Archive for the ‘Arizona’ Category

Noise Passby Backup Driver Cartoon

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
Noise Passby Backup Driver

Noise Passby Backup Driver

I wish that coyote would quit tripping the photocells!

 

Rob Trudell smokes the SSR tires in reverse as he drives backward through the microphones during a Noise Test at the GM Desert Proving Ground in Mesa, Arizona.  The Superstition Mountains sit in the background as a hawk flys overhead along with a F-15C Eagle. Wildlife surrounds the scene with a pair of quail, a rattlesnake and coyote enjoy the relative isolation provided by the fenced desert oasis.

 

Yuma, a Tourist Mecca

Monday, September 26th, 2011

12 Conceptual Sketches to attract Yuma Tourists

Conceptual Design sketches for attracting Yuma Tourists

Conceptual Design sketches for attracting Yuma Tourists

Conceptual Drawings

9.8 Miles from the Center of the World, Yuma’s heart beats with more attractions than just those nearby.  Ride a Territorial Prisoner Chain-gang crawling though our desert dunes.  Wear a stylish Sahara Hat on the striped criminal’s back while the Territorial guard treks the safari through soft Mohave sands.

If our earthquakes don’t rock your world, the bargain basement Main Street Antique shopping deals sure will! $Dirt Cheap$ prices reap rewards in this town.  Go green in the fields of Yuma where more than lettuce is found.


 

Jack & Rosie’s Frog Leg Interlude

Friday, August 26th, 2011

They came, they saw, they hopped…

Jack & Rosie's Frog Legs on Ice

Jack & Rosie's Frog Legs on Ice

Croak.

Jack & Rosie’s Frog Leg Interlude Photo Essay



Jack & Rosie’s Steakhouse – Official Website, since 1935

Monty Python - Home Movie  between Romantic Interlude

Monty Python - Home Movie between Romantic Interlude

 

Save the Frog Legs Campaign

President Barack Obama eats Frog Legs
President Barack Obama eats Frog Legs

David Hockney – Joiner Emulation Project

Sunday, May 1st, 2011

Rob’s Joiners

A.B. Ming House – Porch View

360 Degree Porch View, 468 S. Orange Ave., Yuma, AZ

360 Degree Porch View, 468 S. Orange Ave., Yuma, AZ

Bratwurst Haus – VW Beetle Delivery

Bratwurst Haus - VW Bug Delivery Drive

Bratwurst Haus - VW Bug Delivery Drive


GM DPG-Yuma 360 Parking Panorama

Panoramic Moonscape Parking - GM DPG-Yuma

Panoramic Moonscape Parking - GM DPG-Yuma

Pat’s Over 70 Club House

Pat's Over 70 Club House

Pat's Over 70 Club House

David Hockney

by Robert Trudell

David Hockney began his life in 1937.  Bedford, England became the birthplace of the Artist, Painter, Draftsman, Photographer and Stage Designer.

My initial reaction viewing David’s various pool paintings was wondering what extracurricular activities Romans had in their bath house.  The organism David concocts within the Los Angles waters is an art form that captures his passion to chase happiness and dreams of beauty.  He freely follows a pleasure created in his mind and documents the journey in available media from paint to pictures.

2 Guys Emerge from Pool

2 Guys Emerge from Pool

John Kasmin, Polaroid Panorama

John Kasmin, Polaroid Panorama

(John Kasmin by David Hockney)

Britain’s leading contemporary artist made his way to California via a formal education at the Bradford College of Art and the Royal College of Art in London, England. The 60’s Pop Art craze echoes on this painter’s canvases. Art Dealer, John Kasmin, promoted Hockney’s work from 1963 to the 1990’s.

David capitalizes on his automatic synthesis of music with colors and shapes by designing stage sets for opera and ballet.  Continuously exploring and overcoming technical issues, David represents new ways of painting water; he taps a Polaroid to form real-time wide angle supersized combined and constructed images, or – Joiners.

His understanding and exploration of technical processes and issues leads to a book, Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the lost techniques of the Old Masters.

Hockney transitions from painting huge 50 canvas Grand Canyon $4.6 million combinations to free IPhone & IPad doodles shared immediately amongst friends.

References

http://5magazine.wordpress.com/2010/09/05/david-hockneys-joiners/

http://www.hockneypictures.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hockney

http://www.hockneypictures.com/illust_chronology/illust_chrono_01.php


Put my Lettuce on Top

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Yuma is more than place to leave the baby’s dirty diaper.

Carl's Jr., 1020 East 16th Street, Yuma, Arizona - (928) 329-1711

Carl's Jr., 1020 East 16th Street, Yuma, Arizona - (928) 329-1711

As I danced around Home Depot dizzy with hunger and harboring that “got to go” urge, I rushed my P-Trap purchase and headed to Carl’s Jr.

Carl’s Jr. Yelp Reviews, Carl’s Jr. Google Reviews

Just around the corner from the Depot on 16th Street, the Restaurant bustled with San Diego Interstate 8 Independence Day traffic.  I carefully and quickly opened the outdoor aluminum door handle using my fingernails to avoid burning my hand on the building placed under the scorching summer sun load.  I scurried into the restroom to discover the 2 stalls and individual urinal taken.  A man was waiting his turn while a father helped his young son wash his hands in the sink.


I did a 180  turn to exit as another father and son entered the facility.  I chose to place my Hawaiian Teriyaki Burger order and quell my other urge.  Charging the $2.75 sandwich on my Discover Card, I salivated imagining biting into the pineapple, teriyaki sauce and thick beef patty.

Handed a #84 plastic triangle, the Order Girl instructed me to place it on my table and wait for the meal’s delivery.  I sat facing the bathrooms anticipating an opening.  It seemed as if every 15 to 30 seconds another person would rush in from outside and head into the packed Water Closet.  Then, disturbingly, a lady exited the Women’s Room precariously holding her baby.  She told her friend there were no changing tables and she’d need to change the baby’s diaper on the “seat” as she headed toward a nearby restaurant seat.

I avoided looking in her direction, not wanting to see the dirty diaper details.  I started wondering though; I wondered if she meant her car’s seat or possibly the toilet seat and hopefully wished she didn’t mean my neighboring seat.  I fearfully breathed through my nose, not wanting to inhale unfiltered feces though my mouth; I dreadfully imagined the unpleasant whiffs that would waft my way.  Thankfully, no unsavory aromas emitted.

My burger appeared before any let up of toilet traffic.  I removed the foil colored outer wrapper to find another paper wrapper snugly holding the burger together.  While the buns stuck out of each end of the paper I could clearly see 1 of my generous burger bites would land my teeth in paper territory.  I removed the wrapper confident I could hold it together with my hands.  I have 2 strict rules when eating a burger.  1) Never but the burger down.  2)  Eat faster than gravity.


My first bite shifted the sandwich like the recent 7.2 magnitude Sierra El Mayor earthquake shifted our town 2 feet South.  Out of the bottom of the bun, 2.5 inches of sprung loaded salad dressing covered lettuce slapped the palm of my hand.  Furious to find the crisp lettuce on the bottom bun side, I analyzed the effects of inverting my grip.  There is something I love about the texture of crisp watery lettuce hitting the roof of my mouth.  Seeing the charbroiled Dole pineapple ring and teriyaki sauce on the top bun side encouraged me to leave the top side on top.  I felt I couldn’t mix and enjoy their flavors with the burger while biting them from the bottom.

I opened the bottom of the bun to reposition the lettuce under the bread. The self inflating leaves exploded like a life raft popping open off of a sinking ship.  This ship of a sandwich started falling apart faster than the Titanic.  Suddenly I had an 8-inch circular lettuce saucer spreading more dressing on my hands, a burger heading one-way and a pineapple ring heading the other.  Fed up with the mess, I attacked the outer lettuce perimeter and in a high speed spinning motion rotated and consumed the pineapple & burger at the rate of 9.8 meters/second².

With sticky sauce covered hands I elbowed the restroom door open.  I wanted to rinse my hands off before handling my business, but chose to enter the stall before another excreting train of men began.  Finally relieved of all urges, I washed up and exited the facility.

A restaurant patron held the inner door open as I left Carl’s Jr and wished, “I hope you enjoyed the visit!”.  An employee held the outer outside door open, probably to save the entering patrons from burning their hands.

AM-PM Arco Gas Station

AM-PM Arco Gas Station

I noticed the line of cars at the Arco gas station were I figured many of the steady stream of restroom customers came.

Carl's Jr Parking Lot Exit toward 16th Street & I-8

Carl's Jr Parking Lot Exit toward 16th Street & I-8

The place was busy enough to create a backed up line of cars onto the 16th Street & I-8 bridge.

As I exited on Redondo Drive heading North it looked like I-8 construction backed the freeway up for miles into California and extending to Telegraph Pass.

Driving off, I pondered the reason lettuce needs to be on top of the burger.  I figured the 2 thumbs aren’t able to stabilize the slippery saucy leaves as well 8 fingers.

Next time I order my Teriyaki burger with no cheese, I’ll also instruct Carl’s Jr. to “Put my lettuce on top!”


Well, on 10/15/2010  there was a next time. I’m happy to admit I manned-up and ordered my lettuce on top. The cashier lady (Dawn H) seemed a little confused but graciously rang up my “Special Request” at no charge $0.00.

Man Up - Carls Jr. Special Request

Man Up - Carls Jr. Special Request

I not only did I enjoyed the burger more, I felt fulfilled in setting out to do as promised.

Cocopah Wild River Family Entertainment Center

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

Cocopah Wild River Family Entertainment Center Entrance

Deal or No Deal?  As we entered the Cocopah Family Entertainment Center, Daniel asked why it was called the Wild River.  I suggested  it’s name stemmed from the Colorado River which once flowed untamed and un-dammed through the area.  A rushing river fit the theme and feel of the Wild River Arcade; the adjacent Cocopah Casino’s tight slots contrasted the Fun Center in damming it’s flow.  Clara, Debbi and Fern dropped $40 each into the One-Armed-Bandits.  They told Daniel & I of the solemn silence that rang though the building as they heard no celebration, no joy and no excitement from their fellow gamers. 

Cocopah Casino & Resort

The day started with me meeting Debbi & crew at the Quechan Casino Saturday Buffet.  Surprised to find a packed parking lot I pulled the Lincoln LS into a slot as far from the entrance as could be found.  Debbi chose Valet Parking and dropped her Cadillac SRX off at the shaded Hotel Resort entrance.  At 2PM on 15 May, 92 degrees and a blistering sun chased the Winter visiting Snowbirds away.  We wondered where the bustling crowd came from.  A VIP Member line snaked from the Hotel Lobby into the Convention Center.  The Slot Machines chimed away with intoxicating C-note sounds, enticing it’s addicted followers to play another weekend. 

Quechan Casino & Resort Parking Lot

Clara saddled up, smokes in hand, to get her fix with the other gamblers.  Debbi, Daniel, Fern and I opted out of the Blackjack tables in exchange for a seat at the Ocotillo Buffet international culinary food adventure.  Debbi fell in Linguine love, Daniel suckled on the succulent Roast Beef in Mushroom Gravy, Aunt Fern agreed to the Corn on the Cob though it doesn’t agree with her and I covered my tiny plate with Asian Orange Chicken (陈皮鸡(陳皮雞; Pinyin: chénpí jī) and a side of Green Beans.  In my book, the coffee is the best; perhaps they siphon it off of the Food Court’s next door Starbucks urn.  Our drink server couldn’t bring my 2nd cup fast enough.  When I purchased the $32 meal ticket, the clerk asked if I’d like to add a tip on the Discover Card bill.  I refrained from adding a tip as well as refrained in informing her that I do not tip at Buffets.  Okay, I did leave a $1 tip at the Mandarin Garden buffet the other night. 

Odd Looking Apartment Complex, Somerton, Arizona

Debbi decided to try her luck at the Cocopah Casino for the first time.  A couple weeks prior, I discovered they had the Alley & Arcade next door for 9-year-old Daniel and I to play in.  I prompted Debbi to drive us past the Casino and to the San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico border crossing.  On our way we noticed these odd looking red, white and blue buildings on the entering edge of Somerton, Arizona.  They turned out to be Apartments.  Clara and Fern were impressed with the fence running through San Luis between Mexico and the US; they weren’t impressed in it’s ability to curb illegal immigration.  Remembering Reagan’s Berlin call, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” left us all felling World openness was going in reverse. 

Palm Tree - A Tree Trimmer's Hazard

Clara remarks how she understands the dangers Palm Tree Trimmers face when she notices these unkempt trees.  A few weeks ago a Mesa, Arizona trimmer was smothered to death under the weight of these heavy fronds. 

Bowling Alley - Cocopah Wild River Family Entertainment Center

Bowling Alley - Cocopah Wild River Family Entertainment Center

I brought my 16 pound bowling ball, 2 lb. Nike left-handed shoes, 3 lb. bag and a misplaced 1998 8mm ping pong training tape.  The ball & all provided more exercise than entertainment.  I lugged it around the arcade as Daniel dashed from game to game.  I better understand how the “ball & chain” hinders prisoners from even trying to escape. 

The Fast and the Furious - Super Bikes

The Fast and the Furious - Super Bikes

Daniel starts out on Sega’s “The Fast and the Furious Super Bike” (High Res Video).   (Low Res Video

Deal or No Deal - Card Swipe

Deal or No Deal - Card Swipe

“Deal or No Deal” – 1st Game Single Swipe (High Res. Video)   (Low Res Video)  “Deal or No Deal” -2nd Game Double Swipe (High Res. Video)  (Low Res Video

Skeeball

Skee Ball

Skee-Ball (High Res Video), (Low Res Video

Big Bass Wheel

Big Bass Wheel

Big Bass Wheel – Ticket Bonanza (High Res Video), (Low Res Video

Bowling Ball Bag Ticket Holder

Bowling Ball Bag Ticket Holder

Bowling Ball Bag Ticket Holder 

Jungle Zoo Shoot-em Up Game

Jungle Zoo Shoot-em Up Game

Jungle Shootem Up (High Res Video), (Low Res Video

Let's go Jungle Tour - Jungle Safari

Let's go Jungle Tour - Jungle Safari

Let’s go Jungle Tour – Jungle Safari (High Res Video), (Low Res Video

Ghost Squad

Ghost Squad

Ghost Squad (High Res Video), (Low Res Video)  Ghost Squad Part 2 (High Res Video), (Low Res Video

Time Crisis 3

Time Crisis 3

Time Crisis 3 (High Res Video), (Low Res Video)  Time Crisis 3 Part 2 (High Res Video), (Low Res Video

Air Hockey - Dad (Rob Trudell) vs. Daniel Trudell

Air Hockey - Dad (Rob Trudell) vs. Daniel Trudell

Air Hockey – Dad vs. Daniel (High Res Video), (Low Res Video

Zoo Shooting Gallery

Zoo Shooting Gallery

Zoo Shooting Gallery (High Res Video), (Low Res Video)  ZooFari (High Res Video), (Low Res Video

Slam a Winner

Slam a Winner

Haunted - Booby Trap - Pow

Haunted - Booby Trap - Pow

Speed Demon

Speed Demon

Pac Man Wild

Pac Man Wild

Ticket - Prize Exchange Counter

Ticket - Prize Exchange Counter

Ticket Counter - Counting Machine

Ticket Counter - Counting Machine

Ticket Counting Machine (High Res Video), (Low Res Video

Ticket Station

Ticket Station

Ticket Redemption 

Ticket Redemption - Toy Exchange

Ticket Redemption - Toy Exchange

St. Thomas Indian Mission

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

This Arizona Indian Mission is on the California side of the Colorado River in the Quechan Fort Yuma Indian Reservation



Noted:

“The first mission at Ft. Yuma named La Purisima Concepcion was dedicated in the fall of 1780.  It closed with the death of its Franciscan priest Fr. Garces and Fr. Barraneche in July 1781.

In the mid 19th century the U.S. Government erected a military post on the site of the Concepcion mission.  By 1884 the military buildings began to be used for a school for the Indian children. In 1886 the Sister of St. Joseph began to teach in this boarding school and remained until 1900.  During this time a parish priest in Yuma serviced the people at Fr. Yuma Mission.  Since 1952 the priest from the San Diego Diocese of the Catholic Church has serviced St. Thomas Indian Mission.

This present Church building was erected in 1922.”

Saint Thomas Picture Page

Tour del Ming

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

I walked around the neighborhood to take a couple more recent photos of the Ming’s properties.

Yuma Weather Station

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

Here’s my GM Desert Proving Ground – Yuma Weather Station


Arizona State Historic Property Inventory – A.B. Ming House

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Page 21

Allen B. Ming - Director Commercial Club

Allen B. Ming - Director Commercial Club

“Another early large property owner was F. S. Ming. Ming came to Yuma from New Jersey in 1904 and quickly acquired a considerable amount of property in the Conservancy area. The Ming Apartments, at 502 S. Orange Avenue (Y.B013),and several other vacant lots were in his possession.

Ming Apartment - 502 S. Orange Ave

Ming Apartment - 502 S. Orange Ave

The Ming Apartments, built in 1920, is a stucco over wood frame structure with common Bungalow characteristics. It houses three families and sits on a corner lot at Orange and Fifth Street.

Frank Ming was proprietor of the Southern Pacific Hotel, and was famous for the slogan he adopted from the Pilot Knob Hotel: “free meals, every day the sun doesn’t shine.” Ming was also active in citrus farming and served as Mayor of Yuma in the 1920′s. He pursued an active social life, maintaining memberships in several fraternal organizations. Withe the aid of his brother, Allen B., he built the Del Ming Hotel at 300 Gila Street (Y.M011, National Register #Yu.106).


Arizona State Historic Property Inventory

Page 49

Property Name

A.B. Ming Residence

Location

468 Orange Avenue

City

Yuma

County

Yuma

Owner

Lillie T. Stevens

Owner’s Address

468 Orange Avenue

Yuma, AZ 85364

Form Completed by

Yuma County Historical Society

Address

240 Madison Avenue

Yuma, AZ 85364

468 S. Orange Ave., Yuma, Arizona - April 1978

468 S. Orange Ave., Yuma, Arizona - April 1978


Photo by

P. Callahan, Date 4/1978  Yu139

View Front elevation from east

Present Use

Residence/Single Family

Acreage

less/acre

Style or Cultural Period

Bungaloid and Neo-Colonial influence

Significant Dates

Built 1906

Physical Description

The A.B. Ming Residence is a one-and-a-half story frame residence. Its massing is assymetrical and plan irrigular.  Overall the building measures about 28 feet in width by 70 feet in depth. The roof consists of a large bellcast gable with an offset gable extension on the front facade. Roof and gable surfaces are covered with wood shingles; exterior walls are finished with clapboard. A porch follows the recessed configuration of the front facad. The principal entry is located off the south end of the porch. Special features of the building include a Palladian window, a corbeled chimney, and spindlework in the front screen door.

Statement of Significance

Built in 1906 by W.E. (Billy) Marvin, the huse at 468 Orange Avenue is significant both archetecturally and for its several distinguished owners.  Marvin was a Rough Rider, County Supervisor, and real estate agent.  He sold the property in 1908 to Fred Fleishman.  The house remained with the Fleishman family until 1922 when it was purchaced as the home of Allen B. Ming. Mr Ming served for many years as County Assessor and was prominent in civic affairs. Architecturally the building combines formal characteristics of the Bungaloid and Neo-Colonial styles. The building retains most of  its original character and is in excellent condition.

Verbal Boundary Description

Block 118; Lot 6; Yuma Townsite

Arizona State Historic Property Inventory

“Historic Building Form”

Identification

Survey Area Name: Century Heights Conservancy

Historic Name: Allen B. Ming Home

Address/Location: 468 S. Orange Ave.

City/Town: Yuma

Owner: Shinault, Raymond

Owner Address:468 S. Orange Ave., Yuma, Arizona 85364

Historic Use: Residence

Present Use: Residence

Building Type: House

Style: Bungalow

Construction Date: 1906

Architect/Builder: W.E. “Billy” Marvin

Integrity: Minor Alterations

Condition: Good

County: Yuma

Survey Site: Y.C003

USGS Quad: Yuma, AZ

T 8s R 23w S 21 / NW 1/4 of the SE 1/4

UTM

Description

Stories: 1 1/2

Dimensions: (l) 28 (w) 70

Structural Material: Wood Frame

Foundation Material: Unknown

Wall Sheathing: Clapboard with corner boards

Applied Ornament: None

Roof Type: Medium bell cast gable with..

Roof Sheathing: Wood Shingle

Eaves Treatment: Boxed cornice, rectangular wood palladian vent on right..

Windows: 1/1 DH, wood frame

Entry: Off-Center with wood screen door and panel wood door with single light

Porches: Open, with shed and gabled roofs with wood posts and no rail

Storefronts: Not Applicable

Notable Interior: Unknown

Outbuildings: Wood frame guest house with DH windows in good condition

Alterations: Side boarded window

468 S. Orange Ave., Yuma AZ - May 1986

468 S. Orange Ave., Yuma AZ - May 1986

Photograph: Linda Laird & Associates

Date: May, 1986

View: W, 3/4

Negative Number: R:L F:5

Additional Description/Analysis (annoted form): Eaves contd: sid pediment and enlongated diamond shaped fixed windows and wood shingles on central pediment.

Roof type contd: single interior chimney, and corbelled chimney.

Prom Occup contd: County Assessor, who with Frank Ming, built the Del Ming Hotel

Significance: Other (specifiy) Architecture

Historic Associations (be concise):

Prominent Occupant/Historic Associations: Marvin was a Rough Rider, County Supervisor, and real estate agent. He sold to Fred Fleishman in 1908, then sold to Ming.

Relationship to Local Development: Relates to elaborate residential development in Yuma

Cultural Affiliations: None

Engineering/Structural: None

District/Streetscape Contribution: Individually listed on the National Register

Discussion as Required: Contributes to the historic fabric of the block face. This building is stylistically similar to eastern shingle style houses of the same period.

Context: Residential Street

Bibliography/Sources:  Phone directories: 1905 – 1923; Tax Assessors’s Rool: 1890 – 1954; Interviews with: Estelle Dingess, Rose Marie Sanguinetti Gwyn, Mary Lorona, George Snow; Doan, May G., I Woldn’t Trade Those Yesterdays; Westover, William H., A Biography of E. F. Sanguinetti; Winsor, Mulford, Unpublished monograph on Jose Marie Redondo; Yuma Chamber of Commerce, The Gate City of the Great Southwest; Yuma Chamber of Commerce, Yuma County Arizona; Newspapers; Arizona Sentinel, The Sun Yuma, Yuma Daily Examiner; City of Yuma building permits 1913-1935.

Listings in other Surveys: Yuma Multiple Resource Area Nomination (Yu.139) Listed

Surveyor: Linda Laird & Assoc.

Survey Date: June 1986

Date Form Completed: August 1986