Tuesday, October 31, 2006

A very doggy halloween

So what does it mean? Well, it means that I spent the day hiding from the office so I could make some progress on more planning only keeping in touch via email and a couple of phone calls. This works actually.


It was a mostly sunny day but chilly. I think the temp reached nearly 50 degrees. Thank goodness the wind wasn't blowing as bad as Mom and Dad had said it did in Iowa yesterday.




I promised my daughter that I'd be home early so we could go Trick or Treating. She'd surprised me over the weekend by asking to get a costume. She'd not wanted to go the last couple of years and with everything considered we didn't push the issue. I took her to "Party City" last night and we walked out with a Gangster Hat and Pimp Cane for her and custumes for each of the dogs. I bought my self a foam clown nose :-)


For some reason I thought my wife was working from 5-9pm tonight, but it turns out it was 1-5pm so I dressed the silkies and took them for a walk around the cul-de-sac... the really seemed to enjoy wearing their little costumes and prancing about!




After our little walk we took pictures of them for posterity, undressed them and got ready to take Harry out with Erin. Even though she's 14 I still didn't want her roaming around alone and she seemed to have no problems at all with going out with Dad :-)




To complete my daughter's costume I gave her one of my "skinny" white dress shirts and she borrowed a tie from her brother.

We set off into the chilled darkness, my daughter with an enormous pillowcase to carry her loot in, and of course Harry dressed as Count Dogula.



It was a good walk for all of us. Harry and I truly enjoyed watching my daughter delight in something she's missed for a few years now.


I hope all had a wonderful Halloween and I'll be speaking at you again soon!

Last weekend

I've fallen behind on journaling so this is a bit of catch up work.

Friday 10/27/2006

Friday was chilly and gloomy. No good for photo taking. I canceled my weekly staff meeting since most of my staff was either at a customer working or on vacation. Instead, I spent the day racing to submit training requirements for the staff and dealing with corporate politics. I was able to spend a little time on our E-Myth business development too.

After getting home I watched part of the Texas Chain Saw Massacre with my daughter and the dogs My wife had also ordered Chinese for delivery. :-)




Saturday 10/28/2006

I couldn't have been happier to wake up to sunny and clear skies Saturday morning. It turned out that my daughter had a confirmation retreat that afternoon and I said that I'd take her to it. After some odds and ends I set out for downtown Naperville to take some photos. I'm convinced there isn't a better downtown area in the Chicago suburbs, with the Riverwalk, shops, and restaurants not to mention the frequent events that the township and merchants hold.

I spent the first part of the morning strolling along the Riverwalk and taking pictures. It's so nice to walk along, greeting strangers with a smile and taking everything in.







As I was walking back to my car I noticed a lot of kids in costume with their parents heading toward the downtown area... It turns out that there was a "Trick or Treat" thing happening with the downtown merchants. Being the photohound I am, I found a great place to watch and catch some shots. I am blown away by how many families participate in these events... I think it's great, even though some of the participants didn't exactly look thrilled. Sometimes the parents were flustered, other times the kids had had enough.




It was getting close to noon by now so I called home to make sure my daughter was getting ready for the retreat. I was surprised when my wife answered the phone as I expected her to be at the barn with the horse. She said she'd make sure my daughter was getting ready and that she'd be at the stable by then so I could pick my daughter up and take her to church. I snapped a couple of additional pictures with the extra little time and made my way back home.

Now home I let the pups outside for a spell and made sure the future confirmee was ready to go. I was pleased that she didn't put up a fuss and delivered her to the church on time. Not knowing or remembering the drill, I went in with her to learn that she'd be there until the 5 o'clock mass and I said that I'd return and be at the mass with her.

On the return home I decided to take my Australian Shepherd, Harry out on an afternoon adventure with me. I asked my 13 year old son if he'd like to join us, and of course he declined.

I no more than reached into the drawer in the laundry room for his leash when he began to dance and mewl in anticipation of a w-a-l-k. I grabbed the leash and miniature garbage pale containing the doggy bags and headed out the door with my sidekick.

I decided to return to downtown Naperville and walk along the riverwalk again. By this time, about 2:00 pm the costumed kids had cleared out and had been replaced by the ever present shoppers and strollers.

Harry was thrilled to be be out and about and as we people, goose and duck watched from the banks of the DuPage river.









We had a great day together, Harry and I. He truly enjoyed the walk and extra attention he received by passers by. Having spent about 3 hours strolling the riverwalk and making a loop through down we decided to load up and head home so I could clean up and get to mass.


Mass was awesome. I sat in the last row behind a young family with 5 children all under the age of 10; 3 boys and 2 girls. The love between the kids and parents as evident and a real boost for me. I wanted to tell the father what a beautiful family he had, but I thought that would come across as creepy so I didn't do it.

The Gospel reading was Mark Chapter 10 versus 46-52 about Jesus healing the blind man along the road outside of Jericho.

1 They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me."
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage; get up, he is calling you."
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see."
Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
The parish Priest is not emotive, but his faith is evident to me. He related to us, in short, that sight was just not simply a physical healing, but also a spiritual one. I want to see... I want to see the path...

I made chicken, pasta and green beans for supper and it was yummy.
Sunday 10/29/2006

How happy was I to see another sunny day? Well... not as happy as I might have thought, however I set out anyway for another day of adventure. For some reason I just couldn't see... I couldn't find the beauty I wanted to capture. I drove about and listened to my audio books searching... thinking... "Am I burned out on photography? On adventure? Why do I continue to do this?'





I wanted to get some covers for the rose bushes so as I drifted I looked for a garden shop to get my rose covers.

I was listening to the Bears kick the crap out of the 49'ers and behold, as I am making my way back home I drive through Downers Grove and discover a parade! I find a place to park, got a cup of decaf Caribou coffee and located a strategic place on the street.






We never had Halloween parades when I was young... at least not that I remember.

I got the rose covers, but everyone was sold out of wire stakes and I only had a few left from putting up the chicken wire fencing earlier in the summer. I put up four covers and cut back the roses, butterfly bushes, hibiscus and other plants that needed to be cut back.

That's what my weekend was like... how was yours?

Thursday, October 19, 2006

A little story; Talking to strangers

A couple of years ago I travelled to Washington D.C. to work on a five day project, installing a storage area network for a law firm. The customer's office was located in Georgetown, an area I think is called Foggy Bottom, near the Francis Scott Key bridge over the Patomac River into Virginia. Not knowing the area at all I had decided to stay in the Watergate Hotel, about half a mile from the customer's office.


Never having been to DC, and being a lover of history, I went out Saturday prior to the start of the project on Monday so I could spend some time sight seeing. I must have walked 20 miles Sunday, and being February it was still relatively cold. I loved seeing the monuments and even went to the Smithsonian. What a thrill. The national art gallery is something I'd recommend to anyone, even if you don't usually like art. It's awe inspiring.


The Watergate has a hotel complex, but also has condominium units where Condoleza Rice and former Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara lived. I actually rode a stationary bike in the fitness center while Mr. McNamara was working out. Ironically enough, he wrote a book titlled "The Fog of War". I haven't read it. And I never spotted Dr. Rice either.


The rooms at the Watergate were ok. I'm sure they were first class once, but everything was aging, especially the carpets. Room service was good, and the lobby area was top notch with fine wood furniture and classic prints on the walls.


Each night, as I usually do, I'd visit the bar for a drink or two before settling into bed for the night. I even had a very nice steak dinner at the bar one or two of the nights there. I learned that this bar was favorite for the locals. Like much of the rest of DC, people were adorned in fine suits and dresses, except for me... I wore a suit every day for years when I worked in the 80's. I don't wear suits to work anymore.


The first night, while drinking a beer, eating bar nuts and listening to the multiple conversations I noticed an older gentleman sitting across the rectangularly shaped bar talking loudly... to nobody in particular, but also speaking to everyone at the same time.


I met some very interesting people there. A man who owned an international shipping firm; a woman who worked for another shipping firm, but one that handled food exports for charitable organizations to remote parts of the world. I met a couple of lawyers, but honestly, they weren't very interesting. There were others too. I just can't remember enough about them to write of them... except for the guy across the bar.


On one of the first few nights as I was discussing politics with another gentleman sitting next to me the man across the bar directed his open air conversation toward us. I don't remember exactly what the topic of discussion was, but apparently we had captured this man's attention. I was surprised how everyone was ignoring him, because he could be quite loud at times. This continued night after night. I would strike up a conversation with someone and he would begin directing his rant toward me. He seemed to be friendly with the bar staff, and I wondered just who he might be. "You really never could tell here", I thought. He could a politician, an influencial lawyer, a tycoon, or an ordinary citizen.


His intensity toward me had gotten to me so much that on the next to last night I was there I decided I was going to do something about it. I made sure to get to the bar early that night and I purposely sat in the very bar stool that he'd perched in each night that week. Before long I spied him entering the bar. He drifted behind me, then paced back and forth several times before taking a seat two stools to my right.


He was quite quiet for a long time after sitting down, only stopping the bartender on occasion to ask about the soup being served that night. I was getting the impression that the restaurant and bar staff wer accustomed to making exceptions for the man, including "giving" him soup. After about 30 minutes of his silence I asked the bartender to pour him a beer "on me" and I asked the man "How are you tonight?". Initially he was hesitant, and mumbly. I had to strain to hear what he was saying, however within a few minutes and my moving a stool closer to him we began to have a very nice conversation.


His name is Bill. He'd been going to the Watergate for over 30 years and was a retired accountant who'd worked for a construction contractor in DC as long or longerand he liked to fish in the Patomac. His wife had passed some years before and his children no longer lived in the area. We talked about how much DC had changed since he'd lived there, and about his career and the places he'd been and seen.


I was glad to have met Bill. He was a very interesting man. Each time since, when I have the occasion to travel for work and sit in the hotel bar, I look forward to meeting a new "Bill", as I talk to strangers.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

All I need is love... and a job... and a little money

Do you ever take a personality quiz, then months later take it again to see if you've changed? I didn't plan to do it, but I did.

Back in February of this year I took one such personality quiz and here was the outcome.








Love is most important in your life. A high love concentration indicates that you want love in your life. It is very important to you and something that you strive to attain. Life Piechart - QuizGalaxy.com Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com



I took it again today.








Love is most important in your life.


A high love concentration indicates that you want love in your life. It is very important to you and something that you strive to attain.

Life Piechart - QuizGalaxy.com
Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

It's interesting how the results are similar and it's interesting to see what's changed

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Sunday Sunday

After sorting the bills and writing checks for those due in the coming week, I decided to take a drive. I lit out for the western territories and within 5 minutes I spotted two red tail hawks perched upon telephone poles within 100 yards of each other. A rare find. I quickly pulled off to the side of the road and attempted to capture them with my trusty camera. The first one flew off as soon as I stopped the car. The second one did too, but landed on another pole not far from me.



Have I said how much I like birds of prey? No? I'll have to do that...

I proceeded another 10 minutes west until reaching the Fox River in hopes that the bald eagles had returned. Alas, no bald eagles. But I did spot a vulture soaring high above.


I also spotted a tree full of large birds. Unfortunately I couldn't get close and the skies were cloudy and hazy so the photos aren't clear... I don't know what the heck they are.

Leaving the Fox River, I decided to explore areas I'd not been in a long while and drove west past Aurora. Some roads were beautifully lined with trees begining their seasonal changes.


I kept wandering until I came upon a park I'd not heard of before, and the name caused me to stop. Bliss Woods Nature Preserve seemed to be a good place to take a walk, and I was right.

The preserve is full of mature hardwoods with beautiful foliage, even though the leaves aren't quite ready to change.


I was surprised how few birds there seem to be in these woods. Usually if I can't see them, I can at least spot their movements in my peripheral vision or hear them. There were very few sounds, other than distant traffic and what sounded like gunfire. I came across a biker that asked if I'd seen the deer from where he'd just come and then directed me to where he'd seen it.


No deer.

I did see a number of chipmunks and squirrels though. They were busilly readying themselves for the winter... I'm sure there's some old time lore about when the rodents ready for the winter and an indication of the coming weather.

The park was split by a road, which I crossed and began to hear more gunfire and over time I was convinced the park neighbored a gun range. I did find a halloween tree through, and had a very nice walk in the process.


I left Bliss Woods and began the drive home. I was alternating between James Pattersons "Honeymoon" and Demone on the CD player. I really didn't see anything of consequence on the way home either, so I snapped a shot of a combine harvesting beans.


So, I got home, checked email, and played with the dogs.

I'm working on some homework for work, ironically an E-Myth exercise called "Key Frustrations" lol. You're supposed to make a list of things in the business that frustrate you and work through a system of classifying them and making a plan to solve them.

I hope the sun shone on you today, warmed your face, and if not your soul.