Monday, September 30, 2024

Wieners Since '65

Wiener World in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.



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2023:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2022:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2021:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2020:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2019:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2018:  Inside The Beast
2017:  Time For Tomatoes
2016:  The King And Queen Of Friday Night
2015:  A Tree Grows In Moab
2014:  More Is More
2013:  Pick A Patch Of Dirt And Park Yourself On It
2012:  The Heat Of The Road
2011:  My Super Handsome Man
2010:  It All Started With Betty
2009:  Traffic Stopping Skyline
2008:  When You Are Proud To Be Told Your Roots Are Showing
2007:  Engulfed In Color
2006:  Fish And Loaves Of Bread Are Not The Only Things He Is Generous With
2005:  23 Things

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Meet Me Under The Clock

The Kaufmann's Clock, located at the corner of Smithfield Street and Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Kaufmann's Department Store was founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1871 by Morris, Jacob, and Isaac Kaufmann.  In the early 20th century, the store was owned by Morris's son, Edgar J. Kaufmann

Edgar was also known for commissioning the architectural masterpiece Fallingwater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. 



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2023:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2022:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2021:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2020:  Sign Of The Times
2019:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2018:  
Essential Travel Preparation
2017:  Getting The 'Ol Girl Washed
2016:  Lit From Below
2015:  The Devil's Highway Takes You Past A 27 Million-Year-Old Rock With Wings
2014:  One Of Millions 
2013:  I Walked In The Footsteps Of Richard Gere
2012:  Flower Bar
2011:  A Sign For Sore Eyes
2010:  A Primm Landscape
2009:  I Am A Kandee Addict
2008:  The Tiny Intersection Where The Colors Collide
2007:  Loved Shack
2006:  Holy Mother Of Pearl
2005:  The Starfish Effect

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Saying Goodbye To The City Of Brotherly Love

So long, Philly!  See you again soon.



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2023:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2022:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2021:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2020:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2019:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2018:  Football Season In Minnesota
2017:  Ideas Blooming
2016:  Blushing Rain Clouds
2015:  Last Night Was Super!
2014:  Sloths Are The New Kittens
2013:  In The Shadow Of Mount Olympus
2012:  Toni And Her Sisters
2011:  Paper Boy…And Girl
2010:  Breakfast Of Champions (And Truck Drivers)
2009:  Vegetarianism Brings On Extinction
2008:  It’s Beauty Is Just The Beginning
2007:  Eddie Relaxes In Style Friday
2006:  How To Tell Your Parents You Don’t Have A Roommate
2005:  You Just Know When You’ve Met “The One”

Friday, September 27, 2024

The Hawk Will Never Die

We went to Philadelphia a week and a half ago to attend my cousin's wedding.  You've already seen some photos of Philly from our trip.  We had a great time.

We stayed at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, which is right downtown, and a block from the Wanamaker Building where the reception was held.
The Crystal Tea Room was a beautiful venue and Finley Catering did a fabulous job with the food. 

This wedding was one of the finest events Ed and I have ever been to.  The cocktail hour food was amaaaazing - Seafood (shrimp cocktail, crab legs, lobster tails), Mexican (tacos, beans, tortilla chips, salsa), Italian (ravioli, mozzarella sticks, tortellini, assorted meats and cheeses, bread), Meditteranean (hummus, grilled vegetables, olives, roasted red peppers, button mushrooms), in addition to the canapés being served by the wait staff.  And, an open bar.  It's not a big deal for us since we don't drink, but man, that's something else considering it extended all through the reception, too.

The meal was also very good.  Ed had the eggplant parmigiana and I had the filet mignon.  The seafood option was crabcakes.  Delicious dinner served by the professional and attentive waitstaff.  

They had a band that played all night - much too loud for me (considering I'm deaf these days!) but several good singers and lots of well-known songs, new and old.  

After the cake was cut, we asked about getting some because it wasn't automatically served at our table.  While the server poured coffee, he directed us to not a Viennese dessert table, but a Viennese dessert room.  That's right.  A room full of treats!  Wedding cake, cream puffs, pastries, puddings, hot beverages, and liqueurs served in chocolate shot glasses.  Holy cannoli!

I have never seen such a display at a wedding.  Maybe I'm not attending the right kinds of weddings but in all the years I've had to go to various events, even ones that were considered "nicer" than others, this one takes the cake.  I couldn't have been more impressed.

Although, wait...

I'm not sure this impresses me because I'm not much of a sports fan, but it's certainly something I've never seen at a wedding - the Saint Joseph's University Hawk!  Yes, there was a hawk on the dance floor.  Cutting a serious rug!  And no, I didn't get a picture because it was kinda impossible...

As if the wedding events at this point weren't impressive enough, there was an afterparty.  We didn't attend because we were kinda pooped at that point and since it was being held at the pub affiliated with the wedding venue, we figured it would be a lot of drinking and probably, mostly the young people.  But...my cousin told me they were serving Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches.  What?!  Yes, more food!  I should have gone just for the cheesesteak.

The next morning, the day we were set to leave, they hosted a brunch at the hotel.  That, too, was delicious.  So we joined everyone for breakfast and then headed back to the room to get ready to check out of the hotel.  Since we had an evening flight, we did a little sightseeing in the afternoon and then had lunch at a delicious stir-fry place we found close to the hotel.

Overall, we had a fantastic weekend and we are so glad we decided to attend.  I am thrilled that we were able to make this happen and I look forward to seeing everyone again in the near future.

Best wishes to the new Mr. and Mrs.!



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2023:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2022:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2021:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2020:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2019:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2018:  Morning At MOA
2017:  Ed And The Goddess Of Agave
2016:  Toys At The Continental Divide
2015:  Where Indiana 558 Ends
2014:  Steeler Nation Night Life
2013:  The City Of Dreams Is A Dreamy City
2012:  Five Fantastic Finds
2011:  Hand Dipping Tastes Better
2010:  The Skies Were So Dark, Even GE Couldn’t Brighten Things Up
2009:  Not So Deep Impact
2008:  My America. Your America. OUR America.
2007:  Frozen In Time
2006:  Ohhh, Paaablo
2005:  Apparently, Aliens Tell Time With Their Ass

Thursday, September 26, 2024

The Climb To Fifty-Six

Happy Birthday to my brother, the cutest tree climber there ever was! 

Wishing you a healthy, happy, and prosperous year!!



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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Born In MCMLXVIII
2017: A Big Delivery
2016: Killing Two Birthday Birds With One Stone
2015: The Greatest Spectacle In Racing
2014: Fall Babies
2013: We Are Family! I Got My Brother And Me!
2012: The Highlight Of My Life
2011: Dream Big. Live Bigger.
2010: Always Merry When Around My Brother
2009: Living Outside The Touch Of Time
2008: Girls And Their Boys
2007: Living History
2006: Company On The Prairie
2005: Rack Eyes

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Representing The Love Of Wisdom

While in Philadelphia, Ed and I visited the Rodin Museum, one of the world's great collections of works by Auguste Rodin, and the only dedicated Rodin Museum outside France.

The museum was a gift of movie theater magnate Jules Mastbaum to the city of Philadelphia.  According to Wikipedia, "he began collecting works by Rodin in 1923 with the intent of founding a museum.  Within three years, he assembled the largest collection of Rodin's works outside Paris, including bronze castings, plaster studies, drawings, prints, letters, and books.  The museum houses a collection of nearly 150 objects."

This sculpture sits outside the courtyard of the entrance to the museum.  The plaque beside it says":

"The Thinker.  1880-81, Enlarged 1902-1904.  Auguste Rodin (1840-1917).  Rodin first imagined The Thinker as a small figure near the top of The Gates of Hell, a sculpture now installed at the Rodin Museum entrance.  The Gates of Hell is based on The Inferno, an epic poem by the Italian poet Dante, and Rodin conceived the contemplative figure as representing the poet's creative force.

Rodin later enlarged The Thinker to monumental scale.  In this form, it has come to symbolize all creative thought.  The arrangement here, with an architectural façade behind the sculpture, matches Rodin's gravesite near Paris.  The bronze cast, made in 1919, was donated to Philadelphia by movie theater magnate Jules Mastbaum."



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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Museum Quality
2017: Aisle Of Palms
2016: A Lively Evening
2015: 106 Years Of Racing Has Happened Here
2014: Towering Jewel
2013: Port Townsend Honor System
2012: This I Love
2011: Wooden Shoes, Tulips, And Now This?
2010: Universal AND Contagious
2009: Ed Smiles With The Pasties Girl Friday
2008: Who Needs A Man When You Have A Kindle??
2007: Phone Calls And Fellatio
2006: Color Ring
2005: We Go All Out!

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

It's Fresher

Old signage for Dimling's Candy Shops in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Their tagline, "It's Fresher" can be seen at the top left of the sign.



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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Priceless Antiquities Get A Ride In A Big Rig

Monday, September 23, 2024

Cheers To Another Year!


In the photo above, I'm celebrating my first birthday.  Today I celebrate my 57th.

Oh, how time flies!  




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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Me, Augustus, And Kublai Khan
2017: The Ultimate F Word - Fifty
2016: Cheers To 49!
2015: Loving Snow For Over Four Decade
2014: Hey, Hey, Hey! It's My Birthday!!
2013: Once, An Angel
2012: Halfway To Ninety
2011: Aging In Soft Light 
2010: Why The Crying? 
2009: From Swings To Eighteen Wheels 
2008: Fishing Expedition 
2007: Eggs Of Wisdom Apparently Start Hatching At Forty 
2006: The Birthday Wagon Train Takes Off Today 
2005: 38 Special

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Alley Shadows

 

Fire escapes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.



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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Sunset On Sixty-Four
2017: The Lamps Of The Lord Being Lit By The Morning Sun
2016: Peek-A-Boo
2015: You Don't Have To Wait For Christmas To Unwrap One Of These
2014: Where The Rivers Meet
2013: Into The Pacific Northwest
2012: Après-ski Is The Place For Me
2011: Rain Or Shine
2010: In My Dictionary, Team Is Always Spelled Without An I
2009: The Italian Energy Drink*
2008: Shroom
2007: Looks Fairly Serene To Me
2006: Taste, Smell, And Hear The Memories
2005: Eddie’s New Ride

Saturday, September 21, 2024

A Vision Of A Grand Shopping Hall

This is the Wanamaker Building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Located on the ninth floor of the building is The Crystal Tea Room, where the wedding we attended was held.  

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission sign erected outside of the building says:

John Wanamaker (1838-1922)
Philadephia merchant, famed for the department stores bearing his name.  In 1861, he opened his first store. He built his "new kind of store" here in 1876 and implemented new concepts including the one-price system and the money-back guarantee.  Active in public life, he built schools, churches, and missions in this and other nations.  As United States Postmaster General, 1889-1893, he fostered rural free delivery and introduced the commemorative stamp.


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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day. 
2021: This Place Is The Bomb
2020: 
Rescue A Coconut, Save The Plane
2019: Sorry,  no post on this day.
2018: Pom Wonderful
2017: How Do?
2016: Silver Luxe
2015: Art From The Bottoms Up
2014: Weekend Getaway
2013: Long Shadow In Kansas
2012: Spreading Joy, Pixie Style
2011: Coming Soon 
2010: Feren Films Y’All Shouldn’t Miss 
2009: This Guy Sucks 
2008: Shine And Shine 
2007: Eddie Hoots It Up Friday 
2006: Eddie The Bird Whisperer 
2005: Laundress

Friday, September 20, 2024

Wanamaker Has A Very Large Organ

This is the Grand Court in the Macy's department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The one with the eagle.

This used to be John Wanamaker's flagship store; founded in 1861, it was one of the first department stores in the United States. 

The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ is the largest fully functioning pipe organ in the world, based on the number of playing pipes, the number of ranks, and its weight.



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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Reversed In Michigan
2017: Not Fast Enough
2016: Shopping On Wheels
2015: The Duck And The Gargoyle
2014: V-8 Reflection
2013: Keeping H-116 Safe
2012: It’s Never Too Late For A Monday Meme
2011: Minatory Montana Morning 
2010: Crafting A Way To Fill A Need 
2009: The Other White Meat: Tropical Style 
2008: Night Falls On The Fuel Island 
2007: Wanderlust Checklist 
2006: What Are Records?? 
2005: Hello, America!

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Topped By William Penn

Philadelphia's beautiful City Hall building was located a block from our hotel.  It's beautiful day or night.

According to Wikipedia, it was "built using brick, white marble and limestone, Philadelphia City Hall is the world's largest free-standing masonry building and was the world's tallest habitable building upon its completion in 1894. 

At 548 feet, including the statue of city founder William Penn atop its tower, City Hall was the tallest habitable building in the world from 1894 to 1908. It remained the tallest in Pennsylvania until it was surpassed in 1932 by the Gulf Tower in Pittsburgh; it is now the 16th tallest. It was the tallest in Philadelphia until 1986 when the construction of One Liberty Place surpassed it, ending the informal gentlemen's agreement that had limited the height of buildings in the city to no higher than the Penn statue.
" 




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: A Bridge In Ohio
2017: Sunrise In The Desert Surrounding The City Of The Crosses
2016: Shoe Success!
2015: Engine House No. 6
2014: To Me, You Are Perfect
2013: View From A Kansas Rest Area
2012: I Hate New Blogger!!
2011: Come On In And Take A Seat
2010: Doctor Recommended For Sure Death
2009: Wardrobe Malfunction: Intentional And Uncensored
2008: Eddie Friday: Outlined
2007: Modern, Yet No So Much
2006: Why Higher Education Is Desperately Needed
2005: Does A Bear Shit In The Woods?

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Meet Me At The Eagle

This is the Grand Court Eagle, located in the Grand Court of the Macy's Center City department store housed in the historic Wanamaker Building in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The sign next to the eagle statue says:

This majestic bronze beauty proudly hails from Frankfurt, Germany, home of its creator, sculptor August Gaul.  Department store pioneer John Wanamaker purchased the eagle for his flagship store following its debut at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.  The rest is history.  Before long, "Meet me at the eagle" became the catchphrase for shoppers and visitors meeting in Center City.

The eagle has remained in this location for over a century; the floor beneath is reinforced with extra girders to accommodate its massive weight of 2,500 pounds.  All 5,000 feathers, including 1,600 on the head alone, were wrought by hand.




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2023: Sorry, no post on this day. 
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Private Prep
2017: 
Hail Mary Full Of Grace
2016: Hell On Buns
2015: Signs In Shipshe
2014: Plenty Of Clearance Here
2013: The Force Of Gravity Mixed With A Little Quirkiness
2012: Sí, Soy Un Ciudadano De Los Estados Unidos
2011: The Things You Do For Love
2010: Sweating Profusely From The Head Is Clearly A Sign Of A Highly Intelligent Individual
2009: Eddie Watching Boats And Waiting For Brisket Friday
2008: It’s Probably Best Not To Piss Of The Devil
2007: Reminders For Morons
2006: Feasting With Saints And Sinners
2005: We Live In The Signpost Forest  

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

That's How Winning Is Done

You can't see him, but Ed is at the top of the "Rocky Steps" - the steps leading to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  Undeniably, one of the most popular attractions in Philadelphia.  And one you probably need to climb after stuffing yourself with cheesesteak!

Below you can see him posing next to the equally famous Rocky statue.  

As Rocky Balboa said, 

"It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!”



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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Pop In Anytime
2017: 
Downtown Flower Power

2016: You Don't Need A Hard Hat To Tackle A BIG AZ
2015: In Line For Service
2014: Nebraska. In Color.
2013: Ominously Beautiful
2012: Signs Of Fall
2011: Life Explained…By Graphs
2010: An Amazon Sized Beverage Supply
2009: He Wasn’t Hiding His Face Once The Camera Started Rolling
2008: Waiting To Be Served
2007: The Men In Mexico Are Snappy Dressers
2006: A Mystically Beautiful Day
2005: Rock It!!

Monday, September 16, 2024

Sleeping In An Icon

 

We flew to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this past weekend to attend my cousin's wedding.  The reception was held at The Crystal Tea Room in the Wanamaker Building.  A beautiful venue in a historic building.

We stayed at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, which was one block away.  This is the view from our room at the Loews.  

The Loews Philadelphia is also housed in a historic building.  It's called the PSFS Building, which stands for the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society.  It's a National Historic Landmark and the sign in front of the building, erected by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission states, "The Philadephia Saving Fund Society Building is regarded as the first International Style skyscraper building in the United States.  Completed in 1932, it was a radical departure from traditional bank architecture, exploiting the latest technological and structural advances."

The red neon letters atop the building - PSFS - can be seen from twenty miles away and the sign has become a Philadelphia icon.



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2023: Sorry, no post on this day
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: The Excitement Is Building
2017: Forget Me Not

2016: A Leaf Springs Into Art
2015: Life Imitates Art
2014: You Keep Us Dancing
2013: Make Life More Interesting
2012: Supply Meets Demand
2011: What Do You See?
2010: If No One Hears You Talking To Yourself, Are You Still Considered Crazy?
2009: It’s A Shame He’s Such A Crab
2008: I’m A Big Fan
2007: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday Coming To An End
2006: And Everyone Thought It Was Dick Cheney
2005: But They’re Hard To Find!