I probably shouldn’t confess this out on a public forum, but here we go anyway . . .
Tag: home
Home for the Fourth
Hello. I hope everyone had a nice 4th of July week. Despite the doldrums, mine was superb. Watched fireworks, went to a festival, rocked to a couple of my favorite bands, and saw a movie (Incredibles 2).
Almost Perfect
May 19th marked the second year anniversary of our move out of Florida and back to where I grew up in the Chicago suburbs. Many of you who followed me in Florida, know how much I wanted out. Still, I wasn’t sure how well I’d do back home after twenty-seven years away.
Comfort or Joy
This is not an after-Christmas, Christmas post about comfort and joy during the holidays. It’s about something else entirely.
Old Home
That Great Street
Ordinary is Extraordinary

My heroes are just everyday people who work hard, are honest and have integrity. ~ Jordin Sparks
Why do we call celebrities, “stars?” I mean, from my perspective, everyone has a light inside them.
Anyone can be famous these days. They don’t have to do anything extraordinary. In fact, they can do something absolutely moronic in a thirty second video and turn into the most sought after person in the world.
My favorite kinds of stories to read and to write are about extraordinary people living what appears to be ordinary lives.
A Sea of Gulls
My Puzzle Piece
The Sweet Revolting Development
(Originally posted on February 15, 2012.)
After being dealt a bad hand of cards, Nana grumbled, “This shouldn’t happen to a dog.”
Grandma used her usual phrase, “Wouldn’t that frost you?”
End of Week Wisdom
Feels Like Home
I subscribe to, and have been published in the magazine Angels on Earth. They usually put one recipe in each issue. One of those quarterly recipes called my name, because not only was it chicken soup, which I love, but it was shared by an Italian family. Its ingredients reminded me of something my own Italian family might make. Continue reading “Feels Like Home”
The Mystery House
Every neighborhood has one of them. Okay, maybe not every neighborhood, but every neighborhood I’ve lived in.
I wrote about the mystery creep house where I grew up in my short story Home Avenue in the book anthology Home Avenue. Some kids called it the monsters house, or the haunted house, or the spooky house. Nonetheless, the dwelling was only two doors down from where I lived.
Wednesday Wisdom

You can go to other places, all right – you can live on the other side of the world, but you can’t ever leave home. ~ Sue Monk Kidd
For more quotes, check my page – A quotation at the right moment …
Simply Fall
The simple things in life entertain me. You have no idea how happy I am to experience autumn. After living in Florida for more than twenty years. I miss it so. (For those who missed my other blogs about my visit back home to the Chicago suburbs, click here, here and here.)
Most of you likely get to experience this every year, so these photos may be nothing new to you. But, oh how they tickle my soul and save the wonderful memory for me.

Baby don’tcha wanna go …
. . . back to that same old place. Sweet Home Chicago.
It’s been perfect weather since I arrived in my suburban Chicago home. I took the Chicago River (boat) tour and the following are a few of the photos that resulted. Of the twelve days I’ve been visiting thus far, the day I scheduled for this tour is the only one that turned out gray and misty. The lighting wasn’t the best for photos, but all in all, a very enjoyable day.

Wednesday Wisdom
In light of me visiting home this week …
Diners, Drive-in’s & Dives
I’m still on holiday/vacation in my suburban Chicago home town. For those of you who missed the other installments, check here.
Since we have mostly chain restaurants back in Florida, it’s the “mom & pop” places I prefer to frequent when I’m back home in Chicago. Some of you are familiar with Guy Fieri from the food network who travels to such places. This post will focus on one such place in the Chicago suburbs. Continue reading “Diners, Drive-in’s & Dives”
The Old Stompin’ Grounds
Perhaps you read about my road trip 1 from Florida back to my home town in the Chicago area. Well, I’m here and thought I’d show you the suburb where I grew up.
Even though there are suburbs on top of suburbs which makes it quite an urban area, my little suburb is called a village. Mom and I took a ride into the middle of the village, and I thought I’d share the photos I took. Continue reading “The Old Stompin’ Grounds”
Best Laid Plans
We must be willing to let go of the life we planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. ~ Joseph Campbell
*****
Has anyone ever had their plans go awry? I don’t mean plans where you’re supposed to meet a friend for dinner and your car won’t start. I’m speaking of an entire life taking a sharp turn onto a completely foreign road. Continue reading “Best Laid Plans”