A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 164~ Another New York Minute Comes To Me

"If life is fair why does roses have thorns?"

~ Elmo

On the day before Thanksgiving last year, Alan and I decided to check out the Times Square cam to see if we could see any of the preparations being made for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was fairly late here, so it was really late in New York, but it's the city that never sleeps, right? Well, we didn't see a lot going on as far as the parade prep went, but we did see a lot of folks still milling about Times Square, and there was the occasional parade-like person doing a bit of public relations. It was fun to sit and watch in real time, the city at the top of our bucket list of must see places before we die. It's such a great city, and since 9/11 the point has been driven home that life is unsure, so do what you can to live and experience as much as possible.

Well, we made some hot chocolate and shook off the stress of preparing for Thanksgiving by watching the live camera view of Times Square. Then suddenly the almost black and white scene became red as Elmo walked in front of the camera! Okay, yes, I know it wasn't the real Sesame Street Elmo, merely an Elmo performer, but it was kinda fun all the same. It's that kind of thing I most want to see in cities I haven't visited before. Not the common. Not the everyday. I want to see the strange. The odd. The misplaced. The weird. Little did I know all those Wednesdays ago, I had just seen exactly what I was hoping to see. As it turns out, Times Square Elmo is indeed... not your everyday Elmo!

Last week I caught a brief story on my local news about a mystery surrounding a new character that had been seen around San Francisco. His name was Elmo. I didn't think much of it at the time because, after all, we are coming up on the holiday season which will officially kick off with Halloween. Halloween in a big city like San Francisco can be quite the adventure! In years past I have seen more than one Marilyn Monroe with an Adams Apple as big as Ann Coulter's! LOL. Sorry, couldn't resist! Anyway, I simply assumed that it was a new street performer, they are all over the place, and usually quite friendly and entertaining.

The next day Alan and I were in Fisherman's Wharf, on Thursday to be exact, to Ride The Duck, and as luck would have it we spotted the new Elmo first at Pier 39, then later near where we were at the wharf. I was kinda happy to be able to do some photos of Elmo to add them to my collection of street performers. He seemed friendly enough, and the kids really seemed to like him. But when I got home, I heard on the news that this new San Francisco character wasn't just any Elmo... he was Times Square Elmo. And he isn't the warm fuzzy type, in fact, he had gotten into trouble in Manhattan for yelling obscenities at children and at times anti-Semitic statements at their parents! Or in general, as the mood turned.

At first San Francisco Elmo denied being the same man from Times Square, but the dead giveaway was the moneybag he carried which matched perfectly with New York Elmo. Apparently Time Square Elmo relocated to San Francisco after a couple of arrests for yelling his obscenities, but was released as his speech is protected under Freedom of Speech. And it is. It's his right. Not that I am saying what he did was appropriate. It wasn't. But he hadn't done anything wrong, legally speaking. But to add to his over all charm he also ran a website a while back that NO ONE would probably approve of, so I am not sure what bi-coastal Elmo's story is, but from what I have read he has changed his name to Adam Sandler, and he is living out of his car. So really, it's not a new story.

I think he might be one of those lost souls that you cross paths with sometimes. I didn't think about it until today, but Sesame Street does deal with the plight of folks less fortunate then ourselves. I am going to err on the side of compassion here. San Francisco Elmo may be Manhattan Elmo, but when the red suit comes off he is also Adam Sandler. Perhaps he changed his name because of some family event that hurt him. Boy can I relate to that. I considered the same action a number of years back. Or maybe he suffers from some other difficulty. All I know is that the Elmo I observed the other day made no obscene gesture, nor did he yell any kind of mean or racist words. He was just Elmo, going about his business, making a living, posing for pictures with folks of all ages.

According to the news, Fisherman's Wharf Elmo was planning on moving south to Los Angeles this weekend. He is probably now Santa Monica Pier Elmo... and at the end of the day... Adam Sandler.

Good Luck Elmo Sandler!

You can't judge a book by it's cover. Good or bad.

"Bush gave an interview and he said people will vote him because, 'They've seen me weep, they've seen me laugh, and they've seen me hug." These are the same qualifications for a Tickle Me Elmo."

~Bill Maher


~Me :)

Ranting Elmo Finds Prosperity Out West. New York Times (City Room Blog)

Evil Elmo Spotted On San Francisco Streets (KPIX 5 CBS)

Now that you have read my blog post, go see what my pal JR is up to! His latest set of photos are quite moving!

JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/10/apadf6-162.html

Elmo Gets Lucky! Go Elmo! Go Elmo!

"I wonder if illiterate people get the full effect of alphabet soup?"

-Jerry Seinfeld

Ok, yes, technically I am still on vacation, but I did say I would be posting from time to time. You see, when I heard that this video had been pulled from Sesame Street, I just had to put my two cents in. The way I see it, its all very simple... let's start a Sesame Street for adults! We can call it The Real Muppets Of Adult Land! We can feature "Oscar The Grouchy Republican" and "Elmo the Hippy Democrat" and we can show all the their Muppet friends getting drunk and throwing orgies and maybe even show a few engaging in... dare I say it? Nah, use your imaginations. Finally there will be a place for poor Katy Perry and her lovely music video. Sheesh! That was easy... right?

-Carly

When You Know You Are Doing The Best You Can

"People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy."

-Anton Chekhov

I didn't get as much done on my flower garden as I wanted to yesterday. The temperature outside was a lot warmer then the previous days, and there was little breeze blowing. I guess I picked the hottest day of the week to try and get it all done. LOL. Isn't that always the way? :) Oh well, I did manage to get some pruning done on the old rose bush against the back fence and I got the new roses transplanted, and I also got the herb garden done. In a couple months I will be cooking my Italian dishes with some nice fresh basil. Hopefully. :) I think in the next few days I might add a few more items to the herb garden, maybe some cilantro, which I love, and some lavender, which I am told should be planted for good luck! Who couldn't use a little more of that? It was a productive day, but it is still frustrating that my Fibromyalgia keeps me from doing more. Sigh.

I gave the roses a fine misting this evening, with some plant food, and when I stepped back, it looked as each one had been edged with delicate lace. It was of course little water beads, but I thought it caught the sun just right. I took a few shots with the camera, and I really liked what I saw. I think I might try for the same photo, only next time with the softer color of a sunrise. My garden gets all the early sun, so it could be rather pretty I think. Lots and lots of color... yep... that's what I am looking for. Speaking of color... I am trying to talk Alan into getting a white-barked maple tree. I would love some autumn leaves to help bring the yard to life. Keep your fingers crossed for me. He and I are also talking about some additional dwarf fruit trees. I could go for that as well. :) I will be a happy girl either way.

Since I decided to come in from the garden early yesterday, I thought I might do a little online shopping for Elvis's Halloween costume for this year. I like to price things early. I think I have it narrowed down to the choices below...

I think the Bandito costume would suit him, but the vampire cape would be easy for him to wear. Still, with the Bandito costume, he would have a new hat. Always a plus with him. In previous years he has been a clown, a pumpkin, a yellow and black bug, a Devil, Micky Mouse, and a pirate. LOL. Sometimes he still asks to wear his pumpkin hat, of course I let him. He looks so silly, but way too cute. I don't know which one we will go with. We'll see. :)

My day was a bit fragmented yesterday, but I know I am doing the best I can. That feels good. I need to return a call to H.P. in a little while. He called, but I was elsewhere. Sigh. I sent him a text and told him I would call late. Thank goodness he keeps the same hours I do. LOL. Our friendship was definitely meant to be! I have had the Goo Goo Dolls playing a concert in my head all day, so I looked them up on YouTube a little while ago, and found them singing with Elmo. Tee Hee. I LOVE Elmo, but have never been able to figure out what kind of monster he is. Do you know? :) Enjoy the video, it's just toooo cute. :)

-OndineMonet

"Lace Roses"
Berkeley, California
June 17th, 2007
Late Afternoon