Reached the peak.

At the top.

Late morning. That has nothing to do about the flowers, it's more about the time I took the pictures.

On my way out the door, running 20 minutes late already, I wanted to grab a few quick pictures of the blooming morning glories. The flowers coming from the little seeds I planted last spring have finally reached to top of the old bird house pole. They must be 100 feet tall!!!! How I love hyperbole.


Real tall.


I grew them for the first time last summer. They took over the sides of the garage. Their vines twisted back and forth so many times they looked like they could give Jack and that beanstalk a run for their money if I pointed them in one direction. That's where I got the idea this year to have them grow up the pole. I tied twine and fishing line to the base on top and connected them to a section of garden fence on the bottom.

They didn't have the best light during the day but finally made the peak last Friday. I was waiting for a little more foliage and flowers before I took the pictures.


Closeup.

No, not another one!

First picking:

I haven't gotten sick of BLT's yet. In fact, I need to eat more mayo so I have somewhere to pour the bacon grease. Best sandwich ever not in the hamburger category / or roast beef category.

No, I was referring to another summer being almost gone.

About 10 days and counting down. School starts tomorrow. There is only one weekend before labor day. Football has started. Damn. And I was just getting caught up with the gas bill. Too many things to do yet.

We really didn't take a vacation, but I did find time to garden and read. And relax.

We did a couple of Chicago road trips which were fun. By the way, Isn't Crazy by Gnarles Barkley the song of the summer? I haven't got sick of it yet. Raconteurs' Level would be my second choice. I remember different summers by it's music.

Hula girl at Lollapalooza.

Strangely captivating. She had me under a spell. (kidding) She was good though.

Won two three day passes to Lollapalooza 2006. August 4,5 and 6 at Grant Park Chicago.

Day one I went in with Amy and took pictures (including the fine one of Hula Girl). Actually I pictured more crazy stuff going on in the fringes. Really wasn't. There didn't even seem to be much pot being smoked. Or at least I couldn't find any.


Amy taking a break.


Groups we saw on Friday: Aqualung (heard coming in), Panic! At the Disco, eels (from another stage), Ryan Adams, Umphreys McGee (end of), The Secret Machines, The Raconteurs, Violent Femmes and Death Cab for Cutie.
Panic! At the Disco was a new group to me. They had strangely dressed dancers performing with them. It worked. Did I say strange?
Ryan Adams was mellow and we were hot so we walked about a 100 miles to the other end of the park and saw the end of Umphreys McGee. They were more rocking than I remember. They should have been our first choice.

The Raconteurs with Jack White sounded like a Jack White group. Loud, pounding, 3 chords. Picture below:


Jack White. The Raconteurs.

The Violent Femmes with Gordon Gano are a local favorite. From the intro on their CD:

The Violent Femmes — they bring all their equipment on the bus. And you can't fuck with the Violent Femmes. You cannot fuck with this band!
— From Add it Up, prev. unreleased demo, 1981


Violent Femmes.


Sounded sweet though they didn't look that rebellious or full of rage. They had a lot of fun though. Not pretentious.

Death Cab for Cutie did all their hits. Not as loud as I would have liked. (Later in the week, people living in those highrises in the background started a petition bitching about the noise. I say crank it up more. )


Death Cab for Cutie.

My legs were killing me at the end of the day but I did the same with Clint on Saturday.

Gnarls Barkley and Wolfmother were the highlights of Saturday. Sunday while I recouped, Amy and Clint enjoyed Pepper and the RHCP.

Long weekend.