Thanksgiving

Another Thanksgiving is slowly drawing to a close. The day was a great day. Seeing my new 2 day old grand nephew.

Making pies and cakes for friends, and families.

Finished up decorating the Tree in honor of our dogs in the park.

It has been a glorious day.

While being thankful for the many wonderful things that have happened in this last year.

Have a great rest of the Holiday.

And preparing for that great day of shopping, basketball and having fun.

Thanksgiving

Today, I attended the Chamber Thanksgiving dinner at the Civic Center. On the program was a moment of meditation. The speaker talked about dreams. Made me think about all the dreams I have had over the years.

Being thankful for those dreams, ambitions and hopes. The fire that drives our lives. How we live those dreams and the positive things that can occur from realizing our dreams.

Have you relized your dream?

Be thankful for those dreams, and act on those dreams.

Have a great Holiday season.

Jaxson's Dania Springs, FL

Traveling in Florida, we had some time before the silver bird headed back to the cold of Illinois. Near the airport we wandered upon an Ice Cream Shop on US 1 South. It was wonderful.

Jaxson's Ice Cream reminds you of Farrell's that used to be in the mall. (Remember- Peorians always equate things to that have closed) Except it did not have a big drum. When you walk in you see all kins of old cany Necco Wafer, Charleston Chew, etc.

The tables were old with the wire backed chairs at each table. The walls were lined with an assortment of old items. Railroad, kitchen, kids toys and other memoabilia.

The Ice Cream was superb. The menu must of had 100 different kind of combinations. With real Ice Cream. I had a parfait. How do you say a shake glass full of all kinds of strawberries and bananas. And healthy scoops of Vanilla Ice cream. It was wonderful.

If you are in the Fort lauderdale area visit Jaxson's. It is worth the Ice Cream Headache.

Economy and the Holiday's

It seems that Halloween is the new launch for Christmas. It used to be Thanksgiving. What changed, why not bring back Christmas Past?

Christmas used to be a time of family, friends and enjoyment. Now it is hurry here for this sale, what will so and so think of their gift. Should I buy Gift cards or try to think of what to get them. The joy of the Holiday is fleeting.

You turn on the radio stations and already hear christmas music. Even the drug stors are full of Christmas items. Do we not have long enough to find that special made in the orient item to give for Christmas.

I am not a bah- HumBug. We just need to get it in perspective. Spend less, expect less and be happy you do not have to woek extra shifts to pay for it.

Give to helping groups, that help the community through out the year. You have been seeing that the food pantries are dried up, help those folks out as well.

Slow down and enjoy the season.

Do I have the wrong calendar..is it Easter and not Halloween?

The leaves are filling the neighborhood lawns, the days are getting shorter, and the chill has started to fill the air. It must be time for Halloween.

Opening today's newspaper's plethora of ads I was drawn to the local supermarket chain that is proudly announcing a Sale on Large Eggs. Can these folks have thought about the placement of this ad.

Maybe it is a sting that the local police are having to try to stop neighborhood vandalism. I do not think this is the case but you never know.

Remembering the many pranks of Halloween the sale of Eggs in 1/4 of your front page ad just did not seem to be responsible.

Guess I am old fashioned, but watch out for those sale Eggs flyong off the shelves and onto siding and cars near you.

Early Voting

Saturday I took advantage of the early voting opportunity. The place was packed.

As I looked at the line I tried to picture who they were voting for. It was a fun little quiz. In talking to people in other states this seemed to be the norm. My line was 45 minutes to get to the voting machine. In talking with someone in GA they had people waiting as high as 2 hours.

It will be an interesting year to see how the voting continues as we get nearer the election.

It would be great if somehow your cable or satelite provider knew that you voted and you did not have to see any of the commercials.

Well we have a extra window to vote. How many will not exercise their right.

Birthday's a time of reflection

I went to a friends Birthday Party yesterday. It brought back memories of the many things that have happened over the years. Made me pause and think about the early years of our friendship.



The pickup baseball games in the schoolyard and at the ball field down by the river. The basketball games after we had removed the snow off the baskeball court. The time we had spent together playing, laughing and doing things together.



I guess it is the values that we shared as youngsters and how those values are pretty much the same today. Maybe a few tweaks..he still likes the Cubs .. I have changed from the Pirates to the Cardinals. (Thanks to Dick Groat) That age was a lot different than the activities and mindset of today.



At that time the most important thing in lfe was items like What was the batting average of Kenny Hubbs or the ERA of Ray Sadecki. And trying to figure out if the reliever had a save. This was during the time that baseball statistics would change forever. The dreaded asterisk associated with Roger Maris's Home run Acheivement.



Looking around the room at the party interacting with the yougsters I saw a different picture. One was at the far end of the table removed from conversation as he was engrossed in a handheld video game. The other youngsters were talking about their school challenges and the dreams of their future. Most were still in Grade School. If we had turned on Mr. Peabody's way back machine the conversation would have been about how soon all of could be outside playing a game of football, or whatever activity we would have as a group. The kids today seemed to have become more Goal oriented at an earlier age. Is this a natural evolution?

It was great to see all the kids and the grownups and how our lives has progressed. The basic values have not wandered far for my friend and I.

Last night after the party I ran into a friend that was sort of in a Funk about their upcoming Birthday. She was upset over her lack of meeting certain goals she had imposed upon herself. She was not able to focus on the present. The many great things that have happened to her those few short years that she was looking back across. The kids, the many accomplishments she has had. The fun and joy that seems to surround her.

Yesterday was a great day seeing many friends and many interesting thoughts and shared journeys. Birthdays are just a day on the calendar. Another bit of wax that has turned into energy and spent. We need to make the best use of that wax.

Road Projects...a conundrum.

Have you noticed recently how some road projetcts just drag on and on....Example Pekin Bridge ramp work, Airport Road project between Alpha Park and the Limestone High School. While other projects are just minor inconveniences. Example Bartonville resurfacing on RT 24.

It just seems that there must be a common denominator that will predict the length of the project. Maybe it is how much money is thrown at it. Or possibly the engineering behind it. With the current economy we probably should be happy that these projects even get started.

Richwoods Peoria Central Game

The Peoria Richwoods game was a great experience. The Richwoods Band was Fantastic. So many of the games you go to you hear the same music since this is there competition. Give the Band Director credit and they are playing new music at the games. The played Music made popular by Foreigner and some other great songs during half time. Unlike most other High School Bands they stayed the entire game.

The did a great job and had an Big Impressive Sound. Probably the best Trombone section I have heard in a High School band in some time. The last game I heard them at the drum section seemed to over power the band. Last night they band was ON. It is great to hear a Great Pep Band. Richwoods should be proud. A Great Football team and an even better Band to accompany the game.

The other thing that I was impressed with was the diversity of the school. The Football team has a young man who is hearing impaired. During time outs they have a person sign for him in the huddle and on the side line. This is great that this young man can have this experience in his High School days. He was injured in one of the final plays. Hope he will be back on the field next week.

TURNIP TRUCK MUST HAVE PICKED UP TWO WOMEN FROM PEKIN

Journal Star
Posted Sep 11, 2008 @ 08:22 PM
PEORIA —
Two Pekin women dropped off in South Peoria early Thursday said they were jumped by a group of women near Harrison Home after they followed a man they didn't know there.
A police officer parked in the 4000 block of Southwest Adams Street about 1:15 a.m. saw the two women run wildly across Adams toward traffic. He pulled his squad car next to the pair, who yelled they had just been beaten up.
Sometime Wednesday night, the women were given a ride to an unknown house on Stanley Street where a woman named "Mama" lives, the report stated. While there, a man asked them to walk him home to Harrison Homes, and they agreed.

Need we say more....

You ever Feel like Bob Newhart?

In the Bob Newhart show he ran an Inn in the Northeast. He could see through the smoke and mirrors of the towns problem with deadly accuracy. In reading the news about Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae I wondered how BOB would see this piece of news.

The stock Market saw it in a positive manner and today it took all that back and more. The talking heads said it was a great deal, the economy is turning around.

Why do I feel the slogan to go with this is from Ross Perot "A Giant Sucking Sound" as more taxes will be sucked out of our wallets.

Even the candidates are talking tax cuts and economic stimulus plans. That last one worked really well. How about another!

The costs keep getting bigger, and who is going to pay for this, you know I do not have to say it!

The Inn in Vermont may never change, unfortunately the Economy has.

Service, it was once a cornerstone of business, where has it gone?

In the current economy, one would think that Service in the Service industry should be at an all time high.

If you look around and see businesses closing, friends and neighbors losing work or hours of employment. One would think that this would raise the willingness of people to perform their job.

Today, It was beautiful and I decided to take one of the dogs to the park. Since I had not had breakfast I stopped and picked up my usual fast food breakfast. And to quote one of Joe Pesci's favorite slogan's "they @#%&@# in the drive thru". Well they truly did. I got my order and the drink was wrong. It was a sugary drink and I did not have the proper exchanges to have that kind of drink. I did not discover this until we had made it to the park. after our refreshing walk in the park and finishing my breakfast sandwich. I returned to the establishment and asked for a refund. I was lucky enough to have the manager on duty waiting on me at the counter. Immediately, she thrust her hand in her pocket and brought out a coupon for a free "Value Meal", which I declined since my exchanges would rarely allow a value meal. I just asked for my refund for the beverage. The smile was now gone. (The refund, must cause some sort of issue response to the home office) She rang it up, I filled out the paperwork and I got my refund.

She was apologetic when I departed. Normally, I would have not bothered. But there is more an issue at hand. The service to customers has eroded. I hear people chatting about it all the time at work and at other businesses.

What has caused that customer service to erode. What happened to taking pride in your work. In tough economic times, the people that perform should be rewarded.

When you do get great customer service let the establishment know the value of that employee.

Data Integrity will be a big issue in the upcoming election

What does Junior Football League game have in common with Data integrity and the upcoming election?

Today, I attended JFL games at Peoria Manual. As the games went on it was hard to believe the number of cell phones that were either ringing or involved in conversation. That did not include all the texting. These were both in use by adults and kids. That being said.

What portion of the adult group do not have a conventional land line and are linked to the world by Cellphone. These adults are voters as they vote for themselves and their family. What about Data integrity?

If you look at the poll data it is collected by phone. Cellphones are not used in polling data since the phones are usually not listed in any reference and the phones would be registered to an adult and most families have numerous numbers for all the family members.

With this string one would have to think that the cellphone group may be attracted to one candidate grouping. This would make that group come up short in conventional polling detail.

Would you consider polling data to data integrity issues.

Is it Fall, it feels like it, it is definitely Festival Season

There was a chill in the air today after a 90 degree yesterday. Looking at the calendar it is time for the favorite festivals of the fall. The Marigold Festival is going on in Pekin. Next week will be the Morton Pumpkin Festival.

These festivals are quite a neat happening for the fall season. Gives you a chance to say good buy to summer . End the summer with a walk around the park seeing crafts and getting some of that gulty concious food from the local venors and organizations.

Missed the Popcorn Festival in Manito as well as Hog days in Kewanee. They have been great events in the past and they probably did not disapoint this year as well.

The Pekin Marigold festival is probably the largest event for seeing crafts in the area this fall. Vendors flock to Pekin from miles around. It is interesting to see what new items are out for sale. The do have some interesting events like the skate park and a bags tournament. It is a nice walk and a pleasant way to spend part of the day.

Next week is the Pumpkin Festival, a large parade and all things pumpkin. It is quite the nice place to attend. To get Pumpkin Chilli or Pumkin Ice Cream and not to forget Pumpin Pie. It does have a great crowd.

Both these will not disappoint you if you want to get out of the house for a nice day.

Got the Delta Airline Blues.........

I was booking flights today for a couple of upcoming trips. I had a multistop I was working on and searched for my flight back to Peoria from Atlanta on Delta. One flight came up. ONE FLIGHT??? I kept searching, and ONE FLIGHT CAME UP!!!!

You can fly in from Atlanta to Peoria and arrive about 10:00 P.M. or you can fly out on Delta at 06:00 A.M. What was once 4 daily flights, then 3 daily flights, and now there is one. What a shame but I guess it is a business decision. Delta, I think that business decision is a terrible choice.

Did I miss the news that Delta was cutting out two flight to Peoria. Being a semi savvy internet user, I checked the Bloomington Airport and they had a full schedule of flights.

I fly out of Peoria several times a month and the Delta planes were always full. I feel for Ken Spirito the Airport Director as well as my fellow travelers. Do not like the idea of one flight. If you miss it with a bad connection you are staying over night in Atlanta. Then you have to hope there is an available seat on the next flight.

The staff at the Delta Peoria location has always been a great group. Hope they end up with a new position in another location or on with another carrier.

Maybe we can get bus service from the Peoria Airport to the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, so we can have more than once a day service to Atlanta.

Being a skeptic I went out to the airport to see if there was anything wrong with my search only to be told that indeed there is only one flight out and one flight back from Atlanta.

Will we have additional flight cuts by other carriers? Only time will tell.

So Long PIA Hello to my new destination Bloomington Normal Airport for my trips to the East Coast.

Slacker, Airports, etc.

Being a slacker, I have not blogged for awhile. No excuses.

I will blog about airports today to restart the blog-machine.

I have been traveling alot and have seen to many airport interiors. I guess it is my age but the traveling public has made a big change in fashion for traveling. In the old days you actually treated traveling as an experience. People dressed up like they were going to church.

Now, you see all kinds of clothes in various stages of dress or undress. Makes the gate areas more of a beach setting than a travel location. In the Atlanta Airport Friday, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. The scenery was quite unusual.

Guess, I still can not see how the high heel shoes work walking down the Jetway?

Then you have the parents with thir children dressed like they were Paris, Fergie or any Rock Star.

Well, slacker is not slacking today.

Have a Great week.

The Fake Poll- Come on what's with the State's Attorney race

I just got off the phone with a pollster- he says he was a pollster. What a bunch of bull!

The guy started out like it was an actual poll, then when he got down to the States Attorney race the full purpose came out. What a cheap way to put a commercial in for a candidate.

It was kind of humorous when he asked if I knew who the candidates are and in the list was Gary Sandburg. When I said I was watching the City council meeting he really started throwing out positive statements about Mr. LaHood and Derogatory statements about Mr. Lyons. Come on Mr. LaHood lets get real.

If you are going to have a fake poll or somebody representing you with a fake poll then say so during the call. It was really neat the way the gentleman could pronounce your name so well and had a hard time announciating Mr. Lyons.

Election time, you got to like it. Can wait to vote early so when these character's call again, I will tell them I already voted.

Well at least it was more interesting than the consent agenda!

First Red Tomato

I fondly remember our neighborhood many years ago used to have a contest to see who would get the first red tomato. I remember one year sneaking out and painting my Grandfathers tomato red.

The neighbor saw it and got grampa out of the hammock and they both went back to the garden. It did not take Grandpa long to figure that one out.

Well yesterday I got my first red tomato. The old fashion way, the natural way. Yes it was tasty.

Scooters- trying to beat the $4.00 a Gallon-get a helmet for the kids!

Today, I was in Morton and saw in disbelief a young lady driving her scooter with her son (approximately 7 or 8 years old) riding behind. My jaw dropped as I saw the Mother and child heading to Wally for the latest bargain. Hopefully they were headed there for a Helmet for her son.

She may have been trying to save money by using the scooter for transportation but not having a helmet on the little guy. How can a Mother have this kind of activity endangering her son.

I guess I may be the minority here in Illinois where the helmet is not mandatory. But in this case someone needs to wake up. The child needs protection when riding on the scooter. If the Mom chooses not to wear one that is one thing.

People should use some common sense when they are transporting their kids. We have to have car seats in cars, why not helmets for the little ones on scooters. On Bicycle safety the rule is wear a helmet.

Boathouse Restaurant- Charleston SC

If you have been to Charleston SC you know there are many fancy restaurant by the market and downtown. Well last night we tried a restaurant between the New Ravenel Bridge and Downtown on Bay Street.

The Boathouse Restaurant has a great selection of local seafood. I had the Crab Cakes with Okra and Macaroni and Cheese. Our table had several shrimp dishes and Local Grouper. We started with fresh raw oysters and steamed mussels, and Shrimp. Also Fried Green Tomatoes. All the appetizers were excellent.

We were to full for dessert.

It was a great place to stop. There were many locals in the building celebrating anniversaries and Birthdays. Always a good sign.

If you are in Charleston stop by the Boathouse. Its worth the trip. It is on Baystreet just outside of downtown Charleston.

Do not be afraid to try the collards and grits.