Day 102, 12 Apr 2017: All the pink and the grey...

Day 102: ...and the occasional shock or two

Back to work today. Not that we are ever really *away* from work but classes commenced today which meant getting into the office and doing the preparations required. (Actually, my classes start tomorrow, so today was review mode.)

There was also thinking about writing up the two conference papers for publication; planning for completion of a couple of book manuscripts; writing pitches for publishers etc and so forth.

There also had to be time to stop and spot the cherry blossoms before they fade away for another year. Which I did. On the way to the bus stop. You'll note the lovely blue sky...

Under the higher branches

A last bud or two

Bunched

Light and shade

...which continued for a while and was in fact forecast to continue all day until later when the sky just went grey; a strong textured and photogenic grey admittedly but grey...

Water sketches

Small clouds, signs of things to come

Bird passes boat in the pm

Then suddenly ...

Where did they come form?

It probably reflected the inside of my head momentarily when I discovered a seminar whereupon I anticipated 25 students, perhaps 30, turned out to have 80 enrolled. Gah! I was not prepared for that!

Oh well, after all these years in the profession, I guess one is lucky to still have the occasional shock or two. Or eighty. Lots of work ahead.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 10.42am-10.43am, 1.56pm, 4.35pm, 5.14pm; 12 April 2017]

Day 101, 11 Apr 2017: Let the fun begin...

Day 101: ...after the rain

Last day of untimetabled freedom for the next 16 weeks, for tomorrow the fun begins. Actually, for me, it doesn't start until Thursday when I have my first class chichis why, when I awoke to rain and very cold temperatures I decided that there probably any urgency for me to go to the office, I could prepare just as well here. 

I was only thinking of others really. Imagine if I went off today, in the cold and rain and, being just post-airline air-conditioning, and I caught a cold? I wouldn't be able to greet the new cohort of students would I? And that would be a shame. 

So work at home I did. Reading, thinking, preparing. Reflecting the content of the conference and how I will make use of that this year. 

And then, in the afternoon rain, the chirping. Chirping! It sounded rather close, under the window or somewhere similar. 

seeking shelter

Still looking

it looked that wet

Something around the corner perhaps...

Anyone looking?

Go!

There they were, two little birds trying to escape the wet. 

I really must redouble my efforts to learn Japanese bird names this year. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 5.42pm-5.43pm; 11 April 2017]

Day 100, 10 Apr 2017: Back to base...

Day 100: ...fleeting glimpses

And we're back, in the country, preparing to commence classes on Wednesday. While I've been away, I've just about missed peak blossom season and I've had to be content with seeing splashes of pink over the countryside as we were landing (over the images of those battling save their farmlands decades ago, as I saw in Chicago this week). 

My rides back into to town of late too have usually been after dark but today with a couple of hours of light let, I opted to go all 'gritty street photographer' and capture some passing glimpses of the cityscape.

Smokers only

Blossoms

Glimpses

Rows

Among the buildings

Jeffrey Street-ish

Wheel on fire

Sunset reflected

Now, it's time to gear up for the new academic year. Number two here in a series of five for me. Let's see how it goes. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 5.10pm-6.12pm; 10 April 2017]

Day 99, 9 Apr 2017: Another day, another airport...

Day 99: ...or so it seems

And having confessed yesterday to you dear reader, that I am a bit of a goody two shoes when it comes to conference attendance, I might as well continue the confessions and tell you that I really dislike rushing to the airport and getting there just on time. Particularly when it is an international flight. 

So a lunchtime flight means an early morning ride form the city to allow for, I don't know, all the things that might happen on a Sunday morning: rain, snow, flat tyres, long customs and immigration queues, a new presidential order overnight...

Well, fortunately/unfortunately, none of these things happened which meant a longer wait at the airport, but I'm fine with that. I'd much rather wait there than be stuck on a freeway somewhere. 

Plus, it allows time for the photographic eye to roam...

That's the one

Fuelling

Rotating

Waiting: number 6 in an indefinite series

Spotted

Joint

A dog of a gate

Concerned Scientists

...and now it's time to board and lose a day, more or less. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 10.31am-10.34am, 11.31am; 9 April 2017]

Day 98, 8 Apr 2017: I will make up for it...

Day 98: ...all the sessions

I must confess, dear reader, I am one of those conscientious conference attendee-types. If there are sessions to attend I will attend them. I take my conferences quite seriously. Hence, yesterday has left me feeling just a little, well, guilty...Not so much the Art institute visit which I can include as part of my research but he Chicago Symphony...well, I'm sure there is a good reason in there somewhere...

So today,a redoubling of efforts to get back on conference track. Today is the last day of attendance for me since my plane flies out tomorrow about lunchtime, meaning I will miss much of the last day.

Never mind, today includes a session in the famous Empire Room, an excellent all-women's panel about the Women's March on Washington, just after President Trump's inauguration, and excellent also because The Empire Room just breathes history. 

The ceiling in the Lobby

The clock above the door to the Empire Room

Detail (with palm frond)

Balcony overlooking the Lobby

Political scientists in the Lobby

Seating in the Empire Room 

Chandeliers

Mirrors

Starring an all-women panel

It is here that Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte, Louis Armstrong, and Liberace have played over the years. In fact, the corridors of the hotel are replete with the photos of all those who have played and stayed at the Palmer over the years. You could spend your entire stay just taking in all that history. 

I'm sorry to be missing the Sunday sessions but airline timetables will do that to you I suppose.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 12.55pm-12.56pm, 1.10pm-1.16pm; iPhone6S, 1.20pm; 8 April 2017]

Day 97, 7 Apr 2017: A few diversions...

Day 97: ...for rest and research purposes

When in town, I usually try to plan at least one session off to go and explore my favourite institute in this city, the Art institute of Chicago. It is one block over from the hotel. It is magnificent, in terms of its permanent collections as well as the exhibitions. Luckily for me, this time includes an exhibition of photography from the 1960s and 1970s protests in Japan over the US Alliance and the reclaiming of farm land for the construction of Narita airport. Of course I had to go, for research purposes. 

But first, breakfast...healthy

Early morning commuting

Saints and heroes

Michigan Avenue

Imposing. The Art institute.

Famous AIC lion, exhibit A

Photographs of an exhibition 

Pictures of pictures

The Grand Staircase 

Another of my 'would really really like to see' things has long been the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Previously, it's been the case that the orchestra wasn't playing or the concerts were sold out or were late into the night (and although the hall is just a block away, I'm a bit cautious), or clashed with my own presentation...

Have flagged this for a while

Big buildings

The entrance

Conference break

Research

...but today, a special lunchtime concert, featuring Truls Mork playing the Dvorak Cello Concerto and conducted by the legendary Charles Dutoit...I think it was meant to be, don't you dear reader?

What a day. And, I think I spotted Truls Mork in the Hotel later that evening...




[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 8.40am-8.45am, 11.45am-12.38pm, 2.40pm-2.41pm; iPhone6S, 8.00pm; 7 April 2017]