Where I Live ...

I went to the Speedway last Saturday to watch the Pole Day qualifying.

I got there about 8:30 in the morning so was able to watch most of 

the morning practice session. I went to Grandstand E, outside of

Turn One, where I could see up the Front Straight into Turn Four, 

all of Turn One, the South Chute and most of Turn Two.

No wonder I've never been able to get a race day seat there!

Not only was the view great, but I was in the shade and enjoyed

a pleasant breeze for the seven hours I watched the cars.

Detractors will say that the "500" has suffered in popularity 

over the past 20 to 30 years. They base this on the fact that the stands

for qualifying are not nearly as full of spectators as they

were in earlier decades. I prefer to believe the fall-off in spectators 

is because there are so many more outlets and ways for people 

to spend their money; no longer is the Speedway the only game in 

town as we have a high-quality professional football franchise,

a very good basketball team, a nice AAA baseball team, as well as

any number of other entertainment venues that didn't exist 30 to 50

years ago. Add to that the fact that satellites and computers mean we can

watch the Qualifications from our homes on our televisions

and/or our computers. So why sit in stifling heat or drenching rain?

Yet, there is nothing at all that can be as visceral as the sounds of

engines, the smell of tire rubber as thirty-three brightly colored cars rush

at speed into Turn One. Somehow, most of the drivers, most of the time

get it figured out. It's a physical and mental endurance challenge

I have always admired. Many of them are triathletes, which only seems

like a natural outgrowth of the drivers' conditioning regimens.

Many of the homes in Speedway are decorated

for the occasion, some are comparatively understated,

like the home above, others are more involved, like the

home below. Either way, it's like Christmas.

As I've mentioned before, a lot of homeowners open their yards 

to out-of-town spectators, providing parking spaces,

as well as water and toilet facilities. I saw this sign last spring, as well as 

decorations in another yard I hope to post within the next day or two

(I've lost the original image, so need to return to the house to take

more pictures.)

P.S. The Lotus cars su-u-u-u-u-ck, their qualifying averages 

being a full 12 to 16 mph slower than the pole-winning car,

7 to 11 mph slower than the slowest Chevy or Honda.

This is a serious concern as the cars will very quickly be overwhelmed

by the swarm of cars that will overtake them within a few laps.

I feel sorry for Jean Alessi and Simona De Silvestro,

the Team Lotus drivers. Wha' happin'?

Man Ray in Speedway: Floating Buckets

Left to guard half of a newly painted speed bump, 

the painter's buckets seem to float in the air.

Red Dust and Marge Simpson

The brick pavers on the sidewalks of the Monument Circle 

area of downtown Indy add warmth and relieve the otherwise cold

gray appearance of the surrounding buildings. A large expanse

of these pavers was added last summer along Washington Street and

have added to the beauty of the restored storefronts. 

Every once in a while, however, the pavers need 

to have maintenance work done to replace any broken 

bricks and to rebuild any of their base layer that has become 

loosened due to the upheavals caused by weather.

Last Monday, I found a group of the maintenance men working 

at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Ohio Streets, 

some cutting and fitting the pavers, others sweeping and 

brushing brick dust into the seams between 

the bricks. 

One of the men had his hair wrapped in blue cloth to keep 

it from becoming soiled from the brick dust. He reminded me of

someone, whose name I couldn't recall at the time.

Marge Simpson, perhaps?

Gettin' Their Groove Back

For quite some time, the United States Federal Court House 

building has been undergoing restoration. The results are beautiful, 

which I showed in another post earlier this year.

Among the work being done is cleaning and repair 

of four limestone sculptures by John Massey Rhind. 

Representing Industry, Agriculture, Literature and Justice, 

and meant to show the foundations of American society,

the sculptures are were placed at the front entrances 

of the building in 1906.

Last winter I noticed that Industry was missing her right hand.

Last week, I saw workmen on a scaffold placing a new hand and 

hammer on the statue. I stopped by yesterday to watch

the men cleaning and sealing small fissures in the statues, as well

as the seams between the massive blocks of limestone

from which they are carved.

Spring Jewels

Yesterday afternoon, I caught a glimpse of ruby red jewels 

dotted among the new leaves of a neighborhood

Japanese Maple tree. Those trees produce beautiful colors

year-round, but in spring they can look like 

 sunlight through stained glass.

The little seeds have red wings and,

when caught by the sun they produce

a bright, shimmering red, a bit like ruby earrings

worn with an emerald gown.

Textured Tuesday: Sun Dappled

Early morning,

the sun breaks through the trees

in dappled patches,

creating a path of gold coins,

like dreams,

to be picked up and followed.

Mummies at the Speedway!

I live close enough to the Speedway that I can step 

outside my door to hear the cars' engines as they speed 

around the track. I contemplated staying home 

to watch the Pole Day qualifying on TV and the IMS website. 

The track is almost my favorite place in the world, 

next to the river, but the days when I could and would spend all day 

in the sun have been over for quite a while; I love the warmth, 

I will walk for miles to take pictures, but stand all day 

in one spot to take pictures? Hell, no.

But when I learned that the band Here Come the Mummies 

would be playing after qualifying was over, staying at home 

was suddenly not an option. They are a funky rock band

with sass and brass - damn good musicians, all with Grammy awards - 

percussion, brass, and guitars blended to a happy

mix that wins fans of all ages, young children to grizzled

partyers, wherever they go. 

I got to the Speedway at about 8 AM to watch practice 

and qualifying from the Turn 1 grandstands, then walked 

to the infield where I sang and danced for nearly two hours,

enjoying every chord and beat of the Mummies'

happy vibe.