Houston from above

Houston from above shows no ill effects of the Hurricane and on the ground is recovering very quickly as downtown did get some flooding. Some neighborhoods are still digging out but in most of the area you couldn't tell a hurricane hit less than a month ago.

High Sky over Houston

Heading into a landing pattern over Houston and saw this cloud scene out of the airplane window this week.

Chicago Love

One race fan near the finish of the Chicago Half Marathon was showing a little Chicago love, waving our city's flag. My son, Jono and Sam ran the race, although both were definitely not fully trained for a grueling 13.1 miles in the heat. Still, they both finished and that is a major accomplishment. Having run that race three times in the past, it is a killer with around 8 miles on Lake Shore Drive with no shade. Ouch. Congrats to Jono and Sam and next time, find time to train for the distance. You can only get away with that in your 20's.

We're Number One....or is it something else?

I'm not exactly sure what message these flowers are trying to bring.

Some Chicago Color

When you see colors like this you have to shoot the shot. Taken near the Shedd Aquarium on Chicago's lakefront.

Chicago Looking Down

Yesterday's post was from a shot looking up at the old Sears Tower. Today, we have a cellphone shot looking down from the 35th floor of the Nuveen Building along the Chicago River. Wonderful view from our office building.

Chicago Looking Up

Looking up in Chicago. Still hate the name Willis Tower. Will always be Sears Tower to most Chicagoan.

St Louis has nothing on us

Sure, St. Louis has the Gateway Arch. We have the Golden Arches. A tourist mega and a place for the desperate about to get on the hour and a half-rush hour ride home. Me? I was just walking to the Portillo's across the street.

Busch Stadium Pole-to-Pole

Stadium #12 (I think) in my pole-to-pole series. Might be the last new ballpark that I get to this season. St. Louis Busch stadium is very red. Nice stadium but I don't like that there is no outside concourse above the first section. Can't walk around the park unless you go inside and underneath the stadium. So, not one of my favorites. But great views all around.

We need to cut the head off of a live rooster.....

St Louis at home vs Cincinnati. "We need to cut the head off of a live rooster and nobody knows what to give Milly and Jimmy for their wedding present. We are dealing with a lot of shit here...."

Arch View

Hard to find a view of the St Louis Gateway Arch that hasn't been shot a million time over. Here is one from just outside Busch Stadium.

Hoping everyone stays safe

With Irma making landfall in the Florida Keys this morning and the eye likely to bounce up the west coast of Florida, Naples and maybe Tampa are going to be hit. So, my thoughts go out to friends and family along the coast and hope that they are safe and property remains undamaged for as many as possible. If Florida gets lucky the storm hits the Everglades. This shot is from way back in 2012 on Naples Beach. Good luck Florida and parts north as the storm blows through.

Life Finds A Way

I love that line from Jurassic Park and it is true in this case with this lone tree somehow surviving while growing on concrete in Lake Michigan. It does have an excellent view of the city.

All Are Welcome

Is the Shedd Aquarium taking at shot at Trump? In any case, if you sign up the night before you get entrance for free (well, technically a $3 handling fee) to the Shedd Aquarium during the month of September. Have to take them up on that.

Best Lakefront Views?

Hard to top the views along the lakefront in downtown Chicago. 

Labor Day

Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. Get out and enjoy the day. I will try to do the same. These shots are from the Illinois State Fair back in August so they remind me of summer.

Monarch at Rest

I wish I could have asked her to open her wings (males, according to Wikipedia are redder in color) but other than that, I am happy with this shot!!!

Nothing Changes

A couple of us were commenting before the Bears game on Thursday how little sports in general change from high school (and sometimes middle school) to college to the pros. The same line ups, the same drills. This is two teams before the cut down to the 53 man roster. Lots of these players will not see the field again. I am not sure who I am sorry for but they at least got to live part of their dream and walk away healthy.

A New Sport

I am very conflicted about watching professional (and college) football. Too many injuries. Here is a proposal: How about Synchronized Professional Football? Four quarterbacks layout four passes to four receivers all at the same time. Probably doesn't have that same snap to it. Oh well, the sport could make to the Olympics!!!