The Brain and The Eye

 

When I was driving to the Desert Botanical Garden a few weeks ago, I spotted this sign on the side of a building.  I drive this route every time I go to the garden and I hadn't noticed it before so I decided to pull in to find out what it was all about.

It appears to be a clinic that specializes in eye conditions that are caused by problems in the brain.  That is my very simplistic way of describing it.  If you are curious, you can check their "about" page on their website.  There is a list of types of services they provide that is full of very long words that I don't understand.  The doctor who operates this clinic is a Neuro-Ophthalmologist.  That's a pretty big word too. Now when I see that brain on the wall, I'll know why it's there.

Parking Lot Odds and Ends

 

Meeting some friends for lunch, I arrived about 15 minutes early.  It was such a nice day, rather than wait in the car or inside, I wandered around the parking area looking for anything interesting.  This reflection in the window caught my eye.  I liked the slightly blurry signs.

Then I was attracted by the "dream catcher" hanging from the mirror in this car.  After downloading the photo, I see something even more interesting.  Is that some kind of camera with two lenses attached above the mirror?  I've never seen anything like that.

My last observation is the brightly colored Union Jack decorating the rear-view mirror on a Mini-Cooper.  

I found plenty to see while waiting those 15 minutes.

The Governor

 

I discovered some new apartments near downtown Phoenix and the building has this huge mural of Governor George W.P. Hunt, the first governor of the state of Arizona.

I did some online searching for the artist but I had no luck.

The new apartments are on McDowell Road at about 17th Street and they are called "The Governor".  

Governor Hunt has a very unique tomb that I featured back in 2011.  It's a pyramid.  If you look at that post you will learn a few more facts about this colorful man and his unique tomb.

Taking part in Monday Murals. 

Architectural Memories

 

I stopped at a shop that sells all kinds of gift items and decorator pieces and I saw these framed prints.  They commemorate unique places in Arizona most of which no longer exist.  The first two on the left, Cine Capri & Trader Vic's are long gone.  Cine Capri is where I saw the very first Star Wars movie and Trader Vic's was a tropical-themed night spot in Scottsdale.

In the middle row we have Camelview 5, the movie theatre that closed in 2015.  I featured photos from Camelview before it was demolished.  The Safari Hotel in Scottsdale closed and was demolished in 1998.

On the far right, is the Tropics Motor Hotel in Phoenix which happened to be an Al Beadle building.  It is also long gone.  The one below is the Starlight Motel in Mesa and it is still standing.  It's undergone numerous renovations but the one thing that remains the same is that wonderful "diving lady" neon sign.

I found this photo of the sign on line so you could see this wonderful piece of neon art.  Back in October of 2010, there was a really bad storm that took the sign down.  The city helped to raise the money to have it restored and as far as I know, that lady still takes that big dive every evening after dark.  

Signs Along the Way

 I saw this very unappetizing sign at the restaurant where my work team had our holiday lunch.  I'm not a big beer drinker but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't order this one at any time.

This was a holiday greeting card that made me laugh.  I imagine that workout was performed in many places over the holidays.  

There is a world of truth to this sign seen in a gift shop.  Time might be standing still on the faces of these unusual clocks but it certainly isn't standing still anywhere else.  

Random Sightings

 

Today I have another series of random and unrelated sightings from the last two weeks.  First up is a pizza place in north Phoenix.  This place used to have all yellow umbrellas on their patio but now they have the colors of the Ukrainian flag.  Good for them!

Here is another moonrise shot that I took last Saturday on the night of that party with all the dogs that I wrote about earlier this week.  The house I was at had a lovely view of the mountains and one of the guests spotted the full moon making an appearance over the top.  We all went out on the patio to watch it and a few of us got our phones out for a photo.  

The next is a billboard I saw for the "Tattoed Realtor".  I wonder which came first the tattoos or the real estate license.  I'm guessing the tattoos.  

I'll end this post with another delicious dessert!  I found this beauty in the same bakery where I sometimes find those decorative fruit tarts that I've pictured before.  On this occasion I believe this is a cheesecake instead of a fruit tart.  It was very tempting but I decided a photo had less calories.  I do wonder if it tasted as good as it looked.  

Amusing Signs

 

As of this last weekend, Trader Joe's (grocery store) was still allowing only so many people in the store at a time.  Consequently, there is always a well-spaced line of people outside the store waiting to get in to do their shopping.  I noticed the last time I was there that they had put up a few clever signs to amuse the people waiting.  I especially liked this one, a clever take on the famous British slogan, "Keep Calm and Carry On".  I snapped a photo of the sign while I was waiting and sent it to my sister.

My sister then sent me this sign that she saw at her dog's veterinarian's office.  I thought it was equally amusing.  The artist got those 'beagles' dressed and lined up perfectly!

Signs of the Time

 

While I was in Tucson last weekend, I found a couple of signs to remind me of the times we live in.  This one to the left is advertising a drink called a "Quarantini".  That's one way to enjoy this time when we are all distancing ourselves from each other.

This sign was found at El Charro, that wonderful Mexican Restaurant I talked about in my post on Tuesday.  This one was reminding people that masks were required at this business and they were serious about enforcing that rule.

This last one is not really a sign.  In fact, it was an artwork that was for sale from a gift shop.  It caught my eye because it seemed to mirror all the people around who were wearing masks inside the shop.  

They were all reminders that we are living in a very unusual time.  

Tuesday Trivia

 

Today I have another post of random photos from my photo archives.  Up first is a pile of very cuddly bears.  They were found in a home decorating store back in the days when we could all go shopping.  I was very tempted to take one of them home with me.  

Next is a funny sign I saw sometime around the holidays.  I'm guessing that it refers to passing dogs who of course can't read so hopefully the dog's humans will take note.

I saw this cute sign at my local wine store.  This one was taken around the holidays too.  It's a nice suggestion but these days, lengthy strolling around any store is not an option.

This last one is about  another shoe discovery I made.  The shoe was in the window of Saks Fifth Avenue.  No one will have to guess at the designer of these shoes because that heel says it all.  (Yves Saint Laurent for those few who might not recognize that emblem.)  I bet they were expensive.  

Attention Getting Businesses

 

Here are a few businesses that have caught my eye.  Above is a new music store in Scottsdale.  I loved the keyboard on the awning but I wondered why they didn't paint all the panels like that. I think it needs a full keyboard.

To the left is "CARVANA" a car "vending machine".  Do you have one of these near you?  I hear they have locations all over.  The idea is supposed to be an easy way to buy a car with no haggling or negotiating and easy financing.  One of these days, I'd like to get a photo of this place at night.  It really looks strange lit up at night just like a giant vending machine.  This place is in Tempe.

The breakfast restaurant above has a rather far reaching name.  Are the eggs really that good?

And, to the right is a sign I saw in central Phoenix directing people to a variety of locally owned businesses in the area.  That's quite a variety of businesses.  

Early Morning at the Garden

 

I had another early morning walk at the Desert Botanical Garden yesterday and it was another thoroughly enjoyable adventure.  I've discovered that there  is one good thing about this #*!@ pandemic, those past crowds at the garden are no more.  In fact, yesterday morning it was like having the place all to myself.  Once again I sat for a while in the contemplation garden and watched the birds come and go.  That's where I spotted this fantastic reflection.

The whole sign runs next to the pathway that leads to this little space.  I don't know the Fine Family but I am ever so grateful to them for helping to create this magical space I love so much.

While I was sitting there, a large group of quail stopped by for a refreshing drink.  Tomorrow I'll show you another little fellow that I enjoyed watching while I sat there.  

A Mixture of This and That

I'm mixing it up a bit for today's post.  Just a few things I've observed around town when I've been out running errands.  This fine looking Volkswagen bus caught my eye.  It has an "antique auto" license plate on it and whoever owns it has restored it beautifully.  Just look at that shine.

The police were after me again.  Just kidding.  I'm not sure what they were doing but they were making a big circle over my neighborhood.  When they approached the mountains to the north of me, I could hear them talking on the loud speaker but I couldn't make out what they were saying.

I snapped this one when I was at a traffic light.  I saw the sign on the back of that van and I couldn't figure out what a motorcycle lawyer was.  So I looked them up.  They take cases involving motorcycle accidents and injuries.  Now I know.

The photo above is from my archives.  I took it when I visited The Churchill, that dining and entertainment facility I featured back in February.  I don't know sign language but I did look this up and what I get is SFSG.  Which might stand for Special Forces Support Group or maybe it's something else.  Any ideas?

This last one is a mailbox I saw.  I bet the people who live here like dogs!

Purple Hair & Other Sightings

Today I have another collections of random shots that have been sitting in my photo folders.  First up, a pretty purple hat to go with some decidedly purple hair.

Above is a family of clay meerkats that I spotted in someone's yard.  They are such cute little fellows.

To the left, an interesting bench that is designed to resemble a clothes pin.  It's located in the lobby of the Renaissance Hotel.

A wicked looking motorcycle that I found parked in front of the shop next to my dry cleaners.  It looks like something Batman would ride, doesn't it?

Above we have an example of what that powerful Arizona sun does to our street signs after they've been exposed for a few years.  I noticed recently that this one has since been replaced.

Who knows what prompted me to take the photo to the left.  It must have been that cute little red bottle shaped can.

The "Head" Above the Restaurant

Back in April when I took an early morning walk in old town Scottsdale, I snapped this photo of the Los Olivos Mexican Patio restaurant.  When I approached the building, I had completely forgotten about this giant Aztec-like head on the roof.  This restaurant has a history the goes back 70 years and the business is still in the hands of the same family.  A few years ago, I posted a photo of one of their very unique dining rooms inside the restaurant.  Dining in that room makes you feel like you are "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea."

Observations During These Strange Times

When I was photographing trees last weekend, I happened to see this political yard sign.  I think that sign speaks volumes about our current political situation and the petulant miscreant at the top.

There is a small shopping center at the top of my street and I drive up there to get views every now and then.  Of course all the shops are closed right now but I was intrigued by these two chairs I spotted in the parking lot.  Some form of social distancing?

The Air Force did a fly over last Friday to honor first responders and hospital workers.  I thought I had chosen a good spot to see them fly over but I was wrong.  They were way off in the distance.  This was the only shot I got and it's not good at all.  There were about 6 more planes in the group that I missed entirely.

I took this last one last Saturday when I went to the mall to see if I could walk there.  Scottsdale Fashion Square is a huge shopping center with several huge parking garages all around it.  It was strange to see the garages virtually empty when normally I'd have to drive around a bit to find a vacant spot.

Bumper Stickers

Bumper stickers are quit common here in the United States.  People who put them on their cars are always trying to convey some type of message.  Every now and then I see some that I can't resist photographing like this cute little dog peeking at me.

Below the cute dog was this sticker blaming the the dog for the texts while driving.  I'm betting the dog is completely innocent.

On another day, I saw this one on the back of a car.  This is probably good advice especially if you happen to be friends with a "true-believer".

But this one was my favorite.  That's the best play on an old familiar joke that I've seen.