THE HAT VISITS CHICAGO

Here come de train! We left from Barrington Station.

Spencer and I enjoying the ride.

Vikki and Judy try sharing The Hat.

Heather was the first one in my Hat Album. She still wears Cosmo  well.  I think Cosmo likes her.

Cosmo gives Heather a face hug.

Spencer takes hat-wearing seriously.

I think Cosmo is telling him something.

The view out a tinted window.

Coming into the train station.

On Thursday, November 11, 2010, Cosmo took a ride with Judy and me to Chicago, to visit out daughter Vikki, and out grandchildren Heather and Spencer.  We wanted to meet our Faeebook friend Ashleigh Wolfgang, also known as Kanye East, and also Herberto Dutra, Vikki's significant other. We also planned to meet Facebook friend Cesar Smatters, AKA Cesar Salad.  All of this we did, in due time.  Other goal was to take a train ride to the city and spend some time downtown, something we hadn't done in quite a while.  And I hadn't even seen Vikki's new house, although Judy had.

We decided to take a water taxi, a really cool way to travel.

For some inexplicable reason, this building was turned sideways.

A close-up of the Chicago Tribune Building, one of the city's most impressive.

The Trib is incredibly detailed, with delicate lacework in stone.

It also has stones from famous structures around the world embedded in its facade.

Street level Chicago.

Outside the world-famous Billy Goat Tavern.

A Chicago policeman tries  Cosmo on.  It was that or arrest him.

Cruisin' down the river.  The Chicago River, actually.

The view out Vikki's back sliding door.  She has a beautiful yard, but it was too dark and rainy to show up here.

My friend Ashleigh Wolfgang dropped by for a visit.

Ash and Cosmo made friends right away.

Cesar at the bowling alley where he works, and where Heather worked until fairly recently.

Cesar is a fantastic guitar player.

Vikki's house, late afternoon.  Flowers were still blooming here and there.

Herberto "Herb" Dutra.  He's from Brazil, is an engineer, and speaks several languages. He also plays guitar. Cosmo liked him.

The Chicago trip was fun. We went up on Thursday and came back Sunday morning. It was warm when we got there, but grew progressively colder. Cosmo had a fine old time!

COSMO GOES TO CHURCH

When she brought The Hat back from Florida recently, Kim Quisenberry said she had seen a big change in Cosmo after his visit to Holyland, and that she thought he might have converted to Christianity. And of course, everyone else was thinking, COSMO?  It seemed a little far-fetched, to say the least.  Not that we were doubting Kim.  If anyone could do it, she could.

Still, we were a bit surprised when he expressed an interest in attending church. Yet that is exactly what he did. On November 7, 2010, The Hat attended Sunday morning services at Owensboro Christian Church.  And he behaved himself, sitting quietly through the entire service, even the preaching. Afterward, he wanted the meet the pastor, Rick Grover.

It took Rick a moment to get accustomed to Cosmo, but soon they were friends.

Cosmo even told Pastor Rick a joke. What kind, we don't know.

Then it was on to meet Sherry Williams, who heads up the Early Childhood Ministry at OCC.

Then on to Jimmy Maldonado's 50th Birthday party in the Community Room. There was food galore, and Cosmo put away his share.

Jimmy M, the birthday boy. Everyone loves Jimmy, a good-natured guy who is always there to lend a helping hand. Cosmo thought he was great!

Carmel, Jimmy's wife, does a lot for the church, and she's also an excellent cook, who specializes in authentic Italian fare.  Cosmo found her pumpkin cheesecake delightful.

Cosmo says hello to Dee Ward, Carmel's sister, and the wife of Barry Ward.

The Hat found a friend in Artie Marx, who cooks for many church events, and does many other things for OCC. Artie, a transplanted New Yorker, is a devoted Yankee fan.  Cosmo seems to have put Artie to sleep.

Carol Marx, Artie's beautiful and long-suffering wife, charms Cosmo.

It was, all in all, a pleasant day for The Hat.  He seems to have reformed somewhat, and he IS a church-goer now, but how long that will last is anyone's guess!