A Great City: Life in the D

I got an e-mail from Chrysler the other day with the slogan, 

"Never Giving Up.  Always Giving Back.  Like only Chrysler can."  

It stems from the Superbowl commercial and they are promoting buying the song from iTunes. 

Since Chrysler has been a part of my family's heritage and Detroit has been my home for so many years, I definitely love the video.  It's a fitting tribute to the Motor City.

Here's the full You Tube video link:

Selected of God Choir-Lose Yourself

Rachel's Legacy

I love this story and was pulled into it the moment I heard it on the news.  It's about a selfless little girl who, at age 5, 

donated her hair to locks of love 

and then went on to celebrate her 9th birthday 

by asking others to donate to charity:water in lieu of presents.  

The organization provides clean water 

to those who don't have access to it in Africa.  

A month later, Rachel was killed in a car accident.

  As word spread of her story, 

she ended up raising 1 million dollars for charity:water.

Her heart of compassion lives on.  

Here's a link to her story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/opinion/rachels-last-fund-raiser.html?_r=1 

I hope that you are moved by her too!

Sunset Beach Charlevoix

We made the annual trek
to one of our favorite beaches
on Lake Michigan

on the windiest day of the summer.  

Turned out to be a great evening!

 The Beaver Island Ferry returning

 And the sunset

Mackinac Island

St. Ignace Light, U.P.

If you've never had the pleasure of crossing the
Mackinac Bridge   "Mighty Mac"

and seeing where the Upper and Lower Peninsulas connect, 

as well as the spot where 

Lake Huron & Lake Michigan meet

you are missing out! 

 Round Island Light &
Round Island Passage Light

 The Grand Hotel

 Couldn't resist the grump!

A visit to the Sunshine State

I started off the summer with a bang by visiting
Universal Studios to see Harry Potter's World 

along with Drew & Kathy Hage.  

We stayed with Carole & Nelson Wolbert and Kyle & Bethany Gano.  Clearly, I didn't get enough pictures of my friends.

Slightly unforgivable, but this gives me a reason to go back!!

Hogsmeade Village

 Zonko's Joke Shop

 Honeyduke's

 Pumpkin Juice

 Olivander's Wands

 The Three Broomsticks

Hogwart's Castle

There is an incredible ride inside of it 

that takes you through the grounds of the castle, 

the Quidditch field and to Hagrid's Hut. 

It was really cool.  

You're on a roller coaster and the virtual imagery 

is like nothing I had ever done before.  

A definite "Must Do!"

I'm holding Brooke Gano, 3 months old

I also got to stay with my good friend
Erica.  She recently bought an
awesome condo there and
we had a great time together!

Do you see the light?

I took a sightseeing trip in downtown Chicago, 

then met up with my niece and nephew 

at Millenium Park.  

Good Times!

 Sears Tower

 Millenium Park

The Bean

 Aqua Building

 Buckingham Fountain

 Soldier Field where I saw U2 

(O Yeah Baby!) 

later that night

 In front of the Art Museum

 On the bridge that links the Art Museum to Millenium Park