At the “glitter gig” today, the florist was using ornamental pineapples in her work.
I loved the colors, textures, stripes and spikes!!! All in one place.

After I posted yesterday’s photos of the “frozen fissures” in Lake Michigan,
I received a link to this incredible YouTube video. Apparently, the oldest son
of “My Talented Friend” jeweler Amy Taylor lives in Antarctica and filmed this great
time-lapse video. Kinda makes my “frozen fissures” photos a bit anti-climactic?!
Here’s one of my photos…

And here’s the link to the time-lapse video, and some screen captures as a little teaser.
Some frozen fissures on a much grander scale.  Antarctica versus Lake Michigan?!
Click here to see the video… “Ice and Clouds”

With a forecast of overnight snow tonight, I knew that this morning might be
my “last chance” for a ride until the new snow melts away. Unfortunately, there
was no real sunrise to speak of… just another gray day in Chicago.

And here’s a question… Isn’t a snowfence without snow just a fence?!

And so the icebergs have pretty much melted away. But the cold overnights have frozen parts
of the lake. We now have sheets of ice floating around in the harbors. The swelling waves
have broken them up a bit. But the chilly overnights freeze them back together.

While going from one job to the next… rushing from one place to another…
trying to fit in everything I had to do… making sure I would get to see my friends
before heading over to Lillstreet for the Holiday Opening Party… it was great
to squeeze in a little bit of quiet time… even if it was just for five minutes!!!

The morning sky was ablaze in rosy splendor as I drove down to Navy Pier to kick-off
the start of “making the holidays happen” down at Winter WonderFest.

Day Two of my whirlwind tour took me to Washington DC.
Coincidentally enough I ended up in the Nation’s Capital on Election Day!
Yes, I am possibly the most non-political person ever. So it’s oddly ironic
that of all people I end up there on the first Tuesday of November!

I knew that I didn’t need to do my “glitter gig” until later that evening, so I
decided to start the day with a beautiful hike at Great Falls National Park.
Who knew that the Potomac River could be so wonderfully exciting just miles
up the river before it so calmly pass through the Capital?

It was beautiful & sunny with just a hint of chill in the air. And since it’s Tuesday and most
people are working, the park was incredibly empty. Like I had the whole park to myself!
It started out like many other National Parks. Woods. Water. Trails. Serene.

And then the river widens as it goes across a viaduct. So calm before, a little crazier after!

A little ways down the river from the aqueduct, the river gets crazy & the sound gets louder!
Then the river kind of opens up and creates this wonderful waterfall! Such a stark contrast to
the river before the falls, and the river after the Capital.

Just a few days after Hurricane Sandy worked its way up the East Coast, and wreaked havoc
in New York & New Jersey, it was interesting to see how this park had been affected too. If
it weren’t obvious enough from the sandbags stacked up everywhere, you could also see how
high the water was from the leaves that were “plastered” on most of the branches along the
river bed. And apparently it’s not the first time they’ve gotten a lot of water… they even have
a tall souvenir marking the floods over the years. Hurricane Sandy hasn’t been posted yet!

It was great to have yet another “Fall” this year too! I got an early blast of color up in the
Wisconsin Northwoods for ART DETOUR in October. Then the Fall colors came through
Chicago a couple weeks later. I was kind of surprised that Autumn was still hanging on
when I got to Washington, DC.

After an incredibly “windy-&-crashing-wavey” bike ride… I showered, changed
and head off to work. But as I was leaving, I noticed this beautiful little plant blooming
in my front garden. I’ve never seen it before. And to be quite honest, I have no idea
what it is nor where it came from. Either way, it’s a beautiful surprise in my garden
that has pretty much withered away for the upcoming Winter days! To me, it kind of
looks like an orchid… but who knows?!… anyone???

Sure, they can say that the bike trail is closed.
Sure, they can tell you stay off.
But some of us just see that as a challenge.

So, yes… I was out there this morning riding my bike along the lakefront.
With such an unusual weather event in Chicago, I felt somehow oddly “obligated”
to go outside to play in it. And yes Mom, I made sure I was always a safe distance
away from the waves!… kinda…

And to think I was swimming in this exact location just a few months ago getting ready
for the Triathlon. Glad these waves waited until now with my wetsuit packed away!

A little further south, and the waves were crashing in around the harbor. With a great view
of the city as the crashing waves look as though they might wash away the skyline?!

Whoops… and there goes the bike trail… glad I was on the “safe” side of the harbor!

All in all, the morning ride was quite spectacular. You can’t tell me “not” to do something
and really have me not do it. Especially when they have been hyping this weather event so
much. Okay, so the ride home wasn’t too fun with gale force winds blowing into my face!