This final blog post about my trip to Mississippi and Alabama has been sitting in the "draft" section on my website for a while now. I have been struggling to come up with a way to start it. And then today, it came to me via a video that has gone viral. Have you seen the video of Texas Democratic nominee Beto O'Rourke responding to a question about kneeling during the anthem at a town hall he was having in Texas? If you haven't, you should check it out. A section of his response pretty much ... Read More
US Travel
A Girls’ Weekend in Chicago
I was looking back through previous blog posts a few weeks ago and I realized that there is one city I rarely blog about. It is one of my favorite cities and the one I spend most of my time in - Chicago! Chicago is a great city, especially in the warmer months. I also love it during the holiday season when it is all lit up with Christmas lights. So really it is just Jan-March when it's not such a hospitable place. Although if it's snowing, it is also really beautiful and so peaceful. So as you ... Read More
Girls’ Weekend in Chicago featuring Jimmy Buffett
Fun. So much laughter. Lots of good food and drinks. Girl talk.... All of these can be used to describe the weekend I had with my sister and our friend Meagan over the past couple of days. I was so excited for them to come visit! They got in on Friday afternoon and we headed out for dinner that night at Cafe BaBa Reeba. If you've followed my blog, you know this is one of my favorite restaurants and my go-to when friends visit. It's a tapas (small plates) restaurant near Halsted and Armitage in ... Read More
Broadway in Chicago…and New York City
Several years ago, I was out with some friends and their friends. We were at a bar, talking and having a good time. The discussion turned to whatever the popular TV shows or movies were at the time and I zoned out, not interested in the conversation. I don't watch much TV and usually fall asleep during movies. I stare at two two dimensional screens 8+ hours a day, 5 days a week. I don't want to do it when I'm at home as well. And if you like to spew movie or TV quotes, unless it's from ... Read More
Whale Watching in Hawaii
One of the things I was most excited about for a trip to Maui in March was whale watching. By whales, I mean humpback whales. The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. The adults range in length from 39-52 feet and weigh about 79,000 pounds (Wow! I didn't realize they were SO big before writing this blog). The humpback whale has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. Their lifespan is estimated to be between 45-50 years. The humpback whale completes the ... Read More
Family Weekend in Chicago
Two weeks ago, my mom, sister, niece and nephew came to Chicago to visit. I love when they come because we always have a fun time. This time was no exception. Stella was thrilled to have company...until Lexy wanted to see what she looks like with her coat on. Poor Stells! Starting her young...standing up for our rights! Their first Chicago style pizza experience. They are fans! And yes, sitting on the couch, eating pizza while watching a kids' show is perfectly acceptable at Aunt Carmen's ... Read More