Feeling American…

8 02 2009

I’m in Springfield, IL currently – in town for Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and his bicentennial celebrations.  Lots of people in town for the festivities and word on the street is that President Obama is going to be laying a wreath at Lincoln’s tomb on his birthday.  It just so happens that I am sitting in a mobile museum exhibit right across from the Lincoln tomb. So we shall see if there are any presidential sightings. 

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Last night I ended up spontaneously going to the symphony.  The Springfield Symphony Orchestra was playing a tribute to Abraham Lincoln.  It was very good, and I even spotted my good old friend – the bass clarinet.  Oh how I miss those bass tones.  Anyway, I was feeling a little too American, what with being at Lincoln’s hometown and final resting place for his birthday and staying in the Abraham Lincoln Hotel, so, to the symphony, I wore green.  No red, white or blue for me!

One other thing before I head back to the exhibit – I forgot to tell all my stories about being in DC for the Inauguration.  No time for that now, but here are some photos of the big day!

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Where in the World?

6 10 2008

It has been a dizzy last 24 hours, but definitely a sneak peak as to the new path that my life has taken. 48 hours ago I thought that I would be heading off to Orlando Florida right now, thinking about how many autographs I would be getting from the characters at Disney World.  Instead, I have experienced 3 different states since then.  One call from the boss, and plans change drastically.

Sunday afternoon I enjoyed brunch at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel and took a stroll down the streets of Springfield, walking the steps of the old President Lincoln (who is celebrating his bicentennial next year), and touching famous landmarks, while sporting my new Oakley shades.

What does one do after brunch with Lincoln?  One goes to St. Louis, Missouri to take photos by the Arch and have dinner on a rooftop patio.  (I couldn’t wait, I took a bite of the creme brulee before I could get the camera out)

And what does one do after a candlelit dinner overlooking the “Gateway to the West”? You almost get on a flight to Chicago, when you’re supposed to be hopping on a flight to Detroit, Michigan to head back to the office to have conversations about a Pop Up Store for Jay Z’s clothing line and strategize on how to promote museum exhibits.

So now, I sit in a hotel room, watching Gossip Girl, thinking that I’ve only been in this new life for 3 weeks as of today, but already I have been called “the spice of Springfield”!


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First Things First

30 09 2008

Current Location: Chatham, Illinois

Where have the last 2 weeks gone?  Even though this is my first official post since crossing over that Windsor – Detroit border and waiting all of 45 minutes to become a ‘legal alien’ in the US of A, I have seen no less than 7 different states.  Mind you, I think I napped right through Indiana, but I say it still counts.

Rather than bore you with all of the minute details of my travels here are the highlights:

1.  I have discovered my new favorite chocolate bar:  Snicker’s Rocky Road, a delightful snack of almonds, caramel, marshmallow nougat all wrapped up in dark chocolate (Random truck stop in Illinois)

2.  The fastest way to get across a pool with 2 pieces of cardboard, a roll of duct tape, 2 paddles and 2 people is to build a big cardboard box (Tampa, FL)

3.  I found myself taking a replica of Queen Nefertiti to a local funeral home in Chatham, IL to repair a broken hand which was a casualty of travel (Chatham, IL

4.  During a pre-season game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadians, I sat up close and personal 5 rows to the ice to see a Red Wings player get carried off in a stretcher and a Canadians player practically lose an eye.  (Detroit, MI)

5.  I have now been introduced to the “Love Bug”.  No, it is not that warm and gooey feeling you get when you’re with that special someone, it is in fact the most annoying harmless bug that fuses together with a mate ‘bum to bum’.  The sad thing is, they live their entire life (30 days) fused together with a mate, but they die alone… (Tampa, FL)

And on that happy note…


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