The Jose C. Show

Two Twenty Five Twelve

2012-02-25T18:48:00.000-08:00

Mum's the word - early morning flowers on the kitchen table.

Jars of water with algae at North Park Nature Center.

Mr. Norman Bates. He was fed today and is now content.

Eleanor

2012-02-18T13:59:00.000-08:00

It sure didn't feel like 36 degrees today. The sun was shining, and the air was calm. I took the Canon out for a walk, revisitied some old spots, made a couple of new friends, and put in a couple more hours of practice with the new camera.

First, some more shots at the abandoned trestle.

I met a nice lady walking her dog "Eleanor". Eleanor is a 14-year-old mixed-breed. She was very calm and gentle, and reminded me of my old dog. She was very photogenic and seemed to like the attention.

Burrs.

Nobody's home.

On thin ice.

Illinois Beach State Park, Zion

2012-02-11T20:21:00.000-08:00

Upgrade

2012-02-05T21:15:00.000-08:00

So I recently graduated from a modest Samsung point-and-shoot camera (which was used to take all photos so far on my blog with the exception of the "Michigan Sunset" post, which I used my wife's Canon Powershot G10 for) to a Canon Rebel T3 EOS (an "entry-level" DSLR camera) with stock lens. I figured that since I spend enough time and energy with a camera, I might as well try something that will give me more options.

My first impression is that this new Canon is a BEAST. I am a total amateur at photography but have enjoyed it for years and want to become a better photographer. To do this I have to learn all these crazy terms like aperture and shutter speed. I think I am slowly getting the hang of it, but it will take a lot of time and trial and error before I can master this new technology.

Once I started using the Canon with stock lens, I realized two things - the zoom is entirely inadequate and the macro is terrible. I won't be getting any good shots of subjects from afar with this lens nor will I be able to get good macro shots (such as the invertebrates and amphibians I captured last year). For these, I will need to upgrade to a more appropriate lens or lenses. The Canon Rebel T3 takes stunning photos in low-light conditions, unlike the Samsung. It also allows the subject to really pop out. I have been playing with the aperture settings and have taken a few halfway decent (and I'm being generous) shots. So, until I procure some nicer lenses specific to my photographic needs, I will be alternating between my new toy and the old Samsung (which I still really like).

Here are a couple of photos I took today with the new camera. This was kind of a test run to become more familiar with this technological marvel.

Rusty & Forgotten

2012-02-03T20:20:00.000-08:00

Midwest Fence installed this fence during or following the contruction of the Kennedy expressway during the late 50's or early 60's. There are still quite a few of these old signs with the old phone numbers posted along this particular stretch of I-90.

Just another old sign that has seen much better years.

Variety Auto Supply

2012-02-03T20:04:00.000-08:00

Something tells me this sign is going very soon. The auto supply business is long gone and now houses a clothing store.

A pig in the wind

2012-01-22T12:05:00.000-08:00

Seeing as how Chicago has been called the "Hog Butcher for the World", "The Windy City", and even "The Chill (Chi + Ill)", this wind vane seems entirely appropriate.

That's the way the concrete crumbles

2012-01-22T11:54:00.000-08:00

Frederick's Coiffures

2012-01-22T11:50:00.000-08:00

Payback

2012-01-22T11:40:00.000-08:00

Multiple sources reveal that Little Al is, well, a big jerk. Reports of blatant racism, a terrible temper, and a vicious demeanor abound on the Internet. Sometimes, it doesn't matter how skilled you are at your craft. If you're going to be a jerk, ultimately, people will go somewhere else so as to not have to put up with the crap. Looks like that's what happened here.

I've always liked the hand-painted sign that's been there forever. The building itself was built in 1913, which sets it apart from most other buildings along this stretch of Milwaukee Ave. Most buildings appear to have been built between the 40's-90's.

Jefferson Park Pool

2012-01-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

I went for a walk with my camera this morning, figuring the snow was too heavy to bother driving anywhere unless I really need to. Staying local, I passed by JP and its swimming facility. This place always brings back weird memories, as I occasionally swam here as a child. This is the building you enter through before you can get to the pool. There are lockers and stuff inside, and you were supposed to shower before and after you swim in the outdoor pool. I remember the last time I had gone swimming here. I was walking toward the pool and came across a roadblock - there was a lifeguard checking to make sure no boys were wearing underwear under their swim trunks. She was literally grabbing the front waistband of the swim trunks and pulling them out and looking down. I was totally weirded out. When it was my turn, I felt like turning around and walking back home. When you are eight or nine years old, there's something quite disconcerting about having a complete stranger looking down your trunks. Instead, I stood there while she quickly grabbed my trunks, looked down, and after seeing that I was abiding by the rules, said, "OK, go." After swimming, I went home and never went back. Now I laugh about it of course, and I realize that if something like that was ever reported today, it would be on the news. Anyway, this photo is from a set I took at the pool right before the snow began falling heavily, forcing me to return home.

A fire in the sky

2012-01-06T15:49:00.000-08:00

More of my sky photos. I took these today getting out of work, around 4:45. The skies never fail to captivate me.

The Big Top

2012-01-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

Bel-Nar Pub

2012-01-02T13:21:00.001-08:00

Coke Ghost

2012-01-02T13:19:00.000-08:00

DR CHIROPRACT

2012-01-02T13:18:00.001-08:00

Frank's Pizzaria

2012-01-02T13:17:00.000-08:00

Renee's Salon of Beauty

2012-01-02T13:16:00.000-08:00

Christmas in Columbus

2011-12-23T18:18:00.000-08:00

Late Autumn Droop

2011-12-06T16:01:00.000-08:00

Backyard Lagomorph III

2011-12-06T15:45:00.000-08:00

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!!!!

2011-10-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-10-30T18:34:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-30T18:27:00.000-07:00

South Barington, IL

Yellow House in the Sky

2011-10-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

Galena, IL.

Bricks and Star

2011-10-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

Dubuque, IA.

Terrace Crucifix

2011-10-16T21:17:00.000-07:00

Galena, IL

windowsill wasp

2011-10-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

DOA @ The House On The Rock, Wisconsin.

Vintage cleaners

2011-09-30T20:16:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

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

ClearChannel Wolf

2011-09-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-09-03T19:37:00.000-07:00

Chauliognathus pensylvanicus - Goldenrod Soldier Beetle. Glenview, IL.

Say a prayer

2011-08-29T18:05:00.000-07:00

Failed Mission.

2011-08-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

Everything you need(ed) under one roof.

2011-08-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

Disco Sound

2011-08-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-19T17:05:00.000-07:00

Rigo

2011-08-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

Swingers

2011-08-06T21:11:00.000-07:00

Tiffany, circa 1900

2011-08-06T21:06:00.000-07:00

Fly on apple

2011-08-06T20:59:00.001-07:00

Conrad & Son

2011-08-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-06T20:21:00.000-07:00

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

Please consider

2011-08-03T20:51:00.000-07:00

It's getting real at this minigolf course!

Leon's

2011-08-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

South Side of Milwaukee, WI

How about a game of ball

2011-07-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

Don't forget your waders.

Abbott's Sphinx

2011-07-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

The Abbott's Sphinx moth (Sphecodina abbotti) is interesting at best in its adult life as a moth. It is rather typical in appearance, mottled brown with raggedy wings. However, it lives its "first" life as a snake mimic. Take a look at the first photo. It can be understood that many would-be predators may mistake this larva for a snake. It's got all the looks, even down to the "head scales". However, it doesn't end there. If its appearance alone won't frighten away a predator, the catterpillar assumes the defensive motions of a snake, and litertally "strikes" with its tail end, which is actually the "head" (the catterpillars real head is the smaller end at the left). If that's not crazy enough, these catterpillars are known to hiss like a snake as well, though I did not experience this behavior.

Poison Ivy

2011-07-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

I get itchy just standing next to this stuff.

Drive safe.

2011-07-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

From what I gather, the driver of the silver sedan, an elderly woman, ran the intersection and caused a 5-car pileup. The driver of the sedan was killed.

July June Bug

2011-07-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

Gluttonous maximus!

Humboldt Park pigeon

2011-07-13T20:19:00.000-07:00

Fascination

2011-07-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

Somehow, this boy reminds me of myself at that age. I caught him pointing at a fish in the water at Humboldt Park, supervised by his mom.

Tibicen linnei nymph at night

2011-07-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

They are emerging early this season, probably due to the prolonged heat wave.

Pollen

2011-07-02T19:48:00.000-07:00

Ominous sky

2011-07-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

Baby Apple

2011-06-27T19:48:00.000-07:00

This is probably one of the last apples to ever grow on the ancient apple tree in my backyard. Though we love the tree, it has suffered from years of abuse. Insects, disease, woodpeckers, people, and squirrels have wreaked havoc on the old man tree over the years. Large sections of the tree are dead, and the squirrels leave us virtually no apples to enjoy in the fall. Scores of immature apples litter the grass, each plucked by a squirrel, only to be tasted once and dumped. What a waste. Recently, I noticed a section of tree up high where an animal (squirrel) has been chewing the live bark off. Teeth marks and all.

The tree will probably go next year. But for now, it keeps pushing on, bearing fruit in the face of adversity.

Rooftop Balloons

2011-06-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

Key Personnel, U.S. Cellular

2011-06-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

The Grayland Theater

2011-06-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

The Grayland Theater, 3940 N Cicero Ave, was built in 1909 and opened as a theater in 1912. Much like the nearby Jefferson Nickelodeon, this was a small, single screen theater that featured silent films accompanied by live organ. Designed by architect William Ohlhaber, it probably was the premiere theater in the area until 1920, when the much larger and fancier Portage Park Theater (later shortened to Portage Theater) opened just around the corner on Milwaukee Ave. Today, the building houses Rasenick's, a work and utility clothing store. I first wondered about the building in the summer of 2007, when I visited Rasenick's for the first time. I was to pick up a pair of safety shoes for work, so a coworker and I stopped by on our break. Entering the building, I noticed that a segment of the drop ceiling was missing, revealing a gorgeous ornate terra cotta design along the wall and ceiling. When I went home later that day to investigate, I learned that in fact this was once a theater. On a return trip, I asked the manager of the store if he had any information regarding the history of the building. He was well aware of its cinematic past, and told me that before it opened as Rasenick's in the late 70's, it was a delicatessen for a number of years. He had worked at the store since it opened in (I believe) 1978, or, as he assured, "before (I) was born".

One very intriguing feature of the former theater is the area of facade which is covered in several peices of sheet metal. This looks very much like where an epigraph or small marquee would have been. The manager of the store assured me there was nothing behind it. But I think there is...otherwise, there's no need to obliterate a blank section of the facade. I understand if Rasenick's wants to call their business Rasenick's and not Grayland Theater, but one day I would love to be there if and when they remove the sheet metal to take a peak at just what is there, hiden in secrecy.

Upon further research, I found a very interesting story regarding the Grayland Theater, as told by Dan Kelly (http://www.mrdankelly.com/, http://www.chicagosteppes.com/). Mr. Kelly has done some extensive research in this theater, and other local points of interest as well. One fascinating anecdote on the Grayland Theater, as told by Dan Kelly:

"Albert Schmidt was unhappy with his recent purchase.

It was October 26, 1926, and he’d just called the previous owner of the Grayland Theater, Samuel Wertheimer, telling him to get over to the place as soon as possible that night. He was having a problem with the ventilation system, and he needed Wertheimer to come over and explain the cockamamie—or whatever expression they used back then—thing to him.

Wertheimer, we must assume, was wary. Schmidt purchased the Grayland only a week before for $4,000. While business was reportedly good—a film was showing when the two men met that day, shortly after 3 p.m.—it wasn’t paying off fast enough. Whether he truly thought he’d recoup the money in that short a timeframe is open to debate, but according to Wertheimer, Schmidt quickly got cold feet and had asked him twice already to back out of the deal. “Nuts to that banana oil, pally! 23 skidoo!” we can only assume Wertheimer said.

It seems Wertheimer cared enough to answer a few questions about the ventilation system’s operation, though. So maybe the bad blood flowed only on one side. Wertheimer showed up in the Grayland’s lobby, then followed Schmidt to the basement. Schmidt indicated the vents, which Wertheimer inspected closely before turning to see… Schmidt standing there with a revolver.

As Wertheimer tells it—and we only have his word for it—Schmidt drew a bead and shot him twice as he tried to run away. Maybe it was dark down there or maybe Schmidt was just a piss-poor shot, but the reluctant theater owner only managed to wing his target, putting a bullet apiece in Wertheimer’s arm and leg. An assumedly distraught, or at the least stressed, Schmidt shot himself, didn’t miss, and died.
Fueled by adrenalin and fear, Wertheimer ran up the stairs, out of the theater, down Cicero Ave. to a local doctor, who bandaged him up while he waited for the cops to arrive.

But that’s not where the story ends.

During the movie, a number of patrons heard the shots, and ran out of the theater (without running into Wertheimer, I suppose). One called the cops. As so often happens during stressful situations, the person making the call got the facts wrong, and instead of reporting a shooting/suicide, this nameless individual reported a riot. Two people had been shot by an unknown assailant, he or she said, and the gunman had barricaded himself in the basement. Seven squads of cops mounted up, armed for rioting bears with guns and “tear bombs,” piled into their cars and headed for Grayland. Some of the cops made it to the theater to discover the cooling corpse of Albert Schmidt.

Others did not.

One of the squads headed west on Addison, sirens howling and lights blazing. Meanwhile, Cecil Chapel, his wife, and and two kids were heading north on Lincoln, probably returning to their northwest side home on Kedvale. Both, according the article, got the yellow light, and both continued driving through the intersection. They collided, adding a bit more blood and broken bodies to the story. Officer Walter Riley, 28, was critically injured and died on his way to the hospital. Meanwhile Chapel and his family, as well as officers Thomas Alcock and George Hennesy were seriously injured. No further details on what became of them, though an accompanying photo made it clear things didn’t look good for Alcock (“AUTO VICTIM. Sergt. Tom Alcock, near death from injuries received in crash”). Ripples expanding outwards from a central pebble of violence cast by Albert Schmidt (listed in his obituary a few days later as having “died suddenly”)." (http://www.mrdankelly.com/blog/?p=1530).

Rasenick's: http://rasenicks.com/home/default.asp

Sounds fair to me.

2011-06-02T19:14:00.000-07:00

Bombs away!

2011-05-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

A frog in a log in a bog.

2011-05-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

Actually, a toad, and yes, IN a log, located in somewhat of a bog. I have found thousands of toads UNDER logs in my life. Never have I found a toad INSIDE a log. A solid log, that is...perhaps just soft enough to allow an amphibian access to the protective pulp within.

Find the toad (Bufo americanus) in the first photo. This was taken immediately after I tried to flip the log, but instead broke the top part off, revealing the toad.

By the way, the toad was returned to its chamber after I snapped a few photos.

Video Land.

2011-05-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

Keep low, Doe.

2011-05-19T21:08:00.000-07:00

Michigan Sunset

2011-05-17T20:32:00.000-07:00

On Vernal Pond

2011-05-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is one of the most common species of songbirds (and birds in general) in most of its range. I saw a number of them this morning, including this male. It is hard to get a really good picture of them, since they were wary of me (the crunching of leaves and sticks as I approach doesn't help), and for the time being, I am using only a simple point-and-shoot digital camera with average zooming capabilities. But, I thought this one turned out pretty good.

I found this female western chorus frog (Pseudacris triseriata) underneath some bark. She wasn't being a willing candidate for my photographic efforts, and even though it was a near-record low of 44 degrees (for mid-May), she was froggy and wouldn't sit still. This was the best I was able to muster. These frogs are extremely adaptable and can endure very low temperatures.

The blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale) is one of my favorite local amphibians. I always get excited when I find one. The blue-black combination is so unique to this group of animals. They are fairly common, but secretive. I found two today, but since they were nearly identical, I'll leave you with an image of the first.

Apple Blossoms

2011-05-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

Yeah, pictures of flowers are all too commonplace and played out. But, these were on MY apple tree in MY backyard. So, booyah. They don't last long- this was taken less than one week ago, and whatever flowers are left on the tree are wilted and dying.

Backyard Lagomorph

2011-05-13T16:15:00.000-07:00

This cottontail rabbit (genus Sylvilagus) was squatting in my backyard. It sat perfectly still as I knowingly walked within a few feet of it while taking out the trash. I again passed it by when I went back into the house, and again it sat motionless. Only when I returned with my camera did it become nervous and twitchy- it bounded across the yard toward the house (hence the aluminum siding backdrop), and was very wary (and hairy). I took a few pictures and tried getting closer before it took off under the fence and returned to urbanization.

Vintage Shelter

2011-05-13T15:56:00.000-07:00

Accipiter cooperii

2011-05-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

When I arrived home from work and was fiddling for the key to the front door the other day, I heard a commotion in the tree right out front of my house. I looked up and saw a raptor (no, not a dinosaur adept at opening doors and eating Australian big-game hunters), perched on a limb, beginning to eat a smaller bird. I'm not all too good with bird identification, so I wasn't sure what it was, but it wasn't anything I've seen before. I often see red-tailed hawks, but this one was a little smaller and the appearance was way off. I eventually learned it was a Cooper's Hawk, and a female at that. I watched as it ate the entire bird (I'm not sure what species the prey was), plucking its dinner's feathers out and sending them fluttering to the ground. I took some photos, as I'm not sure when I'll witness this again.

Mini-hangar

2011-04-30T21:54:00.000-07:00

One of the coolest garage graphics of all time.

It's the time of year for slimies

2011-04-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

Limax maximus, an alien slug species from Europe.

Bufo americanus, one of the most common amphibian species in Chicago.

I found these two denizens of detritus while on a stroll yesterday, in between delugues. It's amazing how abundant this variety of slug is during the spring, and then afterwards, they disappear. The toads, on the other hand, are hardier and remain active during all but the hottest, driest times of summer (and of course, winter).

Oh, deer.

2011-04-23T19:33:00.000-07:00

It's spring time!The local deer really aren't too concerned that I was right there.

Emydoidea blandingii

2011-04-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

Don't let this smile fool you. The Blanding's turtle is an endangered species in Illinois as well as in most of its range. Due to habitat loss/fragmentation, numbers have dropped dramatically, though to date it has no official federal status. I took this photo at The Grove in Glenview, where there are several Blanding's turtles on display in a mixed-species setup that also includes sliders, painted turtles, softshells, and box turtles.

One of the many

2011-04-20T20:29:00.000-07:00

I clearly have a squirrel problem. They are all over the place. It's funny, because they are essentially arboreal rats with fur instead of hair. That's all the difference it takes for these things to be hand-fed by various neighbors who must think they are "helping" the poor starving animals. Well, my immediate neighborhood has a healthy supply of overweight squirrels that like to bury everything from bread to pieces of fruit in my lawn, creating a war zone in the process. The squirrel in this photo was in the apple tree in the backyard. Look how rotund it is. This is one of scores of squirrels that have literally infested the area. They are by far the most ubiquitous animal around here. Since all natural predators (with the exception of the occasional hawk) have been eradicated from the area, these little punks are carefree and have been wreaking havoc everywhere. And the noise they make when they see a dog or cat...it is the most annoying sound in the world. They'll sit up in the tree, or atop the light pole, and kind of make this mini growling noise. It can go on for an hour or more. Kind of makes me wish the periodical cicadas were in full force to at least drown these guys out.

You know, I've always been an advocate of keeping pet cats indoors, but I wouldn't mind letting a few go here and there and letting "nature" take its course.

Mayfair Lumber

2011-04-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

Trim 'n Tidy

2011-04-10T20:10:00.000-07:00

Vintage neon. This place is still in business.

Photographing old neon signs has kind of become cliche, but I just love the old signs and can't help but snap pictures of them. It's no wonder they are so appealing to many. They are each a work of art in their own and unfortunately, they are rapidly being demolished.

Don't look back. Unless...

2011-04-10T19:55:00.000-07:00

Yorkville Collage

2011-03-23T20:14:00.000-07:00

The idea was to get a photo of the patriotic (or suggestive? You be the judge) sign for Pride Pantry, but the end result is a picture that speaks a thousand words; a representation, perhaps, of the people from the little town of Yorkville, Illinois.

Oh, well.

2011-03-18T21:17:00.000-07:00

While hiking through the woods last weekend, I stumbled upon this oddity. It is a long-abandoned well, in the middle of the woods, forgotten by time. According to an historical aerial map of the area, the pump was once adjacent to a driveway connecting the road to a picnic grove. The driveway is long gone. Nearby, there are some recreational areas used for picnics, sports, and family gatherings. There is even a more modern pump down the road. Sadly, this one has been out of sight and out of mind for decades, rusting away and slowly being swallowed by wilderness.

Squirrel Nest Sunset

2011-03-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

I snapped this from my roof today as the sun was setting. I imagine a boy squirrel and a girl squirrel cuddling in that nest, also watching the sun set.

Grey juxtoposition

2011-03-12T18:51:00.000-08:00

Alley Boat.

2011-03-12T18:37:00.000-08:00

The Jefferson Nickelodeon

2011-03-11T18:16:00.000-08:00

The Jefferson Nickelodeon, located at 4768 N. Milwaukee Ave, first opened in 1914. It was a small single-screen theater of a Neoclassical design, designed by architect E.M. Newman. Seating 294, it primarily served the growing Jefferson Park neighborhood, and by 1917 became the Progress Theatre. It closed as a theatre in 1923, several years before movies had sound. In the ninety years since it closed as a theater, it has housed many small business, the latest of which was a cabinet maker. Currently, it is vacant and for rent (according to the signs).

Many people pass this small building up without ever noticing the "Jefferson" epigraph. Recently, the entire building was painted a dark maroon color, further obscuring the word. Previously, the building was painted in such a way that the word "Jefferson" really stood out. This building is one of my favorite buildings due to its historical significance as one of the neighborhood's earlier (if not earliest) theaters, and because of its low-key existence and mysterious nature.

Cry me a river and build me a bridge.

2011-03-07T15:14:00.000-08:00

This bridge crosses the North Branch of the Chicago River north of Foster Ave, in Labagh Woods. It was a train bridge until some years back when the route was discontinued. Last year or so, the tracks were pulled up and plans to turn this abandoned right of way into a trail are supposedly in the works. As of now, the path isn't really conducive to biking or jogging, since the large rocks are still there, unless it's intended to be an "extreme" trail. Mostly, this area is frequented by people walking dogs. And photographers. And evidently, taggers.

For as long as I can remember, up until recently, this section of woods attracted the kind of ghoulish grime you never would see in everyday life. My friends and I would ride our bikes on the nearby trails, and it wasn't unusual to see "odd" people out there. We used to think they were Satanists. Maybe they were homeless, maybe they were just rebellious teens. Whatever the case, they used a lot of drugs and trashed the place. We'd see needles and little baggies all over the ground. Beer cans, beer bottles, all kinds of trash. It was kind of like a mecca for crackheads and wayward hobos. One evening, as a couple friends of mine and I were heading out of the woods after hitting the bike humps, we encountered a group of crazies coming in- and they all wore black trench coats and looked to be preparing for an animal sacrifice. I was thankful to be leaving at that time!

Another regularity were the cars. Just under this bridge, on any given day, there would be up to three cars, minivans, or Jeeps upside down in the river. They had been completely charred and then bombed with graffiti. The act itself wasn't what confused me, considering the usual clientele. It was a question of how did they ever get the cars there? It would have been impossible to drive them up the bridge to push them over at that spot. The only possible way was if they pushed the cars down the embankment, but even that seems unlikely, seeing as how narrow and jagged the embankment is between the trees.

And the bridge has always been artfully decorated, but these days it seems people are putting a lot more time and effort into the project. Mostly, these are taggings and not gang graffiti. I often wonder how someone could do this much work and not get noticed.

The demise of the mom & pop pet shop

2011-03-06T18:07:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you went to a REAL pet shop? I'm not talking about Petco. I'm not talking about Pet Supplies Plus, and I'm not talking about PetSmart, and I sure as heck am not talking about the cute little doggy and kitty boutiques that have popped up on every corner in every hip neighborhood in Chicago (and elsewhere). I mean, when was the last time you went to a real pet shop, where you were greeted by the owner with a smile, where you could almost always find what you're looking for, where you could chat with the employees about biological filtration and the effectiveness of Bio-Balls vs. porous ceramic rings? Where, in the summertime, there's always a fan on? Where the bell rings when the door is opened? Where the employees are always wet with aquarium water? And the smell- the aroma of aquarium water and pine bedding, maybe some dry dog food thrown in the mix.

I have noticed that over the last few years, the classic pet store model is a dying breed among the giants and the holistic/organic/fair trade chihuahua boutiques. It seems shops like this are losing popularity as various factors arise- the birth of the Internet, and the appeal of websites such as Ebay, Craigslist, and a barrage of pet supply websites (including PetSmart, etc). People don't want to spend a little extra, but there's one thing they always expect from the little guys- information. They know where the real good information is. And they want it free, so they can go home to their Petco-bought aquarium setup and their puggles they bought on the Internet.

When I was very young, there was no Internet to buy and sell pets and pet supplies, and it seemed there were pet stores all over. There was "Your One Stop Pet Shop" in my neighborhood. That's what it was called. It was a tiny little store. I bought some of my first aquarium stuff there. And I bought my first Solomen Islands ground boa there too. The store was run by a young couple. It was great. Once they knew me, they were cool with me just coming in to look at the fish, unattended. No pressure on their part. That store has been gone for awhile now.

And I remember King Coral, back when it was on Milwaukee Avenue, just northwest of the Portage Theater. I remember the racks and racks of fish aquariums, no substrate, just fish in tanks on wrought-iron racks, wall-to-wall. They had a store iguana in there that would just hang out. He would often be found basking on top of a fluorescent light fixture for the aquariums. Later, they'd switch locations and move to Montrose and Central. The same setup, same awesome variety of fish, same humid fish tank/lemon scent combo aroma. I think they are still open in Mount Prospect somewhere...

And who can forget Animal Kingdom in Logan Square, with its gaudy, outdated hand-painted exterior (with neon!) and its chaotic interior, featuring exotic residents ranging from a jaguar, coyote, spoonbill, ducks, and Moe and Curly, the two red-tailed boas? Though I personally wasn't a huge fan of the place in general (the owners hired anyone who'd work for minimum wage and therefore stuff kinda got out of hand at times), there was a certain appeal the place had. The sounds of scores of birds cheeping/squawking, floors that never stay clean longer than a few hours, people shouting over the sounds of parrots or dogs, and of course, getting to see a real electric eel on display.

Many of these places are gone forever, to be replaced by another Cricket, another currency exchange, another eye doctor. A few places remain. Coral Reef, in Norridge, is still there. Living Sea Aquarium is still in business, as is Bit-O-Tropics (surprisingly). And then of course, there is Ocean Design Aquarium in Dunning Square, where I worked for some years. It was my first job, meant to be a short-lived one (I was supposed to make enough money to buy a drum set and then quit to pursue my rock star dream). I was sixteen, just about to begin my junior year in high school. Soon, I turned seventeen and did buy my drum set. But I liked the job so much I stayed. Besides, I never got THAT good at drumming.

And did I stay. At 18, I graduated high school, and went to college full time at times and part time at others, all the while working at the pet shop. I worked my way to manager and enjoyed my surroundings, and most of the time, the people too. The first few years were some of the best times I have ever had. I spent a lot of time in that shop, and learned a great deal. Mostly, I learned about people. I learned about how to communicate with all kinds of people. I learned to deal with adversity, and to appreciate the bonuses. And, I learned that I really really hated getting electrocuted. But that's another story.

Eventually, I moved on, much later than I had intended, but with a whole bunch of learned lessons and memories to cherish (and some to forget!). Once in a while I think back to those days. I think that I am who I am partly due to my having worked in such a genuine place, a place free of corporate rule and dress code, surrounded by reptiles and reef aquariums. And there was certainly a sense of innocence. And that's how I had always seen small mom & pop pet shops- small businesses run by honest, hard-working people with mouths to feed, all the while enjoying doing what they loved doing, and ultimately having to make big choices once their breed began to phase out in favor of the big box pet shops and the Internet. Most couldn't keep up. Many are still struggling to hang in there, making desperate adjustments and hasty decisions just to make sure they can flip the "closed" sign to "open" the next day.

I don't think the big stores are bad. I do think that people should support the small businesses when they can, because otherwise, it's only a matter of time before small pet shops exist only as "retro novelties". Or worse, become extinct.

National Tea Company

2011-02-25T19:19:00.000-08:00

Taqueria El Tapatio, 4238 W. Fullerton Ave.

From the Encyclopedia of Chicago:

Beginning with one store on North Avenue in 1899, National Tea became the region's largest retail grocery chain. By 1920, when there were about 160 stores in the chain, annual sales approached $13 million. By the end of the 1920s, National Tea had over 600 locations in the Chicago area and another 1,000 stores nationwide; sales had grown to about $90 million a year. Many of these stores were closed or sold during the Great Depression, but National Tea remained among the 10 largest grocery chains in the United States for most of the twentieth century. During the 1950s, it acquired about 500 new stores by buying up smaller chains. In 1956, when annual sales topped $600 million and the company had nearly 20,000 employees nationwide, National Tea was purchased by George Weston Ltd., a Canadian company. There was little growth during the 1960s, when the company operated about 240 stores in the Chicago area (where it had fallen behind Jewel as the number one chain). During the mid-1970s, when it still employed about 9,000 people around the region, National Tea/George Weston suddenly abandoned the Chicago grocery market. By the end of the century, there was little trace remaining of what had once stood as one of the area's leading enterprises and the source of groceries for a large fraction of Chicago's population.

No Dumping

2011-02-12T19:34:00.000-08:00

This sign has been painted on the back of this building for as long as I can remember. I've always wanted to photograph it- not like it's going anywhere soon.

Alley, Blizzard of '11

2011-02-06T12:16:00.000-08:00

The future of America 2

2011-02-05T13:05:00.000-08:00

The future of America

2011-02-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

Walk this way...

2011-01-26T16:37:00.000-08:00

One of my new favorite things to do is take walks at night with Aimee. Even though it is bitter cold out there and Chuck Taylors are my most insulated shoes, it's great getting out there and really familiarizing myself with the neighborhood. Talking long walks really make me feel like I am missing out on so much when I'm driving, or even biking. I notice little things when I'm walking- little, intriguing things. A long, long time ago, before people got too lazy to walk to the corner store, and way before video games, Ipods, internet, and cell phones, walking was a very common and popular pastime as well as necessity. Often, when I am looking through old boxes of photographs from the 20's through the 60's and even 70's, I see people outside. In the backyard with the family, having a picnic. Proud, hard-working homeowners posed in front of their own homes. People playing on the block, riding bikes and scooters, pulling wagons, standing next to their father's car, or taking a dip in the little pool. Obviously, I wasn't around then, but I'm going to assume people appreciated simple things such as walking in the neighborhood and talking with neighbors. And because people spent a lot of time doing these things, they inevitably left some signs behind that still exist to this day...signs that are hard to come across if you're driving down the street.

Aimee and I like to admire some of the houses in our neighborhood. I love to identify houses I think might be old, and verifying the date it was built online via the Cook County Assessor's Office. One of the houses on the next block over is a beautiful frame Victorian with beautiful detailing and an impressive front porch. In fact, we looked into this house when househunting, but ended up passing since it had recently been totally gutted on the inside. I was slightly surprised to find out this house was built in the 1880's. That alone isn't surprising, but the fact that it is surrounded by mostly mid-century cookie-cutter-style ranch houses is. I imagine this house as a farm house in the middle of a big field, before the area was subdivided in the 1920's. I imagine horses and wagons being the sole method of transportation, I imagine no electricity, no plumbing or hot water, and I imagine a hard-working farmer sitting on that front porch after a hard day's work, probably unaware of the pending expansion of the city of Chicago and the huge housing boom that followed. I wonder if the family still lived in that house as the fields quickly went from corn to curbs.

That's the stuff I often think about.

And when the Kennedy Expressway was built in the early 1960's, I wonder how the neighborhood (and the city altogether) felt about having this huge scar dug into the ground right through their neighborhood to allow fast cars and trains and the accompanying noise to invade the once-tranquil neighborhood. We were walking toward the expressway when the sidewalk abruptly came to an end. The last house on the street- a lucky survivor spared by the city- predates the expressway by a good forty or fifty years. How did those people cope with the change in atmosphere? I notice the sidewalk stamp directly in front of the house. This sidewalk was built in 1924 with pride. If that sidewalk could talk.

I guess my point is, is that little things like these can be seen everywhere, you just have to look. There are signs of good times, and bad times, but all of it is history and there is always something we all can learn from. In this era of wireless this and that and a constant need for the Easy Button, sometimes it's nice to just get out and walk, and observe.

I'll end this with a photo I took yesterday with my new camera (which, by the way, I plan on using regularly for this blog). This is right behind my garage and harks back to the 1950's, when it wasn't unusual for kids to spend hours playing in the alley (and not tagging).

Lou

2010-08-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

So last night at 3:45 am, I am awakened by the sound of a loud car revving in the alley followed by the breaking of glass bottles. I quickly got up and looked out the window and down into the alley below. There was a large black sports car (I thought it was probably a Monte Carlo) parked in the alley next to the house. From it, ethnic music was heard and I also heard the driver talking loudly, either to a passenger or to his cell phone. The car sat idle for a few moments before peeling away down the end of the alley. I wondered if the driver noticed me, since he took off pretty quickly. I ran down the stairs and peered out the dining room window to see if I could spot what had broken, and through the darkness noticed some bottles at the side of the house. As groggy and dizzy as I was from the rush of activity so soon after waking up, the last thing I wanted to do was to go out and clean it up.

The next morning, Aimee and I went out there and saw that there were indeed some bottles, some broken and some intact. Some Polish beer I guess. We cleaned it up, and in my mind hoped it wouldn't happen a third time.

The first time someone dumped their crap at our house (in the exact same spot, mind you) was about one week ago. We had just had our cable and Internet installed and I noticed two swollen garbage bags near the spot where the installer had parked his work truck. At first, I thought the cable guy left his mess for us to clean, but when I looked inside a bag, I saw that it was full of drywall- chunks of drywall and lots of powder. Each bag weighed a ton. Annoyed by the thought that someone would actually dump this stuff for a stranger to clean up, I grabbed the bags and started my long journey to the garbage cans. It was one of those situations where if these bags had weighed just one more pound each, I would not have been able to lift them. This was definitely the extreme upper limits of what I was capable of carrying. When I arrived at the garbage cans, I was very relieved to put them down to shake out my hands and give my arms a rest. Now, it was time to finish the show, time to plop these heavy sacks of crap into my own garbage can (because I'm nice like that and wouldn't want to fill up anyone else's can). I lifted the heavier of the two bags with both hands so I could get it up and over the garbage can opening. All of a sudden, I heard a loud "poof" and the bag became very light. I looked up to the sky and let out a long, frustrated sigh.

So there at and on my feet was a big white powdery mess. All because some idiot was too lazy to dispose of his own waste. Who would put this much material in these cheap, weak bags? Now, I had to clean up this big mess. Ironically, I had just spent several hours the day before cleaning up the same area, since it was full of debris and compost from years of neglect.

Lou Piniella retired from baseball today after managing for 28 years. Today officially marks the end of an era that I definitely won't forget. Despite the fact the Cubs have played terribly this year, I have fond memories of watching the Cubs games headed by Lou over the last four years, with family and friends, at home, in the car, at school, at work, and at the ballpark. Lou surely was a character. It's been fun.

Joe

Sticks

2010-08-18T21:10:00.000-07:00

Sticks and stones might break my bones.

Well, sticks, mainly...they are everywhere. Every day, there are new sticks on the ground like mean little deliveries. Some sticks are small. These ones are the worst, because they are the most numerous kind. Little twigs that, when left to collect on the ground, dirty up the sidewalk, embed in the grass, and clog up the gutters. Some sticks are big. These are easily spotted and also easier to clean up, but are a pain nonetheless. And, some sticks are huge. Big dead branches that fall during storms or sometimes for no apparent reason at all. No matter how big or small, sticks are a daily issue.

It is great to be living under and around large, mature trees. I think it's beautiful. The view from the front porch is spectacular. From the steps, I can look straight up into the crown of a very large, gangly deciduous tree (I'm not sure what species it is yet...gotta break out the ID guide sometime). And there is also a decent-size maple out front as well. Both of these trees add to the character of both the house and the neighborhood. But picking up the "castings" from these trees is a real chore. I could easily ignore the issue, but then the stuff accumulates and then it makes us look like slobs. Besides, I love being outdoors and don't mind the stick cleanup so much, but it does get a little old after awhile. Like, why can't they just stay on the trees where they belong?

Yeah, just wait until October...

Joe

For those that know me, indeed I like the flow.

2010-08-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

We knew what we had on our plate when we bought the house. The plate, however, turned out to be a deep dish.

The first major obstacle we had to overcome was the water situation. Prior to buying the house, the water had been shut off due to the winterization process. In fact, we never really got to test the water until after we had signed our lives away. It soon became evident that we had water backing up in every sink and bathtub. The toilets flushed OK, no problems there, but we were unable to wash our hands or in any way expect water to flow down the drain.

Another issue was the hookup for the washer and dryer. The previous owners placed the washer and dryer side by side, but a good distance from the utility sink. The waste water from the washer was channeled through a long length of cheap plastic pipe which was hidden behind the drywall. Nearing the sink, it appeared through the wall and then up and over the sink. The placement of the washer was not ideal, and it soon occurred to us that we'd have to either move the sink closer to the washer- or move the washer next to the sink.

The only appliance abandoned by the former tenants was an older dishwasher. Everything else- the refrigerator, the oven, washer, dryer- was gone. I found that a little suspicious, and confirming my belief that the dishwasher was non-functional was the fact that the wood floor surrounding the dishwasher was damp and warped. Somewhere there was a leak, and it was bad enough to where whoever moved out last wanted nothing to do with it. So, we bought a new one and had the old one removed. And then we tested it...before we realized just how much all the pipes in the wall were related to each other.

And then there was the dreaded leaky roof night. 1:45 in the AM and I am awaken by the sound of DRIP. DRIP. DRIP. DRIP. Over and over. It was more like someone tapping a pencil on the back of a pot. That couldn't be good. To make matters worse, I went to check the basement minutes later, and that trip down the stairs was the beginning of a long wet night.

SO- The clogged drains needed to be fixed, and fast. Mark was gracious enough (like always) to come over with his auger and try to remedy the problem. We spent hours trying to clear out the pipes, starting in the kitchen and then working our way through the bathrooms and then the utility sink in the basement. Each time we'd test out the water, there was no progress. It was like the stuff wasn't budging. As a last resort, Mark tried once more in the basement while I was there, and we had Aimee test the water in the sink upstairs. A lot of "No, it's still coming up!!" was heard. Then, when it seemed like all was impossible, we heard the sweet sound of water rushing and gushing through the pipes. It worked!! We ran upstairs and ran all the water in the house and it all went down flawlessly. Never was I so happy about water going down a drain. The likely culprits in this mess were the contractors hired by the bank to "flip" the house- who carelessly dumped grout and all kinds of crap down the drains.

For the washer, we decided that the most practical arrangement meant moving the washer next to the sink, which meant rerouting the piping behind the wall, and ultimately segregating the washer and dryer. Hours were spent removing yards of old copper piping, repiping, and then situating the valves adjacent to the washer's new location next to the sink. All said and done, it was totally worth the hard work, even if the washer and dryer aren't side by side. It was a necessary sacrifice.

When Abt came over to deliver and install our new appliances, the only problem encountered was during the installation of the dishwasher. It is important to remember that this was done before Mark cleared away the drains. We didn't expect the dishwasher to back up during its test run due to the pipe being clogged from the sinks. When the technician fired up the inaugural wash cycle, I noticed water spraying out from behind the dishwasher. Ahhh...crap. Not only was there water, but a burst gasket. It wasn't until Mark rodded out the pipes when we were able to use our new dishwasher.

The Great Overnight Storm of the Summer of '10 (I just made that name up in case you weren't sure) caused a lot of headache for a lot of people, including us, though from what I gather, it was a lot worse for some others. The dripping noise I was alluding to was water dripping from the roof, behind the wall in the bathroom, and onto the top of the ventilation duct, hence the heavy, metallic quality of tone. The water in the basement was merely minor seepage, nothing to cry about...until I decided to open one of the little windows at ground level. In doing so, I discovered that the water had been pouring down the side of the house (courtesy of congested gutters) and pooling at window level. When I shut the window, I totally lost the seal, and the water was coming in fast. All I could do was drive back to the apartment in some of the heaviest rain I've ever seen, pick up an old tube of clear aquarium silicone, come back, and gob the stuff all over the window seam to stop the water from coming in. And it worked, but it could not have been done without Aimee's involvement (standing in place and holding the window in so that it wouldn't pop back in). If I never had to open that window again, so be it, I just wanted a dry basement. I don't even care that it looked sloppy.

The very next day, I was up on my roof for three hours with two pails of black roof patch, in 100 degree weather and with absolute pain in my lower back. At the same time, my father and Mark were working on adding an additional downspout and clearing away dead leaves and debris in the gutters to allow for better water flow. Now, the gutters run fast and clear (for now) and don't leak water over the windows. Again, I cannot express just how thankful I am to have family that can not only help me with repairs, but also teach me so that I can do these things myself the next time they happen (God forbid).

There's more watery stories that I can tell, but it is late and I've got to get to sleep now.

Joe

Y'all tucked in? Here we go.

2010-08-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

So I'm at this point in my life where I feel like I've got to document much of what takes place on a regular basis, if not for others, than at least for myself. Two years ago, I created a blog in which I assumed the identity of a critic of society for fun. Though I have been known to exhibit sarcastic wit from time to time, I felt like the whole scene had been said and done and that nothing I was saying hadn't been seen or heard before. I myself became tired of ranting on solely about stupid commercials or useless garden tools, and eventually discontinued contributing to the blog.

A lot has changed over the last couple years, mainly, my proposal to my girlfriend of nearly eight years last October, and the subsequent purchase of our first home together. Our experiences with our new home has become the catalyst for the resurrection of this blog. The way I see it, is that buying your first home only happens once, so the experiences following the purchase are like life lessons. As I typed that last line, it occured to me just how old I sound, but I assure all you out there who haven't yet owned a home, the experience does put things into perspective. No longer can you simply depend on your parents to repair damaged gutters or to replace faulty dishwashers or even landscape a front yard. When you are awakened at 1:45 in the morning during a downpour because you hear a steady leak in the ceiling behind a wall, there is no one but you to save the day. When you discover that your neighbor allows his dog to defecate all over the shared grass parkway-and lets it simmer-it's up to you to put up, or...

The one issue I would have never even fathomed being an issue is squirrels. What I once thought of as small, harmless rodents with low-key existences are now the targets of a kind of inner rage I never thought I had in me. I shame myself for thinking about various ways of "displacing" these little beasts. My feelings of squirrels have changed drastically over the last few months, really, only since we've moved. It's just a minuscule example of how things once thought of as irrelevant now are, well, not.

All dark clouds aside, the experince has been one that I would never take back. The last few months have been the most exciting and challenging of my life. I understood that I'd have my plate full going into this ruckus and expected the worst (but, as Aimee says, hoped for the best). And as always, I have no regrets at all. As I look forward to the coming years in this new home, I plan tentatively and embrace each day here. In many ways, I feel fortunate to be partaking in what many would consider being part of the "American Dream" at a young age. The sooner we learn the skills necessary to maintain a comfortable home, the better. Of course, a huge thank you to my family and friends for lending us a hand when it came to jobs I was inexperienced in. They, along with lucky personal experience, are the foundation of this endeavor.

As I continue updating this blog, I will try to add some photos of the home and of the surroundings. I am a very inclined to being outdoors-especially during pleasant weather-and, combining that trait with my love for neighborhood structure, local history, and culture, will try to kind of paint a picture of the overall atmosphere that we are now part of.

Joe