An updated photo similar to the one I showed you two months ago. Those ever-blooming Knockout Roses!
http://coolkayaker1.blogspot.com/2009/06/knockout-roses-in-front-of-house.html

Found Free Go Software To Enhance My Skills

You can download it too here:

http://www.smart-games.com/mfgo12-download.html

Self Portrait

Working Day 92F and Full Sunshine

Many thanks to my wife Cathy for her hours of work in the heat to rid our yard of weeds, sweeping driveway, and generally making our home lovely and inviting. Thank you, precious lady. I enjoyed working with you today outside.

Gen Hoe Reflections over a Cape Codder

One week ago, our place, great friends, very good food from Gen Hoe in Geneva, IL prepared and selected for us by the owner herself. Cape Codders and beers and good times. We enjoy our neighbors very much.

And for those that wish to try a Cape Codder--my favorite simple mixed drink, reminiscent of New England sea coast in the summer--the recipe is here. The tangy cranberry juice completely eliminates the bite of the vodka, making it taste--well--like cranberry juice. A MUST is to use 100% cranberry juice; cran-apple, cran-grape and the like are not suggested. "Lite" or "low cal" cranberry juice is too watered down to be effective.

Lighting The Torch by George Kinder

I am rebalancing. I am reading this book. I am trying to get a kinder, more George Kinder kind of balance. I know, I know. He sounds like a New Age slacker. But there has to be a more full, more contemplative side to life. I seek it now.

A Very Fine August

The Shanghai Circus at Skyline Theater, Navy Pier. The boat ride along the skyline of Chicago. A fun time with my family in 2008. I reflect on these photos as, this year, work and home responsibilities interfere with my getting to the big city. Life is getting in the way of creating memories. The cart comes before the horse.

Parafoil Stunt Kite

What a fun way to spend a Sunday. Mike, Vic and I flew my parafoil stunt kite in the park behind the Kane County Municipal Buildings, east of Third Street. Vic was the kite master, controlling that kite like Gunther Gable-Williams using a whip and chair on a lion. This video is not us. But the idea is the same, and the pull on the kite is exhilarating. My kite is similar in size to this gentleman's, but our winds were not as fierce this past Sunday in Geneva.

Dry Days of Summer

I can see from my balcony that the Fox River is currently very low. Fisherman, camped out on the rocks south of the Geneva Dam, have plenty of places to sit on exposed rocks and get only knee deep crossing from shore to mid-river. We've not had rain in Illinois now for a few weeks. Heck, even my trusty sump pump seems to have taken a parched sabattical. But one day again, the clouds will pour like a heavenly spigot. This short video shows the Geneva Dam after a rainstorm. A big rainstorm.

Ghostwriter

I have found an author, Travis Thrasher, that lives less than ten miles south of me in N. Aurora, IL (home of Wayne and Garth), has written now twelve published books, and has his latest spooky novel set in Geneva, IL. I am excited as I begin this read and, four chapters in, this guy can write! I am fairly impressed. I have not been this impressed since I read Richard Powers of Urbana, IL who wrote The Echo Maker, which won the National Book Award Best Novel. I am in the midst of greatness. Reading about the Fox Valley certainly makes Ghostwriter, the novel, dear to me already. But a harsh critic, I am one to drop a book in mid-sentence if I find it trite, boring or sophomoric. So far so good on Thrasher's latest; I will give you the straight scoop as I develop an opinion. Soon, my friend Alexia will read it, too. Respect her opinion greatly.

American Go Association

I've been wanting to learn this 4000 year old game for the past few years, and now will try with the SmartGo app ($2.99) for the iPod Touch that really is a lesson on the game, complete with interactive problems. It looks so very simple, yet is hideously complex. A lifetime to master. In this vein, I see that the Schaumburg Go Club meets Thursday evenings at Starbucks--perhaps I can SmartGo and Yahoo! Games mysefl to a level of proficiency that would permit me to attend and hold my own. I am seeking anyone I know to join in with me on the "ground level" in learning this wonderful game so that I will always have a comparable foil. American Go Association membership just took the place of my American Rose Society annual dues. Sorry, Olive and Eleanor and Bea and all the other fine ladies at the American Rose Society. There's only so many annual dues dollars to go around.

Son Met Suicide Silence!

My son was in Moline last night with friend Austin and they got to trade devil horns with the up-and-coming metal band Suicide Silence at a meet and greet--I got a text while he was anxiously in line. Suicide Silence's first album, The Cleansing, scored a #92 spot on the Billboard charts--extremely high for a metal band's debut. I got to see them from the side stage front row at Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem 2008, the tour from which this video (below)was recorded. Their second album came out two months ago, and rocketed up to #32 on Billboard! Not just the metal music charts--the main Billboard chart, right there next to Britney and Rhianna and Beyonce. Incessant touring, a youthful spirit and uplifting songs are sending them into the stratosphere. This video is "Unanswered", which shows the happy heavy metal spirit of an outdoor festival--feels like summer! Meet singer Mitch Lucker and Suicide Silence, just as Mark did last night. P.S. Don't even try to understand the lyrics. "Where is your God?"

Why Can't I Be As Cool As Ferris Bueller?

Pucker Up, Buttercup--It's Gen Hoe!

This weekend, we'll have friends over for a nice evening of food and spirits and revelry. Oh, and Gen Hoe! What is Gen Hoe? A Chinese restaurant in an old Geneva gas station (or so Jay says) that looks like a windowless, stucco hole, yet gets rave reviews online (yelp, tripadvisor, et cetera) for its food. Well, we will put it to the test compliments of Cath and I. Can't test Chinese at the restaurant--like a Seinfeld episode, it's imperative to test Chinese by take-out. If for no other reason than to eat it close to a working restroom. Add in some fresh margaritas over candlelight, and I'd eat my own Converse Chuck Taylor. So really, I leave the judgement on Gen Hoe--who none of the seven or so dinner guests will admit to eating previously--to those with a more delicate palette.



The photo here represents my weekend--Chinese meal with friends, and flying my new Delta kite (not an Oriental clipper) from Hobbytown, St. Charles, in the local park.

Yessss! (fist in the air)
I am officially old!

Pen To Paper

Putting finishing touches on handwritten notes to colleagues that I work with...thank you notes, cards of appreciation, a "dog days of summer" pat on the back. Nothing beats a personal touch. I have Stephen King's radio WKIT (online) in the background, and getting to it.

Breezy Sunday Bicycle Ride

I'm happy that I got a great deal during the off season from Geneva's own Mill Race Cyclery on two Breezer Freedom bicyles--a gray men's model and a purple women's model (just like in the photo). We've ridden those three-speed bikes nearly every time we've been in Geneva, IL. Today was no exception--met Mike and Vic on the bridge and rode to the Sunday Geneva Market for cheese bread and ice tea.



Then it's off to Batavia, rode all around our neighbor town to the south, then back via Island Park for chips and salsa and beer on Bennett Street. Wow, great short stay. Work calling--but who's listening?

Charles Foster Kane never ate this well.

Special thanks for a fantastic evening and company from Victoria and Mike. After a drizzling day--enough to make me know that Billy Squier and biking to Aurora was out (plus Dave's well-intentioned warning about biking at night)--it was great to have a super casual evening. The ribs and chicken and salad was cooked to perfection, and the couch and giant LCD for Citizen Kane was comfy.

Charles Foster Kane, who owned everything his heart desired, controlled those around him only to not lose love once again, just as when he was a child and lost his mother. He turned cynical on society. I see the turning point now Mike: after he gave his rousing gubernatorial speech, still holding his values of helping the common man, Charles changes when his mistress is exposed to his wife and to the press by his adversary, Mr. Getty. That scene, in the mistress Suzan's apartment, was pivotal.

Great movie, great friends. I am delighted that you both saw and enjoyed Slumdog Millionaire last night--I agree. A winner.

Guitars

A shout out to son, Mark, who is likely learning that awesome Megadeth instrumental tune as I write this note. Like my friend E.C. from Texas, I live through my son's skills on the axe. Difference between E.C. and I--Eric can play himself.

Duran Duran

Incredible. I got their iconic cassette, Rio,in high school and played it until it wore out. Well, I got their Greatest Hits yesterday in Naperville at Replay CDs, and appreciate Duran Duran's ethereal, dancing pop beats. They will never be thought of in the class of bands that add in more electric guitar, as electric guitar gives a sense of authenticity to music...the synthesizer simply doesn't cast the same "you-belong-in-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame" spell. But Duran Duran, and their dozen or so bona fide hits, belong there. From the watery dream of Come Undone to the sunny fun of spying on Rio, Duran Duran rocks and rolls.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpqFsKTHPio

Friday: Naperville, then evening with friends

A beautiful Saturday with 75F weather, all sun, and spent time in lovely Naperville, IL with Cathy. Plenty to see and do in this town that is alwasy ranked amongst the "Best Places to Live" in the USA--and I can see why; it's built up in the Route 59 shopping corridor, and that's where we spent our time. After I let Olive Garden give me a spaghetti lunch (semi-healthy?), Cathy headed over to The Archivers store for her scrapbooking needs while I checked out a huge used CD/DVD store (listening to a few "recycled" discs now) and a Bikes Etc. and Performance Cycle bike shop. Got a few tiny things, like lights, for our Geneva bicycles. Great day.

Came home to the outstanding friendship of hosts David and Alexia, spent a fun evening with Jonathan, Robert, Jay for drinks, great food that Alexia and Dave got from the Green Market every Thursday right outside our door here in downtown Geneva--fresh bread from the German bakery on Third Street, French cheese, and veggies so fresh they snap--and then drinks and card game. Warm, summer fun. Excellent food and drinks. Many, many thanks to our lovely friends.