All Scrubbed Up

TD Centre Cows
[Photo by KPA]

These calm and lovely cows sit and mull over their surroundings.
Yesterday, they had more to look at. The Royal Bank building
in the background (whose windows are filled with pieces of
gold leaves) was glowing in the afternoon sun.

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These are my favorite animal sculptures in Toronto. They sit in front of the Toronto Dominion Centre, calmly (as cows are wont to do) gazing at passersby. Some stop and sit to eat their lunch, drink a coffee, or dialogue with a colleague. But most just walk hurriedly by them.

I brought a small bottle of orange juice as a respite from the unbreakable heat we have here (although not as bad as what our neighbors to the south are experiencing), and sat on one of the few stone benches scattered around the grounds.

There is construction going on in the area (and has been for about a year now), and a construction worker walked by me.

"Hello there," I called out a greeting.

"Hi," replied the busy man, walking on.

"Have you been working around here for long?" I persisted. "Don't you think these cows have been given a scrubbing recently?"

He stopped, and laughed. And looked back at the cows.

"Yes they do look cleaner. They just got moved back from another location."

"Yes, I know. Maybe they wanted them to look as good as new, now that they're back in their old place. Thanks, bye."

He went off chuckling.

Drama In New York

Empire State Building Struck by Lightening

This is the kind of photo I wish I I had taken, since I do spend quite a bit of time trying to find interesting ways to photograph high rises. The one above was taken on June 22 by the news host bully Keith Olbermann. I'm not sure if the funnel of light on the right is due to camera problems or if it is related to the lightening (although it is probably a combination of both). I know lightening photos are a dime a dozen, but having the Empire State Building appear to emit the thread of light from its tip is both luck and perception. Well done, Keith!

The Adoration of Michelle

Honoring Military Wives and Mothers

[Images from:
- the Daily Mail
- the Obama Diary
- Pro President Obama]

Michelle Obama was at the White House on May 11, "In honor of the upcoming Military Spouse Appreciation Day...and in support of military families celebrating Mother’s Day this Sunday, May 13." Jill Biden, who was also present, stands placidly, and adoringly, behind Michelle, as Michelle makes her speech with gesticulations and forceful expressions. The young "military boy" who greets Michelle (in the above photo) is taken in by Michelle's exuberance, which is something that would scare most kids away. He must be responding to all the glowing adulation he hears about her at school, on T.V., and surely at home. I don't think I would have liked having my head clasped in that manner, but the young boy seems enthralled, as does the "military wife or mother" behind him.

The Daily Mail informs us:

In the spirit of spring, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden colour co-ordinated this morning while honoring military mothers and wives at the White House.

The first lady and the wife of Vice-President Joe Biden, who both have distinct signature styles, came together in what was either a grand coordinating coincidence, or clever sartorial satire.

While the first lady bared her arms in a yellow cowl-neck dress which had a contrasting textured gold skirt, Mrs Biden wore a simple yellow cardigan over a bow-detailed shift dress, in front of a matching White House curtain.

The Daily Mail, perhaps because it is a British publication, adds subtle, disapproving remarks about Michelle bare arms (no U.S. publication that I know of has tackled Michelle's bare arms so far, and even the Daily Mail doesn't quite go there), while quietly praising Jill Biden's outfit.

I don't think the yellow was a color coordination between the two ladies, but what their stylists probably thought would fit well with White House's East Room decor of those lovely canary yellow drapes. And Jill Biden's outfit is a canary yellow, fitting well with the gold yellow drapes, while Michelle Obama's is the puce green/yellow she seems to have an affinity for.

Michelle Obama (or her stylists) cleverly recycle her outfits. Above, in the bottom image, she is wearing the same skirt and top for a similar function in 2011 (and her stylists love to dress her in that same puce green/mustard yellow). Jill Biden, who was also at this 2011 military function, opted for a lovely red suit, albeit with those spiked heels. And forget about Michelle's arms, it is her foreboding shins that overshadow them.

Let's Move Michelle, in lime green for energy,
and with sympathetic on-lookers.