Creativity On the March

I have selected creative winners from this morning's protest.  Although the occupy people were only a drop in sea of protesters, they were certainly the creative winners! 

"Don't trade on me" is a pun on the Revolutionary War motto "Don't Tread On Me."   (I don't think these protestors realized they had their sentence reading from right to left.)  Very cute!
 

The gentleman with the yellow banana head is the object of this picture.  Please double tap on it so that you can see the picture enlarged.  His sign read: "Reelect Imbroke Obanana". 

There is good humor in any group!

NATO on Saturday

I have posted pictures from today's  events.  These pictures were taken from my window or within a block of my building.  I have seen a lot of police, very professional and friendly.  

I believe this was a police wall done in anticipation of some motorcade.  This photo also shows the quarter circle park that is a destination point for the protestors.

This picture again shows the quarter circle park located across the street and one block south of my building.  At this time, all the black dots in the park are police.  They are awaiting the protestors.  The white vans are amazing.  Between the vans, the horses and the bikes, the police can move rather quickly. 

These two picture of of the protestors and police are taken from the sidewalk on the building side of Michigan Avenue between Van Buren and Congress Avenue.  The blue helmets are the police.  Okay, you cannot even see the protestors.  Part of that is because I am on the other side of the police line.

Although the protestors were peaceful at this point, there were more chants and rants against the police than  for any cause they were supporting. 

This is a photo of the police and protestors as they left the park and moved north along Michigan Avenue to the Art Institute which is located one block north of my building.  There were several short scuffles on this pass in front of my building.  It looked to me that other "noble" protestors would pull their feisty comrade away from the police.  The people in the street and leaving the park include protestors and police. The people on the sidewalk against the buildings are spectators.

So far, I have been unimpressed  but not surprised with Occupy's ability to inspire many protestors.

NATO on Friday

The city area called the loop seemed a ghost town today. 

This photos was taken on Dearborn Street between the two federal buildings.  The number of federal police vehicles around town was amazing!  I asked a policeman how they got them all to Chicago.  He said that the police drove them to the city from wherever they came.

These photos are of the occupy protestors.  There are not many of them.  Maybe there are forty and at most fifty.  Still, you can see they have at least one nasty sign.  ( I am not talking about the "tax the rich" sign.)  They are currently standing on the corner of LaSalle and Jackson. My building is about 4 blocks away.

An Embarrasing Moment

On Monday, I accepted the invitation of a good friend to be a guest at her water aerobic class.  I went with her and enjoy it.  While walking to the dressing room.  I noticed that the fabric in one small place by the side seam was deteriorating.  I made a mental note to check the suit out when I got home.

When I checked the suit out, this is what I found on the back.  It is one of those moments that you think...if I had only known. I have since purchased a new suit and thrown this one away!

Mother's Day

Todd took me to dinner on Thursday evening to celebrate Mother's Day.  The restaurant he selected was "TRU" entertainment!  To the left is the menu of the dinner we enjoyed.  Not listed on the menu is the assortment of breads offered.  The fennel and raisin bread  was really good.  I will try it at home sometime.  Thanks Todd!

Slave Day

Todd and I made a bet wagering an eight hour slave day on Saint Patrick's Day as we sat outside at a cafe on Michigan Avenue eating lunch.  First, sitting outside in March in Chicago is a miracle of miracles.  The position I took on the bet was that the official temperature for Chicago would dip to freezing or below at least once between March 17 and May 15.  I thought I was going to lose!  On April 11 and for one day only, the official temperature in Chicago was 32 degrees. 

To cash in my slave day, I decided to use it to go to the temple and do work for my direct ancestor.  I went onto new.familysearch.org and found them.  I had Todd do work for one of my ancestors also.  It was a wonderful experience!  Other things that made the day great included being with Todd but also being able to make all the decisions without any consultations.  I got to drive, decide which route to take, and where to go after.  The only one I had to please for eight hours was myself.  It was fun!

Free Pearl Laser Treatment

On day three, my thought was "What have I done to myself!"

Two weeks later, it looks pretty good.  Was it worth it?  Maybe. Would I do it again?  I don't think so.