A star is born...

Bauhinia variegata forma alba

Be like the flower, turn your faces to the sun.

~ Kahlil Gibran

"Strange animal facts" #11:

Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.

Sunday's catch

Some of you asked where I was standing when I took the previous photo.

Here's your answer: Naples Pier. Just me and the fishing boy, each hoping for a good catch ;-)

"Strange animal facts" #10:
Fish that live more than 800 meters below the ocean surface, don't have eyes.

Beach bathing

The average water temperature at Naples beach in October is 81F (27C).

Great for wading and...hair washing, apparently ;-)

"Strange animal facts" #9:
The blue whale has a heart the size of a small car and its blood vessel is so broad, that a person could swim through it.

Tagged!

" I want my privacy, please!"

I have been tagged by both Victoria and Glenn to reveal 8 random facts about myself.

These are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.

2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself.

3. Tag eight people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).

4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving them a comment on their blogs.

Here are some things about me you probably did not know:

1. I was born on a beach (long story!) on Friday the 13th. This should clue you in to how well my life is going ;-)

2. I had a poem published at the age of 9. It was entitled "Shattered Dreams" (at 9???)

3. I am a decent cook but a dismal baker. I guess baking requires precision and exact measurements - that's sooo not me...

4. I once danced with Robin Williams, the actor, at a night club in Jamaica.

5. I was detained at Frankfurt Airport on suspicion of espionage. Questioned, searched and released shortly after.

6. I can never get through Chopin's "Heroic" polonaise without crying (but then again I empathize with his longing for his motherland).

7. I have this uncanny ability to tell time...without consulting a watch. No matter when, day or night, if you ask me what time it is, I will be exact to the minute. (Can anyone else do that or am I a freak?).

8. Nobody makes me belly-laugh like John Cleese in "Fawlty Towers".

Now, it's my turn to tag you, my blogger friends:

Jilly - Menton Daily Photo

Sonia - Leaves of Grass

Nikon - Hemingway's Paris

JAM - John's Daily Digital Images

GMG - Blogtrotter

Lessie - Anderson Daily Photo

Zsolt - Budapest Daily Photo

Richard - Zurich Daily Photo

Au naturel

Wetlands in my community

"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes."

~e.e. cummings

"Strange animal facts" #8

It is estimated that millions of trees in the world are accidentally planted by squirrels who bury nuts and then forget where they hid them!

Shade seekers #6

Promenade at Bonita Bay

And finally, when all else fails, you can always find relief at the local mall. For yourself...and your wallet ;-)

"Strange animal facts" #7:
The female pigeon cannot lay eggs if she is alone. In order for her ovaries to function, she must be able to see another pigeon.

Shade seekers #5

my community

A pair of moorhens cooling off at the edge of the golf course.

"Strange animal fact" #6:
Eagles mate while airborne.

Shade seekers #4

Third Street South, downtown Naples

This sparrow found a cool spot in the shadow of a planter. No dummy, he; there's always a chance of a juicy worm nearby...

(Jilly, you'll need one of your tranquilizers before you continue reading ;-))

Strange animal fact #5:
A cockroach will live nine days without its head, before it starves to death.

Shade seekers #3

We are in luck! Found this shady sidewalk bistro downtown Naples. Sunday Brunch, perhaps? And check out that humongous Bloody Mary at the forefront table...

"Strange animal fact" #4:
A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue.

Shade seekers #2

Hey, it's the weekend! Let's indulge a bit, and take advantage of a great shady spot, under the pergola, next to the pool at the Coconut Point Hyatt Regency Hotel.

"Strange animal fact" #3
The average person eats eight spiders in their sleep in their lifetime!

Shade seekers #1

Our hot and muggy season is finally coming to an end...In a few days, the weather pattern will break and comfortable, dry and warm air will move in for the next 6 to 7 months. Yippee!

In the meantime, I am starting a short series on looking for shade, like this brown pelican, seeking shelter under Estero Bridge.

"Strange animal fact" #2:
Some lions mate over 50 times a day.

Theme day - tombstone

I have to beg your indulgence again: I am currently not in Naples, so am not able to show you our local cemetery. But you know me, always hate to miss the party ;-). So please, pretend with me, that we are in Paris today (we could do worse, right?)

This is a photo of the tomb of my beloved composer, Frederick Chopin, taken on a cold and rainy afternoon at Père-Lachaise Cemetery.

If you have a minute (or 6!), please listen to one of my favorite pieces by Chopin - his Nocturne, Opus 27 #2. Especially fitting, if it's raining where you are...

There are currently 100 blogs participating in this theme day:

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