How you feeling? HOT HOT HOT

OK, it has been really hot!!! Not even an understatement. I really don't hit the web when it gets like this, main reason: no AC in the office. We have it in the bedrooms, but I am still a cheap guy when it comes to installing it in the house. I am convinced that 105 degree temperatures outside would be livable inside, but not comfortable. If that is the case, I will sleep in complete comfort with a window unit in my bedroom. (Same for the kids). It was soooooo hot yesterday that we at dinner in Summer's bedroom! Not a lie! Aiden and Summer sat down at her tea table, and ate Casey's pizza... Am I painting a white-trash picture yet? Summer asked if we were going to do it again, I had to disappoint... The heat has passed for now, and we were back at the dinner table tonight. The heat has really kept us from doing much. I had started on the window on the staircase, but refrained from glazing this weekend. We basically hung out in town. The kids went to the Discovery Museum in Normal on Saturday for a few hours, and we then headed in to Mom and Dad's. Sunday we went shopping after naps. So, we have stayed away from the farm for the most part. So, as I write this tonight, the temp is dropping to the high 60's and it is raining. I forgot what it felt like!

Summer is 4, Don at House of Blues

Wow! Long weekend! First, I started out Friday with a little outpatient surgery. I had a wart removed. I have had this thing on my elbow for the past year, and could not shake it. I have tried every ointment, acid and adhesive... None worked to get rid of the little booger. So, Tremont medical clinic took a scalpel and removed it. Yeah! Saturday was Summers Birthday! 10 am party. Man, that's early! I caught no ends of grief for setting the time. But, as it turned out, I saved us from record heat by 1PM. Summer had a good turnout for her party. As usual, she made out like a bandit. This was the first year she did not get lots of big things. Thank God! If all she got for the next year was Polly Pockets, I would be happy. They are SMALL! While we were at the party on Saturday, And informed me that Don was playing at the House of Blues in Chicago on Sunday night..... Hmmmmmm, Sunday night. What time? 9:30 PM. Wow, that is late, and I have to work tomorrow! So what do I do? I take volunteers from the crowd at Summer's party... Jeff? No... Tom? OK... Dan? OK... Cool, now I have a car load and that will make it an easier trip. All in all the House of Blues show was a great time. If you don't count the 3 hours of sleep I got last night! The band played great, and the crowd really dug them. I should have some pictures soon.

London Bombing and Claire Roma

Dana created a great website dedicated to Claire. Very cool and informative. 8 hours of labor!!!! Holy Cow! I am going to thank Ang tonight that she did not put me through that! Here is a link to the site on the Kennedy Zone. The London Bombings... I had a bunch of people come up to me this week and say, "Golly, I bet your glad your not there right now" (Say it like Goofy and it will sound how I remembered them sounding!) I digress. Sure, I was just there, and it does hit home a little more.... But in general does a recent visit mean it should have more or less of a value?. Here was my first thought. We really need to get those assholes. I will be honest in saying that I was finally beginning to think that Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria were better left alone.... But after what they just did, it revitalized my conviction in this battle with radical fundamentalism. I don't believe I am alone in this... I have to think that lots of people across this country and England were about sick of this War on Terror... So what does the enemy do? He fires it up again. It really makes me think that nobody with a brain is running that operation. They could have laid low, blown up people in Iraq for the next 6 months and most Americans and Britons would have been about ready to drop this thing. Not now! It also reconfirms my faith that this battle needs to be concluded. It may seem like world building and imperialism, but I think history is littered with stories like this. If you do not stand up for your convictions on the world stage, you become "history". You cannot pander to Tyrants and Fundamentalists. You cannot pretend that our world will stay one happy place with everyone staying within their respective property lines... It cannot and will not happen. When countries get out of line (Sadam in Kuwait) someone has to stand up for the little guys (Or stick with the side that has similar interests and beliefs) Fighting sucks. I don't like the thought that our youngest and brightest are fighting and risking death daily halfway around the world. My stomach turns at the thought that this may be my kids in 15 years! But, ideally, if my kids do have to fight for our country, I am sure THIS battle will be over! How many giant side steps in history have been created by our country stopping tyranny? We may never know. What if we tried the Chamberlain approach towards Hitler, and refused to enter the war? What if Lincoln decided that slavery was not worth fighting over? What if the American revolutionaries decided that it was not worth risking everything? Everyone of us at some level has to stand up for themselves and say "enough is enough". You have to believe that your personal life or the world will be a better place as a result of your actions. I will admit that I don't carry a coherent thought well when discussing politics. I am not really hip to writing much about it on my site. It is not what I love to write about! So, deal with this blurt out for what it is. Reactionary. One other thing I admired about this tragedy... If you can do such a thing... I love the fact that we are becoming so digital that people in the train can record video on their phone and share it with the world when it matters. Wow, imagine where we will be with this technology in 5 years.

Constant Chaos and clumbsiness.

Contact Center Humor... Funny stuff! Go Ian! Constant Chaos and clumbsiness.

The Great Hunter's Wife

Ang caught a coon the other night, I completely neglected this story. Once reason for the neglect... She did the work! If I had been the hunter, I certainly would have run to the computer to explain the hunt in Hemmingway fashion. Its almost certain that blood stains would have been on this keyboard I am using. Anyway, I will flesh out this story, it is pretty good. Look forward to more details tomorrow, its late now.

July 4th, 2005

Conversation from Adien tonight at Fireworks: Dont like this Go home Too loud Dont like this Get in truck Go home Daddy Drive That is about word for word! We did trick him into calling out colors for all the bursts, but he was ready to go home as soon as we were. Busy holiday. Friday. Ang finds out that her Union is going on strike Tuesday morning. Wexford Health systems runs her department, and they were starting all kinds of funny stuff with days off and pay scales. Thankfully tonight, we find out that a strike has been averted, and that Wexford has been fired! A new company is coming in to take over the managerial role. What does it mean for Ang, no idea till tomorrow. We have been kind of on a bubble about some plans for the end of this year until we knew what was going on with her job. Of course that meant that Mom did not know if she would be watching the kids in the immediate future as well. Everyone is affected! We had everyone out to the house on Saturday night. Tomi, Jeff and Abby, along with Linda, my folks and Dan. It was a fun time. I did salmon on the grill, I wanted to start the weekend without Burgers and Brats, knowing that everyone was going to be hitting grilling parties for the next 2 days. The food was great. Of note: Dan cannot throw a football. Hendricks Gin and Tonic with a cucumber garnish rocks. 3 sides of salmon was almost a biblical amount of fist to serve! I have my lunch ready all week! Sunday. We had a party related to my work to hit in Lincoln. We were there all day, and I did not get a chance to head to Bloomington to see Uncle Steve. See images from my boss Tom's party on the front page. Today, lots of hard work around the house, leftover salmon and fireworks in Hopedale. I have been completing this new trellis-gate combo at the front of the hedge. It is looking good, but since I am making it from scratch, I have had to go in and buy parts as needed. Today we picked up some hardware to finish the gate, but it did not work, so I ended up at an impasse. I really did not want to run into Pekin for a few hinges. Gas is 2.33 a gallon right now! That meant I could not finish the gate today. I ended up pruning and trimming the hedge. That is a nightmare job! I suspect that "Homer", the homeowner who planted that hedge in the 60's laughs at me from his grave every time I invest a day into that bramble. If you don't remember, our hedge is long and unforgiving. In the past, I have had to hit it with a chainsaw just to make it workable. I have a 2 stroke gas trimmer to do the job, but it is a LOT heavier than one of those electric jobs. But, I am a man, I "Got 'er Done". Aiden is potty training daily. Last night, this is no lie, we spent 1 hour sitting on the toilet, reading potty books, talking about potty, asking him if he was done... I finally convince him that he had taken a leak, just to get him to bed. I appreciate the effort, now we just need results! New Tiki Bar TV Episode this week, you should check it out! 28 meg download, make sure to have QuickTime on your PC.

Live 8 thoughts

Happy birthday to sister Sylvia. The main reason I wanted to post today was for the Big Live 8 shows. The article below only deepens my doubt on what Geldoff wants to achieve. http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/entertainment/12023967.htm Don't get me wrong! (Don) I want to see world peace, and the end of hunger for everyone. I did not watch any of the shows, but I wonder how much attention was brought to the dictators and genocidal killings going on in Africa. Can cash stop any of that? Read the article below for Africans take on all of this. http://news.ft.com/cms/s/ee54527a-ebb0-11d9-9796-00000e2511c8.html I just don't believe this vehicle, the concerts, are entirely for that purpose. Most of the artists that will get on stage make more than we could hope to achieve in a lifetime, and I find it ironic that they suggests "we" give, or sacrifice extra tax dollars out of our income to help.