Ready!

When planning a camping trip, I make a list.  A list of supplies to gather, food to pack, items we need from the store.  I spent the morning bringing up equipment from the basement, simmering some homemade chicken noodle soup for tomorrow's dinner (after we have set up camp), packing clothes, food and toiletries.  I will load the camper and van when my husband brings the van home from work.  Tomorrow morning, I need to pack the perishables in the cooler and pack a lunch.  Our estimated departure time is 9am.  We are heading 250 miles north to a state park.  A beautiful area....sandy beaches, clear water, amazing sunsets!

A Frog

About every other month, the greenhouse manager orders a shipment of plants and dishgardens from a greenhouse in Florida.  A husband and wife team drive the foliage to our store, back up the truck, and many hands unload the cartons and paper wrapped plants.  Along with the planters and peace lilies, we get some hitchhikers.  We have found lizards and frogs hiding in the leaves.  At the present time, a frog resides in the greenhouse.  It is a nice cozy habitat--places to hide, bugs to eat, pleasant temperature.  I haven't looked for her, but periodically she announces her presence.  I don't know her species.  She could be one of twenty-seven species of Floridian frogs.

The Greenhouse

Accomplished!

I accomplished much today.  Worked in the house, vacuumed the carpet, cleaned the bathrooms and cleared off the kitchen table.  My daughter, a high school senior, and I drove to the school to register.  She met with her counselor to change her schedule.  We came home just in time for me to drop her off and drive to my parents' home.  My mother had an appointment at the nail salon.  Nails trimmed and polished a pretty summer pink, we stopped at the sandwich shop and got a turkey and cheese.   The sandwich was a delight (she shared with my dad and me) and we looked at pictures of the flower shop and greenhouse and played a game of scrabble.  Back home I enjoyed a combination of hot dog, salad, yogurt, popcorn and granola bar.  I fielded a call from my friend who is blatantly asking that I take her to lunch.  She is playing the "I'm depressed" card.  I told her that we would "wait and see until next month."  After being scammed out of a tent, I am quite adamant that I won't be coerced into paying for a lunch.

If it's not one issue, it's another...

Early on Saturday morning, I drove to pick up two martial arts students and take them to the party at the lake.  I was looking forward to a relaxing day, but I had hardly sat down when my sister expressed concern for my dad.  After work yesterday, I stopped by to visit with my mother and dad.  I played scrabble, shared pictures of my trip and chatted. All seemed copacetic.   Today I thought that I'd stop by and give my dad some respite.  I discovered that my mother had twisted her knee yesterday, and she had taken a painkiller and was asleep.  My dad had hoped to travel next week, but now his plans are on hold, pending how well my mother's knee heals.  My dad needs more help with my mother, and if she can't walk, then she might have to go into a nursing home.  I also had a strange conversation with a coworker.  In essence, she was asking when I would give her a camping tent.  The initial conversation was so long ago that I can't recall it.  Did I offer her the loan of a tent, or to give her one?  I have no clue.  I found an old tent, some stakes and the directions and a new sleeping bag that a colleague had given me.  Today I gave them to her.  Remind me to keep my mouth shut around this woman.

Recovering peace and serenity

An unexpected and surprising result of my trip to Chicago was a feeling of serenity that lasted almost to the end of my work shift today.  It could have been leaving all my daily struggles behind, the day relaxing on the beach,  or exploring the city that provided me with a sense of peace.  A wonderful feeling, one that I am going to try to nurture.  Just five minutes before I was due to clock out, my coworker caused me to feel stress. She was making copies of employment applications, discussing the new branch store and talking about a potential firing.  All subjects that cause me anxiety.  I am feeling manipulated into working the branch store.  I am trying to recover the sense of peace and serenity.  I know I can do it.

Exploring Chicago

Montrose Beach, Chicago

A Day at the Beach

Many years ago, when our children were very young, we traveled to Chicago in the warmth of the summer.  In more recent years, I have visited in February, April, October and November.  Yesterday since it was a beautiful, warm sunny day, I choose to spend the day at Montrose Beach wading along Lake Michigan, reading, taking pictures and people watching.  After crossing under Lake Shore Drive, I came to the dog park at the beach.  All breeds and sizes of dogs, introverted and extroverted romped in Lake Michigan.  Some chased around, others fetched sticks and balls..some more vocal than others.  Moving along the beach about midmorning, I waded along the shoreline.  Eventually I went up the dunes, to walk along the old retaining wall.  The waters of Lake Michigan have receded, so the retaining wall is far up on the land.  I took a short sight seeing expedition through a flora and fauna sanctuary.  Emerging back on the path, I traversed the retaining wall past the retaining wall to the break wall.  I noticed the marina across the way.  A mild breeze drifted in making it a perfect day for sailing!  Sailboats glided quietly out of the marina.  Couples in lawn chairs watched the boats.  A group of children from a summer camp played barefoot soccer.  Men played whiffle ball and frisbee.  When I went into the restroom, two women and  two girls were shampooing a little white dog in the sink.  For lunch, I bought a hot dog, loaded it with condiments....mustard, ketchup, dill relish and onions, and chips and sat at the beach enjoying the sun on my face.

Harpo Studios

At the studio

I arrived at the studio and chatted with a woman who had flown into the studio from New Orleans.  She had a terrible time.   Her flight was three hours late, the hotel room reserved by the airline was not available but her credit card was charged, the new hotel room was dirty.  "I just feel like going home!" she moaned.  In the holding area at the studio, I sat across from a woman who laughed loudly and annoyingly and who complained that she was hungry.  Irritated with her, I felt like speaking up and saying, "It's a wonderful opportunity to come to a taping.  If you prefer to eat, then stay home!"  I attended a premiere of the new show "Iyanla, fix my life" and a taping of Oprah Lifeclass."  The subject of both was the devastation and destruction of family secrets.....the revelation that someone's parent is not his biological parent, staying quiet about sexual preference, money secrets from a spouse.  Shed a few laughs and tears and clapped my support  My son and I met two of his friends for appetizers, sushi and wine.   A wonderful evening.

Chicago

 
 
 
I'm in Chicago!   The  bus arrived an hour late due to construction but finally luggage and one curtain  rod was stowed, reservation numbers were checked and we were on our way.  The bus was fully loaded, so I found a seat at a table with four other folks...a man returning home to a Chicago suburb, a grandmother going to babysit her 6-month old granddaughter.   I chatted and found out that she makes the trip from her home every Sunday and returns on Thursday.  Also, met a young man studying theology at Moody.   I enjoyed sitting with these folks.  My son offered to meet the bus which thrilled me.  We stopped at the grocery store to get celebration items--corn chips and freshly made salsa, pizza, Asian salad and cantaloupe.  Felt bad because my son had to be at work early the next morning and we were burning the midnight oil.  He went off to work early and I followed later.  I hopped on the red line, got off at a stop to make sure I was heading the correct direction,  inadvertantly missed my stop later, wandered the city for a minute until I found the correct CTA bus to take me to the studio.  Once at the studio, I went in search of breakfast.  Had a delicious piece of banana walnut bread and a banana.

In Chicago!

My 10,000 Step Route

The Windy City

I am heading to my most favorite city--The Windy City. I have passed on my enjoyment of this beautiful city to my daughters. They drive to Chicago and visit the Navy Pier and wander the city. I will work on Sunday at the flower shop and then in the afternoon catch the bus. My coworker and I discussed car vs bus, and she said, "why not take the bus? Sit back and enjoy!" I am perusing my laminated map, as I am aiming to take the CTA to my son's condo. It vexes me that I can't discern which direction I am going, and either head up and down a street four times , or upon seeing my map out, some kind young man points me in the right direction. My plans are yet to be determined. I know that I am going to the taping of a popular show and that we will enjoy some of Uptown's finest cuisine and wine. I am considering spending a day on Lake Michgan...reading , people watching, absorbing the beach ambience and savoring a fine lunch in the fresh air.