1985 Scans

From late 1983 until early summer of 1985 I was stationed in Utah. Camera-wise I started with a old Kodak Disc camera that I finally upgraded just before leaving. My upgrade was an Olympus 35mm point and shoot. This was probably about the time that they finally put 35mm roll film into a point and shoot. These are from that Olympus. The first is the fire department I belonged to while I lived off base. This is the Washington Terrace Fire Department. I lived 4 or 5 blocks away, along Route 89 by the high school. Nothing real significant happened during my time spent with these guys. I sure they don't remember me. I can remember a couple of the guys. There were the Father and Sons, the boys were Phil and Bart, I think. Roger and Toby. And the Chief, I think he was Peterson. There was weekly training and meetings and a few calls, but they weren't near as busy as I was back home. They ran two of these Van Pelts. One was really old. And there was another piece of apparatus I no longer recall. The only pictures I have are three of this unit. Before leaving Utah I visited my cousin ion Huntington Beach, California. I guess she actually lived in Santa Anna, but we visited Huntington Beach were this Lifeguard Jeep was stationed. Got to love the tail step with the hand holds. And the last one is a Crash truck that was sitting out at  El Toro Marine Corps Air Station at an air show.

Monday Sunset

Did you ever drive past some place and say to yourself, "Self" (I'm assuming that's what you call yourself what you are talking to yourself). "Self, sometime, when the time is just right, I'd like to get a picture of that." I can't tell you how many of these locations are stored in my Swiss cheese brain. Monday on the way home from work I saw that the sunset was gonna be a nice one and when I saw the scattered cirrus was glowing with an awesome pink/purple tinge I swung by the house and grabbed my camera and tripod. Of course in the 5 minutes it took me to get here the color was gone. I was left with the tail end of sunlight and fading blue skies. I have no complaints. (to be honest as I was watching the sunset form while on the road home I wanted to go to another location to get some pictures that I saw in my mind. But those pictures need a clear sunset, no clouds. Maybe this weekend) This is, by the way, the Cumberland Valley Co-Op. Sitting along Mount Rock Road just off of Interstate 81 near exit 24. And the Big Old Paint Can.

at Mile High

I dug another oldie from the dusty files of my 2005 summer vacation to Colorado. And for "Larger Than Life" I give you football equipment that is bigger than Tim Tebow himself. While in Denver we drove past Invesco Field and saw this equipment in the sidewalk from the parking lot. That is a big mouth piece and facemask and collar and chinstrap. How did I know six and a half years ago (two years before the Outskirts came to be) that I would need fodder for some random Wednesday post? I'm a genius I tell you. A genius.

My People Picture Rule Gets Broken, Again

You may recall the number one rule here at the Outskirts... "I Don't Take People Pictures". Well sometimes you gotta bend the rules.  I had a friend ask to take some family pictures and some of her high school senior son. He wanted them taken at the cabin in the fall and as nice as the leaves are in these pictures two weeks earlier were much better. One week earlier it was a lot whiter, though. So one Sunday afternoon the family and my wife and I walked and climbed around the acreage surrounding their cabin. We kicked up a few turkeys on our hike, too (the feathered kind). And the whole day ended with warm homemade apple pie. Like I said, sometimes you gotta bend the rules.

Save Your Green (PG 173)

Barn Charm 17. Painted Gentleman 173. I dug into my old files looking for something I haven't posted anywhere yet. This barn sits near the intersection of Sleepy Hollow Road and Route 286 near Clymer, Pennsylvania. Why do I have a picture of a random barn in Indiana County? It all about the faded ad.  I love getting pictures of old faded ads, especially Mail Pouch. I call them Painted Gentlemen, I play on the terms Painted Lady and Gentlemen Farmer. If you haven't already clicked my label in the sidebar for Painted Gentleman, try it and see where it takes you. This barn though is a small mystery. It is nearly too faded. I can make out the words "Sales & Service" and "Save Your Green Rt 286 S Indiana Pa" It's the top line that baffles me. is that an "F"? It could be an "F" for the word Firestone. It is close to the same style. Unless someone remembers It will remain a mystery.


For more Barn Charm follow the link below to Tricia in Southeast Missourah.

Footer Review 2011

December means it is time for my yearly review of the footers that have grace our presence on this here web log.

January 2011 - This is a Black Vulture sitting on a light post at the Conowingo Dam from last November. The moon came from somewhere else. IDK

February 2011 - This is one of the dragons along the sidewalks of Philadelphia's Chinatown. Taken last year between Christmas and New Years Eve.

March 2011 - A detail of my old Kodak No. 2 Premo camera. The post with that camera still is one of my highest hit posts. Next to anything about the FDNY.

April 2011 - Detail of the phone booth I stood near during the NYC Lunar New Years parade. Near the intersection of Mott and Canal Streets.

May 2011 - My Kwanzan Cherry tree in bloom.

June 2011 - Another from Chinatown NYC. Cleaning up after the parade. Remember to Keep the Outskirts of Suburbia Clean.

July 2011 - July 4th fireworks here in Shippensburg. This one I did a little twist to.

August 2011 - Some flowers I ran onto out in the State Game Lands.

September 2011 - The mascot for the Harrisburg Senators, Riverside Rascal, showing some Outskirts love.

October 2011 - My favorite hot dog stand. This sits on the lower concourse of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

November 2011 - Yes, baseball three months in a row. This is the scoreboard from Coca Cola Park in Allentown  when I whooped up on the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. They never stood a chance.

December 2011 - Interstate 95 through southern Maine. We looked and looked. My daughter complained about false advertisements.

Best Decorated Firehouse in Town

The click click click you hear on the rooftop is just the workers putting on the roof. The construction guys obviously feel a little Christmas spirit. Dear Santa, I want a new firehouse for Christmas.