THE ZOO REOPENS

Many thing are reopening here, although I question the wisdom of it. People are very tired of being cooped up and are bursting to get out, although the danger isn't much different than when the quarantine started. Compliance with masks is fairly good, but only fairly. Social distancing is often ignored, although some are careful.

The St. Louis Zoo reopened this week. It controls the number of people by requiring online, timed tickets (although, as always, it is free). This week was members only and we took Ellie. My daughter and I had to work some of the day so we went at 10, getting me the worst possible light. Plus, it's summertime hot. Ellie was bouncing off the walls while my legs turned to rubber. Mrs. C and I sat for a while while the kid took a spin of the carousel.    

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WEATHER...

In St. Louis, as we say, just wait a few hours. Being in the middle of the country, we get caught between warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cooler, drier air from the Canadian plains, plus anything that wants to whip east out of the Rockies. This was taken a few days ago when it was cool and damp. It became summertime hot soon thereafter.

It looks like a glorious weekend here. The zoo is reopening on a limited basis. You have to get timed tickets online and this week is members-only (we are). Today we are taking Ellie for her first visit there in some time. Pix are sure to follow.     

AN ASSIGNMENT

I learned most of what what photography skills I have at the Maine Media Workshops, a bit of paradise for people like me. Throughout the summer they run week-long, work-your-ass-off programs in every aspect of photography, video, fine art printing, you name it. I've been there five times. They were some of the best weeks of my life.

And the best teacher I had there, in fact the best teacher I've had from kindergarten through incipient old age, was Bobbi Lane. I took her portraits course and I've never had a week in which I learned more. We keep in touch. She has sort of a daily assignment or theme on her Facebook page for her former students. We post pictures and comment on one another's stuff. Wednesday's theme was macros, something I don't do a lot. My camera bag was in my car so I went out hunting and found this.

          

REMNANTS OF CRISTOBAL

Over the last few days Hurricane Cristobal swept straight north across the Gulf of Mexico and the central U.S. We were brushed by it but no significant effects. It made for nice reflections, though. This downtown office building is maybe 40 years old, all curtail wall, no windows you can open. It may storm outside but the occupants are quite isolated from the elements.   

MAYBE YES, MAYBE NO

After all we have been through in recent weeks and months, all we can say is that we will find out when we get there. Whether our political and social upheaval means anything will not be known until November 4 and maybe not for a long time after that. 

And the virus - people are tired of confinement and rules. The people I've seen at demonstrations here and in the media have thrown distancing to the winds. Most - but only most - people are still wearing masks. I want to scream at those who don't that they are threatening my life. The director general of the World Health Organization said the other day that “the biggest threat now is complacency.”

I had never heard of this company on the western edge of downtown so I looked it up. It's a worldwide marketing agency that specializes in just branding.