November Near The Mississippi
We went to Memphis for Thanksgiving. It was really nice actually. That’s where the BF’s family lives. We went to Graceland. We took the tourist picture. I’m going to post it as a bonus, just for you, my special friends, who actually take the time to read this sketchy blog every few months or so. Please enjoy this piece of American culture!
My One Summer Butterfly
Hello and thank you to all my new friends and followers! I’m not sure what has changed in these last few days but I am glad for the chance to expand my world and to become a part of someone else’s. Maybe all those storms that blew through the middle of America shook up the airwaves somehow and blew out the dust of our random lives and we all ended up in fresh spots to wait out the winter that’s looming ahead. Maybe it’s just a fluke.
Either way, here we all are and it’s good. Now on to my picture story: All those wild flowers in front of the house, that everyone else calls weeds, and I only managed to attract this one, big, beautiful, patterned butterfly. And he was late to boot. Showed up in August/Sept. But look at that photo. It’s nice, right? Perfect American image. Not planned, I swear. We keep the flag up all the time, and I was taking pictures too fast to frame this on purpose, because he kept flying around and landing anywhere that was away from me and my phone. Oh yeah, did I mention that picture was taken with my phone?? Just a smidge more bragging on the G4 even if I have to do it myself. Here are some more pictures of that butterfly below. All the flowers are gone now and it’s too cold for flyers. I’m just gonna start posting all my pictures as fast as I can without any central theme. Maybe I will just start at the first one and run down the line. I know I’ve said this before, but this time, this time, I swear I mean it. My time is really tight now because my new job is trying to kill me with paperwork. Nursing at it’s finest I swear. And I suppose I really really have to go back to school. As usual I find myself to be the least educated person in the crowd. Again. I swear, I keep saying I swear, and FYI for the kiddies out there: School NEVER ends. Love it. Tolerate it. Keep at it. You will be a student forever. Even when you work you still have to keep plugging away at the next big thing. Or little thing. It doesn’t matter. Forward roll. Oh Geez. As usual, I have run off the thought track and I wanted to, needed to, get some sleep tonight. Like I was saying, about the pictures, I can’t even remember why I took some of these or if I had any idea of what to write, so this should actually be kind of fun. Random. Just like me and my life and my personal beliefs. We live in a random world and I am good with that. Now, what was I talking about again? Butterflies. And flowers. Later.
Red, White, And Blue In America
What’s more American than a small town parade, a painted horse, a cowboy, and children waving the flag? Nothing, that’s what. Happy Fourth Of July!
Veterans Day
To all the soldiers who were, are, and shall be! You let me have the freedom to be as serious or silly as I want on a daily basis. And it’s a pretty good reason to re-post my favorite picture of my dad. Now go out there and get yourself a free meal from whatever restaurant is offering it in your town! It’s the small things sometimes that make a big difference. And since I haven’t won the lottery yet here in this big, free country, I’m heading in to work myself on this glorious, sunny, windy, unseasonably warm, November day! But still, life in America… not too shabby.
Thank you.
Good Morning America!
You look beautiful today! Sunny and bright with a clear blue sky. Very still. As if our morning is trying to pause itself for a while and stay in this moment. It’s early here in Chicago. No one is up yet. I just thought I would take a quiet moment to be thankful that I live in a country that allows me to have something so public like this to say whatever I want, whenever I want. And to be thankful that I am alive. My kids are good and healthy, my family and friends are well, and I have someone great to share these days with. I was avoiding TV and internet programs about today because I don’t like to cry very much. I remember enough. I worked in the city at the time, right across from the John Hancock building. I used to take the train and I had no technology available to listen to a radio or TV or internet, and when I got to work, our friend from New York was running through our hallways crying hysterically because he knew people that had been involved in whatever the hell was going on over there. We had no clue. We were evacuated and sent home. The whole city practically was. I got my kids from daycare and I sat home and watched like everyone else, what had happened, on TV. My kids were about to turn 3 and 4. They remember practically nothing. And I think that’s OK. Everything they have to do, everything that came from that period, as a result of that time, is just normal for them. It’s good. They understand enough right now. School is doing a good job of making them understand the what and maybe some of the why and how it impacted the world, our country, and our people. I just want them to know that tragedy strikes and the world keeps spinning. Take your moment and feel that pain. It’s amazing the support that you will receive, but it’s heartbreaking because it’s you, and some people just won’t care. Always move forward but with the occasional eye-check on that past so you don’t go there again. Do what needs to be done. Help where you can. Sometimes you never know what kind of impact you have. Hope for the positive. I definitely do not want to go on and on today because I am no authority on these kinds of things and tons of other people can tell a ten-times more interesting story with a better philosophical ending. I have none. And I’ve been trying to think of something! I am just going to enjoy the silence for a bit longer, drink my coffee, and be happy for this particular moment. It’s good to remember. Don’t let it freeze you in time though. Never forget.
America-type fun stuff to celebrate the 4th of July!
Courtesy of Target. The other store of America.
We only have two stores in this country now. So if you don’t shop at Wal-Mart you probably shop here. We can debate all night about which one is better, cheaper, cleaner, etc…but I am obviously a Bulls-Eye-O-Nian. I took pictures of all their fun summer advertising hang-ups. And I will also be using this as the stepping stone to post one a day until all my pics are gone. The thing about these displays is that they look 3-D but they are actually FLAT! That’s good art work. If you find yourself just amazed and cannot believe it, go check it out for yourself. They should still be hanging.
That’s a pinwheel above. With a sandal behind it, because you can’t get a good pic of the pinwheel all by itself. It’s a two-for-one special! And if you find yourself just sadly shaking your head because it’s a beautiful day and you are looking at pictures of fake summer items when you should be outside doing anything else, know that they already have the back-to-school advertising up. What’s worse is that the store is probably open today. Consumerism never takes a holiday. Those poor workers.
Make Summer Funner!
HAPPY
Brought to you by the Tinley Park “Benches” Summer Art Project. I don’t really know if that’s what it’s called, but it’s pretty cool. I drag my kids out every year to walk the few miles around the downtown streets of Tinley and take pictures of the benches. This year’s theme seems to be “America”. It’s the perfect way to kick off this little (hopefully) daily new feature. I had started posting them a year ago and never finished. So now I have this year and last year to catch up with.
I will be watching my son march in the parade today. For our town. He’s in the band. And I think there’s fireworks. So it should be a fun night.
Have a safe and happy Fourth wherever you are!
July Fourth Parade Highlights!
This is what you have been waiting for. I know you didn’t believe me, (unless you are from a small town), but I wasn’t kidding when I said I was going to my mom’s to watch the Fourth of July (Tractor) Parade. They do have alot of them in her small town.
Keep in mind while scrolling down that these are all different tractors. They may look the same but I only took one shot of each, so the quality varies, and it was raining like a bitch, and kept getting on the camera lens, but it was still pretty fun. And, yes, I finally feel better, thanks for asking. (Got a nasty chest/head cold down at the Taste, 6 days ago. Sore throat is much better but I still have the gravelly, husky voice, sexy!)
I threw in some local flavor to keep it fun. It starts with Uncle Sam, and it ends with a power tractor hanging a “THE END” sign off the back.
The Bell Truck is new, and the PINK Tractor is the town favorite! Plus, they throw candy and chocolates!
My personal favorite are the International Harvester tractors (that’s where my dad worked before they striked and closed in Chicago, so many years ago).
Grab a beer, settle into your lawn chair and raise another toast to America. One more year for freedom is in the books.
Check out the missing wheel!
The Bell Truck. It was chiming while driving. Very nice.
So rainy! But kind of arty, don't you think?
Some local flavor! Here it comes...
Sorry, Jas, I think his is bigger than yours!
Bonus pics with extra tractor!
The train tractor!
Tractor on a trailer!
The best for last!! The very famous PINK tractor!
The End!
Cheers Everyone! I have to go do CPR on dummies now! Wish me luck!! See you later.
just shy of pretty 