Missouri: 3 votes
Pennsylvania: 1 vote
--Interesting that Indiana has not received any votes yet.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
SwingState 08
I attempted to create a new poll on Vizu to post to this site called 'SwingState08': who will decide. Stay tuned....
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
gas prices rose again????
Gas went up today.
30 cents a gallon.
This is nuts. Oil went up a few cents per barrel, and there is a hurricane in the gulf, but neither of those are sufficient justification for a 30 cent per gallon price hike. This is highway robbery, and someone needs to be sued or strung up or something!
30 cents per gallon works out to a minimum of an additional $450 million per week. Probably closer to $1 billion when all is said and done. And what have the oil industries done this week to justify an additional billion in gross profits?
Here in Indianapolis prices keep coming tantalizingly close to $3.50 per gallon, and then quickly spiking up. I sometimes wonder if 3.50 is a psychological price point for oil companies, as if god forbid gas prices should drop below that point. I have no proof of course, but I have watched this happen 4 times in a row these last few weeks.
We are waiting for an answer.
(and of course prices won't drop 30 cents per gallon. No, that would be too obvious)
30 cents a gallon.
This is nuts. Oil went up a few cents per barrel, and there is a hurricane in the gulf, but neither of those are sufficient justification for a 30 cent per gallon price hike. This is highway robbery, and someone needs to be sued or strung up or something!
30 cents per gallon works out to a minimum of an additional $450 million per week. Probably closer to $1 billion when all is said and done. And what have the oil industries done this week to justify an additional billion in gross profits?
Here in Indianapolis prices keep coming tantalizingly close to $3.50 per gallon, and then quickly spiking up. I sometimes wonder if 3.50 is a psychological price point for oil companies, as if god forbid gas prices should drop below that point. I have no proof of course, but I have watched this happen 4 times in a row these last few weeks.
We are waiting for an answer.
(and of course prices won't drop 30 cents per gallon. No, that would be too obvious)
Another success from my former employer
--It's not as much as we asked for, but the neighborhood in question really needs the help (particularly after this year's flooding):
East Moline recently received a $350,000 grant that will cover about one-third of the cost for putting in new water and sanitary lines for the Babcock-Meersman subdivision near the Quad-City Downs.
The funding is part of $11 million in funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development going to communities in Illinois. East Moline is the only community in the Quad-City area to receive funds.
Mayor John Thodos said the project will help replace wells and septic systems and put residents on city services. The addition was annexed by the city about 10 years ago, he said.
“This has been an issue for quite some time,” he said of bringing the residents city services. “If we could start this project this year it would be wonderful.”
The project is expected to cost about $900,000.
— Dustin Lemmon
East Moline recently received a $350,000 grant that will cover about one-third of the cost for putting in new water and sanitary lines for the Babcock-Meersman subdivision near the Quad-City Downs.
The funding is part of $11 million in funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development going to communities in Illinois. East Moline is the only community in the Quad-City area to receive funds.
Mayor John Thodos said the project will help replace wells and septic systems and put residents on city services. The addition was annexed by the city about 10 years ago, he said.
“This has been an issue for quite some time,” he said of bringing the residents city services. “If we could start this project this year it would be wonderful.”
The project is expected to cost about $900,000.
— Dustin Lemmon
Friday, September 5, 2008
Sarah Palin notes
the list of Gov. Palin's controversies are lengthy:
-- She has been out of country but once, and considers the Iraq war an 'task from God'
-- She originially supported the 'Bridge to nowhere', then opposed it only after Congress basically killed it, but kept the money.
-- The 'reformer' obtained (through the help of a private lobbyist) $27 million in earmarks for the City of Wasilla
-- She denies the man-made contribution to global warming
-- She calls building a natural gas pipeline 'God's will'
-- Her statewide campaigns were partially funded by oil companies
-- She supports teaching creationism in the public schools
-- She cut support for teenage mothers and supports abstinence-only policies
-- She allegedly fired a state official in the Alaska public safety department for not firing a trooper who was in a divorce battle with her sister
-- She expressed support for the Alaska Independence Party (a seccessionist party), but she was VERY careful not to express outright support for seccession: "I share your party’s vision of upholding the constitution of our great state"
-- she left the town of Wasilla $20 million in debt when she left office in 2002.
Here is a link to these stories: http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/
--It's not about her being a woman, a parent of a newborn, or even her lack of experience. The experience she has is what is especially troubling. This is the person who, if McCain wins, will be half a heartbeat from the presidency. Is it any wonder McCain is keeping her away from reporters?
-- She has been out of country but once, and considers the Iraq war an 'task from God'
-- She originially supported the 'Bridge to nowhere', then opposed it only after Congress basically killed it, but kept the money.
-- The 'reformer' obtained (through the help of a private lobbyist) $27 million in earmarks for the City of Wasilla
-- She denies the man-made contribution to global warming
-- She calls building a natural gas pipeline 'God's will'
-- Her statewide campaigns were partially funded by oil companies
-- She supports teaching creationism in the public schools
-- She cut support for teenage mothers and supports abstinence-only policies
-- She allegedly fired a state official in the Alaska public safety department for not firing a trooper who was in a divorce battle with her sister
-- She expressed support for the Alaska Independence Party (a seccessionist party), but she was VERY careful not to express outright support for seccession: "I share your party’s vision of upholding the constitution of our great state"
-- she left the town of Wasilla $20 million in debt when she left office in 2002.
Here is a link to these stories: http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/
--It's not about her being a woman, a parent of a newborn, or even her lack of experience. The experience she has is what is especially troubling. This is the person who, if McCain wins, will be half a heartbeat from the presidency. Is it any wonder McCain is keeping her away from reporters?
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Even more fantasy metros:
-What can I say; I love this stuff. I will tell you that if you are interested in the dicussion of these maps (I'm not; even my geekness has limits), there is a forum for such things (several of these maps come from it): http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=384997
Enjoy:
--A proposal for Rome 1986
--Seattle
--Sydney Australia
--Hamilton, Ontario (with a half-million people it is very doubtful this will ever be built)
--Montreal
Enjoy:
--A proposal for Rome 1986
--Seattle
--Sydney Australia
--Hamilton, Ontario (with a half-million people it is very doubtful this will ever be built)
--Montreal
Friday, August 15, 2008
some random musings
1) I was driving about last Thursday, and I took a look at the sky, and noticed something....
...The season had changed...
At the risk of sounding like one of those cranky old men who say things like 'yeeah; I remember the summer of '37; what a wild one that was!', I notice these things. It's a subtle thing: the blue is a little paler, the clouds are a muddy grey instead of bright white, and there's just this sense of twilight in the air even at noon. So Fall is upon us, even if the calendar says August, which is only in keeping with this years Weather of Weirdness (tm).
2) On my hotmail webpage I get a lot of banner ads. most of them are merely irritating, but some really annoy me. Like the ads for 'True' dating site, with the 'random' (yeah, right) cute single woman who just 'happens' to be on the site, and has the whole 'cute-and-perky' thing going on.
Yes, I know; these are professional ACTRESSES. That bugs me most of all. I've been on some of these dating sites in the past, and the vast majority of women (and men FTM) aren't nearly as attractive (truth to say, myself included: Adonis I ain't) as these models, but somehow we're supposed to think that we'll magically meet/look like/have sex with one of these people?
Please; I'm not that stupid. I don't blame the models for acting like that: that's their job. It's the site owner who knowingly puts this crap out there that I want up against the wall when the revolution comes. Right next to the guy who came up with the 'office dancers' who are 'accidentially' caught dancing and have this unbelievably fake look of surprise on their face, and just down the wall from the producers of the 'live links' ads. We, the people no longer tolerate being treated as if we're just stupid and gullable, so please kindly PULL THIS CRAP OFF THE AIR!!!!
End of rant; enjoy the rest of the summer y'all.
...The season had changed...
At the risk of sounding like one of those cranky old men who say things like 'yeeah; I remember the summer of '37; what a wild one that was!', I notice these things. It's a subtle thing: the blue is a little paler, the clouds are a muddy grey instead of bright white, and there's just this sense of twilight in the air even at noon. So Fall is upon us, even if the calendar says August, which is only in keeping with this years Weather of Weirdness (tm).
2) On my hotmail webpage I get a lot of banner ads. most of them are merely irritating, but some really annoy me. Like the ads for 'True' dating site, with the 'random' (yeah, right) cute single woman who just 'happens' to be on the site, and has the whole 'cute-and-perky' thing going on.
Yes, I know; these are professional ACTRESSES. That bugs me most of all. I've been on some of these dating sites in the past, and the vast majority of women (and men FTM) aren't nearly as attractive (truth to say, myself included: Adonis I ain't) as these models, but somehow we're supposed to think that we'll magically meet/look like/have sex with one of these people?
Please; I'm not that stupid. I don't blame the models for acting like that: that's their job. It's the site owner who knowingly puts this crap out there that I want up against the wall when the revolution comes. Right next to the guy who came up with the 'office dancers' who are 'accidentially' caught dancing and have this unbelievably fake look of surprise on their face, and just down the wall from the producers of the 'live links' ads. We, the people no longer tolerate being treated as if we're just stupid and gullable, so please kindly PULL THIS CRAP OFF THE AIR!!!!
End of rant; enjoy the rest of the summer y'all.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Washington DC fantasy metros:
Couple of folks got really crazy for these maps:
Version 1:
Version 2; I'm not sure which one I like better, and again, I've got my own notion which I will post soon.
Version 1:
Version 2; I'm not sure which one I like better, and again, I've got my own notion which I will post soon.
Chicago fantasy metros
I've posted one before; now I want to post both together:
--This is the first version I found
--This is version two; I believe this is what the CTA is actually proposing to build.
--And version 3. Eventually I will get around to posting my version, but it's pretty rough at the moment and I'd like it to look a little bit more professional.
--This is the first version I found
--This is version two; I believe this is what the CTA is actually proposing to build.
--And version 3. Eventually I will get around to posting my version, but it's pretty rough at the moment and I'd like it to look a little bit more professional.
More fantasy metros
See what I've found of late:
--San francisco
Columbus, Ohio (Yes, Columbus; transit lovers are everywhere apparently)
St. Louis, Missouri. Note: most of the red line and part of the green line (to Shrewsbury) are already built.
Boston; if Boston had this metro it would be a fun city to live in.
As always, these are not my creations (you'd think I would have saved the link; I was just happy to find them). someone else did the hard work; I just assembled the images into one convenient spot.
"Live moved slower when the trains moved faster."
--San francisco
Columbus, Ohio (Yes, Columbus; transit lovers are everywhere apparently)
St. Louis, Missouri. Note: most of the red line and part of the green line (to Shrewsbury) are already built.
Boston; if Boston had this metro it would be a fun city to live in.
As always, these are not my creations (you'd think I would have saved the link; I was just happy to find them). someone else did the hard work; I just assembled the images into one convenient spot.
"Live moved slower when the trains moved faster."
Saturday, July 12, 2008
sucess at my former employer
--While I have left East Moline, I still keep tabs on some of the projects I was working on. We submitted several appropriations requests to congress, and one was successful. Here is the article:
(PS: I worked hard on this and several other appropriations requests, including meeting with the Senators' staff on a regular basis, so I am absolutely taking partial credit for this one.)
E.M. in line to get $250K grant for downtown
Comment on this story
By Bill Mayeroff
Cheri Bustos could think of a few ways to improve downtown East Moline with $250,000."We've got to make sure it looks good," said Ald. Bustos, whose 4th Ward contains the downtown area. Ald. Bustos added she also would like to use the money to do something with the former Strand Theater at 1008 15th Ave. "That marquee's getting to be an eyesore."
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., announced Thursday that East Moline is in line for a $250,000 grant for downtown redevelopment. According to a news release from Sen. Durbin's office, the grant is part of a $57,631,404 appropriations bill passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee. In order for East Moline to get the grant, the bill still must be passed by the full Senate and House of Representatives, although that's unlikely to happen before November's election.
East Moline, Kankakee and Chicago are the only three cities to receive the federal money for economic development efforts, according to the release.Scott Feldt, who became East Moline's economic development director June 30, said he's not sure what would be done with the money if the city gets it. But he knows it will be helpful."Any time you can have an infusion of cash to help revitalize the downtown, it's a good thing," Mr. Feldt said Friday, adding that a committee run by Ald. Bustos to revitalize downtown will likely make a lot of the decisions about spending the money."I'm just going to try to help implement what the downtown revitalization committee wants," he said.
Without Ald. Bustos, the city likely would not be in line for the money, Mr. Feldt said."Ald. Bustos was instrumental in getting this done," he said. "She deserves the credit for all that."A spokeswoman for Sen. Durbin did not return phone calls asking why he chose to appropriate the money for East Moline. But Mayor John Thodos has an idea."Sen. Durbin has close ties to East Moline," Mayor Thodos said Friday.
Sen. Durbin has worked in the past to get money for other projects in East Moline, he said.Ald. Bustos said she's known Sen. Durbin a long time and has talked with him about downtown East Moline even before she took office in May 2007."We've talked with Sen. Durbin and his staff over the course of the last year," she said. "He knows exactly what our challenges are. I'm so appreciative to Sen. Durbin. My hope is that this will be the start of something great."
Although he knows of Ald. Bustos' work with Sen. Durbin, Mayor Thodos said he still was surprised to learn East Moline was up for the grant."Any time I get any grant from any level above my pay grade, I'm surprised," he said.
(PS: I worked hard on this and several other appropriations requests, including meeting with the Senators' staff on a regular basis, so I am absolutely taking partial credit for this one.)
E.M. in line to get $250K grant for downtown
Comment on this story
By Bill Mayeroff
Cheri Bustos could think of a few ways to improve downtown East Moline with $250,000."We've got to make sure it looks good," said Ald. Bustos, whose 4th Ward contains the downtown area. Ald. Bustos added she also would like to use the money to do something with the former Strand Theater at 1008 15th Ave. "That marquee's getting to be an eyesore."
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., announced Thursday that East Moline is in line for a $250,000 grant for downtown redevelopment. According to a news release from Sen. Durbin's office, the grant is part of a $57,631,404 appropriations bill passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee. In order for East Moline to get the grant, the bill still must be passed by the full Senate and House of Representatives, although that's unlikely to happen before November's election.
East Moline, Kankakee and Chicago are the only three cities to receive the federal money for economic development efforts, according to the release.Scott Feldt, who became East Moline's economic development director June 30, said he's not sure what would be done with the money if the city gets it. But he knows it will be helpful."Any time you can have an infusion of cash to help revitalize the downtown, it's a good thing," Mr. Feldt said Friday, adding that a committee run by Ald. Bustos to revitalize downtown will likely make a lot of the decisions about spending the money."I'm just going to try to help implement what the downtown revitalization committee wants," he said.
Without Ald. Bustos, the city likely would not be in line for the money, Mr. Feldt said."Ald. Bustos was instrumental in getting this done," he said. "She deserves the credit for all that."A spokeswoman for Sen. Durbin did not return phone calls asking why he chose to appropriate the money for East Moline. But Mayor John Thodos has an idea."Sen. Durbin has close ties to East Moline," Mayor Thodos said Friday.
Sen. Durbin has worked in the past to get money for other projects in East Moline, he said.Ald. Bustos said she's known Sen. Durbin a long time and has talked with him about downtown East Moline even before she took office in May 2007."We've talked with Sen. Durbin and his staff over the course of the last year," she said. "He knows exactly what our challenges are. I'm so appreciative to Sen. Durbin. My hope is that this will be the start of something great."
Although he knows of Ald. Bustos' work with Sen. Durbin, Mayor Thodos said he still was surprised to learn East Moline was up for the grant."Any time I get any grant from any level above my pay grade, I'm surprised," he said.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Fantasy Metros
Well, it seems there are other nuts out there like me, who think transit systems are incomplete, and proceed to 'complete' them. Never mind cost and politics; this is dreaming big after all. I plan to do a couple of these myself, but in the meantime, enjoy these:
DC (one version)
Indianapolis
Chicago 2055
DC (one version)LA, looking very much like the London Metro
Friday, February 15, 2008
DC photos
In DC for a conference, and to hang with Kathi, her sister, and her sister's significant other (gushyboo). Some photos from today:
Victorian buildings in chinatown (which of course you would expect to find a Fuddruckers!)
Victorian buildings in chinatown (which of course you would expect to find a Fuddruckers!)
Steven Colbert, whose portrait hangs in the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian (one sign of the apocalypse). To their credit, they did hang it next to the bathrooms, as far out of the way as humanly possible and still be in the museum.
St. Patrick's Church, Washington. Built in 1792.
Shriners's hall.
Russian Embassy. Closed when I was there; They were probably all at the military parade in Moscow.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Bald Eagles (and some other birds)
Went out to shoot bald eagles today.
I got a few halfway decent shots, but the camera doesn't have a great telephoto lens, so they only came out so well. It's a borrowed camera (I don't have a digital yet), and when I get my own I aim to rectify this situation. That having been said, here you go:
1) Eagle and Gull 2) Eagles and other birds
Eagle in flight
I got a few halfway decent shots, but the camera doesn't have a great telephoto lens, so they only came out so well. It's a borrowed camera (I don't have a digital yet), and when I get my own I aim to rectify this situation. That having been said, here you go:
1) Eagle and Gull 2) Eagles and other birds
1) Eagle and hawk 2) Eagle on an ice flow
Eagle fighting with a hawk for a fish
Eagle in flight
Monday, January 21, 2008
Observations from the world of wedding planning
I have always expected to be involved with the planning of my own wedding. Hell, I'll move high rises 10 feet to the left to make the city a better place, so how hard can a wedding be?.....
... Yeah, right. All the time I (or Kathi, or both) think 'hell, let's just elope.' The array of decisions, and parties who have an input into those decisions, is astounding. In a previous job I planned an annual fundraiser (12 months of planning, 100+ volunteers, 1000+ attendees, and well over $100,000 raised), so I have some idea of planning large events, but the great monkey in the works for weddings is family; both families in fact. Now don't get me wrong; I love my parents, and Kathi's family is great, but they all want input into the wedding (which often translates as 'you want to do it this [our] way'). And of course, being family, to say no invites the dreaded 'I'm your [insert relative here]; don't I matter? *sniff*'. Sometimes eloping looks really appealing (and since my boss is the Mayor, and therefore a JP in effect, he can do it. 5 minutes at the start of Council and then we're done. Of course I still have to sit through council [it's my job], but at least that day I could wear a tux.)
*sigh*; what keeps me sane is looking at Kathi: at the end of the day we'll be married, and together permanently, so all the family stuff I can deal with. And we're awful close to having the date and place nailed down, which will make the rest of the process a lot clearer (can't pick a hotel, or a limo, or a caterer, etc., without knowing which city and date the wedding will be). No, I'm not telling where; not till it's signed and sealed (hey! you wanna spoiler??? The ship sinks; soylent green is made of people; Cloverfield is a giant monster, and Spock dies).
--An interesting observation from the guy's side of things: wedding planning is not quite as bridalcentric as I was expecting. Oh sure, it does lean in that direction, but by and large the vendors/websites/etc. have recognized that grooms are people too. In fact, the only time I get snarky to a vendor was when a reception venue had no pictures of the outside of their building. I'm a city planner by training, remember?? This is a HUGE red flag for me; what's wrong with the outside that they won't show it (or talk about it, as I found out)? Well, having been outside their building I know the answer: most of the store fronts are vacant, and the sidewalk looks like it survived the Dresden firebombing. Score one for city planning radar!!
But in general, other than being a bit pushy (but not quite so bad as Best Buy salestaff), the wedding industry has generally treated me well. I'm still ready to turn on snark mode, but I'm equally ready to not need it, and actually get the beast planned. We'll see at any rate.
That's all folks; off to bed.
... Yeah, right. All the time I (or Kathi, or both) think 'hell, let's just elope.' The array of decisions, and parties who have an input into those decisions, is astounding. In a previous job I planned an annual fundraiser (12 months of planning, 100+ volunteers, 1000+ attendees, and well over $100,000 raised), so I have some idea of planning large events, but the great monkey in the works for weddings is family; both families in fact. Now don't get me wrong; I love my parents, and Kathi's family is great, but they all want input into the wedding (which often translates as 'you want to do it this [our] way'). And of course, being family, to say no invites the dreaded 'I'm your [insert relative here]; don't I matter? *sniff*'. Sometimes eloping looks really appealing (and since my boss is the Mayor, and therefore a JP in effect, he can do it. 5 minutes at the start of Council and then we're done. Of course I still have to sit through council [it's my job], but at least that day I could wear a tux.)
*sigh*; what keeps me sane is looking at Kathi: at the end of the day we'll be married, and together permanently, so all the family stuff I can deal with. And we're awful close to having the date and place nailed down, which will make the rest of the process a lot clearer (can't pick a hotel, or a limo, or a caterer, etc., without knowing which city and date the wedding will be). No, I'm not telling where; not till it's signed and sealed (hey! you wanna spoiler??? The ship sinks; soylent green is made of people; Cloverfield is a giant monster, and Spock dies).
--An interesting observation from the guy's side of things: wedding planning is not quite as bridalcentric as I was expecting. Oh sure, it does lean in that direction, but by and large the vendors/websites/etc. have recognized that grooms are people too. In fact, the only time I get snarky to a vendor was when a reception venue had no pictures of the outside of their building. I'm a city planner by training, remember?? This is a HUGE red flag for me; what's wrong with the outside that they won't show it (or talk about it, as I found out)? Well, having been outside their building I know the answer: most of the store fronts are vacant, and the sidewalk looks like it survived the Dresden firebombing. Score one for city planning radar!!
But in general, other than being a bit pushy (but not quite so bad as Best Buy salestaff), the wedding industry has generally treated me well. I'm still ready to turn on snark mode, but I'm equally ready to not need it, and actually get the beast planned. We'll see at any rate.
That's all folks; off to bed.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Random stuff
'Tis been a while, and thus I thought to post again.
Happy holidays all; I hope they went well. I spent mine with Kathi (well, duuh), and her parents up in long island ("lawn geyeland"), with a 3 day stint up at their cabin in the catskills (really, and no, I didn't see Jackie Mason) doing wedding planning and making googly eyes at each other (with time out for creek stomping, which you'd think would not work so well in December. When it's 50 degrees out and the sky is BLUE!!!, you'd be wrong). Just an amazing week. The catskills are real mountains; not the rockies certainly, but for a midwestern boy they'll do just fine. At one point we took a side trip to Kingston, founded in 1688 (yes, as in 318 years ago), and some of the original stone houses are still standing (despite the British's best efforts to the contrary). Met Kathi's extended family, and survived, and they all like me. the karma wheel must be going round my (our) way.
So it's back to work, and grimy snow, and cold weather, and no ocean, and no waves, and a brown river, and so on. I'd be upset, but honestly things are going pretty well, so I'll be content with my lot.
BTW: driving around NYC makes driving around chicago look like a picnic. The whole islands and bridges thing, plus Robert Moses' penchant for curving parkways, makes the experience akin to a pinball game, and you're the pinball. Trust me; if you can avoid driving, take the train. (unless you're doing the scenic route; then by all means wander about.)
OK, now for some photos:
West Shokan Reservoir (provides the drinking water for NYC: the cabin is about 10 miles away)
Downtown Kingston
Old State House; 1676
Hoffman House, also circa 1676
Kime Avenue House;
This house is 3 blocks from Kathi's parents. I don't know how many lights and decorations there are on and around the house; to say there are 10's of thousands is an understatement. There are a handful of houses in the neighborhood who all do this, and in any other city they would be the star. Compared to this house they don't even measure up. To their credit, the owners take donations for the local children's hospital; according to the papers the annual donation is well over $20,000. The Southern State Parkway runs behind this house, so you can quite literally see it from the highway.
(more photos to follow when they are uploaded)
(and yes, these are not my photos, as evidenced by the fact that the trees aren't green in december)
Happy holidays all; I hope they went well. I spent mine with Kathi (well, duuh), and her parents up in long island ("lawn geyeland"), with a 3 day stint up at their cabin in the catskills (really, and no, I didn't see Jackie Mason) doing wedding planning and making googly eyes at each other (with time out for creek stomping, which you'd think would not work so well in December. When it's 50 degrees out and the sky is BLUE!!!, you'd be wrong). Just an amazing week. The catskills are real mountains; not the rockies certainly, but for a midwestern boy they'll do just fine. At one point we took a side trip to Kingston, founded in 1688 (yes, as in 318 years ago), and some of the original stone houses are still standing (despite the British's best efforts to the contrary). Met Kathi's extended family, and survived, and they all like me. the karma wheel must be going round my (our) way.
So it's back to work, and grimy snow, and cold weather, and no ocean, and no waves, and a brown river, and so on. I'd be upset, but honestly things are going pretty well, so I'll be content with my lot.
BTW: driving around NYC makes driving around chicago look like a picnic. The whole islands and bridges thing, plus Robert Moses' penchant for curving parkways, makes the experience akin to a pinball game, and you're the pinball. Trust me; if you can avoid driving, take the train. (unless you're doing the scenic route; then by all means wander about.)
OK, now for some photos:
West Shokan Reservoir (provides the drinking water for NYC: the cabin is about 10 miles away)
Downtown Kingston
Old State House; 1676
Hoffman House, also circa 1676
Kime Avenue House;
This house is 3 blocks from Kathi's parents. I don't know how many lights and decorations there are on and around the house; to say there are 10's of thousands is an understatement. There are a handful of houses in the neighborhood who all do this, and in any other city they would be the star. Compared to this house they don't even measure up. To their credit, the owners take donations for the local children's hospital; according to the papers the annual donation is well over $20,000. The Southern State Parkway runs behind this house, so you can quite literally see it from the highway.
(more photos to follow when they are uploaded)
(and yes, these are not my photos, as evidenced by the fact that the trees aren't green in december)
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