2011 North To The Heartland: Revisiting Boca's Roots

Yes, Boca and Bubba hit the road again. This road trip takes them across the Midwest and back to her Chicago roots. So join the corn fed Midwestern gal and Bubs as they head out on the highway. Bubba at the wheel of the Q is happy this years road trip should be fewer miles than previous logged on the road again ventures. Yea! We look forward to Family, Friends, Fisher Houses, Forests and Faith. So come along for the ride- Happy Trails!

8/31/2011

DAY 52 AUGUST 27 PALMOLIVE ULTRA

OH WHAT A NIGHT
Our own "Hurricane" Irene invited us to dinner to meet the McGraths-Chicagoans who also are part time Boca folks. Chicagoans in Boca? I thought everybody in Boca Raton was from NY or Jersey? The McGraths have the most amazing condo in the PALMOLIVE BUILDING (previously known as the PLAYBOY BUILDING). The building was designed by Holabird and Root, is 37 stories tall and was completed in 1929. It was designated a Chicago Landmark in 2000 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. In 2004 the process began to turn this office building into residences. This vintage building exudes all the elegance associated with the finery's of the roaring 20's- yet with the recent renovations all the modern conveniences in today's world. If anybody is looking for Vince Vaughn he's up on the top floor.

Our hosts, Kristina and Mike McGrath installed dramatic terraces in the art deco set back in front and in back of their unit with art, plants and even a putting green. While breathtaking and chic- their "home" is as warm and friendly as they are. Kristina is quite a woman of influence in Chi Town-a strong woman and a strong character who has worked hard for all she has accomplished. Her involvement in the USO caught Boca's attention. I think I'll nick name her H.H.- humble heart. And yep, equally as beautiful on the inside! This gracious, hospitable and generous couple are absolutely sensational and a lot of fun to be with. We appreciate all that you both do in your many charitable works. We also enjoyed meeting the Flanagan's and Irene's beau Arny. We sipped and chatted and enjoyed the 2 pooches-also Chicago friendly. Woof Woof.

Then out to sup at PANECALDO. MMM. Thank you for a delightful evening. See you in Boca for some of Bubba's BBQ!

H.H. aka Kristina and Jan

The guys solve world problems

USO

Kristina'a charity of choice- the USO. She and Mike are quite involved in the Illinois Chapter of the USO. And you know Bubs and I are fond supporters of anything and all for our military and their families. We shared the Fisher House and Zachary Fisher story with the gang. We are all familiar with Bob Hope and all of his USO Touring (started in 1942 and hosted 60 tours!). As a matter of fact Bob Hope and Zachary Fisher are the only persons ever awarded by the U.S. Congress- "Honorary Veterans Status". Bob in 1996 and Zachary in 1999. Keep up that good work for our troops HH! You are an inspiration to so many.

The mission of the USO is to enhance the quality of life of the U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families and to create a cooperative relationship between U.S. military communities and involved or supporting civilian communities.

The USO of Illinois is a civilian 501(c)(3) registered non-profit that is not government funded but is supported solely by the generosity of the American people.

The USO of Illinois touches the lives of over 300,000 Active Duty, Guard and Reserve military and military families throughout Illinois and the Midwest region over 300 programs and services offered year-round that enhance the quality of their lives, lift morale and provide unique recreational, educational and cultural opportunities. The USO of Illinois is powered over 300 volunteers giving almost 20,000 hours of service annually.

About The USO (United Service Organizations):

The USO is chartered by Congress as a non-profit organization. The USO is not funded by, nor a part of the United States Government.

It is however, endorsed by the President of the United States and the Department of Defense. Each President has been the Honorary Chairman of the USO since its inception.

The USO of Illinois Locations:

Navy Pier USO: 312-923-7070USO of Illinois military visitor center is located at Navy Pier in the South Arcade next to the 2West door. Stop by and see our newest home away from home. Includes free internet access, food and drinks.
Hours: Various Please Call.
Great Lakes USO: 847-688-5591 or 5593
Located at the Naval Station, Great Lakes, 530 B. Farragut Ave., 2nd floor, building 27. Located just over the bridge on the left.
Free recreation center is open 7 days a week
Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 3-9pm; Sat.-Sun.,11-9pm.
USO O’Hare Center “Cyber Canteen”, Terminal 3 (773) 686-8426
Located in Terminal 3, L Concourse. Open 7 Days a Week --- 6:00 AM - 10:30 PM
O’Hare International Airport USO: 773-686-7396 Conveniently located in Terminal 2, above the Northwest Ticket Counter, on the Mezzanine level, the O'Hare USO is designed to assist traveling military personnel and their families. Amenities include Internet access, quiet rooms, children's room, TV lounge area, free reading materials, flight information, emergency assistance and travel and lodging information and referral. Hours: 24 hours 7 days a week
Midway International Airport USO: 773-582-5852 Located in Concourse C, After passing through the metal detectors turn right and enter Concoursc C. The USO will be located near the Gate area. One of our smallest USO's, but with so much to offer! A team of dedicated volunteers will welcome and assist you with Internet access, travel information, free food and beverage and a friendly face! Amenities include TV, movies, free reading materials, calling cards, free Internet Access, bathroom, copier and fax.
Hours: Mon - Sun 9am - 9pm Open hours of Operations is based on volunteer availability

8/30/2011

DAY 51AUGUST 26 PARK GRILL CAFE MILLENNIUM PARK AND THE PRIMACKS / GIRLS NIGHT OUT

CRUISING BUDDIES
The Primack's came in from Lake Forest (suburb) for a visit with Bubs and Boca. They were happy to get to the city as they hadn't been down for a few months. We met Ginny and Mike on the Regent cruising around South America a couple of years ago. We both jumped ship in Rio and missed the Amazon leg of the trip. Not to worry, they are doing that portion in November- leaving out of Miami- so we'll get to see them off or on the way back. We look forward to hearing about that Amazon Adventure. On our bucket list too! After enjoying the view we walked across the street to Millennium Park for lunch and some lively conversation. Sharing our ailments discussion limited to 10 mins.- remainder of the time politics. Yea, more of the birds of a feather thinking we so enjoy.

PARK GRILL CAFE MILLENNIUM PARK

Everyone enjoys that view and yep we are having lunch right in front of that shiny Bean sculpture (you see in the roof top view) at the Park Grill Cafe. We love the Grill-a supporter of Make A Wish- selling Cranberry Cosmo WISHtini's- Go Park Grill! Millennium Park, a 24.5 acre park located on the NW corner of Grant Park (the large Lake front park) opened in 2004. The "Bean" continues to be a huge hit and tourist attraction. Anish Kapoor's designed the 110 ton Cloud Gate Sculpture (official name). A beautiful Chicago day to enjoy the park and good company. Thanks for coming to town Ginny and Mike and sorry to hear your neighbors tree fell in your pool during one of those crazy Chicago stores this summer- 102 mile winds in Illinois?! And no electric for 5 days- that's a starter kit for our us Floridians. We Bocans know all about that fun stuff. Indeed, you get to really know your insurance policy don't ya?

GIRLS NIGHT OUT AT REAL TENOCHTITLAN

Nuff said.

DAY 50 AUGUST 25 FRIENDLY LUNCH AT THE GAGE

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

FRIENDSHIP-a form of interpersonal relationship considered to be closer than an association, including a range of degrees of intimacy. Yup. For me friendship includes trust, enjoying each others company, support, sympathy, empathy, honesty and best of all for ol'Boca- a person you can be yourself with and they still love ya. I had read about a recent study documented that Americans are thought to be suffering a loss on the quality and quantity of close friendships- since 1985. Does the Internet have something to do with it? People moving from place to place? So not true for Boca. Friends are the family I get to choose! Have you reduced your friend posse? How about the quality of your friendships? Any changes?

Bubba and I are ever so grateful for the many magnificent friends we have. And here is another...Sandi Nemecek Thayer is also a high school pal who made time for Boca. She was in the class of 68 and QUEEN OF EVERYTHING. When she graduated I cried and cried and it truly was never quite the same for Boca. Sandi is still as sweet and kind as she was when she was 16. My darling why are you carrying a helmet? Oh, I just biked over. Talk about low maintenance. Completely natural inside and out. No cab or driver for "Nemi". It took us 3 hours to catch up. Well actually we only scratched the surface. She has lived quite a charmed life in so many ways and I am absolutely thrilled for this worthy QUEEN.

Thank you Sandi. You'll always be a good buddy.....

Looking forward to our next lunch. See you at the Reunion!

DAY 49 AUGUST 24 MINI REUNION THORNRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL-NAVY PIER

BATTLE HYMN OF THE BABY BOOMERS-come to the reunion in October! So I met up with some of the organizing gals to catch up and have a few laughs. Over to Riva's at Navy Pier for a libation and dinner. Yes, the class of '70. Yup that would be 41 years ago- back in the day when a $4.00 bottle of wine was pretty good stuff and when we fed our dogs left over McDonald's. Having recently learned how to play the air guitar I did my best to convince the ladies I was stage worthy. Ahem, Boca, yeah we'll be sure to do our best to fit you in the program. Must keep practicing that windmill move. Thank you ladies for taking the time and effort to organize the Thornridge Falcons. Most appreciated!

Donna and Barb are like salt and pepper. Salty and hot! Having a laugh with the Murphy sisters. Few things grab us by the collar and humble us as much as our high school reunion. Now and again they come back to haunt us like a ghost from the past- hello Mathew McConaughey. Our youthful past is exposed once again. I find the reunions to be the great equalizer. Did you reach your peak in high school? college? later? now? waiting? I love attending my high school reunion and am always thrilled and proud of achievements and life experiences of my childhood pals.

THORNRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL MULTI-CLASS REUNION 1968-1974

A multi-class reunion for graduating classes 1968-1974 of Thornridge High School is scheduled for Saturday, October 15, 2011 at William Tell Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Countryside. The web-site has all the details, including pricing and directions.

To order your tickets, go to our web-site at www.classcreator.com, then click on LOCATE SCHOOL > USA > Illinois> Dolton > Classes Of 1968 - 1974. Advance purchase tickets are $50/person; tickets purchased at the door will be $55/person.

UPDATE: To those of you who have already purchased tickets, thank you! If you're planning to come but haven't ordered your tickets yet, here's something you should know: While the members of the planning committee have shouldered the initial deposits for the venue, dj, food, etc., another payment is due soon (July 15th). To ensure that we have enough funds collected through ticket sales to make this payment (without further obligating committee members), please order your ticket(s) ASAP. If you know people that are planning to come but who have not yet signed up, please contact them this week and encourage them to order their tickets soon. You know how everyone always waits until the last minute to see if the "cool" kids are going...well, YOU may be that cool kid that everyone is waiting for!

Remember: You can pay by check or credit card. Either way, you need to order your tickets through the reunion web-site. And if you haven't already, pass this information along to classmates you think would like to attend! Thank you!

AND A FEW REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND?
1. Because you can.
2. Because you're never too cool for your High School friends.
3. Who cares if you can't fit into the old bell bottoms- ya gotta stay hugable.
4. Your family is tired of hearing your stories and you want to relive them with someone who actually cares.
5. You've always wondered what happened to.....

FACE TO FACE IS WAY BETTER THAN FACEBOOK!

Hey that could be us.....CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN OCTOBER!

Now about that anti-wrinkle remover and cellulite cream.....

8/29/2011

DAY 48 AUGUST 23 ARE YOU HIGH MAINTENANCE OR LOW MAINTENANCE?

Cheer up Bubba- the worst is yet to come. This is the day to rejuvenate. Mani-pedi, facial, waxing, roots, highlights and more.

What does high maintenance really mean? Is it just that I need more upkeep than the average bear? Fussy and particular? difficult and troublesome? annoying? hard to please?

I think Harry and Sally might have captured something.....

Harry Burns: There are two kinds of women: high maintenance and low maintenance.
Sally Albright: Which one am I?
Harry Burns: You're the worst kind; you're high maintenance but you think you're low maintenance.
Sally Albright: I don't see that.
Harry Burns: You don't see that? Waiter, I'll begin with a house salad, but I don't want the regular dressing. I'll have the balsamic vinegar and oil, but on the side. And then the salmon with the mustard sauce, but I want the mustard sauce on the side. "On the side" is a very big thing for you.
Sally Albright: Well, I just want it the way I want it.
Harry Burns: I know; high maintenance.

Cheer up Bubba- the worst is yet to come. This is the day to rejuvenate. Mani-pedi, facial, waxing, roots, highlights and more more more.

You might be a HIGH MAINTENANCE IF:

Does your purse have more than 5 lbs of essentials in it?
Do you have more than 50 pair of shoes?
Is your make up case a double decker tool box from Sears?
Do you have more than 3 items in your closet with price tags on them?
Do you have more underwear that you could wear in 3 months?
Do you spend more on hair products than groceries?
Can a small family live in your closet(s)?
Does a weekend trip take more than one piece of luggage?
Do you get your Botox fix monthly?
Are your dry cleaning bills more than a car payment?

Is a High Maintenance an attention seeker? AH, now we are getting into STEALTH HM:
Do you need to be told every 5 mins that you are pretty?
Do you often send back food in a restaurant?
Do you put on make-up to go to the grocery store?

How do you describe a "high maintenance" man? Never heard a guy called HM?

Bubs, I think Toby Keith's got it right in his ballad "HIGH MAINTENANCE WOMAN"....don't want no maintenance man".

Well Boca did her best to take care of business.

Yes Bubs you are right. I guess I'm no chicken little.

8/27/2011

DAY 47 AUGUST 22 CHI TOWN...SHERRYANNE AND LYNNIA

UP ON THE ROOF Our new theme song and hangout. My play pal from Miami-FISHER ISLAND (a private island right off South Beach)- Lynnia visited Boca and Bubba for some BBQ fun. She is here helping her granddaughter get settled at Roosevelt University. And of course being Lynnia, with friends all over the world, brings along a Chicago pal, Irene. When we visit Lynnia we must take a car ferry. Fisher is on the path for the Cruise lines and it's always dicey- bobbing and weaving being on the ferry when one of the mega cruisers go by.

The island (.0343 square mile) was created by dredging and land reclamation and construction began in 1919 by Carl Fisher (automotive parts pioneer). He purchased the island from South Florida's first African American millionaire, Dana Dorsey. In 1925 Fisher traded the island to a Vanderbilt for a yacht. Other McRich folks lived here after Vanderbilt and it eventually sold for development in the the 1960's when it sat vacant for over 15 years before development began. After years of legal battles and changes in ownership further development started in the 1980's-with architecture matching the original 1920's Spanish style mansions. Another Chicago gal has 5 properties here- go Oprah!

"From beauty queen to queen of the scene and everything in between"- Lynnia has had quite the life. But no mater where in the world she visits she comes home to Fisher Island. WELCOME TO PARADISE is the sign on her door and that's exactly what it feels like when we arrive. Yup, that's Bubba at the front door-oh so eclectically decorated. Bubs loves the leopard dining chairs and the head from an Asia trip.

That's our gals "jacked up" 4 wheeler. Pretty much how one gets around on Fisher. Being the creative one- photojournalist- her art work is unique, fun and modern. Our certified Laughing Yoga instructor has us in stitches most of the time. A what? Yup, laughing yoga. This is a form of yoga employing self-triggered laughter-it is unconditional laughter and yogic breathing. And she is a master of the laugh. Absolutely contagious!

I believe Lynnia said to me one day-

Bubba is like most men- they want the same thing from their underwear that they want from a woman: a little bit of support and a little bit of freedom. A jumbo painting of our Lynnia- MOMA bound I am sure.

This babe is full of "HATITUDE.

The "PLATINUM GIRLS"(our fabulocity leader Janet) have spent many a fun day out at Fisher. We tend to specialize int the patriotic holidays...Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day- as the club puts on the most magnificent spread. The fireworks over Biscayne Bay along the Miami skyline- stupendous! Thanks for visiting us in my home town and introducing us to Irene. Glad to hear you loved Chi Town like we do. And let our New Yorker friends know we are no second city!

CURLING SHERRYANNE

Also joining us, our former next door neighbors from Evanston- Sherryane and her mom, Margaret. We have remained friends since we moved in- 1980. We crossed our wires on date and time for visit so when I called and asked where are you? She said huh? I didn't hear back from you? Well get down here Bubba made a nice BBQ. Ok we're in our PJ's. Who cares-drive into the garage and elevator up...who'll notice! Bless them for being good sports and showing up in "pj's". Oops forgot to mention others would be here..ha ha.
What are you up to Sherryanne?

CURLING- A CLEAN SWEEP UNTIL THE END

Huh? As a matter of fact going to a Curling Camp on Thursday in NY and trying out for Olympic Curling Team- goal first alternate. What is Curling Sherryanne?

Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a circular target marked on the ice. Each team has eight stones. The purpose is to accumulate the highest score for a game, points being scored for the stones resting closest to the centre of the house at the conclusion of each end, which is completed when both teams have thrown all of their stones. A game may consist of ten or eight ends.

The curler can induce a curved path by causing the stone to slowly turn as it slides, and the path of the rock may be further influenced by two sweepers with brooms who accompany it as it slides down the sheet, using the brooms to alter the state of the ice in front of the stone. A great deal of strategy and teamwork goes into choosing the ideal path and placement for each situation, and the skills of the curlers determine how close to the desired result the stone will achieve. This gives the game its nickname of "Chess On Ice".

Sherryanne, why in the world would you want to sweep? " It's fun hoggin the ice until bar time. And when you are finished curling someone else has to clean the sheets. Oh Keith, I can see the Collins clan doing some family Curling....ha ha ha". Touche. Good one Sherryanne. Keep us posted on your Curling venture. And thanks again for coming to the city. So loved the leopard schmata!

8/26/2011

DAY 46 AUGUST 21 CHI TOWN AIR SHOW FUN

CHICAGO AIR AND WATER SHOW
The show is an annual air show held on the shore of Lake Michigan. The show has been held each year since 1959 and is Chicago's second most popular festival. Almost 2 million attended the show this year in spite of rain on Saturday.

The air show is a free event that showcases daredevil pilots, parachute teams, and jets flying in formation, as well as a water-skiing and boat-jumping component. Because of its proximity to city beaches and skyline, the demonstrations are visible from almost everywhere along the Chicago lakefront. Grandstand seats for the water show are located at North Avenue Beach.

The air show features both civilian and military pilots. Flying teams have been sponsored by companies including Oracle and Red Bull. Many of the Air Show performers utilize Chicago's third airport, the Gary/Chicago International Airport in nearby Gary, Indiana, for ground support. The U.S. Army Golden Knights have participated each year for several years running. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds alternate annually as headliners.