Radio Free Wausau

Remembering My Mom

2008-09-07T18:15:00.003-06:00

My mom left this life on Tuesday, May 19 after a month long struggle to regain her health following a relatively simple surgery. Her body just didn't respond as quickly following the surgery. She battled an infection and had difficulty breathing and keeping the oxygen levels up in her blood. But she was making progress in the last days and we expected her to leave the hospital on Memorial Day week end. She quietly slipped away before that could happen.

Now its my brother and me left to carry on.

My mom grew up in a large farm family that lived in northern Indiana. Her dad was a hard man (by her own description) and they never got along. She was the second youngest of 13 children. They moved around a lot as my grandfather rented land trying to raise the best crops and make a living during the trying times of the Great Depression. At age 16 she left home never to return.

As a teen ager she married a soldier when went off to fight in Europe never to return. Before she was 20 she was a widow of WWII living in the 1940s. She married again shortly thereafter but that didn't last and nobody really talks about that much.

In the late 1940's she met my dad. My brother and I came along a few years later and we grew up in a house attached to a small grocery store. My parents worked together for nearly 50 years raising two sons and earning a living. We also tended to eat pretty well. My mom was a good mom, active in the lives of her boys when she could be and working hard to earn a living. I'm sure the fear of another Great Depression motivated both of my parents but we never lacked for anything.

Not long after celebrating 50 years together my dad passed away following open heart surgery where he'd suffered a stroke. My mom was devastated but she carried on. It was not easy. A few years later I moved away to Illinois and then Wisconsin but we kept in touch and visited when we could. My mom was lonely in those years but would never consider another relationship or moving away.

Just last summer my mom came to Wisconsin for several weeks to visit and see what was happening in my life. She loved it here and always said how different and beautiful it was compared to Indiana. I agree. Last Thanksgiving she and my brother made a trip up here for a week. She stayed in my new house and we enjoyed our last Thanksgiving dinner together. I saw her at Christmas time but never alive again.

I miss my mom. I miss the times I'd call her on my cell phone on the way home from work or driving to Stevens Point in the morning for a meeting. She was always glad to hear from me and would call me often as well. We were closer in the last years than maybe any other time.

Losing a parent is hard. I know two other people who lost their moms during the same relative time period. Its hard for each of us but we carry on. I'll remember the good times and the way she took care of me as a young boy and even as a grown man. She was always my mom.

She was Catherine Marie Lewallen Huys.
Born March 8, 1924
Died May 19, 2008

Keeping Warm

2008-08-29T14:32:00.003-06:00

This is one of the ways I survived my first up north winter. That and a couple of good bottles of red wine. Did I say a couple? Well, by winter's end I was getting pretty creative. I "discovered" the Wausau Curling Club and participated in my first bonspiel and was completely hooked on the sport. And in late March I finally put on a pair if skis and skied at Granite Peak. So as the winter season approaches again I have many more ideas and ways to enjoy and participate in winter acitivties. More on those subjects in future posts.

Winter--Part II, Its Just Kept Coming

2008-08-29T14:22:00.005-06:00

We probably didn't have nearly the total accumulation of either Milwaukee or Madison during the winter of 2007 but our snow came and stayed. There was never a time when we got a thaw. The closest I can recall is in late January the temps rose back into the +20 degree range for a couple of days and you'd have thought it was summer. I even had a window rolled down on the MINI.

The snow at the end of my driveway topped 7' (feet) at the height of the season. The MINI was dwarfed by the size of the piles. I had no idea if anyone was coming down the street once I entered the tunnel of snow at the end of the drive. When I look at my yard now its hard to imagine there was so much snow. But its late August and only a weeks away from fall and then....

Over the Winter--How I Survived My 1st Up North Winter

2008-08-29T14:10:00.005-06:00

Winter came to Wausau on Saturday, December 2, 2007 with a dump of approximately 12" of heavy snow. As I looked out on my driveway that first morning I was stunned to realize that if I was going to get my car out and drive to the store I'd have to shovel a whole lot of snow first. Throughout the fall I'd been telling myself that a little snow shoveling would be good exercise but when the reality of it hit that morning I had second thoughts.

While the snow meant work it was also quite beautiful. Winters in Indiana and Illinois were hit and miss some years but from that first day in December, the winter of 2007 in Wausau was here to stay.

It took a couple of hours that first morning and a lot of hours over the next several months as the cold weather stayed in place keeping the snow from melting even a little. At one point in mid-winter I was walking in my back yard standing about 25" to 30" up off the ground and it was not on a drift.

Thanksgiving in Wausau

2008-08-29T13:53:00.008-06:00

OK--admittedly posting a Thanksgiving message in late August the following year is a little on the slow side. But I'm trying to catch up with this blog and its the place to start. My mom and brother made an adventurous trip to central Wisconsin and spent a week here over the Thanksgiving holidays. For my mom it was a return visit (and ultimately her last) and my brother's first.

The two intrepid travels left Indiana via Amtrack train and went to Union Station in Chicago. There they boarded a VanGalder bus and headed to Madison where I met them on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It was a long trip for my mom who was pretty tired and I recall she slept well that night. Over the next few days I was back and forth from work to home while they hung out at my place. My brother (Mike) was taken with our sweet way of life up here and was about ready to sell his house and move north.

Thanksgiving Day was a day of lots of cooking and good food. It was the first time the three of us were together in many years. Jourdan had gone back to Indiana and wasn't able to be here. We were up early preparing food and by late afternoon things were ready and we were starved. These pictures give you a little idea of what the day was like.

Right there in front of me

2007-10-24T05:29:00.000-06:00

I was driving on backroads from Tomahawk to Woodruff on Saturday and saw some beautiful scenery along the way. I was shooting a road and trees when suddenly right in front of me was a small branch of leaves dancing in the wind.

My Mom's Summer Vacation in Wisconsin

2007-07-01T12:19:00.000-06:00

My mom sitting on the sofa in my new Wisconsin apartment.

In the summer of 2007 let the records show that for the first time in many years my mom left her comfortable home in Indiana and spent an extended period of time somewhere else. She left the state, slept in a completely different bed, saw new people and places, and enjoyed it all. My Mom came to Wisconsin this summer.

My mom is 83 this year and she still gets around quite well. She's been through many medical esisodes during her life including two C-Section kids, a number of surgeries, a trip to the Mayo Clinic in the 70's for diagnosis and treatment of something the doctors in Indiana couldn't find, two knee replacements, and most recently cataract surgery that led to a serious eye infection and temporary blindness in one eye. But she's back and nothing will keep her down.

My mom grew up on a farm in Indiana during the Great Depression. She was one of 13 children and had brothers and sisters old enough to not only parent her as a child, but to produce their own offspring so that she has nieces and nephews that are almost the same age as she. It was not an easy life and she did not get along well with her father resulting in a decision to leave home at age 16. She grew up fast in the 1940s and married a young man who was called into military service and fought in Europe only to be killed in action. Married only a short time my mother was soon a widow.

A young woman, my mom has most of her life ahead of her when this photo was taken.

She moved on and went to beauty school where she graduated at the top of her class. It was there that she met a woman who was the sister of a fellow she would one day meet. He became my father.

In the 1950s she became a wife and mother to two boys with a husband who wanted to operate a business for himself and soon opened a grocery store in a small Indiana town called Osceola. Having long ago given up the practice of hair styling, she pitched in with Dad and opened the store and helped two little boys grow up and get into school. Within a few years the business prospered to a point where my parents built a new store with the house attached as was relatively common in the days before Jewel, Dominick's, Pick N Save, and other large chains. As a kid growing up I had both my parents there but it was my mom who had milk and cookies for two hungry boys when they got off the bus in the afternoon and could always be counted on for a hot breakfast on cold Indiana winter mornings.

She worked hard in the store, kept house, and still managed to have time for a family. My mom was the mom who picked up kids from practice after school or went to the ballgames or band concerts so that my dad could run the store.

When I went off to college my parents didn't have money to cover costs but my mom would slip a $20 into an occasion letter so that her son could have a few treats and a little spending money. When that boy became a grown up (using that term a bit loosely here) she became Grandma Kay to Sierra and Jourdan and gave a lot of time to help watch the kids after the store closed in the 1980s. In retirment, my mom continued to work in various jobs including a retail/catalogue store, a sewing factory, and convenience market.

Me, Jourdan, and my mom at Jourdan's graduation party in 2005.

When my dad passed away in the late 1990s she stayed in the house and remains there today. Knee and eye problems slowed her down a little but not much.

When I moved to Illinois in 2003 I kept in contact with my mom with regular phone calls but only infrequent visits. One Christmas she came to Crystal Lake with Jourdan and we had a nice visit. My move to Wisconsin this spring seemed like a big mountain to climb but when we both realized she could spend time here and not have to stay in Indiana we started planning her summer vacation.

My mom spent almost six weeks here. I had to spend a lot of time at work but in the free hours in the evenings and week ends we tried to explore Wausau and the surrounding area. We ate dinner in a lot of places, shopped in the stores, and toured the community. She stayed until the last day of June when I drove her back to Indiana. A little sadly too I think for both of us.

It was a good time. It was the first time I'd actually lived under the same roof as my mom in almost thirty years. We ate more meals together that we have in years. And watched a lot of TV too, especially old episodes of I Love Lucy and a fair amount of Lifetime. When she got bored she folded my underwear, cooked dinner, ran the vacuum and became good buddies with Nigel the cat, something I really never expected. She took lots of naps and I hope had a good time. She liked it here in Wisconsin and every time we crested the hill on Volkman Street in sight of Rib Mountain she'd say, "there's OUR mountain!"

I learned a lot about my mom this summer and about myself. This visit reconnected me with a lot of family stories I'd forgotten and probably will forget again. It was also a reminder of how much she cherished my dad. She speaks of him in a friendly sort of awe or reverence though sometimes as I kid all I could recall was the times when they, like most married couples, had disagreements and differences of opinion.

My mom at Jourdan's apartment in Milwaukee on moving day.

My mom's life spans a century and a millennium and in a few years she will reach age 90. She is sharp as a tack and her eyesight puts my own to shame. When her body quits on her (like climbing the 14 steps she counted up to my apartment) her mind never fails. She can recall things that I cannot. She is a child of her age and isn't always completely comfortable with things I take for granted today like seeing multi-racial couples in a Milwaukee restaurant or the somewhat frequent use of the F word by Jourdan or me. But she is my mom and will always be my mom.

Sadly in all the time she spent I barely got any pictures of her but there are a few posted her including one when she was much younger and was photographed in a wedding party. She is Catherine Marie Lewallen Huys, age 83, a long time resident of Osceola, Indiana. She is my mom and I love her.

Getting Settled--My Stuff is Here!

2007-05-10T21:09:00.000-06:00

A view of my dining area and the posters I got last summer in San Francisco.

Its been about seven weeks since my arrival in central Wisconsin and I've spent a good part of most days getting into my work and trying to get my arms around my new job. I like it here, here at work, and here in my newly adopted community. People are friendly and welcoming. I've made good connections at work, with the local newspaper people, and in a few of the arts and community organizations. Its all good.

And to make it even better, last week I completed the sale of my condo in Illinois and moved all of my worldly goods to my new apartment. Last Monday and Tuesday movers from Graebel packed my belongings and put them on a truck bound for the northwoods. The actual packing the truck, driving, and unloading took place all in one day and while it was a little hectic it was nice to have everything done in one motion and without losing time away from work.

My furniture was placed in the right rooms and the garage was loaded with the boxes. Slowly but surely I've been making progress unpacking boxes and putting things away. By Sunday I'd made enough headway to get the MINI back indoors at night and when I'm home. There are many more boxes to open but some are going to stay closed up until I get into a permanent residence somewhere down the road when I know the community and the neighborhoods better. Until then life here is pretty good. I have furniture, my own bed, and things where I want them.

Now that helps make life good.

The New Car Bug Bites!

2007-04-25T22:11:00.000-06:00

I realized I've been wanting to drive a MINI Cooper since 2001 when I was still living in Indiana and the new version of the cars had just come out. I'd signed up on their website then and as I was checking back there recently I discovered my old address and phone number, evidence of my long held desire for this incredible car.

Last week end my MINI quest was fulfilled at International MINI of Milwaukee. After a brief test drive around West Allis, Wisconsin, I had the feel of the clutch and a sense for the tight steering and incredible power of the car. Desire was fed by a really great lease deal and within an hour Jourdan and I were driving back to Wausau. Well, actually we made a slight detour over to Roots, a great restaurant in MKE and then headed north.

On Sunday I took the MINI up to the top of Rib Mountain for its first pictures. There will be more to come I'm sure. It is a great car, powerful, fun to drive, and on and on. What can I say? I really love it.

Way Up North and the End of US Hwy 45

2007-04-08T04:33:00.000-06:00

On the Saturday morning of Easter week end, Jourdan and I decided to wander our way up north to see some of the northwoods and explore a little. We started out in mid morning and made our way up to Rhinelander and Eagle River by lunchtime and had a delicious lunch at the Blue Moon Coffeehouse in Eagle River. It was pretty chilly and with the streets torn up in ER we didn't have much of an opportunity to look around or shop so we opted instead to drive further north to cross over into the UP to see what we could see and also to look for bald eagles.

We're not strangers to the UP but the last time we'd been there was a week during mid-summer in the 1990s and we'd gone up through the Straits of Mackinac and over the big bridge to camp. This time it was sort of like sneaking in the back door. Earlier this week northern Wisconsin had received several inches of snow and we'd actually had a light dusting on Saturday morning here in Wausau. As we drove north, the snow got heavier and in a number of places there were spots where the roads were covered or patchy.

Not long after leaving Eagle River we saw our first bald eagle flying low over our heads along the highway. It was magnificent. We think there might have been a couple more in the area but they were too high up to easily be identified. We crossed over the border into the UP at Land O' Lakes and continued north to Watersmeet, Michigan.

At that point we had a decision to make. Should we turn back or pursue other options. As Jourdan looked at the map and we saw signs, we realized that Ontonagon, Michigan was a mere 48 miles further and there we'd be on the shores of Lake Superior. So onward we drove.

Bruce Crossing was the next town about 20 miles further and there it was time for a pit stop. The snows were much deeper by that time and the parking lot of the IGA/BP gas station was actually packed snow and people were driving up on their snowmobiles to get gas. After a quick stop we kept driving through some beautiful hills passing through Rockland before eventually coming to Ontonagon.

It took a few minutes to get our bearings there but we finally found our way to the country park and lakeshore area. It was simply awesome. The pounding of Lake Superior on the shore there created an environment of ice like we'd never seen before. The sand was semi frozen in places where you could see it and most of the shore was covered in field of ice. The lake was several hundred yards out and to get there we walked on an undulating terrain of very intense ice and actually climbed up to a point where another kind of ice had formed, this time more like round balls that were frozen in place. This was still over a hundred or so yards from open water and as we looked out you could see an expanse of the same kinds of ice balls actually moving and floating against the shore in the water.

To say it was cold is an understatement. The wind was ripping. The ice field we walked on was very slick. Patches of snow helped us get traction but there were some places where my shoes simply would not take me and I had to find alternatives to get to the high point of the ice field to take pictures. After about ten minutes we returned to the car and cranked up the heat full blast to get warm. We hoped for a coffeeshop in Ontonagon but the only one there was closed and our options were a couple of bars so we chose instead to head back.

The trip back seemed to go faster. It wasn't long before we were back in Land O' Lakes for a quick stop and a chance to de-ice the Echo. The roads there were wet and sandy and combined with the cold temperatures caused a very hard crust of ice to form along the bottom of the car and in the wheel wells. On the way back we saw one more bald eagle clearly and that was a nice way to conclude our wanderings.

Its a long way that far north but we are planning a return trip this summer more likely to the Apostle Islands area and the NPS area for camping and exploring. We're going when its a little warmer too. These additional pictures provide a glimpse of how stark and beautiful the shores of Lake Superior can be in winter.

Oh, one more thing, US Hwy 45 goes all the way to Ontonagon. In Illinois we often crossed it in our travels there and in places it was known as Lagrange Road. But way up north its just US 45 and connects places like Bruce Crossing with Rockland and Ontonagon. There is actually a turn around there and you head back south. I don't think I've come to the end of the road very often in my life. But this week end we did.

The Thrill Is Not Gone--BB King Comes to Wausau

2007-04-04T19:07:00.000-06:00

Sometimes its just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

That's about the only way I can summarize a series of events that took place over the past couple of days that led to one very memorable evening. I saw that BB King was coming to Wausau several weeks ago when I was still in the interview process for my new job here. I also saw that the show was sold out. I was happy to see that such a great performer would be here and probably in a small way it contributed to my growing interest in the job and the community.

Sometime on Monday, Tom, one of my team members told me there was an "extra" ticket to see BB King and he asked if I'd like it. Well, an offer like that cannot be turned down. I was all set for an evening of fun with some of my new friends and colleages and the chance to hear BB King for the first time. The night went well. The Grand Theatre is very grand. I met a number of interesing people prior to the concert including the Grand's director who mentioned that we could come back stage and meet Mr. King following the concert. Good idea I thought but it was soon time for the show to start.

I think I can speak for most of us in attendance when I say that we were in awe of BB King. At age 81 the man can play, sing, and tell incredible stories. He and the band played for a solid two hours and when it was over nobody wanted him to go.

We filed our way out and down to the main floor...and then to the back of the theatre area where we were asked to wait in a small room to visit Mr. King for a few minutes in groups of five people. We waited through about three or four groups and finally were on our way in. He sat in the back of his tour bus in a room with very comfortable seating. He invited us all to sit down while he talked to us and continued to tell stories. He graciously signed every piece of paper put in front of him and even granted a very rare interview to the local WPR radio newscaster.

Our few minutes were up soon but nobody moved and BB King just kept on talking to us, listening to our questions, and sharing from his life as a bluesman. Probably twenty or maybe thirty minutes went by and we remained in our seats with him in what was probably one of the most incredible times of my life. Finally we got up to leave and he let us take a few pictures and then shook hands and waved good bye.

I waited a long time to see BB King for the first time and I don't expect I'll ever be as fortunate to see him again in a situation like this. But know this, I'll go a long way out of my way to see him again. He signed a vintage-style poster of this year's tour for me and when the frame gets here it will hold a place of significance in my new Wisconsin home.

BB King sings "The Thrill is Gone," but for me the thrill will last a long, long time.

Evidence of Things Past

2007-03-24T16:58:00.000-06:00

Somebody lived here before.

They left evidence of things past literally steps from my apartment door. High on a hill south of Wausau is nestled the little development called Whitespire Grove. From the highest point you can look north along the river valley and see towards downtown Wausau several miles away. A glance west is a great view of Granite Peak (Rib Mountain) which still has snow on all of the runs. Chunks of red granite are everywhere in the fields surrounding where I live.

This was originally farmland. In fact the farmhouse and barn are still situated on a corner not far from my place. But a lot of what looks like a farm is gone, except when you look closer. On a walk this afternoon I discovered a short section of farm fence, complete with barbed wire and remains of insulators suggesting an "electric" fence to keep farm animals in.

I grew up around things like this as a kid. Climbing over barbed wire fences was a common occurance and I'm sure my mom appreciated the holes in my jeans that gave testimony to my climbing abilities. Rotting fence posts, insulators, and an occasional "live" electric fence are things I recall clearly from growing up. And now I find these same things here in my new home.

Its interesting to think about how life sometimes brings you back to things you experienced before. I like that. Its very nice way for God to tell me things are going to be fine here.

Where I Live

2007-03-24T16:35:00.000-06:00

Its the end of my first week here in the Wausau area. Actually I live in Schofield, Wisconsin, which is just a few miles down river on the mighty Wisconsin River, not far from Rothschild. My commute to work is 10-12 minutes most mornings and I'm very strategically located near shopping and good places to eat. Mickey's Red Hots is literally a mile from my place and they make a real Chicago Hot Dog!

Only about 5 minutes away is Rib Mountain Drive where many of the places you want to shop are located. My grocery store of choice is Trigs and its wonderful. They have great people, wonderful things to eat, fresh stuff and its a great experience. They don't allow carts in the parking lot so you get to drive up and a nice fellow puts your stuff in the truck and will not accept tips. We have a new Menards, Home Depot, Best Buy, Bed Bath and Beyond....and many local places that add flavor and interest for me.

This is an outside view of my place. I have the top floor and my bedroom is on the left corner in this picture. Spring has settled into north central Wisconsin this week melting the snow and softening the ice on the river and Lake Wausau. There is still snow and skiing on Granite Peak but that won't last much longer.

Anit-war Protest in Wausau

2007-03-18T06:38:00.000-06:00

This was one of the nicest ways my daughter and I could have been welcomed to Wausau and central Wisconsin.

Chanting "Not one more dead, not one more dollar," about 125 anti-war protesters from north central Wisconsin turned out for a peace rally and march Saturday in downtown Wausau, marking the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq.

The protest was one of many coinciding with other rallies across the state and nation this weekend, demanding Congress stop funding the war in Iraq and begin withdrawing U.S. troops.

Congress is debating how much of an approximate $95 billion supplemental spending bill they will fund and whether to specify a date for withdrawing troops.

The war in Iraq has cost more than 3,200 U.S. troops and an estimated $500 billion, according to The Associated Press.

Wayne Koniecki, 60, of Parrish marched with a sign embellished with a red, plastic gas can that read "How many lives per gallon."

During the November elections, Wisconsin voters supported more than two-to-one ballot measures calling for a withdraw of troops from Iraq, he said.

Additionally, last spring "nearly two dozen communities passed nonbinding resolutions at the local level calling for the government to begin removing troops from Iraq," said Jeffrey Ames, chair of Peace North based in Hayward, who spoke at Saturday's rally.

I borrowed heavily from the story written by Tracey Ludvik of the Wausau Daily Herald.

Moving North

2007-03-08T23:23:00.000-06:00

Here in northern Illinois they sometimes refer to it as the "Cheddar Curtain." The Wisconsin border looms very close to my home in Crystal Lake but in just a few days I'll be moving north to take a new job in a large healthcare system directing public and community relations. My office location will be Wausau, but I'll be living in Schofield, one of the towns located along the Wisconsin River a few miles south of Wausau.

Actually the nature of my role will involved a fair amount of travel to the hospitals we have that are located throughout central and northern Wisconsin. Its really pretty exciting as I'll be exploring a whole new region of the upper midwest/Great Lakes Region. Wausau is about 240 miles north of Crystal Lake, a drive of approximately three and one half hours. I've made several trips there over the past few weeks and am beginning to know my way around most of the major things in the community. I'm very excited about what lies ahead.

So far on my visits I've not really had time to take pictures so for now this post will feature a picture I found online. Right now I'm spending most of my time preparing for the new job, sorting through what to keep and what to throw away, and starting to sell my townhouse.

A view of Rib Mountain and Lake Wausau

Obama Announcement

2007-01-16T22:48:00.000-06:00

Barack Obama represents what may be the best hope for American in many decades.

My Little Town

2007-01-01T00:13:00.000-06:00

I live in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Its a town of around 40,000 souls located northwest of Chicago in McHenry County. I live in the downtown area just a block from the Metra Station and about the same distance from Williams Street which is the main street in our town. Many small shops and businesses line this street or are located just off of it. Places like Heisler's Bootery, J. Scott Men's Wear, Le Petit Marche, and the Raue Center for the Arts. There are good places to eat too like the Olympic, Genovese's, Duke O'Brien's, and Christopher's. With the Metra station being so close I never have to find a place to park when I want to head into the city. Life here has many great benefits.

This is a photo taken from the south end of Williams Street looking north during the late afternoon of December 31, 2006. New Year's Eve day. The end of a year for me and the beginning of another.

This has been an interesting year with many good things taking place. Its also been a year where there have been some significant changes in my life including employment. As I look to the days ahead I will be working for a new company soon. One that might allow me to stay here in Crystal Lake or at least the Chicago area. Or perhaps it will take me to a new place, much different that the place I've known the past three and a half years.

It will be interesting to look back on this day a year from now as we prepare to enter into 2008. Many questions will have been answered by then but new ones will remain. As is always the case in life as we move ahead. That's one of the things I like most about it. Life that is. Always different. Always interesting. Full of opportunity, hope and promise.

To everyone who reads this...to anyone who reads this (who am I kidding?) I wish you a happy and prosperous new year. And all the best in the days ahead. From my little town....to you.

Washing the cat

2007-01-01T00:01:00.000-06:00

This is probably something that should be titled, "Don't try this at home," but a few days ago when my daughter was home for Christmas break she decided it was time for the cat to have his yearly bath. I'm always supportive of the concept but in the time or two where I've tried it, results were less than successful. Well, actually the cat got cleaned but he got even using back claws and teeth. So in practice I've given up on the process.

But Jourdan is brave and one morning just before Christmas she tossed Nigel Martin into the shower and hopped in right behind him. His experience was similar to those in the past but he was a bit kinder and gentler with her than he'd been with me. After a minute or two of warm water I heard he actually seemed to be warming up to the idea. At least enough to endure the fragrant shampoo and warm water rinse.

When it was over he lept from the tub and ran down the stairs like he could somehow manage to escape the water if his velocity were only high enough. Unfortunately in his case he didn't outrun the wet and had to endure a toweling off followed by a few hours of personal grooming.

Right before that process started I managed a few quick snaps of our regal feline, Nigel Martin. Normally he is a proud and princely feline but when he's wet, he's just a sorry little sack, skinny, scrawny, and not the least regal in stature. But aren't we all like that at some point in our lives. For Nigel's sake, he dried fairly quickly thanks to a small room heater that he got close to and soon he'd returned to his fluffy, furry self. But now his fur is soft and smells so nice. I'm thinking it would be a shame to wait an entire year for this process to take place again. But I'm not brave enough to try it without a full suit of armor.

2006-12-30T08:11:00.000-06:00

Belgian Talk Show

A Belgian talk show host can't hold on as he interviews a couple. The man had his testicles removed by mistake during an operation and the host is asking his wife whether it has changed their sex life - the husband then chimes in......

2006-12-30T08:07:00.000-06:00

Sierra Mist Holiday Hawk

He only shows up once a year and when he does it makes the holiday season even more festive. Here's to the Holiday Hawk and Sierra Mist, whatever that is.

Wyoming

2006-12-22T21:39:00.000-06:00

Wyoming is a big state with not too many people. Just about half a million residents live in a state that is very large and open. It is a state with post card vistas everywhere you turn. I was only there a short time but I took my camera and was able to get a few good pictures that I'll always remember. These were taken from various points on Casper Mountain, a 3000 foot terrain that runs from west to east just south of the city. Even though there was little snow in downtown Casper there was plenty on the mountain and some years there are feet of snow when the valley has literally none.

Enjoy these pictures.

View from part way up the mountain looking north and east.

Looking west from the top of Casper Mountain.

Mule deer are quite common on the mountain and rather tame. This guy was actually eating apples from the hand of a passer-by. A little PhotoShop magic and I moved him back up the hill to a more natural looking habitat.

Way out west Part II--Getting Home!!

2006-12-22T21:08:00.000-06:00

My last post was from the Salt Lake City airport several hours before my flight was to leave for Chicago. Being strategically located near the baggage claim I had the opportunity to see many people arrive and meet family and friends for the holidays. It was also a pretty decent way to remain awake. All totalled I probably got 90 minutes of sleep between midnight and 4 am when the Delta ticket counter opened. Well, I was in line at 4 am but they really got rolling about 4:30.

A quick check in put me in a good mood but the TSA folks wanted to check out all their neat sniffing devices so they made me a special search candidate using the special red bins for my stuff. I also had my complete carry on stuff opened and swiped for traces of what I'm not quite sure. But they were all so fun I didn't mind and soon I'd be on a plane for home.

The time passed pretty quickly. I had Starbucks coffee and a little later something from Burger King. Promptly at 7:45 they started boarding our plane. I had an exit row seat aisle seat so that meant more room and easy to get in and out. The plane pushed back on time and we headed for our position on the runway. Just as we arrived the captain informed us that weather at O'Hare was causing a slight delay so we'd have to sit for a few minutes until a "window" opened up. OK, I can live with that.

About 20 minutes later he told us that the window never really opened and that we were going to sit there until we found out more. At that point flight attendants broke out free juice and snacks. I had a feeling we were in for the long haul. I was right. We were delayed by over two hours but finally we had clearance for take off. I could feel us getting closer.

I passed the time listening to music and talking to a lovely couple from Lander, Wyoming who was originally from Chicago. They retired in Lander and loved it. But Chicago was their holiday desination to see friends and family.

As we neared O'Hare you could tell the weather was pretty intense. Lots of clouds. Lots of clouds. We we descending for awhile and then you could feel the plane do a big turn. Apparently a lot of planes were trying to land and we got to do the "big circle" around Chicago to wait for the OK to land. One big rotation and we were headed in. Did I mention there were lots of clouds?

I have no idea how we came onto the tarmack at O'Hare because you could not see the ground until maybe 100 feet before landing. Thank God for the technology that lets airplanes see when the pilots cannot. We landed smooth and safe and had only a short time to the gate. People cheered. The flight attendant mistakenly welcomed us to Denver...then realized her mistake and we all laughed.

My bag was among the first down the beltway and within minutes I had my bus ticked for Crystal Lake. The bus arrived on time and we were headed out to I-90 and points northwest. All was well. Or so we thought!

About ten minutes down the road there was loud noise and suddenly the bus started to vibrate and shake heavily. It only took a second to realize we'd blown a tire. The driver got us off the highway and went out to look. He radioed headquarters who told us that a spare bus was on its way from O'Hare. A nice Illinois State Trooper stopped by to make sure we were all OK. We were.

After about a 30 minute wait we were back on the road again and headed home. We made it a little later than planned due to the flat and some unusually heavy traffic. But around 6 pm we pulled into the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn and Jourdan was there waiting for me. I'd phoned ahead to order a Pinemoor Pizza that was ready when I arrived. We chowed down immediately when we got home. It was the first real food I'd had since lunchtime on Wednesday at the Flying J in Rawlings.

Home never felt so good. I was tired and soon headed up to bed. I slept until 7 am and literally did not move all night long.

My first trip to Wyoming is one I'll remember for a long time. Many good experiences in spite of the travel difficulties. But in all, I am home for Chrismas. Just where I want to be.

Way out west!!

2006-12-21T00:00:00.000-06:00

On Sunday afternoon I left the Windy City for a job interview in Casper, Wyoming. There is a great hospital there that serves the healthcare needs of the state that was actually interested in my potential to assist them in marketing and public relations activities. Sunday in Chicago was unseasonably warm and pleasant.

Flying United seemed like a good idea. Strong carrier in Chicago with lots of connections in Denver and on to Casper. But things started to unravel before boarding the plane for DIA. A long line formed to get boarding passes prior to departure but no one from United came by to assist. Finally, minutes before the scheduled departure time a volunteer showed up and boarding passes were issued but the delay caused the flight to leave later than planned. Even though the crew tried to make up the time my flight from Chicago landed about the time my plane for Casper was taking off. No problem according to the flight crew on the plane. Casper passengers were being rebooked for the next flight.

But upon arrival I discovered that there was only one more flight to Casper (Natrona County International Airport) and that flight was booked solid. But I waited hoping for a miracle to fly out. By 8:30 the last miracle departed without me.

Ever resourceful I opted for a car rental with the thought of driving as far as I could that night in order to be in Casper by 8 am on Monday. But I needed my bag which was checked curbside at O'Hare. Several nice United people promised I'd get it within an hour or two. But by 11:30 someone finally had the courtesy to admit that my bag would not come and that I should expect it to fly to Casper in the morning....without me!

So I left Denver via car and drove north as far as I could in somewhat snowy conditions. By the time I got to Cheyenne (2:30 am MST) the roads were getting bad and I was really tired so I found a room at the Inn, Comfort Inn to be exact where I got four hours of sleep before heading out again to get to Casper.

Roads were snowy and icy for a good part of the next 175 miles. My cell phone was dying, I was hungry and I still didn't have my suitcase. By 11:30 am I rolled into Casper and retreived my bag at NCIA and headed over to the Holiday Inn for a hot shower, shave, and clean clothes. Then off to the hospital for interviews.

All went well that afternoon and the next morning as I met with some great people and really learned more about the hospital and its role in meeting the healthcare needs of Wyoming. Tuesday afternoon I spent time with a local realtor who gave me a grand tour of the area including the opportunity to meet a small herd of mule deer face to face (watch for pictures soon).

Wednesday morning it was time to go. I got up early and toured a bit more of the city. By 9:30 am I got a call telling me that the big snow storm had closed the Denver airport. No flights in or out. Not a good message for guy wanting to head out. Casper has 3 carriers serving the commuity flying to Denver, Salt Lake City, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Unfortunately all flights from there were either cancelled due to weather or full. The word was maybe Friday.

Then I met Steve. A nice guy from Tulsa also trying to get home. He had found that if we could somehow get to Salt Lake City we could fly out on Thursday. And SLC was only a 6 hour drive by car. So we opted to split car rental and head south and west, hoping to avoid any of the bad weather plaguing SE Wyoming and most of Colorado. On the way to finalizing details we met another weary traveler, Tim, who was trying to get home to Texas. The three of us headed out around 11:15 for Utah.

Other than one stop for lunch at the Flying J around Rawlings, we drove straight through at a speedy pace and were at the Salt Lake Airport by 5:30 pm. The other guys opted for rooms at the Hampton Inn and I decided to wait it out in the airport until my flight left at 8 am the next day. Unfortunately I discovered I could not check in until 4 am on Thursday so my access to the better side of airport living (beyond security) was limited. I took up residence next to baggage carousel #8 at SLIA and here I sit at 11:22 pm MST on Wednesday night.

Less than 5 hours to check in and only a few more until my flight leaves. I've been reading, doing puzzles, and being online thanks to wifi here in the airport. I'm pretty tired and not able to sleep very well in a noisey, well-lighted facility but it won't be long and I'll be on my way back to sweet home Chicago.

Inside the Rock

2006-11-06T21:38:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I miss the obvious and in doing so hope that what is see is something that perhaps no one noticed before. Not that no person had ever laid eyes on it before, but perhaps it was just the right light, at the right time on the right day. Suddenly an ordinary image becomes a vision. I wish all my photographs were of that quality but sadly most are not.

These stairs were locked behind a door and visible only through a small slit. Sunlight spilled down the steps as I stretched up to see behind the door. Through this narrow opening was a stairway that lead up and down. To somewhere I would never go. Travelled by people long since gone. But in the instant I moved my camera into position I knew that I was seeing something for the first time. Alone, solitary, just me. The sunlight, peeling paint and muted colors were more than I could imagine. I shot many frames trying to catch just the right position and just the right amount of light.

The image below I think captures best what I saw on that summer day on Alcatraz.

The Art of Milwaukee

2006-10-26T20:00:00.000-06:00

One of the benefits of having a daughter attending school at Marquette University is the frequency with which I get to visit one of the really coolest cities in the midwest, Milwaukee. OK, the state get a lot of crap from people in northern Illinois but Milwaukee is a real treasure. One of my favorite spots is the Milwaukee Art Museum. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the building alone is worth the visit. The avian-like structure literally soars out over Lake Michigan and provides inspiration like few public structures today ever do.

My latest visit occurred on one of those brilliant fall days when the skies were bluer than blue and the light was just a photographers dream. Unfortunately the many people were inside the building making some of the shots I wanted to take inside difficult if not impossible. But the outside shots were spectacular.

City by the Bay Part II--Up North

2006-10-26T19:32:00.000-06:00

The week I spent in San Francisco included two days of side trips to very special places, Sonoma and Stinson Beach. The last week of July temperatures reached record levels in northern California. Although San Francisco was hot compared to its normal temps we didn't experience the extremes so much until driving north to Sonoma where it topped out at a little over 100 degrees. Although it was a "dry heat," it was still very warm.

The time in Sonoma was short with only time for a couple of good wineries, a great restaurant, and the Tuesday evening market on the square. Fresh foods, fruits and vegetables abounded along with friendly people and music. The hot and dry weather had produced an abundant crop of rattlesnakes and there were signs posted along the trails at the wineries to be cautious. I guess I didn't take them as seriously as I should have until the following morning when I saw a fellow in high leather boots walking the grounds outside the Ravenswood Winery with an extension pole and a bag looking for errant rattlers. A brief conversation assured me that indeed one should be cautions. But by then we were headed back toward the ocean and cooler temps.

A careful walk through the vinyard was something I had to do, snakes or not. I got up close to some of the grape clusters and took a few pictures. This is one I like a lot.

And finally on to Stinson Beach, a small place that is almost unnoticed. There is a daunting 10 mile drive on some very "interesting" stretches of Highway 1 but I assure you that it was worth the drive. There was a spot or two where the road had washed away but we managed to avoid those spots and find our way to the Stinson Beach Motel. The cool temps and heavy fogs were a sharp contrast to the heat of the interior lands. I love this little town and hope to return someday.

City by the Bay Part I

2006-08-13T12:56:00.000-06:00

In all of my worldly travels probably the one place I've always wanted to go is San Francisco. Just last month I finally had that opportunity. My daughter and I were trying to decide what to do for a week of much needed summer vacation and after a lot of thought it occurred to us that San Francisco is "the" place we really had always wanted to see. So with a little help from my friends at Travelocity.com (shameless and well-deserved endorsement here) I was able to book two round trip tickets, a downtown SF hotel, and car rental for those days when we would be outside of the city all for around $800. What a bargain!

We flew from Milwaukee to Minneapolis to SF and had a great flight but due to some mechanical issues we were a bit late in our Saturday afternoon arrival. After collecting our luggage we made our way to BART which delivered us into downtown San Francisco less than two blocks from the Mosser Hotel on 4th Street, our temporary new home. Being late we opted for just a bit of evening sight seeing and then found a nearby Chinese restaurant for dinner.

Sunday morning we went to the Warf to sight see, shop, eat, and catch a ride to Alcatraz. We wandered the area back and forth saw a group of sea lions sunning themselves near Pier 39, and ate a delicious lunch of clam chowder served in sourdough bread bowls. After lunch we boarded a ferry for the "rock" and had a delightful time touring this once famous prison now turned bird sanctuary. Although we arrived during one of the hottest spells in recent memory the temperatures on the island were chilly with the winds coming in from the bay.

Upon return to the city we visited the famous City Light Bookstore and then Cafe Prague, a nearby eatery. We dined on very good breads and goulash washed down by a cool bottle of Czech Lion Beer.

Monday morning was devoted to visiting Haight-Ashbury. Jourdan fell in love with the former hippie-summer-of-love neighborhood and so did I. We ate a hearty breakfast at the reknown Pork Store Cafe and then made at least two full round trip tours of the best shops stopping at all of the cool places and vintage stores. Returning to the hotel we opted for a mid afternoon nap before venturing out for Chinatown. The plan was to eat at Dick Lee's on Jackson Street (Anna's recommendation) but Mr. Lee decided to beat the heat and closed up his small eatery until early August. I know the food is good but that was just too long to wait. So instead we kept walking and eventually found a nice place at a great price.

Tuesday morning we walked to Yerba Buena Gardens and the SFMOMA where we drank Peets Coffee and watch people walking by on their way to and from wherever they were going. By noon we had our car and were driving up Van Ness Avenue headed toward the Golden Gate Bridge and points north. But that is another part of the story so stay tuned.

The Bean

2006-06-04T12:32:00.000-06:00

Center piece of Chicago's Millennium Park, the Bean is just this side of incredible. I saw it again for the first time yesterday on a trip to the city. Actually I saw it first in 2004 when the bean was unveiled that summer and it was pretty incredible but when you looked closely you could see all the seams and things holding it together. So for a year and something around $17MM the artist had a crew make it a seamless and an even more amazing piece of civic artwork. The stainless steel structure is just magnificent. The reflections alone are worth a visit but even more fun are the people attracted to the park.

And if that's not enough there is the Pritzker stage and amphitheatre, the amazing walkway over to the lake, the skating rink that doubles as a cool outdoor restaurant in the summer, and the video towers and pool at the south end of the park. Give me a camera on a sunny day and I could be there for hours.

Mayor Daley has a lot of critics and I can't say I always agree with him on things, but its hard to dispute the work he has done to make Chicago a beautiful, safe, and clean city. And he's make public spaces so much more inviting and you can see that people are taking advantage of them.

Chicago Irish Festival

2006-05-29T19:57:00.000-06:00

Memorial Day week end here in greater Chicagoland included a wonderful three day Irish/Gaelic Fesitval on the Southside. Held at Gaelic Park, it was a great opportunity to enjoy good food, Irish music, shopping from the Emerald Isle, and good things to drink including Guinness and Smithwick's.

Saturday evening was a beautiful night to attend and I was lucky to have timed my visit with a performance from the Irish band, The Saw Doctors. Upon recommendation from a friend I made sure to be there in plenty of time for an opportunity not to be missed. The Saw Doctors, heretofore unknown to me, are an experience that you just have to be there for. People who know were there. For me, one of the uninitiated, it was amazing to see the band perform and the crowd so get into their music. There was a Gaelic Mosh Pit up on front of the stage and nobody minded the wall to wall crowds dancing, singing, and just have a great time. Young and old. We all had a blast.

Andy Worhol Was Here

2006-05-19T22:17:00.000-06:00

Not long ago, as a part of my photography class, the group of students compiled our work and developed a photo exhibit that is currently on display at McHenry County College. We worked hard all semester throughout the class and the exhibit was a way for each of us to select some of our best work and show it to the world. Or at least that part of the world that walks the hallways near the art department at MCC. Last week we held an opening reception attended by at least 100 famiy, friends, and others. It was a really great night for us all and very uplifting. We called it FirstLight.

During the evening our instructor grabbed my new digital camera and made me pose for a few pictures since I'm always behind the lens and never in front of it. After some coaxing and instruction I offered an Andy Worhol--esque pose for the camera. Through the magic of PhotoShop and a touch of my own creativity I created the image you see with this post. While we all know that Andy Worhol is no longer among the living the flavor of his work and his spirit lives on in us. See what you think.

The Farnsworth House

2006-04-04T21:46:00.000-06:00

Sometimes we accomplish life-long goals when we least expect it. Today was that kind of day for me. On a whim I decided to drive back to Crystal Lake from Starved Rock State Park on the "backroads" of Illinois. These were uncharted waters for me and as often as not I found myself consulting a map with too little detail. But about half way into my trip I noticed that with almost no effort I could drive through Plano, IL, a town famous for the work of architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. In this little out-of-the-way town he'd built one of the icons of American design, the Farnsworth House.

Although I knew I could find Plano, I had no confidence I could find the Farnsworth House since the town was much bigger than I'd anticpated as I rolled into the west side on Rte 34. At one of the first major intersections my eye barely caught a sign that pointed in the right direction and with a quick lane change I was headed south on a city street that quickly gave way to a winding country road. About two miles out I figured I'd missed a key turn off and was about to turn around when I saw yet another discreet sign pointing to the left. I quickly slowed to pull over much to the dismay of the local resident who was riding my bumper at 50 mph but I managed to get off the road, collect my thoughts, and aim in the direction the sign pointed.

About a mile down the road was a little gate leading to a small shop with books, artifacts, and tickets to see the house. Barely 3 years ago this would have been impossible but for the work of the National Trust for Historic Preservation which purchased the home at auction for a mere $7 million to save it for geeks like me who really enjoy looking at cool things like this. I arrived just in time for the last tour of the day and it was only me and the guide when I started but we were soon joined by a delightful couple also visiting for the first time. It was a beautiful spring day in Plano and the house was magnificent. The late afternoon light was perfect for pictures (only on the outside, please) and I shot away with the new Nikon D70s. What fun.

I never really wrote down my list of lifetime accomplishments but in my mind this place has always been on the list. This summer I promised Jourdan a return visit and I'm really looking forward to it. While the house was never a really habilable place for humans, the design and execution is one of my favorites of all time.

The Green River

2006-03-12T22:43:00.000-06:00

After being here for four St. Patrick's Day celebrations I finally found myself in the city with my camera when the Chicago River was green. Now it isn't the first time I've seen it. In fact, even before I lived here I would come up from Indiana to see the river and enjoy the bright colors. But somehow me and a camera never made it at the same time. Oh, once I did but had dead batteries and failing light. But that hardly counts.

Today, looking toward the State Street bridge from Wacker the river was ablaze in all its green St. Patrick's Day glory and I was there to record it. The city was celebrating early this year which although seems a bit unauthentic, was better for me to get to see the great spectacle as compared to next week end when the true day of celebration will be marked. For a good part of the day the sun shined on my daughter and I as we strolled Michigan Avenue and Rush Street. People were out, happy, smiling, and enjoying the day. Even a few folks in green could be seen in passing.

I was there, I was happy.

Heating It Up in Woodstock

2006-02-04T22:42:00.000-06:00

Our friends in Woodstock, and especially those fine folks at the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce and Industry have been busy promoting the town and Groundhog Days this year. Woodstockians have achieved a new level of greatness however with the introduction of a special Woodstock Willie hot sauce. Woodstock Willie is now at the level of product endorsement. Its a wonderful thing!! You can drop by the Chamber's website at: www.woodstockilchamber.com/.

Groundhog Day in Woodstock, Illinois

2006-02-02T22:14:00.001-06:00

One of the benefits of living where I do is the close proximity to Woodstock, Illinois. The fabled home of the classic film "Groundhog Day," the community has turned a photo opportunity into a full blown and rather entertaining mid-winter festival. Ground Hog Days in Woodstock kick off on February 2 with the appearance of Woodstock Willie, our own version of Punxatawny Phil. Woodstock Willie is fast graining in popularity and someday soon may eclipse his cousin out east. Today's event was spectacular.

Hundreds of local residents crammed the square awaiting the appearance of Willie and his shadow, or lack of it. This year we had the added benefit of hosting Spike O'Dell, morning show host on WGN. Spike and the gang really added some spice to this year's festivities. Promplty at 7:20 am Woodstock Willie was roused from his quarters and emerged to a cloudy morning sky and the prediction of an early spring. Everyone cheered his appearance and his prognostication. Life is good. Winter is waning and spring can't be far behind.

My grand plan was to get up early and join the hundreds of early morning revelers but alas, I could not get my ass out of bed early enough to make it on time, so like thousands throughout Chicagoland, I joined the event via Spike and the WGN crew. When I finally did make it to the square, just about 9, everyone was gone and it looked just like a normal morning. In case anyone is interested there is an entire week end of festivities ahead including the legendary Groundhog Days Chili Cook-off. I entered it last year and lost. Schedule conflicts on Saturday keep me from entering the contest this year but look out for 2007. I'll be back with a killer recipe. And the community may be asking that morning...."where is Woodstock Willie anyway?"

Ring in the New Year 2006

2005-12-31T19:59:00.000-06:00

It seems like only days ago that I was looking forward to 2005 and now the year has come and gone. 365 days is like a long time but with each passing year the time moves more quickly. It might have something to do with getting older but it just might be the pace of our lives.

Looking back this has been a good year. There were many achievements personally and for my family. My daughter successfully made the transition to college and is anxious to start her second semester at Marquette. She has many new friends and one very special one. At work we've acheived some great accomplishments and now are moving forward more strategically with plans for the future. Personally this has been a year of growth, in learning to care and to be patient to wait for the good things that are to come. I have made many good friendships in my short time here and feel that this is truly where I belong.

What's ahead? Well, last year for the first time I tried resolutions and most of them never happened, not for want of trying. So this year I'm going back to my tried and true approach to the new year and just be open to the possibilities. Not trying to make anything happen but celebrate and embrace it when it does. 2005 was a good year and 2006 will be an even better one.

Good wishes to all who stop by to read my bog....Happy New Year!

Christmas is coming soon

2005-12-10T02:40:00.000-06:00

With winter coming to northern Illinois a little sooner than I expected everyone is getting into the Christmas and holiday spirit in a big way. Its a busy time of year but also a lot of fun shopping and preparing for good holiday times. My tree is up but yet undecorated and I hosted the first of the season's holiday parties last night that was attended by 20 or so friends. We enjoyed lots of good wine, champagne, and many delicious things to eat.

Last Sunday I was at Marquette visiting Jourdan when we got her new boyfriend Jeff to take our holiday picture. The recent snows in Mke provided a perfect backdrop on a chilly late afternoon. Christmas is always a magical time. When I was a kid it was the lure of Santa, all the presents, decorating the tree, and enjoying family. Many of those same things remain part of each year for me with the added benefits of having wonderful friends and many good memories of past Christmases as well as hopes and wishes for Christmas times to come.

Happy Christmas!

The Falling Price of Gasoline

2005-11-18T18:30:00.000-06:00

This week I had the pleasure of traveling to Peoria, IL for a work related meeting. Its nice to do a road trip but unfortunately a lot of this day I spent fighing high winds and blowing snow. Early winter in Illinois is not fun.

But a good thing about my trip was the last 50 miles twisting and turning across rural roads and little towns. Little towns like Washburn and Cazenovia were delightful spots along the way. In Washburn I stopped for gas and found the cheapest prices I've seen in months. It was a photo opportunity I couldn't resist in this day and age.

Northern Illinois Fall

2005-11-08T23:10:00.000-06:00

Fall continues to slowly embrace the air in northern Illinois. While the colors aren't as brilliant as in some years, what we have is a visual treat to my eyes. Tones are more muted but nearly as spectacular. The light on some afternoons has just been perfect. Clear, warm, crisp. This photo is from Duefield Pond near Woodstock, IL. Just a little wetlands area not too far from the post office and Jewel shopping center. But there it is, peaceful and spectacular just a turn off a main road. I'll never get over fall. I think each year it is the season I look forward to most. I savor each opportunity I have to be out to experience it. I roll down the windows in my car when driving past a pile of burning leaves. I guess it brings back my childhood but its more than that. Its fall. The end of a life cycle but such a glorious thing.

The pond at Veteran Acres Park

2005-10-30T14:17:00.000-06:00

The last Saturday of October was probably the nicest fall day so far of the season. Pleasant temperatures, a light breeze, the faint smell of burning leaves, and colors that are still short of peaking made this a beautiful day in Crystal Lake. Late in the afternoon I visited the pond at Veteran Acres and captured this image.

On the Air

2005-10-05T21:00:00.000-06:00

Here is the new Thursday morning radio host standing outside the studios. The Breakfast Club can be heard on Marquette Radio from 8 to 10 am CST. Follow the link from this page to the listening site. You'll be glad you did.

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far...

2005-09-28T23:17:00.000-06:00

Wow does that saying ever ring true. After spending seven years hosting college radio at a school back in Indiana I am proud to say that my college freshman daughter Jourdan has taken a page from her dad's book...and written her own by hosting a morning radio show at Marquette University.

Marquette Radio is one of those "cool" college stations where students who volunteer and meet minimum requirements can actually get a chance to be on the air. Not all college stations have such an open approach. But my fearless daughter signed up during the first week of classes and accepted the challenge of hosting a show on Thursdays. Mind you, its not the best slot for a college station unless you think everyone is up at 8 am, but in the radio biz its really "morning drive" and that is a hell of a time to be airborne. She plays an eclectic mix of indie/alternative rock along with some of the "have to" songs required by the station format to meet certain college radio station requirements.

For MU students its easy to tune in on cable at Ch. 96 but the rest of us can hear via the internet. Follow the link on my page for Marquette Radio and when that page loads click on "listen." Its simple and easy but sometimes the "listen" page takes a few minutes to load. For two hours you will hear some really good songs and you'll get an earful of information on bands you may never have hear of like Death Cab for Cutie, the Shins, Wilco, and Chad Vangaalen.

Images of Fall

2005-09-24T18:12:00.001-06:00

The skies are more colorful and the light is different. There is a chill in the air and a scent that is unmatched at any other time of the year. Fall explodes upon us here in Illinois so suddenly and is then gone in a minute when that late windstorm blows away the leaves leaving the trees to stretch out their limbs naked in the sky. A country road heading west on a Saturday afternoon.

Fall is Here

2005-09-24T01:52:00.000-06:00

Whenever I talk to people about their favorite season of the year more often than not they say its fall. What is it about this season of endings that makes it so compelling for so many people? Is it the cooling off that comes as the sun's rays slowly move southward and the days grow shorter? Or is it the scent in the air on an chilly day. Maybe its the pallet of colors that God has prepared for us to enjoy. Mixed with faint traces of burning leaves I am instantly carried back to my childhood and a time when everything in life was different. Safe!

Even though I've thoroughly enjoyed our long hot summer in Illinois I was happy to wake up today to cooler temps. The chill in the air seems to invigorate me in a way that nothing else does. Sure I'm not really looking forward to slogging through all the snow and mush we'll have on our streets all too soon, but if I could have my way there would be a very long and pleasant fall season. Full of color, scent, and feeling.

The light changes at this time of year too. Skies are clearer and bluer. Light coming from the sun seems warmer and cleaner. Its a perfect time for pictures and likely I'll be in the city sometime this week end shooing images for my photography class and taking advantage of this beautiful season of the year.

This is my first post in awhile. More to come and I'm hoping to figure out how to add more pictures or links to another photo website. But one step at a time.

Signing on

2005-03-15T23:45:00.000-06:00

Today is my initial leap into blogdom with a half baked idea to start something related to music. Its always been an interest of mine and for 7 years prior to coming here I hosted a folk/acoustic radio show on a college station in Indiana. OK, big yawn but it was a great opportunity to get to know some of the best and most talented people in the music world. People who are dedicated to their music. Often with day jobs to support their work. Struggling but enjoying driving half way across the country to play to a living room full of neighbors. Or a small bar full of drinkers who only half listen. Coffeehouses where students barely noticed what they were missing.

Names like Richard Shindell, Ellis Paul, James Keelaghan, Jeffrey Foucault....Lucy Kapansky, Dar Williams....so many. They are all still out there and occasionally from my outpost here northwest of Chicago I get to hear them as they past through the Windy City on their way.

But this has also opened up opportunities to hear new groups. Local bands, alternative, indie groups...and others doing much them same thing in one or another genre of music. If time permits and the opportunity presents itself I'd love to find a way to blend all of this together in some kind of listening format. Not just what I write but what I would share with you in the music itself. Time will tell. Perhaps this blog will go nowhere. Or maybe it will take off.

2005-03-15T22:16:00.000-06:00

Reflection from the Metra station.

2005-03-15T22:15:00.000-06:00

On the steps of the Newberry Library in December.