What is a Vactor truck?, I had to ask.
Another man on the sidewalk said, “Haven’t you ever seen a vacuum cleaner before?”
(Not exactly an ElectroLux), Mary said to me.
It was night in the West Village near Bleecker and West 10th. What a nice guy. I can’t tell you his name which is too bad. He said, “sure you can take my picture.” when I asked.
He explained how the other truck had a camera they could look down into the pipes drains and sewer.
My sister Mary sent me a New York Times article by Lisa W. Foderaro about the restored B and B Carousel in Coney Island.
The restoration took place in Marion, Ohio and took more than five years. We took the subway/train out to Coney Island on Tuesday morning and found where the horses were located.
As we approached the carousel pavilion’s new location along the boardwalk, we were surprised at the giant lettering in bright colors. The horses had real horsehair tails! The special lead horse was carved to commemorate Lincoln’s Centennial of his birth(1909) by famous carver Marcus C. Illions.
There was a paper sign taped on the lead horse with the Lincoln relief, NO RIDERS but the carousel attendant asked if I would like for him to take it off so I could photograph it. Very nice. I’m showing the ornate horse with the paper sign, too.
A carousel bench before restoration with all the layers of paint and after restoration is shown below.
Each horse had a unique expression and markings. We enjoyed the ride and had great fun. (And the restrooms are clean and colorful with confetti-like decor)
The lead horse carved to honor Lincoln’s Centennial of his birth in 1909 by Macus C. Illions
Carousel Bench BEFORE restoration
Carousel Bench AFTER restoration
Carousel Pavillion workers adding the lightbulbs on the letters
And another article about the horses being sent to Marion Ohio.
They were lovingly and expertly restored at Carousel and Carvings, by owner Mr. Todd W. Goings.
You might remember that Mary and I rode Jane’s Carousel in DUMBO (Brooklyn) during my Spring Break from school.
Food eating contests aren’t really my thing- in fact, I don’t understand the urge to prepare and practice for such an event! Or what one might feel like afterwards.
But today when my sister pointed out this sign, I tried to fathom what the numbers meant. And the countdown ’til July 4th is visible on this sign.
My sister found a stat on a guy who in 1972 ate 19 and in 2012 the guy ate 68! That’s quite an increase in consumption.
Did I mention that this effort takes place in TEN MINUTES time??? I don’t even want to witness this contest in person but I find it amazing that it exists.
This is an INTERNATIONAL contest. You can read more about it here And yes, there is an International Federation of Competitive Eating who approves such contests.
You don’t just show up. You have to qualify. Joey Chestnut has been winning since 2007 but competition is nipping at his heels.
There’s a female champion, Sonya Thomas.
A little controversy- this guy’s photo was removed from the sign in 2011 and last year Takeru Kobayashi wasn’t allowed to compete and ate hot dogs on the rooftop in Manhattan? Check out his other food competitions if you wish- includes cow brains and Twinkies but not eaten simultaneously, different contests at this link. My sister said when he is not competing he eats cabbage and fasts. Good plan.
He pioneered the Solomon Method- break in half and eat both halves at once then eat the bun. (or something like that)
You can jump and down while you eat them. Or sway side to side.
Mary found the sign AFTER we had each consumed one hot dog with sauerkraut and mustard. I was reminiscing about visiting Nathan’s on Coney Island with my 3 kids in November 1991. When we were there at Thanksgiving the place was deserted.
And if hot dogs aren’t for you there are the frog legs….
(note the calories listed on each menu item)
Saturday afternoon Steve asked me if I wanted to take that Ducky Tour we had seen last week when we were downtown at the Arts Festival.
After a moment’s hesitation I threw on some clothes and we went. What a good idea.
Had to wait and hour and a half for the next available tour as the weather was great and everyone was out. We sipped a Yuengling at the Hard Rock Cafe and then made our way to the line that was forming at flag #3 for our boat.
We had a lot of fun. It was so enjoyable. Especially the rivers part. Steve said he would definitely go again.
Everyone looks at you as you drive past and then you all quack like a duck so if you aren’t in a cheery disposition or that seems too too corny, don’t go. It was really funny and fun and I documented the experience with the camera.
The feeling of driving into the river and leaving land was really a cool sensation. And now I know where to take the grandchildren when they come to visit the city. They would love taking a Just Ducky Tour.
Did you see the movie Saving Private Ryan? the driver asked.
Just Ducky Tours Amphibious Vehicles History
All six boats drive off at about the same time, like a convoy
Self portrait in the rearview mirror
Tour guide Cait finds some humor to entertain the tourists. Us!
Salvaged from a building? Who are these figures and what are they doing?
Historic Landmark Smithfield Bridge
First you drive around downtown and see everything you know from a different vantage point.
PPG Plaza and fountain.
Looks like a character from a novel.
Headed to find her car in the parking lot.
The Blimp and PPG building
Driving down the Mon Wharf, right into the Monongahela River!
Underneath the Fort Pitt Bridge
The fountain is working again.
What a Just Ducky Tour Boat looks like on the river.
There are the companion Ducky Tourists.
We were on the Monongahela, The Allegheny and the Ohio Rivers. RIght at the point.
What it looks like when the amphibious vehicle drives out of the Monongahela River.
Right next to us on the road. Watch that Baby!!!
Returned safely to Station Square.
They told us NO one has had to use a life jacket in the 16 years of Just Ducky Tours. I took some photos of people driving the boat and am emailing them their pic.
Quack Quack Quack!
Well it WILL be out come Monday, June 17th (the final day without students)
The lockers were all opened and cleared out after the students left. What a collection in the lost and found.
I still have to turn in my keys and get signed out. The grade summary reports got turned in Friday. The books packed from the shelves in boxes or cupboards. Ripped down the bulletin board paper and thought about what color for next fall.
This lone work boot and the baseball were in the hallway by an open locker.
Thought about how I could have rearranged the still life to improve the composition but didn’t touch it,
just moved myself and the camera.
Happy Summer- I’m turning off all alarms.
Happy Father’s Day!
I’m a proud mom! Here is my son Mark who is a wonderful father to Anna, Michael, Jack and Maura. (Excellent Mom Erika, too)
Bringing Maura home November 2008
No matter the season…………….
Coaching Michael
Sledding with Jack
At the Pirates Game Willie Stargell Statue- Mark with Anna and Maura (and Grandma on camera)
PNC Park Pittsburgh PA
(and if you are new to following the blog you might enjoy this Father’s Day Tribute to my father) Continue reading
The challenge for the week is curves. Tour bus above in the National Park with all the waterfalls- Plitvice National Park – Croatia-
No guard rails on this curve!
Plitvice Lakes Park in Croatia a curved walkway
I knew I had some back seat driver photos from my visit to Croatia and I was able to find a few. Fasten Your Seat Belt!
Roof Tiles in Istria
Light at the end of the curvy tunnel- Croatia Car Trip
On Brijuni – Tito’s Personal State Summer Residence
Zagreb Fountain- the water a straight line but the curve of the back caught my eye
And Back in the States Kennywood Amusement Park a few years back
Anna on the whip in Kiddieland Kennywood Amusement Park
Curved Carousel Horse
Pap puts Anna into the car on the curve at Kennywood – Is this the Turnpike?
Log Flume Ride Kennywood
Glass Paperweight
My sister Mary sent me these photos she took on her phone in NYC.
She texted the year- 1949. a very good year!
A Chevrolet Ambulance. Looked up definition for the word Chevrolet and found Louis Chevrolet “a Swiss Born American Race Car Driver of French Descent”
I’ve been saving the photos to post for our brother David’s birthday today, also Flag Day. (You might remember how bad I am at sending out a card in time.)
Happy Birthday David. Thinking of you and hoping you have a wonderful day.
Love from your sisters,
Ruth and Mary
Last Saturday night, Steve and I were walking around downtown at the Three Rivers Arts Festival.
Behind the line of food tents at the Three Rivers Arts Festival, (actually renamed the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival– who knows how much they shelled out to include in the name ) this pile of fifty pound bags of potatoes caught my eye.
The sliver of orange shirt was a man who didn’t want his photo taken but I said “Don’t worry. I just want the potatoes. ”
As far as identifying what state the potatoes were grown, I looked up Top ‘O The Harvest brand and found a distinctive bag in an agricultural museum c. 1960 and if they are still in business, it looks like they came from Unity, Maine. The label says Special Frying Potatoes. Wish I could have found the cooking oil containers to accompany this shot.
Here is the beginning of the line of food tents- the signs seem so generic this year. Like a supermarket brand, to me. They seem to have lost the individual character, a certain sameness except a different color.
Standing on the Roberto Clemente Bridge from Sixth Street. Saturday night.
