India

"No wonder Blaine hasn't been around the neighborhood this week," said Quinn, "he just texted me that he is in India!"

"Well," I mused, "maybe he is in Indiana and just isn't a very good speller."

"Maybe," said Quinn.

Best Pig

I can't tell you all the details because I still can't really tell the pigs apart (Shhh!), but the kids won a lot of ribbons today - even the big ruffled ribbons. Pretty sure that means they did good. This one Rachel is showing won best overall!

Winner!

Quinn's rabbit, Albus, won reserve champion senior buck. Quinn earned the Junior Showmanship award! They both show pigs tomorrow. Aside from the 4H families, the county fair always astounds me. I mean, where do all these people come from who have more tattoos than teeth?

Girls' Day Out

Guess what we did?
With nearly a full moon last night - and a cloudless sky - the view of the arch from our hotel room reminded me of a scene from King Kong.
Without the giant gorilla.

Speaking of the Race

How are you running the race? Wonder what will be at the finish line?

Atlas Shrugged - El Fin

Finally, finally finished this book. The more I read about the government's socialistic and marxist encroachment on society and how it wreaked havoc in every aspect of life, the more I wished I weren't reading it. Yet I persevered, hoping that there would be a good ending. Well, I guess the ending was good. At the end, the world was finally broken and ready to accept help from those who could. You gotta finish the race!

Get Sick Now, While You Can Still Get Better

Donald Berwick, in his own words. And our President tried to bypass Congress on this appointment?!

Danger, Will Robinson!

Did we heed the warning? Yes. Did we walk the boulder barrier the half-mile into Lake Superior in order to reach the light house anyway? You betcha. See? Here are Mike and Quinn being very cautious.

Work for Illinois

Work for the state of Illinois. You'll never be bored. You'll never be rich either - unless you are a politician. I just received an email from an Illinois licensing board requesting college transcripts because they have no record of me having earned my college degrees.

"Really?" I asked the phone receptionist, "Because you issued me the license to practice here approximately 16 years ago, based on the proof of my having graduated. Did those records get shredded with the Blago files?"

No sense of humor, that woman. None at all.

Dingo v Chupacabra

My sister reminded me of the last visit I had with Nan and how she insisted that she had seen a dingo on her farm. We laughed and laughed and we made fun of her for saying so. Now we wonder if it could have been el chupacabra!

My Friend's Keys

I've heard it said that the key to a man's heart lies - in his son's stomach? Keys have successfully re-emerged (I didn't ask at which end) and child is unscathed. Ahhh . . . memories!

Lake Superior

The largest body of fresh water in the world.
So Quinn peed in it.

Vacation

I'll review the highlights:
Excellent hospitality from my sister and her boyfriend at his cabin in the Northwoods.






A day trip to Amnicon Falls State Park with beautiful woods and water.



A pedal down the boardwalk around Lake Superior in a double surrey (oh! how we entertained the public!)



Park Frenzy with cousin Owen in Wheaton.

Taxed Enough Already

I helped organize another TEA Party Rally a couple days ago. There were nearly 300 people in attendance. People who wished to learn more about their government and its elected officials. People who express uneasiness with the expansion of government and the lack of accountability. People who demand fiscal responsibility with the nation's tax dollars.

Unfamiliar with the TEA Party momentum? Here is a quick video interview you can watch. You might even recognize a person or two.

Happy Fourth of July!

What with the warm sunny weather and the sunburned shoulders from the family reunion yesterday, we decided to skip the parade. The candy isn't that good anyway. I heard a radio message on the local Christian station wishing the entire country a Happy Fourth - whether they were attending a BBQ, watching fireworks (many other activities mentioned here), or eating falafel. When did we stop with the baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and chevrolet?

Atlas Shrugged

I don't think I've ever spent this much time trying to get through a single novel! I'm barely one-third finished with this 1100 page epic. Although published in 1957, it reads like the political headlines of today with government overreach and social justice and political correctness and affirmative action (in order to "level the playing field"). I can't wait to see what happens.

In the meantime, I'll be co-hosting a TEA Party rally at Peterson Park from 6-8pm Friday. Come join us.