Back in Naples

I am back in hot and humid southwest Florida.  Some folks down here are grousing about the uncharacteristic heat.  But, after enduring major surgery six weeks ago and some complications, I am happy to have weather that lets me get outside and walk and start regaining my strength.

A big and slow-moving cormorant is an easy first Florida photography subject this season. 

 I always have to remind myself, "hooked bill = cormorant, straight bill = anhinga." 

This is my first post since September 26, the day of surgery.  

No promises about whether I can or will post daily.

Taking a Break

I am at the Cleveland Clinic -- one of the world's foremost hospitals -- recovering from surgery.

Doctors cut out a non-cancerous mass from my digestive tract.

 I hear the surgery went well.  But, I will be lying here in recovery for another week or so.

Nothing to photograph from a hospital bed, so N+H goes on hiatus.

Weekend Reflections.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Roll and Roll Hall of Fame

I had some more free time in Cleveland, so I went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I misspent many hours of my youth singing along with the music 

Woo Woo Ginsberg played on Boston's WMEX.

One floor has studios where visitors can play guitars, pianos, drums, etc.

Nearby, a band of young museum employees backs visitors who want to sing.

Stevie Nicks.  Be still, my heart.

I am one of the few in my generation who will admit not being at Woodstock.

Elvis still draws crowds.

Beatles, Hendrix, Prince, Chuck Berry.  All the greats.

There is a special place in my heart for One Hit Wonders.

Oo ee oo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang.

I could have spent a week here.

Out of the Jurisdiction: Cleveland Art Museum

I am in Cleveland with some free time, so I went to the Cleveland Art Museum.  Wonderful!

The main building of the museum has a classical façade.

A special exhibition about Michelangelo began this week.  It features his drawings.  This room shows some of Michelangelo's drawings that were used to prepare for painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. shown on the wall beyond the museum visitors.

A room of armor is an unusual feature of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

 There is a fascinating suite of galleries about Medieval art.
This is a French sculpture of the Virgin and Child from 1385 - 1390.

This detail from a 1460 painting of The Trinity by Laurentin Girardin seems
strikingly contemporary in its composition and style.

And this is a detail of a 1909 boxing painting by Ohio native George Bellows,
who painted in Manhattan.

Maira

Maira is a journalist from Venezuela.  She currently lives in Orlando but she is planning to move to Connecticut this fall.  (There is a guy . . . )  But, she is worried about the cold and the snow.

Harbor

Part of Plymouth harbor.

Plymouth, Massachusetts

Heaven

Heaven is a skateboard park in downtown Hartford.  Every surface is covered with graffiti street art.

Even walls higher than anyone can reach without a ladder.

Monday Mural.