Christmas in Columbus

Late Autumn Droop

Backyard Lagomorph III

These rabbits really like my yard.  I guess it's got a bit of a "refuge" feel to it.  This was taken last month.

ZOMBIES!!!!

While evading flesh-eating zombies with a band of survivors in downtown Elgin, I managed to take these photographs.  They depict the kind of desperation one would associate with such a situation.  Ultimately, we made it out of there alive and I'm back at home, able to share a piece of my experience.

It's that time of year.

There's more than corn in Indiana, but in a corn maze in Illinois, there isn't.

I just realized that the term "corn maze" seems a bit...redundant?

Piglet

South Barington, IL

Yellow House in the Sky

Galena, IL.

Bricks and Star

Dubuque, IA.

Terrace Crucifix

Galena, IL

windowsill wasp

DOA @ The House On The Rock, Wisconsin.

Vintage cleaners

Some business models are a safer bet than others.  Video stores, record stores, arcades, these kinds of businesses are lost to time and technology.  Others, such as barber shops and good restaurants, are a safer bet, since they provide goods and services that generally will always be in demand.  Also successful in the long-term are laundromats and drycleaners.  And inevitably, many stay open for decades without the need for fancy updated signage.  People know where to go to wash their clothes.  Here is a sampling of local cleaners who have kept their vintage signs intact, attracting people like me (even though I may not actually use the service).  It reminds me that as times change for the better or worse, some things just always stay the same.

reflections

No photo editing here.  I just placed my camera on top of my car to photograph the sunset and this is the result.  Between classes at NEIU.

Chris's Billiards

This shark has got the longest fingers relative to hand size I've ever seen.  Chris's is a local landmark.

ClearChannel Wolf

Irony:  A wolf that appears to be wearing a Little Red Riding Hood...hood.  Yes, I am afraid of the Big Red Wolf.

Where's Waldo?

Chauliognathus pensylvanicus - Goldenrod Soldier Beetle.  Glenview, IL.

Say a prayer

Failed Mission.

Everything you need(ed) under one roof.

Disco Sound

How did they expect to stay in business when their main sign is a crudely spray-painted section above the window?  Especially when it advertises disco. 

Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium

Much of what used to be the expansive Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium in Chicago is now a series of retirement communities, a school for the developmentally disabled, a large park, and a nature center.  But there are still a few relics from darker days, when this complex was home to thousands of tuberculosis patients, many of whom were admitted, only to live the rest if their miserable lives there and die without ever stepping foot out of the iron fence.  From 1915 to 1974, this property served tuberculosis patients, and often provided experimental procedures for its patients.  The property has since been largely revamped.  Most of the smaller buildings have been demolished, replaced with green lawns.  Roads have been rerouted, and parking lots added and enlarged.  Most of the larger, more impressive buildings remain, as well as a few dark corners which hide dark secrets of the dreaded sanitarium.

An early photo of the former entrance to the sanitarium:

Pass the maintenance garages and stroll through the forgotten wooded areas.

snake walk

Yesterday was a good day overall.  But what made it REALLY good toward the end of the day was going on a snake walk and finding not one but two species seemingly in abundance right here in my city.  Although reptiles and amphibians have drastically declined in numbers since European colonization, some have adapted quite well to urban life, though they do seem to live in isolated sections of the city.  One of my snakey areas revealed about 25 plains garters (Thamnophis radix) and 2 brown snakes (Storeria dekayi).  I photographed a few of them, and like always, I take terrible pictures of snakes in hand.  I still haven't gotten good at photographing them in situ like some people can, but I'll keep at it.

A little guy and an adult:

A brown snake to top off the evening:

Each time I find reptiles and amphibians living in the city, it is a huge relief to me.  These animals have had to deal with swift urbanization, loss of habitat, draining of wetlands for development, overcollection for the pet trade, and ignorant people who kill these beautiful animals out of irrational fear and hate.  Unfortunately, some species, such as the Eastern milk snake, smooth green snake, fox snake, and others haven't been able to evolve quick enough and are far less common and in many cases gone in huge portions of their respective former ranges.  But, just for now, seeing these healthy animals really made my day.

Backyard Lagomorph II

Rigo

Swingers

Tiffany, circa 1900

Fly on apple

Conrad & Son

Truly, a blast from the past.  I pass this business on my way to work every day and it always distracts me.  Every aspect of the business has been unchanged and intact since...who knows how long.  The front window displays tools and other items laid out much like many stores did decades ago.  According to one source, the owner refuses to update the signage or layout of the store.  God bless him.

Redundancy

Kid playing ball.  Kid playing ball.  Kid playing ball.

Please consider

It's getting real at this minigolf course! 

Leon's

South Side of Milwaukee, WI

How about a game of ball

 Don't forget your waders.