Softball Season Finale

Playoffs continued today and the game changed leads several times through five innings. Steve's got this deep fly back near the fence...



...and then the long throw to the cut-off man to keep the runners honest.



Keep your eye on the ball and speed towards first base...



...then round first and head for second.



Unfortunate errors give the opponents six runs and the Heroes lose 13-7 and are eliminated, but it was a very successful season as they lasted well into the playoffs. Good work, guys. As the Cubs always say, "Wait until next year!" Here's the "official" team photo:

Fall Season Starts with a Splash

Lots more pictures of our kick off pool party on the Village Singers of Lake Zurich website.

Nice N.I.C.E. Meeting

The Northern Illinois Chapter of Elderhostel (NICE) meeting today had a presentation by Ed and Judy showing the glass items they made on their Elderhostel program in Corning, NY, followed by a presentation by Denise and Pete on Life Coaching. See the photos on the NICE webpage.

Gilmer/Fairfield Update #7

And no doubt the final update. Fairfield Road and Gilmer west of the overpass (including the connecting ramp) are finished and will open Wednesday, August 15th, right on schedule.





Gilmer in its entirety will reopen a month later, September 15th. It still looks to me like a sidewalk or bike lane is being included on one side of the Gilmer overpass as seen below -- a bit confusing since there are no walking or biking path provisions anywhere along Gilmer, and it's only on one side of the overpass.




Just a week after the landscaping was put in and the Canadian geese have already found it!

N.I.C.E. Elderhostel Presentation

Don Nylin, an Elderhostel Ambassador, gave a presentation to his fellow residents at Sedgebrook in Lincolnshire. About 30 attended to learn more about the multitude of exciting and affordable programs available through Elderhostel -- both in the US and across the world.



Assisting was Pete Clark (below), president of NICE, the Northern Illinois Chapter of Elderhostel, the only Elderhostel alumni group in Illinois. This spin-off group, open to all interested in learning about or sharing Elderhostel experiences, meets the second Saturday of every even number month at The Bank of the Lakes in Grayslake.



I also attended to take photos, help distribute materials, run the computer simulation, and help answer attendees questions after the presentation.

1000 Miles

Did a quick 12 miles on the bike tonight and when I checked my yearly total, today's dozen put me over 1000 for the year. (And that's on fat tires and mainly off pavement.)



But it doesn't look promising for hitting 2000 this year -- I'm just traveling too much, I guess, with too much hiking and paddling, to get in enough rides to hit that number. Oh, the tough decisions imposed upon one in retirement. So many adventures to embark upon and so little time!

Condo Cleanout

Linda and I spent 4 hours with Mom in her old condo, cleaning out closets, drawers, cabinets, counter tops, etc., salvaging what could be used by us or given to charity, and carrying elevator loads to be tossed down 6 floors, up the ramp, and to the dumpsters (we filled 2 of the 5 dumpsters.) When we were done, we filled my SUV with possessions to be stored at my place, and the unit was finally presentable for showing by the real estate agent.



Anyone in the market for a 1 bedroom penthouse condo? Or a nice dining room set? Or a bedroom set? Or a small organ?

Poem #16: Acute Nature Deficit Disorder

Some weeks back, my buddy Greg from Florida blogged that he was "on edge" and had to get out of the house and "back into the wilds." For quite some time, I've had some thoughts gallivanting through my brain along those lines, and Greg's comment got those thoughts galloping and bucking, and the ideas have finally congealed and this is what oozed out. (Sorry -- couldn't resist including some photos from my various wilderness adventures.)

=======================

Acute Nature Deficit Disorder

Inevitably, maladies overwhelm,

tilting life akilter,

sapping strength and weakening will,

compelling an immediate injection of the outdoors

to relieve acute Nature deficit disorder.

For majestic sights permeate essence

bequeathing richness from the viewing,

cleansing face with tears and

rejuvenating soul and spirit

with new devotion and renewed energy.

For my destination remains

all places not yet reached,

ever the horizon plus one,

an unattainable zenith

to be relentlessly pursued.

For yearning is the ember

fanned to flame by opportunity,

a blazing passion

to seek vistas untouchable

and panoramas incredible.

For Nature is Eden’s mother

and Heaven’s gardener,

source of solace, paradise-perfection,

exalting intimacy, rebirth, and fusion

with our Father Creator.

For losing self amidst Nature’s tapestries

leads one to rediscover self.

copyright 2007 by Chuck Morlock

Back in the saddle again

Felt a bit stronger today so I biked 15 miles on the Millennium Trail and caught these Sand Hill Cranes just 20 feet off the trail in Lakewood Forest Preserve. This area is generally over-populated with Canadian geese, so I wondered if, like swans, cranes chase off geese. Anyone know?

The Magic of Manure

Yup. That's a decomposing horse turd with 2 mushrooms growing out of it! On a blacktop multi-use trail through my sub-division! The power of organic fertilizer illustrated once again. Kinda makes me wonder why I love mushrooms so much. (BTW -- this is NOT a "Photoshop" creation -- no shit!)

Life Aboard the SS Asbury

Linda and I helped with the finishing touches on Mom's new apartment, hanging pictures and such, setting up the new phone/answering machine, and changing her address and phone number with Social Security and her insurance agent. (Mom had to duck out for a while to eat in the dining room since she's in the "first sitting" for meals.) I've never been on a cruise, but life here at Asbury seems to resemble what I've seen of cruises in movies -- food and activities available all day long! The only difference is that she has a great big rectangular window instead of a small round port hole window.

The Dog Days of Summer...

...have no bearing on a sleepy cat. Life is sure tough for ALL of us retired cats.

The Donkey and the Well

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, so it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up, and soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Moral #1: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Moral #2: Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

• Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
• Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
• Live simply and appreciate what you have.
• Give more.
• Expect less

(Moral #3: Enough of that crap . . . The donkey later came back and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock. As you know, when you do something wrong and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.)

Gilmer/Fairfield update #6

The landscaping is finished and is extensive...





... and the signs are all in place...





... and the pavement is marked for striping.



Fairfield is finished, as is the ramp connecting it to Gilmer above, and all of this should be reopened soon. Gilmer itself east of the ramp down to Fairfield (in other words, the overpass) will not completely open until mid-September.

Orphaned Apples

A segment of the Millennium Trail passes through the property of the old Wauconda Orchard which was sold to developers for housing subdivisions a decade ago. Most of the apple trees were dug up and sold to individuals, but 50 or so remain on the periphery of the property, and this section the trail passes through them.



Since the apples are no longer tended, this year's bumper crop are already showing signs of worms. What a waste!

Moving Mom Finale

Today was the big move day. Scott and Steve joined Phil and me at Mom's condo at 9am. The first load was the larger furniture pieces -- bedroom dresser, a couple book cases, a desk, and various smaller items until the van was full. After moving all that into the new apartment, we returned for the couch which we took to Steve's condo to replace his older couch.



Then it was back to the condo for the remaining items designated for the new place. We did manage to get it all into the van (though it was loaded to the rafters) with a few other pieces and most of the clothing in various cars.



Meanwhile, the women were busy unpacking the boxes and filling shelves and closets and cabinets to reclaim the floor space which we had filled with moved items. Sarah came by after her work at the animal clinic was completed and helped with the unpacking.



Finally, Scott and Steve got some well-earned rest after having done the lion's share of the heavy lifting all day. We old foggies certainly couldn't have accomplished the move without the youngsters' muscle and stamina. Thanks again, guys.



We capped the day off with a wonderful meal at Wonton Gourmet in celebration of Mom's 83rd birthday today, for which Suzie and Kasia joined us.

Concert in Palatine's Park

Another gorgeous evening for a concert in the park. I ran into another retired teacher buddy, Rick Peterson. Rick and I directed the Fremd Variety Show together for 20+ years before he transferred to Conant High for the last decade of his career, so we got caught up and also reminisced a bit as we enjoyed the music.

Moving Mom part 2

Van load #1 is in Mom's new apartment now, after a dozen plus trips from van to elevator to third floor by Linda and me. Tomorrow the bigger furniture gets moved with the help of Scott and Steve, and Mom begins living in her new environment. We met a number of very nice residents today and the food from the dining room smelled wonderful. One lady mentioned to Linda she only had one bad meal there in four years!

Adventures you don't want:

Adventure -- as defined in literature

When you come to a fork in the road, take it. (Yogi Berra)

If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space. (Unknown Author)

Adventure: the pursuit of life. (Daniel Roy Wiarda

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. (Helen Keller)

If we do not find anything very pleasant, at least we shall find something new. (Voltaire)

There are two kinds of adventurers: those who go truly hoping to find adventure and those who go secretly hoping they won't. (William Trogdon)

Adventure is not outside man; it is within. (David Grayson)

Adventure is worthwhile. (Amelia Earhart)

and 2 by Ralph Waldo Emerson:
The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Gilmer/Fairfield update #5

A bunch of bikers were investigating the progress of the intersection rebuilding this evening, enjoying the cooler 84 degree temps after the mid-90's today, and probably to take advantage of the no-traffic situation before the roads are reopened to motor vehicles. The landscapers are at work and look to be well over 50% done, as seen in these first 2 photos.




The Gilmer overpass deck has been poured and is covered and curing, and the side guard walls are under construction now. From the looks of the 2nd photo below, there may be some sort of walkway or bikeway separated from traffic by a concrete wall. But there is no obvious provision for a bikeway/walkway alongside Gilmer as it rises in height to get up to the overpass level, so I am a bit baffled. Time will tell!

Moving Mom part 1

"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape."

Flexibility will be a key character trait these next few days for the next big adventure -- as Linda and I organize Mom's move from condo to retirement apartment. Today we boxed much of Mom's accumulated 83 years of important "stuff" including VCR tapes, cassettes, knick-knacks, photos, momentoes, etc., and along with small furniture and chairs, filled all the floor space of my conversion van (minus all but front seats). The 90+ degree day didn't help as we carried everything down the elevator from floor 5 to underground garage and then carried it all up the ramp to the parking area where the van was parked.




Now the van and stuff are in my garage. Friday we meet at the new place where Mom will sign the final papers, get her photo ID, and take possession of the apartment. Then we'll unload the van and go get another load. Saturday, Scott and Steve and Phil will join us as we move the few larger pieces of furniture using my van. Then finally, we'll all go celebrate her birthday at a local Chinese restaurant.