Possible Metra Delays Due to Heat Today

  FYI for Metra riders:  There could be delays on the trains today due to the high temps.  Possible delays are estimated at about 15 minutes.  I can deal with that as long as they keep the air conditioning pumping!

Another Metra Fatality

  Unfortunately this morning marked another fatality on the Metra Milwaukee District West Line.  At about 6:20am, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a train near Hanover Park train station.  This train was actually the train that I ride into Chicago almost every morning.  When I heard the announcement that all trains going east and west were at a standstill, I made the decision to walk back to my car and drive over to Arlington Park to pick up the Union Pacific/Northwest Line. 
  As I keep stressing, please be careful around trains.  Metra's slogan is Look, Listen, Live!

A Couple Father's Day Freebies

  I always love posting the freebies especially on Mother and Father's Days.  Here's two for tomorrow and Happy Father's Day to all the dads!

--Most TCBYs will give dad a free yogurt

--Dad can enjoy a free breakfast and free cup of coffee at IKEA stores (Schaumburg) until 11am.

Al Green Day

  It has just come to my attention that today is "Al Green Day" in Chicago.  He is performing at Ravinia tonight starting at 7pm.
  Enjoy the day and stay cool!

Make A Wish

  As I was getting ready for work this morning, I saw Make A Wish on the Channel 5 news.  They were asking for people to donate their airline miles.  I was interested and made a note to myself to check my own airline miles.  Then when I got to Michigan Avenue en route to work, Make A Wish was also there handing out fliers.  They're looking for airline miles for the following airlines:  American, Delta, United and US Airways.  The airline miles help children with life-threatening medical conditions to be able to travel to their "wishes".  If you would like to donate your airline miles you can give online at http://www.wishes.org/ or call 312-602-WISH.

A little Mob Wives Chicago

  Last night I saw my first episode of that new show Mob Wives Chicago.  I didn't get to see the whole episode but it was pretty much what I expected.  Fighting and bad-mouthing.  Even though the show is similar to those other "feisty women" shows, I was interested about how many shots of Chicago there would be.    There were a few fun shots of Wacker Drive and Taylor Street.  The show was filmed during the winter so there was snow on the ground and the "wives" were trying not to fall in their heels.  One thing that confused me was that the women were actually more "mob daughters" then "mob wives".  From what I gathered, each woman had a father that had been part of the Chicago mob.  Either way, it's always fun to hear about media entertainment that is filmed with Chicago as the backdrop.

My Absence

  I know I haven't posted in a while.  I've been debating about starting up a new blog about travel and my travel experiences.  I'm still figuring out what I want to do.  These last few days Chicago has had beautiful weather.  Perfect weather for eating outside and wandering aimlessly.  This weekend is suppose to bring hotter weather....beach days anyone?

2nd and Final Day of the NATO Summit

  Today was the 2nd and last day of the NATO Summit.  I was home from work today along with many other Chicagolanders.  I had heard on the news that there was suppose to be a big protest this morning in front of Boeing.  Boeing has an office about a block from the Madison entrance to Union Station.  That's the entrance that I use every day.  There are other entrances in and out of Union Station but I prefer that entrance because it gets me directly into the train tunnel.  Last I heard was that the initial Boeing protesters were not very large in number but it was anticipated that they would pick up more people along the way.
 Over the weekend there were some police/protesters clashes.  Arrests were made including the arrests of 3 people that were thought to be involved in a terrorist plot.  From what I've seen on TV, it seems like police were handling things well and there was no repeat of the 1968 riots.  Tomorrow will bring a new day to Chicago and I will see the remnants that NATO has left behind.