Do-Gooders' Society strikes again

Perfect timing for helping James cleanup his backyard. 

James just thought he was getting his yard mowed.  Instead the gang arrived and trimmed trees, pulled weeds, planted a refurbished planter box, and mowed.

And we did it all in about an hour and half...before the big storm arived.

Big thanks to Amy, Bunny, Chad, Linda and JT...and James for letting us help out.

Rose's Birthday Celebration

the birthday girl

Our party hats on at Rose's birtday gathering at Old Chicago Uptown.

Gosh but we laugh a lot when the gang is together and it is just so great.

Ben, Old Chicago manager, got into the celebration by "stripping" to his wife-beater.

Amy's birthday card predicted Ben's striptease.  It was so prophetic!

Volkswagon Tiguan

You rarely see a Volkswagon at a car rental site.  So when I saw a Volkswagon emblem on the first vehicle, I took it.  The vehicle happened to be a Tiguan, a small crossover-type vehicle.

First off I have to say overall I did not care for this vehicle.  First impressions were quite good but the longer the use, the more the faults were demonstrated. 

The biggest problem is with the transmission. The Tiguan has a six speed automatic.  How do i know it is a six speed automatic?  Because you can feel every shift.  Especially at the low end the shifts are hard and super frequent...annoyingly frequent.  You cannot start out slow and smoothly because the shifting is so abrupt.

The interior is sparse.  I guess that is a Volkswagon trait.  I think everyone knows I like the gadgets. This vehicle is not very gadgety.  Matter of fact kt is so nit gadgety, the miles per gallon display doesn't work unless you are at a stop.

It has been such a long time that I've had a different vehicle and unfortunately I picked the wrong one

Austin, TX

Spent the week in Austin, TX. 

I had been there once before.  Right after I got back from London in 2007, I went to Austin for a work training seminar.

I was really sick and don't remember too much about that trip.

This trip was different.  The client's office was on west of Austin and my hotel was on the east side.  You couldn't ask for two completely different topographies.

The east side is flat as you would expect in Texas.  The west side is very hilly with lots of bluffs and cliffs.  Also even though Austin is in the drought that the rest of Texas is in, it is very green with lots and lots of trees.

I never got down to downtown Austin but it was just fascinating driving around the outskirts.  As you can see by the photo, it was hot....really hot.  They've had more than 30 days over 100 already this year.  Their average is 13 I think.

It has served me well

Finally made it home @2pm Friday.

But my rollerboard didn't fare so well.  I was already thinking of getting a new one as I've had this guy for quite a while....since Urban Traveler was in Calhoun Square for those that remember those days.

The handle finally broke all the way through this morning at 5am when I was going to catch the shuttle from the Comfort Suite Austin Airport.

What a very long day and previous night.

Austin, TX - stranded

Well, I was supposed to fly home tonight but it didn't happen.

Flight from Austin to Dallas was schedduled for 6 pm. Then 6:20, 6:30, 7:30, 8:15 8:30. No way to make a 9:00 pm connection.

I called AA.com. The gate attendant was swamped.  Rather than flying to Dallas. . . if it was even going to happen... I've decided to stay the night in Austin and fly home on Friday.

Hopefully this works out. No point in getting upset.  I actually think this is the first time Americsn Airlines has had to put me up in a hotel.

Austin, TX

Haven't had a travel story for quite a while. Super early flight from Minneapolis to Chicago to Austin, Texas. Flight left Minneapolis on time. However, we circled Chicago for a while and once we landed we had the longest taxi to the gate I have ever experienced. I saw parts of O'Hare I had never seen before.

My connection was close to begin with. I did not have a lot of confidence that I was going to make it. I had to wait for my carry-on since the plane from Minneapolis was a regional jet and all bags were valeted.

From Minneapolis I had the good fortune of being upgraded to first class and had the very first seat which helped. The valeted luggage finally came and I now had 15 minutes until the Austin flight's scheduled departure. The gates were relatively close and I am very familiar with O'Hare so I jogged to the Austin gate.

I had to check to check my carry-on since the plane was full. I also had the great pleasure of having a middle seat near the back of the plane...so much for my status and my luck holding out.

I got seated and immediately heard from other passengers that our departure was delayed. The storms that had passed through Minneapolis last night were now approaching Chicago.

As I type this we are on a 45 minute delay. And the woman in front of me just reclined her seat.

It is now late. I did make it to Austin. Flight left 80 minutes late. We did not make up anytime in the air.

Had to go to baggage claim to get my carry-on. It took an hour for the bags to arrive!!! I had been expecting to get to client office around 11am. Instead it was more like 2pm.

Some backyard pics

apple branch overloaded

best year for the clematis

the always beautiful tiger liliies

Casting a shadow

It may not seem like much but the Burr Oak is casting a shadow this year.  It filled out nicely with leaves which bodes well for a future backyard with natural shade....ahh...that'll be nice on these 90+ degree days.

July 4 at the lake

JT and Linda opened their home and hearts for another July 4th celebration. Lots of food. Lots of fun. Lots of water.

Captain JT

Jerry on the boat

Up from the dock

Happy July 4th

 Bloomington fireworks

 Bloomington fireworks

 Christine  and I went to the Bloomington Bloomington fireworks again this year. They always have something interesting. This year they had smiley faces, red and white concentric circles and ones that looked like big green. boxes.