Back to work

I started back to work last Friday, then we had a short but educational weekend. I learned that one week is not long enough to ween your self from pain meds after a rotator cuff repair. I am going to have to keep taking them for a little longer. Not much else to report. I walked more. I went to a first birthday party. I have to be careful about what clothing I choose to wear.

I'm starting to think about switching to a twin-lens reflex film camera for a while, just because it's going to be the easiest camera to use while my left hand is strapped down to my side. I'll see what grainy old B&W film I have in the deep freeze. I'm in a grainy old film sort of mood.

She can walk!

I took a walk today, all the way to Chippewa. Yep, not quite a half a mile round trip, but it's the furthest I've walked since last Friday, and the first time I left the house by myself.

Well, not quite by myself. Rudy decided he wanted to come, too.

This is awkward, since he's supposed to be an indoor cat. Luckily, he went back in without too much fuss, and I didn't have to face Julie with some lame story about how I misplaced her cat.

A couple of weeks ago at Aya Sofia

Okay, I'm starting to get my appetite back, so I'm going to restart posting with a wonderful dinner Julie & had back at the beginning of the month. Later we'll talk about silly St. Louis stuff outside of eating, but for now let's talk about fresh dinner thingies.

I love this place.

Cay


Patlican Ezme, Biber Ezme & Humus


Anatolian Meze Plate: feta and goat cheeses with Mediterranean olives, sliced tomatoes, and cucumbers

At Home

Hello. Sorry for the delay in new photos. My rotator cuff surgery went well Friday morning. I've pretty much been asleep since then. More soon as I wake up.

Looking Down in Chicago, or, What are all those people doing in the water

Looking Up in Chicago

Chicago lunch - Snicker's

The awning says "deli," but you know half a block away it's really a neighborhood bar. I had a gyro, fries, a Rolling Rock and a friendly break from walking.

Chicago lunch - Cafe Francais

Julie was sad I had no leftovers for her.


My coworkers used to make fun of me because I don't know how to use a drip coffee pot. I use a French press at home, or Julie fires up the espresso machine that I'm not allowed to touch.


I think they were at the Flugtag earlier in the day.

Walking Up to Goose Island from the Chicago Loop

I've been buying photo goodies from Calumet Photographic for about 20 years, but always by phone or on these fancy new intertubes, never in person. Saturday I decided I would walk over and visit their Chicago store in person.

I like walking around Chicago. I have no idea why, but I think it may be my favorite city for walking.


Chicago Avenue Community Garden


Almost there...


I did eventually get to Calumet, and shopped more than I meant to. Julie's been without film for her Polaroid for months, so I got her a few packs to tide her over. I also bought myself a lightweight Kata camera bag.

Views from the Chicago Renaissance

From Julie's room


From higher up

Friday Night on the MegaBus

Well, folks, Julie had to go to Chicago for a business trip last week, so I decided I would grab a ride up I-55 & spend the weekend sharing her fancy hotel room. Work being what it is (crazed), I didn't want to make expensive travel plans just in case I couldn't get away. I made the cheapest travel plans possible - I made a Megabus reservation way ahead of time. I must have been the first to reserve each way because I got my tickets for $1 each.

Here we see people milling around getting ready to leave St. Louis Union Station.


Here we see the view down the stairs from my seat.


Here we see the full blown rolling advertisement at our rest stop about 2 hours outside of Chicago.

Smokies Flashback

Julie took these. This is what I look like when I'm working in the middle of a river & trying not to fall.

Richard's Produce in Festus

Two more puppy pics

I always bring out the best in my models.

Young'uns in Festus

Julie's brother invited us down to meet his new girls.