You Can Always Find a Correlation If You Look Hard Enough

Perhaps I'll return to blogging more regularly, but I wanted to share this. You might have heard the Redskins rule: If the Redskins win their last home game before the election, the incumbent will win. As strange as that might sound, it has correctly predicted the winner of the presidential election 17 out of the past 18 elections. Well, a few more have been found...check this out: Yahoo article on NFL trends signaling the election winner

Worth a Read

I started a class instructing me in the methods of Feuerstein's Instrumental Enrichment, which, to me, seems to highlight the core of the what, how, and why we learn. There is a lot more to say about FIE, but I would like to share a story that my instructor Nora Davis gave us in class. Written by Jerome Weidman and published in The Reader's Digest in 1955, “The Night I Met Einstein” is worth the read.

Trip to Spain

During the early part of August, my first opportunity to travel outside the United States, led to me to Hondarribia, a small city in the Basque Country of Spain across a bay from France.

Txingudi Bay

For more pictures of the bay, stop by Txingudi Bay on Hue and Light. And stay tuned... more posts about this lovely part of the world will be coming.

Labor Day

It has been busy for the past month with a mixed of nice and difficult moments. Add the start of the school year and no posts found their way to the blog in August. Of course, this lack of posts will change, though I've never been the most consistent of bloggers. Still a lot of words and pictures drift across the synapses of my brain. Some will be finding their place on the various blogs I write.

Life Several Hundred Feet Up

During our stay at the Buckingham Athletic Club Hotel, Sandra and I had an opportunity to observe the insect population living outside at the 40th Floor. Yep, insects live that high. I saw several fly around and occassionally land on the window and hang around for a while.

We also saw...


High Rise Spider

...a spider work on its web—unexpected and amazing.

Sunrise, 7/2

On our last morning at the hotel, I caught some more sunrise images.


Sunrise Chicago

For more photographs (and larger sizes), check out Sunrise from the 40th Floor, July 2nd on my other blog, Hue and Light.

Wedding Photos

Some photos taken by our wedding photographer, Jill Hornok, are available on her Facebook page in the gallery, Sandra and Bill's Wedding.

Sunrise, 7/1

Another day...
Another sunrise...


Sunrise on the Lake

For additional photographs and larger views, check Sunrise from the 40th Floor, July 1st on Hue and Light.

Sunrise 6/30

Chicago Sunrise

The sunrise over Lake Michigan was spectacular. Even though I'm not an early morning person and the window wasn't the cleanest, the moment was worth capturing.


Light on the Lake

For larger views and more photographs, check out Sunrise from the 40th Floor, June 30th over at Hue and Light.

Chicago at Night

While I didn't have quite the setup to take night photography (I didn't have the tripod), I still think that a couple images turned out okay.


Lit at Night


Willis at 11:23 PM

View from the 40th Floor, the Lounge

Sandra Takes a Look
One of the great finds of the wedding trip was the Buckingham Athletic Club Hotel. Located on the 40th floor of One Financial Place, home to the Chicago Stock Exchange, the hotel is a hard to notice. The building itself is home to the Buckingham Athletic Club, financial company offices, and Everest Restaurant. It's easy to walk past the entrance of the building and never know that a hotel lies inside. I know this, because I had walked past on my way to or from the Rock Island Metra on dozens of trips and never noticed anything about a hotel.

The 21 room hotel feels cozy, and though it does occupy the 40th floor and offers nice views, it is not expensive by downtown Chicago standards. So while it is a bit hard to find and awkward arriving and departing by car, the Buckingham Athletic Club Hotel is a gem. Here are more south-facing views taken from the lounge on the 40th floor:

The Metra Rails Stretch Southward


Rail Truss over the South Branch of the Chicago River


The Alder Planetarium, a Fingernail in Lake Michgan

Two Small Galleries on Hue and Light

I've added a few small posts over at Hue and Light. The first has two miscellaneous photographs taken at Millennium Park in Chicago. In the second, I posted two digitally manipulated images of Gizmo. Check them out.

Goslings Growing Quickly

In these photos from June 13th, you can see the dry grass. You can also see how much the goslings look like their parents. Goslings don't yet look like adults, but the resemblance is close.


Lying for a Nibble


In Motion

Summer Heat

It's been a very hot summer in Nashville. We missed the hottest days when we were in Chicago. Still when we returned, the heat might have eased but it didn't relent. From June 28th through July 8th (that's yesterday), 9 out of 11 days hit 100 degrees or higher and the two days that missed were both 99. One of the days, June 29th, hit a Phoenix-esque high of 109. Quite simply, it's been hot.

Sandra and I actually woke up early to play nine holes of golf with my friend Jim and his friend Chris. Even with the 8:20 am start of the round, it was warm by the last hole—not surprising when the temperature eventually reached 100.

The other issue this summer has been the lack of rainfall. Until a sprinkle Saturday night and then a more thorough soaking later on Sunday and into Monday, rain has been sparse. Hot and dry! The landscape has began to look more like November with the straw-colored grass and the falling leaves. Yes, it's July, and many leaves have changed color and have begun to fall. Particularly, for the smaller trees, it has been a difficult season.

Too Early to be Fall

More Millennium Park

Venetia had been to Chicago, but not since Millenium Park had opened, so we showed her the Pritzker Pavilion and then the Crown Fountains. I love the Pritzker for the free outdoor music performances that I attended when I lived in Chicago.

The Crown Fountain is a great example of interactive public art. The two towers show faces of people, and then timed to the facial expressions, water shoots out. It's a space that many different people, tourists and locals, come to enjoy. Being a fountain, parents bring their children to enjoy the water, particularly on warm summer days.

I snapped this photo of Sandra's father looking at one of the fountain towers:
Sandra's Father Spies the Fountain

Two Sisters in Millennium Park

Chicago, a Wedding, and Sandra's Family

A week ago Saturday, I officially joined "The Club"; at least, that is how some people phrased it when congratulating me. After living together for several years, Sandra and I were married on June 30th in the Chicago area.

My mother was unable to attend due to lingering problems with a sore that she developed when she originally had her stroke. It was very distressing for me and her, especially in light of that her doctors didn't make the effort to try to get her to the ceremony. I should write more about the situation in my other blog, Locked-In and Living.

Sandra's parents and both of her sisters came to the wedding. The next day, Sunday, her parents, sister Venetia, Sandra, and I visited one of Chicago's new iconic locales, Millennium Park. After lunch and a storm, we stopped at "The Bean", the local name for Cloud Gate.


Venetia, Sandra, Mom, and Dad


The Family with a View of Cloud Gate
If you look more closely into the reflections, you can also see me taking the snapshot.

A Photograph's Moment in the Clouds


Us, the Newlyweds

Gizmo

For an indefinite amount of time, we have a new addition to our household, Gizmo. After a day or so of being a little uneasy with the surroundings, he has settled in well.


An Evening in the Life of Gizmo


Lounging on the Porch in the Afternoon
More photographs (and larger views) of Gizmo can be found in Portraits of a Cat on my other blog, Hue and Light.

A Little Bit of Nashville at Night

LP Field at Night
After the Sunday night session on NCAA basketball on March 18th, Sandra and I walked a little ways along the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge, which crosses the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville. Above is an image of the football stadium with its lights reflecting in the water. The following shows Second Street at 11pm.
Nashville's Second Street on a Sunday Night

Perched

Facing east outside the apartment stretch the barren branches of a tree.  While the weather this summer has been difficult for many trees, this particular tree has been dead since prior to our move last Autumn.  Its starkness offers a contrast to green (or lately not so green) canopy.

Two weeks ago near dusk, I caught this image of the branches.

Looking at the Branches
Cropping to a Cardinal
Yes, a male cardinal was taking advantage of the view.

Thoughts of July

It has been a whirlwind, it seems, at times.  Though I have opportunities to blog, the desire hasn't been present always.  But the itch to write is coming back, so I might get back on track with posts about geese and wine and a cat and a very special day.

A Bit Pricier Collection

A Collection of Three
A few months back, we had a chance over the course of several weeks to try a few older vintages of more expensive wines.

Pali 2007 Pinot Noir:
From Santa Barbera, this offers the fruit you might expect from a Californian wine, but at the same time, also shows refined eloquence.  This is a Pinot, which can go comfortably with a wide range of foods and occassions.

Il Pareto 2003 Nozzoli:
The Tuscan, almost 10 years old, highlights aged Italian red characteristics of dark fruit swirling into tobacco and leather.  I would recommend this with grilled meat and other hearty food.

Louis Jadot 2005 Santenay "Clos De Malte":
The Burgundian Pinot Noir struck a nice balance between fruit and earth tones.  While not a complete standout, it is a good example of French Pinot in the mid $20 price range

More Goslings

I've been steady on the photographing front, though life has been busy. While I do have time to post, when I have the time, something else becomes a larger priority.

Here's some images of the goslings taken on June 2nd (about a month from the earlier images):



A Gosling Among the Flock


A Tighter Frame


The Gosling Hydra


On the Water

Delving into the Wine Archive

I haven't been staying current with the wine notes, but late is better than never. Here are some comments about wines we had back in April.

Antonio Coscio Vigna Bria 2006 Roero Arneis

Medium-bodied for a white, it offers some notes of melon and honey. Even at $17, this is a value. The vintage we had is 2006, so it's a wine which can age in the near term. In fact, the wine opened up even more two days later. For me, that's usually a good indication of aging potential.

Hopler 2009 Pinot Blanc

I've had the aged reserve from Hopler priced under $20 when I lived In Chicago—simply fabulous. With hints of apricot, this white priced at $18 doesn't measure to the same level of excellence. It did taste better on day 3, so it actually might still be a little young. Right now, for price, it's alright, but not a value.

Domaine de Ballade 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Colombard

Nothing fancy, this wine shows off its Sauvignon Blanc fruit. And under $10? Yes, this wine is a reliable value.

Domaine de Tariquet 2010 Rose de Presseo

Not a typical French rose, this show lots of red fruit character, which makes it a good complement to a picnic on a warm summer day.

Domaine de Fontsainte 2009 Corbieres

Corbieres, in Southwest France, offers some interesting wines which often are good values. With flavors of blackberry and blueberry, this red satisfies.

Goslings

I took these photos back on May 4th:

Survey: the Cell vs. the Landline

I was reading the news and came across this article, Polls: Cell phone users prefer Obama, landline users like Romney.  Reading the typically rabid comments to the yahoo article, I could see that what is known to stats people is not known to the general public: Different demographics exist between cellular and landline phone users.  It shouldn't be a surprise that the type of phone surveyed should impact the results of the poll.

For more information, check out this publication, Assessing the Cell Phone Challenge on the Pew Research website.  Pew Research is one of the largest organizations who regularly samples Americans on a wide range of topics, so the differences between landline and cellular users is very relevant to their ability to do proper surveys.

Glory, an Interesting Start to a Day

I saw a circular rainbow on my recent early morning flight.  In the center was violet and then the rainbow colors spread out in a circular fashion following the light spectrum (violet, blue, green, yellow, and then red). Researching the phenomenom, I discovered that it's technically not a rainbow, but instead a glory.

There seems to be some debate over the exact nature of what causes the visible light to separate into the colors, but it seems clear that the sunlight interacts with water droplets in clouds and travels back. 

It was a particularly striking image when the plane began its descent.  The shadow of the plane fell in the circle of color, and as we moved, the distance to the clouds changed. While the glory size didn't change, the plane's shadow grew when the clouds were closer.  In fact, glory appears to be smaller, but that's due to optical processing.  When something is closer, it should be bigger, but the actual glory size doesn't change, so it's perceived to be smaller on the closer clouds.  This reference point effect is probably similar to why the moon appears larger on the horizon.

Putting aside causes and effects, I value the moment; seeing the image was new and completely unexpected.

You can read more and see images of Glories on Wikipedia.

Mid-May Update

I wanted to stop by and write. The process of recovery for my Mom has been very central and consuming in my life. I have time to blog, but my focus hasn't been the sharpest. I still want to develop the Locked In and Living blog, because I believe it's vital to have more information available to those affected by Locked In Syndrome.
More time will be opening soon, so I plan to be much more active in the near future.

A Two Week Recap of Wine

Louis Jadot 2002 Savigny-Les-Beaune La Dominode:
A closeout marked 20% off a $25 list price, this Pinot Noir delivered solid traditional Burgundian flavors. Dusty with hints of mushroom, it is well-balanced and complements a wide range of foods.

The Paradise 2007 Montepulciano D'Abruzzo:
From Italy, this red didn't wow me, but bargain bin priced at $7, it was well worth it. Medium-bodied with more dark fruit compared to other offerings from the region, this wine pairs nicely with any traditional Italian tomato dishes.

Columbia Crest 2009 Horse Heaven Hills Merlot:
Aged 18 months in oak (1/3 new), this reminds me of Napa Valley Merlot with its toasty vanilla frame. Yet, the red is still characteristically Washington with round mellow fruit. Priced in the mid teens, it's not a standout, but a satisfying pour. If you like some oak with your merlot, you'll probably enjoy this.

Locked-In and Living

My Mom suffered a stroke and has been diagnosed with Locked-In Syndrome. I have dedicated a blog to the syndrome and will include some of my personal experiences. This syndrome deserves more recognition. While rare, the condition, which can be caused by other factors other than stroke, might be more common than research articles suggest. Also, the understanding of the syndrome by some health care providers can be limited and/or biased. So, I plan to build a resource blog for those who live or encounter the condition.

Here's a link to my new blog:
Locked-In and Living

Family Update

The last week has been down and up with a family medical situation. It is something worth discussing because it matters.

Another Week in Wine

Martin Codax 2009 Albarino:
Perhaps we have been a little fixated on the varietal, but Albarino tends to make excellent wines. This $15 white from Rias Baixas offers what I expect: fresh with overtones of tropical fruit (pineapple etc.), crisp acidity, and clean. It's not the biggest value in Albarino, but it's a well-made, versatile wine.

Anciano 2001 Gran Reserva:
I wrote about this red wine previously. It's a good value for an aged Gran Reserva. Oak is noticeable but not overwhelming and the fruit is still showing nicely. This Tempanillo from Valpenas won't compare to higher-end aged Spanish reds, but for $13, it's a really solid offering.

Two Oceans 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot:
A bargain bin wine priced just under $7. this wine offers fruit with good integration. Not a steal like some other bargain bin bottles we've had recently, this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot from the Western Cape in South Africa also doesn't have any flaws, so for the price it is worth the few dollars that it costs.

Tulips and a Colorful Week

Taking Center Stage

This photograph and two others featuring tulips can be found in a Hue and Light post.

Also on my other blog, I took part in Color Me Weekly. I used one of my recent Spring photos to create a color palette, which I used to map colors in other photographs. The palette along with a few mapped photographs can be found in my Color Me Weekly, Spring Palette post. Here's an example of one such mapped photo (it happens to have the source photograph as this blog's header image).



A Change of Color

Geese in the Spring

I've read that this is the nesting season for Canadian geese and that they do defend their nests. I haven't seen any nests but they have been acting more aggressive towards one another and have been vocal about people being close to certain areas; the local geese are very habituated to people, so the vocalness is unusual.

This was taken 13 days ago:



A Demonstrative Goose


I'm wondering when we will see goslings.

This Week's Wine Selections

Anderson Family Vineyard 2008 Pinot Noir:
Situated on a hill which rises steeply from Oregon's Willamette Valley floor, Anderson Family Vineyard makes a flavorful yet balanced Pinot Noir. Being a Pinot, it's a delightful companion to a wide range of foods, from grilled chicken to salmon. It actually has enough weight to complement most pork dishes and I wouldn't mind it even with lighter beef or lamb. It's a wine that doesn't last for a second meal.

Orlandini Vineyard 2006 Chambourcin:
With bright red fruit flavors, this wine is a good example of the offerings of the Shawnee Hills A.V.A. (American Viticultural Area). The varietal Chambourcin, a red French-American hybrid, seems well-suited to the Southern Illinois area and can be the tasty backbone of wines ranging from dry table wines to ports. The medium-bodied Orlandini Vineyard selection, priced at $12, is a good value that showcases the region's capabilities. Pork with cranberries comes to mind as a match, but the varietal, sort of a Sangiovese or Grenache of Southern Illinois, possesses the structure and versatility to complement many dishes.

Le Cantine Di Indie 2010 Vino Rosso del Popolo:
We had this a few weeks ago, though the recent bottle showed better. It was a delicious match to both homemade pizza and store-made ravioli and reminded me more of the reasons why we bought two bottles. So this is definitely a red wine which needs a good food pairing to show its best.

Hedman Vineyard Chardonel:
Another Shawnee Hills offering, this Chardonel ranks as one of the area's best. The grape, a French-American hybrid of Seyval and Chardonnay, exhibits more of its Chardonnay character in the Hedman wine. Barrel-fermented (which is unusual), the white highlights toast, vanilla, and buttery notes, all common in California Chardonnays, yet the wine still shows nice structure and good acidity, making it a match with food. It had nice weight for a chicken in a cream cheese-based sauce, though it wasn't hearty enough to stand up to a rich, oily, salmon dish. Still this is a winner. I'd buy it again.

Spring? (Or is it really summer?) That is the question...

Five of the past seven days have been over 80 degrees, and the remaining two were over 70. The highs have been flirting with record temperatures daily and they are about 20 degrees above the average high. It's even weirder further north. In Chicago, it's been over 80 for five straight days and that's more than 30 degrees above normal highs.

In other words, it's March and the air conditioner is running.

Though I still think it's Spring, because it were Summer, the temperature would be over 90.

Spring

Spring has arrived. At first, it was only a little green here and there and some buds or blossoms on the trees.

I snapped this image of a tree branch on March 10th.



Buds on March 10th

Eight days later, the buds on the same tree have changed.




Other trees are in full bloom.



Blossoming White

For more photographs of the new season, check out my Spring post on Hue and Light

March Madness, Friday

Sandra bought tickets to the Second Round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (though it's hard for me to call it the second round, but with a first round of 4 games, I guess it is the second round). I had some morning work to do, but I managed to make it to Texas-Cincinnati game about halfway through the first half.



At the Free Throw Line

Cincinnati jumped out to an early lead against Texas, and was leading 31-17 at halftime. It was an ugly first half with very little offensive execution, particularly on the Texas side, though the Longhorns made a second half run and managed to tie at 52 with 3:44 remaining. Though poor offense again plagued Texas and the Bearcats pulled away for a 65-59 win.

The second game of the early session proved to be more entertaining. A vocal group of St. Bonaventure fans made their way from New York and other parts to Nashville for their school's matchup against Florida State.



Tipoff

There was a lot of good reasons for the excitement: a trip to the Big Dance and a talented squad including Andrew Nicholson, a student-athlete majoring in Physics. For me, it was great to see offensive execution after the sluggish first game. The Bonnies worked the ball inside and out and took a 34-28 halftime lead. Though the Seminoles of Florida State stayed close and then made a run led by their 27 year old senior Bernard James, whose story is definitely worth mentioning.

The 6'10" center was cut as freshman in high school and didn't play ball until joining the Air Force in 2003. He stayed 6 years in the military and was stationed in Iraq. Returning to the States, he spent two years at Tallahassee Community College before joining Florida State last year. His experiences definitely showed in the game against St. Bonaventure. He requested the ball and he received it. His 19 points along with 9 rebounds and 3 blocks led the team as the Seminoles tied and then pulled away from the Bonnies.

Though St. Bonaventure was not done. A trio of big 3-pointers closed the game to just three points and the Bonnies had an opportunity to tie the game. Their 3 point attempt fell short and another field goal was blocked as Florida State held to win 66-63 in a game which really showed what March Madness is: good basketball and diehard fans.

After the session, we stayed near the arena and soaked in the atmosphere. The Bridgestone Arena is right in the heart of the bustling honky-tonk section of Nashville, so there were lots of people milling around and generating a buzz. Before the start of the next session, the Ohio University band and cheerleaders even revved up the crowd outside the stadium more with a short pep rally.



Ohio Cheerleaders

After watching four games and squads from eight universities, there was one clear winner. Both the Ohio University band and cheerleading squad easily won the award for Most Peppy. They were lively and were always seemingly ready to lead the cheers.

Entering the stadium, we watched on television the end of Norfolk State-Missouri game. It's not often that teams seeded 15 knock off the a 2 seed, so it was shocking when Missouri lost. So the stage was now set—more big upsets were waiting.



Leading the Team Onto the Court

Led by junior guard D.J. Cooper, the Bobcats of Ohio University started the game strong against Michigan. Down 35-22, the Wolverines finished the half strong, cutting the lead to only 6. Much like the St. Bonaventure-FSU game, there was a lot of good offensive execution, particularly for Ohio, who shot 51% for the game.

The second half brought more of the same. Ohio held a small lead most of the way, even opening up a 9 point spread with 8:11 remaining the game. Though, the Bobcats offensive execution slipped and they only scored one more field goal the rest of the way. In a four minute span, the Wolverines chipped the lead down to only 3 points. However, once getting the game within reach, their shot selection disappeared and good defense by Ohio down the stretch kept Michigan scoreless the rest of the way. Another upset was in the books as the 13th-seeded Bobcats knocked off the 4th-seeded Wolverines 65-60.

In Greensboro, Lehigh upset the 2nd-seeded Duke Blue Devils, so now two 2 seeds and a 4 seed were losers in a matter of hours. 5th-seeded Temple seemed to have heard the message because they started strongly against 12th-seeded South Florida. For over a 9 minute stretch, the Owls of Temple held the Bulls without a point. It was looking like Temple was going to cruise when they led 19-8 at the 6:34 mark in the first. However, that was the last point they made for the half and South Florida closed to within 4 at 19-15. Some people might say good defense, and they would be correct, but the offensive execution by both teams was terrible. It reminded me of the ugly Texas-Cincinnati matchup.



After the Block

Starting the second half, the Bulls hit a few shots to tie the game at 19. It wasn't until two minutes into the half that Temple finally scored to end their eight and a half minute drought. From there, things became worse for the Owls. South Florida started hitting shots and opened a commanding 39-25 with just over twelve minutes to play. Though, in this game of bad offense, it was the Bulls' turn to go cold, as they went almost seven minutes scoring just one field goal. The Owls took advantage. Surprisingly, they executed plays and hit shots, narrowing the lead to 3 points with 5:44 remaining. However, South Florida picked up their play, hitting a few shots and several free throws down the stretch to comfortably close out their upset of the higher seeded Temple 58-44.

The games in Nashville were very competitive, though not always the most enjoyable as a lot of teams suffered long stretches of poor to non-existent offensive execution. Still it was fun to watch even in 300 level seats. In fact, the seats to the side behind one of the baskets offered surprisingly good views. In addition to the play on the court, other moments, moments which don't show on a television screen, stand out, like listening to O-H-I-O cheers or watching a player, who realizes the game is over, take a long solitary walk back to the other side of the court. There is something very human in those moments.



The Realization of Defeat

The Neighbors

I snapped these photos of the local geese at the end of January.



Up Close


What's Going On?

The Canadian geese are a fixture of the neighborhood. On the afternoon that I snapped the images, they thought I was bringing them a meal since they noisily flocked towards me. Of course, it did make it easier to take photos of them.