These are the times when not having a camera would have been a cryin’ shame. Danny spotted this guy. And no, he was not in the East Village, he was right in the center of our sleepy little hamlet.
I love his creativity, and marvel at the beautiful execution.
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, carry a camera
Can you think of anything better than free chocolate? I was in Staples, of all places, and saw this sign in front of the register. Of course I whipped out my camera when I saw this. I find the idea of buying chocolate and then sending in a rebate kind of silly but I like the premise. Just as I was about to take this picture, the friendly cashier stuck his little head in and wanted to be in the shot. He acted like he was kidding but I knew he really wanted his picture taken. So I took and and here he is.
Don’t you just love this guy. Whenever I visit this Staples he always has a smile on his face. Today, while he was ringing me up I was having a conversation with my friend. This fellow not only eavesdropped, he jumped right in and gave his opinions. Funny, I did not think twice about it but when we got in the car my friend was hysterical that I invited him into our talk as if it were the most natural thing on earth.
Hey, what can I say, I like the guy.
Wait, wasn’t this supposed to be about free chocolate?
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under carry a camera
As always, carrying a camera was a good idea this weekend. While leaving the beach I saw this guy dressed in a Franks Alott T.
I will forgive this shirt for being from Abercrombie & Fitch because it really is just the right amount corny and the graphics are perfect. The hot dog is like a weiner version of Mr. Peanut and the type so reminiscent of tacky fast food that I fell for the authenticity of the shirt.
After all, how can you not love a tagline that states:
Alotta weenie for not alotta dough!
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under carry a camera, humor, products
This picture was taken on the north service road of the Long Island Expressway just before exit 37. For those who are not familiar with the North Shore of Long Island, this is what I like to refer to as the belly of the money beast. Like moneytown on my friend Twentyfour’s blog, this is a place where wealth is most often worn on the sleeve, and usually it is a designer one.
Yes, this is the land of the lifestyle of the rich and clueless.
I had seen it on my way out of the area earlier in the day and made it a point to stop on the way home to take this picture. I pass this spot often, but have never seen this store. Perhaps it is new.
I could not help but wonder how a spy shop could survive here. Note the ‘s’ at the end of shops. Does this infer a chain of these stores?
Really now, are there that many spies living on the Gold Coast? I was at a party tonight and showed a few people the picture. I asked how they thought this place stayed in business. The first response was that it was for spouses to catch each other cheating. The second was that they sold nannycams. The third was the same as the first and came from her spouse. Don’t worry, they just think alike, neither one of them would need this store.
So, any other thoughts on how a Spy Shop stays in business in an upscale suburban town?
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, carry a camera, humor, places of interest, signage
When eating at a new restaurant, some people are impressed by the bar. Others are interested in the mood set by the decor. Still others focus on the food.
Me? I am all about the bathrooms. What? You are not surprised by that? Well, after all, this is the same blog that has brought you the Japanese restaurant Modern Toilet, elephant poop paper, and fart pads. Sorry, if you find this infantile. I understand, but there is something about bathroom humor that always makes me laugh. Sophomoric? Duh!
The photo above was taken in the bathroom of a very chic NYC restaurant that my sorry ass has no business eating in. Mirimoto NYC is tragically hip and filled with the most severe of materials: polished cement, leaf embedded resin, glass dividers, acrylic butt-hugging bar stools, walls created from hundreds of bottles and a crowd that frankly looked a little on the hungry side to me. Face it, if you are that skinny there is no way you are in this place for the food. Surprisingly, the food was excellent.
I entered the bathroom stall and noticed two things immediately. First, the toilet seat was heated. Seriously! I thought we are not supposed to seat on public toilet seats. Perhaps the heat is thought to kill the germs. I was in full squat when I felt the heat rising off the seat. Then I looked to the right and saw this very impressive control panel. In case you can’t read the labels let me list them here:
Flush (this one is basic), oscillating (hmm, remind me why do I want to have my toilet oscillate again?), pulsating (I guess this would be the obvious follow-up to oscillating), dryer (all that previous activity probably causes some splashing, so this makes sense), stop (good idea to have this option in case any of these features gets to be too much), rear cleansing (self explanatory), front cleansing (same), pressure (anyone wonder why we need pressure from our toilet, isn’t life stressful enough?) and of course your fave and mine, position. Not sure what the little symbols were for but I think they had to do with cleaning.
I was a few glasses of wine to the wind when I entered the bathroom, and for the life of me I do not know why I did not try out all the toilet options. I suppose I was a little bit intimidated or maybe too concerned with getting a picture to make sure I did not hallucinate this one.
I will leave you with this question. Was this panel custom designed or can you actually buy this for your home?
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, carry a camera, humor, New York City, photography, places of interest
While food shopping the other day I came across a woman in this totally hip plaid outfit. Think about it, you would usually see clothes like this on a rapper. But this grandma was flying her plaid flag high last Saturday and strutting her stuff through the gourmet section of a market Gary and I like to refer to as Stinky Farms. (before they renovated the place it stunk to high heaven, I used to gag when I was pregnant and had to go in there).
Notice the adorable young gentleman in the background picking up some goodies for his family like the super hubster that he is. That would be the fabulous Matt, who nailed me taking this picture… big time.
There I was, camera at waist level as he rounded the corner the moment I was framing the perfect shot of Plaid Rad Granny. At this point I have learned to carry the camera in a spot in my bag akin to a holster. I whip that baby out and don’t miss a step.
Right after that shot was taken he came over laughing and pointing that he had nailed me taking random supermarket pictures.
As if that is something everyone does not do.
Oh, they don’t? Well they should. Some moments simply beg to be immortalized. If only for the sheer joy of sharing them with your friends.
(A quick newsflash for the PW peops, I am happy to report that the School Budget passed 2785 to 1989).
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, carry a camera, fashion, grandmothers
Stopped at a red light on my way back from food shopping this image was a gift. it is hard to believe this was taken in our pretty little suburb. If I did not know better I would have thought this picture was taken in the Bronx.
This guy is quite attractive, don’t you think? I mean, wouldn’t you want to rent space from him. Hey bud, how about a shirt? I can’t help but wonder who he was taking to and what they were taking about. He seems so intense.
I always wonder if other people notice this kind of thing as they navigate through their day. I shot a bunch of images today as I went through the mundane tasks of a Saturday.
Errands are so much more fun with a camera. (hey, that would make a great tagline).
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, carry a camera, humor, photography
Driving down a street in a neighboring town Danny and I came across this…
lawn camel?
Seriously, what the hell? A quiet suburban street with fairly regular homes, nothing extraordinary about this neighborhood until we saw this silver fiberglass saddled, tassled camel parked on the neatly kept front lawn.
I did a little web searching on camel symbolism and came up with this lovely interpretation of camel dreams (anyone having these lately?)
To see this beast of burden, signifies that you will entertain great patience and fortitude in time of almost unbearable anguish and failures that will seemingly sweep every vestige of hope from you. To own a camel, is a sign that you will possess rich mining property. To see a herd of camels on the desert, denotes assistance when all human aid seems at a low ebb, and of sickness from which you will arise, contrary to all expectations.
Hey, with the shape the world is in these days it is no wonder we don’t see a camel on every lawn.
Whatever happened to those garden gnomes (my grandparents had one) or the cute little family of plaster ducks crossing the lawn (my parents had these). Or Pink Flamingos for G-d sake. They were the bomb!
Lawn decor. Now that would be a great photo book for me to do…
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, carry a camera, communities, danny, photography
For a Jewish girl I have been writing an awful lot about Jesus lately. There was the toast tattoo in Pennsylvania, the Cheez-Its comparison at Mohonk and now this very interesting shot of two young gentleman carrying a door-sized image down State Street in Madison.
Religious zealouts of this type fascinate me. I always wonder what their agenda is. Do the truly believe they will convert others? Is it tribe pride? Or are they just plain crazy? Seriously, do you wake up one morning and say to your buddy, “Hey Bill, let’s get a big picture of Jesus Christ and stretch it on a frame. Then we can walk up and down State Street and through campus with it.” Yeh, well either that or “Let’s go get some brunch”.
Whatever, it’s harmless. And as long as no one is pushing a pamphlet in my face I am good with the act of self expression.
Plus, it makes for a great picture.
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, carry a camera, humor, photography, religion, signage
No, I am not talking about an upcoming family reunion. Families can eat your heart out but flesh? No can do.
There is a never ending supply of toys that entertain me. This was something that Gary really wanted for his office but was afraid it was too large. If only there was a mini-version.
Although the Evolving Darwin playset is still my fave (I think the fishman won my heart) this one is a close second. The dog zombie is wonderful, he even has his own blood spatters like the rest of them. The business man zombie looks a lot like the people walking down the street after they get off the commuter train in my town.
Best part?
Glow in the dark, of course.
Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog.
For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.
Filed under absurdities, carry a camera, gary, photography, products
i could cry but i don't have time 