ROYGBIV

I was driving to work this morning, and the skies were gray, and I was feeling a bit glum, but as I got closer to the office, WOW! A rainbow!

This put a smile on my face as I began my work day...

Give Me Wings!

The slogan for Red Bull energy drinks is, "Red Bull gives you wiiinngs!"

I wonder how often the driver wishes the Red Bull car had wings, to fly over the gridlock on the roadways... ;)

It's Raining Again

It rained again this afternoon, but thankfully not enough to cause any flooding. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the Midwest and Texas and in England facing rising rivers.

A Work In Progress

This is an older building on Lafayette Street downtown that is undergoing renovation. I think it used to be a hotel at one point in time.

I wonder what it will be in its next incarnation...

Offices?

Apartments?

Another hotel, perhaps?

Sunday Drive

I admit that I get stuck in a travel rut. I travel from my house, to my job, then to the store, then back home, making the same circuit day after day. If I do branch out, it's on Sunday mornings, when traffic is barely existent and it's much easier to move around Baton Rouge.

The above photo was taken as I tried to learn the layout of the new Picardy exit off Interstate 10 in south Baton Rouge. With few cars around, I was able to explore the onramps and offramps for about 10 minutes, stress-free.

Muse

Our harpist is part of a frieze along the outside of the State Capitol building. I never noticed her until this year, as I searched for items to photograph.

Drive Carefully

Lighted signs, warning drivers to slow down and prepare to stop, now stand along a three-mile stretch of Interstate 12 after two major multi-vehicle crashes that killed four people. Both wrecks happened at the O'Neal Lane exit, where the freeway reduces from three lanes of traffic to two. Traffic tends to slow down and bottleneck here as people try to merge. In both of the crashes, police believe the drivers failed to notice that other vehicles was slowing down or stopped, hence the signs to alert motorists.

"Let's be careful out there..."

Blue Blooms

I don't know what these blue flowers are called, but I think they're lovely...



Can anyone identify these mystery blooms?

Shaw Center for the Arts

The Shaw Center for the Arts, which opened just two years ago in downtown Baton Rouge, features several art galleries, including the LSU Museum of Art, and a 325-seat performing arts theatre. There's also a popular sushi restaurant on the top floor, with an outdoor terrace offering envious views of the Mississippi River.

One nice feature of the Shaw Center is the Second Saturdays program this summer. On the second Saturday of each month, admission to galleries is free, and there are special arts activities planned for children. Some of the activities planned for August include an Instrument Petting Zoo, where members of the Baton Rouge Symphony show children how to play their instruments, and a crafts project using patterned papers, inspired by an ongoing exhibit of Japanese prints.

Oliver Pollock

This is a closeup of a 17-foot high bronze statue of Oliver Pollock, sculpted by Frank Hayden. Pollock was an Irish native who became a successful merchant in New Orleans during the years before the Revolutionary War, and he used his wealth to help finance the War effort. Pollock is also believed by some to have invented $, the dollar sign.

Baton Rouge in 2107?

This is one of four murals featured on a small outdoor stage near the riverfront. I like the fanciful vision of a future Baton Rouge. Hopefully those flying saucers we'll be traveling in will alleviate some traffic nightmares - or would they create gridlock in space?

Friday The 13th

It's Friday the 13th, and I've gotten stuck under some sort of grating!

(actually I'm not really stuck)

When I was younger, I used to be scared when Friday fell on the 13th day of the month. I was convinced that bad things would happen, and would go home and tell my mother all the troubles I had that day. Eventually she had her fill of it and told me that it was all in my mind, that the 13th was like any other day and could actually be a lucky day, but I was focused solely on the bad things that went on and forgot about the good things. I reluctantly took her advice, and to my surprise soon found that, yes, Friday the 13th actually was like an ordinary day.

I hope that none of you are triskadekaphobic, and that today turned out to be a lucky day for you...

Hot Enough For You?

To my poor car, the outside temperature felt like 99 degrees today. At the time I took this, the actual temperature was probably closer to 89 or 90 degrees, but with the added humidity (67%) it felt more miserable. I am very thankful that the air conditioner in my car is working. Fall can't come soon enough.

(PS yes, I know about my dusty car. It's getting washed and cleaned on Saturday :) )

The Sun, Moon, and Stars...

...and the planets, too.

This is above one of the doorways to Nicholson Hall at LSU, home of the physics and astronomy departments.

In Bloom

The crape myrtles are in bloom across Baton Rouge. This one is at the Botanic Gardens, which has a lovely crape myrtle garden. Crape myrtles are native to China and eastern India - I didn't know that until today.

Stop 'N' Sip

You don't have to have wings to enjoy the backyard birdbath. This squirrel likes to quench his thirst there. Lucky for him, the cats were sleeping when he stopped for a break.

Drive On Thru

Taken while I was in the drive-thru line at Raising Cane's on Government Street, waiting to get chicken fingers for lunch. I like the way the power boxes are camouflaged by the arrow...

Love, All

I was trying to figure out an unique way to take a picture of a tennis court. I don't know how unique this is, though ;)

The good news is, the sun is shining right now!

Kickin' Back On Friday

This is a playground ride that looks like a see-saw, but instead of moving up and down, you move around in a circle.

Hope this Friday will begin a weekend of fun and summery (or wintry) delights for you!

More Precipitation

More rain again today. Over three inches this week. I'm hoping for a day of sunshine so that the yard will dry enough for me to mow the lawn. But I'm thankful that we're not facing flooding, only more mosquitos.

Independence Day

Happy Fourth of July!

A Spot For Reflection

A closeup of the benches at the MLK Memorial that I posted about yesterday...

MLK Memorial

My other choice for yesterday's Theme Day would have been the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial near the Governmental Building. It was sculpted by New York City native Arthur Silverman when he was in his seventies. Each of the benches in front of the memorial has a plaque with a famous quote from Dr. King.

Red Stick

Theme Day for July 2007 is the color red, so I'm showing you the sculpture that represents "Red Stick". Baton Rouge was named by the French explorer Sieur d'Iberville in 1699, after he saw a cypress pole decorated with bloody animal and fish heads, which served as a marker for the hunting boundaries of two Native American tribes (the Bayougoula and the Houma).

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