"BITTERSWEET!"

was my response when asked how I felt upon Anna’s graduation from high school last Friday night.

I would follow that up with “Just like her – sometimes she is bitter and sometimes she is sweet!”

If I rewind 19 years or so....my love affair started at the first knowledge of her existence, it increased by her ever present “Hey I am in here!” kicking and elbowing...and it went thru-the-roof when I finally held her and breathed in all her beauty.

Since then she has grown into a beautiful, young woman, who can push every button I own, right along with being astonishingly, profoundly, wise-beyond-her-year's mature.

So, yes it is bittersweet, just like you, my graduate girl.

go out and give life a twirl

"Riddle me this.....

how can Buddy my "Wonder" Dog....

eat his black Harley Davidson squeaky ball over three years ago....and then throw this up just yesterday??

Incredible!!

obviously inedible

L.F.M.T.F. FRIDAY - Thirst Quencher Edition

I am again humbled by the caring, unselfishness and generosity shown to me this week by complete strangers!

Kind people who recognize that during my long walks throughout this beautiful city – that I become thirsty.

So all along my journey they left for me...


Coffee propped up on a post – I hope it's not dark roast!


Something healthy for my bones and teeth left on a bench at the Merchandise Mart – milk, milk makes you smart!


Oops! That’s not good...being upside down...spilled out onto the ground.


On the only warm day of this week..they left me a little refreshment deep inside to savor – although cherry isn’t my favorite flavor.


Tequila, thanks, but it is way too early....besides it makes me kinda squirrelly!

So a big shout out of thanks to all the kind, generous, unselfish people who helped me fight off this week’s thirst!

gotta run my bladder is about to burst

An Ode to Schmitty

It has been brought to my attention;

And I could not pass up the mention..

that a friend of ours has turned the BIG FIVE-OH!

And this “friend” is someone that you might just know;

He is referred to as “Schmitty” because of a joke;

But depending upon his mood – more fun we do poke..

He has been “Cranky Pants”;

“Pirate”;

“Cowboy”;

“Crabby”;

“Rip Van”

and “Shitty”...

all of which we add before his moniker of “Schmitty”;

And if you ever awake him during his train nap...

all I can say is STAND WAY FAR BACK!

He is a lover of family and a defender of friends;

When he pushes too hard...he’s sure to make quick amends;

He is a strummer of the guitar and lover of the Blues;

Nearly no one could ever fill his musical shoes!

So on this Special Day we want to bring him some cheer...

as we gather to celebrate and raise up a beer;

With a hope that in Fifty more...he will still be here!

Although by then he will be “Pissing-In-His-Pant’s Schmitty...

which won’t be so pretty!!

Happy 50th Birthday from Your Train Crew...

We All Love You!

Except, of course, for Joe, who will always hate that “Bastard” Schmitty.

BTW at “work” today Susan wrote you the aforesaid ditty...

here kitty kitty

THE “Deal”

When my father was diagnosed with cancer, I vividly recall him praying that he be given at least another year of life.

He was given three.

When I was diagnosed, I was newly divorced and raising my then 13 year-old son and 9 year-old daughter on my own.

I, too, prayed...

“Lord, please let me see my children graduate from high school!”

Today is Anna’s last day of high school.

She graduates Friday night.

And mixed amongst the bittersweet emotions of my beautiful daughter’s accomplishments, she becoming an adult, testing her wings and eventually taking flight is the remembering of my “deal”.

But as we all know...NO ONE is guaranteed tomorrow, so sans the unavoidable accident...I have some comfort in the fact that my dad was given triple the time he asked for...which if that math is still in place...should give me another 18 years, at the least.

praying my deal time is increased

At work and.....

bored.


out of my gourd

On this Rainy Chicago Monday Morning…..

it seems totally appropriate that while crossing the Franklin Street Bridge with one of my new-met-on-the-street-friends, Elliot, we would happen upon this left-for-me-to-find item....


Appropriate only in a gray-day-macabre-sort-of-way.

rain rain go away