Need more pineapple

 

Ooh la la!

I'm naked!

Not really. At least, not all of the time.

Chicago weekend!

Rode the Amtrak into Chi-town for my now somewhat annual

visit to the Lyric Opera.

I had a ticket to see Madama Butterfly

ChiCOWgo

After dropping off my bag at the hotel, I head over to the 

Cultural Center.

The glass domes and mosaic walls. Just stunning.

The building was the public library for a time, and now it houses

art galleries and beautiful interior architecture.

Found some hieroglyphs.

Weather was a bit chilly, but a nice day to be out and about in the city.

Some tasty lunch at Cook Wok, Hot Sushi

Wait, not that's not right.

Hot Woks, Cool Sushi on Michigan Avenue.

I found this place by accident a few years ago, so made a 

point to come back this weekend. Hard to tell from the outside,

but they have a great menu.

I had the vegetable delight and a refreshing glass of passionfruit jasmine iced tea.

After some shopping on State Street, I grabbed another tasty drink from

Fairgrounds Coffeeshop and walked over to the Park to check out the protest march.

The No Kings march was scheduled for the weekend I was in town.

And because I still had some time to kill before I could check into my hotel, 

I made myself useful and joined the protest.

A lot of great signs.

And a real feeling of togetherness.

It was heartwarming to see so many folks out calling for better treatment by the government.

Streets blockaded by trucks and cop cars.

Real peaceful scene. No one I saw was behaving out of line

towards anyone else. 

Walked a few blocks with the march.

After exercising my right to protest, it was time to check into my

hotel. Somewhere I'd never stayed before, StayPineapple.

I loved it! Not too overpriced too, which was nice.

My room gave me a good view.

Love the building this place is set into.

Looks like an old office space.

No key cards here, you get a real key.

Reusable PATH water bottle you can take with you.

And you can refill at the water station in the lobby before you leave.

Cookie snacks at check in, plus a complimentary beverage.

Very nice touch.

I'd gotten a falafel pita sammich as a light dinner, so these made a sweet finish.

After some lying around, watching trashy television,

it was time to get ready for the opera.

I love these hotel robes. I ended up buying one when I got home.

When it arrived, the door hanger was thrown in gratis, 

so, no, I didn't steal it from the hotel. 

Anyway, a quick shower, reapply the face, and put on my opera clothes.

Not too bad.

Arrived in time to hear the pre-show talk.

Such a tragic opera.

View from my seat.

I had my customary sparkling wine to start, then pre-ordered the 

specialty cocktail to pick up at intermission.

Pre-ordering is super great, especially if your seats are on the top floor,

like mine, and it takes a lot of time just to walk back downstairs.

The performance was fantastic. It followed the story, but added a VR game as

a framing device. The man who would be the soldier, steps into the "game"

and meets Butterfly and the story proceeds as it should.

The woman playing Butterfly was so good.

Made me cry at the end.

After a devastatingly beautiful night at the opera, I walked back to

the hotel and had a great sleep in a super comfy bed.

I sometimes have trouble sleeping in hotel beds, but this

one was so comfortable. 

Will definitely consider staying here again.

But it was up early again Sunday morning, to catch the Amtrak back home.

Some in-room coffee to get me started.

Peaceful sips to get myself going.

The Picasso in Daley Plaza.

The Thursday before I left for Chicago, I was at a tattoo shop

in downtown Davenport, getting some new ink.

Love it.

Technically, tattoo number six, even if #2 and #3 are connected.

It is my third tattoo inspired by ancient Egyptian images.

This one is from a wall in the tomb of Ramses IX 

in the Valley of the Kings. Designed about 1120 BCE.

I had just done the scarab ritual in the Karnak Temple, so I had scarabs on the brain.

This image caught my imagination though, and in honor of the scarab, I wanted to

have this image on my skin.

Scarab and the protective eyes of Horus and Ra.

The tattoo artist did a good job of capturing the spirit of the image.

I didn't really want a photo-realistic version, so the lines were cleaned up a bit.

And it ended up being about half the quote she gave me for pricing.

It only took about an hour to finish.

It has been two weeks, so nearly time when I can go back to the pool.

I'll give it another week or so to heal, then get back to splashing.

You never really stop working on the house.

Decided it was time to tackle this corner of the closet.

Yes, I have way too many shoes, but they've been collected over

many years and I feel like I finally have what I want.

Gotta get rid of these boxes.

Broke them down and into the recycle bin they go.

Easy to put together rack.

Much better.

But, after some consideration, I found another small rack to complete it. 

I like this better. 

Some shoes and sandals are still in boxes, but they

are seasonal, and are boxed to keep dust free and neat looking.

Happy Easter!

storm clouds over the YMCA

Impressive.

I ended up driving into this to get home.

the killdeer birds are nesting in the parking lot again.

Got a message Friday morning to sub in Friday night with Identity Crisis.

Had a good night.

Let's rawk, bebe.

Trumpet players are goofy.

My StayPineapple robe was delivered.

It's perfect and comfy and I need to have more robe time.

My A clarinet got an overhaul.

I bought this instrument in 2008, according to the receipts in the case,

and it was one of the first things I bought on eBay.

I have used it over this time in different places, including a few musical pit orchestras.

But it hadn't seen a service bench for most of the time I've had it,

so, I figured it was due for some TLC.

New pads, adjusted, and keys cleaned up.

Plays much better, and now is ready to take on the woodwind quintet music

that calls for A clarinet.

Momster and Dad came up for lunch on Easter Sunday.

After lunch, we walked down by the riverfront and watched a barge go into

the lock. See the tugboat pushing it into place?

My peeps.

Also, my peeps.

I get some wacky flavors every year to taste test.

The flowers are coming up.

Some coffee samples at the YMCA.

Cookie Butter latte. Not too bad.

New coffee place must have opened.

African lunch. Got a fried plantain too. 

Tasty.

Cashed in my change jar, and got a fancy matcha drink as bonus.

Mango foam iced matcha latte.

With my own glass straw. So bougie.

ready for the orchestra concert.

It's spring, but still on the chilly side, so sweater weather.

Good program tonight.

The Bach double concerto is one I remember listening to a lot

in high school. Momster was taking violin lessons, and her teacher

had her learn some Bach, which somehow lead me to a recording

of this concerto, which I listened to quite often.

I know this piece well, is what I'm saying.

Then, after intermission, the Mahler Symphony No. 6.

What an amazing piece of music.

Great melodies and orchestration, with two blows of the Hammer of Fate!

Dreaming of greater adventures...