TWO, 58/365

"Two," Theme #341, gulls on a rural lake.

SKELETAL, 57/365

The ravages of winter (and fast moving traffic) are revealed in the spring melt and thaw. The "Skeletal," Theme #286, remains of a deer explain the fat contentment of the neighborhood turkey vultures.

ADVERTISEMENT, 56/365

The telephone pole. Quintessence of rural communication and "Advertisement," Theme #9.

WINDOWS, 55/365

Lots of bright, natural light from many "Windows," Theme #362, is one of the nicest features at the local cancer center.

Mr. L. began his treatment at another clinic. Tiny high windows, stark lighting, a little too small for it's patient load. It was like an extra level of depression on top of an already depressing circumstance.

I watch patients and families here and I can see the difference this environment makes in their response and outlook. It's amazing.

SOLITARY, 54/365

From my lofty picnic perch I watch as someone braves the snow and wind across the pedestrian bridge. On a cold winter day it's a "Solitary," Theme #293, walk.

TIME, 53/365

The courthouse clock from my favorite picnic spot atop the parking garage. Makes it easy to tell when it's "Time," Theme #330, for lunch.

WHAT'S INSIDE, 52/365

Our youngest daughter is infanticipating. The brat chose not to learn the sex of the coming baby (thus severely cramping my grandma-ing when it comes to shopping for baby clothes). Now when I stand back and look at her, I am left to wonder "What's Inside," Theme #358.

OUTDOOR SEATING, 51/365

My favorite spot for a romantic picnic, the top of the parking garage. Even though it's a bit chilly outside, the "Outdoor Seating," Theme #221, offers a grand view of the city and riverfront.

SWEETS, 50/365

Another of his guilty pleasures...chocolate covered cherries. This time I take full responsibility since I made him a box full of the "Sweets," Theme #312, for Valentine's Day.

GUILTY PLEASURES, 49/365

"Comfort candy." His answer when I asked about the ever present box of candy. One of the treats that continued to taste good through his sickness. Nowdays the sickness has passed and I raise an eyebrow when I find the box of candy squirreled away in the depths of the refrigerator. "Guilty Pleasure," Theme #135, is his answer now.

FLAGS and BANNERS, 48/365

There's nothing better than a brilliant blue sky to set off a parade of "Flags and Banners," Theme #101.

RURAL, 47/365

Life here, outside the city, is nothing but "Rural," Theme #265.

SHADES OF GRAY, 46/365

A foggy colorless winter day is the perfect background for "Shades of Gray," Theme #278.

PUBLIC ART, 45/365

Downtown Cincinnati. We were exploring old industrial and rail areas when we came across these incredible mosaic works tucked below the interstate overpasses. It was like discovering a world within a world; a secret, yet "Public Art," Theme #243.

HEART'S DESIRE, 44/365

Valentine's Day, Krohn Conservatory. They wandered among the plants, smiling, occasionally touching, sharing the day; simply joyful. When they took a break to sit and chat on the butterfly bench I had to ask them if I could take their picture. In twenty years, I want us to be that couple. Still enjoying each other; smiling at the same things, touching hands, laughing out loud and each knowing the other "got it" with that unspoken communication that comes with time. This is my "Heart's Desire," Theme #145.

BRIDGES OR TUNNELS, 43/365

We were well on the road out of downtown Cincinnati when I had a, "HEY, this is a theme possibility!" moment. The I-71 N "Tunnel," theme #35.

ON THE WATER, 42/365

A coal barge travels down the Ohio River during last weekend's warming trend. Even though it was a sunny day, with those chunks of ice floating along, it looks cold out "On the Water," Theme #209

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY!, 41/365

Rainy days in the winter are just depressing. Gray, cold with none of the beauty of snow. It's just wet. Really wet. Today I was in touch with my inner child and singing, "Rain, Rain, Go Away!," Theme #249.

And just to prove that sometimes you get what you asked for...not long after the rainy shot, the sun came out for moments before the next storm front blew through.

LARGER THAN LIFE, 40/365

Seen outside Fifth Third Field, home of the Dayton Dragons. This baseball is "Larger than Life," Theme #166.

SEASONAL. 39/365

Cancer center today with Mr. Lorri. I notice the waterless hand sanitizer near the door...several vendor/rep types use it on their way OUT of the building. I want to make a public service announcement...."Listen, people, we're not half as worried about what you're going to carry out of here as we are about what germs you're carrying IN. Use the hand stuff before you go around touching the door handles and the chairs and the desks that cancer patients with lowered immunity touch too." I know, I know; I'm on my soapbox. The pill boxes, the tissues and the hand sanitizer are "Seasonal," Theme #270, everywhere this time of year.

REFLECTIONS, 38/365

The temperatures climbed above freezing today and the river got a sheen of water on top of the ice. The sun added a little effort to come up with these "Reflections," Theme #256, on the Mad River.

BOX OFFICES/WICKETS, 37/365

THE NEON, Dayton's independent movie theatre, is located just outside the historic Oregon District. We feature the best in foreign and independent cinema...and our concession stand features beer, wine and Boston Stoker coffee drinks - as well as traditional fresh popcorn and soda. We have a cozy lobby and a wonderful patio, and we have WiFi internet capabilities. Check out our current attractions at www.neonmovies.com or call our showline at (937)222-SHOW (222-7469)

There aren't a lot of independent movie theaters around these days and The Neon is unique in several ways. Today, though, the "Box Office," Theme #31, features pretty ordinary fare.

SOMETHING MISSING, 36/365

I think this is grafitti on grafitti. Did a second guy with some paint come along and obliterate the head/face? Did the original artist decided it was better with less said? Who knows. Whatever it is, there's "Something Missing," Theme #295.

(Same image, 1 a little closer to give you a better look at the work.)

SECURITY, 35/365

One of the ongoing aspects of cancer for Mr. Lorri. PET/CT scans. Seems there is a concern that PET patients might set off the radioactivity sensors being used in some airports and government buildings. This little card is supposed to give him--and everyone nearby--a sense of "Security," Theme #272 if he sets off an alarm.

I'll bet nobody wants to sit in the plane seat next to the guy who set of the radioactivity alarm. And you just know they're not going to blame a flock of birds if they have to land that plane in the river.

The tangible reminder of the toxicity that has entered his life doesn't really bring a secure feeling to either of us. (Although I suspect he has a secret desire to try out his temporary status as a toxic waste site by seeing if he does set off the airport sensors.)

WINTER, 34/365

It's "Winter" on the farm, Theme #363

IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, 33/365

I've moved but I go back to visit and it's still home, still my neighborhood.
When I lived in the neighborhood, over a year ago, she lived on the streets. The shelters weren't for her; "not safe" she would say when someone asked. When the weather turned bitter, she would slip into the church late in the evening and sleep in the basement or in a pew. There were people who didn't seem to know she was there, looking right through her as she sat on the bench in the corner. There were others who objected outloud to her presence. She was dirty; there were places for "people like her" to go.
On a recent visit to my old neighborhood, I had my camera out for a shot of the skating rink as we drove past. When I looked up, there she was, trudging down the street with her wagon in tow. I snapped the picture through the car window knowing it would be a mess. I thought maybe I could digitally clean it up. When I looked at it later, though, it struck me that this is the lens, the window, that many people see her through. Dirty, an unpleasant mess. Or as a kind of blur off on the side of their lives.

"In My Neighborhood," Theme #157. Here's hoping we can all clean our windows and see things through a more compassionate lens.

BLUE, 32/365

Something that's been sadly absent the past month or so, a sky of "Blue," Theme #28.