Tuesday, January 31, 2017

The Wild Life Of Trucking

I always like seeing wildlife while I'm traveling, especially when they don't come in direct contact with my vehicle.

The place we deliver has three groups of animals that are always roaming the grassy areas that flank the roads on the facility.  They're obviously used to seeing people because they are not afraid of vehicles, horn honks, or crazy trucker chicks yelling out the window at them to smile for the camera.

The animals we see most often, in large numbers, are deer and wild turkeys (which actually honk back if you honk your horn at them).  They're curious and rarely run off. Sometimes they dart along next to the truck before heading out into the wooded area.

We've also seen armadillos.  Armadillos!!  I tried to get a picture of an armadillo last week but he was shuffling through the grass - quite quickly to my surprise - in the opposite direction.  I'll have to try again next time.

Other cute creatures I've seen in the trucking wild are elk, deer, bald eagles, caribou, moose, bears (I hit one once, in Northern California), buffalo or bison, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, miniature ponies, zebras, plow horses, regular horses, coyotes.

Boy, what a menagerie!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: 
Special Order

2015: Clooney Was Not At The End Of The Pier
2014: Where They Build Palaces Out Of Corn
2013: Modern Market Girl
2012: A Berry Good Time
2011: Traveling Through Mountain Ranch
2010: Backroads
2009: If Only I Could Fit All Of This Information On A Bumper Sticker…
2008: Gambling Haze
2007: Published
2006: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Monday, January 30, 2017

If Only I Could Bottle This...

Variety Pack - Photo courtesy of infinityjars.com
Hello.  My name is Salena and I'm a container addict.

I love jars, tubes, bottles, things that spray, eye dropper bottles, and squeezie things.  I love travel sized containers, the smaller the better.  I hoard them.  Don't get me wrong, I also like full-sized containers.  Beautiful jars to store things in, pour olive oil out of, stash my favorite coffee in.  I have standards but I don't discriminate - small, big, skinny, fat, narrow opening, wide mouth...I love 'em all.  

I have a few beautiful bottles and jars in my kitchen, but the thing I use containers most for, are my makeup and hair products.  I have a long history with tiny cosmetics containers, and over the years have amassed quite a collection.  When I worked for Estée Lauder in my early twenties, I'd take home every little vessel they gave us and collected whatever the other cosmetic lines offered, too.  GWP (Gift With Purchase) was my favorite time of year because most things came in sample sizes.  Those little containers were perfect to clean out when one product was done and then reuse it for something else.  I guess I was green before green was cool.

Recently I was approached by Infinity Jars to try out their product and write a review about them.  One look at the jars and I knew I'd do it.  After a little back and forth, I had to choose the jars I wanted.  That took months. Literally.  Mostly because I’ve been overwhelmed with stuff to do – my mother’s townhouse renovation, Thanksgiving, Christmas, packing our apartment, moving back to our house, unpacking, cleaning, organizing.  Ahhhhhh.  Just typing that sentence exhausted me.
So, yeah, it took me a while to get to the jars in my hot little hands.  It didn’t help that their website has like a bazillion items to choose from.  I have trouble making decisions when faced with so many great choices.  Thankfully, they were gracious and patient.  I finally chose three – a 15 ml pocket size glass jar, a 5 ml glass screw top jar, and a 10 ml glass fine mist spray bottle.  

The reason the Infinity Jars appealed to me is because they are guaranteed to have an airtight seal, they're ultra-violet filtering, they’re scent proof, and they naturally preserve and rejuvenate freshness.  I don’t know exactly what “rejuvenating freshness” means, but it sounded good.   
15 ml Pocketsize Glass Jar - photo courtesy of infinityjars.com

The two aspects that most interested me were the airtight seal and the scent-proof feature.

I used the 
15 ml Pocketsize Glass Jar for my coveted hair clay.  When I travel, whether I’m leaving the house or the truck, I don’t like to take full-sized product containers with me so I transfer everything into smaller containers.  But I have a problem with the hair clay because one whiff of air and the stuff seizes up like cement.

It’s
dry-ish to begin with, really more like clay than hair balm, but needs what little moisture it has to stay pliable.  I’ve used other containers in the past and eventually wind up chipping out the hardened clay and throwing it away because it deteriorates within days.  

But not with the Infinity Jar!  I used the 15 ml pocket size jar for my hair clay and it’s still the same consistency in the jar as it was in its original tube.  After an entire week!  Amazing!

The jars are gorgeous, a deep violet-colored glass.  Infinity Jars says, “This type of pigmented glass blocks out harmful light rays (these rays quickly degrade organic matter), while still permitting two beneficial light rays that are laboratory proven to preserve and extend the shelf life of goods (for as long as 2 years!).”


10 ml glass spray bottle - photo courtesy of infinityjars.com

Light filtering is important.  Especially for something like olive oil, which I use a lot of.  Air and light are two of the most harmful elements to olive oil, and Infinity Jars has a beautiful collection of glass bottles with oil spouts specifically for this purpose. 

I also picked out a 10 ml Glass Spray Bottle which I plan on using for either perfume or facial oil - haven't decided yet.  The fine mist is going to be perfect for either application.  Tell me - who doesn't love a fine mist? 

I'm honestly impressed with the quality of the glass jars.  The color, the fit of the lids, the weight of the glass itself.  They're so incredibly smooth and feel wonderful in my hands.  I have to be honest about one thing, though.  Every inch of floor surface in my house is tiled so I've been handling these beauties with extra care because I'm afraid to drop and break them. 

Lately, I've been dropping everything - so much so that Ed just looks at me and says, "Really??  Again?"  I don't know what it is.  I'm super butterfingery the last few months.  I broke a Christmas gift from my friend Kim, I broke my mother's ceramic soap dispenser, I broke one of my favorite plates, and just last week I broke a bottle of nail polish.  That induced some salty language during cleanup! 

 Overall, I'm very impressed with Infinity Jars.  Some people might say they're pricey, which I can understand, but when you put expensive cosmetic products, herbs, cooking oils, facial oils, etc. into them, you're actually saving money in the long run by not having those products deteriorate over time

 And, one more thing - I'm a firm believer that glass is always superior to plastic.  If you don't believe me, read this passage taken from the Infinity Jar website regarding the use of a glass water bottle over a plastic one: "Have you heard that natural ultraviolet radiation has the power to inactivate all types of bacteria? Modern scientific research has proven UV light can kill microorganisms from molds, viruses, and bacteria, to algae, yeast, and nasty organisms like e-coli and giardia. Infinity Jars UV Water Bottles harness the natural power of the sun for good. Our glass refracts and blocks out all visible light rays (which cause degradation), while still permitting beneficial UV-A (black light) and infrared wavelengths. This light filtration capability of our U.V glass is what sets this water bottle apart from all the other standard water bottles on the market!"


That paragraph is for all of you who leave your water bottles in the car, getting full-on sunlight through the windows I know you haven't covered with a sun-shade.  I'm very weird about bacteria in my water.  I've seen algae.  I'm not interested.  So this beautiful 1 Liter Round Bottle is the next thing going on my list. 
1 Liter Round Glass Bottle - photo courtesy of infinityjars.com

If you ever started a sentence with, "If only I could bottle this..." 

Well, now you can. 

You can follow Infinity Jars on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram


** This is a sponsored blog post. While the views expressed here were genuinely mine, consideration was paid to me by Infinity Jars to review this product. ** 


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
2016: Climbing The Regal Horned Lizard 
2015: The Valley Of The Temples 
2014: The Day The South Fell Apart...Again 
2013: Island Graffiti 
2012: Four Seasons Of Food To Conquer 
2011: Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head 
2010: As Seen On TV 
2009: Eddie Polishing His Chrome Friday 
2008: Traveling With Your Cat 
2007: Getting Wet In The Next County 
2006: Down With O.P.P. 
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Red Lamp District

If you know my mother well, you'd be aware of her paint addiction.

No, she's not huffing spray-paint for its euphoric fumes, she just likes to paint things.  

Not walls.  Not paintings (although she does do some of that). Things.  

Lampshades, furniture, chairs, flower pots, TV stands, cable boxes, remote controls.

Oh, yes.  Imagine how I felt when I turned her cable box and remote back into Comcast. The guy looked at me with eyes that said, "Seriously?".  
The cable box itself was the same color as the walls in her house (I guess to blend), and the remote control was painted with at least six different nail polish colors to highlight the important function buttons - the volume button was fuschia, the channel up/down button was a weird green (who knew she had green nail polish??), the guide button was surrounded with purple, the on/off was encircled in red, and the mute button stood out because of the silver glitter.

She also spray-painted the porch door (cobalt blue) but neglected to tape anything off so the overspray was everywhere.  Who's to say?  That's her favorite phrase, meaning "Who's to say it doesn't look good/isn't right/isn't fashionable/doesn't work/whatever?"  It's a way of saying, "I do what I please!"

That said, I think I definitely have her genes because today I spray painted this floor lamp. 

I'm not sure what color it was originally, but my mother painted it a weird flat beige that matched...you guessed it...the walls of her house.  I inherited it when I bought her house and I hated the color.  So as I was cleaning up and organizing, I found a can of red spray paint and on a whim, I took the lamp into the driveway and went to town.

I have to admit, wielding that spray can did give me quite a thrill.  I actually looked around for other things to paint.  That's how my mother must have felt when she painted the porch door blue.  I exercised restraint, though, and since red isn't really in my color plan, I stopped with the lamp.

When my mother saw it, she wanted it back.





~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Walking Along The Canyon Of Gold

2015: Aloooooooha
2014: Better Than No Touch Freight
2013: The First Step Is To Admit You Have A Problem
2012: The Top Five Sweet Scents In My World
2011: A Weekend Full Of Bright Stars And Not Much Else
2010: I’m Floored
2009: Two Worlds Collide
2008: Girl Crush
2007: Silly Boys
2006: It’s Nowhere Near Mexico, Y’all
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Friday, January 27, 2017

The Angels Will Migrate

In Tucson, there are many little food trucks like this, and you know, I've never eaten at any of them.  Lots of them have plenty of activity, which must mean they're serving something delicious.

Looks like Ed and I have some exploring to do!  




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: 
Ed Knows How To Break The Fast

2015: The Mighty Mo
2014: We Work A Lot, We're Fat, And You Can't Get By Without Us
2013: Domestic Cat Life
2012: Being Appreciated
2011: Just A Phone Call Away
2010: A Practically Perfect Circle
2009: My Frozen Kentucky Home
2008: On Tour And Collecting Paper As We Go
2007: Finding Your Way
2006: Trivia From The First Tsar Of Russia
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Thursday, January 26, 2017

A Tree Leans In Atoka

While taking a short break, waiting for Ed to wake up to start his shift behind the wheel, I parked and took in the view of this tree in Atoka, Oklahoma.

"Atoka was founded by the Choctaw Indians in the 1850s, and named for Captain Atoka, a leader of the Choctaw Nation and the signer of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, which began the process of re-locating the Choctaw people from Mississippi to Oklahoma in 1830.

The name "Atoka" is derived from the Choctaw word hitoka (or hetoka), which means "ball ground" in English.  He is believed to be buried near the town of Farris. Atoka is the site of the oldest Catholic parish in the Indian Territory, the oldest chapter of the Freemasons in Oklahoma, and the oldest chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Oklahoma."

Mini history lesson complete.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: 
Furniture Recon

2015: Deck Walkers
2014: The Land Of The Blue Angels
2013: Taking A KW For A Spin
2012: New York And Snow – My Two Favorite Things
2011: Doin’ The Math
2010: Well, Butter My Butt And Call Me A Biscuit
2009: I Even Have Time To Go On Strike
2008: Teaching Them Young
2007: You Gotta Be In It To Win It
2006: Cinema Stupido
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

C'mon In And Click The Links

Photo of my mother's front door wreath provided by...my mother.
Organizer porn.  This is what my house either looks like or will look like.  I've already bought ten of the large POP containers.  

Vancouver, BC is where my Canadian friends come from and where they plan to retire. Here are a few surprising secrets about the city.

This is an old article, but I think it's still important to be concerned about energy drink consumption.  I don't get it.  What's wrong with people that they need a drink for energy? I'm fat and 49 and not drinking this crap for get-up-and-go, yet 20-year-olds drink it by the vat.  Morons.

10 ways to master the Danish art of Hygge in your home.  But WTF is hygee, you ask?  Click here.

I've got four of the seven pretty much down, have to work on the other three if I want to age well. 


If you have to choose a neutral color - I'm in the process of deciding on one now - mushroom is a pretty good place to start.

Cats are smart, and jerks.  Gotta love that one with the balloon on his back.

An Iranian omelet.  Now this is one breakfast I can't wait to try!

Ways to decorate your front porch or entryway so everyone feels welcome.  



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: I Fell Into A Vat Of Caramel-Colored Carbonated Water

2015: Three Squares And A Midnight Snack
2014: They Were Five
2013: Wake Of Imagination
2012: Woman With Cat
2011: From Blue Grass To Wine Country
2010: Plump With Fat Quarters
2009: Eddie Out With The Old, In With The New Friday
2008: You Can Get Them At Home Depot??
2007: There Are Never Enough Hours In The Day To Do Anything When You Have A Baby
2006: Tequila Sunrise
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Monday, January 23, 2017

The Hostile Living Conditions Of The Desert

Ed went to Ace Hardware for a few necessities and while he was gone I took a break from unpacking.  I sat in my favorite chair and enjoyed the view of my agave.  

Which, in my opinion, is the best place to be when you're viewing plant life in the hostile living conditions of the desert.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Drop Zone

2015: King (And Queen) Of The World
2014: Winding It Up Before Leaving Town
2013: Who Is A Bahamian?
2012: Pay No Attention To The Cat Behind The Curtain
2011: Papa Can You Hear Me?
2010: The Err Erudes Them
2009: Sorry, no post for this date.
2008: Addicted
2007: When You Just Can’t Decide Between Dinner And Breakfast
2006: Purple Industrial Skies
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Moving Reward

We last had pizza over a month ago, at the famous Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix.  I wasn't impressed.

I love pizza.  Crave it.  But we haven't been having it as often, and definitely not since the first of January because we're trying to "eat better".  Whatever.  There is no eating better than pizza.  That said, I've lost five pounds this month.  Measly, but better than nothing.

Today we had Mama's Pizza (they make a good pie!) to celebrate.    After living six months in a beautiful apartment complex while my mother's townhouse was being renovated - she was living in our house - we finally moved out of our apartment and back into the house.

I am too old for this shit.  I hate packing.  I hate unpacking.  I hate carrying boxes.  I hate carrying furniture.  And I hate the cleaning that's required to move out of one place and into another.

My friend Kim helped us.  She's one of the hardest workers I've ever known.  Doesn't stop for a minute.  My step-father Frank would have cloned her and staffed his entire restaurant with Kim-bots. She's amazing.  I wouldn't have been able to do either of these moves (into/out of the apartment) without her.  She's a good friend.  If someone asked me to help them move, I wouldn't be able to say no fast enough.  Pick you up at the airport at 3 am?  Sure.  Drive you to Phoenix?  No problem.  Make dinner for your out-of-town guests?  I'm on it.  Just don't ask me to help you move.

So now wading through the disaster at the house is next on our list of things to tackle.  Thankfully, the place is freshly painted and all the floors have been steam cleaned.  Next weekend we start making this place look less like my mother's house (we bought it from her) and more like our place. I have a feeling it's going to take a lot of doing, at least until the entire place is completely renovated, but I hope to be able to make certain tweaks to make it feel a little more personal.

Ed is going to have one helluva Honey Do list.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Her Talent Is Black And White
2014: Drill, Baby, Drill
2012: After This, It’s Time To Close The Left Door For A While
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Saturday, January 21, 2017

We The People


We The People:  Defend Dignity
We The People:  Protect Each Other
We The People:  Are Greater Than Fear

This is the new mantra.

I love these posters.  If they look familiar, there's a reason - they were created by artist Shepard Fairey, who made the "Hope" poster for Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign.

The woman depicted in the poster above, Munira Ahmed, posed for the photo from which the poster was made, in 2007.  Ten years later she's one of the faces of The Women's March on Washington.  The number of people who descended on Washington, the day after the inauguration of Cheeto Mussolini, broke records.  More people attended the women's march than attended the inauguration.  And one of those people was Munira Ahmed.

The posters were created to protest the incoming president.  The artist said, "He's a demagogue who's a bigot and is sexist. He really has no respect for a lot of different people, no experience in politics, and is pursuing the presidency out of his own ego rather than a desire to create the greatest good for the greatest number of people."

We need to resist his divisiveness and stand up for and protect those who need it most.


I have never been concerned - ever, in my adult life - about the future of our country. I've never feared for the future of our country under any administration.  But now?  Holy shit. Now, our leader?  He's a ticking time-bomb.  One can only hope that people dedicated to upholding the constitution will do the jobs they were elected to do and control and/or remove this unfit president.

If not, there's only one solution.


Hashtag Resist.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2016: Two Old Ladies And A Truck
2015: Leaving San Diego In A Lavender Glow
2014: Thin And Crispy. Just How I Like 'Em
2013: Amber Jack
2012: Adding A Poodle To The Mix
2011: If…
2010: How The West Was Fun
2009: Pecking Order
2008: The Sympathy Train Stopped Dead In Its Tracks
2007: Shalom
2006: A.D.I.D.A.S.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Friday, January 20, 2017

Smile Because It Happened

(BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS)
I think Dr. Suess has been credited with the cheesy quote, "Don't cry because it's over.  Smile because it happened!"

But it seems very fitting for today, the day Barack and Michelle Obama leave the White House after eight years of serving as our President and First Lady.


This couple, and what they've brought to the White House, the country, and the world, over the past eight years, has been more wonderful than I could have ever imagined.  Our President was funny.  He had great taste in music.  He told jokes.  He was smart.  Wicked smart.  He read books, lots of them.  Michelle was cool, and fit, and stylish.  SO stylish.  She could rock a designer dress one night, and a J.Crew cardigan and flats the next day. Both of them brought joy.  They smiled.  They have displayed class and grace, kindness and humor, and also overwhelming restraint.  They rose above, time and again.  I am certain they will go down in the history as one of the greatest first couples the United States has ever seen.  And I'm so thrilled that I got to see this piece of history unfold before my eyes.

They've said their goodbyes, and Barack Obama has left us with a directive, in part saying, "This has been the privilege of my life, and I know I speak for Michelle as well. We look forward to continuing this journey with all of you. I promise you I will be right there with you."

Today they leave this part of their journey to step back into civilian life.  Next on their agenda is a much-needed, much-deserved vacation.

They will be sorely missed.  But I will smile because it happened.





~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: A Sea Of Blue
2015: We Are On The Biggest Boat In The Marina
2014: The Only Thing I Haven't Done
2013: United Tails
2012: I Grew Up In The O.C. Too
2011: Snowy Arrival
2010: Not A Pretty Sight
2009: Marking This Day In History With A Vibrant Spot Of Color
2008: Lighting To Do Laundry By
2007: The Benefits Of Dating A White Boy
2006: Shhhhhh, You’ll Wake The Driver
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Stanley Steemer Gets Your Home Cleaner

I often find myself singing jingles to commercials.  Especially catchy ones.  

The Stanley Steemer commercial is one of them.  Even though their commercial and song ran through my head, I thought they only did carpet...until I got a flyer in the mail.  I was so happy to hear they steam tile and grout, too.

I had planned on doing it myself, renting a steam cleaner from Home Depot.  I didn't want to do it - because I really don't like to work that hard (that's a whole other post) - but Ed was going to help and we thought the two of us could knock it out quickly.


Until we talked to the guy in Home Depot about how the machine worked.   He told us it takes 30 minutes for the water in the steamer to heat up.  Then you only have about 20 minutes of steaming.  Then you have to wait 15 minutes for the steamer to cool down before you can refill it with water.  Then you have to wait 30 minutes for the water to heat up again.

Are you kidding me??

Ed said we'd rent two machines and alternate them, one would be heating up while the other one was steaming, but I had already lost interest.  Entirely too much work.  Renting two machines would cost more, plus my time (which is worth even more than that), just didn't seem to be such a great bargain anymore.

I called Stanley Steemer and the girl I spoke to gave me an estimate over the phone.  I really just wanted the two bathrooms and the kitchen done since those were the worst. The price she quoted was about the same as the two machines we'd have to rent.  No brainer.

They came out that day.  And while they were there, Ed asked that the give us an estimate for the entire house.  Turned out to be so affordable, we had them do the whole thing.  The water is super hot, they pressure is unequaled, they use a special cleaning solution, and best of all...I didn't have to do it.

The photo above shows the area off the kitchen.  The difference is amazing.  And the bathrooms and high traffic areas are unbelievable.  I didn't think they were so bad until I saw them steam cleaned.

I am never deep cleaning a floor again.  I have money and a phone.

1-800-STEEMER!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Cat Nemesis

2015: Bon Voyage!
2014: All This Entertainment For Less Than The Cost Of A Restaurant Entree
2013: Ten Things I Hate About Flying
2012: Teeth Or Another European Vacation? Ooooh, It’s A Real Toss Up.
2011: Not So Wacky After All
2010: Spreading The Word
2009: He Had A Dream. Tomorrow We See It Come True.
2008: Who Do You Know?
2007: South Beach Blue
2006: Jawl Spake Anglesh??
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!  

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Blue By You

Our friend Gary visited this past weekend and we took him to meet my mother and her constant companion, Blue.

Blue took to Gary right away (he's a cat person) and settled in for a nap in the crook of his arm.  He took this picture of her while she was snoozing.

Another friend of mine, when I mentioned my struggle for content because of this dedicated run we're on not providing the trucking-across-the-country access, said, "Please don't post another cat photo.  I haven't been able to bring myself to say it, but since you brought it up.  Don't.  Ever.  Again."

It cracked me up because I know she's not really a cat (or pets, in general) person, but I do respect where she's coming from.  But hey, I've already confessed to having very little to blog about lately, and I'm working on changing that, but in the meantime, a girl needs a post.

This is the internet, people.  It exists for cat photos.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: 
Fierce

2015: The Nuts And Bolts Of It
2014: Gorgeous, Rich, And Rugged. And That's Just The Bag.
2013: Back To Basics
2012: I Can Think Of Better Ways To Spend Hump Day
2011: Can I Appoint Myself The Baroness Of Cattle?
2010: This Time Losing The Wallet Really Means Losing The Wallet
2009: Marley & Me
2008: Eddie Gets Handy Friday
2007: The Perfect Neapolitan Slice
2006: The King Of The Flying Salmon
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

The De Facto Logo Of Brooklyn

The Kentile Floors sign that graces the Gowanus section of Brooklyn, New York.

I took this drive-by photo in 2010 because I love seeing old signage around the country. Every once in a while I get lucky and capture something that turns out to be iconic, which I find out by doing a little research.

The sign was erected in 1949, stood 8 stories high, and was once lit in purple neon.  This article in Slate says, "According to the Municipal Art Society of New York, the Kentile factory employed more than 400 people during the 1960s.  But many of the floor tiles that it once proudly marketed to post-war suburbanites as being "a dream to clean" contained asbestos, a fact that later (after the company had left Brooklyn) led to its bankruptcy and closure."

From The Brownstone Detectives:

"As the salvos are fired across the broadsides of those who would tear down Brooklyn’s famous Kentile Floors sign, few know the history behind the company, its founder, and its legacy.


Kentile was a revolutionary floor covering that was easy to install and extremely resistant to fire.  The asphalt tiles were primarily composed using an asbestos filler which today is no longer legal, due to the knowledge we currently have of the harmful effects of asbestos on our bodies.

But Kentile was a start-up in the late 19th century in Brooklyn that made its inventor rich and many, many housewives much, much happier in their kitchens.


IN THE BEGINNING

In 1898, Arthur Kennedy founded Kentile in Brooklyn. Kentiles were “large durable tiles made of a range of materials that were available in dozens of colors and patterns.” Kentile Flooring was primarily marketed in Brooklyn and the surrounding region back then, but eventually, as they became popular, spread their availability throughout the country.

By 1949, they began producing an asphalt based tile and, as an industry leader, their stock skyrocketed. Although they had their competitors, such companies as Armstrong, Congoleum-Nairin and Montgomery, Kentile offered a consumer-install option that was attractive to the DIY-er.

By the ’50s and ’60s, Kentile Floors had become one of America’s largest manufacturers of super-resilient floor tile, and it was a national tile distributor. The Kentile factory at Second Avenue in Gowanus – where the Kentile Floors sign is currently being removed – employed more than 400 people at its peak in the 1960s.

The company’s futures waned though by the 1980s when its products’s strongest feature – asbestos – was found to contain cancer-causing carcinogens. As Kentile removed asbestos from their products, the lawsuits piled up, and by by 1992 they had filed for bankruptcy. A few years later Kentile production ended altogether."

The sign was taken down in 2014 and relocated nearby.


I love finding stuff like this!  It's what has made my time traveling around the country so attractive.  Interesting tidbits of history make this job so worth it.




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: There Is Poetry In Change

2015: Ski Or Sun? Sun Won.
2014: All The Better To Cook With, My Dear
2013: I Fancy The Castle Life
2012: There Are No Prison Blues If You Have Naan
2011: Now I’m No Longer Alone
2010: Rings Of Spring
2009: Map Schmap
2008: A Willow Weeps In Arizona
2007: Double Team
2006: Turning One Million
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Monday, January 16, 2017

Descansos

This is one of the many roadside shrines - or descansos, as they're called in Spanish - we see throughout the country.  This type, with more color, multiple candles, flowers, personal objects, seem to be very prevalent in areas with a large Hispanic population.

I'm planning on writing more about these memorials in the future, because traveling the highways for almost thirteen years now, they've always been of interest to me.

Thanks to my friend Gary Goulette for another great photo.



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2016: Please Come Back!

2015: Still Life
2014: Sunset Cycling
2013: Pit Stop At Home
2012: Adding A Few More Wheels To The Big Rig
2011: Again And Again And Again
2010: Hood Ornament
2009: Eddie Out Of Control Friday
2008: My Boyfriend Simon Is Back In Town
2007: A Little Taste Of Miami Beach
2006: Ooooohhhhhh, Jabra!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Low Ceiling In The Desert

Today was a great day - rainy, overcast, and freezing.

Our friend Gary had a load that delivered in Phoenix yesterday and because he was so close, decided to rent a car to come down and spend the day with us.

He took this photo from the front porch of our house.  The Santa Catalina mountains were obscured by cloud cover, but it's still a pretty nice view.

Thanks for the great shot, Gar!



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2016: An Original Recycler

2015: There's A Black Hole In The Desert (With Truck Parking)
2014: Strength In Numbers
2013: Woman Cannot Live On Bread Alone
2012: Why Milk Is ALWAYS At The Top Of My Shopping List
2011: Fun For Sale
2010: Dublin Is Incredibly Corny
2009: Welcome To Snowhio
2008: When Big Hair And Denim Were King
2007: Open 24 Hours
2006: Lucky One Eye
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Saturday, January 14, 2017