Brian’s PhotoPile

Today I visited Rochester General Hospital. A few months ago during a physical a small blip on the electrocardiograph showed up that wasn’t there on the previous physical. Two stress tests later my cardiologist lined me up for an angiogram. I arrived at the hospital at 7 A.M., got preped for the proceedure then waited for the two patients who went in for the angiogram ahead of me. Both of them required additonal proceedures so I had to wait a couple hours in the ready room. This was the first time I ever went into semi-operating environment and I was amazed at the efficiency of the nurses and attendants. They move together like clockwork. Thankfully, the angiogram indicated my arteries are in good shape. I just hope I can keep them that way. I daydreamed about traveling to Quebec City.

I’d really like to walk up N. Clinton Avenue to look at all the murals. Today I made a quick stop to see a couple I hadn’t seen before. I know a lot of people object to all the color on buildings around here, but I love the vibrant colors people in this neighborhood paint their buildings. The murals give expression to the inner feelings, it gives people a chance to release their feelings, saves a trip to the museum. Paintings on canvas are great, but who gets to see them after they are completed? They usuually end up in a museum or in some rich persons living room. The silhouettes are from somewhere else. I bought a tweed sportcoat for $6 at the Volunteers of America.

This evening my cheeks are red, not from blushing but from wind exposure. What a day to be out and about. Even these blades of grass show signs of tiring from the relentless exposure to winter’s harshness. Then there’s that sign scrutinized with my zoom lens from afar. When I first saw it I couldn’t make sense out of what it said. What’s a testegain and what are those strange creatures standing in amongst the letters? Slowly the words unscrambled and lead test again at two began to make sense. Windy tricks… torn poster.

Driving down East Avenue this morning I almost ran over this camerman and his companion, but thought better of it. It was somewhat sunny out but really cold… wind chill about seventeen degrees. Actors put up with a lot sitting on a bench pretending to be waiting for a bus with just a light blouse on. I got dressed up this evening in my tuxedo that I bought on sale a few years ago. This is only the second time I’ve worn it, both times for the same event. The George Eastman House throws a party for the Academy Awards ceremony and I went with Judy and MaryLynn. it’s a money raising event for the museum and kind of fun to see so many people all dolled up in the Sunday best. They have dancing, lots of food, a raffle, and a chance to have your picture taken holding a real Oscar. The Oscar was presented to the museum for some photographic accomplishment at one time or another. Two gun cameraman was there also.

Buildings winter wrapped for cozy construction. City hall is going to have the spaces between the sandstone blocks re-mortared (pointed) and a new school/recreation center on Webster Ave is fast taking shape. Scaffolding always fascinates me; it reminds me of a jungle gym. Maybe the monkey in me wants to swing and climb through the maze of pipes and platforms. We had a beautiful sunny morning today with fresh snow. I kept thinking I should be out taking photos but stayed inside instead trying to keep warm with only a short break to work out at the YMCA. This evening I went to see a movie at the Dryden then over to the Mez where they where having “Songwriters In The Round” with Scott Regan, Paul Swiatek and featuring the fabulously talented Taylor Buckley and Perry Cleaveland all performing. Tijuana Tokyo’s is another vacant building. It’s right by City Hall. For the past few years every diner that goes in there last until their lease is up and then moves out. They all do pretty well for their lunch trade but that’s not enough to keep them afloat. One never knows where a 311 poster will appear; this one is in a parking garage.

It was windy and dark today. As I write this the wind chill factor makes it feel like four degrees; most of the day it was down around eleven. I was only out driving around on my job this morning, but managed to stop for a few minutes to take this photo of the railroad yards. The view from the railroad bridge is one of the few places downtown where one doesn’t have to climb up to the top of some building to see off into the distance. I like watching the trains. Last night’s late revelries wore me out. When I got home from work this afternoon around two I slept for three hours. Windy skirts.

I must be nuts. Who in his right mind would enjoy spending the evening with some of Rochester’s brightest computer gurus?  I do. These guys are terrific. Here I am in one of my favorite bars, the Tap and Mallet, sitting with Steve Rea, Rufo Sanchez, Bob Taylor, Rick Harrison and Kevin Kondo talking about what’s happening in the electronic universe and they know so much. It’s like information overload for me. My synapses are zapped. Great Beer, fantastic paintings on the walls, mellow music. really snappy waiter, wow what a night. Then on the drive home seeing those late night conversations taking place between people, a few sheets to the wind, on corners… what are they saying? It’s so important. It’s at times like this that I really love being alive, part of the universe.

I hate to say this, but the only pictures I took today, other than of Judy my spouse, who won’t let me post pictures of her, where these three pictures of more trash. I encountered the debris while on my job looking at vacant buildings. People can be so inconsiderate of their neighbors sometimes. The debris in front of the green house was placed there yesterday three days before the collection day by some tenants that are moving out. It’s not even contained and it’s suppose to snow tomorrow. That’s bad enough, but they also piled all their discarded furniture and more trash behind the vacant house next door because it was too much work to place at the curb. One of the other vacant houses on my list is for now just a hole in the ground. At least all that debris will be gone tommorrow. It takes weeks to build a house and one day to demolish.

My internet connection got messed up early this past week. In the process of trying to see what the problem was I screwed things up even more. Finally with the help of Steve Rea, our local Apple computer club guru, the error was corrected and I’m back online. Again, I’ve posted a few more photos of some vacant buildings. Two photos are of trash and debris that the property owners appear to have no intention of cleaning up on their own. Then there is the house where some vandals helped themselves to the porch pillars and another where a beautiful stained glass window was smashed and splattered with pink goo. And, of course, there are the gang symbols, tags, that get painted on buildings almost as fast as they get removed. This was a model neighborhood about twenty years ago. Many of the residents received grants and low interest loans to improve their property at that time. Now, with the economy the way it is, the city government and neighborhood organizations have a real challenge on their hands to turn it around. On a brighter note, I included three photos I took at an event in the Hungerford Building earlier this month. Shane LaVancher, a young fashion photographer and some RIT students where having a fashion get together in his studio. I got there after the shoot, but took a couple photos at the gathering; nothing special… just kind of liked the composition. The flock of Starlings graced the tree next door for a little while.

Moon shined through misty clouds as it’s light rose over the school tower. An orange and blue glow permeated the air. Frosty I glided across the glass, ice all around me, chill in the air. Today, from the sidewalk, through the branches, a precariously tall structure caught my eye. Thirsty moss, thriving in the wash of the downspouts splash, nurtured with soft rotting wood, a christmas tree it makes