Hotel Burnham and a perfect summer

The weather in Chicago has been nothing less than spectacular this summer. Right now it is 81 degrees with no humidity. I shot some cell phone pix by the Hotel Burnham. The cute doorman was nice enough to pose for me. The hotel is named for Daniel Burnham, the architect responsible for Chicago being surrounded by public parkland and green space by the lake for all to enjoy.

Daniel Burnham built this as an office building in 1895; four years after the Columbian Exposition that had him build what is now the Museum of Science and Industry and the Field Museum of Natural History. Originally one of the first office buildings in the loop, it is now a hotel, on the corner of Washington and State Streets, near the Marshall Fields clock.

Close up of gingerbread












I was standing in front of the Hotel Burnham and saw this building and clouds reflected in the building across the street, on the north side of Washington Street, at State Street.

Jesus plant

Jesus plant
Originally uploaded by SandyJasmine

I took a double take when driving by this house. Is it just me, or does it look like Jesus on the cross?

Flashing blue camera light

Cop light on my walk
Originally uploaded by SandyJasmine

They have flashing blue light boxes in Chicago in high crime areas. I think they take pictures to discourage criminal behavior. I probably shouldn't walk in that neighborhood, but I do have Sheeba to protect me.

Hollyhocks, daylillies and ivy

Hollyhocks, daylillies and ivy
Originally uploaded by SandyJasmine

Love those hollyhocks. Later in the summer they get to buggy but now they're gorgeous.

My new couch and tables

My new couch and tables
Originally uploaded by SandyJasmine

Part of my new furniture

Trump tower getting big

Trump tower getting big
Originally uploaded by SandyJasmine

Trump's Tower in Chicago. The hotel on the ground floor is open. It's growing by leaps and bounds. Seen next to the Mies Van der Rohe IBM building.

Secret cameras

I sure wish that I had a secret, invisible camera attached to me at all times. Then I could take pictures of anything, anytime I wanted. The way it would work; there would be a little squeeze ball, like the atomizer on the end of your grandma's perfume bottle. The squeeze ball would be attached to a tube to activate the camera button by air pressure.

Speaking of my grandma, here is a picture of my grandpa Ben Simmons, just like I remember him; Driving a big Cadillac, smoking a cigar, and talking to everyone in the back seat while driving.

Table with mangos and artichokes

Table with mangos and artichokes
Originally uploaded by SandyJasmine

My new kitchen table and chairs. The paper said 45 minutes. HAH. It took me two hours to put the thing together. I love it.

HOW I WORK OUT ON THE ROAD

1. Bring 10 minute workout DVD to work
2. Bring iBook to work
3. Set up iBook on trunk of car.
4. Go to favorite spot at Franklin Street close to the viaduct where the bums hang out. Beautiful park. Great view.
5. Proceed to do 10 minute Ballet Workout or the workout of choice.

As long as the workouts are standing workouts I can do them with the iBook set up on the trunk of the car. I bet I get some workout partners at the limo lot at O'Hare Airport pretty soon. I already have some O'Hare walking partners. People see me walking around the lot and they join me. One lap around the limos is a quarter mile so it is easy to tally my walks if I forgot my Nike + iPod.

No Shoes

I'm spoiled. I forgot to bring my running shoes with me today. Not just any shoes. My Nikes. I like to walk, and since I have so much down time, I bought myself a Nike+ iPod. There is a little transponder that fits in my shoe. A receiver plugs into my iPod. The Nike+ iPod keeps track of my distance, time, and calories. I can push a button while I am walking or running to get my stats read to me. Pretty cool. I can choose to hear a woman's voice or a man's voice. When I reach a new record, it congratulates me. This makes it lots of fun to walk. I still hear my music through the iPod.

I walked a couple of miles in my black shoes. But it just wasn't the same. I miss my Nike + iPod. Sigh.

Trump Tower and IBM Building

Trump Tower and IBM Building
Originally uploaded by SandyJasmine

Trump Tower coming up

Trump Tower coming up
Originally uploaded by SandyJasmine

I've been watching Trump Tower come up over the last year or so. It dwarfs the Wrigley Building. Not sure if I like it or not. In typical Trump style, it is overbearing and flashy.

Thinking about a better camera

I'm sure these pictures would be better if I had another camera. The steps might be easier, too. How I do it now:

1. Download the pictures from the phone to the computer using BitPim.
2. Import the folder of photos into iPhoto.
3. Put the pictures on Flickr.
4. Upload to Blogger

I thought about using Picassa, but Picassa gets thumbs down from me. The cool features on the Picassa uploader aren't available for Mac.

Of course I would be much more prolific if it didn't involve so many steps. Any ideas, you guys?

Lady in the park

Lady in the park
Originally uploaded by SandyJasmine

Conducting a heavenly orchestra in Grant Park.

Tents setting up for the Blues Festival, Grant Park, Chicago

Tents setting up for the Blues Festival, Grant Park, Chicago
Originally uploaded by SandyJasmine

Chicago always seems to have something going on in the summertime. There were tents here as far as the eye can see!