I Smell Trouble

At the end of the St. Patrick's Day parade. That old fashioned billy club should be more than a match for the green plastic.

Or maybe the robot guy just wants to ask directions from the friendly officer. You know, people can get lost in St. Louis. I did once.

The St. Louis Fringe Festival has its 2017 kickoff party tonight. I'll be there to record whatever happens.             

Life Cycle Of A Leprechaun

2017 was the thirteenth year this giant inflatable leprechaun floated over green-tinted Market Street. But how does it arrive from the land of the little people, become so enormous and fade away again until next year?

Well, um, a truck, ropes, and lots and lots of helium. Then, since the laws of physics are mostly time-independent, back the same way in reverse. It was grand in its moment but rather sad to see it prone on the pavement before the Arch, melting away like the Wicked Witch of the West.  

Don't Eat Green Snow

There hasn't been snow for the St. Patrick's Day parade in my memory. Some people dealt with it just fine. The weather was not as bad as originally forecast but it held down the crowd. That was a good thing. It made the difference between pleasantly busy and it's-so-packed-I-can't-move-another-inch. The cool but windless weather was easier on my old body.

Lots of other interesting people and things to come.           

But we can have lots of good fun that is funny!

Said the Cat In The Hat

To my granddaughter Ellie,

Who wasn't so terribly sure

He was friendly.

So she checked his intent

With a slammin' high five

And decided this cat

Had a kid-friendly vibe.

And then a couple more pix from the museum's floral arrangements.

We'll see what kind of stuff I'm made of in the nasty weather at the St. Pat's Day parade today. But Tuesday night is the big St. Louis Fringe 2017 Festival launch party! (Locals: GO.) So much to shoot, so much to edit, so little time to visit my friends and comment. And, uh, sleep.

Trying To Get Back Into Contacts

This painting in the art museum resembles what I've looked like in the morning for the last week. I wore contact lenses years ago but my vision isn't so good and the time came when the technology of the day couldn't give me adequate correction. Back to glasses. Times change and my ophthalmologist said they might work for me now. It's not going well. The new ones are so thin they are almost not there at all. Hard to get in and out, sort of like this. The painting is an example of an artist showing off his technique for depicting glass but it's kind of like me at 6:30 in the morning, looking into the mirror.

Then some more of the Art In Bloom arrangements, balancing Morris Louis and Frank Stella.

Our big St. Patrick's Day Parade is tomorrow, usually a don't miss shoot. The weather looks miserable, though, below freezing, blustery and snow showers. We'll see how much I can manage.    

Charles II

Another interesting display from Art In Bloom. That's a portrait of King Charles II of England in the background.  Looks like the flower arrangement reflects his feathered hat, ermine cape and scarlet robe. Both artists did a pretty good job.  

The Great Cycle

Late post today. Too much to do, too much to do...

Anyway, back at Art In Bloom from the section of the museum with south Asian art. I'm not sure which Hindu deity is represented in the sculpture (suggestions welcome) but it and the floral arrangement certainly suggest the cycle of creation and destruction, of life, death and rebirth. One of my favorites from the show.