Cloudy with a chance of happiness

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?"
— Mary Oliver   I've been traveling to Chicago every year for eight years for business and this was the first year, really, that I experienced why it is known as the "Windy City". Rain and just disagreeable weather made walking about miserable. What is it about rain and wind that makes one think? Perhaps it is the survival instinct or maybe it is just that there is nothing to pull the focus from where one is. So I began to think, walking and talking to myself in between meetings and dinners with business associates. The last few years have been rough business wise but on the other side of the coin I have been blessed in ways that are not tangible. I haven't been able to be here as much as I would like because of personal and professional responsibilities. During this time, I have come to realize that I cannot make everyone happy nor fix what is broken or please everyone. It was a long winter and a walk in in the windy city confirmed that I must stay the course with new responsibilities that will make it difficult to be here on a daily basis. That being said, I think the circumstances will force me to value this place as a sanctuary. This place is not about work, but about creativity and moving towards the life I have always dreamed of. So I ask your patience and understanding if I do not always participate in this amazing conversation, knowing all the while that I am stealing moments to read your work and aspire to your greatness.

Monday Morning Wake Up Call-All that jazz

This song sizzles in any language....guess where I'm off to this week?  In the meantime, get your Fosse on and strut your stuff...have a great week!

A Room with a View...

in Chicago of the John Hancock Tower from the Sofitel Water Tower. This was my fifth or was it seventh visit to Chicago?  Hard to remember because Chicago is an annual business trip which means that I don't get to do much other than work....

With the exception of a trip eight years ago with my niece and best friend to visit American Girl and the tremendous museums the city has to offer, it is always been "fly in and fly out" within two days.

Due to the increased airfare for short term business travel this year (e.g $900.00 for two nights vs. $250.00 for a three night stay), I decided to stay and walk about for an afternoon and evening before I made my way back to O'Hare and home.

My first wish was to re-visit the Art Institute of Chicago and say "hello again" to the O"Keefe's there. However, as I got closer, I realized quite a bit had changed. Millenium Park, built over railyards and abandoned land, had been completed while I was flying in and out of Chicago over the last six years. Frank Gehry not only designed the concert pavillion but also a winding bridge that connects the park to another pavillion and the waterfront.

Chicago's motto "Urbs in Horto" (City in a Garden), evident in the numbers of trees and plantings throughout the city, continues with the thoughtful design of green space and public spaces throughout Millenium Park.

I can say I've been to the Bean! .... a curious and enormous stainless steel sculpture named "Cloud Gate" that looks like, yup, a bean.

Great place to people watch as they gaze at their reflections and the city skyline reflected back at them.

Continuing on, I found Lurie Gardens and Gehry's walkway which I could probably spend days gazing at and photographing... 

The Art Institute of Chicago, guarded by this fellow,

has added a new Modern Art wing since my last visit. So not only did I get to see Georgia's Sky above Clouds IV again, gaze at Van Goghs and some Hoppers but I also walked through the new wing and viewed a great selection of photography, paintings and sculpture. This museum is one of the great ones that should be on everyone's 'must see' list. 

Chicago is an amazing and beautiful city. On my last night the streets and public places were abuzz with the upcoming marathon. I haven't even mentioned the architecture, the food, the neighborhoods, the river tour and the people that make it delightful and unique. Next visit.

Theme Thursday-Summer

Summer means vacation. When my nephews were in elementary school I always planned an adventure during the summer with my friend and her two children, my honorary niece and nephew.

Summer means "Let's go to the beach!" One year we visited one of my favorite places, Martha's Vineyard. We packed my friend's van with four bikes, food and the endless gear four kids require for a week's stay at the beach. We survived the trip up 95 from New Jersey with frequent stops at the MickeyD's. The ferry ride was a big hit. My nephews were a bit concerned that there was no boardwalk or games awaiting them but once there, quickly fell under the spell of the Vineyard. We stayed at a lovely place in Edgartown, rode bikes and visited the beach every day. In the evening, we walked about town after dinner to the book store and ice cream parlor. The first night there, the three boys travelled the narrow sidewalk at the speed of light from our lodgings to town with ice cream and adventure on their minds. My dear friend, appalled, as they barrelled through crowds, causing people to step aside and at times, off the sidewalk, corralled them--ages ~10, 6 and 6 into a single file and began the march that would become our nightly walk-left, left... one two three! It was controlled and for the most part, blissful chaos from thereon in.



Summer means riding bikes. Our treks began as so- my friend riding with my two year old niece, her daughter, on the back of her bike, my oldest nephew, his brother and my friend's son with me in the rear. The two younger boys had varying degrees of cycling ability--younger nephew rode very well but didn't fully understand the need to stay on the right side of the path and honorary nephew wanted a 'big' bike like younger nephew so was learning to navigate and trying to understand why he had to pedal so much. Luckily, the Vineyard has a great system of bike paths so vehicular traffic was never an issue. So it would begin--my friend would start off , followed and quickly passed by my older nephew who had strict instructions not to exceed more than a half mile lead, his younger brother pedaling gleefully albeit on the wrong side of the path and honorary nephew sometimes pedaling with me following yelling, "Right! Right! The other right! to younger nephew and "Pedal, Pedal, Pedal!" to honorary nephew.



I am pleased to report, we made the trip, without injury or injuring other cyclists. A good time was had by all.



Finally, summer means popsicles and the potential for an 'all girl getaway' since the boys were now too old to hang out with us. Hence, this popsicle moment in Chicago with my honorary niece after a day of sightseeing and shopping at American Girl. A whirlwind of a weekend filled with great sights, museums, food, tea with our favorite American Girl and no boys! Priceless.

4th of July weekend is just around the corner--time flies...enjoy the summer!