Lucky...

...Me...Karen in one of her "Stop Staring" dresses...she wore this to a recent wedding up north.  Here's another pic:

Same dress, this time at the reception.  Here's a pic of Karen and her two lovely daughters:

That's Amy on the left, Sarah in the middle, and Karen on the right.  I am surrounded by beautiful women!  As I said, Lucky Me...

While they were attending the wedding, I was holding down the fort at home...went to the store to buy some beer, and the good folks who make their living on Madison Avenue in the advertising biz scored a direct hit:

I am not a Budweiser drinker, and never drink beer from cans...but I bought a six of these...God Bless America...who knew that drinking beer could be so patriotic?

And to make matters even worse, I also bought this bottle of 3 Olives Vodka...not because we drink 3 Olives Vodka...never had it before...but just had to have this bottle:

Madison Avenue thrives on pigeons like me.

So it was a very quiet weekend with everyone up north at a wedding and me doing the bachelor thing at home.  If I really was a bachelor, I'd undoubtedly have a routine...but I'm not, so I did some wandering around my empty house wondering what I should do next.

Besides trying to catch up on some work related issues, I also watched a couple of movies I haven't seen in a while but really like...Robocop,,,

...and Man On Fire.

I'm turned off by the over the top violence in Robocop, but the underlying theme of humanity lost in a tidal wave of evil, then regained in a triumph of good has always grabbed me.  There's a scene in the movie when Robocop is dealing with his partially recovered memories...he visits his old house, remembers his wife and son from his previous life, and is enraged by the overwhelming loss.

But the real tearjerker is Man On Fire, where virtually every main player gives outstanding performances, none better than Denzel Washington.  Both of these are definitely worth a look if you haven't seen them.

The gardens continue to bloom...this past weekend we were blessed with more lilies...

more orange lilies popped this week

yellow lilies in bloom

Love summertime in Michigan...

Later, mcm fans...

Our Lady...

...of Mercy chapel...at the Lacks Cancer Center.  Had a recent scare with Karen's annual checkup, and spent some time in the beautiful chapel while she was undergoing additional tests.

So why is it we turn to God when we're in trouble or worried or scared, but otherwise figure we've got life handled by ourselves?  A minor study in the ignorance and arrogance of man, I suppose.  Thankfully all is well with Karen.

Summer is struggling mightily to escape Spring's recalcitrant grip, and it looks like this weekend it may actually succeed...eagerly anticipating some actual sunshine and warmer temperatures...in the meantime, the backyard continues to flourish:

the peonies in glorious bloom...

...and we continue to enjoy being outside as much as possible:

relaxing by the firepit in the evening...

enjoying a manhattan and a cigar by the pool...

Recently saw a 1956 Thunderbird and have been rethinking my "must have a 1956 Corvette" mantra:

That is a beautiful car, and they are typically 10's of thousands of dollars less expensive than their Corvette counterparts.  They were actually created to compete with the 'vettes of the mid 1950's, and for a while they outsold them.  Now all I need is to find $40k of loose cash hanging around that I don't need for anything in particular and I'll finally own that classic car...

In the "no particular reason" department, here's another exciting video about a day in the life of a vintage toy...

Later, mcm fans...

Thank You...

...to all who served...praise God for their safe return to hearth and home...

...but we remember on this solemn day all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country and we honor their memory...

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

On a sunny afternoon in late May back in 1969 my twelve year old self stood on a platform in front of women in flowered dresses and gray haired men in faded military uniforms and recited that poem.  I didn't understand the meaning then, and wondered at the solemnity of the occasion marked by sober faces and heartfelt tears.

Many years later my youngest son announced he was going to war, and when he was headed to Afghanistan I dreaded the worst.

Praise God he returned from Afghanistan physically unharmed, though not unchanged.

A reminder how thankful we should be for men and women who serve their country, putting themselves in harm's way to protect us and our way of life.

later, mcm fans...

Preservation Hall...

...and Mr. Leroy Jones.  We're starting with the highlights of our stay in The Big Easy...and this was definitely a high point...everything you read and hear about Preservation Hall is true...it's a small, hot, humble, ramshackle venue on St. Peter's street, about half a block from Bourbon St...

...but the live jazz music played there is "must experience in person" stuff.  Leroy Jones, jazz trumpeter extraordinaire, who toured with Harry Connick Jr's band as his lead soloist, was the leader of the band Monday night and what a treat.  It was a fabulous show put on before an enthusiastic crowd, truly the highlight of this trip.  Marcellus was thrilled to find out he'd be listening to Leroy Jones in person, and the night was everything we hoped it would be and more.

Another highlight was listening to Marcellus playing his trumpet from the observation deck of our hotel against the backdrop of the night time skyline...

it don't mean a thing if ain't got that swing and the saints came marchin' in our last night at the hotel...

The lad is good and I told him he may have a talent the world needs to hear, so keep that in mind while pursuing his jazz dreams.

In general it was fun walking the area...lots of art and street musicians of varying quality and talent, but all with an open venue to practice their craft and vie for tips from passersby.

We stopped at the Jazz Park, which is really just a room with not a lot to see...it's performance based, and they have artists stop by several times a week.

I did get a pic of Marcellus with Satchmo...

...and we did tour the beautiful outdoor Louis Armstrong park and its various statues of Jazz greats...

a slightly larger version of the great Louis Armstrong...

Sidney Bechet

Charles "Buddy" Bolden

Switching gears a bit, New Orleans is known for its food almost as much as its Jazz...

Don't normally see alligator and jambalaya on menus back home.  Marcellus did try 'gator - he said it was ok - and there are lots of "Alligator - the other white meat" t-shirts for sale everywhere.

We steered clear of the more exotic fare since we didn't have a week or two to fight the gastrointestinal battles of acclimation to local cuisine.

A famous restaurant everyone lines up for is the Cafe du Monde...

We tried the faster, less crowded, less expensive version of the beignet - a deep fried pastry with tons of powdered sugar - at a little place a half block away...dee-lish...

Breakfast was in room and traditional...

Delicious - the coffee at the Omni Royal Orleans hotel is excellent - but like all food in this tourist town, incredibly expensive.

Dinner was out and about at various restaurants and by the time our stay was finished, I'd made a couple of mortgage payments on food for the four of us.  Yikes.

And of course, no visit to the French Quarter would be complete without the requisite visit to Bourbon Street and the surrounding area...

the infamous rue bourbon...

you can bet patrons of this hotel don't get to sleep before 3 am...

encouraging message, but only applies at night...walk in groups or get mugged...

did not buy any zombie cigars...made with real brains, I assume...

the town is obsessed with voodoo and mystics...

So that was our stay in the Big Easy for a couple of days...flying home this afternoon and back in the saddle tomorrow...

later, mcm fans...

Happy Easter...

...on The City Of New Orleans...Praise God, He is risen.  Our sins have been paid for; all that remains is for us to put our faith in God's Son who died for us, and rose again.

I love overnights on the train, but I'll be honest...I don't sleep all that much...more like doze off and on...but it's great waking up and feeling the rhythm of the rails, hearing the sound of the train horn, the wind rushing by as we cross this great country...then doze again for a while.

Up at 5 am central time to shower, but there's too much motion to attempt shaving...I'm not that brave to risk the effects of a sudden lurch with a straight razor on my throat...by 5:30 we were ahead of schedule and approaching Memphis, Tennessee...

...arrived a few minutes later as the new day dawned...

a chilly morning in Memphis

Did my usual "check on work" routine from the observation car, then sat down to a good scrambled eggs breakfast with three friendly strangers...they seat you 4 to a booth for meals whenever possible.

The rest of the day was rolling through Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana...

tired travelers, somewhere in Mississippi...

...we did pass a sobering sight...there were large work crews with heavy equipment working in muddy conditions, cleaning up the after effects of a train derailment...by the time we realized what it was and I could pull out my camera, we were almost completely by the scene...

to the far left is the last of several damaged train cars from the derailment...

We rolled into the New Orleans station a little ahead of schedule...I really like NOL (the station letters in the Amtrak system)...new, wide open spaces, marble floors, and cool pics and murals on the walls:

From there we took a cab to the Omni Royal Orleans hotel...

palm trees...cool...

...and settled in to our rooms...Marcellus and I in one, Karen and Sarah in the other.

Marcellus and I got a workout done in the 7th floor fitness center, then all of us enjoyed the view from the top of the hotel, overlooking the French Quarter...

this is a panographic view of the harbor and bridge in the distance

the view at night...

We were all tired from our travels, so we just hoofed across the street and enjoyed a good but overpriced meal at...

...crowded and noisy, exactly as you'd expect in the French Quarter, I suppose...

More to come, mcm fans...

City Of New Orleans...

...here we come...first stop, Union Station in Chicago, courtesy of Coleman's Shuttle Service.  They do an excellent job, have very reasonable rates, are courteous and professional.  Our driver, Ruth, is personable and competent.  I highly recommend them.  Check them out at Coleman's Shuttle Service.  You'll be glad you did.

Unlike last year when we were rank novices, this year we knew where to go and what to do once we hit the station...so down to the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge we went and checked in sans excitement.

The lounge is reserved for business class and sleeper car passengers.

Once checked in we verified the schedule for the City Of New Orleans train....

Right on time, so we grabbed some complimentary refreshments and relaxed while waiting to board...

Marcellus and Sarah at the table, Karen in the background.

We boarded at 7:30 Chicago time...

Our car attendant, Carmel.

...and settled into our rooms for an 8:05 pm departure...well, a bedroom for Karen and Sarah, a tiny roomette for Marcellus and me.

After listening to a short rendition of the classic Willie Nelson tune, "City Of New Orleans" - not the Arlo Guthrie version, but good nonetheless - they announced the conductors would be by to check our tickets:

That must be for coach class passengers only...they checked ours before they let us on the sleeper car.

In short order it was time for dinner in the dining car:

Dinner was very enjoyable...

...and even the table setting and lights were elegant...

in honor of Easter, I guess...

here's what it looks like sans bunny napkin...

Time for lights out...later, mcm fans...