One Thing I Love about Summer...Part 3

One thing I love about summer is that I never know what day it is. "What? Today is Monday?" I love that feeling about summer. I love that every night is like a Friday or Saturday night, because I don't have to get up at 5:00 am to get ready for work. This is one thing I love about summer.

One Thing I Love about Summer...Part 2 (2010)

One thing I love about summer is visiting Chicago! I never know what I will see in the city. This summer, early on a Sunday morning while walking to the starting line of the Rock and Roll Marathon, we stumbled upon the set of the Transformers 3 movie. What an amazing undertaking! They closed down about 2 blocks of upper Wacker Drive and brought in lots of destruction for what looked like a post-battle set. 

It appeared that the crew was setting up for shooting as members were moving props into place.  There was smoke coming from different areas of the set like from some of the cars that were upside down and on their sides.  There was "damage" to the side of one of the buildings.  It looked like something large had hit it about 2-3 stories up.  They must have worked all night to build up this scene as this street was open the evening before when we arrived in the city.  

About a block away after we had passed the scene, we saw what looked like extras in uniforms and other "official" looking costumes.  They appeared to be heading to the set with their coffee and breakfast pastries.  

All this work for what will probably be 5 minutes in the actual movie. It was amazing to see, and, sadly, they were all done for the day when we returned from the race that afternoon.  Oh well, surprises that we get to see when we visit Chicago in the summer!  

(Updated 7/27/25)

One Thing I Love about Summer...Part 1

One thing I love about summer is going to the jazz concerts on the riverfront on Thursday nights. Kaleigh has acquired a taste for jazz or at least dancing/jumping around to the jazz beat.

Proud to be a Cubs fan

After giving up 12 runs with two outs in Colorado and losing 17-2, I am proud to be a loyal Cubs fan. I can take a good swift drubbing, but in a year like this...?

I swear, if they take the Ivy off the wall for advertisements, I am walking.

New Gadget

If you haven't noticed, I added a "Followers" gadget. Feel free to jump in there if you read my blog from time to time. It will make me feel like I'm not the only one to read my own postings. Thanks!

Finishing a book (updated 7/19/26)

I finished reading a book today. It is the latest book in a collection of books by R.A. Salvatore. The book is titled The Ghost King. I am always glad and excited to finish a book, because it means that I get to start a new story. But, I always have a bit of a melancholy feeling as well. I have spent hours over many weeks reading about and living the lives of the characters. I have rooted for them, worried about them, and even felt my heart rate increasing in the rising action moments. So, when I finish a book, I really do feel as though I have become a part of the characters or maybe more so, they have become a part of me. I hope that I am not the only one who feels this way, but even if I am the only one, it is time to move on and meet some new characters.

Update:  This book is still my favorite Drizzt Do'Urden trilogy by R.A. Salvatore.  I do still think about the characters, and I still refer to this story when talking about favorite books.  It is a can't miss, but probably a better winter read than a summer read.  Just sayin!

Melting

It is hard to stay motivated to do much of anything in this heat and humidity. I will try to get on the ball with some new "thoughts" soon. Be sure to check out my companion blog "The Cycling Librarian" and follow my mishaps and successes as a new school librarian.