Tag: independence day

Independence Day Salute Concert

Unlike some people (whose decision I respect), I didn’t treat this year’s Independence Day as a day of mourning, nor did I complain that our independence is taken away or compromised. Same way as always, I refuse to let Trump claim ownership over America, over our independence, and our way of living. Nobody can take it away, and I am ready to fight. Retrospectively, I should have planned this day differently, for example, by attending the Evanston 4th of July parade to support people who are doing it the right way. And possibly finding some legal fireworks around, because there were too many illegal ones, including the one in our courtyard! We will plan it better next year! This year, I am still recovering from the stress of the previous several months, so I hope I can be forgiven :).

I went to the Independence Day Salute concert in Millennium Park (I have a subscription again, and I had really nice seats). I took my mom to this concert; fortunately, this time, there was no rain in the middle of the concert (like two years ago), and she liked everything, and didn’t even complain about not understanding what Christopher Bell was saying. I consider it a success 🙂

July 4

My feelings towards Independence Day are now more complex than they used to be. i am not ready for the in-depth analysis yet, but let me just say that I can understand people who do not want to celebrate this day. It does not mean that I do not want to celebrate – I do, and this day means a lot to me.

We do not have any Independence Day parades in Rogers Park, and we do not have official fireworks (although I can hear the illegal ones right now, and very loud!). Instead, my guests and I went to Millennium Park’s Independence Day Salute concert. I got us close-up seats, and it was amazing! I have gone to this concert every year since I moved to Rogers Park, and I love how Christopher Bell conducts them! My guests liked it as well 🙂

I will try to add more pictures tomorrow when there will be something in the media

Another Crazy Week Weather

One thing is for sure – Independence Day was perfect weather-wise. My friends visited Chicago during the holiday week. They stayed in a hotel on the Near North, and I volunteered to give them a city tour on July 4 (having that most of the museums were closed anyway). It turned out that not only museums were closed! We could not get in neither Chicago Cultural Center, nor Rookery building Foye, nor Chicago Fine Arts Building.

Nevertheless, we had a great walk around the city in a perfect weather, and then I took then for the Brown Line Loop to see the city from the unique perspective, and then I we went to Rogers Park and I showed them how I live, and how close the lake is.

Although it was a perfect beach weather, the beach was so packed that I didn’t think I could find any pleasure and enjoyment being on the beach on in the water, co after I saw them off, I returned to catching up with life :).

Then, there was 90F on Wednesday followed by this horrible thunderstorm that started during the concert. I still can’t get over of how bad it was, and how quickly everything was flooded, and my mom had such a horrible experience (in addition, she could not sleep the night before that because of the illegal fireworks).

And then there was Thursday, when it was barely warm (lower 70-s), but since the lake was already warmed up, it was a beach weather, and it was such a fun to jump. in the waves!

Summer is the only time when I try to work from home one or two days a week to be able to have a lunch break ar the beach!

Another Weather Disaster!

Today was the second time I attended the “American Salute” concert, and the first time ever I paid for the seat to be close to the stage, to avoid the crowds, and to be protected from the elements. And it was the first time that the concert I attended was interrupted because of severe weather! Also, I took my mom to the concert, and she was miserable because her feet were completely wet, and we had to stand for almost 30 minutes (it was so bad I could not even think of walking to the street to get an Uber), the water was everywhere!…

… I am so disappointed! It started great!

Distancing on the Fourth

We had a small family gathering on the Fourth, primarily for my mom’s benefit as she was keeping asking when she will see everybody together again. That way, she could see all the boys, and I could treat them with some homemade food.

I had two major challenges: to cook everything myself, without any help from the kids (and I only had about two and a half hours), and how to serve the food in a safe way. Our traditional buffet-style won’t work these days. After all, everything turned out great, and Vlad approved all my preparations. I even had gloves to serve food, which had to be taken by hand.

The time I picked (5-30 PM) was perfect since the heat started to subside, and my deck is a summer-time haven that seldom gets any direct sun. Also, I have a huge umbrella, and I took outside my gym fan to add to the natural breeze.