Sign Sign Everywhere a Sign

Posted on June 17, 2017 by

When I saw the SoCS prompt last night, I breathed a deep sigh of relief. I had just returned from a week in Washington, D.C. and the post I was planning to write kinda went off the rails. “Off the rails” is a good metaphor since I traveled to and from D.C. via AMTRAK. Well, you could have guessed that, I’ve taken you along on several train rides to D.C. Great, now this post is going off the rails.

You see, the plan for today’s post was for something wrapped around Father’s Day. I had a good plan. I was going to share a few things my father taught me. I’ve been writing them down for months. There was one problem – before leaving for Washington on Monday, I didn’t realize that this weekend is the home of Father’s Day. I thought I had another week to assemble my thoughts. I mean, I don’t pay attention to when Father’s Day happens, other people do.

The week in Washington was chock-a-block full of morning to night stuff. Not much left at the end of the day for writing a post from scratch. The stuff I published this past week had been written before I left. I just had to adjust it based on the outcome of a hockey game, or in worst case, two. I figured I’d “bang out a post about dad” last night.

There are two things you need to know at this point. One, I’m not some crazy-productive writer who can bang things out. The second thing is actually part of that post about my dad. “No half-assed attempts allowed.” So, I peeked in my inbox and Linda had saved the day.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “sign.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

You’ve been saved too, from a hastily put together post about something. The best thing about Linda’s prompt is that I love signs and I have a bunch of photos of signs. I have used a couple before, but I have several that you haven’t seen. The captions tell the story that the signs don’t tell themselves and that’s it. As Linda says, enjoy!

This is a sign I can respect.
That poor guy is on the sidewalk at Great River Park. the park is flooded. He might be going under.
One of my favorite signs. This is the place where the seeds of those bar conversations are sown.
I know it’s a warning sign, but that guy looks like he’s having too much fun.
I always like seeing the tipping-over truck. Yes, I do slow down.
We’re getting off here. Eat ‘n Park is serving breakfast.
I was staying at a Hyatt. The sign is being reflected in the neighboring building.
When we see that a bridge may be icy, we know we’re in Pennsylvania.
This sign is in the Strip District in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is said to be one of the most bike-friendly cities in the states.
It’s gonna be hard to have any fun here.
Another sign of how you get to be a bike-friendly city.
This is one of my favorite signs.
Despite the warning signs, 1,000 people are injured each year at the gap.
Let’s hope we can all pay attention to this sign.
I had to get a picture of this sign.

Oh, and if that title put a song in your head, give a listen:

About Dan Antion

Husband, father, woodworker, cyclist, photographer, geek - oh wait, I’m writing this like I only have 140 characters. I am all those things, and more, and all of these passions present me with opportunities to observe, and think about things that I can’t write about in other places. I have started this blog to catch the stuff that falls out, overflows and just plain doesn’t fit the other containers in my life.
This entry was posted in Humor, SoCS and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

78 Responses to Sign Sign Everywhere a Sign

  1. Mike Powell says:
    June 17, 2017 at 6:37 am

    Your title, as you undoubtedly intended, put that song into my head, so it was good that you included the youtube link. You look too young, Dan, for that to be a song from your youth, but I remember the song from the early 1970’s when I was in high school (and long hair was still a possibility for me). As for your signs, what a great collection–they had me laughing and cringing and scratching my head, sometimes all at the same time.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. orbthefirst says:
    June 17, 2017 at 6:43 am

    It put the Tesla version in my head..I had forgotten about the original. I am a bit younger though, lol.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. GP Cox says:
    June 17, 2017 at 7:23 am

    You got let off easy, Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Maggie Wilson says:
    June 17, 2017 at 7:35 am

    I don’t know if it’s the caffeine coursing through my veins, but I could comment on all of these signs. So I won’t – except to say, love the Hyatt, the bridge might be icy or may be icy – I’ve never mastered that grammatical distinction; and of course you had to get that last “no facilities” sign!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Dan Antion says:
      June 17, 2017 at 8:16 am

      Thanks Maggie. The may be icy signs are so good to see on the way to Pittsburgh, since it means we’re now in Pennsylvania. On the way home, though, continuing to see them means we’re still in Pennsylvania (it’s a big state). The sign st the rest area had to be captured.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. bikerchick57 says:
    June 17, 2017 at 7:40 am

    Funny, that song is the first thing that popped into my head when I saw Linda’s prompt. Unfortunately, it’s been stuck there ever since.

    Nice signs and response to the prompt, Dan. The taxi sign grossed me out, but then I smiled at the bike-friendly sign. I hope after a fun-filled week in D.C., you get to relax today with the Editor and the furry kids.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Almost Iowa says:
    June 17, 2017 at 8:08 am

    I found my all time favorite sign hiding behind a bush in Palm Cove, Australia. It read, and I paraphrase:

    BEWARE THIS IS A TROPICAL BEACH (and here is a list of all the things that will kill you)
    – 25 foot sea crocodiles.
    – Sharks (naturally)
    – Ultra poisonous sea snakes.
    – Boxies (jelly fish) The poison from one will kill you in 15 minutes, the less lethal one will kill you in an hour.
    – Eels (with really big fangs)
    – Cassowary. (it is a big shy pretty bird that will gut you if you get too close)
    – Marble Cone Snail (Yeah, a snail – and don’t think you can outrun it)
    – Blue-Ringed Octopus (venomous, of course)
    – Snapping Turtles (not native to Australia, the ultra-large and thoroughly nasty snapper is an import from Minnesota. Originally brought over to defend beach combers from everything on the list above, the beast still insists on taking down a few tourists every year – a small price to pay)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Dan Antion says:
      June 17, 2017 at 8:24 am

      Yikes. As I read that, I figure my luck would be to be bitten by the less lethal Boxy and be gutted by a Cassowary in my 45 minutes of bonus time. Good to see that your home state made a contribution.

      Thanks…I think.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. SCMGA says:
    June 17, 2017 at 8:46 am

    Love your signs. They show the wide breath of your interests from honoring our heroes to the humor associated with trying to explain to a human what the results might be from their actions. :-) I’ll look forward to your Dad post, and greetings from hot, hot, hot KS. :-)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  10. Wendy Brydge says:
    June 17, 2017 at 9:58 am

    This prompt was worth it just to have you post a “No Sanitary Facilities” sign on your blog, Dan. And thanks for getting that song stuck in my head — it may be one of my favourites, but I’ll hate it when 2:00 rolls around and I can still hear it! ;P

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Dan Antion says:
      June 17, 2017 at 10:01 am

      Sorry Wendy, if I feel my ears burning, I’ll know who started the fire. I had to walk almost the full length of the entrance ramp into that rest area to get that picture. I didn’t see it in time to stop on the way in. Thanks for stopping by :)

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. JoAnna says:
    June 17, 2017 at 10:05 am

    Thanks for the song. Such a classic!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. marianallen says:
    June 17, 2017 at 11:34 am

    That little CAUTION guy made me think of Gene Kelly!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Laura says:
    June 17, 2017 at 11:46 am

    That taxi sign is by far my favorite!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. dweezer19 says:
    June 17, 2017 at 12:33 pm

    As I am looking at your post in the tiniest way possible I am sitting the insurance pharmacy awaiting my prescription to be filled ( which was dropped yesterday and promised to be filled but let’s nit open THAT Pandora’a box) i promise to come back with a great comment later on. Glad you had a good trip. I imagine with no shortage of signs. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. joey says:
    June 17, 2017 at 2:04 pm

    HAHA! We really did think of the same song! I wonder how many more of us there will be?
    I agree that you should not just bang somethin out about your dad. He deserves many fine tributes, no half-assing, fersure.
    I like the signs. Taxi sign for sure. Hehehee! :)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Dan Antion says:
      June 17, 2017 at 2:22 pm

      I think there are likely a few others. That song jumped right into my head. I really figured that, with all the notes I had, I could pull a post together quickly, but it wasn’t going to be anything he would have liked.

      So, I’ll ask you same question as I asked Laura. Does the taxi sign remind you at all of little kid carpools?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. circadianreflections says:
    June 17, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    For some reason I thought the Molly Wee was the “bar”.

    The sign in the Taxi is great!

    I haven’t heard that song in ages. I listened to the whole thing. :)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Dan Antion says:
      June 17, 2017 at 2:26 pm

      The Molly Wee would be the bar, if I lived closer to New York. The Molly Wee is always a stop when I go to New York, even if I just go for a day. Similarly, Jacob Wirth’s is a stop in Boston, if I get anywhere near downtown. Tunxis is the local watering hole. But, I’ve had conversations in all of them that have made it into stories on Saturday. Cheryl moonlights wherever I need her, she’s just the best bartender :-)

      The sign in the Taxis is from New Orleans. I don’t know how those guys could have worked it into that song.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. John Holton says:
    June 17, 2017 at 2:35 pm

    Yep, nowI can’t that damn song out of my head…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  18. Eclectic Evelyn says:
    June 17, 2017 at 3:06 pm

    Thanks for including the song. It seems that if I get a song stuck in my head I have to listen to it before it leaves. Reading through the comments I now have Strange Magic stuck in my head so I will have to go and search it out on youtube.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. John W. Howell says:
    June 17, 2017 at 4:37 pm

    Outstanding, Dan. Thank you for a lot of fun

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. Deborah Drucker says:
    June 17, 2017 at 4:46 pm

    That ready to blast sign is a bit scary. I think I might dive in nearby ditch is I heard it go off…”hmm did that whistle once or twice?”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  21. Audrey Dawn - Oldest Daughter Redheaded Sister says:
    June 17, 2017 at 5:18 pm

    Just what I needed a new song in my head. John, put that “sign sign everywhere a sign” song in my head and you have made it worse. :) I don’t mind waiting for you to put your posts together. Your thought and effort do not go unappreciated, Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  22. loisajay says:
    June 17, 2017 at 5:30 pm

    Dan–these signs are the best. Clicking your heels and jumping for Caution. Gotta love it. The Blasting sign reminded me of Pinocchio singing ‘Give a Little Whistle.’ And then the ‘No Sanitary Facilities.’ No kidding. I have yet to see one that was even borderline sanitary!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Dan Antion says:
      June 17, 2017 at 6:57 pm

      Thanks Lois/ That little warning guy is having way too much fun to be effective. I never thought about your take on the Facilities, but you’re right, they never are.

      Like

      Reply
  23. Joanne Sisco says:
    June 17, 2017 at 7:24 pm

    I like signs too, Dan. I’m pretty sure I’ve got a good unused collection of them in my photo library, but the underwater pedestrian is my favourite. Hope he has a snorkel :)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Dan Antion says:
      June 17, 2017 at 7:51 pm

      Thanks Joanne. That poor guy goes under the surface a couple of times every year. I feel bad for him. They put the dock out around Memorial Day, but we had a short period of flooding after that, this year. I take photos of signs all the time. I keep thinking I’ll find a use for them. This was a good prompt.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  24. dweezer19 says:
    June 17, 2017 at 8:47 pm

    Apologies for my late arrival Dan. We have had sunshine today and we were out enjoying it! It has been a busy two days and there are several posts stewing around in my brain.
    Love your signs! That bar looks like a great place. I sure hope that guy knows how to swim…
    I would never play around at a train depot. I have deep respect for those beautiful bad boys. Where I’m from we have very few icy bridge signs but many Watch for Rising Water, Bridges May Flood signs. And I love the Hyatt reflection! Awesome. Happy Father’s Day!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  25. reocochran says:
    June 18, 2017 at 2:35 pm

    Happy Father’s Day, Dan! ☕. 🍓🎂. 🍻
    I think we would accept anything you wrote since the body of your blogging posts are very fine and edited by the proper Editor, Dan!!
    I love signs!
    The one respecting Korean War Very was the pretty brass and most meaningful “sign.”
    My favorite was a stop sign / no left turn / combination with one way (I think it is an example of the worst collection that you can find in Any town or city!)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  27. reocochran says:
    June 18, 2017 at 2:37 pm

    I seriously had typed “Veterans” instead of “Very.” Arggh! Oops! That was my only serious comment on the message left. Sorry, Dan!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  28. Sandra Harriette says:
    June 18, 2017 at 4:24 pm

    I made video about my thoughts on Father’s Day and other holidays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwsPamkooM0

    I empathize in feeling like I don’t really think about Father’s Day. For someone like me, it’s isolating. I don’t give it my energy because I can spend it better elsewhere.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  29. AmyRose🌹 says:
    June 18, 2017 at 4:31 pm

    What a collection of signs. Laughed at some, wondered at others, said a prayer especially the women who fought in battle. Your collection deserves a star for variety. And Happy Father’s Day again!! Enjoy it!! 💐

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  30. Kirt D Tisdale says:
    June 19, 2017 at 3:19 pm

    Just like most people responding…that song immediately popped into my head and just won’t leave…another class of ’72 curse or blessing depending on how long it stays rumbling thru my head!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  31. Kirt D Tisdale says:
    June 19, 2017 at 3:19 pm

    Also…great sign pics by the way!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  32. evelyneholingue says:
    June 20, 2017 at 12:09 pm

    That’s cool to be saved by a blogger friend :)
    You can always save your Father’s Day post for next year. Or write about what your dad taught you for another post. Maybe suggested by another blogger friend.
    Love the signs. And the song very much!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  33. Manja Mexi Movie says:
    June 24, 2017 at 5:14 am

    Oh, wow, your signs are very explicit. The ‘no changing clothes’ one made me sad, the tornado one made me worry, the taxi warning made me wonder about their past experiences, and the Hyatt reflection made me say Yeah, great photo!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Dan Antion says:
      June 24, 2017 at 8:23 am

      Thanks, The Hyatt and the taxi are both from New Orleans. I didn’t take the taxi photo, but a friend gave me permission to use it. I’m sure there’s a historically good reason for the sigh and the amount. The tornado warning might have been Salt Lake City or Omaha – the beach, yeah, that’s a bit sad.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Add your thoughts. Start or join the discussion. Sadly, links require moderation.

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out / Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out / Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out / Change )

Google+ photo

You are commenting using your Google+ account. ( Log Out / Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s