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Crevier's Classics

 

My first plan today, 3/29/20, was to go to a carshow and shoot some fresh pics. Then reality set in. I clicked open SoCalCarCulture.com/events and discovered every show in So Cal had been cancelled for some reason having to do with a virus. Ahem.

 

So I dug out some old shots from August, 2017, and re-edited them this morning and these are them.

 

Click L, then hit F11

Found at a recent estate sale

 

1960’s era (?) Wooden Double Nine Dominoes # 554 made by Cardinal Industries, INC Brooklyn, NY – Made in Western Germany.

 

1960’s era (?) Wooded Double Six Dominoes # 623

Made by Halsam Products INC., 4114-4124 S. Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. USA

 

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Halsam Products Co. & Elgo Plastics, est. 1917

 

Upon encountering an old cylindrical cardboard container of “American Plastic Bricks by Elgo,” nine out of ten people are likely to make the same spontaneous assumption—that they’re looking at a cheap knockoff of LEGO.

 

. . . And a lazy one at that. I mean . . . ELGO? It’s a bit on-the-nose for a toy set involving rectangular interlocking plastic building-blocks, ain’t it? Did they really think they could just swap the first two letters of the name and shamelessly piggyback off the success of those ingenious Danish toy pioneers over at the LEGO Corporation—the one brand forever synonymous with this genre of children’s entertainment?

 

Well, as it turns out, the classic copycat narrative isn’t quite as cut-and-dried here as it first appears. For an accusation of plagiarism to stand up in court, the chronology of the two items in question is just as important as any comparison of their content. And in the case of our Chicago-made American Plastic Bricks, the timeline reveals a surprising truth that flies in the face of our pop-cultural presumptions.

 

That’s right, folks. It was ELGO, not LEGO, that built its bricks first!

 

In what has to rank as one of the more bizarre semi-coincidences in the history of registered trademarks, ELGO Plastics, Inc. was actually established as a division of Chicago’s Halsam Products Company in 1941—long before LEGO entered the American marketplace (1961). Odder still, the inter-locking toy bricks developed by Halsam / ELGO were introduced in the late 1930s, pre-dating LEGO’s foray into that same field (1949’s “Automatic Binding Bricks) by a full decade.

 

Everything may be awesome in Legoland, but original? Not so much.

 

In fairness, it seems that both the Danes and Americans came to their eerily similar identities quite independently. In Denmark, the “LEGO” name had been put into use with the company’s early wood toys as a reference to the phrase “leg godt,” meaning “play well.” Meanwhile, in Chicago, established toy makers Harold “Hal” Elliott and Samuel Goss, Jr. chose to name their new plastics business after themselves: combining the EL from Elliott with the GO from Goss (hence, EL-GO!).

This was standard operating procedure for the duo, mind you, as they’d started their original toy business back in 1917 by using the same cutesy taxonomical technique: HAL Elliot + SAM Goss = HALSAM Products

  

History of Halsam Products Co., Part I: Hal and Sam

 

Before becoming business partners, Hal Elliott (1886-1973) and Sam Goss Jr. (1896-1976) were already family; brothers-in-law to be precise. Hal, a former clothes dealer and insurance salesman, married Sam’s sister Hazel Goss in 1915, putting the two men literally under the same roof for several years at the stately Goss family home in the north suburb of New Trier.

Back then, Hal was known by his birth name, Harold Elliott Hirsch—the German surname having come over with his grandparents. After World War I broke out, however, he elected to swap the order of his middle name and last name as a safeguard against growing anti-German sentiments. He would be Harold H. Elliott from that point forward.

 

Sam Goss Jr., like Elliott, was a second generation American (in his case, of English stock), but he’d been raised into wealth, rather than marrying into it. His father Samuel Goss, Sr. and uncles Frederick and William Goss were the founders of Chicago’s Goss Printing Press Company—known for an innovative “Straightline” rotary press that had become the standard of the newspaper industry in the early 20th century.

 

As Sam Jr. came of age, the obvious progression would have been for his father to simply groom him—and his new brother-in-law Hal—for long term positions in the family business. And indeed, both young men would eventually serve on the board of the Goss Printing Press Co. Before his death in 1922, however, patriarch Samuel Goss Sr. seemed quite intent on seeing the next generation build something of their own first; a business wholly outside the printing industry. Maybe it was the uncertainty of World War I that was the motivating factor, or a nostalgia for the simpler distractions of youth. Either way, the building blocks were soon laid for Sam and Hal’s new venture, and coincidentally, it involved building blocks.

 

II. Chip Off the Old Blocks

 

By most accounts, Hal Elliott and Sam Goss Jr. officially organized the Halsam Products Company in 1917; hence the HAL-SAM name. But according to historian Herman Kogan’s 1985 book Goss: Proud of the Past, Committed to the Future—a history of the Goss Printing Press Co.—it was really Samuel Goss Senior who got the ball rolling, essentially handing his kid the keys to a factory and arranging most of the furniture therein.

 

“Early in 1917,” Kogan writes, “as a hedge against possible economic slowdowns, [Goss Sr.] had purchased a small toy factory in Muskegon Heights, Michigan, which specialized in hand-crafted wooden A-B-C blocks for children. His partner was his son-in-law, Harold Elliott, so the name affixed to the company was Halsam.”

Kogan acknowledges that Sam Sr. subsequently handed off the daily operations of the toy business to Elliott and young Sam Jr., and that the Michigan factory was promptly removed to Chicago at 4114 Ravenswood Avenue. But this still conflicts with the notion that Sam Jr. was the original “SAM” in the HALSAM equation. Kogan goes a step further, too, crediting the elder Goss Sr. with not only buying the toy business, but coming up with the “vital contrivance” of the new enterprise, as well.

 

“Using basic principles of printing presses,” he writes, “[Goss Sr.] designed a machine that stamped letters on the blocks automatically and increased their output a thousand-fold and more.”

The 1961 book Toys in America refutes this, giving credit to the prodigal son, Sam Goss Jr., for applying the technology of his dad’s industry into the toy trade:

“Since his father had been a manufacturer of rotary printing presses for newspapers,” the author states, “it was natural for [Goss Jr.] to adapt the principles of such a press to a continuous column of wooden blocks instead of a sheet of paper.”

Whichever Goss you give the credit to [patent records suggest papa], the result is the same: the Halsam Products Company thrived immediately by relying on modern automation and factory efficiency to make quality alphabet blocks and dominoes at a cheap price. By the time Sam Goss Sr. died in 1922, his son and son-in-law had already turned the upstart toy business into a major player on the national scene, gaining significant ground on the former dominant manufacturer of wooden alphabet blocks, the Embossing Company of Albany, New York.

 

Compared to the Embossing Company’s relatively old-fashioned methods, Halsam’s blocks were produced at a furious pace at the Ravenswood plant, with far fewer workers needed to do so.

With only two attendants, a single block press turned out 175,000 blocks a day,” according to Toys In America. “And with two such presses, the Halsam plant’s output came to 350,000 blocks daily.

 

“Another Halsam machine made dominoes with almost no attention from a human being; as the black hardwood blocks moved forward, the varying numbers of white spots were added, and when the dominoes reached the end of the machine, they slid into a box that held the requisite number for a complete set, already sorted. This machine turned out 8,000 complete sets of dominoes each day, and the demand was such that it never stopped working, except for occasional repair and cleaning

 

Advanced machinery also allowed for quick innovations. When the toy buyers at Marshall Field’s told Goss and Elliott that some parents were complaining about the sharp corners of their alphabet blocks, the company developed rounded corners and introduced “Safety Blocks” to cleverly address the concerns. In the 1920s, grooves were added with the “Hi-Lo” line of wood blocks, enabling easier stacking. Halsam was already becoming an authority on a whole new generation of “construction” toys.

 

III. Re-Construction

 

Notably, Halsam’s entire toy line was wood-based during its early years, so when a small fire broke out in the factory in March of 1928, the “large amounts of wood, sawdust, and celluloid” in the building quickly turned the blaze into a raging inferno, costing upwards of $100,000 in damages (about $1.5 million in modern dough). Had this occurred just 18 months later, it might have permanently destroyed the business, as rebuilding a factory after the stock market crash could have seemed like a fool’s errand. Instead, in these final rosy days of the Roaring ’20s, the fire was seen as the impetus for Goss and Elliott to build a whole new plant on the same location, twice the size of the original.

 

“The new Halsam factory is running at full blast,” read a December 1928 advertisement, suggesting that the re-built, five-story facility had opened less than nine months after the fire. “Our equipment and working conditions are as modern as will be found in any manufacturing institution. . . . Halsam has always been a quality line, and we will not contend that our new modern factory will have any bearing on a better quality . . . our policy has always been to give the best . . . but we do feel that with our increased production facilities, warehouse space and ideal working conditions, we will be better able to serve our many customers and prospective customers.”

 

The expectation was that Halsam’s new factory would be well equipped to handle continued exciting growth in the 1930s, but as a sobering new economic reality set in, the company soon recognized that it would require more than just slick automation to maintain its gains. Clever marketing and new product development would determine whether penny-pinching American families would still give them their business.

 

IV. Mouse in the House

 

And so, just a few years into the Depression, Halsam became one of the first of many businesses to ink a licensing deal with Kay Kamen Ltd., the new merchandising contractor for the Walt Disney Company. Disney was still an upstart animation studio at the time, but Mickey Mouse was rapidly on the rise, and the use of his image on Halsam’s Mickey Mouse Safety Blocks and Mickey Mouse Dominoes (along with Minnie, Pluto, and others) played at least a small role in establishing the character’s iconic status.

 

“We feel quite proud of the fact that we have secured the rights to use Mickey and his family,” Hal Elliott told Playthings magazine in 1934. Not only would the character help generate widespread interest and sales, but, as Elliott emphasized, “the Walt Disney Enterprises are very exact in their requirement for licensing and do not allow the use of their characters except on recognized quality lines of merchandise and by well established and reliable manufacturers.”

 

By 1939, there was even a Halsam toy set called “Disneyland Blocks,” so named nearly two decades before the actual Disneyland theme park opened in Anaheim.

A similar bit of branding ingenuity in the ‘30s can be seen with Halsam’s entrance into the field of “toy building logs,” a genre invented and dominated by Chicago’s Lincoln Logs since the early 1920s.

As the story goes, JC Penney had approached Halsam about making a knockoff version of Lincoln Logs, which were being exclusively distributed through Montgomery Ward stores at the time. Goss and Elliott balked at the idea of copying the design, however, and instead recruited a talented Swedish engineer named Nils I. Paulson—a veteran of the Goss Printing Press Co.—to help them make their own, distinct style of stacking log; square-shaped rather than round.

Patented in 1936, Paulson’s square log design was eventually packaged alternately as Halsam’s “Frontier Logs,” “American Logs,” and “Walt Disney Early Settlers Logs,” among other names. Unlike the LEGO scenario described earlier, American Logs were certainly derivative of a more established product.

 

But Halsam’s marketing team had identified a very specific hole in the existing marketplace. Lincoln Logs, from their inception, had never sold well in the South, where the grandkids of Confederates were still dissuaded from touching anything associated with the 16th president (namesake logs included). Thus, when Halsam’s generically patriotic “American Logs” arrived on the scene, they offered no such impediments, and sold well below the Mason-Dixon Line a result.

 

That was just the first of many successes for Nils Paulson, who would remain a vitally important figure in the Halsam offices for roughly three decades. Besides designing the American Logs and new machines for manufacturing them, he also led the way in the company’s logical evolution from stacking logs to stacking bricks.

 

In 1939, Paulson’s patent application for the “toy building brick” described the concept as such: “toy building members in the form of rectangular parallelepipedons, the sides and ends of which simulate in appearance the sides and ends of a plurality of ordinary building bricks.”

 

Paulson’s brick, which was still made from wood in its original manifestation, also introduced “a new and improved form and arrangement of dowels and sockets . . . whereby any two members of the set may be quickly and easily secured together in the desired relative positions, and yet may be easily separated when it is desired to tear down the structure.”

 

There had been a handful of inter-locking, socket-style brick toys on the market in the years just prior to this—including the rubberized Bild-O-Brik (made by the Rubber Specialties Co. of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania) and Minibrix; a British version introduced by the Premo Rubber Co. in 1935. None had gained any significant traction (pun intended), however, and the race to perfect the concept was wide open.

 

V. Hello Elgo

 

The original run of Halsam’s “American Bricks”—rolled out between 1939 and 1940—were probably more akin to the company’s dominoes than its alphabet blocks or Frontier Logs. All pieces in a set were pressed from hardwood, identical in size and shape, and equipped with a peg, socket, and slot construction—intended to replicate the actual geometry of the brick mason’s trade.

 

From the beginning, the pieces were available in bright reds and yellows, and the full kits included decorative windows, doors, and “shingled” cardboard roofs. Compared to putting together a boring old log cabin, this would have felt like a genuinely awesome leap forward, but in fact, it was more of a hop.

The real leap came in 1941, when Nils Paulson and the Halsam team started a full-scale transition from simple hardwoods to the injected molded plastics of the nuclear age. With early successful experiments making bakelite checkers and dominoes, Goss and Elliott felt confident enough to launch a new division of the company—yup, the pioneering ELGO Plastics—with the next goal of making a plastic version of their interlocking bricks. Elgo’s first offices were located at 1801 Warner Avenue.

 

American Plastic Bricks were probably ready to hit the market as early as 1942, but the new priorities of wartime America shelved the project, as the Halsam plants shifted mostly into government contract work.

When Halsam and Elgo returned to full-time amusement-making after the war, Paulson and the rest of the R&D team had had plenty of time to consider exactly how a plastic brick building set ought to work. Harold Elliott, who’d lived in England during part of the 1940s while leading the UK office of the Goss Printing Press Co., also reported back on some of the popular British construction toys his son Kip (aka Harold Elliott Jr.) had enjoyed playing with while there, including the aforementioned Minibrix and a superior new entry into the genre, the Kiddicraft Self-Locking Building Brick, which was made of injection-molded plastic.

 

According to some sources, Kip Elliott himself was given an active role in the development of Elgo’s American Plastic Bricks, but in point of fact, he was just 16 years old when the toy first hit the market in 1947, so any real leadership would likely have come later.

Interestingly, American Plastic Bricks and Kiddicraft both debuted in ’47, but it’s usually only the latter that’s honored with the title of “predecessor to LEGO bricks,” as Wikipedia puts it. Presumably, this is because the Danish toymakers at LEGO were “influenced” by Britain’s Kiddicraft before they’d seen Chicago’s offerings. But still, if it’s not clear by now, Hal and Sam have never really gotten the credit they’re due.

 

VI. Sturdy and Permanent

 

Keeping in mind that LEGO was still a non-entity in America through the entirety of the 1950s, Elgo’s American Plastic Bricks played a far greater role than the former in introducing Baby Boomers to the concept of snapping together their own miniature plastic cities. Admittedly, Elgo promotional materials also encouraged young builders to “cement together” their creations to make them “sturdy and permanent,” suggesting these early bricks didn’t exactly lock in place reliably on their own. But still, there was plenty of fun to be had and few limitations.

 

“It’s simply fascinating to build modern homes, schools, stores and all sorts of other buildings with American Plastic Bricks,” piped another 1953 ad. “. . . The perfect gift for children four to twelve years and older.”

Unlike a lot of toys of the 1950s, Halsam’s bricks, blocks, and logs also catered fairly equally to boys and girls—both through traditional print advertising as well as the new medium of children’s television

commercials.

 

The American Plastic Bricks container in our museum collection is fine evidence of this unisex branding, as the artwork features both a cartoon boy and girl enjoying their own construction projects while barely tolerating each other.

Men and women co-existed in fairly equal numbers at the Halsam factory, as well, where 175 workers were on the books in 1953—many of them focused on packing and shipping, since the plastic toys virtually manufactured themselves.

 

Back in the ’20s, the company had filled its ranks largely with German-American craftsmen from around the Ravenswood neighborhood, but like the city in general, the diversity of the staff had expanded with each subsequent decade, and a lot of training was done on the job.

By the mid ‘50s, as the next generation of Gosses and Elliotts took on larger roles with the business (specifically Samuel’s sons Sam III and Bill Goss, and Hal’s son Kip Elliott), Halsam Products really reached the peak of its powers.

 

In a particularly symbolic move, the company purchased its original wood block rival, the Embossing Company, which became a short-lived Halsam subsidiary in 1955. Around the same time, Halsam / Elgo outgrew its longtime Ravenswood plant, moving its workforce up the road to a larger, modern, one-story complex (107,000 sq. ft.) at 3610 W. Touhy Avenue in Skokie.

  

While Nils Paulson was still developing exciting new construction toys like the “Skyline Series” (the first skyscraper-focused toy brick set), the ’50s really saw a lot of creative attention paid to product packaging, with vivid colors and tall, tube-style boxes, including the rectangular Club Dominoes container in our museum collection, as well as the American Plastic Bricks mega sets.

  

“For the first time . . . American Plastic Bricks are offered in large, durable tubes that have strong merchandising appeal,” read a 1956 sales sheet. “The spacious tubes are a display in themselves. Clearly identifying labels printed in four colors and high gloss finish easily attract the eye and demand consumer interest.”

 

The same 1956 sales sheet, sent out to potential Halsam Products distributors, defined the company’s mission statement fairly succinctly.

“Each product in the Halsam line must fit one definition: is it a ‘basic tool of play?’ If it is, then we have three great advantages in the highly competitive toy industry:

 

1. The child wants it . . . because Halsam toys fulfill children’s basic desire to build, to create.

2. The parent, who buys it, wants it . . . because the Halsam toy provides a natural, desirable outlet for children’s mental and physical energy.

3. You, the seller, want it . . . because being a basic staple toy the Halsam product maintains high volume sales year after year—all with the attractive profit structures which have made Halsam famous.”

  

VII. Too Cool for Playskool

 

During its time as a family-run business, Halsam never really altered its mission, nor did it experience a real concerning downward trend. Its old reliables—Safety Blocks, Dominoes, Checkers, and Disney tie-ins—were still going strong through the ‘50s, and the company was doing about $4 million in annual sales, with Christmas demands always turning the Skokie plant into a bustling Santa’s workshop of sorts. Harold Elliott had done well enough in life by this point that in July of 1959, his 65-foot yacht—named the Carolyn IV after his daughter—was briefly mistaken by Chicago TV crews for the Royal Barge of the visiting British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

  

There’s another story about a certain European visit to Chicago—at roughly this same time period—that’s been passed around through several copy/pasted Halsam histories on the internet, but doesn’t seem to have much hard evidence to substantiate it. According to this apocryphal account, there was actually a face-to-face meeting between representatives of Elgo Plastics (specifically Bill Goss) and visiting dignitaries from Denmark’s Lego Group just ahead of Lego’s entry into the U.S. market in 1961.

 

Lego’s new president, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen [pictured], was dead set on conquering America, and would have been very aware not only of a potential conflict with Elgo’s exisiting plastic bricks, but in the ridiculous similarity of the two company’s names. So, as legend has it, Lego agreed to pay Elgo the whopping sum of . . . $25,000 . . . to “square itself”—whatever that means—and thus storm the shores of the USA unchallenged.

 

Whether that meeting ever happened or not, the way things played out in the 1960s certainly opens up a yacht-load of “what if?” scenarios when it comes to Lego’s rise and Elgo’s fall.

During a hugely successful Christmas season in 1961, the Tribune was already reporting negotiations of a merger between Halsam and Playskool—another Chicago toymaking giant. And by January of 1962, the deal was done. Playskool took ownership of Halsam, Elgo, and the Embossing Company in exchange for $3 million in

Playskool stock.

 

Samuel Goss Jr. and Hal Elliott, both having reached retirement age, took places on the Playskool board of directors. At the time, they probably felt like they’d solidified the business they’d spent the past 45 years building, metaphorically “cementing together” its ability to meet the ever-growing demands of the toy biz in the future. Obviously, it didn’t work out that way.

 

While Playskool continued to manufacture Halsam-branded toys out of the Touhy Avenue plant in the 1960s—including American Plastic Bricks—a series of additional buyouts complicated the arrangement. After Milton Bradley took over Playskool in 1968, Halsam manufacturing was moved under Playskool’s own roof, and holdovers like Kip Elliott and Bill Goss (who’d been working as the VP of Sales and Marketing with Playskool) eventually moved on.

 

By the time Playskool opened its new Chicago factory in 1973, the Halsam name was barely uttered, and “Plastic Building Bricks” were sold under the Playskool brand only. When Hasbro subsequently purchased Milton Bradley in 1984, the closure of Playskool’s Chicago facility essentially buried Hal and Sam’s legacy for good.

  

In 2015, in unrelated news, the Lego Group collected over $2 billion in revenue, making it the largest toy company in the world.

 

Peace Of My Mind

It would have been the fall of 1970. The White House days, The White House being my lodgings on Weston Road for a few years, located next to the Loblaws store where I’d pilfered my moms Players Plains years earlier and kept the coins to barter for friends with pockets full of candy bought at the shabby corner variety store towards the end of Guestville Avenue on the way to Our Lady of Victory school. The very same home once owned by a Doctor that I would walk by as a boy on the way to school, it had meticulously cared for lawns with an abundance of lilac bushes, rose and peony gardens all set behind a painted black ornamental steel fence placed along the outer edges of the entire property. The fence had pointed Victorian styled dagger fleur de lis finial trim at regular intervals. Behind the fence there were numerous hedges to keep the common folk from looking in at the garden parties held in the warm summer time, it was the grandest house.

The same White House where we had thrown the Beatles Abbey Road lawn party one warm summer night in 1969 after acquiring the first copy in Canada of the new album from an executive (to remain unknown) at Capitol Records on Airport Road near, where else, the airport. The same White House where on one of my first hits of acid, I felt as if I had shrunk into a ‘little man’ and tried, rather unsuccessfully to get under the bed, thinking I was a tiny person. In my mind my voice sounded, to me at least like someone on laughing gas, it was very frightful. That same White House where for years, the guys (Bill, Frank and Jack the Bell brothers, Peter, Frank Herbert, the Count) had come to drink our Saturday Night Libations, we were all serious beer drinkers and at times too poor to go to fratty clubs like the Place Pigalle on Avenue Road or the Embassy Tavern on Belair Street near Bloor and Bay.

The White House where the landlady a thin British woman would chastise us for sneaking cases of warm Molsons and Labatts beer up to the room hidden (not very well) in a crammed hockey bag. The landlady’s name was Mrs. Clark . I recall having a letter size black and white poster/photograph mounted on a faded green wall in the room, of a woman who was bent over leg raised to a wooden chair wearing a pair of white panties adjusting her stockings held up by a garter belt, her generous breasts falling out of a white brassier, voluminous dark hair off to one side, a smoke in one hand, a very sultry poster that in a way resembled Mrs.Clark from the fourties, not a naughty photo at all compared to todays smut. There was lots of other ART in the room, various posters that had been thieved around town, of gigs by now famous musicians, like Downchild playing at the Arlington Bar, as well as the Kendall Wall band appearing at Grossmans Tavern, there was an air raid shelter sign taken from a wall in Buffalo the time we (Bill and I) went to enlist in the marines and told to join our own forces, there was a large 8X10 colour photograph of myself driving the MG Midget down the fabled lanes of Windfields Farm that I had made Billy take while perched on the hood of the tiny car.

That room on the third floor of The White House, where instead of walking down to the can to have a leak on the second floor and having to look at Old John in his pee stained ivory one piece long johns who would leave his rooming house door open for all to see into we would piss in a jar or stubby beer bottle or right out the third floor window that faced north up Weston Road. Across the street there was Renatos Pizzeria where for a five dollar bill you could order an Extra Large Buttered Pizza with nothing on it except the crust and butter, delivered! There was the Glenvalley Variety Store where Les Niremberg the actor worked for his parents. My favourite shop was the New Silver Tip Restaurant where many a Sunday morning the Chicken Rice Soup was better than breast milk for curing a hangover.

Peter was attending St. Lawrence University in upper New York State on a full hockey scholarship. He was home for a one week school break, his mom, Isobel offered to put the gas in the car for us to get him back to school. The car was a gold and cream coloured Austin Healey 3000 Mark III. A powerful vehicle with five speeds and an overdrive. Pilfered large Pirelli tires had been installed on the back wheels, the wheel wells had to be altered slightly for them to fit. One of the Ainsworth boys on Victoria Blvd helped install the tires in the back lane near the York Township sheds. He didn’t mind getting his hands dirty. The car had been purchased off a used car lot in the Yonge and Sheppard area for the sum of $400. There was no insurance, only the government sponsored, Unsatisfied Judgment that you could purchase for $50 at the time of registering the vehicle and obtaining license plates. Cars did not require ‘certification or e tests’ as they do today, there were plenty of cheap cars to be had. The funds to purchase the car may have come from my gig at the Continental Can Company where I worked under the name, Mike Cooper for the summer. There was an elegance to the car, it was more than stylish, it was also in my opinion very classy. Although the body of the Healey was beginning to deteriorate, one could overlook the small patches of rust and look at ‘the bigger picture’ so to speak.

Pete and I left for Canton New York around mid morning on a bright golden fall day in October of 1970. I have fond recollections of us passing around a cooked roast beef provided by Mrs. Brennan for our lunch, she had packed it in a piece of tin foil. I remember how good tasting that hunk of beef was, it was probably a Top Sirloin, it was cooked and spiced perfectly. Each of us would tackle the roast like road kill until it was gone. The ride went without incident we pulled up to a Border Crossing the one that crossed at Prescott, Onatrio over to Ogdensberg, New York. Since Peter was a student we were passed into the States without so much as a drivers license being shown.

Canton was about an hours drive from the border, east a bit then south into the farm belt of New York State. In that small community sits one of the establishments hallowed schools, St. Lawrence University. The town itself was comprised of a typical downtown commercial strip with the usual shops and restaurants, pizzerias for the students, bars for the students, places to get eggs and fries, but no vinegar, they didn’t know about vinegar, two eggs and chips cost $1.50. At the time Pete was staying with some guys at a house not far from the campus it was his second year. He had made buddies with a longhair named Arnie and Arnie’s dog Susan a collie. Arnie and Susan lived on a ramshackle wood heated farm not far from town, they got to town driving a side step light green 1956 Chev pick up. A guy named Peanut would come over to the house on his motorcycle, he was a Vietnam veteran later we would learn he died in a crash. The other roommates never seemed to be home. We stacked the beer in the fridge and I recall drinking the beer out of washed out mustard jars. Boiled Oscar Meyer wieners on rye bread were the food choices on the house menu.

The school grounds were comprised of this leafy enclave of brick buildings built in the turn of the century style of architecture, some of the buildings had been around since the 1850s. The school had grown considerably since its founding, in all the walking campus was comprised of almost a hundred acres. For the most part the school had a reputation for having intelligent students, taught by top notch professors. Pete was an exception, he was a jock and an import to boot. Drinking seemed to be the national past time. After freshening up Pete took us to a big frat party on the lawn of this football playing fellows parents three story home on the edge of the main street of town. There were hundreds of people there, all drinking warm pissy beer from kegs that had been set up to serve the crowd. Down the road a bit, another party was taking place in a frat house, more people, more warm beer in plastic glasses, I think it was homecoming weekend. At night we went to the Club Tic Toc and drank more beer, then eggs and chips across the street at the Diner. We stopped into Billys Lower Bar and drank a few more beers then made it home in one piece.

Monday morning The Healey was parked near a driveway of a big home on a side street, a car came down the driveway and backed right into the right side fender, leaving a scratch a few inches long, I got out of the car to surmise the damages, an older lady, perhaps in her seventies got out of her sedan to examine the damage, she was very nice, she went, “oh my god, look what I’ve done” she was very upset with herself. She went in the house and called her insurance broker, who came right over, and calmed her down. She invited me in while she made the call, everything was perfect in the home, like a TV show. The Insurance person came and estimated the damages then she wrote me a cheque for the full amount to have the car repaired $85, can you imagine that, paid for the damages on the spot, the police were not informed. I recall paying Pete the $10 bucks I owed him. By this time I was thinking of heading home to Toronto, I was played out and Pete had classes to think about. I stopped at the local ABC store and bought a case of Ripple Wine for less than two dollars a bottle, threw it in the back seat along with my few clothes and headed towards Canada. I made a right turn at the river and headed along the smooth and barren American side of the St. Lawrence River. The Healey was up to the task, I had her in overdrive and the speedometer read 160 MPH…a short while later the motor blew, I must have blown a cylinder or a piston or whatever it is that gives in a car. It was all I could do to coax the car into a service station where I discovered there was very little oil left in the crankcase.

Fortunately, the car did run and after putting in four quarts of oil that I traded four bottle of Ripple for I limped off to Montreal to visit my mothers mother at her home. It was almost dark by the time I got there. All day long the Canadian radio station had been discussing the FLQ crisis, the kidnapping of the minister Quebec minister Pierre Laporte. There were soldiers with rifles on the streets of Montreal, it was as close to war as our country could be. On the doors of the Healey I put two War is Over If You Want It Posters that I had in the boot of the car. With these anti war posters I drove around the city that the Prime Minister had declared an emergency and invoked the War Measures Act. Numerous soldiers were posted at street corners I could see them snarl as they read the message on the posters.

The visit at my grandmother Lauza Lemay’s house did not go well, she may have been in the early stages of Alzheimers, she was confused, her English was very poor, my French no better we had difficulty communicating. It was very stiff and formal, she came from the type of generation that was more comfortable with visitors who had made prior arrangements. One of my mothers sisters Raymonde was present, she was staying at the home as well, she was very obliging and made me feel comfortable, while relaxing in the basement family room they gave me a gift from my deceased grandfather to take to Ontario, it was one of his paintings, he painted under the nom de plume Leon Yamel, his name spelt backwards. I was offered food and a bed to sleep in which I gladly accepted. The day was just beginning. I left the home in the suburb of St. Laurent and took a drive downtown, the Healey did well in low revs, you wouldn’t know it was sick. All along the streets you could see armed Soldiers ready to take action. The FLQ were considered a terrorist threat capable of dark deeds. This was the international news story of the day.

While waiting for a traffic light to change a man introduced himself, he worked as a DJ at a local radio station, he thought the signs on the car doors were cool, he invited me to come to the station to be interviewed for his evening talk show. I was naturally quite excited, I went to the station where I spoke with the host who interviewed me for quite some time, who knows what words I had given them, something I am sure along the lines of John and Yoko’s War is Over if you Want It. While at the station the DJ gave me some John and Yoko photo enlargements from the recent Bed In which made the World News. Afterwards I went driving around the downtown core, not very subtle as I was looking for trouble by displaying the posters attached to the car doors. This created quite a stir. The contrast between the soldiers the scared residents and the cars message was like the difference between light and dark.

It was getting late, I realized my prescription for Valiums, just a small dose of size 5 pills, was almost out. This is a terrible drug, a drug that though legal when prescribed had the worst effects of any that I had experimented with. I can’t recall why my family doctor had prescribed them to me in the first place. In any case in a very short period of time I was physically wired to the blue pills. The withdrawal was very difficult, I have been told as difficult as any illegal substance to wean oneself from. At the hospital emergency room a Doctor read the label on my old prescription bottle and issued me a temporary prescription for twenty or so pills. I was good to go for another week. The effects the pill had on me was almost instant, the addiction very subtle, the pill in my case would turn this introverted quiet person into a Chatty Cathy. I listened to the interview on the radio station at a downtown restaurant where they changed the station for me at my insistence to hear the eight PM broadcast. Today, I have no idea what the interview was about. Peace I suppose. The celebrity of it all was not a lasting matter, but I must say, as an act of protest it remains quite a moment.

The Healey and I pulled into my grandmothers house around 11 that night, frail and confused, dressed in a nighty the sweet woman opened the door and let me in. I slept well, like a child. Who would know that when I kissed her goodbye in the morning, softly spoke to her in my halting French, ‘bonsoir granmere’ that this would be the last time I would see her.

There remain fond memories of visiting the family in Quebec as a child. One time we all piled into a car my dad had borrowed, he said to mother, ‘make sure you go to the bathroom before we leave’ as the eight of us we piled into the car. Early on, Sue Al and myself played a game we invented called Volkswagen. To win you had to be the first one to spot one of the new car sensations driving on either side of the road, when you saw it, you shouted out ‘Volkswagen’ in order to beat the other person. The other two boys, Kevin and Shane would point their toy revolvers out the window emulating Roy Rogers or was it Hop a Long Cassidy or one of the other cowboy heroes of the day whom we would see on Saturday mornings watching the black and white TV. Barbara was less than a year old on this trip, she was all wrapped up in blankets, put to rest between mom and dad on the front seat. We got off the new 401 near Kingston then stopped for a lunch of salmon sandwiches at a picnic rest along the less busy highway two, along the St.Lawrence River. I distinctly recall a large ship passing us going in the opposite direction, dad explained how the canal system allowed ships to travel with their loads of goods from around the world eventually reaching the Great Lakes. Mom had a pee, we piled back into the car, Montreal was not very much further along the road.

When we got to my grandparents home we climbed the side stairs up to their large suite of rooms in the apartment situated above a commercial building. There was a large upper verandah. Nearby, there was a wonderful park with swings and teeter totters that my younger aunts and uncles would take us to. Everyone was very happy to see Gisele and her family, and of course, the new baby. The smiles were genuine, they remain so. At my grandparents home in Montreal they had their big meal at lunch time, this trip was no exception. A large ham was removed from the oven, there were the usual trimmings, boiled carrots, boiled potatoes, French Stick, as well a yellow fish that they thought was a delicacy, cod. I thought it smelt terrible as well as looked terrible. The men as well as the women drank beer poured from large quart size bottles, brands like Dow and Carlings. Everyone smoked, right there in the living room. The men for the most part wore white shirts and ties of all things. Ladies wore dresses or suits, their finery. My grandfather smoked a pipe and to keep his trousers up he wore suspenders.

That week there were many family gatherings. In order to accommodate us all Alex and I were shipped to Aunt Pauline and Uncle Maurice’s new home. It may have been in Laval. I recall Alex and I being bored to death from listening to Aunt Pauline’s record player, over and over we would play the Patti Page hit, Shrimp Boats are a Coming, over and over and over. In the mornings we would accompany her to the shops where she would pick up the milk and dairy products, fresh bread as well as a bottle of whiskey from the staid Quebec Liquor store for Uncle Maurice. He was a handsome well spoken man who favoured the Detroit Red Wings over the home town heroes the Montreal Canadiens team in the ice hockey. I’m pretty sure he supported the Wings just to irritate everyone else. In those days, the Montreal team was full of stars, such as Maurice ‘the Rocket’ Richard, Jean Beliveau, Boom Boom Geoffrion, Doug Harvey, Jaques Plante the goalie and other flashy players. It was a dynasty. Detroit was no slouch either, the Detroit stars were Alex Delvecchio and Mr.Elbows Gordie Howe as well as Terry Sawchuk in goal. Alex and I would entertain ourselves by walking the block or so to a main intersection and waving at the passerby for something to do. A large bridge passed over the river where we could see a huge concrete set of buildings, a prison, very foreboding, it may have been Bordeaux Prison.

After saying good by at my families home in Montreal I headed towards Toronto and by chance took the wrong turn towards Ottawa, I always, to this day get turned around on the Montreal express routes. I said to myself, ‘oh well, there are people in Ottawa to visit attending school”. The car would falter every now and then and I would pull into remote gas stations and trade Ripple wine for oil. Finally the car struggled to the Ottawa downtown where this girl we knew from high school was staying, she and Peter had a thing going at one time. Mickey, reluctantly gave me her couch to crash on for a few days. The car was left at a garage for analysis, I said several hail marys and our fathers before leaving it there. We drank a few beers and a jug of wine at Mickeys place, took it easy, smoked some reefer. A couple of days later the garage gave me the bad news, “your car needs a new motor”. Well, we all knew I was in no position to pay for that, I agreed to sell it to two guys who saw it at the garage for the sum of $200. Great, except they sent the money to an address in Toronto via post and it never arrived, no amount of pestering the postal authorities would get me satisfaction. The train ride to Toronto from Ottawa was uneventful. I got back to town, flat broke, not a penny in my pocket, I even think Mickey may have paid for my ticket home, to get rid of me. Reality set in, I was fucked up big time on the valiums and didn’t even know it. The rest is history….At one time on top of the world, driving around Montreal in a car festooned with posters that mocked the position of both warring parties, the FLQ and the governement of Canada, there was no crown of roses in Ontario as most folk paid more attention to the baseball and hockey scores than they did the dangerous game of politics being played in their country, we have continued to grow apathetic in regards to politics, I hear an awful lot of vicious language about our current government, much dislike. This week on Facebook, there was a quote from John Lennon, it surprised me, it went something like, "If you want Peace, just declare it, as they do when there is a war, just declare it." In the light of the shambles quickly taking over parts of the Ukraine and the seeds of unrest in Iraq I find his words to have more meaning than ever. Just Declare It........................

For TLC Sept 2014 (Technologic). More info - wp.me/p49kPp-6I

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Castles traditionally hold the title for fantastical tale’s manmade favorite locations, especially during Middle Ages. Huge structures, made up grey and cold stones, have been witness of the grandeur and the decay, as so as the main target for invaders. In the green land of mysticism, these buildings are still present in many of the towns and cities, keeping the country even more bound to the past. And I know that especially you, can feel that up there the air have more than physical particles. There is much more than humidity and grey skies, there is abstraction and mistery.

 

Once we crossed the door of that small coffee shop, we were getting in the universe of that old woman even without noticing it. We had never seen a house like that. The carpet of the stairs, the surprisingly low that all the doorknobs were and the view of the Cashel Castle on the hill. Again, there was something different in the atmosphere. We politely bid farewell, and went back to the street. Raindrops started to pour, making us walk faster and get inside the car, which was parked right in front of the door twenty-five in Ladyswell Street. The front glass was wet, and I realised that the water made the view tremendously beautiful. Even more it was. I picked up my camera and everything happened so fast. I spoted this woman, set my eye on the viewfinder and wait the reality set things in the right place. And it wonderfully happened, invisible to me during 1/250 of a second. We couldn’t believe the image that Cashel had just gave us. A single penny in kilometres of fresh grass.

 

Listening to: Let it go, by Linnea M.

 

Yup, that's the face that shows up when reality sets in.

In 2012 I was in shape. I wanted to see how my present self measured up to my younger self who in 2003 had run to the summit of Mt. Olympus in a day, after work. It's 45 miles with glacier travel and some rock scrambling.

 

My friend Ben, on the 2003 adventure, had written me an email mid-day at work. It said something to the effect of, "Let's go climb Mt. Olympus in a day. I'll be at your house at 10PM."

 

At the time, I was just beginning my stint as a desk jockey. With enough time behind the desk, you can talk yourself into all kinds of foolishness.

 

"Sure," I wrote back with a hell yeah grin, "Let's do it!"

 

Then reality set in. What shoes will I wear? A stop at REI on the way home and I was set-up with new shoes, straight from the box onto my baby soft feet. Perfect. I'll break them in while walking around the supermarket.

 

That first adventure was amazing. Ben and I were so unbelievable stoked. To have gone from an office to the summit of Olympus in the heart of Olympic National Park's nearly million acres was whack. The brain had crossed wires and reality had been skewed, but in a fantastic way.

 

One moment that sticks out was when, just before daybreak, in the pitch black, a herd of elk had crossed the Hoh River. It was a big gang by the sounds of their hoofs in the river. To either side of us, the animals crashed through the wood and from a few feet away to hundreds of feet away, elk would bugle their high pitched wail. As far as animal encounters go, it was memory-gold for the soul. I will NEVER forget it.

 

Recapturing that trip wouldn't be easy.

 

In 2012 my friend Juya wanted to go on a day trip of her own up Olympus, so like an idiot I said, "Sure, I'll go."

 

A few things were learned in the proceeding years. My shoes were broken in. I actually ran for about a month beforehand. And I LOVE my sleep, so I got half a night's worth before starting.

 

Top memory of this second adventure was this moment pictured here, where I am atop Mt. Olympus. It's sunny. It's mid autumn. The weather is gorgeous. And I have no blisters ;) In sight is half of Washington State and nothing but the moment and memory swirling in my thoughts and vision.

   

“That familiar noise reaches my ears. *click* *click* *click* followed by the even more familiar scent. I realize just how stoned I am when turning over to see whose sparking seems near impossible. Within a few seconds the circle is formed again. I’m trying to remember how much I’ve smoked today, but we all knew at this point that focusing on a tiny fact like that isn’t possible. My turn to hit. I start with a small hit to see how strong the stuff actually is. Next I hit back as much as my lungs can hold. Before I even begin to exhale I can feel my fingers start to tingle. I can’t determine whether this is the pot, or if this is the copious amounts of morphine I ingested just so that I could make it through last class. Before I know it, the joint is finished and someone is pulling out the bong. Willy Bongka we call it. As I look around I realize that in a few weeks I won’t be able to come here anymore. When the rest of the leaves fall of the trees it will expose us all to the string of backyards and little children playing in them. Next thing I know, back to reality, or at least what my reality looks like. The bong is sitting in my lap; apparently it’s my turn for a hit. I ask someone to light me. After a few attempts I watch the green glow red and the thick smoke fill the glass. The bowl comes out and my lungs are hit with all the smoke. My eyes start to drop as the smoke rolls gracefully from my nose. I hear a few more clicks, but can’t open my eyes just yet. I go in for another hit as I’m cheered on by these people I call friends. Finally, the bong leaves my hands. I fumble through my tin trying to find my pipe. I load up a bowl and get it lit. I take a few tokes and pass it on. We finish up and gather our energy as we head to the next spot. Even when this intoxicated it takes no thought to follow the routine. We get to the next spot, my turn. I pull out a joint and spark it. Halfway through I have to back out. My throat hurts too much to continue. Again we leave this area of the woods and head for the next. What feels like hours later we arrive at the fort. I check my phone, amazed that it is only 5. I turn my left to see someone hitting the bong again, the routine continues here as well. We start to head home in our different directions. As I reach my house I give my eyes a few drops and head upstairs get hanged. Now it’s time for the best acting performance all day. I greet my parents and take my long awaited seat on the couch. As I sit there, I feel my legs trying to separate from me. They are slowly sinking to the floor. Next thing I know I am awoken to go to bed. As I head upstairs I feel uplifted knowing that I am far too high to even consider the knife tonight. I lay down in my bed dreading the morning. Dreading the time when reality sets in. I try to say a quick prayer before I nod off to sleep.”

- written by a very close friend of mine

We are like children, our mind is blank and our heart is yearning to be filled. We fill it with so many things, the need for love, drugs, drinking, wearing a whole bunch of make up, cutting, exercise. Everything. Anything. And through it all we even know it’s not right. “Now it’s time for the best acting performance all day” or “dreading the time when reality sets in.” Isn’t it funny how we do things that we don’t want to face afterwards.

Here’s something you should live by - if you don’t want people knowing about it, you shouldn’t be doing it.

The thing is though, we make mistakes. We do stupid things and honestly I think it’s important that we go through these things. Because only after that can we realize what we’re missing and whether or not we like who we’ve become. I’m not saying what my friend did is wrong or his lifestyle but knowing him, I know he wasn’t happy being that way.

The best part? As nostalgic as we become over our pasts, the real truth is we are children of God. Children. Kids. Young. Forgiven. Whether you have parents that make you happy or whether they hurt you or have hurt you. The fact is you have a father that will always love you no matter how many times you screw up, fall down, and scream and shout at him.

Psalm 16:1-5 “In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.”

You may not hear from God right away. You many not feel him. Yet the moment you collapse into him and into the fact that you’ve done wrong I promise you your life with turn around. We ask God to come to our rescue and he never fails us because his love never neglects however you can’t stand there and expect miracles. Just like a real Father, you cannot treat him poorly and ignore his existence then expect him to bless you with gifts and love and affection. It’s a two way street, he’s willing to be the signs but the question here is, are you ready to put away your self drawn map and follow what he gives you? God will save you from your troubles, I don’t doubt that one bit but you need to be ready to give up those troubles. You need to WANT to be saved. You need to allow yourself to be vulnerable and like a child. Let God love you.

Casa de Chá da Boa Nova (Boa Nova Tea House) is a restaurant designed by the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira. Situated on the Atlantic coast of Portugal, it is in the Leça da Palmeira parish in the municipality of Matosinhos in the Porto District. The building is close to the Tidal pools of Leça da Palmeira designed by the same architect, and the Leça Lighthouse, another local landmark. It has been classified as a national monument since 2011.[1]

 

History

The building was designed following a competition held by Matosinhos in 1956, which was won by architect Fernando Távora. After choosing the site on the rocks overlooking the sea, Távora handed over the project to one of his juniors, Álvaro Siza, who was taking the first steps in his career. It was one of his first works, implemented between 1958 and 1963.[1][2][3][4]

 

The building originally functioned as a tea room. It was remodelled in 1991 after a strong storm hit the building. In 2011 it was vacated by the company running it, on the termination of its contract, was allowed to rapidly become run down and was subject to vandalism, despite its classification as a National Monument.[5]

 

In 2014 the Tea House was reopened as a restaurant. The renovation was carried out under the supervision of Siza, in accordance with the original drawings and specifications. As of mid-2023 the building functioned as a Michelin-starred restaurant. This necessitated a change to the original layout in order to fit more dining tables.[1][2]

 

Description

According to Siza, “architects do not invent anything, they transform reality.” Set in an area of rocks, the building is an example of the relation of architecture with an active interpretation of the landscape. The Casa de Chá is accessed from a parking lot, which is about 300 meters away. Access is via a stepped pathway integrated into the rocks, which alternately reveals and hides the sea. On reaching the building, the low eaves of the roof direct the visitor's gaze to the sea. The interior is designed to frame the landscape, utilising large glass panels that blur the boundaries between the building and its surroundings. The presence of wood on the floors, walls and ceilings highlights Siza's admiration for the work of the Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto.[2][3][4]

Painted in the middle of the summer of 1999. Freestyle on a local yard engine. Painted with a bunch of the crew and some younger members coming up at the time. This side was Intel, me and Sever TCI. The flip side was Heat and I believe, Logik. This was a last minute decision that just came about when the Railroad decided to leave a fresh little engine parked right in front of a great graffiti wall. It's something that I normally wouldn't recommend doing because it really pisses the Railroad off. This thing remained painted and rolled through the yards and did work for atleast 2 months after being hit. Not really sure what happened after that, I just don't think anyone really saw it after that, which probably means it got repainted. I always have dreams of painting more of these, then the reality sets in that it really isn't a smart thing to do. Granted they may not care too much about rusty, crusty, old, boxcars but engines, them engine mother fuckers are expensive. So, youngsters, stay away from those unless you really want to have them hunt you down and also blow your spot up. The Good Ole' Days!

Created a look around the O.M.E.N group gifts (out now @ the mainstore). You could say it's a little bit Jeyne and a little bit Danaerys... or not LOL. Join the O.M.E.N store update group to get the Stormborn Bracer cuffs. They're truly exquisite.

 

By the way, yesterday the USA and I shared a Day of Independence (mine on a much, much smaller scale). I didn't get to celebrate my new-found independence but I will. Because when the reality sets in that you should be treated regally, it's one hell of a revelation.

 

I'm wearing:

----------------

Hair___ ICONIC Irisa Back Braid in Obsidians

Hairbase___ [ef] Eskimo Fashion Malaysian 02 Lace Front Caps in Black

Headband___ Auxiliary Spiked [L.E.] Headband in Shoreline (shown resized)

Skin + Appliers___ *League* Aria in Golden

Eyes___ ROZENA

Eyeshadow___ [mock] cosmetics Glitter Pop Shadow in Livy

Lashes___ Maitreya

Blush___ Dead Apples Sharp Cheeks Tintable

Lipgloss___ Izzie's

Earrings___ MAGIC NOOK Babydoll in Gold/Large

Bracelets (right)___ [7891.] Mining Bangles in Gold

Cuff (left)___ O.M.E.N Stormborn Bracer in Sea Green (group gift)

Hands___ Slink Av Enhancement in Casual

Rings___ [7891.] Emiss Rings

Nails___ blackLiquid Stripe Nails

Dress___ Tee*fy Aurelia Summer High-Low Dress in Creme

Pose___ ZZANG Goddess By Night

Storm from Antarctica brings South facing beaches in So Cal fantastic sets with larger than normal swells.

 

I wanted to shed my clothes don my ol wetsuit and climb upon my Rory Russel board, but reality set in and I realized the water was too cold, I no longer fit into my wetsuit as I have put on a pound or ton, and my Lighting Bolt 7'1" got water rot sitting in my garage many years ago, and I have little interest embarrassing myself with teenagers ripping right past me and calling me names.

When construction began on the Hartsville plant in the late 1970's, the Tennessee Valley Authority never imagined less than a decade later, they would be canceling construction of the plant.

 

In 1983, when the plant was canceled, the reality set in that the needs for nuclear power were not as great as many predicted years before.

 

Now the plant sits abandoned, a home for vultures and small birds nesting in the building's orifices.

 

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I can't even begin to tell you the effort and mishaps that went into this one bird photo. I'll give you the short version. This was my 7th attempt in recent weeks to locate an American Woodcock. I spent around 2 hours each time so I had maybe 12 - 14 hours invested thus far. Only minutes after FINALLY spotting this particular bird, and struggling to get a better view, my car died (as in would NOT start back up despite all my efforts of adjusting the gear shift, brake, and steering wheel). As reality set in, I knew I would have to call for a tow truck. Luckily they were in the area and arrived within 30 minutes. But when the driver arrived, he opened his door and his little companion dog jumped out. Of course the dog found the bird within seconds and bumped it twice, the latter time sending the bird off into the sunset. The worst part is that I knew in my head this was most likely my best (and maybe my ONLY) opportunity to photograph this species this year. In total, I spent about a half a tank of gas, many hours, and over $500 in auto repair to obtain this photo! But I would probably do it all again. Hennepin County, MN 10/31/22

Today I went for a country drive with the off chance I would find some fall colors to photograph. I ended up at Lake Geneva just across the border in Wisconsin and found enough color to make the trip worth it. The water was gorgeous and really inviting and the trees around the entire lake are all beginning to change. Another 10 days or so and it will be crazy beautiful up here. But I was very ok with what was presented to me today.

 

And, even though its the end of September, this place was really busy with quite a few tourists. They were on the docks (behind me) taking boat tours, they were in town at various bars, eateries, and gift shops. The horse drawn carriages were still operating taking people around to see the sights. I even had to wait for one to complete a left turn before I could proceed forward. So of course I grabbed that shot too...lol. I included that below.

 

The lake was loaded with ski-do's, sailboats, small motor boats, paddle wheel boats and even a few swimmers in the water. Not sure if the water was warm or cold but I'm guessing it would take a little bit to get used to when first taking the plunge. Brrrrrr.

 

Parking was pretty crowded but I did manage to find a spot just down the road from this location, paid a buck for an hour and wandered over here to compose the shot to include the onset of the fall color change in the trees.

 

I like to think of this as my One Hour Vacation that took 90 minutes to get to and a buck to get the shot. Reality set in the moment my hour was up and I got back in the car to head home.

 

Not to mention, it's back to work tomorrow.

 

Have a great week everyone :-)

Yep Thought I would try to Be Cool.....then reality set in.

2023.07.24; Another massive condo tower still under construction. This one is a bit of a let down for some people. Its original design has much higher panels at the top, higher than the top roof structure, basically two floors worth of height. Reality set in I guess and the made them one story tall, basically little flippers instead. To me it still looks good.

its one of those yeah I like the look her moments and then the reality sets in!!

 

Yep this bird will cost you an arm and a leg and still wont be happy. its all about the hair makeup and expensive clothes oh yeah and a fast car lol.

  

Casa de Chá da Boa Nova (Boa Nova Tea House) is a restaurant designed by the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira. Situated on the Atlantic coast of Portugal, it is in the Leça da Palmeira parish in the municipality of Matosinhos in the Porto District. The building is close to the Tidal pools of Leça da Palmeira designed by the same architect, and the Leça Lighthouse, another local landmark. It has been classified as a national monument since 2011.[1]

 

History

The building was designed following a competition held by Matosinhos in 1956, which was won by architect Fernando Távora. After choosing the site on the rocks overlooking the sea, Távora handed over the project to one of his juniors, Álvaro Siza, who was taking the first steps in his career. It was one of his first works, implemented between 1958 and 1963.[1][2][3][4]

 

The building originally functioned as a tea room. It was remodelled in 1991 after a strong storm hit the building. In 2011 it was vacated by the company running it, on the termination of its contract, was allowed to rapidly become run down and was subject to vandalism, despite its classification as a National Monument.[5]

 

In 2014 the Tea House was reopened as a restaurant. The renovation was carried out under the supervision of Siza, in accordance with the original drawings and specifications. As of mid-2023 the building functioned as a Michelin-starred restaurant. This necessitated a change to the original layout in order to fit more dining tables.[1][2]

 

Description

According to Siza, “architects do not invent anything, they transform reality.” Set in an area of rocks, the building is an example of the relation of architecture with an active interpretation of the landscape. The Casa de Chá is accessed from a parking lot, which is about 300 meters away. Access is via a stepped pathway integrated into the rocks, which alternately reveals and hides the sea. On reaching the building, the low eaves of the roof direct the visitor's gaze to the sea. The interior is designed to frame the landscape, utilising large glass panels that blur the boundaries between the building and its surroundings. The presence of wood on the floors, walls and ceilings highlights Siza's admiration for the work of the Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto.[2][3][4]

Here is one of Formula 1's great unknowns, the 1969 Cosworth-Ford Grand Prix Car.

 

Following the introduction of wings to Formula 1 in 1968, the next big innovation was believed to be four-wheel drive. It had been tried briefly by Ferguson and BRM a few years before, but was never commonly adopted.

 

For 1969, Lotus, Matra, McLaren and even engine manufacturer Cosworth would try their hand at producing a four-wheel drive Formula 1 car.

 

The Cosworth car was designed by future March founder and design guru Robin Herd and was tested extensively by Cosworth co-founder Mike Costin and ex-Lotus driver Trevor Taylor. Cosworth even persuaded triple World Champion Jackie Stewart, at Silverstone testing for Matra, to take the car out for a few laps.

 

The car was entered for the 1969 British Grand Prix and set to be driven by Taylor. However, reality set in and Cosworth withdrew the entry after realising that the car would not be competitive. The car never raced and was rendered a museum piece.

 

Pictured in August 2013 at the Donington Grand Prix Collection, Donington Park.

  

We try to shield them from the violence, but REALITY sets in. They must learn what it means to be snow MEN!

There is a precious gem in our possession. It's an heirloom of great worth that has been passed down to us from generation to generation for many of generations. It's a priceless jewel amongst us that we are almost undoubtedly unaware about and almost at all times too! It surrounds us and protects us from the great unknowns of the universe. It aspires to keep the mysterious magic alive between us and the mystical moments.

 

What is it? It's a mere refraction of reality that we take for granted everyday as if nothing like it actually existed. It is our perception of the world. Our human distortion. The human distortion.

 

Every fleeting glimpse of your life is seen through this changing lens that morphs with your growth as individuals and as a culture of wholly beings. It's a malleable lens that we take with us throughout our life journeys constantly changing it to keep the focus on what we're interested in. If something catches our eye, we change the focal points to that or whatever that we find the most interesting.

 

Mostly, we are in complete control of the lens, even though the environment shapes us nearly throughout our lives, but we are so dearly unaware of our control over the lens that we generally surrender to its will as if it were an autonomous entity.

 

I speak of the perceptions and perspectives, the point-of-views and moral compasses, the guiding lights we claim to see. I speak about the philosophic doctrine and rigorous rituals that we repeat and repent with each day. We claim to choose who we are and what we do, but sometimes we see it differently. We think we find ourselves or discover what makes us tick. In fact, both might be correct, or neither at all. It's like the ultimate problem of whether the glass is half-empty or half-full. Do we really have control over our perspective? Do we really own the rights to our movie?

 

Perceptions are generally not very broad, but very narrow. Even if you are the most open-minded person you think that you know, your perceptions of the world still exist within a box which your subconsciousness has been trying to shut since it was opened at your birth.

 

The stream of ideas, the sensory overload, the resonating neural networks with some sort of organization garnering the merit as a true intelligence, they are all funneled into our human distortion. We distort the self-image, we dam the stream into lakes and reservoirs of pent up ideas. We place circuit breakers at every turn and corner. We make sure the acoustics of our mind are as sound and silencing as a vocal booth in a recording studio instead of an epic chamber of a Gothic cathedral.

 

We discern every detail of life through this changing lens that gets morphed, repositioned, and sometimes melted along the way, but we are generally unaware that this shield is there protecting us from the things outside of the box. Not until we claim to have no fear and we knowingly choose to jump outside of the box, in a various number of ways, do we fully understand the full extent of our imprisonment or shall I say containment from the real world. When shall we be free, when we shall cease to be.

 

When we jump through the doorway to the other side, the veil gets lifted and reality sets in. It's a twisted world and yet marvelously beautiful, however, the deeper we go, the deeper it seems to get. The rabbit hole is a fathomless abyss and the mystery infinite.

 

Let me give you a fair warning, danger exists outside of the box. Do not attempt to discover the truth alone and definitely don't try to discover it without the proper guidance. It is a wildly wicked world that we are sheltered from, yet with our censoring blinders, it appears tame. Those blinders are but a necessary caveat of life as we know it in order to be shielded from the chaos.

 

For instance, imagine a carriage ride through a city's central park pulled by a horse sans blinders that gets spooked at every street corner ironically by of all things horseless carriages! The ride would be less than romantic, albeit dangerous and exciting. So, buckle up and enjoy it if you dare to stray from the pack, but simmer down if you choose to merge with the masses and maintain your sheepish status.

 

This is the aspect of life that abounds us all in a glory from the highest which I call the great human distortion. It's our most beautiful, sacred diamond in the rough. Let's polish her up so that we can see the she-devil in all of her sparkling glory.

 

Awesome when viewed in LIGHTBOX!!!!!

We all know how it feels after a heavy days work that we feel that we just cannot go on but then reality sets in and we steel ourselves to go that extra mile.

 

Well that is how these blue tits must have felt when I took these shots.

 

This chap is asking the question about whether he can get out yet again and look for more food for the kids.

Guys, I finally made a facebook! I'm still updating it, but go like my page to see before and afters, behind the scenes and to see my drawing vs reality set! All of those will be posted within the next few days. I always love and am grateful when photographers post before and afters and show exactly how they created the image, so I'm going to have multiple sets dedicated to just that.

 

Facebook

I debated if this photo should be posted. Then reality set in, a vast majority of my posts are nothing special anyway, so why worry about this one not being "special enough"??

 

Lincoln Parkway (Delaware Park section).

 

Buffalo, New York.

 

No idea what brand or model this is. Also, is it a ex-fire truck??

and then reality sets in.

 

comments off.

maybe it would be cool if everyone noted one thing they miss the most?

that might be cool.

it's up to you.

 

Worship in Spirit and In Truth

  

John 4:23 しかし、真の礼拝者たちが霊とまことによって父を礼拝する時が來​ます。今がその時です。父はこのような人人を礼拝者として求めて​おられるからです。

John 4:24 神は霊ですから、神を礼拝する者は、霊とまことによって礼拝しな​ければなりません。」

John 4:23-24 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

 

Jesus teaches several things here:

1. In Spirit points to the level at which true worsip occurs. One must come to God in complete sincerity and with a spirit that is directed by the life and activity of the Holy Spirit.

2. Truth is characteristic of God, incarnate in Christ, intrinsic to the Holy Spirit and at the heart of the gospel.

 

Therefore worship must take place according to the truth of the Father that is revealed in the Son and received through the Spirit. Those who advocate a worship that sets aside the truth and doctrines of the Word of God have in reality set aside the only foundation for true worship.

Don't spam my photo thread! Comments with award banners will be deleted

 

Crevier's Classics

 

My first plan today, 3/29/20, was to go to a carshow and shoot some fresh pics. Then reality set in. I clicked open SoCalCarCulture.com/events and discovered every show in So Cal had been cancelled for some reason having to do with a virus. Ahem.

 

So I dug out some old shots from August, 2017, and re-edited them this morning and these are them.

 

Click L, then hit F11

Virtual Reality Set w/ Model Carter

 

Welcome to "the hat chronicles" Season 2 - Episode 6: Can a pimp be a pimp without his trusty FEDORA?

 

the pimptimes Vol. V Edition 1: December 30th, 2010

(AP) - 6 Hours ago

 

Undisclosed Location somewhere in California -

 

“Did the fedora really go ape shit on the pimp? That’s fucked up dude,” said a stunned pedestrian wearing a pirate hat crossing a busy street in pimptown.

 

As you all know, one must have a bare minimum of these 5 essential items to start your way to true pimpdom:

1.Gladiator Sunglasses – check

2.Pack of smokes with accompanied lighter – check

3.Cuban cigars – check

4.Big Juicy Cock – check

5.Fedora – BZZZZ!! TURNCOAT!!!

 

“That’s a mighty fine piece of shit list there big shot without the FEDORA completing it. A pimp without a fedora is like a stripper without a pole son! A pimp without a FEDORA is like Jeopardy minus Alex Trebech! A pimp without a FEDORA is like your mom without my dick in her. These are unimaginable notions that just go beyond the laws of nature!” screamed an angry mob pretending to talk like the real pimp near a former pimp boarded up clothing store called “Pimpline”.

 

“FEDORA precious wearer of all that is pimp, how could you cheat on the pimp? Fuck it, I’m going pirate all the way now!” said an excited young boy in Kindergarten riding his new pirate boat.

 

As reality sets in, panic and disorientation surrounds the pimp family as their prized gem hat, their once trusted FEDORA, has officially announced its allegiance to the pirate. This might be the end of the line.

 

Copyright © 2010 The Associated pimps. All rights reserved.

  

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

The poor depressed pimp family is seen here hiding out in their bunker. It’s just a matter of time till………

 

Wait a minute…..

 

Hold on....

 

What is that on minipimps backpack?

 

Could it be?

 

Holy Shit….

 

I must be seeing things….

 

Let’s go in for a closer look in the comments but ….

 

Holy mother of god I can’t believe my eyes?? Is that really the pimp emblem crossed out with an X and a pirate flag with a heart next to it written on the minipimps backpack? THE BIG PIMP HASN’T EVEN NOTICED!

 

Could it really be that the mini has been conspiring with the pirate?

 

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE IN THIS FUCKING FUCKING SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

* = series continued from pimpexposure

 

€Θnάịм ₮ђú ૭$

 

This Memorial and Prayer page is dedicated to my aborted and living children.

It comes from my own heart, from my own personal experiences, my own personal learnings in my life and from my own personal regrets from the mistakes I have learned that I have made in my past.

When reading, please remember it is my Children's Memorial & Prayer page and that it is not a debate page of whether anyone agrees or not, nor is it a place to leave "mean" comments and I ask that it be respected as such.

My writings I share, come from my heart and whether one agrees or not, that is a part of you which I respect, and this is a part of what my life has taught me, that is all, it is not designed to offend anyone.

If you wish to "air" out a debate, I ask you to please do so upon your own page and not upon a Childrens Memorial and Prayer page.

Sorrowfully, this June 2008, I have had to ban someone for debating, and writing mean, disrespectful comments from the passions of their heart, that were uncalled for, which I don't like to do.

I realize the subject of "abortion" is a sensitive subject and don't want to "offend" anyone, but also feel that it would be a sad day in this world if one is not aloud to express themselves, their lives, and their own regrets in a respectful manner about what they have personally experienced and regret, and is simply trying to honor the children they love so very much.

I pray you can understand what I am trying to express in the best way I know how.

 

Now, that that has been said, this is my story:

When I was young, I fell deeply in love with my first love Tommy. We became engaged. We wanted a boy and a girl. I realize now, we should have "waited" and taken the proper steps, but we were young, foolish, and let our hearts run our heads. I got pregnant before we got married to which I do regret. I moved away and he deserted me not knowing I was pregnant as I didn't yet know either. I found out I was pregnant when I was 6 1/2 months. Upon the advise for many different reasons, of good-willed friends and certain family members, I had a abortion when I was 6 3/4 months. Obviously, I didn't have the knowledge or experience then, that I do have now, or I would have never accepted what I had done.

 

The day of the abortion, I was terrified and confused. I was dropped off alone to face it. I sat in a waiting room, still unsure of what I was doing was right. I really didn't want to do it. Another girl who was also awaiting the same fate, sat near me, telling me of her story of how she had done this many times before and claimed it was nothing. I was in shock at her words, as I, personally wasn't comfortable with the thought of what I was about to do. I kept hearing the words of my good-willed friends and certain family members and now this girls words, and I wanted to cry, because this is not what my heart and head were saying. I knew I was pregnant with a precious child, the child that Tommy and I had so planned for and tho he had deserted me, I didn't want to abort this child which was my baby! I so, wanted to cry. I had heard the words: "How can you raise a baby alone?" "You don't have a job, and noone can help you care for this baby!" etc..

I didn't know how to speak up for myself and I needed help. The abortion answer was all that was given to me. The nurse called my name, and I was "prepped". As the reality set in, and time grew closer, my heart was pounding through my chest with fear and instant regret, as I knew this was not what I wanted to do. They put me in the operating room, gave me a pill to calm my nerves and everything became a blurr as things went fast then. All I can remember was not wanting to do this! They brought in a big, huge Jar machine to which I was horrified to see. It had fluid in it and floating "things" that I was trying to determine what they were, and then they hooked this thing up to me. I asked what it was, but the doctor and nurses were hustling about, prepping me. A nurse tried to turn my head away from it and I repeated my question. She, hesitatingly, told me it was the machine to perform the abortion. I looked back at it and then became horrified as I heard it being turned on. I soon realized, they were vacuuming my child out of me and that the fluid in this machine had baby parts in it floating about! I screamed in tears for them to stop. It hurt bad and I couldn't bear what I had seen or was realizing. I began, uncontrollably, to ball, begging them to stop, trying to get off the table and was shoved down. All I heard was a voice from one of them, saying they can't stop now, it's too late. A nurse pushed my head again away from the machine, but all I can remember was fighting, screaming, crying, begging and that horrid glass machine with all those precious babies floating about. I can't tell you how long it was before they did stop. Another nurse made me take another pill. It seemed like forever before they did stop. I felt the whole thing was barbaric and hated everyone at that moment. When they were done, I can't remember, anything more, as now I was in deep shock and in terror. I just stared in terror at that big, huge glass jar, realizing my poor baby had just suffered a worst fate than I. I couldn't speak a word but I do remember hearing myself still uncontrollably sobbing. The rest was a blurr. I remember at one point being put in a room and then I was sent home. Noone talked to me, counseled me, comforted me... The last thing I remember was being horrified that my relative who was supposed to pick me up, who said tell noone of this, didn't pick me up. She had sent a boy from my new school to pick me up. I barely knew this guy, meeting him only once or twice before. He was peppy talking like nothing had ever happened. The whole 45 minute ride home was deafning. His voice faded in and out. I just wanted to crawl into a hole and die. It was horrible. When I got home, everyone barely spoke to me, noone asked how I was, what had happened, was I ok. I suppose they were afraid to ask. I went into my bedroom, depressed and still in shock from the terror, and laid there upon my bed, just sobbing. I never felt so alone. That was my little Kelly Ann Chace that had died a horrible death on 10 February 1979.

  

After that, I had sworn I would never have another abortion again but sadly that wouldn't be. I would later, under pressure by others to forget my 1st love, get out of mourning and to move on with my life, would date a young man who ended up being the wrong choice for me. The sweet, showering gifts, kind young man eventually turned into a abusive monster whom wouldn't let me leave. He became very forceful to which I won't go into here. Long story short, I became 2 1/2 months pregnant with twins, to which he was glad of at first, but then suddenly decided that he didn't want them and he forced me to have another abortion at the very same clinic. (He had known of my first). Out of fear for my life and theirs, I obeyed. Again, the same horror and terror. This time, when they stopped they put me in a room to rest, but my belly swelled rapidly up like 9 months pregnant and the excrusiating pain became unbearable. A nurse tried to shove crackers down my throat. Soon they realized that they hadn't gotten all the baby out and that I had twins and rushed me back into that butchering room for another repeat abortion with no time to give me calm medicine as I was dying. I screamed, I balled, and I begged while fighting. My twins Joseph and Mary were born and died that day on 04 November 1980. I had to take a bus home alone to find my house empty while he was partying. I did finally rid myself of that looser guy after many attempts to leave him, but I was left with alot of pain and deep regret.

 

Since then, I got my life together and did move on, but those two haunting days and events never left me. In July 1987, I was pregnant again and started hemorridging badly in New Hampshire while on vacation. The doctors said I might be miscarrying but I continued to be pregnant til October. On October 9, 1987, I went for my sonogram. My first surviving daughter Corin & I saw my Little Peewasu's rapid heart beat and we were excited to see her little sister or brother. I went to release my bladder after the visit and suddenly what looked like a baby's little arm fell out. I screamed for help. The nurses ran in and ran out to get the doctor. They put me back in the room to do another emergency sonogram. The horrible words, "Your baby is dying and you are loosing your life, we must perform an abortion" were said. I was in denial as we had just seen her little precious heart beat and insisted I go home. The doctor firmly stated, that I wasn't thinking clearly, I was loosing my life, it must be done and that he would only give me a few hours to go home to come to terms with it, or he'd be forced to call the police and have them bring me in. I went home in shock and in fear again, coming to terms with it when I went to a friends house for support and I started hemoridging so badly I ruined her king size quilt. I grew very weak and couldn't even sit up. With her convincing, I was admitted into the hospital and at 8:00 PM. they took my little Peewasu. I awoke from the anesthesia in a hospital room directly across from the nursery. I soon realized what had just happened, and then saw the babies in the nursery. I started to ball my eyes out and turned to my right as not to look at them, but soon realized there was a young mother in the bed next to me breast feeding her newborn born about the same time Peewasu was born and died. She didn't know what just happened to me and congratulated me and began telling me her story. I couldn't take it and tho very weak, I got up out of bed, to try to run from her and that room. I got near the nurses desk and suddenly got sick and dizzy and fell to the floor in faint. When I awoke a young gentleman who was a patient was yelling at the nurses for not covering my body up and he asked me what was wrong. I barely got the words out- "They aborted my baby and put me next to the nursery with a new mother breast feeding her baby!". He turned to scold the nurses for insensitivity of the hospital. They put me on a "gernie" and got me a new room. I don't know how long I was in there but I asked the doctor to help me bury my baby as I wanted to give her or him the proper funeral. His cold words stunned me. He simply stated, he didn't think he should help, and I shouldn't be doing this to myself, my baby is just a "MASS" and that I have no right to bury my child. I was devestated! As sick as I was, I wasn't going to let anyone tell me my beloved child, whom my daughter and I witnessed her precious heart beating was just a "mass" and didn't deserve a decent and proper Christian burial. We argued with him leaving upset with me. I called a local funeral parlor and told a gentleman that I needed someone to fight to help me bury my child and this beautiful, kind, good man, helped me. He fought for my Peewasu and my families right to bury her/him. Because I was so very ill, for quite sometime, they waited for me to get better and be released from the hospital and we buried my precious child. That sweet man made a cross and put my baby's name on it til my stone I had ordered came in. It was a private funeral and I finally put to rest my beloved child. The doctor was so mad at me for this that he wouldn't even issue a death certificate to which I have yet to bring the courage to fight for.

 

I was blessed one more child after this, my beloved son. My kids when they got older, I told them of my past, and how I deeply regret my abortions. I wanted them to know so it would never happen to them. Telling them was the hardest thing I had ever had to do besides burying my baby. I wanted them to understand that life had taught me, that sex should be not taken for granted whether engaged or married or otherwise. Sex is a act to procreate a life. Conception is the act and moment 2 living cells come together to fuse into 1living cell and is the start of life! These facts are undesputed in Science, the Medical Field, and in Religion! When one becomes instantly pregnant, we say, "She is a mother, pregnant with child", not clouding it with deliberate clouding of misinterpretion of words and their true meanings by devalueing pregnancy because of stages of Life growth! The Pregnant woman has a due date that is destined for the living child to grow in the mothers womb. Only living things can grow. The birth is a new stage of growing as the baby comes into the world and will continue to grow and doesn't ceize til death. How any other words can come into play in such a well-known fact, is beyond my understanding now, as God teaches me life's precious valuable lessons and I grow now in my learnings. God created, and he alone, gives the gift of Life and loves each individual and all of his children very dearly! Life is not a choice for us, because it is a gift from God, as he chooses to trust us to protect and raise his precious child. I can tell you this because I have my own personal experience in this issue to which I am totally regretting with much heart ache as Truth and Fact domineer clouded facts, fears, worries, past errors, and past history that I have had..I told them that when I was still too young to know better, in my searches for love and life, I made some very dangerous choices, gambling with the precious gift of life for the sake of love before I was ready to care for such a gift. I thought it was ok. since I was engaged as I had self-committed for life to the relationship I chose. What my inexperience hadn't told me, was that the act I did, should have waited til marriage and had been pre-planned so I was better equipped to handle the situation. Never-the-less, my serious error in my choices in a partner for life, and the act of creation, had serious consequences as we had created a child to which I would be deserted by the Father, and left alone with serious decisions to make. Then I had to tell them the truth that abortion means abort- which means to terminate- (Kill)- STOP the growth of my beloved precious gift of a child and his/her life. I told them everything and how I deeply regret what I had done and how it will haunt me til the day I die, as reality and truth had been revealed to me. I told them that I deeply love them, and that I was sorry for making the errors in my life and that I wanted to share with them in hopes they never make the horrible mistakes I had made and personally learned.. Those are the grose details and cold, hard facts that noone wants to hear about or tell of, and they avoid telling you, and that I live with in haunting nightmare every day and that I won't even discuss the physical pain I felt for it is not worthy to discuss!I killed my innocent baby who did nothing but love me and depend on me for protection from day one of her conception. I failed to protect her against the clouded words and thoughts thrown at me, and against my own choice because I was ruled by fear, worry and confusion. There was two of us, not one of us, so it should have never been just my choice as I gave my choice up the day I chose to conceive! How did I ever let my head get so clouded from the truth? I cry and mourn every second of the day in my soul for regret of what I have done. What I wouldn't give to turn back the hands of time!!

 

My children, Praise God, learned from my errors, and did not make the same mistakes that I made. I now pray the most Holy Rosary, every time I get the chance as I do pray that noone else goes through what I went through and worst yet, what my precious babies went through. I made this page, from the love of my heart, from the regret of what I have shamefully done, and for the love of my beloved children as their sweet Memorial and Prayer page. I didn't get to bury my first 3 beautiful children so it is here that I do. This is their gravesite for they deserve atleast that. My living children deserve that, as they had to learn from their mother, why their beloved siblings didn't get a chance at their lives to be furthered and why their lives were cut short. This is not easy for me to write about but I must for all their sake. I pray for forgiveness because I do have to answer to them one day and to our beloved father. I'm sorry my beloved children.

 

I start here with my own beloved children who already faced Abortion:

In Loving Memory and sad, deep eternal regret~~

 

1) Kelly Ann Chace (10 Feb 1979- 10 Feb 1979 chosen abortion) age- 6 3/4 months Providence, RI.

 

2) Joseph and Mary Sherman (04 Nov 1980- 04 Nov 1980 chosen abortion) age- 2 1/2 months, Providence, RI.

 

3) Peewasu Cowaesuck Barron (09 Oct 1987- 09 Oct 1987 8:00 PM.) Aborted because of Life-threatning reasons 6 1/2 months, Wakefield, RI.

Why try to be someone other than yourself?

You can go through your life pushing everyone away and searching for the material things like popularity, clothes, boys and attention, but it's not enough. Greed takes over. If you try to be something, or someone that you are not, then in the end, everyone is going to leave. Because it's not you anymore. It's someone they don't even know.

And then you're left alone and confused and lost. And those material things you had before are gone. The clothing no longer fits. The popularity you worked so hard to gain in high school has vanished as you become a nobody once again in college. The boys have moved on. And now... reality sets in.

You need to start over. And you need to do so by treating yourself with the upmost love and kindness. You made mistakes, but don't dwell in the past.

Because if you don't love yourself... then who will?

Casa de Chá da Boa Nova (Boa Nova Tea House) is a restaurant designed by the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira. Situated on the Atlantic coast of Portugal, it is in the Leça da Palmeira parish in the municipality of Matosinhos in the Porto District. The building is close to the Tidal pools of Leça da Palmeira designed by the same architect, and the Leça Lighthouse, another local landmark. It has been classified as a national monument since 2011.[1]

 

History

The building was designed following a competition held by Matosinhos in 1956, which was won by architect Fernando Távora. After choosing the site on the rocks overlooking the sea, Távora handed over the project to one of his juniors, Álvaro Siza, who was taking the first steps in his career. It was one of his first works, implemented between 1958 and 1963.[1][2][3][4]

 

The building originally functioned as a tea room. It was remodelled in 1991 after a strong storm hit the building. In 2011 it was vacated by the company running it, on the termination of its contract, was allowed to rapidly become run down and was subject to vandalism, despite its classification as a National Monument.[5]

 

In 2014 the Tea House was reopened as a restaurant. The renovation was carried out under the supervision of Siza, in accordance with the original drawings and specifications. As of mid-2023 the building functioned as a Michelin-starred restaurant. This necessitated a change to the original layout in order to fit more dining tables.[1][2]

 

Description

According to Siza, “architects do not invent anything, they transform reality.” Set in an area of rocks, the building is an example of the relation of architecture with an active interpretation of the landscape. The Casa de Chá is accessed from a parking lot, which is about 300 meters away. Access is via a stepped pathway integrated into the rocks, which alternately reveals and hides the sea. On reaching the building, the low eaves of the roof direct the visitor's gaze to the sea. The interior is designed to frame the landscape, utilising large glass panels that blur the boundaries between the building and its surroundings. The presence of wood on the floors, walls and ceilings highlights Siza's admiration for the work of the Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto.[2][3][4]

Desires to reality? Set the fire by taking action! My wish and my intention for 2015.

Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern.

 

In August, 2013, Greg and I trekked out to Palm Springs for a friend’s birthday party – I know, an unforgivable time of year, unless you like 110 degrees and 75% humidity! While we were there, we decided to check out mid-century modern neighborhoods, considering retirement is just around the corner (10 years, assuming I’ll be able to retire). What we saw, we liked. We left thinking, “Yeah, we could do this.” But back at home, in Silver Lake, reality set in. The “Sure, why not?” turned into “Hell no!” Still, we love the architecture, and it’s something to keep in mind. . .

 

01 – Title Page - Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS MODCOM) - A Map of Modern Palm Springs. But you’ll have to plunk down the $5 for your own copy, and support the cause like we did. Sorry.

 

02 – Racquet Club Estates, Racquet Club Drive & Via Miraleste, 1959 to 1961, William Krisel for the William Alexander Construction Company,– This was our first stop on our adventure. The Racquet Club Estates looks like a great neighborhood, on its way up (hopefully). The entire neighborhood looks almost like it’s right out of the mind of the creator for the Jettson’s. I especially loved the original garage doors.

 

03 – Alexander Steel Houses, Simms & Sunnyview (300 & 330 E Molino Rd, 3100, 3125, 3133, 3165 Sunny View Dr, & 290 Simms Rd), 1960 – 1962, Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison for the William Alexander Constriction Company. It’s amazing how often the name “William Alexander” comes up when talking mid-century architecture in Palm Springs. Here he attempted something new – houses made of all steel. (I know, desert/steel. Right?) It turned out to be not such a hot idea (or rather, too hot of one). What had been planned as a whole subdivision, ended up realizing only 7 magnificent houses. Number 2 is even on the National Register of Historic Places. You can see some interesting stuff in the eligibility statement with the NPS: ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1067/files/steel%20development%20h...

 

04 – Carey-Pizzoli House, 600 W Panorama Dr, 1946, Albert Frey. This is the kind of house you look at and think, “That’s an ugly mid-1960’s split-level ranch house. Why is it on the PS MODCOM map?” Then you read the description again, and think, “What? 1946?” Then you realize why it’s on the list. It preceded the tract ranch houses by 20 years. The architect, Albert Frey, was visionary.

 

05 – Shapiro House, 711 W Panorama Dr, 1969, Michael Black. I’m not a fan of Michael Black, but the house is interesting, with the huge private interior courtyard and futuristic Star Wars design.

 

06 – Franz Alexander House, 1011 W Celio Dr, 1954, Walter White. I’m not so familiar with Walter White’s work, probably because the numbers of structures are few. But what he did, he did well! This house is reminiscent of the early modernists like Neutra and Schindler (evidenced by the long band of windows facing the street and simplicity of design), yet predict the work of new masters like Gehry and Pie (evidenced by the wonderful pagoda roof and the use of common materials).

 

07 – Palevsky House, 1021 W Celio Dr, 1968, Craig Elwood. A classic modernist compound by a master of his trade.

 

08 – View of the Coachella Valley from W Celio Drive.

 

09 – Edris House, 1030 W Celio Dr, 1953, E Stewart Williams. With a commanding view of the Coachella Valley, this house is expertly designed to take in the amazing view. An inverted roof is held down by a rock chimney, anchoring the house to the cliff.

 

10 – Raymond-Loewy House, 600 W Panorama Rd, 1946, Albert Frey. Perfectly situation on the site, this striking house is nestled in behind boulders and trees for maximum privacy. It’s Albert Frey at his best. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to photograph from the street!

 

11 – Alexander-May House, 424 W Vista Chino Rd, 1952, Edward Fickett. Quintessential Fickett. Behind the added three-car garage, which now dominates the façade, is the original modernist intent. His

ideas here (especially the entrance) would be widely used in many late 60’s and early 70’s designs.

 

12 – Kaufmann Desert House, 470 W Vista Chino Rd, 1946, Richard Neutra. He Kaufmann house is a work of art. This is the house which is most-often compared with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. What else can you say about Neutra’s design that hasn’t already been said? Nothing. It’s perfect. Simply perfect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufmann_Desert_House and en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Kaufmann_House

 

13 – House of Tomorrow (Robert & Helene Alexander House), 1350 Ladera Cir, 1962, William Krisel. It’s a house! It’s a plane! It’s. . it’s. . . different. I’m not sure what I expected from the “House of Tomorrow,” but this wasn’t quite it. It’s more like the “House of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” But it’s still an innovated and charming house. Less charming was the owner’s assistant trying to sell us on $60 per person tour tickets, just to see where Elvis and Priscilla Presley slept on their honeymoon. Really?

 

14 – Las Palmas Estates, Camino Sur Rd & Via Vadera, 1950’s, William Krisel and Charles DuBois (Separately). These houses are fanciful and fun, and for some inexplicable reason makes you think of Bedrock! Maybe they designed the houses from a neighborhood such as this.

 

15 – Dina Shore Estate, 432 Hermosa Rd, 1964, Donald Wexler. Not exactly forward thinking, rather it’s a solid and well-executed example of large-scale residential mid-century modern architecture. It gives the initial impression of a school or library, with the extensive park grounds, but that only adds to the character.

 

16 – All Worlds Resorts. I couldn’t resist. Here’s how the rest of us live when we’re on vacation.

 

Still, though, not bad.

For those interested in Palm Springs

mid-century architecture, there’s a great website with more pictures: rebeccaandstephen.com/gallery/midcenturymodern/

It would be difficult to sit at this desk and find yourself lacking for inspiration or creativity, but in typical fashion, I unfortunately did not get a chance to experience that...

 

I guess your next question is, "then how did you get the photo?"

 

Well, let me explain....

 

On a recent trip to the city with my brother the reservationist asked me, "Would you like a city view or an atrium view room?"

 

WIthout hesitation I replied, "we'll take 2 city view rooms please"

 

I mean it was just a natural response, I didn't even think twice, I immediately had visions of being perched high up in the sky looking out in awe over the city, I mean who wouldn't want that, right??

 

Anyway, within seconds of hanging up, reality set in and i started asking myself what does city view really mean?

 

Will I need to smoosh my face against the window, then look up at a 90° angle and then just out of the corner of my eye between some power lines and trees I can see a couple of unknown skyscrapers, not to mention there will be sirens and car horns ringing all night long..."NO THANK YOU!"

 

I immediately called back and changed my reservation to an atrium view....

 

Fast forward a few weeks and upon arriving at the hotel my room was not ready so we decided to crash in my brother's room for a bit.

 

And yes, upon opening the door, we were stunned to be surrounded by 180° unobstructed views of the city...WOW!

 

That night, I asked my brother if I could take some photos from his room and this was the view from the desk of the Empire State Building

 

BTW, I'm not sure why I've posted so many B&W photos lately, I guess it's just a phase that I'm going through....

Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern.

 

In August, 2013, Greg and I trekked out to Palm Springs for a friend’s birthday party – I know, an unforgivable time of year, unless you like 110 degrees and 75% humidity! While we were there, we decided to check out mid-century modern neighborhoods, considering retirement is just around the corner (10 years, assuming I’ll be able to retire). What we saw, we liked. We left thinking, “Yeah, we could do this.” But back at home, in Silver Lake, reality set in. The “Sure, why not?” turned into “Hell no!” Still, we love the architecture, and it’s something to keep in mind. . .

 

01 – Title Page - Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS MODCOM) - A Map of Modern Palm Springs. But you’ll have to plunk down the $5 for your own copy, and support the cause like we did. Sorry.

 

02 – Racquet Club Estates, Racquet Club Drive & Via Miraleste, 1959 to 1961, William Krisel for the William Alexander Construction Company,– This was our first stop on our adventure. The Racquet Club Estates looks like a great neighborhood, on its way up (hopefully). The entire neighborhood looks almost like it’s right out of the mind of the creator for the Jettson’s. I especially loved the original garage doors.

 

03 – Alexander Steel Houses, Simms & Sunnyview (300 & 330 E Molino Rd, 3100, 3125, 3133, 3165 Sunny View Dr, & 290 Simms Rd), 1960 – 1962, Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison for the William Alexander Constriction Company. It’s amazing how often the name “William Alexander” comes up when talking mid-century architecture in Palm Springs. Here he attempted something new – houses made of all steel. (I know, desert/steel. Right?) It turned out to be not such a hot idea (or rather, too hot of one). What had been planned as a whole subdivision, ended up realizing only 7 magnificent houses. Number 2 is even on the National Register of Historic Places. You can see some interesting stuff in the eligibility statement with the NPS: ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1067/files/steel%20development%20h...

 

04 – Carey-Pizzoli House, 600 W Panorama Dr, 1946, Albert Frey. This is the kind of house you look at and think, “That’s an ugly mid-1960’s split-level ranch house. Why is it on the PS MODCOM map?” Then you read the description again, and think, “What? 1946?” Then you realize why it’s on the list. It preceded the tract ranch houses by 20 years. The architect, Albert Frey, was visionary.

 

05 – Shapiro House, 711 W Panorama Dr, 1969, Michael Black. I’m not a fan of Michael Black, but the house is interesting, with the huge private interior courtyard and futuristic Star Wars design.

 

06 – Franz Alexander House, 1011 W Celio Dr, 1954, Walter White. I’m not so familiar with Walter White’s work, probably because the numbers of structures are few. But what he did, he did well! This house is reminiscent of the early modernists like Neutra and Schindler (evidenced by the long band of windows facing the street and simplicity of design), yet predict the work of new masters like Gehry and Pie (evidenced by the wonderful pagoda roof and the use of common materials).

 

07 – Palevsky House, 1021 W Celio Dr, 1968, Craig Elwood. A classic modernist compound by a master of his trade.

 

08 – View of the Coachella Valley from W Celio Drive.

 

09 – Edris House, 1030 W Celio Dr, 1953, E Stewart Williams. With a commanding view of the Coachella Valley, this house is expertly designed to take in the amazing view. An inverted roof is held down by a rock chimney, anchoring the house to the cliff.

 

10 – Raymond-Loewy House, 600 W Panorama Rd, 1946, Albert Frey. Perfectly situation on the site, this striking house is nestled in behind boulders and trees for maximum privacy. It’s Albert Frey at his best. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to photograph from the street!

 

11 – Alexander-May House, 424 W Vista Chino Rd, 1952, Edward Fickett. Quintessential Fickett. Behind the added three-car garage, which now dominates the façade, is the original modernist intent. His

ideas here (especially the entrance) would be widely used in many late 60’s and early 70’s designs.

 

12 – Kaufmann Desert House, 470 W Vista Chino Rd, 1946, Richard Neutra. He Kaufmann house is a work of art. This is the house which is most-often compared with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. What else can you say about Neutra’s design that hasn’t already been said? Nothing. It’s perfect. Simply perfect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufmann_Desert_House and en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Kaufmann_House

 

13 – House of Tomorrow (Robert & Helene Alexander House), 1350 Ladera Cir, 1962, William Krisel. It’s a house! It’s a plane! It’s. . it’s. . . different. I’m not sure what I expected from the “House of Tomorrow,” but this wasn’t quite it. It’s more like the “House of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” But it’s still an innovated and charming house. Less charming was the owner’s assistant trying to sell us on $60 per person tour tickets, just to see where Elvis and Priscilla Presley slept on their honeymoon. Really?

 

14 – Las Palmas Estates, Camino Sur Rd & Via Vadera, 1950’s, William Krisel and Charles DuBois (Separately). These houses are fanciful and fun, and for some inexplicable reason makes you think of Bedrock! Maybe they designed the houses from a neighborhood such as this.

 

15 – Dina Shore Estate, 432 Hermosa Rd, 1964, Donald Wexler. Not exactly forward thinking, rather it’s a solid and well-executed example of large-scale residential mid-century modern architecture. It gives the initial impression of a school or library, with the extensive park grounds, but that only adds to the character.

 

16 – All Worlds Resorts. I couldn’t resist. Here’s how the rest of us live when we’re on vacation.

 

Still, though, not bad.

For those interested in Palm Springs

mid-century architecture, there’s a great website with more pictures: rebeccaandstephen.com/gallery/midcenturymodern/

“A slice of prosciutto, sir?”

 

The moment reality sets in, and you actually see what part of the animal you’re about to consume. It’s among the many offerings on sale at the wonderful Borough Market in London.

 

Situated next to Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market is the largest and oldest food market in London, dating back to at least the 12th century. It’s busy, vibrant, a magnet for tourists – and, best of all, a foodie’s paradise (for vegetarians as well as carnivores, though you may perhaps not think so from this image).

 

Lately I've been working pretty closely with Memphis artist extraordinaire and homie Brandon Marshall on a mural for the newest addition to the Memphis City School system (or whatever the school system will be called) in Fox Meadows (Hickory Hill). Being involved is especially sentimental to me because a) Jackie luvs da kidz and b) the new school is located directly behind the house I spent my later childhood- early adulthood in. I don't visit my parents (who still live in that house) nearly as much as I should, so when we started to canvas the area for inspiration it was like a homecoming of sorts for me.

 

After walking and riding around the area for a few hours we found ourselves parked outside of what was left of the Boxdale Apartments. Located at the corner of Winchester and Boxdale, the property was once a sprawling luxury apartment complex just like many complexes in the area were. And just like many complexes in the area, time had not been kind. Nor had its former (maybe even present) inhabitants. We walked in the gate and sidestepped a pile of mattresses while I told Brandon about my former escapades there. The complex at one point was seized by the Memphis Police Department's Organized Crime Unit (it had become overrun with gangs, drugs and all that good stuff) and several doors and windows still bear the roughly stenciled labels left behind. The complex seemed abandoned and we made our way through the front section in awe of what we leave behind. We turned a corner and saw a group of 4 sitting outside of 'their' 'apartment'. Two guys, a woman, and a huge, white, pit bull. We locked eyes, mutually wondering what the hell the other were doing there. We nodded, they nodded. Brandon complimented the pit while I kept my camera to my side, silently saying, "I don't see shit, Bro.."

 

We went along our way but you could feel the eyes on our backs. We walked quietly for a moment, ears tuned for the sudden charge of man or beast from behind. The reality set in quick that nobody would find you there. At least no time soon. After pushing a little further into the abyss of discarded tires, furniture and partially burned buildings we saw a black cat eying our path. Say what you want about omens and their validity but I was not going to test theories that afternoon. I suggested that we leave. We did so promptly.

An Essay on 2010

by Andrew J. Karagianis

December 31st, 2010

 

Normally I don't think of a year as a discrete unit, containing events that are exclusive to it. Human life and culture flows from year to year. 2010, on the other hand, was a very distinct year for me. A very eventful year. A year that did have some positive aspects, but was overpowered with negatives.

 

My objective is not to sound like I'm complaining. In the time zone I live in, as I type this, 2010 is 11 hours away from being over forever. And I'm well aware that I'm not the only person who had a rough time this year. So keeping in mind that I live in a part of the world where I don't generally have to worry about natural disasters like they do in places like Haiti, here is how 2010 panned out in my world. It's not all bad, by the way; toward the end I'll write about the positive aspects.

 

On New Year's Day, 2010, I "moved in" to my brother's rented townhouse for a trial run. He and his roommate, Adam, were interested in having someone share the hefty rent they were paying, and I thought it might be a good chance to try it out. I brought over my 50-pound eMac and some other necessities, and spent the night there. The next day, I was back home. I'm not going to get into details in public, but it wasn't going to work out. But I tried it, and I'm glad I did.

 

On February 1st, my dad moved out. Once again, I don't think it's my place to go into details on the Internet. But it was a significant piece of the larger puzzle of 2010.

 

I honestly don't remember when the formal decision was made (it could have been in the summer), but I think it was around this time when the reality set in that my parents were splitting up. I didn't like it…but that's what happened. I also didn't realize that it was such a long legal process. Anyway, while I'm sad it happened, I'm thankful that it happened when I was 24, and not when I was a kid. I was old enough to understand. I could talk at length about this, but again it's not my place. I'll touch on it again later in this essay.

 

In December '09 and January '010 (as Stephen Colbert called it during the Olympics), I applied to 6 graduate programs, with the intent of getting a Master's degree in Psychology. Over the course of the spring, the letters came back, and just like the year before, I didn't get in to any of them. I was disappointed, because I was much more serious about it this time around. The fact that I got rejected across the board two years in a row made me seriously question where I was going in life. It pissed me off that I spent 5 years in undergrad, 3 of which were doing Psychology as a major, and did all the work entailed in getting my Bachelor's degree…but that I was not good enough to move on to the next level. I was aware that entrance to grad school in Psychology is extremely competitive, given that Psych is the second-most popular degree program in North America (meaning there are a ton of applicants for very few spaces)…but it still hurt. Psychology was my Plan B (Plan A is to be a rock star)…and they said "Nope! We don't want you." So now I'm left floating, wondering if any path will work out for me, or if they're all going to string me along and then kick me in the face.

 

In March, I got in contact with a psychologist at the hospital I volunteer at, to see if she could use any assistance with anything. She had a project that was about to start up, and I went in for an interview, and they told me they'd be in touch. A few weeks later, I e-mailed her, and she told me that the project went ahead, but because so few participants signed up, they wouldn't need my help. So that was disappointing.

 

Also in March, I played two gigs with my band, Adam & Evil…and we haven't played a show since.

 

Again in March, I got called back to work at the Zoo, at which point my Flickr use trickled off, and didn't really bounce back until September.

 

In April, my brother's rental contract was about to expire, and he moved back home. This wasn't negative, but I'm trying to keep significant events in chronological order.

 

In early May, the annual crop of New Guys started at the Zoo. I was put on the Savannah crew…the crew I was on when I started at the Zoo in 2005. I was bummed about having to move, because for the previous 4 years, I was on the Eurasia crew, and was able to mingle with all the people in my department who went back to The Building for breaks and lunch…and there were about 40 of us who did that. Now, I was going to be isolated, and I didn't like it.

 

In the late Spring, it was determined that we would be moving out of the house that we lived in for 6 years. This caused a lot of stress, because our priorities (the four of us who lived there) were not on the same plane. I knew what I was responsible for, and I took care of those responsibilities. But I was tasked with a lot of unnecessary things, and the delegation of manpower did not follow any logical order. There was a lot of "Because I said so", and that doesn't work with me. I want to get into details, but I probably shouldn't, because it's over now. Let's just say that it was an extremely stressful time for my family, and if you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to move in a hurry, you must devise a system that is efficient and that is fair to all involved.

 

Around June, we lost our jam space at the house. It was still there, ready to use, but we were told we couldn't use it, because the house was going up for sale. In the end, it sat there for probably three months before the house actually went on the market. The move was a complicated one, because there were players involved that aren't present in most "normal" moves, and a lot of incorrect information was fed to us through the grapevine. We encountered delay after delay after delay. It caused a massive waste of time, a massive amount of stress on me, and a massive amount of stress on my family.

 

We moved our instruments to Alex's apartment, where a few of us jammed twice before he had to move out, due to his lease expiring. This brings us to the next part.

 

In the middle of June, an opportunity to move out on my own came up. Alex, my band's guitar player, was almost finished the lease on his apartment, and we thought we'd make good roommates. So we looked at probably 10 apartments, most of them shitholes. Finally, we found a really nice one -- but the landlord wouldn't allow pets. And I mean he was adamant. Alex was willing to give up his hedgehog to live there, but I was not willing to give up my parrot. In the end, I decided I'd do it, so we took possession on July 1st and my mom took the parrot, which she said she'd do for the first year.

 

I moved in on July 14th. I regretted it almost instantly. Barely a day had passed when the landlord got mad at us for damaging his driveway. It wasn't me who did it, and if his driveway was soft enough to be damaged by what he assumed had happened…he needs a better driveway. Anyway, he nit-picked us for leaving lights on (wasn't me), leaving the fan on in the bathroom (wasn't me), the way we parked our cars, and pretty much any other minor infraction he could come up with. I explained my frustrations to Alex, and he talked to the landlord. He has barely said a word to me since. Lesson learned: Never rent an apartment until you ask the landlord what sort of tenant habits bother him.

 

At the end of July, I went to Nova Scotia with my dad and brother. Never had I been so glad to get away. I spent five days there, at my grandparents' cottage, and I took lots of good pictures…including one of the PEI ferries, a seal on the beach, and my grandfather getting hit in the face with an egg (he was fine).

 

That summer was bad for a lot of people in my department at work. There was a lot of spying, snitching, and overall sneaky behavior going on. Thankfully, I wasn't involved, but some of my friends got in trouble repeatedly for little good reason, and a few people alienated themselves by short-sightedly persecuting the many.

 

Those of us with more seniority often get extended to work in the fall. On one of the first days of the extension, I woke up at 5:00am, checked Facebook, and saw a message that a friend had sent in the middle of the night. My heart sank when I read it, and I hoped it was a joke. I went in to work, and a few of my coworkers had also gotten that message. Later that morning, five of us gathered around while one guy called the friend who had messaged us on Facebook. It was not a joke. One of our friends had died that night.

 

We were all shaken up by the news. We didn't know what happened to him, and I, being a hypochondriac, was afraid for my own life, because it seemed to be random and without any apparent cause.

 

I went to a gathering of friends one night, and to a viewing another day, and that's where I learned what killed him. It wasn't drunk driving, or drugs, or any other thing that often kills young people. It was Salmonella.

 

I went to his funeral service…by the end, there was not a dry eye in the whole church. We drove to the cemetery, and while we waited for people to arrive, the sky opened up. It rained hard for a while, and we eventually decided to get out of the truck we were sitting in and be men about it. There were about 50 of us standing in the pouring rain for probably 5 minutes, until we were told to go back to our cars and wait for the rain to clear. Eventually it did, and the sun came out. Our friend was buried, and a group of us went to Boston Pizza afterwards, because we thought that's what he would have wanted us to do.

 

Around the same time in September, my dad moved away. He had been living in an apartment maybe 10 minutes away for the previous 7 months, and now it was time to move to where his new job was, in Indiana. I thought about visiting him during the fall, but couldn't find a time where my brother and sister were both available to come with me.

 

By the end of September, my band had not played as a 5-person unit since March. Finally, with my mom's help, we found a church (her friend is the minister), and we arranged a deal to practice there.

 

Also during the end of September, it was finally time to give up Terrance -- temporarily. Earlier that month, I was told that I'd have to get Terrance out of the house while it was on the market, which was to start on September 27th. I was pissed off because I knew I'd have nowhere to bring him. I asked the landlord and he said "Absolutely not". My friend Rick volunteered to take Terrance, so I brought him over. I felt bad, and angry, because I was told that the house would be up on the 27th, and here I was, abusing my friend's offer by having Terrance at his house uneccessarily. He understood that it was out of my control, but it caused me more stress because I had acted on false information again. The house finally went on the market in October.

 

In November, I decided to visit my dad in Indiana. I flew down with my sister on a Friday…and later that night my mom called to say that she had our dog put down. I knew it was coming…she had been acting very sluggish the previous few weeks, and out of breath. Thankfully, we got to say our last goodbyes before we left…knowing that when we returned, she might not have been there.

 

I also got sick that night, so that put a damper on things. We went to the Indianapolis Zoo, the state museum, and some other places. When we flew back, one of my ears refused to pop on the plane, and it was really uncomfortable. It felt like someone was stabbing my ear. It remained unpopped for a few days.

 

In late November/early December, my mom moved. She rented a U-Haul for some of it, and a moving truck for the rest. It was a sad day, but it put a lot of stress behind us. My aunt (her sister) was there to help us/help them get settled in their new home.

 

Then, a few days ago, my external hard drive crapped out. It still turns on, but the icon won't show up on my desktop...so I went out and bought a new 2-TB model. Hopefully I can recover the data from the old one, once I can afford that serivce.

 

On top of that, I'm making a lot of mistakes in my typing lately (the past few days), and I don't know why. My fingers are hitting the wrong keys a lot, and I hope it's just my cold hands, and not a sign of something eating away at my brain.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

Despite all the shitty things that happened in my world in 2010, there were specks of light that shone through the cracks.

 

I met several awesome people on Flickr this year, and of the 81 contacts I added in 2010, there are a handful of you whose pictures and stories I always look forward to seeing and reading. You know who you are, and I'm thankful for your friendship!

 

I bought a new laptop in May.

 

I had a fun summer at the Zoo, despite the fact that the weather was hotter than hell for weeks. The crew got along pretty well for the most part, and we did a lot of fun stuff together. I actually made a separate list of all the memorable stuff that went down, haha, but it's probably best not to write it here ;)

 

My coworkers know that I point out a lot of things that I notice around me, and so they bugged me to make a Hate List. In early July, I did just that. It's funny how entertaining a Hate List can be! If anyone wants to read the Hate List, ask me. It's not hate speech. It's just things that annoy me.

 

I went on three significant trips: New York State in April; Nova Scotia in July, and Indianapolis in November. I took lots of pictures, and you'll see them on my stream next year!

 

In mid-December, I discovered an Autotune feature on my computer, and I went nuts, recording myself singing various old songs in the style of whatever pop artists use Autotune a lot.

 

I like to think I've gotten better at photography…at the whole experience. My composition has gotten better. I got a flash in October, and that has helped immensely with people shots. And in July, I walked across sand, hid behind boulders, and slid on my stomach across sandstone to get close to a wild seal that had swam ashore in Nova Scotia…I took a bunch of pictures of it that I'm very pleased with. Plus, I got hired to do two photography gigs for my friend's company, including kids' pictures with Santa Claus!

 

So, I'd like to keep these positive things going, and leave the negative things in the past. I thank anyone who's read this whole thing; I look forward to 2011, and as for the year that was 2010, I say "Good Riddance!"

 

:)

Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern.

 

In August, 2013, Greg and I trekked out to Palm Springs for a friend’s birthday party – I know, an unforgivable time of year, unless you like 110 degrees and 75% humidity! While we were there, we decided to check out mid-century modern neighborhoods, considering retirement is just around the corner (10 years, assuming I’ll be able to retire). What we saw, we liked. We left thinking, “Yeah, we could do this.” But back at home, in Silver Lake, reality set in. The “Sure, why not?” turned into “Hell no!” Still, we love the architecture, and it’s something to keep in mind. . .

 

01 – Title Page - Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS MODCOM) - A Map of Modern Palm Springs. But you’ll have to plunk down the $5 for your own copy, and support the cause like we did. Sorry.

 

02 – Racquet Club Estates, Racquet Club Drive & Via Miraleste, 1959 to 1961, William Krisel for the William Alexander Construction Company,– This was our first stop on our adventure. The Racquet Club Estates looks like a great neighborhood, on its way up (hopefully). The entire neighborhood looks almost like it’s right out of the mind of the creator for the Jettson’s. I especially loved the original garage doors.

 

03 – Alexander Steel Houses, Simms & Sunnyview (300 & 330 E Molino Rd, 3100, 3125, 3133, 3165 Sunny View Dr, & 290 Simms Rd), 1960 – 1962, Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison for the William Alexander Constriction Company. It’s amazing how often the name “William Alexander” comes up when talking mid-century architecture in Palm Springs. Here he attempted something new – houses made of all steel. (I know, desert/steel. Right?) It turned out to be not such a hot idea (or rather, too hot of one). What had been planned as a whole subdivision, ended up realizing only 7 magnificent houses. Number 2 is even on the National Register of Historic Places. You can see some interesting stuff in the eligibility statement with the NPS: ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1067/files/steel%20development%20h...

 

04 – Carey-Pizzoli House, 600 W Panorama Dr, 1946, Albert Frey. This is the kind of house you look at and think, “That’s an ugly mid-1960’s split-level ranch house. Why is it on the PS MODCOM map?” Then you read the description again, and think, “What? 1946?” Then you realize why it’s on the list. It preceded the tract ranch houses by 20 years. The architect, Albert Frey, was visionary.

 

05 – Shapiro House, 711 W Panorama Dr, 1969, Michael Black. I’m not a fan of Michael Black, but the house is interesting, with the huge private interior courtyard and futuristic Star Wars design.

 

06 – Franz Alexander House, 1011 W Celio Dr, 1954, Walter White. I’m not so familiar with Walter White’s work, probably because the numbers of structures are few. But what he did, he did well! This house is reminiscent of the early modernists like Neutra and Schindler (evidenced by the long band of windows facing the street and simplicity of design), yet predict the work of new masters like Gehry and Pie (evidenced by the wonderful pagoda roof and the use of common materials).

 

07 – Palevsky House, 1021 W Celio Dr, 1968, Craig Elwood. A classic modernist compound by a master of his trade.

 

08 – View of the Coachella Valley from W Celio Drive.

 

09 – Edris House, 1030 W Celio Dr, 1953, E Stewart Williams. With a commanding view of the Coachella Valley, this house is expertly designed to take in the amazing view. An inverted roof is held down by a rock chimney, anchoring the house to the cliff.

 

10 – Raymond-Loewy House, 600 W Panorama Rd, 1946, Albert Frey. Perfectly situation on the site, this striking house is nestled in behind boulders and trees for maximum privacy. It’s Albert Frey at his best. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to photograph from the street!

 

11 – Alexander-May House, 424 W Vista Chino Rd, 1952, Edward Fickett. Quintessential Fickett. Behind the added three-car garage, which now dominates the façade, is the original modernist intent. His

ideas here (especially the entrance) would be widely used in many late 60’s and early 70’s designs.

 

12 – Kaufmann Desert House, 470 W Vista Chino Rd, 1946, Richard Neutra. He Kaufmann house is a work of art. This is the house which is most-often compared with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. What else can you say about Neutra’s design that hasn’t already been said? Nothing. It’s perfect. Simply perfect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufmann_Desert_House and en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Kaufmann_House

 

13 – House of Tomorrow (Robert & Helene Alexander House), 1350 Ladera Cir, 1962, William Krisel. It’s a house! It’s a plane! It’s. . it’s. . . different. I’m not sure what I expected from the “House of Tomorrow,” but this wasn’t quite it. It’s more like the “House of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” But it’s still an innovated and charming house. Less charming was the owner’s assistant trying to sell us on $60 per person tour tickets, just to see where Elvis and Priscilla Presley slept on their honeymoon. Really?

 

14 – Las Palmas Estates, Camino Sur Rd & Via Vadera, 1950’s, William Krisel and Charles DuBois (Separately). These houses are fanciful and fun, and for some inexplicable reason makes you think of Bedrock! Maybe they designed the houses from a neighborhood such as this.

 

15 – Dina Shore Estate, 432 Hermosa Rd, 1964, Donald Wexler. Not exactly forward thinking, rather it’s a solid and well-executed example of large-scale residential mid-century modern architecture. It gives the initial impression of a school or library, with the extensive park grounds, but that only adds to the character.

 

16 – All Worlds Resorts. I couldn’t resist. Here’s how the rest of us live when we’re on vacation.

 

Still, though, not bad.

For those interested in Palm Springs

mid-century architecture, there’s a great website with more pictures: rebeccaandstephen.com/gallery/midcenturymodern/

Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern.

 

In August, 2013, Greg and I trekked out to Palm Springs for a friend’s birthday party – I know, an unforgivable time of year, unless you like 110 degrees and 75% humidity! While we were there, we decided to check out mid-century modern neighborhoods, considering retirement is just around the corner (10 years, assuming I’ll be able to retire). What we saw, we liked. We left thinking, “Yeah, we could do this.” But back at home, in Silver Lake, reality set in. The “Sure, why not?” turned into “Hell no!” Still, we love the architecture, and it’s something to keep in mind. . .

 

01 – Title Page - Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS MODCOM) - A Map of Modern Palm Springs. But you’ll have to plunk down the $5 for your own copy, and support the cause like we did. Sorry.

 

02 – Racquet Club Estates, Racquet Club Drive & Via Miraleste, 1959 to 1961, William Krisel for the William Alexander Construction Company,– This was our first stop on our adventure. The Racquet Club Estates looks like a great neighborhood, on its way up (hopefully). The entire neighborhood looks almost like it’s right out of the mind of the creator for the Jettson’s. I especially loved the original garage doors.

 

03 – Alexander Steel Houses, Simms & Sunnyview (300 & 330 E Molino Rd, 3100, 3125, 3133, 3165 Sunny View Dr, & 290 Simms Rd), 1960 – 1962, Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison for the William Alexander Constriction Company. It’s amazing how often the name “William Alexander” comes up when talking mid-century architecture in Palm Springs. Here he attempted something new – houses made of all steel. (I know, desert/steel. Right?) It turned out to be not such a hot idea (or rather, too hot of one). What had been planned as a whole subdivision, ended up realizing only 7 magnificent houses. Number 2 is even on the National Register of Historic Places. You can see some interesting stuff in the eligibility statement with the NPS: ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1067/files/steel%20development%20h...

 

04 – Carey-Pizzoli House, 600 W Panorama Dr, 1946, Albert Frey. This is the kind of house you look at and think, “That’s an ugly mid-1960’s split-level ranch house. Why is it on the PS MODCOM map?” Then you read the description again, and think, “What? 1946?” Then you realize why it’s on the list. It preceded the tract ranch houses by 20 years. The architect, Albert Frey, was visionary.

 

05 – Shapiro House, 711 W Panorama Dr, 1969, Michael Black. I’m not a fan of Michael Black, but the house is interesting, with the huge private interior courtyard and futuristic Star Wars design.

 

06 – Franz Alexander House, 1011 W Celio Dr, 1954, Walter White. I’m not so familiar with Walter White’s work, probably because the numbers of structures are few. But what he did, he did well! This house is reminiscent of the early modernists like Neutra and Schindler (evidenced by the long band of windows facing the street and simplicity of design), yet predict the work of new masters like Gehry and Pie (evidenced by the wonderful pagoda roof and the use of common materials).

 

07 – Palevsky House, 1021 W Celio Dr, 1968, Craig Elwood. A classic modernist compound by a master of his trade.

 

08 – View of the Coachella Valley from W Celio Drive.

 

09 – Edris House, 1030 W Celio Dr, 1953, E Stewart Williams. With a commanding view of the Coachella Valley, this house is expertly designed to take in the amazing view. An inverted roof is held down by a rock chimney, anchoring the house to the cliff.

 

10 – Raymond-Loewy House, 600 W Panorama Rd, 1946, Albert Frey. Perfectly situation on the site, this striking house is nestled in behind boulders and trees for maximum privacy. It’s Albert Frey at his best. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to photograph from the street!

 

11 – Alexander-May House, 424 W Vista Chino Rd, 1952, Edward Fickett. Quintessential Fickett. Behind the added three-car garage, which now dominates the façade, is the original modernist intent. His

ideas here (especially the entrance) would be widely used in many late 60’s and early 70’s designs.

 

12 – Kaufmann Desert House, 470 W Vista Chino Rd, 1946, Richard Neutra. He Kaufmann house is a work of art. This is the house which is most-often compared with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. What else can you say about Neutra’s design that hasn’t already been said? Nothing. It’s perfect. Simply perfect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufmann_Desert_House and en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Kaufmann_House

 

13 – House of Tomorrow (Robert & Helene Alexander House), 1350 Ladera Cir, 1962, William Krisel. It’s a house! It’s a plane! It’s. . it’s. . . different. I’m not sure what I expected from the “House of Tomorrow,” but this wasn’t quite it. It’s more like the “House of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” But it’s still an innovated and charming house. Less charming was the owner’s assistant trying to sell us on $60 per person tour tickets, just to see where Elvis and Priscilla Presley slept on their honeymoon. Really?

 

14 – Las Palmas Estates, Camino Sur Rd & Via Vadera, 1950’s, William Krisel and Charles DuBois (Separately). These houses are fanciful and fun, and for some inexplicable reason makes you think of Bedrock! Maybe they designed the houses from a neighborhood such as this.

 

15 – Dina Shore Estate, 432 Hermosa Rd, 1964, Donald Wexler. Not exactly forward thinking, rather it’s a solid and well-executed example of large-scale residential mid-century modern architecture. It gives the initial impression of a school or library, with the extensive park grounds, but that only adds to the character.

 

16 – All Worlds Resorts. I couldn’t resist. Here’s how the rest of us live when we’re on vacation.

 

Still, though, not bad.

For those interested in Palm Springs

mid-century architecture, there’s a great website with more pictures: rebeccaandstephen.com/gallery/midcenturymodern/

Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern.

 

In August, 2013, Greg and I trekked out to Palm Springs for a friend’s birthday party – I know, an unforgivable time of year, unless you like 110 degrees and 75% humidity! While we were there, we decided to check out mid-century modern neighborhoods, considering retirement is just around the corner (10 years, assuming I’ll be able to retire). What we saw, we liked. We left thinking, “Yeah, we could do this.” But back at home, in Silver Lake, reality set in. The “Sure, why not?” turned into “Hell no!” Still, we love the architecture, and it’s something to keep in mind. . .

 

01 – Title Page - Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS MODCOM) - A Map of Modern Palm Springs. But you’ll have to plunk down the $5 for your own copy, and support the cause like we did. Sorry.

 

02 – Racquet Club Estates, Racquet Club Drive & Via Miraleste, 1959 to 1961, William Krisel for the William Alexander Construction Company,– This was our first stop on our adventure. The Racquet Club Estates looks like a great neighborhood, on its way up (hopefully). The entire neighborhood looks almost like it’s right out of the mind of the creator for the Jettson’s. I especially loved the original garage doors.

 

03 – Alexander Steel Houses, Simms & Sunnyview (300 & 330 E Molino Rd, 3100, 3125, 3133, 3165 Sunny View Dr, & 290 Simms Rd), 1960 – 1962, Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison for the William Alexander Constriction Company. It’s amazing how often the name “William Alexander” comes up when talking mid-century architecture in Palm Springs. Here he attempted something new – houses made of all steel. (I know, desert/steel. Right?) It turned out to be not such a hot idea (or rather, too hot of one). What had been planned as a whole subdivision, ended up realizing only 7 magnificent houses. Number 2 is even on the National Register of Historic Places. You can see some interesting stuff in the eligibility statement with the NPS: ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1067/files/steel%20development%20h...

 

04 – Carey-Pizzoli House, 600 W Panorama Dr, 1946, Albert Frey. This is the kind of house you look at and think, “That’s an ugly mid-1960’s split-level ranch house. Why is it on the PS MODCOM map?” Then you read the description again, and think, “What? 1946?” Then you realize why it’s on the list. It preceded the tract ranch houses by 20 years. The architect, Albert Frey, was visionary.

 

05 – Shapiro House, 711 W Panorama Dr, 1969, Michael Black. I’m not a fan of Michael Black, but the house is interesting, with the huge private interior courtyard and futuristic Star Wars design.

 

06 – Franz Alexander House, 1011 W Celio Dr, 1954, Walter White. I’m not so familiar with Walter White’s work, probably because the numbers of structures are few. But what he did, he did well! This house is reminiscent of the early modernists like Neutra and Schindler (evidenced by the long band of windows facing the street and simplicity of design), yet predict the work of new masters like Gehry and Pie (evidenced by the wonderful pagoda roof and the use of common materials).

 

07 – Palevsky House, 1021 W Celio Dr, 1968, Craig Elwood. A classic modernist compound by a master of his trade.

 

08 – View of the Coachella Valley from W Celio Drive.

 

09 – Edris House, 1030 W Celio Dr, 1953, E Stewart Williams. With a commanding view of the Coachella Valley, this house is expertly designed to take in the amazing view. An inverted roof is held down by a rock chimney, anchoring the house to the cliff.

 

10 – Raymond-Loewy House, 600 W Panorama Rd, 1946, Albert Frey. Perfectly situation on the site, this striking house is nestled in behind boulders and trees for maximum privacy. It’s Albert Frey at his best. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to photograph from the street!

 

11 – Alexander-May House, 424 W Vista Chino Rd, 1952, Edward Fickett. Quintessential Fickett. Behind the added three-car garage, which now dominates the façade, is the original modernist intent. His

ideas here (especially the entrance) would be widely used in many late 60’s and early 70’s designs.

 

12 – Kaufmann Desert House, 470 W Vista Chino Rd, 1946, Richard Neutra. He Kaufmann house is a work of art. This is the house which is most-often compared with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. What else can you say about Neutra’s design that hasn’t already been said? Nothing. It’s perfect. Simply perfect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufmann_Desert_House and en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Kaufmann_House

 

13 – House of Tomorrow (Robert & Helene Alexander House), 1350 Ladera Cir, 1962, William Krisel. It’s a house! It’s a plane! It’s. . it’s. . . different. I’m not sure what I expected from the “House of Tomorrow,” but this wasn’t quite it. It’s more like the “House of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” But it’s still an innovated and charming house. Less charming was the owner’s assistant trying to sell us on $60 per person tour tickets, just to see where Elvis and Priscilla Presley slept on their honeymoon. Really?

 

14 – Las Palmas Estates, Camino Sur Rd & Via Vadera, 1950’s, William Krisel and Charles DuBois (Separately). These houses are fanciful and fun, and for some inexplicable reason makes you think of Bedrock! Maybe they designed the houses from a neighborhood such as this.

 

15 – Dina Shore Estate, 432 Hermosa Rd, 1964, Donald Wexler. Not exactly forward thinking, rather it’s a solid and well-executed example of large-scale residential mid-century modern architecture. It gives the initial impression of a school or library, with the extensive park grounds, but that only adds to the character.

 

16 – All Worlds Resorts. I couldn’t resist. Here’s how the rest of us live when we’re on vacation.

 

Still, though, not bad.

For those interested in Palm Springs

mid-century architecture, there’s a great website with more pictures: rebeccaandstephen.com/gallery/midcenturymodern/

Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern.

 

In August, 2013, Greg and I trekked out to Palm Springs for a friend’s birthday party – I know, an unforgivable time of year, unless you like 110 degrees and 75% humidity! While we were there, we decided to check out mid-century modern neighborhoods, considering retirement is just around the corner (10 years, assuming I’ll be able to retire). What we saw, we liked. We left thinking, “Yeah, we could do this.” But back at home, in Silver Lake, reality set in. The “Sure, why not?” turned into “Hell no!” Still, we love the architecture, and it’s something to keep in mind. . .

 

01 – Title Page - Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS MODCOM) - A Map of Modern Palm Springs. But you’ll have to plunk down the $5 for your own copy, and support the cause like we did. Sorry.

 

02 – Racquet Club Estates, Racquet Club Drive & Via Miraleste, 1959 to 1961, William Krisel for the William Alexander Construction Company,– This was our first stop on our adventure. The Racquet Club Estates looks like a great neighborhood, on its way up (hopefully). The entire neighborhood looks almost like it’s right out of the mind of the creator for the Jettson’s. I especially loved the original garage doors.

 

03 – Alexander Steel Houses, Simms & Sunnyview (300 & 330 E Molino Rd, 3100, 3125, 3133, 3165 Sunny View Dr, & 290 Simms Rd), 1960 – 1962, Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison for the William Alexander Constriction Company. It’s amazing how often the name “William Alexander” comes up when talking mid-century architecture in Palm Springs. Here he attempted something new – houses made of all steel. (I know, desert/steel. Right?) It turned out to be not such a hot idea (or rather, too hot of one). What had been planned as a whole subdivision, ended up realizing only 7 magnificent houses. Number 2 is even on the National Register of Historic Places. You can see some interesting stuff in the eligibility statement with the NPS: ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1067/files/steel%20development%20h...

 

04 – Carey-Pizzoli House, 600 W Panorama Dr, 1946, Albert Frey. This is the kind of house you look at and think, “That’s an ugly mid-1960’s split-level ranch house. Why is it on the PS MODCOM map?” Then you read the description again, and think, “What? 1946?” Then you realize why it’s on the list. It preceded the tract ranch houses by 20 years. The architect, Albert Frey, was visionary.

 

05 – Shapiro House, 711 W Panorama Dr, 1969, Michael Black. I’m not a fan of Michael Black, but the house is interesting, with the huge private interior courtyard and futuristic Star Wars design.

 

06 – Franz Alexander House, 1011 W Celio Dr, 1954, Walter White. I’m not so familiar with Walter White’s work, probably because the numbers of structures are few. But what he did, he did well! This house is reminiscent of the early modernists like Neutra and Schindler (evidenced by the long band of windows facing the street and simplicity of design), yet predict the work of new masters like Gehry and Pie (evidenced by the wonderful pagoda roof and the use of common materials).

 

07 – Palevsky House, 1021 W Celio Dr, 1968, Craig Elwood. A classic modernist compound by a master of his trade.

 

08 – View of the Coachella Valley from W Celio Drive.

 

09 – Edris House, 1030 W Celio Dr, 1953, E Stewart Williams. With a commanding view of the Coachella Valley, this house is expertly designed to take in the amazing view. An inverted roof is held down by a rock chimney, anchoring the house to the cliff.

 

10 – Raymond-Loewy House, 600 W Panorama Rd, 1946, Albert Frey. Perfectly situation on the site, this striking house is nestled in behind boulders and trees for maximum privacy. It’s Albert Frey at his best. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to photograph from the street!

 

11 – Alexander-May House, 424 W Vista Chino Rd, 1952, Edward Fickett. Quintessential Fickett. Behind the added three-car garage, which now dominates the façade, is the original modernist intent. His

ideas here (especially the entrance) would be widely used in many late 60’s and early 70’s designs.

 

12 – Kaufmann Desert House, 470 W Vista Chino Rd, 1946, Richard Neutra. He Kaufmann house is a work of art. This is the house which is most-often compared with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. What else can you say about Neutra’s design that hasn’t already been said? Nothing. It’s perfect. Simply perfect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufmann_Desert_House and en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Kaufmann_House

 

13 – House of Tomorrow (Robert & Helene Alexander House), 1350 Ladera Cir, 1962, William Krisel. It’s a house! It’s a plane! It’s. . it’s. . . different. I’m not sure what I expected from the “House of Tomorrow,” but this wasn’t quite it. It’s more like the “House of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” But it’s still an innovated and charming house. Less charming was the owner’s assistant trying to sell us on $60 per person tour tickets, just to see where Elvis and Priscilla Presley slept on their honeymoon. Really?

 

14 – Las Palmas Estates, Camino Sur Rd & Via Vadera, 1950’s, William Krisel and Charles DuBois (Separately). These houses are fanciful and fun, and for some inexplicable reason makes you think of Bedrock! Maybe they designed the houses from a neighborhood such as this.

 

15 – Dina Shore Estate, 432 Hermosa Rd, 1964, Donald Wexler. Not exactly forward thinking, rather it’s a solid and well-executed example of large-scale residential mid-century modern architecture. It gives the initial impression of a school or library, with the extensive park grounds, but that only adds to the character.

 

16 – All Worlds Resorts. I couldn’t resist. Here’s how the rest of us live when we’re on vacation.

 

Still, though, not bad.

For those interested in Palm Springs

mid-century architecture, there’s a great website with more pictures: rebeccaandstephen.com/gallery/midcenturymodern/

Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern.

 

In August, 2013, Greg and I trekked out to Palm Springs for a friend’s birthday party – I know, an unforgivable time of year, unless you like 110 degrees and 75% humidity! While we were there, we decided to check out mid-century modern neighborhoods, considering retirement is just around the corner (10 years, assuming I’ll be able to retire). What we saw, we liked. We left thinking, “Yeah, we could do this.” But back at home, in Silver Lake, reality set in. The “Sure, why not?” turned into “Hell no!” Still, we love the architecture, and it’s something to keep in mind. . .

 

01 – Title Page - Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS MODCOM) - A Map of Modern Palm Springs. But you’ll have to plunk down the $5 for your own copy, and support the cause like we did. Sorry.

 

02 – Racquet Club Estates, Racquet Club Drive & Via Miraleste, 1959 to 1961, William Krisel for the William Alexander Construction Company,– This was our first stop on our adventure. The Racquet Club Estates looks like a great neighborhood, on its way up (hopefully). The entire neighborhood looks almost like it’s right out of the mind of the creator for the Jettson’s. I especially loved the original garage doors.

 

03 – Alexander Steel Houses, Simms & Sunnyview (300 & 330 E Molino Rd, 3100, 3125, 3133, 3165 Sunny View Dr, & 290 Simms Rd), 1960 – 1962, Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison for the William Alexander Constriction Company. It’s amazing how often the name “William Alexander” comes up when talking mid-century architecture in Palm Springs. Here he attempted something new – houses made of all steel. (I know, desert/steel. Right?) It turned out to be not such a hot idea (or rather, too hot of one). What had been planned as a whole subdivision, ended up realizing only 7 magnificent houses. Number 2 is even on the National Register of Historic Places. You can see some interesting stuff in the eligibility statement with the NPS: ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1067/files/steel%20development%20h...

 

04 – Carey-Pizzoli House, 600 W Panorama Dr, 1946, Albert Frey. This is the kind of house you look at and think, “That’s an ugly mid-1960’s split-level ranch house. Why is it on the PS MODCOM map?” Then you read the description again, and think, “What? 1946?” Then you realize why it’s on the list. It preceded the tract ranch houses by 20 years. The architect, Albert Frey, was visionary.

 

05 – Shapiro House, 711 W Panorama Dr, 1969, Michael Black. I’m not a fan of Michael Black, but the house is interesting, with the huge private interior courtyard and futuristic Star Wars design.

 

06 – Franz Alexander House, 1011 W Celio Dr, 1954, Walter White. I’m not so familiar with Walter White’s work, probably because the numbers of structures are few. But what he did, he did well! This house is reminiscent of the early modernists like Neutra and Schindler (evidenced by the long band of windows facing the street and simplicity of design), yet predict the work of new masters like Gehry and Pie (evidenced by the wonderful pagoda roof and the use of common materials).

 

07 – Palevsky House, 1021 W Celio Dr, 1968, Craig Elwood. A classic modernist compound by a master of his trade.

 

08 – View of the Coachella Valley from W Celio Drive.

 

09 – Edris House, 1030 W Celio Dr, 1953, E Stewart Williams. With a commanding view of the Coachella Valley, this house is expertly designed to take in the amazing view. An inverted roof is held down by a rock chimney, anchoring the house to the cliff.

 

10 – Raymond-Loewy House, 600 W Panorama Rd, 1946, Albert Frey. Perfectly situation on the site, this striking house is nestled in behind boulders and trees for maximum privacy. It’s Albert Frey at his best. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to photograph from the street!

 

11 – Alexander-May House, 424 W Vista Chino Rd, 1952, Edward Fickett. Quintessential Fickett. Behind the added three-car garage, which now dominates the façade, is the original modernist intent. His

ideas here (especially the entrance) would be widely used in many late 60’s and early 70’s designs.

 

12 – Kaufmann Desert House, 470 W Vista Chino Rd, 1946, Richard Neutra. He Kaufmann house is a work of art. This is the house which is most-often compared with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. What else can you say about Neutra’s design that hasn’t already been said? Nothing. It’s perfect. Simply perfect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufmann_Desert_House and en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Kaufmann_House

 

13 – House of Tomorrow (Robert & Helene Alexander House), 1350 Ladera Cir, 1962, William Krisel. It’s a house! It’s a plane! It’s. . it’s. . . different. I’m not sure what I expected from the “House of Tomorrow,” but this wasn’t quite it. It’s more like the “House of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” But it’s still an innovated and charming house. Less charming was the owner’s assistant trying to sell us on $60 per person tour tickets, just to see where Elvis and Priscilla Presley slept on their honeymoon. Really?

 

14 – Las Palmas Estates, Camino Sur Rd & Via Vadera, 1950’s, William Krisel and Charles DuBois (Separately). These houses are fanciful and fun, and for some inexplicable reason makes you think of Bedrock! Maybe they designed the houses from a neighborhood such as this.

 

15 – Dina Shore Estate, 432 Hermosa Rd, 1964, Donald Wexler. Not exactly forward thinking, rather it’s a solid and well-executed example of large-scale residential mid-century modern architecture. It gives the initial impression of a school or library, with the extensive park grounds, but that only adds to the character.

 

16 – All Worlds Resorts. I couldn’t resist. Here’s how the rest of us live when we’re on vacation.

 

Still, though, not bad.

For those interested in Palm Springs

mid-century architecture, there’s a great website with more pictures: rebeccaandstephen.com/gallery/midcenturymodern/

Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern.

 

In August, 2013, Greg and I trekked out to Palm Springs for a friend’s birthday party – I know, an unforgivable time of year, unless you like 110 degrees and 75% humidity! While we were there, we decided to check out mid-century modern neighborhoods, considering retirement is just around the corner (10 years, assuming I’ll be able to retire). What we saw, we liked. We left thinking, “Yeah, we could do this.” But back at home, in Silver Lake, reality set in. The “Sure, why not?” turned into “Hell no!” Still, we love the architecture, and it’s something to keep in mind. . .

 

01 – Title Page - Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS MODCOM) - A Map of Modern Palm Springs. But you’ll have to plunk down the $5 for your own copy, and support the cause like we did. Sorry.

 

02 – Racquet Club Estates, Racquet Club Drive & Via Miraleste, 1959 to 1961, William Krisel for the William Alexander Construction Company,– This was our first stop on our adventure. The Racquet Club Estates looks like a great neighborhood, on its way up (hopefully). The entire neighborhood looks almost like it’s right out of the mind of the creator for the Jettson’s. I especially loved the original garage doors.

 

03 – Alexander Steel Houses, Simms & Sunnyview (300 & 330 E Molino Rd, 3100, 3125, 3133, 3165 Sunny View Dr, & 290 Simms Rd), 1960 – 1962, Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison for the William Alexander Constriction Company. It’s amazing how often the name “William Alexander” comes up when talking mid-century architecture in Palm Springs. Here he attempted something new – houses made of all steel. (I know, desert/steel. Right?) It turned out to be not such a hot idea (or rather, too hot of one). What had been planned as a whole subdivision, ended up realizing only 7 magnificent houses. Number 2 is even on the National Register of Historic Places. You can see some interesting stuff in the eligibility statement with the NPS: ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1067/files/steel%20development%20h...

 

04 – Carey-Pizzoli House, 600 W Panorama Dr, 1946, Albert Frey. This is the kind of house you look at and think, “That’s an ugly mid-1960’s split-level ranch house. Why is it on the PS MODCOM map?” Then you read the description again, and think, “What? 1946?” Then you realize why it’s on the list. It preceded the tract ranch houses by 20 years. The architect, Albert Frey, was visionary.

 

05 – Shapiro House, 711 W Panorama Dr, 1969, Michael Black. I’m not a fan of Michael Black, but the house is interesting, with the huge private interior courtyard and futuristic Star Wars design.

 

06 – Franz Alexander House, 1011 W Celio Dr, 1954, Walter White. I’m not so familiar with Walter White’s work, probably because the numbers of structures are few. But what he did, he did well! This house is reminiscent of the early modernists like Neutra and Schindler (evidenced by the long band of windows facing the street and simplicity of design), yet predict the work of new masters like Gehry and Pie (evidenced by the wonderful pagoda roof and the use of common materials).

 

07 – Palevsky House, 1021 W Celio Dr, 1968, Craig Elwood. A classic modernist compound by a master of his trade.

 

08 – View of the Coachella Valley from W Celio Drive.

 

09 – Edris House, 1030 W Celio Dr, 1953, E Stewart Williams. With a commanding view of the Coachella Valley, this house is expertly designed to take in the amazing view. An inverted roof is held down by a rock chimney, anchoring the house to the cliff.

 

10 – Raymond-Loewy House, 600 W Panorama Rd, 1946, Albert Frey. Perfectly situation on the site, this striking house is nestled in behind boulders and trees for maximum privacy. It’s Albert Frey at his best. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to photograph from the street!

 

11 – Alexander-May House, 424 W Vista Chino Rd, 1952, Edward Fickett. Quintessential Fickett. Behind the added three-car garage, which now dominates the façade, is the original modernist intent. His

ideas here (especially the entrance) would be widely used in many late 60’s and early 70’s designs.

 

12 – Kaufmann Desert House, 470 W Vista Chino Rd, 1946, Richard Neutra. He Kaufmann house is a work of art. This is the house which is most-often compared with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. What else can you say about Neutra’s design that hasn’t already been said? Nothing. It’s perfect. Simply perfect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufmann_Desert_House and en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Kaufmann_House

 

13 – House of Tomorrow (Robert & Helene Alexander House), 1350 Ladera Cir, 1962, William Krisel. It’s a house! It’s a plane! It’s. . it’s. . . different. I’m not sure what I expected from the “House of Tomorrow,” but this wasn’t quite it. It’s more like the “House of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” But it’s still an innovated and charming house. Less charming was the owner’s assistant trying to sell us on $60 per person tour tickets, just to see where Elvis and Priscilla Presley slept on their honeymoon. Really?

 

14 – Las Palmas Estates, Camino Sur Rd & Via Vadera, 1950’s, William Krisel and Charles DuBois (Separately). These houses are fanciful and fun, and for some inexplicable reason makes you think of Bedrock! Maybe they designed the houses from a neighborhood such as this.

 

15 – Dina Shore Estate, 432 Hermosa Rd, 1964, Donald Wexler. Not exactly forward thinking, rather it’s a solid and well-executed example of large-scale residential mid-century modern architecture. It gives the initial impression of a school or library, with the extensive park grounds, but that only adds to the character.

 

16 – All Worlds Resorts. I couldn’t resist. Here’s how the rest of us live when we’re on vacation.

 

Still, though, not bad.

For those interested in Palm Springs

mid-century architecture, there’s a great website with more pictures: rebeccaandstephen.com/gallery/midcenturymodern/

Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern.

 

In August, 2013, Greg and I trekked out to Palm Springs for a friend’s birthday party – I know, an unforgivable time of year, unless you like 110 degrees and 75% humidity! While we were there, we decided to check out mid-century modern neighborhoods, considering retirement is just around the corner (10 years, assuming I’ll be able to retire). What we saw, we liked. We left thinking, “Yeah, we could do this.” But back at home, in Silver Lake, reality set in. The “Sure, why not?” turned into “Hell no!” Still, we love the architecture, and it’s something to keep in mind. . .

 

01 – Title Page - Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS MODCOM) - A Map of Modern Palm Springs. But you’ll have to plunk down the $5 for your own copy, and support the cause like we did. Sorry.

 

02 – Racquet Club Estates, Racquet Club Drive & Via Miraleste, 1959 to 1961, William Krisel for the William Alexander Construction Company,– This was our first stop on our adventure. The Racquet Club Estates looks like a great neighborhood, on its way up (hopefully). The entire neighborhood looks almost like it’s right out of the mind of the creator for the Jettson’s. I especially loved the original garage doors.

 

03 – Alexander Steel Houses, Simms & Sunnyview (300 & 330 E Molino Rd, 3100, 3125, 3133, 3165 Sunny View Dr, & 290 Simms Rd), 1960 – 1962, Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison for the William Alexander Constriction Company. It’s amazing how often the name “William Alexander” comes up when talking mid-century architecture in Palm Springs. Here he attempted something new – houses made of all steel. (I know, desert/steel. Right?) It turned out to be not such a hot idea (or rather, too hot of one). What had been planned as a whole subdivision, ended up realizing only 7 magnificent houses. Number 2 is even on the National Register of Historic Places. You can see some interesting stuff in the eligibility statement with the NPS: ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1067/files/steel%20development%20h...

 

04 – Carey-Pizzoli House, 600 W Panorama Dr, 1946, Albert Frey. This is the kind of house you look at and think, “That’s an ugly mid-1960’s split-level ranch house. Why is it on the PS MODCOM map?” Then you read the description again, and think, “What? 1946?” Then you realize why it’s on the list. It preceded the tract ranch houses by 20 years. The architect, Albert Frey, was visionary.

 

05 – Shapiro House, 711 W Panorama Dr, 1969, Michael Black. I’m not a fan of Michael Black, but the house is interesting, with the huge private interior courtyard and futuristic Star Wars design.

 

06 – Franz Alexander House, 1011 W Celio Dr, 1954, Walter White. I’m not so familiar with Walter White’s work, probably because the numbers of structures are few. But what he did, he did well! This house is reminiscent of the early modernists like Neutra and Schindler (evidenced by the long band of windows facing the street and simplicity of design), yet predict the work of new masters like Gehry and Pie (evidenced by the wonderful pagoda roof and the use of common materials).

 

07 – Palevsky House, 1021 W Celio Dr, 1968, Craig Elwood. A classic modernist compound by a master of his trade.

 

08 – View of the Coachella Valley from W Celio Drive.

 

09 – Edris House, 1030 W Celio Dr, 1953, E Stewart Williams. With a commanding view of the Coachella Valley, this house is expertly designed to take in the amazing view. An inverted roof is held down by a rock chimney, anchoring the house to the cliff.

 

10 – Raymond-Loewy House, 600 W Panorama Rd, 1946, Albert Frey. Perfectly situation on the site, this striking house is nestled in behind boulders and trees for maximum privacy. It’s Albert Frey at his best. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to photograph from the street!

 

11 – Alexander-May House, 424 W Vista Chino Rd, 1952, Edward Fickett. Quintessential Fickett. Behind the added three-car garage, which now dominates the façade, is the original modernist intent. His

ideas here (especially the entrance) would be widely used in many late 60’s and early 70’s designs.

 

12 – Kaufmann Desert House, 470 W Vista Chino Rd, 1946, Richard Neutra. He Kaufmann house is a work of art. This is the house which is most-often compared with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. What else can you say about Neutra’s design that hasn’t already been said? Nothing. It’s perfect. Simply perfect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufmann_Desert_House and en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Kaufmann_House

 

13 – House of Tomorrow (Robert & Helene Alexander House), 1350 Ladera Cir, 1962, William Krisel. It’s a house! It’s a plane! It’s. . it’s. . . different. I’m not sure what I expected from the “House of Tomorrow,” but this wasn’t quite it. It’s more like the “House of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” But it’s still an innovated and charming house. Less charming was the owner’s assistant trying to sell us on $60 per person tour tickets, just to see where Elvis and Priscilla Presley slept on their honeymoon. Really?

 

14 – Las Palmas Estates, Camino Sur Rd & Via Vadera, 1950’s, William Krisel and Charles DuBois (Separately). These houses are fanciful and fun, and for some inexplicable reason makes you think of Bedrock! Maybe they designed the houses from a neighborhood such as this.

 

15 – Dina Shore Estate, 432 Hermosa Rd, 1964, Donald Wexler. Not exactly forward thinking, rather it’s a solid and well-executed example of large-scale residential mid-century modern architecture. It gives the initial impression of a school or library, with the extensive park grounds, but that only adds to the character.

 

16 – All Worlds Resorts. I couldn’t resist. Here’s how the rest of us live when we’re on vacation.

 

Still, though, not bad.

For those interested in Palm Springs

mid-century architecture, there’s a great website with more pictures: rebeccaandstephen.com/gallery/midcenturymodern/

Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern.

 

In August, 2013, Greg and I trekked out to Palm Springs for a friend’s birthday party – I know, an unforgivable time of year, unless you like 110 degrees and 75% humidity! While we were there, we decided to check out mid-century modern neighborhoods, considering retirement is just around the corner (10 years, assuming I’ll be able to retire). What we saw, we liked. We left thinking, “Yeah, we could do this.” But back at home, in Silver Lake, reality set in. The “Sure, why not?” turned into “Hell no!” Still, we love the architecture, and it’s something to keep in mind. . .

 

01 – Title Page - Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS MODCOM) - A Map of Modern Palm Springs. But you’ll have to plunk down the $5 for your own copy, and support the cause like we did. Sorry.

 

02 – Racquet Club Estates, Racquet Club Drive & Via Miraleste, 1959 to 1961, William Krisel for the William Alexander Construction Company,– This was our first stop on our adventure. The Racquet Club Estates looks like a great neighborhood, on its way up (hopefully). The entire neighborhood looks almost like it’s right out of the mind of the creator for the Jettson’s. I especially loved the original garage doors.

 

03 – Alexander Steel Houses, Simms & Sunnyview (300 & 330 E Molino Rd, 3100, 3125, 3133, 3165 Sunny View Dr, & 290 Simms Rd), 1960 – 1962, Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison for the William Alexander Constriction Company. It’s amazing how often the name “William Alexander” comes up when talking mid-century architecture in Palm Springs. Here he attempted something new – houses made of all steel. (I know, desert/steel. Right?) It turned out to be not such a hot idea (or rather, too hot of one). What had been planned as a whole subdivision, ended up realizing only 7 magnificent houses. Number 2 is even on the National Register of Historic Places. You can see some interesting stuff in the eligibility statement with the NPS: ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1067/files/steel%20development%20h...

 

04 – Carey-Pizzoli House, 600 W Panorama Dr, 1946, Albert Frey. This is the kind of house you look at and think, “That’s an ugly mid-1960’s split-level ranch house. Why is it on the PS MODCOM map?” Then you read the description again, and think, “What? 1946?” Then you realize why it’s on the list. It preceded the tract ranch houses by 20 years. The architect, Albert Frey, was visionary.

 

05 – Shapiro House, 711 W Panorama Dr, 1969, Michael Black. I’m not a fan of Michael Black, but the house is interesting, with the huge private interior courtyard and futuristic Star Wars design.

 

06 – Franz Alexander House, 1011 W Celio Dr, 1954, Walter White. I’m not so familiar with Walter White’s work, probably because the numbers of structures are few. But what he did, he did well! This house is reminiscent of the early modernists like Neutra and Schindler (evidenced by the long band of windows facing the street and simplicity of design), yet predict the work of new masters like Gehry and Pie (evidenced by the wonderful pagoda roof and the use of common materials).

 

07 – Palevsky House, 1021 W Celio Dr, 1968, Craig Elwood. A classic modernist compound by a master of his trade.

 

08 – View of the Coachella Valley from W Celio Drive.

 

09 – Edris House, 1030 W Celio Dr, 1953, E Stewart Williams. With a commanding view of the Coachella Valley, this house is expertly designed to take in the amazing view. An inverted roof is held down by a rock chimney, anchoring the house to the cliff.

 

10 – Raymond-Loewy House, 600 W Panorama Rd, 1946, Albert Frey. Perfectly situation on the site, this striking house is nestled in behind boulders and trees for maximum privacy. It’s Albert Frey at his best. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to photograph from the street!

 

11 – Alexander-May House, 424 W Vista Chino Rd, 1952, Edward Fickett. Quintessential Fickett. Behind the added three-car garage, which now dominates the façade, is the original modernist intent. His

ideas here (especially the entrance) would be widely used in many late 60’s and early 70’s designs.

 

12 – Kaufmann Desert House, 470 W Vista Chino Rd, 1946, Richard Neutra. He Kaufmann house is a work of art. This is the house which is most-often compared with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. What else can you say about Neutra’s design that hasn’t already been said? Nothing. It’s perfect. Simply perfect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufmann_Desert_House and en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Kaufmann_House

 

13 – House of Tomorrow (Robert & Helene Alexander House), 1350 Ladera Cir, 1962, William Krisel. It’s a house! It’s a plane! It’s. . it’s. . . different. I’m not sure what I expected from the “House of Tomorrow,” but this wasn’t quite it. It’s more like the “House of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.” But it’s still an innovated and charming house. Less charming was the owner’s assistant trying to sell us on $60 per person tour tickets, just to see where Elvis and Priscilla Presley slept on their honeymoon. Really?

 

14 – Las Palmas Estates, Camino Sur Rd & Via Vadera, 1950’s, William Krisel and Charles DuBois (Separately). These houses are fanciful and fun, and for some inexplicable reason makes you think of Bedrock! Maybe they designed the houses from a neighborhood such as this.

 

15 – Dina Shore Estate, 432 Hermosa Rd, 1964, Donald Wexler. Not exactly forward thinking, rather it’s a solid and well-executed example of large-scale residential mid-century modern architecture. It gives the initial impression of a school or library, with the extensive park grounds, but that only adds to the character.

 

16 – All Worlds Resorts. I couldn’t resist. Here’s how the rest of us live when we’re on vacation.

 

Still, though, not bad.

For those interested in Palm Springs

mid-century architecture, there’s a great website with more pictures: rebeccaandstephen.com/gallery/midcenturymodern/