Oh Christmas Tree

Posted on 22/12/2009 by Grumpa Joe

     Which is my favorite tree this year? Once you see what I am talking about you will understand why I selected the one I did. Every year for the past ten years I have taken my grandchildren to see the big trees in Chicago. The first one is always the Marshall Field’s (Macy’s) tree in the Walnut Room. We ooh and ahh about the beauty of the thing, have breakfast, take pictures, tour the store, and then view the windows on State Street.

     I thought the last two Macy’s trees were outstanding, one done by Martha Stewart, and the other by Tommy Hilfigger. This year, the Macy’s designers did the tree themselves. In my opinion, Martha and Tommy should hang it up. Macy’s outdid themselves with a stunning design that makes previous year’s pale in comparison.

Macy’s theme ornamented the tree with four words, “Dream, Imagine, Believe, Wish.” 

     A short walk west, and we arrived at the Daley Plaza to visit the Kris Kindle Market and the Chicago Christmas tree.

     It drizzled the whole time, but our Christmas spirit was not dampened. Usually, the Chicago tree is a huge live-artificial tree. It is constructed on site by inserting dozens of cut trees into steel tubes on the steel stem. When it is completed it is outstanding. This year, the Mayor insisted on a cut tree. It is a fifty five foot tall spruce, cut from a yard within the city. Are you missing a tree? If so, you can view it in the Daley Plaza. It is adorned with red, white, and green LED lights.  The Santa House is still there, but the G-scale train layout gave way to more market space.

     The market which is a German tradition and filled with vendors from Germany has given way to new vendors from South America. Somehow, the market just wasn’t the same. 

     My grand daughters love to chase the pigeons from the eternal flame, but this year, they were mysteriously missing. What? No pigeons in downtown Chicago? Whose idea was that?

      Our next journey was a short walk to Michigan Avenue to pay respect to the “Bean.” It’s real title is Cloud Scape, but no one calls it that. Because of the clouds, and the drizzle the reflections were surreal.

     We parked under the Bean, and retrieved the car with a mere twenty-six dollar parking fee. I think the Mayor taught the president everything he knows about how to steal from tax payers. I digress.

    The slushy ride home brought me to the next cheery Christmas tree, the one decorated by Peggy. Next to Macy’s I like it best, but it is still not the winner of my “Best Christmas Tree” contest.

The winner is the one created by my beautiful little grandaughter Jenna Rose. She crafted a card with love and addressed it directly to me. She knows me all too well; here it is. . .

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Grumpa Joe

Filed under: Birds, family, Memories, Travel, Warm and Fuzzy | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Unamerican, You Call Me Unamercian?

Posted on 10/08/2009 by Grumpa Joe
My Flag Flies Everyday

My Flag Flies Everyday

That’s the last straw. I have been tolerant of democrats even though I do not believe in their liberal BS.  Now, however, they  have gone too far by calling protesters unamerican. It seems to me that the only unamericans are the ones calling us unamericans. Have they not read the Constitution or the Bill of Rights either? Do you even know who you work for? . Do you care? I don’t think so. Who signs your check? It certainly isn’t POTUS.

If our our representatives really cared for their constituents they would listen to what we have to say.  I know it is hard to sit patiently, and listen to a bunch of angry people holler at you, but did you ever think they are hollering because you have put your own agenda before those of the people?

Why is it so important for you to follow POTUS’s  directions so blindly? He has only one vote to give you, just like the rest of us. Or, does he have something else you need that makes you so blind?  Is POTUS so omnipotent, and all wise, that you must bow, and cow tow to his whims? He has less experience in this life than you do, and I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt.

Yes, I am unamerican because I still believe in this country. I never thought we needed change we can believe in.  I do not  believe I need hope for a country that is damn near perfect with all of its flaws intact. I believe in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the way they were written by the founders. I believe in fiscal conservatism. I believe it is a place where all can have equal opportunity, including legal immigrants. Yes, I believe all those things, so Mr. Democratic Congressman, call me unamerican.

You know what else I believe in?  I believe that you will lose my vote. I believe that you have instilled within me a fire to oppose you with every dyne of energy this old body can muster.

Yes, you, my name calling unamerican American, are the source of all problems in this beautiful country. The world will become a much better place without you.

Filed under: Conservative, conservatives, economy, Election, family, Government, liberals, Motivation, politics, Society, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Picture it!

Posted on 03/04/2008 by Grumpa Joe

See it clearly in your mind. Think in color and exact details. Make mental image of your goal, then make a physical image. Create a collage of your vision. Use photos from the net, magazines, wherever you can scrounge them. Paste them together into the vision you are trying to achieve. Place the picture on your mirror so you can see it first thing every morning. Make a copy of the dream for your pc. Put it next to the screen where you can see it all day long. Whatever the goal is, a car, house, vacation, job, picture it in your mind.

Visioning is a powerful tool. Many men have advised that

 “If you can see it, and believe it, you can have it.” I have used mental visioning many times very successfully. In my career, I used visioning when I had to make a presentation before the CEO and the president of the company. I saw myself giving my report in a confident, knowledgeable way. I rehearsed the report over viand over again in my mind. I could see myself overwhelming these powerful leaders with my confidence.  When the time came to report, I was prepared, nervous, but prepared. Each time , I received kudos from the CEO and the president.

In my private life, I see my goals clearly and keep them in front of me all the time. As the goal becomes more and more clear, the reality of achievement steps in and the vision of accomplishment takes over to finish.

You too should use visioning to “see” your goals. “See” the benefits you will receive after you complete the goal successfully. In other words, “PICTURE IT!”

Filed under: Motivation | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »