You can't do that on a Tuesday!

It reads: "ATTENTION! Dan the dog walker will eat your dog! Don't be another victim, you have been warned!!!" I don't know who "Dan the dog walker" is, but he seems to have a bad reputation. I don't think he really ate anyone's dog because something like that would have ended up the on WGN morning show for sure...


Best couple in town




A look at the rocks under the water in Lake Michigan








Just hanging out at the zoo like the rest of us.


Look at the size of this lady's canvas. About 5' x 7'. It's a rather ambitious plein aire painting.


Another weird Lincoln Park sculpture. I should really make a book because they have the strangest stuff in this neighborhood. My favorite thing about this sculpture though is the security. Notice the sign to the top right. They have a huge camera mounted on the house as well. The front of the house is half sculpture garden, half prison. I kind of want to just sit on it and that's probably why they have the camera in the first place...


Not sure what this is either. It's just a few house down from the one above. It appears to be a lady whose head is the rear hood of an old Volkswagen Beetle. As for the rest, your guess is as good as mine...


Restoration work on the South Pond of Lincoln Park. They drained the pond and have been putting in walkways and all sorts of stuff. There's a half circle wooden tunnel in the rear of the picture. Not sure what that's for. Should look good when they fill it with water again.


Like the Robins in spring, you know it's summer when Kermit and Barbie return from their vacation home and take up residence in my backyard.

Stanley and Me

Here's Flat Stanley (FS). For those who don't know, FS is a school project where kids give him to people they know and take pictures of all the places he ends up. This guy has been to way more places than I have including Paris, Ireland, England, and throughout the United States. Most importantly, the Kedzie Stop on the Brown Line of the CTA. This is for a little girl in Pennsylvania who is the niece of a friend's friend of my girlfriend...

at Soldier Field

Overlooking Chicago

At the lakefront

With storks giving away free calling minutes to Poland at the Polish Constitution Day Parade

At the Chicago Theater

Pritzker Pavillion at Millennium Park

The Bean at Millenium Park

Floating in the Twilight Zone or under the Bean at Millennium Park

Crown Fountain at Millennium Park

Art Institute of Chicago

Sears (soon to be Willis) Tower

Wrigley Field

What trip to Chicago is complete without encased meat? FS at Superdawg.

Megan's dad made a surprised visit for her birthday. So, we went to the Chop House and then they

went to a Cubs vs. Padres game the next day instead of work.

Megan and a co-worker had a shared martini b-day party at work. Her co-worker has a niece or

something who's an "exotic dancer. So, for Megan's b-day, he gave her this card and a pair of her

old 8 inch tall dancing shoes.

BEST WORK PERK EVER! My co-worker, Ruth, and I got free tickets to the White Sox right behind the

Sox dugout a couple nights ago. Here's the team during the national anthem.

A disputed bunt where the umpires didn't see anything wrong, nor did anyone in the stadium, but it

was called back because a Twins player complained and they called it back. It was a very strange call

and took a lot of time to sort out. But, Ozzie had a few words with the umpire and that was

entertaining as always

Maintaining the field

Enforcing order

Just a few of the people with worse seats than I.

Mauer nailed a homerun when I shot this...

Another Ozzie moment. I wish I could see a replay of this because it was very improbable that the player was safe. But, oh well.... I was hoping to catch him getting thrown out. Didn't happen

SOX WIN!

Another lifelong dream fulfilled. I finally got a game ball. This was tossed to me by Paul Konerko! I came close to getting one a couple years ago at a Sox game, but I just came back from the food stand with drinks and nachos and a brat in my hand when it headed toward me. As I tried to maneuver around, the ball landed in the seat in front of me and I had to fight some kids for the ball, which I lost to another adult who got it. This only cost me a half a beer I spilled on the dugout that the guy I gave my extra seat to bought for me. GREAT DEAL!

My new work buddy. His name is Harold

SWIM HAROLD SWIM!

T-day in Rochester, New York

Megan and I having our traditional dinner at Midway Airport


When in Rochester/Buffalo, do as the Rochestarians/Buffalonians do. This is the 10th anniversary edition of Flutie Flakes.


When Megan was doing her x-mas shopping, we saw a bunch of people in these at Brookstone (or something like that) at the mall. Her dad got one and Megan decided to try it out. We thought it was suppose to massage the feet, but it really is a "foot crusher" instead.


This is Watkins Glen, which is near Rochester. It's somewhat like Starved Rock in the Chicago area. On top of this large, steep hill is a really old cemetery where Megan's family has a lot of relatives buried dating from the late 1700s to late 1800s.


Here is the glen at Watkins Glen. Interesting thing I've learned from going to these places is that gorge, glen, dell, and canyon are all different names for the same thing. They define each other...




Megan overlooking the glen with her dad and Marianne in the background




Marianne and Megan on the bridge over the glen


This is pretty much good advice in most populated places...
















Megan and I at the glen. It was pretty cool. It's too bad that the walk below was closed because of ice on the stairs and icicles falling onto the path. I guess it gives me a reason to go to Rochester when it's not winter...


BUFFALO BILLS! This is my 4th Bills game and I'm beginning to think that this officially makes me a Bills fan. I've only been to a couple of Lions games and they are terrible. Plus, I don't live in Michigan anymore and who wants the embarrassment? The Chicago Bears are a good team and I like their style of football. It's all about the defense. But, I've only been to a couple of their games (one against the Bills. All the other football games I've been to have been high school. So...


Tailgating at the CBG (Conklin's Bar & Grill). The menu this time included sausages, hamburgers, and wings (official Buffalo Wings).




Inside this converted bread truck is the bar portion of the bar and grill


I like the superhero Bills fan in red. It's a sporty look.


The bar in the club level of Wilson Stadium




Pre-game. I really like Wilson Stadium because it's very intimate. It doesn't feel like you're a million miles away from all the action, like lots of newer stadiums. Also, the cheerleaders are called the "Buffalo Jills." There's nothing more entertaining than watching girls trying to dance sexy in snowmobile suits.


Jumbotron


Obligatory us pic


If you look at the top of the last pic, you will see this guy. HILARIOUS! If you live in the Buffalo area and know this guy, send this to him.








Back to Chicago. Work up on Monday morning at 4am (eastern) to catch a 6am (eastern) flight to Midway. Landed at 7am (central). Took the Orange Line train to the Loop. Transfered to the Brown Line. (continued on the next photo)


...Made it to my office by 8am (central). It was a long day with lots of coffee.

It was a great T-day weekend. Some time off work. Lots of great food. I would have had a billion pics of food if I didn't think it would freak out the Bell Family too much. The T-Day dinner was great. Michael's Valley Grill had some of the best ribs I've ever tasted. The Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel had a good restaurant that had a good chicken sandwich. Food @ Fisher's Station was really good. It reminded me a lot of places in northern Michigan because it was a restaurant in an old green house. Get the 2-2-2 if you are there. It's where Megan's dad asked me "if I have a hallow leg." ">Max's of Eastman Place had great chicken and duck. The potatoes and appetizers were awesome as well. Then Megan's friend's Sarah and Pete made flank steak with zucchini and baked potatoes. It was all so good and I probably won't eat for a month because of it. I probably gained about 20 lbs. in 4 days. Besides, her family is extremely, very nice to me and her niece provides us with hours of entertainment. Now, I allow myself to think about the next holiday. Saint Nick's Day is Saturday...