ABOVE FREEZING

Finally, above freezing, a trip,to the park to walk one of the dogs....priceless

Added Bonus... saw 20 deer in a field off rt.9 heading to the Pekin McNaughton Bridge...cool

If life were a Movie I would be scared to Death

Last night as I am roming the house at 1:00 a.m. I am aghast at all the little yellow, red, and blue objects looking at me as I stroll around the house. It seems that everything we bring in the house has a little light peering out of it into our lives. Look around your house, cable box, modem, fire and co2 detector. coffee pot, vcr, ipod charger, laptop power cord,etc. These beedy eyes are watching our every move. It is sort of Big Brotheresque.

Then I started to think about it. The real Big Brother in this is the Ameren Cilco who sends us a welcome letter of doom each month. What portion of our ever expanding electric bill is from these little eyes that glow in the night. Do we really need to make sure the TV is preheated so we can get an instant on picture? What happened to the excitement of seeing the TV warm up. (Yeah, really showing my age, used to get excited seeing the test pattern. For you under 30 - you would not understand)

In this one room alone I can see Seven of those eyes staring in the void. Then add all the appliances that still flash 12:00. One of these days I will figure out how to program them. Did my Eight track player have one of those lights? I'll have to go in the garage and check.

Beware of those eyes watching your every move:-)

Valentines Day a Sugar induced holiday?

Today I was talking to some Mom's about Valentines Day. They both have small daughters and I asked if the kids were excited about the big day.

I heard about the new tradition, cards that have candy attached. Has Valentine's day turned into another Sugar Induced Tradition? Apparently the new Valentines cards are attached to treats for the kids. I thought the holiday was about giving the card, that was excitement enough in my day.

One of the Mother's took a fruit tray to her daughter's class. The shock of that to all the kids looking for the latest candy treat was probably disappointing. The Mom and Daughter will probably be on Maurie or Jerry next week.

How this world has changed. I felt like Charlie Brown hoping to get a card from the Little Red Head girl.

My how times have changed, The thrill of making the shoe box to stuff the Valentines in. Hoping that when it was opened that One Special Valentine was in the box. Now the bags are ripped open to see what kind of treats are to be had.

As Charlie Brown would say "Good Grief"

Granite City Brewing East Peoria

As a special occasion (Which will remain shrouded in secrecy) we went across the river to Granite City for the Brunch.

The real reason for this was several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to this establishment. The waitress said we could have anything on the menu. It was Thursday night so we ordered the Sunday Brunch. It was on the menu. lol. Ended up with the meatloaf dinner. It was really good. Although more than you could possibly eat, it could have fed several. The cost was a little pricey but it was worth the extra dineros.

The brunch was well attended for the ridiculous cold weather we are having. The breakfast items were delicious. Fresh Fruit, French Toast, bacon, Sausage, Biscuits and Gravy, Fresh sliced beef and an Eggs Benedict station. They brought out a large plate of sticky buns. They were fantastic.

It was well worth the visit.

If it would have been warmer it would have been the perfect brunch.

Thunder Snow, Fog, and now Thunderstorms followed by???????

Thunder Snow, Fog wit a two car length visibility, Thunderstorm Warning, Hail in Bloomington, and a forecast of Sleet, Ice and possibly up to 4 inches of snow.

This is February and Central IL- what crazy weather!!!

I am waiting Chuck, Rick or Lee to say there is a sand storm with a herd of Locusts on the way!

THE VANISHING SNOW SHOVEL

6.5 inches of snow arrived Friday Morning, as usual being an early riser 0400. I went out to the garage and looked at my assorted snow removal equipment. Over the years you assemble quite a large collection of snow removal equipment. The new stuff is now some sort of Plastic, the old is still metal with wooden handles.

I remember many years ago the Sweetnam's Hardware store on South Adams in Peoria had a shovel on wheels called the SnowWhizzer. In college I even saw it advertised in the Wall Street Journal. I do not know if they are still available. But they would no match to the 6.5 inches of snow.

Lets get back to the vanishing snow snow shovel, I have been using the new Farm and Fleet Bright Blue Plastic Snow pusher. As I have notoce over these last few snows, as the snow melts the yard is covered by little blue plastic curly shards. The friction with the snow and concrete is slowly eating up the shovel. The shovel is now a third of its original height. Sounds like next year we will have to make a new trip to the farm store.

There is also that new shovel with the ERGONOMIC handle, Looks like it got bent when somebody got mad and threw it up against a fence post. It looks funny and handles funny from us "Old Shovel Users". This seems to be quite a popular design.

Looking around town after this last snow, I think snow shoveling is a lost art. If you are over 40 you probably shoveled the drive. If not you probably put you SUV in 4 wheel drive and just went for the street. If you did not have a 4 whheler you went for the street anyway.

The older I get the more I watch the Weather Channel. It says freezing rain tonight and all rain tomorrow. Why did I shovel? It all going away anyway!

Peoria Airport - FLYPIA

Being a frequent user of many airports, the Peoria Airport is doing a great job for the community. There are many direct flights to more locations now than there has been in the past.

There has been a recent flap over the non existent pay phones at the airport. Have you seen a working payphone anywhere in Peoria? Recently the Telephone company placed a legal notice in the Peoria Journal Star saying they were going to discontinue payphone service in IL. It said it would be gradually phased out.

In the articles and news reports on the payphone incident there was a traveller that needed to make a call for a ride from the airport. In the article the person talked to the County Officer on duty and the Officer did not attempt to help the passenger.

In many flights it seems that the passengers know they are basically handled like cattle from the point of view of the airlines. This gives the passengers a new kinship against the airline. Tyhis kinship stetches to the baggage claim area, most passengers at this point will bend over backwards to help their fellow passenger. I for one would not have a problem asking a fellow passenger to make a call for me on their cell phone. With all the plans it is unusual to use to many minutes. Most would offer to use the phone.

Peoria airport has many positives, close to drop off and pickup passengers, free parking, freindly staffing, clean and pleasant area to wait for your plane.

The only downside is the amount of time it takes to get your luggage once the plane has arrived.

I have flown out Bloomington as well and have gotten great service, and they to have a hard time getting the luggage to you in an efficient manner.

We should be glad to have a fine airport like the Peoria Airport.