It gets better

After a great dinner @ a pizzeria that Laura suggested (great wine and pizza) - we headed up to Clark St to go to Blue Chicago. Again great music and a great crowd. Not sure how we keep making this better. Btw Kaye - your daughter is enjoying the blues :-)



Location : 66 W Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60654,

Life does not get much better

It is sunny and in the seventies in Chicago. We are sitting in the garden next to the Art Institute having some wonderful sandwiches, espresso chocolate chip cookies and a bottle of Pinot Noir from Oregon.

Life is nice :-)

Location : 345-355 E Jackson Dr, Chicago, IL 60601,

Questionable Tags?

Myself and Tika were driving back from Leesburg when we saw this plate. Now I think it is great that people support local teams but I think you do need to think about how it sounds.

I am guessing their other car supports the DC NBA team - GO WIZ!

....cu

Location : 42245 Ryan Rd, Ashburn, VA 20148,

Continues to amaze ....

I will admit - I can be impressed. It sometimes takes a lot but I can be impressed.

I will readily admit that Laura, her dedication to her work, the work that she has done and the success it has achieved really does impress me. It also makes me proud. (Her fitness regime impresses me as well - and makes me a bit jealous that she is so dedicated to it).

Today I picked up the girls and Tika was working on an art project. A charcoal drawing that she started yesterday I believe.  I saw it and thought - that is very good. Well she brought it with her and she worked on it while myself and Kris got supper ready. Well I will not say how I felt when I saw the finished product - I will let you decide. BTW - the piece is about 22-by-16 and the cell phone pic does not do it justice.

I think she has a future in art.

.... cu

Last Night

A week ago I was asked to attend a dinner in DC. The details were thin but it was with some people that I have worked with in the past and it would save Peter, my boss, from having to make yet another trip to DC.

Well dinner was a small gathering - a dozen people or so - including Senator Sherrod Brown, the Democratic Senator representing Ohio, his Chief of Staff and his staff member that looks after his election campaign. Senator Brown had previously served as the Congressional Representative for the 13th District in Ohio for a period of 14 years.

The other people in the room included an eclectic group of trade representatives, lobbyist, a gentleman from the Free Press as well as one from the Medical Industry. Most people had some background in the Internet arena but there were a number of people involved in different aspects of the power industry and commercial industry. It was quite interesting to see how the group interacted.

Senator Brown is a very interesting gentleman with an obvious sincere desire to do things for Ohio as well as for the country at large. We discussed some aspects of the Financial Reform, which he had to step out quickly to vote on, as well as discussing the general momentum of the country - politically, from a manufacturing perspective as well as in regards to the healthcare changes that have been put in place this year.

It was a great way to spend an evening and if you get a chance read up on what Senator Brown has been promoting at this website - http://brown.senate.gov/

.... cu

Fresh Produce

I have always liked to have the ability to go out and get fresh produce. Years ago that meant going to a local farmers market but since moving to NVA those seem to operate infrequently, even though we do have one on Sundays just across the street. But that still means that I have to wait to get fresh produce or keep it for a few days. 

Now do not get me wrong - our local grocer does a pretty good job - but there is nothing like fresh (just picked - no pesticides) produce. Last year I was able to do peppers (sweet and hot) and some tomatoes. I started them on the deck of my condo and when we moved to the town house I replanted them. We had lots of great tomatoes, a couple of different varieties, and some nice peppers, including habaneros. 

This year we went the extra step. Kris wanted some sunflowers. We of course wanted peppers and tomatoes. We also eat lots of broccoli and decided to add some green leaf lettuce. As you can see - not a lot of space but things are growing. We will get 3 different types of tomatoes. We already have been enjoying the lettuce. We should also get 3 different kinds of hot peppers (some thai chili) and of course the broccoli. 

We are looking forward to some great fresh produce as we go through the summer and into the fall - and I know Kris will love the sunflowers.

.... cu

Coffee in Leesburg

It was not the first time there but it has been a few weeks since we stopped in at Shoes Cup and Cork Club in Leesburg. We usually swing by for a coffee or tea. Myself and the girls have been there as well and enjoyed their pastries.

One of the cool things that they have there is a wall which is all blackboard like. People write on it, draw on it, sometimes they have advertisements for what is going on. When we were there the other day I looked up and what I saw was so cool that I had to take a quick photo.

Now who else knows who it is?

Maybe we will see you there

.... cu

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY!!!!

Happy Birthday Tika!!!!

Where do I start? 18 years ago we were trying to keep you from coming into this world - but you were anxious to get here so you decided that the doctor's view of schedule was too long for you and you joined us 6-1/2 weeks early. It was a nice Mother's Day for your Mom - you coming home for that very first Mother's Day.

It has been an adventure ever since. Broken bones, bruised faces, and all kinds of awards and accolades - Geography Bee Champ, National Karate Champ, and numerous medals at local, state, national and international levels.

And now you get ready to head off to college. I will be the first to admit that it is not easy letting go - but I know you will do well and I know you will be calling for money for college - and maybe for some advice (or at least to talk about hockey).

I am VERY proud of you and Laura reminds me all the time what a great lady you are. Please continue to work hard, be smart about what you do and who you do it with and have fun while you live life.

We love you :-*