10/21/09
American Pulverizer
Located on Macklind just south of the Humane Society (where Beau has a standing monthly appointment).
10/18/09
They're back!
Yesterday I stepped out of the car on Kingshighway and heard, Caw, caw, caw. I was immensely relieved to hear a crow, the first call I've heard in a decade.
If you're a fan of Crows I recommend reading Desert Notes for its surreal stories, insight and riveting prose. It's a slim volume, probably out of print, check Amazon.
If you're a fan of Crows I recommend reading Desert Notes for its surreal stories, insight and riveting prose. It's a slim volume, probably out of print, check Amazon.
Beau has cooties!
"Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make." -Count Dracula discussing wolves.
Here's poor Beau howling and wearing his Dracula collar:
He was really encouraging me to saddle up and put him back in the car.
That's a soft collar he's wearing, also called a comfort or comfy collar. It's a great alternative to the hard plastic collar given Beau developed a reaction to the plastic. Bumping into the door frame and furniture with the hard collar was frustrating him, I could hear his sighs. So I went to Google, clicked on Shopping and did a search by relevance (lowest price first) where I found this comfort e-collar for 28.00 (shipping included). At Petsmart they're around 40.00 with tax for his size.
Beau has ringworm and it's a beeyatch.
It involves bathing him with medicated shampoo every three days that should be followed by a lime dip which smells like rotten eggs. Since it's cold outside and he's now being bathed inside we've eliminated the lime dip. Pheeeewww (Beau and I agree on this.)
Of course he is contaminating the environment and since it's impossible to see the stuff a relentless cleaning regime is required. Each time he is bathed the bathroom, the gloves I wear, the six towels used to dry him and the shower curtain gets bleached. Every three days.
Every hard surface gets bleached along with my clothing.
Carpets get vacuumed (10 minutes for each carpet and every day) and the bag carried out after one use. The hardwood floors get mopped then washed with Lysol. The couch is currently barricaded and is also vacuumed because he is wily and can leap over the barricade when I'm sleeping.
Ringworm is 'very contagious to all mammals' said his Vet (the amazing and attentive Dr. Wright at the Humane Society of Macklind).
I learned everything I needed to know from a four page hand out from the HS.
My internist incorrectly identified the rash at the base of my neck as ringworm. Dr Wright took a gander and said that I am cootie free. In the interim (it can drag on for years) Beau wears the collar to prevent licking the infection and spreading it on his body.
Beau is progressing well but his servant Renfeild is exhausted from cleaning, bleaching, and doing laundry.
Here's poor Beau howling and wearing his Dracula collar:
He was really encouraging me to saddle up and put him back in the car.
That's a soft collar he's wearing, also called a comfort or comfy collar. It's a great alternative to the hard plastic collar given Beau developed a reaction to the plastic. Bumping into the door frame and furniture with the hard collar was frustrating him, I could hear his sighs. So I went to Google, clicked on Shopping and did a search by relevance (lowest price first) where I found this comfort e-collar for 28.00 (shipping included). At Petsmart they're around 40.00 with tax for his size.
Beau has ringworm and it's a beeyatch.
It involves bathing him with medicated shampoo every three days that should be followed by a lime dip which smells like rotten eggs. Since it's cold outside and he's now being bathed inside we've eliminated the lime dip. Pheeeewww (Beau and I agree on this.)
Of course he is contaminating the environment and since it's impossible to see the stuff a relentless cleaning regime is required. Each time he is bathed the bathroom, the gloves I wear, the six towels used to dry him and the shower curtain gets bleached. Every three days.
Every hard surface gets bleached along with my clothing.
Carpets get vacuumed (10 minutes for each carpet and every day) and the bag carried out after one use. The hardwood floors get mopped then washed with Lysol. The couch is currently barricaded and is also vacuumed because he is wily and can leap over the barricade when I'm sleeping.
Ringworm is 'very contagious to all mammals' said his Vet (the amazing and attentive Dr. Wright at the Humane Society of Macklind).
I learned everything I needed to know from a four page hand out from the HS.
My internist incorrectly identified the rash at the base of my neck as ringworm. Dr Wright took a gander and said that I am cootie free. In the interim (it can drag on for years) Beau wears the collar to prevent licking the infection and spreading it on his body.
Beau is progressing well but his servant Renfeild is exhausted from cleaning, bleaching, and doing laundry.
Mid Century Hell - for Andrew Raimist
I've never been a huge fan of Modern Architecture with it's factory appearance, chronic box references, and reflective glass windows. It's not boring, it just lacks the warmth and wonder of a Craftsmen Bungalow.
Just east of Hampton there's a huge cluster of the stuff. Take a drive along Elisabeth, 59th St. and January. Most of these buildings are union halls and related businesses. Check out the parking lot to building ratio along your tour.
I do enjoy that the Weinhardt building has a matching sidewalk.
Along the tour I spotted this massive retaining wall and two BBQ constructions of some killer bricks in back yards:
While I dislike the 'style' of architecture there's some elements I love like these brushed aluminum railings:
Sure, slap some tiles on the brick wall to jazz it up.
Cool decorative copper. I'm astonished it hasn't been pulled off the building.
Just east of Hampton there's a huge cluster of the stuff. Take a drive along Elisabeth, 59th St. and January. Most of these buildings are union halls and related businesses. Check out the parking lot to building ratio along your tour.
I do enjoy that the Weinhardt building has a matching sidewalk.
Along the tour I spotted this massive retaining wall and two BBQ constructions of some killer bricks in back yards:
While I dislike the 'style' of architecture there's some elements I love like these brushed aluminum railings:
Sure, slap some tiles on the brick wall to jazz it up.
Cool decorative copper. I'm astonished it hasn't been pulled off the building.
10/11/09
Sold: 2 1950s Russell Woodard SCULPTURA Chairs
Sold but remaining here for archive value.
2 Russell Woodard woven iron chairs. All welds intact. I started to paint these black, they will need to be repainted with an oil based black paint. 250.00
I also have the two matching chairs that don't have arms (slipper style) for 175.00 (for the pair).
Cash only and I'm unwilling to ship.
2 Russell Woodard woven iron chairs. All welds intact. I started to paint these black, they will need to be repainted with an oil based black paint. 250.00
I also have the two matching chairs that don't have arms (slipper style) for 175.00 (for the pair).
Cash only and I'm unwilling to ship.
10/5/09
Legs
There's photos elsewhere of the attendees and events at the Morgan Ford in Motion fest and this was the view from under my table:
10/2/09
Talent
Last night I was reading one of my dozens of vintage craft books: Needlepainting A Garden of Stitches by Eszter Haraszty (published in 1974). If you appreciate hand made, are a textile fanatic (or live with one) do a search and purchase the book ASAP.
The author wrote: Talent is 1/10 inspiration and 9/10 hard work.
I define talent as the ability to ideate with a developed skill to actualize the concept.
Many years ago I was looking at slabs of Dalle glass in a glass studio/shop on Euclid. I was particularly fortunate that day because the owner was absent and a worker invited me into the back rooms that housed thousands of slabs of Dalle glass.
I was immediately enthralled and wanted to buy everything but was told the glass wasn't for sale. Somehow (I looked a lot different back then) I was able to persuade an employee to sell several pieces of the precious glass. Seriously, it's quite precious.
Dalle glass is also called slab glass and you've seen it in cathedral windows (do a google image search on Dalle Glass). From what I recall it was broken into dimensional pieces and worked into place. At least that's what I did with it:
I didn't have the skill to work with glass or solder so I talked to Hank (RIP) at Mithra (RIP) and told him what I wanted to make: A free standing vessel using the glass but not those little boxes people were making. I wanted to make a vessel mixing mediums like pottery and glass.
It can't be done, Hank told me.
I sullenly signed up for a window making stained glass windows convinced that once I learned how to solder I could create what I was sketching.
Months later I took this piece to Hank (who obviously remembered our initial conversation) and he said: It can be done!
Please don't think I'm am posthumously getting in Hank's grille or bragging. I was moving some things around today in preparation for painting the room (see the post below) and this piece just happened to catch the expansive October light.
I also had other thoughts on talent.
Between the idea and the reality falls the Shadow. -T.S.Eliot (His father owned Hydraulic Brick in St. Louis)
Read about Modernist designer Eszter Haraszty who designed for Knoll by clicking on the title of this post. Or buy her book to see the her incredible work.
The author wrote: Talent is 1/10 inspiration and 9/10 hard work.
I define talent as the ability to ideate with a developed skill to actualize the concept.
Many years ago I was looking at slabs of Dalle glass in a glass studio/shop on Euclid. I was particularly fortunate that day because the owner was absent and a worker invited me into the back rooms that housed thousands of slabs of Dalle glass.
I was immediately enthralled and wanted to buy everything but was told the glass wasn't for sale. Somehow (I looked a lot different back then) I was able to persuade an employee to sell several pieces of the precious glass. Seriously, it's quite precious.
Dalle glass is also called slab glass and you've seen it in cathedral windows (do a google image search on Dalle Glass). From what I recall it was broken into dimensional pieces and worked into place. At least that's what I did with it:
I didn't have the skill to work with glass or solder so I talked to Hank (RIP) at Mithra (RIP) and told him what I wanted to make: A free standing vessel using the glass but not those little boxes people were making. I wanted to make a vessel mixing mediums like pottery and glass.
It can't be done, Hank told me.
I sullenly signed up for a window making stained glass windows convinced that once I learned how to solder I could create what I was sketching.
Months later I took this piece to Hank (who obviously remembered our initial conversation) and he said: It can be done!
Please don't think I'm am posthumously getting in Hank's grille or bragging. I was moving some things around today in preparation for painting the room (see the post below) and this piece just happened to catch the expansive October light.
I also had other thoughts on talent.
Between the idea and the reality falls the Shadow. -T.S.Eliot (His father owned Hydraulic Brick in St. Louis)
Read about Modernist designer Eszter Haraszty who designed for Knoll by clicking on the title of this post. Or buy her book to see the her incredible work.
9/25/09
Chimney Breast
This is what happens without a flu liner in the chimney.
Fumes from the furnace escape through the brick and mortar on the chimney breast and the plaster starts to crumble. What made my situation worse was not having a flu cap for many years. Pigeons love to roost above the chimney where it's warm in the winter. They inhale the flumes, pass out, and drop into the flu where they expire.
I know this because my neighbor pulled 15 dead pigeons out of the flu ten years ago.
That's right: 15 dead pigeons!.
I had the liner installed a few years ago. I've been delaying having the chimney breast repaired (use joint compound) because that means painting. I hate painting because I have problems using the perfect value of white. I'm leaning towards a white with a hint of rose at the moment.
My friend and neighbor Gary is repairing the chimney breast (as well as the whole room) and the photo above shows where he's tapped out the old plaster. (Gary is the author of the doughnut report that has been printed here. He's also a stellar Home Healer. Trust me, this is the guy you want to hire)
Fumes from the furnace escape through the brick and mortar on the chimney breast and the plaster starts to crumble. What made my situation worse was not having a flu cap for many years. Pigeons love to roost above the chimney where it's warm in the winter. They inhale the flumes, pass out, and drop into the flu where they expire.
I know this because my neighbor pulled 15 dead pigeons out of the flu ten years ago.
That's right: 15 dead pigeons!.
I had the liner installed a few years ago. I've been delaying having the chimney breast repaired (use joint compound) because that means painting. I hate painting because I have problems using the perfect value of white. I'm leaning towards a white with a hint of rose at the moment.
My friend and neighbor Gary is repairing the chimney breast (as well as the whole room) and the photo above shows where he's tapped out the old plaster. (Gary is the author of the doughnut report that has been printed here. He's also a stellar Home Healer. Trust me, this is the guy you want to hire)
9/21/09
Gustine & Utah - Tower Grove South
Over a month ago mystifying work began at Gustine and Utah here in TGS. That's Susie G. in the hat on the left hand side:
/>
At a recent TGS neighborhood meeting I asked J-FLo about the work and she explained it was designed to make the intersection 'pedestrian friendly' and that the ADA ramps cost 4,000.00 each.
The site was the subject of conversation over dinner this weekend with a few of my neighbors and continued on our neighborhood list serve where it developed into a raucous brawl.
I lived a block away from the intersection as a child and crossed it daily as a teenager. I never had a problem on the walk to high school and have always enjoyed the street scape when I wasn't spying on bricks.
I'm a preservationist so this New and Improved intersection gave me the willies:
Then I read Kevin Neill's post:
I think the intersection looks much better than before, for a number of reasons: the pedestrian crosswalks are clearly identifiable with the pseudo-brick paving; the curb ramps have been modified to meet ADA standards; the planters separate the pedestrian crossing from the u-turn traffic on Utah and the through lanes on Gustine, while also provide an additional level of psychological safety for those crossing Utah on the east side of Gustine - a crossing that is over 100 feet from curb to curb; and there is opportunity for collision between pedestrians and traffic southbound Gustine traffic turning left on Utah. And when the planters are filled, I bet it will look a lot better.
I've looked around on the city's website to see what funds are being used for
this project. While I couldn't find the intersection listed specifically, my
guess is that this is stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act. $2,575,000 has been procured for "overlay and pedestrian improvements."
These projects are used for:
- overlay of new sidewalk/street pavement;
- reconstruction of curb ramps;
- improvements compliant with ADA standards;
and to "enhance safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles."
Considering the time constraints involved with this funding source, I'm glad to see the city was able to get some of this highly competitive ARRA money to implement projects like this, which improve pedestrian conditions and create infrastructure that is accessible people of all abilities. If Saint Louis couldn't have identified shovel ready projects like this as quickly enough as they did, the funding would've gone to the next city in line.
(Reprinted with permission)
I'm still ambivalent but was impressed with his research and feel for the site.
Josh Heisler commented:
The project, according to my alderwoman, cost $40,000. I don't know what qualifies as informed so I'll render my informed / uninformed opinion. I may be mistaken, but the intersection already had ramp access so, in my opinion, the ADA argument is not a valid reason for the upgrade. Also, beautification has been proposed as a reason or at least a result of the upgrade but the beautification has happened on a block that is one of the most, if not the most expensive in the neighborhood and arguably one of the prettiest, so while I agree that neighborhood beautification is commendable the result, when compared to other options, may not have yielded the best value for users and the community.
Finally, as to "slap[ping] some paint on it"; In my experience, the painted crosswalk, a la Abbey Road album cover, is a far more urban indicator of a crosswalk than a planter and some textured concrete or pavers. I'm not saying that the pavers, curbs and planters don't do the job it just seems very suburban to me. If the motivation for the project was to rectify the "problems" that some pedestrians had at the intersection there may have been more economical options.
I agree with Josh, it does have suburb styling. Tower Grove Heights is a historic district. I guess it doesn't include the streets.
It's interesting to me that this corner is also the site of the several unsold Capistrano condos.
Turn around and 'brick' walk:
/>At a recent TGS neighborhood meeting I asked J-FLo about the work and she explained it was designed to make the intersection 'pedestrian friendly' and that the ADA ramps cost 4,000.00 each.
The site was the subject of conversation over dinner this weekend with a few of my neighbors and continued on our neighborhood list serve where it developed into a raucous brawl.
I lived a block away from the intersection as a child and crossed it daily as a teenager. I never had a problem on the walk to high school and have always enjoyed the street scape when I wasn't spying on bricks.
I'm a preservationist so this New and Improved intersection gave me the willies:
Then I read Kevin Neill's post:
I think the intersection looks much better than before, for a number of reasons: the pedestrian crosswalks are clearly identifiable with the pseudo-brick paving; the curb ramps have been modified to meet ADA standards; the planters separate the pedestrian crossing from the u-turn traffic on Utah and the through lanes on Gustine, while also provide an additional level of psychological safety for those crossing Utah on the east side of Gustine - a crossing that is over 100 feet from curb to curb; and there is opportunity for collision between pedestrians and traffic southbound Gustine traffic turning left on Utah. And when the planters are filled, I bet it will look a lot better.
I've looked around on the city's website to see what funds are being used for
this project. While I couldn't find the intersection listed specifically, my
guess is that this is stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act. $2,575,000 has been procured for "overlay and pedestrian improvements."
These projects are used for:
- overlay of new sidewalk/street pavement;
- reconstruction of curb ramps;
- improvements compliant with ADA standards;
and to "enhance safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles."
Considering the time constraints involved with this funding source, I'm glad to see the city was able to get some of this highly competitive ARRA money to implement projects like this, which improve pedestrian conditions and create infrastructure that is accessible people of all abilities. If Saint Louis couldn't have identified shovel ready projects like this as quickly enough as they did, the funding would've gone to the next city in line.
(Reprinted with permission)
I'm still ambivalent but was impressed with his research and feel for the site.
Josh Heisler commented:
The project, according to my alderwoman, cost $40,000. I don't know what qualifies as informed so I'll render my informed / uninformed opinion. I may be mistaken, but the intersection already had ramp access so, in my opinion, the ADA argument is not a valid reason for the upgrade. Also, beautification has been proposed as a reason or at least a result of the upgrade but the beautification has happened on a block that is one of the most, if not the most expensive in the neighborhood and arguably one of the prettiest, so while I agree that neighborhood beautification is commendable the result, when compared to other options, may not have yielded the best value for users and the community.
Finally, as to "slap[ping] some paint on it"; In my experience, the painted crosswalk, a la Abbey Road album cover, is a far more urban indicator of a crosswalk than a planter and some textured concrete or pavers. I'm not saying that the pavers, curbs and planters don't do the job it just seems very suburban to me. If the motivation for the project was to rectify the "problems" that some pedestrians had at the intersection there may have been more economical options.
I agree with Josh, it does have suburb styling. Tower Grove Heights is a historic district. I guess it doesn't include the streets.
It's interesting to me that this corner is also the site of the several unsold Capistrano condos.
Turn around and 'brick' walk:
9/16/09
Surface temperatures on S Grand
Two weeks ago I was on S. Grand during my daily visit to the Post Office on the Kill List when I encountered a guy holding a tool that was pointed to the ground.
I discovered he works with The Design Workshop and was taking the temperature of various surfaces.
I gave him my email address and asked him to stay in touch:
Christian,
Below is a summary of the thermometer readings I
took while walking the corridor last week. I hope this is helpful....
All the best,
Paul
Grass 74.9 - 90.0 degrees
Brick 77.5 - 112.6 degrees
Grey Concrete 82.7 - 112.6 degrees
Aggregate Concrete 84.2 - 110.4 degrees
Painted/Colored Concrete 85.7 - 117.0 degrees
Asphalt 88.2 - 122.0 degrees
Brick is the winner!
I discovered he works with The Design Workshop and was taking the temperature of various surfaces.
I gave him my email address and asked him to stay in touch:
Christian,
Below is a summary of the thermometer readings I
took while walking the corridor last week. I hope this is helpful....
All the best,
Paul
Grass 74.9 - 90.0 degrees
Brick 77.5 - 112.6 degrees
Grey Concrete 82.7 - 112.6 degrees
Aggregate Concrete 84.2 - 110.4 degrees
Painted/Colored Concrete 85.7 - 117.0 degrees
Asphalt 88.2 - 122.0 degrees
Brick is the winner!
9/15/09
Original traffic calming: Pavers
Hidden beneath the miles of asphalt streets in St. Louis are historic Hydraulic Press pavers. Some streets have never been paved and in TGS there's still a brick street in front of Fanning School and a photo of the street is on this blog.
A few days ago Bad Tim and I grumbled over the grinding on Fairview. Grinding removes asphalt so the street can be freshly asphalted. Never mind the impact to the environment with asphalt* there's a one block Green Alley in the neighborhood (http://www.towergroveheights.com/Meeting%20minutes/Mar%2009.htm) so how about some Green streets?
Don't even get me started over the Grand Streetscape.
Fairview near S Grand:
*Yes, I'm aware that when laterals/sewers collapse it causes problems with brick streets.
A few days ago Bad Tim and I grumbled over the grinding on Fairview. Grinding removes asphalt so the street can be freshly asphalted. Never mind the impact to the environment with asphalt* there's a one block Green Alley in the neighborhood (http://www.towergroveheights.com/Meeting%20minutes/Mar%2009.htm) so how about some Green streets?
Don't even get me started over the Grand Streetscape.
Fairview near S Grand:
*Yes, I'm aware that when laterals/sewers collapse it causes problems with brick streets.
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