Once again, I'm a little behind schedule in presenting my 'photo-ops' on "Throwback Thursday", but I hope that this offering more than makes up for the tardiness of its posting...

During 1993, I was living in Reading, Pennsylvania, a remote town located one hour west (by car) from Philadelphia. It's best known for its outlet malls, but I also moved there (from Elmont, New York), so I could live within close proximity to one of my friends: Philip B. Smith, who shares my interest in 'funny animal' art (among other things).

Prior to my relocation to the 'Keystone State', I got visit him, when he had just moved from his parents' home, into a condominium all his own. During my visits, Philip got to show me around some of the main tourist attractions in and around the Reading area - including The Pagoda, a six-story-tall Oriental structure located at the top of Mount Penn...

At the foothills of Mount Penn, there's a small park that the locals like to frequent. It has a bandstand for concerts, and lots of interesting statues and memorial sites for viewing. One of the statues that caught my eye was one shaped like a giant bird, complete with wings and tail! (I know what some of you are probably thinking: "A bird statue? I wonder what [or who] would perch and defecate on it?")