Showing posts with label pool. Show all posts

Sunday, November 20, 2016

HELLO WINTER!

On Friday, the temperature in Chicago was hovering around 65°F and I was able to get out and take an urban hike with a long sleeved shirt and a pair of shorts. When I woke up yesterday, on Saturday morning the temperatures had dropped to near-freezing. It was not until 2:00PM when I decided to get outdoors and take a walk. At that time, the temperature had warmed up to 38°F with the promise of reaching a high of one degree warmer before plateauing at that level. With 20mph winds whipping through the city, it felt closer to 28°F (so said my weather app) Still, even with the colder weather, I am still bouncing around, giddy with all the good news emanating from Trump headquarters either in New York City or somewhere in New Jersey this weekend. I had high hopes that Donald Trump would select conservatives to fill important government posts and I have not been disappointed. This guy, Donald Trump, the Presdent-Elect, has exceeded my expectations time and time again. It has simply been difficult to keep my feet firmly on the ground as I digest the daily news.

I embarked on my Saturday afternoon hike wearing three additional layers of clothing, but I stripped down to take some photos by the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool on Fullerton Avenue.

Sure, I know that my hat looks a big goofy...but it does keep my bald head nice and warm....

I am a simple man with simple tastes. I can eat the same meal day after day if I like something. As proof, I remind my regular readers (if I have any...) that I ate every day at McDonald's and/or Burger King for years and years. Those particular restaurants are no longer interesting to me and I have not eaten a meal in either one in approximately two years. For the record, I do not feel particularly deprived. These days, I have found new places to eat, over and over again, albeit a bit more healthily. So, in my world, it is big news when I 'discover' a new place to eat as I did last night. My family went out for an evening walk, and it was my idea to walk the side streets off Michigan Avenue to see what we might find. We found Misoya. The complete full name of this restaurant is: RAMEN MISOYA CHICAGO DOWNTOWN. The name may not be catchy, but their signature meal, ramen... was delicious. This photo of the front door was lifted from their website.

As we approached this restaurant we saw a few people standing outside the small bright orange vestibule, with nearly 15 more people crammed inside the vestibule. For some reason, we decided to wait it out. It was worth it. It is so much fun to discover a new 'favorite' restaurant as we did last night. I ordered the KIN MISO RAMEN with Cha-Shu and added Naruto as a topping. ($13.50)

My dinner last night.... KIN MISO RAMEN w/Cha-She & Naruto

From the the Misoya.net website, I found this...

According to this MISO can remove freckles? I remain skeptical about that one...

These were the conditions in Chicago when I stepped outside for my urban hike. I live in

Chicago, there will be plenty of days in the upcoming months that will make this seem like

a heatwave.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Essential - Butter Flavored Grits	500	105	5	10	1,700	5
Ritz - Fudge Covered Crackers	200	29	10	1	200	16
CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA	500	83	15	10	125	31
	1,200	217	30	21	2,025	52
L U N C H
Homemade - Enchilladas	700	76	16	62	1,680	0
	700	76	16	62	1,680	0
D I N N E R
MISOYA KIN MISO Ramen Bowl	700	107	10	57	1,648	0
Mint Chocolate Chip Gelato	200	27	8	4	65	24
	900	134	18	61	1,713	24
S N A C K S
Gin Gins Chewy Ginger	120	30	0	0	0	30
Dark Chocolate Coconut Chews	650	65	46	7	81	42
	770	95	46	7	81	72

Totals	3,570	522	110	151	5,499	148
Your Daily Goal	4,599	575	153	230	2,300	172
Remaining	1,029	53	43	79	-3,199	24
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,669 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today... You'd weigh 203.8 lbs in 5 weeks.

Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
ELEVEN MILE URBAN HIKE	160	1,960
FIVE MILE EVENING STROLL	68	953


Daily Total / Goal	228 / 30	2,913 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1021 / 210	11,935 / 4,130

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, also known as Lincoln Park Lily Pool, is an example of Prairie School landscape architecture designed by Alfred Caldwell and located at 125 W. Fullerton Parkway (between Stockton and Cannon Drives) in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois. It was designated a Chicago Landmark on November 6, 2002. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as a National Historic Landmark on February 17, 2006

Sunday, July 17, 2016

POKÉMON GO

Have you heard about this new game called Pokémon Go? It seems to me that about half the country in America is already playing this new game. And the half that isn't playing now, will likely be playing soon. I know why I hadn't heard about this game until just recently - it was only released this very month on the 5th of July. I took a walk with my daughter yesterday around Chicago and at her urging I downloaded the game. I am glad to have a rudimentary idea about what this is all about - but I think I may be impervious to its charms.

Pokémon Go is a free-to-play location-based augmented reality mobile gamedeveloped by Niantic and published by The Pokémon Company. It was released in July 2016 for iOS and Android devices.

The game allows players to capture, battle, and train virtual creatures, called Pokémon, who appear on device screens as though in the real world. It makes use of GPS and the camera of compatible devices. (wikipedia)

This was an edited screen shot from the game...I thought this was a mildly amusing photo.

The weather in Chicago yesterday was spectacular: temperature in the eighties, low humidity, under a deep blue, cloudless sky. My daughter and I took a walk that was not completed until we had logged 8 miles. Among her rewards were a visit to a boutique Donut Shop and for some reason she decided that she wanted to taste a Big Mac. I have not eaten at a McDonalds for the past 18 months. Although I reminded my daughter that a Big Mac was not exactly health food - I allowed her to order one and bring it home to eat. This photo shows her biting into her first Big Mac ever. As long as it does not become an addiction like it did for me - I think that she will survive the experience. I am certain that my dinner was far more healthy. My wife prepared a delicious homemade lasagna.

My daughter taking her first taste of a McDonald's Big Mac
(As long as this does not lead to an addiction that afflicted me, I think that she should survive the experience)

On a walk with my daughter, I was not walking at my normal speedy(4.3 mph) pace. This walk was about shared time together. It is a wonderful thing that my daughter, at least somewhat, enjoys our long urban hikes.

I made time for a quick 97 minute session on the elliptical machine after dinner.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
HOUSE RECIPE - OATMEAL	500	90	8	20	400	5
	500	90	8	20	400	5
L U N C H
Read 4 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Corn Thins Organic	575	100	0	13	325	0
	875	165	0	18	1,825	40
D I N N E R
Homemade - Lasagna	800	53	25	40	1,053	21
Sirloin Burger Country Vegetables	260	34	8	14	1,580	6
	1,060	87	33	54	2,633	27
S N A C K S
DARK CHOCOLATE GINGER	300	51	12	2	9	44
Nestle 100 Grand - Candy Bar	190	30	8	1	90	22
	490	81	20	3	99	66

Totals	2,925	423	61	95	4,957	138
Your Daily Goal	3,899	487	130	195	2,300	146
Remaining	974	64	69	100	-2,657	8
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,969 extra calories from exercise today

Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking	146	1,249
STAR TRAC ELLIPTICAL	97	998


Daily Total / Goal	243 / 30	2,247 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1489 / 210	14,045 / 4,130

One of the 'stops' on our 8 mile urban hike today was the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool. We visited this specific ledge that my daughter stood under many times over the years. Fast forward ten years to yesterday. Same Park, same rocks, same girl, different appearance.

circa 2006 (my daughter could stand straight under this ledge)

circa 2007 (at this age, my daughter could no longer stand under this ledge)

circa yesterday (It is hard for me to believe that this girl was once able to stand straight under this ledge)

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, also known as Lincoln Park Lily Pool, is an example of Prairie School landscape architecture designed by Alfred Caldwell and located at 125 W. Fullerton Parkway (between Stockton and Cannon Drives) in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois. It was designated a Chicago Landmark on November 6, 2002. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as a National Historic Landmark on February 17, 2006. (wikipedia)
.

with William Shakespeare, circa 2007

with William Shakespeare, circa yesterday

This statue of a seated William Shakespeare, designed by William Ordway Partridge, has been around for quite a while. It was unveiled in Lincoln Park, Chicago in 1894.
.
William Shakespeare..
by William Ordway Partridge [1861-1930]
Installed: 1894
Location: Lincoln Park: Grandmother's Garden..
On the base is inscribed Shakespeare's words from Hamlet..
What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty!
On the opposite side is Samuel T. Coleridge's words..
he was not for an age but for all time, our myriad- minded Shakespeare....

. . . . . . .

one final (and wildly obscure) note about Pokémon Go...
The way that this game appears to be taking over America...
...reminds me of a specific episode from Star Trek The Next Generation that aired back in 1991.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)

7.4/10

1,115

The Game

Thursday, May 26, 2016

SUPERDAWG®

Earlier during this academic school year, our daughter with 23 other classmates, made a trip to France and each stayed in the home of a family in Paris. Each of the 24 students from Lincoln Park Elementary School stayed in various homes sprinkled around a Paris neighborhood. This week it is time for the American families to return the favor. We have hosted a delightful young woman since last Friday (although I only met her on Monday when I returned home from Salt Lake City) During the school day when my daughter Sara is studying at school, the visitors from Paris have been checking out some of the more expected sights in Chicago. Our job is to give the visitors a taste of Chicago that they might not get from that experience. We decided that an iconic hot dog stand that has been a beacon to hot dog lovers since 1948 might be a worthwhile place to visit. Since I do not feel comfortable posting photos of someone else's child without their parents' permission, I don't have a photo of my daughter with her 'correspondant' (as they are referred to by her French teacher) I hope that our guest enjoyed this particular trip off the beaten path. At the very least, I know I did - and I must admit I cannot remember the last time I visited this iconic Chicago landmark.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar - Oats'n Honey	190	29	7	3	180	11
Egg, whole, cooked, poached, 3 large	215	1	14	19	446	1
Bacon Style Turkey, 4 slices	140	2	12	8	600	0
Red Delicious Apple, 2 medium apple (170g)	190	50	1	1	4	38
	735	82	34	31	1,229	49
L U N C H
SUBWAY FOOTLONG FRESH FIT - 9-GRAIN WHEAT BREAD ROAST BEEF (no cheese) MUSTARD, 1 FOOTLONG	640	90	10	48	1,400	14
Apples - Apples, 2 medium apple	160	44	0	0	0	32
Kellogs - Nutrigrain Bar - Strawberry, 1 Bar	130	25	4	2	117	12
	930	159	14	50	1,517	58
D I N N E R
Superdawg - Hot Dog W/Fries, 1 Serving	690	71	43	19	1,640	0
	690	71	43	19	1,640	0



Totals	2,355	312	90	99	4,386	107
Your Daily Goal	2,705	338	90	136	2,300	101
Remaining	350	25	0	36	-2,086	-6
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 775 extra calories from exercise today

Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MATRIX TREADMILL	99	899
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-124


Daily Total / Goal	100 / 30	775 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	266 / 210	2,895 / 4,130

.
THIS WAS LIFTED DIRECTLY FROM superdawg.com

In May of 1948, Superdawg® was established at the corner of Milwaukee, Devon and Nagle in Chicago. Superdawg® continues to be family owned and operated in the same location today.

Maurie Berman, a recently returned G.I. from World War II, married his high school sweetheart Florence (Flaurie), in August of 1947. Maurie was attending Northwestern University, studying to be a CPA, while recent Northwestern grad Flaurie was teaching in the Chicago Public Schools. With their "school-year" schedules, the newlyweds wanted to open a business that they could operate during the summer months. Many other returning G.I.'s were opening roadside hot dog carts and Maurie and Flaurie decided to open their own roadside hot dog stand, one that would be as unique and distinctive as they were.

Maurie designed an architecturally distinct, 20' x 12' building topped with two 12 foot hot dog icons to beckon hungry passersby with their winking and blinking eyes. Maurie and Flaurie then created a proprietary, secret recipe to set themselves apart from the other hot dog stands popping up around the city. With a distinctive look and delicious recipe, they were almost ready to open. All they needed was a name. Inspired by the superheroes featured in the newly-created, popular comics of the '40's, Maurie and Flaurie named their signature product and restaurant. It was not a wiener — not a frankfurter — not a red hot — but their own exclusive SUPERDAWG™.

In 1948, Milwaukee and Devon was the end of the streetcar line. With the forest preserve and Whealan Pool across the street, the area was a great destination for swimming families and cruisin' teens. Kids could ride the streetcar for a nickel, and stop at Superdawg® where a Superdawg™ sandwich and drink cost only 32 cents. Many times, on their way home, they would stop and ask what they could buy for a dime. If they were a few cents short, Maurie and Flaurie would give them what they wanted and told them to bring the money back the next time they stopped, which they never failed to do.
In 1950 Maurie passed the CPA exam, but he and Flaurie decided to keep operating Superdawg® and to open year-round in order to retain the outstanding personnel that had become so invaluable to fulfilling the Superdawg® ideals. When Superdawg® first opened, the electronic speaker system had not been invented. Carhops went out to the cars to take orders and customers signaled that they were ready for their trays to be picked up by turning on their headlights. In the early 1950's the "carhop in a wire" electronic speaker system was installed, and Maurie designed the glowing blue "control tower" where the carhop sits to answer the switchboard and take orders. As Superdawg® grew into a successful business, Maurie and Flaurie found time to raise their family of three children (although not on Whoopercheesies® alone).

Throughout the years, small changes have been made to the menu, like the addition of the Whoopskidawg® in 1989 and the Superchic™ in 1991. However, the Superdawg™ recipe, the original trademark figures (continuing to flirtatiously wink at each other), and the drive-in concept have not changed. Customers can still order from their car and have a carhop deliver their order on a tray. Maurie and Flaurie's attention to quality products and service, preparing each customer's meal to order, affirming the belief that the customer is always right, and insisting that the customer should always be treated as family continues today.

In 1999, Superdawg® underwent a makeover while retaining the original building and spirit. The classic '40's drive-in was updated with the addition of neon-studded canopies across the parking lot, a crisp new speaker system and a cozy, indoor dining room. The original rooftop figures were refurbished so that they can continue to serve as a Chicago landmark for years to come.

In May of 2009 ground was broken for a second location 11 miles north on Milwaukee Avenue in Wheeling, IL. Every effort was taken to recreate the look and feel of the Milwaukee and Devon location. The blue tower, the canopies on the parking lot along with the ordering speakers, the neon and diamonds along the building and canopies, the tile inside and most importantly, the trademark Maurie and Flaurie figures on the roof all were painstakingly incorporated into the plans. Much of the equipment was custom built as well. Over the next six months, anticipation grew for a new Superdawg to open. In January, 2010, Maurie, Flaurie and the rest of the family were proud to say, "HIYA!!...From the bottom of our pure beef hearts, Thanks for stopping" in Wheeling.
Since 1948, Maurie, Flaurie, their children and grandchildren have scrupulously adhered to one goal: "always to serve you in a manner that will make you want to return – and bring your friends, and new generations, with you".

From the bottom of our pure beef hearts... THANKS FOR STOPPING®.