'round the Loop with a Lemon...or three
Jun. 2nd, 2012 09:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
impulsereaderI have drunk the kool-aid which is Cabin Pressure. Then I ran across the Lemons and Landmarks project via this post http://cabin-pressure.livejournal.com/183916.html Well, I'm a little late to the party and still waiting to hear back if additional Chicago offerings are needed/wanted but my initial thought was, 'Well, this is what I've been doing recently anyway; walking and taking pics in Chicago; might just as well do it with a lemon as not, right?' So after a little more thought I realized that this is in fact not what I've been doing - I've been taking pics of rather small things, generally. It just seems to be what I do. Well, Landmarks, especially the ones that leapt to mind as the big ones in Chicago, are rather large. Huh, I thought, that's interesting. Then, I thought, 'And - my angles are going to have to be pretty playful since while Landmarks are rather large, Lemons are rather small. Wow! What a great new prompt!'
So today, instead of penetrating further into Sherlock's psyche I went 'round the Loop with a lemon and had a grand time. Results below.
Initially I was quite excited, but I'm a worrier at heart and as I set off to acquire my lemon I began to wonder, 'What happens if I am careless enough to lose my lemon? What if some dastardly villain, twirling his handlebar mustache all the while, chooses to swipe my lemon after I have set it down and then walked away to take a picture of it? Might I feel the need to chuck my lemon onto a ledge where it will provide the all important snap but then become irretrievable? The odds of my accomplishing this last are, I assure you in the strongest possible terms, not good. Still, I was nervous. Jewel seemed to feel the correct complement of lemons was three, so I nodded thoughtfully and fell in line with their suggestion.
I did not take advantage of the nearby coupon.
It quickly became clear that the first challenge would be to incorporate the lemon into the 'player in pocket, camera out of case, case waits patiently' process which I had fallen into. I used pockets and pouches and juggled uncomfortably for a while but we eventually worked it out with the camera (in case) and the lemon sharing a side pouch with only a very little consternation everyone's part. The camera is a little worried about this becoming routine.
I was disappointed in finding an LSD sign on the way to the train, and in fact didn't end up finding a suitable one at all. Oh well, started small and hopped on the train. I did not, in fact, park the lemon.
I also quickly realized I probably should have done my nails before setting out.
And here we are on the train.
I got off the train at Lake because I know the area pretty well. I came up, turned, and blam! They've by some miracle left the Marshall Field's plaques on the building. Unfortunately, neither the letters nor the border protrude far enough to support the lemon.
But what's right across the street from MF? A Walgreens. Score.
Finally! A reason to buy the Hello Kitty Duck Tape!
This both worked and didn't work. I probably should have bought the 'real' tape...but Lorelai approves my decision anyway! The tape adhered fine to one surface at a time, but gave way fairly quickly to the pull of gravity on the lemon. Still, I ended up getting the shots I wanted, even if I did have to take them Quite Quickly.
A little more Marshall Field's.
Then I strolled over to the Picasso in Daley Plaza.
It's there! Right there in the middle! I felt bad so I pulled out its reinforcements.
Then I gave it an assist myself.
Then I went to the Sears Tower. This wasn't really the place to go for a view of same, but I wanted to see what else I could find.
Chicago's flag - and the lemon.
I was really looking forward to this one, I thought a good closeup of the lemon against the orange 'foot' and then a pull back would be really cool. Sigh.
So I got what I could.
The Art Institute proved quite lemon friendly!
AI is on a direct line to the Sears Tower so there was a nice view.
This was when I realized that I've never actually been to Buckingham Fountain before. Here it is! Plus lemon! This was the only place I was tempted to chuck the lemon - into the water to get a shot of it floating. I refrained.
And the skyline! Plus lemon!
I love the red CNA building. Here's the lemon enjoying it as well.
So at this point I stopped at a Corner Bakery for a bit of a sit down and - in an act of near cannibalism which I didn't recognize until much later - a glass of lemonade. And for the first time - EVER - when out on a weekend I ran into someone I know from work. I did not confess that the pictures I was out taking all included a lemon.
Cloud Gate; known to locals as The Bean. I hadn't been here before either, and I made the stop because I thought it would be cool, but it was more difficult than I'd expected and I don't think it really worked with so small an object. It made it difficult to get the object and the reflection which is sort of the point. There were also a lot of people about and that made me nervous of putting the lemon on the ground and walking away.
Another flag - and that building behind off to the right is one of a pair that movie people keep pushing cars off into the river.
The Chicago Theater. Plus lemon!
The Chicago El stop.
The Addison stop and Wrigley Field.
So today, instead of penetrating further into Sherlock's psyche I went 'round the Loop with a lemon and had a grand time. Results below.
Initially I was quite excited, but I'm a worrier at heart and as I set off to acquire my lemon I began to wonder, 'What happens if I am careless enough to lose my lemon? What if some dastardly villain, twirling his handlebar mustache all the while, chooses to swipe my lemon after I have set it down and then walked away to take a picture of it? Might I feel the need to chuck my lemon onto a ledge where it will provide the all important snap but then become irretrievable? The odds of my accomplishing this last are, I assure you in the strongest possible terms, not good. Still, I was nervous. Jewel seemed to feel the correct complement of lemons was three, so I nodded thoughtfully and fell in line with their suggestion.
I did not take advantage of the nearby coupon.
It quickly became clear that the first challenge would be to incorporate the lemon into the 'player in pocket, camera out of case, case waits patiently' process which I had fallen into. I used pockets and pouches and juggled uncomfortably for a while but we eventually worked it out with the camera (in case) and the lemon sharing a side pouch with only a very little consternation everyone's part. The camera is a little worried about this becoming routine.
I was disappointed in finding an LSD sign on the way to the train, and in fact didn't end up finding a suitable one at all. Oh well, started small and hopped on the train. I did not, in fact, park the lemon.
I also quickly realized I probably should have done my nails before setting out.
And here we are on the train.
I got off the train at Lake because I know the area pretty well. I came up, turned, and blam! They've by some miracle left the Marshall Field's plaques on the building. Unfortunately, neither the letters nor the border protrude far enough to support the lemon.
But what's right across the street from MF? A Walgreens. Score.
Finally! A reason to buy the Hello Kitty Duck Tape!
This both worked and didn't work. I probably should have bought the 'real' tape...but Lorelai approves my decision anyway! The tape adhered fine to one surface at a time, but gave way fairly quickly to the pull of gravity on the lemon. Still, I ended up getting the shots I wanted, even if I did have to take them Quite Quickly.
A little more Marshall Field's.
Then I strolled over to the Picasso in Daley Plaza.
It's there! Right there in the middle! I felt bad so I pulled out its reinforcements.
Then I gave it an assist myself.
Then I went to the Sears Tower. This wasn't really the place to go for a view of same, but I wanted to see what else I could find.
Chicago's flag - and the lemon.
I was really looking forward to this one, I thought a good closeup of the lemon against the orange 'foot' and then a pull back would be really cool. Sigh.
So I got what I could.
The Art Institute proved quite lemon friendly!
AI is on a direct line to the Sears Tower so there was a nice view.
This was when I realized that I've never actually been to Buckingham Fountain before. Here it is! Plus lemon! This was the only place I was tempted to chuck the lemon - into the water to get a shot of it floating. I refrained.
And the skyline! Plus lemon!
I love the red CNA building. Here's the lemon enjoying it as well.
So at this point I stopped at a Corner Bakery for a bit of a sit down and - in an act of near cannibalism which I didn't recognize until much later - a glass of lemonade. And for the first time - EVER - when out on a weekend I ran into someone I know from work. I did not confess that the pictures I was out taking all included a lemon.
Cloud Gate; known to locals as The Bean. I hadn't been here before either, and I made the stop because I thought it would be cool, but it was more difficult than I'd expected and I don't think it really worked with so small an object. It made it difficult to get the object and the reflection which is sort of the point. There were also a lot of people about and that made me nervous of putting the lemon on the ground and walking away.
Another flag - and that building behind off to the right is one of a pair that movie people keep pushing cars off into the river.
The Chicago Theater. Plus lemon!
The Chicago El stop.
The Addison stop and Wrigley Field.
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no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 02:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 02:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 02:51 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2012-06-03 04:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 04:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 06:32 am (UTC)That's awesome. The next time I'm in Chicago I will be searching the city for duct-taped lemons ♥
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Date: 2012-06-03 01:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 03:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-04 05:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 06:54 am (UTC)And you're in Chicago?! I hope to get there next year for a PG Wodehouse convention so maybe we can catch up and do coffee. Or lemonade. :D
no subject
Date: 2012-06-03 12:00 pm (UTC)(Well, if he didn't, he should have!)
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Date: 2012-06-03 01:25 pm (UTC)Heck yes, off to google the Wodehouse convention!
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Date: 2012-06-04 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-04 03:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-04 03:37 am (UTC)I love your idea of snapping the policeman's helmets though. Better keep it above board. Don't want to either pay the five pound fine to that hellhound Pop Basset or be give five days in chokey without the option. NOt very preux chevalier, that.
no subject
Date: 2012-06-04 03:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-04 03:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-04 01:28 am (UTC)Though it would be funnier if it was Herc's duct tape, which he'd left behind.
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Date: 2012-06-04 12:13 am (UTC)Now I have the urge to fight your lemon insecurity by sending you a bag of lemons and a backpack to carry them in. :-)
You have a lovely talent for composition.
no subject
Date: 2012-06-04 12:18 am (UTC)Hee! The really funny thing is that I could have bought a bag of lemons more cheaply but I didn't want to weigh myself down. The fact that I didn't lose any in the course of the day probably means that any future experiments can be safely conducted with only one spare.