Adams Brick in Chicago, Illinois

When I called Karen Adams up in Chicago, she refused to sell me bricks. Instead she insisted on giving them to me. You see, Karen is member No. 213 of the International Brick Collectors Association and that is the way we do it. I am sure I will meet Karen someday to personally thank her for the bricks.

Grape Creek Clay Works, Grape Creek Illinois

Here is Rob, an employee at Adams Brick, holding one of their used bricks. A nice oversized addition to the wall.

Stacy with her Russian students Josh and (Svet)Lana

Becky and I spent the

long weekend in Chicago. High on my list was to meet Stacy's new students. Josh is a playwright and producer and Svetlana is a writer/waitress/ graduate student so we had to meet at a way hip coffee house in Wicker Park. Too bad I hadn't brought my own attempts at Russian fiction: Strahk (Fear) or Dvehadtsat Minyt (12 Minutes).

Teacher Stacy and Student Jim

After Jim got downsized in the tech world he took up English as a Second Language and moved to Russia for several years. but he never had time to learn Russian - until now. That just could be the reflection of the Green Mill Jazz Club in the window. It helps to have an in the know daughter like Sarah to pick out spots like this.

Becky reading to Kristine

We came up to Chicago to visit Stacy, my Russian teacher of the last three years, and her daughter Kristine. Becky is helping first graders learn to read in Newport. Here she is working her magic with Kristine.

Kristine swinging from the ceiling

You always know that you are having a good time when the upstairs neighbor calls to ask you to keep the noise down. I was partly to blame.

Ernest Hemingway's birthplace

One of Becky's favorite memoirs is A Moveable Feast about Hemingway's Paris years.