Chi-town!

It's always a great thing to plan a getaway now and then. I'm just getting home from a doozy of one. Chicago, Chicago... That toddlin' town! The instigation to hit the Windy City was to visit friends and it was great to see Roller, Michelle, Kerry, and Mindy (who are all recentish transplants) as well as Tim, Shaun, and Jesse who were visiting too.

I also made it a point to catch a bunch of the sights I didn't get to on my short visit last autumn. I walked my little legs off as I experienced the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, a great riverboat architecture tour, and Giordano's Pizza. That was Monday. Tuesday brought Old Town and the Lincoln Park Zoo, a fantastic show at Second City, and a fun blues club called Kingston Mines where we loved the band headed by guitarist and singer Joanna Connor. On Wednesday, Roller and I took a little road trip down to Munster, Indiana and the brilliant Three Floyds brewery. Back in town, we caught the genius Avett Brothers at the House of Blues and then met up with more friends and more blues at Blues Chicago. Then before I hit the L out to O'Hare, we grabbed brunch at the fantastic Orange. It was a trip full of friends and food and music and adventures, and now I feel rejuvinated and ready to tackle this next week of art and packing... well, after I catch up wee bit on sleep.

Yes, the next week will bring lots of art including major strides on numerous projects, both commissioned and personal. I also hope to finally get the Squigs' Ink site redesign up and running. I'll be packing for my month in Wichita... and memorizing as much of my scripts and scores as possible. And, yes, I still have more adventures planned before I head to Kansas. These may include the Doheny Blues Fest, the Southern Cal Scots Fest, and a working getaway to the San Diego area. Does it seem like I'm packing too much in? I love it.

So now I've gotta get on to the next thing. But before I do, I have to give thanks for loved ones responding well to cancer treatments. Especially Grandma who has a much better idea of what to expect next. Take care, all. Hug a loved one. Go on an adventure. Peace & love!