Sunday, October 31, 2010

Waiting for Obama

Obama Speaks

Yesterday I did something political and this is somewhat out of character for me. Yes, I occasionally talk politics, yes I generally vote, but show up at a rally? Not likely. Nonetheless, how could I refuse when the latest rally was just down the block from me? So my husband and I walked a few blocks south, waited in line, submitted to security and stood at what felt like a rock concert with lousy acoustics. Being old, neither of us recognized the lead band but we otherwise felt right at home among the professors, students families and usual south side faces.

Little Green Men

The rally was orderly, with kids playing ball, a few eccentrics in costume, a socialist or two, University of Chicago students reading textbooks while they waited, and so on. I wished I had brought a book but we were encouraged to leave any bags at home. Laptops were forbidden but not cameras. I had three in my pockets (so as not to have a camera bag) not counting my Blackberry. I also could have used gloves and a warmer coat once the sun went down and the wind came up. Actually the politicians weren't too windy. Daley was there to a chorus of boos (we Chicagoans are quite pissed off when he sold our parking meters to the highest bidder) as were the Governor and our alderman.

The crowd

The choreography could have been better. There was too much down time and not enough Obama. By the time he showed up, I was overdue for child transportation and we actually walked out on the main event. This didn't mean I missed being stuck in motorcade traffic.
Was I overwhelmed with democratic fervor? Not really but I felt part of the process as I do every time I vote no matter how lackadaisically. And I can say forever more that I stood on the same field as Obama.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Seeing Ghosts

Seeing Ghosts

I took a few night shots in Salamanca, Spain and wanted to play with long exposures and "ghost" people. I didn't have a tripod on me so I just placed the camera on the ground or my backpack and did the best I could to frame the shot. In a way I kind of like the funky angle. I could have tried to photoshop it straight but decided to leave it as is.

Monday, October 11, 2010

10-10-10

Go 101010

101010 Banner and Lawry's

Flickr posted a call for photos on 10/10/10. Here in Chicago we had a couple of Sunday events. The first was the unseasonably warm weather, the second was the Chicago Marathon and the third was my once in a lifetime shopping trip to buy my son a suit for his Bar Mitzvah. So we braved the crowds and headed down to the Magnificent Mile (Chicago's pricey shopping zone). Here are some crowd shots of the triumphant (lame/tired?) runners, tourists and shoppers parading down Michigan avenue.

A Nap after the Race

On the Mag Mile after the Race

Saturday, October 09, 2010

The Spanish People have a Path that Leads to a Star

Sculpture by Alberto Sanchez Perez

This is the English translation of the name of a sculpture by artist Alberto Sanchez Perez made for the 1937 Spanish Pavilion at the World Exhibition in Paris. The Spanish pavilion was dwarfed by the grandiose Soviet and Nazi pavilions nearby which is likely a credit to Spain. Inside the pavilion was Picasso's Guernica which we saw in the Museo Reina Sofia. That is truly an amazing work of art though not one I'd like mounted in my living room over the mantel (not that it would fit).
The original of the sculpture shown here and located outside the museum was destroyed but the replica is still quite striking.

Spanish Sculpture

El pueblo espaƱol tiene un camino que conduce a una estrella

Friday, October 08, 2010

Early 20th Century Lithuania, Photo Postcard

Veisiejai, Lithuania

I found this old postcard at an antique store among a jumble of old photos and postcards, most truly junk. It looks like some sort of market day to me. The back is unwritten except for the name of the photographer.

I looked up the town of Veisiejai and found photos of the St. George church seen in the background of the card. It doesn't seem to have changed much. The image is thanks to Wikipedia commons, photographer Wojsyl.



(For Postcard Friday)

Have a Good Day

 

I turned this into a postcard. Have a good Friday, weekend, TGIF and all that!
Posted by Picasa

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Still in Spain, Mentally, That Is

Big Moo

I feel too busy to put together a coherent narrative post so I'm just going to put up a couple of my pictures from my trip to Spain. It has already been two months! Seems like forever and I'm already craving a vacation. But nothing's new about that.

Melmac

Seen on a wall in Salamanca, Spain. I don't know what this represents but it has a Facebook page. I own a few pieces of vintage Melmac inherited from my in-laws. Ugly but nearly unbreakable!

Friday, October 01, 2010

Food

Getting back to my trip to Madrid, here is a little food or perhaps I should say, eye candy?
I don't even eat pork but this shop window tempted me.

Jamon!

Why don't Chicago shop windows look this good?

Seafood

Maybe I should have eaten at this place, but I didn't.
Sorry about the annoying reflection but this menu is making me hungry.

Menu

I wish I knew what a matrimonio was. This menu is all the more painful in that I got lazy this evening and dinner was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I was at a conference all day and ate their food for breakfast and lunch so a good old pb&j sounded great until I started looking at these pictures!