a homecoming for the kid who left chicago

the family is here, and it's my dad's first time back in one of his old home towns since he finished high school and packed up a car and drove it cross country to california, where he'd fatefully meet my mother. so needless to say, this is a nice moment. that's why i wanted to cap their first morning off at the green city market. we're gonna have a backyard cookout this weekend, so it'll be a challenge i'll throw at mom and dad to help find the food we'll cook for that. always a fun, impromptu thing to do. and if you didn't know, this week has been national farmers' market week, and green city is throwing a latin fest to bring in their last market day of the week for festivities. we're missing a latin taste as i write this, but they're scheduled to have latin dancers and the flare and pizzaz of latin food for the big chicago crowd. something pops doesn't know, and with his love for latin cuisine, will be a cool surprise. he hasn't stopped talking about rick bayless as it is...

they'll be here for a few days and in the meantime, i'm finishing the second part of "the tale of the fisherman's revert." enjoy this august saturday, and savor the summer. it'll be over before we know it.