rajafacesbothways

Wide View of a Small Town

Here are two more of William McIntyre's photos, taken on Main Street with a 10mm fish-eye lens. Since these are photos of the 24"X36" originals, there are a few reflections in what you are seeing.

This makes Favas look like a French bistro. Trust me. It's not.

This is the Lock and Key coffee shop, once a bank.

Bob and Jim and Mitch and William

Characters of Kentucky:

Bob, the Book-man. He has called me back to help organized his multitude of books and file his papers. The goal--get it all done before his wife returns from FL in a month and wants to take charge.

Jim.  U.S. Senator Jim Bunning managed to block extension of jobless benefits for 1.2 million unemployed, commenting "Tough Shit" and bitched about the ensuing debate interfering with him seeing the Kentucky-South Carolina basketball game.

Mitch. Minority Speaker of the Senate, McConnell The face of an oyster and the mental flexibility of granite.

William. William McIntyre, a black veteran of Korea, who was denied service from Favas upon his return, except from the restaurant's back door. He has been taking photographs since he was ten but never showed them until a recent exhibit at the Scott County Arts and Cultural Center. His work is outstanding.

Here is one of Main Street. The red car parked in the far left is mine.

Two Degrees of Separation

In a small town where half of the residents have wiggled their toes in the same gene pool, it is not unusual to find close connections in any news about town. However I was sad to read about the young woman, a veteran orca trainer at Orlando's Sea World, being killed by the performing whale. No, I didn't know her, but she was a good friend of my niece, Stephanie, who once worked there and with that whale.

I had seen Stephanie perform at Miami Sea Aquarium where she dove deeply into the water and shot up in the air standing on the whale's back as it circled the pool. After the show, we were able to pat that whale when she fed it. Steph also performed with dolphins (which we later swam with) and I could see the love and dedication the trainers brought to their jobs.

Stephanie is now safely out of the water, a wife and mother. Although she mourns the loss of her friend, taking risks for doing what you love is never a mistake, at least in my thinking. Otherwise we all end up living "middle-C" lives.

Mind Over Mirrors

Another birthday looms at dawn. As a Pisces who arrived feet first, and who has continued to do everything back-asswards, it's only natural that I can't decide if it is all uphill or downhill from here.

Fortunately I feel 12-15 years younger than the actual number but mirrors don't lie. The good news:  I'm too old for early onset alzheimers.

A Fitting Tribute

Received word from Mike (OH) and Doug (PA), the sons of a dear friend in her eighties who died last week of dementia. Toni was a great neighbor and individual who shared and enriched my life in many ways.

Toni was also an avid amateur bird watcher with a passion for waterfowl.

The same morning she died quietly in PA, a great blue heron flew into Mike's backyard, 500 miles away in Columbus, OH, where it too died quietly.

Mike took the heron to the nearby grade school that has a collection of local fowl for students. It will be added to the collection and named "Toni".

A unique tribute to a unique lady. And a gift of wonder and encouragement for all of us.

Thar' She Blows!

 I think we are at the cutting edge of ignorance here. A man used a blowtorch to remove the icicles on his house. He also removed the house.

As promised, I did a little research in the Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide. You can classify this with info you will never have to use. Hunters are allowed one antlered buck (like those mounted in Catfish's garage) and three antler-less deer, (to help keep the deer population under control). And Catfish hunts with firearms, (rifle or shotgun), a muzzle loader with black powder, or a crossbow, depending on the season.

Hmm. Sometimes I wonder what the hell am I doing in Kentucky?

Catfish and Venison

 No--that was not today's special at Favas.

Stopped at H&T Garage for a free check-up for my Toyota and to take a photo to share local color with readers who take their autos to mechanics with certificates on their walls. Here is Catfish with his latest trophy--a ten point buck. When I get the lingo correct, I'll let you know what he uses in his hunting skills.

Things Change

Subtle changes occur often without notice, until you look at photos--(or in the mirror!) A year ago the  view from my door was the Norse Horse covered with snow, and the BWAP  bookstore in the background.

Now both are history. The bookstore is sorely missed by everyone but the owners. It has been replaced by a dress shop, cute but boring.

Two other changes:

1. The Univ Kentucky basketball team remains one of the top teams in the country; last year they were losers.

2.  Prices of guns and bullets including the AK47 have dropped off. The "patriots" who stashed weapons and ammo after last year's election are now well equipped and ready to take back their country.

International Invasion

The small Thai restaurant is busy lately thanks to Toyota; at lunch last week two tables of Japanese men were eating bowls of delicious-looking noodle dishes, created especially for them. Today I went to Favas for a lunch of Frickles (fried dill pickles) and a Japanese trio came in with camera and began interviewing a couple of customers on their reaction to the company's problems. Both the Japanese and the town has a lot riding (no pun intended) on a successful solution.

 Despite all the closings in the past couple of weeks due to snow, there is an unusual element of activity occurring in this little town.

Snow Daze

A brief break in the weather allowed me to go to two gallery openings on Friday and take a couple of walks with the aide of my walking stick. (NO! It is NOT a cane!) But another round of snow moved in last night and continues, closing most events, schools, etc. It takes half as much snow here compared to Chicago to play havoc with traffic. This is how it looked early this a.m. from outside my front door:

I later helped shovel and sweep the sidewalk just for pure exercise.

And here's an early view fom my back porch:

And a later view of the crows and pigeons in the tree: