An Opening Shot from the 2013 Metropolis Labor Day Parade -

Photos will make it to this link --> 2013 Metropolis Labor Day Parade - Photos by KCoJax on SmugMug -  slightly before they make it here to the blog ... I am admittedly way behind on a million things.  Life has thrown a few challenges in this direction lately... catching up quickly and expecting the best - and you should too!

Don't Horse Around at the Top of the Stairs...
Don't Text and Drive...
and Don't Judge ANYONE But Yourself...

Have a grand and groovy day!
If You Liked It - Share It!
Please and Thanks!


See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Part 2 - Glimpses of my FIRST visit EVER to the St. John Church Ice Cream Social - 2013

This is Part 2 of glimpses of my first visit ever to the St. John Church Ice Cream Social... You can see Part 1 HERE...

The Ice Cream Line... which pretty much never empties, but it well worth the wait! 

Some of the amazing people responsible for pulling off this event... 

Below are some random shots I took around the gathering...

I'll take a spin through and see if I've now rounded up all of these photos... I'll either bring you the rest of these tomorrow or some other goodies from my hard drive that are waiting to be seen...

Have a grand and groovy day!
If you liked it, Share it! 
Please and Thanks!
Don't Horse Around at the Top of the Stairs...
Don't Text and Drive...
and Don't Judge ANYONE but yourself...


See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Glimpses of my FIRST visit EVER to the St. John Church Ice Cream Social - 2013

Though I was "raised in the neighborhood" and had heard of it for as long as I can remember, I had never attended the St. John's Ice Cream Social until this year.  As the date approached, I was thrilled when I learned that this was a regular thing for Evan and he was planning to attend...

This view was one I knew well due to pulling out of Jefferson School nearly four million times over the course of my life... But it was just phenomenal to see all of the traffic of those attending.

As reported by WPSD-TV, the event has taken place for 70 years

and proceeds go to benefit local families in need.

I  caught some folks sitting about visiting 
who were agreeable for a quick shot... 

This shot, I thought said so much ...

people visiting and seeing people they haven't seen in ages just as far as the eye can see ...

One of my favorite shots of the afternoon ... the official meteorologist of the Comer family and many of you, Beau Dodson and his mom, Judy.  I have known these two since before I was born and I was so happy to run into them... 

This is one of those events that you just shouldn't miss... 

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

A Traveling Tin Can and the History of Such...

They call them "tin cans" and the travelers who jaunt about the country in them are called Tin Can Tourists ... it's the nicest looking tin can I've ever seen.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the vintage delight that a shiny little trailer like this holds and just a week or so ago while I was gassing up my car in neighboring Paducah, Kentucky; I saw a precious little couple who'd pulled in for a pit stop.  They were just fantastic and said they were on the way back to North Carolina after traveling with the Tin Can Tourists... 

I bid them a safe journey and promised to share the photos here with a bit of info about their fantastic organization... 

http://www.tincantourists.com/

Tin Can Tourists is an all make and model vintage trailer and motor coachclub. Our goal is to promote and preserve vintage trailers and motor coaches through gatherings and information exchange.

The club is open to everyone and ownership of a vintage trailer or motor coach is not a prerequisite for membership.

Airstream, Inc History

ONE DOLLAR EACH 

In 1929, Wally Byam purchased a Model T Ford chassis,built a platform on it, towed it with his car to a campsite, and painstakingly erected a tent on it. The effort was tiresomeand unpleasant, especially when it rained. Spurred on by his first wife Marion, Wally built a tear-drop-shapedpermanent shelter on the platform that enclosed a small ice chest and kerosene stove. He then published an article that ran under the headline, "How to Build a Trailerfor One Hundred Dollars." Readers wrote Wally for more detailed instruction plans, which he sold at a cost of one dollar each. The response was extraordinary, earning him more than $15,000. After building several trailers for friendsin his backyard, "the neighbors started complaining that I was making too much noise," Wally observed, "so I went out and rented a building." Airstream Trailer Company went into full production in 1932, when fewer than 48 trailer manufacturers were registered for business. Five years later, nearly 400 companies squared off against each other. Today, of those 400, only Airstream remains.

TIN CAN TOURISTS HISTORY AND IMAGES

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Monday Night's Super Full Buck Moon ...

Now I can't swear to it, but it seems like last Summer was the first time I heard the term "Supermoon".  A big deal was made of it and I planned to take photos from beneath the Superman Statue... and I did... and it was just like this big huge unbelievable thing.  

If I can trust my noggin's recollection... I heard the other day that there are three supermoons this year, including possibly the one we had on Monday, which for about a zillion years has been referred to as the Buck Moon because it's a mark of the time when bucks start to sprout their antlers...


I don't know why all of the more recent talk of supermoons ... unless it has something to do with the global warming that some of you think we're not experiencing.  With our heat waves, droughts and whatnot ... and a 100 year flood every other month, I can't imagine that some of you won't come around before you're standing knee deep in water in the middle of Manhattan exclaiming, "Oh me, the water sure is up today...!"

Anywho, Evan and I went out for a drive to check out the moon on Monday night and I was able to capture these shots and a few more I'll share later. 

Have a Grand and Groovy Day! 
If You Liked It, Share It! Please and Thanks!! 
Be Kind to One Another...
Don't Judge ANYONE but yourself...
and Don't Text and Drive...
See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... and see more shots o' the MOON at KCoJax.Smugmug.com

Have You Heard of a Little Place Called Cave in Rock?

One Sunday afternoon in May after meeting Evan's mom and step-Dad for lunch in Golconda, we decided to venture off to Cave in Rock... Actually he decided to venture off to Cave in Rock, I had no idea where we were going until we pulled up...

Cave in Rock, for those of you who are unfamiliar is just what it sounds like ... a cave, set back in a gargantuan rock.  The rock is limestone and the cave is about 55 feet wide.  

Cave in Rock is now a tourist stop, but it's history is not as welcoming...

It's been said for many moons that this used to be a hideout ... a perfect little spot along the Ohio River, situated just on a bend, that allowed pirates and pillagers to lie in wait and create havoc on passers by ...

Links You'll Like...

Hiking at Cave in Rock

Search cave in rock, pirates on Google

If You Liked It, Share It... Please and Thanks! 
Don't Text and Drive...
and Don't Judge ANYONE But Yourself! 


See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

A Peek at some Super Runners...

After making a couple of passes up and down Market Street to gather our dinner on the Thursday of the Superman Celebration, Evan and I went for a little drive through town to see the sights...

In the vicinity of the Metropolis Library we encountered many runners....

If I'm not mistaken, these folks are taking part in the Superman Road Race ... I'd have to look back at the schedule to swear on that.  Personally, I don't run unless someone is in danger, but I do see more and more folks of 35+ on my news feed enjoying running as a hobby and I think that's grand!  I, however will stick with my biking...

By the way ... Evan scored a fantastic vintage bike for me during the week of my birthday!  Things were hectic and I haven't gotten around to riding it very many times, much less photoging it and sharing with you the details of it's vintage lovliness, but I'll get to that as soon as possible... 

Over and Out for now...

Click Here For More Superman Celebration Photos!

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Fireworks Go Boom - 2013 Metropolis Fireworks - Part 2

I'm dropping in to bring you a few more shots from the Metropolis 4th of July Fireworks... As I had mentioned in an earlier blog, I watched them from the riverfront last year all tucked into a corner with a bunch of hooligans... 

This year I watched them from the front of my new residence with Evan here at House at Pooh Corner...  Our friend Mike stopped by and watched with us as I roamed up and down the street to get the best angles... 

A few random neighbors were standing on the sidewalks and in the street, but I certainly didn't have to fight a crowd and that was absolutely lovely!

After the booms and flashes ended, Evan sat off a few fireworks for our personal delight... it was a bit to my chagrin though, I prefer to watch fireworks from a bit of a distance ... it's too easy for something to tip over and take someone's face off at close proximity... anywho... I'll bring you a few more shots of the July 4th celebration as the week goes on.

It's on my list to share some Superman Celebration and Super City Blues and Ques with you later today ... so be sure to bookmark.  Also, while I'm thinking of it, photos of the Super City Blues and Ques awards ceremony will be available at www.KCoJax.SmugMug.com this week at some point and I'll bring you that link when I have it... 

Have A Grand and Groovy Day!
If you Liked it, Share it ... Please and Thanks! 
Be Nice .... Don't Text and Drive ...
and Don't Judge ANYONE, but yourself...
See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Fireworks Go Boom - 2013 Metropolis Fireworks - Part 1

Happy Monday Folks!  If you're following along on the Facebook Page, you've seen a few photos go up this morning from Thursday night's fireworks in Metropolis... Below is a squiggly favorite of mine...

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Fourth of July in Metropolis, IL - Home of Superman

I was down to the last minute last year deciding if I wanted to journey down to the riverfront to shoot the fireworks.  Just as I began to hear the first few pops, I jumped in the car and made my way to Dorothy Miller Park Area... 

Knowing that I was on the wire and would never find a parking space, I parked a few blocks away and started walking...  After a couple of minutes I was sinking into the grass with my camera and a big cup of ice.

I do believe this was the first occurrence of my watching fire works completely by myself.  As I sat there shooting and listening to the different groups around me, I was glad that I was alone.  It seemed like it should be sad... but the family behind me had a syrup bucket full of kids that were more interested in shrieking and running about than watching the fireworks... and the groups on the other sides of me had all either gotten "loaded" before they came or were sitting there getting loaded because they wreaked of beer and would let out redneck like screams and yelps as the colors splashed against the sky... I'm not talking about celebratory cheers of Patriotism.... I'm talking about sounds that I would imagine people like those Duck Dynasty Folks or the people on that security show or the family of Honey Boo Boo would make... 

I look forward to shooting tonight after Evan and I complete a day of cookouts and homemade ice cream... 

This shot reminds me of Sideshow Bob giving a peace sign ... in an abstract sort of way... 

Tonight's Festivities are as Follows...
4th of July in Metropolis - 
8:30pm ish at Washington Park for the Farmer Memorial Fireworks
9pm at Dorothy Miller Park as the City of Metropolis, Harrah's and Ingram Barge light up the skies




See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

LAST Tuesday Night's Sunset...

You may ask why I'm showing you a sunset from a week ago ... because it was lovely and I never got around to sharing it with you... and that's sometimes the way the cookie crumbles...

06/25/13 Sunset at the Metropolis Bridge

There's just almost nothing as relaxing to me as watching the sun go down on the water...


See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

I Heart Vintage Signage...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE vintage signs of all kinds.  I love the imagery, I love the colors, I love the fact that droves and droves of people over several decades have walked under those signs for a bite to eat ... each of those people with their own story and own life... I have no idea why my mind operates in such a vintage, nostalgic fashion... but I'm glad it does... 

I've designed a bit of merchandise from the Rotier's photo ... View the Rotier's Photo and others at KCoJax.SmugMug.com by clicking here....  Get it in the form of a magnet! - 

Put the Rotier's photo on your fridge, filing cabinet or locker with the magnet at Flawn Ocho ...

I'm in the process of designing a "checkerboard design" of sorts made up of beautiful vintageness such as this ... I'll of course give you the link to it here, so don't forget to bookmark or follow me SOMEWHERE...

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

If you liked it, Share it ... 
Please and Thanks! 
Have a Grand and Groovy Day...
Don't Judge Anyone but Yourself...
and Don't Text and Drive... 

Third Man Records - Nashville, TN.

On a recent trip to Nashville, we put Third Man Records on our "To See List".

We'd been watching American Pickers a few weeks before and one of the segments detailed Mike and Frank's search of an elephant head for Jack White...

From ThirdManRecords.com... 

Third Man Records was originally founded by Jack White in Detroit, MI in 2001. In March of 2009 a physical location was established in Nashville, TN. Third Man Records in its current state contains a record store, record label offices, photo studio, dark room and live venue with analog recording booth.

Almost all of our records are recorded, printed and pressed in Nashville, TN and produced by Jack White. In this fashion TMR strives to bring a spontaneous and tangible aesthetic back into the record business.

Located at 623 7th Avenue South, Nashville, TN.
10-6 Mon-Sat 
1-4 Sun.
For more information call 615.891.4393

***
This is a fantastic little place to check out while in Nashville be you a music fan or not...! 

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

More of Third Man Records - Nashville, TN

If You Liked It, Share It ... Please and Thanks!
Don't Judge Anyone But Yourself...
Don't Text and Drive...
and Have a Grand and Groovy Day! 

Ohio River - Peeking from Fort Massac State Park

This was taken in July of 2012 ... note the receding waterline...

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

If you liked it, Share it ...
Please and Thanks!
Don't Judge Anyone but YOURSELF...
Don't Text and Drive...
and Have a Grand and Groovy Day! 

2013 Superman Celebration - Photo Round Up - Just a Sunday Afternoon at the Superman Statue...

I wish that EVERY Sunday in Metropolis could promise as much fun as the Sunday of Superman Celebration... The parade of costumery that traditionally takes place around 12:30 preludes by moments the $1000 costume contest held under the tent near the Superman Statue... so if you want to see characters in costume who truly are "being" their character - this is prime time, I just love it!! 

A loose shot of the Superman Statue following the parade...

Click Here For More Superman Celebration Photos!

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

If you like it, share it...
Please and Thanks!
Don't Judge Anyone But Yourself...
and Don't Text and Drive...

2013 Superman Celebration - Photo Round Up - Spiderman and Little Spidey

Some contestants in the Sunday Afternoon Costume Parade at the Superman Celebration are more interactive than others... One of my favorites this year was #16 - Superman.

As soon as he saw this "Little Spidey", he immediately approached him to make some great memories! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the boots on "Little Spidey"!! 

-For more on Spiderman Click Here-

Click Here For More Superman Celebration Photos!

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything ... including Halloween Hodge-Podgery when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

If you Like it, Share It ... 
Please and Thanks!
Don't Judge Anyone But Yourself...
and Don't Text and Drive... 

Early Favorites from Superman Celebration 2013 - The Quint Family Grabbin' Some Grub...

While thousands and thousands of fans from every corner of the world flock to Metropolis during Superman Celebration, one can always count on running into a slew of locals out for an evening of getting the kids wound up on sugar... 

Jared Quint and Family

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything ... including Halloween Hodge-Podgery when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Early Favorites from Superman Celebration 2013 - Lila Goes to Superman Celebration

Lila and her Daddy, Joshua Mark Robinson 

Lila having her picture taken with Superwoman and Daddy by her Grandma Mo Mo... 

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything ... including Halloween Hodge-Podgery when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page... 

Early Favorites from Superman Celebration 2013 - Two Little Superfellas

These two little guys seem to have arrived here to find that they couldn't fly...
I caught them as they began to climb the lamp post to get a better breeze... 

See more "non-portrait" tom-foolery (i.e. travel photography, bridges, barns and such...) in my retail store, Flawn Ocho... See a hodge-podge of everything ... including Halloween Hodge-Podgery when you *Like* the KCoJax Candids Facebook Page...