Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Halloween: Munch in Speedway


The damn thing distracts me every time I've passed it.
A plastic ghoul, it's suspended about 8 feet
above me and, every time I've seen it, I've been
reminded of Edvard Munch's Scream.
This the third of four versions of Scream done
  by Munch. The other three are paintings, held in 
Norwegian museums, while this 
is a pastel drawing the artist made in 1895.


When I look at this, I also see the orange sunset
from Monday night, created by the weather system
that has brought so much trouble to the Atlantic coast.
The drawing, purchased by billionaire Leon Black, will be on 
exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC
for six months, until April 29th.


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Sandy's Fringe


The weather maps shown on TV look as though almost 
the entire eastern half of the United States is somehow affected by 
this huge storm, a combination of hurricane meets nor'easter.
 Indianapolis is about 705 miles from 
Atlantic City, New Jersey. We were told to expect 
high winds beginning around 5 o'clock this afternoon. 
They came, almost as if scheduled,
with rain expected Tuesday morning.

I looked up to see a thin cover of clouds, moving
from the east, spreading in a sweeping arc towards
the setting sun. The light to the south reflected lavender
off the cloud cover, but burned like fire in the west
as the sun set.


It may have been just a coincidence, but there seemed 
to be more truck traffic than usual. Maybe a lot of the drivers
had left a little earlier than usual, trying to put as much
distance as possible between their trucks and the storm.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Reflected Glory


The sidewalks in the park were still wet and the sun still bright 
when a patch of gold light shown from a shallow puddle, 
spreading its warmth onto the walk like an aura. 
I looked around and found the tree whose reflection it was, 
basking proudly in the sun. 


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Goose Dressing


A while back, oh, twenty-five years ago or so, cement geese 
were the thing to have as a part of your yard decor, 
especially on the front porch. Many homeowners dressed
their geese according to the seasons. They still do.
This Speedway resident adapted a toddler's Halloween
costume to fit her yard mascot. There are a few witches and
even a Frankengoose to be seen in other yards.


For the past couple years, plastic cadavers and body parts
can be seen emerging from front lawns.


There should be a broom sticking from the nether regions 
of this witch, who evidently lost altitude during a test run, and
did a face plant at a home a couple blocks  from my place. 
I figure someone tampered with the evidence 
to use the broom for their own 
Trick-or-Treat ride Halloween night.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Cold and Wet Day, I'm Inside


Leaves are given their beauty by nature, 
they change color, fall into pleasing compositions,
 attracting sequins and light to emphasize
all their best features. 


Friday, October 26, 2012

I Forgot to Enter a Title


By this time Friday evening, the colors will probably all be gone.
Rain is on the way that will beat the leaves off the trees.
I'll have to find all the charm I can in bare trees and sodden
fields. Maybe a sidewalk or two, with interesting cracks.
Ho. Hum.


Thursday, October 25, 2012

Mostly Blue and Orange


When I left for my walk last Saturday morning, it was beautiful. 
My first visit was to the catalpa tree just a block away, 
then I walked towards the Coke Field, 
hoping to catch it bathed in the same intense color 
I found when I first got up.

Nope. The clouds began to gather as I approached
the little bridge where I go to look for turtles and herons.
Of themselves, the clouds are not a bad thing; 
perhaps they might make a nice backdrop for sunlit leaves?
No such luck. The sun did not reappear while I was
at the Coke Field. But it did after I was about 
a half mile from home. 


Blue, yellow, and green, with just a spot of red.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Jewel-Like


After having rained all night, Saturday morning 
came up like jewels.The moisture clinging to the grass 
and leaves gave everything an added sparkle.


Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Textured Tuesday: Bark'n'Fwuffy


This tree seems to be coming to the end of its life. 
Its leaves are sparse and its bark is brittle and peeling.
And the fluffy little dog below was apparently
watching the fallen leaves as they tossed in the breeze
outside his window.


Monday, October 22, 2012

Why We Pay Taxes



It's nearly a weekly ocurrance; a fire engine backed up 
by an ambulance enters my apartment complex, 
sirens screaming, lights flashing, and horns blaring, 
"Get out of my way! Get out of my way! 
Somebody needs help!" Someone in the neighborhood 
must have respiratory issues, because a few minutes later, 
the fire apparatus leaves, while the EMTs remain behind, 
presumably to check on the person for whom 
they were summoned.

This afternoon, however, they all came, 
from the station house about a mile away, 
as well as other stations two or three 
miles distant. Someone had reported a fire
in their apartment, where the firefighters,
clothed in Nomex, oxygen masks, heavy boots,
 and electronic gear swarmed upon the blaze.


Here, a battalion chief dons his turnout gear 
and gathers his equipment, while three firefighters 
from one of the more distant stations, 
walk towards the scene.



Adams, Able, and Ardizzone, stride in step, 
intent upon the task that faces them.




In coordinated, well-rehearsed routine, the men and women
entered the home, the aerial ladder was deployed, hose laid out
and charged. Additional men went to the roof, where they cut
through with a chain saw to get any flames that may have
escaped detection from inside. 



It really was over within a short while, all but the checks 
of the residence, the paper work, and the clean-up.
With a multi-person dwelling, they take no chances, whether
the number of lives involved is one or one hundred;
I have been awakened at 3 in the morning to evacuate my
building because of a blaze just around the corner.


It is a mission. They come when we are in dire need 
to provide medical assistance, to put out fires, 
to save us, our loved ones and our pets from misfortune
and misadventure. They are paid with our taxes. 
There are people who want no taxes to be collected, 
who would be very indignant if no one came to put out 
the grease fire, to splint up a broken arm and take
them to the hospital, to rescue a cat from a tree.
Today, the firemen brought out three red-tailed boa 
constrictors that belonged to the women,
a mother and daughter, who kept them as pets.

It is already happening in communities in our area.
There's no money to pay EMTs, so they are laid off.
Some towns have disbanded their police forces
due to a lack of funds. The bureaucrats are doing their
best to break down our educational system, too.
Money keeps them in office, while they ignore 
the needs of the community that paid the revenue.
"My way or the highway" is not good for people,
but it may just get its narrow-minded self elected if 
thinking people do not vote in the coming elections.

  

Sunday, October 21, 2012

A Beautiful Morning


Friday evening was too dreary to take pictures of the 
ragged catalpa tree about a block from where I live.
It's used as a shade tree in the South, where it provides good
cover because of its broad leaves. It also hosts 
a worm that is peculiar to the tree, which is good for nothing
but fish bait. The leaves get eaten, but the tree
readily produces more. It certainly looks the worst
for worm wear now; the remaining leaves are
ragged and the 12-inch seed pods add
to the tree's spooky appearance.


Saturday, October 20, 2012

Rainy Friday


Amid a patch of dried, black echinacea, are a few that bloomed 
after their brethren had succumbed to the summer heat. 


I took a slightly different path to the convenience store, 
only about a quarter mile from home. The different route 
got me this picture of a cat, wiling away the afternoon 
watching the leaves dance in the afternoon breeze.


And then there were sodden roses, their bright pink color 
set off against the dark green leaves and red stems.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Black and Yellow


Each fall, this tree produces leaves 
that look like little hearts of gold
 with curtains of black pods.


Thursday, October 18, 2012

Monochrome


Surrounded by color, these dried stems and pods in the Coke Field 
might easily have been overlooked. Since they are virtually the same value
 as the mound of dirt where they grew, I almost missed them.


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

A Sunny Palate



I almost did not go to the Coke Field this afternoon,
but I'm glad I did. It was a beautiful day, the trees are changing color
and the palate at the Coke Field was rich and vibrant.


The animals and birds were hiding from me, 
but the seeds and berries that will provide them 
with food over the winter looked abundant,
and will be ripe for the picking when needed.


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Textured Tuesday: All Different


Although tattered and bruised, the leaf seems to glow
against the background of the asphalt, with the
red stems to balance the composition with contrast.


And here are three leaves of different species, 
but joined in the same rite of autumn.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Counties on the Walls


Clad in native limestone, the Indiana State Museum has, 
interspersed among the stones, relief sculptures representing 
characteristics for which each county is known. 
Here are three additional sculptures,
in addition to those I showed last week.

The twining vines above represent the truck gardening
of Tipton County. Prehistoric mounds, believed to have 
been constructed by Native Americans of the Adena-Hopewell 
cultures, are shown for Madison County. The manufacture 
of automobile parts is represented by the 
use of taillights for the feathers.


Tippecanoe County was the home of Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, 
and his brother, Tenskwatawa, also known as The Prophet.
Together they formed a united Native American force they hoped
would drive the white settlers south, across the Ohio River.
Tecumseh was a sophisticated tactician and visionary, whose
intellect and leadership was respected and admired by
the military leaders he fought against in the early 19th century.


The sculptures were designed by 2nd Globe Studios of Indianapolis,
which has studios in Indianapolis and Vancouver, BC.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Yellow and Brown


This patch of ground, just off the Central Canal, lies between the 
Eiteljorg and the Indiana State Museums. Looking west
from the little grove of trees, one can see the main foyer of
the ISM, where a Foucault pendulum sways silently,
back and forth, as the trees change color outside.


Saturday, October 13, 2012

"The Wave" on West 16th Street



This is the west side of the new Neuroscience Center at IU Health, 
located across the street from Methodist Hospital. 
I've been watching the progress of this construction since 
early last year, when I noticed a curve was being fabricated into
the building's I-beam skeleton.


Now that the building is completed, it seems the efforts to make it 
attractive are for naught. A highway overpass is just across the street from 
the west end and the trestle for the hospital's overhead tram
passes on the east. There isn't really a clear shot where one 
can step back to just look at the building. Even the design of the
facade faces a parking garage just across the street. 


It's as though a woman has gotten up each morning, bathed, 
styled her hair, put on her nicest outfit and best perfume,
only to go to work with a bunch of non-breeding men;
she does it for herself. Alone.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Merchants Building


The Merchants Building, completed in 1976 was originally 
the home of the Merchants Bank of Indiana and 
the Hyatt Regency Hotel. While the bank has been bought,
 taken over to become the PNC Bank.
The east end is made up of offices, as well as the 
bank, while the west half remains the hotel.


Recently upgraded and refurbished, the building is open, 
airy and attractive, with a lot of new restaurants, the building
seemed sadly empty. The signs on the outside say "PNC,"
but the shape of the building, seen from above,
remains the "M" logo that creates the unique shapes
and lights within its walls.