My friend Jim and I have always loved exploring Chicago. But he would always research places for us to explore and I would drive us there. No place was too remote or too dangerous for us to visit. In fact, the more people told us we were crazy for visiting one of our announced new destinations, the more determined we were to go there. We once went to an Irish bar in Bridgeport, on Emerald Street of course, because Jim had heard they had a picture of Mayor Richard J. Daley on the wall. I figured this would be a safe trip since Jim is Irish and I could pass for Irish after a few drinks. Finding parking in Bridgeport was an adventure in itself. And then walking from the car to the bar was just as adventurous because the local residents who saw us watched us warily because obviously, we weren’t of the Bridgeport nobility. As we approached the bar, we could hear the music playing and the patrons talking boisterously from the outside. When we opened the front door to walk in, everyone stopped talking and stared at us. Even the picture of Mayor Daley was looking at us! Well, I must admit that we felt uncomfortable for a moment or two, but then we walked up to the bar and ordered two beers. Everyone then resumed talking to each other again. However, we felt uncomfortable because we were continually watched while we drank our beer. We left as soon as we finished drinking it and we felt relieved when we safely passed the self-appointed residents who watched for foreigners, i.e. someone not from Bridgeport. Once we were driving away, we decided never to return to that bar again. We were lucky to escape Bridgeport alive!

I will always remember my house as the house of the ladybugs.

I bought this house in Beverly on August 25, 2003, and moved in immediately. Within days, hundreds of ladybugs moved in with me. My cousin told me that they’re good luck. But I bet the ladybugs would disagree because most of them starved to death.

Every summer, I see ladybugs in my house. Sometimes they’re still alive, but mostly I see them after they die from being burned by light bulbs. I think that they entered my house when I moved in and now they breed somewhere inside my house. I didn’t see very many ladybugs outside this year. In fact, I don’t recall seeing any at all outside.

Each year I see less and less ladybugs in my house. Actually, I don’t mind seeing the ladybugs since I don’t have any pets. However much I like them, I end up flushing them down the toilet.