tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53611717549530088732024-03-18T22:42:08.236-05:00Scope-TechUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger792125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-66516290497296561952017-10-02T06:32:00.000-05:002017-10-02T06:32:08.284-05:00The Puerto Rico Problem Ends Now<font size="3"><p>Hurricane Maria isn't the cause, but it is the impetus for me writing this. The time has come to deal with the problem with Puerto Rico. I don't mean President Thin Skin getting federal aid to the desperate, hungry, and thirsty AMERICAN CITIZENS.</p><p>No, that problem is short-termed and more an organizational issue than anything, and needs the leaders to get out of the way and let the professionals do what needs to be done.</p><p>No, the real problem is Puerto Rico, for some reason, isn't a state. And it needs to be.</p><p>Let's do a simple comparison between #50 and my choice for #51</p><div><strong>
</strong><strong>
</strong><table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top"> <strong> </strong></td><td valign="top"><strong> HAWAII</strong></td><td valign="top"><strong> PUERTO RICO</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"> Became US Territory</td>
<td valign="top"> 1898</td>
<td valign="top"> 1898</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"> Area</td>
<td valign="top"> 10,931 sq mi</td>
<td valign="top"> 3,515 sq mi</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"> Population</td>
<td valign="top"> 1,428,557</td>
<td valign="top"> 3,411,307</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"> Language</td>
<td valign="top"> English, Hawaiian </td>
<td valign="top"> Spanish, English </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"> Climate</td>
<td valign="top"> Tropical</td>
<td valign="top"> Tropical</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"> Flight distance to US</td>
<td valign="top"> 2,500 mi</td>
<td valign="top"> 1,000 mi</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div><p>
After the island normalizes after this current tragedy, I propose that they hold the binding referendum on statehood, and then get Congress and the President to sign off on the paperwork. And I don't want to hear any crap about how they'll all vote Democrat, so the current Republican party shouldn't do this. It's the right thing to do, so do the right thing.</p><p>I've seen some designs for a 51 star flag. [<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/10-wildest-proposed-51-star-american-flags-puerto/story?id=19404611#" target="_blank">LINK</a>] Some are too crazy. One is boring and terribly asymmetrical. But that's okay. I spent a good 5 minutes figuring out the proper design. (Probably not original, but I haven't seen one like it.) The the best part about it is that if additional states (not Washington DC, that goes back to Maryland) are added someday, they can easily be added to the center without having to go through a major redesign.</p><p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-44J--7jnFRY/WdGWbT70FWI/AAAAAAAAMZA/XkNML-bnzwQxwKiVjRVZLONW-qFReO7ZACHMYCw/s1600-h/51-Star-Flag%255B6%255D"><img width="584" height="306" title="51-Star-Flag" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; float: none; display: block; background-image: none;" alt="51-Star-Flag" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-31KSyeIjjyM/WdGWcH_iKKI/AAAAAAAAMZE/H_lhX9ApMc0_LovjVY66WOiSR4_1QYnFACHMYCw/51-Star-Flag_thumb%255B4%255D?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p>And unlike some of those in the link, any school child can draw it. Or even an IT guy using Excel.</p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-24100668579693958082016-09-06T06:30:00.000-05:002016-09-06T06:30:09.825-05:00Tech Tuesday - Me and My FatButt<p align="center"><font size="3">Or</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="5">"What Gets Measured Gets Done"</font></p> <p><font size="3">FatButt / FitBit / WhatEver.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Cora and I had been thinking about joining the FitBit bandwagon for a while, and on the 4th of July, we bought a set of FitBit Charge HR's at BestBuy. I also got a new camera, but that's a story for another post.</font></p> <p><font size="3">The FitBits sat on our table for a few days before we finally broke them out last weekend. Sadly, we did not instantly lose the 10% of our body weight that I'm certain we were promised.</font></p> <p><font size="3">The set up is actually pretty easy. It will Bluetooth with your phone, and has a dongle for connecting with your computer. There is also a small USB cord for connecting to the PC / charging the device. It's a proprietary connection, not the standard micro-USB <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Sad smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pkvch_cyipM/V84b4j_AdtI/AAAAAAAALC8/CE4urKAjoFY/wlEmoticon-sadsmile2.png?imgmax=800">. And it connects on the back of the device, so you have to take it off to charge. It holds a charge for a couple of days, but I don't buy the 4 – 5 days they claim. 3 –4 maybe. Connection with your phone is over Bluetooth. This could be an issue if your phone is often battery challenged. I've been just turning Bluetooth on/off as needed.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I've had it now for about 2 months, and a few things that I've come to realize:</font></p> <ul> <li><font size="3">My normal "average" steps are in the 6,500 – 7,500 range. I have to push just a little to hit the 10,000 daily steps. Winter is going to be rough. It's going to be harder to get 2,000 steps at lunch like I have been doing.</font> <li><font size="3">Weekends my "average" steps are in the 4,000 range. Getting 10,000 steps on a weekend requires dedication.</font> <li><font size="3">Cora destroys me on steps <em>ALL</em> the time. Usually 2+ times.<br>I have beaten her once. <strong><em>ONCE!</em></strong></font> <li><font size="3">I get cheated out of steps like a sucker inside. I walk pretty softly and glide a bit on the hardwood floors. I will get up in the morning, go to the bathroom, go get a bowl of cereal, walk that to my desk, eat it, take the bowl back to the kitchen, and get credit for 17 steps.</font></li></ul> <p><font size="3">Does the FitBit work?</font></p> <p><font size="3">I'm not sure I've lost any weight on it. Our scale's batteries were dead when we got the FitBits, so I'm not sure where I started, but I'm certainly not down any from where I've recently been. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Sad smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pkvch_cyipM/V84b4j_AdtI/AAAAAAAALC8/CE4urKAjoFY/wlEmoticon-sadsmile2.png?imgmax=800"></font></p> <p><font size="3">But, I will say that it has certainly has motivated me. Without it, I certainly wouldn't be going out for a walk at 9:30 in the evening after dinner, because I "need my steps". And I'm certainly taking the stairs more that I have been.</font></p> <p><font size="3">"Should I get one like you?" – NO!</font></p> <p><font size="3">Wait, what? "NO!"?</font></p> <p><font size="3">FitBit is releasing a new set of updated trackers. The <a href="https://www.fitbit.com/charge2" target="_blank">Charge 2</a> has been announced. It's going to have a much bigger screen (full watch face vs. the single line of the Charge+HR), it will also have replaceable bands, which the current charges lack. It also does some new oxygen tracking based of heart rate or some such super-athlete voodoo.</font></p> <p><font size="3">It will also, when paired with your phone, alter you to who is calling or texting.</font></p> <p><font size="3">They are also releasing a new Flex, but unless you MUST have a waterproof tracker for swimming, or want to wear it like a necklace, why get the Flex? If you need one that slim, get the Alta. Neither have heart rate, and how can you track fitness without heart rate tracking?</font></p> <p> <hr> </p> <p><font size="3">Disclaimer – This is an unpaid, unsolicited, etc. review. No one really wants my opinion.</font></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-77650491006097068092016-07-06T06:30:00.000-05:002016-07-06T06:30:20.646-05:00MARVELing At–Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D.–Part 2<p><font size="3">Besides all the stuff that was teased in the 6 month time jump, I've got some ideas as to what next season can hold. There are some things Marvel can use "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." for to lay the groundwork for in the movies. And things that they need to do for themselves.</font></p> <p><strong><font size="3">"FIGHT AN EXTERNAL THREAT" - </font></strong><font size="3">This is a must. Hydra. Hive. In-Humans. Enough navel gazing. With the show clearly tracking down Daisy, and Dr. Radcliffe's L.M.D. storyline, they decidedly need an outside threat that ties in, but isn't Grant Ward's brain matrix implanted into an L.M.D.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Three threats that I think would work well with the ground work already prepared:</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>"A.I.M." - </strong></font><font size="3">Advanced Ideas Mechanics. Introduced in "Iron Man III" with the Extremis formula, which is also the basis for Deathlok's non-mechanical powers. They have a long history in the comics of tangling with S.H.I.E.L.D. and are a Hydra subsidiary, so there are plenty of ways this could play out. Especially if they are a government tech contractor.</font></p> <p><font size="3">"<strong>THE SECRET EMPIRE / COUNCIL OF NINE</strong>" – This could tie in with the most recent season of "Agent Carter" with the Zero Matter / Darkforce potentially being part of the mystic approach of "Dr. Strange" that is coming out in November. And S.H.I.E.L.D. has already had a taste of Darkforce this last season, so there's that. If they use it, I hope that they include some Hayley Atwell and skip a "corruption within the government" story line.</font></p> <p><font size="3">"<strong>POWER BROKER, INC.</strong>" – Everyone who's not an Inhuman, Super Soldier, or Tech Billionaire in a fancy suit is going to want to be powering up, and Power Broker, Inc. is a good way to explore that. The drugs used to enhance the people had a 50/50 chance of killing or deforming the subject. The other half came through addicted to the drugs, and forced into criminal activities to pay for them. It also is a way to bring in a such characters (discussed more below) of the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation, Super Patriot / US Agent, and Demolition Man.</font></p> <p><strong><font size="3">"US AGENT" - </font></strong><font size="3">After the events in "Captain America: Civil Wars", Captain America is definitely on the outs with the US government, and he's even left his shield behind. While Cap's in Wakanda and they can make him another. Replacing him in the Avengers is not so easy. But once again, there's precedence in the comics.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Johnny Walker – US Agent. He replaced Captain America in the late 80's in the comic books. He's a different kind of Cap, more aggressive, more vicious. After briefly serving as Captain America, he takes on the mantle of US Agent and joins the West Coast Avengers.</font></p> <p><font size="3">With only the "Black Panther" movie in 2018 as a natural film for Cap to be in before the "Infinity Wars" start later in 2018, Marvel may want to use Johnny Walker/US Agent to help them move some chess pieces around the board regarding Steve Rogers without having to actually use Chris Evans. As a Captain America replacement, US Agent would not be popular with Coulson. But, he's also class-10 strength (able to lift 10 tons), which can be toned down a little for TV, but still have him strong enough to help with the enhanced threats that they will be facing.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Also, they have a choice of shields, Cap's old one, or the plasma one Coulson briefly showed in Season 3. Why even bother showing that and then never develop it?</font></p> <p><font size="3"><font size="3">"<strong>TITANIA</strong>" – Crusher Creel, aka "The Absorbing Man" is already part of the show. He has a girlfriend named, Mary MacPherran, "Titania". While originally, her powers are given her by Dr. Doom during "Secret Wars", since Marvel doesn't have Dr. Doom rights, they could adjust this out to "Power Brokers, Inc." and Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation. And she could be what leads him back to crime and puts "Law-Enforcement" back in S.H.I.E.L.D.</font></font></p> <p><font size="3">"<strong>DEMOLITION MAN</strong>" – Dennis Dunphy is another Power Brokers, Inc. client, and professional wrestler. He kicked the drugs, and became friends/sidekick with Captain America. He got his @$$ kicked by Titania, and totally developed a complex about it.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>"JENNIFER WALTERS" </strong>- </font><font size="3">With all that Daisy / Quake is up to, she's going to need a good lawyer. Sure, Matt Murdock is running around New York, but "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." could use the comic levity that comes with the the She-Hulk. She doesn't need to join the team or go on any adventures to be a fabulous addition to the team. Plus, she and Titania have a feud.</font></p> <p><font size="3">"<strong>BOBBIE & HUNTER</strong>" – The spin off wasn't picked up. Bring them back. Now.</font></p> <p> <hr> <p><font size="3">There are also other characters that would / should get introduced into the MCU, and Agents is a great place to do it.</font></p> <p><font size="3">"<strong>PINK KREE</strong>"<strong> - </strong></font><font size="3">All the Kree we have seen so far have been the "Blue Kree". And, basically, have been the space boogeymen. However, there is actually a pink skinned variety of Kree, also. And they are more populous.</font></p> <p><font size="3">The original Captain Marvel (Captain Mar-Vell) was a pink skinned Kree who came to Earth to monitor us. With Marvel having announced a Carol Danvers / Ms. Marvel movie in 2019, it might be time for laying some pink Kree groundwork. Carol Danvers gets her powers from the pink skinned Kree Mar-Vell, so unless they want that movie to have to cover a lot of backstory, they better start getting the pink Kree out there, and make them not the inter-galactic boogeymen they have been so far.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>"SKRULLS" - </strong></font><font size="3">Also, you can't keep having the Kree running around without eventually getting around to their archenemy, the Skrulls. As I understand it, Marvel does have some movie rights access to the <font size="3">generic "Skrulls", they can't use the "Super Skrull". He is a Fantastic Four villain, and with Fox.</font></font></p> <p><font size="3">"<strong>ORIGINAL HUMAN TORCH</strong>" – Back at the Stark Expo in "Captain America, First Avenger", there's a sight gag of a man in an air-tight tube.<br><img style="margin: 5px" src="http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/marvelmovies/images/6/66/Captain_America_2011_mk1.JPG/revision/latest?cb=20120731193822" width="590" height="333"><br>That is actually an android, the Original Human Torch, also known as "Jim Hammond". Not to be confused with the Fantastic 4's Johnny Storm. As Marvel's first self aware android, if you are bringing in an LMD element/threat to this season, the Original Human Torch would be an obvious resource to tap. And they could definitely use the fact that he's in the NYPD (not NYFD, I know?)</font></p> <p><font size="3">This is a no no-brainer.</font></p> <p><font size="3">"<strong>CRYSTAL</strong>" – While I'm not sure of the rights here, she is a member of the Inhuman Royal family. Since that movie has been pushed back again, I think she'd be okay to introduce in AoS to continue the Inhuman storyline. Also, she has the ability to control the four "classic elements" – air, fire, water, and earth (metal). Of the royal family, her's would actually be the easiest to handle on the small screen.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Plus, she's been romantically linked with Ronan the Accuser from the "Guardian's" movie. </font></p> <p> <hr> <p><font size="3">But people I don't want to see"</font></p> <p><font size="3">"<strong>GHOST RIDER</strong>" – I guess Marvel just got this character back, and there are some rumors, but AoS is not where he belongs. Netflix is getting a lot of the characters from the "Defender" team. They tended to fight the more mystic foes. He would fit well over there.</font></p> <p><font size="3">"<strong>MOON KNIGHT</strong>" – Marvel's whacked out version of Batman. This train wreck of a character should never, ever see screen time. Not even in the back ground of some major battle where he is a glorified extra.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Just no.</font></p> <p><font size="3">"<strong>STARFOX</strong>" – His real name is Eros. He's a member of the race called "The Eternals". The Eternals were created by the Celestials from early humans. Later, the Eternals alerted the Kree to Earth, which eventually led to the Kree creating the Inhumans from early Humans. Does that make your brain hurt?</font></p> <p><font size="3">Eros has the power to stimulate the pleasure centers in people's minds (among other powers like flight & super strength.). That's correct, he's the Roofie, Date Rape Avenger. Yes. He's an Avenger.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And guess what? You know Thanos, "The Mad Titan"? Not also is he also an Eternal. In fact, they're brothers. Please don't let this be the reason to bring this mess to the MCU. Do not use Eros as a way to provide background on Thanos, even he is the "Big Bad" of the whole MCU plot line so far.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Just.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Don't.</font></p> <p><font size="3">"<strong>BRETT DALTON</strong>" – Grant Ward / Hive – Do not bring him back as an L.M.D., even though you may have his brain waves stored somewhere.</font></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-12641654958193822612016-07-05T06:30:00.000-05:002016-07-05T06:30:26.046-05:00MARVELing At–Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D.–Part 1<p><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S-YmmvHEgac/V3qEDJUVoKI/AAAAAAAAJiY/Yp-FaSBKm0E/s1600-h/Sheild-014.jpg"><img title="Sheild-01" style="float: left; margin: 5px; display: inline" alt="Sheild-01" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RCZ17Sw5pUc/V3qEDa6PXMI/AAAAAAAAJic/8zBFmST9x5c/Sheild-01_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" align="left" height="300"></a>I know that no one is reading this besides my wife, but I want to get a few ideas about Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. that I want to get out in the Universe.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>"THE DIRECTOR"</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3">In the 6 month leap into the future at the end of the final episode, Coulson and Mac refer to "the Director". Both of them have <em>BEEN</em> the Director of S.H.E.I.L.D. (Mac temporarily), so who is this "Directory"?</font></p> <p><font size="3">As I see it, it has to be someone we already know. I don't see them pulling someone new out of the air, and having that person be called "the Directory", and not "Director ________" by these two S.H.E.I.L.D. lifers. As I see it, the options include:</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Nick Fury</strong> – In comic book land, this is the most obvious choice. However, no way Samuel L. Jackson does more than a cameo or two a season, like in season 1.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Agent Melinda May</strong> – She's Coulson's ex-partner and his work wife. I don't see her taking the position of his boss. But Ming-Na Wen could really put some spice into the role.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Maria Hill</strong> – This one I think has pretty decent odds of happening. Colbie Smulders has done a few movies, but isn't too over booked that she couldn't fit in routine guest appearances on the show. And in the comics, she has been a Director or S.H.E.I.L.D. And she's been working for Stark since the fall of S.H.E.I.L.D., and now with Stark being the red and golden boy of the UN, getting her to take over S.H.E.I.L.D. isn't a stretch.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>General Talbot</strong> – As demonstrated this season, he's not much into the spy game, but he's a show regular guest star. And it's not like Adrian Pasdar has a lot going on, either. But, technically, he reports to Coulson now, would they flip that relationship (why not)? But would Coulson call him "The Director" so easily? He still calls Daisy "Skye", so why would he not call him "Director Talbot" or "<strike>Gen</strike> – Directory Talbot"?</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Tony Stark</strong> – As with Nick Fury, this would fit the current MCU storyline, and he has been a director in the comics. But no way Robert Downey Jr. does TV.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Steve Rogers</strong> – Another former Director from the comics, but doesn't fit with the current MCU narrative of Cap being on the run, and maybe being a bit of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomad_(comics)" target="_blank">NOMAD</a>. And like the other big hitters on the list, Chris Evans is priced out of the role.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Dum Dum Dugan</strong> – Former Director from the comics. They could use the "Infinity Formula" from the comics to bring him from WWII to the current. Unfortunately actor Neal McDonough is tied up doing DC's "Arrow" and "Legends of Tomorrow".</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Sharon Carter</strong> – Another Former Directory from the comics. In the current MCU, she's in the CIA and smooching Cap. Probably too young to ascend to the position. Emily VanCamp has primarily done TV series work, so that would work in her favor.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Peggy Carter</strong> – Well, she's dead. And Hayley Atwell has another commitment to an ABC show, "Conviction". Not much of a chance here, but this is Marvel, so Peggy could use "Zero Matter" to time travel to the current? As a founder of S.H.E.I.L.D. she has the chops and would have instant respect and credibility with Mac & Coulson. If not for "Conviction", I would actually give this a decent chance of happening.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Daisy Johnson</strong> – Another former Director in the comics. But too young, too inexperienced, and given that they were tracking her down, nope.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Norman Osbourn</strong> – Yes, the Green Goblin was once a Director of S.H.E.I.L.D. While Marvel & Sony have some sharing agreement on Spider-Man, no way Marvel is getting its hands on the character. And, I'm not sure they need that kind of mess in the show.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Clay Quartermain</strong> – Never a Director, but still a high ranking agent within S.H.I.E.L.D., Clay Quartermain was apparently killed by a LMD, and replaced by an LMD. With LMDs being teased in the 6 month fast forward, Clay does make sense for season 4.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Other Former Directors You've Never Heard of:</strong> </font><font size="3">G.W. Bridge, Colonel Rick Stoner, & Capt. Jacob "Ski" Strzeszewski – Who?</font></p> <p><font size="3">My guess is Talbot, but I really don't think just flipping the roles of him and Coulson is very compelling for the story. Kind of lazy writing. I really am hoping for Maria (Colbie Smulders) Hill. I think there are much better story arcs to be found by putting Hill in the Director's chair.</font></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-8603175545363849832016-05-23T06:30:00.000-05:002016-05-23T06:30:15.008-05:00Urban Pie–Going Green<p><font size="3">The other night, Cora and I were out getting groceries, and it was late. Getting toward 9:00, and we haven't eaten yet. Nothing in the deli looked good. I didn't want to swing by Popeye's after what had happened 2 weeks earlier. (Ask Cora.)</font></p> <p><font size="3">We wanted to get a "take & bake" pizza, but they didn't seem to have any, so we went back to the pizza section and were looking around for something a little nicer than the Jack's/Tombstone we usually get.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And we wanted to get something not too spicy. It was getting late, after all.</font></p> <p><font size="3">We decided to take a leap and bought an <a href="http://www.eatuppizza.com/" target="_blank">Urban Pie Pizza</a>. We got the pesto & fresh mozzarella pizza with the cherry tomato slices.</font></p> <p><img style="float: left; display: inline" alt="Little Italy Pizza Slice" src="http://www.eatuppizza.com/media/1117/pizza_italy.png" width="253" align="left" height="336"></p> <p><font size="3">Wow. Cooked up crisp. Basically, a pizza margherita, but with pesto instead of basil leaves. And it's a good call. The garlic in the pesto adds a level of depth that I always look for but often miss when eating a margherita. It could have used a little more mozzarella, but that's a little bit of a quibble for a $7 frozen pizza.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Cora liked it too. Said it was hard to believe that this was a frozen pizza. It reminded me of a flatbread appetizer you would find out at a decent restaurant.</font></p> <p><font size="3">We will definitely be adding this to our occasional purchase list. Next time we may add some of those Tyson frozen pre-cooked chicken to it.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And I think we will be trying their chicken sausage and yellow pepper pie, too.</font></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-43899406881101993062016-05-13T06:30:00.000-05:002016-05-13T06:30:11.421-05:00Travel Tech Update - 2016<p><font size="3">Firing up the old blog again. I recently went on a roughly 3 week trip to Europe, my first in 10 years, and somethings sure have changed. Others haven't.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><strong>CELL PHONES</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Data plans</strong> – My cell phone company (AT&T) didn't offer free coverage in Europe. so I bought their plan for 300 MB. I then went through all my apps (except work email) and set them to wi-fi. Made it with flying colors.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And with the plan, I got unlimited texting, which was great for keeping in touch with Cora.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Google Maps</strong> – Without data, wasn't I lost? No. Turns out, you can pre-download maps for your destination onto your phone. (<a href="https://support.google.com/gmm/answer/6291838?hl=en" target="_blank">Here's how</a>.)With the maps stored on the phone, it just needed GPS to tell me where I was. As a bonus, since I have a GMail account, when logged into Google on my laptop, I could * and save locations I wanted to visit, and they would transfer to my phone over wi-fi.</font></p> <p><font size="3">But, if, hypothetically, you leave the apartment the first day and forget your phone on the charger, if you don't have a good sense of direction, it might not hurt to have a paper map in your bag.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Battery</strong> – Using the phone for navigation does really kill the battery. You may want to carry one of those some external battery packs that gives your phone another charge or two.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>WI-FI</strong> – Look for free wi-fi where ever you can. And leave Facebook alone until you get back to the hotel for the evening or find a good wi-fi signal.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><strong>SKYPE</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3">Don't worry about the price of a phone call home. Use Skype. I would text with Cora, and set up a time for the Skype. Love the wifi at the apartment/hotel. It made the distance feel less distant.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><strong>CAMERA</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3">Don't be a goof and just use the one on your cell phone. That's not a camera. If these are your memories, make them real, and use a real camera. I took the wife's DSLR and snapped about 2,000 pictures. I took about 20 with my cell phone. And about another 20 with my point-n-shoot.</font></p> <p><font size="3">The DSLR was awesome. Got some great photos. It was a little heavy at times, and not as weather forgiving (which is why some shots were with the other cameras). I tried not to rely on the neck strap, but carried it in my messenger bag when not shooting.</font></p> <p><font size="3">This also saved my phone battery, not relying on it as my camera, too. One co-worker I was with, who only had his phone, and the battery died while we were out. Luckily I was there to shoot for him.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I'm not saying you need to drop $500 on a camera for your trip, but maybe dust off that point-n-shoot that's in the drawer.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><strong>KINDLE FIRE</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3">This was a fail. I bought it for the trip, and at $49.99, I'm going to get my money's worth: just not on the trip. I loaded it up with season 2 of 24, and it worked fine. But it's region specific, so I couldn't download any more episodes while I was there. And, unlike my phone, I couldn't download a mobile version of Google Maps for even a bigger screen map on the go. And notice, it wasn't even listed in the camera list.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><strong>GADGETS</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3">One thing you need when traveling overseas is a plug converter or two. All my devices are multi-voltage, so that was handled by the converters already in the devices. But, you still need to plug them into the wall. At the first place I stayed, they loaned me a pair of converters for £5 each. That worked well. The second place sold me one <font color="#ffffff">for €15</font>. It may make sense to buy a pair in advance.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And I NEVER travel without at least one 1-to-3 outlet "T" plugs. That allowed me to maximize my plug converters. And I took a few extra USB cords and plugs.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Speaking of plugs, in London, all the wall outlets had a switch right on the outlet that could turn the individual outlet on/off. The first night, I plugged my cell phone into the outlet next to the bed. Woke up with the phone at 15%. The outlet was turned off! But they did have something cool: right next to the front door was a master switch. Hit it, and all the ceiling lights that were switched on went of/off. When you left, no reason to run around turning off lights. One switch: All off. Return home, one switch: All on. Wish I had that at the condo.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><strong>CREDIT CARDS & MONEY</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3">Since I was going to be in London for 2 weeks, before leaving, I want to the bank and got $200 worth of pounds. It was nice to have some folding money, but I did come home with £20. My other destinations were supposed to be 2 or 3 days in Brussels (euros) and 2 or 3 days in Geneva (Swiss francs). So, I figured I would try and just use cards there. I ended up not going to Geneva, so glad I didn't get those francs. My bank doesn't have any ATMs where I was going, and I hate paying ATM fees. The bank suggested doing that deal where you buy something something with the debit card and get cash back. Didn't end up touching a euro. And while I made it, I will admit, having a little paper money would have been nice.</font></p> <p><font size="3">But at least I didn't have to hassle with traveler's checks.</font></p> <p><font size="3">As for the credit card, make sure you have a at least a "chip and signature" card. If you don't have the chip, you're screwed. They are all chip and pin. Most places can deal with the signature part without too much hassle, but keep a pen with you to sign the receipts.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><strong>TRANSIT</strong></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">In Europe, don't be a putz, use public transportation or cabs. As a CTA rider, I enjoyed the Tube. I suppose you can Uber, but you're braver than I. Between London & Brussels, I took the Eurostar train. I didn't even realize we were in the Chunnel until they said, "Welcome to France".</font></p> <p><font size="3"></font></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-53776040261919035552016-05-12T06:30:00.000-05:002016-05-12T06:30:00.177-05:00He Hustles to Brussels–Part II<p><font size="3">My last full day in Brussels. My last full day of the trip. By London based co-workers took off mid-afternoon for the train back home. My flight back home was Friday around noon. I was hoping to duck out a little early, too.</font></p> <p><font size="3">That didn't happen.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I got out about 6:00, and made a break for it. I'm going to start loosing my light soon!</font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="590" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PvyjM3G_sxk/VzPlKJ7BV6I/AAAAAAAAJW0/3EB-oe2R0NE/s1600-h/DSC053055.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K-H9XO4aEOA/VzPlKUxSFcI/AAAAAAAAJW4/u_pgnjnphV0/DSC05305_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Welcome to Belgium: Need social security benefits.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ri9OyWFTLyU/VzPlKyLwH0I/AAAAAAAAJW8/1I651LOoZEw/s1600-h/DSC053085.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wNKsGyupWqk/VzPlLKgn2iI/AAAAAAAAJXA/o32V0_dZ_qE/DSC05308_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">But there were signs that either the Avengers or Anarchists are in town.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kElsWEaTso0/VzPlLdKSouI/AAAAAAAAJXE/5BFCKcE0iSU/s1600-h/DSC053105.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1Gf1RIT04X0/VzPlLxXpkdI/AAAAAAAAJXI/iiL514UBqkg/DSC05310_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">This funky van was parked in front of the royal palace.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K56IEZzAewc/VzPlMYvpUsI/AAAAAAAAJXM/wWy0rtj_Ukg/s1600-h/DSC053165.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cCjWJt0GthI/VzPlMvXKUSI/AAAAAAAAJXQ/juF4vDbl170/DSC05316_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Which I glanced over the fence.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BP0-GM41QHo/VzPlM34bXiI/AAAAAAAAJXU/Kw33ODTqIQ4/s1600-h/DSC053125.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3vIh2p-q4AU/VzPlN-sr_3I/AAAAAAAAJXY/1sdOgObwSGM/DSC05312_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">But it was protected by lions.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yDNwC3ae4eQ/VzPlOI3QI4I/AAAAAAAAJXc/DD8S1UT9MSo/s1600-h/DSC053145.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lubGP-i7OKM/VzPlOvtl7sI/AAAAAAAAJXg/pUJxXbQ3VrM/DSC05314_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2"> </font> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="2">King Leopold, watching out over the palace, too.</font></h3></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NrtpqKGguJE/VzPlO1ZfCwI/AAAAAAAAJXk/v2ZoZfK8u2A/s1600-h/DSC053185.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5kbEEKxMvVs/VzPlPT4yjJI/AAAAAAAAJXo/PWTc9ufTpHU/DSC05318_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">I was walking down this street by the palace, and got yelled at by police/ soldiers with automatic weapons.<br><br>Because I was literally walking down the street. Right down the middle. They wanted me over on the sidewalk, I guess.<br><br>Whatever, there was no traffic on the road. Maybe, just maybe, they should be less concerned about me, and more about people vandalizing the mail box they where standing in from of.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5-yonqqAwWA/VzPlPmKelZI/AAAAAAAAJXs/6E6GHfs1mG8/s1600-h/DSC053195.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ukgRwyty9kw/VzPlP2hFwGI/AAAAAAAAJXw/46h7OPK5hL8/DSC05319_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Np9M-ygHMEs/VzPlQRy5gTI/AAAAAAAAJX0/nt6pCarbZKQ/s1600-h/DSC053175.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MXSe1oiOWCU/VzPlQhmXSNI/AAAAAAAAJX4/IkuLxYGVfXs/DSC05317_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pr12Jd1NAMw/VzPlRB8zwqI/AAAAAAAAJX8/oMt0jhQd9jU/s1600-h/DSC053225.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uS0u7XDzHUw/VzPlRhYKYRI/AAAAAAAAJYA/cZ6ro35y7yY/DSC05322_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">Godfrey of Bouillon – The inventor of the bouillon cube.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TFxWfm7f4iU/VzPlR-AbS2I/AAAAAAAAJYE/CfQ-OR5E_10/s1600-h/DSC053285.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UYA1RRrd8qI/VzPlSIuubVI/AAAAAAAAJYI/3uWy4pgk3Ak/DSC05328_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">Musée Modern Museum – Museum of Fine Arts</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ESwHmkzm2VM/VzPlSpS2UFI/AAAAAAAAJYM/iL_eHH-DreE/s1600-h/DSC053295.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YpQtr241saw/VzPlSyh5-pI/AAAAAAAAJYQ/tivMJN2FPDA/DSC05329_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">There's scaffolding around the Palace of Justice. So, the Palace of Justice is behind bars.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cSRHFqQdbKw/VzPlTWhph4I/AAAAAAAAJYU/3o5Sz-Yfwtg/s1600-h/DSC053356.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DLREuIO4iS4/VzPlTvUbHjI/AAAAAAAAJYY/CabOBhjIUFo/DSC05335_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">I have no idea what is going on with these trees…</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wDWoEXsEYFM/VzPlT_4MxGI/AAAAAAAAJYc/jy35oCONbl8/s1600-h/DSC053365.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pEMIKCZzNoQ/VzPlUfiFPwI/AAAAAAAAJYg/eC7sH7BKrFg/DSC05336_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">SERIOUSLY, no idea.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YDONu2u-G04/VzPlUiwK5WI/AAAAAAAAJYk/v2RmRubSBt4/s1600-h/DSC053385.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1m7Mk_5jNVk/VzPlUxm3joI/AAAAAAAAJYo/XD49mzUsZ4k/DSC05338_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">I turned the corner to find a crowd gathered to gawk at a little boy peeing.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eoZHbPMKPfE/VzPlVfIYYyI/AAAAAAAAJYs/Fb7ILVukDUM/s1600-h/DSC053435.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i-7ywT7hZzc/VzPlVxxYLgI/AAAAAAAAJYw/zKKoDJJRI1Y/DSC05343_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="2">Manneken-Pis is the mascot of the city. You find his image everywhere, from shirts</font></h3></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p85L75N1qxw/VzPlWMjfG0I/AAAAAAAAJY0/ybYDJMsCEiE/s1600-h/DSC053425.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="display: inline" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fRSrPJGTWOM/VzPlWjKuEbI/AAAAAAAAJY4/lP8WxpYcEkY/DSC05342_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><br><font size="2">To larger than life sized chocolate statues</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UtjYVVJv1qU/VzPlW6c7F9I/AAAAAAAAJY8/sQRYiWEy0pg/s1600-h/DSC053405.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pLYB9VBIGTc/VzPlXXKM64I/AAAAAAAAJZA/14DJmbfWIQs/DSC05340_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">Here's the original <font style="font-weight: normal">Manneken-Pis</font></font></p></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lFcpt7Msftg/VzPlXz9mVEI/AAAAAAAAJZE/_79MMHo4gW0/s1600-h/DSC053445.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BDJ8jFI6bXI/VzPlYH_EWuI/AAAAAAAAJZI/xw5jgUMojXc/DSC05344_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">I knew that going to Brussels, I would need to get Cora something Smurfy. After passing on the lunch box earlier, I found this Smurf shop right by </font> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="2">Manneken-Pis.</font></h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="2"></font> </h3> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="2">I mean, she dressed as a Smurf for Halloween when she was younger.</font></h3> <p><font size="2">This is one time I wish I had some folding money on me. But I had my charge card, she got some Smurfs.</font></p></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eVQhLiYXzhw/VzPlYYCSmbI/AAAAAAAAJZM/WBVk8CvxI9k/s1600-h/DSC053475.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o8TYW1pDf6g/VzPlYs876rI/AAAAAAAAJZQ/53qBYp7JGcc/DSC05347_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">I made my way back to the Grand Place…</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mA3XVTF5acM/VzPlZABUVfI/AAAAAAAAJZU/kYAl00fF62w/s1600-h/DSC053485.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-82PbBh1BxhY/VzPlZebZAsI/AAAAAAAAJZY/E224_24-YWs/DSC05348_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">To get some shots before the sun set.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5CXP4_o5kVA/VzPlaGpbvEI/AAAAAAAAJZc/X3xX0WF5AOo/s1600-h/DSC053495.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sq2DHNZlovU/VzPlaaz8NkI/AAAAAAAAJZg/2L3LjYQPx6o/DSC05349_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ne3SpTd-4CE/VzPla4zya6I/AAAAAAAAJZk/G8tmPRBxjqk/s1600-h/DSC053505.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RJ3pHxVaZsg/VzPlbN4vGrI/AAAAAAAAJZo/Zn0tVE5LJLc/DSC05350_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W6UPIYUbe40/VzPlbn_L9UI/AAAAAAAAJZs/nfUgWnsUJTI/s1600-h/DSC053515.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DaDi7oPfLr4/VzPlb0kjETI/AAAAAAAAJZw/KlG3EEbqE3Q/DSC05351_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eu5yrxcMo7E/VzPlcdPclYI/AAAAAAAAJZ0/vo-X7s9qZCs/s1600-h/DSC053545.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F9L74Xo4ArY/VzPlckNNKRI/AAAAAAAAJZ4/mUUKIe3Vel8/DSC05354_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HLmw6cgmWPQ/VzPldHuFTvI/AAAAAAAAJZ8/9QuTZA2cxr0/s1600-h/DSC053555.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GllleWmF-6Y/VzPldrsi0NI/AAAAAAAAJaA/cqutKHrBpxE/DSC05355_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">Le Roy? Is that you, Le Roy? I didn't recognize you in the daylight.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XkKwXJ_ei_Q/VzPld88KcDI/AAAAAAAAJaE/dO_Nq2OjJtU/s1600-h/DSC053585.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DnRyvaojWSo/VzPleb4oINI/AAAAAAAAJaI/kTGdqFfTlfI/DSC05358_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">And then I started wandering the side streets…</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Esph9bNPc3g/VzPletOMhdI/AAAAAAAAJaM/XRI62fUBgn4/s1600-h/DSC053575.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tf2TdPZXCTM/VzPle243XJI/AAAAAAAAJaQ/0qwlTTCV8Q0/DSC05357_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">just to see what I could see.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MUkDk9XF1ok/VzPlfdK4TLI/AAAAAAAAJaU/f8GdxW9y-9Y/s1600-h/DSC053635.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ltasdiMO7pk/VzPlfm84iDI/AAAAAAAAJaY/tNOcHFpVMyc/DSC05363_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">And to find more neon…</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CtiUc4oVD8M/VzPlgPtoLUI/AAAAAAAAJac/guryZDVAJLc/s1600-h/DSC053625.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4edqSrjmTpg/VzPlgdeGzkI/AAAAAAAAJag/Erd0JEecaOA/DSC05362_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">and more neon…</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UHC9ugWxGKg/VzPlg-gZENI/AAAAAAAAJak/5HV_3JKjXBQ/DSC05359_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">and neon with the red filter…</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7OfG6KEp_-o/VzPlhAX0s_I/AAAAAAAAJao/nIhPz2y1boE/s1600-h/DSC053795.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XJP3z7dQFiA/VzPlhqSWNII/AAAAAAAAJas/wMYPH4tfu94/DSC05379_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">and terrifying hostage taking rabbits.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HFXqgSOI7x0/VzPlh5htR6I/AAAAAAAAJaw/bqDduQFdYKU/s1600-h/DSC053645.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b2ZP5dnEN04/VzPlih-9cEI/AAAAAAAAJa0/IhOw0Q8fP4Q/DSC05364_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">And this is <font style="font-weight: normal">Manneken-Pis's sister, Jeanneke Pis. She's peeing in jail.</font></font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GarnNdnMg0A/VzPljAw7oPI/AAAAAAAAJa4/rFdKx_DX4EY/s1600-h/DSC053695.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BeI-fwWPDns/VzPljZ5y9CI/AAAAAAAAJa8/EKmxsSew-kI/DSC05369_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">But she seems happy about it.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5Wp9NuOUoKg/VzPlj_yPp3I/AAAAAAAAJbA/85aUhVOiPoI/s1600-h/DSC053705.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YMvNYU55Avs/VzPlkcbUc4I/AAAAAAAAJbE/KtpgMwgbKGI/DSC05370_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">She's actually located down this little alley</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mVDbrJRyIng/VzPlkqb1JyI/AAAAAAAAJbI/ARuF82xnUh4/DSC05371_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420">Delirium Alley</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ANMi8JGkrx8/VzPllMp7hdI/AAAAAAAAJbM/D99nifNWLUM/s1600-h/DSC053725.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1TicY97F3LU/VzPlluXqyFI/AAAAAAAAJbQ/vUkAO8SPLk4/DSC05372_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Beer Planet. Not Beer Asteroid. Not Beer Moon. Beer Planet.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NbTk2OPCkJI/VzPlmLeQujI/AAAAAAAAJbU/Pu5Va8AvHnQ/s1600-h/DSC053745.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AIhEti1cEi0/VzPlmaBLF-I/AAAAAAAAJbY/7_eegv67jKw/DSC05374_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">I found this cat highly disturbing…</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A8TT4WCtd-s/VzPlmnq8cTI/AAAAAAAAJbc/tH7kMcOIzr8/s1600-h/DSC053755.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u__2pdvRtyA/VzPlnIpLfNI/AAAAAAAAJbg/Q0qo60gcaaY/DSC05375_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">And a little exciting.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4AkKUMBT0jI/VzPlnRpAA_I/AAAAAAAAJbk/PxqPlL52fas/s1600-h/DSC053785.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JJif_84MAp4/VzPln7L3m7I/AAAAAAAAJbo/gc31emH-0Ho/DSC05378_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">I have no idea what they show at this cinema. Probably naked cowboys sitting around eating pudding.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZBbglUM32yI/VzPloOVoYpI/AAAAAAAAJbs/LN2z8Y5fIlI/DSC05376_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"><font size="2">"A La Mort Subite" – "A Sudden Death". Like the beer from the night before. Named after the last round of a dice game some patrons used to play on their lunch hour.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9eqGHxqYcTM/VzPlok4MMpI/AAAAAAAAJbw/asihk7LcTGI/s1600-h/DSC053825.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2uCzyjF8O8M/VzPlo0qTbJI/AAAAAAAAJb0/DneBR0JLaAk/DSC05382_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">Back at the Cathedral. I a walking is circles around the Grand Place area. Snapping as many pictures as I can before I lose my light.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ragNpIgPOcU/VzPlpbZEpzI/AAAAAAAAJb4/rgR-5XHeG5w/s1600-h/DSC053845.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k2Ok8wmj9es/VzPlp8oAXoI/AAAAAAAAJb8/oE68z7oDJL0/DSC05384_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Mooo! Mooo!</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y8y2u2BlbB4/VzPlqBPmpKI/AAAAAAAAJcA/mnpdUuhppF0/s1600-h/DSC053895.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZvjrIbjQT3s/VzPlqbVWWpI/AAAAAAAAJcE/15MRhx9Rjvo/DSC05389_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8Io8irbS_yg/VzPlq1lVLaI/AAAAAAAAJcI/0m78hebiFvs/s1600-h/DSC053855.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O98PecpfXE8/VzPlrZ0gWPI/AAAAAAAAJcM/vqRG8t8-erQ/DSC05385_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">As always, a few flowers for Cora</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zz7JZJ1UMCY/VzPlrlo__HI/AAAAAAAAJcQ/HnOOsoQbrGw/s1600-h/DSC053865.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O6yUX_HG50g/VzPlsCGmzVI/AAAAAAAAJcU/L_LULwvLocw/DSC05386_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">And a few more for me.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1r4kI7_C1D0/VzPlsyVlIfI/AAAAAAAAJcY/AQBAopInzSg/s1600-h/DSC053925.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J5KrvbG9GH8/VzPltKvQivI/AAAAAAAAJcc/cP5FjKYG7jQ/DSC05392_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">Back in the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. Le Pain Quotidien. Appears that there's one in my old neighborhood now.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"> <p align="left"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F-zHnnZ59BM/VzPlttW4vaI/AAAAAAAAJcg/ADrpZSR8fao/s1600-h/DSC053955.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oNsNgtULym0/VzPltwGqDVI/AAAAAAAAJck/TkM-lZjXwRg/DSC05395_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">Now that's an Easter egg. Hopefully not a Cadbury Creme Egg. Imagine all that goo. </font></p></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k1uGa52a66Q/VzPluWD8pfI/AAAAAAAAJco/faDCdie4lj8/s1600-h/DSC053945.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OEEBGxmk_og/VzPlu6NHzbI/AAAAAAAAJcs/YclL2vHAFYU/DSC05394_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Easter bread with rabbits baked into the crust.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nv5iOR_3s4c/VzPlvJ6FrHI/AAAAAAAAJcw/bWfAojet3Lc/s1600-h/DSC054045.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gtDPAymKttk/VzPlvnRyQsI/AAAAAAAAJc0/o602jovxisc/DSC05404_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Belgian Waffles. In Belgium. They did not have Brussels Sprouts shops.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FyQY7r4M65Q/VzPlv3U5MXI/AAAAAAAAJc4/hFtc0qN_tG4/s1600-h/DSC053965.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UF-JWlNXKZs/VzPlwXuTqkI/AAAAAAAAJc8/PGyntVDnGN0/DSC05396_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">A nice jazz band grooving in Agora Square.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VwV2OjPcAh4/VzPlw8rBxzI/AAAAAAAAJdA/2SbS17giYSU/s1600-h/DSC054005.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s6XJANBsU48/VzPlxGASJpI/AAAAAAAAJdE/GvmtCa-T4Bc/DSC05400_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a>Touching the mustache of Charles Buls, former mayor of Brussels.</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xX-BB09J49M/VzPlxQn9Q0I/AAAAAAAAJdI/AvU6Z5WX7Yc/DSC05401_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"><font size="2">I remember</font> this place. When I last visited about 25 years ago, the I was staying with my ex-girlfriend and her now ex-fiancée worked at that hotel at the time.</td> <td valign="top" width="294"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UtqWOP3LTDQ/VzPlx30oj3I/AAAAAAAAJdM/9-6O9u_zeg8/DSC05399_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"><font size="2">There were some emotions here. Echoes of the old jealousy/hurt, but mostly relief. Cora was worth the wait.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8frRiEG8zxA/VzPlyXBPR9I/AAAAAAAAJdQ/KUN3asedFzw/s1600-h/DSC054055.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LXRRRMrEMQQ/VzPlyqf0gyI/AAAAAAAAJdU/S5ja--ZNcwE/DSC05405_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a>That's some name.</td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cKOdZHjrcgM/VzPly1uR7bI/AAAAAAAAJdY/WN-LSSe4rD4/s1600-h/DSC054065.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jkbN7URDvzQ/VzPlzgs41LI/AAAAAAAAJdc/rbG-KV1_lxg/DSC05406_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">Some beautiful stained glass in a store window.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZqE4Xbdmwhs/VzPlz-0pVsI/AAAAAAAAJdk/A41NgzncicM/DSC05413_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">A guy playing the accordion on the far corner has a guy on the near corner dancing. </td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7BJsaE3IsPg/VzPl0a-e0KI/AAAAAAAAJdo/nHYWc2XtmzE/s1600-h/DSC054165.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v-e8lxQsz_Y/VzPl0gvJI-I/AAAAAAAAJds/pGsxUHqHnmw/DSC05416_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">I assume this means that it is okay to let your dog poop on the street.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pYWHZaBl6_U/VzPl1FwUQfI/AAAAAAAAJdw/DGeQcLHO5ms/s1600-h/DSC054175.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J-28Ak2MD3Y/VzPl1qZY_wI/AAAAAAAAJd0/k3IItI8PIyA/DSC05417_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YMvGnrAbwJY/VzPl2RjadGI/AAAAAAAAJd4/BKc6pIJ6wvU/s1600-h/DSC054185.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TxYYx0PMFmc/VzPl2qELrfI/AAAAAAAAJd8/NPsRDt7lf_w/DSC05418_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">So, I had lost my light and was getting hungry, so I decided after wandering around for a while that Falstaff looked like a good place to eat.<br><br>Until I noticed the sign that said "Only cash today! Sorry"<br><br>Not having any cash, I kept walking, but not before taking a shot through the window. And the guy sitting there was well aware that his picture was being taken. And he was not happy about it.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ohE0FfZjuBU/VzPl2z8BoyI/AAAAAAAAJeA/ZrcpwVDwONs/s1600-h/DSC054205.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DKXLIioJiNA/VzPl3P_t47I/AAAAAAAAJeE/x3z8K7en3_c/DSC05420_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Out in front of the Brussels Stock Exchange, looking up at the lions.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o2c64VcLRjQ/VzPl3pF-kKI/AAAAAAAAJeI/3iCpYtR47sY/s1600-h/DSC054225.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-scY6zb088YA/VzPl4BY_JmI/AAAAAAAAJeM/Ak2o8Tt4v70/DSC05422_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">It sits on the Place de la Bourse. If this looks familiar, it was where Brussels gathered after the bombing. Freaked me out a little when I saw it on the Today show and I realized I WAS RIGHT THERE!</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HePdnNlhnPU/VzPl4qpTMiI/AAAAAAAAJeQ/hvBH_Pf5yuE/s1600-h/DSC054255.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_fwuk1Fu1g4/VzPl4-qxVNI/AAAAAAAAJeU/Hs55q2weOX4/DSC05425_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">These guys tried to sell me some "homemade" trinkets to help pay for their mission. I gave them a $1 (once again, no local currency). Still need to email them this picture.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZagAaW8ZGUo/VzPl5eE1k7I/AAAAAAAAJeY/EtsqXjsjPf0/s1600-h/DSC054365.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0T8P42N20y4/VzPl5mT0SHI/AAAAAAAAJec/CZnW-I0QrWA/DSC05436_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">Ended up eating at Raphael's Restaurant. It was filled with these old religious statues. I could not find restaurants for Donatello, Leonardo, or Michelangelo.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_uUgitn55TI/VzPl58T27pI/AAAAAAAAJeg/i93lvVsLNiA/s1600-h/DSC054285.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MyW0bja_8kg/VzPl6G6DYcI/AAAAAAAAJek/JhVzDA4bBH8/DSC05428_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">More inside on <font size="2">Raphael's.</font></font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yHYHtQCawuc/VzPl6rJnWSI/AAAAAAAAJeo/grBYHa8qomg/s1600-h/DSC054265.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7qbpDmI3Dps/VzPl69B3RTI/AAAAAAAAJes/0OJnPBdIIgA/DSC05426_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a>The staircase to the upper floor where the bathrooms were wound around and past this chandelier.</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Vo7VXF3UQU/VzPl7hyo_LI/AAAAAAAAJew/CuyGtz9kwqs/s1600-h/DSC054325.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pn5j0q4RuMM/VzPl8JtEgSI/AAAAAAAAJe0/avPKR3HU8do/DSC05432_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a>I think the book says, "Bathrooms that way".</td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e9mU9oPUzZ8/VzPl8vXjiPI/AAAAAAAAJe4/F_FVrU2cVSE/s1600-h/DSC054335.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u9YEfdJgrpo/VzPl87NrQ8I/AAAAAAAAJe8/RxI1ambWqIM/DSC05433_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a>And a nice light (bot not "light") beer.</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ukyrnrz2k80/VzPl9AnwXuI/AAAAAAAAJfE/g1synDtwT_w/s1600-h/DSC054245.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oHkkbeuP0gA/VzPl9_KYTdI/AAAAAAAAJfI/HFeLP9XrM0g/DSC05424_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">More neon. I told you. I fell in love with neon this trip.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-etcUn6kkBbQ/VzPl-Ha-dZI/AAAAAAAAJfM/Dcrn8bMIan4/s1600-h/DSC054395.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UmIcMV_imMU/VzPl-a2iFzI/AAAAAAAAJfQ/UgeFoNTeCxk/DSC05439_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Maybe they have "Dogs Playing Polo"?</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gSkUVLbLqKw/VzPl-5Pg6eI/AAAAAAAAJfU/pSyFNI9Asbg/s1600-h/DSC054375.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8R5zAjsNyZk/VzPl_GCUYUI/AAAAAAAAJfY/jwjYhX-gd48/DSC05437_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">I'm not certain this guy makes me want to try your frites.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TwiTuDgClC8/VzPl_1pZyNI/AAAAAAAAJfc/7wLMtBqwmro/s1600-h/DSC054475.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oXIWPzfTtwo/VzPmAH8WYuI/AAAAAAAAJfg/OFClQwRiLQQ/DSC05447_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="2">Mont des Arts – Clock says you better bet back to the hotel and get packing.</font></h3></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LjG_XpjHi1M/VzPmAdzLXYI/AAAAAAAAJfk/KUEXh0M4a70/s1600-h/DSC054495.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DdceNmz0YOs/VzPmA6xPtPI/AAAAAAAAJfo/MPZACSUd-fw/DSC05449_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">I think these kids are mocking me.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--jd_j6eGeEY/VzPmBTZL6hI/AAAAAAAAJfs/iYfSwBb8pO8/s1600-h/DSC054515.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qTAeru3VGb8/VzPmChJ-QpI/AAAAAAAAJfw/NCxs0GTFXXo/DSC05451_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Looking down the Mont des Arts toward the Grand Place. Even though I needed to get back, I lingered for a few minutes.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XDwmBUOb50U/VzPmDFTI8WI/AAAAAAAAJf0/bEXEhoYQ9ao/s1600-h/DSC054525.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RmYOOEMGsrU/VzPmDgnhUMI/AAAAAAAAJf4/62cFa2emGOU/DSC05452_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Maybe that means something different in French or Flemish?</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SG-vcVxH3_c/VzPmDxPe8HI/AAAAAAAAJf8/GeQGJArUyD4/s1600-h/DSC054575.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FyKP5O4MNYA/VzPmEdOVgkI/AAAAAAAAJgA/HcoJjgxtHH0/DSC05457_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">I told the native French co-worker Lalie that this sign said, "Cheese Ball".</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bsDLW7VPnd0/VzPmEsQI71I/AAAAAAAAJgI/hgxJ0URqdGM/s1600-h/DSC054545.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_zKAN2NY6OA/VzPmFS7vUTI/AAAAAAAAJgM/kOY4BHGkJ-c/DSC05454_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">And now I feel like I'm in any mall USA. But no Conan [<a href="http://scope-tech.blogspot.com/2015/01/an-open-letter-of-apology-to-conan.html">LINK</a> to blogpost]</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uDJApRF_hWo/VzPmFopDNsI/AAAAAAAAJgQ/jWAc7VozeeE/s1600-h/DSC054565.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GMRRQkzgFeo/VzPmGdEMebI/AAAAAAAAJgU/yBB89qkBwA8/DSC05456_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">And one last blast of neon.</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">And with that, I called it a night. Packed, Skyped with Cora, and prepared to have one of the longer days of my life as I chased the sun across the Atlantic.</font></p> <p><font size="3">This part of the trip involved passing through the Brussels Airport. This is about 10 days before the bombing. I remember as I was walking through the airport, I think I went through 4 different security checks, how safe I felt. I didn't take many pictures inside. There were a lot of serious people with their fingers not far from triggers. I didn't want to draw any undo attention. But, as best as I can tell, I walked within a few feet of where the explosions happened. [Chills]</font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="590" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8Ig2nr-jtN4/VzPmGlG3HBI/AAAAAAAAJgY/6z9duQy-4LE/s1600-h/DSC054665.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0JolrO_AJUc/VzPmHOfKtYI/AAAAAAAAJgc/lqQOYwzSjC4/DSC05466_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a>Back at Luxembourg Square, looking at the European Parliament. </td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R_sa8s62AYM/VzPmHe-IWVI/AAAAAAAAJgg/eilLTHsaMUk/s1600-h/DSC054725.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ljh3ws2BMc0/VzPmIHrJdsI/AAAAAAAAJgk/pc3aGmgFoKM/DSC05472_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">This old train station is actually the EU Parliament Information Office.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2X99yFMHMB8/VzPmIXKQB8I/AAAAAAAAJgo/ZASuNCA-Elg/s1600-h/DSC054715.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sPD6qyBcbbU/VzPmIokRWAI/AAAAAAAAJgs/dcJGkeKgE_E/DSC05471_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">The fuschia squirrel was a little freaky.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YozbpPdaVWY/VzPmJGo5hII/AAAAAAAAJgw/5rgd7rINbho/s1600-h/DSC054685.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WxCeXOHamXs/VzPmJTYsrMI/AAAAAAAAJg0/EgzROsmA8K4/DSC05468_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">The statue of John Cockerill, a prominent British-Belgian 19th century industrialist in the center of the square.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fVnIp_IZwGI/VzPmJ1mWuUI/AAAAAAAAJg4/qLHSFkwMDnA/s1600-h/DSC054745.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ckchqkFY9ks/VzPmKPp2y8I/AAAAAAAAJg8/rkrxBbX93EU/DSC05474_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Look who is creeping around behind the trees! It's CORA! It's a SIGN!</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xCfnVFHwfcE/VzPmKfpl16I/AAAAAAAAJhE/nJeej4JzVp0/s1600-h/DSC054755.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wIhTStmjVZM/VzPmKwRUJ2I/AAAAAAAAJhI/2PpM-hcBgos/DSC05475_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a>And I'm at the airport, about ready for my flight home.</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rx9GkY2jf4Y/VzPmLbuEvhI/AAAAAAAAJhM/zf2TGoRAlFU/s1600-h/DSC054765.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7yiogIBLtCA/VzPmM-t82gI/AAAAAAAAJhQ/aY9r8p2qiO4/DSC05476_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">The "B" is supposed to look like a heart. Their motto is "The Heart of Europe".</font> </td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FUI1_nsiNyE/VzPmNjEsYDI/AAAAAAAAJhU/HVdlUT-YRQU/s1600-h/DSC054775.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/---20Q0hISCU/VzPmN5fvjuI/AAAAAAAAJhY/K45wAaH4MDY/DSC05477_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Luckily this play area was well aware of where the bombs went off.</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">It was a long flight back, but I entertained myself by watching Star Wars: Phantom Menace (fell asleep during it), Ant Man, Man of Steel (it turned me off from wanting to see Batman V Superman), Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But even with that and all the ice cream sundae cart, I couldn't wait for the flight to get over.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Why?</font></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Suc60RdmNTo/VzPmObCyMOI/AAAAAAAAJhc/297XJQuAqXc/s1600-h/Im-Home4.jpg"><img title="Im Home" style="display: inline" alt="Im Home" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ayRXUdKYPQU/VzPmOwnEAOI/AAAAAAAAJhg/JcTO1LcTdBQ/Im-Home_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="590" height="393"></a></p> <p><font size="3">Cora was waiting for me.</font></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-25522012241578426092016-05-11T06:30:00.000-05:002016-05-11T06:30:42.587-05:00He Hustles To Brussels–Part I<p><font size="3">On Monday after work, 2 co-workers and I hopped a train to Brussels. We needed to catch a train from St. Pancras train station.</font></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gOKG9xYge1M/VzKi15p2U-I/AAAAAAAAJQs/U6luhVYXHSg/s1600-h/2016-03-07---0035.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eR7vYZEDeN8/VzKi2GG0EKI/AAAAAAAAJQw/nrkiaNvoEH0/2016-03-07---003_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="580" height="387"></a></p> <p><font size="3">On the cab ride there, I said, "Oh, we're almost there. It's just up around the corner to the left." The two other people in the cab who aren't the cabbie, look at me and ask me how I could possibly know that, when they had no idea where we were. I knew because St. Pancras is right across the street from King's Cross (Platform 9 3/4) and on the walk back, I remember passing and shooting this building with the awesome blue trim.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p1Yd8REbodM/VzKi2oEFfEI/AAAAAAAAJQ0/aGUnnrHLyS8/s1600-h/2016-03-07---0015.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R55DS53nJdk/VzKi3DRZ9nI/AAAAAAAAJQ4/qlL92tLoY5U/2016-03-07---001_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="580" height="387"></a></font></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="3">We took the Eurostar train, and after a little confusion with my ticket and seat, we were off. Most of the ride we were in tunnels or trenches, <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qUj8SXMXjw8/VzKi37j6JGI/AAAAAAAAJQ8/kqrPI8wZR_Q/s1600-h/2016-03-07---0146.jpg"><img title="" style="float: left; margin: 5px; display: inline" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zaQ2hnPCO6k/VzKi4VIfCLI/AAAAAAAAJRA/3z2uBjgQpQU/2016-03-07---014_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" align="left" height="160"></a>and didn't have a very good view of the countryside. And it was getting dark. And they gave us this <strong><em>REALLY NICE</em></strong> snack plate.</font></p> <p><font size="3">What I'm getting to is, I didn't realize we were in the Channel Tunnel until the said "Welcome to France." Ooops. I had been psyched to ride through the tunnel, and totally missed it.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Just to be clear – my trip to Brussels was a week to 10 days before the bombings in the subway & airport. And the Geneva portion of my trip was canceled. They weren't ready, so I put in an extra day in London, and got to head home a day or two earlier than planned.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Like I've said, I've been to Brussels before on a previous trip. I'd done a little sightseeing, but not much and it was 1/2 a life time ago. So, I was looking forward to getting out and seeing the sights.</font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="590" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"> <h3><font size="2"><font style="font-weight: normal"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wQU7HD8pTYw/VzKi4uKJSoI/AAAAAAAAJRE/5LytzYyHOw0/s1600-h/2016-03-07---01514.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZH8230gi3LU/VzKi5N8u73I/AAAAAAAAJRI/zd5Bw_yh6Dg/2016-03-07---015_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a></font></font></h3> <h3><font size="2"><font style="font-weight: normal">My room at the Renaissance hotel in Brussels. Nice room, but I preferred the apartment in London.</font></font></h3></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3g6vfT3-vsc/VzKi5oV8WeI/AAAAAAAAJRM/yPt0G-4jlIY/s1600-h/DSC0546111.jpg"><img title="" style="display: inline" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E4trF45DPDs/VzKi6fF-l0I/AAAAAAAAJRQ/JlfBJiUh9tI/DSC05461_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><br><font size="2">Rooms 'R Us!</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k_jWJuDUP2g/VzKi6t4dfkI/AAAAAAAAJRU/ja92-iI6IPk/s1600-h/DSC0546311.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D5arxSqPPu8/VzKi6_eK4AI/AAAAAAAAJRY/w2q6mDNOkbM/DSC05463_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f37B9jjPXvQ/VzKi7NTmHpI/AAAAAAAAJRc/yApll85oDLs/s1600-h/DSC0547311.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ISzsmlNvIGw/VzKi7SdMZcI/AAAAAAAAJRg/MBtEtTukkEw/DSC05473_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">As I was leaving, I thought it would be good to say "Goodbye"</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">During the day, it was pretty much work, work, work. I made it out on lunch. A <em>European</em> lunch. Meaning that they took forever, and when you ordered a Diet Coke with lunch, you got a microscopic bottle. And no ice.</font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="590" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B7cZ1fv1ipM/VzKi7-_7W9I/AAAAAAAAJRk/MvcxzeREekQ/s1600-h/DSC052525.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ou8qjZvxcwA/VzKi8ZoWK1I/AAAAAAAAJRo/B3XDQvydOdM/DSC05252_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">This sandwich is my HERO.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mO8JV1IGBE4/VzKi8uYSxaI/AAAAAAAAJRs/rm5TWtXG3Kk/s1600-h/DSC052835.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto 5px; display: block" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t04h-bCFLyE/VzKi81mueRI/AAAAAAAAJRw/SwiP6NQNMD4/DSC05283_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Walking around Brussels, I saw a number these barricades and soldiers. And this was a week before the bombing. The city was already on alert. <br><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7UzNSAbedCQ/VzKi9bRzKqI/AAAAAAAAJR0/XSpXbTCPwak/s1600-h/DSC053065.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin: 5px auto 0px; display: block" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_LNUmAjE3HA/VzKi9qrBCaI/AAAAAAAAJR4/WiVe5KpLonM/DSC05306_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a></font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jEDR7XK1_h4/VzKi-DnW5TI/AAAAAAAAJR8/C9QXt7_kHsk/s1600-h/DSC052985.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WATpxDqYfD0/VzKi-ddnofI/AAAAAAAAJSA/ARUzWCQXbuI/DSC05298_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">This the lobby of my office.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OMx1nLerCqg/VzKi-4l-7GI/AAAAAAAAJSE/9WWl0D5GSHc/s1600-h/DSC052995.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_Sr60VrXto8/VzKi_RXlfQI/AAAAAAAAJSI/ycsPsPklpJo/DSC05299_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">They had these ugly green chairs to match the walls.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Hpmcg8mLxP8/VzKi_wGcSsI/AAAAAAAAJSM/ZXXiHXIscgI/s1600-h/DSC053015.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9oXltPZJYQs/VzKjADHA9rI/AAAAAAAAJSQ/Zt_9tuX9Amk/DSC05301_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">I did try to eat somewhat healthy while I was there.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QjvnoP766YA/VzKjAlG3qvI/AAAAAAAAJSU/ztSRPfnwxDQ/s1600-h/DSC053035.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a36xKXZuFl0/VzKjA9xHk0I/AAAAAAAAJSY/AJnpd2Za34Q/DSC05303_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">And I avoided the desert table.</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">After work, the group of us would go to dinner. One night it was in the Grand Place (Plas). </font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="590" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9p23P2yK2j4/VzKjBKnSu_I/AAAAAAAAJSc/eP9L_60Dfq4/s1600-h/DSC052555.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v4oL7_69SQA/VzKjBh51wKI/AAAAAAAAJSg/RiXwlBSmfUA/DSC05255_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Théâtre Royal du Parc.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nVTvyyTlh6s/VzKjB2gDdRI/AAAAAAAAJSk/sxBT2RTHFdA/s1600-h/DSC052585.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ptxcHYVFj_o/VzKjCWJ6eEI/AAAAAAAAJSo/OFyehuRirCc/DSC05258_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Across the road is the Belgian Senate.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-31q8yMpu9xg/VzKjCt5TCFI/AAAAAAAAJSs/nIrJTCjGp4Y/s1600-h/DSC052625.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vOTuswKUzJ0/VzKjDDNFOTI/AAAAAAAAJSw/frB194KjtoU/DSC05262_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral. Man does Cora's camera take great pictures at night, or what?</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uU5kJq3ptm0/VzKjDim0-ZI/AAAAAAAAJS0/oZt3c_HMd8U/s1600-h/DSC052615.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O4etSk3nQWU/VzKjD7pWmzI/AAAAAAAAJS4/vZTiEVHjXlc/DSC05261_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A3WnGk1Qx1E/VzKjEQBjOaI/AAAAAAAAJS8/IWPGuoN62Ic/s1600-h/DSC052635.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g-MDBHWrhhk/VzKjFhB53YI/AAAAAAAAJTA/mZy-cWYIxdg/DSC05263_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Mooooo!</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TGTW0K6OhxA/VzKjFwoH8kI/AAAAAAAAJTE/ExsR0Y6SwNU/s1600-h/DSC052665.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E7ZZwtoIvE0/VzKjGIgPdfI/AAAAAAAAJTI/Ik8FtQMsAxI/DSC05266_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Street art or graffiti? The eye of the beholder.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IP2rfBYVBhc/VzKjGW3VfmI/AAAAAAAAJTM/Nv-5rypr2hU/s1600-h/DSC052655.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vb-UMaMjhlo/VzKjHMu2weI/AAAAAAAAJTQ/BaDaNnRBeJM/DSC05265_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">This is a great name for a restaurant.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EqPVW9tu4e8/VzKjHrfJA-I/AAAAAAAAJTU/g2pF7ZH_EC4/s1600-h/DSC052815.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fEabn6cTock/VzKjH1_l0oI/AAAAAAAAJTY/jVyXfJpXzlA/DSC05281_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">This is above the Roy's Cave below.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0fOSNOc1HwM/VzKjIj8aDHI/AAAAAAAAJTc/IG0_MsbtQLk/s1600-h/DSC052675.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wT8ICLehT74/VzKjI4XgFZI/AAAAAAAAJTg/ylYOEj-IZ10/DSC05267_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">Koninklijke Sint-Hubertusgalerijen or Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. A covered shopping arcade.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-toQ3gla_X7E/VzKjJfWaNhI/AAAAAAAAJTk/hZmqoPdPPwA/s1600-h/DSC052685.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0HlDfx5fsnc/VzKjJj3eEPI/AAAAAAAAJTo/Y94g4oTp6hk/DSC05268_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">The Grand Place lives up to its name.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ViH7qgvoc-E/VzKjKPKGNQI/AAAAAAAAJTs/yNLvvG0B-A4/DSC05271_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"><font size="2">Beautiful old buildings surrounding the Grand Place.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kN7l4yWc3hA/VzKjKvhzt6I/AAAAAAAAJTw/K6szlpoUV50/s1600-h/DSC052696.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uY0FHZ4O7Zg/VzKjK5u_QHI/AAAAAAAAJT0/8BVfUleBsJ4/DSC05269_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VIAIogOW0JY/VzKjLd8nYhI/AAAAAAAAJT4/lJ7cUSA_Pqg/s1600-h/DSC052705.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zcjfN2hg0RY/VzKjMDaIG1I/AAAAAAAAJT8/c3gIjku5KCw/DSC05270_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mCR9x33r4LA/VzKjMfu7qvI/AAAAAAAAJUA/SDoJBw7JB6c/s1600-h/DSC052735.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tewpwsv9O1g/VzKjMwAsbQI/AAAAAAAAJUE/MCdcaF8c4W4/DSC05273_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bUrZz97WMaA/VzKjNGJKgqI/AAAAAAAAJUI/iMSlycC0XzE/s1600-h/DSC052795.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0b6I3eq_Vz8/VzKjN0Tp_QI/AAAAAAAAJUM/bpBD7CBn7Cc/DSC05279_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a>LeRoy D'Espagne - The King of Spain. A cute bar on the northwest corner of the Grand Place.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4jJKNATaylo/VzKjOPcvs1I/AAAAAAAAJUQ/xERxyNNDpM0/s1600-h/DSC052765.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LBzgMAjpt9k/VzKjOaZ7fiI/AAAAAAAAJUU/EMy_b63g9VY/DSC05276_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a>Oh, Chimay, I remember you well.</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HJqJIktRo2o/VzKjOknOXeI/AAAAAAAAJUY/PlKJifzdz8Q/s1600-h/DSC052745.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BgQHdakuqVg/VzKjO2P9OAI/AAAAAAAAJUc/7evw7m_eZ9o/DSC05274_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Like I said, something about neon on this trip.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-otX2pcbvxM0/VzKjPjz9S2I/AAAAAAAAJUg/vSoWML7dv80/s1600-h/DSC052775.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZyQvUeJ8voo/VzKjP5WCOWI/AAAAAAAAJUk/TFwxjvffQ30/DSC05277_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Fire good! Fire make room warm!</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-beOmLNE8HU4/VzKjQ4dJSUI/AAAAAAAAJUo/yNPvvoj8tFE/s1600-h/DSC052755.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vrp7xJF0Zh0/VzKjRHswATI/AAAAAAAAJUs/xRqmZbMGY8c/DSC05275_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">I'm just hanging out with a bunch of pole-axes.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rc6FCFpDzwI/VzKjRRo8jUI/AAAAAAAAJUw/gaOwCXSgmpE/s1600-h/DSC052825.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tzu44ASRjuc/VzKjRhC5GFI/AAAAAAAAJU0/Ld3F_KY-9HY/DSC05282_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">And this Roy is on the southwest corner.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nuEc5vX-LMk/VzKjSV5RhZI/AAAAAAAAJU4/owDDBu0wKUg/s1600-h/DSC052805.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GpUkLhEUzzQ/VzKjSueA8gI/AAAAAAAAJU8/9cGXKwkI8qQ/DSC05280_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">And the co-workers walk back across the market.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DnRc3zNsEss/VzKjS9QBdzI/AAAAAAAAJVA/F0QPWDjuY8Y/s1600-h/DSC052725.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SZ_swNHG3rk/VzKjTflnjEI/AAAAAAAAJVE/mZEhbErOKDs/DSC05272_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">The second night we stayed a little closer to the hotel. We did a little walking around, and then went chocolate shopping. Afterwards, we went to a restaurant near the hotel. At the restaurant, we ordered tap water for the table. The exact response we got from the waiter / manager whatever was, "We don't do that." REALLY?</font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="590" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JiYtWjlsW1M/VzKjTiO0V6I/AAAAAAAAJVI/GK92uMDBfOg/s1600-h/DSC052865.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7MNw4vrIcwQ/VzKjUFAGreI/AAAAAAAAJVM/KWxj0mcWxuk/DSC05286_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Was considering this for Cora, but the lunch box contained too little chocolate.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mUgAkB5hNH0/VzKjUZeHy6I/AAAAAAAAJVQ/4HlzeszQycA/s1600-h/DSC052875.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q7LApukpMnY/VzKjVK_0ryI/AAAAAAAAJVU/YC_lJfymyn4/DSC05287_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="2">Luxembourg Square, right by the hotel.</font></h3></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LyO-ErSeRD4/VzKjVdT3okI/AAAAAAAAJVY/Dco248f51KI/s1600-h/DSC052885.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xqym59q8uMI/VzKjV_9xj2I/AAAAAAAAJVc/T0XBoRu0mB4/DSC05288_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">What did I say about me and neon this trip?</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wfz5WKYuJEE/VzKjWsNNXGI/AAAAAAAAJVg/T-MBpxh7huM/s1600-h/DSC052915.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GD0jNn9vJCk/VzKjW5y3DDI/AAAAAAAAJVk/-VvtuIf71Lg/DSC05291_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></a><font size="2">I'm drinking "Sudden Death". A lambic. Normally a favorite, but not my cup of tea.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PhaTPE6Lseg/VzKjXGZ3-4I/AAAAAAAAJVo/dANDXStc00s/s1600-h/DSC052895.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bj7gAoEwuR0/VzKjXxR9PqI/AAAAAAAAJVs/RlrGLlQwjuI/DSC05289_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">This is where we were told that they don't serve ice water.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-31YDApD-D_c/VzKjYaXQSlI/AAAAAAAAJVw/atrouRg2bns/s1600-h/DSC052905.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Uu58RhFORJs/VzKjY0jbz3I/AAAAAAAAJV0/AN-sufNV_Ew/DSC05290_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">And this is the look you get when you say that.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W_tffDjay0A/VzKjZs8wp6I/AAAAAAAAJV4/rOJbxvXgdtY/s1600-h/DSC052925.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--w2H6fdWh_w/VzKjZ3FiRVI/AAAAAAAAJV8/_oBsK1d5gHU/DSC05292_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">I had a nice dinner. And Belgium is known for its fries… pommes frites.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MTzLgmh-v_g/VzKjaKOj3BI/AAAAAAAAJWA/rGb7aM5wnZA/DSC05294_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"><font size="2">But we are all enjoyed a nice meal on our last night </font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2NpjoG-DBgE/VzKjacREmKI/AAAAAAAAJWE/8_IXp5DAHFs/s1600-h/DSC052955.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-orOd0Jvbp8o/VzKjaqHSxGI/AAAAAAAAJWI/hcvBxMCB6VY/DSC05295_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">If you are going to have just one, make it a good one.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FslGidKF8gk/VzKjbKDonBI/AAAAAAAAJWM/yOLGMbkdNFs/s1600-h/DSC052965.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VymXn2FcDUg/VzKjbQ9PU7I/AAAAAAAAJWQ/TYjvXpaTIRk/DSC05296_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a>Back at L<font style="font-weight: normal" size="2">uxembourg Square. I needed a another picture to fill out the table.</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">And then, there's the last night in Brussels, when I'm running wild, trying to visit everything in one night…</font></p> <p><font size="3">Next time.</font></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-26130943364681984502016-05-10T06:30:00.000-05:002016-05-10T06:30:09.447-05:00London Calling–Part II<p><font size="3">Like I said, I'd been to London twice before, and have "done" most of the tourist things. But that doesn't mean on my time off, that I didn't do some of the touristy thing and revisit some old favorites. And I got to check the last two items off that "Must See" list.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Below is a set of pictures from all around London. They are roughly in chronological / geographic order.</font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="592" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bNYcJKHiDD0/VzE61jOAStI/AAAAAAAAJKY/IxwCLwG3myw/s1600-h/DSC038775.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bpH4rn4qUus/VzE62CwOeuI/AAAAAAAAJKc/K5F5xvX6HeQ/DSC03877_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Bank of England. And another underground sign. I shot a lot of them, but didn't publish many here.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AsHVQbIK14E/VzE62T9gPRI/AAAAAAAAJKg/vQnGHByBP0s/DSC04505_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">Trying to recreate the classic pose from </font><a href="http://www.knightriderarchives.com/news/2013/08/06/a-visit-to-knightrider-street-london/"><font size="2">HERE</font></a><font size="2">.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rDKi_LqJjvo/VzE62u3neDI/AAAAAAAAJKk/6g36cga6sQ8/s1600-h/A-DSC046905.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JVUJYxLd968/VzE625id6JI/AAAAAAAAJKo/gc9mBHMPP14/A-DSC04690_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">Gringotts Bank – Also the Bank of England<br></font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fzch9SgrlKU/VzE63eKxVgI/AAAAAAAAJKs/dVmZXzWGti0/s1600-h/DSC038905.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IVWInkLE1jM/VzE63iYIc7I/AAAAAAAAJKw/apsqD2hRTtI/DSC03890_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">St. Paul's Cathedral – I walked by St. Paul's so many times, it was almost like it was stalking me</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-95me9bQSO2g/VzE64PowMeI/AAAAAAAAJK0/59WjxCGRSz8/ADSC03921_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420">St. Lawrence Jewry</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hFIrv2M3GKU/VzE64szFpUI/AAAAAAAAJK4/cmjQ7EysZzM/s1600-h/DSC054975.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="DSC05497" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="DSC05497" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n2D4E7t7Kd0/VzE644o0rHI/AAAAAAAAJK8/8UsDvR7baT0/DSC05497_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="373"></font></a><br><font size="2">Saint Alban Church Tower, Wood St. London. It seems like 90% of London is built on or around old church grounds.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a8nqz7npNK4/VzE65PYbe3I/AAAAAAAAJLA/sf9LKD0jDy8/DSC04193_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">I love the red filter in Chinatown. I was lookin' for the place called Lee Ho Fooks. Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lt_ecyktvJw/VzE65hOG-CI/AAAAAAAAJLE/XG1TlUJ9h50/DSC04139_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">When I was in London 20 years ago, I saw the juggle on the taller unicycle in this very spot, juggling fire.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YMohpW4iy4A/VzE6504GExI/AAAAAAAAJLI/lqEUffjN8ko/s1600-h/DSC041695.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vgG1KkHSZXw/VzE66ZxlkuI/AAAAAAAAJLM/0M9Av3HG-SQ/DSC04169_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2"> </font> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="2">Trafalgar Square with the anti-Trident nuclear sub rally going on.</font></h3></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B0p8kJCptRk/VzE66xL5SJI/AAAAAAAAJLQ/kqRC3UWwQkA/DSC04292_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">The gates of Buckingham Palace.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XihXDz6eZjQ/VzE67BFRVBI/AAAAAAAAJLU/asL4CJw9CFE/s1600-h/DSC042435.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tehRo2dcsSw/VzE67YMqLWI/AAAAAAAAJLY/aGl015Z6L6I/DSC04243_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">The London Eye, peaking out from behind they Horse Guard Parade.<br></font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pGAEdKfysTc/VzE679inQ7I/AAAAAAAAJLc/xzcdIII3oIw/DSC04386_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">The London Red-Eye.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O1wDXjoKceo/VzE68FUdl8I/AAAAAAAAJLg/kFAOibPKYZ4/s1600-h/DSC043555.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MGOZDzfnKcI/VzE68zNLV4I/AAAAAAAAJLk/lwJYCGDBnQw/DSC04355_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2"> </font> <h3><font style="font-weight: normal" size="2">St Margaret's Church; the little parish church. Not to be confused with Westminster Abbey, which sits behind it.</font></h3></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oVhX-4MTzdo/VzE69MKmKiI/AAAAAAAAJLo/_oMB9FV8d3U/s1600-h/DSC043205.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u5_CsYp_Xag/VzE69krvAdI/AAAAAAAAJLs/YxbabEBpS2c/DSC04320_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">Westminster Cathedral, the Catholic Cathedral in London. Not to be confused with Westminster Abbey.<br></font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5PQbq_DLPTE/VzE6-HqD8yI/AAAAAAAAJLw/1sWRgHgC5rE/s1600-h/DSC042235.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k1M0I0oVunI/VzE6-cspuYI/AAAAAAAAJL0/2PPhR1AdnRc/DSC04223_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">These are the newest photo op stars in London: The Levitators.<br></font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8pnfgcMaX9M/VzE6-rTGQiI/AAAAAAAAJL4/zWGtJqc4WBc/DSC04130_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420">Yoda & the Goldman. These aren't the only two.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q_lPskkLRZs/VzE6_IvqNxI/AAAAAAAAJL8/gydMKg8tsGE/s1600-h/DSC041025.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eEh6NsazeMo/VzE6_WScrKI/AAAAAAAAJMA/uaHyQbuLJsw/DSC04102_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Careful Dick, Batman is readying the Bat-Pole.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bvumHcLQKn8/VzE6_9ey7uI/AAAAAAAAJME/DJlXLuPXGk0/s1600-h/DSC055045.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gNZof2Ah0DE/VzE7ADdC4oI/AAAAAAAAJMI/AsWXwnu64EQ/DSC05504_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="210"></font></a><font size="2">Scope, hanging out with the Queen. See the flag? She's home.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0Unft8F7z0c/VzE7AcJGPFI/AAAAAAAAJMM/W35-J2G-E0E/s1600-h/DSC044765.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HAtMceEkxeQ/VzE7Az1hgdI/AAAAAAAAJMQ/v7Mu0b6VOKc/DSC04476_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Platforms 9, 9 3/4, 10, and 11 at King's Cross station.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="DSC05507" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="DSC05507" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HqwMXlnn7ZU/VzE7BAuNtTI/AAAAAAAAJMU/J84_62kPAZE/DSC05507_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="210">And I'm heading to the Hogwarts Express!</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WhdeJnsamW0/VzE7Bg_AqEI/AAAAAAAAJMY/T0y-lS1xe-k/s1600-h/A-DSC046425.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lQJXLuAekzs/VzE7B6uYDZI/AAAAAAAAJMc/505tjU3buV8/A-DSC04642_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Tower Bridge at night. Not to be confused with London Bridge.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MlZNhnZziDo/VzE7CFJdpQI/AAAAAAAAJMg/lyyVEIRLJIk/s1600-h/DSC04824-01---Copy5.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="DSC04824-01 - Copy" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="DSC04824-01 - Copy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fFjKq8ZwReA/VzE7CeBbFDI/AAAAAAAAJMk/EO_fsyEWLX4/DSC04824-01---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">I have a thing for the Underground signs. This is right outside where I was staying.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gabsK2_IdlA/VzE7CxuxCXI/AAAAAAAAJMo/tDmYMOWL86Y/s1600-h/DSC04833-02.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="DSC04833-02" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="DSC04833-02" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2r6IgON-wtk/VzE7DDi9fzI/AAAAAAAAJMs/LzIW0uohvHI/DSC04833-02_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Me, Richard, & Mike, crossing at Abbey Road. The drivers in the area must plan routes around this intersection.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H6GXtZ_c_Vk/VzE7DT4OsRI/AAAAAAAAJMw/00ZaLjz3E8o/DSC04844---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">Abbey Road Studios gift shop. Not to be confused with the Westminster Abbey gift shop.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PEy4yzUYDS8/VzE7D6nZn5I/AAAAAAAAJM0/NcZjF5s1UTo/s1600-h/DSC04852---Copy5.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7yzNLtMI24o/VzE7ELvpFzI/AAAAAAAAJM4/SeTbl2YUWs4/DSC04852---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="194"></font></a><font size="2">I would hate to wake up in bed with this horse's head next to me in bed.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YuqLqTsMl8Y/VzE7EXTHf7I/AAAAAAAAJM8/EFnhzI5Zf00/s1600-h/DSC04869---Copy5.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-138I72YBXjU/VzE7E40HZ1I/AAAAAAAAJNA/ZI9sf33EHcg/DSC04869---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Flowers in Hyde Park.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SZt9GG9kiAI/VzE7FM7jjyI/AAAAAAAAJNE/HPn8nAq-c7w/s1600-h/A-DSC046765.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6_x2om4Zz_o/VzE7FXgK0jI/AAAAAAAAJNI/PTh7F7F5nAE/A-DSC04676_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">I took a lot of pictures of flowers. Not just for Cora.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HPmbZeMycxQ/VzE7F5oIsLI/AAAAAAAAJNM/yWVBJUBOsMo/DSC04894---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420">Allow me to introduce you to an old friend, Peter Pan. I have visited him in Kensington Gardens each visit.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xr-J42T-06k/VzE7GTlHMPI/AAAAAAAAJNQ/Fkd0hrrvWZY/s1600-h/DSC04902---Copy5.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nb7MwT9-b40/VzE7GnhuurI/AAAAAAAAJNU/iNjlaCT_rCQ/DSC04902---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">They have moved the pigeons out of Trafalgar Square. They have found a home in Kensington Gardens, by the Round Pond.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ILaFy7k48Nc/VzE7G9XHf3I/AAAAAAAAJNY/pa7AZsQ8ODo/DSC04909_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">This gate at Kensington Palace is where all the flowers to Diana have been on my previous trips.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4uxzoqsosYg/VzE7HQZRLTI/AAAAAAAAJNc/frJYc3N-iHU/s1600-h/DSC049239.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="DSC04923" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="DSC04923" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F_X-Ngqyczk/VzE7Hx8l6mI/AAAAAAAAJNg/VbnclrcPesI/DSC04923_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">This little dog took himself for a walk.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TEBmGpQ6g-4/VzE7IaJAKxI/AAAAAAAAJNk/FqBEIyXeayo/s1600-h/DSC049563.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qSWZRVqvaEM/VzE7JCzVgKI/AAAAAAAAJNo/5QCaguyBCnU/DSC04956_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">St. Margaret's Church at Parliament Square</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nwfiD6kuue8/VzE7JT4Bx3I/AAAAAAAAJNs/4AxRrNaI8y4/s1600-h/DSC049145.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n89567P_VCU/VzE7JzRlXhI/AAAAAAAAJNw/366_91tD4XU/DSC04914_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">The Esme Percy fountain in Kensington Garden.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-im_S2ifKF9Y/VzE7KMaZWJI/AAAAAAAAJN0/sUKaIMGcZnI/DSC04963_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420">We refer to these as "Eric Pictures" where I take a picture of something through something else.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2oE4ArO1hcg/VzE7KvWNKdI/AAAAAAAAJN4/pkjIjPwxpf0/s1600-h/DSC04948---Copy5.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zl3_tu2mc3A/VzE7LMfgKbI/AAAAAAAAJN8/YLXgtZ_P780/DSC04948---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="378"></font></a><font size="2">Went with a vintage look for this one.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="DSC04948-02 - Copy" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="DSC04948-02 - Copy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gywLHgu6xU8/VzE7LsyonsI/AAAAAAAAJOA/cm4BGXqIeWI/DSC04948-02---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420">It's almost 2 o'clock, better get moving.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CfLOqQaOP7U/VzE7L6co_mI/AAAAAAAAJOE/mCzjZ0PKg3c/DSC04939---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">Do you even need to have a "Keep Out" sign?</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="DSC04988-01" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="DSC04988-01" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tNPrkJJsU2c/VzE7MRyfYmI/AAAAAAAAJOI/WHWK-VsM3Aw/DSC04988-01_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">I'm on a boat, headed to Greenwich, in the Mean Time. I am also weary.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t9JmWwgnQOY/VzE7M1hRC0I/AAAAAAAAJOM/JBkUjfPqeEE/DSC04990_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">Is that guy doing what I think he's doing?</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AmitgJjnE58/VzE7NbROQ6I/AAAAAAAAJOQ/A76VfZPnGr8/s1600-h/DSC049915.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="DSC04991" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="DSC04991" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YTZYb52KlAI/VzE7NinaW2I/AAAAAAAAJOU/tk0E6l9kieA/DSC04991_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">At least she said, "Yes". That would have been awkward if she would have said, "No" while trapped on a boat.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SbPRmSKSECI/VzE7OJZsbmI/AAAAAAAAJOY/4v8iEBuGalg/s1600-h/DSC050155.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HMtUOV-x3Gc/VzE7OXZ4xBI/AAAAAAAAJOc/NIPAcZd_ufw/DSC05015_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Did you see "Thor: The Dark World"? This is where the big battle took place. They cleaned it up nicely, it appears.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IOVNGbotOAY/VzE7O_OH0kI/AAAAAAAAJOg/9avWZv9C1As/s1600-h/DSC050465.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iI9YUjsAm7Y/VzE7PYskw5I/AAAAAAAAJOk/eg0iRmGSeFM/DSC05046_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Prime Meridian @ Greenwich Royal Observatory.<br></font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ytxsHgY1QwE/VzE7PmnlvGI/AAAAAAAAJOo/KqRQVYkP30g/s1600-h/DSC050425.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OwcgtGjyBeE/VzE7QGaDDzI/AAAAAAAAJOs/LI0jRZV4fyU/DSC05042_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">Dolphin Sundial. The gap between their tails.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="DSC05056-01" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="DSC05056-01" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sq_jLZ9960A/VzE7QT0xnzI/AAAAAAAAJOw/nxPn3Ld8E5g/DSC05056-01_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420">I'm East. I'm West. I'm East. I'm West.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BzLzDpyL9wI/VzE7QgEEpAI/AAAAAAAAJO0/Ijcq8IwH_sI/s1600-h/DSC050495.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_5eSeHV-CEQ/VzE7Q7c_VoI/AAAAAAAAJO4/OOLo16CYrxk/DSC05049_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">This ball isn't in Times Square. It drops every day at 13:00.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q29OPrtIHnA/VzE7RfUAPEI/AAAAAAAAJO8/Gv5fIvBga0k/DSC05095---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">At 221 B. Baker St. Just dropping in on an old friend.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-43gqQvWaXls/VzE7R4kECmI/AAAAAAAAJPA/JjdUSD4HT7M/s1600-h/DSC05155---Copy5.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HLES-LNTQ_o/VzE7SIW3E_I/AAAAAAAAJPE/0IgLapKh37k/DSC05155---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">I was really hoping to see the horse bite or kick someone.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dTO3MFO_Y7Y/VzE7SQltNfI/AAAAAAAAJPI/4RjiqSbLFKM/s1600-h/DSC05167---Copy5.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iMFGi3AVVeQ/VzE7SycJi1I/AAAAAAAAJPM/tPe7ZBEAcTg/DSC05167---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">And this is the Sherlock Holmes Pub. Located no where near 221B, but not far from Scotland Yard.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p_2ypGLo5L4/VzE7Tfjx8pI/AAAAAAAAJPQ/izC1EkJYDOk/s1600-h/DSC05157---Copy5.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I2i_g_A0UKU/VzE7ThsM8SI/AAAAAAAAJPU/nRDuWSRsiHM/DSC05157---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">He's smiling, but he will pop a cap in your ass.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zny9AXdloK4/VzE7UR-KzAI/AAAAAAAAJPY/pj-93CaPJew/DSC05113_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420">While I was there, I went to see The Doctor.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uFVbgFLWIYg/VzE7U07V8fI/AAAAAAAAJPc/U--CJSQeF3c/s1600-h/DSC052005.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tlvswaFkCzw/VzE7VoJeaYI/AAAAAAAAJPg/6My0_BzzzmQ/DSC05200_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Last time I was here, this pool was a flower garden.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2qzhHwRp2Jk/VzE7WjZ4JRI/AAAAAAAAJPk/38FvRMRF30I/s1600-h/DSC05185---Copy5.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rm3dmdIy7g0/VzE7W1SSAdI/AAAAAAAAJPo/1qMiAeF55Uc/DSC05185---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Imperial Camel Corps Memorial along the Embankment.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RSnsbLxFkSM/VzE7XT6LuzI/AAAAAAAAJPs/h7R_Htk6qco/DSC05234_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420">St. Bride's Church: The inspiration for the tiered wedding cake.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cYCO6dl87h4/VzE7X8F0I6I/AAAAAAAAJPw/dE8Ra9WkmXg/s1600-h/DSC052435.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xSvv1giv0lk/VzE7YGoLsSI/AAAAAAAAJP0/ETfrnZnCQq8/DSC05243_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">"Defend the Children of the Poor & Punish the Wrongdoer" – Old Bailey courthouse.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="296"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nRV-sUR4-r4/VzE7YdwKq7I/AAAAAAAAJP4/4pSEE6EAF-Y/DSC04827---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187">Coworker Lalie & her fiancée Richard. </font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mAcn_T0N9-0/VzE7Y1PtpGI/AAAAAAAAJP8/cMeVCmbiT9I/s1600-h/DSC04827-A---Copy5.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="DSC04827-A - Copy" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="DSC04827-A - Copy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OwriDx31PNU/VzE7ZQUgVCI/AAAAAAAAJQA/k2TK0lVN_uc/DSC04827-A---Copy_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Coworker Mike and I on our way to Abbey Road.</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">And now, off to Brussels…</font></p> <p><font size="2"></font></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-87921949291913354062016-05-08T22:33:00.001-05:002016-05-08T22:33:15.644-05:00London Calling–Part I<p><font size="3">For the last 2 years at work, we've been working on a big project, and this February / March, we finally started rolling it out world wide. As part of that rollout, I was tapped to visit our European offices in London, Brussels, and Geneva.</font></p> <p><font size="3">This would be my 3rd trip to London. I'd been there roughly 10 and 20 years ago, totaling just over a month's time. I only had a couple of items on my "Must See" list: Abbey Road crosswalk & the Royal Observatory at Greewich. It would be my second trip to Brussels, my other one was maybe 25 years ago, and I'd spent maybe a day there in Brussels proper that trip. And it <em>was going to be</em> my first trip to Geneva. (More on that later.)</font></p> <p><font size="3">Cora didn't get her passport in time, so I was flying solo. I was also flying business class! It is an nice way to spend 8 hours, but I wouldn't pay for it myself.</font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="591" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EpKtga--XuA/VzAEwIwIIdI/AAAAAAAAJGk/f7cHmTL4zUE/s1600-h/IMAG06636.jpg"><img title="IMAG0663" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMAG0663" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yHX0vCwIXkI/VzAEwXg7Y9I/AAAAAAAAJGo/Wo9oweezIbg/IMAG0663_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="159"></a></td> <td valign="top" width="295"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-clPlD_sND7w/VzAEwu80z6I/AAAAAAAAJGs/YFweukEO05g/s1600-h/IMAG06646.jpg"><img title="IMAG0664" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMAG0664" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X7h58r1tNvI/VzAExRbPq3I/AAAAAAAAJGw/EgaZ_n9InxQ/IMAG0664_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="159"></a></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">And relax, I'm not going to give you a blow by blow recap of the trip. To be honest, I worked a lot. During the week, I usually didn't leave the office until 7:00, and then went back to my apartment, ate something, then Skyped with Cora and worked the rest of the evening, because the Chicago people needed my help.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3PFch_nhtXM/VzAExnSyVeI/AAAAAAAAJG0/C6tKLHokjO4/s1600-h/IMAG06666.jpg"><img title="IMAG0666" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMAG0666" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--N7kX_gEz5Q/VzAEx55XCnI/AAAAAAAAJG4/4lEH2zT3s70/IMAG0666_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="580" height="329"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">I stayed with <a href="http://www.cityaparts.com/#content" target="_blank">City Apartments</a>. It's a short term apartment rental company that owns a number of buildings around central London. Sort of like Airbnb meets a hotel. I stayed with them last time, too. You get a pre-stocked kitchen, cleaning supplies, a clothes washer, TV's in the living and bedrooms with free movies (I never even turned them on), internet, blah, blah. I would highly recommend using them. I was there for just over 2 weeks, and it was so nice having a real 1 BR apartment to come back to, vs. a hotel room. I'm not a "hang out in the bedroom" person, so it was nice to have a sofa to crash on, and a bedroom to sleep in. (I stayed at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5195084,-0.0983149,17.75z" target="_blank">4 Cloth St</a>. location. Between the Barbican & Smithfield's)</font></p> <p><font size="3">It was a great location, I could walk to work in about 10 – 15 minutes.</font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="589" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="301"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9PKAtxn1fKc/VzAEyPQlF-I/AAAAAAAAJG8/TBebZs7KkeE/s1600-h/DSC037065.jpg"><img title="DSC03706" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="DSC03706" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z1gJ0XFhYTY/VzAEyURnhiI/AAAAAAAAJHA/GXOJ9B0S658/DSC03706_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">Love Lane. Lead right to my office.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="286"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k_vwib5TJMs/VzAEyskqSjI/AAAAAAAAJHE/qLhvq7K7X0g/s1600-h/DSC038405.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o6vK0lDamq8/VzAEy7vZVgI/AAAAAAAAJHI/XkWLdujmKKE/DSC03840_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">A section of the London Wall that used to circle the medieval city.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="309"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x-WYHAIKtko/VzAEzBSehLI/AAAAAAAAJHM/jWRSllSG0Lc/s1600-h/A-DSC036925.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YehDpCMibpk/VzAEzRGDU9I/AAAAAAAAJHQ/p256pP979Eg/A-DSC03692_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">And not a Target in sight.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="286"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Yh_qOffEIc/VzAEzn4lSMI/AAAAAAAAJHU/H3_aQovLQqk/s1600-h/A-DSC036955.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sNcRN2ZlPTI/VzAEz96OjdI/AAAAAAAAJHY/Wei6_uCUMXo/A-DSC03695_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a>This whole trip, I became infatuated with photographing neon lights.</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="309"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ovQ_TNKloro/VzAE0AjbxvI/AAAAAAAAJHc/Y4zmmIE20BE/s1600-h/DSC038655.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m9TvGgu8O9k/VzAE0cz5z4I/AAAAAAAAJHg/8vPAiIH_qHk/DSC03865_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2"><a href="http://www.girdlers.co.uk/">The Girdler's Company</a>. I fell absolutely in love with this little hall tucked in with the skyscrapers.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="286"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YOv4dRq78CE/VzAE0qmsETI/AAAAAAAAJHk/_1uFL9Vn9N8/s1600-h/aDSC039355.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-esjufXz0NH8/VzAE1rjKzFI/AAAAAAAAJHo/C-qEcsqz2WE/aDSC03935_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">And they had some beautiful flowers.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="309"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-APXwtL5qy24/VzAE12o98tI/AAAAAAAAJHs/bIIipWIyzM8/s1600-h/DSC039865.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1rdo2TDOt9g/VzAE2IYZZiI/AAAAAAAAJHw/xIfkcVyU0Ow/DSC03986_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a>And flowering trees.</td> <td valign="top" width="286"> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l0HpqI8dIG0/VzAE2TxwN4I/AAAAAAAAJH0/j4NN6dhqh_U/s1600-h/aDSC039255.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b21zBbi7Zx0/VzAE2itg1SI/AAAAAAAAJH4/jJZO1kavg-g/aDSC03925_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a>"<font size="2">The Ward of Cheap" This sounds like the worst honorary title, EVER.</font></p></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="309"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eKw2DfcU5kM/VzAE20U6vDI/AAAAAAAAJH8/dci-QRZa1x8/s1600-h/DSC040315.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aZpFo7QqZmc/VzAE3ABAV-I/AAAAAAAAJIA/tBLPi0onatg/DSC04031_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">There was a Subway basically right outside apartment. This was a common dinner.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="286"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4Fe6UcMo53s/VzAE3T_J8RI/AAAAAAAAJIE/30AJ1scasi8/s1600-h/DSC038915.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L9DYtuSnEsY/VzAE3scUZJI/AAAAAAAAJII/eWm77k7LJgc/DSC03891_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">I never ate at this subway.</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">As I said, I was working some long hours while I was there, so instead of going out much after work, I would head out at lunch.</font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="590" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_3vryWW8BSk/VzAE390Yr8I/AAAAAAAAJIM/THmL9u6rvEE/s1600-h/DSC039915.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3BdYYrqq_4E/VzAE4JV7IYI/AAAAAAAAJIQ/dTu2p4kd38A/DSC03991_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="425"></font></a><font size="2">Bank of England</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xRdl58VuytA/VzAE4TMbh0I/AAAAAAAAJIU/PY_y-mGzw5g/s1600-h/DSC040005.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-odls4kwn4Kc/VzAE4SLuNwI/AAAAAAAAJIY/VFIOs1T2Dgw/DSC04000_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">The City Wing – I giant pigeon wing growing out of the sidewalk.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ucMAqZALhjw/VzAE4ysQ2KI/AAAAAAAAJIc/qcHUYaYsniU/s1600-h/DSC040035.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C92QyXmjD9s/VzAE5B5nhYI/AAAAAAAAJIg/60x3Byj1qps/DSC04003_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font style="font-weight: normal" size="2">The Kindertransport statue, Liverpool Street Station…</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RzPT8GdPmjk/VzAE5b8KCRI/AAAAAAAAJIk/TAoT1WIru4w/s1600-h/DSC040075.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T86oQsUCePg/VzAE5naoSRI/AAAAAAAAJIo/s7jjfgxjaCw/DSC04007_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">I found this particularly moving…</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eJtLpTcmS8M/VzAE56GO4GI/AAAAAAAAJIs/ju5Dd_HJ160/s1600-h/DSC040115.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="display: inline" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2i5MKfj-g9A/VzAE6KElT9I/AAAAAAAAJIw/VVDF6VqVz2c/DSC04011_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><br><font size="2">And touching.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P_Ig80C-CVM/VzAE6a7pxSI/AAAAAAAAJI0/THC9xuHs6NQ/s1600-h/DSC038535.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bkQVvaiOOb0/VzAE6uSGpcI/AAAAAAAAJI4/u9yOMjin844/DSC03853_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">But this is a statue called "The Gardner" outside of the Brewers Hall.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DCyonAUpJEo/VzAE635bR5I/AAAAAAAAJI8/bndDGoIX5yo/s1600-h/A-DSC045765.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ceiYjz4xX5o/VzAE7DqviUI/AAAAAAAAJJA/5M9gNy_jCK0/A-DSC04576_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">This little sunken garden of the <font style="font-weight: normal">Churchyard of Saint John Zachary was a favorite. Visited it almost every day.</font></font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uYBACdxUIQc/VzAE7VGCarI/AAAAAAAAJJE/z1Cagcl30P4/s1600-h/A-DSC045815.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tk9JpwMx0RQ/VzAE7hIGHgI/AAAAAAAAJJI/iuMIyhsfXgA/A-DSC04581_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">"The Three Printers" statue in the courtyard.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OxbzgP6BSbw/VzAE7-9GdzI/AAAAAAAAJJM/v1j0Qu9rlyQ/s1600-h/A-DSC046805.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eJymewUo6hI/VzAE8BNYOUI/AAAAAAAAJJQ/BWBA0C9dLiw/A-DSC04680_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">Back to "Love Lane" and the Shakespeare statue. I tried climbing up there to see if the head tilted back to reveal a red button that open the entrance to the Bat-Cave. No such luck.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MM_XN6h3SOs/VzAE8WTDq5I/AAAAAAAAJJU/wJ9izEAYMLQ/s1600-h/A-DSC047075.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sYQim0kc1Ys/VzAE8m6ihrI/AAAAAAAAJJY/c6mUtTYYR9U/A-DSC04707_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">This is Leadenhall Market, also known as "Diagon Alley" from the first Harry Potter film.</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mCL3SPMd3mQ/VzAE85bNadI/AAAAAAAAJJc/eRpzWXes2kM/s1600-h/A-DSC047005.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WghUTBBS9PA/VzAE9OLS-7I/AAAAAAAAJJg/btK9IyeMKOc/A-DSC04700_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font style="font-weight: normal" size="2">The Parish Church of St. Michael, Cornhill.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h4kGt77EKX0/VzAE9dP0H6I/AAAAAAAAJJk/6KjBLyGlGI0/s1600-h/A-DSC047235.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PH_eBZ_7kFE/VzAE9ibz5kI/AAAAAAAAJJo/x7ufSVgYd3U/A-DSC04723_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="420"></font></a><font size="2">Damien Hirst's "Charity" by The Gherkin. Statues with teddy bears. Or, "A Girl & Her Pickle"</font></td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="294"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EplAn7Z5dTc/VzAE931TN4I/AAAAAAAAJJs/45zlG8sQF4I/s1600-h/A-DSC047176.jpg"><font size="2"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w6HRsxKhiN8/VzAE-HVGPCI/AAAAAAAAJJw/fmW3ebijcHw/A-DSC04717_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></font></a><font size="2">And now, two churches with blue glass buildings behind them.</font></td> <td valign="top" width="295"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RuHEhyYyL10/VzAE-QMXZXI/AAAAAAAAJJ0/aMre2WNc-i8/s1600-h/A-DSC047455.jpg"><img title="" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fy1y7ow3-C8/VzAE-r5NFaI/AAAAAAAAJJ4/mgLrMfBBZO4/A-DSC04745_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="187"></a><font size="2">St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate.</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3">To be continued…</font></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-9710041785001896482015-12-22T18:01:00.000-06:002015-12-22T22:32:19.285-06:00That Time I Turned 50<p><font size="3">Hey! I’m 50.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U40IxVjEHZ4/VnocYEA6WsI/AAAAAAAAJF4/p8Yxin2Avpg/s1600-h/50%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="50" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="50" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Qeh4Z5fEfDA/VnocYuJnEBI/AAAAAAAAJF8/m5Co69bmoc4/50_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="374" height="374"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">Went to Star Wars. Not bad. But disliked one of the characters. Pretty boy.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And then we had dinner at Bob Chinn’s Crabhouse.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Good day.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I know this is short, but I just wanted to mark the occasion.</font></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-47439796854026552962015-12-21T06:30:00.000-06:002015-12-21T07:38:27.433-06:00Windows Live Writer Is Dead–Open Live Writer<p><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HB7KcsA0ClU/VndC-mAR3iI/AAAAAAAAJFQ/zZGtrktHeQI/s1600-h/Windows-Live-Writer5.jpg"><img title="Windows-Live-Writer" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Windows-Live-Writer" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zIkaFHUmBQM/VndC-1k3GGI/AAAAAAAAJFU/IibyjYcxRcs/Windows-Live-Writer_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="86" align="left" height="86"></a>So, I was creating our 2015 update for my Christmas Letter blog. I had been working on it for weeks. Cora sent me her text and pictures, go everything layed out just right, and went to publish it to blogger, and got an error. [Not Found]</font></p> <p><font size="3">Tried again. Same error. [Not Found]</font></p> <p><font size="3">A quick Google search lead me an article that, apparently Google updated their authentification API, Windows chose not to update Live Writer, so there we were. The two apps won’t talk anymore.</font></p> <p><font size="3">That occurred <strong><font size="5"><em>2 FREAKIN’ DAYS</em></font></strong> before I tried to post my Christmas Letter.</font></p> <p><font size="3">PANIC! (not at the disco) I’ve been using and pimping WLW since <a href="http://scope-tech.blogspot.com/2009/04/tech-tuesday-windows-live-writer.html" target="_blank">2009</a>, and this is the moment it decides to betray me?</font></p> <p><font size="3">We’d already mailed out our Christmas letters with the link to the site. We <em><strong>HAD</strong></em> to get this letter posted. Bitting the bullet, I pasted the post into Blogger’s web editor. And felt sick. I changed the fonts all up. Some was big. Some was small. It wouldn’t scale the picutres like I wanted to. And it freaked out when I put two spaces after the period at the end of a sentence. It took over an hour to get a passible version loaded up.</font></p> <p> <hr> <p><font size="3"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MEzTmM-irOE/VndC_JLOblI/AAAAAAAAJFc/RID28WtxiWs/s1600-h/Open-Live-Writer5.jpg"><img title="Open-Live-Writer" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Open-Live-Writer" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5ydSLxjmgKk/VndC_vdKpKI/AAAAAAAAJFk/vdwcLu6HmJM/Open-Live-Writer_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="556" height="105"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">While all the above drama was going on, I was routed to a fork of Windows Live Writer called “<a href="http://openlivewriter.org/">Open Live Writer</a>”. I downloaded it that night, but they didn’t have it working that night. Now it appears to be working.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I’m writing this post on it. So far, so good. Can’t really see much of a difference so far. Well, except for the fact that it works.</font></p> <p><font size="3">We’ll see how it posts out.</font></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-79296734148416597192015-11-22T16:34:00.001-06:002015-11-22T16:34:36.906-06:00Car Wars Episode 8–The Tension Mounts<p><font size="3">My oldest nephew got married a month or so ago.</font></p> <p><font size="3">The wedding was late Saturday afternoon down in Peoria; about a 4 hour drive. The Daughter had a lot going on at college, so she wasn't going to come with us.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, <a href="http://lovelettersbycora.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cora</a> and I got our act together, and got ready to leave a little after 9:00 am on Saturday. Car loaded, I turned the engine over and …</font></p> <p><font size="3">THUNK!</font></p> <p><font size="3">Cora and I looked at each other, and I said, "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." But backing out of the garage, I could tell that I had no power steering, so I pulled back in and shut it down.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Now what?</font></p> <p><font size="3">We're making the wedding that's not in question, but how? We unpack the laptops, and found that the Enterprise car rental is only open for 3 hours on Saturday, but it is the 3 hours we need. And it is only a block away. We call them up, reserve a car, and walk there in 5 minutes.</font></p> <p><font size="3">We get a VW Jetta (no a diesel), and I make sure that I know where the outlet is for our GPS (aka "Croc" since he has an Australian accent). I can get us to Peoria fine, but I really don't know my way around, or where, exactly, our hotel or the wedding location are, and the base model Jetta doesn't have a nav. system.</font></p> <p><font size="3">We circled around, transferred our stuff from one car to the other, ran a couple of errands that we had to knock off, and hit the road. Later than we wanted, but still with plenty of time to make Peoria. But since we were running late, had the GPS on so that I could track ETA.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And so, it was with no surprise that we weren't out of the metro area when Croc gave me a low battery warning. It was plugged in, but neither power outlet was working. Must have blown a fuse.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Thanks Enterprise!</font></p> <p><font size="3">We roared down I-55 to I-74 and when we got in range, Google maps on the phone did the trick.</font></p> <p><font size="3">The wedding was probably beautiful. It was difficult to see because it was an outdoor wedding and we were looking directly into the setting sun.</font></p> <p><font size="3">But the reception and hotel were nice.</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-8572826766547866452015-10-20T06:30:00.000-05:002015-10-20T06:30:00.138-05:00Tech Tuesday - Windows 10 Upgrade<p><font size="3">This weekend, I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade my laptop from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.</font></p> <p><font size="3">One word of advice – Pre-download the installation. It's pretty big. You don't have to install once you download, but when you do, you will definitely save yourself some time.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I'm not sure how long it took. I started at 11:45, but after lunch, when it started in the heart of the install, <a href="http://lovelettersbycora.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cora</a> and I went to the Post Office, storage, The Home Depot, and Target; so we were gone for a couple of hours. When I came home, I needed to log in. It asked a handful of questions, I chose some defaults, and about 15 minutes later, I was done.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U-kk-dvFLxI/ViTRCIWNuTI/AAAAAAAAJEk/0Lnfhe2VWDo/s1600-h/Win10%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Win10" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Win10" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eC149UYu5OM/ViTRChq-8AI/AAAAAAAAJEo/2g_PvqwYAlA/Win10_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="586" height="334"></a></p> <p><font size="3">I mean, it was no big deal. </font></p> <p><font size="3">No programs to reinstall.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I launched Chrome, and it even had my previous tabs still open.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I really haven't run into any issues. I haven't explored any of the dark corners, but so far, so good. Even my Nintendo emulator ran fine.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I'll keep you updated.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Have you done the update? If so, what issues did you run into?</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-72206909881429444272015-10-13T06:30:00.000-05:002015-10-13T06:30:01.972-05:00Space Meme<p><font size="3">The other day, I read this </font><a href="http://gizmodo.com/the-fourth-man-to-walk-on-the-moon-also-paints-beautifu-1732788380" target="_blank"><font size="3">Gizmodo post</font></a><font size="3"> about Alan Bean. He painted the below picture, and was also the 4th man to walk on the moon.</font></p> <p><font size="3">There's a meme running around the internet with it the caption:</font></p> <p><font size="3">"My Nose Itches"</font></p> <p><font size="3">And that got me thinking about what I could do:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KwI8bJkGYZw/Vhx00Ds48oI/AAAAAAAAJDE/ueaJK9icF5w/s1600-h/Spaceman-Jazzman%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Spaceman-Jazzman" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Spaceman-Jazzman" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mLBFPyIYRt8/Vhx00_ZdDFI/AAAAAAAAJDM/fmKSRPhXT1A/Spaceman-Jazzman_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="586" height="428"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZzVc57M1CFE/Vhx0158-Z9I/AAAAAAAAJDU/W8iRCPVVkgY/s1600-h/Sneeze-Pee%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Sneeze-Pee" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Sneeze-Pee" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X5tOZ98gCQ4/Vhx02rXdVaI/AAAAAAAAJDc/j9kf8FUPjp0/Sneeze-Pee_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="586" height="428"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bbpqWRhPMHQ/Vhx03Efw8tI/AAAAAAAAJDg/S6Jox_6bArM/s1600-h/Spaceman-Pee%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Spaceman-Pee" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Spaceman-Pee" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FiQ2q0KlsBY/Vhx04yKBnvI/AAAAAAAAJDs/RP9B5NRlehg/Spaceman-Pee_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="586" height="428"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4uWoQZ-xXeM/Vhx05cJSspI/AAAAAAAAJDw/3en4oI-ZonE/s1600-h/Spaceman-Shart%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Spaceman-Shart" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Spaceman-Shart" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Eg21CtmWlcA/Vhx06GKkGQI/AAAAAAAAJD8/2TTpBxTOQaQ/Spaceman-Shart_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="586" height="428"></a></p> <p><font size="3">And I think this is my favorite…</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BeDVt9EG9SM/Vhx065s_aRI/AAAAAAAAJEE/7b8cetSW_P0/s1600-h/Spaceman-Finish-Him%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Spaceman-Finish-Him" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Spaceman-Finish-Him" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zlSBvIVTg-8/Vhx07k0DKrI/AAAAAAAAJEM/bGX4PNGoeO8/Spaceman-Finish-Him_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="586" height="428"></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-14973581675199579782015-09-11T06:30:00.000-05:002015-09-11T06:30:03.657-05:00Rubble Rubble<p><font size="3">So, if you've worked in an office, you know of the "office fridge".</font></p> <p><font size="3">And if there's an office fridge, there's going to be someone who takes food that isn't theirs.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PyCzwVv49Sw/VfJSvQ650aI/AAAAAAAAJCo/5Ye5TuSBZS4/s1600-h/Hamburgaler%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Hamburgaler" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Hamburgaler" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jfNtXyHQuKQ/VfJSv1e0s4I/AAAAAAAAJCw/fmyrv4f1F7c/Hamburgaler_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="586" height="333"></a></p> <p><font size="3">We <em>had</em> one.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><em>HAD</em></font></p> <p><font size="3">Here's some lessons (hopefully) learned by our thief:</font></p> <ol> <li><font size="3">If you are going to take people's food with names on it, don't make it be your Directors. They have the power to hold a grudge.</font></li> <li><font size="3">Stick to the fridge on your floor. There are cameras in the elevator lobby.</font></li> <li><font size="3">If you do go to other floors on your raids, eat the food where you stole it. There are cameras in the elevator lobby*.</font></li> <li><font size="3">If you are going to steal half a pizza in the box, don't walk through the elevator lobby empty handed, and then two minutes later, walk back our carrying a pizza box.<br><br><strong>THERE ARE CAMERAS IN THE ELEVATOR LOBBY</strong>.</font></li></ol> <p><font size="3">How would you like to explain that one to the family:</font></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>Wife:</strong> You're home early.<br><strong>Hamburglar:</strong> Yeah. I got fired.<br><strong>Wife:</strong> What for?<br><strong>Hamburglar:</strong> Stealing food out of the fridge.<br><strong>Wife:</strong> Well, you're gonna be eating out of garbage cans, because I'm kicking your sorry behind out the door.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">===================================</font></p> <p><font size="3">* This is also where the non-emergency stairwell is, so taking the stairs isn't an option, either.</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-86980683545108964822015-09-09T06:30:00.000-05:002015-09-09T06:30:00.735-05:00But Not Forgotten<p><font size="3">Recently, we lost a blogger.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Lisa Rohrbaugh. <a href="http://thebutterflyfarmer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Butterfly Farmer</a>. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Like most, her blog had gone quiet long ago.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And she rarely updated Facebook. But over the weekend, her Facebook page was updated to say that she pad passed from cervical cancer.</font></p> <p><font size="3">We never met, and I didn't know her well, but she was a kind and tender soul, and the world is diminished by her passing.</font></p> <p><font size="3">She was also an artist who made me these blog banners. </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OleDAq5wj_c/Ve-pg_KBrII/AAAAAAAAJB4/SpnlbErU1E0/s1600-h/3490808033_4dd5bb199e_o-2%25255B2%25255D.png"><img title="3490808033_4dd5bb199e_o-2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="3490808033_4dd5bb199e_o-2" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3YsxAD4CXiw/Ve-phfDBdlI/AAAAAAAAJCA/oZX9ubKQ_yk/3490808033_4dd5bb199e_o-2_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="586" height="218"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YVrJtoupYM4/Ve-piQ0GMZI/AAAAAAAAJCI/zkOOlt7Kw2A/s1600-h/3491623444_0595273253_o-2%25255B2%25255D.png"><img title="3491623444_0595273253_o-2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="3491623444_0595273253_o-2" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ofFULeKqE6M/Ve-pjK8XmRI/AAAAAAAAJCM/KT_1DMtR_4c/3491623444_0595273253_o-2_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="586" height="262"></a></p> <p><font size="3">Farewell, Lisa. You will be missed.</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-44091565411760457252015-08-24T07:16:00.000-05:002015-08-24T07:17:58.605-05:00And the Window Goes "BOING"!<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8ms4yDYO6Zc/VdsLbiN9-tI/AAAAAAAAJBM/Y_FhZW5HqjQ/s1600-h/the_death_of_tweety_bird%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3"><img title="the_death_of_tweety_bird" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="the_death_of_tweety_bird" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hS7qkPI9uno/VdsLcL3_k3I/AAAAAAAAJBU/2nif7edNkRU/the_death_of_tweety_bird_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="441" height="586"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3">So, it's Saturday morning, and </font><a href="http://lovelettersbycora.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><font size="3">Cora</font></a><font size="3"> and I are in the kitchen when we heard a loud "BOING" from the dining room window.</font></p> <p><font size="3">"Was that a bird?" she asked.</font></p> <p><font size="3">As a refresher, we live on the 3rd floor. The window in question has an unobstructed western view, but we usually keep the blinds closed to avoid the afternoon sun blinding us.</font></p> <p><font size="3">We both knew the answer was "yes", but with the blind closed, that would mean that effectively the bird flew into the middle of a wall.</font></p> <p><font size="3">What the hell?</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, we raise the blinds, just to make sure that the window is okay, and that there isn't a big bird sized smear on the glass. And to make sure that there aren't kids on the rood next door, throwing balls at the side of the building of something.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Nope all clear.</font></p> <p><font size="3">20 minutes later, I can't take it any more, and run down and check the breezeway. And there, right below our window, crumpled up in the middle of the breezeway, is the corpse of a little tiny brown bird.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Poor birdy.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I know I should get a shovel and pitch the poor thing into a trash can or into the gutter or something sensitive like that, but I just can't. Not yet. So I went back upstairs and reported my findings to the wife and daughter.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Another 20 minutes passes, and I man up, head to the garage, and get a shovel. Time to take care of some business.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, I head back out to the breezeway, and …</font></p> <p><font size="3">Wait…</font></p> <p><font size="3">The bird is up against the wall…</font></p> <p><font size="3">And did the that feather just move or was that that wind?</font></p> <p><font size="3">I crept closer and <strong><em>IT TWITCHED</em></strong>! I could see it breathing!</font></p> <p align="center"><font style="background-color: #ffff00" size="4"></font><font style="size=4">OhmyGodOymyGodOhmyGod!</font><font style="background-color: #ffff00" size="4"></font></p> <p><font size="3">So, I call Cora and tell her, IT'S...NOT...DEAD!</font></p> <p><font size="3">She advised me to go to the other breezeway, get the big brick that is there, and ***<strong><em>SMASH</em></strong>*** is to put it out of its misery. While that seemed like the humane thing to do, I just couldn't bring myself to hurt it, even though it was suffering. The shovel went back to the garage, and the poor bird was just left in the breezeway to traumatize the small children in the building.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Another hour passes, and we are going to take The Daughter to get her hair colored before she goes off to college, and we take another peek:</font></p> <p><font size="3">The bird is now sitting up, and rocking back and forth. Less and less dead all the time.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, after we run the errands, we check on the bird's status one more time, and it's gone.</font></p> <p><font size="3">GONE</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, one of the following happened:</font></p> <ol> <li><font size="3">The bird expired while we were gone, and one of the neighbors disposed of it.</font></li> <li><font size="3">The JESUS BIRD came back to life and flew off.</font></li></ol> <p><font size="3">We strongly suspect the latter: That the bird hit the window with enough force to knock itself out, and then was stunned and concussed. Finally, it came to, and flew away. Hopefully wiser for the experience.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">===================================</font></p> <p><font size="3">And, 'Yes', I'm really glad that I didn't re-enact the whole meteor vs. dinosaur thing like my wife (and under the bus you go <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7ng75NPue2g/VdsLdXWN5OI/AAAAAAAAJBY/_kvFG8BGRDs/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> ) encouraged me to do earlier.</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-13455614804686222002015-07-13T06:30:00.000-05:002015-07-13T06:30:02.497-05:00They Call Me Bruce<p><font size="3">I will continue to call him "Bruce". Just like that college friend who you call by their maiden name decades after their wedding, or that grade school friend who you call "Billy" even after he's tried for years to get people to call him "Will".</font> <p><font size="3">First knew him as "Bruce". Will always know him as "Bruce". No offense. I don't care what he calls himself. He doesn't control the metadata tags I have on him.</font> <p><font size="3">But most of all, from an IT point of view, why, oh why? Having to change people's network IDs sux. We can and do it all the time, normally when women get married or divorced, but in the transitioning gender situation,</font><font size="3"> why bother? Why change your first initial? Then you don't have to change your network ID at all, and there would be no issue.</font> <p><font size="3">Also, think about those monogrammed towels that you don't have to replace.</font> <p><font size="3">Like why didn't Bruce (I know his first name was "William" but go with me here) go "Barbara" or if that's too staid, "Bianca"?</font> <p><font size="3">If not for you, set an example for those that follow you. Think of the poor IT people. (Or the person who had to go thru and edit Bruce's wiki page.)</font> <p><font size="3">But if you're going to do it, go big or go home. Don't go with "Caitlyn". If he REALLY wanted to stick an ice pick into his ex-wife, rename yourself "Chris Jenner".</font> <p><font size="3">But, to be fair, if Caitlyn Jenner wins the Olympic Decathlon, I'm willing to update some of those metadata tags.</font> <p> <hr> <p> <iframe height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EW1Frr4OcRc" frameborder="0" width="459" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-18793174338067547962015-06-16T06:30:00.000-05:002015-06-16T06:30:00.727-05:00Giving Me A CORA-NARY<p><font size="3">Trying to keep up with my "post once a month" promise, things have sure been interesting around here:</font></p> <p><font size="3">[<strong>NOTE:</strong> <a href="http://lovelettersbycora.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cora</a>'s fine. There's absolutely nothing to worry about. Scared the crap out of both of us, true, but everything is okay, promise.]</font></p> <p><font size="3">It was late April, on a Tuesday. I was on my way home from work, and The Daughter and Cora were out; 2 bus rides away from home. I texted Cora (as I usually do on the way home), and Cora replied back that she wasn't feeling well, and if I could come pick them up. She was having pain in the middle of her chest. (<em>Don't get too worried here.</em>)</font></p> <p><font size="3">I dropped Cora off at the Urgent Care place down the road, took The Daughter home, and told her everything was going to be all right, as I was trying to convince myself. I then wolfed down a quick dinner, and went back to the Urgent Care. I got back there just as Cora was heading back, and I went back with her.</font></p> <p><font size="3">She told the doctor about what she was feeling, which was gastric distress in her chest, like something was in her lungs.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And he went cardiac.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Explaining the they just don't know enough about women's heart attacks (<em>Once again, don't panic.</em>) He listened to her heart, and electroded her up for an EKG.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And that came out fine.</font></p> <p><font size="3">But he sent us to the ER anyway, out of an abundance of caution.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And that's when we (I) started to get nervous (but don't you dare). A quick drive to the second closest hospital (the closest one is a long term wound care facility with no ER), and Cora was whisked right back. Another EKG, an X-Ray, and one of two heart attack protein test later, we found ourselves sitting in a room in the ER, waiting 2 hours to take the second blood protein test and more time to process it.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Vb7OL1MA3ME/VX-HPU7leBI/AAAAAAAAJAI/qNREXFDmdAM/s1600-h/ER-Picture2.jpg"><img title="ER-Picture" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="ER-Picture" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uegLFq-ebQs/VX-HQiq-8zI/AAAAAAAAJAQ/57br_k1qzqE/ER-Picture_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="586" height="334"></a></p> <p><font size="3">So, we sat around and Cora pretended that the blood oxygen monitor made her ET. Don't be mistaken, we were taking this as serious as, well, as serious as a heart attack. But sitting there for hours with very few visits from the staff, we started to go a little stir crazy.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Around midnight, they released us, with every test coming back normal, a follow-up appointment on the schedule, a little scared, and a lot starving.</font></p> <p><font size="3">McDonald's drive-thru, here we come.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Thursday was a follow-up at their clinic, where the resident claimed to hear a heart murmur (not mentioned by Urgent Care or the ER) and set up an echocardiogram for the NEXT Saturday, 9 days out. "You may have a serious heart condition, please sit around pondering your mortality for a week and a half."</font></p> <p><font size="3">Friday, we had a thing at The Daughter's future college, and Cora had a few, "episodes" that day, after eating, and then walking up stairs. The 3rd and final one cleared up after she burped. Hmmmm.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Not waiting around, and while appreciating the intense investigation into the cardio possibility, we felt that nothing was being done to look into what Cora thought it was, digestive, on Saturday, we went to the local branch of the University affiliated hospital that I use. The 15 year veteran of the trauma center doctor <strong><em>LISTENED</em></strong> to her heart AND <strong><em>LISTENED</em></strong> to what she had to say, and agreed. There was no murmur. What she described sounded like an acid reflux issue. He recommended Prilosec OTC. Like ol' Larry The Cable Guy.</font></p> <p><font size="3">We got the Prilosec, and set up an appointment for the University docs to review the echocardiogram. And for giggles, finally set Cora up with a regular doctor in Chicago.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Let's just say, the side-effects of the Prilosec were worse than the condition it was trying to cure, and after suffering through 6 days of worsening symptoms, stopped taking it. It took her more than a week to recover from the Prilosec.</font></p> <p><font size="3">We kept the echocardiogram appointment (Hey! I tagged along and was in the room while the whole thing was going on, it's "WE".), and were feeling good that the technician didn't tackle us as we walking out, so we figured that was a good sign.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And then the echocardiogram review a few days later with the University doctor, and once again, everything was normal.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, the upshot of it all: She's stopped having a spicy tomato soup. She had been having it for 4 or 5 meals a week. And she was off dark chocolate for about a month (the horror!). She's now back to her normal self.</font></p> <p><font size="3">That was not a fun month. But as our first real test, I can say that the 3 of us pulled together stronger.</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-57429113182511656362015-05-02T10:06:00.001-05:002015-05-02T10:06:58.795-05:00Car Wars 7A–The One With The Rim Shot<p><font size="3">Well, that sure didn't work.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, trying to weld the rim on the tire failed, epically. It was flat in a couple of days.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, we contacted the shop, and the guy told me that he did some looking, and if he got me one of the rims (this is for a 13 year old vehicle where the rims are prone to defect) from his suppliers, that it would be expensive. However, if I got one from eBay, he would mount it for free. He's prohibited from buying parts on eBay. Makes sense.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Okay, my wife is wizard on eBay, how hard can it be?</font></p> <p><font size="3">Well, we searched around, and found a nice one out of St. Louis. We discussed it for a few minutes, and then clicked "Buy It Now" (it was in a no-bid store "auction".) But, between us pulling up the wheel rim and the decision to buy, the item had been snatched out from under us.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, we started the search again, found a tire that looked exactly like what we wanted, and while <a href="http://lovelettersbycora.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cora</a> pointed out to me the big red writing about it being a stock photo and the that actual item had a different finish, we bought the item.</font></p> <p><font size="3">We then needed to run out pick up our Chinese food order, but ran into a neighbor who had her toddler and new born in the elevator. Her CO2 alarm was going off, her husband wasn't home, and she was going to try to get a ladder, and climb all 4'11" of her up the ladder with a crying newborn and a freaked out toddler to get to the alarm.</font></p> <p><font size="3">We opted to be decent humans, and I got the ladder and took down the CO2 alarm for her. (In other news, do you know that CO2 alarms have a built in expiration date of 7 or 10 years, depending upon the model? Guess how old our condos are? 7 years! Ours died between then and now and chirped it's ever-loving brains out while it was doing it. Thankfully NOT at 2am.) We got back with the Chinese food, <em>and thank General Tso</em>, it was warm and delicious.</font></p> <p><font size="3">This was a Wednesday evening and I was taking spring break off with The Daughter. I had no hope that this freakin' wheel rim, shipping from a mystery location somewhere in the United States, would remotely be there in time for us to do anything with it while I was still out.</font></p> <p><font size="3">But then, a small miracle occurred. Cora, checked the shipping information, and asked, "Do you know where 'Fort Wayne, IN' is?"</font></p> <p><font size="3">Holy Smokes! That's just a couple hours drive from Chicago.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And then Thursday morning, it was heading to Chicago.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And Friday morning, it was out for delivery.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, maybe 36 hours after ordering it, the rim arrived, and I opened it. And that's when I realized the slight mistake I made. The picture was of a chromed version of the rim, like I have, but the rim they shipped was a silver flecked paint, like I ordered. That explains why it was $100 cheaper than others I'd seen.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Tired of having to pump up the tire every time I wanted to drive my car, I declared, "Close enough" and we took the rim to Car-X and got it mounted. (While we were waiting, we took a walk around to kill time. We got back, and 2 minutes later, there was a down pour! Dodged that bullet!)</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6ZA0urOOxR8/VUToCx5Bc6I/AAAAAAAAI_Y/CNNxVl6c0zU/s1600-h/War-Wars-7A%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="War-Wars-7A" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="War-Wars-7A" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7L_CPk6D800/VUToD1RnYcI/AAAAAAAAI_g/MB57BHOeWZc/War-Wars-7A_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="586" height="306"></a></p> <p><font size="3">So, here's the car. The rims are different, but not too bad. And the chrome one would have looked off, too, since it would have been clean also. There one dent, between the back tire and the tail light. For a 2002, not bad looking.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And once I grunge up that rim, it should be less noticeable. And, if I need to replace the other rims…</font></p> <p><font size="3">I can tell you, it's been a relief not to have to run down to the car 10 minutes before you need to leave to inflate the tire. It's the simple things in life, sometimes.</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-66567690645075904392015-04-23T06:32:00.000-05:002015-04-23T06:33:35.288-05:00Forget Batman–The Green Arrow Is My Hero<p><font size="3">Forget Batman. The Green Arrow is my hero.</font></p> <p><font size="3">No, not that Oliver Queen chap from the DC comics (I've always been a Marvel fan myself, anyway), but this wonderful bit of LED magic.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OGm9Yyw_dD0/VTjYi9cstyI/AAAAAAAAI-4/JdE6kC8vdV4/s1600-h/trafficsignal1%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="trafficsignal1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="trafficsignal1" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NgQ2tHgTw1w/VTjYjrxGnXI/AAAAAAAAI_A/7TgG23uNDj0/trafficsignal1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="586" height="303"></a></font></p> <p><font size="3">Finally, our intersection has green left turn arrows. I feel so… FANCY!</font></p> <p><font size="3">But, this is Chicago, they can't make it smooth.</font></p> <p><font size="3">They actually installed the 5 light signals lights last winter. But they left the old 3 light signals sitting in a pile on one of the corners.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And we got excited, we're getting a turn arrow: like we are moving into the 80's or the suburbs or something.</font></p> <p><font size="3">But they covered the arrows sections of the signals with plastic bags. So, nothing changed, except we were living with a tease for a couple of months.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And then one day, we saw the crew remove the pile of old signals that had been sitting out in the snow and mud. And they were messing around with light control boxes. I couldn't believe it, we were getting the signal, FINALLY!</font></p> <p><font size="3">Let me explain. We live right off <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Avenue_(Chicago)" target="_blank">Western Ave</a>., <strike>one of</strike> THE primary north / south road in Chicago. And when we go shopping, we almost always head south, so coming home, we have to try to cross the two lanes of traffic at the intersection. I'd given up on trying to do it. I would use the red light to "throw a block" if you will, then turn a couple of blocks early, and wind around on some narrow neighborhood streets to get to where I need to go. This turn arrow coming up from the south will save me maybe 4 or 5 minutes getting home.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And then the Lord said, "Let there be light." And there was. And it was good. For maybe a week or two.</font></p> <p><font size="3">After enjoying the gift of the turn signal for about two weeks, one day, I pulled into the left turn lane, and I didn't get the light. Now, these aren't your fancy suburban turn arrows that sense if a car is there before activating. These are dumb lights. They follow the same pattern, no matter what. I got robbed.</font></p> <p><font size="3">My green light had been taken away. And the next day when we were at the bus stop on the corner, I noticed that south bound, the green light and green arrow light at the same time. This wasn't simply a matter of the north bound green arrow not working. The north bound traffic was specifically getting screwed.</font></p> <p><font size="3">As I was getting ready to write the alderman, and ask why we were being treated like second class citizens…</font></p> <p><font size="3">The green arrow returned!</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-16665321991505478312015-03-20T06:30:00.000-05:002015-03-20T06:30:02.891-05:00Car Wars 7–Tired and Retired<p><font size="3">My car, a 2002 PT Cruiser just crossed over 65,000 miles this last weekend. If you're doing the math, that's under 5,000 miles a year.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Oyy9rgrDXZ4/VQuMUxdEogI/AAAAAAAAI-A/WCTu72fIAXI/s1600-h/2001-10-PT%2525202%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="2001-10-PT 2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2001-10-PT 2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4LP3_l0pLhE/VQuMVkf25rI/AAAAAAAAI-I/qY8XCjognuU/2001-10-PT%2525202_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="586" height="286"></a></p> <p><font size="3">It gave me fits last year as documented <a href="http://scope-tech.blogspot.com/2014/06/car-wars-episode-6-breakdown.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. But it's also been having flat tire issues. CONSTANTLY. I learned a long time ago the aluminum rims on it are hard to get a seal on and will leak air. Right after New Year's, I ended up with two flat tires that my little Target air compressor just couldn't keep up with.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, I got two new tires at Car-X.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And the next week, they were both flat in the garage.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So I pumped them up.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And the next week, they were both flat in the garage.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So I went back to Car-X, and they tried resealing them.</font></p> <p><font size="3">And it WORKED! <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-31Ckexz4PsE/VQuMV1pBqBI/AAAAAAAAI-M/6M-35qlBmXI/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> On one tire. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qDkYiSlo7No/VQuMWbGMufI/AAAAAAAAI-U/5-x0pMVrm7M/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></font></p> <p><font size="3">So I put up with filling the tire once a week for while, because I can't take the car in constantly.</font></p> <p><font size="3">I took it in a few weeks back, and they warned me that they were going to try sending it our for grinding and polishing and if that didn't work, we may be in the "replace the rim" territory.</font></p> <p><font size="3">It didn't hold. It was flat in a week.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So I took it in on Monday all ready to get the rim replaced.</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, they sent my old rim off, and the people found a crack in it that they guessed would leak out in a week, and were able to weld it. We'll see if it holds. If not, they are going to need to replace the rim. But since they are so leaky, they are also hard to find, and it might take up to a week for them to get a replacement in.</font></p> <p><font size="3">But, for the fiddle-farting they've done with my car, they haven't charged me since replacing the tires.</font></p> <p><font size="3">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></p> <p><font size="3">I just went and checked on it. It's only been a few days, so the jury's still out. Man I hope it holds, but I'm not holding my breath.</font></p> <p><font size="3">If my tire isn't going to hold it's air, why should I?</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-55768790267898416312015-03-09T06:30:00.000-05:002015-03-09T06:30:03.488-05:00What the… WHAT?<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7RZx4JgtyO8/VP0C2dXaHhI/AAAAAAAAI9k/BmHQwFcRzOY/s1600-h/old-woman-smoking-sandy-powers2.jpg"><font size="3"><img title="old-woman-smoking-sandy-powers" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="old-woman-smoking-sandy-powers" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gwSTPVmrqF8/VP0C29loilI/AAAAAAAAI9o/1ekFWFDzu4k/old-woman-smoking-sandy-powers_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="551" height="441"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3"><strong>To The Daughter's paternal grandmother:</strong></font> <p><font size="3">You say you're confused. I'll say you're confused.</font> <p><font size="3">Or in some kind of mega-denial.</font> <p><font size="3">After that last stunt of yours, I know that if you read this, you won't believe it. Everyone's tried to explain this to you, and you still claim not to understand, so here it is:</font> <p align="center"><b><font size="6" face="Courier New">YOUR SON IS A JERK.</font></b> <p align="center"><b><font size="6" face="Courier New">HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM.</font></b> <p><font size="3">Is that clear enough? I know you are only hearing part of the story, so let's make sure that you have all the facts.</font> <p><font size="3"><b>TIMELINE</b> – First, let's make sure we have the timeline set. (All dates are rough estimates)</font> <p><font size="3"><b>Spring 2011 – Skype Incident</b> – RAS was on Skype with The Daughter (as she is known on this site), when he needed to leave the house to pick up his wife at the transit station. So, he told The Daughter, who was physically 2,000 miles away, to watch the kids, <b><i>OVER A VIDEO LINK</i></b>, while he left his house, got in his car, and drove off. He saw nothing wrong with this. The Daughter was traumatized, watching the other kids panic at being alone, terrified something would happen to the kids while she watched on, helplessly.</font> <p><font size="3">While this is far, far from the only issue between the two, it was the triggering event for what came next.</font> <p><font size="3"><b>Spring 2011 – Counselor</b> – The Daughter starts seeing the counselor, henceforth, "KT" to deal with the damage caused by the Skype incident and everything else. As I understand it, this marks the second member of his family that has gone to therapy due to RAS.</font> <p><font size="3"><b>Spring 2011 – Spring Break Court</b> – RAS's visitation was suspended, and a Guardian Ad Litum (GAL) was ordered. With that, the court case begins. While RAS's contact with The Daughter was suspended, that restriction <i>WAS NOT</i> extended to the rest of your family.</font> <p><font size="3"><b>Summer 2011 – GAL</b> – The Daughter met with the GAL, and told her side. The GAL also met with RAS and KT.</font> <p><font size="3"><b>Court Case/s</b> – There originally was one case that covered both child support and the parenting plan. While these dragged on, RAS and his lawyer kept doing head scratching things, that kept running up the legal fees for no obvious reason, including splitting the cases and requesting a detailed financial interrogatory. RAS split the case in two, and had his lawyer expedite the child support aspect. While he succeeded in getting his monthly child support reduced from $460 to $109 a month, his attempts to also transfer all his legal expenses on to us failed. Later, in counseling, he stated that he ran up the legal expenses because his lawyer assured him that we would get stuck paying his legal expenses. So it was his attempt to bleed money out of us, money that might have gone to support his daughter, that backfired.</font> <p><font size="3">Unlike what her cousin told The Daughter, this case is not the reason why none of her half siblings will go to college or why he lost his house. And even if it were, it was RAS's decision to run up the bills on the child support case, which could have been handled with county administrators, not judges and lawyers that burned up his money, and left him to not have a lawyer for the parenting plan portion of the case.</font> <p><font size="3">During time, RAS, The Daughter, and KT were performing group therapy. KT and the Daughter were also doing one-on-one therapy. And RAS, KT, and my Wife were also negotiating the parenting plan.</font> <p><font size="3"><b>LATE SPRING / EARLY SUMMER 2012 – Child Support</b> – As mentioned above, the court decided child support, and denied flipping his legal fees on to us. RAS decides to separate from his lawyer, too, and to represent himself for the parenting plan case.</font> <p><font size="3"><b>LATE SUMMER 2012</b> – Earlier the GAL stated that this should be worked out in therapy, not in court. With the help of the counselor, KT, and our lawyer making sure that all parts of the agreement met Washington law, the parenting plan was signed.</font> <p><font size="3">Some key aspect of the agreement:</font> <ul> <li><font size="3">Visitation would resume when KT determined that The Daughter was ready.</font> <li><font size="3">If she was not going to attend a scheduled visit, it was upon The Daughter to notify RAS in advance.</font> <li><font size="3">RAS would pay part of The Daughter's airfare for visits, but once tickets were purchased, he would have the right to find a cheaper, comparable flight.</font></li></ul> <p><font size="3">Around this time, The Daughter was to spend some time with RAS's family, to try and mend their relationship. Instead, they tried to convince her that she was wrong about RAS and pressure her into seeing him.</font> <p><font size="3"><b>SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2012 – </b>During counseling, plans were being made for the first face-to-face meeting between RAS and The Daughter. It was going to be Veteran's Day weekend. 1 hour in KT's office. If things went well between them, they might spend some time together the next day.</font> <p><font size="3"><b>OCTOBER 2012 – </b>All RAS had to do was play the game for 1 hour a week, and he was going to get the visitation he wanted.</font> <p><font size="3">He couldn't.</font> <p><font size="3">The visit was canceled.</font> <p><font size="3">And his insistence that all communication between The Daughter and her siblings go through him caused an end to the Skype talks between her and them.</font> <p><font size="3"><b>WINTER 2012 / 2013 – </b>RAS's participation in counseling ends. KT advises him to get his own counselor, and work on his issues. He never rejoined counseling.</font> <p><font size="3">The Daughter continues counseling, and life continues on. RAS pops up on occasion, but then slinks off to the shadows. </font> <p><font size="3"><b>NOVEMBER 2014</b> – The Daughter turns 18. Like last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, not so much as a card from RAS.</font> <p><font size="3"><b>FEBRUARY 2015</b> – You write to KT that you don't understand what the problem is, despite everyone telling what I told you at the start:</font> <p align="center"><b><font size="6" face="Courier New">YOUR SON IS A JERK.</font></b> <p align="center"><b><font size="6" face="Courier New">HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM.</font></b> <p><font size="3"><b>MARCH 2015</b> – The Daughter sends you a poem and an explanation regarding her relationship with RAS, and within hours, you comment on Facebook, that she is just like her father.</font> <p><font size="3">Was that a complement? "You are just like the man that you cannot stand to be around, talk to, or even think about." Really? She tries desperately to explain it to you. Show opens up to you. And THAT is your response? "You're just like him."</font> <p><font size="3">Even if you really don't get what the problem is, you <em>MUST</em> understand that there is a serious problem between them, and that she would not take your comment as anything like a compliment.</font> <p><font size="3">=============================================</font> <p><font size="3">So, to recap:</font> <p><font size="3"><strong>THERE HAVE BEEN NO LAST MINUTE VISIT CA</strong></font><font size="3"><strong>NCELATIONS</strong> – If they weren't even able to communicate via Skype once a week in counseling, they were not going to have overnight, unsupervised visits. Any last minute texts notifying him that she would not be attended were </font><font size="3">simply a perfunctory task required under the parenting plan.</font> <p><font size="3">If you are being told that the things are being called off last minute, then you are not being told the truth, and I would question the motivation of the person/s doing so.</font> <p><font size="3"><b>NOT HELPING YOUR CAUSE</b> – If you want a relationship with your granddaughter, you are <i>REALLY</i> going about it poorly. The Daughter has told you that there is a problem between them. The therapist told you.</font> <p align="center"><font size="6" face="Courier New"><strong>BELIEVE THEM</strong></font> <p align="left"><font size="3">This is a real, serious, long term issue. It is not something The Daughter will just "get over". RAS will need to perform some serious soul searching and realize that he's the source of the problem.</font> <p align="left"><font size="3"><strong>THE CHOICE</strong> – Your family can continue to do what it has, line up behind RAtSo, view this all as The Daughter's problem, and nothing will change, except that the gulf between you will get wider and wider.</font> <p align="left"><font size="3">Or, maybe, you can accept that your Golden Boy isn't so golden, and convince him that he needs to do some work on himself, and then, who knows.</font> <p><font size="3">What I know is this, if you want to help, do something helpful, like believe your granddaughter. Otherwise, you are just part of the problem, and please stop being part of the problem.</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5361171754953008873.post-17507202044494538692015-02-06T21:20:00.001-06:002015-02-06T21:20:17.281-06:00The Great Sky Mall In The Sky<p><font size="3">As you know, I have a great love for the Sky Mall. I've visited it a few times on these pages:</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://scope-tech.blogspot.com/2011/01/trip-to-skymall-part-1.html" target="_blank">Here</a>: For the "Seed of Life" shoes.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://scope-tech.blogspot.com/2011/01/trip-to-skymall-part-2.html" target="_blank">Here</a>: For the remote control spider.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://scope-tech.blogspot.com/2011/01/trip-to-skymall-part-3.html" target="_blank">Here</a>: For Hagrid's folding chair.</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://scope-tech.blogspot.com/2011/01/trip-to-skymall-part-4.html" target="_blank">Here</a>: For adult footie pajamas.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Those catalogs kept me and millions upon millions of travelers amused on long airline flights. I looked through it on almost every flight. Never bought anything, mind you, but loved leafing through them. And that may be why they filed for bankruptcy. Lots of lookers, not enough buyers.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Some are blaming iPads and in-flight wi-fi for giving people other distractions in-flight, rather than purchasing a rain coat for their dogs. I think it's a bit more like the Sears Christmas Wish Book. The times are changing, and people have new ways to find useless junk, wherever they are. It's called the "internet". It has places like, <a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/" target="_blank">Think Geek</a>, <a href="http://www.ebay.com/" target="_blank">eBay</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, and of course…</font></p> <p><font size="3"><a href="http://www.skymall.com/" target="_blank">SkyMall</a>. As of right now, it is still functioning as an on line store.</font></p> <p><font size="3">One company that may now be so sad to go is American Airlines (and all the others that carried the catalog). They may save about $350,000 in fuel, not dragging those dead trees around (<a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/01/skymalls-demise-save-american-airlines-350k-year-fuel/" target="_blank">Wired</a>).</font></p> <p><font size="3">But then again, if we are now all dragging around iPads and laptops, there goes the savings.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Maybe that's why, even with fuel costs plummeting to around $50 a barrel, they still have all the baggage fees in place that they put in place when oil shot up to $100 a barrel.</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2