The King and Queen of Mardi Gras

These two were coming out of the Westin River North, Chicago. Their hands were laden with goodies to toss for Mardi Gras. 

Mardi Gras in Chicago. Any party is all right by me.






Originally posted February 4, 2009

Street Man

October 1, 2008.
I saw him sleeping on the street. He was selling the magazines he was laying on.

When he sat up, I gazed into his deep eyes. It looked like one eye was blind. But if only his eyes could speak.

The Lady and the Flowers

Here's the sweetheart who takes care of the beautiful flowers at Dominicks . The roses were $19.99 a dozen last week, and $9.99 a dozen this week. Maybe Cupid got $10.00 for each bouquet sold.

They're starting early with the tulips this year. Nothing like tulips and daffys to make me feel like spring when the thermometer says 19 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sears Tower shot from Dominicks on Roosevelt and Canal and the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile at the Target Parking Lot near O'Hare

Originally posted March 4, 2009:
I'm having my lunch in the cafe at Dominick's, the grocery store on Roosevelt Road and Clark Streets in the city. From here I can see the Sears Tower, the tallest building in the United States. This is how it looks out the window where I'm having my lunch.

Strawberries were on sale for $1.49 a pound. Some carrot sticks and soup from the deli round things out.

When I'm driving for a road show downtown Chicago, it's easiest to have lunch here or at Whole Foods because there are parking lots.

Road Shows: I mostly drive investment bankers. They bring their clients to make their pitches to the big banks and institutional fund managers.




Here's the Weinermobile at the new Target on Manheim Road near O'Hare airport.



It was sitting in the parking lot at Target unattended.



Great smile :)

There's Something about Rain and McDonald's

There's something about a rainy day that makes me feel like snapping pictures. Gray and rainy, nothing to do but take pictures.

Sometimes I think I have a McDonald's obsession.
Okay, not just sometimes. And I don't just think it, I know it. I love McDonald's for breakfast. I order a side order of scrambled eggs. That's healthy enough, yes? A snack is from the dollar menu. They have a lovely yogurt and fruit parfait, delicious. And for a really decadent snack , the fries! The rock and roll Mc Donald's downtown Chicago has free parking and a fabulous view from the second floor, comfy furniture. There's a perennial garden planted, with flowering prairie plants and grasses. Oh, and did I mention free wi-fi? Maybe I can take a picture of every McDonald's in Chicago! Best of all, McDonald's has clean bathrooms.

Bathrooms are hugely important when you are a chauffeur. I am a bathroom connoisseur. I can tell you which hotels have easy access bathrooms, which ones are luxurious, which ones are so so. One fancy hotel bathroom has a great nude painting of Orpheus. Some hotels are minimalist. One hotel looks like an Ikea store.

It's been rainy all day. On sunny days I never remember to take pictures. But on rainy days... well, you get the idea.

In Rosemont, Illinois, you can see a giant rose from the highway.






The Rosemont rose, next to a McDonald's

Chicago Owl

Chicago Owl
Originally uploaded by SandyJasmine

As soon as I had a free minute when I was near O'Hare, I drove back to the woods. I was hoping to see the owl I disturbed yesterday, the owl that was in the old log I sat on to tie my shoe. At first I didn't see him. I sat on the old log I sat on yesterday to tie my shoe. No wild flapping like yesterday. I was disappointed. I got up to go home, when to my delight, there he was again. At first I didn't get too close.

I got a little braver, and moved in a little closer.







He was so cute, I just wanted to scritch him between the ears, like a cat.

Southwest Evanston blurring into West Rogers Park

This is my first post on this blog in ages! 

If any of you are still reading this, give me a shout out!

 Wondering if I can get a Kosher hot dog whistle.The Lubavitchers from Lubavitch Chabad are all over our old hood. More in West Rogers park than Southwest Evanston. The lines were so blurred there, anyways. There is also a Menorah-mobile that drives around the neighborhood during Chanukah.

Here's one of the mitzvah mobiles, seen on California Avenue near Howard Street.
You know about the Evanston half-Kosher Jewel Food Store, right? It's on Howard Street, between Dodge and McCormick.

The MitzvahMobile

It's Been a Long Time!

Some random street scenes in Chicago for you. I drove home from Oak Park all the way down Chicago Avenue to downtown.

St. Nicholas Church, off Chicago Avenue.

John Hancock Building from below, and the Chicago flag.

View from the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building overlooking Navy Pier

Oak Street Beach from the top of the Hancock Building

Hyacinths in school colors - at Northwestern University in Evanston

Destruction and a Jelly Belly Lion

There's something that really attracts me about a building coming down, not sure what it is.

Did you know there's a Jelly Belly factory here? It barely counts as Chicago, because it is in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, about 45 minutes north. But I guess I'll let it squeak by. Did you also know that someone did a picture of the lion in front of the Art Institute of Chicago in..... you guessed it, Jelly Bellies.

Those are really Jelly Bellys. The jelly belly factory tour was sort of a meh experience. They don't actually MAKE the candy there, only distribute it. But they have one heck of an amazing outlet store. 

Snowy Chicago Beach

On a cold and snowy day in Chicago, I was at Montrose Beach watching the ice fishermen drill holes in the ice. They walk right out onto the abandoned boat slips, and sit on the ice in chairs with fishing poles in hand.

I came out to get a picture of the fishermen, and found out I would have had to walk out onto the ice to get it, so I faced south and got downtown for you, instead.

I've been painting!

This is what I've been up to. Painting! This is a scene in Oregon. There were elks in the hills, and that incredibly gorgeous field of sunflowers and zinnias. I went to Oregon last summer with my son, and we had a most excellent adventure. Here are pictures of the painting in progress.

And I have been working on still lifes, too. But I still like painting landscapes the best.

Flowers in Winter

Pretty flowers in a Dominicks, a grocery store in Chicago

Here they are from afar

I Love You

"I Love You"
"I'm Sorry"
"Please Forgive Me"
"Thank You"

Love seems to be the theme this week, with Valentine's Day coming up on Saturday. I was thinking how sad I was that I had no one to send a valentine to. Sad that I have nobody to spend Valentine's Day with. Then I realized that it was my own fault. It's really me I want to have a love affair with, if that makes any sense. So I can send a valentine to myself!

I came across this the, other day, and it just stopped me in my tracks. I create everything that happens in my life. By saying these four little sentences, to myself, to others, I can choose between love and fear. Ultimately much in my life boils down to a choice between love and fear.

"I Love You"

"I'm Sorry"

"Please Forgive Me"

"Thank You"

Magical words!


Happy Valentine's Day

Mickey Dees Fancy Schmancy Store

2/9/09
Oak Brook, Illinois, the site of McDonalds' corporate headquarters. I suppose this is timely, since I heard on the news today that their January profits are up 7%.

Of course there are the usual hamburgers. But nestled inside is a cozy cafe that serves gelato and fancy pastries. Oh, and did I say there's a fireplace?

Chicago in Winter

Thank you all for the notes. It feels good to be missed! Today the snow is melting. Tomorrow is supposed to be warm, 60 degrees Farenheit. Next holiday after Valentine's Day is St. Patrick's Day. Which means it's almost time to plant the potatoes.


Pastoral Scene in Hinsdale, Illinois


Here's my balcony, all snowy and frosty


Frosty flowers on my balcony