Exercising with Urban Line Dancing: See You On the Wood

The year rolls on and I’m continuing my weight loss efforts. Controlling my food intake, watching my portions and following healthy eating guidelines are important to my success. But, all serious weight loss efforts include exercise. Over the past several years my exercise of choice was aqua aerobics, but recently thanks to my youngest daughter, I’ve developed an interest in urban line dancing. It’s fun, easy, and supports my efforts to “move more”.

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The Millennials: Understanding "Generation Me"

I know that I'm old and I accept that. Luckily, I have a family that is very close, who work and play together, and who lead me to look at things in a variety of ways. In addition to family input, I thank God for the Internet which allows me to research and better understand many things including this younger generation. As my family makes great effort to get our youngest member through high school and on to college and to launch our twenty-somethings into the work place, I share these thoughts with them and with you.

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41 Years in Solitary Confinement: Prisoner Found Innocent

Herman Wallace, a 71-year-old Louisiana prisoner who spent 41 years in solitary confinement and is now dying of cancer was released late Tuesday from prison, his attorneys said. Late Tuesday, U.S. District Chief Judge Brian Jackson in Baton Rouge denied the state's motion seeking to block his earlier order overturning Herman Wallace's 1974 murder conviction in the death of Angola guard Brent Miller. Jackson had also ordered a new trial because women were unconstitutionally excluded from the grand jury that indicted Wallace in the guard's death. And, he ordered him immediately released.

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What's Your Brand of Fatigue?

You hear yourself constantly saying, "I'm tired." You feel overworked, chronically fatigued, harried and stressed. Well, you aren't alone. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention tells us that nearly a third of all Americans are sleep deprived. If you have a case of the "yawns", it doesn't mean that you're not getting enough rest. To sort it all out, you have to identify your band of fatigue.

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Memories of Summertime Fun in Chicago

As a transplant from Chicago to Las Vegas, I seem to miss the Windy City the most in the summer. Don't get me wrong-I love Las Vegas, but I have so many memories of Chicago through the years from childhood to becoming an adult. Then I got to relive fun in the summer with my children and grandchildren. Let’s walk and take a nostalgic tour of places and events that reflect memories of my summertime fun in Chicago. 

My first stop is Riverview Park, 74 acres of fun located along the Chicago River. Riverview opened in 1904 with three attractions-a small roller coaster, a carousel and shoot-the-chute. I'll never forget the frightening rides on the Bobs, a lightening fast roller coaster. And one of the few memories of my father is taking a twirl with him on the gigantic Ferris Wheel at Riverview Park. I won't forget the cotton candy and pop corn or the crazy antics of my friends. When the park closed on Sept. 1, 1967, it offered 120 rides, including six roller coasters, a parachute jump and rockets. Fun-filled days at Riverview are something that we still talk about and enjoy.

 

Gladys Luncheonette, the next stop on our tour, is “one of the most popular "soul food" restaurants in the Midwest It was known for its delicious fried chicken, smothered pork chops, peach cobbler, and other down home, southern delicacies”. The "melt-in-your-mouth" biscuits were a meal in themselves. While a list of famous folks dined at Gladys’, many of my family members and friends spent an afternoon or evening enjoying the food and fellowship that this special location offered.

 

When speaking of food, who can forget the Taste of Chicago, the city’s premier outdoor food festival showcasing the diversity of Chicago's dining community. Deep dish pizza, Vienna hot dogs, Carson's Ribs and don't forget the cheesecake- Taste of Chicago has an array of culinary delights, all located in one place. This year’s event was the 33^rd annual offering and 1.5 million people attended. Wish I’d been there.

 

 



Our final stop is at the Bud Billiken Parade. This Chicago tradition started in 1929 when Chicago Defender newspaper founder Robert S. Abbott arranged an outing at a South Side park for youth who sold his newspaper. The name, Bud Billiken, was inspired by a figurine that Abbott kept on his desk. This year marked the 84^Th annual parade which featured bands, drill teams, floats, dance teams and car clubs. Notable celebrities were actively involved in the festivities. At the end of the parade route, there was a picnic with entertainment, food and music. I always remember the strutting majorettes and first class marching bands of days gone by. No one ever did a better dance step in the parade than my granddaughter and no family ever had more pride in a performance than we had in hers.

Well. I hope you enjoyed my mini-tour of Chicago fun spots. Just remember that many of us share these wonderful memories and we can create new ones as we celebrate our Chicago roots through our collective memories.

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