Tomato in the salad bowl (Chicago)

It was a boring day. So, I grabbed my digital camera and got out of the house to take some pictures. It took me by surprise when I saw the tomatoes in the garden of my land lady. They are tall now. They grow very fast! Thanks to the nurturing love of our mother earth. Probably in two weeks time, these tomatoes will be generous enough to give abundant tasty fruits to be served on the table.

I am the tomato in the salad bowl
Fresh from the garden with the company of other veggies
We have distinct colors and shapes
I am red, shiny, thin-skinned and oval-shaped
Others are green, purple, yellow and long.

I am the tomato in the salad bowl
Our tastes differ
I am sour and sometimes sweet
While others are crunchy and watery
That's what makes us inviting and tasty.

I am the tomato in the salad bowl
Similar and different
Our uniqueness makes us beautiful
With a drop of Salad dressing we have unity
Our colors, shapes and tastes differ yet we are one.

Cucumber and Tomato Salad Recipe
Courtesy of Rachael Ray

1/2 English or seedless cucumber, diced
2 vine ripe tomatoes, diced
Handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, a couple of splashes
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
Salt and pepper

Journey on Ellen DeGeneres Show

Arnel Pineda from The Zoo, a local cover band, was recently "discovered" by Journey after months of music videos appearing on youtube.

Ellen DeGeneres featured Arnel Pineda of Journey in her show last March 21, 2008 and explained how Arnel became the lead singer of Journey. She wanted them to sing in her show.

Listen to the video, he sounds a lot like Steve Perry, the former lead singer of Journey.

Today May 28, 2008, the Journey band with Arnel as their lead singer did their debut TV appearance on Ellen's show. Here is the video I uploaded a while ago for those who missed it.

Contemporary Garden in Millennium Park (Chicago)

A garden can sometimes be our own special haven of relaxation that will renew our spirit – or it can just give us a great place to hang out and wind down at the end of the hard day.

It was a relaxing afternoon. I took some time to stroll around the garden in Millennium Park. Few people walked around the area to take pictures of different varieties of perennial plants.

All flowering plants are now in full bloom. Hundreds of tulips have risen from the earth. Spring is certainly here!

Sight Seeing Along Michigan Avenue (Chicago)

In the early part of the Spring season, you can see the beautiful plants and flowers on the islands of the busy Michigan Avenue.

Here are photos I have taken of the place:

A whimsical plants in the shape of peacock safeguarding mother-in-law's tongue plants!

The WGN Radio Station always welcome spectators to watch the programs originating from their Showcase Studio, visible from the sidewalk outside Tribune Tower, 435 N. Michigan Avenue.

I took this picture while I was standing at the bridge of Chicago River along Michigan Avenue. The river is 156 miles (251 km) long and flows through downtown Chicago. This river is also noted for the local custom of dyeing it green on St. Patrick's Day.

On the right side of this photo is the on-going construction of Trump's International Hotel and Casino building.

Waiting for the Train at Irving Park (Chicago)

It was a lovely afternoon when I decided to go to downtown and attend the Eucharistic Celebration at Holy Name Cathedral. It was a sunny day and yet windy. The weather was cool. It was really inviting to take a walk and get some fresh air at Millinium Park of downtown Chicago.

I was waiting patiently for the train coming from O'Hare International Airport when I decided to take some pictures of big commercial trucks and cars passing through the Express Highway.

In the photos below you can see both ends of the blue line train station at Irving Park.

This side of the railway is going to East side (Downtown) of Chicago.

The opposite direction of this railway is going to West side (O' Hare International Airport) of Chicago. The airport is about 17 miles from downtown Chicago. Btw, O'Hare Airport is named after Lt. Commander Edward "Butch" O'Hare, a World War II flying ace who was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Street entertainers along Michigan Avenue (Chicago)

I was walking along Michigan Avenue when I bumped into these entertainers. I stayed for a little while to watch them. I was amused at their skills on how to attract people. They possessed different skills to entertain people.

First, there is a group of African Americans who are playing the drums and cymbals. Some people on the side are dancing to their music.







Second, there is another entertainer just one block away. He is a contortionist, like a "rubber man." His body is so flexible that he can put himself inside that little box where he is standing on.



Third, a few steps away, there is another guy with leather brown paint all over his body. He is entertaining people by showing his skills to draw pistol and to pretend to shoot it in the air. From afar, you can see this guy looks like a statue if he doesn't move. Well, if you want to get a picture of him, you have to drop a dollar bill into the bucket!

What is "Tumbleweed's Triple J?"

First of all, let's get the definition of Tumbleweed. According to Merriam-Webster, tumbleweed is a plant (as Russian thistle or any of several amaranths) that breaks away from its roots in the autumn and is driven about by the wind as a light rolling mass.

Calling my blog "Tumbleweed's Triple J" it could mean it has no specific agenda/topic at all. It is like a mini web portal encompassing an array of subjects. It is like a tumbleweed that is rootless and goes where the wind blows it. It comprises of three J's. The first J comes from the first letter of my name – Jonrey. It really speaks about me as I continue to search for purpose and meaning of life, though. The second J is all about my Journey – it could be my travel and photography or vocation journey. The third J refers to my Journal as I'd like to write and share my reflections or anything online that inspires me during the day. Guys, "Tumbleweed's Triple J" isn't Tumbleweed's Triple Jumps but Tumbleweed's Jonrey's Journey & Journal.

Let me begin this blog by sharing with you the lyrics and audio of 'Tumbling Tumbleweeds'. Just click the 'Play' button below to listen to the music.

Artist/Band: Sons Of The Pioneers
Lyrics for Song: Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Lyrics for Album: RCA Country Legends

I'm a roaming cowboy riding all day long,
Tumbleweeds around me sing their lonely song.
Nights underneath the prairie moon,
I ride along and sing this tune.

See them tumbling down
Pledging their love to the ground
Lonely but free I'll be found
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.

Cares of the past are behind
Nowhere to go but I'll find
Just where the trail will wind
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.

I know when night has gone
That a new world's born at dawn.

I'll keep rolling along
Deep in my heart is a song
Here on the range I belong
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.