Big Red and red things...

Red is my favorite color. The Wikipedia entry for red states that it is built from the longest wavelengths of light that the eye can discern. My own limited backlog of associations contains references to it as passionate, dangerous, evocative, hot and energetic. My bedroom is painted dark red and I think of it as 'true red'; it hasn't too much yellow or blue in it. Is it restful? To me, yes.

While living in Texas I became a little addicted to a soda pop called "Big Red." There was a hint of cream soda taste and a hint of strawberry to it. What really hooked me was the ad campaign. I was a student at North Texas State University (now UNT) and my friend's little 13-inch TV blasted a tinny Big Red jingle: "It just tastes red!" A soda that tasted red! I liked the idea and, besides, it had caffeine in it and was available in vending machines throughout the campus. Perfect. It was the first time I was willingly suckered by a TV ad.

Whatever the failings and abuses of the Chinese Communist Party you can't deny the color schemes-committee showed remarkable talent for pairing tints. Did I mention my other favorite color is olive drab green?

I collect drinking glasses and enamel dishes that are red. I like red candy like Atomic Fireballs and Twizzlers. Red bell peppers are among my favorite vegetables. People driving red cars may never get a look but the cars get a long stare.

Here are some red things:

This little canoe was abandoned on the bank of Bayou St.John for quite a while.

Even a River Parishes waste bin can be arresting.

This is part of the derelict Lenny's Piccadilly Lounge sign just off Canal Street.

A red door on Royal street in the French Quarter.

Red wig on the tuba player in the Storyville Stompers Jazz Band. They provided the tunes for a Halloween parade.

The seat of my Schwinn bicycle. My little poodle Hank rides shotgun in his pannier. I stood up and shot this with my camera under my left arm. I don't recommend this.