No doctor appointments today. In fact, I have none until the end of the month.
This will be the third straight day in which I've taken all my meal by mouth. Hooray! I need to check my weight, but I can't imagine I've lost too much more. I may even have started to gain weight as I'm generally eating high-fat foods. Not today, though. This morning I had two eggs and half of a bagel with part buttered and part with cream cheese. At lunch time it was fried rice (leftovers) and a little butterkaese (cheese).
Went to Royal Oak Farm orchard with Tim, to pick up some Honeycrisp apples and walk around the gift shop. We didn't "U-Pick" - we'd not planned on doing so - and there was a tremendous line to get in to do so, so that was a good thing. The Honeycrisp we got "pre-picked" were picked that very morning, we were told, so nothing was really lost. (Nancy already had one and said it was delicious.)
Here's a link to its web site. The drive out to the orchard is relatively scenic, such as driving through the farm fields of northern Illinois is - with the trees starting to change color (and the soybeans turning yellow) - and a little bit of rolling in the hills. I think of it as stress relief. I have a few more comments below.
This orchard has a whole bunch of things to do, for adults and kids, and is well worth a trip. Here's a Google Maps link to its location - Link. (The orchard is at the top of the screen.) They have a restaurant, so you can go for their brunch (may be Saturday only). If you do, have the apple french toast - it's delicious!
Tim and I also went to von Bergen's farm stand, just outside of Hebron, IL (link), where I picked up some green peppers, peaches, a butternut squash and the afore-mentioned cheese. Then it was on to Michael's in McHenry for some paper onto which I'm going to print these "Rude Intrusion" blog entries and the story about my illness (from the first symptoms through what I hope to be a full recovery). I'm also going to paste in the cards I've received.
Tim and I didn't talk about anything in particular, but he didn't think my pragmatic attitude toward the Bears was right, as the game hadn't started and "you never know". While I fully agree with him - the game was just starting - the final score supports my skepticism: 29-7 Buccaneers. And it seem the Bears shot themselves in the foot several times to contribute to the loss. So it goes . . .
I know the Cubs won the World Series last year, so this poem doesn't hold a lot of water any more, so to speak, but have I posted it before? I don't remember if I did. It was written in 2000, for a creative writing class, and reflects my thoughts about Chicago Sports (the Cubs, in general, though I also pick on the Blackhawks) and influences from my father. I called it "To Chicago Sports" . . .
To Chicago Sports
‘Twas nineteen-sixty-nine and I,
A skinny boy of thirteen, who
With loved Chicago Cubs did die
A little bit (I did not cry)
But with them I was through!
In sixty-nine the Bears were bad
(I think they lost all games but one).
I remember talking to my dad
Who said he just could not be sad
For pro teams; no, he cared for none.
Old Notre Dame, that was his team
And in the Twenties, by wireless set
Knute Rockne built a football dream.
They’d never lose; they reigned supreme!
Those glory days he’d not forget.
Now thirty years have gone, and more
Will pass by faster than we know.
The Bulls have closed and locked the door
Having tried to even up the score
Of champs on high, to teams brought low.
But though the Bears won football’s crown,
The Cubs and Hawks have only tried.
We worry who’ll next let us down
But if you win, you’ll own this town
And keep the sports fan pacified.
Though seek we may, we won’t soon find.
How many times must Chicago hear
That musty phrase, that wicked line
That echoes back to each one’s mind
“Just Wait Until Next Year!”
Finally, a political comment.
I have been fortunate, in my life, in that I've gotten to see orchards, farmland, working farms (especially my grandfather's), farm animals and zoo animals, the wide-open plains of various states, small-town America, the suburbs of Chicago and more suburbs and cities than I can probably name. But I wonder - how many inner-city youth have had the same opportunity?
It is my belief that city children who may never see anything else should have the opportunity to see these same things. To understand that there is a wide world outside of the city, that they have options outside of staying in the city available to them if they simply study hard, stay in school, learn a trade or get a degree and open the world up to themselves.
The city of Harvard, Illinois, is, I see (from census data), 45% Hispanic now. It is only 0.7% Black (I am not inferring that I am only writing about Black inner city youth), but it must certainly be open to having a larger Black population if it is 45% Hispanic. Even so, it hosts Harvard Milk Days in June, with tours to working dairy farms, so it would be a great place to host trips for inner-city youth. And the train runs from downtown to Harvard.
In the same vein, Royal Oak Farm Orchard - a proudly Christian orchard - could also host groups of children to pick apples, ride their rides and generally learn about where their fresh food comes from. (As an aside, a Royal Oak employee told me that they gave away 92,000 pounds of apples to charity last year.)
Wouldn't this be a good start to helping these kids (and perhaps even their parents) see that there is more to life that what they experience in their daily lives? Am I wrong on this?
I'm actually thinking about sending this idea to mayor Emmanuel. Whaddya think? Am I right or wrong? Please feel free to e-Mail me on this at mark_dopita@yahoo.com, or use the e-Mail link on the blog.
Today's YouTube music video is for my wife Nancy. It's JoAnn Castle and the Lawrence Welk Orchestra playing You Are My Sunshine - Link.
For convenience sake, here a running list of all of the links I've posted to YouTube in the past many days:
And I Love Her, The Beatles - Link
Apollo 11 launch - Link
Ashokan Farewell, Jay Ungar - Link
Atmospheres, Gyorgy Ligeti - Link
Back In You Own Back Yard, Al Jolson - Link
Apollo 11 launch - Link
Ashokan Farewell, Jay Ungar - Link
Atmospheres, Gyorgy Ligeti - Link
Back In You Own Back Yard, Al Jolson - Link
The Battle Hymn Of The Republic, The United States Army Field Bank - Link
Because We've Ended As Lovers, Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather - Link
Blessings, Laura Story - Link
The Blue Skirt Waltz, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Brandy, Looking Glass - Link
Brotherhood of Man, Matthew Broderick and Lillias White - Link
By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Glen Campbell - Link
Chicago Bears fight song - Link
Chicago Blackhawks song - Link
Cold, Cold Heart,The Quebe Sisters - Link
Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd - Link
Cross Road Blues, Robert Johnson Link
Crossroads, Eric Clapton and Cream Link
Cry Me A River, Joe Cocker - Link
Cry Me A River, Diana Krall - Link
Dancing in the Moonlight, King Harvest - Link
Dixie - Link
A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request - Link, Steve Goodman
Eat It, Weird Al Yankovic - Link
Eclipse, Pink Floyd - Link
Evergreen, Barbra Streisand - Link
Galveston, Glen Campbell - Link
Gentle On My Mind, Glen Campbell - Link
Get Back, The Beatles - Link
Glen Campbell-hosted country music special - Link
Go, Cubs, Go, Steve Goodman - Link
Going For The One, Yes - Link
Groucho Movie Clips - Link
Heart Of The Heartland, Peter Ostroushko - Link
I'm Alright, Kenny Loggins - Link
I Love A Rainy Night, Eddie Rabbit - Link
I Love Being Here With You, Diana Krall - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman, from the movie Here Comes the Groom - Link
In Good Hands, Carolyn Arends - Link.
Invercargill, United States Air Force Concert Band - Link
Jailhouse Rock, The Blues Brothers - Link
Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression, Part 1, An International Collaboration - Link
Lay Down Sally, Vince Gill and a cast of All Stars - Link
Lazy River, Dave McKenna - Link
Let It Ride, BTO - Link
Limbo Jazz, Coleman Hawkins and Duke Ellington - Link
Living in the Past, Jethro Tull - Link
Lookin' At The World Through A Windshield, Bill Kirchen - Link
Montana/We Are Not Alone, Univ. of Montana Percussion Ensemble - Link
My Baby Loves Lovin', White Plains - Link
Because We've Ended As Lovers, Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather - Link
Blessings, Laura Story - Link
The Blue Skirt Waltz, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Brandy, Looking Glass - Link
Brotherhood of Man, Matthew Broderick and Lillias White - Link
By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Glen Campbell - Link
Chicago Bears fight song - Link
Chicago Blackhawks song - Link
Cold, Cold Heart,The Quebe Sisters - Link
Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd - Link
Cross Road Blues, Robert Johnson Link
Crossroads, Eric Clapton and Cream Link
Cry Me A River, Joe Cocker - Link
Cry Me A River, Diana Krall - Link
Dancing in the Moonlight, King Harvest - Link
Dixie - Link
A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request - Link, Steve Goodman
Eat It, Weird Al Yankovic - Link
Eclipse, Pink Floyd - Link
Evergreen, Barbra Streisand - Link
Galveston, Glen Campbell - Link
Gentle On My Mind, Glen Campbell - Link
Get Back, The Beatles - Link
Glen Campbell-hosted country music special - Link
Go, Cubs, Go, Steve Goodman - Link
Going For The One, Yes - Link
Groucho Movie Clips - Link
Heart Of The Heartland, Peter Ostroushko - Link
I'm Alright, Kenny Loggins - Link
I Love A Rainy Night, Eddie Rabbit - Link
I Love Being Here With You, Diana Krall - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman - Link
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening, Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman, from the movie Here Comes the Groom - Link
In Good Hands, Carolyn Arends - Link.
Invercargill, United States Air Force Concert Band - Link
Jailhouse Rock, The Blues Brothers - Link
Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression, Part 1, An International Collaboration - Link
Lay Down Sally, Vince Gill and a cast of All Stars - Link
Lazy River, Dave McKenna - Link
Let It Ride, BTO - Link
Limbo Jazz, Coleman Hawkins and Duke Ellington - Link
Living in the Past, Jethro Tull - Link
Lookin' At The World Through A Windshield, Bill Kirchen - Link
Montana/We Are Not Alone, Univ. of Montana Percussion Ensemble - Link
My Baby Loves Lovin', White Plains - Link
My Funny Valentine, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
My Funny Valentine, Miles Davis - Link
My New Philosophy, Kristin Chenoweth and Stanley Wayne Mathis - Link
No Time, The Guess Who - Link
On The Street Where You Live, Dean Martin - Link
One Is The Loneliest Number, Three Dog Night - Link
One More Last Chance, Vince Gill - Link
The Pennsylvania Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Popular, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Powdermilk Biscuit Break, Garrison Keillor, et al - Link
Questions 67 and 68, Chicago - Link
Rain, Uriah Heep - Link
Reaching, Carolyn Arends - Link
Redwing, Tiny Little, on the Ed Sullivan Show - Link
Rollin' Down The Highway, BTO - Link
Roly Poly, Don Kelley with Johnny Hiland - Link
Route 66, Asleep at The Wheel - Link
She Used To Be Mine, Sara Bareilles - Link
Shim, Sham, Shimmy (dance) to Tain't What You Do, Jimmy Lunceford - Link
Sisters, Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt - Link
Sisters, from White Christmas - Link
Sixteen Tons, Tennessee Ernie Ford - Link
Slang of Ages, Steely Day - Link
Slow Poke, Pee Wee King - Link
St Louis Blues, Stephanie Trick & Paolo Alderighi - Link
Standing at the Crossroads, Elmore James - Link
Stars and Stripes Forever, United States Marine Band - Link
Stuck In The Middle With You, Stealers Wheel - Link
Subdivisions, Rush - Link
Sweet Georgia Brown, Wynton Marsalis/Mark O'Connor - Link
Sweet Lorraine, Uriah Heep - Link
Take Me Out To The Ballgame, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Link
That's Jazz, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong & The All Stars - Link
Time, Pink Floyd - Link
Time to Blow, From That Thing You Do - Link
The Too Fat Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Buck Owens - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, the Don Kelley Band - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - Link
US National Anthem, US Marine Band - Link
Village of the Sun and Echidna's Arf (Of You), Frank Zappa - Link
War, Edwin Starr - Link
Yankee Doodle, The Marine Band - Link
You Are My Sunshine, JoAnn Castle and the Lawrence Welk Orchestra - Link
Your Love Is My Saving Grace, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Zappa Medly, George Duke - Link
My New Philosophy, Kristin Chenoweth and Stanley Wayne Mathis - Link
No Time, The Guess Who - Link
On The Street Where You Live, Dean Martin - Link
One Is The Loneliest Number, Three Dog Night - Link
One More Last Chance, Vince Gill - Link
The Pennsylvania Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Popular, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Powdermilk Biscuit Break, Garrison Keillor, et al - Link
Questions 67 and 68, Chicago - Link
Rain, Uriah Heep - Link
Reaching, Carolyn Arends - Link
Redwing, Tiny Little, on the Ed Sullivan Show - Link
Rollin' Down The Highway, BTO - Link
Roly Poly, Don Kelley with Johnny Hiland - Link
Route 66, Asleep at The Wheel - Link
She Used To Be Mine, Sara Bareilles - Link
Shim, Sham, Shimmy (dance) to Tain't What You Do, Jimmy Lunceford - Link
Sisters, Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt - Link
Sisters, from White Christmas - Link
Sixteen Tons, Tennessee Ernie Ford - Link
Slang of Ages, Steely Day - Link
Slow Poke, Pee Wee King - Link
St Louis Blues, Stephanie Trick & Paolo Alderighi - Link
Standing at the Crossroads, Elmore James - Link
Stars and Stripes Forever, United States Marine Band - Link
Stuck In The Middle With You, Stealers Wheel - Link
Subdivisions, Rush - Link
Sweet Georgia Brown, Wynton Marsalis/Mark O'Connor - Link
Sweet Lorraine, Uriah Heep - Link
Take Me Out To The Ballgame, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Link
That's Jazz, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong & The All Stars - Link
Time, Pink Floyd - Link
Time to Blow, From That Thing You Do - Link
The Too Fat Polka, Frankie Yankovic - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Buck Owens - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, the Don Kelley Band - Link
Truck Drivin' Man, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - Link
US National Anthem, US Marine Band - Link
Village of the Sun and Echidna's Arf (Of You), Frank Zappa - Link
War, Edwin Starr - Link
Yankee Doodle, The Marine Band - Link
You Are My Sunshine, JoAnn Castle and the Lawrence Welk Orchestra - Link
Your Love Is My Saving Grace, Kristin Chenoweth - Link
Zappa Medly, George Duke - Link
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