The city of the big shoulders

It was a great trip. We cruised around Chitown by train, by bus and on foot. A car seemed like it would have been a nuisance. The weather was beautiful, the city was alive and teeming with energy. People were friendly and outgoing, except for Nacho Mama, our waitress at Ed Debevic's--she was a real b*^#h! But then that was part of her act--she was trying not to crack a smile the whole time. The Art Institute was a highlight-- Edward Hopper's Nighthawks-- a favorite. We didn't get to go everywhere we wanted, but got a great taste of the tasty metropolis. Amtrak was OK--kind of stuck in the last century, but then that's part of the charm of traveling by rail. Nathan took tons of awesome shots, like this one of Michigan Ave. It was a ton of fun.

Windy City weekend

The last time I went, Nathan was a toddler and got left behind with my friend, Francis. This time we're going together on the train--a first for Nathan and a treat for me. Then when we get there, it's trains, the el and buses. We're going to hit the good museums--Field, Art Institute and Science and Industry. Maybe the Navy Pier and Hancock Observatory and the Sears Tower, of course. We couldn't really afford the hotel rates downtown so we're staying in a NW burb and using Metra Rail to get in and out of downtown. Hopefully it will be a nice break from the daily grind and Nathan can try out his new camera on our Ferris Bueller adventure--sans the pancreas, of course.

Now that's just gross. . .!

What is it about this particular swath of Minnesota that draws such ridiculous temperature patterns? And then, Minnesotans doing the oddest things outdoors when the mercury and humidity are both sky-high. Eating outside on the patio? Running at 4 in the afternoon, pushing their babies? Going shirtless along the lake walk? Rollerblading UPHILL? I know I lived in and survived Arizona, but this is so much more unbearable in so many ways. Hopefully we won't be stuck with the worst of summer's heat for the next 6 weeks or so. Otherwise I might go buggy. Thank God for the central AC. I don't know how I survived before without it.

Ah. . .summer!

Is there anything more deliciously inviting than a bowl of freshly picked raspberries from your own patch? The succulent juiciness and the tart sweetness explode in your mouth. Corn is on the way, golden cherry tomatoes have started to magically appear on the vine, and the days go on with lazy completeness. The grill is only minutes from fired up, and the smell of hamburgers and chicken sizzling is on every corner. One more day of summer school and then I'm FREE! My favorite season is spinning crazily out of control.