The Pit was located on 127th street in south Roseland.
It was where we hung out as teens,it was the place to be.
It was a drive in where the girls would bring your food to the car,coffee was a quarter.
The cars were all hot,and very fast.
Challenges would come about every night to race your car,mine favorite car was a 1968 Impala,427 cubic inch,special cam,385 horsepower.
The atmosphere in the pit was amazing,the cars,the girls,laughing at the old guy in his Camaro trying to pick up chicks.
Radios all tuned to WLS,summer nights would bring echoes of music.Radios loud,tuned to rock and roll.It was like magic in the air,the sounds of The Animals or The Beatles or The Stones.
American Graffiti,only very real.
We hung out there until we got married,we went back a few times the place seemed to have lost it's magic.Our first born was fun to show off,but we needed to grow up some.
We made our own magic and we still do.
I wonder what happened to all you.
Gordie with the Corvettes,Crazy Tom with his camera,always snapping pictures.
Lou,we went to the draft board together,he was 1A as I was.
Three blonde's in a Mustang,so pretty,all made up.But you never talked to anyone.
Crazy Greeks in old junkers who were always in trouble with the cops who hing out there too.
Sitting in our cars,watching the moon on a summer night,windows open,good times.
Seeing friends come in,waving,knowing if there was room they would pull in right next to us.
The Pit was a place we went every night,7 nights a week.
Are there any of you out there who remember this place?
Monday, June 23, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Chicago Illinois -You Confuse Me
27 kids killed so far this year.
School kids,killing,shooting,wounding each other.
Will this stop?
Is there an answer?
Guns are easy to get,tempers flare.
Drugs are abundant.
Drugs change you.
Government policies have failed and will always fail.
I hate you Chicago.
Drive Lake Shore Drive,look at the lake.
Go to the zoo with your kids.
Go to Navy Pier.
Stay at a fancy hotel during the week,walk around downtown.
Drive the Dan Ryan north and be downtown in 30 minutes.
Fish at the lake front with friends.
Say hi to a nice cop,he says enjoy the day,it is perfect.
Look at the history of the city,from Pullman, Roseland and all the old ethnic neighborhoods.
Sometimes I really like you Chicago.
School kids,killing,shooting,wounding each other.
Will this stop?
Is there an answer?
Guns are easy to get,tempers flare.
Drugs are abundant.
Drugs change you.
Government policies have failed and will always fail.
I hate you Chicago.
Drive Lake Shore Drive,look at the lake.
Go to the zoo with your kids.
Go to Navy Pier.
Stay at a fancy hotel during the week,walk around downtown.
Drive the Dan Ryan north and be downtown in 30 minutes.
Fish at the lake front with friends.
Say hi to a nice cop,he says enjoy the day,it is perfect.
Look at the history of the city,from Pullman, Roseland and all the old ethnic neighborhoods.
Sometimes I really like you Chicago.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Feeling Sorry For Myself
I was on a service call last week to Chicago Heights Illinois.
My customer had cancelled her appointment a few times,but we finally hooked up and I made it there right on time.
This lady was in a wheelchair and I walk with a cane sometimes.
She told me how she had been in the hospital since January with diabetes related troubles.
"I was in the operating room about to have my leg amputated,then I heard the doctor say I won't need to have it cut off!"
She gave all the credit to Jesus,and was a woman who was full of life,full of praise.
She said she would pray or me and me neuropathy,I stood in front of her humbled.
Jesus sends people into our lives for a reason.
God Bless and keep you,my new friend.
My customer had cancelled her appointment a few times,but we finally hooked up and I made it there right on time.
This lady was in a wheelchair and I walk with a cane sometimes.
She told me how she had been in the hospital since January with diabetes related troubles.
"I was in the operating room about to have my leg amputated,then I heard the doctor say I won't need to have it cut off!"
She gave all the credit to Jesus,and was a woman who was full of life,full of praise.
She said she would pray or me and me neuropathy,I stood in front of her humbled.
Jesus sends people into our lives for a reason.
God Bless and keep you,my new friend.
Questions and Answers About Life
If I have 10 web pages open,and I open 5 more,does my monitor weigh more?
If gas is now over 4 bucks a gallon,how long until it goes back down to $1.20,which I think is a fair price?
When business is slow,why do I have to think so hard about going fishing?
Why do some people in my house carry the remote control thing to other parts of the house? Why don't they have little beepers on em?
Centipedes love my bathtub.They really do.
Centipedes are my enemy,they hate me and I hate them.
They can poison your dog if your dog eats them.(True).
Many times they are in a hurry,but they can't make it up the side of a bathtub.
They come in different sizes.
I would not use them for bait,no not ever.
I wonder if my wife thinks I am a hero when I rinse them down the drain.
The tub needs to be sterilized after a hunt.
The best way to kill them is use a lot of water.
DOGS:
Sleeping is something that eludes me.I often end up sleeping on the couch.
Norma Jean and Robin will follow me where ever I sleep.
Ivy sleeps in her crate and won't come out because she is too tired.
I love my dogs.
How long has it been since you talked with Jesus all night?
When prayers are answered right away,isn't that something you want to tell your friends about right away?
When prayers are not answered right away,do you feel less spiritual?
If gas is now over 4 bucks a gallon,how long until it goes back down to $1.20,which I think is a fair price?
When business is slow,why do I have to think so hard about going fishing?
Why do some people in my house carry the remote control thing to other parts of the house? Why don't they have little beepers on em?
Centipedes love my bathtub.They really do.
Centipedes are my enemy,they hate me and I hate them.
They can poison your dog if your dog eats them.(True).
Many times they are in a hurry,but they can't make it up the side of a bathtub.
They come in different sizes.
I would not use them for bait,no not ever.
I wonder if my wife thinks I am a hero when I rinse them down the drain.
The tub needs to be sterilized after a hunt.
The best way to kill them is use a lot of water.
DOGS:
Sleeping is something that eludes me.I often end up sleeping on the couch.
Norma Jean and Robin will follow me where ever I sleep.
Ivy sleeps in her crate and won't come out because she is too tired.
I love my dogs.
How long has it been since you talked with Jesus all night?
When prayers are answered right away,isn't that something you want to tell your friends about right away?
When prayers are not answered right away,do you feel less spiritual?
Fishing is in the Lanting's Blood
Spending time at Marks house,fishing and being lazy on a Sunday afternoon.
Sometimes just spending a day doing nothing is ok.
Making memories for myself,enjoying Mark and Abbeys warm love,what a day.
Watching Alistair throwing stuff in the river,like his sandwhich,hot dog tongs,a torch and many many rocks,now thats a fun day!
Sometimes just spending a day doing nothing is ok.
Making memories for myself,enjoying Mark and Abbeys warm love,what a day.
Watching Alistair throwing stuff in the river,like his sandwhich,hot dog tongs,a torch and many many rocks,now thats a fun day!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Interesting
Most people don't know that back in 1912, Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic
Was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico , which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York.
This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost.
The people of Mexico , who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.
The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course,
As Sinko De Mayo.
Was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico , which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York.
This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost.
The people of Mexico , who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.
The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course,
As Sinko De Mayo.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Dreams...Do they come true?
Pictured above is Linda,one of my dreams that did come true,long ago.
Dreams..
I am dropped off at the start of The Appalachian Trail,I am now alone.
I have my backpack on,I think I am prepared for the trip.
Walking alone,glad for the good weather,wondering how my family is.
The plan is to do 14 to 20 miles a day.Apparently in this dream I can walk.
I have not thought about going all the way to Maine,I just want to go as far as I can.The Smoky Mountains couldn't be to far.
People are met along the way,day hikers,people who are going all the way through.Candy bars are shared.
Stories of our homes are shared too.Turning in early as most people do,I wake up early,this is ok with me.
Alone again for many days I begin to wonder if I have missed the trail. a sign somewhere.
I am now obsessed with thoughts of my family.Where am I?
Everything looks the same now,the trees,the little rivers,the small hills.
Maybe there has been weeks that have gone by,maybe a few days.No signs,no shelters,no people.
Slow is the way now,time is gone away.
My food is holding out,but only 4 days left then I don't know what I will do.
Thoughts of the family again,the kids,the grandkids.
I have never been lost in my life,I always knew exaclty where I was,and how to get home.
Dreams are not made for us to undersatnd.Maybe it is some chemical imbalance that causes us to dream.
The joy of my life of course is Linda,where she is I don't know but I know she is worried sick.We commiunicate in life,but in dreams not so much.
Off in the distance I see 4 men,all hiking and calling,calling Peter.
Well my first name is Peter but why would Rob,Kevin,Mark and Joel be calling for Peter?
I am holding still,not trusting my eyes,not trusting these 4.
They are my sons,I shout out I am here! I am ok!
They called Peter because thats what Jesus told them to call.I am still trying to figure that out.
Great rejoicing follows.Happiness is once again mine.
All my life I wanted to kike the trail,I have been on it in a few states.
Someday maybe this dream will come true,parts of it anyway.
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