Red's Thoughts for the Day....

My name is Rachel, and I was a Wargamer.

2010-02-16T09:43:00.003-06:00

My name is Rachel and I am a Wargamer.

Yes, you read right. I know what you’re thinking…..those people are freaks [said with love], and you’d be right, and I’m proud to have been one of them. Despite my haven’t really kept in touch or actually PLAYED the games when I was there, I still consider myself a part of a hidden culture at the UW – Parkside campus.

For me, it was about the friends, not the games. I felt a part of something. I was a part of these people.

My good friend Lynn V. brought me up for the first time during my second semester at UW-Parkside in early 1990. It was a magical place, said loosely, filled with strange people that had neat things to say, weird games I’ve never heard of, lots of black clothing with chain mail or leather. Granted, I really didn’t understand many of the terms at the time….things like kvotes, mechs, and Amiga come to mind. Later I've learned that there are many of 'Bitch Kvotes' out there in the world.

The room was cool, and hidden unless you knew about it. I remember laughing at the people that happened to ‘find’ themselves up there mistakenly. They look around quickly and turn around and almost run down the stairs. Our room was located in Molinaro Hall on the 4th floor. You had to take the elevator up to the 3rd floor, then take the stairs to the next floor. We had roof access but it was locked. I think at one time, we were able to go out there, but something must’ve happened so they stopped that train.

We had a refrigerator to keep our lunches, but preferred eating in the Cafeteria. I still have dreams about the Slab ‘O Death pizza they had there. Many times, a pack of us would head down together to get a few slices. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. It’s amazing I didn’t gain the freshman 15 that semester. That ugly head waited ‘til the last couple of years.

The room usually had music going, usually the hard rock variety. That was in then. And the stuff we listened to usually was more of the classic range, so probably still is in. We had these great drawers that I’ve recently been told once held computer punch cards. Each person had a drawer or two to hold their precious things. Lynn mentioned to me the other day that she wondered what she had stored in hers. I do too. Probably things like hairspray, comb, deodorant, gum, etc…but I’d really like to know.

Games were an essential part of our group. I preferred the social aspect, not the game aspect. I guess that made me more of an outsider than the others. I think being a woman made me appealing. There weren’t many of us up there. I gave myself a nickname. I often had a sassy side (still do) and quickly became ‘Bitch with an Attitude’, ‘Bitch’ for short. There was also a ‘Wench with an Attitude’, whose name was Lynn Klaus. I enjoyed being Bitch. I think it represented my attitude at that time well.

I had always been very studious and did well in school. College was different. I learned now that I should’ve dropped classes instead of stop going (to go to the Warroom). When I was not in class, I was there - studying, talking, laughing, eating, relaxing. I learned lots of things. I regret not finishing college, but it is what it is. I wouldn’t have changed my time I had there, except maybe to have kept in touch with my new friends.

My dad didn’t like me ‘gallivanting’ all hours of the night, so my visits to my new friends’ houses usually ended by 11:30 and me racing home to sneak in the door before the clock struck midnight. I was a real life Cinderella when it came to my dad. So unfortunately, most of my social memories came during school hours, thus I probably got spared a lot of the bad stuff. I did not drink, so it was probably better that way.

One particularly memory comes to mind. It was the day before/after Thanksgiving (can’t remember which)and we had an incredible snow storm – probably around 9 inches or so. I had been dating a guy from my high school and he had visited me that day at my house. We were discussing my coming over to his house while his parents were away so we could be ‘together’. I couldn’t make a viable excuse and told him I couldn’t. I told him, “So I’ll see you at Christmas right?” to which he replied, “I don’t think so” thus ending our 1 and a half year relationship.

I was devastated. I cried in my mom’s arms for the first time and told her what happened. That was a good feeling. I was 18. But I knew then where I needed to go next. I drove for nearly 2 hours to get to UWP to go to the Warroom. I don’t remember who was all there, but remember that the trip was worth it and instantly made me feel better. The guys that were up there did what most guys do, and started to rip the ‘ex’ a new one and that gave me a warm & tingly feeling inside. They soothed me with words and putdowns of the man who so scorned their Bitch. I got over the guy eventually, but the Wargamers were my people that did that for me.

Why did I tell this story? I know the people that have read it already know about the room, the culture, the bonds, but my hopes is that they already know how special they were to me, and that to not judge people just by how they look, as our society tells us to, and that there is a place that everyone is welcome.

I have been blessed to have known these friends, and hope to catch up once again. Everybody needs good people. At that time in my life, they were mine.

Confession Survey

2009-03-12T10:21:00.005-05:00

I decided to grab an idea from Evil Twins Wife, who got the idea from Life According to Jennifer, so thanks to them for the idea!!

So, I suppose I have to tell the truth, even if it kills me.

Confession Survey

1)What is your blogger name? Red from Ktown

2) When is your birthday? July 4th

3) How long have you been blogging? Since 2006 on Myspace, but only Nov 2008 on Blogspot (Thanks for reading, even though I’m not the most faithful blogger – not a lot of extra time).

4) Who tagged you? Not tagged, but Evil Twins wife gave anyone the challenge. Her link is above!

5 ) Tell me your 5 most favorite body parts: Well, if I do say so, my eyes are a really deep blue and I’d say that’s numero uno. My hair color is unique and has ONLY once been colored about 6 years ago and it was only highlighted a bit (deep strawberry blonde), I have nice straight toes, my butt is nice but not too big. Hmmm….small frame, but I’m gaining weight as we speak.

6) What do you wish most for your birthday? I must confess, even though I’ll be 38, I still look forward to the check I get from my parents.

7) What color are your nails now? Fingernails: My nails don’t get long, and the 6 or 7 times I’ve had them long, I’ve painted them with French manicures or some kind of medium pink color. Toenails are ALWAYS red or pink.

8) Any depressing thoughts lately? Money issues. Wondering why our business is slow. Hating my regular day job for the first time in my life and wondering if it will finally get better.

9) What's your next 1 month's plan? Finish a display cross-marketing book with a local wedding cake lady featuring all of our ArtZAngel photography.

10) At what age did you have your 1st crush? Third grade. Cushman Jordan. God, that name just SOUNDS like a movie star name, but alas, he’s not even on facebook. He looked so cute in his white & yellow-3/4-sleeved baseball shirt and his blonde hair.

11) Did you attend any school reunion after you graduated till now? I unfortunately did the 5 year and nothing changed, I skipped my 10 because I was in the middle of a divorce, and no one has had the courage to prepare a 20th much to my dismay.

12) Have you ever passed gas in public and pretended you didn't smell anything? Sure, haven’t we all? Don’t lie, WE ALL DO IT!

13) Are you a clean freak? I have my moments, but usually I clean, REALLY clean (dust, vacuum, sinks, etc.) only every couple weeks. I’ve been known to use a few Clorox wipes though in between.

14) Which era do you wish you were born into? I love the 50s, but I think because I'm liberal, I wouldn't have survived. I would've been an outcast like Rizzo from the Pink Ladies.

15) Are you a vegetarian? I only like 2 veggies (corn, potatoes) and both of those are bad for me, so I doubt that I could live on them. Skip the lectures, they won’t help.

16) How many pillows do you sleep with at night? 2 thin pillows.

17) Are you a light sleeper or an I-don't-care-if-there's-a-bomb-here sleeper? I can hear things, but usually I’m out like a light and can sleep anywhere and in about 5 minutes or less. I might have a tad case of Narcolepsy, I’m fearing.

18) Do you secretly wear comfortable granny panties when your man is not around? Never. But lately, I’m wearing more low rise bikinis than the thongs I used to.

19) What is your ultimate dream job? Actual Photography studio instead of the weekender stuff (we lost our studio due to mall closing several years ago). Graphic design, but getting paid, combined with a flower shop.

20) What is it your hubby does that annoys you the most? Hmmm….how long you got? J/K…ummm……not answering me when I ask a question. I just want to know if he heard me, ACKNOWLEDGE PLEASE!!!!

21) What is your dream car? I have a great little blue Hyundai Elantra that is now at 101,800 miles (see earlier blog on the 100,000 milestone) but I’d kill for a convertible with kick. 22) Do you easily wake up in the morning? I am ‘programmed’ to snooze 3 times, then wake up before each one so I can quick shut it off so I don’t wake up the hubby.

23) Do you like hairy men? No, suppose not really.

24) How about goateed men? Yes I suppose, but I would suspect it would be pricklier kissing them.

25) Which one would you prefer, 2 hour spa, 2 hour Thai Massage or 2 hour foot massage? Love the massage, but it has to be a gentle massage. I don’t like those Swedish or deep-tissue ones. Ouch.

26) Have you ever wished you had a different name other than your real name? I used to make up names I wanted to be when I was a kid, but not anymore. I love my middle name, Annette.

27) What is the most extreme sport you have ever done? I did a parasail 1500 feet over the Virginia Beach last summer. Other than that…not much.

28) Do you prefer traveling in Europe or Asia? My sis and I are planning on doing England next spring…can’t wait.

29) What is your favorite food? Pizza!!!!

30) What is the most embarrassing moment when you were out on a date? It took me nearly an hour or two of standing outside my moms house after the junior prom to have my date kiss me. We were both too scared to make the first move.

I’m not tagging anyone, because I only have 11 followers, but if you wouldn’t mind linking me if you do want to use the idea, as I have done above.

2009-02-27T08:06:00.002-06:00

I haven't blogged in a while. I sometimes can't think of anything decent to say, but today I was reading my subscriptions and I got a great idea from a new follower Streetcopswife and she had a '13 random songs on my ipod' list....

So I thought I'd give it a try!

1. Bright Lights - by Matchbox 20

2. At Last - by Etta James (not the version by that "dumbass Beyonce'")

3. Addiction (accoustic version) - by the Black Crowes

4. Give a Little Bit - by Supertramp

5. Sweet Release - by LIVE

6. Boogie Shoes - by KC & the Sunshine Band

7. Everyday - by Toby Lightman

8. Wild Horses - by the Sundays

9. Possession - by Sarah McLauchlan

10. Songbird - by Eva Cassidy

11. Crush - by Dave Matthews Band

12. Redneck Woman - by Teri Clark

13. Rainin' You - by Brad Paisley

Tell me your random list.....

BTW...I do my playlists via my mood. Here are some of my lists: Girl/Group/Boy Power. Sad Songs, Mellow Stuff, Sexy Chicago, Stupid Dumb Boys, Girlfriends, Fun Stuff, Hot September, Lost Tracks, Rain Songs, Colors (all the songs have colors in the title - same as the Rain Songs list)

Best of.....

2009-02-20T09:01:00.003-06:00

Hi new folks.

I got this great idea from "Well Okay Sassy Britches" about welcoming my new followers (all of you since I only started blogging less than a month ago on blogspot) with a quick recap of some of my fave blogs.

Hey Sassy, I found out the hyperlink thing from Word, so hopefully they work! Thanks anyways!

Please take a look whenever you can. I appreciate your looking!!!

My Fantasy day...Can this REALLY happen?

I killed a robin....

Benches for our butts

A wine story.

2 Days of Chicago bliss....Spring 2008

My kind of town...Chi-Ca-Go

Red's Picture Dictionary - part 1

Yoga is RETARDED!

Plumber update!!

2009-02-19T09:08:00.005-06:00

I call my hub during the day yesterday and ask if he heard from the plumber. To which he replied, "Yes, he came and went."

I don't know why they think we can read their minds (at least when it comes to plumbing bills) so I ask, "Well, how much did it cost? What did they have to do? How did they get it out? How long was he there,?" You know, the ol' twenty questions dealie.

He casually responded, "$300.45 ." Of course he didn't embellish any of the questions I asked. He then said, "Well, it was $40.00 to come out, then we are Level 4 pricing, so it was $245 for that, then tax, etc."

"What the hell is Level 4 pricing mean?" I ask in a higher pitch than normal voice.

"How am I supposed to know?" To which I hang my head and wondered how he got along in life without common sense, because OBVIOUSLY, us women would have asked these kinds of life-changing questions.

Well...upon looking at the bill, the 'level pricing' was outlined in full which scared me because we were only level 4 out of 10 (10 being $998 for one hour).....must be for nuclear bomb repair or something. It is actually for 'emergency backup protection'. But in my mind, there is no plumbing service worth 998 bucks an hour.....OK, maybe sewage backup protection....

Turns out, all he did was come in, see the 'cartridge thingy' busted off inside, pull out a huge ass drill like you see in Freddy Kreuger movies and drill out the inside. When he put everything back in, 'overpriced plumber' casually mentions that now we might have to watch the downstairs pipes because when we tried to pry out the old 'cartridge thingy' we somehow bent the 'phalange thingy' and now could leak. If it doesn't leak into the tub, the 'overpriced plumber' says, then watch in the next week for a leak in the basement.

Great. Just great.

So now we wait to see if we have a basement leak. If we have to replace that pipe and the 'phalange thingy', then the plumber said it would cost $1000 or so to replace.

Fantastic. Moral of the story. CALL THE DAMN OVERPRICED PLUMBER. Just do it.

Ugh....plumbers

2009-02-18T09:34:00.003-06:00

So my husband thinks he can do plumbing. I'm not sure why he thinks this. We have had a foray this summer where him and his dad tried to replace a garbage disposal that the guy at the store said would take a 'half hour, tops'....which turned into a festival of hammers and screw drivers against metal & bigger men than are possible to fit under the sink, fitting under the sink. I got nominated to be the 'girl under the sink' seeing as they weren't fitting too well.

We ran into a problem as well when we had to do the 'righty tighty, lefty loosey' thing and found out the moron who put the kitchen sink drain in, did it backwards, so all the while I was lefty looseying, I was in actuality, righty tightying. Yeah, don't ask.

Anyways. Last night my husband has this brilliant plan to fix the tub faucet that had started out as a light, but annoying drip, and has now escalated over the course of about a year to a full on stream that is costing us more than we care to admit on our water bill.

He goes to the 'friendly neighborhood home improvement store for dummies'.....and was promptly told by the tweeny girl that sold it to him, 'Oh, it's very easy. Just pull out the old one, and push in the new cartridge.'

Yeah, right.

He gets home and proceeds downstairs to shut off the water (Hey, at least he did that, right?), and the next thing I know, he is banging on what I know now to be the shower. He was able to get the faucet off, but the 'cartridge thingy' did NOT come out, I repeat....DID NOT come out at all.

After a while, all of the remaining plastic that was in the most remotest possibility to be grabbed on and pulled out to gain access to the 'cartridge thingy' was now nonexistent and broken off, leaving one small metal pipe.

He went back to the 'friendly neighborhood home improvement store for dummies' and talked to the tween again and got himself a lock wrench this time to attempt to remove the 'cartridge thingy'.

Upon arriving home, I had already begun to dig on line for those DIY sites to see if I can find anything with pictures, video attached, etc. You'd be surprised on how much there ISN'T. Frustrating! I did find one video and it proceded to stop 3 times JUST at the part I needed to know about. 3 times!! This means I had to watch the commercial endorsement of Dove Body wash 3 times in order to see the boring video of a 50-something guy with bad facial hair and a probable plumbers butt crack to get to the part where it conveniently geeks on me.

The next attempt by the hub was to pull with all his might at the small brass pipe that was part of the 'cartridge thingy' to see if it indeed could be popped out like the tween at the store said.

So, needless to say as he was pulling with the new nifty lock jaw pliers, POP off comes the pipe.

Yep, now our 'cartridge thingy' would NEVER come out. And of course, we didn't have the trap door behind the closet that my parents assured us we had like all other homeowners so that the pipes could be gotten at easily. No, we didn't HAVE ONE OF THOSE DOORS!!!!

We opt out of calling my mom to see if we could stay the night because with the lack of shower, that wasn't going to be very nice if we couldn't find a way to make only the TUB valve stay off. After finagling some and trying different combinations, we finally found the magic one that gave us a toilet, sink, kitchen sink and NO TUB.

I had to grab the phone and call the dreaded plumber. I haven't heard yet today what the outcome of it all is, but it sure can't be good.

As much as I say I don't really care, I DO because we don't really have any extra cash lying around, but the thought of having to do a sponge bath again, that doesn't include a beer & a massage, is not on my list of favorite things.

What's your bag??

2009-02-16T14:57:00.006-06:00

So, I got this great idea for the blog from a new blog I'm following, Adlibby on the loose, so THANKS to her!

In reference to her rules...it's not fair if you take a purse that is fun, your fave, or something with more character than you happen to be using this minute. The rule is....it has to be one that you carried with you today. Here's mine.

It is a pumpkin-spice colored suede purse that I got from "That's My Bag" on Michigan Avenue in Chicago on one of my many trips in to train for the Chicago 3-day walk.... I love it and it holds all of my crap, without looking TOO much like a suitcase. I love that the straps are long enough to go over my shoulder without it being too tight. It only cost me about 39 dollars and it is Sag Harbor brand. It came in an olive green too, but I got the larger tote accompaniment in that color. I have that one today too, but don't have pics of it.

Here is the inside.... I love that it has credit card slots (then I don't have to have a wallet in there). Keeps the weight lower! Despite it looking full, it really isn't. I have a small spiral notebook in there that has lists. I have a brag album of my awesome nephew who is incidentally 7 months old yesterday. I have a ton of lipstick/gloss/juice/chapstick....I am not sure why I have so many. That's actually after I removed about 6 tubes of various other colors just yesterday.

Lastly, here are the contents....unveiled. I'm not sure why I have 2 packs of gum either, or the dogtags. I think they are left over from me taking them from my car console to my purse and they never found a home at home...They are souveniers I got from the Harley 105th festival in Milwaukee in June (yes, June), and custom dog tags I had made when we were in DC last August (again, yes, August). I have a small pack for those ostentatious credit cards that I don't like to show that I have those silly cards like Bath & Body Works & actually kept the promotional fake credit card from the movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic" on accident. I have recently thrown that out, but you get my drift. I have my business card holder in the pretty blue case which I got from my sister, and a brochure from my business just in case. I did not remove all of the receipts from the center pocket, because that would just make me look messy!

In looking at the pile, I don't know where the money is!! Probably at the store where I got all of my lipgloss.

Tell me what's in your bag!!??

I would drive a 100,000 miles...

2009-02-13T13:42:00.008-06:00

Today, at exactly 6:53 am, my little blueberry 2005 Hyundai Elantra's odometer flipped to 100,000 fantastic, long, draining, happy, tune-filled, ice-covered, and repetitious miles.

I got my car in February of 2005 and it is the first time I had a new car from the current year in which I purchased it and not the older model to save money. I didn't plan it that way, but they didn't have any other blue ones other than the one with the fabric protection and retractable sunroof that was in the showroom. I didn't need the fabric protection, but they insisted that was the only one. Of course, that meant an added 600 or so dollars to the cost of my new little car. The goal was to keep the payment low, and at $248, I think I succeeded, considering it is loaded with the sunroof which I couldn't do without, the better stereo, A/C, cruise, intermittent wipers, electric mirrors, etc......

My little car has seen lots of places. My sister and I went to Yellowstone, DC, Virginia Beach & it has taken countless trips to the Quad cities area where my husband and I have family. What I hadn't counted on was the fact that in less than 4 years, my warranty is through. I wouldn't be so disappointed, but with a 100,000 or a 10 year warranty, I was hoping that I'd get at least 7 years out of it. Damn the job that is 33 miles one way!! Ugh!!

The odometer flipped while I was on the I (I-94 for you city-folk) at the Gurnee Mills exit in Gurnee, IL. I was in the middle lane.

Thanks to my little car for giving me such fun!! Here's to another 100,000!

"Dark & Twisty" song lyrics...

2009-02-11T15:08:00.001-06:00

This is a repost from my Myspace from early 2007....

Keep in mind these are snippets or lyrics I think are good – for all different reasons – if only one that they work perfectly in that musical rift they happen to lie in, or one note really captures the feeling of the whole lyric. Some bring back good or bad memories. Sometimes they only sound worthy in the context of the music, but it's my blog and I can put whatever the hell I want on it! J A lot of these are depressing, and make me sound all 'dark and twisty'. I guess I'm a sap for sad songs! 3 stars if you can guess some of the song titles and artists. Some are easy! Maybe my appreciation for lyrics means I was a former poet too!

Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic.

Heal me…my darling, heal me…my darling.

I wanna be high, so high. I want to be free to know that things I do are right.

Bring the funk, funk me up, funk me down, funk my sideways, funk me always, got to bring the funk.

So come the following May, more than her appetite was getting wet.

No one's listening, not even the trees.
As I sit and watch the trees, Won't ya tell me if I scream will they bend down and listen to me. Makes me wonder if I know the words, will ya laugh at me or will I run?

I'm a stranger in my home.

But I'll see better when the smoke clears inside my head and I can listen when the screaming doesn't repeat everything I've said. All that remains is me and who I am at the end of the day and this happens everyday….

When your secret heart cannot speak so easily. Come here darling and have a little faith in me.

Watch the sun rise and fill our souls up.

Lovely lady, let me drink you, please. Won't spill a drop no, I promise you.

Would you forgive me love if I danced in your shower.
So forgive me love if I cry in your shower.
So forgive me love for the salt in your bed.

I need no soft lights to enchant me, if you'll only grant me the right to hold you every so tight and to feel in the night the nearness of you.

Hike up your skirt a little more and show the world to me.

Is no hope in you for me? No corner you could squeeze me? The space between. The tears we cry is the laughter that keeps us coming back for more…the wicked lies we tell to keep us safe from the pain. The space between. Where you smile and hide, that's where you'll find me if I get to go.

I, alone tempt you, fear is not the end of this.

Put your soul in the water and join me for a swim tonight.

I know this love is passing time, passing through like liquid. I am drunk in my desire.

Oh the quiet child awaits the day when she can break through the mold that clings like desperation.

Oh God, if you're out there, won't you hear me? I know we've never talked before….

Change my life, make it right, be my lady.

When you light those candles up there on the mantle settin the mood. I just lie there staring silently preparing to love on you. I can feel the heat from across the room, ain't it wild what a little flame can make you wanna do.

It feels like it's rainin' you. Runnin down my face, takes me to another place. I can't think of better way to drown. It feels like it's rainin' you.

When I get where I'm going, I will love and have no fear.

This is how it seems to me, life is only therapy, real expensive and no guarantee.

You set my soul free, now every word that she speaks to me is pure gold. She set my soul free. She give me love, she give me hope, she give me strength to bear my faults for you.

Just like a thirsty field, I can't complain a bit….cuz I'm thankful for every single drop I can get. His love's like rain on a tin roof, sweet song of a summertime storm, the way that it moves you. It's a melody of passion raging on…and then it's gone.

I drove all night, to get to you. Is that alright? I drove all night, crept in your room, woke you from your sleep to make love to you. Is that alright? I drove all night.

Oh, darlin, darlin, darlin' walk awhile with me…..

The dust has just begun to fall. Spin me round again and rub my eyes 'this can't be happening', when busy streets have messed with people who've stopped to hold their….hide and seek.

Oily marks appear on walls whether pleasure moments hung before they take over the sweeping insensitivities of this still life. Hide and seek.

For you…..they'll be no crying. For you……the sun will be shining cuz I feel that when I'm with you, it's alright. I know its right. And the songbirds keep singing like they know the score….and I love you, I love you, I love you, like never before.

Funny how my favorite shirt smells more like you than me, bitter traces left behind, stains that no one can see.

Let's go dance under the street lights, all the people in this world, let's come together, more than ever, I can feel it, can you feel it? Come on over, down to the corner, my sisters and my brothers, of every different color, don't you feel that sunshine? Telling you to hold tight, things will be alright, trying to get a better life…..man I know you want to let yourself go…..

I was feelin like a creep as I watched you asleep face down in the grass in the park in the middle of a hot afternoon. Your top was untied and I thought how nice it would be to follow the sweat down your spine.

Place your love, in my world. It's for you, it's made for you.

I can light the night up with my soul on fire. I can make the sun shine from pure desire. Let me feel that love come over me. Let me feel how strong it can be.

Like the desert, waiting for the rain, like a school kid, waiting for the spring, I'm just sitting here waiting for you to come on home and turn me on.

Hey my friend it seems your eyes are troubled. Care to share your time with me?

I'll walk half way 'round the world just to sit down by your side….troubles they may come and go, but good times, they're gold. When the road gets rocky girl, just steady as we go.

NOT A SONG LYRIC, BUT JUST A REALLY COOL LINE FROM A BOOK: "It's a beautiful thing to carry a person's tears in your pocket. Thank you." - The Doctor's Wife

2 DAYS TIL THE WEEKEND, BABY!!!!! CAN'T WAIT! (That's not a lyric, that's an original thought).

Decompress with me....

2009-02-11T14:58:00.002-06:00

This is a repost from my Myspace fall of 2007....

So this was my lunch yesterday....Let me set the scene...Decompress with me!..
I run to the car outside in the lot and grab my blanket to save my butt from the faded planks of an old wooden porch of our pole-barn type office. The covered porch makes for a nice comfortable lunch in the spring and these days of the fall.

I had heated my leftover spaghetti in the microwave before heading out here and I'm hoping the bees aren't going to bother me like they have the last few days. Something about late fall that makes them crazy! I'm not one of those neurotic girls that go crazy when a bee comes by them. I usually just mind my own business about it. If they get close, I swat away and kill if i get the chance. Why can't we all cohabitate peacefully? I take my first bite and realize it's not half bad so the rest of it goes down smoothly.....with a pepsi chaser. I have found it is definitely a challenge to eat spaghetti with your legs stretched out in front of you and no table (in a skirt no less). Funny, I guess I should be more worried about 'sitting like a lady' than how to eat spaghetti on a porch. However, I am NOT.

The breeze is nice, thankfully, because it is about 80 and kinda stuffy out. You'd think it was midsummer, but the crumbling dry leaves that are bumping and twitching across the faded asphalt lot gives the fall season away. Ahead of me is the ash tree that looks beautiful in all the seasons, but drops 'catkins' from its branches that is not always pretty. Not like the maples that have those whirligigs or even a nice pine cone. They drop these things that look like petrified squirrel excrement. Not pretty.

The left and right of the flagstone steps are large cement planters filled at the last minute with a hodgepodge assortment of multicolored mums, million belles, kale, etc. for the fall. They had been empty until last week because one of the designers didn't like the first ones one of the maintenance crews put in, but I guess empty pots for 3 months are better than ugly ones? Not sure about that. I do NOT agree.

After partaking in a nice little lunch, I have toasted up enough to take off my shoes and shrug and soak up some real rays. Now that it's fall, the sun reaches all the under the porch roof (kind of defeating the purpose of a covered porch for shade, huh?) I actually got some color yesterday! It took a few paragraphs of my book to get me back on track to what was happening; after all, it's only at lunch that I'm able to take the time to actually read.

The tired arborvitaes that flank the driveway to the office have seen better days and for a 10 million dollar landscape co., you'd think they'd think about replanting with something that looks nicer. I guess we put all our energies into our customers. At least the entrance is now presentable.

The only thing missing is tunes on my ipod, but I would have hated to miss the sounds that accompany this wonderful weather for the drum solo of an 80's hair band, but maybe instead a nice piano piece by Jim Brickman or the lull of Norah Jones would've been more appropriate. I take a mental note to tune up next time.

My Fantasy day....can this REALLY happen??

2009-02-11T14:56:00.001-06:00

First, the day would start out at about 50 hours long…..and the day would start counting down just before sunrise (summertime is about 5:30 or so?)….

Sunrise & my own thoughts, alone with a good book and tunes.

Fresh fruit on a patio overlooking the ocean, smells of jasmine, lily of the valley, lilacs and waves watching the sunrise emerge from sleep.

Light DMB or piano/Norah Jones/Eva Cassidy music

I would get dressed in a long thin gauzey linen fitted low back sundress, flip flops, take a walk on the beach. I'd see my neighbor, this hot guy I've always had a connection with walking towards me. We meet up and talk and walk for about an hour or so along the shoreline, stopping along the way to pick up things lost in the sand, shells & treasures. We gently hold hands and stop also for little smooches and hugs then break into a run back to our places collapsing on the sand laughing endlessly about nothing.

We part, I go to my art studio, also overlooking the ocean. It is very light with ambient sunlight, large windows open making the room smell of summer and acrylic paint, and of course, Jasmine, lily of the valley, and lilacs…..

I paint a large canvas, the largest I've done a 4 x 5' white mystery. I have an endless supply of every color imaginable and brushes that are at my every fingertip. The layout of my tools of the trade is easy to access, perfect actually as I start slathering the paint. The colors fall as ideas pour out of me and make the most beautiful painting I've ever done – it's of another Chicago skyline.

I take the painting, freshen up and go downstairs to hop into my mustang convertible, top down of course, that is magically filled with gas and buffed to a beautiful shine I can see myself in. I jam to awesomely sounding tunes floating over me. I sing and know every chorus of every song I sing. And I'm in tune!!!! I drive down the imaginary coastline that never ends, flipping a coin for rights and lefts through the countryside. I drive for what seems like ever, then stop along the way to take pictures of beautiful things – a lonely tree, a beautiful small secluded river. I park the car and hike down to the river sitting on the side of the banks with my feet resting on a rock as the water rushes over them.

I get back in the car and drive to the city. Take more pictures in the city and then go shopping with an unlimited credit card. Buy some camera stuff, art stuff, a pretty dress, every color lip gloss imaginable, some fabulously comfortable shoes, a great couple bathing suits and a great hat that actually looks GOOD on my peanut head. I drop my painting off at my gallery on Michigan Avenue ….

I get to North Ave. beach where it is a beautiful 80 degrees, small fluffy clouds overhead. The beach is bustling with all types of people. I make my way through the crowd and find a bunch of people I know. We hang out together in a large area with our Egyptian cotton towels all touching in a large circle. We have a cooler of 'Mike's Hard Berry' and Miller Lite and it's full of ice. Pizza hut is delivered. We play the music as loud as we want and all get up and dance, make out and sing at the top of our lungs. Each of us heads to the water as we feel the need, splashing and playing like we're kids. Dancing and feeling silly meeting new people! We spend several hours at the beach.

4 of us head out (me and 3 guys of course) where we walk along Michigan Avenue and stop by my gallery (still 80 degrees but it doesn't feel hot) and they buy me quaint little bouquets of flowers (daisies, lily of the valley, tulips) along the way from street vendors just because. I go in and Brett Favre is there wants to buy my painting for a million dollars and invites me to every Packer game for life. He decides he can't disappoint me so he decides to play football forever and vows to wave at me at the beginning of every game! He knows I'm his biggest fan! I gladly sell him the painting…

My friends and I all walk in arm in arm in arm in arm harmony back to our cars, laughing and telling stories. We stop for ice cream cones at Baskin Robbins - Mint Chocolate Chip - double scoop (with no calories of course).

We drive to the airport. We fly to Vegas to gamble a bit and hit the strip, just for a couple hours. [remember, time is no matter here – flying doesn't count against the time], then off to Australia to watch the Indy race on Indy's Gold Coast.

We then get a phone call from Dave Matthews & Norah Jones inviting me and all my friends to a huge outdoor concert at Red Rocks in Colorado . I get everyone on the phone and take their private jet to the concert. The electricity of the crowd makes for a fun evening. They sing all my favorite songs: Crush, Say Goodbye, Steady As We Go, Two Step, #34, Best of What's Around…..Turn Me On, What Am I to You, Long Day Is Over, Nearness of You, etc….

Most of the friends go home and one guy stays, we get back to my place and head out on bikes down the road a bit to a corner market and buy fresh filet and the sweetest corn on the cob as if it was straight from Iowa . Come back to the back patio along the beach and he makes me the most tender wonderful filet I've ever tasted in my life, lightly tasting of garlic butter and charcoal. The corn (I eat 3 ears) is slathered with butter that has no calories and lightly dusted with salt. We quietly eat on a blanket on the beach while watching the sun make it's way down slowly over the water. The pepsi is cold and fizzy. The glances are electric and the hearts race. I'm getting a buzz without the alcohol from sheer happiness of the days events.

We fall asleep kissing, touching and making love on the softest blanket on the sand as the light breeze grazes over our naked bodies. I have the most wonderful orgasms imaginable.

I feel safe, happy, content and fulfilled. I am rich, have a great beautiful huge loft overlooking the ocean with hardwood floors, high ceilings, endless windows, a surround system of music, a huge multi-tiered deck, a great studio & gallery in the city, lots of friends to hang out with, people who think I'm beautiful and fun and never want to let me go…….

Wow, if only this could happen....I guess that's why they call it a FANTASY.....

Jimmy John Rach...

2009-02-11T14:51:00.001-06:00

I always tell you about the decent pics that I add (or maybe I’m biased), but this time I thought I would share with you a little story…..

I have led a very photographical life. My grandfather was a photographer in the war and throughout the 60s professionally. I was the only grandchild, so I was blessed with a childhood full of pics everytime I visited.

I never once had a blinking problem. Lately, that has changed. My husband and I own a photography business and I was a test subject a lot of the times for new equipment. Recently, we made the huge switch from Canon to Nikon. It was a huge adjustment, but the quality stood out with the Nikon and their flash system by far more superior than the Canon due to their precise light metering.

To be short, the Nikon system’s flash sends out a dual “pre-cursor” flash to “meter” the light and then flashes the correct amount of power to light the situation properly. It is nearly instantaneously and virtually undetectable to the naked eye. To everyone except me, I suppose. I have very sensitive eyes apparently because on a recent trip to Petrifying Springs Park in Kenosha, I was a test subject once again and suddenly had a blinking problem. I thought it was originally due to the different shutter sound, or that the red-eye reduction was on, however that was not the case. I must have taken about 3 or 4 blink shots to every non-blink shot. We have since remedied the problem with a workaround (use the flash in Manual, or use a separate pre-cursor flash 2 seconds apart from the regular flash instead of the 2 at once).

I now am affectionately known as a person with “Jimmy John eyes”…..this meaning “Freaky good, freaky fast.” I actually came up with that one and it seems to fit me….on both facets.

So, in the essence of making fun of myself, here are some of the terrible faces of the new “Jimmy John Rach”…..

Enjoy laughing…..I did, and it gets me through the bad days.

Happy drunk Rach….

“I am so sick of this shit Rach”

“I really have to use the bathroom Rach”

Regal Rach

Breast Cancer 3-day Walk - Day 3

2009-02-11T14:45:00.003-06:00

DAY 3….Day 3 wasn’t bad. We were actually going to be bussed somewhere closer to the city because it would’ve been too long to go from Des Plaines to Soldier field where the closing ceremonies were, so they bussed us in yellow school busses to Lincolnwood on the north side of the city.

Our route was up through Bucktown, Wicker & Lincoln parks, then on down the lakefront via the path along the lake all the way down to Michigan Avenue through all the hustle and bustle of the big city, something I was waiting for the whole weekend. I love the city more than anything and enjoyed this day the best. Here is us at about 3 in the afternoon before arriving at Soldier field….that last mile there was long, but very satisfying. The 3 of us had stayed together the entire day (where as Fri & Sat we split up some and walked together some) and walked arm in arm in arm across the final line amidst many many other walkers, crew, staff, medical people and family screaming ‘You did it! You made it! You’re our heroes, we love you, we’re so proud of you! Thank you for walking!”. It was such an amazing feeling and we all bawled behind our sunglasses until we collapsed on a berm by the parking lot across from the festivities where we were told to hold until the ceremonies were to begin.

Pics of the ‘brooms’ that denoted the sweep vans on the routes…..

People made homemade signs and banners (like my mom and nephew did). It felt like you were the most wanted and appreciated people on the planet when you walked into that area with the stage.

My sister somehow found us in the crowd and got other walkers to get my attention by saying “are you Rachel, there’s someone that’s trying to talk to you over there.” It was great to see her and the hug was extra tight. Here’s the pic she took of us. Our white shirt denoted walker, Grey were crew, and pink were Survivors and they went in first.

Closing ceremonies were very moving. There were speeches from the nephew of Susan G. Komen (the son of the sister who made that fateful promise to her dying sister), and the director of the event, as well as other survivors. The shoe removal part of the ceremony was especially moving (and let’s admit that it felt good to take off the shoes.)

Here’s our families….

And us….

When we left the stadium, actually getting OUT of the area proved to be more of a hassle than we thought it would be. Luckily, my mom came prepared with brownies, rice krispie treats, chocolate chip cookies, drink boxes, some alcoholic beverages and soda, etc. to supply many walkers and their families as they waited in their cars in a huge line. We just sat on the curb by the car and enjoyed out new neighbor’s company, Iris and her family.

It was an amazing experience, and what was even better, is that all 3 of us girls walked every stinking last mile….all 60 of them – no sweep vans needed. We plan on doing it again next year, and plan on doubling what we raised. This year the 3 of us raised $11,174. We’re proud to say that we were able to do our part in helping rid our great world of this horrible disease. Who knows, breakthroughs in Breast Cancer, leads to breakthroughs in ALL kinds of cancer. My dad is a colon cancer survivor and I have a myspace friend who is also a survivor. And I know 3 ladies, all breast cancer survivors who all can continue to live thanks to the Susan G. Komen foundation. See you next year!!

Breast Cancer 3-day Walk - Day 2

2009-02-11T14:36:00.001-06:00

DAY 2….Day 2 started out the same as day one, but we had a good breakfast after getting up at dawn and were on the road by 6:45 or so. It was cooler this day and looked like rain, so I made sure I had my poncho, but Tara and Deb had to get garbage bags from Walgreens. One person would buy a box and then just hand them out outside. The rain stopped within an hour and got warmer then.Here’s pit stop 2 on day 2…..and Tara in her ‘little black garbage bag dress.’

We walked a large circle around our camp that day, and my favorite part was the Mt. Prospect police department wore pink uniform shirts!

Lunch…..day 2…..

Throughout the days too there were ‘cheering sections’ – some larger than others – that really perked us up. In addition to people cheering and handing out candy, ice cubes, freeze pops, and sprays of water, they played music and cheered. Some of them had ‘red carpets’ that you cross and you had to dance across! There was also the Tata van that had a trailer in back that shot out bubbles and they had music going and the guys were dancing and cheering. That helped a lot to keep spirits and paces up during the day. We couldn’t have done it without them. Their were ‘spirit vans’ going around too with boas hanging from it and horns honking. All great and very needed. There were these two ‘angels (a husband and wife team. Later I learned the wife was a survivor)’ who rode their bikes around keeping morale up. The man angel would stop and play baseball at local games, and be a goalie during the soccer practice. There’s nothing like seeing an angel making a diving save at the soccer net.

Not only were there ‘spirit vans’ and people on corners that helped you through it, but there were ‘sweep vans’ that would basically pick you up if you couldn’t make it another step walking. They encouraged people to use them and people did. There was no shame in this. They would bring you to the next pit stop. If you were done for the day, they had busses that would bring you back to camp to rest.My and Tara’s husbands came to the cheering section in Glenview on Saturday afternoon. I went ahead after lunch while Tara waited for Deb and rested a while, and I got to rest at the cheering section while waiting for the girls…..

Here they are coming on in…..

And some of us hanging out. We are about 3 miles from the end of Day 2 back to camp.

Day 2 we all agreed was the hardest day. We knew what to expect, but our bodies were still screaming. I didn’t have many problems, although my arches hurt so taking off my shoes at every pit stop or grab N go was a must to stretch them, but no blisters so I was happy. Deb and Tara weren’t as lucky, with blisters and other problems. So we felt that the last mile on Day 2 was the worst….it was the hottest part of the whole weekend and began to get humid. This was the last half mile to camp….and it took forever.

Breast Cancer 3-day Walk - Day 1

2009-02-11T14:27:00.001-06:00

As many of you know, August 8-10 I participated in the Chicago Breast Cancer 3-day Walk benefiting Susan G. Komen for the cure and the National Philanthropic Trust. It seems like forever ago already, but I’m finally taking time to blog about the great experience…..

Complete with pics…..

My team and I (Tara, my team captain, and Deb) have been training since we signed up in late February of this year, I more than the others because I love walking so much. I have a ‘4-mile route’ at home I walk at night to clear away the cobwebs. That sometimes works just as much as a cold beer and a good song. Not always, but most times.

If you had been reading my previous blogs, then you’d know that the most I walked at one time was 22 miles (to my mom’s and back), so I had been pretty prepared.

This first one is of us at the hotel ready to board the bus to the opening ceremonies.

We left work on Thursday night and headed to our hotel because the prospect of getting up at 3am in order to get ready and get to Northbrook Mall where our opening ceremonies were by 5 or 5:30 wasn’t too exciting. We got a good night sleep and arrived at the opening ceremonies at 5:45. What we saw when we got there was an amazing amount of people in crazy outfits, hats with nylon boobs on them, boas, pink, pink and more pink everywhere! People with bright colored socks and shirts so they were easily recognizable to family and friends were also there!

Here’s what it was like….

The weather was perfect all 3 days, with the exception of mid-Saturday morning where we got some sprinkles (thank God for garbage bags from Walgreens for Tara because she forgot her poncho). The weather was cooler and very unlike Chicago-land August weather, THANK GOD!Our first day was about 23 miles. It took a while for the crowds to thin out and get into a groove, but once we did, it was easier. The route was designed with pit stops or ‘grab N go’s’ at ever 2-3 miles, something we grew to really count on! This is our first real pit stop. Pit stops have water, Gatorade, potties & all kinds of food – my faves were string cheese, raisin boxes, banana parts, chips/pretzels, but they also had other fruit (the oranges made my hands sticky), and Smuckers Uncrustables. The Grab N Go’s had water, Gatorade and potties only. They were spaced opposite of each other.

Here is our first real pit stop and one of the tents. Lunches were decent and had different sandwiches or wraps for each day, along with some type of salad or coleslaw and fruit, as well as a dessert.

At the opening ceremonies, there were banners that signified different things (home, family, my sister, my mother, health, courage, etc.) and they were encouraged for the banner holder to keep passing the banners so that eventually most all the people could touch one and carry it throughout the first day. Here is Tara holding the Health banner…..

Our route on Friday was around Northbrook and heading to our camp, at the Oakton Community College grounds, so we headed out and made our way through the Botanic Gardens and continuing. We got to know how long it would take to reach our next stop and grew to love the site of the ‘blue porta-potties on the horizon’……but the signs telling us how long we had were nice too…..the Harley crossing guards lots of times had that info too, telling us, “Only 1.8 miles til the next pit stop, ladies! Keep going strong!”

Camp was fun. 2400 tents or so in long lines denoted by letter and number….kind of like a prison! Haha! Seriously, it wasn’t bad, and the dome tents only took about 2 minutes to put up. Here’s camp, along with the shower trucks and towel service (an extra $12 and worth every penny) and the memory tents where you could write your own story and sign the memoriam tent with your loved ones name.

Dinner was a great hot meal and even though there were activities in the huge ‘circus’ tent and a little shopping area for gear and souvenirs, we pretty much were tucked in our tents and sleeping bags (it was about 55 at night so the sleeping bag was a must) by 8:30 or 9. Hey, you try walking 22 miles and see how long you stay up at night!

I killed a robin.....

2009-02-11T14:26:00.001-06:00

Yep, it’s official. I’m an animal killer…..again. I have gone about 11 years since I’ve killed a living thing (besides mosquitoes, a mouse, and various other flying pests). First it was a squirrel in the Intrepid, now it’s a robin in my Hyundai.

It’s a beautiful Saturday morning with the moon roof open heading to my moms house to stake out our annual ‘parade spot’ in my old town. I was using the back way because the county continually still finds humor in ripping up roads that have been ripped up the previous 2 seasons simply because ‘they had leftover money’. So, I took 60th (Hwy K for those of us who better understand the Letter Hwy’s in the county) all the way to Bristol, then Hwy D to Hwy AH to 195th Avenue.

I’m cruising along at about 62 mph or so and enjoying the county scenery, when out of the blue, a robin, who was ALSO enjoying the lovely day swooping and spiraling, until my grill happened to go THWAP into its cute little robin head.

Yes, that’s what happened. I saw him coming towards the road and brushed it off because I see it all the time, but they are so adept at switching directions and are usually aware of the surroundings of moving beings that they usually swoop up just in time…..well, unfortunately not this time.

It swooped and it hit. In the split second, after gasping and realizing what happened, listening to the staccato bumping noises the body proceeded to make in the undercarriage of my Hyundai, I quickly looked in the rear view mirror to see about 27 feathers exploding into the air in a comic-book-like arch around the robin’s tiny little (thankfully limp) body.

I’m sure it probably didn’t know what hit it and at least was enjoying a beautiful flight in the early morning during its demise.

Hey, such is the circle of life. Last time it was a squirrel spinning out of control behind the car, tail flailing, this time it is a robin exploding. Well, I’d still say 11 years is a pretty good track record.

On a side note, this whole scenario brings back a fantastic quote from “My Cousin Vinnie” in which Marisa Tomei tells Joe Pesci when he asks her if his pants were OK that he was wearing to go deer hunting, to which she replied after he had blasted a huge hole in the side of its ‘precious little deara’s head’, whether or not the ‘F-ing thing gave a F**k of what kinda pants he was wearing?’

OK, that short A.D.D. moment past, what’s a gal to do when a robin can’t learn to fly straight?

What do your rear view ornaments say about YOU?

2009-02-11T14:24:00.001-06:00

This is a repost from Fall 2008....

I have about an hour commute in the morning and evening to work every day. In my travels, I notice a lot of things. Sunrises, license plates, construction, new potholes, changes in scenery, idiot drivers texting or on the phone not paying attention, etc. I’ve also been noticing rear view mirror ornaments. What does each say about the driver?
I decided to look at my own and see…..

I don’t know if other people have ‘methods’ to their picking the ornaments they do – whether they pick them to be like their personalities, or they pick them so they match the car, or pick them to what historical nostalgia dictates (aka….the fuzzy dice with the retro convertible).

I see the typical stereotypical things hanging for the old conversion van with the ‘dingleberry chain’ across the front windshield, usually indicating a Latino family, the old nasty stretched out garter circa 1987’s prom on the 40-year-old gigolos’ buick, the fuzzy dice on the 50-something’s prized gem of a 1967 red mustang convertible. I see the 2007 tassle of the proud graduate in her new Ford Focus, the first car she had to get a loan for after her college graduation.

And then you see mine……I have significance for every piece of memorabilia that is hanging from the rear-view mirror of my 2005 Hyundai Elantra. Here is a picture….

The first thing I hung was a crystal tear drop, beaded in my favorite color, green. In August, 2006, we had our family vacation planned with my husband and his son that we were excited about. But alas in late July, my husband broke his ankle terribly and couldn’t make the trip. We had planned to go to Yellowstone National Park and one of our hotel stays was Rapid City, SD. Ironically, our vacation was during annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which would explain the $250 a night non-refundable hotel. When my husband couldn’t go because he didn’t think he could travel comfortably, my sister and I decided to go instead. This began our first annual ‘sistah’s vaca’. Whenever I travel, I always get a Christmas ornament so I can remember my trip each year. This time, I decided to start another tradition…get something for my car seeing as I’m in it so much, and something for the Xmas tree. I chose the multi-green beaded tear drop for my first piece. I chose a gold leafed real leaf for my ornament on that trip.

In January 2007, the 2nd annual sistah’s vacation finally came after 2 years of saving and planning. There were originally 3 of us from work that had planned the trip, but at the last minute, one gal, the BFF Jen, couldn’t go. I had gotten little silver disc charms engraved with ‘Sistah’s Vaca’ on the front and ‘2007’ on the back to remind us of our 6 day cruise to the Bahamas and Jamaica we had been looking forward to so much. I immediately added mine with a red ribbon to my tear drop.

Later that year, because we had so much fun the first time my sister and I had traveled together in our lives, we had decided to plan a last minute trip to somewhere warm. The cruise earlier that year had fueled my need to travel. Heidi and I had finally begun to get close again after growing up 9 years apart. Being grown adults, we were able to appreciate being friends again AND renewing our ‘sister-dynamic’ that had changed so much since we were kids.

Our trip thanks to Expedia’s great rates took us to Phoenix over my 36th birthday in July. It was fantastic, despite some of the days being 118 degrees. We stayed in a fantastic 7 year old Five Star golf resort in Phoenix and had a blast. One of the perks was getting a free car upgrade upon because we had arrived at 12:05am on July 4th, my birthday, and that fact was pointed out graciously by my sister and suggested we should get a free upgrade……a comical debate was tossed around between car rental companies whose counters were adjacent that ‘sure, Marie, just give them a 500 series Mercedes’ to which I joked back that I was ‘a blue-collar girl, and a good old Ford Mustang convertible’ would do, that I didn’t need anything fancy. They relented slightly and upgraded me from a Ford Focus, to a Mazda 6. A win in my book.

In that spiffy car, we put on a lot of miles. One of my favorite things I’ve ever done was visit the Grand Canyon which was more wondrous and amazing than I had ever dreamed. At the park gift shop, I purchased my third trinket for my car – a metal cut-out of a purple glazed sun. Every time it is sunny, I look at the sun and am reminded of such great times in that glorious sunny state. I have decided I would love to go back at the drop of a hat.

Later that year in 2007, it was ‘Family Vacation’ time in August, as customary. My husband’s ankle was healed and good to go again so we had made last minute plans to take a road trip to Washington DC. The sites were mostly free and the drive wasn’t too terribly long.

I found the perfect item for my collection at the Air & Space museum. There was a little kiosk that made custom Dog Tags. I was hooked. They were only 5 dollars a set and came with rubber silencers for an additional buck. They were the perfect souvenir for friends and family so I purchased 7 sets! For myself, I got a set that had my name, Washington DC & the date of our vacation, and another set that had my address on it. Upon arriving home, the Washington DC set was added to my ever-growing collection of memories in my car.

This year’s vacation is again DC (this time with my sister) and Virginia Beach afterwards to satisfy the beach-bum in me. I am sure this location will provide me with my next hanging memory.

What do your rear-view ornaments say about you?
Apparently, mine say that I like to hold onto my memories for as long as possible and escape my everyday life often by gazing upon them……

More 3-day Training....Summer 2008

2009-02-11T14:23:00.001-06:00

Another day in the city brings less tired feet and legs each time the Asics hit the pavement, ironically. As the days tick by more quickly towards the Breast Cancer 3-day event in August, I am constantly trying to make time to train according to the ‘Training Plan’. Seeing the ‘Saturday – 17 miles easy walking’ and ‘Sunday – 13 miles easy walking’ kinda freaked me out a bit, but decided to give it a shot. My goal for the weekend was to just shop less, walk more. Ironically, I was able to do both….shop and put in some serious miles.

Saturday thanks to the newly added express train from Waukegan, I was able to get an early start and arrived in Chicago at 9:45. It was nice for the first half hour or so, but then it was time for the umbrella for about the next hour. I made south trek til about 10th street, then turning around after the rain got heavier. I didn’t want to get caught in the parks if the storms got worse.

Soon, the sky closed up and the sun was glorious. I meandered my way north all the way to North Beach stopping only a couple of times to relax a bit for 10 minute breaks, then my longest stop, for a beer at Castaways. All in all, I was able to find some cute deals when I needed to slow up on my 4mph pace, and walk for 3 hours straight in the afternoon back to the train. In all, I visited North Beach, Millennium & Grant parks including the museum campus to Adler. My tally for Saturday was in the 17-19 mile range (without shopping time). Mission accomplished.

Upon walking, I always people watch as I go, noticing outfits as I pass by. I began taking special notice to ‘the old biddies’. I saw old women in beautiful Chanel suits with their Coach purses, ugly mismatched jean skirts and ruffle shirts, a cute little pair of capris with orange argyle socks and light blue Mr. Rogers shoes, a fancy ‘burberry’ Gramma complete with scarf, bag and matching shoes, Grammas with granddaughters carrying their ‘American Girl’ namesake. Pretty creamy-skinned grammas with immaculate hair in their velvet track suits, and of course the other end of the spectrum of wrinkly old crotchety smelly ladies with BO that could knock down a house even in the 2 seconds it takes to pass them on the street.

To make it fair, I began checking out the men too…you have the fantastic cologne ones that you just get a whiff of them enough to want to turn and run after them in the street tackling them to the ground (that happened several times, less the running and tackling), the ‘porn king’ Grecian God-wanna-be’s whose cologne made you gag and his gelled hair swished and greased his shoulders of his white button up and cheesy too-tight trousers and 27 gold necklaces as he sauntered. But then you have the skaters with crazy tats sans shirts cruising through the people, the college dudes with their ipods and messenger bags and Chuck Taylors stealthing through the crowds, and finally the boyfriends glued to their women as if any second, she would leave him for a passing Grecian God. I’m partial to the business men in their nice trousers, leather shoes, crisp button ups with the nice smiles that actually look you in the eye when you pass as if saying ‘welcome to my city, stay awhile?’ Well, I think I will do just that is what I’d tell them…. Anyone who smiles at you are keepers!

Sunday, the express train wasn’t an option so tied with the fact that I would be leaving early as well, my time was cut by 2 hours. I took it a little easier today and clocked about 14 miles of good steady pavement hitting. This day, though I followed the Lake Shore Drive path all the way along the marina front and down the Chicago Riverfront back to Michigan. The second I entered the darkened path headed back west, the little leaf Lindens were so fragrant, I never wanted to leave this sweet heavenly path. I actually needed the umbrella when I got to that path and the rain coming down made the smell that much sweeter. Luckily the showers didn’t last more than 10 minutes or so a few times that day. Kept it cool.

By the end of the 2 days, I had walked approximately 34 miles depending on the mph I was using. I averaged my numbers to the low end of my pace to not get my hopes up for having walked over the recommended amount.

The next weekend I’m able to go and walk won’t be for a few weeks, so I’ll be sure to make them good ones……relaxing ones!

Benches for our butts.....

2009-02-11T14:19:00.002-06:00

This is a repost from last late spring while training for the Breast Cancer 3-day in August......

As I’ve been spending more and more time in the city lately because I’ve been training for the 3-day, my brain seems to kick into ADHD mode and as I walk, I begin to have weird thoughts race through my mind to pass the time. A great song on an ipod apparently isn’t always enough to keep me occupied.

I was on the southern end of my loop near the Field museum a few weeks ago and as I got to about the 3 mile mark, I began to notice my body’s way of telling me that I’m not 24 anymore. Knees clicking, gentle soreness in my hips, etc. I sat down on a bench to rest and gather myself again and hopped back on the path. My next leg I got to one of the many parks and began to notice how many different types of places to put my tired butt in this city. I started craning my neck as I walked to see how many I could count. It didn’t occur to me to actually take a picture of each one until I was half way done with my day, but have counted well over 20 different types of places to sit besides the ground just on my 13 mile jaunt.

Here are a few…….metal, stone, marbel, concrete, wood, wrought iron. Circular, steps, flat, angled, slabbed, curved. This city is amazing to me. I wonder if each park has its own contract for outdoor furniture. Each must have their own because each park or ‘rest area’ is different by way of seating.

I guess if you’re tired enough, you’ll sleep anywhere, even on the cold stone, or on the damp ground. I agree with the guy on the sun basking on the grass, as I have my own fave spot.

Of course, sometimes, the ground is the best place. This is where I am partial to. My ‘spot’ is at Millennium park between the gardens in between the bean and the fountains on the ramp. The side bank is angled and is great for lying flat but gives you the ability to still see everything going on, and it’s shaded during the day if you pick the right angle.

So, there it is…..a tiny little part of trivia for the butts of the world. How many benches ARE there in the city? I guess until I count them all, I’ll just have to keep visiting!

Part 2…..the north….

Training for the 3 - day, June 2008

2009-02-11T14:12:00.002-06:00

This was a repost from my Myspace last spring....

Spring, errrr…..Summer, has finally arrived (as I write this it is 89 stinkin degrees outside and has the wind to match) and I’ve been enjoying myself in the city as much as possible. Yes, my city, Chicago.

I have made the trip in via Metra the last 2 weekends to continue my Breast Cancer 3-day walk training and between the two days one week apart, have racked up about 28 miles of pavement pounding that reaches as far south as Roosevelt and all the way north to the beach and many routes in between. My miles spanned across about 7 hours, so the 13 miles didn’t really feel that bad.

I was fortunate enough this trip around to actually see the planters complete with blooming tulips. This was the first time I was so privileged. Here are some of the shots.

I had packed in some shopping as well as a rest at the North Beach Castaways for a siesta and a 16 ouncer. The first day I went, it was a cool 50 degrees or so and because it was the first day the beach was open, there more people playing volleyball in their new bikinis and board shorts than I thought should be out so naked in that cold.

I was even able to be obliged by the Buckingham fountain to see her spouting all of her glory….another first for me surprisingly.

The path from the south side to the north was beautiful and I marvel at how well the city treats its pedestrians. They have several, not just one, paths following any general direction at any given time. If you want to walk through the rose garden, the city obliges. If you want to walk next to the roadway, again obliging. If you want to be more solitude, they accommodate those as well with this beautiful tree-lined path. Despite the amount of people that use the path, it feels as if you’re the only one because of the trees.

The lake view from Adler Planetarian on my southern part of my trip was stellar, as usual. The last time I was there though was a 60 degree day in February last year when I wanted to take some ice shots of the lake and the skyline. Sadly, it had already melted. Global warming is scary. The skyline is just as beautiful.

And another…..

Upon walking back on MI avenue, I happened to bottleneck near the Tribune building and noticed for the first time the stones embedded in the side of the bricks denoting all the famous pieces of stone and materials taken from famous buildings and landmarks from all around the world. Here are some of them. Amazing huh? I still am in awe at the new things I learn with each visit.

I wonder though….who was supplying us with these pieces of these buildings and wonder now how structurally sound they are after said bricks were removed and put into our building.

This fine building was constructed in 1925, so says the brick.

Edinburgh Castle

Westminster Abbey

The Taj Majal – WOW!

A piece of the Massachusettes building at Harvard University & a piece from a building in Switzerland. Hey, how famous could it be? I’ve never even heard of it.

Luther’s Warburg in Germany – HUH?

And finally, the Great Wall of China. Very cool.

I am amazed every day I visit, but vow that next visit, that it’s just me, my book, my ipod and a towel for a casual dip into the lake up at North Beach. Gosh, who could ask for more?

Telemarketer fun fun fun!!

2009-02-11T14:11:00.002-06:00

This is a repost from my Myspace from last early summer, 2008.

I had a dude tell me to go fuck myself today. AND...I got to talk 'valley girl'...! It was a great day!

Are you familiar with the scam where a fake company calls and tries to get you to tell them your copy machine model number so they can send you toner and then bill you an extraordinary amount of money for it? I was privy to this scam back in the KVNA days, because I got burned once. It was a new scam then. I've been enlightening our staff with each new admin girl so they are aware.

Anyway, I have these people all the time call and want to speak to the 'person in charge of your ________ copier'. Each time they call they change the company to see if they can find a tinge of recognition in our voices. My admin girls know I like to mess with the callers, so they give me the phone so I can talk to them. Other scenarios are people who are from investment firms trying to get to talk to the president, Mike or the former president, Klaus. Here's some of the things these people have said to me:

I've been told I have the brain the size of the pea (that’s the only time when I was left speechless). I've been told that I'm stupid, I've been accused 'What are you....his WIFE?' when they call to ask for the non-existent Klaus of Klaus Schmechtig Co. (He has been retired for 6 years and we are now Schmechtig Landscape Co.). We always know who these people are because they ask for Klaz or Kloos or some other silly name because they can't pronounce KLAUS. And I’m stupid?

Today....I was told to go Fuck myself. The conversation went like this. The 'gentleman' referred to his company upon my asking that he was from Dynasty Copy Services and wanted to know more information due to the recent order that was placed for a manual for our Sharp copier....When I responded, 'What exactly are you calling for?'

He replied “Simple question really. Why don't you give me to someone there who knows what the hell is going on.”

I kept my cool because in order for me to keep messing with them, I have to play along. I said this then, “Look, I’m the assistant manager, and I can assure you that you are talking to the correct person who can get you the information you are needing.”

He then quickly retorted, ‘You sound like an intelligent woman’. I was silent, not in protest to what he was saying, but to see if he would give me the punchline early so I could come up with an opportunity to retort, and continued “Then you can figure out a way to go fuck yourself.”

Because I’ve dealt with these idiots before (not many can get the best of me), I came back with a scathing, “Why don’t you show me?”

His answer was a ‘Uhhh…..[click]’. Yep. He hung up. Score another for the Rach-meister.

The lady that called about 10 minutes after him on the same line was kind of doing a lamo-impression of a valley girl and I played with her for a bit and asked for a direct line that I could call her back on because I had to ‘check with my president because my extraneous funds this month were really tight’. She couldn’t give me a number and proceeded to hang up as well.

I’ve used a lot of scenarios for these callers. I’ve told them in a perfect Valley Girl voice that “No, we don’t use copiers, like, um….we use carbon paper. It’s such a pretty color purple.” Or sometimes I take the “We take polaroids” approach. They get so frustrated because I’ve wasted THEIR time. As if.

Or when asked for a better time to call me back after I give them my information, “Oh my gosh, are you hitting on me? You want my number? That’s SOOOOOO in appropriate. I’m going to report you to the authorities.”

I’ve come up with some new ones too. The next time they call, I’m going to say this if it’s a girl: “Debbie….oh my gosh, Debbie? Is that youuuuu????? My long lost sister? I’m so happy to have found you after so many years! You have to tell me how to get ahold of you again. Mom’s going to be so overjoyed you’ve come back to us!”

If it’s a guy, I plan on going with the whole sex approach. “My GAWD you have a really sexy voice. I bet you work out….” That conversation could go a long way until I waste all of his time before he hangs up and gets nowhere.

I really have to write these experiences down. Classic good fun, folks.

A Wine Story.....

2009-02-11T14:09:00.002-06:00

I’ve come to the conclusion after several tries that I might just not be a ‘wine kind of girl’. My taste buds (so far) seem to be bred for more, shall we say, blue collar drinks. I do know now that if I had to choose, I’d choose a wine solely based on the type of cork. Plus, the corkscrew contraption that I had to purchase in order to open the wine, really made me feel mechanically inclined when it was used correctly.

I’ve been trying for years to find a wine that will wean my taste buds to the cultured side, but have not found one I like without shuddering and making a face…..picture a 7 year old girl on her grandpa’s lap letting her taste his Old Milwaukee or PBR beer…..

Upon a recommendation from a friend, I picked out the wine from a larger local store with a great liquor dept. I was told to purchase a bottle of Lindeman’s or McWilliams Shiraz. I was going to only get one, but figured because of the modest price, I could have one of each, but try a 2006 & 2005. (Gimme a break, these are 7 dollar wines). After all, I’ve been told that different years taste differently, as well as the same grape grown in different regions, etc. So many factors….and I just thought it was just a grape. Naïve.

In order to enjoy the whole entire ‘wine experience’, I decided to get comfortable. Keep the comfy jeans on, and removed any ‘restrictive’ clothing to let the girls breathe and headed back to the kitchen.

I pulled out the Lindemans first.

“Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz 2005 is a real find in the inexpensive wine arena. You can find it for five or six bucks on sale, but it delivers as much as wines costing a lot more. Its aroma is plummy, and the flavor is cherry with a hint of chocolate. This Shiraz saves the best for last, with a lingering and complex finish that adds some oak and spice to the bon-bon flavor.”
Place contraption on top of bottle, screw down, arms come up, push down arms, cork is removed with a slight pull and POP. Synthetic cork good. However, I realized that if I liked the wine, I'd have to drink the whole bottle because I didn't have a cork to recork it with (the one I took out didn't fit back in of course). Or do you just leave it open in your fridge? I'm so wine illiterate. I proceeded to pour the glass, and let it breathe for the obligatory 10 minutes. I grabbed my book, flip flops, wine, bottle and headed out to the garden bench. I started to get into the book and took my first sip......another sip.....still the same reaction. It wasn't a favorable one. I feel terrible for not liking it and I’m not sure why. A Shiraz, while fruity, is just too much like swigging pure alcohol to me.

I figured maybe it was the year that I picked, so I tried to open the McWilliams 2005 Shiraz. This is what the review said when I googled It.

“This Shiraz has a powerful and pleasant nose, full of juicy berries and spice with a hint of licorice. The flavors were plum and blackberry, with a bit of chocolate.”Place contraption on top of bottle, screw down, arms come up, push arms down. This is when the cork is removed. However, upon pulling the cork out, I realize half the cork is on the corkscrew and half remains in the bottle. Real cork bad. Repeat process, this time coming up with a ‘Corklette’, but still the rest remained, this time pushed farther down into the neck. Repeat last time, this time receiving no gratification, OR cork.

Plan B. I rummaged through my utensil drawer and pulled out a shish kabob skewer. Not having taken Physics in high school, I didn’t think of the consequences of pushing the cork INTO the bottle, thus leaving the liquid displaced in its wake, nowhere to go but UP and shooting out of the bottle and all over my face, my shirt, my floor, my sink, my counters, my one wall, and my refrigerator. Apparently, I don’t know my own strength. Shoulda taken physics. This wouldn’t have happened if I took physics.

The Clorox wipes came out. 12 later, I pour my glass of wine, corklettes and particles. It looks less appealing than originally thought it could. I grab another glass, a clean paper towel and sieve it while pouring into the second glass. This worked. This more than made up for my lack of physics logic.

I take the bottle, the glass, my book and my Clorox-smelling self and head out to my bench. I read. I let the glass breathe. I take sip. I take another sip. I make same reaction.

Needless to say, even after the cork fiasco, the shish kabob skewer, the clorox wipes, the changing of the Tshirt, the 2nd extra glass, the paper towel and the subsequent taste, I’ve decided that I just needed to find the right wine. Maybe I’m not describing what I like correctly.

Next wine down…..
How many other varieties to go?

Til then….

Give this girl a Miller long neck and I’ll be happy.

Let's get re-acquainted....with Dave Matthews Band

2009-02-11T14:08:00.002-06:00

Dave Matthews Band was formed in 1991 and totals 5 members with many guest musicians. Several were already accomplished jazz musicians from around the Charlottesville, VA circuit. Throughout the years, the band became instant sensations, but with always tight ties to the original grassroots style of music. Combined with killer instrumental riffs, an unusual lead singers falsetto croon, and haunting melodies, this band is around for the ages. At times, Daves voice resembles the horns he features in his music. Have a listen. If you want to know more about the band, what their names are, who plays what, etc….then hit up ‘Annie Luvs DMB’ and one of her many friends….as she is the true DIE hard fan. I only know that I love their music.

Most of you are familiar with the regular Dave songs….Crash Into Me (one of my faves), Ants Marching, Best of What’s Around, etc….but here are a few songs that are a little LESS well known that I’ve found to be utterly beautiful. I’m no expert, but know what I like, and I LOVE DMB.

My experience with DMB is like this….the best analogy I can come up with is grasping hands with someone you are so compatible with that your hands melt together. Whether it is from pure lust, longevity, or from habit….your hands tingle the second they meet and all the butterflies rise to the surface and nothing else matters except you and that person. The fact is…your hands were meant to be together. The feeling you get grasping hands for the first time, that’s what DMB music feels like to me.

Please give it a listen, and don’t give up in the first 30 seconds….the great thing about DMB, is that the variety throughout the song is unmatched. Sometimes the song takes off in a new direction that is even better than the first leg of the journey.

The first song, Say Goodbye is rich on instrumental vibes. In fact, the first 1:25 seconds is mostly all playful flutes. I love it. The song encompasses total one-night-stand passion.

Take Steady As We Go….I like the album version as listed here, but the live version from the ‘Weekend on the Rocks’ album is exceptional. The first line is this. “I would walk half way around the world just to set down by your side. I would do most anything girl to be the apple of your eye.” Yes…the rhyming is somewhat corny, but it’s the melody that melts me completely.

Crush is self-explanatory. With the flats and the drunk feeling you get just listening to it. The video is just as sexy. Sex personified with notes and melodic ooze mixed with great phrases like ‘Lovely lady, let me drink you, please, I won’t spill a drop, no, I promise you.’ Or ‘And I wonder this….could tomorrow be so woundrous as you there sleeping.’‘

Two step is an amazing journey of cymbals, fiddles and plucking. And a great bunch of verses to boot.

Finally, Dreamgirl is the epitome of a voyeuristic romp as proven by this fun lyric, ‘I was feeling like a creep as I watched you asleep face down in the grass in the park in the middle of a hot afternoon. Your top was untied and I thought how nice it would be to follow the sweat down your spine.’ OH…but only Dave can sing it without being smarmy or stalkish. And the opening is fantastic. See earlier picture blog – music for the word “Ethereal.”

The musicians which comprise DMB are phenomenal and are known to jam in a song for 20 or 30 minutes and still maintain the integrity of the song in between. The musicianship of these men amaze me. Horns, Mandolins, Violins, different types of percussion, intricate piano solos. What can be greater?

Hope you’ve enjoyed the newest music lesson.

Live well with music. That’s my new motto.

2 days of Chicago Bliss....Spring 2008

2009-02-11T13:55:00.002-06:00

This is a repost from a warm spring day in early 2008....

SPRING WEEKEND – 2 days of Chicago bliss.

The weatherman said it 3 days IN A ROW and I was a believer. 61 I packed myself a little day bag, threw on my Breast Cancer 3-day training shirt and my Nikes and headed to the Waukegan station.

I had had it planned for a week or so….a weekend (with a trip home in between) in the city. What could be better? I had goals. To put a substantial dent in my training, have an ice cream cone, catch a nap in Millennium Park, finish my book, get a great summer skirt or two, get a few great pics, and have a beer on the train home.

Here’s what I accomplished. The train ride in was great – crowded, but great. The Great Lakes stop is always a challenge and it wasn’t any different this day – in fact, because this was the first truly nice day of the spring, the station was more packed than I had seen it in ages. Throngs of sailors, families, more sailors I had no problem sharing the seat to my right.

The gentleman who sat down was slightly different from the masses. After some quips back and forth between him and his posse who had filled in around me, we were all exchanging our ideas about the city. I had given him suggestions of things to do with his buds. Ed Debevics, skip the Sears and hit the Hancock tower instead (different views from each side). So, they can hit Hooters in the lunch hour, and Eds at night.

I had learned he was 31 and had just enlisted in January for his first tour. He graduates from boot camp next week and is here at this base until Dec. I asked him, “Why now?” He said he was a service brat and it’s always something he wanted to do and would probably re-enlist after he got done with this 6 year term unlike his comrades that probably wanted to explore life on the outside for a while. He had already done that. He had been playing golf since the age of 5 and eventually became a golf pro participating in the Nike tour and then didn’t quite make it to the PGA tour as a player, falling short by 7 spots, but went on to be a PGA tour coordinator instead, then an instructor. We shared stories of our lives and laughed a lot. It was a nice trip on the train. Probably one of the more enjoyable 1 hr and 20 minutes I’ve had. At the end of our conversation, we finally introduced ourselves. His name was Jude. Funny, other than the actor, hadn’t met a man named Jude before. I hope his day was as fun as mine.

After a fantastic fresh quesadilla from the bell, I made my way down to MI via Madison, stopping to take the obligatory pic of my fave building. State was calling and I was able to find a few cute summer clothes in some of the many chain stores. Somehow the selection in Chicago is always better. Goal completed. I also discovered the lost Baskin Robbins on Garland & Washington that I always seem to forget about. I waited on the cone though….but shouldn’t have because I never got back there. Goal failed.

Upon heading north, there was a commotion at one of the corners by the Apple Store. There was a step-van giving out dozens and dozens of ice cold coca-cola bottles to passersby. What a treat! I hung outside on the street for a while (as many were also doing) to finish my refreshment before my obligatory visit to the Apple Store.

Here are a few pics from my walk up Michigan. I call these two ‘The Mosaic’ and ‘Alphabet Soup’. The reflections were beautiful and the second just looked like letters. It had to be captured. The signature concrete cauldrons on the sidewalks were just sprouting with the tulips that would sure to be in bloom on a weekend I couldn’t make it in to admire them. It always happens. I miss the ‘window’ between the planters looking glorious and them ending tired. A metaphor perhaps. My allergy eyes confirmed my belief that spring has indeed, sprung.

The Mosaic….

Alphabet Soup….

I continued to be the walkerazzi I am, clocking nearly 5 miles before even realizing it. Shopping helps break up the hits on the pavement. As I walk, I think of the inevitable blog inside me, making mental notes of things I’ve seen.

I made my way back to the Park and on the way, I got serenaded to ‘When the Saints go Marching in’ by one of the many toothless old street singers. In perfect Randy-speak, I should’ve said ‘Dawg, that was awfully pitchy all over the place”, but didn’t. I made my rounds through the maze at the park and sat for a while to people watch, Sunday I stopped for about an hour and read my book, finishing it. Goal completed. Then, as I calculated the time I had left before making the journey back to Ogilvie, I made my final stop at the ramp between the Bean and the Fountains and selected my spot of terra firma and jotted down some notes for my blog and proceeded to take the afternoon nap I had been thinking about all weekend. Many others regaled in my same thought.

A little girl and her dad out for a day. A couple in their own paradise they call the park bench, several people doing business via phones, people being comforted, and many people sleeping the day away.

At 3:20, the vibrations started. I could feel it from the tip top of my clavicle down to the bottom of my tailbone. The El. I found it funny that I had never felt it through my Nikes (even upon being near) like I did feeling the roar of it through the earth I was lying on that day. I felt truly connected to the city at that moment. The song playing on my ipod was ‘This Day’ by Micah Dalton. How perfect. Goal completed.
The El….

The clock read 3:45 and that meant that I had to start making my way back to the station in order to make the sparse Sunday train schedule. I could tell it was Sunday and thus the end to my wonderful weekend. My walk back was stopped several times to cop a squat in the sun at the Chase Plaza (which I call the ‘Stairway Jungle’ and is packed with financial hotties during the lunch hours on weekdays) to soak up as much heat as I could before delving back into the cold shade of the skyscrapers. An omen. Back to the Metra. Back to reality.

The Stairway Jungle….

I make my train and begin to reflect on the weekend. I had started with 7 goals, and have completed 5 of them. No ice cream, and unfortunately no beer on the way home. Another day I guess. I was able to walk nearly 10 miles this weekend, got some great pics of some new things, purchased some great summer clothes, was serenaded a song, had my nap, started my book on the Sunday trip in and finished it in the park. Although I didn’t get the cone or the beer, I made up for it at home and had my beer on Saturday night and fulfilled my need for some naïve-girl porn in the form of Matt Damon kicking ass as Jason Bourne on screen in a tight black Tshirt.

There’s something tingly about a sailor not much younger than I am saying “Ma’am, it sure was a pleasure. Enjoy your taco bell” in that fine southern Navy drawl as he tipped his hand to his cap to me as we exited. Gentlemen do exist, and apparently, so do nearly perfect weekends.

Famous list from the road....

2009-02-11T13:49:00.002-06:00

This is a repost from my Myspace from March 2008....

Bad traffic has afforded me time to be creative. It is when I come up with my best stuff. I find myself in ‘driving trances’ – you know….where you will be concentrating on a thought (most likely) or phone call (rarely) and before you know it, you’ve embarked on your entire one hour commute home and are awoken from it the second you hit the broken concrete at the beginning of your driveway. Yes….that’s me.

I think of lists I need to make of ‘things to do’….sometimes small lists like for groceries, sometimes more in-depth lists such as ‘things to do before I die’, etc. Sometimes it’s just lists of ideas of things to talk about or phrases I like that have a good ring to them. I keep a 5x5 lined Post-It pad in my car and a pen handy in the cubby at all times. It’s become a challenge to think, drive, and write legibly to preserve the nuggets that pop into my brain at that particular moment, only to become lost forever it I don’t write em down – early onset of becoming old, I’d guess.

I do that with quotes and lines from movies that I like. OCD, maybe, but who cares. Words are powerful. Look at the bible. People die for words they read in there. I’m not one to judge about its validity. People make up their own minds. I am nobody to sway your opinion of something so revered. It’s just not my thing.

Here is some of my most loved phrases….

This is from a song from the movie “Waitress”. Not sure of the name of the song.

- “Your lips find joy in the most unusual places.”

From the show “Will and Grace”.

- “Lycra-covered spandex gym treat.”

From the movie called "The Good Year" with Russell Crowe.

- “The wine will whisper into your mouth with complete and unabashed honesty every time.”

From “Psych”.

- “Chicks dig the sternum bush.”

From “Juno”.

- “Take a whiff of these sparkling topnotes.” (when Juno is prompting Jason Bateman to smell a stolen squirt of his wife’s perfume).

An “Irish Toast” heard recently from a good friend.

- “May you live in heaven for a full half hour before the devil knows you’re dead.”

From “Will and Grace.”

- “The only reason to spend the night in a limo is because the drummer in your prom band dropped a Quaalude in your Fresca.”

From the book ‘The Pilot’s Wife’. For the life of me I can’t find the exact quote. It said something to this affect….I love it.

- “It’s an honor to carry someone’s tears in your pocket.” (when given a handkerchief to a friend in tears….and the person apologized for dirtying it when handing it back.)

Gosh….there are so many more…I used to have an archive of things I’ve written down to use in situations (giving credit where due, of course).

Music Appreciation - Eva Cassidy

2009-02-11T13:47:00.001-06:00

For those who love music….decompress with me a moment. It’s time for music appreciation 101, kids.

I heard the song “People Get Ready” for the first time yesterday while perusing I-tunes…a nearly nightly ritual. Anyone who knows me, knows I love music. I try to be open to all types, from classical piano, bluesy jazz, certain hard metal rock and nearly everything in between. It is my therapy, and the music played depends on the mood I need to assuage. But we’ve been over that before. This is nor the time nor place to rehash old blogs.

Eva Cassidy is a wonderful musician whose angelic voice is both piercing and pure. She was taken by Cancer (melanoma) at age 33 in 1996. Most all of her albums have been released posthumously and has had 2 new albums recently released from friend’s recordings and lost sessions. It took dying for her to become famous. There is a piece of advice a good friend of mine once told me when I was anguishing the fact that my paintings would probably never fetch a sale or be appreciated only by a small few. He said to me, “Hey, Red, Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime.”

Here is some of Eva’s music.

Anyway….this song had a powerful affect on me. I had a vision of hearing it for the first time and being in a place so beautiful that words couldn’t describe it. The slow beat, the tink of the cymbal, etc. I found myself doing the little toe tap and the tiny non-obnoxious version of the “Night at the Roxbury” head bob, all the while closing my eyes and imagining a long slow toke on a very sweet cigarette wishing for those happy gasses most grown-ups have experienced to which I, sadly at times, have not. The music alone gave me the buzz I was needing. Almost.

The connection I made with the words….

People get ready
There’s a train a-coming
You don’t need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear diesels humming
You don’t need no ticket
You just thank the Lord
Yeah yeah yeah

People get ready
For the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers
From coast to coast
Faith is the key
Open the doors and board them
There’s room for all
Among the loved and lost

Now there ain’t no room
For the hopeless sinner
Who? Hard on mankind
Just to save his own
Have pity on those
Whose chances are thinner
Cause there’s no hiding place
From the Kingdom’s Throne

Ohhh people get ready
There’s a train a-coming
You don’t need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear diesels a-humming
You don’t need no ticket
You just thank the Lord
Yeah yeah yeah

I’m getting ready
I – I’m getting ready yeah yeah yeah
Oh I’m getting ready oh – oh
I’m ready yeah

I’m not religious, so Faith doesn’t apply as the norm to me. She’s a tease. I let the melodies do their best healing. And maybe the roar of the el.

Along with a nice tall glass o’beer.

My kind of town....Chi-Ca-Go

2009-02-11T13:42:00.002-06:00

My kind of town….Chi-Ca-Go

I’ve been meaning to write this for a long, long time, and always stopped because I couldn’t find the right words to say what I was trying to convey to the average layperson. Nothing I wrote sounded right, or expressed the feelings I wanted. I knew how I FELT, just couldn’t quite explain it.

Anyone who knows me, knows that when I say ‘the city’, I’m talking about Chicago. I have so much I want to say, so forgive me if this comes out jumbled and just, well….wrong. I won’t pretend to know everything about the city I love so much, exactly the opposite. I write what I know, occasionally bullshitting with the best of them, but never EVER will pretend to know first-hand what it’s like to be an actual Chicagoan. I should be so lucky. I’m just a suburban middle-class housewife who longs with her whole being to live in the greatest city in the world.

My earliest experiences with the city came back when I was a little pintsized firecracker of about 9 or 10 when I would get the privilege to go to work with my dad (my stepdad, but my daddy since I was 5). He was born in 1927 in the city and grew up in the depression. He would tell me stories, many of which I’m blank to right now and make a mental note to take down some of the information more tediously, as I’m sure others would love to hear them. My Grandma Kunkel was a short little round polish woman, squishy to the touch and impossible to get my arms around. She and my dad both used to teach us polish phrases and sentences and unfortunately for those who knew polish, they weren’t of the clean variety. “Smells like shit” was one of the prized jewels that my 3 year old sister was taught and variations of the like. When one learned a particular phrase, you only need know additional verbs to ‘insert here’…..

My dad lived in the city for most of his early life and transplanted in his 30s to the north burbs of Pistakee Highlands in McHenry/Lake County. He built several homes, raised kids, married and divorced, twice…..but remained a true Chicagoan through and through. He worked downtown and amidst the suburbs every day delivering heating oil via truck, then later only in the winter, started his own paving company, then sold it and began working for Troch McNeil Paving Co. in Elk Grove Village until he retired in 1990. One of my fondest memories is always the smell of fresh asphalt for it brought me back to dad and our days on the truck in the summer together. I was with him when he paved Rosemont Horizon with his company. I would watch him go back and forth while laying on the stairway and learning the plans overhead, then hopping in to make another run to the plant to get more asphalt.

So, I would say my experiences really began when I was about 10, but really got to see the culture OUTSIDE of the truck at about 13. That was my first trip to Eds. Ed Debevics for the non-natives. The only place in the city where they welcome you to be rude, although at the time, I didn’t know that to be the case, but it didn’t bother me either way. It was jus neat to be there with the dancing, and the shiny barstools, and the crazy costumes.

Unfortunately for the next 20 years, I really didn’t get down to the city so much, so how wonderful it was that upon my 2nd marriage, my husband and I started to partake in the city more often, he having been there many times visiting with old friends from the Quad Cities to those large corporate bars, and I’m sure some of the smaller dives too til the wee hours of the morning. However, those trips became further and further between and now together, we only venture in once or twice a year to go to our favorite spot, Howl at the Moon. It is the perfect blend of piano culture and drunken mayhem. What can I say, it’s my perfect environment.

In 2005, I ventured in with a friend after discussing we would bring our bikes on the Metra (the best invention for us stuck in the hicks away from the city) using the 5 dollar all weekend pass and then bike as far as we could home along the lakefront, and hopping the train when we got tired. Although upon discussion, opted that we were too chickenshit to drive our bikes in downtown to actually GET to the bike path and decided to hook up with a fellow co-worker who was hanging out down there in the Prairie Loft District neighborhood near 18th and would meet us for lunch and some cocktails. Hell, drinking in Chicago sounded like the next best option. It WAS. Good times, until we had to ride the train back and I had to do a photo shoot that afternoon while fighting a little hangover. Not good, but the pics were stellar.

Since that visit, I have make the trip whenever possible. At first, I would bring the camera and various lenses taking picture at every opportunity. Later, just got tired of not being able to venture where I truly wanted to go because of the equipment hassle and just decided to people watch and do all the things a native would do without assuming the persona of a tourist. Just BE.

To BE in Chicago is a challenge. You have to act like you know where you’re going (and I’m sad to say, I still carry a fold out plastic map with me at all times for fear of getting lost) and have some attitude, all while enjoying the new splendors the city hands you at every visit. I don’t pretend to know the neighborhoods but have walked to several to get pictures – Lincoln Park, Humboldt & Wicker Parks, the Loop of course and I’m sure many others that I have passed through and gone to actual establishments, but don’t know the ‘technical’ neighborhood boundaries or names off of the top of my head. I’m still trying to learn the attitude without coming off as being a suburban bi-otch.

Chicago is my drug. Every time my metra train rumbles towards the station, I get this rush of emotion that is indescribable. I see the buildings and I just crumble. I am completely, hopelessly addicted to her. That sounds crazy, but anyone who loves the city and gets to live there, knows exactly what I mean. I literally swell inside when I get to see the different facets she lays out for me. I could sit for hours and hours (and have) at millennium park and the fountains just watching people. I have gone to the beach and felt comfortable there with about 50,000 other people. I try and think about what each person does during the day they are not where they were currently. I never see anything negative about the city. I guess I’ve been lucky, because of course I realize crime exists, but keep my quiet guard about me when walking like my daddy always taught me. Attitude and eye contact keeps me pretty safe. No one would dare mess with a pissed off redhead anyway. I’m feisty and my aim is good. Just because I’ve been burbed doesn’t mean I can’t take care of myself. Cab money isn’t a bad thing to happen and don’t get me started on how sexy I think the El’s potential could be. To be down and dirty in Chi-town. A real native….maybe someday I’ll venture and learn. After all, the city has many more places I’ve yet to explore.

She’s unassuming, yet not arrogant. She is secretive until she knows you are worthy for appreciating her correctly. Too many people take the city for granted, and thus maybe karma keeps those people in check. Hey, what goes around comes around, and no city needs that kind of hassle. She is the best kind of host, and is open to sharing her with everyone who dares give her the respect a good city deserves.

I watch that HGTV program called “What you get for the money” and Chicago is featured many times in the higher price point ranges of $400,000 to $750,000. I see them explore a beautiful contemporary loft – my dream house – and their many amenities and when they show the price tag that is nearly 15 times my annual salary, I find myself justifying to my brain that ‘that’s not that bad’ or ‘I could come up with that’ not realizing that I’d have to sell a kidney and a couple of children in order to have that REALLY happen. I snap out of it when I realize that the property taxes alone would be my salary and the cost of one of those places I love so much are 5 times the value of my current home that I will own in approximately 26.2 years, free and clear.

After that revelation, I’ve been just resigned to the fact that the only thing I need for a good day in the city is a good book, comfortable walking shoes, my iPod and and a 5 dollar metra ticket. Everything else is provided for me by her majesty.

I’m lucky the natives let me share her with them. I’m honored and positively addicted, and for this I hope I am never cured.

Spirit of the Marathon - 2007

2009-02-11T13:39:00.001-06:00

Over the course of the last month or so, I’ve been seeing a lot of movies and on several of the previews was for a special event that they were having called Spirit of the Marathon. Basically, they followed the lives of 6 individuals and learned their stories of their quest to run their first or one of many marathons, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, specifically.

I got to the theater early, and luckily I did because when I walked up the ramp and scoured the theater, it was packed. Luckily it was just me flying solo so I found one of the approximately 3 remaining seats on an end. When it started there were only about 15 seats left open, almost all in the front row. I had no idea this would spark so much interest.

My interest was piqued because I went to the marathon this last year. Yes, the one that was over 95 degrees. I knew a couple people personally who were in it, and of course the city beckoned me to come down and watch with her. I never pass up an opportunity to go to the city. These pictures are from the 2007 marathon and I have one of the runners who was showcased in the movie on film. His bib is number 3 and can be seen in the aqua running outfit in the lead pack. Here are front and back views. I was camped at the half way point – 13 miles just east of the canal bridge on Madison Ave.

The wheelchair competitors were unbelievable. They were better athletes than I would bet 95 percent of the healthy two-legged Americans. Here is front and back views of the front wheelchair marathoner.

The documentary delved into the lives of an elite Kenyan male athlete, a female Olympian and long-time marathoner, a Chicago couple (also long-timers), a single mother first timer, a wife and student first-timer, and a 70 year old man and his daughter who were running (his 3rd) together (her first). They explored their stories, hometowns, situations, emotions throughout the entire training period through the race and then finally, the aftermath.

The music was superb. As with any movie, the soundtrack it gives to the emotions is just as powerful as the picture is, more so in my opinion. Music evokes more emotion sometimes than the visuals.

The director explained his reasoning for wanting to shoot this. Chicago, being one of the most beautiful cities, and also one of the cities that lent its hometown feel to it. The people are so involved because the course travels throughout the many unique neighborhoods that make the city great. Everyone in the city can get involved, they are the marathoners personal cheerleaders.

In fact, many, many of the athletes put their names on their shirts so spectators could shout out their names to get encouragement. I know it would work for me. It was especially nice seeing from my home state of Wisconsin with a Badgers running jersey or Iowa Hawkeye logo on their shorts…..or a handsome military man whose shirt reads, Team NAVY. Yummy. The runners would do their best to get the crowd into it, like this runner did. This was a common site where I was at for the front pack.

The cinematography was what first grabbed my interest. The shots of the starting line and then rising above the 40,000+ runners in their multicolored bibs and running paraphernalia were such sheer numbers, it was hard to believe this mass of color was actually separated by the steps that hit the pavement by their Asics and reeboks. The mass just kept going and going and going. It actually took my breath away to see the newly- created Millennium park (this was the 2005 Marathon that they were filming) in its splendor from that vantage point.

The sheer numbers baffled me. The runners would be grouped into their ‘times’ that they typically run, giving spectators easier chances of finding their loved ones in the crowd as they ran. If you knew your person was in the 4:30 time slot, then you could relax and enjoy the race instead of scouring the 40,000 faces and clothes for your person. This was about the mid-group that were running at that 4:00 range and still, they were packed.

I think the most poignant part of it all was the finish line. The pure emotion that the audience had been subjected to while watching and visually training with these people was amazing. The face contorted in pain, determination, and pure relief from not, well, dying on many of the finishers is forever emblazoned in my memory. My emotion overcame me, as well as many other watchers, in relief for these people whose drive was far exceeded than mine could ever be. I was proud of them, and I didn’t even know them. I admired them, for I knew I never had it in me to complete something so meaningful….at least not yet. OK, let’s be honest, probably never.

This man (as every other person) was relaxing and at one with his ice.

After the main showing and the credits, there were deleted scenes and additional ‘behind the scenes’ footage they showed as well, and an announcement that there would be another showing on February 21st. The ticket was higher than a normal ticket (for me it was $10.00 but worth it) because it is considered a special event.

If you have the chance to go, please do. It is well worth it and if you’re interested, you can go to http://www.marathonmovie.com/ to check out more details.

Happy running.

Reds Picture Dictionary - Last Part

2009-02-11T13:23:00.001-06:00

This is a repost from my Myspace....

Bond

Main Entry: bond
4: a uniting or binding element or force

Spontaneous

Main Entry: spon·ta·ne·ous
1 : proceeding from natural feeling or native tendency without external constraint 2 : arising from a momentary impulse 3 : controlled and directed internally

Taken by an old friend from KVNA, it was the last picture on a roll of BNW film early in 2000, and I just yelled out ‘Jan, take this!’ History, just like that. I was taking pictures with my sister and her best friend and it was about 15 degrees out that day so between pictures we were bundled under comforters my mom had brought. It is the picture that is used in my logo for my photography business, Art Z Angel Ink (pronounced Artsy Angel).

Summertime

Main Entry: sum·mer·time
: the summer season or a period like summer

Where else can you go kayaking on a river amidst tall skyscrapers on route to a beautiful lakefront? Chicago. These kayakers were just heading out.

Navy Pier as seen from the Hancock tower. See also: Category: nostalgia

Making the most of the sun and relaxation. North Beach 2006. There is something else to say about this beachgoer’s choice of attire, but I guess each person marches to the tune of their own whimsy. Who am I to judge?

Love

Main Entry: 1love
1 a (1): strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties (2): attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3): affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests b: an assurance of love
2: warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion
3 a: the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration b (1): a beloved person : darling —often used as a term of endearment (2)British —used as an informal term of address
4 a: unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1): the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2): brotherly concern for others b: a person's adoration of God

This is my brother Greg and I on his new trike when I was about 8. I love him dearly. We were inseparable at that age.

Me and my daddy. There are no words for how it feels to have him in my life. Love is the closest thing to even come close.

This little girl was spending the day with her daddy and he had just scooped her up after trotting along hand in hand along Madison in her red shorts, and red sneakers - perfectly matching her beautiful red long hair. But then, I have a penchant fondness for redheads.

Torment

Main Entry: 1tor·ment
2 : extreme pain or anguish of body or mind : agony
3 : a source of vexation or pain

Yes, that’s me singing at my sister’s wedding. I believe I was singing the last part of Summer Dreams by Olivia & John….yes, I was THAT into it.

Badass

Main Entry: 2badass
often vulgar : a person who is badass

This is one of my favorite wedding guest shots I’ve ever taken. But for the record, he had a HATE tatt on the other hand. I chose LOVE.

This was taken through my rear view mirror on my first annual ‘sistah’s road trip vaca’ to Yellowstone, August, 2006. We were traveling during the riding of the Sturgis motorcycle rally and there were hogs everywhere. These character’s were behind us at a light. They looked so pissed off. I’m not sure why, my banner on the back of my Hyundai read ‘Yellowstone or Bust!’ I could’ve used the ‘Hikers, Bikers and Cowboys, Oh My!’ one, but didn’t!

Soldier

Main Entry: 1sol·dier
1 a: one engaged in military service and especially in the army b: an enlisted man or woman

These were a group of soldiers that had posed for a photo for me last Christmastime near Central Camera in Chicago. They are the many faces of many soldiers.

This almost looks like a shot straight out of the 1940’s. You’d think the Navy would update the wardrobe a bit.

Red's Picture Dictionary - Part 4

2009-02-11T10:50:00.001-06:00

This is a repost from my Myspace....

Expansive

Main Entry: ex·pan·sive
4: marked by expansion; especially : having a great expanse or extent : sizable, extensive
5: characterized by richness, abundance, or magnificence

“The Great Lawn” at Pritzger Pavilion at Milennium Park. I would love to partake in a concert there, or just to lounge all day on a blanket with someone great. Wine, strawberries, oblivious to the world, enveloped by beautiful sounds of symphony strings and brass.

Navy Pier as seen from the John Hancock Tower. It was the most beautiful summer day, as the vapor trails abound and sailboats can attest. One of my best days in the city was spent taking pictures from the tower. I must go back.

The Field Museum and one of the most magnificent buildings I’ve ever seen, especially at this angle and color mode. This was taken on a 50 degree day in January of 2006. I went originally to take panoramic photos of the skyline from the Adler Planetarium, but the ice was gone, and thus so was the ‘feel’ I was going for. Instead, I got this. Wouldn’t trade it.

Displeasure

Main Entry: dis·plea·sure
1 : to incur the disapproval or dislike of especially by annoying

This was obviously not taken by me, but my sister, as we were in her limo for her wedding. We were toasting with Champagne, and for all who know me, I am definitely NOT a champagne kind of girl. The look was genuine and unfortunately she caught it and it’s not flattering, but oh well.

Drunk

Main Entry: 3drunk
1: a period of drinking to intoxication or of being intoxicated

Howl at the Moon baby…enough said. This is my favorite night-time fun place in the city. I could go there every weekend. Piano bars packed with people singing in unison, beer flowing, buzzes raging, flirty looks of angst from people across the room, priceless.

Desperation

Main Entry: des·per·a·tion
1 : loss of hope and surrender to despair
2 : a state of hopelessness leading to rashness

This man sits on this water spigot on Michigan Avenue with his paper donation cup. It is his ‘spot’. He has been there every time I visit the city. So far, I have seen him in 3 different seasons, and captured 2 of them. The window boxes are always stellar.

This is summer.

This is winter.

Reflective

Main Entry: re·flec·tive
2: the production of an image by or as if by a mirror

This is the pond at work on an early, early fall morning this year. There was mist on the water too, but that was lost in translation.

This is my 2nd all-time favorite photo of the city. It is my favorite building by far and it sits off of Madison. I have about 15 different pictures of this building – all taken on different days. It’s almost like a tradition. The reflections are beautiful. See also: Category: purple, beautiful.

Michigan Avenue as seen through Cloud Gate…aka, ‘the bean’.

Red's Picture Dictionary - Part 3

2009-02-11T10:49:00.002-06:00

This is a repost from my Myspace....

Meandering

Main Entry: 2meander
1 : to follow a winding or intricate course
2 : to wander aimlessly or casually without urgent destination : ramble

Dudes

Main Entry: 1dude
1: a man extremely fastidious in dress and manner : dandy
2: a city dweller unfamiliar with life on the range; especially : an Easterner in the West
3: fellow, guy —sometimes used informally as a term of address

This was taken last June on North Beach. These guys were thinking they were ‘all that’ and proceeded to try and catch a football every time a chickee walked by. They had a 3/20 and a pass rating of like 12. There was much room for improvement. Hey, if they just spent as much time practicing their catching skills as they did on their wardrobe and pecs….

Romantic

Main Entry: 1ro·man·tic
4 a: marked by the imaginative or emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, remote, mysterious, or idealized

Paris…..a friend once described it as “Beautiful, civilized, delicious, amazing”. Whereas all of these characteristics fit, I think ‘romantic’ is the first word that comes to mind. Maybe if I ever get to see the Eiffel tower in person, my views will change. See also: Categories: Beautiful, civilized, delicious, amazing.

Stately

Main Entry: state·ly
1 a: marked by lofty or imposing dignity b: haughty, unapproachable
2: impressive in size or proportions

Chicago Tribune building…enough said, unless I’m wrong. I sometimes get the buildings mixed up. Oh well. It’s still stately.

Ominous

Main Entry: om·i·nous
: being or exhibiting an omen : portentous; especially : foreboding or foreshadowing evil

This was taken on the way home from work on the interstate. Big storms coming!

I look at this bench and it gives me a creepy feeling. I think it’s the tree. It was taken at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. See also: Category: Creepy

Duh

Main Entry: duh
1 —used to express actual or feigned ignorance or stupidity
2 —used derisively to indicate that something just stated is all too obvious or self-evident

This is me as a baby. The look on my face foreshadows that I didn’t look like I’d amount to much….

Fantasyland

Main Entry: fan·ta·sy·land
: an imaginary or ideal place or situation

This was taken on the way to work as I was passing Six Flags (or Mariott’s Great America for those who grew up in the 80’s and visited every summer). It reminded me a lot of the Fantasyland that I knew I’d never get to. The sunrise was an almost unreal color.

Reds Picture Dictionary - Part 2

2009-02-11T10:48:00.002-06:00

Spiritual

Main Entry: 1spir·i·tu·al
1: of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit : incorporeal 2 a: of or relating to sacred matters b: ecclesiastical rather than lay or temporal
3: concerned with religious values
4: related or joined in spirit
5 a: of or relating to supernatural beings or phenomena b: of, relating to, or involving spiritualism : spiritualistic

Ethereal

Main Entry: ethe·re·al
1 a: of or relating to the regions beyond the earth b: celestial, heavenly c: unworldly, spiritual

Roar

Main Entry: 1roar
1 : the deep cry of a wild animal (as a lion)
2 : a loud deep cry (as of pain or anger)
3 : a loud continuous confused sound
4 : a boisterous outcry

I’ve heard the El and it roars…..so to speak. Maybe it knows something we don’t!

Anticipation

Main Entry: an·tic·i·pa·tion
1 a: a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action b: the act of looking forward; especially : pleasurable expectation

This was taken in 1995 when Penske was at the height of the series. This picture was taken when Michael Andretti flipped in the sand on part of the permanent road course at Elkhart Lake WI. I took a picture of the group (JP, John W, Doug and I can’t remember the lowest guys’ name. Richie’s jacket is on the right) right before the crash and they were all standing up straight, then the crash happened and they all leaned in and I took another. This is it. Michael Andretti flipped about 10 times in the sand and walked away.

Trust

Main Entry: 1trust
1 a: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something b: one in which confidence is placed

This was taken last winter. These girls were clinging to each other like white on rice. I suppose I do the same when I’m skating too, but I thought it was precious.

Serene

Main Entry: 1se·rene
1 a: clear and free of storms or unpleasant change b: shining bright and steady
2: august —used as part of a title
3: marked by or suggestive of utter calm and unruffled repose or quietude

Red's Picture Dictionary - Part 1

2009-02-11T10:47:00.002-06:00

This is a repost from my Myspace....Would love to know what everyone thinks....Enjoy!

My goal for this blog was to create a sort of picture dictionary….so to speak. I love photography. I love it more when I don’t do it to get paid. I know that’s an oxymoron, but if you think about it, there is less pressure, more joyful exuberance when the moment that is captured happens to convey the exact emotion you felt that when you took it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to get a paycheck for my weddings I shoot, for they definitely pay the bills, but it’s more satisfying to grab my camera, a couple lenses, a bottled water, comfy shorts and shoes, and a pair of shades to just to go toolin around the city or county countryside boondocks looking for anything interesting to shoot. Some of these I obviously did not take, however they display the emotion to complete the ‘pic definition’….

Here is what I’ve found….I’m sure there are many, many others, but here is a small snippet of the first unofficial ‘Rach Photo Dictionary’…..be careful, there may be a quiz later.

Nostalgic

Main Entry: nos·tal·gia
2: a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition; also : something that evokes nostalgia

Lonely

Main Entry: lone·ly
1 a: being without company : lone b: cut off from others : solitary
2: not frequented by human beings : desolate
3: sad from being alone : lonesome
4: producing a feeling of bleakness or desolation

City

Main Entry: city
1 a: an inhabited place of greater size, population, or importance than a town or village

Pride

Main Entry: 1pride
1: the quality or state of being proud: as a: inordinate self-esteem : conceit b: a reasonable or justifiable self-respect c: delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship

Yoga is RETARDED.....

2009-02-11T10:39:00.001-06:00

This is a repost from my Myspace blog from last year....but it's funny, so I hope you enjoy it!

Yoga is retarded. I'm not gonna pussyfoot around here about this one. Plain and simple it's the most ridiculous silly time-wasting act on the face of the planet. And I've done a lot of stupid things.....

It all started like this.....Jen (my bff and boss from work) and I have been 'gym buddies' for a while now and we wanted something different to kind of spice up our crappy workout a bit. We have toyed around with the idea of a cycling class, taking fun dance lessons (something I would actually like to do), taking a strip-tease class (this one was nixed only because it's more for our perspective halves....not sure what we get out of it except sore inner thighs and buttocks), or even belly dancing lessons. I was really not against any of these options. I had taken 2 Body Pump classes a few years ago and even though I groveled every time I had to go with my sister, I did it because I saw results. Although I must admit the first 2 weeks killed my triceps so badly I accidentally cried out when my arm twisted the wrong way to pick up my bag out of the car.

But when Jen came to me a few weeks ago and said “I think I want to try something and I want you to try it too”….well that’s like crack for girl friends. Why wouldn’t you want to do fun stuff with your BFF? It’s always more fun when you do stuff with your BFF. “I want to try a Yoga class”…..My face that was normally perky and forgiving went sour and dropped down to my chest with a look that must have scared her a bit when I answered about 3 seconds later “OOOOOO kayyyyyy. I guess I’ll try anything once”. She replied, “Well, we might take 2 times to see if we REALLY like it. It’s ten dollars a class. That’s not too bad right?” I bit my lip, because I would rather get a pizza than the idea of taking a ‘yuppy-pumping yoga’ class. But as friends do, we make sacrifices for the other.

I want to add too, that this story is somewhat lost in translation without me being able to act out the facial expressions and voices….the words just don’t do the story justice. I was in tears explaining it to people this morning and last night when I got home.

Last night was my first class and let me re-iterate how badly it went. It was at the Arvasi clinic in Kenosha (they also do botox, skin rejuvenation, makeup sessions and cellulite removal, etc.). We were novices so we paid our money and were escorted to the ‘chakra-filled room’ smelling of vanilla and something weird I couldn’t quite identify. I guess the vanilla wasn’t so bad. I paid 10 bucks to smell vanilla! Yeah. The lady had this very soothing voice and said “I need you to fill out this paperwork first before you begin.” You know what it is, the obligatory ‘if you die here today, it’s not our fault waiver’. We zipped through it and signed our lives away to this guru.
We shuck our shoes and socks and stand on our mattes. There is a lady across the room that has a voice of a ‘Cinderrelly mouse’ and is chatting away about not sure what. The guru lady says “Let’s find some energetic music” to which she put in this CD, pumped up the volume slightly. I waited for a few seconds, still waiting for this energetic music that was supposedly coming and heard this gong-inspired water dance crap that proceeded it’s best to try to put me to sleep. She starts talking telling us to close our eyes ‘and become one with ourselves. [I thought that shit only was true in the movies. She uses the most soothing voice that you only hear in a therapist’s office]. Open up your ribcage [how do I do that?] by taking a DEEP cleansing breath. Expel the energy and stress of the day and push it out of your body by EXHALING deep, etc. etc. etc.

Let me tell you….I had ALL I COULD DO TO NOT BUST A GUT LAUGHING during this sequence. I was practically crying while thankfully everyone had their eyes closed as I was about ready to sputter an incredible laugh from the bottom of my gut spitting out all the chakra crap she was spewing including some lip gloss I’m sure. After telling myself to breath and think about something NOT funny (like death) it took about 4 minutes to settle myself down so I don’t run out of the room laughing at these people. I didn’t want to embarrass my friend Jen.

I finally get into a ‘rhythm’ and do the steps awkwardly as I try and watch as my legs and arms are contorted into the ‘mountain, the sun, the moon, the reverse-swan dive, the turtle, the child prone, the 4 legged dog’, etc. (I tell you it was more like sex positions than stress relievers). All while keeping my right arm from hitting the wall painting because she didn’t place my matte far enough away from the wall. It didn’t occur to me that I could move it, I just kept doing my sun movement and bending my right arm in all while squatting, trying to exhale without passing out, and remembering to ‘find my center and expel all the weaknesses and bad energy’…..blah blah blah. All while tilting my pelvis to the sun and stretching my gluteus maximus to the opposite end of the earth….

My poor friend Jen didn’t do so well. I somehow was able to keep up with the movements (despite how much they disgusted and failed to intrigue me) well but Jen had the guru correcting her every posture and leg and angle throughout the whole session. I think she was embarrassed. That worked to my advantage.

The last 5 minutes of class was lying flat on our backs with our palms ‘stretched out to channel the sun’s rays’ (I swear this lady was on drugs) as she painted the scene of “See the forest, the suns rays streaming down, taking time for the seasons, your energy walks with you, honor your legs for they hold up your spirit as you embrace it, etc. The time of the seasons show the green leaves turning to yellows, reds and golds and oranges….time for renewal, etc.” I practically fell asleep, stress still totally intact.

When the class was over she asked what we thought when I proceeded not to look the least bit annoyed with her asking that I would have to lie to this seemingly clueless woman about my experience. I simply replied ‘Ah, it was…..different’. The lady with the Cinderelly voice said in a revelation-like tone “I saw the colors”. The guru nodded, and we all stared at her. She continued, “I usually just see darkness during the last part, but I could visualize the trees turning the colors. I’m so proud”. Enough said. These people are crazy.

The guru proceeded to tell the class about a ladies night next Tuesday night at the spa that will be serving complimentary wine, hors d’oeuvres, coupons about their spa services, makeup demos, etc……to which we replied “of course we’ll come”…..hey you go to stuff when it’s FREE!

We left the office and Jen told me “I could really feel it working, but I don’t think I want to go again”. I exhaled so deeply the guru would have been proud as I said “OH MY GOD THANK GOD YOU SAID THAT! I was afraid you’d want to go again” to which we ripped on most of the people in the class and even admitting we think we heard one lady fart next to us. Laughter erupted but of course we’re still going to the Ladies night next week, but no more yoga! [INSERT HALELUJAH MUSIC HERE].

So, my advice to you…and it won’t even cost you ten dollars….skip the yoga and grab a nice cold frosty BEER, at least you can get a buzz.

Guilty Pleasures.....

2008-12-12T08:05:00.001-06:00

I had a funny realization yesterday as I sat eating my Mac N Cheese spirals for dinner. I think I'm a kid trapped in a 'grownup' body. Sounds weird, but all the signs point to it.

I'll set the scene: Whenever I go to a hotel room, I jump on the bed - even if it's just once. Come on.....we all have done it. I just said it out loud.

My secret fantasy is to live in a treehouse.

I love all the bad cereals - cocoa krispies, count chocula and eating Cheerios dry without milk and I love the free toy at the bottom of the box. I have been known to grab one box over another because of the toy.

If I knew i could get away with it, I'd have a whole room dedicated to Lego's - the whole town sets and everything. Although I find that once the lego set is built, it's not as fun. The fun part for me is finding the pieces and building it. I never got into the role-playing part enjoying the town.

I love to go sledding, make forts outside, although I haven't been able to do it for a long time due to Wisconsin's lack of snow (except in Dec of 2002 & last year's 100 inches in Ktown - craziness). There's just something weird about a 37 year old getting the 'ice block' going in her yard! Lots of weird looks, I suspect.

I still love to color easter eggs but don't want to spend the money to get the kits (and I hate hard boiling them because it was always a rule at home that if I made them, then someone had to eat them, so NO EGGS!)

My coloring in coloring books is the only thing I've 'Graduated" from. Now I acrylic paint and do prismacolors and object collages on canvases.

I love watching cartoons. The Charlie Brown Christmas was on the other night and I even DVR'd it. Love the Grinch, love Rudolph, although the claymation characters were indeed a little weird and i'm still weirded out by the abominable snowman.

Swings are my best friend. When I walk during the week in the summer, I ALWAYS stop by the park and swing on the swings. Somehow, everything is better when swinging on the swings. Nothing matters, there are no worries or problems. Sad that kids don't like playing outside anymore. It's all about Xbox, Wii, TV and stuff.

I love doing cannonballs into the pool. It's boring just swimming. Admit it!

Love silly putty and PlayDough, and making snowflakes out of folded paper.

There you have it. 10 year old Rach in a 37 year old body. Hey, as long as I don't FEEL 37! Then I can stay a kid as long as I want.

Another holiday repost.....

2008-11-25T08:07:00.001-06:00

This wish list could be universal for EVERY year....

All I want for Christmas….

I know this is a tall order for Santa, but seeing as he has ‘magical’ powers and has to deliver gifts to approximately 822 children per second to make it around the world in one night, I think he might be able to handle this simple little list.

Dear Santa baby,

1. I have tried my hardest to be a good girl this year, however, I’m sure there are many portions of my life that which I can improve. As with any wish, should you make these come true, I would be at your beck and call with goodwill for years to come.

2. No wrinkles for the next year. I already have enough, so please do your best to disguise what I have and prevent future wrinkles. In return, I will try and stress less about the small things.

3. Everlasting friendships. I have made some wonderful friends and hope to continue to stay true to them and continue our bonds into future adulthood. Let my new friends know that my intentions for advice, support and love are genuine.

4. Meaningful kisses for any occasion – friendship, love, thoughtfulness and flirtatiousness.

5. Tight hugs in times of sadness and gloom. Santa knows that these hugs are the best ingredients for contentment and healing. They have been few and far between this year.

6. Easy traffic on my morning and evening commute. Come on, use your magic!
Promotion, promotion, promotion! Bonus, bonus, bonus!

7. Contentment in the things I cannot change, like bills, global warming and euthanasia. Duh, what did you think I meant – love? Yeah, that’s probably not a realistic thing to ask for….hey, you do what you can.

8. Great conversations. There is nothing like a great mind-bending gab session about anything from politics (hopefully not – I don’t know enough to hold my own) to Roe vs. Wade (don’t get me started), the best Fall TV lineup or even an argument that the Packers are the best team in the NFL (best not to go there either – you will LOSE).

8. No gray hairs. I like my hair color. So sue me. In exchange, I will not flip anyone off in traffic for at least a year. I feel any future gray hairs will naturally stem from bad driver’s direct affect on me.

9. Bless me with music. It’s my best form of therapy that doesn’t require an EOB. Hey, Otis said it best….”Try a Little Tenderness”…..it cures all.

10. Everlasting love. Who doesn’t want that? It never hurts to ask.

11. Oh yeah……and world peace.

May each twinkle light that burns out each year be reminiscent of each bad piece of karma that has been expunged from my life.

Just in time for the holidays.....

2008-11-25T08:02:00.002-06:00

This is a 'repost' from my MySpace....last year's holiday.

This is my little tree. 20 bucks on clearance from Menards. Pre-lit and folds up. It’s so easy to put up – I just transfer from my garage to my living room. Add ornaments from 1 box and voila! Instant Christmas.

This is my stocking. I’ve had it since I was 3.

This is my ornament I painted my favorite color when I was two (notice the 1973 date). The front doesn’t look much better. It’s comforting I have blossomed into a better artist in the last couple decades.

This is the thimble I painted when I was about 4. Getting better, although my color scheme leads me to believe I was once a bear fan (blue and gold) BLASPHEMY! (see above on the right to my gingerbread man)

Here is my felt ornament I made in 2nd grade….Yes that’s me in the homemade red gingham dress.

Each year, my family of girls go to the city (Chicago – where else?) and go to the kindlemart, the German market where crafts, food and atmosphere are abound and rich with heritage and made with love. I get an ornament every year. Thus, I have many ornaments and memories to match. Here are some I’ve bought.

This is the favorite one I’ve bought.

Here is some my sister and I made with paints and clear globes.