Oh, I Think So

The Bears are playing the Lions at Ford Field.  As a native Detroiter, once might think I have sentimental allegiance to the Lions.  Not just no, but hell no.  Go, Bears! Last week we talked about being a new friend.  Today I want to tip my hat to a co-worker who is a also friend and the kind, generous, wonderful thing he did for me. My younger niece came to visit a few months back and brought along her boyfriend.  He described going into a bar to meet someone and suddenly all the lights went low, the crowd got quiet, and all the TVs were turned to AMC.  It was "Walking Dead" night at the bar and from how his description, it was a good time. I don't watch that particular zombie apocalypse offering but I do have a cable show I like.  I don't subscribe to cable.  I am strictly a network-TV person and would never be able to afford the amount of money premium cable demands.  (I have friends who are "Game of Thrones" fans and my eyes about ...

Before I go on, let me say, "Believe in Monsters."  Go Bears! I had a friend whom we will call William and he was one of those people whose looks were so unusual and intriguing that he was catapulted into the category of handsome.  He was naturally thin and had white hair which he made whiter by using a shampoo with a bleaching agent.  He started going white when he was just 16 and decided not to fight it.  It was what added him to the handsome category. He had a very strong personality.  All his friends had strong personalities, including me.  The personalities were all different which made for rollicking discussions, laughs, and performances, since most of us were in theater at the time.  His personality and his looks attracted a lot of people. This is not about any of those friends.  This is about a new friend who came on the scene and decided she was the head friend and her friends were, therefore, his friends, and the rest of us were ju...

Thin, lanky, looks-like-he-does-yoga, ex-CFL coach and now NFL Bears coach Marc Trestman started off the season with a win at Soldier Field.  The Bears are at home again this week against the Minnesota Vikings.  It's raining today.  It will be raining at kickoff, half time, and when people leave the stadium to go home.  Fingers crossed for another win. Meanwhile, I am feeling super bla today.  So let's look at this funky picture I took last weekend at a baby shower. The happy parents-to-be were given a tiki-themed party on the rooftop of a condo building on the Near South side.  The views were tremendous.  Soldier Field, the lake, downtown, even the western skies and some seriously wonderful clouds -- all were in view and this was just the 5th floor.  There weren't a lot of high rises too terribly nearby which made for the great view.  The tiki-themed food was tasty but most amazing was the entire roasted pig.  This had to be 50 poun...

Do you think it'll rain?  London, February, 2013 I am still on vacation and am so enjoying vacation that I've not given a single thought to my beloved blog and its loyal readers.  I think said readers will forgive my taking another day to loaf before heading back to what we will call "the salt mines" as it plunges my sanity into the depths. Bears season opens today, y'all!  Maybe Jay will finally be a real NFL QB.

I am on it.  Please come back next week. Here's a picture of a stack of pictures: Can you find the porno pic?  Hong Kong, February, 2012

When it's a lovely, clear day in Chicago, there are other places I might also suggest a tourist go to sit and watch the world walk by and Federal Plaza is a another great place to pause and enjoy.  (Hey! "Meet me under Flamingo" could be a thing!)  Here are some reasons to choose Flamingo and Federal Plaza: 1.  A nice, steady flow of locals.     1.a.  Weekly farmers market featuring locally grown fruits and vegetables and locally baked goods.     1.b.  Occasional protest march/action ending/beginning in Federal Plaza.     1.c.  A mediocre Oktoberfest featuring loud bands, drunken young professionals, and decent beer.     1.d.  [Insert nationality here]fest but Daley Plaza is the preferred venue for that sort of fest. 2.  A nice, steady flow of tourists.       3.  The law enforcement officials that linger and rest for a minute.  I was advised that about 60 minutes ...

I left work early on Thursday as I had an hour overtime that I had to take.  I got over to Federal Plaza, guards were still on duty in the lobby of the Kluczynski Federal Building, and I went in and asked a question. "Can I go to the passport office, please?  I want to take a picture out the window." This brought a barrage of negatives.  The passport office takes no one after 3:30 pm.  No pictures can be taken inside that building.  No pictures can be taken inside that building looking out.  No pictures.  No.  None.  Nope.  Ixnay. My response:  "Really?  Really?  Really?" to every single negative. "Really?" Finally one of the guards gave information.  (Clearly, when you see just saying no is not enough, give up something even if you know the something will probably lead nowhere.  It will stop the flurry of "really?" and get the strange woman out of your face.)  Get approval from the General Service...