Thursday

OK.  So I thought that this was going up last night, but the moon and the stars just didn't line up.  When I got home, my TV had that fatal blue screen and a "Contact DirectTV" message with no programming on any channel.  Hmmmm.  I knew that I had to swap-out the receiver...the new one had been sitting on my floor for months.  I guess yesterday was the drop-dead date...and the old one died.

So I spent a half hour on the phone with a kid at a call center in Jacksonville, Florida spooling up my system.  It would have gone quicker except that we had to dumb-down the receiver to adapt to my older equipment.  It took a couple of pass-throughs to get it right.  I still couldn't program the DirectTV clicker to be the only clicker for the TV as the brand wasn't recognized by any of the software.  Shock.

Anyway, after that "work" on the satellite system, I was pretty worn out and fell into the vino-and-a-crossword rut. 

This AM, I had a few paragraphs to post from my desktop, and that entry got lost in a processing malfunction.  Seems as though my Blogger account uses my Google account user name and password, which I opened originally with my Yahoo data.  Earlier in my session this morning, I had looked at my G-mail account, which has it's own User name/Password, and that screen was still open.  When I went to "publish" my blog paragraphs, the system was confused (as was I), and the input wasn't saved, published or otherwise retrievable.  Then work took over and there was nada on the blog.

Tonight was supposed to have been a client event for our firm down at the Figge.  Unfortunately, we had more people with conflicts than those who could make it, so I pulled the plug and cancelled yesterday.  Bummer.  Really a difficult end to what I thought would be an enjoyable evening.  But people are busy, and my group of friends and clients is collectively busier than most folks.  I'm satisfied that April 15th may be our only event that gets the response we are looking for.  Plus, that event already has a following and people talk.

Quite the day yesterday in MLB.  Amazing that both the Cards and Rays made the play-offs after trailing by big numbers late in the season.  Boston and Atlanta will be crying elephant tears all Winter.  But StL has to play Philly and that will be a big hill to climb.

Golf for LtPC tomorrow and Saturday.  Geneva hosts it's last event of the season and I decided that I had no reason to say "no".  Hoping my back makes it.

The earlier comment from 1 about Michael Jordan was noted.  While his contemporary, Dominique Wilkins, was known as "The Human Highlight Reel", Jordan definitely had 3-4 plays that are etched into NBA history.  The lay-up where he switches hands never gets old.  And you have him making shots against Utah in the Finals, and at Carolina in the NCAA tourney to name just two others.  Not sure that any one individually defines him.  I think those six rings do.

Talk about passing ships.  4 came by Starbuck's this AM on her way home from work to check in on the rest of the world who were all heading to the office.  I made the thoughtless mistake of buying her a steaming Americano...which wasn't what she needed just before her sleep session.  Sorry, Kiddo.

RCL day yesterday.  Still a treat.

Not sure if I will get on here tomorrow.  Hope its a good TGIF for all in the Peanut Gallery.

PCOT

Monday

I meant to get this up on last night's entry, but it just didn't happen.  The shot is of the QC Marathoners (and half-marathoners) coming off the I-74 bridge into Bettendorf around 0800 yesterday morning.  I'd put this cross-section of runners in the just over four hour marathon/two hour half-marathon completion times.  There were a lot of participants!

This marathon, like most these days, I think, have relay contests as well, and those competitions boost the race's numbers.  (They also do a 5-K that is just an out-and-back on the Illinois side.)  Pretty sure that the only race in my future is the annual Turkey Trot.  Getting my bod through a half is just not going to happen again.

(My pal Cal completed the half in just over two hours and concluded that his registration for next month's Chicago would go unused.  He doesn't have time to train, and it's just not worth destroying your body to prove that you still have it.)

More later.

BCOT

Sunday

Well, I thought I would get back to the blog earlier than this.  But a little of this, a little of The Winniferous, a little of that, and pretty soon, it's Sunday night.  That, and I really didn't have much to add to the intelligence of the universe.

The pro golf season officially ended this weekend with the top 30 in season points playing for a $10 million dollar payday in Atlanta.  I watched some of it each day and it was good theater.  The guy who won, Bill Haas, is a 29-year-old middle-of-the-packer who has won a couple of times over the years, but he's never been a headliner.  That changed today.

Here's the link to a youtube of the shot that will be all over the web this week. 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ-pJ8YRl-A  It was really a remarkable shot at the most critical of moments.  My guess is that the shot was so singular that it will stay with him the rest of his life.  Which brings me to the thought for today's discussion: a person's defining moment.

We hear that term somewhat regularly in sports, although it should not be confused with the over-hyped CBS Sports' love affair with the One Shining Moment video at the end of each NCAA basketball March Madness.  Defining moments happen not only in sports, but in all areas of human endeavor.  Business.  Politics.  Art.  Science.  You name it.  How 'bout this as a list of true defining moments:

1.  Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon.
2.  Clint Eastwood, "Go ahead, make my day."
3.  Ted Kennedy's night in Chappaquiddick.
4.  Captain Sullenberger's landing on the Hudson River.
5.  Rosa Parks taking her seat on the bus.
6.  Dwight Eisenhower and D-Day.
7.  Jane Fonda's visit to Hanoi.
8.  Sandra Day O'Connor's appointment to the Supreme Court.
9.  Steve Jobs and the Apple computer.
10.  Martin Luther King and I Have a Dream.

These are all extra-obvious, but it is an interesting exercise to go through some records to identify the item, event or factoid that becomes inseparable from the individual.  I'm guessing that someone already has a board game out there that uses a variant of this concept.  Craig Wilson is likely already on Wikipedia and checking with the Patent Office to secure the rights to another of my ideas.

In sports, the day's performers in the Top Plays become youtube stars almost immediately.  But fame is fleeting for these shining moments as tomorrow's games will yield a new cast of players performing amazing feats.  But when time has passed, and people remember the exceptional visuals, a defining moment begins to emerge.  While team sports produce endless great plays, only a few live on years later.  Franco Harris' Immaculate Reception comes to mind.  Bart Starr's quarterback sneak to win the Ice Bowl against Dallas.  Flutie's Hail Mary against Miami.  (I could go on, but you get the point.)

I think each of us has shining moments every so often, when the moon and the stars line up just so, and you have a situation of notable success.  You complete a physical challenge after much hard work.  You achieve an educational goal.  A business effort goes especially well.  But how does an ordinary person like you or me have a defining moment?  A singular event that makes you what/who you are going forward?  And how many defining moments do you have in a lifetime?  Hmmm.

I'll take a quick shot at that question (while reserving the right to look further at my response at another time).  I say that for most of us, defining moments happen by chance as opposed to effort.  You go to the golf course as a single, and get paired-up with a guy who owns a business who needs an employee with your skill-set.  You meet your future spouse in a class you signed-up for because of the time-slot.  You stop at the coffee shop and meet a guy who becomes your best friend.  (This stuff does go on every day, for sure.)

But some of these defining moments do result from the actions that we take, or the commitments that we make. Hey, I enlisted in the USAF, and through the extensive education that ultimately came with that choice, I was able to eventually get to a career path that I'm not sure that I would have taken otherwise.  I chose to be a care giver for Mother, and that certainly was a life-changer for me.

Really past my bedtime now.  More on this topic tomorrow.  Make Monday a good one.

BCOT

Saturday

Just to note this AM that today is the two year anniversary of my climb up the Galibier in the French Alps.  Its a day that will likely always be on my Top Ten list.

BCOT

Thursday

Just a few lines this afternoon before taking off for home.  My day began early enough in Des Moines and included a march through some rush-hour traffic on the mid-town freeway.  I could have avoided that hassle if I didn't commit to a stop at Starbuck's for an Americano.  Just a few extra minutes, and the congestion was caused mostly by the blinding sun facing Eastbound traffic.

Really enjoyed the overnight in DM.  Golf On Waveland Municipal Golf Course in the center of the city was pretty much what you would expect on a high-use, public course...by someone who hasn't played much this year.  (My back is killing me today!)  Dinner was at the West Des Moines Biaggi's, which was a new experience for my pal Richard.  I had a room at the Chase Suite Hotel (which I think was an Extended Stay place at one time).  Good location.  Fair price.  Top-shelf breakfast (including made-to-order omelets, if you are into that thing).

It was an unremarkable drive back to the QCA except that it occurred to me along the way that Interstate 80 is one of the "connectors" in my life story.  I've certainly spent enough time on that pavement over the years for it to merit some recognition.  Obviously, I'm hardly the only person in the world who can make that statement, but when a person mentions "I-80" in our family, there is fairly universal understanding that we're working on familiar turf.

(I would make the distinction that I-80 didn't really become part of my world until that first trip to South Bend in September 1967 when Mother dropped me off for freshman year.  Up until that time, I was a Highway 63 kid.  I mean, we spent most of the time going to and from Ottumwa on 63, and it wasn't like we made lots of trips outside of Wapello County.  At least I didn't.)

In my adulthood, I-80 has been the portal for all of the forms of human endeavor for me and our family.  Here's a Top Ten list to put meat on that bone:

1.  Education.  Starting with the ND runs, then graduate school in the '70's, segments to the TC for 1, Missouri and Oklahoma for 2, and the beaten path to IC for 3 and 4.

2.  Business.  Des Moines and KC have been great for my practice.  Lots of Chicago too.

3.  Entertainment.  Can you say "Adventureland, I saw it first?"

4.  Challenge.  Uh, I-80 and Winter.  Construction?  Say no more.

5.  Exhilaration.  Hitting the I-80 bridge at LeClaire when coming home from school or the USAF was always a great feeling. 

6.  Adventure.  It does go pretty much coast-to-coast, and those were eye-opening trips for me in my early 20's.

7.  Commitment.  Lots of trips to visit Mother and Daddy as they aged.  Every one was worth it.

8.  Economics.  I'd have 3 run some lifetime operating costs for my mileage, but I know I wouldn't like the metrics of that analysis!

9.  Friendships.  Those key pals I always talk about?  We've spent a lot of time together on that track.

10. Family.  From a perspective of just me, I-80 has always been the route to take to see the fam.

As I finish this, I'm thinking that the resident stooge at USA Today will be reading this over the weekend and tweaking it as his own idea as he waxes left-ish on the good old days back in Vermont and how Route 15 was the the linkage to his family, friends and his bucolic way of life.  (Sorry couldn't help myself there.)

I'm off to a little din-din with 4 to catch up on her life on the mid-night shift.  I'm making her Daughter of the Day for sucking up those wee hours.  I did that at Dover AFB when I was about her age, and it was never what I would call fun.  Then again, in my case, most of the brass was gone at that hour, which was always a good fact pattern.

(3 has had some excitement in The Big Apple with movers, protesters, and rogue traders.  Never a dull moment in The Fast Lane, eh Kiddo?)

I may get back here later.

BCOT

Wednesday

Just a short entry this AM to advise The Maddening Crowd that I will be on the road today and will not likely get back to this site until later this evening.  I'm meeting my pal Richard in Des Moines for a round of golf this afternoon, and then dinner tonight.  He's the guy whom I visited on the Gulf coast last Fall, and in San Antonio earlier this year.  Our relationship goes back 25+ years when he worked in the family business in DM.  He's back there to wrap up a couple of loose ends on a real estate transaction.

Dinner on Maplecrest last night was a home run.  My pal Pete came over for wine, but couldn't stay for the main course.  Advice for future reference: buy the thicker 12 ounce NY strip rather than the 8 ounce option.  The thicker cut is so much easier to cook and yields a great result for the medium-rare connoisseur.

September 21?  Beginning of Fall.  Equinox stuff is too complicated for me today.  Here's the Wiki link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox

Looks like a really nice day on tap.  Make it a good one.

BCOT

Tuesday

The blog tends to get a little less play when there is a family gathering, like last weekend up in the TC.  If LtPC is the only absent member, does the designation go to FFf+?  I had a little of the left-out feeling, but then I kept reminding myself that it was primarily a shopping exercise up North, and the lawn chair on the driveway then seemed like a pretty good alternative.

So I did my own little shopping at lunch yesterday to take advantage of a discount coupon at my exclusive clothiers, Kohls.  I try to freshen the wardrobe a couple of times a year.  Not sure if color is part of my repertoire.  Check out the additions.  Depending on one's perspective, you could say that my fashion consultant has a tough job...or an extremely easy one.

Interesting that last Saturday's opponent in Iowa City will be entertaining the Irish this coming Saturday in The Steel City.  Kind of like relationships in a small town; you're never all that far away from some sort of a connection between teams.  My guess is that ND will have the same problems containing Pitt that the Hawks did, and it will be interesting if ND goes to the hurry-up offense that saved the game for Iowa in the 4th quarter.

Here's a shot of Kinnick Stadium from last Saturday when the fans were told to wear "Old Gold" to support the team.  It was a shot taken with my Droid phone (as the midi-digi was in the TC).  The day was overcast most of the time, and the color here is not dramatic, but there was a lot of gold out there.  (My pal Doug and I had gold t-shirts on.)

Did I mention that I left the game at the end of the third quarter with the Hawks trailing by 14?  Up to that point, it was a boring game for the home crowd.  I joined the students in the early departure move.  As Doug would say, the true fans stayed.  I guess that puts me out there as a parking lot kinda guy.  I'm okay with that.  Being in the stadium for three quarters is way over the Over/Under line for my GAQ (game attendance quotient).

Nice day here today.  Margret is out for some exercise.

More later.

BCOT

Thursday

Good luck to all the travelers tomorrow. 

Just for yucks, I want to make a list of things that I like.  The idea kind of came to me from the soliloquy that Kevin Costner's character Crash Davis (in Bull Durham) gave to Susan Sarandon's character when she asked him what he believed in.  Crash went into a minute-long rant (a bit randier than I remembered) that hit quite a range of stuff.  Listen to it here.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBfdl6hNZ9k

Anyway, here's a start on my "like's" (certainly not in any order of importance):

1.  A "good" feeling ballpoint pen.  Black ink that doesn't glob.
2.  A quick shower before bedtime to rinse off the day's grime.
3.  October.
4.  The National League (MLB).
5.  Wrigleyville.  KC Plaza.  Scottsdale.  Incline Village.
6.  George Strait.  Patty Loveless.  Trisha Yearwood.  Garth.
7.  Private air travel.  Duh!
8.  The Grotto at ND.  Sorry Lourdes!
9.  Chicago-style 'dogs.  Golick's brats.
10. Drafting my pal Pete.
11. My new Oakley's.  Shoulda jumped earlier.
12. Twitter.  It has it's faults, but it works for me.
13. Nicely edged sidewalks.
14. 2nd coffee.  Duh!  Again.
15. Iowa.  Winter and all.
16. The U S of A! No stress to wear that lapel flag, Brain-dead!
17. Wi-Fi.  Smart phones.  Mobile computing.
18. Hand-written notes to/from fam and friends.
19. Entertaining fam and friends on my driveway.
20. John Wayne cowboy movies.  Clint.  007.

Well, that's just a start.  It's not a Glad Game or anything.  More to come soon.

Enjoy TGIF.

BCOT

Wednesday

Giving 4 a little early recognition as Daughter of the Day for her first graveyard shift to produce the early morning news show at Channel 8 here in the QCA.

Great job, Kiddo.

Now...go get some zzzz's!

More later.

BCOT

Tuesday

The new Home Page pic is just for a day or two.  This was absolutely the view on Maplecrest when I was pulling into my driveway around 1945 hours last night.  And when I went to bed, I had to go back to my kitchen to see if I had left my side-entrance porch light on because the night seemed so bright out.  Very cool.

As just a little re-hash, I need to extend thanks and appreciation to the Woodbury folks for a really enjoyable weekend.  Low-key to the max, but success on all fronts.  1.01 has an early start on the Terrible Two's (you take something from her and watch the result!), but she's a hoot!  And independent.  Life will be very interesting when 1.02 comes home to share the limelight.

Prior to my departure, I had to take a spin down pit row to have my "crew" tape up a little cosmetic damage to my front right bumper that had got caught up on one of those cement parking lot wheel stoppers.  I had expert help!

I went through one-and-a-third of books on CD during the round-trip drive.  The 1/3 came about as I hadn't finished one from that last trip to Lincoln, and I was lucky enough to come upon it on the shelves at the library before I left town on Friday morning.  I couldn't remember the title, but I did have an idea on the packaging, and was able to find it.  Actually, the story wasn't worth it.  Book Two was a little better, and I had to listen to the last disk here at the house to finish the story.  I give it a C+.

Local school board elections today.  To say that the process here was under-engineered is being kind.  After first going to the wrong precinct, my designated voting location at the high school was lost among a completely packed campus with various activities in the football stadium, the gym and who knows where else.  I ended up parking deep in the gym lot and had to walk all the way to the other end of the building.  One sign announcing the polling place, and that one hidden from the street by parked cars.  No reserved parking for voters.  For administrators who are always complaining about the lack of public participation, this was the anti-user-friendly approach.

A short comment on the 9-11 anniversary.  I chose to not get too close to any of it.  I remember being depressed when the original attack took place, and the subsequent investigation, wars, political and bureaucratic debates have done nothing to suggest that I would fare any better today.  The one thing that I did have a thought about was the MLB kerfluffle on the NYPD and NYFD hats that the Mets wanted to wear for their game on Sunday Night Baseball.  MLB said "No", and the resulting bad press just keeps on coming.  While I am sure there have been plenty of sleezy, profit-only items generated by apparel manufacturers to "commemorate" 9-11, the league probably should have ignored it's authority to rule here.

My Friday NYT crossword experience emphasized my fallibility at the art.  I started it Friday evening after 1.01 went to bed.  I worked on it at various times between games on Saturday.  I brought it home and worked on it Sunday night before bed.  I finally finished it last night.  I never resorted to any help from the Internet.  Ultimately, I got it fully done.  Correctly.  But it took parts of Four Freaking Days!  I'm mystified and humbled at the workings of the brain that can unravel one puzzle with reasonable effort and then have to slog through another like boots in muck.

Big day tomorrow. 

BCOT

Monday...With Short UPDATE

Here's a couple of pics from my weekend in Woodbury.  I'll get a full post up this evening.

Make Monday a good one.

EVENING ADDITION:  Okay.  No full entry tonight.  One of the goals of the blog was to keep the fam connected.  Judging from the steady stream on Twitter tonight, I'd say we don't have a connectivity problem.

Besides, I had to work late, missed the Turkey Trot training with 2 and The W, and generally ran out of time.  Tomorrow is another day.

BCOT

Wednesday II

I have no clue what Blogger protocol that they have sometimes.  Whatever.

2 and Winnie and I have begun our Turkey Trot training.  Last night and tonight we gave it a go on Devils Glen for about 2.4.  With an early start to the season, we won't have to go to the 3.7 route for another three weeks or so.  I'm already taking the Under on my hour time target for the five miles in late November.  The 2nd Annual LtPC Komen for The Cure Challenge will be posted around November 1st.

On the darker side, I posted my VISA card payment for August today to settle up my European debts.  Hmmmm.  Not the fun-est part of the trip.  Then again, you play, you pay.  No surprises.  Most of the Euro charges converted on VISA at $1.45 or thereabouts.  I had budgeted $1.50.  Really, the only unexpected thing was the near $100 in transaction fees from the credit card companies.

Big week in Iowa with the Hawks-Clones game in Ames on Saturday.  The line I saw had Iowa -7 with the Over/Under at 44.  Hard to say.  Neither team is that good.  If I had to make a bet, I'm thinking the Over.  But I reserve final judgement until Friday.

The obit on the Big 12 is at the editor.

Watching the Jerry and George "gay" episode on Seinfeld.  Can't stop laughing.

I have an admission of personal excess.  After those good-looking Ray-Ban sun glasses didn't exactly float the boat, I kept thinking about those better-looking Oakley's, and couldn't resist the temptation.  Outrageously expensive.  But they LOOK good!

Then I have this problem with wine...glasses.  I've broken three of those nice, big and deep Cabernet glasses this week!  Really not all my fault.  I blame Kohl's.  The first four that I bought well over a year ago were a little heftier and thicker.  They broke after adequate use.  The latest set of four that I bought this Summer were cheap imitations of the earlier set.  Two of the breaks happened when I was simply drying a glass.  I'm going deeper in to my pocket for the next set of replacements.

Props out to the 24 car for the win yesterday in ATL.  Empty stands.  Lousy TV ratings, I'm sure.  If you are running a major outdoor event, weather happens.  I'm wondering if ATL can keep two races each year.

Speaking of NASCAR, there was a little dust-up when four well-known drivers passed on the White House visit today to recognize last year's champion (JJ) and the other drivers who qualifies for "the Chase".  Scheduling conflicts.  Hmmmm.  Maybe they had to do their nails.  http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/story/2011-09-07/Obama-praises-Jimmie-Johnson-in-NASCARs-trip-to-White-House/50306666/1

More good weather here.  May have some rain for Friday from the Texas hurricane?  Say what?

Thanks for reading.

BCOT

Wednesday

Here are a couple of pics that I will describe in a separate entry.  I have no idea what Blogger is doing to me.

Check my next entry.

BCOT

Monday

So here are some pics from our weekend visit from 3 and Herky.  Other than a little rain on Saturday nite that forced the BBQ on Maplecrest to an inside event, a good time was had by all.  The NYC couple should be winging their way back to The Big Apple as I write this entry.

Let's make 3 and Herky Family Couple of the Day.

My Sunday wasn't overly productive.  Late in the afternoon, I decided to make an initial attempt to go through the "junk" boxes in my extra bedroom, a long-overdue project.  Let's face it, my extra bedroom is not a high-demand piece of real-estate.  I have stuff in there, unpacked, from my last three moves...and my last four (count 'em) cars at time of disposition.  Plus some Grandma Margaret items that go back even further.

A couple of observations: 1) junk accumulates in surprising quantities, even for a single person; 2) most of it will get thrown-away sooner or later...if not by me, by my heirs.  Now is probably better.  (Kind of like how cheap wine is cheap wine, even in Europe, my junk is truly junk, not someone else's treasure.)  I'm thinking that you really do make your house a home if you have a true, legitimate "junk" drawer.  Maplecrest definitely qualifies as my home.

Here's my list of Top Ten "junk" items:

1.  Pens.  I'm always looking for a good one, and an extra one for the car.
2.  Pennies.  No wonder they have to mint more all the time.
3.  Instruction manuals.  Cameras, phones, mowers, kitchen appliances, etc.
4.  Cards and letters.
5.  Car glove-box stuff.  Maps, warranties, repair tickets.
6.  Miscellaneous office supplies.
7.  AA and AAA batteries.  Do any have a charge?
8.  DVD's and associated boxes/sleeves.
9.  Pins, nails, business chotskie's.
10. Pictures, postcards, tickets, miscellaneous trip stuff.

One of the more meaningful boxes came from SRH's house.  First pictures from my first "good" camera in 1979, as well as pic's from the mid '70's from our Chicago days.  Notre Dame stuff, and even some things from high school.  That box went to the back closet and will be worth a visit in the future.  Moderately meaningful to me.  But to others?  Makes you wonder about the half-life of interest in the average person's memorabilia, especially to those other than that person.  Without the stories behind the pic's and souvenirs, what's their value?  Hmmm.  Maybe an analysis for another entry at a later date.

What do you say about the Irish's game on Saturday?  Losing the turnover margin 5-0 pretty much sealed the deal.  If you think these under-the-headline programs don't have some good athletes, get used to playing from behind.  The positive from this outcome?  Tickets should be available for reasonable prices for other games.  They could still finish 9-3. What a thrill.  Let's hear it for the You-Name-The-Third-Tier Bowl against Directional U.

My bike season is done.  With my pal Pete in a hard cast for another two weeks, I'm staying away from a chance at Rule #1.  2 and I start training for the Turkey Trot tomorrow.

The change in the Hope Page pic is motivated by thoughts of Tahoe next July.

Off to golf with my pal Ron.  Enjoy the holiday.

BCOT

Thursday

Hello September!

August's quick departure was easy to forecast.  Two weeks in Europe, with a week of preparation and a week of decompression, and the month was gone.  But it sure did go by in a hurry.

The Buick is back in the fold.  New battery and a new tail-light.  And LtPC's wallet lighter by about $600.  No shock there.  The car repair folks really don't repair things anymore; its mostly a remove and replace process for problem items.  Add in the tow charge, the shop supplies fee, and the up-charge on the parts, and the bill can get there in no time.

The up-charge on car parts at the dealer is comparable to the wine bottle charge at Biaggi's.  I just looked up the tail light on Google and the discount house sells the exact same item for $72.95, plus $11.70 shipping and handling.  Dealer cost on my bill: $185.12.  Plus $45.00 installation.  Pretty much three times cost.  Just like the bottle of Louis Martini top-shelf Napa Cabernet that's $65 at the restaurant, and usually $21 or so across the street at Hy Vee.  It's a great country.  (At least at Biaggi's I have the enjoyment of being treated like a VIP by the staff.)

4 points out on Twitter that the college football season gets underway for real tonight on the four-letter-network.  There's actually a bunch of games on the schedule, but UNLV at Wisconsin will get the primary airtime.  Then they have a couple games on Friday night before the whole onslaught that begins the season for most everybody else on Saturday.  The 'Clones and Hawks with home games as well.  Direct TV will be wall-to-wall with regional games on the FOX and Comcast channels.

If you didn't notice, 2 added an entry to her blog to recount their Irene weekend.  http://www.thehoranies.com/

My pal Pete joined us last night at Biaggi's for a glass and gave us the story on his biking accident.  He has a soft cast from his left wrist all the way up to his shoulder.  The surgery procedure was necessary to re-attach a tendon to bone on the underside of his elbow.  Not nearly as inconvenient as our friend Lee's hard cast on his right arm earlier this Summer, but hardly unnoticeable.  He can work the computer and says that he's no longer taking any drugs, but what a pain!  I'm absolutely taking his experience as the omen to make me hang up my bike shoes for the year.  The Turkey Trot just became my fitness focus.

My RCL was through the house yesterday.  What a treat it is to come home after she has done her thing.

I may have mentioned here previously that we are swapping out our office computers this month.  Our three-year contract with our tech-support firm expires, and rather pay higher service fees on the older equipment, we'll put in the new machines and pay the much-lower service fees.  Its a little more expensive to go new, but the advantages of speed and new equipment makes it an easy decision.  They'll sell the old machines to us at $150 each (for any takers out there).  My laptop is part of the up-grade too, so I should be getting something a little-less-bulky than my current machine.

Also as part of the computer project, my partner Bill and I are looking at switching our smart phone to the I-phone.  Our Androids are OK, but the units are both in need of maintenance tune-ups, and we both would like to improve on some of the functions.  Still evaluating the move, but there will definitely be some kind of an upgrade taking place.

More here later.

BCOT