Welcome.....
To my world of the weird, the strange, the unexplained.........
no, I'm just kidding, this is a happy place......OK, maybe I am just a little weird.
SO... TODAY, SOME SCIENTISTS USING HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT ON THE ORIGINAL "MONA LISA" HAVE DECIDED THAT THE REASON SHE IS SMILNG IS BECAUSE SHE IS PREGNANT OR A NEW MOTHER, DUE TO THE FACT THAT SHE IS WEARIING SOME KIND OF GAUZY FABRIC OVER HER DRESS, WHICH WAS COMMON AT THAT TIME....WELL...COLOR ME NOT INTERESTED.....I JUST LOVE THE PAINTING...DON'T NEED TO HAVE IT OVER ANALYZED....NOW....HERE'S SOMETING YOU DON'T SEE EVERYDAY............I THINK SHE'S SMILING BECAUSE SHE IS REALLY....................................................JACK NICHOLSON!
Did you know that Don McLean wrote the song "Starry, Starry Night" about the life of Vincent Van Gogh? I think the words are just beautiful and so it the painting. A few years back I saw this and many other original Van Gogh painting on display at the St. Louis Art museum, I can't explain the feeling that I had standing so close to something so rare and beautiful.
Here are the words Don McLean wrote, he must have been truly inspired:
Starry, starry night.
Paint your palette blue and grey,
Look out on a summer's day,
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills,
Sketch the trees and the daffodils,
Catch the breeze and the winter chills,
In colors on the snowy linen land.
Now I understand what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they did not know how.
Perhaps they'll listen now.
Starry, starry night.
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze,
Swirling clouds in violet haze,
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue.
Colors changing hue, morning field of amber grain,
Weathered faces lined in pain,
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand.
Now I understand what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they did not know how.
Perhaps they'll listen now.
For they could not love you,
But still your love was true.
And when no hope was left in sight
On that starry, starry night,
You took your life, as lovers often do.
But I could have told you, Vincent,
This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you.
Starry, starry night.
Portraits hung in empty halls,
Frameless head on nameless walls,
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget.
Like the strangers that you've met,
The ragged men in the ragged clothes,
The silver thorn of bloody rose,
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow.
Now I think I know what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they're not listening still.
Perhaps they never will...
Another adventure in St. Louis.....come on.......it's all we got! We took the metrolink to Union Station for lunch, which was , once again, mandarin food, but it was delicious. The view was interesting, as alwasys,
The metrolink has added some more stops, so first we took a ride to the other destinations, but got off at Forest Park. Soon we came to the Thomas Jefferson Historical Museum. 
Here is Bill with T.J.
One of the first exhibits was from the 1904 Worlds Fair, which, of course took place in St. Louis. There were quite a few items that had survied the 102 years since the fair. 
Most of the pavillions that were built especially for the World's fair, were decorated with intricate ornate objects, here are a few survivors, it was amazing to see them along with the pictures showing the original buildings.
In the Foreign pavillions there were wonderful objects never seen by the average person , such as this beautiful chinese carved cabinet, what beautiful details.
One of the other exhibits was the Lindberg. Here is the actual flight suit worn by Charles Lindberg on his flight to France.
Original Newspapers were displayed on the walls with Headlings about Lindbergs historic flight.
This is a replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, the original is in the Smithsonian in Washington, DC
The main attraction was the Benjamin Franklin exhibit, of which I could take no pictures because there was security everywhere. So, just imagine his log when he was postmaster, his many inventions, some of which were actually exhibited, some were replicas or were from that time period and donated by other museums or individuals., but below is a firetruck that was designed by Ben Franklin and was beautiful preserved and decorated.
Outside the museum was this beautiful fountain. It was a gorgeous day for Sept. in the high 70's and sunny, no humidity..
After the museum we hopped back on the metrolink and headed for the landing and the Arch. The new part of the metrolink has some interesting decorations on the walls.
We found out on our journey to the landing that there was a Blues festival going on there (so that is my segway for my title...Thomas Jefferson and the Blues....I know, it's a pretty far reach.
The setting sun was reflecting on the arch and it was beautiful, but was so bright that it kind of disappeared in the this photograph.
The main attraction Sunday night, was Sonny Landreth...he was amazing. That Louisiana boy can sure play that guitar. There was no way to get close, so I just took a night picture holding the camera and so all is a big blur...so just imagine long haired Sonny playing his little heart out right here on this stage.
We has such a grand time. We got back home around midnight and we were so tired, but satisfied with a wonderful day together.
