Peoria Illinoisan

There is an article in the latest issue of “The Peoria Woman” about a couple who began photographing unique architectural images of Peoria which looked like letters and putting them together to spell out names. They turned their little hobby turned into a nice side business called Sticks and Stones.

Of course, I was immediately jealous and showed my wife who agreed that it was a fabulous idea and we should get to work immediately. Our kids were less enthusiastic, but after a little arm twisting, they accepted the fact that they had no choice and went hunting with us to find our last name in pictures.

Here’s a sample of what we found:

I’ll bet you all thought this was going to be another cheap self promotional link…

Seriously, though, we had a good time. I plan to frame up our name and display it prominently.

(p.s.- this spells Peoria, if anyone wasn’t sure; hey, it’s a work in progress…) 

This is, hands down, one of the greatest albums ever recorded. It reached #1 on the Billboard charts back in 1975. At that time, Bob Dylan was struggling to save his failing marriage; they say that artists do their best work when going through troubled times, and this is no exception. The marriage ultimately failed, but we are left with this personal and heartfelt album from one of the most influential but elusive and secretive artists of our time - and he claimed the songs had nothing to do with his personal life. You be the judge:

1. Tangled Up In Blue - Rolling Thunder Revue, 1975 (a classic video that could be caught on MTV back in the day - the makeup was to help the crowd see him better)

2. Simple Twist of Fate- “The World of John Hammond” Sept 10, 1975

3. You’re a Big Girl Now - Providence, RI, Apr 17, 1997

4. Idiot Wind - Rolling Thunder Revue, Fort Collins, CO, May 23, 1976

5. You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go - (cover)

6. Meet Me In The Morning - (cover)

7. Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts - killer song, no video available.

8. If You See Her, Say Hello - from the movie Renaldo & Clara, 1975 (great song, horrible video)

9. Shelter From The Storm - Rolling Thunder Revue, Fort Collins, Co, May 23, 1976

10. Buckets of Rain - (custom video to the original album audio track)

If you are a banker, or any type of professional for that matter, I’ve got some advice:

1. Shake the customer’s hand as you introduce yourself.
2. Treat your customer with courtesy and respect.
3. Don’t talk down to your customer.
4. After completing the deal, SHAKE YOUR CUSTOMER’S HAND AGAIN as you say thank you.

The first time this particular individual acted like this, I didn’t think much of it. Three times, and I’m seeing a pattern. How he got all the awards the he so prominently displays on his desk without having any people or business skills is a mystery to me.

It’s such a simple thing to be courteous and professional that I took it for granted. It’s one of those simple things that you don’t notice until it’s missing.

Even though I was born after Simon & Garfunkel split, I literally grew up listening to them. There are not many early videos available, but this one’s a classic. Call it a musical form of macaroni & cheese (comfort food) and I love it. This song should definitely be on the “driving home from a long vacation” CD, and if timed correctly, will start playing just before rounding the I-74 curve in East Peoria as the skyline slowly appears.

I’m sittin’ in the railway station
Got a ticket for my destination
On a tour of one night stands
My suitcase and guitar in hand
And every stop is neatly planned
For a poet and a one man band

Homeward bound
I wish I was
Homeward bound
Home, where my thoughts escaping
Home, where my musics playing
Home, where my love lies waiting
Silently for me

Everyday’s an endless stream
Of cigarettes and magazines
And each town looks the same to me
The movies and the factories
And every strangers face I see
Reminds me that I long to be

Homeward bound
I wish I was
Homeward bound
Home, where my thoughts escaping
Home, where my musics playing
Home, where my love lies waiting
Silently for me

Tonight I’ll sing my songs again
I’ll play the game and pretend
But all my words come back to me
In shades of mediocrity
Like emptyness in harmony
I need someone to comfort me

Homeward bound
I wish I was
Homeward bound
Home, where my thoughts escaping
Home, where my musics playing
Home, where my love lies waiting
Silently for me
Silently for me
Silently for me

Come to the Junior League of Peoria’s headquarters, the Ballance-Herschel House, 256 NE Randolph, for a wine tasting party this Friday night hosted by our one of our own - Chef Kevin. Promises to be a great time, only $15 per person. Great wine, great food, cool historic house. Can pay at the door, but RSVP by tomorrow (Wednesday) if you want to come.

-Mrs. PI.

email: peoriaillinoisan@yahoo.com

Someone forgot to mention the start time- 7pm. Thanks to Diane for pointing that out.

Update: “canceled due to low participation”

Sorry, Chef Kevin, but in my defense, I had nothing to do with it and I put in my reservation.

She heard some commotion, grabbed the camera and took a few photos that she thought I might enjoy. Thanks, honey!

..

Update/Correction: My wife didn’t take these photos, my 13 year old daughter did. She even took a video:

The house on the corner of Main and Maplewood has looked like this for about a month now, and as far as I remember, there haven’t been any tornadoes touch down. I love the symbolism, but seriously, what’s up with that!?

On a related note, mark your calendar for Monday, May 21, and bring a lawn chair. Graduation day is May 19, and according to a student who live on Maplewood and is renting from Bradley (via the BuScout) “We have to be out of the house by graduation”

That was my original post, but when I walked over to take a photo, I (somewhat) found the answer to my question. It seems the initial demo and stripping the houses of valuable woodwork, windows, and everything that makes an old house great has begun… that is, on what I assume were previously owner occupied houses. Rentals still have students. What’s done is done; the fight is over; the arbors are gone, the neighborhood is shrinking, owner occupieds will move out and the rentals will take over what is left. I guess I can find some solice in the fact that they’re salvaging some of the valuables, wherever they may end up.

I tell you what though, if I were a college kid knowing that the house is going to be demo’d within days of my moving out, I’d throw one heck of a party!

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As little as I watch TV, I’ll be watching this. Enjoy the tournament; I know I will.

The paper is chocked full of goodies- literally something for everyone. Unfortunately, I only had time to scan the headlines and glance at the editorial page, but it should make for some good reading when I get home this evening.

Enjoy your Thursday.

I’ve got a huge problem with people who try to be bigger than what they really are, which is why the Alicia Butler thing grate on my nerves.

Whether you have a Masters Degree or GED, I will respect that, if you are a decent and honest person.

I don’t care if you didn’t graduate college; you may be a stay at home Mom (which I hugely admire); you may be the lowly Hertz guy; you may be the CEO of a large company. It’s OK, whatever it is- BUT don’t make yourself out to be greater than you actually are because it never works and you’ll be looked down upon so much more than if you just said “hey, I’m a manager at McDonalds.” Great, so be it- let’s have a beer and grill up some hamburgers…

If the manager of McDonalds, Hertz, or whatever, is ashamed of where they are at in life and feels the need to put on false pretenses, then I don’t care to be around them.

I’ll admit, as much as I try not to, I get jealous of those who are smarter, more clever, better writers, etc, because I compare myself to my peers in the blogosphere… but I don’t back down and I don’t quit. What I will never do is make up excuses or lies. As Popeye would say “I yam what I yam”.

The bottom line is, you have to be comfortable in your own skin, whatever that skin may be. If you’re not a brain surgeon, don’t pretend to be one. If you’re not a Rhodes scholar, don’t pretent to be one. If you don’t have a degree, don’t fake it, people won’t look down on you. If you lie, they will.

I’ve known a few too many people who felt the need to play themselves off as greater than they actually are and I’ve always felt bad for them, because in the end, nothing good comes out of it. Alicia Butler, unfortunately, is the current poster child. I honestly wish her nothing but the best, but she needs to come to grips with herself.

“there ain’t no goin’ back when your foot of pride come down”

Ok, they’re not all “landmarks” in the strict sense of the word, but if you are willing to accept my loose interpretation, we’re up to 150.

I don’t know how far this can go, but as long as people are interested, I’ll keep it going. I initially set it up as a quiz, but it’s the interesting, informative, funny, and sometimes just plain odd comments that really keep me interested. To those who participate and to my fellow bloggers that put both of my sites on their blogroll, I thank you.

Discussing Peoria and it’s rich history, one photo at a time: NameThisPeoriaLandmark

As a huge fan of the movie 12 Angry Men, I always must remind myself that one cannot assume guilt based on appearances.

For argument’s sake, I’ll give you a hypothetical scenario-

Let’s say Joe Schmoe was elected onto a public board, maybe even the school board of a troubled district. Let’s also assume that Joe Schmoe was well liked by the voters. Unfortunately someone, possibly having a vendetta against Joe, whispered something into a small town paper reporter’s ear.

The small town paper ran with a story about Joe’s credentials. The small town paper contacted the University where Joe claims to have graduated. The University claims that Joe did not graduate. Joe says he did, and even stuck around to earn his Master’s Degree but he’s a little fuzzy on the years and apparently burned his diplomas along with all of his disco 45’s.

When questioned, Joe says he is contacting a lawyer.

Small town paper gets curious and checks with some of Joe’s past employers who confirmed that Joe worked there, but not exactly in the length and manner that Joe described.

Joe likes to exaggerate a little. Well, maybe more that just a little.

Unlike the kid on trial in 12 Angry Men, Joe Schmoe is guilty.

Alicia Butler should save face, resign immediately, seek counceling, and work on getting her life in order.

First, let me bitch a little. I was trying to sign up for MLB’s GameDay Audio so I could listen to the games, but they kept forcing me into an automatically renewing subscription of Sports Illustrated. I don’t want Sports Illustrated! After squinting to see a link in tiny print which said something to the effect of “sign up to audio without a lifetime subscription to Sports Illustrated which will be only slightly easier to cancel than your AOL account”. So I clicked on the link- low and behold, it was a dead link. Five minutes later I finally backdoored my way into finding another small print “subscription without Sports Illustrated” link, put down my plastic, and now…

…after what seemed to be the longest winter on record…

…and a day after I got my first swings in on the golf course…

Bring on the Cubbies!

Update: The first place Reds beat the last place Cubs 5-1

After a long winter, I finally got out, but only because my son had been bugging me all weekend. I couldn’t take him because my girls were also screaming for attention; thankfully we found an out and took it.

My son is just learning to play golf and I’m his teacher; he hasn’t broken any neighbors windows yet, but he has knocked the ball off their garage a few times…

We drove over to a friend’s house near Madison Golf Course’s back nine and teed off on #12. It took about an hour to play two holes on a course that usually takes an hour to play nine.

Hanging out and teaching him how to play was fun, but I also pointed out the calm, the beautiful sunset, and the peacefulness that makes golf special, especially during my favorite time- the evening when the courses are empty.

We don’t have our golf passes yet, so until we do, we’ll keep parking at our friend’s house and walking on over as I did when I was young and sneaked onto Northmoor Golf Course every night.

Native Peorians tend to take golf for granted, but I’ve met many people, my wife included, who thought golf was only for the country club crowd. Not here.

Peoria is a great golf town and the Park District deserves alot of credit for the fine job they do in not just maintaining the courses, but for keeping the greens fees amazingly cheap.