I was trying to think of the term for some of the items we find in our recycling center (AKA The Green Center) when I remembered the word Tchotchke. It is defined as a small object that is decorative rather than strictly functional. This describes a large number of objects that one can find in the center.
Look What I Saw at the Green Center – Frogs
I’ve been involved with the Green Center since its inception in 2009. Over those years I’ve been amazed at the variety and oddness of the items that have been donated. I started to photograph some of the more unusual items and I’ve compiled quite a collection. I have posted many of these photos before, but never organized them into categories. Starting with this posting, I’ll attempt to take the reader on a journey of some of the treasures that have graced the walls and shelves of the Green Center.
Frogs
I was working at the center when the frog salt & pepper holder arrived in 2017. I knew I was going to feature it in my portfolio. What surprised me were the number of people who contacted me asking if it was available. Sadly it found a new home rather quickly. That is the way it goes at the Green Center. Some items linger for years and some get snatched up immediately. Frogs are a popular item as Tchotchke, here is another.
For pure creativity, imagine a cowboy frog holding what appears to be a branding iron. Can you imagine the team of people that dream this stuff up? I believe the word on the brand is WELCOME, but shouldn’t the word and letters be reversed? Apparently the cowboy frog team didn’t do their research. Then there is the question of what is the intended target of the said branding? So many questions for such a useless thing. A cowboy frog is a definitive example of TCOTCHKE.
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearly
Frogs were an important part of my life. I was working on isolating a key synaptic protein from electric eels with the idea of better understanding how nerves stimulate muscle. When I injected this protein into frogs they developed a muscle weakness similar to myasthenia gravis in humans. I switched my research from eels to frogs and this disease. It was also the time when my cousin’s wife was diagnosed with MG. In 1975 I received the Kermit (not kidding) Osserman Award from the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation while I was at Columbia’s College of Physicians & Surgeons.
That is a much more interesting story than mine, I am going to assume you meant MS and not MG. Next time I’ll post some photos of the very real frog that took up residence in a tub of water in my front yard where I keep my pitcher plant.
No, I meant MG. Ollie’s wife was diagnosed with MG and was the longest survivor of MG I know of. In addition to myasthenic frogs I made rabbits display myasthenia using the acetylcholine receptor protein from electric eels. I was happy to switch my research to frogs.