ReflectionsBertram Goldberg's "corn cob" buildings (Marina City) reflected in the windows of 35 W Wacker, the Leo Burnett building. I have been missing myself here of late. For a good long time, I've been missing myself. I have had a rough couple of years. Lots of turmoil in my life. I have failed myself by not keeping my wonderful and trusty Nikons by my side. I am afraid, I lost myself.

What I have realized is that, I need my camera. I must shoot photos! Good, bad, or ugly, I have to shoot. Though, I hope that they are none of the above. My cameras are my security blanket.  hey make me feel whole and connected. Mostly, they give me a release and a way to express myself. Being an introvert, sometimes, it is difficult to find a way to connect yourself with the outside world. My cameras, they do that for me!

My children are on spring break. There was no vacation for us this for a variety of reasons. So, a lot of time was spent in jammies, video gaming, hitting up extra sport practices, a sleep over here and there, breakfast for dinner, and all that good stuff.

Mother Nature gave us a wacky day at the end of Spring Break. Temperatures soared to nearly 80 degrees. Being the evil, horrible mom that I am, I forced the children out of their basement habitat and into the sunlight. We grabbed the public transit pass, inhaled some lunch, and then hit the L into the Loop. I'd stashed my camera in my bag, but we spent nearly an hour looking for sunglasses for the boy. The 12 year old boy. He, apparently, has very high standards for sunglasses. Me, I wasn't complaining. It was a beautiful day and we were outside in late March enjoying upper 70s and just wandering the city.

I took one photo with my "good" camera that adventure. That photo is the one above. I could not be happier with this photo. I am no Chicago architecture aficionado, but I do know that Bertrand Goldberg was the architect behind Marina City, which he fashioned after corn cobs as a tribute to the city's heritage and the vast grain market. To me, well, they look like where the Jetsons lived.  And, I so loved the Jetsons.

Since moving here and several trips up and down the Chicago River and countless hours watching WTTW and Geoffrey Baer and his wonderful Chicago based series, my eyes have been opened to what an amazing canvas I have in front of me. I hope to explore that beautiful canvas more, keep my soul charged and engaged, and just make art.