Take Me Out To The Ball Game

St. Louis has one of the one of baseball’s most consistently successful franchises. with the St. Louis Cardinals:  Eleven (11) Word Series titles (since 1926)...  STL is a baseball town.

But that's not what I'm here to talk about.  The STL area also has minor league baseball.  The Gateway Grizzlies home park is about 5 miles south-east of where the Cardinals play, but worlds away.  This is Sauget, Illinois, and this is unaffiliated minor league baseball.

 A different experience.  Not better, not worse.  Different.  More relaxed, for sure.  And WAY less expensive.  WAY WAY less expensive.

I used to be a pretty big baseball fan, but I don't follow it so closely anymore.  In fact, I don't think I've been to a Major League game in 3-4 years.  And only a couple of minor league games.  Just life, I suppose.

Meanwhile, we saw a great sunset, looking out the back of the stadium towards STL. The Cardinals' staium is towards the left side of the skyline, from this angle.  Not too bad for an iPhone!

Dark and Light

Rain storm beyond the corn stalks, which were still in sunshine.   Near West Liberty, IA, taken from the side of the road,

A quick out-and-back to Iowa, 600 miles with a few hours' work in the middle.  But it was a nice day for a drive, except for driving through that rain storm.  It was one of those 40mph on the interstate squalls, only a few minutes, but intense.  This was from the back side of the storm.

August 1979, On The Radio

It's been a while since I've done a historical chart review, let me know if you like ity, I'll try and keep it going!

- - - -

August, 1979, 40 years ago. Just before I started my Sophomore year at college.  What was on the music charts??  Here's the top songs of the month, ranked by average chart* position.  Peak position during the month is listed parenthetically.

1. Good Times - Chic (1)
2. Bad Girls - Donna Summer (1 - 2 wks)
3. The Main Event/Fight - Barbra Streisand (3)
4. My Sharona - The Knack (1)
5. Ring My Bell - Anita Ward (3)
6. When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman - Dr. Hook (6)
7. You Can't Change That - Raydio (9)
8. Mama Can't Buy You Love - Elton John (9)
9. After The Love Has Gone - Earth, Wind and Fire (4)
10. I Was Made For Lovin' You - KISS (11)
11. Sad Eyes - Robert John (10)
12. Lead Me On - Maxine Nightingale (8)
13. Makin' It - David Naughton (7)
14. The Devil Went Down To Georgia - The Charlie Daniels Band (7)
15. Gold - John Stewart (5)
16. I'll Never Love This Way Again - Dionne Warwick (14)
17. Don't Bring Me Down - Electric Light Orchestra (6)
18. Hot Stuff - Donna Summer (9)
19. Suspicions - Eddie Rabbitt (15)
20. Is She Really Going Out With Him? - Joe Jackson (21)

So...  By 1979 I was trending out of "pop" music, but I still own eight (8) of these songs.  Also, there's some great stuff further down the charts, from Blondie Blackfoot to Cheap Trick to Dire Straits to Nick Lowe... and more.  

I made a playlist on Spotify if anybody's interested!




* Billboard Hot 100 singles charts

Ponded

Highly edited, in fact ETSOOI.

Taken yesterday from the Old Chain Of Rocks Bridge.  This is looking north from the approach to the Mississippi River.  This area is usually dry, but not too uncommon to be flooded.  This is leftovers from our recent flooding.  Here's the original version with very minor edits (slight crop /levels)

By first thought was lack and whit (shocking, I know), but that didn't ring my bell.  So I decided to go with a sketch type direction.  Simplified process:

• In Topaz Impressions plug in, apply one of the "sketch" presets. (I don't even remember which one)
• Blend with the "normal" layer to balance the sketch with reality
• Bring up the saturation a touch

Easy-peasy, huh?  The devil is in the details, though.

I thought about adding a digital mat and frame (as I've done before), but decided not to.

August 1989, On The Radio

It's been a while since I've done a historical chart review, let me know if you like ity, I'll try and keep it going!

- - - -

August, 1989, 30 years ago.What was on the music charts??  Here's the top songs of the month, ranked by average chart* position.  Peak position during the month is listed parenthetically.

1. Right Here Waiting - Richard Marx (1 - 3 weeks)
2. On Our Own (From "Ghostbusters II") - Bobby Brown (2)
3. Cold Hearted - Paula Abdul (2)
4. Once Bitten Twice Shy - Great White (5)
5. Batdance (From "Batman") - Prince (1)
6. Don't Wanna Lose You - Gloria Estefan (4)
7. I Like It - Dino (7)
8. Hangin' Tough - New Kids On The Block (3)
9. So Alive - Love And Rockets (3)
10. Secret Rendezvous - Karyn White (6)
11. Friends - Jody Watley With Eric B. & Rakim (9)
12. The End Of The Innocence - Don Henley (8)
13. Toy Soldiers - Martika (5)
14. Lay Your Hands On Me - Bon Jovi (7)
15. Angel Eyes - The Jeff Healey Band (10)
16. Sacred Emotion - Donny Osmond (13)
17. Keep On Movin' - Soul II Soul (Featuring Caron Wheeler) (14)
18. If You Don't Know Me By Now - Simply Red (10)
19. Headed For A Heartbreak - Winger (19)
20. Shower Me With Your Love - Surface (12)

So...  By 1989 I was pretty much out of "pop" music, so it isn't too surprising that I only own one of these songs (End Of The Innocence).  But I only recognize 5 or 6 of these by name.  

I made a playlist on Spotify if anybody's interested!


* Billboard Hot 100 singles charts

Detroit 442

div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> So, I was down in Miner Park the other day, and this beautiful Oldsmobile 442 pulled in shortly after us, and parked a few spots over.  really beautiful, I had to take a couple of photos.

Looking on the internet, I think it is a 1971, but not sure.

Of course, I thought of the Blondie song....