Wonderful Desolation in the Valley of Fire

Had a great photo walk in the Valley of Fire, a state park about an hour outside of Las Vegas. I've been looking for an opportunity to get out in nature. Found it out in Nevada. Wonderful desolation.

Some Nature for your viewing pleasure

I'm starting to realize that when I spend weeks and weeks in our modern city environments, I start getting anxious for some nature. Do you feel the same way? So, here is some nature for you. You're welcome. From a trip to Seattle.

Colors in the Desert

Colors in the desert are often rather muted. Here was a place of purple in the midst of greens and browns. From a trip to Saguaro National Park last year.

Shots of the Day

It is very appropriate for Shot of the Day to post Shots of the Day. There were two problems in this shot. First, I came across this scene in Philadelphia during January when I was doing a Dry January so I couldn't taste test the whiskey, rum, gin, brandy and vodka. Second, the store was in an office building and we were heading into a lunch meeting. Now, taking a few shots might have made the meeting for interesting for us, but not likely for the listeners. So, just a shot on the cell phone had to be enough.

Wanting to go back

Man, got the ski bug bad this year. Went once and want to go again. Great time. Who is up for a trip to Vail? I can be packed in minutes!!!

Beverly Hills is....Life?

Beverly Hills might be where I want to be but "life"? I don't think so. Sorry 90210. I know you have to "represent" but that is a weird one. From a recent trip.

Monk's Pub: A Chicago Institution

Monk's Pub is a Chicago institution that is located just a block from the Nuveen building, where I work. I don't eat here often and, as far as I can recall, I have never had a beer here. No reason, but something that I should resolve to change one of these days. Monk's Pub is a one-of-a-kind place in downtown Chicago--one of those places that give the city its character. Monk's is not on the beaten path, being located under the train tracks on Lake Street and Wells. Most of the visitors are office or construction workers in the local area. I doubt many tourists come by as it is not a very touristy area. When you walk in, you get the feeling that the pub has been transported here from a time long gone by. Yet, Monk's survives even as new buildings go up around it. In fact, I recently read that at the bar is now open on Saturday's, as people are starting to move in the area which is a very new development. Anyway, loved the colors inside the bar and it occurred to me that if this bar was in another city I would take a quick picture of it so I couldn't help but take a shot of a colorful location in my own city for today's Shot of the Day.

Chicago Black Hawks at Notre Dame Stadium

From the way back machine but only to way back last January 1st. Here is a shot that I just found buried on my computer from the Chicago Black Hawks' outdoor game at Notre Dame stadium. See those tiny people on the ice? Neither did I. The view was better on the TV at home (plus the Hawks lost to Boston) but it was fun to be a part of the largest crowd ever, I believe, to see an outdoor professional hockey game. Feels good to get the hard drive cleaned up. If you are not careful, photos get stored all over the place in computer files. These were on a separate drive that I never looked at but now they have been found. Relief abounds.

Blue Sky Flag

I thought I would post an American Flag shot for this President's Day shot of the day. Seems appropriate. This shot was taken from a boat on the Chicago river taken on a summer day a couple of years ago. Those boat trips on the Chicago River are always a lot of fun. This trip included members of the Nuveen credit team along with members of the Chicago Analyst Society. A fun day for a fun shot of a beautiful shot of the red, white and blue.

Gun Turret, Puerto Rico

The fort of el Morro protects the city of San Juan from invasion. One way was to set up gun portals as the one in the turret above.

Follow the leader

The behavior of these pelicans at dusk (dinnertime) was fascinating. Lots of diving for fish and also this skimming the water in straight lines to some unknown, but apparently very important, destination. From a trip back in 2012 to Naples, Florida.

Diamond Head, Maui

This is an old shot from a trip to Maui way back in 2011. Seems like a lifetime ago. Hard to recognize the mountain and its distinct flat top with the clouds, but you can see it, if you look close. Haven't got any Hawaii trips planned which is ok by me. It's a long, long flight.

Tear Drop Sun

The sun gets in a hurry when it gets close to the horizon. The bottom part races to get under the horizon. Ok, yes it is diffraction and light bending, the longer rays of the red spectrum getting through the additional atmosphere more than the blue light, but I like the racing story better. From a trip to California back in 2017.

Coming soon to a field near you....

A little yellow and green for your winter white. Shot in April but fair warning, I was in California at the time.

Mess of Yellow

You are not supposed to have dead flowers in your flower shots. I think it violates the rules of flower photography. Well, I am a rebel. This is a mess of yellow, that's for sure and it is chilly this morning so I needed some color. Cheers.

Throwback Thursday: Back to Bryce

Another shot from the throwback machine. This picture is so sharp, watch out, it can cut you. This is from our 2017 trip to Bryce Canyon, my favorite national park, so far. Hope to hit three national parks a year. This year is a big one with Yellowstone in sight and the Grand Tetons. Not sure which target will be the third.

Sun Dog in Bryce Canyon

Digging deep into the archives to find this beautiful shot of a sun dog over Bryce Canyon in Utah. Took the shot back in March of 2017. Always makes the heart full to see nature in all of its beauty.

Smog in LA

Hey, I was supposed to get the downtown LA view with this room! At least that is what they said when I checked in to this Century City hotel a couple weeks ago. The city of LA is there in the distance but you can just barely see it on this perfectly clear day. (Downtown LA is not the buildings in the center of the shot--look closer. The city is in the upper right hand side, along the horizon line.) Usually, the city is very visible. This time around, the smog is preventing the view of the city's skyline. Really sad and scary as LA is only about 15 miles away. The city should be very visible and that was not the case. Not healthy at all and I did still go out for a couple of mile run. Not sure if I improved my health or not. Oh, well. At least the sun was out!!! 

Super Sunday

Today's shot of the day goes all the way back to 2007 at a Bears preseason game that I attended with Michael Jr. Tried to get a shot appropriate to the day, with the Chiefs and San Francisco 49s set up to play later today. I don't have a dog in this fight (obviously) so I will go with the NFC team just to stay in my league. Super Bowl Sunday has become like a national holiday. If you are local, head over to Davern's Tavern in Justice to raise a pint or a few. Here is to a good game tonight!!!

Just a Random January Monday in San Diego

Maybe one of the locals can tell me why, but the city of San Diego put on a fireworks show I was able to catch from my hotel from on a random Monday in January. Not sure if this is an everyday thing (as I was only in town one night this past trip) but it was nice to see some pretty displays light up in the sky.