store

Having overdone it yesterday, I sort of played lazy today to let my bum ankle recuperate. Late this afternoon I thought a little hot tea might be a welcome change to coffee. I heard a nearby old country store had reopened yesterday, so I thought that might be a change of pace. So I headed out. When I got there I noticed the sign on the door.



Feeling right at home I went in and found me some tea bags.



My only issue was I was afraid they might be a little stale. Well they offered me a glass of iced tea (for a small price) and it was great, not stale at all. The down side is the iced tea filled my tea urge and I came home and made me another pot of coffee.

So now, you have just encountered another one of Uncle Elmo's Wild tales, but is serves a purpose. One of which is, should that sign be on all church house doors, and mean it.

In closing the images were taken at AW SHUCKS located on Plyler Mill Road just south of the intersection with Griffith Rd. The place is AWESOME. Lots of stuff to remind one of the way it was and a great environment for the kids to have a great time. Where else can you and the young ones enjoy an old fashion hay ride? And when you need some time alone, send the youngsters to the corn maze. Simply just a great place and the workers are fantastic. I'll be back!!

68: Soapbox - More Signs

Well I was a little hesitant about posting this, but this is what I got today. It is an expansion of my post of 7/5/2010. Different Church but possibly the same issue.

Church For Sale

I know little about this specific churches history, but having been around lots of churches and several scenarios come to mind. The one thing I do know about this church is, it has not gone on to bigger and better things. We can then conclude that the church failed in reaching out and meeting the needs of the growing community that surrounds it. The decline could be the result of of one or a number of items that plague modern churches. All those things can be summed up by the saying "It is OUR/MY church."

15: Street Photography - More signs

Signs do interest me. Most have a purpose, but combined with their surroundings or other signs the often suggest a different meaning.



The thing that makes this pair of signs unique is that in many cases they are telling the truth. Far too many churches have forgotten their purpose of spreading the gospel. Many are merely closed groups that say they want new members but in reality they had just as soon stay as they are. It is time for repentance and following the Great Commission.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matt 28:19-20 NLT

5: Street Photography -- Signs

Chris Weeks titled a series of videos on street photography, DOCUMENTING THE HUMAN CONDITION. For me that statement is the defining criteria for shooing street. To document the Human Condition a street photograph needs to tell a story. This is usually difficult in a single photograph without knowing something else. A hard lesson for me was learning that a human did not always need to be present to document the Human Condition. Signs are a great example.



This pair of signs sort of hit me in the gut, as I have been working with a group of homeless guys. ( I intend to bring them to you in the future if they allow it). What these signs say to me is; “ I am willing to help you a little, but you must explicitly follow my rules and my standards. You are to have no personal traits. Then and only then I will let you in the back door.”