Seen in the neighborhood, rotating sign #4

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At some point since I moved to Portland in June, 2006, I've seen both parts of this sign rotate, the Chevrolet "bowtie" and the word Wentworth. Seems like on the day that I took these photos neither one of them rotated.



See, the other side of the word sign is Chevytown. Cool.



I took these photos through the windows of the Portland Streetcar, although I have walked on this street, SE Grand Avenue, now and then.

Seen in the neighborhood, rotating sign #2

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Gotta love this sign, even if there is no Dairy Ease Lactose Free Milk represented which is the type of milk I am thankful exists. This rotating sign is also within walking distance of where I live. And I can testify that I don't smell milk when I walk by, a good thing in my mind.

What results when an upper arm collides with a No Parking/Bus Goes Here sign?

I know that on Tuesday, October 16, as I trotted across the street to catch the homeward bound bus, I made a mistake.

I took this photo on Thursday as I waited to catch the bus at that same intersection.

Yes, I am the woman who solidly collided with the edge of the then upright sign. It happened as I attempted to hop up onto the curb so that I could walk a few feet to the bus. My left upper arm hit the edge of the sign so hard that I bounced right back onto the street, staying on my feet just fine. I adjusted my direction a little to the right, and then hopped onto the curb and walked to the waiting bus.

All of this had happened in full view of the bus driver, who asked as I stepped through the door, "Are you OK?" to which I replied, "Yes." Then I turned toward him so that he could see my upper arm straight on and asked, "Is there a hole in my sleeve?" "No," he replied. "Then I know that I'm OK. Thanks!" I said.

Just before we pulled away from the curb, I looked out the windshield and noticed that the top of the sign tilted to the right about 10 degrees, but I couldn't imagine that my running into it had caused that to happen; I vividly remembered feeling the length of the sign's edge when I hit it with my upper arm. However, after seeing what you see in the photo on Thursday, just two days after I had run into the sign, it appears that my hitting it so hard must have loosened the connection. I'll never know for sure.

Needless to say, I still have a bruise, but all of the soreness is gone. And, thankfully, on Wednesday, the company nurse managed quite professionally to give me my flu shot well away from the impact site.

Can you guess the two-word name of this business?

Two clues. One, the shape of the sign itself. Two, the red-colored design inside the circle. First word, seven letters; second word, six letters. Have fun! For those in Portland, the business is on the north side of NE Sandy Blvd., just east of the intersection with NE 28th. I took the photo as I waited for the 12 bus.

So far as I know, this sign works.

And here's why.

Can I interest you in a cut or a shave?

Bart's Barbershop, 518 SE Morrison, ground floor of the Weatherly Building.

I boosted the color about 40% at Picnick. Made it all more vibrant.

Ambiguity

What do you think this sign really means?

Optimism

In camera. Not.

Yesterday after work I rode the #18 to the Central Library, to return a load of mysteries and check out some more. Then I walked up 10th to the corner of Morrison, turned left which is west, and headed for a bus stop several blocks away.

About half way up the block, I saw this No Loitering sign. My brain, the kind that could easily be described as subject to richochet, noticed the distinctiveness of the golden capital letters on the dark red background, the brighter red border. I wondered if the font was Arial. I decided to loiter and take a photo.


In fact I had been loitering since I'd turned the corner headed for the bus stop. I first looked at the vintage clothing and accessory store's windows on the corner, slowing to check out the black and white checked sunglasses on the styrofoam head, then I walked a couple of steps and looked to the south side of the street at the variety of restaurants in the block, then I took two more steps and noticed the No Loitering sign. According to Merriam-Webster online that particular loitering fit the word's first definition, to delay an activity with idle stops and pauses. If I hadn't decided to get out my camera and take this photo, I would have sequed right straight into loiter's second definition, to remain in an area for no obvious reason.

The sign hangs near this door, on a wall set back at an angle from the surrounding walls. Where the key hole should be, it appears plugged. Is this merely an exit? Or a door that is only opens from the inside upon prior notification of a person's or a delivery's arrival? I looked up. I looked down. I had a Marvin Gaye moment: What's goin' on?




The juxtaposition of the sign and the door barely fit in my camera! And I still don't know what they were thinking. Do you?