Art's Their Craft

When we first arrived in Naperville I would spend my time walking around downtown enjoying the art works on display. What I didn't know then was that they were part of the Century Art Walk, an ambitious project which initially told the history of the town. What I also didn't know was that a couple of years later I would know the President of the entire venture, Brand Bobosky and several board members. Nor did I know that I would get to know Jini Leeds Clare who has just written a book about the first 36 pieces.
Last night we went along to NCC's Wentz Concert Hall to celebrate the launch of the book. Eighteen of the artists were present and everyone there scuttled from one table to another getting the appropriate pages of their books signed. It reminded me of a parent teacher evening, or an attempt to break the world record in how many times you could have one book signed by different people.
Another difference between now and if I had attended such an event early on in our time here was that I knew so many people, on both sides of the book signing tables.
Here's Jini Leeds Clare signing my book. Interestingly it comes in three color choices, but it wasn't hard to choose when one of them is my favourite colour.
Christine Rojek is responsible for Parting the Prairie, the fun piece outside the DuPage Children's Museum.
Marianne Lisson Kuhn, the local artist who specializes in tiny details, has produced two of the city's murals.
Always a pleasure to catch up with Dick Locher. His statue of Dick Tracy was up to his knees in water recently due to flooding, but he assures me he can take it. Mr Locher is a true gentlemen and has to be my most favourite interviewee to date.

Another of my favourite statues is of Genevieve Towsley, who sits outside Barnes and Noble. She was well loved in town as a Naperville Sun columnist many years ago. Here I am with sculptress Pam Carpenter. She told me Genevieve originally wore glasses, but they were taken by cheeky kids and she never replaced them in case taking them became a local sport! All I can say is I hope she can still read the notebook she carries without them....
Don't worry if you didn't get to the book signing last night. Century Walk: Art Imitating History is on sale at Anderson's book store and the Naper Settlement.

Moving Forward

Thank you to all of you who have made some suggestions over the past few days. I've sifted through and this is what I think I should do if I want to keep everyone happy:

1. I will plaster every post on my facebook friends’ walls so they don’t have to make that extra click to read them.
2. I’ll go on more trips dressed as a witch. BTW for those of you interested in my travel writing, don't forget my previous blog Around the World in 31 Days is still out there.
   
3. I’ll compile another adventure series in which Rod Blagojevich joins Lindsay Lohan in prison where they spend an entire year cooking recipes from Julia Childs’ cookbook.
4. I’ll then print the stories off and read them to 6^th graders as punishment for not doing their homework.
5. I’ll turn the whole thing into an online magazine with a photo of Grumpy in his pyjamas on the front cover, only he doesn’t wear them….
6. I’ll open a chat room where you can all say how wonderful I am.
7. Sorry, but I can’t discuss my walk across England, because this is living the American Dream, silly.

Keep the ideas coming and I will work on a new way forward. In the meantime, only 44 posts til the big 1,000.

Tied To His Desk!

In an old tradition, Grumpy's colleagues sabotaged his desk for his birthday....
..but made up for it by providing him with a great lunch and another birthday cake.
What I want to know is this..how come his co-workers have beautiful photos of their wives and children on display in their cubicles, while Grumpy has one of me dressed as a witch?!

Over To You

Following yesterday's posting I was delighted to see my handful of regular readers have come out in support of my continuing the blog. But I'm afraid that's not good enough. Here's what I'd like you, and any one else stumbling over me on the Internet to do. Please leave a comment about how you'd like to see the blog continuing. I want to make it more interactive. Tell me what you like about it and what else you'd like to see. Would you like me to expand what I write to life beyond Naperville (is there such a thing?) Do you want more photos? Video clips? Huge prizes for loyal readers (that's a joke, so don't bother. I may not be too proud to grovel, but I'm not bribing people to read it!) Is there anyone out there who doesn't live in the U.S? Why do you check in? What would make you check in more?
I'll read all your comments, then with your permission compile a posting of your ideas (with full colour photos of you if that's what it takes) and we'll see what happens.

The Writing's on the Wall..

Regular readers may have noticed I've been blogging less often recently. If you haven't noticed its because you're not a regular reader and that brings me to my first point. After more than three years I'm getting far less readers and I think I've identified a few reasons why.
1. The novelty (for you, not me) has worn off. Initially I started this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world. We're now becoming so removed that I don't think they feel the need to check in so often. Although to those of us who live here, Naperville's a great place, it's hardly the center of the universe to outsiders.
2. The blog then took on a life of its own. Naperville turned into an almost mythical place. I turned everyone I met into a 'character' to preserve their anonymity to some extend and to protect me from law suits. I felt almost like a puppet master and took great pleasure at looking at mid Western suburbia from a unique view point...but..
3. I then started to become known in town myself. Initially I blogged because as a writer I have an insatiable urge to be heard. I write for local publications and consequently started to mix with Naperville's movers and shakers. I have quite a few fans and although I may get less readers here than I would like, it's public so I never know who will check it out. So far it's all been great feedback, but the more entrenched I become the more concerned I am about upsetting someone. For that reason I've imposed a censorship on myself that would infuriate me if an editor did it.
4. And that really is the main point. I'm no longer an outsider. At this year's barbecue guests included councilmen, the executive director of the library, a former Rotarian president and representatives of the local food pantry. Grumpy and I are pillars of the community. We've been embraced like long lost children and taken under the town's wings because we've learnt the rules. Naperville society works like this. You help other people and they will help you. If I want to fill our yard with guests because I get lonely and want Grumpy to enjoy the barbecue tradition he started some 20 years ago, I have to do more than just ask people to come over. Help others by doing something like holding a mini food drive and they'll come flocking, so everyone wins.
Of course the blog has had unexpected bonuses. It brought over a complete stranger from Dubai with her family who has now become a close friend and who is also enjoying the American Dream.
I had intended to keep blogging until our green card arrived, which at the way its going will be sometime in 2050! If nothing else its a way of diary keeping material for the book I'll start when my work permit is no longer renewable in January 2012. That's when my local fame will be over and I'll have to resort to other methods to be heard because I won't be allowed to write for a living.
So the countdown is on. I have about 50 entries before I get to my 1,000th, which seems like a good place to stop. After that, you'll have to find me on facebook or hopefully on the shelves of a bookshop.

Birthday Bash

So hopefully you've seen just a few of the photos from this year's party for Grumpy's birthday. If you're really interested you can look back to July from our previous year's here and see how the party has grown. This year we had 135 people and fulfilled a dream by having the Mayor attend. We had a new live band and a magician. We asked all our guests to bring donations of food to Loaves and Fishes, our local food pantry and gave a staggering 763 lbs of food.

Birthday Barbecue Photos

Here we are with our guest of honour, Naperville's Mayor George Pradel.

Spike may not be too handy as a baker, but he can sure come up with a great photo for Grumpy's birthday cake every year. Here he is as a Blackhawks team member with the Stanley Cup.
Having forgotten to invite any fire fighters, so we decided to ditch the other 50 candles.....
Some like it hot...and for once even Grumpy was happy, but you can't keep a good dwarf down.
When you have 135 guests, you need a little food to keep them going.

This year's band - 2 Groove.
The party went on for so long, some people decided to camp out.
Donna Dreizdic, executive director of Naperville libraries, is delighted not to be 'shushed' for once.
Celebrating their first anniversary in Naperville, Geordie Sue and the family.
Ding, ding - it's Naperville Trolley chick Annette Wehrli and her son Joe.
Joe comes disguised as a great explorer...
which wasn't really necessary because we already had a Hunter.
Serendipity brought along her pet parrot Monty. She has an homage to him tattooed on her leg. If you look really, really, carefully, you can just make out a tattoo of her on his leg......

Bachelorette Party

Scene:
Hilary the Bachelorette is standing in a wooded glade otherwise known as her backyard.
She has a basket of wilted red rose heads beside her.
Grumpy: You know those roses would still be fresh if you could only make your mind up!
Hilary: Tossing her long blond hair coquettishly Just be patient, will you. I'm facing a very difficult decision. I'm not giving these wilted roses to just anyone you know. I can only select 120 people to be guests at our annual party.
Grumpy: If you don't get a move on the party will be over. Why you can't just send out an Evite like everyone else, I don't know.
Hilary: Ok, I'm ready.Mr Mayor, will you accept this rose?
Mayor Pradel: Stepping forward, he shouts: Citizens of Naperville, I'd like to accept this rose on behalf of all the little people. This is the best city in the world and...
Grumpy: It's ok, you save that for Sunday. Just take the rose and get going. Shouldn't you be at a ribbon cutting?
Mayor Pradel: Gee, you're right. See ya later.
Hilary: Geordie Sue, will you accept this rose?
Geordie Sue: Why ay missis. Wouldnee miss ya barbie cue for the world."
Grumpy: Ok, guess you're on the list then. But don't forget to bring your Geordie phrasebook with you. No one will understand a word you're saying.
Hilary: Hyacinth, will you accept this rose?
Rose (stepping forward) No, but I'll take a hyacinth if you have one.
Duchess of Douglas Avenue: I'll take a rose!
Hilary: I'm sorry you'll have to take your turn. I only have 117 left and I want to make sure I make the right choice. This decision could affect my life you know.
Grumpy: It sure will. If this goes on much longer you really will be a Bachelorette!
Hilary: Now you're just trying to make me feel good. Go off and do something useful like chop up a lettuce.
Jett: You tell him. Now are sure there's nothing I can do to help? I could build another third floor on your house if you like. We've still got five days til the party, plenty of time.
Hilary: How sweet, but you won't have time for that. We've still got to fit in a trip to Bora Bora before then......

Get The Party Started....

The countdown is on the party of the season! Our annual bbq (the one which started with a dozen people in a back garden in rainy England some 20 years ago) has now reached 120 and counting in the suburban American home which we some how find ourselves living in these days.
We've already made six trips to Costco, 14 to GFS and two to the rental store. Of course we haven't really bought anything yet. These are just recognizance trips because nothing excites Grumpy more than comparing the prices of plastic spoons.
Watch for updates this week...

And Now...Here Is The News

There's nothing like a local paper for strange news. Found two such items in today's Naperville Sun.
The first one was a short fire report headlined Naperville Fire Engine Catches Fire At Station. You'd think they had enough work to do this week with putting out the fire at a local restaurant without creating work by setting fire to their own engines.
On the back page was a large ad for a fun day at a local pet store on July 25th. Among the attractions - free hot dogs....

Too Hot To Handle

You know it is summer here in Naperville when…

1. You step out of the shower and realize you’re not dripping with water but perspiration.
2. Cars can’t get down Jefferson because the road is blocked with customers lining

up for the four ice cream stores down there.

3. Steam rises from your plants when you water them.

4. It’s standing room only at Centennial Beach.
5. You no longer notice you’re having hot flashes because you’re hot all the time.
6. Chipmunks are sunbathing in your front yard.
7. You cannot sleep unless you can hear the sound of thunder.
8. The air is so humid you could cut it with a knife, only you can’t be bothered to find one.
9. You realize that bikini diet you started two days ago isn’t going to work after all.
10. You seriously consider breaking an egg onto the hood of your car to see if it will cook.
11. You can play join the dots with your mosquito bites.
12. Customers in Colonial Café demand real kitchen sinks are filled with ice cream.
13. You fantasize about vacationing somewhere cooler, like South America.
14. You save money on Hot Yoga classes by sitting in your car with the air conditioning off.
15. Ice cubes become a food group.
16. 2 a.m. seems like a really good time to go for a walk.
17. You stroke your favorite sweater fondly as you remember the last time you wore it.
18. Instead of opening the front door, you open the freezer door.
19. You stop wearing make up because you don’t need another layer.
20. You start counting down the days til Christmas.

Rib Tickling Fun

The balloons, the ribs, the music, the heat - it can only mean one thing! It's Ribfest time again in Naperville.


As usual there are some top acts playing. This is John Kay from Steppenwolf.
And Eric Burdon and the Animals.
Unlike previous years when I've just gone along to blog, this year I've been there every day either volunteering or working on stories for the Sun. It's fascinating how I'm suddenly in the centre of things here, having an even better time than before.