This past Wednesday wasn't her birthday, but Sandra took the day off and I scheduled things so I didn't have to work. We headed out to Broken Arrow Golf Club in Lockport. She has been hitting the driving range with me and had showed some great strides the last couple of times out.
We ran late to her appointment with the teaching pro, Tom O'Connor, at the club. He was reasonable about the lateness and helped Sandra for an half-hour, correcting a couple of problems she has been having with her swing and on the green. It was definitely worth the time and money.
We then hit Broken Arrow's West short par 3 links. The sun was brilliant with lazy puffs of clouds drifting above--an absolutely gorgeous day to golf. Despite the short length, the patches of wild flowers and tall grasses which accompanied the holes gave challenges and we both struggled some. The course wasn't well-maintained unlike their other nine hole courses, but the scenery still was nice with pollinating bees and big beautiful butterflies roaming the terrain.
After messing up easier holes, I finished with a par on a legitimate par 3, 120 or so yards with water protecting the front. Sandra also finished with a nice chip and good putt. We ate some good food at the restaurant and watched golfers on another of the nine hole courses. It was a fitting end to a really good day on the course.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Perfect
I remember him when he was a twenty-one year old call-up during the 2000 division-winning season. A not-so hard throwing pitcher, he doesn't exactly intimdate the hitters. He works quickly, and in many ways, he is the stereotypical "crafty" lefthander. You could see this when he took over a spot in the starting rotation for the White Sox in 2001 and went 16-8 with a 3.29 ERA while only striking out 126 in 221 1/3 innings.
His rise has followed a bit of my own returning interest in the game. I was a baseball fan. You used throw a rubber ball off the front porch steps for hours, making up players and games. There were a lot of big moments...World Series clinchers. But things changed as I got the older, even the game. New faces seemingly appeared every year and I couldn't keep track of who was on what team. Then the big strike came, shut down the World Series, and I didn't become disenchanted. I just didn't follow the games as much.
Then 2000 arrived. The first division winner since 1993, the year before the strike. It was good to be back at the park, the new park, and watch baseball. I can't say I'm a "die-hard", but on warm lazy summer days (or even cold spring nights), it's nice to sit and watch some good ball being played. It's good to see the double play turned, the nice catch made, the hitter moving the man over. Very few sports things beat a play at the plate even when it's your team who is out.
Mark Buerhle has done something pretty amazing on the baseball diamond. He threw a no-hitter two years ago. On Thursday, he threw a perfect game. Only 18 men have thrown perfect games in the history and he's one of them....not Roy Halladay or Johann Santana. Nor Kerry Wood or Pedro Martinez (though Pedro Martinez did go nine innings once without a hit only to give up one in the 10th). And Mark has two no-hitters. You wouldn't expect from a man who tosses ball to the plate and it's usually hit somewhere in the field of play.
Sometimes great moments happen in baseball because not only because the happenings are rare but because their source is surprising. Buehrle is a good pitcher, but two no-hitters? That's a little bit of goodness that is true.
His rise has followed a bit of my own returning interest in the game. I was a baseball fan. You used throw a rubber ball off the front porch steps for hours, making up players and games. There were a lot of big moments...World Series clinchers. But things changed as I got the older, even the game. New faces seemingly appeared every year and I couldn't keep track of who was on what team. Then the big strike came, shut down the World Series, and I didn't become disenchanted. I just didn't follow the games as much.
Then 2000 arrived. The first division winner since 1993, the year before the strike. It was good to be back at the park, the new park, and watch baseball. I can't say I'm a "die-hard", but on warm lazy summer days (or even cold spring nights), it's nice to sit and watch some good ball being played. It's good to see the double play turned, the nice catch made, the hitter moving the man over. Very few sports things beat a play at the plate even when it's your team who is out.
Mark Buerhle has done something pretty amazing on the baseball diamond. He threw a no-hitter two years ago. On Thursday, he threw a perfect game. Only 18 men have thrown perfect games in the history and he's one of them....not Roy Halladay or Johann Santana. Nor Kerry Wood or Pedro Martinez (though Pedro Martinez did go nine innings once without a hit only to give up one in the 10th). And Mark has two no-hitters. You wouldn't expect from a man who tosses ball to the plate and it's usually hit somewhere in the field of play.
Sometimes great moments happen in baseball because not only because the happenings are rare but because their source is surprising. Buehrle is a good pitcher, but two no-hitters? That's a little bit of goodness that is true.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Jupiter in the News
The planet Jupiter has been in the news, because visual evidence, first spotted by amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley, suggest something struck the planet. In this case, the likely culprit is a comet or an asteroid. This is not the first time this has happened. Fifteen years, parts of a comet hit the largest planet in the solar system, leaving behind a dark trail.
Today's pic of the day features Jupiter in a recent image from July 19th: Wesley's Image
From the post, I clicked several other links. One of which shows two smaller reddish spots near The Great Red Spot from last year: Three Spots
That post links to an interesting article from Space.com, Jupiter's Spots Disappear Amid Major Climate Change, which discusses climate change and some theories about the vortices which form in the planet's atmosphere. There are several good links from the article page, including a photograph from the Cassini spacecraft, View of Jupiter
Today's pic of the day features Jupiter in a recent image from July 19th: Wesley's Image
From the post, I clicked several other links. One of which shows two smaller reddish spots near The Great Red Spot from last year: Three Spots
That post links to an interesting article from Space.com, Jupiter's Spots Disappear Amid Major Climate Change, which discusses climate change and some theories about the vortices which form in the planet's atmosphere. There are several good links from the article page, including a photograph from the Cassini spacecraft, View of Jupiter
An Evening at Navy Pier
A little less than a month ago, Sandra and I journeyed to one of Chicago's biggest attractions, Navy Pier. Our destination was the IMAX theater, but the movie we wanted to see was already sold out, so we decided to wander outside on the pier.
Being together, we couldn't escape the lure of the Ferris wheel and decided to take a spin.
A Glimpse of Chicago From the Wheel
I couldn't resist taking a few snapshots of Sandra:
Unfocused
Smiling
It was so pleasant outside. The light struck everything gorgeously and I caught a few neat images of the downtown buildings, sky, and pier.
Giant Glowbug Floats Above the City
A cool crescent moon also hung in the sky.
Moon Sliver
Through the Spokes of the Wheel
Crescent Moon, Downtown, and Sunset
We sat down and soaked in the atmosphere. The air was invitingly cool. We shared a beer and watched the boats coming from the lake to dock for the night.
Inlet of Water at Dusk
Yes, a very pretty evening...
Chicago at Night
Being together, we couldn't escape the lure of the Ferris wheel and decided to take a spin.
A Glimpse of Chicago From the Wheel
I couldn't resist taking a few snapshots of Sandra:
Unfocused
Smiling
It was so pleasant outside. The light struck everything gorgeously and I caught a few neat images of the downtown buildings, sky, and pier.
Giant Glowbug Floats Above the City
A cool crescent moon also hung in the sky.
Moon Sliver
Through the Spokes of the Wheel
Crescent Moon, Downtown, and Sunset
We sat down and soaked in the atmosphere. The air was invitingly cool. We shared a beer and watched the boats coming from the lake to dock for the night.
Inlet of Water at Dusk
Yes, a very pretty evening...
Chicago at Night
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Part of History?
You can say that a 53 year old Greg Norman entered the last round with the best score and couldn't finish. You can say it was a case of nerves like the younger Greg--he couldn't seal the deal often on the brightest stages. Or, maybe simply the magic ran out. After all, what should we expect from a man past his physical prime to be able to accomplish at the British Open when champions ten and twenty years fresher play?
Of course, it's us, the viewers, who lose when the drives go wayward and the putts stop falling. It's us who don't see the glorious chapter written with the happy ending, when on Sunday this year Tom Watson misses, from 8 feet, a putt which would give him a 1-stroke win. Our hearts and heads pull for him even though he's a 5-time Open champion. You gradually change and suddenly become the underdog when you're 59 years old.
Still there is opportunity. Watson has four more holes to take the claret jug, but he doesn't. An accomplished veteran, Stewart Cink, a man who many normally would have been cheering so that he could get his first major win, raises his play in the playoff and finishes this year's writing. Watson's 2nd and I will remember.
Of course, it's us, the viewers, who lose when the drives go wayward and the putts stop falling. It's us who don't see the glorious chapter written with the happy ending, when on Sunday this year Tom Watson misses, from 8 feet, a putt which would give him a 1-stroke win. Our hearts and heads pull for him even though he's a 5-time Open champion. You gradually change and suddenly become the underdog when you're 59 years old.
Still there is opportunity. Watson has four more holes to take the claret jug, but he doesn't. An accomplished veteran, Stewart Cink, a man who many normally would have been cheering so that he could get his first major win, raises his play in the playoff and finishes this year's writing. Watson's 2nd and I will remember.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Looking and Finding
Last Friday, Sandra and I stopped at Moraine Valley Community College for a telescope viewing. We went to the scheduled showing in May, but it was cancelled due to clouds. Despite the fact that it was cloudier on this particular Friday, we headed to the small observatory in the hopes that the skies might clear.
Unexpectedly, we caught another rainbow in the eastern skies as a patch of sun poured through a small break in the West. It was just a short ribbon of a rainbow, but it stretched wide as if the sun were a projector on a cloud screen and the color spectrum were a movie. It lingered for minutes as we made a trek towards the nature area.
The wild grasses and flowers loomed tall with the cattails well above our heads. There is something grounding about being in the midst of it all. Birds at dusk. Clouds. Even the people who came for the viewing.
It was everyone's first time. We chatted with strangers as people came and lingered, hoping. A friend of Sandra's, Antigone, lives nearby and she brought her two young daughters. The youngest kept asking about the telescope, though this night wasn't going to offer a viewing. The host of the night didn't even come. After all, the announcement had stated that if it were cloudy, the event would be cancelled. And it was cloudy, and there was no telescope.
Still we all saw a little of something in the sunset hours.
Unexpectedly, we caught another rainbow in the eastern skies as a patch of sun poured through a small break in the West. It was just a short ribbon of a rainbow, but it stretched wide as if the sun were a projector on a cloud screen and the color spectrum were a movie. It lingered for minutes as we made a trek towards the nature area.
The wild grasses and flowers loomed tall with the cattails well above our heads. There is something grounding about being in the midst of it all. Birds at dusk. Clouds. Even the people who came for the viewing.
It was everyone's first time. We chatted with strangers as people came and lingered, hoping. A friend of Sandra's, Antigone, lives nearby and she brought her two young daughters. The youngest kept asking about the telescope, though this night wasn't going to offer a viewing. The host of the night didn't even come. After all, the announcement had stated that if it were cloudy, the event would be cancelled. And it was cloudy, and there was no telescope.
Still we all saw a little of something in the sunset hours.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Pleasure Lake
Off the beaten path in Palos Hills is a lake, a little oddity in the bustle of metropolitan Chicago. Cook County has many nice Forest Preserves with trees, sloughs, and wildlife, but this little lake off Roberts Road in the suburbs, Pleasure Lake, easily goes unknown.
Though, the city has slowly but steadily been rectifying that, improving the area around the water with trails and benches--a stop in nature in the midst of it all.
Here's some pictures of dragonflies that I took when Sandra and I visited.
In Motion
Side Profile
X Wing?
Across the Water
You want to check more about the lake, check the Palos Hills Parks. Click on the current Brochure to the right.
Here's a photograph of the lake:
Pleasure Lake
In your local neighborhood, take a look around, you might be very surprised by what you find.
Though, the city has slowly but steadily been rectifying that, improving the area around the water with trails and benches--a stop in nature in the midst of it all.
Here's some pictures of dragonflies that I took when Sandra and I visited.
In Motion
Side Profile
X Wing?
Across the Water
You want to check more about the lake, check the Palos Hills Parks. Click on the current Brochure to the right.
Here's a photograph of the lake:
Pleasure Lake
In your local neighborhood, take a look around, you might be very surprised by what you find.
A Few More Snaps
Back several weeks ago, I did a little morning musing. One of the sights that I caught the night before was the sun came out after some rain and volia...
Two Rainbows
The rainbows weren't as intense or as spectacular as the one I saw during the baseball game, but nevertheless, two pieces of rainbows are pretty nice.
I also caught the sun coming through my bedroom window and I thought it was neat how the light struck the sheet which I use as a curtain.
Sun Streams Into Blue
Two Rainbows
The rainbows weren't as intense or as spectacular as the one I saw during the baseball game, but nevertheless, two pieces of rainbows are pretty nice.
I also caught the sun coming through my bedroom window and I thought it was neat how the light struck the sheet which I use as a curtain.
Sun Streams Into Blue
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Russell Military Museum
Last month (yes, last month, I'm trying to catch up on the photos), a friend Paul and I travelled north to the Illinois-Wisconsin border to visit the Russell Military Museum. It's a private collection, open to the public, of various military equipment.
This is actually the third museum I have visited with Paul. The others were National Museum of United States Air Force and Chanute Aerospace Museum. While Russell is not the caliber of either of those two (particularly the Air Force museum), it also contains some exhibits of tanks which neither air museum presents and has a few eclectic pieces.
Inside the exhibit room, the light is fairly flat, but I snapped a few photos. One of the highlights is of full scale model of a vertical takeoff plane that the Russians were designing at one time.
Model VTL
Two World War 2 tanks also take a prominent location indoors. The first is the main stay of American forces, the M4, Sherman medium tank:
Paul with the M4
The other is the M5, Stuart light tank. The M5 was essentially an extension of the M3. While the M4 overall received praise, the M3s and M5s were often questioned. The main reason I believe is size which led to less armor and smaller armaments. Compare:
Paul with the M5
After looking inside, we headed outdoors onto the grounds where dozens of land and air craft were scattered. The day was sunny and clear, excellent to view things.
A Line of Copters
How would you like to see this coming at you?
Tank!
I'm not a military buff, but I do enjoy reconnecting with the past. It's one thing to read about history and then it's entirely different to be in the physical presense of things from history.
Many displays at the Russell Museum were in poor state. This gave the outdoors a feel of a cemetary, which put me in a contemplative mood.
After Many Years
One of the highlights was the Russian helicopter, Mi-24 (or Hind).
Russian Copter
The museum is just off Interstate 94 and it is a very reasonable drive from the Milwaukee or Chicago area. If you like to spend a few hours and connect with history, check it out: Russell Military Museum.
Of course, things wouldn't be complete without a jet.
A Jet on a Friday Afternoon
This is actually the third museum I have visited with Paul. The others were National Museum of United States Air Force and Chanute Aerospace Museum. While Russell is not the caliber of either of those two (particularly the Air Force museum), it also contains some exhibits of tanks which neither air museum presents and has a few eclectic pieces.
Inside the exhibit room, the light is fairly flat, but I snapped a few photos. One of the highlights is of full scale model of a vertical takeoff plane that the Russians were designing at one time.
Model VTL
Two World War 2 tanks also take a prominent location indoors. The first is the main stay of American forces, the M4, Sherman medium tank:
Paul with the M4
The other is the M5, Stuart light tank. The M5 was essentially an extension of the M3. While the M4 overall received praise, the M3s and M5s were often questioned. The main reason I believe is size which led to less armor and smaller armaments. Compare:
Paul with the M5
After looking inside, we headed outdoors onto the grounds where dozens of land and air craft were scattered. The day was sunny and clear, excellent to view things.
A Line of Copters
How would you like to see this coming at you?
Tank!
I'm not a military buff, but I do enjoy reconnecting with the past. It's one thing to read about history and then it's entirely different to be in the physical presense of things from history.
Many displays at the Russell Museum were in poor state. This gave the outdoors a feel of a cemetary, which put me in a contemplative mood.
After Many Years
One of the highlights was the Russian helicopter, Mi-24 (or Hind).
Russian Copter
The museum is just off Interstate 94 and it is a very reasonable drive from the Milwaukee or Chicago area. If you like to spend a few hours and connect with history, check it out: Russell Military Museum.
Of course, things wouldn't be complete without a jet.
A Jet on a Friday Afternoon
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
A Few Snapshots
One thing that is exceptional about my current residence is the view out the front windows. Situated on the third floor, the apartment often offers dramatic sunset scenes.
Here's a look towards the school, church tower, and light of fading dusk:
The Shades of Evening
Compared to driving, taking public transportation can be liberating. Instead of focusing on the road and other cars, you can focus on the passing landscape.
Here's a look from the train at a sign marking the Ashland stop along the Orange Line elevated rail:
Ashland and the Low Western Sun
Here's a look towards the school, church tower, and light of fading dusk:
The Shades of Evening
Compared to driving, taking public transportation can be liberating. Instead of focusing on the road and other cars, you can focus on the passing landscape.
Here's a look from the train at a sign marking the Ashland stop along the Orange Line elevated rail:
Ashland and the Low Western Sun
Reunion
About a month ago, Sandra and I flew to the Boston area for her college reunion. Every five years, she returns to M.I.T., the place of her undergraduate studies. She has some good connections with several people from her graduating class and even a link to another from an earlier class.
The weekend offered several activities from dinners to tech talks to competitive games outdoors. After drizzling on Friday, our arrival day, the weather cleared nicely.
The Games Take the Field
We also had a chance to walk to the Charles River. We saw several boats, sail and row, on the water since boating is very popular in the area. We also caught a good view of Boston.
A Sail On the River
Sandra in the Late Afternoon
Boston
On the final day, the class gathered for breakfast and then a group reunion photo. I took some pictures of the group and of Sandra with her friends.
The Class of '84
Sandra With Steve
With Bob and His Daughter
With Wendy, Bob, and His Daughter
With Renard
After all the group pictures, we headed to chat with Ron, an alumni friend, outside the Maclaurin Buildings. It was a gorgeous to be outside, sitting on the grass in the shade and talking.
With Ron
Ron even snapped a picture of Sandra and me.
With Me
It was good to be there with Sandra, experiencing moments and meeting people who have been a part of her life.
The weekend offered several activities from dinners to tech talks to competitive games outdoors. After drizzling on Friday, our arrival day, the weather cleared nicely.
The Games Take the Field
We also had a chance to walk to the Charles River. We saw several boats, sail and row, on the water since boating is very popular in the area. We also caught a good view of Boston.
A Sail On the River
Sandra in the Late Afternoon
Boston
On the final day, the class gathered for breakfast and then a group reunion photo. I took some pictures of the group and of Sandra with her friends.
The Class of '84
Sandra With Steve
With Bob and His Daughter
With Wendy, Bob, and His Daughter
With Renard
After all the group pictures, we headed to chat with Ron, an alumni friend, outside the Maclaurin Buildings. It was a gorgeous to be outside, sitting on the grass in the shade and talking.
With Ron
Ron even snapped a picture of Sandra and me.
With Me
It was good to be there with Sandra, experiencing moments and meeting people who have been a part of her life.
Monday, July 13, 2009
To Ohio and Back: Day Five--Sweet Home
Just past noon, after loading the car and checking out of the hotel, we walked over to the old BP building, now formally known as 200 Public Square. Actually it's one of the newer skyscrapers in Cleveland and a symbol of downtown revitalization efforts. It opened to glowing fanfare in 1987 only to see the namesake corporation leaves its downtown headquarters when it merged with Amoco in 1998.
The lower levels are attractively designed and filled with restaurants and retail. We stopped at the temporary home for the interior items of the Soldiers' and Sailor's Monument. Viewing all the displays, both the exterior and then the interior, I wonder at what cost would something like this monument be built today. Would it be built?
Leaving downtown, we stopped at the home of Sandra's parents. We talked a little before hitting the road. Sandra's father walked us to the car and lingered, watching as the engine started and we pulled away.
It was mid-afternoon when we found the entrance to Interstate 80 and then the merge with 90. Five. Six hours. Travelling to sunset, through and by cities and towns I don't recall ever having seen. Toledo. South Bend. Across northern Ohio and then Indiana. As I-90 split to become the Skyway, we headed northwest towards Lake Michigan. Gary. Its industries. The large forms of factories on the plains south of the lake while the light cast its closing oranges and reds for the day.
We were back in the city, Chicago, after five days of seeing another state. A good trip.
The lower levels are attractively designed and filled with restaurants and retail. We stopped at the temporary home for the interior items of the Soldiers' and Sailor's Monument. Viewing all the displays, both the exterior and then the interior, I wonder at what cost would something like this monument be built today. Would it be built?
Leaving downtown, we stopped at the home of Sandra's parents. We talked a little before hitting the road. Sandra's father walked us to the car and lingered, watching as the engine started and we pulled away.
It was mid-afternoon when we found the entrance to Interstate 80 and then the merge with 90. Five. Six hours. Travelling to sunset, through and by cities and towns I don't recall ever having seen. Toledo. South Bend. Across northern Ohio and then Indiana. As I-90 split to become the Skyway, we headed northwest towards Lake Michigan. Gary. Its industries. The large forms of factories on the plains south of the lake while the light cast its closing oranges and reds for the day.
We were back in the city, Chicago, after five days of seeing another state. A good trip.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Baseball Rainbow
Wednesday night, my brother Steve and his wife Jamie and my friend Jen met me and Sandra for the White Sox game against Cleveland. It was a bit drippy but manageable. Midway through the game, the light drizzle stopped and we caught a glimpse of the light from setting sun in the rafters of the upper deck along third base. Lovely! Even the high rises in the distance basked in the wonderful glow.
And I looked, but didn't find it, but then a moment later, there it was. Rainbow! A full rainbow to the east arched all the way across our view--a moment to be with friends and family.
And the Sox won 5-1.
And I looked, but didn't find it, but then a moment later, there it was. Rainbow! A full rainbow to the east arched all the way across our view--a moment to be with friends and family.
And the Sox won 5-1.
To Ohio and Back: Day Four--Cleveland and 'Burbs
We spent the early part of Monday exploring a bit of Cleveland. Not far from the hotel was Public Square, one of the focal points downtown. In the Square stands the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which is a tribute to Cuyahoga County veterans of the Civil War that opened in 1894. The Monument is currently under restoration, so the interior was not available for viewing, but the exterior bronze scupltures are. They stun with their enormous size and intricate detail of facial expressions and even folds of uniforms.
Monument and Key Tower
We then entered Terminal Tower. It's a good illustration of the old style skyscraper construction (think Empire State Building). Completed in the late 1920s, it was tallest building outside New York City until 1953. The lobby off Public Square has vaulted ceilings and murals.
We wandered through the building and found our way into the more recently built Tower City Mall. For a mall, it's fairly elegantly designed with lots of natural light. They had an interesting public art exhibition, paying homage to the guitar. Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Elephant
Fireworks!
We walked to the two stadiums, where the basketball Cavaliers and the baseball Indians play. This was during the height of the Cavalier playoff run, so there was a buzz about the team. The baseball stadium is built down into the ground, so standing outside the park from the north, you stand at the concourse level and can get a good view of the park. The stadium orients towards downtown, so while watching the game, you can get a view of the skyline. I just wish the White Sox would have followed this and let their fans catch a great glimpse of downtown Chicago.
For lunch, we stopped at One Walnut, which is upscale but still affordable. The chef has separate limited offerings. I had hanger steak which was delicious with its tasty sauce. Sandra had a pulled pork sandwich, which also was quite tasty. With stomachs full, we headed out to Sandra's family in the late afternoon.
We picked up Sandra's father and wandered south into the 'burbs of Cleveland. There is a spot that both Sandra and her father beamed about in the Cleveland Metroparks system. After losing our bearings for a bit, we found the place.
View of the Valley
Father and Daughter
After taking a look at the scenic valley, we drove the road down to the creek, and stepped outside to wander a bit.
The Creek
In a sheltered part of water, Sandra noticed some little creatures in the water. It might been small fish or frog tadpoles. We curiously watched them for minutes. The light was gorgeous as the sun neared setting--good to be outside enjoying the land with others.
Little Rapids
If you're in the Cleveland, check out the Cleveland Metroparks. It's amazing what wonderful slices of nature exist in the confines of metropolitan areas.
Monument and Key Tower
We then entered Terminal Tower. It's a good illustration of the old style skyscraper construction (think Empire State Building). Completed in the late 1920s, it was tallest building outside New York City until 1953. The lobby off Public Square has vaulted ceilings and murals.
We wandered through the building and found our way into the more recently built Tower City Mall. For a mall, it's fairly elegantly designed with lots of natural light. They had an interesting public art exhibition, paying homage to the guitar. Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Elephant
Fireworks!
We walked to the two stadiums, where the basketball Cavaliers and the baseball Indians play. This was during the height of the Cavalier playoff run, so there was a buzz about the team. The baseball stadium is built down into the ground, so standing outside the park from the north, you stand at the concourse level and can get a good view of the park. The stadium orients towards downtown, so while watching the game, you can get a view of the skyline. I just wish the White Sox would have followed this and let their fans catch a great glimpse of downtown Chicago.
For lunch, we stopped at One Walnut, which is upscale but still affordable. The chef has separate limited offerings. I had hanger steak which was delicious with its tasty sauce. Sandra had a pulled pork sandwich, which also was quite tasty. With stomachs full, we headed out to Sandra's family in the late afternoon.
We picked up Sandra's father and wandered south into the 'burbs of Cleveland. There is a spot that both Sandra and her father beamed about in the Cleveland Metroparks system. After losing our bearings for a bit, we found the place.
View of the Valley
Father and Daughter
After taking a look at the scenic valley, we drove the road down to the creek, and stepped outside to wander a bit.
The Creek
In a sheltered part of water, Sandra noticed some little creatures in the water. It might been small fish or frog tadpoles. We curiously watched them for minutes. The light was gorgeous as the sun neared setting--good to be outside enjoying the land with others.
Little Rapids
If you're in the Cleveland, check out the Cleveland Metroparks. It's amazing what wonderful slices of nature exist in the confines of metropolitan areas.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Nebula for the Day
Today, Astronomy Picture of the Day is showing an interesting photo of a nearby nebula ("nearby" in astronomical terms). Check it out: The Trifid Nebula in Stars and Dust.
Sunday Winding and Wine
We drove out on Sunday to a wine shop in Geneva. It's a solid hour drive from the city to the far western suburb. Lots of miles, construction. Though, being Sunday afternoon, traffic was mild. Once off the interstate, space seems to open to wild grasses and even an occasional farm field dotting the terrain between the subdivisions and strip malls. You can see why someone might want to live "out" here in the 'burbs.
The destination was Vino 100, a small shop owned by Mike Ashe, a place where you can stay too long and talk and explore. While it's a franchise located in a large retail strip, the store showcases the ecletic nature of the owner through a small collection of wines, cigars, and even spirits, which run across the taste spectrum. Yet for this excursion, my focus was a bit narrower: white wine for the summer.
Mike already had 6 bottles of Willow Crest Pinot Gris, a 2007 white from the Yakima Valley in Washington, waiting for me. It's vibrant and refreshing and a steal for $11 a bottle. But I never leave with just what I had in mind. Part of the experience of Mike's shop is uncovering more through tasting samples and conversing about new wines on the shelves.
Of course, I bought more wines. Also, Sandra was intrigued by a barrel-aged gin, I believe, called Old Tom's Gin. Yes, intriguing. Typical floral gin notes with darker tones of caramel and brown sugar. Unique indeed. Always something unique to try at this Vino 100. It's well-worth the two hour roundtrip expedition every few months. I don't leave disappointed.
The destination was Vino 100, a small shop owned by Mike Ashe, a place where you can stay too long and talk and explore. While it's a franchise located in a large retail strip, the store showcases the ecletic nature of the owner through a small collection of wines, cigars, and even spirits, which run across the taste spectrum. Yet for this excursion, my focus was a bit narrower: white wine for the summer.
Mike already had 6 bottles of Willow Crest Pinot Gris, a 2007 white from the Yakima Valley in Washington, waiting for me. It's vibrant and refreshing and a steal for $11 a bottle. But I never leave with just what I had in mind. Part of the experience of Mike's shop is uncovering more through tasting samples and conversing about new wines on the shelves.
Of course, I bought more wines. Also, Sandra was intrigued by a barrel-aged gin, I believe, called Old Tom's Gin. Yes, intriguing. Typical floral gin notes with darker tones of caramel and brown sugar. Unique indeed. Always something unique to try at this Vino 100. It's well-worth the two hour roundtrip expedition every few months. I don't leave disappointed.
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