Getting to know your neighbors

Our neighborhood had it's 3rd block party since we lived here. Michael and I have watched the neighborhood turn over close to three times with new families. This event was the best yet. Food, fun and fellowship. Pets were welcome as well as musical instruments. Kids were everywhere and after they were put to bed some of the stragglers hung out over a glass of wine to gather and sing some John Denver tunes together. It seems we on Dupont have hit a high when it comes to having nice neighbors who care about their neighborhood and what goes on around them. I personally think it's a good thing to know who your neighbors are especially when in the dead of winter we can't get our cars released from those awful snow drifts. I also learned some new things about my neighbors. One is an OB/GYN doctor, one is a very talented guitar player, and having brand new neighbors right next door I had an opportunity to introduce myself and get to know them better. All good. We won the honorary award for the longest resident on the block at 29 years. Not sure if thats good or not but everyone else enjoyed it. They wanted to know what the neighborhood looked like in "the dark ages".

That Toddling Town

Went to Chicago last weekend and had a much different experience from the last time. Weather was about 20 degrees cooler, "Mr Ed", Michael's college buddy Ed R met us downtown for lunch at the oldest restaurant in Chicago called The Berghoff, German cuisine run by now 5th generation family. We stayed in a Comfort Inn in downtown Chicago rather than in one out by the airport and enjoyed a two room suite with kitchenette.  I highly recommend it. I really think the town never sleeps. We went to the Science Museum which was more educationally and historically oriented that the one here in St. Paul and in the evening we took in the sights. I had to admit even after 31 years of marriage it was quite the romantic evening taking a walk along one the streets that go over the Chicago river and enjoying all the night life. We decided to return another time. Being so busy with the orientation for my new job has been so exhausting in so many ways that spending the evening viewing the skyline from the 24th floor of our hotel room (definitely not for the vertically challenged), staying up past midnight, something I don't get to do anymore (you'd have to be me to really understand that) and walking along the boardwalk of the Chicago River with Michael really was a nice way to spend the weekend and time away from "brain" work. Enjoy the pics.




                                                            



    

Betty the Boop

"Eat your heart out, McDonalds!"

Recently after visiting my 89 yr-old mother I found a picture book that one of her friends gave her after moving to San Diego last year. There were many pictures of my mother with friends from Mainstreet where she lives. I couldn't resist posting a few. Her cancer doctor told her at her last visit that he and her primary doctor are placing bets on how long she will live since she has so many medical issues and keeps on ticking. She is such a "Timex watch".



Cards, cards, cards (notice the sucker)!

my birthday!