Memorial Day 2016

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. It is officially celebrated on the last Monday in May. In our community, however, we have remembrance ceremonies at local cemeteries on the two Sundays before. this is from the ceremony on Sunday 5/22, at Oaklawn Cemetery in Glen Carbon.

Kind of a snapshot, quite harsh lighting, but I always try to catch a few images from this event.

My thoughts all seem to stray, to places far away; I need a change of scenery

Sitting at a red light on the way to work, earlier this week... certainly an UN-pleasant morning. The car in front of me had Florida plates, and I thought it was probably a LOT nicer in Florida... maybe on the beach... or on a boat... 
Also posted at 365project.


Title is from the old Monkees song "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King)

Reflections on Lake Monroe

I had an opportunity during my recent lightning trip to Florida to take some night / low light images.   This was 1/3 second, handheld (braced on a railing) ...  This was taken around 8:40 pm.

Another here, 3/5 Second...

Reflections #9700

Just a little something from last week.  Reflections, Moody Park, Fairview Heights, IL.

This Month In Music - May1986

May 1986...  30 years ago!  What was happening in the music world:

There were five Saturdays in March. '66, so there the charts came out 5 times.  And 3 different songs made it to #1.  Starting with Addicted To Love" by Robert Palmer, for one week.  Then "West End Girls" from The Pet Shop Boys, also for one week.  Finally Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love Of All" settled in for the last three weeks  

Here's the Top 10 songs of the month, based on average chart position over the 5 weeks:

• Song  -  Artist   -  May Ave
• Greatest Love Of All  -  Whitney Houston  -  2.6
• West End Girls  -  Pet Shop Boys  -  4.6
• What Have You Done For Me Lately  -  Janet Jackson  -  6.2
• Live To Tell  -  Madonna  -  6.8
• If You Leave  -  Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark  -  8.0
• Why Can t This Be Love  -  Van Halen  -  8.6
• On My Own  -  Patti LaBelle  -  9.2
• Take Me Home  -  Phil Collins  -  9.6
• Bad Boy  -  Miami Sound Machine  -  10.2
• Addicted To Love  -  Robert Palmer  -  10.8

Twenty (20) songs made their chart debuts.  Listed below with their peak position during the month:

• Song  -  Artist   -  May Peak
• Crush On You  -  The Jets  -  11
• There ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)  -  Billy Ocean  -  13
• A Different Corner  -  George Michael  -  15
• Nothin At All  -  Heart  -  17
• No One Is To Blame  -  Howard Jones  -  19
• Holding Back The Years  -  Simply Red  -  22
• I Wanna Be A Cowboy  -  Boys Don t Cry  -  23
• Who s Johnny ("Short Circuit" Theme)  -  El DeBarge  -  25
• Rain On The Scarecrow  -  John Mellencamp  -  26
• Mothers Talk  -  Tears For Fears  -  27
• All The Things She Said  -  Simple Minds  -  28
• Vienna Calling  -  Falco  -  29
• Tuff Enuff  -  The Fabulous Thunderbirds  -  31
• Your Wildest Dreams  -  The Moody Blues  -  32
• Like No Other Night  -  Thirty Eight Special  -  33
• The Love Parade  -  The Dream Academy  -  37
• Where Do The Children Go  -  Hooters  -  38
• Like A Rock  -  Bob Seger  -  38
• Sledgehammer  -  Peter Gabriel  -  39
• When The Heart Rules The Mind  -  GTR  -  40

This Month In Music - May1976

May 1976...  40 years ago!  What was happening in the music world:

There were five Saturdays in March. '76, so there the charts came out 5 times.  And 5 different songs made it to #1.  Starting with "Let Your Love Flow" by Bellamy Brothers.  Then "Welcome Back" from John Sebastian, and "Boogie Fever" by the Sylvers.  Finishing up with "Silly Love Songs" by Wings and "Love Hangover" by Diana Ross.  Phew....

Here's the Top 10 songs of the month, based on average chart position over the 5 weeks:

• Song  -  Artist  -  May Ave
• Boogie Fever  -  The Sylvers   -  3.0
• Welcome Back  -  John Sebastian  -  4.0
• Fooled Around And Fell In Love  -  Elvin Bishop  -  4.4
• Silly Love Songs  -  Wings  -  4.6
• Love Hangover  -  Diana Ross  -  5.0
• Right Back Where We Started From  -  Maxine Nightingale   -  8.4
• Get Up And Boogie (That's Right)  -  Silver Convention  -  9.2
• Shannon  -  Henry Gross   -  10.6
• Show Me TheWay  -  Peter Frampton   -  10.8
• Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again  -  Barry Manilow  -  12.2

Twenty-Nine (24) songs made their chart debuts.  Listed below with their peak position during the month:

• Song  -  Artist  -  May Peak
• Fool To Cry  -  The Rolling Stones  -  11
• Shop Around  -  Captain & Tennille  -  14
• Love In The Shadows  -  Neil Sedaka  -  16
• Movin'  -  Brass Construction  -  21
• Love Really Hurts Without You  -  Billy Ocean  -  22
• I Want You  -  Marvin Gaye  -  23
• Takin' It ToThe Streets  -  The Doobie Brothers  -  25
• Love Is Alive  -  Gary Wright  -  26
• Baretta'sTheme (Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow)  -  Rhythm Heritage  -  27
• Hurt/for The Heart  -  Elvis Presley  -  28
• I've Got A Feeling (We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again)  -  Al Wilson  -  29
• One Piece At A Time  -  Johnny Cash And The Tennessee Three  -  29
• I'll Be Good To You  -  The Brothers Johnson  -  30
• Never Gonna Fall In Love Again  -  Eric Carmen  -  32
• Anytime (i'll Be There)  -  Paul Anka  -  33
• Rock And Roll Love Letter  -  Bay City Rollers  -  33
• MoonlightFeels Right  -  Starbuck  -  34
• I.O.U.  -  Jimmy Dean  -  35
• Fallen Angel  -  Frankie Valli  -  36
• Kiss And Say Goodbye  -  The Manhattans  -  36
• Crazy On You  -  Heart  -  37
• It's Over  -  Boz Scaggs  -  38
• Still Crazy After All These Years  -  Paul Simon  -  40

Past Pier

Past Pier - Color Version

Pier ruins, Lake Monroe, Sanford, FL. This is by the old Lake Forest Hotel / Mayfair Hotel. I originally planned this as B&W, but I think I like the natural color better... What do you think?
B&W Version:
http://365project.org/lsquared/misc/2016-05-09

From the historical marker: “Known by local residents as the “Mayfair”, this three-story Mediterranean Revival hotel was built in 1925, It was named after Forrest Lake, at the time the mayor of the City of Sanford, who commissioned its construction for one-half million dollars.  The 158-room hotel was designed by Sanford architect Elton J. Moughton. It was part of the waterfront beautification plan that included construction of the bulkhead and Seminole Boulevard. Additionally, East First Street had to be extended from its terminus at Sanford Avenue to reach the new hotel in 1925.
In 1928 the Hotel Forrest Lake closed as a result of an investment scandal involving Mayor Lake and a local bank. In 1930 the hotel was purchased by the City of Sanford and renamed the Mayfair Hotel. In the following years it changed hands several times. It was owned by the Kirchoff family and then by the U.S. Navy.  In 1948 the hotel was purchased by the New York Giants Major League Baseball team. The team changed the name of the hotel to the Mayfair Inn. The Giants’ farm teams held spring training in Sanford during the late 1940s and early 1950s.  From 1963 to 1977 the hotel served as the Sanford Naval Academy, a private military school for boys. During this period the interior of the building was extensively altered and all the remaining historic furnishings were sold off.  In 1978 the New Tribes Mission, a non-denominational international missionary group, purchased the hotel and converted it into the organization’s headquarters. Many of the hotel’s guest rooms were converted into apartments for missionaries.”

Through the joy of the internet, I found this image showing when this was a pier:

Good Time, Bad Times - March 2016

Seems I forgot to do this last month...  and nobody mentioned it to me...  (that says a lot).
Anyway, I'll go on an post it late:

My 2 favorites:

Blur

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 Untitled #9702

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And, 2 unfavorites:

Sleepy Hollow Motel

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Early Spring, late afternoon...

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Good Times, Bad Times, April 2016

Seems like I missed March, so sorry.... Here's my April uploads to 365project:

So...  my favorite(s)?  I'll go w/ only 2:

Rainy Day

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 Young Girl, Dandelions

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Least favorite?  Hmmm, lot's to choose from.  I'll go with these 2:

Abstract Fields

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Under The Falling Sky

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Sunning Anhinga

From my recent quick-trip to Sanford FLA. I thought these birds were really fascinating as they would spread their wings and bask in the sun.

A little research informs me that this is an Anhinga (not a Comorant, my first guess)... And "Unlike most birds, does not produce oil to waterproof its feathers – which allows the bird to dive deep for prey but requires the bird to spread its wings to dry out after diving. "

So I learned something!
http://www.ces.fau.edu/files/education/resources/Anhinga_Vs_Cormorant.pdf

Also posted at my 365project site.

This Month In Music - May1966

May 1966...  50 years ago!  What was happening in the music world:

There were four Saturdays in March. '66, so there the charts came out 4 times.  But only two songs made it to #1.  Starting with The Mamas And The Papas' "Monday Monday", wich held #1 for the first three weeks, Percy Sledge took over the last week of the month with "When A Man Loves A Woman.

Here's the Top 10 songs of the month, based on average chart position over the 4 weeks:

• Name  -  Artist  -  Average (May)
• Monday,Monday  -  The Mamas & The Papas  -  1.5
• Good Lovin'  -  The Young Rascals  -  3.8
• Rainy Day Women #12 & 35  -  Bob Dylan  -  4.3
• Kicks  -  Paul Revere & The Raiders Featuring Mark Lindsay  -  6.5
• When A Man Loves A Woman  -  Percy Sledge  -  7.5
• Sloop John B  -  The Beach Boys  -  8.0
• A Groovy Kind Of Love  -  The Mindbenders  -  9.5
• Message To Michael  -  Dionne Warwick  -  10.8
• How Does That Grab You, Darlin'?  -  Nancy Sinatra  -  11.3
• Gloria  -  Shadows Of Knight  -  13.0

Twenty-Nine (29) songs made their chart debuts.  Listed below with their peak position during the month:

• Name  -  Artist  -  Peak
• Paint It,Black  -  The Rolling Stones  -  4
• I Am A Rock  -  Simon and Garfunkel  -  6
• Did You EverHave To Make Up Your Mind?  -  The Lovin' Spoonful  -  7
• Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart  -  The Supremes  -  9
• It's A Man's Man's Man's World  -  James Brown And The Famous Flames  -  10
• Green Grass  -  Gary Lewis And The Playboys  -  12
• Barefootin'  -  Robert Parker  -  17
• Sweet Talkin' Guy  -  The Chiffons  -  18
• Cool Jerk  -  The Capitols  -  19
• Let's Start All Over Again  -  Ronnie Dove  -  20
• Nothing's Too Good For My Baby  -  Stevie Wonder  -  20
• Come On Let's Go  -  The McCoys  -  23
• (I'm A) Road Runner  -  Jr. Walker and The All Stars  -  24
• Backstage  -  Gene Pitney  -  25
• Love's Made A Fool Of You  -  Bobby Fuller Four  -  26
• Oh How Happy  -  Shades Of Blue  -  26
• Strangers InThe Night  -  Frank Sinatra  -  27
• The A Team  -  SSgt Barry Sadler  -  28
• The More I See You  -  Chris Montez  -  29
• I'll Take Good Care Of You  -  Garnet Mimms  -  30
• Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)  -  The 4 Seasons  -  31
• Band Of Gold  -  Mel Carter  -  32
• I Can't Grow Peaches On A Cherry Tree  -  Just Us  -  34
• The Ballad Of Irving  -  Frank Gallop  -  34
• Love Me With All Of Your Heart  -  The Bachelors  -  38
• History Repeats Itself  -  Buddy Starcher  -  39
• I'm Comin' Home, Cindy  -  Trini Lopez  -  39
• Twinkle Toes  -  Roy Orbison  -  39
• Dum-De-Da  -  Bobby Vinton  -  40