"Art" in New York City

I imagine the conversation went something like this: "That swimming pool looks like Van Gogh's ear." "It does" said his swimming partner.  "Hey" said the first speaker, "Let's put in upright in Times Square!" So, if you were New York in Rockefeller Center earlier this month you see what appears to be a swimming pool standing on its end titled: 'Van Gogh's Ear'. Huh.

A rendering of ‘Van Gogh’s Ear’ by the Scandinavian artists Elmgreen & Dragset will be installed in Rockefeller Center 

Basilica of St John the Evangelist Stamford

I grew up in a church very much like this one (St. Basil). Its a shame it got torn down. So, when I saw this huge church in Stamford last week, I took a peak inside and saw that the Basilica of St John was built along the same plan. Just a beautiful church. Back when I was a kid that church used to be full at the Sunday 10:15 mass. You had to look for seats. Not that way any more. Surprised to see anyone at this mass on a weekday night.

Why it is starting to look like 2005

Its starting out like its 2005 when the Sox won the World Series. Similarities? You decide: Sox are 16-6 after 22 games. They were 16-6 after 22 games in 2005. The last time the Sox swept the Toronto Blue Jays at their home stadium: 2005. The last year that both the Bulls and the Blackhawks were both out of the playoffs by the end of the first round (leaving us only baseball to watch)---2005. (Hawks didn't get in, Bulls lost in first round. This year: Bulls didn't get in, Hawks out in the first round.) Wow. My head is spinning. By the way, the Sox have a nice new set of scoreboards for this season. Cell phone shot from my favorite cheap seats.

Tampa Boats in a Row

So, I am out in the PacNW this week working but traveling with my camera. The problem is that I forgot both my catalog of previous pictures and my card reader so I don't have an easy way to upload any shots that I may take between meetings this week or any way to use pictures from recent trips as they are all on my catalog at home. However, I do have a smattering of shots that somehow or other land in my laptop and that is all that I can post this week, unless I choose to shoot with the camera phone, which I can upload, if I want. Anyway, this is a long way of explaining why I have a shot from a trip taken in 2015 to Tampa while I sit here in Spokane. Not an award winning shot (very few are) but I recall looking out my hotel balcony at a Marriott right near the hockey stadium and seeing these boats all lined up. My thought was, "Oh, that boat, third from the left would be mine, as it is the smallest in the bunch." So, I took the shot. Anyway, not a huge story but something attracts your eye and that is what caught my attention and caused me to push the shutter. Maybe an inferiority complex but more likely is that I just don't like boats all that much......

Moonscape Overflight

Same flight as yesterday's picture, just slightly later caught this moonscape looking mountain desert, just east of Hoover Dam. I was shooting with my Nikon Coolpix P7100 point and shoot. I bring this camera when I really don't feel like carrying a bigger camera around. Almost can fit in your pocket and shoots raw. However, here I was pushing the ISO to 1600 to try to get a sharp picture as the plane sped along. Taken at around 6:30 at night in late August but the sun is starting to set in these mountains.

Hoover Dam Overflight

This is from a flight I took last year and never got around to posting. Flight over Hoover Dam with the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge in the background. You can see by how much the water was down last summer.

Training your squirrel in Union Square Park

The New York locals probably hate it, but the tourists get a kick out of the squirrels in Union Square who will sit up and beg for treats if you stop for a moment and engage them. They have no fear of humans and will come right up to you if you have something to give.

Boston Marriott Custom House

It always helps to look up. When I checked in late in the evening I didn't notice but in the morning trip out of the lobby I saw the beautiful dome of the Boston Custom House interior tower ceiling, now a Marriott property. Tomorrow the exterior....

Two Greek Gods and a Pigeon

Shot from my Boston hotel window last week of two Greek Gods (I am thinking Mercury and Neptune?) checking to make sure that the pigeon stays on the ledge and off of them.

Eckhart Leaf

Eckhart Leaf photo shoot. The little guy is so cute.

Spring Has Sprung In NYC

After a day and a half of rain last week in NYC the sun finally came out and I was able to find this spring-like scene out in front of Macy's in the city.

Checkerboard from on High

A very common sight if you have a window seat but I liked this angle with the clouds on the edges. This is somewhere in the southeast as I fly home from Ft Lauderdale.

Hollywood Beach Ocean view

Got an ocean view from the Hollywood Beach Marriott and caught this peaking out the window in the morning light.

New York How Much?

"I'm sorry. How much does this cost?" Just checking.

DuPage County Courthouse

The beautiful DuPage County Courthouse dominates the downtown area of downtown Wheaton, Illinois.

Hollywood Beach in Wind and Calm

One day to the next. Quite a difference in the surf and wind. Same view out of my hotel window. One day had huge surf and wind. The other not a peep.

Unending Hallway

This must be some form of hell. A never ending hallway and you are going to walk forever to get to your room.

William and his toys

William makes the blog today with a set up of some of his favorite toys. One of my rare shots of him without his tongue sticking out. Hard to get the grandson of a photographer to sit for a picture so I am happy anytime I can get him to sit and pose.

April is the cruelest Month

April, to me, is the cruelest month. The calendar says "Spring". Occasionally, the temperatures agree. But more often than not, early April feels too much like Winter. That was the case yesterday and this morning. It will be 55 again tomorrow and it has been as warm as 70, but snow for the White Sox opener? Too much like Winter this week.

Old Time Baseball

Who remembers this old time baseball pinball game?

Great American Ball Park

It would have been warm enough to host an opening day a few weeks ago when I was in Cincy. I hope Chicago is as warm on Friday for the White Sox opener. Doesn't look likely as the forecast is calling for 45 and cloudy. Oh well. Another chance to break out the winter clothes.

Opening Day --- Cubs Curse

As a White Sox fan, I am not a Cubs hater. I wish them luck. But if I were a Cubs fan, I would not like the look of this board. There is no sneaking up on other teams this year. Go White Sox. 18 to 1 odds isn't so bad.

Snow Showers in April

A heavy blast of snow showered downtown Naperville on April 2nd. I thought that the Stop sign was appropriate to add into the shot. Just stop....please....

Cheryl and Eckhart--definitely a shot of the day

Cheryl got to hold Eckhart for the first time today. Stephanie took the shot, but it is the shot of the day in my book. Eckhart is looking good. I hope he gets to come home from the hospital soon.

Pittsburg Frick Building

Lobby of the beautiful Frick Building in Pittsburg, now an Omni Hotel.