Chicago, my kind of town!

Welp, it's Wednesday again.  I finished my one-on-one discipleship class at church last night; 10 weeks actually went very fast.  I truly enjoyed the class - it was exactly what I hoped it would be- a renewing of my spirit (wo)man.  I feel different (in a good way) even though so much is still in disarray around these parts and I have so much yet to do.  I have a move coming up next week and it's shaping up quite differently than it was initially supposed to.  Not sure how I feel about that.  All that change I talked about?  Coming at me fast...

 

Anyhoo, today I figured I would write the post I was supposed to do on Friday.  About Chicago, my hometown.  I love Chicago (even though technically I've been a suburbanite for more than a decade now).  I first fell in love with Chicago and its rich history back in the 6th grade in my Options for Knowledge class at Kellogg Elementary School.  Each quarter our teacher, Mrs. Scannell, would pick a new topic for us to research and study and then we'd pick our individual topics from there, put on a teach-in for the whole school (in costume) and go around to the different classrooms to "teach" our subject.  It was the best experience of my life and I'm so glad I got the chance to experience it.  Anyway, our last topic that year was Chicago.  I studied George Pullman and the Pullman Porters, go figure.  Sidenote, in college I did a research paper on the history of blacks in Morgan Park/Beverly, so my love of Chicago lived on... Anyway, our teach-ins for the school took the form of a play with teaching built in.  It was actually ingenious, I must say, in looking back.  For the Chicago teach-in, we learned a number of songs that I still remember to this day. 

 

"If someone ever asked me what Chicago is, it might take me an hour, two or three.  'Cuz I'd take time to tell them what Chicago is, and all the things Chicago means to me.  My kind of town, Chicago is, my kind of town, Chicago is, One town that won't let you down, it's my kind of town... Each time I roam, Chicago is, calling me home, Chicago is, One town that won't let you down, it's my kind of town... Each time I leave, Chicago is, tugging my sleeve, Chicago is... the Wrigley Building, Chicago is, the Union Stockyards, Chicago is, Comiskey Ballpark (at least it was in 1982), Chicago is, one town that won't let you down, it's My Kind of Town!!!!"  (Ad libbed from what I remember of one of our teach-in songs)

 

Then there's Chicago that toddlin' town and just plain Chicago.  There's also the group Chicago (who I LOVE, by the way)... But I digress so very much...

 

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to check out the "Open Air" exhibit at the Field Museum (the last day was Monday).  I loved it!  It was a great day, although it was very hot out.  The exhibit was a free, outdoor exhibit featuring the photography of Walter Iooss, Jr., the "poet laureate of sports," and his subject?  His Airness, himself - Michael Jordan!  What a great, great collection and it was so peaceful to explore!  It made me smile all day.  I thank the Field Museum, Mr. Ioos and the Jordan Brand for bringing it to Chicago!  Did I take pictures?  But of course... Without further ado, Open Air!!! *Be forewarned, there are 31 photos...*

 

Ok, for real, wasn't that something to see????  I truly loved this exhibit (I'm an exhibit-kinda girl, but I really did love this one).  The last photo features a life size photo of his hand - I put my hand in it and it was just swallowed up!  I hope you enjoyed this slice of Chicago; there's more, I took more photos that day that I love, but for today, sharing "Open Air" with you is enough to make my day brighter.  I forgot to tie it all back to the post- this is just one reason that Chicago is my kind of town - free exhibits for the public to enjoy!

So what's special about your hometown (or your current town if you have relocated)?  Share it with me, would love to know!  Holla @ Darvi.  Have a wonderful Wednesday and Be Blessed!



Sometimes the truth is...

Happy Monday and Labor Day to you, blogland!  I hope that everyone has had a happy and fun holiday weekend.  So yeah, I missed posting on Friday.  It happens.  In fact, lots of things happen, most of which are out of your control (a lesson I keep experiencing time and time again).

I wish I could say that I had some thought-provoking post today - some witty comment on world events or some upbeat motivational piece that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  But the truth is, I don't. 

Today I could care two figs about world events because all I can focus on are the events in my world and they loom larger than life at the moment.  I can't write a motivational piece because today I need someone to motivate me.  Remember that change thing I talked about a few weeks ago and how much I didn't like it?  Well, funny thing about life; things have changed even more than I initially thought they would and I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me.  So today I gots nothing.

Sometimes the truth is that you just feel blah.  That is probably the understatement of the year, but it's the best I have right now.  I'm actually not sure when I'll post again because I have to wrap my head around these latest of life changes. 

I'm not sure who actually reads this stuff, I just write.  To the people out there who do read, thank you.  And might I trouble you to pray for me and my children and that some good comes out of all of this change?  Thank you in advance for that.

And just so this entire post isn't doom and gloom (even though that's how I personally feel at the moment), check out these beautiful photos I took last Thursday from the vantage point of the Field Museum in the south loop. Now, I took them with my crap cell phone because my latest camera was broken a few weeks ago and I haven't been able to replace it, but I still think they came out pretty good:

The Chicago Skyline

 

Navy Pier and Monroe Harbor

 

A boat in the distance on Lake Michigan

 

 

See?  Even though I feel blah today, these photos make me smile a teensy, tiny bit. 

 

No question, just have a great week everyone.

 

xoxoxo

 

~ Darvi

 

Goodbye, Summer TV...

You made it - it's FRIDAY!!!!  High five yourself for getting to the end of another week!

As usual around these parts, the weekend is going to be a busy one:  a fundraiser tonight, a picnic tomorrow (one of the last of the year), and I'm thinking of supporting a childhood friend who coaches a pee wee football league in his first game of the year on Sunday (at least for a little while, not sure how long I'll be able to do bleachers...).  So it's a little busy.  Next week is the (unofficial) last week of summer and I still have stuff I wanted to get in!  Like getting down to the Field to see the open air MJ exhibit.  And then there's finding someone's house to crash for Labor Day (LBVS)!  Kinda makes you wonder where the summer went and what did you actually do all summer (and in some cases, what you didn't get done...).

One of things I was supposed to do this summer was catch up on TV.  Yeah, about that... So I recorded all of "summer" shows and I haven't actual watched much of anything.  And we're less than a month out from regular TV returning - Yikes!  I don't remember summer TV when I was kid being this exciting - I never watched it!  I was too busying trying to get outside and play!

So in our farewell to summer, we're gonna chat a little about summer TV:

Now I'm sure most of you never guess in a million years what I did spend time watching this summer.  Time's up:  Charlie's Angels and The Love Boat. 

Yep, you read right.  Those are my guilty TV pleasures - two of my favorite shoes from when I was a kid (my sisters and I used to act out our favorite TV shows, including Charlie's Angels:  I was Jill/Chris, Kim was Kelly, and Mia was Sabrina; when my brother came along he was Bosley by default).  I know the plot lines weren't great, some seasons have been downright painful to watch with 2015 eyes, but sometimes you just need mindless TV that concludes in an hour, you know?  The Love Boat - I love singing the theme song and just reliving my youth (it's definitely how we spent Saturday night - there was only one TV...).

Now I did watch my regular summer History and Discovery Channel reality TV staples also, just not as much as usual:

 

 



I also added three new ones to the mix: 

 

And we actually watched ALL of this show (except the last 4 episodes, still trying to finish this before regular TV starts):



 I got in some of these two also, both on On Demand:



I plan to upgrade the Goldbergs to part of my regular TV watching this fall.  I'm almost caught up on Tyrant, but I didn't get to Power, Mistresses or Devious Maids.  So, I have a few more weeks to play catch up before my attention is drawn to premiers.

So how about you - do you watch much TV in the summer or do you take a break and wait until fall?  Holla @ Darvi!

*Sidenote:  I know my posts have been "deep" this week - but know this, I strive to always be my true, authentic self here and believe it or not, you are walking with me on my journey:  highs, lows, stumbles, triumphs, defeats.  I'm not always sure where it's gonna end up, but I'm documenting the ride and sharing any lessons I learn along the way in the hopes that they may help someone else should they find themselves in similar circumstances.

Enjoy your weekend and be blessed!!!