eyemaze

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:20:00 +0000

Why all the fear?

I'm not sure why I'm not afraid but too many people are. Everyone talks about the bad things that happen in the city but everywhere I turn I run into good.

As we drove down Jefferson angels started appearing on buildings. Vacant buildings covered in faded angels. Why? And then there is this guy and with a cart - on the front "Crib in the Hood" - how could you not stop? U-turn.

This is Bill and he lives in the Delray neighborhood, it's not a nice neighborhood, bordoring Zug Island on the outskirts of Detroit. Yet he takes care of what is around him, keeps it nice, what is left of it. A few weeds here, broken windows everywhere, etc., but this is his 'hood' and he makes it home. I certainly didn't stay long enough to get to know him, but I found a whole story on the detroitblog - take a look. Wouldn't it be amazing if everyone cared half as much as Bill does?

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:07:00 +0000

i really do have images to post, but blogger has gone to hell... i'm working on it!

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:06:00 +0000

Downtown...

I don't know where to start with the Detroit pictures.
How do you recover from this?

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:20:00 +0000

Detroit garbage.

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:06:00 +0000

Off on an adventure for a week. See you on the flip side!

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:04:00 +0000

"...you take it out of here, put it in a big jug of water with some honey. Let it sit another 7 days and then you drink it."

-what is it?

"I don't know the name, the Russians know"

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:35:00 +0000

The sky is angry...

my midwestern side says GO to the basement... but this is NYC and we haven't had too many tornados. So I sat outside and enjoyed it. That is until the lightning got to close! Kaboom! The cat has been under the bed for hours.

- turns out the basement wasn't such a bad idea, there was a tornado warning!

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:44:00 +0000

I'm so going to hell for this...

but it made me smile. Who still spray paints their hair on?!? For that matter, who ever did?
(sorry)

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:05:00 +0000

The War is ON!

Turns out the little crack heads do like Tat. I've battled ants all summer and have had enough. Tat to the rescue. Put the little house-o-death next to their home and they came running. Although I must say I was impressed with the lone wolf carrying the piece of plant back. No one helped him as they went in and out of the death trap but certainly all came running for munchies! What is this college? Ok, I just spent too much time watching them. Now... they must die.

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:36:00 +0000

Giglio, 2009

Another day out and about in the sun! I woke up with the idea to nothing today and ended up filling the whole thing with fun. Biking, Giglio, Soul Summit and BBQ - I love summer. Almost every year I've made it to the Giglio Feast of Mount Carmel and am amazed every time - 112 men lifting a 4-ton, 65-foot tower with another 10-15 men on top - spinning, swaying, smiling in the heat of July.

Uaglio! (Boys!)
Aizati i spalli (Lift your shoulders)
Acconge i cosce (Tighten your legs)
Aggiet! (Throw it!)

I love seeing the familiar faces as the years go by, this year I found myself standing next to Danny Aiello. Soon as I realized it was him, all I thought about was Moonstuck (I love that movie!). He looks much younger then IMDB says he is! If you've never gone to the Feast, make a point to go next year. Click here for more Feast pics

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:39:00 +0000

Coney Island

The ads say, "Really Fun, Really Open." It was my first trip out to Coney since the demise of Astroland. Thor placed a traveling carnival in its place for the summer. I was intrigued by the old school fascination booths. The Two-Headed baby. Snake Woman. and the one I had to see, "The Worlds Smallest Woman - small enough you could lift her! She'll even talk to you!". I feel disgusting for paying a buck to talk to a midget. ugh. She just sat there in a tiny recliner playing with her nails, staring at a wall, just tall enough that no one could see in... excepting tips. ugh.

But overall, the park was packed - it was the Siren Festival. We never saw a band play. Took a ride on the Polar Express! (Himalaya-laya-laya-laya!) Ate good-ish food. Sun. Happy. Here are the rest of the pics.

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:49:00 +0000

Washington Avenue

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:25:00 +0000

i need to take a photograph... how has it been a week?

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:40:00 +0000

I don't have anything new to post but figured it was time to add something...
Do you know where this is? First one with the correct answer gets a print!

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:43:00 +0000

Red to the White to Blue...

Happy 4th from Reading, PA

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:45:00 +0000

Red to the White to the Blue...

I'm off to find the 4th.

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:51:00 +0000

at least the sun was out...

It's been a three rainbow day. That sounds wonderful
but also means it's been raining... again. ugh.
10" of rain in June. at least another inch today.

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:23:00 +0000

Red to the White to the Blue!

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:40:00 +0000

Sunburnt and soaked. After waiting almost 4 hours in the blazing sun we entered the Apollo. For the most part the crowds were pleasant although there were a few that either wouldn't shut-up or just couldn't handle standing amongst others "don't touch me"... really? There were a lot of us! We danced to old MJ songs, listened to Al Sharpton cheer us on, a moment of silence... then out into the pouring rain. What a day! I'd do it again. You know I had to be there. I think I have a memory for all the songs. How many Saturdays did we waste skating to MJ in the basement! nice.

- more pics here -

You have to show them that you're really not scared
You're playin' with your life, this ain't no truth or dare
They'll kick you, then they beat you,
Then they'll tell you it's fair
So beat it, but you wanna be bad

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:08:00 +0000

Help Rebuild!

There is a fundraiser today for the tenants of 493 + 491 Myrtle at Chez Lola - just up the block!

Councilwoman James office, in partnership with Chez Lola, is collecting funds and donations for the residents of 493 and 491 Myrtle Ave at the restaurant on Sunday, with appetizers and drinks served.

For more details, visit the Chez Lola Web site.

Sunday, 5 to 7 p.m. 

Chez Lola
 387 Myrtle Avenue

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:40:00 +0000

Did ya see it?

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:15:00 +0000

Jack Vanasco

Meeting more of the history in the hood. Jack and his brother have run this appliance repair shop on Myrtle for a long time, to say the least. Their tagline says it all, "house of a million parts". There are also flags and memories on all walls. Minutes later the scrapbooks were out, pictures of him as a kid, the Veterans Memorial downtown, the neighborhood, friends, etc. I stopped to capture a flag and in return got a history lesson. Smile. If you ever need a small flag, yes, he's got those too, just a buck!

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:18:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:35:00 +0000

"Five Star, just like a Hilton..."

noreply@blogger.com (g) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:00:00 +0000

I tried to just walk by and go to the store but I couldn't. I ended up sitting with Mrs. Woznick, the owner of 489 Myrtle for at least 2 hours, talking about what they are doing and the neighborhood. How much it has changed and the people she knew. My favorite conversations.

The big trucks were out and the young kids were there to ooh and ahhh. Of course they don't have any idea of what is really going on, they just love trucks. But even the adults in the gawker crowd let out oohs when a big piece was torn away. Mrs. Woznick is still hoping to save her house. They are shoring up the wall as the neighboring house comes down with hopes it will be stable enough - still a LOT of work to be done. I was surprised to see people peeking out the windows in the first two buildings. I'm sorry, I would not be going home until all the work is done. Even then I'm sure it would take some help to sleep.

I did receive another link to help Anh Nguyen. His friends have set up a website based on his drawings to help him. Here is the link: http://savemang.org/

Ironic that the mirror still stood until the final wall came down. All this destruction and mayhem and there it sits above the radiator on the top floor. Unbroken. So is that good luck then? She did make it out...