Ride along the Lake to work

This morning I finally did it and took my first bike ride to work this year.  The first is always the hardest because it is 14 miles and hard to jump into.  I had been making excuses this spring that it was too hot, too cold, or too rainy, and that worked since Easter.

I checked back and this is a few days earlier than my first ride last year and it was a beautiful morning.  The lake was calm at Belmont Harbor and stayed that way all along the way - an unusual morning.  I left home a little before 7 am so the path was not too crowded yet with bikers and runners, and just a very few roller bladers.  I made it about three miles before my body told me that I hadn't done this for awhile, so I tried to pace myself a little.  Still made the trip to Hyde Park in a little over an hour.  Last year I got my time under 45 minutes and that will be my goal again this year.

The ride gives me a different perspective on the city - really get a good view of the lake and all those using it.  There were no sail boats out this morning but there were several families of ducks and geese paddling along.  There were plenty of spring flowers in bloom along with city workers and contractors sprucing the flowers beds up and mowing grass.  As I rode I noticed the places where the city has fixed the path with asphalt and the many other spots they have not been able to get to.  Luckily the path is relatively flat with some ups and down so it is not the most difficult journey to take.

On the south side there is work being done on a couple of harbors so even the bike path has detours.  I think that the prettiest part of the trip is the Fireman's Memorial Park on the south side.  Some special flowers there and it looks so serene.

Last year I thought I might take a Saturday to leisurely bike the path and take my camera.  There are so many unique views.  I did not get around to it last summer but will have to this year.

So I made it to work and still was able to walk.  I took a shower and now am busy with my daily "grind".  I hope that you are well, enjoying our wonderful city and lake, and keeping active.

Take care.

Thought for the day

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.   George Washington Carver 


Take care, my friends.

A thought for the day

After some long, heavy comments, here is a thought that hopefully, will lift your spirits.

Take care.

Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young. - A.W. Pinero

Mr. Pawlenty

Politicians never tell it like it is.  They always have a simple plan and if you just elect them, everything will be peachy keen.

Tim Pawlenty is the latest to send his "plan" out for us to read in the Tribune and papers around the country.  His statement is filled with errors and/or misleading statements, such as all we need is a constitutional amendment to balance the federal budget.  Why, he was "one of 49 governors operating with balanced budget requirements".  Well, then why do have almost every state with deficit budgets?  The PEW Center  reported on March 15 of this year that "for the fourth year in a row, most states are facing budget deficits.  According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the budget gaps total $112 billion for fiscal year 2112, which starts July 1 in most states.  Only six states do not project having a shortfall to contend with."

So, it appears, at least 44 of the 49 governors must not be operating within the balanced budget requirements that they are charged with.  Since Mr. Pawlenty was governor of Minnesota until this year, he was responsible for putting the 2012 fiscal year budget together.  And guess what, Minnesota is listed as having a projected $3.8 billion deficit.  What happened there, Mr Pawlenty?

In fact, what happened in 2009, Mr. Pawlenty, when the same source lists Minnesota as having a $426 million deficit?  You went from bad to worse.  And I didn't even check the other years you were in office.  In 2009 44 states experienced budget shortfalls.  Our 49 governors are doing a bang-up job aren't they?  What happened to the "balanced budget requirements"?

In his "plan" to balance the federal budget, he said that he would ship Medicare off to the states.  That doesn't solve the problem, it just shifts it to someone else.  Medicare is a national program and a national responsibility, and therefore the problem of its solvency over time must be resolved with the Federal Government.

His "Google" test is ridiculous.  "If you can find a good or service on the Internet, then the federal government probably doesn't need to offer the same good or service."  Can you think of anything that the federal government does that isn't offered in the private sector?  The federal government exists to provide appropriate services to all of its citizens.  And not just the business community as Mr. Pawlenty seems to think.

The last paragraph of his plan states:

"We can fix our economy.  Our people are ready to get back to work.  We just need to give them tools to get there and to get the government out of the way."

Unfortunately, Mr. Pawlenty's plan does not talk at all about what the tools are.  He just talks about cutting services and cutting taxes on the richest 1% of our population (whose net worth, by the way, equals the net worth of 150,000,000 people - one half of our total population).  Or put another was, the Forbes Fortune list of the 400 richest people in the US has a net worth that equals the net worth of everyone up to and including the 90th percentile of the population.

One of the most important tools is education - people are not "ready to get back to work" unless they have a proper education.  We need more money spent on early childhood education, on primary and secondary education, and on university and graduate education.  We only have 70% of our children graduating from high school and we do not have anywhere the number of persons in the sciences to compete in today's technological world.  This will take a major effort by the federal government to support the local and state efforts.

Another tool needed is proper health care and health insurance.  That too requires a major effort and investment.  If people do not get preventive care and treatment, they will not be healthy and capable workers.

I could go on indefinitely in regards the challenges our country faces in maintaining our standing as the best place in the world to live.  These require honest research and the development of programs that address our issues in an effective and efficient manner.  They require all parts of our society to participate and feel represented.

Mr. Pawlenty's plan is just a bunch of hot air - no substance, no chance of implementation, and no chance to do what needs to be done.

Take care.

Commentary in the Trib

A good article in this morning's Trib by Jan Schakowsky and Mary Liebman.  Please read.

It is a review of what happened since the Bush tax cuts passed in early 2001.  Lost revenue = $2.5 trillion, with about 40% of that going to households with incomes above $800,000.  When he came into office we had a nice surplus and this was an over-reaction and vote getting action that backfired and contributed greatly to the situation we are in today.

The inequitable distribution of income and wealth are driving this country to a sad state of affairs.  The wealthiest one percent of households own more than 35.6% of all private wealth, and more than the bottom 90% of the US population combined.  Mind boggling!  In 2007 the 400 wealthiest Americans as identified by Forbes had about the same combined net worth as 150 million fellow citizens - half of our population - again just unbelievable.  Millionaires are paying the lowest effective tax rates today since the 1920's.

Is this situation really necessary?  There is no trickle down here.  Do the rich really need unlimited and ever growing wealth?

No doubt that budget cuts are also needed, but they should include the Defense budget and the Congressional budget.  I read True Compass recently, not a very good autobiography by Teddy Kennedy unfortunately, but he said that when he took office as senator in 1964 he had one aide.  What is a senator's or representative annual budget now?  Let them tighten their belts along with us.  They are not a special class of people.

The budget and our economy are complicated issues, but we need to be equitable and just in our actions, or else the middle class will disappear and the lower class will be put in a position to think that a revolution is their only alternative.

Food for thought.

Take care.

Rod B.

Can't but help but comment on trial of our former governor -  John Kass is doing a good job on "Dead Meat", and I hope the jury is able to come to a decision on more of the charges than last time.  Basically our former governor is an unsavory character who deserves prison time.  He did not fulfill his oath of office  and only looked out for himself and governed without honesty.  He has been caught in his lies and should go spend some time with Governor Ryan.

I am basically very liberal, but I believe that neither major party is without blame.  They should pay the consequences of their actions.

There are so many problems that our elected officials have got us into, such as the State budget deficit and the totally underfunded State pension fund, yet we are the ones left holding the bag.  It isn't right.  And, even this fiscal mess we are in, each state legislator still has their own little slush fund for which they are not accountable, paying state college tuition for the children of their cronies, without regard to need or qualifications.

So now I feel a little better at least and will get back to more of the positive, which is where we need to be.

Take care.

Chi Town

I grew up in a suburb of Chicago but then was gone for many years until moving into the city in 2001.  I have had a long time interest in political science and there is no better laboratory than this city.  Having seen the Daleys, both father and son (I was pretty far away between the Daleys) and now entering a totally new era with Emanuel, it has been a fascinating experience.

With the new mayor I am starting out with hope that he will work for the good of the community and minimize the cronyism that was always just behind the scenes in the Daley Administrations.  I have hopes for the new Police Chief and Superintendent of Schools, although both come in with some baggage.  However, we must remember that, to improve our schools and police department, it takes much more than just a few leaders promoting change.  It takes everyone be involved and informed and demanding high standards.  It takes everyone working together, including the unions involved.  We still have a chance to right the ship, but it will be difficult.

It is a great city and it should care for all of the folks and children who live here.

More later on this as time goes along.

Take care, my friends.

Thought for the day

"No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness, and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure."   Emma Goldman

We should all try to combine the seasoning and experience of our years with these attributes of little children.

Take care.

Wow

Now this is a great day!  The sun, the lake - being alive.  Notice the trees in the breeze.

Enjoy, and take care.

Life and Death

Death comes in many ways:  quietly in the night, expected or not, tragically "before the person's time", by one's own hand, in a heroic act, in a foolish action....  It comes to all of us without escape.


I am not morbid by nature but I was at a funeral yesterday for a wonderful young lady, almost 20 years my junior, who was related to the in-laws of one of my daughters.  She was vibrant, loved, and a mother of three daughters, two teens and one pre-teen.  This is always hard to see, and I have seen it several times over the years.  How hard it would be to leave your children behind!  We all take pride in their accomplishments over the years, their families, and so forth.  Of course one can have the belief that you will be able to watch your children from beyond the grave and still be able to "be with them".  


And still I think that this is vastly superior to losing a children while they are young, or even just before the parent dies.  I have lived a full life and I want them to have the same opportunity.


The inevitability of death makes it important to leave this life to the fullest, to share it with others, to not sweat the small stuff, and to truly love.  Do the things that are important to you.  Help others.  Be involved in your children's (and grandchildren's) lives.  Stand for something.


That is what I am trying to do.


Take care.

Thought for the day

Most true happiness comes from one's inner life, from the disposition of the mind and soul. Admittedly, a good inner life is difficult to achieve, especially in these trying times. It takes reflection and contemplation and self-discipline. - William L Shirer 

My wish for you and your family and friends, and for my family and friends - let's all work towards it.  It is not easy to achieve, and we can never stop our efforts as happiness is not like a medal that is won.  We must devote our whole being to being in a state of happiness and helping others to get there also.

Take care.

Yesterday's Post

So I hope that that you had a chance to read yesterday's blog.  Now I want to clarify that I don't agree with all of the negativity towards taxes in the article that I posted.  I don't like unnecessary taxes but we do demand that our government provide many services, which benefit everyone in the US of A.  And we do receive many more services than we did 100 years ago - life was much simpler then.

Taxes should be fair and equitable.  Taxes should generally be progressive except for ones like on specific service, such as telephone and cell phone bills and the like.  Income taxes should be made simpler and all of the loop holes that the politicians create to benefit their "friends" and those who lobby them.  We are losing our middle class and the lower class is growing year by year.  The upper class get the majority of  the tax breaks and that means they suffer with only four homes and six cars instead of many more.

Politicians should be held accountable.  In many states, including Illinois, they approved huge pension increases for state workers, and themselves, without regard to future costs.  It got them votes at the time, but now Illinois's pension fund is funded at about 57% - horrible.  It should be around 90%.  They give themselves other benefits to help reward their supporters.  Again in Illinois each state legislator has a $50,000 pot of money that they can dole out each year for college tuition, and this is based neither on need or qualifications!  Just help out the folks who helped them get into office by way of large donations.  They give themselves raises every year, when most of us are not receiving any or are out of work.  I could go on and on in this regard, and will save it for another day.

So anyway, please be active and informed about your local, state, and federal government, and do your part to keep them accountable.

Take care.

Miscellaneous Stuff

Good Morning All,

And it is a good morning despite all of the rain, thunder and lightening that we are experiencing this morning.  Better than the tornados that have hit Missouri, Oklahoma, and Minnesota in the last several days.  After all, spring is not our strong suit in Chicago - what with the cloudiest April on record this year!  And we are alive, dealing with what life deals us each day.  Nothing better!

After Memorial Day I am going to pull my bike out, pump up the tires, and start my twice weekly commute to work from Lakeview to Hyde Park.  It was a wonderful ride last year as I started in late June and went into September.  Always a wonderful picture along the lakefront with the Lake giving me a different look each morning and evening and the fourteen mile ride at about 15-16 mph burns 700 calories - an added bonus.  The traffic on the path has already picked up even though the weather has been very uneven - there is some construction on the South Side where the City is putting in a new harbor, but nothing that can't be handled. Last year it seemed like the wind was blowing against me both ways and that the path is also uphill both ways, but that just can not be possible, can it?  I did google earth my route and the elevation is about three feet higher at home than at work.

On the political front, I am now reading The Economist again and enjoying the different viewpoint it presents to the world's news.  A point really hit me in last week's issue as the comment was that the solution is really for the Democrats and Republicans to compromise to solve our problems.  Neither has a mandate and they should work together instead of just looking ahead to the next election.  Fair and just solutions for everyone should be the goal.  For the budget, there should be a combination of tax increases and budget cuts, not one or the other.

I am attaching a rather long article that a friend sent to me recently, and while I do not agree with everything it says, I do think that our elected officials are at the root of the problems.  They have an awesome responsibility which is not easy, but I think a majority of them don't really try.  They have their hands out to lobbyists, and are looking to gather power, not govern with everyone's needs and obligations in mind.

So skim it or read it, and treat it as food for thought.

Take care.

Very interesting column.. COMPLETELY NEUTRAL Be sure to Read the Poem at the end. Charley Reese's final column for the Orlando Sentinel... He has been a journalist for 49 years. He is retiring and this is HIS LAST COLUMN. Be sure to read the Tax List at the end. This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be. The article below is completely neutral, neither anti-republican or democrat. Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day. It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering!  545 vs. 300,000,000 People -By Charlie Reese Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does. One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank. I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes. Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to. It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist. If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan ... If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way. There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do. Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees... We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess! Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper. What you do with this article now that you have read it... is up to you. This might be funny if it weren't so true. Be sure to read all the way to the end: Tax his land, Tax his bed, Tax the table, At which he's fed. Tax his tractor, Tax his mule, Teach him taxes Are the rule. Tax his work, Tax his pay, He works for peanuts anyway! Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat. Tax his ties, Tax his shirt, Tax his work, Tax his dirt. Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if he Tries to think. Tax his cigars, Tax his beers, If he cries Tax his tears. Tax his car, Tax his gas, Find other ways To tax his ass. Tax all he has Then let him know That you won't be done Till he has no dough. When he screams and hollers; Then tax him some more, Tax him till He's good and sore. Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave, Tax the sod in Which he's laid... Put these words Upon his tomb, 'Taxes drove me to my doom...' When he's gone, Do not relax, Its time to apply The inheritance tax. Accounts Receivable Tax Building Permit Tax CDL license Tax Cigarette Tax Corporate Income Tax Dog License Tax Excise Taxes Federal Income Tax Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) Fishing License Tax Food License Tax Fuel Permit Tax Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon) Gross Receipts Tax Hotel Occupency Tax Hunting License Tax Inheritance Tax Inventory Tax IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax) Liquor Tax Luxury Taxes Marriage License Tax Medicare Tax Personal Property Tax Property Tax Real Estate Tax Service Charge Tax Social Security Tax Road Usage Tax Recreational Vehicle Tax Sales Tax School Tax State Income Tax State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) Telephone Federal Excise Tax Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax Telephone State and Local Tax Telephone Usage Charge Tax Utility Taxes Vehicle License Registration Tax Vehicle Sales Tax Watercraft Registration Tax Well Permit Tax Workers Compensation Tax STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. What in the heck happened? Can you spell 'politicians?' I hope this goes around THE USA at least 545 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!! GO AHEAD. . . BE AN AMERICAN!!!

In this world

A thought for the day, since I have even more time to make a difference, because the
"Rapture" was a figment of someone's imagination.

I look upon everything as a brotherhood and a sisterhood, and I look upon time as no more than an idea, and I consider eternity as another possibility ...

When it's over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms ... I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

- Mary Oliver, from her poem "When Death Comes"


Take care - Hope to hear from you.

Thought for the day from my friends at Chapin Hall

We are each gifted in a unique and important way.  It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.  Mary Dunbar

A quote from long ago that still rings true

Kindness in words creates confidence.  Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.  Kindness in giving creates love.  Perfect kindness acts without thinking of kindness.   Laozi, 570-490 BCE

A Poem

Born to one with many more needs than it has

That loves it while it is cuddly and cute

But who soon sees it as a burden and neglects it too much of the time

Grows up becoming an afterthought and struggles for attention

Grows up fighting for its needs, or not

Grows up being leftover and left out

But finds someone who seems to care

When it really needs someone to notice and appreciate its simple being

Lives and laughs and shares like others

For awhile

But the other has many needs 

So many that it cannot continue to share and live as one

There are struggles, what to do

It cannot go on, so it does not

Has grown and lived and been seasoned by Life

Experienced most all that one experiences

Erred, learned, appreciates, loves

Wants to share again, needs to

Does

Laughter, the best medicine - A smile, a wonderful calling card

"Humor and laughter are not necessarily the same thing. Humor permits us to see into life from a fresh and gracious perspective. We learn to take ourselves more lightly in the presence of good humor. Humor gives us the strength to bear what cannot be changed, and the sight to see the human under the pompous." Joan Chittister

So we should all have plenty of humor and laughter in our lives - our society has gotten very stressful for most of us (except for the top 1% that the Republicans and the Tea Party want to protect (and they are probably stressed that they will lose all of their precious benefits)). Laugh every day until you almost or do cry, be silly, and look at the humor in everything. Watching the WGN Morning News, The Colbert Report and the Daily Show are facilitators for this.

More on topics that must be addressed by all of us in future days.

Miracles

Are there miracles? Have you ever had one you happen to you? Do you wish for miracles to happen to you?

I think that all things happen for a reason in my life, both good and bad. I try to understand, but some time it is not worth the effort to determine the why or where for. I just deal with it or enjoy it - whatever it is. Often it is not so obvious that a miracle has happened, but when I stop, take a deep breath and assess where I am and how I got there, well, it must be a miracle. It isn't as obvious as the daughter and the song from Fiddler on the Roof. And sometimes I think when it is so obvious, the miracle may have a down side also.

Rarely do I feel a miracle coming on, but that is how I feel now. Something good that has never happened to me before will happen. Not superficial, like winning the lottery or something material, but something deep and soulful. It is a strong feeling, a good feeling, one with direction.

I am going to see what it will be.

Take care.

A bike ride in Chicago

I wrote this last night about my ride yesterday.  I hope that you enjoy reading it and getting a feel for the experience.

I put on my put on a wicking shirt, a pair of shorts, and sandals, grabbed my helmet, gloves, and backpack, and went downstairs to get my Raleigh hybrid out to ride the 14 miles to work this morning.  I rode last Friday for the first time in over a year and want to make it a healthy habit.

Living in Chicago makes this, like many other activities, an adventure.  First is being aware of traffic.  Chicago traffic is not necessarily the worst traffic in the country, but there is a lot of it and, with drivers talking, texting, eating, smoking, and whatever, you better watch for them as they are not looking for you.

I roll down Aldine, taking its jog at Broadway, cross Sheridan and take the underpass to join the others already on the path (actually mostly an asphalt mini-road with fine gravel on each side) that runs the length of Lake Shore Drive.  The underpass had recently been hosed out so there were no homeless sleeping there this morning.  Not too much traffic although there are several commuters with their biking shirts on that zoom past me. 

I try to keep on a 14 mph pace – enough to be aerobic but not going to win any races.  A serious rider from work told me a couple of years ago that the key to riding is to keep pedaling at the same number of rotations per minute and shift to match the terrain, so that is what I try to do.

Immediately I am at Belmont Harbor, which is sleepy this morning at 7:15 am.  No sign of life there.  The boats in Chicago harbors rarely leave their slips as they are more for parties and watching whatever “the game” is on Saturdays and Sundays on satellite TV.   I see various types of bikes and clothing along the way.  Recumbents, and those with windshields, collapsible bikes, and then new and old, most with many gears – no three speeds anymore, like my Schwinn from childhood.  Some with milk crates tied on the back, other with commercial baskets.  Most with no fenders.  However, I added them on mine since I don’t like the feeling of the wet stripe up my back.

As I ride south the Parks Dept folks are out and busy.  Mayor Daley likes spiffy parks, you know.  The sand is being groomed for the afternoon volley ball leagues, swimmers, and sun bathers, and some parts of the path are actually being swept by hand.  Most riders wear sun glasses to avoid eye contact, much like walkers on city streets, but I avoid them as I like eye contact and can put up with a little sun.

The temp is about 73 – not too bad, but I will be soaked by the time I get to work in Hyde Park.  I continue along at my pace passing the Theater by the Lake, the Lincoln Park Marina, only for motor boats, the Lincoln Park Zoo, and then get to the North Avenue and Ohio Street beaches.  No one there yet except the beach groomers.  A few walkers are out, one being the first nun in full habit that I have seen for years.  They will be full this evening when I return.

The Lake is brilliant, looking like a sea of diamonds sparkling in the bright sun.  It is a wonderful natural resource that we take for granted in Chi town.  It presents a different look every morning, and today looks almost like a fishing lake in Wisconsin – very smooth with just little rills and no waves.  It is mesmerizing and I could just watch it all day, if I had the time….

I pass by Navy Pier next, the biggest tourist attraction in the City – almost 9 million visitors per year.  Although many boat and ship rides leave from the pier to the Lake and Chicago River, the majority of the folks who visit just walk up and down and get a beer and a hot dog.  Take in the day and the sun and the spectacle of the people there.  Sure there is a Shakespeare Theater, an IMAX, and a Children’s Museum (soon to be put underground in Grant Park), but with today’s economy and unemployment rate, those activities are rare treats at inflated prices.

This part of the trip takes me on the road level under Lakeshore Drive that takes cars to lower Wacker Drive and the sidewalk, although about twelve feet wide, gets very crowded later in the day.  Now I share it with just a few riders and joggers and can ride above walking speed.  My return trip this afternoon will test how slow I can ride.

Now I am around by Monroe Harbor (I don’t know how many harbors we have here, but I know that some people keep their boats in Waukegan or Kenosha, WI.)  Activity picks up a little now as many riders peal off for downtown.  There is a bike garage in Millennium Park that holds about 300 bikes and there are many other racks for those who commute this way.  Daley is trying to encourage bike riding as one of his efforts to be green.

Next is a long straight and flat stretch along Grant Park where I can get my speed up a little and look over into the park to see the Taste of Chicago set up to draw folks downtown for the next week.  Then the path takes me down and around the Aquarium and under the road that goes out to the Planetarium.   The boats of Burnham Harbor now appear on my left and more Park workers doing their trimming.  The traffic drops off drastically now as there are fewer riders to and from the South Side than the North Side (a basic matter of economics, my friend).

I ride through the Police Memorial Park and then the Fire Fighters and Medics Memorial Park with McCormick Place and its lovely waterfall sandwiched in between.  One thing we do well here is honor our fallen.  Next comes the Burnham Centennial Wildlife Area, under construction.

The path moves a little farther away from the Lake on this side of town and there are many more trees.  It is a relief to be out of the sun for a moment of time occasionally.  There are still many limbs and branches on the ground from recent storms but by my return trip this afternoon most of them will be picked up.  The path drops a little which makes this morning ride a little easier but the pedaling harder this afternoon.  Also the wind has not been much of a factor but it will pick up significantly on my return ride.

This stretch is longer and it feels like it because there are fewer distractions besides the Lake.  A beach here and there, some park workers out, the traffic on nearby Lakeshore Drive, a lady deep in prayer on a bench, a few of the public housing high rises that remain to be torn down, and then the tall buildings of Hyde Park still in the distance.

The north half of the trip will have city approved vendors selling water, popsicles, and snow cones this afternoon, but here individuals will be selling water out of their own coolers for one half of the price of the vendors. 

So I continue on my trip as my muscles tell me that I have not taken this trip frequently enough to build them up and my butt starts hurting.  I wonder if a pillow duct taped to my seat would help without increasing wind resistance too much.  The cost of those riding shorts is way up there!

So I finally reach my building at Kenwood and 61^st Street and get my bike into the basement where secure storage is provided as part of the facility being green.  Up to the shower that I purposefully put into the design and build out of our space for occasions like this (we do have several biker riders who ride much more regularly than I do).  I beat my time of Friday morning by five minutes.

The return trip in the afternoon is slower and much more crowded, with more wind and hotter temps.  But I see more, hurt a little more, and keep on my goal of fitness.  I will ride again on Thursday.

Take care.

A favorite quote

You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life. 

J.Krishnamurti

A favorite poem

You can love me

but only I can make me happy.

You can teach me

but only I can do the learning.

You can lead me

but only I can walk the path.

You can promote me

but I have to succeed.

You can coach me

but I have to win the game.

You can even pity me

but I have to bear the sorrow.

For the Gift of Love

is not a food that feeds me.

It is the sunshine

that nourishes that which I must finally harvest for myself.

So if you love me

don’t just sign me your song.

Teach me to sing,

for when I am alone,

I will need the melody.

-Dan Baker

Brrrrrr

The first frigid day in Chicago this winter with wind chills down to twenty below zero.  It is hard to stay warm under these conditions.

The drive down the Drive was beautiful this morning, but a little slow.  It seemed like folks were leaving a little earlier because of the weather.  The main streets were clear, with the sides a little slippery.  The sun is at a point in the sky now about 7:20 AM so that it is right at the end of the Belmont ramp as I am driving up it.  Luckily today it was nestled in the low hanging clouds over the Lake so I didn't even need my sun glasses.  As I drove south the Lake had its own little foggy condition hanging up to about ten feet off of the water while the sky above was a brilliant blue ( a great day to fly, I am sure, compared to yesterday).  The view of downtown was spectacular with the towers on top of the Hancock, Trump, and Sears towers standing proud in the frigid air.

There was a traffic copter hovering in the distance over the S curve and I was hoping that there wasn't an accident there snarling traffic (there wasn't).  The sun was still behind the low hanging clouds on the horizon trying to break through as it continued its days journey - no luck yet.  As I reached Grant Park it finally freed itself from  the grasp of the clouds and on went my sun glasses.  Traffic moved well and courteously southbound as the northbound traffic started its daily backup just south of the museum campus.  Moved swiftly by Soldier Field and am happy that I don't have tickets for the coming debacle on Sunday against the Packers.

The drive down to Promentory Point was uneventful as I enjoyed my drive with one eye on the road and one on the Lake.  Hopefully the day will be the same.

Blessings to you and yours during this holiday season.

Take care.

Life

I look upon everything as a brotherhood and a sisterhood, and I look upon time as no more than an idea, and I consider eternity as another possibility ...

When it's over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms ... I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.


- Mary Oliver, from her poem "When Death Comes"


What a thought!

Take care.

Tuesday, in this time and place

As I rode the Hyde Park Express Bus from Jackson and State this morning with many other folks going on their way to their normal daily activites, or not, I again marveled at our wonderful Lake so bright and blue with the suns rays bouncing off the water so radiantly that I wished that I had brought my sunglasses.  It was brilliant and I don't know how many folks on the crowded bus really noticed.  Many of us were standing and looking around, but those sitting were napping or reading a paper or a book, and there was one young lady copying her Japanese assignment over neatly on a clean peace of paper.

It is a wonderful little part of my life, this trip down the lakefront, and it gives me a charge of the beauty of God's creation, and makes me feel my responsibility for helping to take care of it, as we were given that task when we were created.  To love and care over the world and everything in it - to nurture and support - to help everyone and everything grow to its fullest capacity.  To appreciate what we have.

I will try.

Take care.

Gray, or Grey

However you spell it, it is a gray day in Chicago.  Not much fog but the lake and sky were almost indistinguishable from each other.  Rain.  A frequent occurance this fall, so much that all of our farmers in Illinois are having a hard time harvesting, and then getting the corn dry when it goes to the grain elevators.  The weather here is inconsistent, perhaps like its people.  No string of hot days or rainy days or snowy days - just enough to drive a person a little looney.  It does make life more interesting, I think, than experiencing that "wonderful" dry heat of Las Vegas most of the year, or the boring sameness of San Diego and Hawaii.  We have change in our lifes and the weather people on TV are wrong most of the time - why do they even have the weather on TV in the aforementioned places?  Why? 

The changes make us resilient.  That's what we need to be.  We need to be able to withstand the latest scandal in the Daley administration.  Hired trucks, hiring, police brutality, whatever.  Life is hard, man.

So out to face life.

Take care.

To be blessed

The Blessing of the Old Woman, the Tulip, and the Dog


To be blessed
said the old woman
is to live and work
so hard
God's love
washes right through you
like milk through a cow


To be blessed
said the dark red tulip
is to knock their eyes out
with the slug of lust
implied by
your up-ended
skirt


To be blessed
said the dog
is to have a pinch
of God
inside you
and all the other dogs
can smell it



Alicia Suskin Ostriker

The Book of Seventy

University of Pittsburgh Press

(from Poetry.com)

The Lake

My drive down Lakeshore Drive was spectacular this morning, as it often is. A very bright sun rising quickly over the water - and the Lake was very choppy and sparkling - with all of the boats finally gone from the harbors. It seemed like they stayed a little later this year. The active and inactive water intakes standing solemnly in the distance.

A brief rise in the spirit, and then gone, replaced by the a sinking feeling and emptiness. Why? If I knew....

I am in a bible study at church which meets on Tuesday nights - the first one I have participated in for many years. It is a survey of the core stories of the Bible. Pretty good. Last night we talked about serving like the Christ of the Cross instead of the Christ of Glory. The important thing is to help others, have concern for others, and forego personal glory in your religious life. Very hard to do. One must make sacrifices for those who are less fortunate.

The sun continues to shine brightly - I don't think that it will be hidden today. A good sign.

Take care.

Blogs

I have just started to follow various blogs - there are some very creative people out there. It is fun to browse.

It has turned into a sunny day here, but the sun has not reached my soul. It is still rather dark there. Perhaps the warmer, and hopefully sunnier weather forecasted for the weekend will help. As the days get shorter, however, the impact is greater. I do have an all spectrum light that I turn on in the morning, but it hasn't helped much yet.

Hopefully your day is going well and you are able to oversome the annual onset of seasonal affective disorder.

Take care.

The Lake

In this great city by the great lake one sees amazing, beautiful, unbelievable, and unique things almost every day.

Yesterday evening, when driving home from Hyde Park, I was at Grant Park at about 5:05 pm (CST) when I looked out over the water and saw the moon rising from the depths and, at this point, the full orb was just sitting on the dark blue black water, blazing in a brilliant orange against a dark blue sky. It just was a spectacular sight. Within two to three minutes it lifted itself above the mighty lake and continued on its evening's journey. It climbed into the light cloud cover and was at least partially covered as it climbed higher and higher.

Mother Nature sure can give us a thrill if we just pay attention.

Take care.

another day

The sun is faller lower in the sky and is now streaming into my office around 2:00pm. while I love the warm feeling I will have to close the blind or the heat will put me to sleep and I can't have that. Saw the film Man on Wire this weekend - a good documentary of the man who walked between the World Trade Towers in 1974. Fascinating on how he got the wire up there.

the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is coming up and some folks from my church are going to the screening of Fish out of Water next Sunday afternoon. It is a documentary in which a guy from our church is interviewed. should be an interesting documentary.

Take care.

More Rain

I stopped by Belmont Harbor on the way to work today and signed on with Noah as he is building another Ark. Don't want to miss my chance to be crew on his ship. There are flood warnings out for the area.

Our newly rehabbed office space has developed a couple of leaks this week - you just can't trust those flat roofs you know.

Trying to be supportive of the Senate Bill on Health Insurance and hope that you are too. The insurance companies will be out there spending millions to defeat this sorely needed legislation so they can continue to make obscene profits.

Now that I am writing again, I will be short since things are hectic. More again soon.

Take care.

Fall

Another day in the Windy City - not so foggy as yesterday and not too windy.

This has been an unusual weather year in Chitown, starting with summer (the spring was wet and cool as usual). Summer generally was cool with only a day or two above 90 and July was one of the coolest on record. We generally have beautiful falls here, but it has been much more overcast and wet than usual. Kind of depressing for me.

The leaves have been beautiful as they are changing and the pallet of reds, browns, yellows, and oranges (and shades in between) has been breathtaking. I have laid in a supply of bird seed for my two feeders as it will be time soon to start putting it out. Even though I have not attracted a great variety of birds to my section of Lakeview, it is still fun to see the crowd that is attracted and the behaviors that they have. Pecking orders, etc.

Of course you know that we didn't get the 2016 Olympics and I had mixed feelings about that. There would have been many capital improvement completed, but probably a higher level of graft by Mayor Daley and friends. I think that it would have been exciting for the city, but the congestion for those three weeks would have been unbelievable. It was interesting to read that shortly after the award was made, a drug gang in Rio shot down a police helicopter there. It will be enlightening to see what measures are enacted there to keep the 2016 Games "safe".

The final push on the health insurance bill will bring in all of the chits. I hope that the public option stays in the bill somehow, as that is the only way health care will be available to everyone. We all have read many things about the effort from many sources, and one thing to keep in mind that change is needed. We are the richest nation in the world, still, and we need to make sure that all of our people have coverage. Won't go into all the reasons again, but they have been posted from several sources.

A tip to avid readers out there - check out Sun magazine. It is available at some newsstands and you can also subscribe online. It is a great little monthly literary mag that I have been reading this year.

Take care.

Health Care

A good NPR story this morning that clears up some misconcpetions on Canadian health care. Although this administration is proposing a public option and not that it be a mirror of the Canadian system, many opponents are slamming the system just the same. See http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111721651


Does Canada's Health Care System Need Fixing? : NPR
Source: www.npr.org
The American airwaves are full of political ads these days slamming the Canadian health care system. The ads say in Canada, care is delayed or denied and some patients wait a year for vital surgeries. Is the Canadian system really that bad?

2 seconds ago · Comment · LikeUnlike · Share

A thought for any day

I want to focus on the big current issue of health care, but heard this this morning and wanted to share.

A thought from Jim Valvano's talk at the 1st Espy Awards program by ESPN in 1993, on the occasion of his acceptance of the inaugural Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award, when he announced the creation of the "Jimmy V Foundation", an organization dedicated to finding a cure for cancer.

He had been diagnosed with bone cancer the previous year and would die two months after this talk.

"To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is,you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."

Take care.

Health Care Issues

Hey out there - a good article on health care. It is religion based, but you don't have to be religious to know that change is needed. And you don't need to be religious to know that the money of the drug companies and insurance companies should not determine the outcome of this national discussion. Please take part and

take care.

Three Moral Issues of Health Care

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Good health is the will of God for each and every one of his children. Death, disease, and pain did not exist in the Garden, and Revelation tells of a “new heaven and new earth,” where once again they will not exist. We live in a fallen world where injury and sickness are a fact of life. In fact International Classification of Disease now identifies 68,000 distinct diagnoses. Every year in our country there are about 119 million ER visits, up to 902 million doctor's office visits, and about 3.5 billion prescriptions filled.

Perfect health will never be achieved and physical death on this earth will never be overcome, but the scriptures paint a clear picture that this was God’s intent from the beginning and will be the goal once again in the end. This means that on a personal, national, and global level the physical well-being of all God’s children is close to God’s heart and should be close to ours as well.

There is not a religious mandate or God-ordained system of health care or insurance. No amount of biblical exegesis or study will lead you to a policy conclusion on health care savings accounts, personal versus employer provided insurance, single payer public systems, or private insurance plans. Luke might have been a physician, but he still never commented on whether or not computerizing medical records should be a national priority.

These policy questions are still of vital importance and will be debated and discussed in the coming months at the White House, in Congress, in the press, and I hope in our churches. With an issue like health, deeply personal but of great public concern, I believe that the faith community has a unique and important role to play. That is, to define and raise the moral issues that lay just beneath the policy debate. There will be a lot of heat, maybe even a few fires, over the weeds of the policy, and the faith community has the opportunity to remind our political and national leaders about why these issues are so important -- why they speak to our values.

There are, I believe, three fundamental moral issues that the faith community can focus on and call our political leaders back to, lest they forget. They are: the truth, full access, and cost.

The Truth

For decades now, the physical health and well-being of our country has been a proxy battle for partisan politics. When Truman tried to pass a national health insurance plan, the American Medical Association spent $200 million (in today’s dollars) and was accused of violating ethics rules by having doctors lobby their patients to oppose the legislation. In the 1970's when Nixon tried to pass a national health insurance plan, strikingly similar to what many democrats are proposing today, the plan was defeated by liberal democrats and unions who thought that they would be able to pass something themselves after the mid-term elections and claim political credit for the plan. In the 1990's the “Harry and Louise” ads misrepresented the Clinton health care plan but was successful enough PR to shut down that movement for reform.

Already, industry interests and partisan fighting are threatening the opportunity for a public dialogue about what is best for our health care system. As a resource for congregations, small groups, and individuals, Sojourners has worked with its partners to publish a health care tool kit [click here to download] to help frame and guide this necessary debate. This guide gives an overview of the biblical foundations of this issue and frequently asked questions about it. What we need is an honest and fair debate with good information, not sabotage of reform with half-truths and misinformation.

Full Access

The second fundamental value question is that of quality and affordable full access to health care. About 46 million people in our country today are uninsured and many more find themselves without adequate coverage for their medical needs. Many of them are working families who live in fear of getting sick or injured. Some delay seeking medical attention at the risk of their own health and increasing cost later on, or use emergency room services instead of primary care physicians. An estimated 18,000 people a year die unnecessarily, many from low-income families, because they lack basic health insurance. As a father, I know how important the health, wholeness, and well-being of my family is to me and is to every parent. Seeing your child sick is a horrible feeling; seeing your child sick and not having the resources to do something about it is a societal sin.

Cost

The third issue is cost. An estimated 60 percent of bankruptcies this year will be due to medical bills. Seventy-five percent of those declaring bankruptcy as a result of medical bills have health insurance. The costs of medical care stem from varied sources. Some of these costs come from malpractice lawsuits, some from insurance companies with high overhead and entire divisions of employees hired to find ways to deny benefits. Someone who thought they were insured could find out that their benefits were terminated retroactively because the insurer decided that there was a pre-existing condition. In the end, some are paying too much for care and others are making too much from these present arrangements.

There is a lot of money, to say the least, wrapped up in health care. The faith community needs lift up the concerns of those who have no lobbyists on Capitol Hill or PR firms with slick advertising campaigns.

These are pressing issues for our country, lives are at stake, and it is a debate we must have and take seriously. For the month of July, we will be taking this discussion to our blog and having some of our regular writers and guests give their opinions and perspectives.

There are a myriad of special interests groups who will be promoting their own self-interests during this process. The faith community has the opportunity to step in and speak for the interests of the common good and those who would not otherwise have a voice. I am sure that every one of the 18,000 preventable deaths that will happen this year from a lack of basic health insurance breaks the heart of God. And, it should break ours too, because healing is at the very heart of the Christian vocation.

chicago and stuff

A beautiful day in Chicago - this is what summer is about. The lake is beautiful and the shore has been crowded with folks taking advantage of the beach and warmer weather.

Went sailing with a neighbor last Thursday evening and, although there was not much wind, it was a nice relaxing evening. It is easier to help with the rigging, etc. when there isn't a gale force blowing.

Went to a cousin's combination retirement (his and his wife's) and anniversary party on Friday night over in the Quad Cities. It was a lot of fun with a big band, good food, and good conversation. When I say big band, I mean it - four trumpets, four trombones, five saxes, a keyboard, a bass guitar, and drums. They don't play too much as a group - where can they play - just not too many venues for that type of group. My cousin plays in that group and a couple of others. My cousin's mom, my aunt was there and going strong. She is 80 and was out there dancing and having fun. A great lady who stays very active.

Both were teachers so they can retire before 60, and his playing has been an income supplement for many years.

Not much else of note - been very busy - hope that your summer is doing well - have several items to catch up here and have to try to make the time to write more. Only downer is that I haven't really got out on my cycle this summer ( have been on my bike, which is better exercise but less fun).

Anyway, until later, take care.

Vincent

My favorite painter and a song by Don McLean -
http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starrynightlyrics.html

Enjoy and take care.

Quotes

A thought for today, from Sun Magazine, a quote from Annie Elizabeth "Bessie" Delany, at age 104. I thought I could change the world. It took me a hundred years to figure out I can't change the world. I can only change Bessie. And, honey, that ain't easy either.

Another, also from the April issue of Sun, from M. Scott Peck: The whole course of human history may depend on a change of heart in one solitary and even humble individual - for it is in the solitary mind and soul of the individual that the battle between good and evil is waged and ultimately won or lost.


I posted these quotes a few days ago as being ones that are thought provoking. Can we change the world individually? Do great changes occur from one individual?

I have always thought that a person can make a difference, but is that true? Do we change the world by being ourselves and being an example that others may emulate? Or do can we actually cause a change to occur? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr lived a life believing in non-violent change and died because of it. He also, by his own actions and words, influence many others to follow and take up his credo. The world has been changed because of his efforts and I assume that he felt that he was changed personally also.

He did set out to change the world, to bring peace and justice to all people regardless of any differences they have had. Did Bessie just underestimate her impact on the world around her? She may have helped many changes occur although they were not as earth-shaking as Dr. King’s, nor did she have to lose her life in the effort.

Now can one person, be he/she a solitary and humble individual, affect the battle between good and evil that is fought everyday all over the world. Dr. King did, Gandhi did, Mother Teresa did, FDR did, and so did many others who are in the history books, who have been awarded the Nobel Peace prize, and so forth.

What can you and I do? Can we smile and talk to the shunned? Can we help those in need? Can we confront those who abuse power? Can we do our best to follow the Golden Rule? Can we be honest in all of our dealings? Can we speak the truth and not slander folks? Can we donate to causes that support peace and justices efforts, help the helpless, and help others to be as fulfilled as individuals as they can be?

Yes, we can do all this and many more things that you can think of. So let’s do it. The battle is waged everyday and good needs our support.

So I would venture to say the quotes are not in conflict, and it is true that one person can make a difference.

Morning in Chicago

A wonderful morning in Chicago! The sun was bright, glittering off of a calm Lake. Not a cloud in the sky at 7:30 am – a rather unusual occurrence in this town. The boats were in their slips resting quietly after a weekend during which many more craft were out on adventures than I normally see. I was station hopping on the radio and found a wonderful piece that fit the morning perfectly - Giuseppe Torelli’s Symphony for Four Trumpets on WFMT.

I did not know this piece at all as I enjoy classical music but do not remember the names of any but the most famous works. But anyway, the trumpets made loud clarion calls that stirred my heart and mind. The world is alive – you are alive – live strong and forceful lives – make your presence known – make a positive impact – this is not a day to be quiet - arise and use your energy today.

This Symphony sends a strong message for me today.

Take care.

Quotes

Hey there World!

A thought for today, from Sun Magazine, a quote from Annie Elizabeth "Bessie" Delany, at age 104. I thought I could change the world. It took me a hundred years to figure out I can't change the world. I can only change Bessie. And, honey, that ain't easy either.

Another, also from the April issue of Sun, from M. Scott Peck: The whole course of human history may depend on a change of heart in one solitary and even humble individual - for it is in the solitary mind and soul of the individual that the batlle between good and evil is waged and ultimately won or lost.

Think about these words - are they contradictory? Is one true and the other not? What do you think?

Take care

Chicago

It is a summy day in the city and the lake was calm and smooth this morning driving to work. We got hit with heat and humidity over the weekend with Saturday being the worst day. Whereas a few weeks ago the temp was consistently below the average by about 15 degrees, now we are about 15 degrees above normal.

I will write about the Vail trip shortly and perhaps have some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

The talk about the Olympics prevailed over the weekend with friends since Daley and a small delegation were in Switzerland making a presentation. There are mixed feelings about the spending for a three week event and how much it will cost the taxpayers. The state made a pledge of $250 million, but they are $9 billion in debt now, with no relief in sight, so I don't think that I would count on that.

The Olympics would probably do a lot for the city's infrastructure, but who really pays. It is a big ego thing for Daley, I think, and he will remain as mayor until the whole thing is over. He will find a way for approval, and then we all will rent our places out and leave town when it actually happens.

I would like the El to extend to the heart of the U of C campus as part of the infrastructure improvements as this is the only campus in the city that does not have direct access to the El. The Metra has a stop near campus, but that is a different system and requires an additional fare. The time to get to Hyde Park from almost any part of the city except the loop is an hour at the minimum. It should be a straight shot without a transfer necessary for most folks.

More on another day - take care.

Serendipity

Hey there,

I went to Stella's Restaurant last night and had a very enjoyable experience and I highly recommend the place for a good time. Stella's is on Broadway a few blocks south of Belmont and I have been eating there for eight years. You notice that I recommend it for a good time - not that the food is bad, it is certainly good, fresh food, but the atmosphere is just like a diner in your home town.

I usually eat breakfast there, at anytime of day, because that is my favorite meal. I can have some juice with it and get my carbs and protein and fat. It is not gourmet, but the staff is unbelievable friendly and accomodating,

Last night Gus, the owner, came over and chatted until my food came, and I found out that the Stella's has been there since 1962, started by his parents, who were Greek immigrants. It has had other names, I know, but it has been Stella's for most of the time that I have been in Chicago.

One of the first questions I asked was how does he get and keep such great wait staff and bus people. He said that he hires on personality and trains to his standards. That is his job - quality control - and the cash register when he is there. He figures that if he gets the people with the right frame of mind and good nature that he can train them in the skills he needs, after all it isn't rocket science.

I know there at least a couple people who have been there as long as I have been eating there, and everyone is friendly, like your best friend, and makes sure that you are satisfied. There is also the outside seating - late spring, summer, and fall - which makes eating also a people watching event.

Gus explained how he got his standards from his dad and Greek traditions, with freshly prepared food. He calls out to many customers walking by and in the place, but although I told him my name, I am sure that he won't remember it and will call me Bud, Guy, etc., whatever he is calling everyone else. He is loud and makes the atmosphere very light. When someone drops a dish or glass you hear the opah! from the homeland (and perhaps from Zorba the Greek).

I heard about how the place was surrounded by smoke and fire when the Dominicks burned down several years ago but miraculously did not burn itself. This was the explanation of why he was operating a couple years ago when a storm hit the neighborhood and no one else had power. He got his own transformer after the fire.

I see his wife and son and nephew working, and there are probably other relatives employed regularly or from time to time. They all provide great service.

I talked about going back to Greece sometime and he offered his wife as a travel consultant and many cousins and nephews in Greece to take care of me. He said that I would get great service as they would all be concerned that I give a good report to Gus.

I asked him about the tatoo on his right arm of the beautiful lady and he said that was his 20th anniversery present to his wife. She was so impressed that he is now generally off the hook now when it comes to presents.

Well, I didn't intend to write about Gus and Stella's today, but it was such a refreshing experience that I had to share it with you. Back to my other topics before long.

Take care.

Another good day

Hey world - we woke up it's a good day!

Still trying to recover from my hiking activities in Colorado - working out a little and my tennis lesson helped last night.

The sweet smell of newly mown grass greeted me on my drive down Lake Shore Drive this morning. It appears at that all of the boats are back, safely anchored to their buoys or in their slips, where most will stay all summer except for the fire works on the 3rd of July. Still going very light on listening/watching media, except for NPR of course.

The hottest topic now is health care and we should all be supportive of change. The current system is not working for all Americans, as almost 50% of the population is underinsured or not covered at all. How would you like to be facing a serious illness without coverage! I will offer more thoughts in the near future.

As always, take care of yourself, those you love, and those who need help.

Back in town

Just got back from six days in Vail and the surrounding area - it was wonderful. My kids were there also and we rafted the Colorado River and some of us climbed Mt. Elbert, the tallest mountain in Colorado and the second tallest in the continental US. What a task!

Will write more later this week, but one comment is that I just could not bear to turn the TV or radio on since I got back - it was peaceful and nature was so beautiful that it is hard to drop right back into the city.

Take care.

Fun

Good morning,

The weather haws been a little depressing for June but it could be worse - a rainy day today and two days before I leave for Vail, where it will probably be at least sunnier.

The biggest item to report is a wonderful play at the Lookingglass Theater. Went Sat night to see the Arabian Nights and it was great. I highly recommend it. It was adapted from The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night by Mary Zimmerman, who also directed the play. It is fun to see - the first act is hilarious and the second act is very well done. I came out feeling good and enriched.

The actors are almost all equity - it is a diverse cast - and is great for all ages. The reviews have said that this play is good enough to go to Broadway, and I would second that thought heartily.

Take care and I hope that you have a good week.

Another beautiful day with the Lake very calm and the sun shining ever so brightly off of the water - a sunglasses day for sure. Took the El and a bus in to work today and, since Friday is usually even more of a dress casual day than lthe rest of the week, I wore jeans and sandals. Stepping off the bus near 60th and Kenwood, I experienced the pleasant sensation of the cool dew on the grass.

Expecting some visitors from MO this evening and unfortunately the forecast calls for rain tomorrow and Sunday. A bummer. Along with all this cooler than normal temps we have been having.

Reading about all of the good press Obama is getting from his speeches in the Middle East and Paris. I think that he can help set up a situation that is conducive to agreement at somee point. It is good to have him in the White House at this time. We all have to pull together and do our parts to reach workable solutions for our pressing dilemmas.

More later, and please take care.

Forth

Good morning!

A spectacular day in Chicago - a bright sun sparkling off of the Lake and the Trump Tower - the air is clear and brisk.

March 4 is the day of the year to start new projects so what is June 4? Perhaps a day to explore new relationships and friendships that are beckoning. A day to take a "chance" on making a new friend. What is there to lose? A little time over coffee, over the water fountain, on the bus or El.

What could be lost? Years of good experiences, confidences, support, and feedback.

People make the world go round and people enhance our own lifes. It is important to not only cultivate existing friendships, but also explore new ones that may be just as rewarding.

Think about it, and take care.

June 3

Another nice drive down the Drive today - just a little haze that the sun is trying to shine through. Traffic is relatively light at 7:20 am and no accidents. As I cross over the Chicago River it is calming to see the trees and greenery along its banks as I look down to the Trump Building. (We now have four buildings taller than anything in NY: Sears, Trump, Aon, & Hancock!)

My quote for this week comes from that famous shoe banger Nikita Khrushchev: Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even when there is no river.

You know the old saying that the politician's first priority is to get elected, and then his or her next priority is to get re-elected. While democracy is the best form of government, it does not relieve us of holding our elected officials accountable as much as possible. The carryover of many of the populous groups such as Move On is probably good as they are vehicles to keep important issues in the forefront and to keep pressure on our elected officials.

On a national level we have more critical issues pending than we have had since the Depression so we need honest efforts from the Congress to resolve them, not game playing. I do think that we have the man best suited for this task at this time in President Obama.

More later, and take care.

The Lake

My drive home last night was a little quicker than usual as I didn't leave Hyde Park until almost 6:00 pm. The traffic was much lighter than it usually is around 5:00 pm. The lake was green and somewhat tumultuous. Reflecting the weather of the day and that to come last night. As I turned the bend just north of Promontory Point on Lake Shore Drive the downtown looked like a scene out of the twilight zone. I could see all of the buildings, but they were in a haze. This location gives a wonderful view of the whole downtown - I need to get a picture there - you can barely see the Ferris wheel on Navy Pier.

Coming in this morning the fog dominated the downtown coming from Lakeview. I could see the bottom of the John Hancock Building and its towers, but not the top two thirds of the structure. The lake was just as I saw it the evening before, green and solid and firm waves, not the ones that crash over the running path.

What a great city, it's own personality - many rewards and challenges for those who choose to live here!

Take care

A resolution achieved!

I looked back at a resolution I made in January 2008, which was to lose ten pounds last year. While it was one that I have made in many years unsuccessfully, last year I did it.

My weight is usually within a small range over time, and I went from being about 206-208 lbs to a range of 191-193 lbs. I met the goal about a year ago, in June 2008, and have been able to maintain it. Now my next goal is to lower the range about four pounds.

It is funny what limiting portion size and regular exercise can do! I haven't really gone on a "diet", but instead just cut down on input.

Take care

Good Morning

It's been a long time since I have written and I've decided to pick the practice up again. I have a long account of a trip with my son in draft form that I have been working on that I will try to finish in the next couple of weeks.

As a little food for thought, I put a quote in the signature block of my business email address, change it about every week. I have a number of resources and try to pick ones that have a special meaning. They are from follks you have heard of and from those you have not. I think sharing them each week transmits a little bit of wisdom in a short format.

The quote that I used last week is "We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret and disappointment." It is from Jim Rohn.

If we are goal oriented at all, we are concerned with success or the lack thereof in our lives. We can be lucky sometimes and fall into a good situation or good results, but, in the main, garnering success means that we have to work at the challenge or goal at hand. It can be difficult and time consuming to achieve, and we may have to forego other more pleasurable activities for awhile. But, if we pass on the labor involved in achieving a goal, we are likely to suffer also. For me, my personal esteem or self-satisfaction takes a blow. In some cases a person may lose the opportunity to advance in a job or in a relationship. So I try to assess not only what the cost of an effort is, but what the cost of not doing it may be. Often the later cost is much higher.