2020 Tree (348/366)

TIME: 7:25 pm

PLACE: Living room

SUBJECT: Christmas Tree

*~*~*

I REALLY am not/was not feeling the Christmas spirit this year. Besides the COVID that affects everyone, we had the loss of HH's mother; we had to make the hard decision to end Oreo's pain and say goodbye to our sweet girl; MB was deployed to Afghanistan, DQ and SD are dealing with health issues that I can't fix...the list goes on.

I didn't want to put a tree up.

I didn't see the point.

But I did it anyway.

It's not the traditional tree we usually put up, but 2020 has not been a traditional year either.

It is what we call the "Ugly Ornament Tree" - all the strange, unusual and unique ornaments we've found and obtained over the years, displayed on a "feather tree" with a gum wrapper garland.

There are a couple of other little decorations in the living room. And I did put lights on the porch. But I did not decorate anywhere close to the Christmas explosions I've had in past years.

Minimal, but meaningful.

This also means there is less to put away after the holidays - another plus!

Marlboro Neon (297/366)

TIME: 9:42 pm
PLACE Living room
SUBJECT: Sign

*~*~*

Big Friday night for me.

Watching "The Life of Brian" while working on my cross stitch.

I turned on the neon sign to try to make it feel a little bit like I'm hanging out in bar

- just like in the old days.

Drewes and Dry Ice (259/366)

TIME: 7:36 pm
PLACE: St Louis, MO
SUBJECT: Ted Drewes sign

*~*~*

The husband had a desire for some frozen custard after dinner. 

He and I went and had a prime parking spot under the sign.

I brought StellaDella a Twisted Caramel concrete (salted caramel and crumbled pretzels).  They packed it in a bag with dry ice to keep it from melting on the way home.

Once we returned home, of course I had to place it in a bowl and add warm water.

Always fun to see the clouds of white fog.

I even made a video!

 

The Cottage (177/366)

TIME: 8:25 pm
PLACE: The White Cottage
SUBJECT: Sign

*~*~*

HH had a hankering for a M&M concrete from our local ice cream place.

Guess who was sent to retrieve it for him?

Dinner Late Nite (138/365)

TIME: 11:55 PM
PLACE: Denny’s
SUBJECT: Window

Stella had her 8th grade dance tonight.

After it was over, she and a group went to Denny’s to eat.

Italian Foods, Steaks & Cocktails (125/365)

TIME: 8:01 PM
PLACE: Collinsville, IL
SUBJECT: Sign

We didn’t eat here, but I love the sign.

Reversed (233/365)

TIME: 8:35 PM
PLACE: 1100 Block of West Main
SUBJECT: Neon sign reflections

After the inter-squad Soccer (JV vs. Freshmen & Varsity vs. JV) and the parent meeting at the high school, HH and I went out to have a little refreshment.
The neon window signs of 10th St. Baking Co. were reflected in the building across the street.

Stormy

TIME:  8:13 PM
PLACE:  Route 13
SUBJECT:  Sky and motel sign

MonkeyBoy had an indoor soccer game tonight.
While he was playing the sky opened up.
The storm moved through quickly and left some interesting skies on the way home,

Friday Night At The Movies (158/365)

TIME:  10:41 PM
PLACE:  O’Fallon 15 Cine
SUBJECT:  Neon

DramaQueen and her friends wanted to see “The Purge” tonight.
It’s rated “R”
They needed someone over 17 to buy the tickets. 
Normally, if an adult buys the tickets, they are allowed to go in the theatre and the adult doesn't need to accompany them. 
That wasn’t flying with the management tonight.
Guess who had to sit through the damn movie? 
Lucky me.
I swear, I was the oldest person in that room.

Sandwiches (221/366)

Hey all you people
Hey all you people
Hey all you people
Won't you listen to me,
I just had a sandwich,
No ordinary sandwich,
I sandwich filled with jellyfish jelly,
Hey man you got to try this sandwich,
It's no ordinary sandwich,
It the tastiest sandwich in the sea.
AH De ba da ba doo ba da ba de ba da da. Yeah

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Nickelodeon Movies, Paramount Pictures, 2004

TIME:  8:57 PM
PLACE:  Main Street
SUBJECT:  Neon sign

HH took the kids swimming this evening – I opted to stay home in the quiet.  I had to go pick-up because there ended up being more kids than room in the truck that HH drove there.  I had the girls (DQ, SD and the two cousins) while HH had the boys (MB and his friend).  I drove the cousins home.  DQ and SD were asked to spend the night with them, so I drove everyone back to our house so they could get their stuff.  I then drove back to the cousin’s house.  I passed this sign twice in my journey.

Saputos (012/366)

Capt. McCluskey: How's the Italian food in this restaurant?
Sollozzo: Good. Try the veal, it's the best in the city.
Capt. McCluskey: I'll have it.

The Godfather (Sterling Hayden, Al Lettieri performers, Francis Ford-Coppola-director, 1972)

TIME:  2:12 PM
PLACE:  Springfield, IL
SUBJECT:  Neon Sign

I had a meeting at noon in Springfield today.  And just to make the day even more special…we had our first accumulating snowfall of the season this morning.  It was very windy and the snow was blowing across the highways, obscuring our vision for much of the trip, making the drive a fun and exciting challenge (hmm, not sure if the sarcastic tone is coming through – note to self, locate a sarcasm font for future posts).  The silver lining?  I was able to eat some very delicious Italian food at lunch. Complimenti alla cuoco.

Beer Sign (210/365)

“The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip.”

Henny Youngman (British-born American comedian and violinist famous for "one-liners", 1906-1998)

TIME:  10:23 PM
PLACE:  Fairmount Park Racetrack, Party At The Park
SUBJECT:  Neon beer sign

As is tradition, I went to the horseraces to celebrate my cousin’s birthday.  This year I placed bets on the odd races - $1.00 Exacta boxes <= sounds like I knew what I was doing right?  Ha!  Sadly, I didn’t win a single one.  Must be the horses fault.  To the glue factory with them all!

Billion Bubble Beverage (088/365)

“My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle.”

Henry Youngman (English born American Comedian and Violinist, 1906-1998)

TIME:  2:18 PM
PLACE:  520 O’Fallon Street, St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT:  Gigantic Vess Soda Bottle
(35 1/2´ high x 6´7" wide)

I was at the St. Louis County Library today doing some genealogical research.  I found a few new facts for my files and on my way home, I meandered through downtown St. Louis to visit them in person.  I had reviewed the Sanborn Fire maps, trying to determine just where my paternal relatives had lived in the early 1900s before they moved across the river to Illinois in the early 1920’s.  I found out that this bottle is now located in the same city block where my paternal relatives resided.  This block was home to residential flats, an auto body company and a produce warehouse.  One block to the west was the home of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church and school.  Sadly, all the buildings are gone and now they are just vacant lots.

(From the Vess Soda Bottle Landmark file in the Cultural Resources Office
A giant replica of a family-size Vess Soda Bottle, it was erected at Hampton Av. and Gravois Blvd. in South St. Louis. It was constructed by Treesh Neon Sign Company, East St. Louis, Illinois for the Vess Bottling Company of St. Louis. The bottle revolves on a steel pole. In 1953, it was believed to be the largest, revolving, lighted bottle in the world. At night it was lit by more than 600 lineal feet of neon tubing.  In 1989, after the bottle had been found in storage, it was re-erected at 520 O´Fallon. It is mounted on a pole similar to the original, but no longer rotates.)

Rainy Night Reflection (063/365)

"It was a rainy night. It was the myth of a rainy night."

Jack Kerouac (On the Road)

TIME:  9:09 PM
PLACE:  West Main St.
SUBJECT:  Bar light reflections

DramaQueen went to the movies tonight to see “I Am Number Four” with friends.  While she was there, the rain that was expected showed up.  She texted me to come get her after the movie was over.  As I was driving down Main Street to go fetch her, I took this quick snapshot of the colorful reflections in the wet street from the neon signs shining through the windows of a local tavern.  It’s blurry because I quickly took it as the car was moving…just think what a tripod and more time could capture on a rainy night like tonight.

Red Goose Shoes (255/365)

 
“Half the fun of having feet is Red Goose Shoes.”

Advertising jingle, Red Goose Shoes

TIME:  2:16 PM
PLACE:  5227 Gravois, St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT:  Trautwein’s Shoes sign

DQ, SD and I went down to South St. Louis on a grave marker hunt at St. Peters & Paul and Gatewood Garden Cemetery.  I found the stone I was researching at St. Peters & Paul, then we drove across the street to Gatewood.  No luck there.  We had the windows down in the Jeep and on the way to the front gates of the cemetery, I heard a jangling which sounded exactly like the noise Oreo’s chain collar and metal tags make when she shakes her head.  I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a dog.  He looked like a much skinner Oreo.  I stopped because he was running in front of the car and I didn’t want to run him over.  When I stopped, he came up and put his front paws on the window ledge.  He was very stinky, like he rolled in something dead.  How appropriate for a cemetery.  He was friendly - too friendly - he jumped in through DQ’s window!  I opened my door, got out and drug him out -  I didn’t need a stinky dog in my car!  I was able to grab him long enough to obtain a phone # off his collar; DQ called but an answering machine picked up.  A couple minutes later, a truck pulled in the gates, a guy got out and the dog took off towards him.  He was the dog’s owner, who also owned a house on the grounds.  He said that he had found the dog in a garbage can, he was an escape artist and hoped he didn’t bother us.  Except for the smell, it was no bother *grins*.  We stopped at a QuikTrip to get gas and wash the stinky dog aroma off our hands.  This sign was just down the street from the gas station.  Wish I would have thought to take a photo of the “demon dog” when he was leaning in the window.  Now THAT would have been an excellent photo of our day.

Winged Mascot (186/365)

 
“They swayed about upon a rocking horse, And thought it Pegasus.”

Keats,John. 'Sleep and Poetry', l.186^7.

TIME:  6:31 AM
PLACE:  Centreville Ave.
SUBJECT:  Mobil Pegasus neon sign

Yes, I really was up this early.  I rolled out of bed a little after 6am, put in my contacts, got dressed and hopped on my bicycle for an early morning ride with my dad.  On my way to the bike trail I always pass this old Mobil Oil mascot hanging above the entrance to an auto repair business.   I don’t think that the sign is in working condition – I’ve never seen it lit – but I still think it’s pretty cool.

Trailway Motel (135/365)

“At Motel 6 in Amish Country I wonder if they leave the light on for you?”

Jay London (American, Stand-up comic b1966)

TIME:  7:19 PM
PLACE:  Fairview Heights, IL
SUBJECT:  Trailway Motel sign

On our way back from MonkeyBoy’s baseball game last Tuesday, we passed this motel.  I remarked that it had a neat sign and I would have to come back and get a photo at some point for my blog.  The family went out for supper tonight (Applebees) and after we had finished and gotten back in the car, HandsomeHusband asked me if I had a photo for today; when I said I hadn’t yet, he drove so I could take this picture.  Isn’t that sweet?  *grins*

Taken To The Cleaners (059/365)

 
“This shirt is dry clean only. Which means...it's dirty.”

Mitch Hedberg (American Comedian, 1968-2005)

TIME:  5:00 PM
PLACE:  W. Main Street
SUBJECT:  Dry cleaner’s sign

Yesterday wore me out.  I did not feel like doing anything today and I accomplished that goal.  I even took a nap early this afternoon.  HandsomeHusband picked up dinner from a fire department BBQ so ravioli will wait until dinner tomorrow night.  After we ate, I needed to go to the grocery store to pick up things for the kids’ lunches this week.  I pass this dry cleaner’s sign almost every day.  I played around with the picture on Photoshop to give a more retro feel – like an old Kodachrome photo.

Mmm, Forbidden Donuts (338/365)

Homer:  Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?

The Simpsons, Marge vs. the Monorail, 14 January 1993 (Season 4, Episode 12)

TIME:  8:29 PM
PLACE:  6525 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT:  Donut Drive In

The kid’s school sponsored a Parent’s Night Out this evening.  I forked over $15 and the three rugrats darlings were fed pizza and kept out of our hair properly supervised for three hours.  HH and I took this opportunity to go out to eat.  We went to our favorite sushi restaurant in St. Louis – Nobu’s.  We’ve been going since HH took me there on our 1st date 20 years ago.  Tonight, we sat at the sushi bar and toward the end of our dinner, I mentioned this fact to Noboru Kidera, the owner and sushi chef.  He congratulated us and asked about the kids (they’ve been going there since they were tiny babies – MB inhales the cucumber and California rolls and they all enjoy the miso soup with extra tofu).  He had some fresh pineapple brought out for us to commemorate our “anniversary”.  HH said it was the sweetest pineapple he ever tasted.  Afterwards, we drove to Chippewa Ave (Route 66) and Ted Drewes for some custard.  It was 8 o’clock at night and a chilly 29 degrees out but there we were, standing in the cold to get our custard.

This “Donut Drive-In” is just down the street from Ted Drewes on the old Route 66.  HH stopped so I could take a couple of shots, then it was time to hit the road and pick up the kids.  The three hours went way too fast.

They Were Giants (282/365)

 
“I could take the Harlem night and wrap around you,
Take the neon lights and make a crown,
Take the Lenox Avenue buses,
Taxis, subways,
And for your love song tone their rumble down.”

Langston Hughes (American Writer, Poet and Essayist, 1902-1967)

TIME:  10:06 PM
PLACE:  Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT:  The Pageant marquee

Tonight I went with my sister and cousin to see “They Might Be Giants” at the Pageant in St. Louis.  They performed their platinum album Flood in its entirety.  TMBG is the band behind the “Malcolm in the Middle” theme song – Boss of Me.  My kids love them, but I was a selfish mom and didn’t take them to see the band.  This was a 14 year old and up show anyway and we had over 21 seating in the balcony.  I had my camera with me like I always do, but the band requested no cameras so I had to make a trek back to the car to return it.  *shrugs*  I still had my cell phone which had a camera, but I honored the request of no pictures of the band.  I did try to take one of the guy at the end of the row in front of us.  He was really getting into the concert, dancing like crazy…very badly though.  If I was a betting man, I would say that he was single.  The pictures didn’t turn out – not enough light.  As expected, the geek factor was pretty high at this concert, I swear “Hurley” from was sitting in front of us.  All in all, both the music and the crowd was very entertaining, and we all enjoyed it.  This is the front of the venue, taken through my windshield, after the concert .