Posts Tagged ‘Pickman’
…and the show must go on
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As mentioned yesterday, a humble narrator is back on his feet (somewhat), and raring to get back to his various obsessions.
Saturday last found me at a familiar spot nearby Pittsburgh’s Sly Fox Brewery, and the Highline real estate development it is located in. This structure is a former rail terminal warehousing building, one which offers an elevated POV over both the Monongahela River that overflies a section of CSX’s rail network which I’ve spent a lot of time photographing over the last year. I didn’t stop into the brewery, I’d mention, as I don’t think introducing alcohol into my equation was a smart move at the moment. It was about 25 degrees out, and windy.
The point of view I was enjoying, however, was somewhere I’d been dreaming of visiting during my long recuperation, during the recovery period of the broken ankle. You’d think I was planning something Machiavellian during all of this downtime, but you’d be disappointed. Most of my intellectual voltage was being spent trying to figure out how to take a bath without killing myself.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This structure used to be a warehouse connected to the PLERR (Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Rail Road) yard which formerly surrounded it. The rail yard has been redeveloped into a series of condominiums and a large entertainment and restaurant complex (52 acres) called ‘Station Square’ which seems to be on a downward trajectory at the moment, and the operation is currently losing its anchor tenants like ‘Hard Rock Cafe.’
The so called ‘Highline’ building, and Station Square, are owned by a NYC based real estate company these days. The terminal building, in particular, has been converted over to residential and commercial usage – they’re very much following the NYC EDC’s failed formula for the Brooklyn Army and Bush Terminals here.
Normally not a place I’d haunt, as familiar fires of gentrification burn hotly here, but there’s beer and seating in an area that’s absolutely lousy with locomotive and maritime sightings.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It was cold, I was standing outside for about two hours in a steady wind with atmospheric temperatures no higher than 25 degrees. Your humble narrator had prepared for the climate with long johns and my winter coat, but the ankle was singing its song down below. Saying that, I was pleased as punch to be outside and suffering in the weather again.
Pittsburgh decided to offer me a show at some point, and in rapid fire style – interesting things began to pass through the camera’s frame. To wit, that Towboat pictured above was transporting multiple mineral barges down the Monongahela River. The boat is the Megan Ames, which is – I’m told – based out of Morgantown, West Virginia.
I presume that’s coal in the barges, but I don’t say something is ‘something’ unless I know it is for sure. Back tomorrow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
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“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Archives #050
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
If everything is going to plan as this post is being written, on Friday the 6th of December, this should be the last of the archives postings.
Presuming that the weather was on my side this week, as the forecast suggests it will be – and that my ankle problems weren’t too severe when I started revving up again – there should be new material appearing here next week. Can’t wait to see whatever it is that Pittsburgh wants to show me, but one remains a bit hobbled. There’s still an entire month of PT in front of me, after all.
2013’s ‘moist verdure’ joined in with the railfanning cultists at MTA’s annual nostalgia train subway ride.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Queens used to enjoy taunting me to photograph her pains, and would often serve up interesting ‘amuse bouche’ appetizers at my doorstep, something which – so far – which Pittsburgh doesn’t do that often. Here, I’ve got to go and find it, but there you are. Can’t have everything served on a silver platter.
2016’s ‘loathsome tittering’ offered yet another hullabaloo breaking out on my old corner in Astoria.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Finally…
These archive posts are reaching into Newtown Pentacle’s backups, and are pulling posts that went public on this date, in their respective years, going back to 2009. This practice will continue until I’m back on both feet full time, and new photos and stories can be gathered. For anyone who hasn’t heard the news, I broke my left ankle at the end of September.
2021’s ‘almost illegible’ is right about when I had decided to move out of NYC. It also contains an excellent recipe for lemonade, a favorite joke, and a recommendation for listening to the Who. Rough year, 2021.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Archives #045
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It’s been a long and strange experience, the broken ankle thing. Far and away the most painful injury suffered during the last twenty thousand and nine hundred twenty five days. As of publication of this post, the broken ankle injury occurred roughly one thousand eight hundred and ninety six hours ago. I spent the first three weeks of that interval in an opioid haze caused by the necessity of pain killers. I was helpless as a baby, as well.
Voting was a challenge due to the ankle, but a Cop helped me get up a set of steps to the polling site for the parking area, and I then cast my lot.
2010’s ‘ceaseless mazes’ talks about an encounter with the New York & Atlantic on the LIRR’s Lower Montauk tracks in Maspeth.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The opioid interval of this experience saw me watching endless hours of police bodycam footage on YouTube for some reason. Since, I’ve been preparing a twenty item long list of ‘things you don’t do when the cops show up, as it really sets them off.’ One of these (#13) is ‘don’t threaten to track the Cops down where they live and kidnap their kids.’ That really doesn’t go down well with the gendarmes, who happily slap a ‘terroristic threat Felony charge’ on the ‘perp’ in return.
It’s Batman rules. You’re not going to win, so just give up when the cops get there. Shut your trap and let them do what they do. The only person you talk to is a lawyer. Batman rules. Batman rules? You’re not going to be able to beat up or resist Batman, that’s the rule. You also can not win a fight with the Cops on the street.
2012’s ‘poor substitute’ detailed a ride on MTA’s holiday nostalgia trains.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’m hoping that these archives posts will be a thing of the past pretty soon, but let’s see how sound the ankle actually is, and whether or not I can truly resume my normal activities. Thanks for sticking with Newtown Pentacle through all this, it’s been a balm knowing that y’all are here.
These archive posts are reaching into Newtown Pentacle’s backups, and are pulling posts that went public on this date, in their respective years, going back to 2009. This practice will continue until I’m back on both feet full time, and new photos and stories can be gathered. For anyone who hasn’t heard the news, I broke my left ankle at the end of September.
Finally, 2016’s ‘unctuous haggling’ walks around the “Carridor” of Northern Boulevard nearby the border of Astoria and Woodside.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Archives #044
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As described yesterday, medical clearance for a return to whatever it is that I call ‘normal’ is at hand. I’ve still got a long orthopedic road ahead of me, as the busted ankle’s surgical recovery period will still be playing out for several months. It’s sore, and I can feel the various tendons and ligaments growing annoyed while reversing the atrophy which they’ve suffered, during the period when I was adorned with a cast.
In many ways, this is how this particular moment feels to me. I’m back, maybe? Care to step outside?
2009’s ‘Mt Zion 4- A Lurid Shimmering of Pale Light’ was published on this date, part of a series exploring the centuried polyandrion.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’ve still got another month of ‘PT’ ahead of me. So far, it’s all about stretching and strength training for the affected limb. I’ve had to explain to my trainer that I’m probably the least athletic person he’s ever worked with and that a ‘spasmodic, lurching, flying, and scuttling’ form and posture of locomotion is normal for one such as myself. Christmas week is theoretically when I’m meant to have a sit down with the surgeon who slotted me back together, and that’s when I’m expecting this experience to start to really wind down and recede into a bad memory.
2011’s ‘hewn rudely’ discusses the ‘ancient home of graft’ which is what they used to call LIC before consolidation with the larger city.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’m writing this on Thanksgiving Day, so there’s actually a chance that next week (2nd week of December) you might actually see something newly gathered here. No promises, as there’s still weather to contend with, and it’s meant to be snowing in Pittsburgh for the next few days…
These archive posts are reaching into Newtown Pentacle’s backups, and are pulling posts that went public on this date, in their respective years, going back to 2009. This practice will continue until I’m back on both feet full time, and new photos and stories can be gathered. For anyone who hasn’t heard the news, I broke my left ankle at the end of September.
Another cemetery post was published, this time in 2012, in ‘Tales of Calvary 13- The Callahan monument.’ You never know what, or who, you’re going to find at First Calvary.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Archives #043
Wednesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This post is being written on Thanksgiving Day, and after my most recent physical therapy or ‘PT’ appointment, I’ve got a lot of thanks to give.
My ‘PT guy’ has issued an expiry on me wearing the walking boot, and wants me to phase into just using a pair of regular shoes full time again. Additionally, it looks like I’m cleared – as far as the second week of December goes – to start my walks again. It’s going to be a slow start – 1,000 feet and back for the first day and then increased increments after that – but this ankle nightmare is finally moving into the category of ‘something that happened’ as opposed to ‘something that’s happening.’
2012’s ‘glassy eyes’ was part of a survey of Newtown Creek’s uplands with a Columbia professor who was gathering samples of whatever biologies the flood waters had deposited upon LIC.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’ve entirely missed autumn this year, which blows. Additionally, it’s been so long since I’ve shot a photo that I’m going to have to inventory what’s inside my camera bag. Charge the batteries, clean the glass…
It’s like having a prison warden tell you that the parole board has approved your application, this.
2013’s ‘strange instruments’ saw me pondering both the corrosive dissolution of aging, and whether or not there are subterranean grottoes beneath Queens Plaza.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I should mention that the evolving situation with the ankle has never been pain free, and the joint seems a little angry about losing the bracing of the walking boot, but since that cast came off a little over a month ago – everyday has been a little better than the one before. I’m sleeping through the night without getting woken up by sudden pain, for instance.
These archive posts are reaching into Newtown Pentacle’s backups, and are pulling posts that went public on this date, in their respective years, going back to 2009. This practice will continue until I’m back on both feet full time, and new photos and stories can be gathered. For anyone who hasn’t heard the news, I broke my left ankle at the end of September.
2017’s ‘after action’ detailed an encounter with a thoroughly destroyed automobile on the corner of Vernon and Jackson in LIC.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
The Newtown Pentacle 