There’s something about a winter sky. I’ve been looking out my window view across the harbor all summer watching the changes with every flip of the calendars page. Every season has a look of it’s own of course and now it’s at the, what I call the “Getting ready to sleep” stage. The trees have shed their leaves, the side walk cafés have retreated indoors and all the activity, concerts, festivals, children playing in the fountains is all but gone.

Looking out into the harbor where there use to be so many boats moored there you couldn’t count them, now there are non. Buoy’s bob in the water waiting for the freeze.

Getting ready to yet again say goodbye to new friends. People that were strategically place to keep me in great company. People that opened themselves up and shared their lives with me, yet another pocket in the country that now has a piece of my heart, stories to share and sadness that it will end.

Bittersweet seems to be my new word as I move on. The sweet as you all have been reading is all the great things, places and people I’ve met. The bitter is leaving the same. I wish that I could share the feelings that I have for all that has been placed before me.

Blessed is the only word that I can come up with now. Here in Chicago I had to pick what to miss every weekend because there was so much going on. I did things I only imagined but it’s the people that really make it special. Ed the bartender at Petterino’s, Katie and Jeanette at Herry Caray’s, Beth at Park Plaza, Shawn and Lisa I met at the Jazz fest, Jamal and Samantha I met at the Blues fest, Tracy I met at the Wine and Gourmet Fest, Elise at the Tilted Kilt, the guys from work and my favorite … Jennifer.

So the heart of the country has claimed another victim and I will always think about returning here.

I’m going to have to win the lottery to make this all work.

I’ll be heading home to Disney where I’ll be hearing the song “When you wish upon a Star” and that’s what I’ll be doing.

Just remember your here in my heart and the word special just doesn’t cut it.

A beautiful day today in Chicago. It’s about 80 degrees with a steady wind coming off the water. The sun has a clear shot onto the lake with little resistance from small thin clouds whisking rapidly across the sky. The water looks like a jewelers blue cloth with diamonds strewn across it.

A misplaced summer day for sure but there are signs that fall is hidden between all that’s around. Walking up the river I’m passed by sailboats being pushed by a motor not the wind; their large mast laying across the boat all bundled up for the long winter rest.

Even though the day is warm, mother nature knows the seasons clock is ticking The trees that line the river are showering me with leaves and the shade they used to provide is disappearing from the walkway as the light of day that use to be reserved for six pm is arriving at three.

I like to wake to the sun coming up but with winter around the corner that would make me late for work. Darkness when I get up and the sun setting when I’m heading home. This is when I long for the weekends to be rain free so I can get my sun allotment for the week.

I have been away from fall, my favorite time of the year in the Northeast and winters snow now for over four years and this is a bitter sweet reminder of that. Being able to experience all that I have, parts of the country that I have never seen before, riding my motorcycle on Christmas Day in a short sleeve shirt, relaxing at the lake on the Boardwalk at night with a glass of wine as a warm breeze blows across the water, visiting a vineyard and enjoying the food and tasting as a band fills the air with smooth jazz and mixes with the smells off the grills and grapes; ahh yes I am thankful for all of that but as I sit here now just about as close as I have been to a fall in three years, my mind floats back to the fairs, pumpkins, dancing leaves in the street, wearing a sweater in the crisp air as the sun rests warm on your face and that smell that comes with that time of the year. I think of evergreen, cinnamon, burning leaves, marshmallows over a fire, pumpkin pie and hay. The first real snow with the full moon lighting up the yard and finding the footprints of all the activity you missed as you slept.

After that I remember why I left the Northeast. I never was big on rain after it snowed and made slush, don’t like the dirt thrown up on the snow from the street and gray isn’t my favorite color. I don’t like that the odds of getting into an accident increase two fold and all the places I like are closed. I made the best of it when I was there and all my friends made it possible to get thru those times and above that … I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

Miss everyone and I hope that your enjoying life..

I have found many things about a city since I’ve been here.

1) Rain doesn’t stop people from walking the streets.

2) There’s several levels of activity always going on. So much you just walk by and not know it’s there.

3) There’s always something to do.

4) People want to come and visit.

5) You can eat in a different restaurant every day.

6) People are great, weird, eclectic, outgoing, introverted, passionate, brazen, assorted, and.. add your own.

7) Begging is a full time job.

8) People really use the parks here …. A lot.

9) If your into the arts it’s a great place to be.

10) You’ll hear an ambulance every hour.

11) You miss a lot because you can’t do it all.

12) A red light really means stop here. That was a shock.

Well as you probably guessed I could go on and on. I like being able to watch a movie and see where I was this morning. It’s exciting to be at a bar like Harry Caray’s Steakhouse and realizing your standing next to one of your favorite CSI stars, Gil Grissom (William Petersen) and watch him trying to be just another customer.

I walk around the city with wide eyes wondering what I’m going to run into this time. If it’s not a star or street performer it’s the buildings themselves. Maybe it’s because I’m in the business but I’m amazed at what I see all around. The old buildings have such a detail that you know you will never see again as I’ve notice on most that the first three floors are real fancy detail, scroll work, carvings, ornate stone and craftsmanship like non other and then the building is well, just a building till you get to the top and then it explodes into all this articulate work to finish it off. I kinda feel sad because of all that detail up where no one can get a good look at it up close. I know there’s lots to see and I get frustrated knowing I can’t so I try to focus on the whole.

Besides the permanent stuff like the museums, Buckingham Fountain, The Bean, Sears Tower, I refuse to call it The Willis Tower and Navy Pier, I’ve been to the Blues Festival, Taste of Chicago, Lalapaloosa, Styx, REO Speedwagon, 38 Special concerts not to mention the free shows in the park like Jazz every Thursday, Big Band Swing and they show classic movies in the park like this past week … Psycho. Pull up your lawn chair and open your fold up table, spread the table cloth and top with a bottle or two of wine and compliment with cheese and crackers and there you go.. Your in a 200 by 200 foot living room with like minded people enjoying the night air with the sounds of fireworks going off at the pier. Please … I can’t make this stuff up. I love seeing the people pouring out of the elevator with their movie spread. Some go all out.

I also was here for the Air and Water Show. The week of the show jets would cruise thru the city and the sound was amazing. The show?? Just as awe inspiring. If you haven’t seen an air show… do it. Words can’t explain what you see, hear and feel. I remember when I was a kid it wasn’t unusual to see military jets in the air every day. I’d bring that back. Sure makes you feel safe especially when you can see what these talented servicemen can do with them. Check out the pics. I’ve even got one of the Blue Angles from my apt and they are below me.

I’ll make sure to get back with more as I am here for another month and a half.

Miss Y’all and pray that your all well and happy.

Living in the city will surely give you something to share. You all know me as a, so your sitting next to me you’d better be prepared to talk, type of person and I do get people involved.

My good buddy Ron and Margie came up to spend the fourth of July with me and as I expected, it was a good time. Going about what is in my back yard at the moment, Margie’s one and only “I want to see” was the Chicago Zoo. Putting them on the train I said my goodbye’s as I headed to a brew house around the corner for some lunch.

Striking up a conversation with the guy next to me, who I later found out to be Christopher, I found myself headed to my next adventure.

You see Chris works at the Chicago Theater and as I asked questions about his knowledge of employment, I was invited to a private tour of the theater.

“It’s much easier for me to just take you there then try to explain.” he said as I waved for another round on me.

“I’m so honored that you would do that.” I said as we tipped the last of our drinks and headed a crossed the street.

“It’s OK… no tours today because of the holiday and I forgot and came in anyway.”

As we entered the theater I was awestruck at the beauty that was before me. The detail was amazing and when he said that the building was only just over eighty years old it was even more beautiful.

You know I’m in the building trade so to see what they did just a few short years ago was awe inspiring. You will never see attention to detail as I saw before me. ( see pics I could take)

As he told me of the first balcony without columns and the staircase being used as the home stairs of Al Capone in the movie “The Untouchables” I had to tell him to slow down so I could take it all in. Not enough time. I could have stayed there for hours. Then as we walked off the stage, He tells me that he is going to take me where he stands for hours and stares.

I look over my shoulder and think to myself … “What could be better then this?”

Leading me down a back stairway into a little room he tells me this is the waiting room for the stars before they perform. Kinda plain as I turn and follow him down another stairway toward the stage again and there it is before me. Thousands of autographs lining the walls, stairs, ceilings and any place else you could put a pen to show you where there… See photo’s.

I found classics like Bob Hope, Sammie Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Pointer Sisters, Bruce Willis, K.D. Lang, Copperfield, Prince and the list goes on. It just was unreal. You could tell some came prepared to leave their mark by the detail.
To think that they were there and signed that wall where I stood. They’re just people that were probably just as awestruck as I was for being there although they probably wouldn’t admit it.

That theater had a persona all it’s own and I recommend that you take a tour…. Ask for Chris and tell him Brad sent you.

As I said there is so much going on that I always wonder what I’m missing.

There are so many levels to the city that you could be on the street and miss Johnny Depp having a steak dinner in the restaurant one flight up and not know it… He was in town when I got here and all the cars used in his new movie were lined up across the street from where I’m building the store at the Chicago news studio.

This past weekend I went to a concert featuring Styx, REO Speedwagon and 38 Special. What a great three hours that was even though they wouldn’t let me bring in my camera which you all know I always carry. It was a blast from the past and they all were right on the money with the music and the vocals just as I remembered. It was like being in a time machine.

Now Sunday I find myself out for a bike ride and hear music coming from the park, Oh surprise, and like a magnate I find myself in front of the stage at Millennium Park with music I’m familiar with. As I’m singing the words trying to place who it is the next song gives it away.

“Show Me the Way” the vocals ring in accapella .. Oh my gosh it’s Dennis DeYoung from the original Styx and yes he did do Mr. Raboto but it just didn’t sound as bad in person as I had remembered.

So … as of now… not a dull moment in Chicago.

What’s the song: It may come, it may come as some surprise
but I miss you
I could see through, all of your lies
But I still miss you
He takes her love, but it doesn't feel like mine
He tastes her kiss, her kisses are not wine, they're not mine
He takes, but surely she can't give what I'm feeling now
She takes, but surely she doesn't know how

Chicago:

First occasion spending a lot of time in a city all at once and I know now that I, as I had believed, could live here in the city and enjoy it. Now I know that my friends back home, although maybe not wanting to admit it at the start, want to acknowledge I could leave the fall with the countryside and turning leaves and soon to follow soft falling snow for the cold concrete and steel that makes up the city; Well on the surface that may be true, but all I see is a sea of dream’s not only in the architecture old and new around me but the hopes and dreams of the people that live and work here.

You all know that I’m a people person and that I have found wherever I go, the core of what this country is about in the people that I meet. So you should know that Chicago is no different then all the other places I’ve been.

The heart beats within the tall buildings and rivers running thru the center, the gathering places that have been passed down for generations and the new ones that have bridged the gap. It reminds me of the beginning of the show Cheers when the song speaks of everyone knowing your name and people here, as wherever I have spent my time … want to belong.

I am amazed that I can take just a few minutes of time to invest it in the people around me and the next thing I know I’m holding a glass up and making a toast with my new friends that in most cases I can relate to my close personal friends at home.

Everyone is doing the best they can and is trying to enjoy the journey along the way. What you may think is unique to you .. is being played out all over the country.

I don’t know if my gift is people being able to open up to me and spill out what they are going through but it seems to be a reoccurring thing with me. Now I know that my close friends know that the secrets they have shared have never been disclosed unless they did it themselves. I want everyone to know right now that the buck stops here. That confession you made, although it maybe alcohol driven, stay’s here.

This couple tonight, after sharing drinks and dinner at the bar, willingly told me of their affair and what they were going thru. At the end of the night we were hugging, exchanging phone numbers and making plans for a picnic in two weeks to which I am the supplier of wine, go figure. (The affair is with each other they are married BTW)

I got back to my apartment and went over our conversations still wondering how, why it’s that easy sometimes.

OK … I’ve been here just over two weeks and so much has happened already. Mike was here for a week and can witness to the fact that all this happened and what was missed.

One day on our way back to the apartment we were blocked from entering the street because someone was standing on a ledge of the 26^th floor threatening to jump. Never found out what happened. They don’t put that on any of the area news stations. I can only assume that they are still among the living because talking with folk around here say they only put that on the news if they actually jump.

The Chicago Blues Fest was last weekend and the music was well … enlightening. Heard some that was obviously blues and some I don’t know how to categorize it. Now mind you I just came from Memphis.

Went to Wrigley Field and did the tour on the second oldest ball field with the oldest going to ………….? Steve … Chris … Darren……Steve ….. Erik … Brian????

Stood at the top of the tallest building in the USA and watched the sun set and city lights take over. No description could do the view any justice to what I saw. There are pics in the photo section but still not close to what you see and feel in person.

I was walking through Millennium Park when I saw a guy standing next to a cast iron bathtub.

Now you know me … I have to find out what that’s all about. The guy asked me if I could help him and drag the tub over to this area about thirty feet away and of course I grabbed the tub and dragged it about twenty feet before the feet fell off. He then asked me how much I thought the tub weighed and answering with a couple hundred pounds he told me that is the amount of weight he had lost and how would I like to drag that around every day? After we talked and I told him I thought it was a Cialis Commercial and they finally got the couple in the same tub. Laughing he pointed to several hidden camera’s and told me they were filming a commercial about weight loss and sent me over to a couple of guys where I signed a release as they handed me fifty bucks and I was on my way.

Ate and drank at the original Harry Cary’s, Billy Goat Tavern made famous on Saturday Night Live with John Belushi’s Cheezborger, Cheezborger cheezborger … no Coke .. Pepsi rant and went to the The Green Mill Lounge http://www.greenmilljazz.com/ for some smooth Jazz. Check out the link for a full description. They say Al Capone use to hang there.

Of course the Navy Pier is right behind my apartment which looks over Millennium park which is Chicago’s central park, Soldier Field, The Planetarium, Museum of history, Museum of Science and Industry and the Aquarium not to mention the Buckingham Fountain.

http://www.prosperityfountain.com/buckingham-water-fountain-chicago.html