it's been waaaaay too long....

this morning my hub casually asked if i've blogged lately.  embarrassingly, my response was choke-full of  bull-crap for which he found amusing (as was obvious by a thick eyebrow laden smirk).  so here i am trying to think of something cleverly informative to write about...

there's much to say, and i'll be writing plenty as we head into what already feels like the beginning of a smashing new year. december has been a positively busy yet beautiful month.  our family enjoyed a wonderful holiday, and my kids still believe in santa. yay!  the home shopping network really came through in a pinch for last minute holiday gifts, and all of my elaborate christmas dinner entrees turned out delicious (i was way too frazzled to take any pictures). the mexican hot chocolate i made for dessert was simply sumptuous, though my geriatric-lactose intolerant girlfriends whined it was too thick and rich, which i found quite irksome until i realized their IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) just meant more for me (before i start my diet or course....)

unfortunately end-of-the-year cheer for many is never without it's sorrow for others...bad news doesn't have off-days. and lord knows i've experienced plenty of those myself.  people who are ill remain ill, and many, many more who were once with us are now sorely missed with the heaviest valves of our hearts...

and so i take this moment to extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Corey Ankum and Edward Stringer; two-fallen firefighters who lost their lives one week ago in a building collapse on chicago's southside (near 75th & stony island to be precise). one can only hope that from such tragedy lessons can be learned, and not one more firefighter's life will be lost battling a blazing, deteriorating, vacant building.

speaking of abandoned buildings, between 67th and 71st on stony island avenue there are over ten crumbling brick messes,  not including adjacent weed-filled vacant lots.

 {image by veda bruce}

this particular monstrosity located at 68th & stony island has been vacant since before i purchased my condo (directly across the street) in 1991.  it houses plenty of wildlife and acts as a cover for even more nefarious activities. vacant buildings were once attached on the northside of this structure, but two acts of arson brought those crumbling bricks down.  there ought to be some sort of rule that nothing new gets built until everything old is rehabbed...but even bigger than that; there ought to be some sort of software created and made available to the fire department that lets these engines know of any existing structural damage (via city inspection/violation records) before a burning building is entered.  it might be expensive and take lots of time, but really who cares, if it saves lives.