Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Where have the years gone?


Where have the years gone?
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

I think 40 is a little fast for the self serve line


Duh


Duh
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

This kid wins the cool hat award


Light pole bias


Light pole bias
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
So this pole is fine, but the rest aren't!

IMG_3236


IMG_3236
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Which way should I go?


Which way should I go?
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
Either direction leads to sorrow.

One way takes me down the same road I've been on. One of lonliness and torment.
The other, unknown.

Is the grass greener?

Is there any grass at all?

So I sit, unmoving, praying for guidance, begging for help.

IMG_3251


IMG_3251
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Sunset to my back


Sunset to my back
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Cloudscape


Cloudscape
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Chicago Public Library


Chicago Public Library
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Beautiful


Beautiful
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Monday, February 20, 2006

Ginny Enjoying a snack


Ginny Enjoying a snack
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Mad Face


Mad Face
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
He's not really mad, he just likes to play mad when I grab his toes :-)

Phat vanity at the fast food drive through


Dakota at my daughters' feet


Dakota at my daughters' feet
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Ginny Enjoying a snack


Ginny Enjoying a snack
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
You can kinda see her shaved leg with the stitches

Dakota Enjoying a snack


Dakota Enjoying a snack
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Fox River Wildlife


Fox River Wildlife
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
These guys were about 40 feet up in the top of these trees... only about 20 feet above where the Bald Eagles were perched - I was amazed.

Fox River Wildlife


Fox River Wildlife
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Fox River Wildlife


Fox River Wildlife
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Fox River Wildlife


Fox River Wildlife
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Fox River Wildlife


Fox River Wildlife
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Red Tail Hawk


Red Tail Hawk
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Fox River Wildlife


Fox River Wildlife
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Fox River Wildlife


Fox River Wildlife
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Fox River Wildlife


Fox River Wildlife
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Back home again - Ginny


Back home again - Ginny
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
The operation went well yesterday. The leg she broke is completely shaved and has stitches and the other is shaved where they put the IV in. I think she's glad to be home. I know that Dakota, Harry and the rest of us are.

Ginny


Ginny
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
This is one of our new baby Silky Terriers. Thursday I stepped on her and broke her leg. She had surgery yesterday and is back home with us.

This picture was taken before the accident.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

My poor baby girl


I'm sick to my stomach tonight
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
this is the last picture I was able to get before I accidently stepped on my little Ginny... OH MY GOD! I feel sick about it.

I knew it was bad right away. She was SCREAMING and scuttled under the kitchen table.

I was able to get at her and it was pretty apparent immediately that there was something wrong with her front leg. I had NO IDEA of where to take an injured pet for emergency treatment. I called my vet clinic and of course all of the vets had left and they were closing and and the person who answered the phone was no help.

I did a yahoo search for vets in my area and called the first one listed. He couldn't help, but he gave me the number to a hospital in Downers Grove. I called them up to make sure they had x-ray capabilities, which they did, and got to the car and made my way to DG.

The little baby must have been in shock. She didn't make a noise most of the way there and either drooped her head over my finger or nuzzled her head under my chin...

So after the x-rays the Doctor said she had broke her "elbow" and that the only chance of her having a functional leg was surgery. On one hand I was glad that she didn't have any internal injuries and that her life wasn't in jeopardy. On the other hand, I now faced that moral dilema that I never wanted to face and make a decision that my wife had always made clear her opinion on.

I called my wife, but she wouldn't help me make the decision "do what you think is best". OK....

So, Ginny is scheduled for orthopeodic surgery tommorow morning to have a plate and pins put in her leg. There's a 75% chance for full recovery and fortunately I stumbled upon a hospital that has 3 ortho's that have done this procedure.

This is alot of $$$ and fortunately I have the means, however painful it is, to do this. My wife had poked fun or criticized people for doing this when we saw such stories on Animal Planet.

I just couldn't make the decision to leave her lame, or put her to sleep (not an option) if the chances were as high as they are for her to live a mostly normal life.

This was the perfect topper to an already rotten day.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Holidays ranked by those I hate the most

ok - so I was going to rank them, but as I started looking them over, I really can say I like any of them, although the fact I get 1 or more days off is pleasing, that's about it...

  • New Year's Day, January 1st.
Are you kidding me? Yeh, I'd love to go out and celebrate the coming of the new year with family and friends, but the last several, in fact I can't remember the last time it wasn't this way, I spend it at home - kids are in one part of the house, wife in another and I'm looking at the TV or the dog and I are staring at each other - blech
  • Birthday of Martin Luther King, third Monday in January.
whatever - don't get me wrong - great leader for the cause, but a Federal Holiday?
  • Inauguration Day, January 20th every four years, starting in 1937.
I didn't even know this was a holiday. I guess it depends on if your guy got in or not to whether you're into it or not.
  • Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February since 1971; prior to that year, it was celebrated on the traditional date of February 22.
It's good to remember our founders, but unless you're in grade school, nobody notices.
  • Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May.
I have no idea what this is - but I support the armed services, so let them have their day - no effect on me though
  • Memorial Day, last Monday in May since 1971; from 1868 to 1970 it was celebrated on May 30, and was called Decoration Day for part of that time.
Now we're talking. A classic three day weekend of wanting to go somewhere or do something, but no - stuck at home again - blech
  • Flag Day, June 14th.
no shit?
  • United States of America's Independence Day, July 4.
Ideal 4th of July would be to take the family to a festival, hang out with friends, eat, drink and be merry and to end the night with "2" kinds of fireworks. (I have never done this)
  • Labor Day, first Monday in September.
Another 3 day weekend.... whoopee
  • Columbus Day, second Monday in October (federal holiday since 1971).
wtf?
  • Election Day, Tuesday on or after November 2.
This ain't a holiday!
  • Veterans Day, November 11th (except from 1971 to 1977, inclusive, when it was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October; formerly known as Armistice).
yeh - ok, ok - we love our vets
  • Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November.
used to love it - now a pain in the ass and heart
  • Christmas Day, December 25th. I have finally included this since it is a federal holiday, although it is not based on a secular holiday.
The most dreaded time of the year.....


how about these - any good ones here?

  • Groundhog Day, February 2.
Stupid
  • Lincoln's Birthday, February 12.
Grade school only
  • Valentine's Day, February 14.
Today - I was OK with it - but I really don't care for it now
  • St. Patrick's Day, March 17.
Could be fun but isn't
  • April Fools's Day, April 1.
Used to be fun then I grew up
egads
  • Administrative Assistants' Day, which once upon a time was Secretaries' Day, is the Wednesday of the last full week of April (that is, the Wednesday before the last Saturday in April) since 1955; see this site for more information.
egads II
egads III
  • Mothers' Day, second Sunday in May (36 USC Sec. 142).
ok - i love my mom
  • Fathers' Day, third Sunday in June (36 USC Sec. 142a).
love my dad too
  • Parents' Day, fourth Sunday in July (36 USC Sec. 142c).
wtf? there's a mothers, fathers and parents day?
  • Grandparents' Day, Sunday after Labor Day (36 USC Sec. 142b).
this is taking it a little too far
  • United Nations Day, October 24.
This and the UN should be eleminated
  • Halloween, October 31.
Used to be fun, could still be fun, but isn't

Life sucks

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Fox River Bald Eagles


Fox River Bald Eagles
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
I was driving around today contemplating life, and why I continue to drive around looking for things to photograph and to my shock, I saw eagles along the Fox River. Never would have expected it. I saw and photographed at least three and another bird I have not identified yet.

Fox River Bald Eagles


Fox River Bald Eagles
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Red Tail Hawk


Red Tail Hawk
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
This is one of the largest Red Tail Hawks I've ever seen. Too bad I couldn't get any closer and the sky was so overcast.

Fox River Bald Eagles


Fox River Bald Eagles
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Unidentified Bird


Unidentified Bird
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
Looks like an egret or heron, but none I can find in the guides

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Showing off


Showing off
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Long legs are faster than little legs


A bridge to ....


A bridge to ....
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

The crux of the matter


The crux of the matter
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Rotten Job


Rotten Job
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Northern Cardinal


Northern Cardinal
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.

Photofriday - Blur


Photofriday - Blur
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
I have sooo many blurry photos to chose from ;-)

Friday, February 10, 2006

Afternoon cloudy sky and moon


Afternoon cloudy sky and moon
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.
Been sick the last 2 days - actually felt well enough to hang out in the back yard with the dogs this afternoon.

Been reflecting on last weekends trip to the SuperBowl. It was really good to forget everything at home for a couple of days. I was really pissed before I left and half the drive there.... I tell ya, after Friday night I didn't think of one problem at home until I actually got back home. What a great feeling.

Ginny


Ginny
Originally uploaded by ddurbin123.