Because who couldn’t use a tiny little reminder that beauty still exists in the world, especially in light of the horrors going on all around us?
All images from Brussels Cathedral.
Category Archives: Travel
National Basilica – Brussels
My brain was empty, awaiting imprinting or guidance. I ran across a social media thread full of stained glass…
I had stumbled into the National Basilica in Brussels by accident.
Since our hotel was near the city center, my strategy was to get on the subway and go out a dozen stops or so and then make my way back, stopping to see churches, parks, sculpture gardens, architecturally interesting buildings, etm.
This was near the station where I got off the subway and came up, and it was open. At least, no one yelled at me for wandering around like The Ugly American and taking pictures. (I was actually very polite and well behaved.)
The stained glass offerings were pretty straightforward, nothing too abstract or spectacular. But all very bright and lovely.
I found the sunbeams coming in through the dome windows, piercing down into the darkness below.
I’m glad that I stopped!
Filed under Art, Photography, Travel
Proof Of Life – June 23rd
A statue in front of City Hall in a small city in the Czech Republic, Pardubice. 2016 I was there with my Pepperdine EMBA class, to visit the Foxconn computer factory there.
Kings, Cardinals, Bishops, cherubs, who knows what else. An article I found on the top twelve things to see in Pardubice includes City Hall, the bright white building in the background, but doesn’t mention anything about the statue in front. The “new” City Hall building dates to the 1890’s so one could assume that the statue is of a similar age.
As much as I would truly love to get back to Prague (and also see Paris, Rome, Vienna, Athens, Barcelona, and a couple dozen other European cities), I’m not sure that a repeat trip to Pardubice is high on the priority list.
Filed under Art, Photography, Travel
Proof Of Life – June 18th
Tomorrow’s a day off, a holiday?
Yeah. Right. And I’ve got this bridge to sell you.
Maybe I’ll at least sleep in late. Dreaming about being here, if I’m lucky, and not having semi-conscious stress dreams about Excel files and reports that don’t balance.
Sleep well, y’all!
Filed under Photography, Travel
Proof Of Life – June 17th
Brussels, Cathedral of St Michael
I always will remember how the final, desperate, last chance, for all the marbles weapon that the humans put together against the aliens in “Footfall” was named Michael after the avenging archangel.
Never an avenging archangel of death around when you really need one.
Filed under Art, Photography, Travel
A Calm Pool
Some days you have certain priorities and the world has others.
I remain a clam pool amid the chaos, despite the fact that my to-do list didn’t shrink nearly as much as I had hoped for today.
Is there a nice old picture I can share, just as a break from the doom scrolling and endless stream of numbers?
Something I saw online said something like “Take two Bufferin capsules with a cup of Sanka and a glass of Tang and you’ll wake up in 1974 in the back seat of a Buick LeSabre.” I would take that deal, I would love to be back in 1974 and at Center Pond (shown) for a day or two with some dear friends who are no longer with us.
Instead, there’s a yet longer to-do list waiting for tomorrow.
Filed under Paul, Photography, Travel
Proof Of Life – May 29th
SOOOOO angry tonight. Or frustrated. Or both.
Our payroll is due tonight and I just found out that they’ve COMPLETELY redesigned their data entry interface with zero warning, and it SUCKS!!! I always thought that the early implementations of QuickBooks Online was the worst program I’ve ever seen or used – this is giving it a run for its money.
The data entry that usually takes 30-45 minutes has already taken over an hour and I’m only a third of the way through it – at this pace it will be 1:30 or 2:00 AM or later before I’m done. And that assumes that there aren’t any more surprises or re-designs or other complications later, like when I want to get a report to verify that I’ve entered all of the data correctly.
WTF were they thinking??!!
Meanwhile, for reasons that make no sense at all to me, I got to thinking about how I don’t know how to stand for pictures without looking incredibly awkward. For example:
This has always been a favorite in this category. Prague, 2006. Calling Dork Central! What exactly am I doing with my arms, and why does it look like they’re both broken?
This is a little better. At least I found something to do with my hands. And these days I’m about 50 pounds lighter, so that helps…
Back to battle with the “new & improved” payroll software or I’ll NEVER get to bed tonight!
Filed under Freakin' Idiots!, Paul, Photography, Travel
You Can’t Take A Bad Picture Here – May 21st
There are places on the planet where it is damn near impossible to take a bad picture, no matter your equipment, skill level, or whatever. I’m sure there are folks who somehow do manage to screw it up, but they’re in a different class from us mere mortals.
For example:
Entrance to Cabo San Lucas harbor.
The town and inner harbor at sunset.
Filed under Photography, Travel
Chain Of Rocks Birds
2008, I was visiting my son when he was at Scott AFB outside of St. Louis. He was busy during the day, so I went out to Chain of Rocks Park to spot some big birds. I think I had also just gotten the big telephoto lens so the focus might not be perfect.
Wild turkeys.
Great Egret. Not a mediocre egret, but a GREAT egret.
Great Blue Heron. Love seeing these huge birds. Mainly because I’m not a fish.
Filed under Birds, Photography, Travel
Mexico
It’s Cinco de Mayo. I understand that “holiday” is just for Americans to get drunk and eat tacos (like we really need an excuse!) and is rarely if ever celebrated in Mexico, and it’s NOT “Mexican Independence Day.”
But it did give me an idea for a place to go look back through a ton of amazing pictures.
Cabo San Lucas from just outside the harbor – our ship is on the right.
Can you see the “hidden” pelican flying by?
Cabo was fun to visit as a tourist for a day. I could see spending maybe a week there and doing nothing but sitting on my ass on a beach or by the pool. After that…
Filed under Birds, Photography, Travel
We Love The Stars Too Fondly 