Heron

I'm pretty sure this is a Great Blue Heron.  The "Seek" phone ap was only able to say "We believe this is a member of Great Herons".  Guess that's what I get from freeware.

Anyway, I came across this bird out at Alton Slough, in West Alton.  At, or near, the Audubon Center at Riverlands.  It was standing very close to shore, along the roadway.  This photo was actually taken from my car window, after I had pulled to the side.  He/she was patient whil I pulled over, rolled down the window, and snagged this sot through the gap between the guardrail and the pavement.  But as soon as I opened the door for a better angle, it was off....

Also posted on my 365project site, where it was recognized on the Popular Page and the Trending Page.

A Little Froggy

I was walking recently, on the bike trail near Melvin Price Lock and Dam, and I almost stepped on this frog.  He ignored me long enough for me to take his close up...

Patience

Yet another from Pittsburgh's Point State Park...  This gentleman was fishing the river.  He didn't catch anything while I was around...

Cleat

Just a little something from my recent visit to Point State Park in Pittsburgh.  I liked the broken cleat (that's what that is, right?  A cleat?) and the bits of grass.....

Get The Point?

On a recent trip to Pittsburgh, I managed a short trip to Point State Park.  Point State Park is located where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join to form the Ohio River...  This fountain was dedicated in the summer of 1974, just before I stared High School (and lived in Pittsburgh).

This was the first time I've visited the park in many years, probably the mid 1990's.  Not too surprising since I haven't lived within 600 miles of Pittsburgh in 30 years, and don't get to town real often.

Anyway, this was shot on a Saturday afternoon, and it took a little bit of doing to get this shot, with only one person evident.

It wasn't until I posted it to my 365 project that I realized (after somebody pointed it out) that the woman is on her cell phone.  Guess it's the 2010's, after all.  At least she's not taking a duck-face selfie!

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....

On The Edge

Taken at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, West Alton, MO.  This area has been underwater for months, I was really happy to find it back open recently.  This is either Alton Slough or Ellis Bay, depending on what resource you check.  From the trail along Ellis Island, which isn't actually an island...

Growing in the Nooks

A couple of similar images, both taken earlier this week.  Top one is from Watershed Nature Center, the bottom is from Greenspace North (behind Schon Park).  Humble images of the renewal of nature.  New growth in the nooks of old growth.  Just the kind of stuff I enjoy noticing.

Both images (but especially the second) would've benefited from increased Depth Of Field, but that would've necessitated having my tripod with me, instead of in the trunk of my car.  I wonder if I'll ever learn?

Trio

I was a little stumped for a title on this one, "Trio" kind of stinks.  If you have a better idea, please share in the comments!

Always keep your eyes open.  Don't just look straight ahead: look side to side, up, down...  stay aware...

I noticed this crossing a bridge on one of the local bike trails.  This is the bridge decking.  I likes the pattern of 3 recessed bolts cut at an angle to the line of the planks...  And (of course) the efforts of nature to take over.

Wood River Distribution Center

This is one of those spots that I drive by all along.  Not daily, or even weekly, but probably 10-12 times a year.  And I always think I should take a photo.  But for years, I haven't.  Either the light is wrong, or the traffic is wrong, or there's not really a good angle with the fence and the retaining wall...  always something.

That's far too common for me.  Then one day, the spot will be gone.  A building torn down, a tank repainted...  whatever.  And I kick myself for my inaction.

WELL, the other day, fate conspired to action.  I was headed from Alton area to home, and decided to make a side trip.  For giggles, I plugged the address into my phone's gps to see what the best route would be...  And as I was making a turn south, it updated to direct me east.  It told me to U-turn, pretty much right in front of this tank.  And since I was right there, I couldn't come up with an excuse to not go the extra 400 feet or so to get the shot.  I pulled as far to the side of the side road as I could, opened my door and stood on the driver's seat to get high enough to manage this.

It'll never win any awards, but I'm satisfied with it.  And glad I made it happen.

I have no clue how old this tank is, but that version of the Amoco logo is apparently from 1970-2002.
I'm guessing it is not in use, given the general state of it.  Looking at Google Street View, I see a sign at the back corner of the area saying Arcadis.  Looking them up on line, I'm wondering if they're getting ready to "remediate" this spot.

From google maps: