tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-101137892024-03-25T09:06:59.335-05:00A new life; same as the old life?In March 2005, I took a new job in the Chicagoland area. So far living in the US has been everything I knew it would be, lots of fun, sometimes frustrating, and always a challenge.Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.comBlogger386125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-72130773159919988062023-07-28T20:04:00.005-05:002023-08-03T16:08:56.031-05:00Cleveland : A Flying Visit<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5fUxuAs5trOvk6yaXb1Lt78mGI_K4_n1NVtyff2X2Cm_pz8sQO2v65NAhL9ytOd2eDCgaxTKthlZaoBItVuuzzGo3Ptz5zD6BFW-cN_1R_ZyJH6FvaKEndq7ieGdDt52y9dM8cvpoajkhF8rMqHuyc5FriFkfoq0mRNOcRDjnebVnwZOLgaAkQ/s1024/Cleveland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5fUxuAs5trOvk6yaXb1Lt78mGI_K4_n1NVtyff2X2Cm_pz8sQO2v65NAhL9ytOd2eDCgaxTKthlZaoBItVuuzzGo3Ptz5zD6BFW-cN_1R_ZyJH6FvaKEndq7ieGdDt52y9dM8cvpoajkhF8rMqHuyc5FriFkfoq0mRNOcRDjnebVnwZOLgaAkQ/s320/Cleveland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A one night flying stop in Cleveland, right by Progressive Field and it was hotter than hades! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Real feel was almost 100f, which I guess compared to home in IL with a real feel today of 115f, it was positively temperate. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are en route to visit our friends in Cape Cod, via Cleveland and another friend in upstate NY (more about that here). We plan on dipping our toes in Lake Erie tomorrow, as last time we passed by, it had to be the warmest open water I have ever experienced!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYSDNNrbyc_NRDNHDYufqWKbzExUbosQ_sJMiUUvR7BUYXDRyklXkZ0VmK22fkeoVPxC5RAj-TYazkTd_xJ3dodhLpUZkGxEdMgkFFfBb5TrYGt2MvS5aJgbHARcjoDWK5O7f5siTPAqa4md_ArDkfwI9Xpzrx84O4DicxoGA9XnDhN4u-cXCmg/s1280/Cleveland_Museum_of_Art_atrium_expansion_2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYSDNNrbyc_NRDNHDYufqWKbzExUbosQ_sJMiUUvR7BUYXDRyklXkZ0VmK22fkeoVPxC5RAj-TYazkTd_xJ3dodhLpUZkGxEdMgkFFfBb5TrYGt2MvS5aJgbHARcjoDWK5O7f5siTPAqa4md_ArDkfwI9Xpzrx84O4DicxoGA9XnDhN4u-cXCmg/s320/Cleveland_Museum_of_Art_atrium_expansion_2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The boss asked some travel groups what they recommended for a quick stop and the Cleveland Museum Of Art came out in the top three, (wikipedia internet photo to the right <a href="By Usaf 1832 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92953309" target="_blank">by this individual</a>) along with a restaurant/diner called Tommy's, so that's what we did!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Museum of Art, of course did not impress the teenagers, and Tommy's was just OK if I am honest. The milkshakes were good, but I had a "pie" which was more of a weird wrap in some kind of dough. It tasted OK, but was very odd, and honestly, the milkshake filled me up pretty well! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexFGZSVpRcUnaGOXX0qEngOzerQ6XDKku-X2MmQDh2mCTV4gMm7XXd3BYEZeiTyQlUV3TF8ByEaLYhcZQuwha9-nVsxLR714WwGfL2OSdKR3ZWfsJkPbx8mxMc8hFdNbnzw0lEilt31PEo57oZN-ynQs7kM-mKue4etoAjgjI66GLFPtE-aEGKQ/s2958/20230728_155733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2958" data-original-width="1865" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexFGZSVpRcUnaGOXX0qEngOzerQ6XDKku-X2MmQDh2mCTV4gMm7XXd3BYEZeiTyQlUV3TF8ByEaLYhcZQuwha9-nVsxLR714WwGfL2OSdKR3ZWfsJkPbx8mxMc8hFdNbnzw0lEilt31PEo57oZN-ynQs7kM-mKue4etoAjgjI66GLFPtE-aEGKQ/s320/20230728_155733.jpg" width="202" /></a>The art is the usual mix of ancient and some more modern, from around the world. I included a few shots below, and there are more on my Facebook page. One of my favourite pieces of the day was this Abott's Stall from the early 16th Century, you can <a href="https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1928.657#" target="_blank">read more about it here</a>, but it was a gorgeous piece!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdpoNrjVmoaNY_FEwRbJmQ6n_xIVbP28OErLKmQq5fiuvEpWOO-MhhtDc-qQNSudjlA6ljbBIksvngXdbriZ3f13EFHuI7SH5CVMcfbC75L2NsbFtt0SB-SjIdpV-Req_Ys5qBeHcY_ZZj8YycMMBfXfZm0XL0BWSH9yWfRtvgPx4Ka2s6l_iLw/s4000/20230728_183918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="4000" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdpoNrjVmoaNY_FEwRbJmQ6n_xIVbP28OErLKmQq5fiuvEpWOO-MhhtDc-qQNSudjlA6ljbBIksvngXdbriZ3f13EFHuI7SH5CVMcfbC75L2NsbFtt0SB-SjIdpV-Req_Ys5qBeHcY_ZZj8YycMMBfXfZm0XL0BWSH9yWfRtvgPx4Ka2s6l_iLw/s320/20230728_183918.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Couple of last things we spotted..the world's largest outdoor chandelier in the Playhouse Square, with 4200 crystals. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also this odd parking restrictions (or not) sign on a public parking lot..very confusing. (sorry about the blurry!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs0SuW0gnP7bC15Xq5jI5d_uWTj1c_NATN6pq2yI5kUSRDRtsizNBeXD1S1BMInMiMzK0Uzb2ITYFK8OhsMViK4T1B78_qEHxAfRjhQmGd52BaWC8aLJXF4ccBUOGdDjq1c9DFP4W-CkJb_rfjCavpY0eoTqJt4N_ev11oKKMiyv1xo8-OHpsVQ/s2795/20230728_181845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2795" data-original-width="1863" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs0SuW0gnP7bC15Xq5jI5d_uWTj1c_NATN6pq2yI5kUSRDRtsizNBeXD1S1BMInMiMzK0Uzb2ITYFK8OhsMViK4T1B78_qEHxAfRjhQmGd52BaWC8aLJXF4ccBUOGdDjq1c9DFP4W-CkJb_rfjCavpY0eoTqJt4N_ev11oKKMiyv1xo8-OHpsVQ/s320/20230728_181845.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><br /></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><br /></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><br /></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><br /></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;"><br /></h2><h2 style="text-align: justify;">Random Pics From The Cleveland Museum of Art</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WxLtK8oDYKKRYTPCpPr_Ce_Sy4cdyAaZUJgadwA33sevuvgis14OhOh_Wt5yfDOsn-MhrleOG21rd78By9otrFEgzWsoFoejJh7nmX8WoANMboXMCtY4NOJwF1rDpEVFaWV3Z5kxne1RKBY6-JLUjipgLZF2IDFsQpfPGc3avrDYYiXj7jE3XA/s2492/20230728_164223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="2492" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WxLtK8oDYKKRYTPCpPr_Ce_Sy4cdyAaZUJgadwA33sevuvgis14OhOh_Wt5yfDOsn-MhrleOG21rd78By9otrFEgzWsoFoejJh7nmX8WoANMboXMCtY4NOJwF1rDpEVFaWV3Z5kxne1RKBY6-JLUjipgLZF2IDFsQpfPGc3avrDYYiXj7jE3XA/s320/20230728_164223.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-80813691767880753332023-07-21T17:53:00.003-05:002023-07-28T19:22:49.102-05:00Madison Rocks : Epic Systems<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcGnqL4xRx63Y9pBoQFoQGkpNuPZsa-l9S2VAilbazZLBHSa3ix4vB5_YSQEH5v9tlncvIngJiBQ0qbxZuaXyHjz0XjgIjJ_OkTUmGEcIKvDnRciwkfE_3NrcYbhX2pPwNnRHIuyeAp1tS7O9brW2W_6DFlGC-nV0RCWGeOUss3ZRF4gFRXuJ4Lg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="256" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcGnqL4xRx63Y9pBoQFoQGkpNuPZsa-l9S2VAilbazZLBHSa3ix4vB5_YSQEH5v9tlncvIngJiBQ0qbxZuaXyHjz0XjgIjJ_OkTUmGEcIKvDnRciwkfE_3NrcYbhX2pPwNnRHIuyeAp1tS7O9brW2W_6DFlGC-nV0RCWGeOUss3ZRF4gFRXuJ4Lg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A few weekends ago, over 4th July weekend, we decided to string a few days together and go away for the weekend. We left it a little last minute to decide, and so choices were limited. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We settled on Madison, as we had not been in a few years, as we knew House On The Rock was cool to visit, and the kids had not been in a few years. <a href="https://chicago-usa.blogspot.com/2023/07/madison-rocks-house-on-rock.html" target="_blank">You can find out more about that here</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Lorraine however, resourceful as always, also found out about a place called Epic Systems, which is a difficult place to describe!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is a health records software company base in Verona, WI, started in 1979 by a lady in her garage, by the name of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Faulkner" target="_blank">Judith (Judy) Faulkner</a>. Not sure why she decided to do what she did with the campus, but it is, in a word, EPIC. There are a few pictures below, but I also linked a couple of video tours that really capture the place. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOxApWFElhdkxLeAl2WfSWZXpKpzAWBXqx6aBTptYYw6IRNCJ0yn5kKUi68d3vYGzLl_DvMNO3MEGT-0v9BfHD5qezQy2rLo7_nKtyKMyTbyQZTRcuOwJF_bUVvPSdgKzXBAF7nZhaB3Bs6odmbZFmxJw9v3FLhx5CUeGDlIrKRrUU4lNvTMRq8Q" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1507" data-original-width="957" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOxApWFElhdkxLeAl2WfSWZXpKpzAWBXqx6aBTptYYw6IRNCJ0yn5kKUi68d3vYGzLl_DvMNO3MEGT-0v9BfHD5qezQy2rLo7_nKtyKMyTbyQZTRcuOwJF_bUVvPSdgKzXBAF7nZhaB3Bs6odmbZFmxJw9v3FLhx5CUeGDlIrKRrUU4lNvTMRq8Q" width="152" /></a></div>In short, there are several buildings in the campus, each of which has a theme. Anything from Heaven to Hell, Wizardry (Think Harry Potter), Medieval (Dragons & Knights), Oz, Alice, Jules Verne, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, etc. Each staff member has their own or shared office, no cubicles. <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">All food and drinks are included for staff, they have bicycles to ride around the campus, and lots of open common space for people to meet or hang out in. Every bathroom, elevator, meeting room and hallway are decorated in the theme of the building/area. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">You can take a self-guided tour of the facility, for free, seven days a week; 6 hours each weekend day and every weekday from 2:30 thru 5pm, whilst people are working in their offices!! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Some of my pics from Epic are below, there are about 300 more on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gordy.kenmuir/photos_by" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> if you want to check them out. Scroll back to the Devil Dog Elevator (see right) and work backwards from there. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you ever find yourself in the Madison/Verona area, do it, you will not be disappointed, but leave plenty of time, We spent probably close to 8 hours there over a couple of days. These guys have done a whole series of tour videos that are worth checking out. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh-QkM4eS54" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH5dPwqutJU" target="_blank">Part 2</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fx12jMWbYE" target="_blank">Part 3 Wizard</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXZxBmZfu9E" target="_blank">Part 4 Alice & Oz</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyMsIXbAQdU" target="_blank">Part 5 Jules Verne, Willy Wonka and more</a></p><h2 style="text-align: justify;">Epic Systems Campus Random Photos</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcakbZ4szXNBEo4xXHMDcEKMOO0f_7vTKKSQcMLamewIjl1s1wdgUB308sCefiGZcqQa2vo_n7kPBMsCg_myl7NRYL6aA-LVkG6zDdBhqeTOtHFwTgTxF-xA-W7ghW9fY9GJjF20GKs23xPGU6l_6ZcfTk2bDlEKH_BwkhEle_ukPDthsomcOOg/s4000/20230702_103835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1868" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5nYsVBMJ1fbEcZ4baCgGV_NatCuIkp4M1-swMsZBKtSq5yWRWa47VoFvK9CZHwPciS2q1KShNm0z3_bETa0Tm47n7krtCG6BK2DSa4er5Ro5jdWdlISR95trDGBj5l7oaSv1ayJ76CTMN75OgMjXgZb4AQxOLRTC2YGHn63w2E7UJccbZbH4xg/s320/20230702_122647.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqi03Jw-saw7a8bbl-65bQ5o4ibe0DfI561JBWH8ca4wSIuJGjHxJAvtSZVNiVO-rIWjaNj-vq_vAGFsSvd4Eq_DMIj92ajywm54g7dXjBbPfI3p-AAzxO5uUFthNl8Z2nGLsVF7IpMU3q1syYzYOf4tFSfHoyveE64g1D8cSaTLz9eT997F1T5w/s3460/20230702_120755.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="3460" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqi03Jw-saw7a8bbl-65bQ5o4ibe0DfI561JBWH8ca4wSIuJGjHxJAvtSZVNiVO-rIWjaNj-vq_vAGFsSvd4Eq_DMIj92ajywm54g7dXjBbPfI3p-AAzxO5uUFthNl8Z2nGLsVF7IpMU3q1syYzYOf4tFSfHoyveE64g1D8cSaTLz9eT997F1T5w/s320/20230702_120755.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-30020189981940201182023-07-20T18:47:00.085-05:002023-07-28T19:23:46.396-05:00Madison Rocks : The House On The Rock<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eC-Yy6r8ECuup2vPVRRNElrhnBGP3KP6-kjnA6PY4sS0bh5dNyF1xS8h4m1eyO39rEb0VlelrrW32_NhdnGK6DehxlhTi5jDUe9Jq-iptu-G-vsBgmhGt6mMFYie4dUYnxJWgJxTCXOSyjK3LwwG2lGEmyGcW2MCuCrgK3QUPXU2PEQpGQVKKg/s1868/20230703_151535.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1777" data-original-width="1868" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eC-Yy6r8ECuup2vPVRRNElrhnBGP3KP6-kjnA6PY4sS0bh5dNyF1xS8h4m1eyO39rEb0VlelrrW32_NhdnGK6DehxlhTi5jDUe9Jq-iptu-G-vsBgmhGt6mMFYie4dUYnxJWgJxTCXOSyjK3LwwG2lGEmyGcW2MCuCrgK3QUPXU2PEQpGQVKKg/w232-h221/20230703_151535.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As you may have read in another post, we recently spent some time in Madison, WI. One of the attractions we stopped into, was an eclectic place called The House On The Rock, put together by a guy called <a href="https://www.thehouseontherock.com/alex-jordan-the-man-behind-the-creations-at-the-house-on-the-rock/" target="_blank">Alex Jordan</a>; check him out, it is quite the story of a man with a dream, realizing that dream over many years.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I mentioned above, it is a strange place. He was, what in today's terms would be called a hoarder, but also eccentric, as evidenced by the Infinity Room pictured below from the outside. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPn8UsaWJspG2phYDSHAAoULD2iXw0bBs9qB_p5yhKU7d8aiyB1ghrkmjeD_pmoQPQ85tsZecT1C3faSrI-lx72Fs0fv3olvpjCsI5Jqkm519M3kcw0psc0x6jaP09lVNgwHLL8ldr_GbBNJy7Wn8kZqUh9P74GYf8u9TkfuQHfjRk6QLAUKoSQ/s1200/House-on-Rock.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPn8UsaWJspG2phYDSHAAoULD2iXw0bBs9qB_p5yhKU7d8aiyB1ghrkmjeD_pmoQPQ85tsZecT1C3faSrI-lx72Fs0fv3olvpjCsI5Jqkm519M3kcw0psc0x6jaP09lVNgwHLL8ldr_GbBNJy7Wn8kZqUh9P74GYf8u9TkfuQHfjRk6QLAUKoSQ/s320/House-on-Rock.jpg" width="320" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">You can visit the place every day of the year, and they make it really spectacular for Christmas, with ornaments, it seems on every flat surface. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Collections range from the most incredible carousel, to doll houses and dolls, wagon wheels, to circus sets (gotta be seen to be believed), a gazillion carousel horses, to self paying musical instruments, and mechanical machines that play music, and perform; to old weapons, sailing and ocean memorabilia, Tiffany lamps, and incredible organs with so many stops, I have no idea how anyone would play them. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The list is almost endless. Like the Epic Systems campus, it truly has to be seen to be believed! <a href="https://www.thehouseontherock.com/exhibits/" target="_blank">Lots more details here on the official website</a>, but again, if you are looking for something you will never experience anywhere else, this is it, especially over the holidays.</div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">Random Photos & Videos From House On The Rock</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwiiZ0BOPD9YBHRY4jCLCDnxB1INGiI7q-MowGqGWOHvqFQ90hQy8uqcBwDIea0fKUwholDSCaNHPE' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYeijTZqfkgpPyegEoebR7B_PITh9Sds4e2vH2TXwsc0ZbXpEXRofIijrw341czxp00zWs_syabsU' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="4000" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuimUvjZ36Yqk9bVd-6AdZt3Y52myqpxxsgeB_LqgIE4wPvZR6PNh-g8qaEAIa-eWIbpuuaH1eEie3yqkob23xsWZvYiz6lXQbsxZaRykus3zEqtlgrQGIJ83F1en3DvAevRDRdvieiHIUhIPhqF5x5gfSKJ2qRhmc57RP85pije6u7AIMc9U4Q/s320/20230703_143719.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-47018881736171285272023-06-30T13:19:00.000-05:002023-06-30T13:19:46.246-05:00Pucks For Autism<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFYfFRnUseDBE0oRHK12jj9SpDFahtTtTfh-SQKwkuXXcmMw9zw6eDX5LnGDdyLP73TOru4kgkzcxRJMj36T8iehoFvpVO1azrz3RaQKqXrTLIPMe8e_R9neZClCmb39lyxPxumm4i9D8R_sVqx47faWpYXRmN0f65MOJoPw2JYU7lkCJLY_5xw/s141/pucks_for_autism_logo-q1avebzmimvzbqzmya16zqjxutjyghh2e5bcllxhj4.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="141" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFYfFRnUseDBE0oRHK12jj9SpDFahtTtTfh-SQKwkuXXcmMw9zw6eDX5LnGDdyLP73TOru4kgkzcxRJMj36T8iehoFvpVO1azrz3RaQKqXrTLIPMe8e_R9neZClCmb39lyxPxumm4i9D8R_sVqx47faWpYXRmN0f65MOJoPw2JYU7lkCJLY_5xw/s1600/pucks_for_autism_logo-q1avebzmimvzbqzmya16zqjxutjyghh2e5bcllxhj4.png" width="141" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This past weekend, I skated in a hockey tournament, in which I have participated for the last several years. A wonderful organization called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pucksforautism" target="_blank">Pucks For Autism</a>. Each year, they hold a huge event in our area, as well as random opportunities to skate at major arenas around the country. Through their partnership I have had the privilege to skate on the home ice of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Chicago Wolves and the Rockford Icehogs, all whilst raising money for an incredible charity. The hocket community really is a truly inclusive group, and I have made many really good friends, this weekend was no exception. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jIwzYyFdjOg1QLAKpBDM8wqSGf46ibMm-TwuBx873o3iKALE5lhuZ_Sb1TiVJv8em8TDusRZrvyXoQvGXkA6v-61MpfNBv8po70LxfhCxmiMZpn8pSdor-5e-B-6f3p8f9-sBB3xtdhS138LGVXUkposEfeWRSN8h3-V2deYrUhDkzqjtAMTQA/s1110/347251588_10167552054005257_7620919916804457755_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="922" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jIwzYyFdjOg1QLAKpBDM8wqSGf46ibMm-TwuBx873o3iKALE5lhuZ_Sb1TiVJv8em8TDusRZrvyXoQvGXkA6v-61MpfNBv8po70LxfhCxmiMZpn8pSdor-5e-B-6f3p8f9-sBB3xtdhS138LGVXUkposEfeWRSN8h3-V2deYrUhDkzqjtAMTQA/w166-h200/347251588_10167552054005257_7620919916804457755_n.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>I have participated with Carly's crew, in honor of the sister (Carly) of one of those aforementioned very good friends, Nicole and her family. This past weekend, we raised ~$125k, almost $600 of which came from my friends and family. If you would like to help us get closer to our target of $150k, please <a href="https://go.rallyup.com/e4308f/Campaign/Details" target="_blank">click here</a> and donate anything you can.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year, we started well, with a win on Friday and spirits were high that we might actually make it to the playoffs on Sunday, alas, twas not to be! Saturday was a little tougher and we lost both games handily. On the positive side, it meant that we did not need to get up at 5:30am the next morning for a 6:30am puck drop!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiVYk6Vvl7Xweol9U5X0m8vbvcxU3VIu6fBMEnvobVjlP9FMvXZQoIWftiHGfG7CTXuoMK_cwIlh49pP-APgE2-gTkt27zelLZ7tv5DxXjQBkqYgcoBGFiTvFfdhqW9MRmbES2SlL7E2rTXhGXswij06EBenfdbIgvLCL4_sAG7Aes1AUFmJJdQ/s1741/353652345_10159470213463977_9024067418525802003_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1741" data-original-width="1392" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiVYk6Vvl7Xweol9U5X0m8vbvcxU3VIu6fBMEnvobVjlP9FMvXZQoIWftiHGfG7CTXuoMK_cwIlh49pP-APgE2-gTkt27zelLZ7tv5DxXjQBkqYgcoBGFiTvFfdhqW9MRmbES2SlL7E2rTXhGXswij06EBenfdbIgvLCL4_sAG7Aes1AUFmJJdQ/w150-h187/353652345_10159470213463977_9024067418525802003_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>As usual, there was much fun had, tailgating in the lot, cheering on the other teams (Carly's comes with 4 every year!). Roscoe from the Milwaukee Admirals even made an appearance. The dude in the beard is another very good friend of mine (sensing the theme yet?) The other two pictures below are the mass of people that are Carly's Crew (I am center right, in the back row) and me pinning down yet another good friend of mine in a staged altercation...it was his birthday, and he was a little tired!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzi7GW0v4g2pRx45Cm1l6jrrTTcMmgh30q6_O_IPm5m-d1-76BZ9KCIPtTvkvhRBzN3Hs8rFlfZHi5I_n6ica9gHVwWfrKhNeVyi-qfxNWBTI5ebORjqE1qacmYgGilz1pZOp9Ne9byaTQ5KbSetw1JP79K2DtIBeQtuMCSyA5vryPXQZXmc7Rg/s2048/356233184_1336114070464189_3243977994166586608_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="2048" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzi7GW0v4g2pRx45Cm1l6jrrTTcMmgh30q6_O_IPm5m-d1-76BZ9KCIPtTvkvhRBzN3Hs8rFlfZHi5I_n6ica9gHVwWfrKhNeVyi-qfxNWBTI5ebORjqE1qacmYgGilz1pZOp9Ne9byaTQ5KbSetw1JP79K2DtIBeQtuMCSyA5vryPXQZXmc7Rg/s320/356233184_1336114070464189_3243977994166586608_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLLfpCv3t5-OTjpYPsQtPCmmqDGdHOaUt5vvO25_qKa80VHEOc4O30S-mBi4BZUoJNqmSyh3uoT-FvxEy5WfPYsJlVdcE-eoW2Hsa6dXnoxOUGid3LWAofpnlc8LWNNpQf9KdK3vtSLoHlbZkR_lGouNbfIuPxrejMMsJa9k0wa8v1zxstcM_iQ/s2048/354222174_1336074783801451_5521271466844400694_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="2048" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLLfpCv3t5-OTjpYPsQtPCmmqDGdHOaUt5vvO25_qKa80VHEOc4O30S-mBi4BZUoJNqmSyh3uoT-FvxEy5WfPYsJlVdcE-eoW2Hsa6dXnoxOUGid3LWAofpnlc8LWNNpQf9KdK3vtSLoHlbZkR_lGouNbfIuPxrejMMsJa9k0wa8v1zxstcM_iQ/s320/354222174_1336074783801451_5521271466844400694_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-40302189250890088322023-06-26T11:58:00.000-05:002023-06-26T11:58:01.161-05:00The Kentucky Hug<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllYT1ocgZk2yLK-Op-U7MiOxy4C_2zMb-MvqHsJUESEkzfWGrY6d9JU4_kg2PpJmcrR0GK-gEDAxsb4JcVHjuNSuE52P2Z34Ngq6Ros8PwUmPIYD2IBgFDcw5opv-7AnNF_ltIQD2qk1NTqBQYScl1WSoBANBsu7o4z4RWwb68Fq_Z_Q4og6mDw/s2610/20230602_141342.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1865" data-original-width="2610" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllYT1ocgZk2yLK-Op-U7MiOxy4C_2zMb-MvqHsJUESEkzfWGrY6d9JU4_kg2PpJmcrR0GK-gEDAxsb4JcVHjuNSuE52P2Z34Ngq6Ros8PwUmPIYD2IBgFDcw5opv-7AnNF_ltIQD2qk1NTqBQYScl1WSoBANBsu7o4z4RWwb68Fq_Z_Q4og6mDw/s320/20230602_141342.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Kentucky Hug has many definitions, the one I know is a slang term for the burn you feel in your chest when you taste a high alcohol content bourbon. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">WTF Gordy, why are you sharing this information with me?? Well let me tell you!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The fine gentleman to the right, Del worked at one of the distilleries we stopped at down in Kentucky, he was explaining this phenomenon to us...hang on, I need to go further back.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiveX7744qI3kRPWTjs-twtaYgqXr2efngFNU7PeB0zb31lJu7VHCilKW8Ls8ovExbI8YVudnJ4TrgIt2pan-v9y3z9z-dS7hfL6AhJe9GCk_yJWzAg2Bbc8g6skcjhg5Xe4axdPT-kHcjmAcYj6NS_wdJrZdI6VPua66CU822TW_UESgnoWFvyg/s4000/20230601_203030.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="4000" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiveX7744qI3kRPWTjs-twtaYgqXr2efngFNU7PeB0zb31lJu7VHCilKW8Ls8ovExbI8YVudnJ4TrgIt2pan-v9y3z9z-dS7hfL6AhJe9GCk_yJWzAg2Bbc8g6skcjhg5Xe4axdPT-kHcjmAcYj6NS_wdJrZdI6VPua66CU822TW_UESgnoWFvyg/w320-h157/20230601_203030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Remember that guy who is moving to Portugal, mentioned in my last post? Well, one of the other events that we arranged was a trip to the Kentucky Bourbon trail, but wait, what, why? Going even further into the way back when machine for context, I started playing adult hockey about 10 years ago. Adult hockey is commonly known as beer league hockey in the US, meaning that you play some hockey and there is always post game beers involved. A couple of seasons ago, right after COVID, bourbon started to show up in the hockey coolers, and so now it is almost most bourbon than beer in one league I play in....so yeah..back to the story.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzVyH2iqpcsVSd2cY6tqg3D_ZYykWdRUjHziinw_LLAtTkx0NquBlBszzoDz52sgf5XmyExZotPFIWTacpP1WG3bFCKWS6px4wM5aSsLiHBcsjW8Wx6ckrpWiBmQTYiqiwsqRE7vwo5BO0mUvt0XqqalqGDnDhbeXBOKx2X3S7TMMkhEN2hjd7A/s4000/20230601_203128.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="4000" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzVyH2iqpcsVSd2cY6tqg3D_ZYykWdRUjHziinw_LLAtTkx0NquBlBszzoDz52sgf5XmyExZotPFIWTacpP1WG3bFCKWS6px4wM5aSsLiHBcsjW8Wx6ckrpWiBmQTYiqiwsqRE7vwo5BO0mUvt0XqqalqGDnDhbeXBOKx2X3S7TMMkhEN2hjd7A/w348-h175/20230601_203128.jpg" width="348" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Eight of us jumped in a 15 passenger rental van (it's important later, I promise) and headed down to Kentucky on a Thursday evening. Our ring leader had reserved us a wonderful house (above) 15 minutes from Buffalo Trace, where we planned to visit each morning to get that days limited allocation. Check out the three car garage converted to a game room and bar. If anyone ever plans to head down there with a group, I can wholly recommend this place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Za67_vrbcw7wcan-Jj6ad81z1uyuyVARp4J42x0ZSdlibEasxWWINYZ_YMRjV0dDunzVwyAi-p39JBd14Vp1yzTt_yCNAwcfOJiq9yiqrrMLnyIvjo93rVLfy8XdMzdCdgUjaYRykpZWAXH9piXjLH5oy9Zn42mXhOlD6WuxURyrkvM-bRSDuA/s2391/20230604_083242.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="2391" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Za67_vrbcw7wcan-Jj6ad81z1uyuyVARp4J42x0ZSdlibEasxWWINYZ_YMRjV0dDunzVwyAi-p39JBd14Vp1yzTt_yCNAwcfOJiq9yiqrrMLnyIvjo93rVLfy8XdMzdCdgUjaYRykpZWAXH9piXjLH5oy9Zn42mXhOlD6WuxURyrkvM-bRSDuA/w270-h176/20230604_083242.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>Sorry distracted again, we arrived Thursday night and after a long day of driving, we decided to head out to the fire pit, crack a bottle or four and settle in for the weekend. Our first night saw four of these soldiers perish in the line of duty. The other three survived a few days longer. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I mentioned, each day started with a trip to Buffalo Trace, getting their daily special and some other fine wares, before heading out onto the trail to visit five additional distilleries, for tours, tastings, general merriment. In all I believe we visited close to 15 over the three days, which is a pretty good chunk of the bourbon trail. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My favourites on the trail were Buffalo Trace, Stitzel Weller, Bluegrass, Willett and Bardstown. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What about Del though? Del worked the tasting bar at Barrel House. He was a cool guy and taught me (and I assume at least some of the others) about the Kentucky Chew and the Kentucky Hug. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You take about half the shot of a high alcohol content bourbon into your mouth and swill it around. The Chew. Chewing it allows your palate to experience the bourbon itself. After you have done this, you can swallow. Once you swallow, breathe out, (this releases the ethanol taste), and smack your lips a few times. This will allow you to appreciate the finish. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once you breathe out a few times, you shoot the rest of the shot and you get the Kentucky Hug. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You thought I forgot why the van capacity was important, didn't you? As the driver and champion packer, it was up to me to pack the luggage of 8 people, the 8 people themselves, ancillary leftover groceries, assorted memorabilia, plaques, barrel tops, etc and the 96 (yes 96) bottles of bourbon into the van for the return trip home. In case we got rear ended, the luggage went in the back, and the bourbon travelled safely up front with us. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you have never done it, and you are even mildly interested in bourbon, I thoroughly recommend it. A few more shots from the trip and the return below.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilx8YuD0FKkf588vr63nourqSxDRANY3VNEbgCJG71bpTvkw7XXrZ6IgV5PF_UcAuNIyQTEN9bBaWSkJuGEbMyA3KY5-CoN92fbDLJ6a2mo3Li4eWIzIxHeZyOkQg7deT6PmXIDphM3PpyPOQfFHd7gwKP9q5Zhbtyo2zgaxXD3htcku7sW_fq7w/s1864/20230604_214255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1848" data-original-width="1864" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilx8YuD0FKkf588vr63nourqSxDRANY3VNEbgCJG71bpTvkw7XXrZ6IgV5PF_UcAuNIyQTEN9bBaWSkJuGEbMyA3KY5-CoN92fbDLJ6a2mo3Li4eWIzIxHeZyOkQg7deT6PmXIDphM3PpyPOQfFHd7gwKP9q5Zhbtyo2zgaxXD3htcku7sW_fq7w/s320/20230604_214255.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OZ2-IwuEO5bhaa07esPHYqdoUgzq88fPC1IiHyycuWfGlMrxcqpFFljGYzrwbFe3xCqFZroo3cHxOwTTEuHbbQTNifHSxqunF_hJzT67Ud--mOdi3tWlxjQoyQZTaI9hiUJ6s1wr_v6gjihyj8JOimc0E_rchh15z_jmGvkWvnZ5diITv0raYA/s4000/20230604_222804.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="4000" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OZ2-IwuEO5bhaa07esPHYqdoUgzq88fPC1IiHyycuWfGlMrxcqpFFljGYzrwbFe3xCqFZroo3cHxOwTTEuHbbQTNifHSxqunF_hJzT67Ud--mOdi3tWlxjQoyQZTaI9hiUJ6s1wr_v6gjihyj8JOimc0E_rchh15z_jmGvkWvnZ5diITv0raYA/s320/20230604_222804.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ETF_AgVlTgbF02k-CU3Lhzj452fZ49L2ZBJdwVCuaDm6crpNgSrmWKQv32fJfDA8TEaQQ2hQI-NqRmOp7LHI6R1Uz2Zs1aMoZwu4xve-cxQQtIgH70usWAlCKiXkKl6-9HvwYqudgY5Dv3FpWnFbBihhMpwY3UqHwywt1pQUlgGzcbDyexcSjg/s4000/20230604_214106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="4000" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ETF_AgVlTgbF02k-CU3Lhzj452fZ49L2ZBJdwVCuaDm6crpNgSrmWKQv32fJfDA8TEaQQ2hQI-NqRmOp7LHI6R1Uz2Zs1aMoZwu4xve-cxQQtIgH70usWAlCKiXkKl6-9HvwYqudgY5Dv3FpWnFbBihhMpwY3UqHwywt1pQUlgGzcbDyexcSjg/s320/20230604_214106.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL54kv9nnYGfKeCf2fqiZNuSXzZMmGuBqjwemr4JOoU-MOdS_4_ajMopt5D3ek3jCLAK1MRiAf4Si9fNAIKT0mI5PiGhBUdzGkNCdWjdtaS5os0Q2hxdcFcNAzhOtjyxlV1QLG9kCcMtimS43EcR2-64LOeGmCbwkVSf2PqnunR_k8Zf8_QIRL6g/s2016/IMG5190205681177293237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="2016" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL54kv9nnYGfKeCf2fqiZNuSXzZMmGuBqjwemr4JOoU-MOdS_4_ajMopt5D3ek3jCLAK1MRiAf4Si9fNAIKT0mI5PiGhBUdzGkNCdWjdtaS5os0Q2hxdcFcNAzhOtjyxlV1QLG9kCcMtimS43EcR2-64LOeGmCbwkVSf2PqnunR_k8Zf8_QIRL6g/s320/IMG5190205681177293237.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkyn9FuToaA99CfCutkzD6G-nmuFAUU1B3h8V10RDaHAmlh2BEP0Q8NvmkCM52URr70L1yChRaVJ657Mt8Sxw5dDNpuwnWHvl8wkJ7mY0Upq3gmYOUKwD6kPM_yKjABnBgzeJMeqIcp62H9LDg3oUFk1KaeYkGLZaGcOJDwjz2cJXmhhSsyRJZQ/s4000/20230603_152007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="4000" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkyn9FuToaA99CfCutkzD6G-nmuFAUU1B3h8V10RDaHAmlh2BEP0Q8NvmkCM52URr70L1yChRaVJ657Mt8Sxw5dDNpuwnWHvl8wkJ7mY0Upq3gmYOUKwD6kPM_yKjABnBgzeJMeqIcp62H9LDg3oUFk1KaeYkGLZaGcOJDwjz2cJXmhhSsyRJZQ/s320/20230603_152007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCd_vvcsBZCwhvx4SOriITNuBPuFJ6SXUNIlSx1bUKicAtWjPH7R9v6pBchhJXwh6jTr4Dz-TQcr1jb_i-0qL9yZvRWYkfL9PQSMLgN77zYH45q_MhG-PiYPudLHb9Zgwr3YeSY5rtvoyn4YUC_QkIh8ZxzzS-5Gue0tqcXslJa8XxFhJwpCYTUg/s4000/20230603_131534.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="4000" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCd_vvcsBZCwhvx4SOriITNuBPuFJ6SXUNIlSx1bUKicAtWjPH7R9v6pBchhJXwh6jTr4Dz-TQcr1jb_i-0qL9yZvRWYkfL9PQSMLgN77zYH45q_MhG-PiYPudLHb9Zgwr3YeSY5rtvoyn4YUC_QkIh8ZxzzS-5Gue0tqcXslJa8XxFhJwpCYTUg/s320/20230603_131534.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-62045519728904480042023-06-21T12:51:00.005-05:002023-06-21T12:53:03.220-05:00The Older I Get....<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM_ecCJ6l_2bFFFmHa3-3oJzHj6TYTwwUrc27nWeZrpXrN_2XOSZgPwNPTYCzGplv-bxVK0Xoz2qkadH1hTpW5Srbn2JF6pqJ_CCgjz0N1ayA9yL0S3gWCxGvbMEdltE0DppbVy9ADYJTLmSzYYYHZNDE0BMj8S_ovXLCWYx_Z6Qku4Nl-Shnzw/s1920/IMG_20230617_092817_651.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM_ecCJ6l_2bFFFmHa3-3oJzHj6TYTwwUrc27nWeZrpXrN_2XOSZgPwNPTYCzGplv-bxVK0Xoz2qkadH1hTpW5Srbn2JF6pqJ_CCgjz0N1ayA9yL0S3gWCxGvbMEdltE0DppbVy9ADYJTLmSzYYYHZNDE0BMj8S_ovXLCWYx_Z6Qku4Nl-Shnzw/w320-h212/IMG_20230617_092817_651.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What a busy weekend, not a lot of huge note to report, but man I feel my age more, the older I get. I recently picked up this shirt online, and it reflects my feelings perfectly. If you can't fully see it, it says "Its weird being the same age as old people" </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have a buddy heading to Portugal mid July for a 5 year assignment (I could tell you what he does, but I would have to kill you lol). We have been organizing send off events for him, to see him off in style. I took last Friday off to pay golf with him and the guys, but again, man I felt that round!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hGfAp7rY0gYYz16ZM_1hTZzKuEX7rBvLu1WT7L5OU3hFLm-9YDkN-coTDusYjJ4o75thgfQ4DkX82dbZEMWy2Pr7VPyOoe25vU_6gILxDCIPD4RTQIABcj-XB7bkmVIbkbQX6eTNGIw4AW2LemNwaeKbYOjp0KpUeqNZ-NJQhcGt4V19Z7mYYw/s2215/20230616_152342.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1591" data-original-width="2215" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hGfAp7rY0gYYz16ZM_1hTZzKuEX7rBvLu1WT7L5OU3hFLm-9YDkN-coTDusYjJ4o75thgfQ4DkX82dbZEMWy2Pr7VPyOoe25vU_6gILxDCIPD4RTQIABcj-XB7bkmVIbkbQX6eTNGIw4AW2LemNwaeKbYOjp0KpUeqNZ-NJQhcGt4V19Z7mYYw/s320/20230616_152342.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let's rewind for a minute, Thursday I played late night hockey, Friday was the golf, Saturday a BBQ with friends and colleagues and then Sunday a BBQ with some hockey friends....by the time Monday came around, I needed to go back to work for a rest!</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyways, back to Friday, the motley crew we were (pictured right) played at Cranes Landing in Lincolnshire. If you have not been recently, you should. They have done a ton of work to address flooding and stuff, and some course upgrades, and at $45 per rider on a Friday, it was great value! Check out that awesome Hawaiian golf shirt on the big guy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzSQXbRuFXcpU73gzPmqnJm4LLVx2xmCUCVey8L_-lZaFHKlwH_t1Ixvxvs1cUx0JPthOUdD3BTXbHnywzvIi6pEcErUoko6nvslrL6EvidpH9nS0t2Roqg2rUsralibqC0z9Ljc8wPDPQkoKaRgknBu2npIu6fQyWs3z2zLIDrvqyTI26GZ1dQ/s1912/20230619_163332.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="1864" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzSQXbRuFXcpU73gzPmqnJm4LLVx2xmCUCVey8L_-lZaFHKlwH_t1Ixvxvs1cUx0JPthOUdD3BTXbHnywzvIi6pEcErUoko6nvslrL6EvidpH9nS0t2Roqg2rUsralibqC0z9Ljc8wPDPQkoKaRgknBu2npIu6fQyWs3z2zLIDrvqyTI26GZ1dQ/w261-h269/20230619_163332.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I headed into the weekend, I definitely needed my caffeine to power through, to make it to Father's day. We did the aforementioned BBQ in the afternoon, and retired to the castle around 5ish, where I was keen to watch Max destroy his competition in Canada, and that is when we did the Fathers day stuff. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Addie's main gift is still in the mail, but she gave me here back up gift of a giant tin of Sour Patch Kids, and Cooper made this terrific plate at school. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For those who don't recognize it immediately, it is one of his and my favourite "super hero" characters, played by one of my favourite actors and philanthropists. Deadpool played by Ryan Reynolds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyways, all of that to say, I can't believe it is almost July already. The older I get, the faster the years seem to go. I hit the double nickel this year, and whilst I would like to believe that I am still playing strong, the very real truth is that I am on the back nine. I just have to hope that the course is not too difficult and shared with as many good friends and fun times, as the front nine was, if not more! </div><p></p>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-44511713382467578822023-06-14T15:19:00.003-05:002023-06-14T15:27:01.421-05:00Triumphant Return?<div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3H1pEi3oBnCJ4MTV9HazjqS1UwWbQ-Vk2RBmxt_JN3p9IM4q7UaSmpt3esSweqlAozxEWvThT7xBAS4h5Gsg_YP-cQjAtBuPqdMAvA6syF0LdE55f1PWQWr4Ab7Y-E5ef8rTOLtXP_kOlrc5sMZbEdDxDCiVADJ5Ss2d55FP4rBKY30RqQo/s468/Old%20Man.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="359" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3H1pEi3oBnCJ4MTV9HazjqS1UwWbQ-Vk2RBmxt_JN3p9IM4q7UaSmpt3esSweqlAozxEWvThT7xBAS4h5Gsg_YP-cQjAtBuPqdMAvA6syF0LdE55f1PWQWr4Ab7Y-E5ef8rTOLtXP_kOlrc5sMZbEdDxDCiVADJ5Ss2d55FP4rBKY30RqQo/s320/Old%20Man.jpg" /></a></div>It's me, I'm back! </div><div><br /></div><div>Its been a while, but I was in a meeting at work today, and I was recounting some history and my origin story. It made me think about this blog and reinvigorating it. If you can believe it, my last post was in 2012! I think the concept of blogging has died out in favour of Facebook, The Gram, Twitter (I don't imbibe) etc. Maybe I will cross post these between Facebook and here and see what people think. This return may be short lived if no-one finds it interesting. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the last 11 years, my life has mostly been consumed with kid stuff, coaching their soccer, their hockey, various school commitments, band concerts, three years of pandemic/lockdown, which would have been a good time to start writing again, and of course my own hockey (which I am terrible at, as most of you probably know) </div><div><br /></div><div>I got a little bit of an old age shock last autumn, with my baby, Addison (Addie as she prefers) going to high school, HIGH SKOOL!. I already knew I was old, but man did that make me feel REALLY old, especially as that was soon followed with my double nickel birthday!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuLSiokbH71I9jQekW2BZRAyghBMf9uX5H_1UHMQQyjmBSilc6uk13IFiW6iSn3gM8cmT6wHAIK1e8R20zxv9IzP-GCPGhRKLW2QhwJGswPDPnUczjFQB-8TyNfWPemHVzZwF-_k3Tk4J-tyBSR54-C85Oc-SDLvy_kyidswfVj7zbP3Y51k/s202/Student.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="141" data-original-width="202" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuLSiokbH71I9jQekW2BZRAyghBMf9uX5H_1UHMQQyjmBSilc6uk13IFiW6iSn3gM8cmT6wHAIK1e8R20zxv9IzP-GCPGhRKLW2QhwJGswPDPnUczjFQB-8TyNfWPemHVzZwF-_k3Tk4J-tyBSR54-C85Oc-SDLvy_kyidswfVj7zbP3Y51k/s1600/Student.png" width="202" /></a></div>It gets worse. She has now finished her first year, and will be a sophomore in Autumn, AND is working on driver's ed in summer school. She is only 15 and the concept of her driving at such an early age, is truly foreign to Lorraine and I. When we were both learning, the minimum age was 17 before you could even get a learners permit, versus here, where she could be driving by herself at the tender age of 16 years and 1 day!</div><div><br /></div><div>So if you are on the streets of Highland Park and surrounding area, look out. I may have to find a way to post EAS alerts when she goes out, lol</div><div><br /></div><div>When Addie discovered me writing this she asked me to say that she does not consent and disagrees with many of the above statements about her; but as her parent, I get to do whatever I want!</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-58102370222241859442012-06-03T16:58:00.001-05:002012-06-03T17:10:50.018-05:00Fabyan Forest, Villa & Windmill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Fox%20River%20And%20Batavia/?albumview=slideshow" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJGO1D7RbHFrfytja0oSn7GOVoDk2GB2yd-FBwAi2MSIVH_Mlc43XiL-kZyg3mgUm4clDR39q3Qh-c62NKdFeFhaFn7tf2QcrE4edweqOD8_Npp4eFvGrkBPiGO0s9l5FzoTFYQ/s200/IMG_9285.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last couple of weekends I have gone out to take some photographs. I have a laundry list of DIY tasks on my list that I am supposed to be doing, but work is so busy that I don't really seem to have the energy. The family are out of town in the UK for a few more weeks. Yesterday I went to shoot Fabyan Villa, it's Japanese garden and the restored windmill, out in Geneva, Kane County. Unfortunately the garden was closed for three different wedding shoots; so I will have to go back some other time and maybe take the kids.
<p>I was able to watch them put up the sails and start up the windmill which was very cool. The guy climbing the wooden substructure to grab the sail cloth and unfurl it, then watch on a windy day how they adjusted the sail to make sure that it wasn't turning too fast.
From their website...</p></div>
<blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<p>Fabyan Forest Preserve was once part of the large country estate of George and Nelle Fabyan. They came to the Fox River Valley in the early 1900s and bought a farmhouse and 10 acres on the west bank of the Fox River. Over the following 20 years, they acquired 300-plus acres and developed the property into a fabulous estate they called “Riverbank.” After their deaths in 1936 and 1939, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County purchased the estate for this amazing preserve.</p>
<p>On the east side of Fabyan Forest Preserve, stands the majestic Fabyan Windmill. The 68-foot, 5-story structure was originally built by Louis Blackhaus, a German craftsman, between 1850 and 1860. The Windmill originally stood on a site in what is now Lombard, Illinois. In 1914, it was purchased by George Fabyan for about $8,000, and moved here to Riverbank.</p>
<p>After many years, the Windmill had fallen into disrepair. Third-generation Dutch Windmill Maker Lucas Verbij was contracted by the Forest Preserve District to tackle the tough job of restoring the Windmill. According to Verbij, “The Fabyan Windmill is the best example of an authentic Dutch windmill in the United States. Actually, it's a treasure, and would be the most popular windmill in the Netherlands (we currently have 1,000 windmills). Restoring Fabyan Windmill was as much honor as it was duty. The timing of the restoration project was critical, as the main beams of the tower were strongly rotting. When you hardly have old original U.S. windmills left, preserving what you have is so important.”</p>
“There is German, Swedish and Dutch millwright work on this Windmill,” states Verbij. “It is one of the few in the world that is restored to operate by natural wind energy.”</div>
</blockquote>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com41923 S Batavia Ave, Geneva, IL 60134, USA41.8687938 -88.311538741.8569698 -88.3312797 41.880617799999996 -88.2917977tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-88781503417489063182012-01-13T21:07:00.005-06:002012-01-13T21:20:05.517-06:00Photo 365 v2<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ860J7aY4QgJ3pYNkKkgAxNZlYEniDg7v_jxLQ3kox29VKZjH2AcAgXd04K7QghO3SRaWhGv5QhgkuLTIdQ_YSRibeq7OqdD1NVvGcD3DCOFkmDwsiUMUgmyyD0a6Fn9-iTIMJg/s1600/Day+9-365%25282%2529.jpg" target+"_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ860J7aY4QgJ3pYNkKkgAxNZlYEniDg7v_jxLQ3kox29VKZjH2AcAgXd04K7QghO3SRaWhGv5QhgkuLTIdQ_YSRibeq7OqdD1NVvGcD3DCOFkmDwsiUMUgmyyD0a6Fn9-iTIMJg/s200/Day+9-365%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697321622717623074" border="0" /></a>Yes I have started another day by day photo 365 project; and I am already behind! The winter hasn't helped me so far, and the weather generally has been blah. Click on the links over to the right and you can see the album and the rejects as I go through the year. Please feel free to leave feedback. </div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-1135709784797591152011-12-23T10:44:00.000-06:002011-12-23T18:12:49.550-06:00Santa Tracking<div align="justify"><a><img style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" alt="" src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Miscellaneous/santa_2_e0.gif" border="0" /></a>Christmas is a coming and hi tech is the latest thing! Someone told me about <a href="http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html"><strong>this website</strong></a> and I thought it was too cool not to share, so if you think it's lame..bite me!<br /><br />I don't know how much of it is true, partially true or complete BS, but it is an interesting story. Apparently it all <a href="http://www.noradsanta.org/en/team.html"><strong>started in the 50s</strong></a>, when some store printed an error in their "Call Santa" hotline number, which took kids through to what was then CONAD, later NORAD.<br /><br />According to their website, they have been doing it ever since. Now I definitely don't believe all the stuff about using jets, satellites, etc, but there is no reason why some computer simulation isn't doing it. So I am going to call the number on Christmas Eve and see if anyone answers, right now it is just a machine. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-83877669881759575622011-11-06T19:53:00.009-06:002011-11-06T21:16:38.472-06:00Winter Is Coming...<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.chicago-usa.blogspot.com/"> </a>...and apparently it is going to be one of the worst in forever. The weather has been decent this fall or autumn, depending on which country you are from. October has been another busy month, which ended up with waving the family off to the UK for an extended 5 week plus trip. As I write this, it is already 11 days and they have flown by!<br /><br />I have been busy working, and took a couple of weekend trips out to take pictures. Also, as is always the case when the family goes away, I have a boat load of DIY jobs to try to get done. I have already hung two new doors, ripped the trim off the upstairs hall, and put up a new light in the office. The rest of the list is way too long to go through, but it ranges from cutting a new doorway in Cooper's room to simple stuff like touching up cracks, paint dings, etc.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Naperville%20River%20Walk%20-%20October%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5_HUxUQGm1qLJwhn7ewGjM7Wh-MSWSU9G958nJ_KWsvoCw-i9CiPimyUkdU7oUlTbamCvgZXZUWnyJCOWFp5FH2YoTqTrm52DQrM7OZYdgHsPB2A7UUOm9wDL-QkIhS16MoVCA/s200/2011-10-29+15.35.51.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672076458057011874" border="0" /></a>I decided to check out the Naperville River Walk and it was excellent. We have talked about it many times, and drove through the city a couple of weeks ago to check it out when we were at the Morton Arboretum. The walk goes quite a long way, right beside the river in a few places, and across several covered bridges. It is not overly taxing, so it you are looking for a scenic walk, I can thoroughly recommend it. Even the little snakes enjoy it (check out the pics) NOT very stroller friendly however. <a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Naperville%20River%20Walk%20-%20October%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click here</span></a> for a some pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Morton%20Arboretum%20-%20October%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 156px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVgWpBV08-YuHXu3HHBZP0acuWP7P2oH2C2Bt3P6ArCdDMbiBzftx7iroaHuG5Ns2CzyD4YuqUO2gxCKMRqNK39oubSnPe2T4PZ96ZKZmMEfCJPKMThwByEwFs6rIa8uNYpFBrA/s200/IMG_6386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672083782845666610" border="0" /></a>Whilst I was down in the area, I took the opportunity to make another trip to the arboretum, hoping that the colours would still be around despite the high winds we have had recently. There were still some great colours, but all the trees that had changed in early October were already leafless. <a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Morton%20Arboretum%20-%20October%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click here</span></a> for some more pictures, including the ones from the beginning of the month.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Russell%20Military%20Museum%20-%20November%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxI8lw2X_Q63WyRXx96g62CH64I2YZrVkz6rGTF5BIk61Mh8XUGk7XR2ixIRVhSN7HdiKbD980bJdHhPh5eAQdN-Ewh_UFDFqSPjvX1BUOd5vmLHwRMW6X0V9PnRrsjaRkM8Irw/s200/IMG_6551.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672087345612479922" /></a>Just this weekend, I went to Russell Military "Museum". I have driven by there so many times and thought it looked cool. At $10 it wasn't bad value. Most of the exhibits are trainers (it says on the side for those of you wondering), and have clearly been stripped for parts before coming to the museum, but still they are pretty cool.<br /><br />It does look more like a military dumping ground than a museum, but at the price, it is still worth a looksee. <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Russell%20Military%20Museum%20-%20November%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank">Click here</a></span> for some pictures.<br /><br />More DIY this week, then I have friends coming into town for the weekend, so I expect there will be more pictures.<br /></div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-59147368743616382922011-10-10T19:05:00.009-05:002011-10-10T21:50:25.416-05:00Montreal, QC<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://chicago-usa.blogspot.com/"> </a>I took my fourth trip to Montreal this past week. On the previous three trips, I had not had much opportunity to go out and shoot photographs. Two trips were with Steve and so we spent most of the time out eating and drinking, the third trip it rained pretty much the entire week, and I thought this was going to be the same this week. For the first two days it rained pretty solidly, although I managed to sneak a few hours one evening.<br /><br />I had been checking out many of the fountains on previous trips, and so I decided that would be good subject matter. Click on the picture above for shots from that evening.<br /><br />On the last night I decided to check out what is supposedly one of the best attractions in Montreal, the <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/biodome/site/site.php?langue=en" target="_blank">Bio Dome</a></span> in the old Olympic stadium. I have to say that whilst I thought it was kinda fun, and the exhibits were good, I really didn't think it was all that!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Holidays%20And%20Trips/Montreal%20-%20October%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoQSYugdjTi0zQZTmukRlS1chDQO-nx6kM2GZLLinExLB5wDkbQGEjlEvSi27VzKpoy-U_5fRySC3JeoXx132LoPAQDb-pLzLgV4DH7X4MdRvkQw__tJhC1QuGjJCQiPdJ76Ybg/s200/IMG_5439.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662047750801539570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Holidays%20And%20Trips/Montreal%20-%20October%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: right; cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOKd-JjX2sfF3M5XGkSwdhg9qf58g17-5zh3Oo1cwyeeIH1fdTCxwrjhSq-zWWiHbCJj0m5OwUhmYbiZFk73-tjjWl06k89sH64536eQL2EUry269usvnH4qtigbqAtG_SO0KDw/s200/IMG_5632.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662057149035734946" border="0" /></a>The one thing I did do when I was there that impressed the heck out of me. I went up to the botanic garden, planning to shoot some flowers and maybe some night landscapes, but what I discovered was the 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> annual Chinese lantern festival. This wonderful event detailed below was the most incredible sight. Click on the picture to see all that I shot that night.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Holidays%20And%20Trips/Montreal%20Le%20Jardin%20Botanique%20-%20October%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnFVNkIuQEJaxJpWux3XjZFKkuhDMOJeKo2dTUNyjgqGGKWo8qOeXTg1GQI-f_kWte1GMhkt2G1WaAohbZRRXCYSTGRbiOBL2ogJNWDPmZWUEtz6ifAaxX9NLa20-tvhdC18xQA/s200/IMG_5503.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662048031507430642" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote>Every year, the botanical garden presents the Magic Of Lanterns on a different theme. This process takes almost a year, each year!<br /><br />Through Fall & Winter, a theme is decided for the following year, technical drawings are made in Montreal. Precise drawings are made for each lantern, including dimensions, colours and even how it is assembled.<br /><br />In the Springtime, artisans in the Shanghai region make each lantern by hand, following the technical specifications made in Montreal. In June the lanterns are shipped by boat to Montreal.<br /><br />In July/August, the lanterns are painstaking assembled by team of electricians, carpenters, plumbers, welders, and assorted other helpers.It takes over a month to build the stands, lay the cables and set up the lanterns.<br /><br />The lanterns are then displayed from early September through the end of October; lighting up the Chinese garden. This year's theme, the 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> year of the Magic Lanterns, marks the 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> anniversary of the Chinese garden, and is built around the theme of "The First Emperor's Procession". On display are over 700 traditional lanterns and an additional 200+ themed.</blockquote></div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-73857095822752007002011-10-06T22:40:00.016-05:002011-10-07T21:13:44.398-05:00My Name Is Gordy...<div align="justify"><a href="http://chicago-usa.blogspot.com/"></a>and I am a blogger, it has been over a month since my last post! Seriously, where does the time go? September has been a super busy month, with the end of summer and everyone trying to squeeze in their events before the weather starts to turn.</div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>WARNING; monster post, lots of pix, grab a coffee/G&T!</em></strong></span></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/=" target="_blank" albumview="'slideshow"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 164px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660738424733184386" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJmXy_NHMlvdK45vZsdFqHkLekqPlUiCDaSNpztJSzZc17fScs6T_elhzZNuUUGi1IyKBkXghvs1ibg82wO-3kfOOeoy8AOonT0SmIPa-hHiNMtlwRG7kkss97Bw9alGDFXuzsA/s200/IMG_4006.jpg" border="0" /></a>Every year, the rules are that everything opens up for summer on Memorial Day and closes on Labor Day (this year Sept 5th). With this in mind, I took a day off work in the middle of the week to do some stuff with the family, including a day trip to Six Flags Great America. Well I guess Labor Day came early in Gurnee, because the Wednesday that we went to Six Flags, August 31st, they were closed! WTF! Fortunately they were still open weekends and holidays, so we used our season passes to spend a couple of hours there on the Monday night of Labor Day. We even managed to get Addison onto one of the water rides, twice! Only a <strong><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Six%20Flags%20Great%20America%20-%20September%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank">few pictures</a></strong> of the fun and games as it was a short evening.<br /><br /><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Waukegan%20Air%20Show%20-%202011/?albumview=slideshow"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660733758126077954" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoj_QS-cMFfDeJT4mVcUh0bJNgEHEQCUoFIO_PK8zlytbfH2KMb9igDVdZ0o2_JyaHhJL_3Nc9R25n57nCp5IQCTAISMes-Z6ombsyY3ph4u9tmunMFSnDw4JPxfMC9jdATURaA/s200/IMG_4237.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><a href="http://www.waukeganairshow.com/" target="_blank">Waukegan Air Show</a></strong> was our second event of the month. There are many air shows in this area every year, but this one promised something the others never did. The ability to get up close and personal with the aircraft, close enough to touch, though in most cases they asked you not to. The event itself could have been better organised; with the start time of 10am, but nothing in the air until 12, (NOT mentioned on their web site) we missed out on the air part of the show due to a prior commitment for Steve's daughter's 1st birthday. We will just have to go back next year. Needless to say there were <strong><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Waukegan%20Air%20Show%20-%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank">plenty of pictures</a></strong> from the day!<br /><br /><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Touch%20A%20Truck%20-%20September%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660735461049828834" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8v-YG9-KSTbwrQSurofwCqtuZm7cI25moz0SnoOUE9g4iFvQtgSxTiMW1jAcXVSIjQSmHvJOlVKRM5V1JbWdoKWFwogJt-J_S-yGNdy6aaqq2AVlLXXRBdGD-VOfEzQM7FvDTkw/s200/IMG_4575.jpg" border="0" /></a>Next on the calendar was the Highland Park "<strong><a href="http://www.pdhp.org/index.cfm/fa/events.event_detail/object_id/adc517b4-be9f-41c5-9dbb-3b2b70a92e00">Touch A Truck</a></strong>" event. I had missed this last year, I think maybe because I had been here in Montreal (where I am as I write). Lots of big trucks for the kids to climb on, play with, honk horns, etc. The highlight for me was the two story cherry picker, where they you took you up for rides; although I was disappointed to get grease over my shorts and brand new shirt! It was a beautiful day, the views were spectacular, and even Addison who was scared on the way up did not want to come back down. Again <strong><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Touch%20A%20Truck%20-%20September%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank">lots of pictures</a></strong> of the whole day.<br /><br /><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Heller%20Fall%20Festival%20-%20September%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660740785588479442" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNJCQ7nGfLayhvPXeB6yRds-m5ZcK7dJXrZTxcTxnw_giQSYrH2hcMX14dhbzYc1XNnEnba9h6sE3piObZWbjecaJrC6yiPb9nf2kV3iCdcNOgsLL6-yO04c3Mi74MP2ThRIDvw/s200/IMG_4733.jpg" border="0" /></a>As the month rolled on, and we weren't even near the end yet, we headed to the Fall Festival at Heller Nature Center. We had done this event before and missed out on the hay ride, so the first thing we did when we showed up as early as we could was to ask when the hay ride finished. "Don't worry you have plenty of time". Imagine our disappointment when, once again, the hay rides seemed to finish super early with some BS about not being able to see in the twilight, despite the tractor having lights! Not withstanding that continued frustration, we had a great time, pumpkin patch exploration, painting with feathers, watching the bonfire, and Cooper had a blast playing in the cave/tunnel/den. Obviously <strong><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Heller%20Fall%20Festival%20-%20September%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank">some pictures</a></strong> were taken!<br /><br /><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Addison%20And%20Cooper/2011/Addisons%204th%20Birthday/?albumview=slideshow"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 184px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660760323121646226" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjK-KE3vzqzIzQNRnD2UGnseYzpZ-4XA1YQFYtjl-JOrSWj_NKdiLxtIqfao2pQbgmOO_dZ6LwsHvxgSPchJNiV7ToT61nPo_QDkrK_sFxdbNx44DZfpOiZvbAApeg3u5sJf2KQ/s200/IMG_4974.jpg" border="0" /></a>The penultimate event of the month was Addison's 4th Birthday shindig. We had planned a trip over her actual birthday (see below) and so we held the party a day earlier than the actual day. There was a pretty decent showing for a Wednesday afternoon. Lorraine had baked her trademark apple cake, food was procured mostly from Trader Joes, and a select group were invited. Addison got a good haul of gifts including her first ever princess dress, accompanied by a Rapunzel/Tangled doll with super long hair! <strong><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Addison%20And%20Cooper/2011/Addisons%204th%20Birthday/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank">Click here</a></strong> for the pictures.<br /><br /><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Holidays%20And%20Trips/Traverse%20City%20MI%20-%20September%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 154px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660762785423015426" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLpk4kMtRyvp2UvCCRdQhLvXfyS7KSRbRBLkY9K88ps7dTiQpECbdMuXN409MTAtCIUZ-IDHkQ72ivxnvucRjWjwik-uwVImzUcVC9Ugoz1YOd2A-OOrDUryGRmLVOdLC9i7tqg/s200/IMG_5186-1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Finally for the month we planned a short trip to Traverse City, MI, hoping to catch an early view of the Autumn colours. We were going Thursday thru Sunday, until I realised that I had committed to a business trip, flying early on the Sunday. Undeterred, we cut the trip by a day and headed off early on Thursday morning, IN THE RAIN, AGAIN. The last road trip we took to NYC, it rained the entire first two days, guess what, it rained the entire first two days, despite the forecast of <em>"showers".</em> However, we made the best of it and had a fun time exploring the local area around Traverse. We didn't actually spend any time in Traverse City, beyond sleeping, but we visited Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Haven, Glen Arbor, Deadman's Hill, and too many others to name. It did clear up for the last day, as we drove home :-). <a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Holidays%20And%20Trips/Traverse%20City%20MI%20-%20September%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><strong>Click here to view the "small" selection of pictures</strong></a>.<br /><br />In between all the high jinks, I also managed to find some time to visit the Chicago Botanic Gardens two or three times, took a bunch of pictures of the kids and finished my Photo Project 365, including rejects! Click the pics or links below to view any of the pictures you like the look of :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Chicago%20Botanic%20Garden%20-%20September%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 85px; BORDER: 3px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660765946035297890" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQVf1ODK9TLVKtxHrv-ekv1uv0kNddjx_6OPn6QCH6b1jDQmPW95j_92E6ibgginOZICF5BEd2tFaV02d0a2cPzaUFaGuRBWE1xKe-3JIaZT7wa31XvIsIqApaqnGDQGZSkEbhw/s200/RedDevilDahliaMacro.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Addison%20And%20Cooper/2011/September%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 85px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660766768792802402" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicU7YfQAwuVCXkwyxE0t4RoeRfE7AvZaxF661UNG8KWAQjv4ZCkY1YhJkJudFzH-IHzQJzo7HYCWntf7NCiXyV9wXkcdYpBkwGNn_vmhOtPrOgr9zgggoLDjBrRSE68nBfkGuQBA/s200/IMG_4350.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Camera%20Club/Photo%20365/?albumview=slideshow" target="blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 85px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660766870074208242" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQyMoH2SjzmVjsm-CYjOUJ-nn-HZMgGx4GwNdJ8awrsQeClmPSlwPtgBwhC9HepSF8iY0y6I-Rk40YSVGNDVyz1jN4Jbj7jt6mNsbEBWDvbYU9HJ_UbA8EqUV3p1nm5tSe38_ww/s200/Day365-365.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><p><br /> </p><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>Did you make it this far? Well done!</em></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/2034152/db902225cf0285e8b368ce3b6691936585b687c1" target="_blank">Check out the photobook I made from my project 365.</a></em></strong></span></div><p></p>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-73884526105134767142011-09-05T15:06:00.005-05:002011-09-05T15:30:05.820-05:00British Institution<div><div align="justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDGzggYXxkCjqXbcddDuA9aJxX-7g8NcU9pG0KgBhdQDaeFOeXjC1k9ZLXAFDlYe1XlESm0gQsk-FdyuGzoKcg6NdaqvWJM2fpEbJt8ItNUrV7iPQPPqcwysb5CbPxfEGCEVHvQ/s1600/p3644_big.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; height: 200px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648971490739543922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDGzggYXxkCjqXbcddDuA9aJxX-7g8NcU9pG0KgBhdQDaeFOeXjC1k9ZLXAFDlYe1XlESm0gQsk-FdyuGzoKcg6NdaqvWJM2fpEbJt8ItNUrV7iPQPPqcwysb5CbPxfEGCEVHvQ/s200/p3644_big.jpg" /></a>Growing up these VW campers were all the rage. If you had one you were definitely cool. They were better than caravans, more spacious than cars, almost like the original mini van. Well now you can <strong><a href="http://www.firebox.com/product/3644/VW-Camper-Van-Tent">buy a piece of this nostalgia</a></strong> in the shape of a four man tent.</div></div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-32393485702697213702011-09-03T19:49:00.005-05:002011-09-03T20:12:09.206-05:00How Many Left?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbr318ckMBBTjG4WrYqXPlfGw3rLg1ogohDsTrRGd-WF2IoXs1nQbpnGhUkYnaZNiAjD9XE7qdITsvAcUikvmRjfwRA6lTHdZVJFMoM9y-AGA0wr-n2QzcFM1Ish4chQS-Hp52w/s1600/Top-Gear---The-Stig-006.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbr318ckMBBTjG4WrYqXPlfGw3rLg1ogohDsTrRGd-WF2IoXs1nQbpnGhUkYnaZNiAjD9XE7qdITsvAcUikvmRjfwRA6lTHdZVJFMoM9y-AGA0wr-n2QzcFM1Ish4chQS-Hp52w/s200/Top-Gear---The-Stig-006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648305281473820642" /></a>Watching the new season of Top Gear on BBC America, and they just announced <a href="http://howmanyleft.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">this really cool web site</span></a>. It is designed to tell you how many of a particular make and model of vehicle are left on UK roads. I have no idea if there is a US equivelant, but how cool is that.
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<br />So think of your favourite car you ever drove and look it up.
<br />Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-6060727121100553862011-08-27T14:07:00.004-05:002011-08-27T14:33:27.145-05:00The End Of Summer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQKXKAmBYuFhAkKC3KeMHM8Liu8AOGyyDXv-3fLvF9bCwuCWvKAlhQsbhLTcCuRJ11eNiOmukBa03X97RxR8GSTEgVEy5EWwFHqR124LyXuVoKg-L_mLeR8kztOiAl10dGUDPww/s1600/summer3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQKXKAmBYuFhAkKC3KeMHM8Liu8AOGyyDXv-3fLvF9bCwuCWvKAlhQsbhLTcCuRJ11eNiOmukBa03X97RxR8GSTEgVEy5EWwFHqR124LyXuVoKg-L_mLeR8kztOiAl10dGUDPww/s200/summer3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645620627857424706" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">I cannot believe it is the end of August already and officially the end of summer here in the US next weekend. It has been a strange summer, lots of storms, oppressive heat and mosquitoes! As is always the case at this time of year everything is being squeezed into the last few weekends.
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<br />Last weekend I went to the only golf outing truly worth it's salt. The Timothy O'Tooles 14th annual outing. It was our first time, but the pictures of previous outings convinced us. They promised an all in experience with all the food and liquor you could drink, free samples on every hole, etc. Well they came up a little short of every hole, but probably at least 14 or so out of the 18 had free liquor and some nice sights too. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150263769048059.324357.554593058&l=3975199bcd&type=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click here</span></a> for a few shots from the day.
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<br />This weekend we have already seen Tony Bennett, last night, at Ravinia Festival. Always a good time, the picnic, the lawn, camping out on the station platform waiting for the train. This afternoon, we are off to an "open day" at the local ice arena and then tomorrow is the Taste of Highland Park; more tomorrow.
<br /></div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-67162957977078029242011-08-13T22:04:00.003-05:002011-08-13T22:26:36.652-05:00Botanic Garden Kite Festival<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Chicago%20Botanic%20Garden%20-%20Kite%20Festival%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKC_tgJdXpZw88Qe4j6yvZif_Y4BoQqLS8inc2u9p2vDfq6dTaXkmW_2vB33UU863Gvawg37mPOOzeth__K9Xj5TkfXnADVAcgiD1u3cIYwdy7jI-kfTPpDYL8Ay7HvZpDqAQWHw/s200/Kite+Festival+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640547107588046578" border="0" /></a>We went to the botanic gardens again today, this time for their 7th annual kite festival. We watched the skilled flyers take their kites in very little wind and do amazing stunts. Unfortunately it was VERY hot and we were sitting in full sun, so we were not able to stay very long.
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<br />It was like watching an air show though, these folks could fly their kites in perfect formations, just like the jets and bi planes due in the air and water show. <a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Chicago%20Botanic%20Garden%20-%20Kite%20Festival%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click here</span></a> for some shots from the little time we stayed there.
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<br /><a href="http://www.giftofwings.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/events/chicagobotanic/index.html?L+mystore1+trdj4190fff370f3+1313297705" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click here</span></a> for full event details if you want to see more about the event. We are hoping that <a href="http://www.giftofwings.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/events/frankmots/index.html?L+mystore1+trdj4190fff370f3+1313297705"><span style="font-weight: bold;">this one</span></a> is a little cooler in September!
<br /></div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-79318305988623983702011-08-10T20:08:00.000-05:002011-08-11T13:30:46.962-05:00Busy Travelling - Not Nearly!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOrFmgfD9sIYRPrelO9UkyRzyxsQUywRhrvSoBSwav4phRadyk1am2dK2eXqC39Di007lWQyO5dbkvY7HZxljWZ8pzcJmSZ0htg_968iqT-AACFp-oZ2qRcFhYX99ov5vXYU71w/s1600/Lounge_Bar-Hilton_Montreal_Bonaventu-20000000001084183-500x375.jpg" target="blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOrFmgfD9sIYRPrelO9UkyRzyxsQUywRhrvSoBSwav4phRadyk1am2dK2eXqC39Di007lWQyO5dbkvY7HZxljWZ8pzcJmSZ0htg_968iqT-AACFp-oZ2qRcFhYX99ov5vXYU71w/s200/Lounge_Bar-Hilton_Montreal_Bonaventu-20000000001084183-500x375.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639666159350007730" border="0" /></a>I am sitting in the hotel bar in Montreal for the second time in three weeks, wondering if my friend and colleague Steve still believes business travel to be something he was missing out on. Don't get me wrong, you cannot beat a good steak or a nice glass of wine, especially when someone else is paying, but the "shine or glamour" of business travel wore off for me a long time ago.
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<br />On the plane on the way up here, I was browsing the inflight magazine as I am wont to do on occasion, and there was a story of a guy (Tom Stuker) who had just reached 10m miles with United; a landmark they believe for any airline. Now obviously the perks of being a 10m miles guy are pretty cool, including things like getting your name on the side of 747, and I do love to fly, so the thought of flying the miles doesn't bother me as much as the though of all those destinations for work, for make no mistake, most of it was for work, and it has all been done since 1982!!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Addison%20And%20Cooper/2011/August%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYSMm42BF8HkoUs5MVfbRr1-Bdr7SOV34xivjbRqBGaQHzKiY6nVhQNaoRm6-azGGPA1ETlJjaR70f3SiirSLpf18TtSaGGE3rCvn8c3c-r046Dwm5CWHSXluU-6gcPozAd132g/s200/IMG_3206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639667076876977970" border="0" /></a>Next time I think I am travelling a lot, I will think of Tom Stuker and thank my lucky stars, because I would much rather be spending time with my family at the Kohl's Children's Museum!
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://www.airlinereporter.com/2011/07/united-airlines-frequent-flyer-hits-10-million-miles/" target="_blank">See Tom's story here</a></span>
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<br /><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Addison%20And%20Cooper/2011/August%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click here</span></a> for the pix from the Children's Museum last weekend.</div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-82477249586102207292011-07-26T21:09:00.000-05:002011-07-27T10:43:27.572-05:00Auto Historica X1 & Updates<div align="justify"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Highland%20Park%20Classic%20Car%20Show%20-%20July%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634042694900684546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD55yV8d3hIyAobxPgnm2SMcyLUgRT-4A1A6LaOkW-daZ0NlrIdsAgXut8_LrI6zLU_CUKlvWkwITUCsKA7RCvx4gE5w34f_PIkwYfDqjdHVARyiZ-upY8hZ_-fHPWS1mLSjh0Xg/s200/1961ExcaliburRS-5.jpg" /></a>Last weekend there was a classic car show in our local town, one day only. I was looking at it as not only an opportunity to indulge my passion for photography, but also for old cars, and I even saw a couple of MGs! A very rare MG PA Airline coupe was one of the stars of the show. The blurb on the event said..<br /></div><blockquote><div align="justify"><em>Auto Historica XI, is the most elite exhibition of rare and unusual automobiles and other motorized vehicles in the Midwest. This invitation-only event is considered to be one of the finest automotive exhibitions in the United States, thus the nickname “Little Pebble Beach”. Auto Historica XI invites a select group of collectors to participate with vehicles that are specially chosen each year to create a themed exhibition.<br /><br />This year’s theme is Woodies, classic American wood-bodied station wagons from the 30s, 40s, and 50s, as well as unique European wooden skiff-bodied touring cars. Approximately 50 cars will be on display, including such rarities as a supercharged Duesenberg, an Allard J2, and a Bugatti Atlantic Coupé.</em></div></blockquote><div align="justify">The big problem with photgraphing these events and cars is that they are always packed in side by side, distracting backgrounds, people walking all around, lots of reflections in the shiny paint and chrome, so I ultimately ended up with a lot of close up shots of features of the cars. <a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Chicagoland%20Area%20Trips/Highland%20Park%20Classic%20Car%20Show%20-%20July%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><strong>Click here</strong></a> for the album.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloriIKjxxc9m8rNpM8_cA-GjQPecLFrwOcuTId8GZGap2A_r5C0_bJp_7jqfyD_yFj5fQDJLknJsPzh1YNqwRkOn-hLYzY0SUKpZgffxvpDlTiQkhobWeNLJkpXPo6B7E85nISg/s1600/Sliding.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 123px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634046958575978530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloriIKjxxc9m8rNpM8_cA-GjQPecLFrwOcuTId8GZGap2A_r5C0_bJp_7jqfyD_yFj5fQDJLknJsPzh1YNqwRkOn-hLYzY0SUKpZgffxvpDlTiQkhobWeNLJkpXPo6B7E85nISg/s200/Sliding.JPG" /></a>Also last weekend, the next town over was having it's summer festival, Highwood Days. Not sure what they were trying to achieve, but really all they had was a traveling fair. Addison went on a couple of the rides, including going through a fun house by herself. She and I also went on one of those undulating slides which was kinda fun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcNjQxH95i26gtfnuQWngxWdFV3KiPvbqLNZr3foUiQaRhsn8NY8BKPfuJu-mg5Orhx-byuXQTlOwST7uYYvfEG2gCQnYoSX-dlqr1sitrXWPDcoojwmNO6S2FzXRvV9X-zaEdA/s1600/Cooper.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 162px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634048319874281794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcNjQxH95i26gtfnuQWngxWdFV3KiPvbqLNZr3foUiQaRhsn8NY8BKPfuJu-mg5Orhx-byuXQTlOwST7uYYvfEG2gCQnYoSX-dlqr1sitrXWPDcoojwmNO6S2FzXRvV9X-zaEdA/s200/Cooper.JPG" /></a>Cooper has a cool new flat cap. Isn't it amazing how fashions cycle. Flat caps, as they were called in the coal mining days, were the hat of choice for the working class, where bowlers or top hats were for the upper class. Now everyone, including me is getting back into flat caps. Here is the boy in his!<br /><br />On sunday I flew off to Montreal on a business trip, from where I send this missive. Four days of beautiful weather in an average city. I keep hearing all of these people tell me how wonderful this place is, but I gotta tell you, this is my second trip and I am not impressed. The food is good, I will give them that, lots of yummy French cheeses and Creme Brulee, but other than that... We did go to the local casino on Monday night, but with $25 min blackjack and $10-$15 minimum craps, we didn't last long.<br /><br />Whilst I have been away I missed out on Addison's first solo, big girl, bike ride. I fitted the the stabilisers, or training wheels for the Americans, before I left. Lorraine shot her going down the drive and sent it to me, seems she quite liked it. The video is side oriented, sorry about that and I don't have the tools with me to correct it, but I will do so when I get back, and post it then.</div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-66888589298196496112011-07-20T12:46:00.003-05:002011-07-20T14:16:34.336-05:00Heat Wave...<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0m6e6Rj53ko-3xbWzQwplj68NyPSXd38I3u2uAXjC2ot-KqbvGQ9GG07MlCmznTcKc9-qs3nPmZVndbxk7Sbp3kMD9mxAuXsx-W-erNxhh44sS-NS1q1R3W-5zGK-ayOxbAkKHw/s1600/heatwave.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631508177216699602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0m6e6Rj53ko-3xbWzQwplj68NyPSXd38I3u2uAXjC2ot-KqbvGQ9GG07MlCmznTcKc9-qs3nPmZVndbxk7Sbp3kMD9mxAuXsx-W-erNxhh44sS-NS1q1R3W-5zGK-ayOxbAkKHw/s200/heatwave.jpg" /></a>...and when they say heat wave here they REALLY mean it. We are running into our 4th day of temperatures in the 90s with a heat index in triple digits, and the forecast is for more of the same until the weekend. Today is the hottest of the week with a current Highland Park temp of 98F and a heat index of 107F, although the heat index in other areas is expected to reach 120F.<br /><br />Fortunately, the folks that lost power last week have all been restored. The final count was 868,000, a record number of households affected. There were crews from several different states here to help, and not just Wisconsin/Indiana, but from as far afield as Georgia and Florida! In all the comed repair bill was in excess of $80m.<br /><br />We have had a quiet week, mostly hiding from the oppresive heat, although we did hang out with our friends Amy & Kevin last weekend, where we played a new game call <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubb" target="_blank"><strong>Kubb</strong></a>. First time I played I was pretty good, but it went down hill quick. I might have to build a set of my own to practice.<br /><br />We did spend a little time in the garden last night, as it was a little cooler. As most of you know I am a keen, if slightly rubbish, golfer. Well Addison has her own mini set of clubs, driver, iron and putter, and we have one of those little plastic sets too, with a tee and balls and stuff.<br /><br />Lorraine was teaching both Addison and Cooper how to do it, proper grip, stance, the works, and Addison was doing a decent job getting it. We had her do it herself, and as you can see from this little animated gif, she actually did very well doing it on her own. Check out my future LPGA star!</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://gordys365photos.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/lpga-tour-player/" target="_blank"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631514073192919986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgegsoP9naOG5izTKkXyYz1yG2me28dBlGxgC-c9UXsmGfBz4mVZ8bscA17pzWxDy54iwN7PeQb413veJvybAH4iY5S1k8jhzbAcqptjWs4pYeeiyfZ_z81bG5vXSCYIj9oCViA/s400/addisons-golf-swing.gif" /><br /></a><a href="http://gordys365photos.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/lpga-tour-player/" target="_blank"><strong>Click here for the animated gif version</strong></a></div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-63467802774430340202011-07-11T11:43:00.005-05:002011-07-11T12:31:55.875-05:00700,000 Without Power<div align="justify"><a href="http://chicago-usa.blogspot.com/"></a>After an excellent weekend of family time (although Lorraine still says I spend too much time "playing" on my phone) we find ourselves in the grasp of another serious storms system, but I am getting ahead of myself.<br /><br />One of the things we enjoy about the summer here in the US is the predictability of the weather (snort). Whilst it is true that the weather is generally more predictable and lends itself to planning outdoor activity, this summer in particular has made a mockery of that.<br /><br />Firstly it was super late in getting started this year; with the rainiest April on record and May not being much better, whilst all the family were here; culminating in having to move Lorraine's birthday party indoors due to a last minute rainy day!<br /><br />June started to improve to more normal temperatures, before it got crazy hot for a couple of days right after the family left. The last few days here have been in the 90s, typical July weather, and then the big storm today.<br /><br />We have had a couple of pretty big storms this season, including a couple of tornado warnings, one that got pretty close, and a couple of severe thunderstorm warnings that have often left people without power, with flooding, etc; but we have always been lucky, barring a few tree branches and some flickering lights.<br /><br />This morning however, we had a storm system blow through in a matter of about 15-30 minutes with winds in excess of 70mph. It got really dark, and extremely windy, the result of which was/is a lot of damage to trees and power lines. We are one of the original 700,000 without power and as of almost noon, are one of 576,000 still without power. The comed website is down, presumably overrun, or maybe they have no power :-) and we have no idea when it might be restored. It is all good right now, but it will be a tough night if we can't get any AC or fans to run, as they are predicting the temperatures to remain high.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cltv.com/news/chi-severe-thunderstorm-watch-for-northern-illinois-20110711,0,1248504.story" target="_blank"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to read the news story, and I will try to go around the neighbourhoods later and get some pictures.<br /><br />As for the weekend, we went to a couple of local town festivals and events. Based on my earlier statements about the weather predictability, there are always a ton of things to do every weekend during the summer. This weekend was the 1st Annual (I guess that statement is based on intent :-) Summerfest in Wilmette, and the Taste Of Lincolnshire.<br /><br />Wilmette Summerfest was generally excellent. It was their first time and they clearly had not thought about parking, park 'n' ride or anything like that so it was a pain to find somewhere, but other than that they did a nice job. They had good things for the kids, some free, some not (but no expensive), they had a little bit of an art show, they executed it on the same day that the weekly "French" Farmers market runs, and they also had a sidewalk sale going on. We had a great time.<br /><br />The Taste Of Lincolnshire is one of my favourite "Taste" events. All of the local towns around here do them annually. For those unfamiliar it is the concept of local restaurants bringing out sample sizes of their dishes to try to entice you to eat there in future. Given the concept, I would have thought they would approach it as a marketing excersise and offer good portions at a reduced price. In reality they bring out small portions and then just pro-rate the price, for example $4 for two pot stickers or $8 for a Mai Tai, etc.<br /><br />Add to that, that you have to buy tickets and not just use cash, then you always end up with a few left over, which you have to ditch, I find the overall concept to be flawed from a consumer perspective.<br /><br />That said, the Taste Of Lincolnshire has long been one of my favourites. NOT this year :-( the choice of vendors was poor, they were poorly prepared, running out of stuff at lunch time Sunday when they were due to operate through the early evening, and the quality of the food was average at best.<br /><br />Considering this is supposed to be a showcase event I was left disappointed.<br /><br />I have a bunch of pictures that I shot and even some video of Cooper dancing to the tune in his head, which I will post later.<br /><br />In the meantime, <a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Addison%20And%20Cooper/2011/July%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank"><strong>here are the pictures</strong></a> of the kids from this weekend and the rest of this month.<br /><br />Don't forget to check out my Photo 365 project link over on the right and also the ones that didn't quite make the cut in the reject pile.</div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-1120243626734653482011-07-02T08:34:00.000-05:002011-06-30T09:56:18.662-05:00Happy Birthday USA<center><a href="http://chicago-usa.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Miscellaneous/4th.gif" /></a></center><br /><br /><div align="justify">As a Brit, I probably should not be celebrating Independence Day this weekend. However as Scot, I can sympathise with the desire for Independence, and as a visitor to the country, I continue to try to adapt to fit local customs and pastimes. I will be posting later to fill you in on what we actually did over the 4th July, including some great pictures.<br /><br />Through the later half of the 18th century, the relations between the Brits and the Americans became increasingly strained, and the phrase "No Taxation Without Representation" was born. A network of groups called the <strong><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/sons.htm">Sons Of Liberty</a></strong> formed to resist the various taxes that the British were placing on the colonies, starting with the <strong><a href="http://ahp.gatech.edu/stamp_act_bp_1765.html">Stamp Act</a></strong>. Although through subsequent years the <strong><a href="http://ahp.gatech.edu/quartering_act_1765.html">Quartering Act</a></strong>, the <strong><a href="http://ahp.gatech.edu/declaratory_act_1766.html">Declaratory Act</a></strong> and the <strong><a href="http://ahp.gatech.edu/townshend_act_1767.html">Townshend Act</a></strong> all increased the sense of frustration at laws being passed by a remote legislature for the benefit of a remote country (sound familiar my Scottish friends?).<br /><br />Following the <strong><a href="http://ahp.gatech.edu/tea_party_account_1773.html">Boston Tea Party</a></strong>, in 1773, more laws came both as punishment, with the Coercive Act in 1774 and also in an attempt to bring the unruly Americans to order generally, by extending the Quartering Act. Later they tried to strengthen their hold on New England with the New England Restraining Act in 1775. Through 1775 the Americans drew up their plans for war, including appointing George Washington as CIC, making peace treaties with the Indians, commissioning ships and raising money. Never one to miss a trick, the French were happy to assist the Americans in their fund raising efforts.<br /><br />Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the <strong><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm">Declaration Of Independence</a></strong>. On 2nd July Congress voted in favour of independence and on 4th July it was approved. Copies of the declaration were distributed to be read publicly in all colonies. Never being one to give up too easily, the Brits were having none of it and having retreated from Boston formed up in New York and actually drove Washington back for a while through New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Congress themselves retreated to Baltimore.<br /><br />December 26th Washington surprised the Brits in New Jersey and with only 5 American deaths won the <strong><a href="http://www.doublegv.com/ggv/battles/Trenton.html">Battle of Trenton</a></strong>. Reacting to the defeat General Howe sent a load of troops to Trenton and Washington caught him on the hop in the <strong><a href="http://www.doublegv.com/ggv/battles/Princeton.html">Battle Of Princeton</a></strong>, winning again and clearing most of the Brits out of New Jersey, greatly raising US morale. The Brits rallied and attacked Philadelphia driving the Americans back again into Valley Forge for a tough winter.<br /><br />On October 7th in Saratoga a battle with General Horatio Gates ended in British surrender, and started a movement to have General Washington replaced as CIC by Gates, which ultimately was thrown out. In the background the Americans continued to work with the French, eventually forming an alliance in 1778 which would result in the British trying, and failing) to make peace by repealing the earlier Tea and coercive Acts.<br /><br />War continued on many fronts 79/80 with Spain joining the battles against Britain as we would not give up Gibraltar. Surviving a mutiny in Conneticut and the treasonous acts of Benedict Arnold Congress continued down the independence road, forming a Department Of Finance to sort out the ailing coffers and finally ratified the Articles of Confederation, 4 years after the discussion started!<br /><br />French and American forces joined together in Yorktown, ultimately signaling the end of the war with their defeat on General Cornwallis and the surrender of almost 8000 soldiers. Peace talks started in 1782 and ratified in 1783, the Brits started to evacuate New York. There is a bunch of other stuff that happened in the succeeding years to settle everything down, but ultimately the British involvement was done when the Articles of Peace were ratified on April 15th.<br /><br />The full story is available <strong><a href="http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/independence/timeline.htm">here</a></strong> and there is a bunch more interesting documents here on <strong><a href="http://ahp.gatech.edu/hisdocs.html">this</a></strong> site. I found it fascinating to understand so much more about this part of our joint histories.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-50301195310858755992011-06-29T21:56:00.000-05:002011-06-30T10:40:42.645-05:00Where's Waldo (Gordy)I know I have been missing from this blog for a while, and largely because life really is just the "same as it ever was" to quote Talking Heads. I don't know that I even have any readers any more that care, or if the 30 or so people that drop by every week are finding me on some random google search.<br /><br />I have been continuing to work on my photography and maybe when I am done with the <a href="http://gordys365photos.wordpress.com/">Photo 365</a> project, I will move back over to here and post the photography work over here. In the meantime here is a quick update of what I have been doing.<br /><br />Family : all well and getting ready for summer<br /><br />Phrase of the week (Addison) : "I totally can't do this!"<br /><br />Cooper's favourite word : Car!<br /><br />Cubs : suck<br /><br />Golf : mediocre, with some flashes of brilliance<br /><br />Kitchen : done, looks awesome<br /><br />Weather : getting hot<br /><br />Photography : having fun with it<br /><br />Work : busy as heck<br /><br />This weekend is 4th July weekend, and I reposted an item I did from way back in 2005. Addison's school have a group in our local town parade so that will be fun, to actually be in it. <br /><br />Mostly though, I am just looking forward to the three day weekend, and I am astounded that it is July already! Back next week, I promise, with an update of the weekend's activities.Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-58376543327398693842011-05-04T20:42:00.002-05:002011-05-05T16:04:47.035-05:00Jolly Boys Outing<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.chicago-usa.blogspot.com/"> </a>Just got back from the annual Jolly Boys Outing to Vegas. BTW anyone who wants to come any of these years is more than welcome. Obviously the details are sketchy because after all what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but here are a couple of the highlights.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqB9ChA3pSCCzUidW9ku8K0u8fSJgmM3grSjt0DoOG43PH5JKFiCbUmtqFTGpM8YpKtaYhcOX1QgRHvDt09KubBbpVULZFXlleMNbkX-CBI2pNsXPTmh1tcpvPtAITOMS39Zw9g/s1600/IMG_0714.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqB9ChA3pSCCzUidW9ku8K0u8fSJgmM3grSjt0DoOG43PH5JKFiCbUmtqFTGpM8YpKtaYhcOX1QgRHvDt09KubBbpVULZFXlleMNbkX-CBI2pNsXPTmh1tcpvPtAITOMS39Zw9g/s200/IMG_0714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603336767101761906" border="0" /></a>The most beautiful golf course we have ever played on; Wolf Creek Resort in Mesquite. 90 minutes from the city, but worth every minute of the drive out there. True desert golf, sand and rocks all around, advisories not to seek lost balls for fear of snakes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHBmoWukgZVryeJio0YGT48XvhMNLDSLiX5CUMFMV24VgfYBQJlbFqwKTdSgAPbm6qI5gmZY2gHIO4wVM-mjNfLJCdZmfven5M-qI0Ppvy-9jJOmRWPPRGCFsmJbF7zdhSZhRZQ/s1600/IMG_0658.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 196px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHBmoWukgZVryeJio0YGT48XvhMNLDSLiX5CUMFMV24VgfYBQJlbFqwKTdSgAPbm6qI5gmZY2gHIO4wVM-mjNfLJCdZmfven5M-qI0Ppvy-9jJOmRWPPRGCFsmJbF7zdhSZhRZQ/s200/IMG_0658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603336074594484226" border="0" /></a>Johnny Bravo (Steve) and Rusty Bedsprings (Gordy) winning $200 a piece on the same penny slot machine one after the other. I shouldn't have stood up!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuSV1DaxZs2-kOJNsqtlRaiqsKBkIoy1lT37z_7_FPnP5z7M-kwqw0Jo7XUmJUYXBAZNLmEJbKz-822chZaXCSK_9QKxwvc7uZ4d8_2YjaiSopsJdI_JWPUSpPvK4RDt76pcNwA/s1600/IMG_0752.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuSV1DaxZs2-kOJNsqtlRaiqsKBkIoy1lT37z_7_FPnP5z7M-kwqw0Jo7XUmJUYXBAZNLmEJbKz-822chZaXCSK_9QKxwvc7uZ4d8_2YjaiSopsJdI_JWPUSpPvK4RDt76pcNwA/s200/IMG_0752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603338026412661218" border="0" /></a>The fabulous fountains of the Bellagio. I didn't know until recently that Steve Wynn actually built this property for Mirage until the sold out to MGM. If you have never seen these live, then you need to, they are incredible!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsJ-CIajlxaNQbw3QjkJxESw3hHo2ZWLh0zmxuXTXLa9Y8Ot2qrCmDhgBvBYwHTo8jMOF0T1GIctlOnckU6TDYm8IuXPcrau_ucWaOfWLZyOCafTV9-44ogXgb3KIwJLR91i9Ow/s1600/WP_000092.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsJ-CIajlxaNQbw3QjkJxESw3hHo2ZWLh0zmxuXTXLa9Y8Ot2qrCmDhgBvBYwHTo8jMOF0T1GIctlOnckU6TDYm8IuXPcrau_ucWaOfWLZyOCafTV9-44ogXgb3KIwJLR91i9Ow/s200/WP_000092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603339186328561330" border="0" /></a>Only in Vegas! A fully detailed Statue Of Liberty, made from Jelly Beans!<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Holidays%20And%20Trips/Las%20Vegas%20-%20April%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank">Click here</a> if you would like to see the full album. Lots of shots of the golf course for Charlie to get jealous!</div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10113789.post-39272435336543931072011-04-18T13:00:00.000-05:002011-04-18T13:00:01.953-05:00Montreal Business Trip<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVCd83lg-26fcpL2zkiQhyphenhyphenJR2OJSReTt7hmAyYc3RG3DOId7C7jmHOoGfTXqgjKwUapvrCb2j-yDC-08OAOzzuOjiQcNxxJzvzJ08uYulR_TIPgzh8rJ4Qr3ovD-OCMXarR6caw/s1600/IMG_9581.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVCd83lg-26fcpL2zkiQhyphenhyphenJR2OJSReTt7hmAyYc3RG3DOId7C7jmHOoGfTXqgjKwUapvrCb2j-yDC-08OAOzzuOjiQcNxxJzvzJ08uYulR_TIPgzh8rJ4Qr3ovD-OCMXarR6caw/s200/IMG_9581.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595504781702391234" border="0" /></a>Earlier this month I went on a business trip to Montreal. I have been to Toronto a number times, but this was my first trip to Montreal. I have to tell you that I was not impressed. It was the end of winter and so there was a lot of slush and melting snow revealing winter trash and dirt, but equally there was a lot of litter generally and tons of graffiti on the many churches in the area.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong we had some fun nights out, late night drinking and apparently the women there are rated as the 5th most beautiful in the world, so that was was interesting. I am sure that the timing wasn't the best, and in summer I am sure it is a much nice place to visit, but overall, it is not on my list of places that I will hurry back to.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b190/gordy_sk/Holidays%20And%20Trips/Montreal%20-%20March%202011/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank">Here are some photographs from the trip.</a></span></div>Gordy Kenmuirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793856865985042544noreply@blogger.com0