Prepare for the winds of Winter

Karolyn asked, Would pizza be ok for supper.

Geez, of course. She's been working full time and then comes home and super cleans and cooks in preparation for Thanksgiving.

I ordered a large pizza from Dino's which is a few miles away.

I walked outside, jumped in the car and started driving. Suddenly I saw trees being pushed around and flags waving straight out.

I thought nothing of it until I got out of the car and the door kept shutting on me. My hat almost blew off and my jacket filled with air like a life jacket.

It was windy alright. I got the pizza, (using a $2 off coupon, I know Matt likes that) and walked out the door.

The box acted like a kite, and took 2 hands to hold it.

I ran across the street to the car with my hat pulled over my ears. Ok maybe not over those big things but tight down.

Do I hold onto the pizza or open the car door?
I pushed it into my belly. My belly acted like a vice, wrapping stored energy around the box like an extra hand. Wow the benefits of big gut syndrone.

I got home and somehow got into the house. It was tough. The winds growling and the 3 dogs growling. No the pizza was mine. My belly was growling too.

While eating the wonderful pizza, the center pieces were so good, I pondered on what I had experienced.

Chills, wind, rain, and cold. Winter is almost here.

Looking out my window now I see that funny white stuff covering grass and my porch. Its cold....very cold....and snow is predicted to be 1 to 4 inches by tomorrow.

Just starting. Winter that is.

Don't forget while you're pushing those oversized hockey pucks on those concrete slabs, in shorts and tshirts,what you are avoiding.

As the winter gets deeper, I will take photos and send them.

In the meantime,
BE THANKFUL this Thanksgiving for the gift of living in fla. while Jim is stuck up in Chicago. Ah, life is good for some who prepare.

PS: you might have your warm weather but we have real Chicago Pizza.
nah, nah nah nah nah.

c'ya jim

The Boyles Wedding

Saturday night, our good friends Jim & Barb Boyle celebrated the wedding of their daughter Betsy to Larry Law.

I only took 160 photos and videos as I wanted to enjoy the experience and they had 2 great photographers. A husband and wife team that must have taken a few thousand photos. Of course none as good as mine.

We have been close friends with the Boyles for over 40 years. We have celebrated all births/deaths, christenings, bdays, holidays, parties and summers together.

The wedding was held at The Barn In Barrington, about 25 miles from our home.

When we saw Jim & Barb, they were so spruced up with his 3 piece tux and the beautiful Barb dressed so perfectly.

Barb had tears in her eyes from the start.

When Little Betsy started the walk down the aisle to meet her man, both Barb & Jim got up to give her away. But not without the help of a box of kleenix.

You could have passed a few boxes around the room.

The vows were written by each other.

You know Traditional Vows.

How they would respect their Little Kitty and movie tastes.

Of course we ate a great meal, and danced the night away. Sometimes to music we didn't understand. Apparently, it was from the olympics as the youngsters were all jumping in sinc.

Our kids were there with us. Jimmy&Lori, Jim& Thomas, Jack & ?

We had a wonderful time sharing another slice with the Boyles lives.

Thanks Jim & Barb for all the special memories thru the years

I Need More Therapy--its lots of fun..

About 6 weeks ago, I somehow agitated my Piriformis muscle. Its on the right hip. Next to a nerve.

I couldn't walk, ride my bike or sit. That cheek just started to ache and then it got painful.

Well, the hip dr said Your hips are ok, the back dr said its not your back or sciatica but recommended Physical Therapy.


So, thats how I met Allen Mazur. He would be my therapist at Athletico. For several weeks he started twisting my body. Mostly my right leg into positions I never experienced.

On graduation day I had him pose with me. This time he was the one bending. Bending his 6'05 frame down to my level.

Today, I can just say thank you Allen, I have no pain. I just miss our conversations. Go Cubs.

-----------------------------------------------------------

As I was leaving Atletico, I met a really good guy that broke me in on the Job in 1966.

Ray Malcynski. My first day working he took me under his wing. Com-on Cadet, ride with us a month or two until you get the hang of it.

Ray is only 2 yrs older than me, but he was so much wiser. Too bad, he had a knucklehead with me.
I'll never forget his kindness and warmth. He still is a great guy.


-------------------------------------------------


Finally, I met Tom Swain at Athletico.

As a cadet in 1963, I was assigned to Shakespeare as a Cadet. A civilian in uniform.

I worked inside the Secretary's office and alongside Tom Swain. Tom never had a bad day and was the most competent man I ever met.

He could Type, talk on the phone, write notes, laugh and eat a donut at the same time.

He's another old timer with a new hip.

So Therapy was more than just physical. It was like visiting my youth. Well, I didn't feel so bad when other coppers were falling apart too. WOW, did that make me feel good. Its ok to say that isn't it.

A Lot of Sunshine...in the Form of Friends.

A lot of sunshine into Big Jims life.

This past week has really been busy.

I was sitting outside Panerra talking about my old (1984) partner Ed Valkanet.
The phone rang and it was Ed himself.

Hey Jim, I'm with my wife and cousin in Chicago from ft Myers.

Would you like to meet us at Panerra in Park Ridge?
I'll be waiting for you Ed.

I called my wife, picked her up and spent a pleasant few hours with Ed & Judy.

Ed looks meek now, but he was one of the toughest roughest police on the job.

Strong as a bull.

He had a change of life and became man for Jesus. First Bible studying for many years.

He retired from the police dept and started working on Jesus' team.

His wife Judy and him have been on many missionary trips and just returned from the Phillipines.

We had a great time talking. Promising to visit them in Fla our next trip down
--------------------------
As some of you might know I was Officer Friendly in the Shakespeare Police District back in 1970. During the summers I would be assigned to Neighborhood Relations and spend the summer doing terrible work.

Like taking neighborhood youth to Wrigley Field, the museums, swimming pools, and other

places around Chicago.

When we were walking out of Panerra, we heard someone say Hey Officer Friendly, Elliott.

I turned and one of the kids had grown up and recognized me after all those years. Ok, he recognized my voice. It was Herman from all the trips

My spirits were so high. I felt great. Another,day with a lot of sunshine provided by friends and my wife.

-----------------------------

Bad Day at 7 yrs.

--Response to a friends bad day--


7 yrs.

Isn't that when you review the past 7 yrs.
At least Tom Ewell did it in the 7 yr itch.

You put the cards on the table.

Positive and a negative.

Sometimes, it just gets to us.

Instead of looking to the future, we sometimes remember the past.
sometimes our past feelings,
the hurt feelings,
broken promises,
lost dreams.

Maybe we look across the street or next door.
Is the grass really greener. The smiles bigger.

Maybe we should look to the future.

Re-plan our spirit.
re-plan our dreams and expectations.
Does every moment have to be like out of Father Knows Best,

I'm 63.
The few mornings I have left could lead to special days.

New memories/new stories.
Or I could wait for something good to knock on the front door.
Yeah, sure..

I love life, I love the blue skies, I love the characters I know.

Once, while visiting a dying friend who was drugged up,
he started reaching above the bed trying to catch falling leaves.

I pointed out there were no leaves falling in his hospital room.

He said he knew that. That it was a hallucination.
But that he wanted to enjoy the experience.
To go out with a smile.

So, he laughed and smiled as he reached up, closed his hand and smiled again as he opened it.

I hope your smile returns and you experience it, enjoy it.

A smile and hug with your husband might just bring his smile back and add to yours.

If not tonight, there is always tomorrow.
Tomorrow. Another beautiful day, another chance.

I will for sure hug and kiss my wife tonight.

mr e.

Therapy Does Not Have To Be Boring...

I don't know if I wrote you or not but I somehow hurt my piriformis muscle and nerve.

If you go to your right butt cheek about 2 inches below the (my) pants belt,
deep inside the fatty part, it is where the piriformisa muscle is.

6 weeks ago it started hurting and got so bad I could not walk or ride a bicycle.

I went to the hip dr who sent me to the back dr who sent me to the sciatic dr(same as back).

Who sent me to a physical therapist. Allan knew what was wrong and has been bending me and twisting me since.
Actually he calls it stretching.

Today I finally feel good enough to maybe walk this afternoon.

From sitting and moaning these 6 weeks I gained 2 lbs
but look so flabby I am embarrassed.

My legs are starting to firm up. and even my butt. I never thought I would have any tone or muscles in my butt cheek again but sure enough they have returned.

I started stretching at home and even did sit ups. Yes, 10 last night...

I lifted weights at brooks park and hit the heavy bag last night.

I hope to start a little jogging and dribbling the bball at the gym.

Today I was on the treadmill which I usually only do 8 MINUTES.

The machine was near the window and I couldn't help but look out.

I saw a window washer and that kept me going for 12 MINUTES.

It was so interesting watching the window washer.
A good distraction from the boring treadmill.

Even my trainer found it interesting. Then some of the other patients.
It take talent to do a good job.
And let me tell you, this window washer had talent.

I took a photo and the windows were so clean.

After Therapy, some other old men and the therapist suggest I drive over
to the window washer and explain how we found the job so interesting.

So I did and said thank you for the distraction. We both turned toward the
therapy windows and waved.

c'ya

jim

40 Years Today

That day Aug 5th, 1967
Today, Aug 5th, 2007

A beautiful young girl and a dopey, slightly haired young man entered into something they had no idea what it was about.

40 yrs ago Karolyn and I met at the front of Immaculate Conception's main Aisle.

We looked at each other, passed the rings and said I do.

The party was at Builders Hall on central ave. It was during the Viet Nam war and some friends could not attend.

We did a couple stupid dances together and danced a lot with friends.

Had fun and stayed the entire night. I think we were the last to leave.
40 yrs of having fun and being the last to leave most parties has been our routine.

Today, downtown Chicago, they have a musical extravaganza called Lalapaloosa with 10 band shells going at one time.

The professional beach volleyball is going on.

Tonight, 4 children--3 grandchildren, sons and daughter in laws, will get together at Navy Pier. Which is between the above two events.

Our event will be celebrated at BUBBA GUMPS SHRIMP HOUSE.

Remember Forest Gump. Yep, that's it.

Too bad it can't be another 40 years. Its been a interesting fun ride.

THANK YOU KAROLYN.....I LOVE YOU, Jim