This morning. . .

I found a single leaf on the top of my car;

Looking to be discovered like an unknown future superstar;

From my maple tree it had to fall far;

This morning I found a single leaf on the top of my car!

Celebrating...

after nearly two years of gnashing teeth, butting heads and going round and round...


my front porch finally passed inspection!!

no more rails-too-far-apart-and-need-a-graspable-handrail rejection

:^)

Hot Time. . .Summer in the City!!

I love summer in Chicago, there are so many things to do. . .

and as you might know from this post, I love the Farmer's Market at Daley Plaza. . .every Thursday you can find beautiful produce. . .


and flowers to buy. . .


along with the occasional gaggle of children being led around. . .


outdoor cafes. . .


and water fountains. . .


lunch time food trucks full of treats, some of which are sweet...


and I have noticed that I am not the only one who loves summer in the city, I quite often see groups of guys, sitting outside eating their lunch, nourishing their bodies, while conversing amongst themselves and watching the world go by...


glad that they too can enjoy this weather...

whatever!

While digging out .30 cents. . .

from my “old lady” (what my kids have always called it) change purse this morning, I spotted silver, all silver around the edge of a dime.

“Cool! You don’t see many of these any more!” was my first thought.

I then pulled it out and was even more surprised when I saw it’s year date. . .

1958!

This, of course, was a good year, might even be considered by some to be great!!

:^)

“So he’s a picky eater!”

said one of the three attorneys in the elevator, whom I was sharing my latest lunch-time-street-guy-adventure with.

We laughed.

The discussion started because they asked why I had a package of Trader Joe’s Sliced Muenster Cheese in my hand. My lunch walk that day had Trader Joe’s as a destination for mints that I am ADDICTED to! (My sister Wendy once said “You are addicted to those things!” which in the realm of possible addictive substances – I don't feel too bad about.) While I was at Trader Joe's I also picked up cheese (on sale).

On the walk back to the office, I spotted a dirty, tattered guy sitting on the sidewalk along Washington Street, begging for money. I stopped in front of him, pulled out a piece of cheese from the brand new package and asked if he would like it.

He looked up at me and grunted.

Not exactly sure what the grunt meant, but I assumed it meant yes, so I extended it to him.

At the same time I was doing that, he shoved one of his grungy fingers up his left nostril, pulled it out and then stuck it in his mouth.

After which he took the cheese from my by-then-way-way-extended fingers. . .

he folded it in half. . .

held it up to his nose and SNIFFED it!

As if he was checking to see if the cheese was rotten or not...

seriously dude you just ate boogers and snot!!

Memorial Day Poppies…

were being distributed this morning outside of Union Station by some wonderful volunteers..."Get Your Poppies! Support Our Veterans!" they were calling out as I walked through the station's doors.

I was not familiar with the history of the "red poppies" so I did some quick web searching and found this (hopefully accurate) story…

"In 1915, inspired by Canadian John McCrae's poem..

In Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

American, Moina Michael, replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red,
that grows on fields where valor led.
It seems to signal to the skies
that blood of heroes never dies.

Moina then conceived the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.

Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms. Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.”


What followed in that article was very disturbing to me, but seemingly so true:

“Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades.”

Memorial Day is a great day to gather with family and friends, but let us NEVER forget that Memorial Day is ONE SPECIAL DAY set aside to honor the soldiers who paid the ultimate price, thus allowing us to gather in peace on that day and every other day of the year!

Proudly Fly Our Flag, Salute, Be Thankful and Cheer!

Pre/During/Post D.C. Vacation Food

Pre: Low Carb (Healthy!)


During: High Carb (Fun!!)



Post: Low Carb (Healthy!)



For the record, the entire trip was worth every morsel eaten and every drop drank!!

to cat girl I so have to thank