Bobby Lewis at PianoForte

2006-09-16 Bobby Lewis at PianoForte (10) rt2 lo-res 9C) Stef Leinwohl
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

The mature warmth of trumpet and flugel horn player Bobby Lewis appearing in the intimate Salon environment of the PianoForte piano shop in the Fine Arts Bldg on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Among the pieces he played were Emily and the theme from Black Orpheus. The reflected hands on the keyboard belong to the ever ready and flexible Jim Ryan. The concert was on Saturday September 16, 2006.
Was shot with the magnificant new Canon sd700is pocket digcam.

Edgewater dental tooth brush neon sign

Edgewater dental tooth brush neon sign
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Part of my continuing documentation of strong graphic neon signs in the Edgewater area of Chicago. This one is on Broadway.

Notice reflections of the krate kid neon sign across the street. This is, a "happy accident", as I call it. So much fun, considering his placement.

I don't know if this is a standard neon sign, or is a custom design. In any event it is quite striking graphically.

Chicago Neon Statue of Liberty

Neon Statue of Lib - neon lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This neon sign, on Bryn Mawr just west of the el stop in Edgewater, Chicago, flashes on and off making it difficult to shoot. It is for a tax prepairer.

It is across from "Flourish," a wonderful bakery where you can also enjoy a pastery with their custom blended coffee. They also serve daily special light meals featuring three daily specials.

Flourish has a bar along the window great for the observation and study of the parade of the eclectic blend of inhabitants of the community.

The perfect place to hang out if caught in the rain.

It is not far from a nice bookstore just south on the west side of Broadway.

Chicago Grafitti

Chicago Uptown Berwyn El viaduc_v lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This is along the west side of a viaduct wall south of the Berwyn el stop in Chicago. It is part of about seven others that were done about five years ago.

Edgwater Graffiti

Chicago Uptown Berwyn El viaduc 2 lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This is along a viaduct wall south of the Berwyn el stop in Chicago. It was painted in 2001. Amazing how intense the eyes are considering this was done by teen agers.

spider in the city

spider hi res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Just happened to be walking around my neighborhood in Chicago and found this spider. No idea its name, since I am not into spiders much, although I enjoy them as objects and love their webs. It has been very rainy and humid which seems to bring out spiders. Perhaps to snare mesquitos.

Lake Pt tower, Chicago, patriotic window washing machine

Lake Pt tower patriotic window washing machine
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Chicago skyline no one sees from a patch of wild land just east of LSD at river

Chicago skyline no one sees from a patch of wild land just east of LSD at river
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This was shot from a wild weedy patch of land just east of Lake Shore Drive north of the Chicago River where it meets Lake Michigan. It is basically unaccessable. I had to circumvent two fences and wend my way through chest high Queen Anne's Lace, wild brambles and tall bushes and trees. Behind me, across a slip of water, is Navy Pier. Little are the Pier visitors aware of this wild patch of prairie. I believe it belongs to the city, but am not sure at all.

Chicago fountain along river rear Columbus Dr & Chicago River in N Loop

Chicago fountain along river rear Columbus Dr & Chicago River in N Loop
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This is a unusual water fountain in the Streeterville area just north of the loop downtown in Chicago. It faces the Chicago River just before it enters Lake Michigan.

Chicago - bean (Cloud Gate) Sculpture reflections

2006-09-06 Chicago - bean 1004 lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

The official name of this sculpture is "Cloud Gate," but since that is such an obtuse name and since it looks like a giant kidney bean, everyone has nick named it "The Bean." It at the north end of Grant Park along Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is made of polished stainless pannels that were expertly welded together so that the seams are invisible. It is a delight to experience.

Hancock Bldg between Mies' 860 N LSD bldg.

2006-09-06 Chicago - Hancock Bldg bet Mies LSD bldg, Chicago lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

The buildings on the right and left are the famous 860 LSD glass and steel buildings designed by Mies van der Rohe. The building in the center is the Hancock Building on Michigan Ave.

Chicago - bean & japanese tourists

2006-09-06 Chicago - bean & japanese tourists 1001
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

These Japanese tourists and having so much fun playing with their reflections in a sculpture named "Cloud Gate," but since that is such an obtuse name and since it looks like a giant kidney bean, everyone has nick named it "The Bean." It at the north end of Grant Park along Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is made of polished stainless pannels that were expertly welded together so that the seams are invisible. It is a delight to experience, as you can see demonstrated by these Japanese tourists.

He is mimicing her suggested pose. Both are giggling.

Give Pandora a try to create your own radio stations to play your own programmed favorite music

duke ellington Radio

click on the above link it should take you to a station playing mostly Duke Ellington and his style of music.

If that is not to your taste, try Wilco Radio to listen to the band Wilco.

Then explore creating your own station.

Marias, Paris

Strapped
Originally uploaded by Mernas.

Au quartier juif, Marais Paris

Au quartier juif
Originally uploaded by Mernas.

quite the nice B&W shot. Not easy to grab.

Bryn Mawr nr Broadway:

A new bakery/pastry shop opened in June. S and I often visit it to enjoy, not only their fabulous pastry, but light meals. It is located in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago at 1138 West Bryn Mawr at the El stop, just east of Broadway. I had the best pot pie I have ever eaten. The crust was the secret.

Moishe's Movers

Moishe's Movers
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Oy Veh!

TallShips Visit Chicago

TallShips
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Every three years the Tall Ships tour the great lakes and make a week visit in Chicago, IL in August. You can get on board and tour the ships.

Docked just east of Michigan Ave bridge below Wacker Dr.

TallShips visit Chicago

TallShips
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Every three years the Tall Ships tour the great lakes and make a week visit in Chicago, IL in August. This was shot under horrid misty flat light. They have a parade of ships the first day. Too bad for the weather. Of course it cleared up and was sunny, as you can see in another shot I posted, after they had docked.

What a delight to see the wonder of wind power from the past.

Jimmy Rosenberg 1993

Jimmy Roseberg in 1993. Wow was he good even then!!

Biréli Lagrène, Gipsy Project & Friends

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Ah to have been at this "Arrêt spectacle" Concert au petit Trianon in Paris on March 2 of 2006! Biréli Lagrène, Gipsy Project & Friends (Didier Lockwood, (fiddle) Dorado Schmitt, Angelo Debarre)

Festival "l'esprit manouche"

Here is a great video from 12-13/07/2003 - at Moseley Park, UK. featuring gypsy stars Tchavolo Schmitt, Angelo Debarre, Fapy Lafertin & Tim Kliphuis, Note manouche (Mandino Reinhardt, Sony Reinhardt, Marcel Loeffler, Joselito Loeffler, Gauthier Laurent). it is 1hr 18 of joy.

Hawaiian shirt at the White Palace Grill, Roosevelt & Canal, Chicago, IL

R & I had an early morning breakfast at the venerated classic "White Palace Grill" at Canal and Roosevelt on the near south side of Chicago near the area where the Maxwell Street Market was forced to move when the U of IL bought up the vibrant nearby old Maxwell Street area at Halsted and Rosevelt Rd. I had scrambled eggs, 4 pancakes and two generous thick pieces of ham for $5.50. Coffee was an additional $1.00.

This fellow was sitting on this chrome stool when we sat down in the booth opposite. I grabbed a shot of him as soon as we settled in. In less than a minute he had finished his waffel delight, stood up and walked off.
Hawaiian shirt at the White Palace Grill, Roosevelt & Canal, Chicago, IL
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

500 blk of Oakdale Ave, Chicago

500 blk of Oakdale Ave, Chicago
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

We often walk along a street looking straight ahead, straight down at the sidewalk or right or left for traffic, but rarely up at the diverse architectural detailing and windows, much less the reflections in the windows. Here some of detailing is a simple arrangement of the laying of the brick to create a diamond design. Compare this brickwork to that in one of the photos posted on May 9, 2006. The locations are only two blocks from one another, but probably 70 years apart in construction dates.

500 blk of Oakdale Ave, Chicago

500 blk of Oakdale Ave, Chicago
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Simple pressed tin detail that at one time was very popular because it was inexpensive compared to having a trained artisian carve it out of solid stone.

500 blk of Oakdale Ave.

500 blk of Oakdale Ave.
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

bleeding hearts 1 lo-res

bleeding hearts 1 lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

bleeding hearts 2

bleeding hearts 2 lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Each spring brings the delicate pink sculptures known as "Bleeding Hearts." These are just east of our apartment on Oakdale in a fenced in garden on the parkway.

Benches in water tower pk Chicago lo-res

Benches in water tower pk Chicago lo-res
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

I happened to be walking through the delightful park surrounding the old water tower when noticed this interesting rhymatic pattern of the chairs.

This photo is also a homage to Henri Cartier-Bresson for his decisive moment seeing and patterns. See, compose, and wait -- click! Hard to do with a point a shoot that has a shutter lag.

Spring at 431 Oakdale

Spring at 431 Oakdale
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Light! That's what its all about.

sun reflection on wall with walker

sun reflection on wall with walker
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This is at Pinegrove at Oakdale in the Lakeview area of the northside of Chicago. The sun is reflected from a few window panes in the late afternoon. What a delight to discover! Particularly when most people are looking straight ahead or worst yet straight down at the concret in front of them. Of course, you can find some very nice abstract images on the sidewalk, even graffiti. Shortly after shooting this I met an economist visting Chicago as I crossed the street. We had a delightful half hour conversation. I showed him the image to demonstrate his question of what a good photo was. I compared this one to others of the same situation that did not work as well, or at all.

2900 N Broadway, Chicago graffiti

2900 N Broadway, Chicago graffiti
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

I decided to walk an alley for about four blocks instead of a street on my way to a doctor appointment. This led to discovering these two stencil graffiti images. Have no idea who did them or what they are about. They are around 2950 N. Broadway in the Lakeview area of Chicago.

alley diagonal bricks & person at sunset

alley diagonal bricks & person at sunset
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Was I delighted to walk past this one day! I spent about 15 minutes grabbing shots of people as they used this short cut to Clark St from Broadway. The light is perfect to reveal the brick design. Compare this brickwork to that in a photo posted on May 15, 2006.

Art Citroën 2CV - 1970

Art Citroën 2CV - 1970
Originally uploaded by Citroën Guy.

Found this on flickr.com as well. Photographer said "Took this shot in Munich in December, 1970. I didn't know that I'd own one 35 years later."
The poster's handle is Citroën Guy
Note: click on the photo be be taken the the image on flickr.

Citroen in USA

tin box
Originally uploaded by ericm.

Found posted on flickr.com

Citroen in Chicago - fun paint job

You rarely come across a vintage French Citroen mini auto on the streets of midwest Chicago, IL, USA. There was one was in Lincoln Park on Pinegrove near Diversey. It is in excellent shape, perhaps restored, but I don't know. I waited around for a while, but the owner did not appear. If you look carefully you will realize there is absolutely no space between the Citeron's front bumper and the rear bumper of the car in front. There was only the thickness of my leg between the rear bumper and the car behind! I have lived in this area for 40 years and parking has not only always been at a premium but is usually tight since it is a high density area near the park along Lake Michigan and near the Loop, our downtown. Even with a tiny car, it is of little help, people will come after you have parked and lock you in! Perhaps he will remain here for days until someone moves. Of course the next car could lock him again in the wink of an eye lash since that is the amount of time a parking spot remains available. Parking at night is impossible. I usually walk, bike or take public transportation.

Diversey & Halsted 1 B&W version

Diversey & Halsted 1 B&W version
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Seems stronger on content without the distraction of what little color there was in the original color version.

Homeless at Diversey & Halsted Saving & Loan

Homeless at Diversey & Halsted Saving & Loan
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Somehow the sign indicating the current interest rates for a home mortage loan are a contrast and a comment on a homeless person resting beneath the sign in the very expensive neighborhood of Lincoln Park in Chicago. This corner is a popular gathering spot for these folks, perhaps because of the ATM machine and a Walgreens and the KFC, offering low cost meals and a dumpster.

Goethe statue & homeless man in sleeping bag

Goethe statue & homeless man in sleeping bag
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

On my way from a early Saturday morning walk in a drizzle I came upon the same fellow I had two weeks ago, this time at Diversey and Sheridan Rd. next to the Goethe statue in Lincoln Park.

da Bears lost!

Just for the record: da Bears lost! It was a horrible game from the first few seconds when the Panthers ran a touch down on the second play. So much for hopes for a return to the Super Bowl, exactly twenty years later.

A Memory

A test that didn't work!

Palazzo brides dress boutique, Chicago, IL

Palazzo brides dress boutique, Chicago, IL
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

On my return from my usual Saturday morning walk through the zoo with D. we returned on Clark st and came upon this juxiposition and contrast of society. The remains of the person's meal is still there next to him, as though he fell asleep eating. French fries and a glass of some liquid.

Palazzo is a very chic custom brides gown boutique.* The work they do is usually very simple sophiticated and elegant, that is why the juxiposition is so striking. I also think the posture of the mannequin is appropriate. With her hand on her hips she seems to be about to utter, "Well!"

Can't wait for tomorrow. The Bears play their playoff game.

When we began our ramble the sky was very wintery with heavy grey overcast dark clouds with a chill in the air from the wind. I wondered why I had decided to take my camera since the light was so dreary.

* Personally, I would prefer to shop at one of the boutiques in the Marais in Pari!

Another image from Nawins concert

IMG_6847 rt (C) Stef Leinwohl, Chicago, IL (C) Stef Leinwohllo-res (C) Stef Leinwohl
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

This is being directly posted to my blog from my photos on my flickr site. Hope this works. The below ones were loaded one by one using the add an image icon button in the compose function of this blog.

New Orleans Jazz All Stars fund concert

I shot a fund raiser at Fitzgerald's jazz joint in Chicago back in November of 2005 for the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund. This is not one of those huge ones. It is run by a husband and wife producer from NO and gets the funds to the musicains quick. The url is http://www.nomrf.org/index.html. These guys have lost everything! Many lived in the 9th parish.
It was a fabulous concert by local New Orleans musicans, not supplemented by any local Chicago guys.
Photo note: these are very lo-res posted pix. The originals were shot using a Canon XT at 1600asa with the kit lens or a Sigma f2.8 70 to 200mmm which is quite sharp. The images do not have any "noise."

Some random New Orleans memories

With recent events in New Orleans, a few short memories of my wife's and my experiences. (I should write in more detail, but perhaps that is for another post.)

We spent our 1968 honeymoon in New Orleans and returned many times. Lucky us. It has changed much over the years. Tthe last time we were there in 2001; we did not like what we were seeing it changing into: a convention and "tourist" destination. It was not the same and now certainly can not be what it was after the devastation of hurrican Katrina. I hope this does not hasten its Disneyizing, like many other tourist destinations think is a "solution." Enough of my "rant."

One time we rode down the Mississippi in a Pusher Boat of 20 barges. Now that was hearty grub! On that trip we had to tie off for 3 or 4 days because of hurricane. When we finally arrived in the Big Easy we were met by tug boats captained by Cajuns. And to get off the Pusher Boat and onto land we had to get onto one of these "working" tugs. Not too clean! And the sing song language, including cursing in Cajun. Wouldn't give up those memories for anything.

Tatooed fem jogger in the park

Tatooed fem jogger in the park
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Wonderful what might catch in the early morning light!

S. and I returned from the Sunday "French Market" at Nettlehorst elementary school on Broadway. We purchased an apple and lemon tartlets from the order of nuns from the bakery of the Fraternite NotreDame* and these fluers from another vendor.

When we returned home I put them in a very nice heavy glass vase and decided to photograph them in my primitive umbrella lighting setup against a black velvet background I had built in the living room I am using to photograph stuff I will be listing on ebay next month.

The star gazer lillies have a strong aroma.

* 773-261-0101 (they make madalines and will make them for you if you order them ahead of time)

The Women of Lockerbie, a play

Today Don and I walked part of the distance to Fourth Presbyterian Church at Chestnut and Michigan Ave to attend the “men’s group” script reading presentation of Women of Lockerbie, a play by DeborahBrevoort about the crash of Pan Am 103 in 1988 or so. It blew up over the small town of Lockerbie, Scotland, the victim of Lebanon terrorists.

The play concerns itself with a New Jersey mother who roams the hills of Lockerbie Scotland, looking for her son’s remains lost in the crash of Pan Am 103. She meets the Women of Lockerbie, who are fighting the US Government to obtain the clothing of the victims found in the plane’s wreckage. The women, determined to convert an act of hatred into an act of love, want to wash the clothes of the dead and return them to the victim’s families. The Women of Lockerbie is loosely inspired by a true story, although the characters and situations in the play are purely fictional. Written in the structure of a Greek tragedy, it is a poetic drama about the triumph of love over hate.

The cast is small, consisting of only five women and two men:

MADELINE LIVINGSTON: A suburban housewife from New Jersey. Her 20-year old son Adam was killed 7 years ago in the Pan Am 103 crash over Lockerbie, Scotland.

BILL LIVINGSTON: Her husband, father of Adam.

OLIVE ALLISON: An older woman, from Lockerbie and leader of the laundry project.

Two middle-aged women from Lockerbie.

HATTIE: A cleaning woman from Lockerbie.

GEORGE JONES: The American government representative in charge of the warehouse storing the remains from the Pan Am 103 crash.

I know it sounds like a cliche, but all of us were rivited to the delivery of the words as each actor delivered them. Everyone who discussed it with the actors afterwards, in an open discussion, prefaced their comments with quotes of either a sentence or a paragraph.

The playwrite had Bill nailed down perfect. Only a woman could have. The quote or situation that hit me like a brick was description of having to return a Christmas gift to a 16 year old clerk. And then do it over and over again the same day for the rest of the gifts. It brought it alive. I played it like a video in my mind. I have a daughter who has worked retail since she was 14.

I could go on, but it would ramble. Her words will stay with Don and me for a long time.

joggers along LSD underpass

joggers along LSD underpass
Originally uploaded by finefoto.

Although Don is visiting his son Matt and the new baby, John,
for Johnny’sfirst birthday, I nevertheless decided to take a
walk along thepark.

 It had been warm the previous day and overnight the melted

snow that drained over the jogging paths and sidewalks and

rocks had become a very deceiving thin glaze. On top of the

glaze was a erratic thin drizzle of moisture from fog water

from the melting snow along the side of the path.  Unless the

light was in front of you and glaring off the ice or water, you

did not see it. If jogging, the forward movement would send you

off into space until you landed on your rear end and a sprained

wrist. Luckily I became aware of this and did not experience

this. I recall it happening to me over 15 years ago around this

time during one of our walks just south of Diversey along the

rocks. I landed on my back. It knocked the air out of me and I

couldn’t utter a sound for at least a minute, or longer. 

I had thought of bicycling, but for some reason thought better

of it. I was quite releaved that I did, because of the ice.

It was like bicycling on oil. Some intrepid folks were all

dressed in their colorful spanex and bicycling, but at only 

5 to 10 miles an hour! Not one was speeding like usual. 

I discovered a jogging path now is along the Diversey “rocks”

that now is a rock wall from the south entrance of Belmont 

Harbor to Diversey Harbor entrance. 

Sceary "just do it" stencil graffiti from Portugal

just_do_it
Originally uploaded by cudmore.

I've been flaneuring graffiti and documenting it for over 40 years. A long time in the past I had the cover and 3 pages in the Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine about the paintings on the northside lakefront rocks.

So I was delighted to discover the flickr.com site and do a search for graffiti. There are over a thousand photos there of graffite. I have only probably looked at 50 to 70 images yet.

I opened an account there but have only posted a few images. I want to only post low res images so no one can really use them for anything but display on their computer screen.

I found this searching for graffiti again on flickr.com. Photographer: "Graffitti is way cool. This is from Lisboa Portugal, somewhere near the hill leading to the castle. This one is pretty balzy and comes at you from different levels."
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cudmore/

"you lie" graffiti rat

you lie
Originally uploaded by niznoz.

I found this graffiti image during search on flickr.com. I saved a 4MB high res version on my HD.

I wrote the photographer and he responded:

"I took it on New Bond Street in Mayfair, a street with a huge number of very expensive stores and I don't imagine graffiti lasts very long there.  Except that these stencils of a small animal look like they belong -- they look as if they are an organic part of the urban

scene, like pigeons -- and so may be ignored by those who scrub graffiti."

Time

http://www.clocklink.com/Clocks/0001-Blue.swf?TimeZone=PST" width="200" height="200" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash

I make L'Opera [Cake]

Well, I actually made the classic French Opera cake!

The process is one hell of a production and took all day, not including the shopping for the ingredients!

Ever since I read about L'Opera mentioned in my research on the web about Paris patiseries, I have been curious about it. It consists of three thin layers of almond cake, each soaked in a potent coffee syrup; a layer of espresso-flavored buttercream; a layer of bittersweet chocolate ganache; and a topped off with a very thin shiny chocolate glaze. I have never had the pleasure of tasting it, so the cururiousity has been even stronger.

Two weeks earlier S and I were at "Bittersweet" on Belmont in our neighborhood and I inquirered if they were familiar with it. They said yes, and they would make me one with two days notice for $25.

Never having tasted it, I was a bit leery of taking the gamble, since they don't sell it by the slice so I could do a taste test.

Since R's B-day was coming up, I decided I would do some research on the web and see what A9.com, my current fav search engine would dig up.

Well it hit pay dirt with the very first item listed: the actual recipe used at Dalloyau patiserie in Paris. It was the one that Dorie Greenspan had gotten directly from the chef there for her book, Paris Sweets: Great Desserts from the City's Best Pastry Shops. S and I had heard her speak last year at the Chicago Historical Society.

First I had to shop for all the ingredients. That alone took a bit of time.

Then I assembled the ingredients in groups for the 6 or 7 layers. Then I dug up all the bowls, spoons, wisks, etc. to make the cake. I had to go out and purchase special longer baking sheets for the thin cakes.

Using my digital therometer, I preheated to the exact correct temperature. I had been warned by culinary student's blog that if the temperature was too hot or I baked the cake too long that I would end up with a hard cracker! Mine were perfect!

I'm going to take a break now, will write more later.

Warm Winter Days and font & color test

Today is as dreary as a London day, gray, foggy and snowing a heavy wet snow on the verge of rain.

It has been extraordinarly warm the last two days with rain. The rain has washed away the 6 to 10 inch snow, but all that moisture has led to soil that cannot obsorb anymore and now heavy fog.

Today RCN was to arrive and plug me into the new wonders of digital cable. Of course "cable guy," who was to arrive between 2 and 5 pm never appeared. Called RCN that issued a investigation tag and was to call me. Never did. Maybe, just maybe it IS time to jump ship with the bankrumpt carrier.

Today Susan had her apointment with the pain clinic and we discussed the possibility of Cryroneo therapy to freeze her nerve endings to relieve her pain. I had done a lot web research and submitted copies of that as well as questions to the doc. He will peruse them and answer the questions and we will discuss it all next month and make a decision.

The following test of fonts and sizes: (the first name is "normal size")

Ariel larger
Courier larger
Georgia larger
Lucida Grande larger
Times larger
Trebuchet larger
Verdana larger
Webdings

Horay! The tree and all the docorations are down & packed!

The task is completed. We managed to get all the ornaments, lights, stockings and heavy picture frame sock hangers as well as all the other decorations, etc. packed away into two large plastic storage containers. By judicious culling we got rid of two corragated cardboard boxes. This is a giant step forward in saving space.

This does not take into accord the medium sized tree Susan places on the buffett that is in the dinning room. Nor does it include the two plastic shirt boxes that contain her sizable collection of minature tea cups, saucers and tea pots that she decorates the tree nor her foot and a half desk top Christmas tree.

We attended David and Gay Anderson's open house in Oak Park this afternoon.

Justin and his wife with their 6 month old child were there. I hadn't seen him in years. I don't think I had ever met her. He is still working at a map company and lives in Geneva, IL.

I custom created a slide show of lo-res images of our trip to the Cotswold villages in the south western area of Great Britain. I did this task to include with with some of my research documents and list of URL's for the area that I sent to Mary Greenough who had ask for any info I had, knowing Susan and I had visited the area in the fall of 2002.

Finally taking down the Christmas tree

Well, we are finally taking all our unique ornaments off our Christmas tree! We have quite a collection, since we've been aquiring additions for over 30 years. Every year we swear we will not purchase any new ones, but always seem to aquire a half a dozen over the year of travel, etc.

This year, as we unpacked them, we discard many. Some we threw out in the garbage. Others our daughter took, and some we hope to sell at a garage sale in the spring.

We hope to cut down on storage space by going through this process. I'll let you know how well I did when I finally start to efficently repack all the ornaments and other decorations in the special boxes we have.

Taking down Christmas decorations: January 7, 2005

Finally taking down the Christmas tree!
Well, we are finally taking all the unique ornaments off our Christmas tree! We have quite a collection since we've been at it for over 30 years. Every year we swear we will not purchase any new ones, but always seem to break down and acquire a half a dozen over a year of travel, etc.

This year, as we unpacked them, we discarded many of them. Some we threw out in the garbage. Some our daughter took, and some we hope to sell at a garage sale in the spring.

We hope to cut down on storage space by going through this process. I'll let you know how well I did when I finally get down efficiently repacking all the ornaments and other decorations away in the special boxes we have.

The Flaneur

::: 90.9 FM WDCB Public Radio ::: Jazz, Blues, Folk, Reggae, Classical Music

::: 90.9 FM WDCB Public Radio ::: Jazz, Blues, Folk, Reggae, Classical Music Listen to some of the best jazz on FM radio and live on the web. All day till evening and then all through the night. Good folk music as well!

Comment

If I ever can figure out how to add photos to these postings, I will. I downloaded "Hello," which is supposed to make it easy, but never seem to be able to find the "sent" images! I think I finally did, so be looking for some image.

CEOExpress: Business portal for executives created by a busy executive

CEOExpress: Business portal for executives created by a busy executive Is a great start page containing great URLs to much you would find of interest.