The Lawless Politician

This sculpture is actually titled The Politician: A Toy, but since the artist's last name is Lawless the play on his name in calling this the Lawless Politician is fitting. This sculpture used to be tucked away in a vacant lot a few miles away. The Mayor of Cleveland at the time this was commissioned did not take kindly to the work and was happy to have it out of sight (I guess the free stamp is much more relevant). The sculpture has a new home on Cleveland State's campus. we both remembered the big wagon handle moving. It no longer does, but all of the other glitter and symbols are in full action. Billie Lawless is a Buffalo, New York native with a number of works around the country.

Sign at Mosquito Creek

Bat Boxes

Black or Natural... Any Ideas?


This wasn't a case of running out of paint. At Chagrin River Park in Lake Metroparks, all the bat boxes are paired and each pair has one black box and one natural box. We have always been told bats like the black box since the color absorbs heat and helps them stay warm. We've never seen them paired like this intentionally.

Moonwinks

I've no idea how the food is at Moonwinks, but they have a great logo on their roof. Moonwinks was opened in 1936 under a different name. A little later, Douglas Petty of Olean won $5 in a contest to suggest a new name. Since then, it has been Moonwinks. Despite visiting Cuba, New York many times (Ali's deceased relatives have the strange distinction of both being from Cuba, New York and spending time in Cuba the country), we had never passed by Moonwinks before this evening. A bit of interesting history that no one but us would find interesting is that the area around Moonwinks is the original location of the town of Cuba, New York.

While you are are learning tidbits of trivia that you never missed not knowing, here's another. Ali's great-grandfather invented a product called the Gee Minnow Trap. It used to be manufactured here in Cuba, New York. Now it's made in another nearby town called Fillmore, New York. Years ago we visited the wonderful people at the plant that now makes the product.

Any restaurant with a logo this good deserves a visit. Maybe next time if we are here without the dogs...

Bad Frogs

I liked the name of this bar in downtown Lisbon.

Unclassified

I'm so happy to know that our government has reviewed the information on this trail marker near the Hawksbill Summit and deemed it unclassified. I wonder how much that decision cost. Was it more or less than the cost of having someone hike all over Shenandoah and put these highly durable paper stickers on each one? If I disappear now, you will all know it was because I have divulged state secrets. ;-)

Aliens?

We're pretty certain if there were any strange life forms near hogback mountain, this team found them, or maybe they were just hoping to catch their favorite football team.

Energy Drinks

It's Snarky Friday Again...

If these are really energy drinks, how come those that drink them don't have the energy to carry their trash out of the woods?

Pink Elephants

Until I googled pink elephants, I never realized they were associated with:



> drunken hallucinations.
> an episode from the Pink Panther.
> women of the Republican Party.

This one was hanging out roadside in Indiana between Evansville and Greenville, Ohio.

Giant Hot Dog

I now know where the giant steers from Western Ohio go. This giant hot dog welcomes all to a Texas Hot place in Cattaraugus County near the PA border. Someone went to a lot of work to turn a utility pole into this bit of advertising.

Walking Taco

There is so much to learn at county fairs. I recently learned that a walking taco is taco makings added to a bag of doritos. I'm glad it wasn't me enjoying this.



I never did find out what a taco dog (or a Frito Pie) is. Maybe I was lucky. :-)

Moo

It's just not natural when animals grow this big. He eats a lot of grass in Gilboa, Ohio.

Big Bob

Big Bob is huge! He's 31 feet of serious bass. He graces the green space in front of a McDonalds across from Grand Lake St. Mary's. I couldn't help but think of the jingle McD's had this lent...



What if it were you sitting up on this float?
If it were you in that sandwich, you wouldn’t be laughing at all.



Bob would make a BIG filet-o-fish. A fish this big doesn't grow overnight. Big Bob is over 40 years old.

Have a Happy Day

I've passed this barn in Frewsburg for many years. It's a bright way to start a day.

cleanse

It was snarky Friday. Hampton Inn started this weird trend of signs, posters, and objects around their hotels with one word on them. Now it has spread to Holiday Inn Express. "cleanse" on the soap. "tame" on conditioner. What about the bar of soap for the parent whose child says a dirty word (aka "I'll wash your mouth out with soap")? Is that a special bar that says "mouth"? By the way, I agree entirely with the towels. Drying your wet body before dressing is "simply smart". I just don't know that I would embroider that on a towel.

The Story Corps Trailer

Story Corps is here... In Wenatchee! Story Corps is one of my favorite segments of the so many great ones on NPR. As I was driving to the hotel, I noticed this big silver mobile home trailer with the Story Corps logo on the side. Ah... if Ali were here I'd be bugging here to try doing a story. What would I say? What would she say?

The Man in The Woods

That's what the locals call him. He stands roadside on fish and game lands in New Jersey. apparently dressing him is a group effort.

Scarecrows at Deep Cut Garden

Freddie's Buried Here???????

This cemetery is less than a mile from Elm Street. 8-0

Eerie power poles

I was out on a misty morning taking photos of our line poles before a meeting with our supplier. It doesn't seem like a good idea to have 34,000 Volts stretched tight on a bent pole. I thought the mist made for an eerie photo. The image must have work since a number of poles are being replaced.

Brewbird of Happiness

I've passed a drunken bird on the side of this bar for over twenty years. Lately I pass it almost daily. The sign made a better play on words years ago when it was a two-story drunken bluebird. I stopped there once years ago. The most memorable part of the visit was a really friendly black lab.

Guitars in Bedford

The Old-Fashioned Way

A New Way To Catch Maple Sap

We're used to seeing the galvanized pails in the woods when the sap's running. We're also used to seeing the plastic tubing running everywhere. This was a new twist. It appears that these light foil bags are the new wave in maple syrup technology.

Mayor McCheese

I'm not sure why Mayor McCheese is at the edge of a gravel pit, but he is in amazingly good shape for a 30-year old playground item.

Peace Pole in Braille

This peace pole is located on the town square of Westfield, New York. In addition to the standard four languages, this peace pole has a small tag with the peace prayer attached to the pole in braille.

Swim At Your Own Risk

Welcome Winter Golfers!

I don't golf, but I would do this. It's sounds like a lot of fun. Maybe instead of carts, I could wear my snowshoes. ;-)

Snow Fence?

The Ferdl Aster Ski Shop is a very popular local ski supply store. If you stop by on a Friday evening or Saturday morning during the skiing season, it will be difficult to move for the crowd of avid skiers in this converted house. Our cross-country skis came from here. First cross-country ski chairs and now snow fences. Reduce... reuse... recycle.

Zippo and Case Museum

Zippo lighters and Case knives are manufactured in Bradford, Pennsylvania. The museum has some interesting features on the outside including a super-sized lighter and these unique parking lot lights.