When the time is right….

The weather is Chicago has been great for a few days. Hot & Humid. I love it this way.

Its allowed me to stop walking on the track along the basketball court..with all its players running and jumping and having a great time.

I enjoyed basketball and played it up until Nov 1990. I miss it and shoot hoops occasionally.

Walking the track seems to be over on a regular basis as its time to enjoy the outdoors.

For over a week now I’ve been riding my bike. It’s a special bike.

Big round tires with chunks of rubber to make them dirt tires. I don’t do dirt with them but a lot of street cracks and high curbs. The purple haze beauty over its big tubular frame is my bike.

Today Sunday I started off with a ride to Panera. Had my couple hours of conversation with the nicest people. We all seemed to enjoy each others presence. Then returned home.

I was hoping for a long trip around the hood but Mr. Sandman decided to make me take a rest. 2 hrs later, I jumped off the couch.

How about a walk? “As soon as the movie is over.” “Ivanhoe” was a nifty movie but I wanted to go while the sun shined.

Would you mind if I go for a bike ride? No please go.

I grabbed the bike and noticed the seat was rain soaked and so was ground and cement sidewalks in the yard.

I didn’t care and jumped on the wet seat and took off. Up NW highway to downtown Park Ridge (the path is starting to be repetitive, but interesting).
Down many side streets to a divided 4 lane Devon ave.

Of course, gramps Elliott had his blue shirt wrapped around the handle bars and not on his back.

The sun let me know it was shining with pelts of warmth on my body. Flashing first on my shining dome (my bald spot..that covers my head from ear to ear) then the shoulders.

The pedaling was little more than moving my legs. The breeze striking me with warmth and its cooling effects.

Today is Sunday. I did not and usually don’t go to church.

Here I am on a bike, 63 yrs old…one wife, 4 children, 3 grandchildren…after experiencing 1 major heart attack, 3 bouts of pneumonia, Divorticulitis, Barretts disease, Been Shot once, been stabbed twice…punched and kicked who knows how many times…20 car accidents…. marched along side King because of my job AND..

AND I am riding my bike….So what did I do…I said “Thank YOU”.

It was another Special Day in my adventure of life

I thought she was supposed to concede...

I watched Hillary give her concession speech except I
didn't hear her cry Uncle or the fat lady sing.

Tonight, the woman gave the best speech of her life that I've heard.

The announcers on Fox Nat news said Its still going as she
hasn't made up her mind. That she still says she is the best person to run against McCain because she won the popular vote.

Then I switched to CNN and I think it was Wolf said Now that
Obama is the Democratic Candidate. The election campaign will be
Obama against McCain. I guess he didn't watch Hillary's speech.

Then my local station WGN and some announcer was at Obama
speech. He was so excited to be there. He said Obama will claim
victory and will be running against McCain. Now that Hillary is
out of the race.

Didn't he watch the Hillary speech.

Hillary said she needed time to catch her breath and have her supporters contact her by internet and suggest what she should do.

Maybe Rev. Wright or Rev Fleger can explain it all to me.

Making Money

A beautiful night in Chicago. A great night to drive thru the evening rush hour and go to the famous, Merchandise Mart of Chicago.

A few weeks ago Karolyn received a phone call from a research company.

You know, a survey outfit to test taste stuff for money.

Would you do a 2 hr survey on credit cards downtown at the Mart.

I don't know as its all the way downtown.

We will pay you $128.00 for 2 hrs.

Ok, You've got a deal, my husband will drive me there. Won't you honey!

Sure and I'll wait at the Rock & Roll McDonalds for 2 hrs..

Except they want you to spend $10 in McDonalds, for an hour in their parking lot.

I drove around looking for a parking spot but all the meters had numbers on them like 1 or 5 or 7. Some kind of parking restrictions where you need a pass with those numbers to park there.

I traveled north thru the hot areas and found another McDonalds with a free parking lot.

2 hrs later I left and picked up Karolyn. Wow, did she have a smile on her face.

I made more money tonight in 2 hrs than if I worked 10 at the old job.

Then lets celebrate with a photo. The photo was set on night low light
photo.

The camera is pointed south across the river. All those buildings are facing the river. Pretty photo.


The new Trump tower was to our right and hard to see behind a near building.



There are hundreds of restaurants and they all look like they belong with the ladies from SEX IN THE CITY. Fancy and expensive.

We decided to be good and after I spent $2.50 at McD's, we went home with our new made wealth.

Its nice to have cash in my pocket. Ooops, I mean in her purse.

Free With The Birds

What a difference a day makes!

Ok, maybe not a day but Friday I posted this photo of our cats.

Thats braveheart on the left and
Kobi Tai on the right. They loved to watch the outside world.

Today we had family over for pulled pork.

The grand kids played with the cats chasing them throughout the house.

Then peace was restored when the boys went home.

Tonight, just a few minutes ago we were sitting watching tv.

A short time later we were toasting one of the cats. Kobi Tai (our Asian Leopard cat). As we sat on the couch we heard either a falling or running and a crash. The cats are always chasing each other or a fantasy prey.

We hesitated for a second and heard a moan. We ran by the windows and there on the floor was Kobi, on her side stretched out straight barely breathing.

We heard long moans, and her body started to heave. I told Karolyn, Kobi is dying. What, What are you talking about, she can't be, maybe she's hurt.

Slowly Kobi breathed slowly and moaned for the last time. She died right there as we watched.

Just before she died, I knelt down, petted her and felt the life leave her.

I know she's just a kitten. But being a member of the family, well, its hard to just say, "Oh the cat is dead".

The cat was brought home by our youngest Jack, who was going to breed the rare cat.

Jack is a tough man. I mean tough. Karolyn called him immediately and he arrived within a minute from next door.

To see a 6'2" 215lbs of tight muscle bend down and gently stroke his cat just brought up that emotion again.

Jack ran to the garage, returning with a box. He lifted her up and gingerly put her to rest.

We all just stared until Karolyn brought some glasses with Baileys. We stood over our Cat and all said some words.

Korny, it was a beautiful day today. The sky was clear and little see through clouds. I'm sure Kobi enjoyed herself looking at the birds.

Thanks little friend...