More Chicago....

This is a big glass bubbble that you can see your reflection perfectly in...It was so sunny that I could hardly keep my eyes open.




This picture is looking upward from the inside of the big bubble....WHOA!!!!!!


This photo is actually our reflections in the big bubble....I wish I knew the correct name for this thing...it's not really called "the big bubble."



There were several of these mimes around doing all types of crazy stuff. This guy was actually just posing...perfectly still for a few minutes. We got tired of watching him doing nothing, so we moved on to the rest of the mimes.

Ryan and I also spent a lot of time walking around the city while we were in Chicago this weekend. Our hotel was on Michigan Avenue, across the street from Grant Park, so there was something going on all weekend long. Lots of live music, lots of weirdos doing their thing on the streets for money, but you know, at least the weirdos were DOING SOMETHING for their moeny instead of sitting on the ground with a bottle of whiskey crying their woes to everyone.

Never a dull moment in Chicago....... This is the Lurie Garden in Grant Park...across the street from our hotel...beautiful day!!!



The hotel was old and very interesting to walk around in. It's called the Congress Plaza Hotel. Just down the road from the Drake, if you're familiar with that. The rooms had a little to be desired, but the rest of the building was gorgeous...

These pictures were taken at different points throughout the day from our hotel window. We were on the 13th floor, so we had a pretty nice view. There was a storm rolling in when we got back from the game. It was awesome to watch the clouds rolling over the lake.........

And our view at night was beautiful!!!

This is a fountain in Grant Park that I just HAD to play in........

This is my spinach ravioli at Giordano's Italian restaurant....I was a little shocked at the green pasta, but it was delicious AND pretty.......

Go Cubs!!!

OK, I know I said I would blog soon about the Jonbenet crap, but I honestly forgot all about it this weekend while I was in Chicago. I need to read up on it, and then I'll post some opinions, because I know just how important my opinion is to me :-)

Anyway, Saturday was Ryan's birthday. Neither one of us had ever been to Wrigley Field, so he bought us Cubs tickets for his birthday. Yes, I said HE bought them. I offered to at least pay for my own seat since it was HIS day, but he insisted that since it was his birthday, he could do and pay for whatever he wanted...no questions asked.

We got to see the better of the two games this weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs won in the 10th inning, so it was a great game. I'm officially a Cubs fan now!! I got some pretty good pictures of the game..........
These guys were really cool. They stood outside the gates playing their horns for a long time before the game started. I liked it because it kind of reminded me of how the baseball games and atmosphere were portrayed years ago. Made me feel "All American" or something like that!!



These last two pictures are zoomed A LOT from our seats. These are the bleachers on top of the buildings across the street from Wrigley field. I'm sure that's no big deal to people who have been to games before, but I got kick out of watching the drunks on the tops of the buildings....who needs binoculars when you have a camera with 10x zoom!!! These folks were a great addition to all the other entertainment!!!

Breaking News

Has everyone heard they actually arrested someone in the Jon Benet Ramsey case. Apparently a teacher who has been held in Thailand for some reason....

I only caught a couple minutes of this while I was in a patient's room at work. I need to go watch some TV, but don't have time...I have more work to do.

I'll be back blogging about this soon!!!!!

This Day in Music History...

1985
Michael Jackson outbids Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono, at $47.5 million, to obtain catalog rights to 250 songs written by John Lennon and McCartney.

hhmmmm.........Michael was a creep 21 years ago too...how about that....


1941
David Crosby is born David Van Courtland in Los Angeles. He is a member of the Byrds, then teams up with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash to form Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1968. The group wins the best new artist Grammy in 1969.

Who doesn't love David Crosby???? HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID (as if he'd ever see this)

:-)

A Day in the Life of the Dogs Named Gallo....

Boy, I tell ya, life is rough around the Gallo household these days....just look at how worn out these guys are from all the...uh.....sleeping they've done.........

GOD IS GRATEFUL FOR JERRY TOO....

RIP JERRY

August 9th 1995 was a sad, sad day for a huge amount of people.

It was eleven years ago today that our beloved leader of the Grateful Dead left us for what I'm sure has been another long, strange trip........

He is missed every day by all those whose lives he touched without having ever even met the man in person. He had an impact on people that has lasted decades, and continues to pull people into his world daily. I am always happy to see the Dead shows as a family affair. Not only will you see lots of kids in tye dye, their dogs following them at their heels, but you will also see the extended family formed by the fans with a true appreciation and love for why they're there.

I have a saying that I use a lot...."Icame for the music, but I stay for the family."

I have met some of my best friends, and the most generous and kind-hearted people through music. It is truely a way of life for so many of us.

AND TO JERRY...MAY YOU REST IN PEACE AND HAVE THE BEST TRIP EVER!!!!!!!!

"Happy Tails"

Sweet little Sammy boy (the foster puppy) went to his "forever family" last weekend. We were very lucky to find a retired couple who have a three level deck on the back of their house with a doggie door on each level. They also had a skipperke mix that looked just like Sammy....They loved eachother right off the bat. It wasn't as hard to see him go as I thought it would be...I'mvery happy to have helped him.

Our newest member of the foster family is a little chihuahua mix named Pablo. He's a riot. He literally stands on is front paws when he pees....he doesn't hike one leg, he hikes 'em both. I think he should be in the circus or something, but from what I've heard, the "carny life" can get rough at times....anyway, here are a few pictures of the little guy.

If anyone knows anyone interested in a little crazy mexican dog...send 'em my way!!!!

The Human Touch

Working in the medical field has taught me a lot. Not only the knowledge I need for my job, but also how to have compassion and empathy for all people at all times in their lives.

I see people through some of the most joyous and the most tragic times in their lives.

One lesson that has stood out over time is that the human touch can mean more than any words ever could at the right time.
This poem, which I found in one of my old poetry books, is a good reminder of that....

THE HUMAN TOUCH

'Tis the human touch in this world that counts,
The touch of your hand and mine,
Which means far more to the fainting heart
Than shelter and bread and wine;
For shelter is gone when the night is o'er,
And bread lasts only a day,
But the touch of the hand and the sound of the voice
Sing on in the soul always.

SPENCER MICHAEL FREE

celebrating life

On Thursday, August 3rd, Mom and I drove out to Adam's Mill and the covered bridge to celebrate the life of my father. It's hard to believe that it's been eight years since he's been gone.

I often look at my life now, compared to where I was when dad was here and wonder what he would think of what I've done with my life. The last thing I want to do is disappoint my father. That plays a huge part in every decision I make every day.

There are definitely things I think Dad would have hoped I had handled differently, but overall, I think he would be happy for me. Especially now, since I've gotten through some of the tough times like my divorce.

It has become tradition to go to the covered bridge at Adam's mill on August 3rd every year. Mom and I take flowers with us and pop the tops off so they can float with the current and throw them in the water where we scattered Dad's ashes. It's such a peaceful area to go to collect our thoughts and remember the good times. Mom and Dad and I shared a lot of memories out there, so it's not only special because we scattered his ashes there, but also because of the nostalgia the environment brings us.








I was very lucky to have the relationship with my father that I had. It hurts me to see other people that don't have that kind of relationship with their parents, because I think it would have been much harder for me to lose my dad without knowing how much he loved me and how proud he was of me. And I hope I still make him proud every day.......

The bridge was not refinished when Dad passed away. I think he would be very happy with the improvements in the last few years.

This last picture was taken from the window on the bridge overlooking the water. We just stood silently watching the flowers follow the current and dance along the rocks and waves...it was a beautiful day.........

Another Good Man Gone

August 3rd, 2006 was the eight year anniversary of my dad's death........



Another Good Man Gone

Reluctant hero of the family,
His life played out like a tragedy.
A music man was all he claimed to be.

A flash of brilliance like a shooting star,
Etched in your mind for as long as you are.
Give him five minutes and you can feel the music in his heart.

Bringing joy to everyone,
Taking pride in the work that he'd done.

But I never thought that he'd be gone,
I was hopin' there'd be just one more song.
Another man, another good man gone.
Another man, another good man gone.

Singing melodies that warm my cold.
Never fittin' in to a typical mold.
Takin' me back to the days of old.

Telling tales of life and places he'd been,
A prophet of sorts to his following kin.
Visit him once and you knew you'd be back, over and over
and over and over again.

You know we had a lot of fun.
All in all it was a hell of a run.
Remember how we laughed and how we cried.
Fifty three years till his heart grew tired.
But he left his mark just like a brand in iron.

Sometimes I can still hear the music play.
A warm wind blowin' all the clouds away,
Lettin' the sun shine bright in the sky on a cold dark winter day.
No one stays forever young.
Nothing's for sure but the rising of the sun.