Monday, December 24, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Dakota Trip
My family drove up through the Badlands of South Dakota to visit the Black Hills area, where my grandparents live, during Thanksgiving. My grandparents celebrated their 65th anniversary that Friday! Here are some photos taken during the trip up and back...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Office Halloween
My friends and I are big fans of the TV comedy "The Office," so this year for Halloween a few of us decided to dress up as Dwight, Jim, and Pam. Everyone has been saying how much I look like Dwight Schrute, so here was my chance to prove them... right, as it turns out! Nate does a pretty good Jim Halpert, too.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Pike Place Market, Seattle
For one last adventure in Seattle before we embark on our three and a half hour flight back to Kansas City, we've chosen to visit Pike Place Market. After strolling through the myriad stalls piled high with fresh fruit, fish, and vegetables... all inexplicably more brightly-colored than you find in a supermarket... we're now sitting at a table with a nice view of Puget Sound. We're breaking our fast in the Athenian Inn, of "Sleepless in Seattle" fame, established in 1909.
Excellent steak and eggs.
Excellent steak and eggs.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Seattle Space Needle
The conference officially over, capped with an insightful and perspective-shifting presentation by Bruce Schneier of information security fame, we've returned via monorial to Seattle Center. Three sites in this area are on our agenda, the Science Fiction Museum, the Experience Music Project, and the Space Needle.
Of the two museums, I actually enjoyed the Experience Music Project the most, contrary to my expectations. There just weren't as many interactive exhibits in the SFM, whereas the EMP had a cool Sound Lab that walked you through playing the various instruments. I am more adept with drums and keyboard than fretted instruments, but it was all fun.
We are sitting now at the cafe in the Space Needle, after having absorbed and photographed every exhilerating element of the view from the sky deck. I don't know what it is about heights that give such a thrill, but the wind whipping around me and a cityscape sprawled out before me always gives me a natural high.
You can see Mount Rainier perfectly, it is so clear-skied today.
Well, my hot chocolate awaits. Later tonight we'll be joining the rest of our friends at a burlesque show. Should be an interesting experience...
Later: We've come all the way to Seattle, famed for seafood, just to wind up eating the best barbecue we've ever had. Jones BBQ in Columbia City, just around the corner from the theatre. Amazing.
So far, at the burlesque, the best exhibitions have been the trapeze artists, sexily soaring on skeins of silk high above the stage. The folk musicians, not so amusing to me, though their after-acts of balancing and juggling are impressive..
The show we're attending is hosted by the talented Tamara the Trapeze Lady, whose website should you care to visit is www.trapezelady.com
Of the two museums, I actually enjoyed the Experience Music Project the most, contrary to my expectations. There just weren't as many interactive exhibits in the SFM, whereas the EMP had a cool Sound Lab that walked you through playing the various instruments. I am more adept with drums and keyboard than fretted instruments, but it was all fun.
We are sitting now at the cafe in the Space Needle, after having absorbed and photographed every exhilerating element of the view from the sky deck. I don't know what it is about heights that give such a thrill, but the wind whipping around me and a cityscape sprawled out before me always gives me a natural high.
You can see Mount Rainier perfectly, it is so clear-skied today.
Well, my hot chocolate awaits. Later tonight we'll be joining the rest of our friends at a burlesque show. Should be an interesting experience...
Later: We've come all the way to Seattle, famed for seafood, just to wind up eating the best barbecue we've ever had. Jones BBQ in Columbia City, just around the corner from the theatre. Amazing.
So far, at the burlesque, the best exhibitions have been the trapeze artists, sexily soaring on skeins of silk high above the stage. The folk musicians, not so amusing to me, though their after-acts of balancing and juggling are impressive..
The show we're attending is hosted by the talented Tamara the Trapeze Lady, whose website should you care to visit is www.trapezelady.com
Thursday, October 25, 2007
West Seattle
After crossing the sound by water taxi, we've taken a bus to Seattle Junction in West Seattle. I think if I had to rely on public transportation to get where I'm going every day, though, I'd be very frustrated.
By unanimous decision, we've stepped into a local coffee shop for a spontaneous cupcake break. I complement mine with an order of hot cider with caramel... also known as "ambrosia." The cupcake (chocolate with a hint of orange) was pretty good too, as served up by a rather cute cupcake girl :-)
With nothing else of interest in this area, we are shortly back on the dock at Seacrest Park, the night-time Seattle skyline spread out before us. A full moon brushes the water's surface with pearlescent light, scintillating in the wave crests. Jewels pale in comparison.
The plan now is to meet Tom at the Seattle Waterfront, savor some more seafood for dinner, then head over to Chopstix, a piano bar near our hotel... where Thursday night is Ladies Night. Trust Nate to spot the ad in the newspaper ;-)
Not that I'm complaining!
By unanimous decision, we've stepped into a local coffee shop for a spontaneous cupcake break. I complement mine with an order of hot cider with caramel... also known as "ambrosia." The cupcake (chocolate with a hint of orange) was pretty good too, as served up by a rather cute cupcake girl :-)
With nothing else of interest in this area, we are shortly back on the dock at Seacrest Park, the night-time Seattle skyline spread out before us. A full moon brushes the water's surface with pearlescent light, scintillating in the wave crests. Jewels pale in comparison.
The plan now is to meet Tom at the Seattle Waterfront, savor some more seafood for dinner, then head over to Chopstix, a piano bar near our hotel... where Thursday night is Ladies Night. Trust Nate to spot the ad in the newspaper ;-)
Not that I'm complaining!
Crossing Puget Sound
We've just arrived at Pier 55 this evening, where we will be taking a water taxi over to West Seattle.
The bus schedule is apparently unreliable, and seems to change with the wind, so we decided to just walk down to the waterfront.
From our hotel.
Which is 2.2 miles away.
... My feet no longer scream, but my shins will *never* forgive me.
The bus schedule is apparently unreliable, and seems to change with the wind, so we decided to just walk down to the waterfront.
From our hotel.
Which is 2.2 miles away.
... My feet no longer scream, but my shins will *never* forgive me.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Sleeping In, Stepping Around Downtown Seattle
Yesterday's excursion led to a mutual decision to leave the alarm clock off. We didn't even hear Tom leave for work. After bumming around the hotel room until noon, we take a bus down to 3rd and Pine, then walk to the Washington Convention and Trade Center in downtown Seattle, where EduCause will be held. For lunch, we decide to try Todai once more (sorry Tom!) and at last find favor with the Temporal Gods (they were only going to close an hour after we arrived, this time). Various scrumptious sushi is ours to savor, after which we walk it off by revisiting the waterfront and surrounding downtown streets. Fairly uneventful exercise, except I got to really play with my new toy by taking so many random pictures that I'm sure Nate was getting exasperated with me stopping in place every five minutes ;-)
Sitting here at Tully's Coffee in the convention center now, waiting to meet up with Sara and start the conference.
Sitting here at Tully's Coffee in the convention center now, waiting to meet up with Sara and start the conference.
Monday, October 22, 2007
"Woohoo, Puyallup!"
Tom cheers as we finally get back to his town. We hope to dine at Todai seafood and sushi buffet tonight, in Seattle, an earlier missed opportunity.
Later: thwarted again! That sushi place is always scheduled to close half an hour after we arrive. I think they are doing it on purpose.
Oh well; second choice is P.F. Chang's which should sate our cravings. Tom is just not having a good night for food, though. His first two choices are unavailable. Cantonese Roasted Duck must have been popular today!
Later: thwarted again! That sushi place is always scheduled to close half an hour after we arrive. I think they are doing it on purpose.
Oh well; second choice is P.F. Chang's which should sate our cravings. Tom is just not having a good night for food, though. His first two choices are unavailable. Cantonese Roasted Duck must have been popular today!
Mount Rainier National Park
In preparation for some glorious sights on our road trip to Mount Rainier today, I have finally purchased a digital camera of my own: a Canon Power-Shot 850. Now I don't have to keep borrowing Nate's camera when I want to indulge my inner shutter-bug. I tend to take pictures of anything and everything that catches my eye, and just sort out the good ones later, so Nate rarely gets his camera back ;-)
At the moment we are winding our way through the Cascade Range on WA-161, circling around Rainier on our approach to the park area called Paradise... a place I think will prove aptly named. The beautifully verdant scenery we've beheld so far is definitely proving the axiom that its not the destination that matters so much as the journey to get there.
I do feel like I'm back in that flight simulator though, on these twisty roads, and better stop writing or I might get car-sick here... We're off the grid anyways, so nothing I write now will get published until our return.
Nearly There: Crawling up the paths of Mt. Rainier itself. Frustratingly, we are stopped on the road with a bunch of other sightseers, behind a bulldozer trying to clear it. Tom starts a brief snowball fight as we get out to stretch.
Not long later and the road is clear again.
The temperature is dropping fast as we meander up this massive edifice, and the snow cover is rising. A crisp aroma of evergreen permeates the cold mountain air, nipping at our senses. Truly awesome vistas greet us from this altitude, especially the cloud-crowned peak of Mount Rainier looming just over our shoulders.
On our trip upward, we make a stop at Narada Falls, where we slip and slide down the serpentine trail leading to its fullest cascade (note to self: next time pack hiking boots instead of Skechers). Standing in a cloud of mist from the roaring cataract that looms before us, rainbows irridescing all around, I am in awe of the infinite power and beauty Mother Nature can birth. Surrounded by all this majesty, I lift my camera to take one last defining shot... and its battery dies.
Dammit.
Briefly tired from the climb back up the trail, we pile into the car again and arrive at Paradise a little later, 5,400 feet up and still 9,000 feet from the summit. Mount Rainier's regal snow-capped peak dominates the northern sky, truly king of its domain. My camera revives long enough to capture a single shot of this marvelous sight. That's okay, we have Tom with us, as near to a professional photographer as I've ever personally known. We get plenty of pictures to sate our innate human desire to capture enduring moments of time.
As we are leaving Paradise, Tom tries to photograph a woodland bird perching smartly on top of a nearby car, but the avian takes exception to this and swoops at him angrily. Guess the little guy's camera-shy!
A short way back down the road we came up, we've stopped at a pocket overlook showing us the road wandering far below us. Around this a scree field blends into a wide conifer valley, culminating in the rare panorama of Rainier's perfectly cloudless peak. Tom breaks out his wide-angle lense for maximum capture, then we honor this miracle of nature with a snowball-chucking contest from the overlook's ledge. Quite a long drop, that.
We treat ourselves to a quick stop at Christine Falls, a few miles later. White water cascades from a stone crevice, framed by a rock-lined bridge, and plummets 500 feet into a pool of froth below. Truly awesome. Waterfalls, restless monuments of ever-changing complexity, are my favorite spectacle of nature.
Our journey through the national park comes to a close with a jaunt across the pearly gray riverbed at the base of the mount, where we cross over a log bridge before truly getting our exercise hiking the long woodland trail toward Carter Falls, that parallels the rushing rapids it results in. We turned back before reaching the falls themselves, fairly worn out and wondering if perhaps we missed it somehow, but even without reaching our goal the peaceful footwork through moss-covered trees and glistening water-kissed boulders is definitely my idea of a perfect workout.
The sunset bathes Mount Rainier in its dying rays as we reach the riverbed again, painting its features with red-gold highlights. Before our reluctant departure, our one remaining camera captures this final moment of our excellent day.
I have decided that the prime situation for that one place you'd spend the rest of your days happily, is in an area like the coast of Washington, with all of these enriching experiences and pristine wilderness mere hours away. There is much more of the world to see, for us both, but Tom has made an excellent choice in this milestone on his journey. I am glad for the opportunity to share it alongside these two friends, for even so brief a time.
As we are driving out of the park, the pleasant digitized voice of our GPS device chimes, "At your earliest opportunity, turn around."
Indeed.
At the moment we are winding our way through the Cascade Range on WA-161, circling around Rainier on our approach to the park area called Paradise... a place I think will prove aptly named. The beautifully verdant scenery we've beheld so far is definitely proving the axiom that its not the destination that matters so much as the journey to get there.
I do feel like I'm back in that flight simulator though, on these twisty roads, and better stop writing or I might get car-sick here... We're off the grid anyways, so nothing I write now will get published until our return.
Nearly There: Crawling up the paths of Mt. Rainier itself. Frustratingly, we are stopped on the road with a bunch of other sightseers, behind a bulldozer trying to clear it. Tom starts a brief snowball fight as we get out to stretch.
Not long later and the road is clear again.
The temperature is dropping fast as we meander up this massive edifice, and the snow cover is rising. A crisp aroma of evergreen permeates the cold mountain air, nipping at our senses. Truly awesome vistas greet us from this altitude, especially the cloud-crowned peak of Mount Rainier looming just over our shoulders.
On our trip upward, we make a stop at Narada Falls, where we slip and slide down the serpentine trail leading to its fullest cascade (note to self: next time pack hiking boots instead of Skechers). Standing in a cloud of mist from the roaring cataract that looms before us, rainbows irridescing all around, I am in awe of the infinite power and beauty Mother Nature can birth. Surrounded by all this majesty, I lift my camera to take one last defining shot... and its battery dies.
Dammit.
Briefly tired from the climb back up the trail, we pile into the car again and arrive at Paradise a little later, 5,400 feet up and still 9,000 feet from the summit. Mount Rainier's regal snow-capped peak dominates the northern sky, truly king of its domain. My camera revives long enough to capture a single shot of this marvelous sight. That's okay, we have Tom with us, as near to a professional photographer as I've ever personally known. We get plenty of pictures to sate our innate human desire to capture enduring moments of time.
As we are leaving Paradise, Tom tries to photograph a woodland bird perching smartly on top of a nearby car, but the avian takes exception to this and swoops at him angrily. Guess the little guy's camera-shy!
A short way back down the road we came up, we've stopped at a pocket overlook showing us the road wandering far below us. Around this a scree field blends into a wide conifer valley, culminating in the rare panorama of Rainier's perfectly cloudless peak. Tom breaks out his wide-angle lense for maximum capture, then we honor this miracle of nature with a snowball-chucking contest from the overlook's ledge. Quite a long drop, that.
We treat ourselves to a quick stop at Christine Falls, a few miles later. White water cascades from a stone crevice, framed by a rock-lined bridge, and plummets 500 feet into a pool of froth below. Truly awesome. Waterfalls, restless monuments of ever-changing complexity, are my favorite spectacle of nature.
Our journey through the national park comes to a close with a jaunt across the pearly gray riverbed at the base of the mount, where we cross over a log bridge before truly getting our exercise hiking the long woodland trail toward Carter Falls, that parallels the rushing rapids it results in. We turned back before reaching the falls themselves, fairly worn out and wondering if perhaps we missed it somehow, but even without reaching our goal the peaceful footwork through moss-covered trees and glistening water-kissed boulders is definitely my idea of a perfect workout.
The sunset bathes Mount Rainier in its dying rays as we reach the riverbed again, painting its features with red-gold highlights. Before our reluctant departure, our one remaining camera captures this final moment of our excellent day.
I have decided that the prime situation for that one place you'd spend the rest of your days happily, is in an area like the coast of Washington, with all of these enriching experiences and pristine wilderness mere hours away. There is much more of the world to see, for us both, but Tom has made an excellent choice in this milestone on his journey. I am glad for the opportunity to share it alongside these two friends, for even so brief a time.
As we are driving out of the park, the pleasant digitized voice of our GPS device chimes, "At your earliest opportunity, turn around."
Indeed.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Seattle: Puget Sound Waterfront
We're a bit late to take a water taxi over to West Seattle tonight, but we're meeting our friend Sara for dinner at The Crab Pot soon anyways, and so stroll the waterfront shops before stopping in a bar to refresh ourselves while we wait.
We encountered a store called Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe that has existed since 1899 (so claimed), and its "Zoo-Illogical Exhibit" of creative taxidermy-- including a jackalope, four-legged chicken, old-world mermaid, plus some actual collected zoological fauna. Pretty neat little store, but even at 50% off, we're not buying. Maybe another time.
Later: Sara was joined by her daughter Julia, her daughter's boyfriend Steven, and their friend Jed. Tossed in with the three of us, especially Nate who is always handy with a witty rejoinder, it became improv night at the dinner table. Always a fun crowd, and though I usually tend to sit on the sidelines absorbing the atmosphere in my own quiet way, I feel better for knowing all of them and take joy in the honest laughter such friendship inspires.
The Crab Pot is an interesting place to eat: the seafood is splayed directly onto butcher paper spread across the table, in a hands-on buffet of crab, mussels, shrimp, red potatoes, and corn cob ends. All that stands between your clean shirt and this shellfish bedlam is a thin bib, while a crab fork and wooden mallet serve as your only utensils. The food was delicious, unsurprising for a coastal city, especially the crab (my personal favorite).
We made a right mess, thwacking away with zeal, and loved every minute of it.
We encountered a store called Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe that has existed since 1899 (so claimed), and its "Zoo-Illogical Exhibit" of creative taxidermy-- including a jackalope, four-legged chicken, old-world mermaid, plus some actual collected zoological fauna. Pretty neat little store, but even at 50% off, we're not buying. Maybe another time.
Later: Sara was joined by her daughter Julia, her daughter's boyfriend Steven, and their friend Jed. Tossed in with the three of us, especially Nate who is always handy with a witty rejoinder, it became improv night at the dinner table. Always a fun crowd, and though I usually tend to sit on the sidelines absorbing the atmosphere in my own quiet way, I feel better for knowing all of them and take joy in the honest laughter such friendship inspires.
The Crab Pot is an interesting place to eat: the seafood is splayed directly onto butcher paper spread across the table, in a hands-on buffet of crab, mussels, shrimp, red potatoes, and corn cob ends. All that stands between your clean shirt and this shellfish bedlam is a thin bib, while a crab fork and wooden mallet serve as your only utensils. The food was delicious, unsurprising for a coastal city, especially the crab (my personal favorite).
We made a right mess, thwacking away with zeal, and loved every minute of it.
Seattle: Boeing Field Museum
The first half of today is being spent enriching ourselves at Boeing's Field Museum. So far we've seen their original Red Barn factory from the dawn of aerospace and up to to World War I and II. I find the World War I exhibits most fascinating, at a time when planes were a new combat technology and pilots considered "Knights of the Sky." We've stopped for lunch at the museum cafe, before going on a tour of the Concorde and Air Force One, where I overpaid for my chili and PBJ sandwich. Oh well, it was good at least.
Lunch is spent calculating how long it would take to fly a Concorde to the sun.
Later: We drool over one of the remaining Lockheed SR-71 Blackbirds (actually the M-21 with its drone plane on top), and muse over the car-plane that was close to mass production by Ford in the '60s.
Also, Nate and I managed to break the flight simulator. I tried to describe how to execute an Immelman turn, and as he was at its apex something flew off inside the cabin with a loud POP and we went into a tailspin, then the operator shut the system down on us. Thankfully we weren't stuck upside down, but had to be righted manually.
Oops.
Lunch is spent calculating how long it would take to fly a Concorde to the sun.
Later: We drool over one of the remaining Lockheed SR-71 Blackbirds (actually the M-21 with its drone plane on top), and muse over the car-plane that was close to mass production by Ford in the '60s.
Also, Nate and I managed to break the flight simulator. I tried to describe how to execute an Immelman turn, and as he was at its apex something flew off inside the cabin with a loud POP and we went into a tailspin, then the operator shut the system down on us. Thankfully we weren't stuck upside down, but had to be righted manually.
Oops.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Seattle Supersonics vs Houston Rockets
We're really batting 1000 (shooting airballs, in basketball terms, I guess?)
Halfway to the stadium from where we parked and walked, Nate remembered that the tickets were back in the car. Then, poor Tom has been denied entry to the stadium for having a camera in his backpack. Boo hoo, NBA. I never saw any signs declaring them forbidden, either.
We've seated now, with a bird's eye view of the court. This is our first NBA game, for each of us!
(FYI, words can't describe it, but: Yao Ming is... Tall. Huge, really. Wow.)
Halftime: So far at my first NBA game, I confess to finding myself more fascinated with the antics of the Sasquatch mascot as he works through the crowd... and by the cheerleaders, as far as I can tell all perfect examples of human sculpture. Characters certainly intended to captivate. The game itself, I've decided, is merely a convenient excuse for the spectacle surrounding it. Give me soccer instead, any day... but bring the cheerleaders at least, of course ;-)
The game being fairly one-sided in the Rockets' favor, and relatively lifeless in my opinion (Nate says it's because this is a preseason game), we depart to find some sushi.
Wait, no, the dancers have come out again...
OK, now we're leaving.
... and now going back for Nate's camera, still under the seat.
Two words, Nate: Ginko. Biloba.
Darn, the sushi place closes at 9:30PM. Looks like today is the day for breweries. Gordon Biersch. Cute hostess, hmm...
Halfway to the stadium from where we parked and walked, Nate remembered that the tickets were back in the car. Then, poor Tom has been denied entry to the stadium for having a camera in his backpack. Boo hoo, NBA. I never saw any signs declaring them forbidden, either.
We've seated now, with a bird's eye view of the court. This is our first NBA game, for each of us!
(FYI, words can't describe it, but: Yao Ming is... Tall. Huge, really. Wow.)
Halftime: So far at my first NBA game, I confess to finding myself more fascinated with the antics of the Sasquatch mascot as he works through the crowd... and by the cheerleaders, as far as I can tell all perfect examples of human sculpture. Characters certainly intended to captivate. The game itself, I've decided, is merely a convenient excuse for the spectacle surrounding it. Give me soccer instead, any day... but bring the cheerleaders at least, of course ;-)
The game being fairly one-sided in the Rockets' favor, and relatively lifeless in my opinion (Nate says it's because this is a preseason game), we depart to find some sushi.
Wait, no, the dancers have come out again...
OK, now we're leaving.
... and now going back for Nate's camera, still under the seat.
Two words, Nate: Ginko. Biloba.
Darn, the sushi place closes at 9:30PM. Looks like today is the day for breweries. Gordon Biersch. Cute hostess, hmm...
Back to Seattle
Our passage back into the US of A went infinitely smoother than our ordeal getting into Canada yesterday. Having all the belts in the car's engine probably helps, but even the border guard asked only half of the rapid-fire pop quiz questions we faced from the Canadian guards. Contrary to my worry as a citizen born abroad in England, he actually seemed more interested in Nate, the only native-born citizen among us.
Before crossing over we stopped at the duty-free shop for some souvenir collecting. I couldn't leave Canada without a bottle of maple syrup in hand, after all!
After crossing, we also couldn't help calling up our boss to joke around with, since he had such trouble himself returning into the US from a short drive down to Mexico last year...
"Free Monchusie!" :-)
Before crossing over we stopped at the duty-free shop for some souvenir collecting. I couldn't leave Canada without a bottle of maple syrup in hand, after all!
After crossing, we also couldn't help calling up our boss to joke around with, since he had such trouble himself returning into the US from a short drive down to Mexico last year...
"Free Monchusie!" :-)
Granville Island, Vancouver
After walking through Yaletown in downtown Vancouver, as well as a nice riverside park and marina, we've taken an "aquabus" across to Granville Island. We're about to take a tour of Granville Island Brewery, followed by lunch in the taproom. Our plan coincides with the return of the rain, which has made walking outside rather miserable.
So far the Canadian people (at least in British Columbia) are friendly... and beautiful. Indeed, Tom and I are in a constant state of double-take while we're strolling the streets, never seeing something we don't like ;-)
Post-Tour: We've skipped lunch at the brewery since the beer tasting and socialization with our German and Canadian compatriots went longer than anticipated. In proof that the world is smaller than we think, the girl sitting across from us (who just got married) was actually also from Kansas City... in fact, she was baptized in the same church that Nate himself will be getting married in next year!
A quick stroll through the public market yields us some Bavarian spicy sausage in a bun, for lunch, which we enjoy while tossing fries to the horde of pigeons and seagulls flocking the outdoor dining area. Then, its off to pick up Tom's car from the shop and head back to Seattle.
Vancouver, I would definitely visit again. Another one of those places, like Cocoa Beach, which has spoken to my soul... if in a different, but no less pleasant, way.
See you again soon, I hope, O Canada!
Canadian Morning
A seagull has roosted on our sill, providing Tom some photography opportunity (after scaring the crap out of him when it landed and peeked in the window).
A call to the repair shop assures us that his car is being looked at already, so all that's left to do is enjoy ourselves already!
... but first, we need to get some money that's worth something up here.
A call to the repair shop assures us that his car is being looked at already, so all that's left to do is enjoy ourselves already!
... but first, we need to get some money that's worth something up here.
Vancouver, At Last
We have arrived at our hotel after an impromptu local color tour given by our tow truck driver, of White Rock, Surrey, Richmond, and finally the streets of Vancouver leading to Canadian Tire (he was particularly diligent in pointing out the hotspots for prostitution for some reason). We piled out of the two-person passenger seat all three of us had been squashed into for 30 miles, and dropped our car off in the hopes of having it repaired by tomorrow afternoon so we can return to Seattle according to schedule. Given our luck so far, we'll be lucky to get back at all...
The cot we've been provided is the same size as one of the regular beds, requiring extensive rearrangement to shoe-horn into the room. Even the hotel clerk looked surprised when he brought it in.
Observations: the US dollar isn't worth spit up here, gas (petrol) seems fairly inexpensive at CD1.05 ... until you realize that's the price per liter (about 1/4 gallon), the taxi drivers are blind, and nothing is open late... but at least the people are friendly, even when they're bleeding you dry on tow fare. Oh, and it's cold.
Late-late-night pizza, Pepsi, and Canadian TV ensues until we pass out.
Tomorrow better be worth it.
The cot we've been provided is the same size as one of the regular beds, requiring extensive rearrangement to shoe-horn into the room. Even the hotel clerk looked surprised when he brought it in.
Observations: the US dollar isn't worth spit up here, gas (petrol) seems fairly inexpensive at CD1.05 ... until you realize that's the price per liter (about 1/4 gallon), the taxi drivers are blind, and nothing is open late... but at least the people are friendly, even when they're bleeding you dry on tow fare. Oh, and it's cold.
Late-late-night pizza, Pepsi, and Canadian TV ensues until we pass out.
Tomorrow better be worth it.
Vancouver Bound: (Still) At The Border
Over an hour later and we can finally see the actual border station. However, Tom's car really doesn't want to go to Canada today! Just when we wanted to get into the faster-moving line of traffic, power steering failed, and now it appears all the stop-and-go (mostly stop) driving is causing his engine to overheat. We just want to get across before we have to stop and assess again, and we're AL-MOST THERE...
Moments later, we are officially in Canada... and looking for a tow truck :-(
Update: According to the tow truck driver (nice guy by the way), Tommy lost his serpentine belt!
Moment of Irony: Crossing the Serpentine River after having just learned the nature of Tom's car's malady...
Moments later, we are officially in Canada... and looking for a tow truck :-(
Update: According to the tow truck driver (nice guy by the way), Tommy lost his serpentine belt!
Moment of Irony: Crossing the Serpentine River after having just learned the nature of Tom's car's malady...
Friday, October 19, 2007
Vancouver Bound: At the Border
... and I thought the lines at Wal-Mart were bad!
Vancouver Bound: Jammed Up
Tom, Nate, and I are on the road northward now, but ever so slowly. Our progress is being impeded by an accident-induced traffic jam on I-5, blocking our lane.
Hmm, we also apparently have something wrong with Tom's car, which is making a nasty clicking sound, maybe something dragging on the ground (hopefully its not inside the engine).
We've stopped on the nearest exit to investigate, and discover that the sound is coming from the fan, but the manifold is blocking our access. Time to buy some tools!
By God, we ARE getting to Vancouver tonight!
(Oh good, its raining again...)
Later: As soon as we buy the tools and get the manifold off and start inspecting, the mysterious noise decides to go away. Well, that's good, I guess... We've decided, with that kind of magic touch, we're quitting our jobs and opening a BMW repair shop in Canada. Hah!
Back on the road, still 2 hours away from our destination. Everything so far is running smooth again. Maybe the border guards will know some good mechanics, just in case...
Hmm, we also apparently have something wrong with Tom's car, which is making a nasty clicking sound, maybe something dragging on the ground (hopefully its not inside the engine).
We've stopped on the nearest exit to investigate, and discover that the sound is coming from the fan, but the manifold is blocking our access. Time to buy some tools!
By God, we ARE getting to Vancouver tonight!
(Oh good, its raining again...)
Later: As soon as we buy the tools and get the manifold off and start inspecting, the mysterious noise decides to go away. Well, that's good, I guess... We've decided, with that kind of magic touch, we're quitting our jobs and opening a BMW repair shop in Canada. Hah!
Back on the road, still 2 hours away from our destination. Everything so far is running smooth again. Maybe the border guards will know some good mechanics, just in case...
From Southeast, to Northwest
After having just returned from a somber two weeks in the South, I had two days of "normalcy" at home before leaving on yet another trip, this time to Seattle, WA, hopefully with a jaunt up to Vancouver, Canada. My good friend Nate and I decided to take some vacation the weekend before the EduCause conference we're attending, to fly up and see the sights, as well as visit with our other good friend Tom who moved up to this area earlier in the year.
We've landed after a long flight and are now bouncing along in a bus, on our way to meet up with Tom and begin our grand adventure on the Northwest coast. I am looking forward to the happier times.
The little old lady who boarded the bus earlier and sat next to me, is apparently senile, and has been chatting with herself for nearly ten minutes about her husband and the Mexican prostitutes who stole him away. 16 of them, no less. Fascinating.
By the way... Seattle in October, is cold and wet. Guess that's why it's called Mt. Rainier!
We've landed after a long flight and are now bouncing along in a bus, on our way to meet up with Tom and begin our grand adventure on the Northwest coast. I am looking forward to the happier times.
The little old lady who boarded the bus earlier and sat next to me, is apparently senile, and has been chatting with herself for nearly ten minutes about her husband and the Mexican prostitutes who stole him away. 16 of them, no less. Fascinating.
By the way... Seattle in October, is cold and wet. Guess that's why it's called Mt. Rainier!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Ancestry
Discovering that my grandfather fought in World War II made me realize I didn't know as much about my family's history as I probably should, and I've taken on a personal project to trace my family tree as far back as I can to see what kind of interesting ancestral history I can uncover. I've already discovered my grand-uncle "Dub" also fought in World War II, and is registered at the National WWII Memorial. My grandfather will shortly join him in that honor.
Wikipedia on my grandfather's WWII unit, and my grand-uncle's WWII unit.
Historical websites on my grandfather's WWII unit "The Sightseeing Sixth," and on my grand-uncle's unit "The Custer Division."
Wikipedia on my grandfather's WWII unit, and my grand-uncle's WWII unit.
Historical websites on my grandfather's WWII unit "The Sightseeing Sixth," and on my grand-uncle's unit "The Custer Division."
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Papa, Rest in Peace
My grandfather, Wilbourne Thomas Ferguson, passed away from a stroke-induced coma today. He was 81 years old, a widower of Martha Ellen Ferguson, and is survived by his eldest son (my father) Larry Ferguson, his younger sons Gerald and Terry Ferguson, his daughter Suzie Srams, and their respective grandchildren.
My grandfather was a World War II veteran, having served a year in the Pacific Front as a guard patrolman, Private First Class in the 20th Infantry Regiment out of Alabama, specifically stationed in the Phillipines and Korea. He came through physically unscathed, and was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal. He was also rated a marksman with the M1 rifle.
After the war he lived nearly all of his life near Montgomery, AL, having established a small family farm upon which his children were raised and his grandchildren often visited. He kept goats, horses, rabbits, and guinea hens. He loved nothing more than to sit in his back yard, surrounded by family to talk to, watching the children run around and play, and taking life at his own pace in his own way.
We will miss you, Papa. Be with God.
My grandfather was a World War II veteran, having served a year in the Pacific Front as a guard patrolman, Private First Class in the 20th Infantry Regiment out of Alabama, specifically stationed in the Phillipines and Korea. He came through physically unscathed, and was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal. He was also rated a marksman with the M1 rifle.
After the war he lived nearly all of his life near Montgomery, AL, having established a small family farm upon which his children were raised and his grandchildren often visited. He kept goats, horses, rabbits, and guinea hens. He loved nothing more than to sit in his back yard, surrounded by family to talk to, watching the children run around and play, and taking life at his own pace in his own way.
We will miss you, Papa. Be with God.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Photo Wrap-Up
Here are all the photos and videos we took during the course of our trip:
Day 2: Semifinals, US vs Canada
Day 3: CDW Tour, Art Institute
Day 4: Planetarium, Untouchables Tour, Navy Pier
Dave's Camera: Untouchables Tour, Finals
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day 5, Post-Game Wrap-Up and the Drive Home
The walk out went much better than expected. Chesher and I gained immortality when two Mexico fans, who had traded jerseys with someone else, asked us to autograph them. Well sure!
Dave and Nate later did some flag-trading and are coming home with Mexico flags acquired at the Gold Cup. More picture trading as well. All in all, once we got out of the stadium the Mexico fans became quite friendly and everyone traded high-fives, handshakes, and cheers of "Good Game!"
This has definitely been the best road trip ever. Rock music blaring, high on the win, we start the long drive home.
Dave's Photos
Nate's Photos
(Somewhere in Iowa) Not much happening on the trip home, just mile after mile of road. DVDs sustain us, "Black Sheep" in Illinois, and right now we're burning pavement to "The Office, Season Two." Funny stuff, and, I look nothing like Dwight ;-)
(11:20PM) Looks like Des Moines is coming up!
(2:00AM) Entering the Kansas City area! Woohoo we made it!
(2:19AM) After exactly 1,301 miles of road travel, we arrive back in Parkville, MO. Welcome back, us!
Dave and Nate later did some flag-trading and are coming home with Mexico flags acquired at the Gold Cup. More picture trading as well. All in all, once we got out of the stadium the Mexico fans became quite friendly and everyone traded high-fives, handshakes, and cheers of "Good Game!"This has definitely been the best road trip ever. Rock music blaring, high on the win, we start the long drive home.
Dave's Photos
Nate's Photos
(Somewhere in Iowa) Not much happening on the trip home, just mile after mile of road. DVDs sustain us, "Black Sheep" in Illinois, and right now we're burning pavement to "The Office, Season Two." Funny stuff, and, I look nothing like Dwight ;-)
(11:20PM) Looks like Des Moines is coming up!
(2:00AM) Entering the Kansas City area! Woohoo we made it!
(2:19AM) After exactly 1,301 miles of road travel, we arrive back in Parkville, MO. Welcome back, us!
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day 5, The Main Event
Wake up, pack up, hit the road! We're on our way to watch USA beat Mexico in the Gold Cup Finals, all decked out in our patriotic soccer gear once more. The weather is fine, the traffic isn't too bad yet, and we've left in plenty of time to find good parking. We've been invited to a tailgate with some other US fans, so won't have to be completely surrounded by Mexico fans as we approach the showdown.
(12:30PM) Nate and I decide to wander the lot and see all the different tailgates going on. It's amazing what wearing a flag, jersey, scarf, and top-hat will do for your charisma! We get our picture taken with just about everyone, and vice-versa. The crowd is definitely awesome, evident rivalry but everyone is friendly and offering us beers. I got handed some meat wrapped in a tortilla and informed that its donkey meat. Whatever it was, it wasn't half bad!
(1:45PM) 15 minutes to game time and we've secured a place in the section known as Sam's Army. We're viewing a sea of red, white, and blue. Nate and Dave shout, "1 2 3 **** the Mexicans!" secure in the knowledge they won't be mobbed by the surrounding fans. Cheer competitions between our section and the next start up. The stadium itself actually isn't quite as packed as I expected it to be, but that might change nearer to the start of the game...
(10 minutes later) OK... now its packed. I receive the dubious compliment of being called a look-alike for Dwight Schrute (a character from the TV series "The Office") by one of our fellow USA fans. Thanks. I think.
(Half-Time) After a long almost goal-less first half, Mexico unfortunately leads 1-0 and their fans are jubilant (often right in our faces). We're staying positive, but walking through the crowd is tough. It probably doesn't help that I have beer in my shoe...
(60th minute) A penalty kick by Donovan evens the score up. Life returns to the U.S. fans as we chant "U S A"!
(72nd minute) Feilhaber scores a second goal. We get doused in beer as the Mexico fans throw cups of it from the stands. Nice... this will be a pleasant addition to the 8 hour trip back to Kansas City tonight. A fight is apparently occurring in the section below us. On the upside, we're winning!
(85th minute) Beasley gets a bottle of water thrown at him from the stands. Thinking quick and cool, he picks it up, drinks it, and throws it to the sideline. This gets him a yellow card for delay of game, but what else is he going to do?
(88th minute) More beer rains from the heavens as Howard stops Mexico's last real chance for an equalizer. Chesher and I are unamused. The score is still 2-1 but it should be 4-1, USA had some really nice positions toward an open goal that instead shot into the crossbar... come on, guys.
(90th minute and stoppage) Mexico just can't get another ball past Howard, and USA wins 2-1!! The Mexico fans aren't happy and more beer bombs are thrown, but we don't care, we're ecstatic to have a successful Gold Cup final under our attendance record. The closing ceremony commences. Our walk out to the car will be jubilant, but wary.
More Photos
We just passed a mini-van full of Mexico fans, so of course we had to pace alongside and wave our US flag at them ;-) This occurs several times more. Good fun. Go USA!
(Noon) We've met up with our fellow tail-gaters and begin the festivities. The game is 2 hours away, but there's plenty of food and fun to be had in the meantime. Nate and Tewany play bag toss, in the background the roaming US fan beer bongers continue to challenge Mexico fans to races (Mexico is winning that game at least), and the smell of grilling meat permeates the air. The Mexico fans definitely outnumber us, about 10 to 1, but the rivalry is genial thus far and they even loaned us some tortillas for our chicken bites. Still, gotta say, Go USA! :-)
(12:30PM) Nate and I decide to wander the lot and see all the different tailgates going on. It's amazing what wearing a flag, jersey, scarf, and top-hat will do for your charisma! We get our picture taken with just about everyone, and vice-versa. The crowd is definitely awesome, evident rivalry but everyone is friendly and offering us beers. I got handed some meat wrapped in a tortilla and informed that its donkey meat. Whatever it was, it wasn't half bad!
(1:45PM) 15 minutes to game time and we've secured a place in the section known as Sam's Army. We're viewing a sea of red, white, and blue. Nate and Dave shout, "1 2 3 **** the Mexicans!" secure in the knowledge they won't be mobbed by the surrounding fans. Cheer competitions between our section and the next start up. The stadium itself actually isn't quite as packed as I expected it to be, but that might change nearer to the start of the game...(10 minutes later) OK... now its packed. I receive the dubious compliment of being called a look-alike for Dwight Schrute (a character from the TV series "The Office") by one of our fellow USA fans. Thanks. I think.
(Half-Time) After a long almost goal-less first half, Mexico unfortunately leads 1-0 and their fans are jubilant (often right in our faces). We're staying positive, but walking through the crowd is tough. It probably doesn't help that I have beer in my shoe...
(60th minute) A penalty kick by Donovan evens the score up. Life returns to the U.S. fans as we chant "U S A"!(72nd minute) Feilhaber scores a second goal. We get doused in beer as the Mexico fans throw cups of it from the stands. Nice... this will be a pleasant addition to the 8 hour trip back to Kansas City tonight. A fight is apparently occurring in the section below us. On the upside, we're winning!
(85th minute) Beasley gets a bottle of water thrown at him from the stands. Thinking quick and cool, he picks it up, drinks it, and throws it to the sideline. This gets him a yellow card for delay of game, but what else is he going to do?
(88th minute) More beer rains from the heavens as Howard stops Mexico's last real chance for an equalizer. Chesher and I are unamused. The score is still 2-1 but it should be 4-1, USA had some really nice positions toward an open goal that instead shot into the crossbar... come on, guys.
(90th minute and stoppage) Mexico just can't get another ball past Howard, and USA wins 2-1!! The Mexico fans aren't happy and more beer bombs are thrown, but we don't care, we're ecstatic to have a successful Gold Cup final under our attendance record. The closing ceremony commences. Our walk out to the car will be jubilant, but wary.More Photos
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day Four, Navy Pier Fireworks
Here we are at the end of the Navy Pier, waiting for the fireworks to start. This place is jumpin', probably everyone here for the fireworks show too. There's a live band playing, the weather is perfect, and now the fireworks are about to start. Drinks in hand, we weave through the crowd to find a good spot...The Chicago skyline from this vantage point is truly stunning, the glow of the city bouncing off the clouds, tinting the sky soft purple and orange.
(10:26PM) Thus concludes the fireworks show, quite nice. I never get tired of fireworks. This one had sky flowers, heart shapes, smilies, swirling multi-color fountains, veils of shimmering silver, glowing swarms, and a grand finale that left the sky blanketed in irridescent motes of gold. All the while music lifts our spirits and makes our bodies groove in counter-point to the show. Awesome.
More Photos
I don't think we did half as much on our last trip as we have on this one. We weren't here for as long a stay either, but I think the months of planning ahead has helped us maximize our enjoyment on this trip. It certainly has been one of the more varied and interesting vacations I've been on since graduating from college. Even my recent jaunt to Florida, while beautifully sunny and full of tropical sights, didn't have the same sort of vibe to it as our adventures in Chicago.
Even the tense moments are all part of the overall good experience, since no plan is ever perfect and overcoming the odds leaves you feeling the better for facing them. Tension between true friends rarely lasts, anyways, and while we are all tired as we drive back to the hotel tonight, I think we're all in pretty good spirits again after the events of the day. Finally finding a decent radio station probably helps too.
(12:15PM) Apparently, Nate really really likes jumping on beds... or playing Superman... or both.
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day Four, Untouchables Tour, Lou Malnatti's Pizza
Well we nearly had another mishap, when we bought tour tickets from a merchant standing right by the Untouchables bus, but wasn't actually associated with them at all and was only selling city tour bus tickets. Nice opportunism there, lady. We got our refunds at least, then narrowly missed not getting to tour at all since apparently you can do reservations with these fellows, but we were the lucky last four allowed on. Whew!
Now that our rollicking trivia-laden tour of gangland Chicago is over, we're starving for some deep dish pizza, and head to a place recommended by the CDW guys which happens to be a few blocks away. A place so great, there's a thirty minute wait. The samples they provided were good at least, and the dishes do look deep...
(7:45) Anna, our waitress, has a very nice accent. We asked, and she's from Poland. The pizza is nice too.(8:35PM) Waddling back to Navy Pier for the firework show in an hour or so...
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day Four, Planetarium
After missing our train (don't ask) and stumbling through Chicago traffic, we finally arrive at Adler Planetarium on the lakefront. The vista from here into the city is beautiful, as today's rainclouds have blanketed the city and hide its tallest towers with cloaks of mist. Nate says this is supposed to be the oldest planetarium in the U.S., or at least Chicago. It certainly looks it!(3:50PM) Well, that was the most expensive movie we've ever seen, journey through a black hole notwithstanding (actually I think Disney made a movie of that already). Not many of the other exhibits were of interest to post-adolescent soccer fans, but we did our best to enjoy ourselves. Driving on our way out, we encountered an army of Segway tourists which, frankly, was the coolest thing we'd seen yet! We're driving back up Lake Shore Drive now to park at the Navy Pier and walk to the spot where our 2-hour Untouchables tour starts.
More Photos
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day Four, Sleeping In...
We are all finally awake (if not all dressed), now that Nate has executed a screaming death drop onto Tewaney's back for a wake-up call (ouch). Plans for today include the Untouchables Tour, the planetarium, fireworks at the Navy Pier, and eating some famous Chicago deep dish pizza somewhere in between. Star Wars is playing in high-def on our TV, though, so who knows when we'll get out of here... ;-)(11:17AM) Star Wars wins, since our train to Chicago doesn't leave until after noon. Lunch is sandwiches, Cheetos, cheesecake, and mockery.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day Three, Museum or Planetarium?
Since we've been warned the Friday night life makes driving nearly impossible in Chicago, we are boarding a train into the city on our way to go to one of two tourist attractions. It should be here in, oh, 30 minutes...(5:35PM) A train blows past the station at high speed. We straighten our windswept clothing and rub the grit out of our eyes. Apparently, not our ride...
(5:50PM) On the slow train to Chicago... Its likely the art museum will be our destination tonight, since we are unsure whether the planetarium will be open today.
(6:50PM) Having reached Union Station, we decide to walk the 12-odd blocks to the art museum... And I just ran into a tree, typing this... I'd better catch up to the guys....
(7:10PM) We detect that we might have picked the wrong direction to start walking. A street dweller sees me looking at my Blackberry and asks us where we want to go, and gets us back on track. Three minutes later, Tewaney's latent KGB training kicks in and he notices the same guy has been tailing us for several blocks. We make him walk between the two of us as he gets closer (also a KGB technique apparently) and peace of mind returns once he's passed.(7:11PM) Tewaney informs me that now he has to kill me. Blogging may become very light...
(7:45PM) We enter the Art Institute of Chicago.(9:00PM) We leave the Art Institute of Chicago. Tired and hungry, but culturally enriched, we go in search of food. Nate remembers seeing The Village, "Oldest Italian Restaurant in Chicago." Six blocks later and we are seated immediately! Chianti anyone?
Speeding through the museum, snapping as many pictures of as much as I could (being the official chronicler of our journey by now), I realized I wasn't really seeing anything I was looking at. I am going to have to come back without any technology some day, or to museums in my home city, and really absorb the works of art in a way my camera's eye could not.
Plus, apparently museums are full of presumably cultured and intelligent attractive young females as well, some of them single... go figure!
Time to eat.
(10:35PM) Full of good food and good spirits (both kinds), and after a short tour of the South Concourse in the train station, we board our train (at the North Concourse of course) back to Itasca and the hotel. Another great day in the city of Chicago.
(10:50PM) A lady sitting below me (we're in the upper deck) is doing needle-point. Good way to pass the time I guess! I find myself mesmerized by her intricate hand movements, combined with the gentle rocking motion of the train. A strangely peaceful scene.
(11:12PM) Tewaney picturesquely observes that we're all absorbed in our handheld device of choice (blogging, KaGlom-ing, or otherwise)... but who is paying attention to when our stop is? Fortunately we have two more before we disembark.(11:26PM) As we stand in the rain that just started falling, waiting for our shuttle back to the hotel, we burst into a chorus of "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head!" Five minutes later we notice the umbrella-covered table right behind us. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are certified geniuses.
(12:20PM) Midnight cheesecake run!
More Photos
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day Three, Our Limo Awaits, CDW Tour
I don't know what it is about hotels and traveling, versus home, but I always seem to naturally wake up an hour earlier than the alarm is set even when I've gone to bed at 2AM (like last night). It's a strange phenomenon.
(10:17 AM) Apparently our limo driver is lost or something, as we are turning around in a church parking lot. Not easy with a stretch limo.
(1:05PM) Our tour of the CDW distribution center over, we're headed to lunch at Big Bowl Chinese and Thai with our reps Jeff, Brad, and Lonnie now. Their warehouse is awesome, about 1/4 mile two ways and highly efficient. We got to see Mantissa (?) Machine in action, that sorts all the prepped boxes and knows based on their weight where they belong. They have some impressive Quality Control facilities as well.
(2:16PM) Headed back to CDW to take our limo back to the hotel. I hope this one will have a sun roof! Plans for tonight are to see the art museum and planetarium, maybe check out some of the night life.
(2:30P) Nate tests the theory that farts don't stink in a limo. Myth Busted.
(3:00PM) "So what did you guys talk about in the limo?" ... "Space toilets."
(3:03PM) First mullet sighting. (Yeah, without a sunroof the limo's kinda boring.)
Perhaps today, though, it could be due to the anticipation of taking my first limo ride. This morning's plan was to take a tour of the CDW warehouse and do lunch with some of our reps. Just before we left, we found out that CDW is going to treat us right: we'll be picked up at our hotel in a limousine and taken to the warehouse for the tour, then to lunch (on CDW), and then back to our hotel. Well! We're honored, and what a great start to the day!
After that we've got options: the Untouchables tour of all the Mob Days gangster hot-spots, accepting an invitation to tailgate at a Chicago Fire MLS soccer match, or just hopping the El and doing whatever we feel like.
(10:17 AM) Apparently our limo driver is lost or something, as we are turning around in a church parking lot. Not easy with a stretch limo.
(1:05PM) Our tour of the CDW distribution center over, we're headed to lunch at Big Bowl Chinese and Thai with our reps Jeff, Brad, and Lonnie now. Their warehouse is awesome, about 1/4 mile two ways and highly efficient. We got to see Mantissa (?) Machine in action, that sorts all the prepped boxes and knows based on their weight where they belong. They have some impressive Quality Control facilities as well.(2:16PM) Headed back to CDW to take our limo back to the hotel. I hope this one will have a sun roof! Plans for tonight are to see the art museum and planetarium, maybe check out some of the night life.
(2:30P) Nate tests the theory that farts don't stink in a limo. Myth Busted.
(3:00PM) "So what did you guys talk about in the limo?" ... "Space toilets."
(3:03PM) First mullet sighting. (Yeah, without a sunroof the limo's kinda boring.)
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day Two, Mexico vs Guadaloupe
A tense game, 0-0 all the way up to the 72nd minute, and suddenly Mexico got its goal. The stadium erupted (and Coke flew wildly all over Chesher and I from some mysterious source). Its looking like we'll get our wish of a US vs Mexico showdown after all!The stadium is really packed too, more so than for the US game. Its a sea of green, white, and orange swallowing us few spots of red, white, and blue. The official attendace was just announced, at a respectable 50,790.
Sunday should be quite interesting!
Post-game tailgating with other US fans commences.
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day Two, US vs Canada, and We're On TV!
We're in the stadium now, and our patriotic attire earned us some air time soon after we got to our seats. Nate and Chesher are both draped in flags, top-hatted with our signature Uncle Sam head gear, and living it up. We're all in USA jerseys and I've got my scarf ready for waving. We're in section 110, row 11, seats 12 through 15... thirty feet from the field and right on the midline, a truly magnificent place to be today.Speaking of the game, I'm gonna get back to watching it. More at half-time!
(39:00 game time) GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!! Frankie Hejeuk gets us our first one.
(45:00 game time) GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!! Penalty kick by Landon Donovan sees us at 2-0 into halftime. Its looking likely we'll be seeing our boys play Mexico on Sunday!
(74:00 game time) Canada slips one past us, as Hume and another player double-team Keller, our keeper. Hume has bullied his way through this second half, on a field rife with fouls and referee blindness. We still lead, but it won't be a shut-out as hoped.
(88:20 game time) BOO! Bradley gets an undeserved red card for a heel clip. This has been quite a second half, but we all chant "U S A" as the 90th minute comes by and hope is still strong. Four minutes of stoppage time to go...(93:00) The crowd around us erupts in disappointment as Canada rushes the box again and the terrible swish of ball in net is heard... but no! Offsides is called! Jeers turn to jubilation, and a minute later the game is over. USA wins!! We are officially in line to buy tickets for the finals on Sunday :-) :-) GO USA!!
(8:30PM) US vs Canada sealed in our favor, tickets in hand for Sunday's finals, we settle in to watch the second of our double-header matches where Guadaloupe faces Mexico and we see who the US will need to face before they can claim the Gold Cup (bets on Mexico). Blogging will be light the remainder of the evening, but pictures hopefully will be up by the end of the night. From Soldier Field in Chicago, this is Shaun, Dave, Nate, and Tewaney saying: see ya! ;-)More Photos
Nate's Photos
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day Two, At Soldier Field
We have arrived! Unfortunately a damper is placed on our tailgating plans as it looks like we will have to park underground... driving anywhere near the stadium is a mess.
Off to figure out where we're grilling...
(30 minutes later) After wandering around and driving around and finally lucking out to meet a friendly traffic director, we are on the parking deck across from the stadium! Tailgating is once again possible!
Parked and grilling...
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day Two, Things Get Physical
We are stuck in traffic on our way to Soldier Field for our tailgate party before the game. Nate has declared that we're breaking out the grill at 4PM no matter where we are. To pass the time as we inch toward our goal, we do some more amateur road trip video and continue the grand (?) tradition of insulting, embarassing, and offending one another (and anyone else in sight). This soon erupts into a bout of girl-fighting between Dave and Tewaney in the back seat, surely sealing our place among the ranks of mature rational adults. In the immortal words of Nate Scherman, Gold Cup chauffeur for us idiots, "This is ridiculous."
(1 minute later) Woohoo, we're moving again! Back to the trip....
(5 minutes later) Never mind, we're stopped again :-P
Ad nauseum...
(1 minute later) Woohoo, we're moving again! Back to the trip....
(5 minutes later) Never mind, we're stopped again :-P
Ad nauseum...
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day Two, Sweet Suite
Three hours later and we have arrived at our Hyatt Place suite, in Itasca, IL, just outside of Chicago. This place is pretty sweet for $120 a night, with a 40" widescreen HDTV, huge comfy couch ... and some cute lady hotel clerks the only single guy in the group can work his charm on ;-)We're chillin' a bit in front of the TV before our game tonight, around 5 hours away... when were not jumping on the beds, that is...
Nate...
After all that sitting in the car, who can blame him!
Chicago Gold Cup Road Trip: Day Two, Dave Makes A New Friend
We stopped for gas in Towanda, IL, and are still waiting to leave. Dave got into a chat with a crazy guy who just pulled up out of nowhere in an SUV to ask "if the gas here is any good" and thirty minutes later he's still talking about everything under the sun (and some stuff he just made up). We really wish the camcorder had been rolling, but he wouldn't let us record him because he "doesn't exist." Chesher is traumatized now and wants that 40 minutes of his life back. Hilarious self-interview ensues.
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