respublica

Arcadia time out

There is very little in the way of cell phone signal up here, and no internet, wireless or cable.  This is very hard for me, it is not a vacation if I can't have some internet access.  So I drove up the road about ten miles to the Frankfort library and sat and put up a nice blog post with photos.  Then typepad timed it out as I was saving it.  Lost it all, lost an hour, things go very slow up here.  Dang. 

Everyone up seems to want news about Cubs scores and there is just no up to the minute way of getting this kind of information.  So the Cub fans wander around Camp Arcadia, practically pleading for news of "how the Cubs did today".  Heh, you kind of get the idea the Cubs just might be for real.

Here's one photo I put up today but couldn't get to save to the blog.  It's a neat sun dial the camp put in behind the tennis courts last winter, I'm thinking I like this idea better than the waterfall Dale wants to put in behind our fence.

The kids played tennis and I wandered around this morning.  I really like this sun dial, however.  Now I have to get back in time for the under nursery aged kids "bubble blowing" time.  Oh, and family, if you are reading this: 

Christian told us last night he is going to be a big brother in February.

Traveling

Made an overnight stop at Dale's sister's place in Flossmoor where we ate dinner at the Old Train Station.  This area is a small boutique type area in an older, established, revitalized part of the town.  The library sits on one corner, complete with interesting statuary.

Flossmoor reminded me a bit of Clayton, so many people were out and about walking their dogs.

And, the library had a very nice feature not seen in too many libraries as yet, outdoor tables and, I assume, a place inside to pick up a cup of coffee.

We met up with Dale's brother who joined us for dinner.  He insists on eating calamari, much to my regret.  Here's a rare sibling photo of the three of them taken at dusk.

In an hour we'll be off to pick up Katie and Charlie at Midway and on the road to Arcadia Michigan.

Where in the world will we be the next 8 days?

Where if I can ever get organized enough to get going.

Here's the weather forecast.

Aqua tappa

The Pepsi company after being forced to reveal on its label just what is in its Aquafina bottled water admits it is tap water.  The new labels must say, "Public Water Source".

Is Pepsi the only one?  More water down the drain to come. 

Now if the water bottling companies were using St. Louis tap water, things might be just fine as that city recently won a national 'best tasting water' contest.

Illinois reps dropping out like flys

First it was Dennis Hastert, now it appears to be Illinois republican congressman, Ray LaHood who will not be seeking re-election next fall.

What is going on?  Do they not like being in the minority or do they just want to spend more time with their families? 

A final salute to Jake

Jake, a 12 year old black labrador retriever, has died of cancer.  Jake was one of the rescue dogs who worked through the rubble left after the World Trade Center Towers came down on 9-11.  His owner, Mary Flood, took him on one last walk through the woods near their Utah home, one last walk through the creek before having him put to sleep on Wednesday.

Great story, here's a photo via the AP

Centene is looking elsewhere

According to the latest issue of the St. Louis Business Journal, the Centene corp "is aggressively pursuing other alternatives after three property owners failed to respond to new offers for their Clayton properties."

Chief Executive Michael Neidorff and his team are considering a dozen proposals from five states for the company's new headquarters from among 60 they received from across the country in the past month.

Proposals from Missouri, Illinois and Colorado are in the running, said Robert Wislow, chairman of Chicago-based U.S. Equities Realty. "We're in the process of narrowing it down."

Do Wop Oldies quiz

Listen to the Oldies but Goodies stations?  Think you know the golden hits?  Take the quiz.

Hastert won't run again

According to the McLean County Pundit, Illinois congressman, Dennis Hastert, formally House Majority Leader, will not run for re-election in 2008.

Beyond understanding

Two stories give me pause.

In the Tour de France, Saturday's time trial winner as well as a Monday mountain climb winner, Alexandre Vinokourov, failed a blood doping test taken after his tour stage win. Why why why, after all the talk and disqualifications the past year over rider use of drugs and blood transfusions, do they continue to do this?  It is beyond conprehension.

In religion news, Rabbi Wine, 79, was killed in a car accident in Morocco.  Rabbi Wine was well known for founding a sect he named Humanistic Judaism, which taught religion as culture rather than faith, that there is no reason to believe in God but that the religion’s highest ethical traditions and the value of each person should be revered.  A clergy in a religion teaching people not to believe in God.  It makes no sense.