tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83355362292026683022024-03-04T23:40:08.513-08:00TRAVEL YOUR DREAMSTRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-51257203037779621872020-02-07T04:11:00.002-08:002020-02-07T04:11:36.962-08:00New website design for 2020 and new content on the way!TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-18367972439577469532018-02-14T15:44:00.001-08:002020-02-07T02:30:38.344-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtXGheuLDN8ifvlnivTWbmU1IggKTbsSPitOn63EbpxD0eXQ-_pciednGxOm-iWl4W2allk0ytrDRtv7T1MtIESaC-VdocVmwuXgR6WXRC9HNRA7m6jftRNL9TLVO5da-f86AL7rbyXo/s1600/Dandy+Cat+Castle+Nov+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="705" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtXGheuLDN8ifvlnivTWbmU1IggKTbsSPitOn63EbpxD0eXQ-_pciednGxOm-iWl4W2allk0ytrDRtv7T1MtIESaC-VdocVmwuXgR6WXRC9HNRA7m6jftRNL9TLVO5da-f86AL7rbyXo/s320/Dandy+Cat+Castle+Nov+19.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Happy Valentine's Day</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Check out my guest blog post for PetRadioShow.com</span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://petradioshow.com/teaching-your-child-to-love-and-respect-pets/">Pet Radio Show - Teaching your child to love and respect pets</a><br />
<br />
<br />TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0Chicago, IL, USA41.8781136 -87.62979819999998241.4995241 -88.275245199999986 42.256703099999996 -86.984351199999978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-76235504955094164612015-11-09T12:32:00.000-08:002020-02-07T02:09:19.794-08:00Letters To The Future - In My Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uuz_nM8opJ-ThhizKUQacFNKJPxsqDZarknEfKiluVJ-y0fyQevb_RyQrtacCzc4phYdLzJ0M8i4qU-PwLevA4vT7jhV03fHHVTxXriteDz6jIqQO753wnzSoxKNuEr43fMeO4j1MeM/s1600/Letters+to+the+Future.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1200" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uuz_nM8opJ-ThhizKUQacFNKJPxsqDZarknEfKiluVJ-y0fyQevb_RyQrtacCzc4phYdLzJ0M8i4qU-PwLevA4vT7jhV03fHHVTxXriteDz6jIqQO753wnzSoxKNuEr43fMeO4j1MeM/s200/Letters+to+the+Future.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Letters to the Future/Paris Climate Project</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"The Paris Climate Project asked writers, scientists, artists and others to predict the outcome of the Paris talks (the success or failure and what came subsequently) as if writing to their children’s children, six generations hence. In the letters, they told future members of their own family or tribe, living at the turn of the century, what it was like to be alive during and after the historically crucial events of the upcoming U.N. climate talks."<br /><br />"All letters were published online and some letters were published in newspapers and other media across the country in December."<br /><br />Yes, I wrote a letter</span>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.letterstothefuture.org/letter/193/in-my-time/">In My Time by Traci Elizabeth </a><br />
<br />TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.1699412 -115.1398295999999835.7602007 -115.78527659999999 36.579681699999995 -114.49438259999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-88243744445350316512015-11-07T19:41:00.000-08:002020-02-07T02:25:53.267-08:00Family Ghosts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5SX7NiwFHF7uwwWIBsXACLxuSkHFwlNFJ7vj1fL5ZoO2oKE2S4sSadtJeaj7N88jfRMyhgFU-jXoyIGfyBzxaAUbtQqisYCbTj20duWvfuKlMcLHBPZxSE1T4Ai8y5I8Fi8GLygZDjM/s1600/Red+barn+curve+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5SX7NiwFHF7uwwWIBsXACLxuSkHFwlNFJ7vj1fL5ZoO2oKE2S4sSadtJeaj7N88jfRMyhgFU-jXoyIGfyBzxaAUbtQqisYCbTj20duWvfuKlMcLHBPZxSE1T4Ai8y5I8Fi8GLygZDjM/s320/Red+barn+curve+road.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">A true nocturnal tale of spirits of the past in an </span><span style="font-size: medium;">epic dream experience with the present. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Guest blog post </span><a href="http://whatidreamof.com/recurring-dreams-family-ghosts/" style="font-size: large;">Family Ghosts </a><span style="font-size: medium;">at www.whatidreamof.com</span><br />
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Insomnia. I've had it ever since I was a little girl, and as long as I can remember.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">On rare nights that I fall solidly asleep, snuggled under covers and under the velvet midnight sky, I dream deeply. Drifting into a misty world where images spin in my mind traveling thru time, the scenes are often like something out of a sci-fi movie.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">One of the most epic, recent recurring dreams is set in black and white, like an old 1920's silent film. I don't see myself in the dream, but I feel like I'm there, experiencing it all and viewing it all through my eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I am in a rural area of dusty farmland as far as I can see. There are railroad tracks in the distance. I realize I am standing there alone, looking around, feeling lost. Not knowing which way to go. Walk on the road? Or walk on the train tracks? How did I get here? Where am I supposed to go? All is silent. Then there are echoing distant whispers, the sound of wind, softly amplifying into a storm. Dust blows and spins in the air. I see a tornado in the distance. It is forming and coming in my direction.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Instinctively, I spin around, thinking where to run. I notice an old house with no windows. Just a shell of someone's former Home. I run into it and through a maze of doorways, with no doors left. I hide in the deepest place I can find. The tornado whistles and blows over. Then there is eerie silence. I walk out of the house looking up at the land around me, alone in this strange abandoned place. In real life, I wake up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In another episode of this recurring dream, I again find
myself standing alone outside in the same place, looking ahead and around me.
It is like I’m trapped in an old photo. Everything is more sepia toned this
time. There is no sound. I look back at the house and see shadows of movement
inside. Then, I see an older couple glide out, almost as if ice skating on air.
They are looking right at me, and they wave like crazy so I notice them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They smile. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After I smile back, they softly glow, as if
illuminated with white light. There is no light in the house, there is no
working electricity, and no sunlight. As I look at them, they are almost
transparent. I can see everything behind them through them, like they are
Ghosts. How can this be happening?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The woman tries to speak, she wants to say something. I see
her mouth move, but there is no sound. She is so frustrated, that I can’t hear
her. She starts to cry. I can see, but not hear it. It is heartbreaking. There
is a wave of sadness over all 3 of us. The man puts his hand on her shoulder to
comfort her, and she stands there, silent. They vanish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In real life, I wake up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dream episode 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same
scene. Tornado coming. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I run to the
house and I see the older couple there. They wave me in, saying “Come in from
the Storm!” This time she can speak and I can hear her. She says she is my
Great Great Grandmother from Sweden and she knows I have been looking for her.
She tells me she is here with me now. We stand together as the storm passes overhead.
I feel the house shake, but I feel safe with them. 20 minutes later, we walk
outside. She says she has messages for me before I go on my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tells me a lot of things, and said I will
remember when the time comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and her husband wave and stand by the front doorway of
the house. I begin to walk the road in front of me. In reality, I wake
up…stunned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In reality, for 25 years I have been researching my family
tree in Sweden. It started with just myself, my mother and grandmothers
information. As of August 2015, the branches now have 98 people going back to
the 1700’s. And I’ve uncovered the History of my mysterious 3<sup>rd</sup>
Great Grandparents. After I recently discovered this, the dreams stopped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Was this sequence of dreams a wishful subconscious fantasy, or
really night time visits by Family Ghosts?</span></div>
TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.1699412 -115.1398295999999835.7602007 -115.78527659999999 36.579681699999995 -114.49438259999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-76851168467539089902015-10-23T21:18:00.002-07:002020-02-07T01:41:54.570-08:00Spirits Check In to Jerome Grand Hotel - for Eternity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3Bn0eyrCk1gNNXUEfZGQFrnN__lxfjermmABCBhYBA0ZJp__8P_E8uvCn9JvtsIZ4Ac07uLhs3mnT3_oho9Zz3TEDJSKBfd_eoQ1a0FOz2NS8M44CA-09slvCY46c_ahLIckoPDDHRE/s1600/Ghost+Midnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3Bn0eyrCk1gNNXUEfZGQFrnN__lxfjermmABCBhYBA0ZJp__8P_E8uvCn9JvtsIZ4Ac07uLhs3mnT3_oho9Zz3TEDJSKBfd_eoQ1a0FOz2NS8M44CA-09slvCY46c_ahLIckoPDDHRE/s200/Ghost+Midnight.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Up in the Black Hills of Arizona, the Jerome Grand Hotel stands on Cleopatra Hill, hosting souls who have checked-in for Eternity. Their stories have been written in time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Originally United Verde Hospital, built 1927, it was then described as the most modern Hospital in the West. An engineering miracle - fire proof, earthquake proof, and able to withstand shock waves of dynamite from mines, it has survived two centuries. Planned to be a place of healing and rest for families and workers of the mining camp below, over time it became a place of haunting. Apparently, it wasn't ghost proof.<br /><br />Camp was established in 1883, the Town officially incorporated March 8, 1889. Named after Eugene Murray Jerome, of New York, the investor financed mining plans here and got the town rocking and rolling. United Verde Mine was born, began operations, and produced over 1 billion in ore, over 70 years. <br /><br />Anchored 5000 feet above sea level, the Hospital above town had windows in every direction, offering breathtaking views of the entire Valley. At night, lights from the windows were like glowing eyes a mile high. As if watching the gold, silver and copper fever below. <br /><br />Lured by visions of wealth and work provided by treasures of the Earth, people went to Jerome. They came from places far away, as if drifting into town under a spell, cast by the supernatural aura of Jerome calling them. Word spread quickly beyond Verde Valley, and Jerome soon incarnated into "the wickedest town in the West" as printed in the New York Sun, 1903. <br /><br />Back alley brothels sprang up, and secret underground opium dens operated, making fortunes for outlaws in the vice trade, fueled by legit fast money from copper commerce. A web of tunnels were built under the city, people creeping like spiders in the dark, carrying out nocturnal business activities.<br /><br />Miners went on strike in 1917, bringing Jerome news out of the Mountains and into the spotlight, again. 60 members of the Industrial Workers of the World Union were forced out of town by old fashioned justice; guns pointed at them, prodded to get on a cattle train, and sent away, warned to never return. <br /><br />A year later in 1918, the Spanish Flu epidemic hit Jerome. United Verde Hospital's 30, 000 square feet and all five floors, were over filled with patients. Doctors set up three emergency hospitals in local school buildings. Nurses often worked 18 hour shifts, to exhaustion. Some people were alive and well in the morning, and dropped dead by dusk. Varying reports indicate 600-900 deaths from the Flu. The town Cemetery was filled with "1918" headstones. <br /><br />Most patients at United Verde Hospital suffered from tuberculosis or black lung, the final price they paid from working in the mines. Deaths were logged at least once a day. Rumor has it the Hospital also functioned as the local Sanitarium, to calm demons of the mind. There was a designated area of "Death Rooms," where people were sent to die, and rest in peace. Since the 1900's, the living speak of the deceased that still wander. <br /><br />United Verde Hospital operated from 1927-1950. <br /><br />By 1953, there was nothing left to mine, United Verde Copper Company closed, and people left Jerome. What was once a thriving, independent firecracker town of 15, 000, became a Ghost Town of 100 residents. <br /><br />In the wake of the end of the mining era, and perhaps melancholy over what once was, the spirit of Jerome was being written, immortalized in literature. "Ballad of a Laughing Mountain" 1953, was penned by Richard Snodgrass and Art Clark. The documentary style book told the story of Jerome, from beginning to end, with photographic scenes of moments in time. Next, Herbert V. Young, (former executive at United Verde Copper Company) wrote "Ghosts of Cleopatra Hill: Men and Legends of Old Jerome" 1964. This was his 43 year personal account, of how a remote place in the desert was fueled by an enduring spirit, wild west drama, and the rags to riches success story of the town. Young's second book, "They Came to Jerome" 1972, a dynamic tribute to the people who made Jerome home, is proclaimed as the most comprehensive story of Jerome, ever written. <br /><br />United Verde Hospital shut its doors, remaining abandoned for 44 years. People in the valley below reported seeing lights flicker from the empty building with no electricity. Those who entered and explored the vacant Hospital say it is not empty. Restless spirits roamed, filled with souls trapped in time, patients of the past. Alive with haunted history, sounds of yesterday were heard; faint voices screaming, footsteps, eerie noises from the elevator shaft echoed, and moving dark shadows were seen. <br /><br />Most Ghost Towns crumble into dust of the past and fade away. However, Jerome was revived in the 1960's. It's mysterious allure and wild vibe attracted artists, writers, and crafters, who reincarnated the town, to a travel haven. This time, instead of coming for copper, people journeyed here in search of culture. Spellbinding a new generation, Jerome is now alive with galleries, shops, eateries, saloons, and events. Jerome became a National Historic Landmark on April 19, 1967, and "That the Past may Live" became the towns signature statement. This testament honoring the town's incredible never dying spirit, is truly inspiring. <br /><br />Nicknamed Spook City, celebrating a yearly Spook Festival with historical Ghost Walks and other assorted spectral fun every October, Jerome is the most unique, relaxing, and intriguing destination to visit. <br /><br />In 1994, the Hospital building, bought by the Altherr family, was resurrected as The Jerome Grand Hotel. Dusty but well preserved, it was lovingly restored, down to the original Nurse call lights in the halls which remain. The Hospital Lobby is currently the Asylum Restaurant, serving fantastic food and spirits.<br /><br />Apparently, true to the tales, ghosts came with the property. Spirits checked in, and never checked out. Even today, stories continue to be told about time traveling ghosts illuminating their images of the past with the present spirits of travelers. Tourists and employees have reported hearing coughs, wheezing, moans and groans from dark empty rooms. A Nurse in white has been seen roaming the hallways, and a little boy runs into a room then vanishes. A bearded man has been seen in the basement near the boiler room, and a creepy figure lurks on the stairs near the Lobby. Guests of the Hotel can go on Ghost Hunts at the property after dark, if they dare. <br /><br />The legend lives on today, a new chapter written in time, hosted by Spooks and Spirits of The Jerome Grand Hotel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
<a href="http://jeromegrandhotel.net/">Jerome Grand Hotel</a></span></div>
TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0Jerome, AZ, USA34.7489107 -112.113771634.7358637 -112.1339416 34.7619577 -112.09360160000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-24442735130247359832015-02-07T03:26:00.000-08:002020-02-07T04:10:48.866-08:00Bring Me White Castles<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A true travel food story from 1982</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Food is serious stuff in my family. Dad is not feeling well. I keep hearing him get up in the middle of the night, going to the bathroom. </span>After my bedtime snack and during our nighttime
talk, he tells me he needs to have a minor surgery. And, asks if I will drive
him to the Hospital. Of course I will. Then I sit there stunned as scary
questions float in my teenage mind. What is minor surgery? What is going on and
is he going to be ok? Why? When? OMG</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">As if he can see the swirl of storms in my mind, he calmly explains what
the problem is. He can't stop going the bathroom - its a prostate thing that
needs to be removed. I just thought he was drinking too much water at night.
Dad said he'd pack his overnight bag in advance so we could be ready to leave
Saturday afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Friday night I could hardly sleep. I tossed and turned. I just wished I was at my fast food job at KFC and bringing him leftovers from when I
closed the restaurant at night. Food that he always stayed up for, waiting at
the kitchen table while watching the little black and white tv, while I walked
home around 9:30pm from Western Avenue. And that everything would be like a normal Friday/Saturday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">He handed me the car keys and tagged along behind me with his bag and a
towel. I got in the drivers seat and started the engine as he put his bag in
the backseat and got in the front seat with his towel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Dad, the Hospital has
their own towels. Do you not want Hospital cooties?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "It’s in case I have an accident."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">16 yr old Me: "Uh, Ok."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">As I got to the on-ramp for I-57 towards downtown Chicago, I started
getting shaky. I hate being sick and I hate going to Hospitals and I don't know
how I'm going to handle this. So, I try to lighten things up by saying<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "Hey, at least we can go for a nice ride along the Lake!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I did the speed limit from 127th to around 59th St, when the evil prostate
made itself known. Dad started squirming like a little kid that had to go to
the bathroom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "Hey, are you ok?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "I have to pee..I can't stop it. Oh no!" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "Do you want me to pull over and find a gas station
bathroom?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "No, I'll never make it. <b>Just drive faster!</b>"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Pedal to the metal...59th Street to 33rd and Lake Shore Drive. The Lake and
boats were a blur as I sped to the valet entrance of Michael Reese Hospital. I
pulled up, shifted to park, and helped Dad out of the car. A nurse saw us and
brought out a wheelchair. She asked what was wrong and he was embarassed to
say. I said he needs to get to the bathroom and can you please get him situated
while I find a parking place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I watched as she wheeled him into the building as cool winds
whipped off the lake and leaves swirled around my feet, and I felt like
throwing up from stress. I found a parking spot with a great view of Lake
Michigan, then went in. Once he was admitted, I stayed as long as I could till
they told me I had to leave. As they wheeled him to his room, I hugged and
kissed him goodbye then saw tears in his eyes. I'm 16. I'm not good with
Goodbye's.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I sat in the car lost and looking at the Lake. So blue, so peaceful. Then drove home crying a rainstorm of tears all the way, went to bed, and
curled up in a ball. I did not even want dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The next day Dad had surgery and I called afterwards to check on him. A
nurse said he was fine but resting. The day after that, I called and the nurse
said he was sleeping so I left message that his daughter called and wanted to
visit. He called me when he woke up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "Are you coming up here today?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "Yes, I called but you were sleeping. Didn't they tell you I
called?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "I saw a note but didn't know what day it was from."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "I've been calling every day. Are you feeling ok?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "I'm hungry. When are you going to get here?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "Are they not feeding you?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "I got some plate of bland...stuff...and Jello. I never want to
see Jello again."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "Well, ya know, sometimes you're not supposed to be eating heavy
foods after surgery...."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "I'm fine. I want to eat. They're starving me here. BRING ME
WHITE CASTLES."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "Really?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "Yeah. But you're gonna have to sneak it in"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "What?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "They don't allow outside food in the Hospital..some crazy
rule."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "What if I get caught?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "Sneak it in!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "I will just say I brought my Dinner with me, from that long
drive."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "Just walk in, hide it under your jacket or something and hurry
up."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "Like just drive faster!?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "Yes"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "Ok"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "Do you want the hamburgers or cheeseburgers?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "Hamburgers"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "With extra pickles like we always get?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "Yes" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "And the squeezy mustard packs?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: "Yes"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: "I'll be there in within an hour."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad: “Can you bring the Sunday paper?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Me: “Yes, Dad,”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I put on new jeans, a cute top, brush my blond hair and put on makeup so
nobody sees how much I cried and how tired I really am. I then think about how
I’m going to sneak a sack of White Castles into the Hospital. I can’t hide them
in my purse. I cant hide them under my top. I try on several jackets and go in
the kitchen finding a big bag of Jay's potato chips, and
see if I can hide it. 20 minutes later I have found the perfect snack hiding
jacket, put on my electric blue stripe Nike’s, and I’m out the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I drive over the bridge into Blue Island, IL to White Castle drive thru.
Too many cars in line so I park and go in. It is another chilly, windy day, and standing by the stainless steel counter, I feel the warmth of the stainless steel grills and watch burgers being born behind the glass counter. I order 6
hamburgers with extra pickles and packets of mustard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I put the bag of hamburgers on the passenger seat of the car and take off
for the Interstate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Arriving at the Hospital I drive round and round because there are no parking
spots. The food is getting cold. I find a spot 2 blocks away, grab the hamburgers and walk into wicked winds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Near the entrance I turn around and hide the hamburger bag under my jacket.
I look like I’m pregnant. I squish the bag down so its not so obvious. I look
thru the doors and see the elevators, and try to time my entrance so I can get
right into the elevator without having to lurk in the lobby. I see triangle
shaped lights going down to main level and I walk in fast. In the elevator I
push close door, close door. A woman appears out of nowhere pushing her hand to
stop the door from closing and I keep pushing close door. She gets in. She
gives me a dirty look. Then I hear her sniffing. I see her looking around. I am
trying not to laugh. I stand there like a deer in the headlights, hoping the
hamburgers don’t fall out of my jacket and I’m busted. The elevator is bouncing
and I can hear the paper bag making crunching noises. I pull my purse in front
of my stomach and hold my arms over it, like I’m having a stomach ache. She asks if I'm ok, I tell her I have a bad stomach ache, then she says the emergency room is on first level why am I going upstairs? I see
her face out of the corner of my eye, she’s looking at me and I’m scared she’ll
figure out my snack secret. I’m not good with drama or pretending things. I
hope she gets off on another floor. At my stop she’s still there. I say “you can
go first” she walks right, I go left. I hurry down the hallway like a
squirrel with nuts to Dad’s room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad is sitting in bed half asleep with a ball game on tv. I wake him up
and he says “Hi, did you bring the food?” I tell him I almost got busted in the elevator, so hurry up and eat the evidence. I pull the bag out of my jacket and
he smiles. I plop the bag in bed with him, he looks in the bag, grabs one and
starts eating. I take one too, and move a chair by the window so I can see
the Lake. He eats a second one. I’m on my last bite and he’s biting into his 2<sup>nd</sup>
hamburger when I hear footsteps in the room. I point to the bag and Dad tries
to hide it under the cover. I see a hand open the curtain divider, like in the Wizard of Oz. A Nurse walks
in and yells, “Mr G!” We are caught eating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It was the lady who was in the elevator with me! She said she was arriving
to work and smelled something so she followed the scent to the room then said
“I thought I was going out of my mind smelling White Castles in the elevator!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I told her I had a 30 minute drive from home to Hospital so I brought
dinner on the road with me. Nurse said “yes and I see you brought dinner for
your Dad too. And he’s not supposed to be eating that stuff!” I asked her if
she’d like one and she laughed and said no, and that this was actually funny. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Then she said Dad must obviously be feeling better and ready to go home tomorrow.
We all laughed and Nurse asked what else I sneaked in and I said “just the
Sunday paper.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">She left the room, closed the door, Dad and I had fun and ate all the
hamburgers, and talked till he fell asleep. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Soon it was dark outside. I could
only see streaks of light from cars on Lake Shore Drive, and ghostly white sails of boats floating in the evening mist. I wished I could sail away and be a carefree teenager. I was growing up too fast. Hospital announced visiting hours were over and guests need to leave the building.</span><br />
<br />
Time to get back on the road.</div>
<br />TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0Blue Island, IL, USA41.6572562 -87.68004859999996441.6098007 -87.760729599999962 41.7047117 -87.599367599999965tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-24861038651501224932014-06-05T00:15:00.000-07:002020-02-07T00:58:59.768-08:00Preview Chapter from Book<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEU57zulk9vlVflMazYlqLb_jvTkiPjb_WwWniqLXOeijNy-q8uwhSgGsFF94O6Ke1Jcbn1pTkELhkELIIMm3_JDFSEUhqymYd70aTJNb2EzHIA7HeMwUOtzHX9EUflkP3RSxxt0zszQw/s1600/Tree+Night+Light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEU57zulk9vlVflMazYlqLb_jvTkiPjb_WwWniqLXOeijNy-q8uwhSgGsFF94O6Ke1Jcbn1pTkELhkELIIMm3_JDFSEUhqymYd70aTJNb2EzHIA7HeMwUOtzHX9EUflkP3RSxxt0zszQw/s1600/Tree+Night+Light.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">CALL
OF THE FOREST</span></div>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">Forests
were always my favorite place.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">I
remember my first road trip. In the back seat of my Dad's purple-blue
Chevy Impala, my nose barely above the chrome framed window, I watch
life getting greener. We are on the Interstate going to Indiana,
which feels like a foreign country. To a place called Enchanted
Forest. </span></span></span>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">On
a concrete road called I-94, we cruise through the Southside of
Chicago, and over the Indiana state line. A metal “Welcome to
Indiana” sign stands at the border, greeting us with a view of
monster steel mills, smokestacks like giant cigarettes puffing dark
smoke into the sky, and burning smell of melted steel and fired coal.
</span></span></span>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">Out
the back window I see City life erased in the rear view mirror. Past
houses poorly built and jammed onto small spaces of land, windows
with dead end views of brick walls. Windows like glass eyes looking
over concrete, rusted skeletons of buildings, and metal chain link
fences, human constructed webs of aluminum that divided yet defined
peoples' space and marked their territory. Defending whatever was
inside from whatever was outside echoing invisible danger. No signs
of Nature. Just mad orchestration of boxed in emptiness over Earth.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">Soon
it is just us on the road, ribbons of green grass and blue sky fly
by, music on the radio, and forest up ahead.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">This
magical spot is US Route 20 and Indiana State Road 49, in the town
of Chesterton Indiana, Porter County, right by Indiana Dunes National
Lakeshore.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">Here,
was a little Village hidden in the woods, with forest paths leading
to surprises, rides, snack shacks and fun things to discover. A giant
swing ride flew up into the trees. I loved the feeling of flying.
People here are different, they are not like city people, they are
peaceful, dressed in clothes from a faraway time that I remember like
myst in my mind. The pretty little houses and shoppes are beautiful,
surrounded by grass, flowers and forest. A lady is selling jewelry
that is sparkling in the Sun. </span></span></span>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">It
all seems so familiar, like from a dream place I know, only in a real
life fairytale.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">I
spend the day walking through the Forest with my Dad, observing
trees, and stopping at things I find interesting. Little striped
gophers peek from behind leaves, then run across the forest path as
they do their own exploring. We arrive at a clearing, a Medieval town
center with more shoppes and stop for lunch. We have Pizza and Royal
Crown soda on a wooden picnic table in the Summer sun. It is awesome.
I wish these Summer days would last forever. </span></span></span>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="__DdeLink__14_9333309531"></a>
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">Years
later, the scene is Elizabeth Conkey Forest Preserves in Chicago.
Dad was busy organizing something. Over the PA system an anonymous
voice announced a water balloon fight for kids. I ran to the area and
was given a handful of flat colored balloons that I hooked up to a
water hose to build my arsenal. Other kids were using the well water
iron pump, and it was taking a long time to fill their balloons. </span></span></span>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">We
were divided into 2 groups, told to stay on opposing sides and not
cross the invisible line, which an anonymous adult pointed to in the
grass. My Viking warrior spirit sprang into action as I dodged
incoming balloons, but launched mine like soft weapons, landing on
kids, empty picnic tables in epic explosions, and watched one fat
balloon wobble aimlessly on the grass from those who ran away. I ran
out of balloons, asked for more and was told no, because an adult
complained I was 11, taller than the other kids, and said it was an
unfair advantage. While asking for an explanation of why they let me
play the game in the first place, I was sneak attacked by an army of
small kids who crossed the battle line during my nice request for
more balloons. Resulting in a mob of madness. Squishy sounds of
rubber exploding into showers of cool well water, kids squeezing
balloons over smaller kids heads till they burst, and everyone
laughing falling on the grass play fighting in a pile of silliness.
It was crazy fun until the anonymous voice announced game over. </span></span></span>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">Adults
were playing bingo and there was nothing else for me to do. So I
decided to take a walk in the woods. I found a forest path and went
in. While walking, I met another kid from the picnic who was leaving.
He stopped me, to say he found mudpuppies in the pond and that I too,
should look for them. I asked what kind of creature that was. He said
it looked like a big catfish but with two legs, and they live in mud
at the bottom of ponds. I never heard of such a thing, and
thought maybe he was making up fish stories like the tale of the Loch
Ness Monster. Regardless, I was curious to find out. </span></span></span>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">I
didn't worry about how long I may hike, how far, or how long it may
take to discover if mudpuppies really exist. I didn't have a watch
and didn't need one. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">I
could tell time by observing Weather and Nature. This was never
taught to me or learned at school. I always intuitively “knew”
what to do in the wild, from my Soul's intense connection to Nature.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">Walking
through the Woods, I feel life lit up around me. Although wandering, </span></span></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">I
am aware of everything: colors, sensations, sounds, vibrations. My
eyes send these images to my mind. I think in pictures. I have a
brilliant photographic memory. It archived visuals of what light
looks like at different times of the day. Light reflected in leaves,
changes like the hands of a clock. The Sun, being the day's light,
above me meant Noon. Soon the Sun was a pizza slice to the right,
which meant 2pm.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">I
kept going and found the pond, way in the forest, with baby fish
swimming around poking their noses out of the water towards the Sun.
I sat on a rock and watched them. I wondered if mudpuppies were here. I</span></span></span></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"> did not see anything mysterious with legs moving in the mud. Lillypads and some
frogs floated by. Birds were chirping and everything felt happy.
Just me, trees, animals and plants. No one else was around, and I was
not afraid. Then the Sun was not so bright anymore. Leaves were not
illuminated. Colors were becoming pastel. Dusk was arriving. Excited
from my exploration and tired, I decided to turn around and back
track. Finally at the fork in the path near entrance to the Woods, I
heard someone calling my name. I ran to the sound and found my Dad.
He said I'd been gone for hours, and he'd gone looking for me. I said
“how did you know where I was?” Dad said “I knew where to
look for you. Where else would you be?”</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">Fast
forward to Year 2013, and I'm still fascinated by Forests.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">My
explorations have gone beyond my backyard, beyond State lines, across
the USA, into the Wild West, the Redwood Forest, and under the spell
of the North Star into Canada.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">For
the last 3 years, I've been exploring the Forests of West Suburban
Chicago. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">In
Kane County, I saw a wild creek under railroad tracks in rural
Oswego, IL - </span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">and
climbed 15 feet down, discovering a stunning archeaological cove of
layered rock. This is one of Nature's treasures you would never find
on a map, only by exploring. Along the Fox River into Aurora, North
Aurora and Batavia, IL are miles of bike paths, river walks, and
parks with flowers and grand staircases. Off trail in these areas
I've found abandoned wooden bridges, walking them to see where tracks
take me further into the Forest. Every day I hiked two to three miles
in DuPage County Forest Preserves, along Butterfield Road near the
towns of Warrenville, Wheaton and Naperville, IL. I saw Herrick
Lake's frozen beauty in the Winter, and lush colors of the Summer.
Danada Forest Preserve is magical, and holds a very special place in
my heart. Here I visited Horses, went on a hayride through the
Forest, learned geological history of the prairie, and took an EAP
educational workshop, on the Psychology of healing with Horses.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">Traveling
East I visited a secluded blast from the past. Right off Rt 83 in
these woods, is a place rocked by time. Forces of Nature - wind,
water, ice and shifting of the Earth's plate, were the Architects of
this place. It is the only Ice Age canyon existing in Cook County,
IL. Geologically, it is dolomite limestone, a rare crystalline
mineral composite of calcium magnesium carbonate. The time stamped
layers embedded in rock, tell the story of when glacial ice covered
Chicago. I walked inside these 40 ft high rock canyons. In the
Spring, Bluebell flowers turn the surrounding forest, into a
landscape of majestic blue-green.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">I
have been in attendance during Nature's perfectly orchestrated four
seasons. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">I've
witnessed the breathtakingly beautiful and the wildly wicked weather. </span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">And
I've learned to navigate by Nature and stay ahead of the Storms.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">For
the lasts 4 years, I've traveled the US on road trips in my Van,
exploring and observing Nature, writing my online journal aka travel
blog, and taking photos.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">Immortalizing
these images In the moment via my cell phone is a perfect avenue to
document experiences on the road. The power of digital technology to
instantly transmit, archive, and tell a story in real time, with
words and pictures, is like the modern day equivalent of an
explorer's handwritten diary. </span></span></span>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">My
photography helps me be the visual voice of Nature, a mirror to the
words </span></span></span></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">I
compose. It highlights amazing places I've seen, my adventures, and
miles I've traveled It illuminates the spirit of Nature. Volumes of
scenes and memories are not only in my mind now. They live in my
Gallery online at National Geographic Your Shot, shared with the
world, with hope of raising Environmental awareness. I have seen so
much of this Earth - wild and hidden, created and destroyed. Based on
true life experience, I am dedicated to defending what is left of
this beautiful world. There is no substitute for Nature, no matter
how advanced society may perceive itself to be.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">Like
the magnetic force that keeps the sun rising and shining, and stars lighting the night, I irresistably follow the compass of my Soul, driving into
Nature. Rocking and rolling with the elements in an enchanting
symphony of my Life. </span></span></span>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "dejavu sans light" , serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="en-US">This
is awesome. And I can't imagine it any other way.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com1Las Vegas, NV, USA36.1699412 -115.1398295999999835.7602007 -115.78527659999999 36.579681699999995 -114.49438259999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-47930415122847767662014-02-10T23:11:00.000-08:002018-11-22T13:08:24.005-08:00Writing my Book <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJtmhollj3wDj0I_G8eexY-jskAVUWSqKKWJw3kCaevKtxOefIgQc1DWVUQbEKC2aDiLE-opiKBM-EGtDL9xNDITTluTAQb_FZ3gDwaI9kRMkKbovUGyXv0aP2IEXltxNEiAuHKzd3p0/s1600/Reigning+Storms+Book+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="898" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJtmhollj3wDj0I_G8eexY-jskAVUWSqKKWJw3kCaevKtxOefIgQc1DWVUQbEKC2aDiLE-opiKBM-EGtDL9xNDITTluTAQb_FZ3gDwaI9kRMkKbovUGyXv0aP2IEXltxNEiAuHKzd3p0/s640/Reigning+Storms+Book+Cover.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This book reflects my adventures on the road and observations in Nature, on my 4th cross country road trip across the US. <br />
<br />
Composed from travel journals, notes, photos, explorations hiking in wilderness, and visiting historic places.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Book in progress</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Publishing target date - 2017</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
available on Amazon.com</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Stay tuned for updates!</div>
<br />
<br />TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-2346926520906950002013-09-26T13:40:00.000-07:002014-03-02T17:00:24.384-08:00Visiting Tesla<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">World Co-ordinates: <span style="line-height: 19.48px;" title="Latitude">41° 50′ 24″ N - </span><span style="line-height: 19.48px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 19.48px;" title="Longitude">87° 57′ 11″ W</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 19.48px;" title="Longitude"><span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee;">Oak Brook, IL</span> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Its is a rare Indian Summer day, in late September. Warm sunny 75 degrees. Cool breezes. On the edge of Autumn, I drive. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While traveling from Chicago's West Suburbs to the Southwest Suburbs on this beautiful day, I spontaneously stop at Oakbrook Mall to enjoy sunshine during lunch. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To my surprise, I find a Tesla showroom! Tesla's vision began in 2003, unveiling the Roadster as the first all electric sports car. Based in California, Tesla reigns as an independent innovator in US electric car design and manufacturing. Website: <a href="http://www.teslamotors.com/">http://www.teslamotors.com/</a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are their latest cars and amazing technology! </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5K3we9VDUWMzG_WVioJniS1K7Af-oDq34QwMoiIq8Isd9YPZbbQXtBQUTl19XsWaMoyBeUR8tqKDQM91wwtM6wyypNmc2NRLHeCnIpkB2CprcfNq4YYMz2-Gn9g0x26OFaTPuPwrd7wg/s1600/Tesla+Showroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5K3we9VDUWMzG_WVioJniS1K7Af-oDq34QwMoiIq8Isd9YPZbbQXtBQUTl19XsWaMoyBeUR8tqKDQM91wwtM6wyypNmc2NRLHeCnIpkB2CprcfNq4YYMz2-Gn9g0x26OFaTPuPwrd7wg/s400/Tesla+Showroom.jpg" height="400" width="315" /></a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>TESLA SHOWROOM</b></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFZ9WRbTDIPhibWSeeJuIwB3jq7l8V_4O4cofSiAJkHrEs5iDo8C828zFJG5AWNrfYk-yH90wo4w610lcEYslFBiLWhs7dlGoDTyVNrh65YUqKk3PcL3GDBQ-j-EwLPNx23S8n4N0YpA/s1600/Red+Model+S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFZ9WRbTDIPhibWSeeJuIwB3jq7l8V_4O4cofSiAJkHrEs5iDo8C828zFJG5AWNrfYk-yH90wo4w610lcEYslFBiLWhs7dlGoDTyVNrh65YUqKk3PcL3GDBQ-j-EwLPNx23S8n4N0YpA/s400/Red+Model+S.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>TESLA MODEL S LUXURY SEDAN</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;">0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Love the Made in California plate!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizX6-J6ILaFwm40tIpCKRlHFC3pq31nKvBlHKX7IabxahnOcBQ5e_R-jUOQ8xOtVRDYVFEkQ1QMPU9Aaag8eT-9w3wUGqTyoXzHUswQ1iJN1lICRWQ0jXX5SV7kR0usLBwOS5CtC1g_UU/s1600/Red+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizX6-J6ILaFwm40tIpCKRlHFC3pq31nKvBlHKX7IabxahnOcBQ5e_R-jUOQ8xOtVRDYVFEkQ1QMPU9Aaag8eT-9w3wUGqTyoXzHUswQ1iJN1lICRWQ0jXX5SV7kR0usLBwOS5CtC1g_UU/s400/Red+2.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>UNDER THE HOOD - OF THE S LUXURY SEDAN </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the Engine is so compact</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">it is underneath this front storage area </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcTgB0njUPJzPImvAOpydnjfo83qYwWTNJGZhqmQzoqQGZlQ5PT_s9MjhLZdODl1ckEIXB4MAaQqinu2ZImoArRs9SnSMUBWp3lO42dgNo6Rebbo3r7jKkjpFCh5v7NUqxYVq9Im-PNc/s1600/Chassis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcTgB0njUPJzPImvAOpydnjfo83qYwWTNJGZhqmQzoqQGZlQ5PT_s9MjhLZdODl1ckEIXB4MAaQqinu2ZImoArRs9SnSMUBWp3lO42dgNo6Rebbo3r7jKkjpFCh5v7NUqxYVq9Im-PNc/s400/Chassis.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>THE TESLA CHASSIS</b> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">on which awesome electricness is built </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Yes, that's the revolutionary ENGINE !!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">The Power of the Future ...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvEOI5cV_blNTpk6E5mt6muY5Z-0CYJ14AUGPu4S01gQ-Zaq9xVzqbh2k32kXpgRVC1moNpSbmom-mSclCNnYfApB_5LcgCrmKJvpJbuVWrdiTOAOHrS3MpFnTHHUqsA2PjaXjyjl1x8/s1600/Artistic+Line+Divider+-+Black+Leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvEOI5cV_blNTpk6E5mt6muY5Z-0CYJ14AUGPu4S01gQ-Zaq9xVzqbh2k32kXpgRVC1moNpSbmom-mSclCNnYfApB_5LcgCrmKJvpJbuVWrdiTOAOHrS3MpFnTHHUqsA2PjaXjyjl1x8/s1600/Artistic+Line+Divider+-+Black+Leaf.jpg" height="49" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black;"><b>Photography : Traci Elizabeth 2013</b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
</div>
TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-9747896423681587952013-07-27T12:20:00.001-07:002014-03-02T14:52:04.941-08:00Live from Costa Rica !!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">World Co-ordinates</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">: <span title="Latitude">9° 56′ 0″ N - </span> <span title="Longitude">84° 5′ 0″ W</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span title="Longitude">Rainforest between Pacific Ocean and Carribean Sea</span></span><br />
<span title="Longitude"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Central America</span></span><br />
<span title="Longitude"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I am excited and honored to be a Guest Speaker on Sunday's radio show from the Rainforest! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Join me on Carribean Radio Show CRS hosted by Roberta and Daniel of La Reserva Forest Foundation - for a dynamic discussion on "Climate Change WE CAN Solve It!"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Broadcasting live from Costa Rica, connected to Chicago and the World via the power of the Internet on Sunday July 28th, 2013. Time </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">12pm CST/1pm EST</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Click blue link below to listen online, or call in and join the fun from the Rainforest!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/caribbeanradioshow/2013/07/28/climate-change-we-can-solve-it"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/caribbeanradioshow/2013/07/28/climate-change-we-can-solve-it</span></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8r9nQP7g7dFZn2pE_DLyUUnden5dRdZgwJPNW3M416mnq8A1l24Pg4FoWEHem-fIwFy04LCk-Fy_AEhCjBgBLqPqPzRDqTVsLhj4sQIknRijHncYB44dRJkHf_HoQhjj7qCBPxpgAew/s1600/sloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8r9nQP7g7dFZn2pE_DLyUUnden5dRdZgwJPNW3M416mnq8A1l24Pg4FoWEHem-fIwFy04LCk-Fy_AEhCjBgBLqPqPzRDqTVsLhj4sQIknRijHncYB44dRJkHf_HoQhjj7qCBPxpgAew/s1600/sloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8r9nQP7g7dFZn2pE_DLyUUnden5dRdZgwJPNW3M416mnq8A1l24Pg4FoWEHem-fIwFy04LCk-Fy_AEhCjBgBLqPqPzRDqTVsLhj4sQIknRijHncYB44dRJkHf_HoQhjj7qCBPxpgAew/s400/sloth.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxJ_Mlpm-ZClC1UfcM6p5GsZgMl6auSqW6-LSpC23goR-7wHyyzsxhH887KVeAv7Qit5bYj8Vz5WKorafZJ4nf0QOZUxfoce2eQkIRX5kr9YCI52nmXnvPSgYW9goRB0TkOCPm7rDPQQ/s1600/la+reserva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxJ_Mlpm-ZClC1UfcM6p5GsZgMl6auSqW6-LSpC23goR-7wHyyzsxhH887KVeAv7Qit5bYj8Vz5WKorafZJ4nf0QOZUxfoce2eQkIRX5kr9YCI52nmXnvPSgYW9goRB0TkOCPm7rDPQQ/s640/la+reserva.jpg" height="400" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nhV7wS_JrKZiZolU6oOAI0qXiriDFZpN4m1go9DJ2ds77cDdnAwiRRB-uhZY8_NJ2wae1PKgMmO5ML6qNDorQGLMpvmq4lIodW4wegEyFNtuE0j1zLvbdWHViJePyu4vx4U0hKOj9MQ/s1600/Artistic+Line+Divider+-+Black+Leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nhV7wS_JrKZiZolU6oOAI0qXiriDFZpN4m1go9DJ2ds77cDdnAwiRRB-uhZY8_NJ2wae1PKgMmO5ML6qNDorQGLMpvmq4lIodW4wegEyFNtuE0j1zLvbdWHViJePyu4vx4U0hKOj9MQ/s1600/Artistic+Line+Divider+-+Black+Leaf.jpg" height="49" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Photos Copyright La Reserva Forest Foundation</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>www.lrff.org</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-63005776226376608192013-06-14T14:00:00.000-07:002018-11-22T15:36:13.992-08:00Presenter/Public Speaker<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxmfGZwVYFttLzHA5L2XtpBZ2-0yW9yvr2pzRayn8_3yOrsRakehBCW7cIMgkJSiDvIcNgaYF3chI2hFck0d-dVnd76DbgFfLiW8cY-8TbCLRaKKHRQKth7XiUH8h4ROPcpYwzelaOXU/s1600/Black+Leather+Headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="319" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxmfGZwVYFttLzHA5L2XtpBZ2-0yW9yvr2pzRayn8_3yOrsRakehBCW7cIMgkJSiDvIcNgaYF3chI2hFck0d-dVnd76DbgFfLiW8cY-8TbCLRaKKHRQKth7XiUH8h4ROPcpYwzelaOXU/s320/Black+Leather+Headshot.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="below-brand-header">
<div class="top-nav below-0">
<div class="below-2">
<div class="clear">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-17069428533014664682013-06-07T14:40:00.000-07:002018-11-21T21:09:33.141-08:00Defender of Nature<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2OMVGXTV53cIpj6Ld0mYIwOJS78kb6cyy8QBNJXB4fds2xQNTUCwEDoZPkfNIEwnBIKp3NwO7LzEr9ZJBAU4AgeikO5u5KzHbnePb7CSo150emISio27vUAVcjGQBIVz-zNLj24omMs/s1600/Biz+Card+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2OMVGXTV53cIpj6Ld0mYIwOJS78kb6cyy8QBNJXB4fds2xQNTUCwEDoZPkfNIEwnBIKp3NwO7LzEr9ZJBAU4AgeikO5u5KzHbnePb7CSo150emISio27vUAVcjGQBIVz-zNLj24omMs/s400/Biz+Card+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqDBVTj_2CLz8eYQg1jWqHg2Ld9jg_Gq7afpK2sijoJl0Kz-CtF7MTBqRaGZsNS7wbTztLOwmOzGiteFkrzYk7wNj0bhvx8lyd0V45XyDfwlK_yv4jPydnH8m9EMnebutE2xyPob4E3E/s1600/t+g+(1005)+CREEK.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqDBVTj_2CLz8eYQg1jWqHg2Ld9jg_Gq7afpK2sijoJl0Kz-CtF7MTBqRaGZsNS7wbTztLOwmOzGiteFkrzYk7wNj0bhvx8lyd0V45XyDfwlK_yv4jPydnH8m9EMnebutE2xyPob4E3E/s400/t+g+(1005)+CREEK.JPG" width="265" /></a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">" Rising Force of Nature "</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-18723491252327198122013-05-25T13:17:00.000-07:002015-02-19T18:19:55.902-08:00War Poem - In Flanders Fields <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">World Co-Ordinates </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;" title="Latitude">50° 43′ 35.04″ N</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;">,</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;" title="Longitude">1° 36′ 52.92″ E</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;" title="Longitude">Boulogne-sur-Mer, France</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;" title="Longitude"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;" title="Longitude"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;" title="Longitude"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;" title="Longitude"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19.5px;" title="Longitude"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;" title="Longitude"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;" title="Longitude"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-84286348930280667792013-05-25T11:54:00.000-07:002014-03-26T04:54:37.497-07:00Images - In Flanders Fields <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74789dcMj-7Cj1jKtyEcNF53iSaVoRFkXKnS_iT959YX3WdCJixn0nrPqoNyYJh-Y_XVpGplZ1_VlkoiTeg65HLpg0E9VXccOLMGhWuCp0x97kOdwOkMkaHr1RJRtZRbDYU-Q58Ua9hI/s1600/In+Flanders+Fields+-+Handwritten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74789dcMj-7Cj1jKtyEcNF53iSaVoRFkXKnS_iT959YX3WdCJixn0nrPqoNyYJh-Y_XVpGplZ1_VlkoiTeg65HLpg0E9VXccOLMGhWuCp0x97kOdwOkMkaHr1RJRtZRbDYU-Q58Ua9hI/s1600/In+Flanders+Fields+-+Handwritten.jpg" height="400" width="306" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Copy of original handwritten poem</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Written May 3rd, 1915</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-miZjs5WLY_bvbZ4FMY3gXWh9B0FjSD5rpOPHR-zaCgYMqsC08tyOqGhpVQt4Yk-DO06BmLp57AwQpIp_csVLLHjw7F12RPuWtKqXqU2dBGURZVrpRGg985fpIfOAbPfOZtsu4OpeA1E/s1600/In+Flanders+Fields+-+Memorial.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-miZjs5WLY_bvbZ4FMY3gXWh9B0FjSD5rpOPHR-zaCgYMqsC08tyOqGhpVQt4Yk-DO06BmLp57AwQpIp_csVLLHjw7F12RPuWtKqXqU2dBGURZVrpRGg985fpIfOAbPfOZtsu4OpeA1E/s1600/In+Flanders+Fields+-+Memorial.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Memorial @ John McCrae House</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Guelph, Ontario Canada</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdM7WfGgPsn0L3XZ4M4DH2RcdUDf-tk-CROT1G53-FnU8PC_KM_AEvPd3wJ3XRhNTNDZ53LFC3JLgE1Zyp4ovyHbwcJGmyohG47W5b9yz8K2mmIk0XExI17FKd6xyjMlpywRtxsRkbzgM/s1600/Artistic+Line+Divider+-+Black+Leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdM7WfGgPsn0L3XZ4M4DH2RcdUDf-tk-CROT1G53-FnU8PC_KM_AEvPd3wJ3XRhNTNDZ53LFC3JLgE1Zyp4ovyHbwcJGmyohG47W5b9yz8K2mmIk0XExI17FKd6xyjMlpywRtxsRkbzgM/s1600/Artistic+Line+Divider+-+Black+Leaf.jpg" height="49" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Photo source: Wikimedia Commons</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">file licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Share Alike 3.0 Unported</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span></div>
TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-52249867496745368492013-05-19T12:42:00.001-07:002020-02-07T02:42:01.465-08:00Right From the Soul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxG8NgC9aNnLxSmp14JD2aSOXUivuP_vBa1L8Jxtn_FxlRQJLwtvFGQ_1Y_TqwagoNBFZolmgkyCm_HkAumK4mLIfA5SnVVeLnBlgbMprnqIkxEAdzTyPvASglg9IQOHQImSIJm5kPGEk/s1600/writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxG8NgC9aNnLxSmp14JD2aSOXUivuP_vBa1L8Jxtn_FxlRQJLwtvFGQ_1Y_TqwagoNBFZolmgkyCm_HkAumK4mLIfA5SnVVeLnBlgbMprnqIkxEAdzTyPvASglg9IQOHQImSIJm5kPGEk/s320/writing.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-10294774806313919162013-04-20T13:00:00.000-07:002020-02-07T02:41:27.050-08:00Picnic For Earth 2013<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>World Co-ordinates: </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;" title="Latitude">41°52′ 55″ N</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;" title="Longitude">87°37′ 40″ W</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Chicago, IL </span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Traveled by Train to Millennium Park to attend Picnic for Earth. Sponsored by the Nature Conservancy, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">this was a fundraiser, concert and celebration for our Planet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span class="st" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"The Nature Conservancy protects Earth's natural resources and beauty. Our conservation efforts are driven by our members. The Conservancy has been named a Top Rated Charity by the American Institute of Philanthropy." </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span class="st"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span class="st"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Website: </span></span></span><a href="http://earthday.nature.org/"><span style="background-color: black; color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">http://earthday.nature.org/</span></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfj8s2SIHeI9sSCoMQ8OsPvTbpJ9btFJrP0MefhdB6LLKwsMaswyMqjuX3UlEwomqHC3zRYXHfh3nsmh9qgJRLlFzWSjWN-NkUW_H8cTXUWTI2FF1Bway5UmXpeJvXxw1eN85ybUWnY8/s1600/Picnic+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfj8s2SIHeI9sSCoMQ8OsPvTbpJ9btFJrP0MefhdB6LLKwsMaswyMqjuX3UlEwomqHC3zRYXHfh3nsmh9qgJRLlFzWSjWN-NkUW_H8cTXUWTI2FF1Bway5UmXpeJvXxw1eN85ybUWnY8/s400/Picnic+Flowers.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Beautiful table decor</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SDhsAQ35Btx8GfQDnrDU_T3ECjHxTGxyNycwaWtIwe4gk4P9N6lxv85WFB6rZRexiotr1KqQGATJakdDNEHitojp23eIlUYsnxG0Rb9eGxtt3x2SZd9ZUVXn2Ia2TBXsMDVgHJljjpg/s1600/IMG_20130420_143952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SDhsAQ35Btx8GfQDnrDU_T3ECjHxTGxyNycwaWtIwe4gk4P9N6lxv85WFB6rZRexiotr1KqQGATJakdDNEHitojp23eIlUYsnxG0Rb9eGxtt3x2SZd9ZUVXn2Ia2TBXsMDVgHJljjpg/s400/IMG_20130420_143952.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">view behind the broadcast area</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0Chicago, IL, USA41.8781136 -87.62979819999998241.499532099999996 -88.275245199999986 42.2566951 -86.984351199999978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-44375104129724935732013-04-19T17:00:00.000-07:002018-11-22T12:56:29.261-08:00Chicago - City of Steel<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe8rn6pIA7BlR0-f1kx8Gpj3IHfdlgAAtO63b1W3siLIKfIv-7GOyH4TeFffVulaom9FqvOx1SE1B6RdI_5IC_tIA1Bgp_nm5qnGU5RPjeH0FiARYVLzocDZi86qGIma-3Ao7Kv9cNXg/s1600/IMG_20130420_134249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe8rn6pIA7BlR0-f1kx8Gpj3IHfdlgAAtO63b1W3siLIKfIv-7GOyH4TeFffVulaom9FqvOx1SE1B6RdI_5IC_tIA1Bgp_nm5qnGU5RPjeH0FiARYVLzocDZi86qGIma-3Ao7Kv9cNXg/s400/IMG_20130420_134249.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILALjq4GfmODbU1fI9mbIR5uqRMkrWTLfcSHgqvzkd-qPq1E1eL0GT6rpgfHYrU2afgmcpYwsyn7RLpnRcYlJlpERDX_nSFtrjkm-C_vafB0S3V2oeR0FkoqXZlrEYsLZBTXbxYuTVYM/s1600/IMG_20130420_132616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILALjq4GfmODbU1fI9mbIR5uqRMkrWTLfcSHgqvzkd-qPq1E1eL0GT6rpgfHYrU2afgmcpYwsyn7RLpnRcYlJlpERDX_nSFtrjkm-C_vafB0S3V2oeR0FkoqXZlrEYsLZBTXbxYuTVYM/s400/IMG_20130420_132616.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />Jay Pritzker Outdoor Auditorium</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lyLVbD4zM5WgyW-vuP2-MZamst6u26mmLBWOy4XkNGXkx1ka7zAdjjhNOw9DX5b68SDJ5Qs9fQCK5N8FaUtrglCqCdtTN2oKjl6Y1qLdXzhePBrd8YPPfsm61ritOYh25Xy3bVV_U88/s1600/IMG_20130420_132749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lyLVbD4zM5WgyW-vuP2-MZamst6u26mmLBWOy4XkNGXkx1ka7zAdjjhNOw9DX5b68SDJ5Qs9fQCK5N8FaUtrglCqCdtTN2oKjl6Y1qLdXzhePBrd8YPPfsm61ritOYh25Xy3bVV_U88/s400/IMG_20130420_132749.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">View under Pritzker Stage</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">looks like a futuristic metal fantasy </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">out of HG Wells imagination</span><br />
<span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">all photos taken by and @ Traci Elizabeth/Travel Your Dreams 2013</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>
</div>
TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-77920592730590133652013-04-14T22:10:00.000-07:002013-10-14T17:49:15.619-07:00Prayer of the Woods<div align="center">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MQKw83iY7dEI1d5O-Omy7gxbnYPHyuv5IZm1diiNodgFOsRBglfMmTtUWN8uEaFBuZI8TMVN5QV8sD8mZ-uI3kxh-KRMUUe2WzKaC2zJ06k-llEQMgVtmBp01XxKO4GxAlpbbzOCKI8/s1600/Prayer+of+the+Woods+witchforestgrove.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MQKw83iY7dEI1d5O-Omy7gxbnYPHyuv5IZm1diiNodgFOsRBglfMmTtUWN8uEaFBuZI8TMVN5QV8sD8mZ-uI3kxh-KRMUUe2WzKaC2zJ06k-llEQMgVtmBp01XxKO4GxAlpbbzOCKI8/s400/Prayer+of+the+Woods+witchforestgrove.com.jpg" width="270" /></a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In Honor of the Woods - translated from Portuguese</span><br />
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;">This is a mysterious poem, that nobody knows who wrote.</span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;">The power of this poem has transcended time and miles.</span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;">It has been posted in many places around the world</span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;">especially at </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;">entrances to Forests.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div align="center">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-41317175624718837312013-04-14T14:00:00.000-07:002013-10-14T16:37:22.757-07:00Aries Star Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPApmzLECRcpg8Y8fNxlggZHXvQlvZVx2Nok2aqh5ssIOm8_jyQo8zcXi5_HUCZWsotkFZs5tE_2KKVhm5R-YYyqDv-RbZB7thQFffkNbrvsOyIgT1cpdNVFcxjlVfdDAhlEfDzdm_Zbo/s1600/Traci%2527s+Stars.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPApmzLECRcpg8Y8fNxlggZHXvQlvZVx2Nok2aqh5ssIOm8_jyQo8zcXi5_HUCZWsotkFZs5tE_2KKVhm5R-YYyqDv-RbZB7thQFffkNbrvsOyIgT1cpdNVFcxjlVfdDAhlEfDzdm_Zbo/s400/Traci%2527s+Stars.bmp" width="337" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One of my Modeling photos</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">added to Art by Sungod</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">He created this beautiful </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">digital background for me</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">as I love the night time and stars so much</span></div>
TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-39673994569802145932013-03-23T15:00:00.000-07:002013-07-21T21:43:27.289-07:00Another Visit to Herrick Lake - March 2013 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFW6ySDmIicUtnEHpTKRbQi4RHH_IlQL-P1EpB3YVghmvz2CaQbHdmjjPU5WfOT3UvAEwwjIxrxkccWV_jDeInt6L__-p73hQxV_iC3Y8xjv5s56zBNt4NsVStpnnI0kokbB80B-xKhGQ/s1600/HerrickMarch29-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFW6ySDmIicUtnEHpTKRbQi4RHH_IlQL-P1EpB3YVghmvz2CaQbHdmjjPU5WfOT3UvAEwwjIxrxkccWV_jDeInt6L__-p73hQxV_iC3Y8xjv5s56zBNt4NsVStpnnI0kokbB80B-xKhGQ/s400/HerrickMarch29-1.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">glacial lake still exists today</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6vAFrEmFP-FsrIH4wlpISGi4SYrl0LaIVHpZ52izY04pbYbTsZhEuQG5nSdOQ_t-s94d2w5QP_91h38Z3BJCYx_MD2RBTQyLFym6QF7eURZrXb1Glgude4NYPiIBFePd7JoHNi_8Btw/s1600/HerrickMarch29-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6vAFrEmFP-FsrIH4wlpISGi4SYrl0LaIVHpZ52izY04pbYbTsZhEuQG5nSdOQ_t-s94d2w5QP_91h38Z3BJCYx_MD2RBTQyLFym6QF7eURZrXb1Glgude4NYPiIBFePd7JoHNi_8Btw/s400/HerrickMarch29-2.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">World Co-ordinates: <span style="background-color: black; color: white;">41 </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; line-height: 20px;">49'12"N 88°8'26"W</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">DuPage County Forest Preserves</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Scenes from Winters' edge on the verge of Spring. Misty frozen ice-water swirls softly above deep blue. Driftwood and a fallen tree spell a season's landscape.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Like the song "California Dreamin" - I went for a walk on a Winter's day. This was my second visit to Herrick Lake. Each time it looks different, but it's ethereal spirit remains. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Herrick Lake is one of DuPage County's wild gems. This beautiful place on the planet is located just off Butterfield Road. This Western Chicago area was once covered by Glaciers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Technically, </span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Herrick Lake holds the distinction of being one of the few natural glacial lakes in the county. In addition, the preserve’s landscape provides flood control to the surrounding community and is a link in forming a vast natural greenway, in conjunction with Danada, St. James Farm, Warrenville Grove, and Blackwell Forest Preserves." (reference Wikimapia)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After the ice, prairie and forest developed naturally. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is Nature's creation that we see today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photography by Traci Elizabeth </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">copyright Traci Elizabeth/Travel Your Dreams 2013</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-51831589486536088112013-01-26T15:24:00.000-08:002013-08-23T18:10:57.372-07:00Travel & Adventure Show Chicago <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" scrolling="no" src="http://slide.ly/embed/df79c15f70906e73cfb50b17b5e00514/autoplay/0" width="640"></iframe><br />
Travel & Adventure Show 2013 by <a href="http://slide.ly/?utm_source=embed_link" target="_blank" title="Go to Travel & Adventure Show 2013">Slidely - Slideshow maker</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img alt="IMG_20130126_133016-1" class="media" galleryimg="no" height="400" id="fullSizedImage" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/ArtofAriane/IMG_20130126_133016-1.jpg?t=1359256456" width="300" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Stephens Convention Center - </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rosemont IL</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/ArtofAriane/IMG_20130126_151240-1.jpg?t=1359253751" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="IMG_20130126_151240" border="0" class="media" galleryimg="no" height="400" id="fullSizedImage" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/ArtofAriane/IMG_20130126_151240-1.jpg?t=1359253751" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I met a Penguin!</span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/ArtofAriane/SeaWorldExhibit-1.jpg?t=1359508211" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SeaWorldExhibit" border="0" class="media" galleryimg="no" height="232" id="fullSizedImage" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/ArtofAriane/SeaWorldExhibit-1.jpg?t=1359508211" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Inside the Sea World Exhibit</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img alt="Alaska" class="media" galleryimg="no" id="fullSizedImage" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/ArtofAriane/Alaska.jpg?t=1359507847" style="height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Alaska Tourism Booth</span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/ArtofAriane/TasteofTravel.jpg?t=1359508794" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Taste of Travel" border="0" class="media" galleryimg="no" height="400" id="fullSizedImage" src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/ArtofAriane/TasteofTravel.jpg?t=1359508794" style="height: 320px; width: 278px;" width="347" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cooking presentation & Food Authors area</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em> </em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-84637428907445095692012-12-12T23:17:00.000-08:002018-11-21T22:31:24.448-08:00Glancer Magazine - Online Link<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHHgJGOB-C-lYg-SyMmpOXenJm0c8hEo7SrY-rHzxoa_kkf3pqJ5JNh0yqr4gF7nRpQzP8g2etGWNxI7aOfAM24ykuXdy4lJJzIffAUDZ7KfTOQNTi3i-9cRW6qnXcXnbBqZRXEBzgV0/s1600/TraciWhiteHorse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHHgJGOB-C-lYg-SyMmpOXenJm0c8hEo7SrY-rHzxoa_kkf3pqJ5JNh0yqr4gF7nRpQzP8g2etGWNxI7aOfAM24ykuXdy4lJJzIffAUDZ7KfTOQNTi3i-9cRW6qnXcXnbBqZRXEBzgV0/s400/TraciWhiteHorse.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Traci Elizabeth featured in "15 Fascinating Faces of 2012" </span>published in Glancer Magazine of Naperville, IL</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.glancermagazine.com/single-post/2013/01/02/15-FASCINATING-FACES-OF-2012?lightbox=dataItem-jgzhyjn31">15 Fascinating Faces of 2012</a>TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-24144109607178064132012-12-12T11:11:00.000-08:002013-07-21T21:46:58.088-07:00Glancer Magazine - Interview<div style="border: currentColor;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6j5_0XTjYRpp0Sqd6pXf1l913B7PW4ay0IoDfZCNA69PtYefd8_ILKiKdNySxu-xN0CL4inBdAuX_YhaymdOgd4OL5Z1bm_alnIhd2FRR4JcmSx_fYK9oGCL4oBPvIbG7G6fIidVdG9g/s1600/Glancer+Magazine+Dec+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6j5_0XTjYRpp0Sqd6pXf1l913B7PW4ay0IoDfZCNA69PtYefd8_ILKiKdNySxu-xN0CL4inBdAuX_YhaymdOgd4OL5Z1bm_alnIhd2FRR4JcmSx_fYK9oGCL4oBPvIbG7G6fIidVdG9g/s400/Glancer+Magazine+Dec+Cover.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><strong>What is your occupation and how long have you been doing</strong><strong> that?</strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I was originally an Artist and Writer, kept journals since I was about 7 years old. But by a strange unplanned twist of Fate, became a Spokesmodel, have been since 1996. My college major was Broadcast Journalism, and I began doing Public Speaking for sales events. Then I started my own company online in 2000 booking Tradeshow services. And it took off from there to working Las Vegas Convention Center, signed with Agencies, being a Brand Ambassador representing many products. 17 years already and still at it. My true passion is to be the Voice for Nature.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;"><strong>What inspired you to attend the Climate Reality Leadership Corp and how were you selected?</strong></span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I had been following Climate Reality news, their website was in my favorites. I think the work they are doing is exceptional and Al Gore is an inspirational, innovative Leader whom I greatly admire. I have a copy of his Nobel Prize speech, which I find deeply moving. I received email they were taking applications for those interested in becoming involved. I had no idea what to expect. I applied and was stunned to receive an invitation to join the Climate Reality Leadership Corps. Only 1,000 people were selected worldwide, and I was one of them. Ironically, I think my Nature Travel Blog was instrumental in this, as it truly relects where I've been, who I am and what I believe in. August 2012, I flew to San Francisco to attend the 3 day Conference, and received my Certificate of Training. It was amazing...and the opportunity of a lifetime. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><strong>What do you hope to change in DuPage County or the surrounding area since attending the training session led by Al Gore? Please be specific on the green or earth related changes you hope to make locally</strong>.</span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">DuPage County is a naturally gorgeous area. I would like to see it stay that way. I realize construction for community growth is good, and inevitable, but we need to plan/take into consideration nature first. The DuPage Environmental Commission is already leading the way, with a remarkable amount of green projects completed, but mainly for businesses. I would like to see more for the residents who make this community home. This is where the personal activist-aspect comes in. We need homes made with all eco-friendly building materials, including solar. I'd like to see solar/led street lighting, and a Green Museum here, which would complement and honor our area and teach everything Environmental to the next generation. If we dont make the leap, if we keep denying green energy..which in reality is not "alternative," it is natural; it will never prosper as it should. Harnessing sun and wind power can be done here, we have lots of open fields in DuPage County for windmills, wind farms, solar arrays. Clean energy benefits everyone - families and corporations, with healthier children, pure air, less pollution and pollen, and tax incentives for business. For example, Reykjavic Iceland has already been doing this for 50 years. They get 100% of their energy from natural sources. There is no reason why we should not be doing this across the US. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Locally, Danada Forest Preserve has taken that step. They just installed Solar Panels on their front barn and the info kiosk is now interactive led. That reflects a real committment to our community! I would also like to see charging stations for electric cars here in the West Suburbs. We do rely on cars to get around since there is much distance between towns. And with the crazy cost of gas, I predict people will be considering higher MPG vehicles or electric/hybrids soon. It is going to take years for the Obama Administrations 54.5 mpg Fuel Standards to kick in. We've got to kick our addiction to oil now. But with no facilities to support maintaining greener cars, I think people are reluctant to buy them. The age old psychological analogy of "Build it..and they will come" applies. People often need to be shown a reason why they need something, and then given the education to make an informed choice. Its time. DuPage county's unique assets are natural beauty, educational institutions, and a vibrant suburban economy. We just need to put it all together. I will be giving my Climate Reality Presentations, with local emphasis, to educate and empower. Many do not have the opportunity to travel as I have, and I enjoy sharing my photos and real life experiences. I believe knowledge is power and learning by doing gives a greater perspective. I look forward to meeting everyone, answering questions, and assisting our community where ever I can. </span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: magenta;">Please share a little bit about yourself personally</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: magenta;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My Great Grandparents came from Vastergotland, Sweden in 1923, and settled in Hyde Park. I recently traced my roots in Sweden back to 1848, but have yet to visit Scandinavia. Believe me, its on my Travel list! This Spring, I was a finalist contestant for the Swedish Adventure Travel show "Alt for Sverige." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Personally, I was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, Blue Island area. Lived in Las Vegas for 10 years and ironically returned to my roots in IL. I landed in Lisle in 2011, for the past year its been home. It is a lovely town with great services, events, and people. I own a blue Fender Guitar, and am a trained Ballroom Dancer. I took dance lessons at the Gold Coast Casino in Las Vegas for 3 years. I have an affinity with wild animals, they approach me where ever I go. As a child I brought home baby snakes, tadpoles and caterpillars to take care of them. I adore birds, am experienced in Avian Care and have raised Parrots since 1998. I would like to work with Eagles and Owls someday. </span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: magenta;">What inspired your passion for a greener earth - was there a defining moment that you knew you wanted to make a difference in the world?</span></strong> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I was aware of my destiny since I was a little girl. Just didn't know how I was going to make it happen. I had no money, no connections. I just had dreams and determination. I saw the neighborhood of my childhood crumble into disrepair and felt the bittersweetness of life. My Father shared my fascination for Nature, we planted a veggie garden together, had wild roses and lilacs in the backyard. We'd go on nature walks after dinner down to the railroad tracks. I could not imagine a world unlike that, and was horrified by how I saw the Earth being trashed, literally. My Father died when I was 20 and I was lost. I held onto the only things that inspired me which was Nature, Travel, Writing and Music. Music literally saved my Soul, and my career allowed me to Travel, and I was spellbound by what I saw. Stunning places created by the forces of Nature - Wind, Water, Fire, Earth. <strong>These things are irreplaceable</strong>. I've also seen dramatic changes in places I've been. The damage pollution has done, the now yellow skies out West, water levels dropping 15 ft at Lake Mead, abandoned places left as boom town industry died, visited Ghost Towns in the Desert, witnessed blatant human disrepect, garbage infesting parking lots with plenty of trash cans nearby, effects of chemical contamination, etc. </span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: magenta;">What inspired you to start your blog and what do you blog about in general?</span></strong> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My favorite place on Earth is Forests and Mountains...the West Coast USA. Ever since I can remember I wanted to visit the Redwood Forest. After I left Las Vegas and realized that chapter of my life was over, I figured it was time to take that Redwood Road Trip. June 2010, I packed my Conversion Van, and ended up on a 2 week solitary adventure up the Pacific Coast Highway. I slept next to the ocean, I wandered through mists of hundred years' old trees, I hiked trails that were not on maps only to discover crystal clear blue streams and hidden coves of birds and wildflowers. It was an amazing natural symphony of color and song. It was the best thing I've ever done, Northern California into Oregon is the most beautiful place I've ever seen, and inspired my blog "Travel Your Dreams." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This was a fun, modern way to journal my travel adventure, my lifelong dream, and thoughts, as did explorers and trailblazers before me, like Thoreau. It was a virtual timestamp on the timeline of my life. It was also my tribute to Nature - combining my love of words and my photos. It was a personal labor of love. And it grew into something amazing. I have always been accused of being revolutionary, but never did I plan or realize it would lead to all this. I just followed my intuition, got on the road, and things naturally fell into place. </span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: magenta;">Please share anything else you feel the community would find fascinating to learn about you that makes you one of the 15 Most Fascinating Faces of the Year.</span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Although I have asthma, I climbed 3 Mountains in Nevada; Mt Potosi, Blue Diamond & Frenchman's Mountain. Hiked up the Continental Divide, Calico Hills in Red Rock Canyon, Redstone in Lake Mead, and all over Jerome Arizona Ghost Town. I plan to buy an RV, convert it to run on all green power, and continue traveling, exploring, journaling and adding nature video-documentaries to my blog. If I can share what I've seen, my reflections of Nature, then I will have left this world a better place. And thats all that matters to me, to leave a beautiful destiny for the future.</span>TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-33169555266593500052012-11-14T18:37:00.000-08:002013-07-21T21:55:59.795-07:00Fall in the Forest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2Zcr7agF5Zb_vgC2FjxaulNX4CGtUkB1Ij59b55nXtULCATNY7YE4pUY0FAlLosd8rRuoZBtejjiDN1antG9MGP1ha_CIcdckXoYcsFSdsMhZpnaHFzic5ezQ6XfEB0hyphenhyphenJBgd1q4xB0/s1600/Orange+4+Copyright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2Zcr7agF5Zb_vgC2FjxaulNX4CGtUkB1Ij59b55nXtULCATNY7YE4pUY0FAlLosd8rRuoZBtejjiDN1antG9MGP1ha_CIcdckXoYcsFSdsMhZpnaHFzic5ezQ6XfEB0hyphenhyphenJBgd1q4xB0/s400/Orange+4+Copyright.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Photography by Traci Elizabeth</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">copyright @ Traci Elizabeth/Travel Your Dreams 2012</span></div>
TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8335536229202668302.post-71212368950026676932012-08-21T19:21:00.000-07:002013-07-21T19:37:55.048-07:00Flying Chicago - to Phoenix - to San Francisco<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKCDaj7pk7pyLxjCftbY1aWJqK0ANZZSHn5tRVhxLENfQs6I2BkvAg_O70wOTHS4mkReuhEy42cUhWMYYTdBeRAqZr0AoxivFxR5XiDT2Rkgr9kwht9rWMUhfFtMLXIqSbgXusVX3SXg/s1600/Takeoff+from+ORD+Chicago.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKCDaj7pk7pyLxjCftbY1aWJqK0ANZZSHn5tRVhxLENfQs6I2BkvAg_O70wOTHS4mkReuhEy42cUhWMYYTdBeRAqZr0AoxivFxR5XiDT2Rkgr9kwht9rWMUhfFtMLXIqSbgXusVX3SXg/s400/Takeoff+from+ORD+Chicago.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In the Air! Takeoff from O'Hare Airport - Chicago IL</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwBKTgxYu7kC89j1jo4yDnTrghibnoWNsVKCTA3wTfAtw_VLgyI3RxobiIzD_hZQfBKya2mUAbK7Wrv9NqqZ5LkAlCfRRd47g7-ai4GD6xO86F8I9gxDxmkpeIcPoRj7ahr-uLVg_IrY/s1600/Beautiful+Blue+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwBKTgxYu7kC89j1jo4yDnTrghibnoWNsVKCTA3wTfAtw_VLgyI3RxobiIzD_hZQfBKya2mUAbK7Wrv9NqqZ5LkAlCfRRd47g7-ai4GD6xO86F8I9gxDxmkpeIcPoRj7ahr-uLVg_IrY/s400/Beautiful+Blue+1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beautiful Blue</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-r8UgqgUwKsgWepEm9QT22je0JDMmmL8M_Co9lja_ZwsNrHOJPF65ypZ2KtaTwKaS6E5VDyJY4rLyF3Un8G4SXRBD6WIUFfSwrb5sairBOlu3AkZQItYt8lm3gwgcuOcJ8idp6SPDjbk/s1600/Air+Delay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-r8UgqgUwKsgWepEm9QT22je0JDMmmL8M_Co9lja_ZwsNrHOJPF65ypZ2KtaTwKaS6E5VDyJY4rLyF3Un8G4SXRBD6WIUFfSwrb5sairBOlu3AkZQItYt8lm3gwgcuOcJ8idp6SPDjbk/s400/Air+Delay.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Delayed at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport<br />due to interference from Wildfire smoke</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">all photos @ Traci Elizabeth/Travel Your Dreams 2012</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />TRAVEL YOUR DREAMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06120284251212085929noreply@blogger.com0