Flann O’Brien comes to mind, as I’ve just placed in my mouth, ample bread for at least two minutes chewing. All similarities to Flann O’Brien end there. For those who are interested, the bread reference opens his novel, At Swim-Two-Birds, a book I’d purchased in Prague, read in a prolonged, voracious sitting, only to leave (unintentionally) in Dortmund, Germany. As of today, I’ve purchased a handsome edition of the novel; it wears upon its front cover face, a quote from Dylan Thomas, declaring, “This is just the book to give your sister if she’s a loud, dirty, boozy girl.” The earlier edition of this novel probably wore that quote, somewhere on its body, but time and distance have rendered that particular memory hazy (to say the least.) Nonetheless, I possess a new edition of a favorite novel, and— —a new camera. One event leads directly into the other. The camera is a purchase I made yesterday. It was a necessary expenditure, as my old camera will soon expel its final breath and find happy release. My new camera (a Canon, like its predecessor) is an elegant piece of technology. In testing the new Power Shot SX400IS, I wandered through Chicago’s Loop region. The day was sunny, at the start, but by the time I escaped my place of employment, clouds glowered overhead, thus ruining the atmospheric drama I’d planned. Because of an uncooperative sky, I thought that Chicago’s Loop was an ideal place for photographs. The deep, urban canyons and elevated train tracks obscure the sky, even on the brightest days, and so diffusion and shadows are the norm. I’m pleased with my choice: if only for the chance to become accustomed to a new photographer’s tool, and the image you’ve just seen—presumably—is the result of an early effort. I’m pleased with the way it turned out. * I’ll be re-reading At Swim-Two-Birds, but not now. I’m writing this long past my bedtime, and so I’ll make due with a post… …and then sleep. * As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.