Ouch! I was TOO thankful!

Like many people, I was hurting yesterday after consuming mass quantities of food.

It was a beautiful day at my parents' house where my brother and his family joined us and my parents. The weather was good and the day was beautiful.

I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as we did and had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

My "Baby" Brother Got Married!!!

Saturday, November 11 was an exciting one for the Allison family as this was the day that my "baby" brother, Richard, married a wonderful woman named Fern.

The wedding was beautiful! It was held at the Woman's Athletic Association located on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The building was constructed in 1928 thus the architecture throughout was beautiful. Founded in 1898, this organization was the first athletic club for women in the United States. The building's architecture illustrates the sophisticated urban ambience of North Michigan Avenue, as it was originally planned and developed in the 1920s. The modern French-style classical design, which is reminiscent of continental-style Parisian elegance, is one of the last standing links to the street's formative years.

Preceding the service was Champagne and wine service. The service was beautifully simple and genuine as was followed with hors d’ oeuvres and more Champagne and wine. Then we went to the ballroom located on another floor to enjoy a wonderful dinner of roast duck. A 17-piece band struck up a variety of tunes to include blues, jazz, swing, and traditional tunes.

It was truly a magical evening and one we will fondly remember always. As we are now home, Richard and Fern are enjoying themselves in Portugal, sipping Port from its original monasteries (I hope they bring me some as a souvenir!).

Halloween on THE HAUNTED PORCH!

Halloween is not only the day when the "dead walk the earth" but it is evidence that, especially on this day, we are not required to grow up!

As is tradition, we ventured to the Lebanon, Indiana porch of our friends Lisa Lord and Kevin Friend. Kevin is a renown D.J. here in town whose alter ego is "Dr. Toast." Their porch is elaborately decorated every Halloween featuring eery lighting and wonderful music, fog, and sound effects.

You see Ed here as the Hippy Hearse Driver and Dr. Toast is featured at the sound controls. The weather was cool, dry, and the moon was wonderful. Easily, we had between 300 and 400 trick or treaters and the number keeps climbing as people learn of THE HAUNTED PORCH IN LEBANON! Come by next year!