I’ve been under the weather lately with a nasty cold coming on at a breakneck pace, causing my brain to not function properly. I was so looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday morning that I let off a flurry of expletives when I was told that this is not Friday night. It’s Thursday. Argh!
Click to enlarge:
.
.
.
.
.
Be sure not to miss Maria King Carroll’s ongoing series “Requiem For A Neighborhood” at Peoria.com
Just days before the Race for the Cure, the anti-Kellar Rail Branch group littered University with their “Build The Trail” signs, which used a very nice enviro-green color, I might add. I was disgusted that they would use the event to push their own misguided agenda
Thankfully, the city needed to mow the grass and removed the signs, replacing only the Susan G Komen signs when they were done.
My blood began to boil again when I read this letter in todays Journal Star letters to the editors:
I was at Race for the Cure on May 12. I have walked in almost 20 races, the last three as a survivor.
The weather was perfect that Saturday, as was the race, except for one thing. There was a group of people wearing green sandwich boards and carrying green and white balloons. They were walking to promote the Kellar branch hiking and biking trail. I told them I didn’t think it was appropriate for them to be promoting their own agenda. I was told they were walking with us, but I feel they weren’t walking for us.
This race is very personal to me and to everyone who is a survivor or who has a loved one who has gone through breast cancer. I feel they disrespected the true meaning of this race.
Walking around with Sandwich Boards and handing out green balloons at the Race for the Cure? How low will they go!? And we’re supposed to take these people seriously? Are they going to be at Springdale Cemetery for the Memorial Day ceremonies too?
I’d love to have the trail connect from downtown to Pioneer Park, but not at the cost of current and future business in both Peoria and Peoria Heights.
The trail advocates, after more than 10 years, have got nothing accomplished except scaring off any potential businesses from moving here and I’m convinced that they won’t be satisfied until Carver Lumber is run out of town.
What they did at the Race for the Cure only further demonstrates that their complete selfish and single-minded ego knows no bounds. The truth about the Kellar Branch is slowing getting out. The trail folk need to stop alienating themselves and figure out a way to work together to get this darn thing built.
Fred and Barney taking a Winston Break.
Crazy, eh?
Ok, I give.
Two people have spammed me with the “why I blog” virus. They would be none other than Pammy and Diane.
According the official rules, I am supposed to list 5 reasons why I blog and then spam four others.
So here goes…
First of all, why I started is a mystery to me. I’ve always been a news junkie and had been reading some blogs and found them interesting (Billy, CJ, & Polly mostly). I used to run a Bulletin Board, back when 1200 baud was akin to high speed cable, so maybe it was just natural that I picked up on it again. As the late Harry Chapin said: All my life’s a circle.
Second, it was so darn easy to start one. I didn’t think far enough ahead to figure out what I’d call it, so I sat on the screen that said “enter your blog name here” and all I could come up with was Peoria Illinoisan. I have no doubt that it was a take off of SIU’s newspaper the Southern Illinoisan, but my mind works in mysterious ways and I wouldn’t realize that I was stealing the name until later.
Third, I certainly did not start this, as others have done, to let loose their creative writing ability, because I have none. I think I’m getting better, but that’s open for debate.
Fourth, it gives me something to do. An outlet from work, raising kids, and general home life. We all need an outlet. Apparently this is mine.
Fifth, I continue to blog because of the social interaction, which relates back to reason #1. I’ve met some very nice people and had some great discussions. I’ll even go out on a limb and say some people I’ve met I could call friends.
Sixth, even though I’m supposed to stop at five, Blogging makes a me smarter. I find writing my thoughts down really expands my knowledge of a subject, makes me think a little harder and opens my brain in ways that would never have occurred otherwise. I’ve always scoured the newspaper and been an AM Talk Radio kind of guy, but until I began actively blogging, I was unaware of the amount of information that is not reported.
I find the local blog community to be one big family, squabbles and all. I’ve been told it’s a clique, but it’s a clique that anyone is welcome to join. We come from different places, jobs and viewpoints, but we also have specific knowledge and specialties which contributes to the whole, and that’s the beauty of it all.
Because I don’t want to ruin my chances of Bill Gates sending me a million dollars, or Rahib Rasheed depositing his family fortune into my bank account, I must spam four other bloggers whether they like it or not.
I consider them to be the big four and I’d like to hear their thoughts on the virtues of blogging.
Tonight I went over to the Amoco on Main at CampusTown to pick up some smokes. (Yes, I smoke, I’m not proud, don’t give me hell.) If you purchase cigarettes and charge it, not only do they need your ID, but they write down your drivers license number on the credit slip.
I’ve been there enough times to know that I have to whip out my license, but there was a new guy there who didn’t know me so he felt the need to explain:
“We do this for security purposes. There’s lots of panhandlers and crackheads around here.”
Yes, I know… I’ve been panhandled… more than a few times… I’ve seen the crackheads… ran across some prostitutes too…
Gotta love this place.
I know some of you are excited about this momentous event, maybe even using it as a science project for your kids, but I for one am beginning to have nightmares. A few thoughts running through my head:
1. I should erect large telephone sized wood beams around my house and cover it all with screening, similar to a bird house at a zoo.
2. I need a bee-keepers hat. The kind that has the mesh the covers your face and falls down around your shoulders. Not only could I still get some yardwork done, I could wear it while golfing, since the courses will be empty.
3. I need a vacation, and what better time than now.
I read the article in the Journal Star today (online version; couldn’t stand to look at the picture in the dead tree edition) which said this: “If any construction or disturbance happened in the soil, the cicadas on that land would be destroyed.”
My yard won’t be hatching, but these things fly, so I certainly won’t be immune.
…so this is my plan… under the cover of darkness, I’m going to roto-till the entire neighborhood. They’ll thank me later.
My wife and I had a lovely dinner at the River Station over the weekend. Though we still yearned for F.Scott’s, it was awfully nice to be sitting in the River Station again.
While looking over the menu, I notice that they not only offer a NY Strip, but also a KC Strip. I may be no Chef Kevin, but I’m smart enough to know that they’re one and the same. If you’re in Kansas City, you order a Kansas City Strip. If you’re in most other parts of the country, you order a New York Strip. Or if you just want to be funny (i.e.: annoying to the wait staff) you order the opposite of whatever is on the menu.
Not only did they offer both the KC and the NY strip, but there was a 2oz and $2 difference between them. The NY Strip came “on the bone” (could’ve been the other way around- you know, the KC Strip came on the bone, I digress.) So for an extra two bucks, you get a bone that apparently weighs two ounces.
I guess they do this so as not to show any geographical favoritism.
We participated in the neighborhood garage sale this weekend, as we’ve done in the past, and it never ceases to amaze me the dumb things that hardcore garage sale junkies will ask.
“Do you have any albums?”
No. Do you see any albums!?
“Do you have any size 8 shoes?”
No. Do you see any shoes, much less a size eight!?
“Do you have any religious items?”
No. Do you see any religious items!?
“Do you have any baseball gloves for a 9 year old?”
No. Do you see any baseball gloves for a 9 year old!?
…followed up by “Do you know anyone else in the neighborhood who might be selling baseball gloves for a 9 year old?”
But of course, the best one was saved for last, after everything was boxed up and ready to be hauled off for donation.
“I see you had a garage sale. Did you have any bicycle baskets?”
Not long after Kirk Wessler reported Bradley’s demolition work was falling behind schedule, he paid another visit to the soon to be gone neighborhood.
“I talked with one of the men who has negotiated with Bradley to salvage some of the significant features of the old homes. He was working on a house in the 800 block and was very frustrated. As he put it, the house already had been “raped” by a local antique dealer who had yanked brass fixtures off some of the walls, leaving behind ripped and splintered molding.
This fellow lives on the West Bluff and was carefully trying to salvage some of the framing and woodwork to use in rehabbing his own home. Others in the neighborhood have been doing the same thing, but some stuff is just being left to the bulldozers.”
If Bradley truly was falling behind schedule, it seems to me that they’re trying to make up for lost time by screwing anyone who wants to save some architectural history.
“What a waste. It seems to me more of this stuff could have been sold and put to good use, if more effort had been made to let people know it was available.”
Yes, what a waste.
May 6, 2007. Daryl L. Miller is shot in the forearm at his residence, 2404 W. Millman. He was later arrested on charges of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and not having a firearm owner’s ID card after police found a sawed-off shotgun in his car.
May 12, 2007. Daryl L. Miller is shot in the stomach outside his residence, 2404 W. Millman. When questioned, he could not provide police with information on the shooters or a reason why he was shot.
This dude might as well talk, because he’s a marked man and they ain’t gonna miss next time.
The Ninth Annual Testicle Festival was held over the weekend in Elderon, WI. Admission was free and $5 gets you all you can eat deep fried Sheep, Lamb and Bull testicles.
T-shirts that featured a bull, the event title and the phrase “I had a ball!” were available for purchase.
“They’re not so different from regular meatballs” [also served at the festival], said Butch Jubert. “After a few beers, you can’t really tell the difference.”
No doubt, fried Cheese Balls were also available, with Pasties being a popular takeout item.
“Well, if I remember the quote correctly, he said he likes the new Tiger. I figure I’ve won nine out of 12, and I’ve won three times this year, the same amount he’s won in his career. So I like the new Tiger as well.”
- Tiger Woods responding to South African Rory Sabbatini’s claim earlier this week that Woods was as beatable as ever.
The Player’s Championship is the unofficial 5th major and is held every year at this time at the TPC at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedre Beach, Fl.
The course was designed by Pete Dye, is the home to one of the most famous holes in golf- the 17th “Island Green”, which is said to collect between 100,000 - 150,000 balls per year in the water surrounding it. Watching this golf tournament is akin to watching a Nascar event. Even if you’re not a fan, it’s fun to watch the wrecks. Watching professional golfers plop ball after ball into the water from 130 yards out is fun, no matter how you look at it.
One of the most famous collapses is held by Bob Tway, who in 2005 was tied for 10th place, just four out of the lead on Sunday at 7 under par as he approached the 17th. When he finished the hole, after plunking four into the water, he was tied for 72nd at 2 over par.
I was able to play this course on my honeymoon many years ago…
I came to the 17th, playing the Blue tees measuring 121 yards to the center of the green and hit a 9 iron to about 3 feet of the pin. My playing partners weren’t so lucky, so I tried to hold down my excitement, nevertheless, I was on the green and thought I had a birdie within my reaches. Three feet. I studied the line and gave it my best. The ball went left, then right, then left again… it might have done a figure eight… before slipping by the hole. I tapped in for par.
It has to be the most disappointing par in my life, but at the same time the most memorable one I’ve ever had. Anytime I watch a pro skip a ball off the green into the water I can say to myself “Hey- I parred the damn thing! And you call yourself a pro!?”
…I conveniently choose to forget that I shot 108 (36 over par) under clear blue skies and non-tournament conditions.
But I still parred the 17th hole!
Don’t believe me? Here’s my original scorecard as recored by my wife; click to enlarge:
Last night I had the pleasure of meeting someone who is involved in tearing down the houses. I was taking pictures of my new favorite house (the former Wessler home) and thought it would be the neighborly thing to do to say hi.
I was told that Habitat for Humanity (Re-Store on Main) was contacted and given first dibs on stripping the houses. They said that they don’t do demolition work and if Bradley wanted to strip the houses and put the good stuff out on the sidewalk, they’d come and get it. Needless to say, that didn’t work out too well…
635-1674
That’s the phone number of Bernie Hobin, who is in charge of the deconstruction and is the contact for any salvage, which includes quarter sawn oak trim & molding, vintage exterior brick, wood flooring, original windows and doors, fixtures and lighting, fireplace mantels, tubs, toilets, and everything in between that cannot be purchased at Lowes.
Make an offer, but act fast because the houses will be coming down quick. By the end of this month, the whole block will be gone. What’s not salvaged by word of mouth will be bulldozed.
Sad but true.
All proceeds go directly to the Western Ave Greenway Project.
Additional photos. Click to enlarge:
You are currently browsing the Peoria Illinoisan weblog archives for May, 2007.
.
.
.