End of Summer Vacation - Quick Trip to Chicago!

We decided to visit family in the suburbs and to do some site seeing in the city. 

So we took the train and arrived downtown in Chicago - very cool - a real train station - my first time in years - Never been to Chicago - but I have ridden the Metro in Paris, the Tube (Underground) in London, the Uban in Munich, and the MRT in Singapore!  And BART in San Francisco, and the Subway in New York!  (I'm pretty lucky!)

This is the lobby of the Holiday Inn that is located in the Mart, downtown, beginning on the 15th floor.  The emblem on the wall puzzled us until we realized that it was a special projection for the University of Alabama football lunchean that was occuring at the hotel in addition to the 4 or 5 wedding receptions!

This is the view from the Holiday Inn - inside the Mart (like the Pacific Design Center aka the Big Blue Whale in downtown L.A. (went there a few times while in Interior Design school!)

This is the view from the top floor (23rd)  AWESOME! (yes, those are my shorts in the reflection... try not to look at it)...

We headed for Navy Pier - where we took a boat road - after many stops to eat and drink - This was after walking all day - for miles - it was quite humid, an the boat ride - harbor cruise, was PERFECT... wind in our hair..... wonderful.....

Here she is!  Marilyn - all 26 feet of her - gorgeous!  We, of course had our picture taken with her - she is very popular!

Here she is with one of many tour buses that pulls up just for the photo op!  Too funny!

We ate at Lou Malnaty's (hope I spelled that right) - SO good!  Pizza - of course!  Deep dish - of course!  We also had some sangria while we watched a band, (just before the boat ride), and just walked and walked.  We had such a good time - and enjoyed the last day with family again, before returning to the real world. 

Lunchtime Walk.....!

My Brain.

My brain.... well, here goes.  I love to walk.  I love to walk outside.  I love to get out of the office.  I don't, however, walk every day at lunch - like I should.  No... I wait until I have a real purpose!  My purpose yesterday was to get a new battery for my camera and for my old phone.  So - I go on the web - I find out what I need - voila!  - a Radio Shack is only 15 minutes away - WALKING time that is.... - so off I go!  Oh, and it's about 85 degrees today... - "Awe, it's not so bad!  It's beautful!  and I'm gonna get a new battery for my camera - so I can take even better pictures for my blog!" - Motivation.... right?

So off I go.... and I see this!


Really?  ....... this house has been TP'ed??????

People still DO THIS???????

hmmmmmmmm.......................................LOL.......!!!!


Yea... whatever....


so I get to the store... NO... what you see online is not what they have in the store - oh well - back I go......and I see this!

And these...... oooh........

 

And even though I ended up all sweaty, fanning myself with my hat, and rolling up my pant legs... I must say: 

A very nice walk indeed!

Summer - Part Deux - August 15, 2011 M O N D A Y

A Proper Vacation....

So I am really missing that we did not go away to the tropics this year.  I don't normally go, so I don't know why I would miss it... BUT, the vacation we took last year was a REAL vacation.  The kind where you really relax - forgot your cares, your chores, your to-do list, your EVERYTHING!  And, the internet was so darn expensive to use, you certainly didn't spend time on the computer.   And, sadly, I think this was the first vacation of this kind that I had experienced in approximately 20 years.... oi....Truly - a Detox of Life....

 (This is just how crowded your vacation beach should be...of course, this is on a secluded beach.. haha)

I'm ready for that!  But, that isn't happening this year.  And that's okay.   This year was and is about family. Talking and talking and listening and learning...(one more little vacation/long weekend coming up! Family in Chicago - NEW family!) . In any case, it will be time away.... time to just experience whatever it is that comes my way.  Be Present.....

 In my last post I shared my family's vacation in Auburn, CA - very quick, but time well spent.  There's no substitute for spending actual time with your family. 

(spend time making an artistic still life - therapy for sure! until you CAN go on vacation)

VACATION IS WORK

I really hate that traffic has gotten so bad everywhere, and that travel is so expensive - and all of that planning, and stressing, and everything!  But if you just stay home - and miss seeing your family - you will regret it. 

           (spend time in nature... on a boat.... on the water.... watching the sunset or sunrise)

So, I have the Answer!!!!!!! 

Let's quit our jobs - win the lottery - just travel and visit family  - and write blogs!  HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Gotcha!  

(see.... I need a vacation.... away.... in the tropics........ I'll be setting up a paypal account for your donations)

God Bless - and have a GREAT Tomorrow!




For your Smile Exercises



Vacation in Auburn, CA

So, it is July 22, and it's been a little bit since I have blogged.  I have so many more friends' sites to share but, I have been too busy - with work, (once again), home, and getting ready for a little get-a-way to beautiful Auburn, California - in Northern California.  Very special time  - it's my dad's 80th birthday - he is actually 65, I am POSITIVE!  There is no way he is 80 - but anyway -

We just saw a great little play put on by the Off-Broadstreet theater which is actually in Nevada City, CA.  This was preceded by a really good dinner at Friar Tuck's.  Y U M! 

The playhouse is very small - and the plays are all original - we saw It's All About Love - a musical comedy by John Driscoll.  Fantastic songs - and audience participation - as far as hootin' and hollerin' is not frowned upon!  All smiles at every table - just a great night for everyone! 

Really want to get to that adorable small town of Nevada City for a longer period of time - longer than dinner and a play - such a cute town.  Victorian bed and breakfasts all around - gas lamps line the streets - and perfect with the summer weather.... in winter it turns into a different kind of town  - with horse drawn carriages -

This darn work think keeps getting in the way of all of the places I want to visit and all of the people I want to see!  That's okay - I'll just chalk it up on my list... not the bucket list... the I'm doing this SOON list!

Till next post.......

au revoir et bon nuit ~

The Real Kimsy