Woodlawn Mausoleum

I like this one - looks a little like a tiny castle, and I like the multi-colored window.

Lima, Ohio

Radio spot for Ghost in the Invisible Bikini

Bessie Smith - Haunted House Blues

Ok, So It's Actually a Left Hand, and It's Not Red

My friend Susan and I were visiting Lima, taking photos of the old signs and storefronts as we do, when she looked through the window of a long-abandoned store and jumped a little. When I saw what she was looking at, I jumped too. Then we both realized what it was and relaxed.

But for a second or so, we thought something quite grim had happened there.

So we took some pictures.

Lima, Ohio

Nick Cave - Red Right Hand

Kewpee

Kewpee Restaurant
Lima, Ohio

The Beatles - Birthday

We interrupt the summer music to bring you my 39th birthday. Back to the fun in the sun soundtrack tomorrow.

Roxy's Food & Spirits

Lima, Ohio

This was taken with a thrift shop $2 panoramic camera. I love the effect - that long stretchy image and the "letterboxing" - but geez, these things are hit or miss. It took me three broken cameras/destroyed rolls of film before I got one to spit out a mostly intact roll. Only after breaking, of course.

Today's Monkees hit is Pleasant Valley Sunday and the "unhit" is No Time from Headquarters. One of my all time favorites of theirs, it is basically loud, fast, cheerful, rock and roll nonsense. It doesn't even make enough sense to be called word salad. Regardless, you will find yourself singing along after only a listen or two, and if you're listening as you drive, you may find yourself getting a speeding ticket.

DQ

Lima, Ohio

Kelis - Milkshake

2 Years!

stripes
Lima, Ohio

This blog turned two on the 19th! I cannot believe that (minor exceptions like this last crazy week aside) I've stuck with it this long. I cannot believe that those of you who come by regularly have stuck with it either.

Thanks to all of you who have commented, downloaded, and bookmarked. You all are the cat's jammies.

In the time since I started this, I've gone from using only a little point and shoot to owning and using a DSLR, an SLR, an instamatic, a Holga, and a $3 panoramic. I no longer haunt cemeteries all year long, but I do still hold Halloween in my heart all year long and now look forward to celebrating it with a bunch of fellow bloggers for a whole month every year. I've discovered how much I adore old fashioned ice cream stands and drycleaners.

Speaking of my fellow Halloween bloggers, several have become regular, all-year-long friends, and one of them - a real life graphic designer, no less - has made one of my fondest wishes for this blog come true. Thank you, Karswell for creating my spiffy new banner! I loves it very much.

Last year, I posted the top ten most downloaded songs all year, and the number of downloads never topped 15, I think. I will do the same for this last year, and the numbers have indeed grown a bit! The vast majority of the most-downloaded were songs I posted for either Halloween or Christmas, which surely means ... something, I guess.

10) Hot Chip - Colours
at 26 downloads

9) Book of Love - Witchcraft
at 27 downloads

8) Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good
at 29 downloads

7) Foo Fighters - Baker Street
at 30 downloads

6) Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am
at 33 downloads

5) The Pipettes - White Christmas
at 35 downloads

4) Frank Sinatra - Witchcraft
at 35 downloads

3) Tom Waits - Silent Night
at 38 downloads

2) Jonathan Coulton - RE: Your Brains
at 38 downloads

1) The Rolling Stones - Paint It Black
at 53(!)downloads

East Gate

Lima, Ohio

Esquivel - Sentimental Journey

Basinger

Lima, Ohio

Belinda Carlisle - Band of Gold

Music

Lima, Ohio

Village People - Can't Stop the Music

Mello Creme

Lima, Ohio

Breakfast Club - Right On Track

Hitting the Barr

Lima, Ohio

Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning

Arnold's

Lima, Ohio

Pratt & McClain - the Happy Days theme

Nitza's

Lima, Ohio

The Brian Setzer Orchestra - This Old House

It Does A Body Good

Dairy Barn
Lima, Ohio

In one of my favorite movies, the remake of "The Thomas Crown Affair", Pierce Brosnan's character refers to Rene Russo's character's childhood in Lima. He pronounces it as one pronounces the Lima found in Peru. I laugh and laugh every time. I am also unable to pronounce it any other way myself now.

Tom Waits - Ice Cream Man

Pic - Kewpie

Kewpie fast food joint
Lima, Ohio

Pic - Enterprise

Enterprise Building
Lima, Ohio

It's a Trekkie/architecture buff's prize.

Pic - Warning

Allen County Fairgrounds
Lima, Ohio

Pic - Fairgrounds

Allen County Fair,
Lima, Ohio