BOEING 797

From Harry Wait:

It can comfortably fly 10,000 Miles (16,000 km) at Mach 0.88 or 654 mph (1,046 km/h)
with 1000 passengers on board !

They have kept this secret long enough.
This shot was taken last month by an amateur photographer.

 

 The BOEING 797

Boeing is preparing this 1000 passenger Jet Liner that could reshape the Air Travel Industry. Its radical "Blended Wing & Fuselage" design has been developed by Boeing in cooperation with NASA Langley Research Centre. The mammoth aircraft will have a wing span of 265 feet compared to 211 feet of its 747, and its been designed to fit within the newly created Air Terminals for the 555 seat Airbus A380, which is 262 feet wide.

The new 797 is Boeing's direct response to the Airbus A380, which has racked up orders for 159 already. Boeing decided to kill its 747X Stretched Super Jumbo in 2003 after little interest was shown for it by Airline Companies, but continued to develop its "Ultimate Airbus Crusher", the 797 at its Phantom Works Research Facility in Long Beach, California.

The Airbus A380 had been in the works since 1999 and has accumulated $13 Billion in development costs, which gives Boeing a huge advantage. More so because Airbus is thus committed to the older style tubular structure for their aircraft for decades to come.

There are several big advantages in the "Blended Wing & Fuselage" design, the most important being the ‘Lift to Drag’ ratio which is expected to increase by an amazing 50%, resulting in an overall weight reduction of the aircraft by 25%, making it an estimated 33% more fuel efficient than the A380, and thus making the Airbus's $13 Billion Dollar investment look pretty shaky.

"High Airframe Rigidity" is another key factor in the "Blended Wing & Fuselage" technology. It reduces turbulence and creates less stress on the airframe which adds to fuel efficiency, giving the 797 a tremendous 10,000 Mile range with 1,000 passengers on board cruising comfortably at Mach 0.88 or 654 MPH, which gives it another advantage over the tube-and-wing designed A380's 570 MPH.

The exact date ! for introduction of the 797 is as yet unclear, but the battle lines are clearly drawn in the high-stakes war for future civilian aircraft supremacy.

Open Blog - Tuesday

Pretty butterfly.

Two Miles of Road

Sorry, that I haven't been around for awhile...I took a long needed break to the boondocks of Northern Wisconsin. Three days with no phone, no TV and no internet. Refreshing. However, I did bring back a story to tell...

It was that stretch of road on Hwy 47 between Black Creek and Langstad when it all happened... That is where the waters from the springtime rains overflowed the banks of Black Creek and White Lake, turning the surrounding basins into a marshy field. Abundant wildlife thrives there in the mid evening hours as the sun starts to drift toward the horizon. Armed with a camera while eyes were wide open, gazing over the farm fields.

"Crane!" Tender Heart called out as she slammed on the brakes of the car. Tires spit gravel as she wheeled the white Chevy around for a better view...


Sure enough, a pair of Sandhill Cranes were grazing on cultivated corn in a farm field. Standing at about 38 inches tall and with the wingspan of almost seven feet, the Sandhill Crane is one of the largest birds in North America. After seeing so many crane in these parts, it is hard to believe that this elegant bird was once endangered in the 1940's. Because of human intervention, the crane has thrived and flourished... It still remains endangered in several states.

While snapping away at the crane, Tender Heart taps me on the shoulder, "Sweetheart, I just saw something big fly into that tree over there". I saw it, but I wasn't sure what is was... "Probably a raven or a hawk, but let's take a better look", I whispered. We crept forward. I could hear the sound of crunching gravel under the wheels of the car. The humongous bird flew from the oak tree with a black bird chasing it. It was a Bald Eagle! I clearly saw the white head and tail as it turned around flew towards us, its seven and a half foot wingspan kissing the sky. The raptor then swooped down to about 200 feet away from us, snatching a Red-winged Blackbird with its massive talons. Somehow, the black bird managed to get dropped and fell to the ground as the magnificent bird of prey flew to its roost. This is where I took this snapshot...


Excited and satisfied with the series of photos (even though the traffic was blasting past us), we headed back on the road. We had a couple of more hours of travel ahead of us. We didn't even get more than a couple of miles before I called out,"Turkey!" On my side of road there were a dozen or so Eastern Wild Turkey in an unplowed farm field. Some of these gobblers were engaged in a courtship display trying to impress the hens. With their puffed up feathers, tails fanned out and wings dragging, they were so engaged in what they were doing that they barely even noticed us.


Just behind the turkeys, we noticed a White Tailed Deer foraging in the field. It was that time of the year that we couldn't tell if it was a buck or doe, for its antlers hasn't grown in yet. Mammals by nature, are more skittish than birds. To get a close up shot of our beautiful state animal was nearly impossible, even with my Sony DSC-H2 camera. To complicate matters, the animal was trotting off to the woods intending to get out of sight. After a short chase, I managed to get a shot of it glancing at us, just before it stepped out of sight....


We didn't get to our destination till WAY after nightfall, by then we have seen more turkey and deer along the way. It was worth it....

Taxi Suite (excerpt: 1. After Anacreon)

When I drive cab
         I am moved by strange whistles and wear a hat.

When I drive cab
         I am the hunter. My prey leaps out from where it
         hid, beguiling me with gestures.

When I drive cab
         all may command me, yet I am in command of all who do.

When I drive cab
         I am guided by voices descending from the naked air.

When I drive cab
         A revelation of movement comes to me. They wake now.
         Now they want to work or look around. Now they want
         drunkenness and heavy food. Now they contrive to love.

When I drive cab
         I bring the sailor home from the sea. In the back of
         my car he fingers the pelt of his maiden.

When I drive cab
         I watch for stragglers in the urban order of things.

When I drive cab
         I end the only lit and waitful thing in miles of
         darkened houses.

--Lew Welch

"Lewis Barrett 'Lew' Welch, Jr. (August 16, 1926 — May 23, 1971?) was an American poet associated with the Beat generation of poets, artists, and iconoclasts.
Welch published and performed widely during the 1960s. He taught a poetry workshop as part of the University of California Extension in San Francisco from 1965 to 1970.
On May 23, 1971, he was believed to have committed suicide, after leaving a note. His body was never found^[1]"

Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lew_Welch

See also: http://epc.buffalo.edu/authors/welch/

"Property Assessments for City of Racine Elected Officials"

From TSE:

 

"Property  Assessments for City of Racine Elected Officials – Compiled from Open Records"

"OFFICE  HELD                   NAME                               ADDRESS               CURRENT ASSESSMENT"

"Mayor                                   John Dickert                       151 Westminister Sq.                     $179,000

City Administrator          Tom Friedel                       1904 Dwight Ave.                             $111,000

1^st.  District                         O.Keith Fair                        509 6^th. St                                             $173,000

2^nd. District                         Krystyna Sarrazin             1753 College Ave.                            $260,000

3^rd. District                          Michael  D. Shields         1850 13^th. St                                        $89,000

4^th. District                          Jim Kaplan                          400 Kewaunee St.                            $145,000

5^th. District                          Melissa A. Becker            2050 LaSalle St.                                 $126,000

6^th. District                          Sandy Weidner                 2310 Thor Ave.                                  $130,000

7^th. District                          Raymond Dehahn            2706 Diane Ave.                               $97,000

8^th. District                          Q.A. Shakoor                     1516 West 6^th.St                                $115,000

9^th. District                          Terrence McCarthy         317 West Blvd.                                  $189,000

10^th. District                        Dennis Wiser                     2517 Pinehurst Ave.                       $102,000

11^th. District                        Gregory T. Helding          2001 Thurston Ave.                         $92,000

12^th. District                        Aron Wisneski                  1025 Arthur Ave.                              $140,000

13^th. District                        Jim Morgenroth                 1500 Monroe Ave.                           $116,000

14^th. District                        Ronald D. Hart                   4420 Republic Ave.                         $101,000

15^th. District                        Robert Mozol                    407 Johnathon Dr.                           $165,000"

Open Blog - Monday

Happy Monday to enemies, too.

Useless Information

Did you know:

No one knows when the first Black and White TV was invented?

"Key & Peele: Auction Block"

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/key-and-peele

I just found out about these guys. I bet their show is funny as hell.

"Citizens group calls for Mayor and City Administrator to resign"

From RacineUncovered.org:

"The group-CITIZENS UNITED FOR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY has sent out a press release to area media outlets saying that Mayor John Dickert and Administrator Tom Fridel should resign immediately. 

"Date: May 13, 2012
The responsible, decent and hardworking Citizens of Racine call on Mayor John Dickert, and City Administrator Tom Friedel, to resign their posts and return to private life. Their recent activities indicate that they are ethically and morally challenged and unsuitable for Public Office. In addition to being are wreckless and irresponsible with Taxpayers money they are unresponsive to the hardworking Citizens of Racine who are engaged in private Business and Employment. They have destroyed the business climate of Racine through their questionable activities with awarding contracts and perceived nepotism/cronyism that has completely destroyed any credibility of the Mayor and City Administrators Office. In addition, their activities have engaged the City of Racine in numerous lawsuits."

Read more:  http://racineuncovered.org/2012/05/citizen-groups-calls-for-mayor-and-city-administrator-to-resign/

Related: http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/mayor-s-slander-lawsuit-costs-city-s-taxpayers/article_10727e22-9cbc-11e1-b90b-0019bb2963f4.html


Party on, lying John!

A Bad Place To Take a Prom Picture

Seemed like a good idea at the time...standing on the dock, over the water. Great place to capture the moment.

But you need to be sure to check the weight limit.

Don't worry, they dried themselves off and went to prom!

Open Blog - Weekend

Happy Mother's Day on Sunday.

Useless Information

IN SE WISCONSIN ON MAY 10, 1990 WE HAD 10” OF SNOW

Open Blog - Friday

Really, I doooo.

Happy Mother's Day!

I just want to wish all the mom's a very Happy Mother's Day.

Yes I do know this is early but I am not going to be by a computer this weekend. I am going up north to see my older daughter graduate college. That is why I am posting this very early this week. We are leaving today to go up north. I am writing this in between all my packing.

Saturday my son is having a cookout for Mother's Day and I get to see my granddaughter. I can't wait for that one.

I am sorry I haven't posted anymore flower or tree pictures. I will be getting more pictures from up north. Then I will post more pictures on here.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!♥

Open Blog - Thursday

Arnold is snorting pansies again.

Eastern Redbud

I don't want to step on Tender Heart Bear's toes, but I have to post a picture of my favorite spring flowering tree.  This Redbud is on Erie Street.

If you're going to plant Redbud, the advice usually given is be sure to use local stock as Rebuds from elsewhere may not be cold hardy for our winters.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my May flowers! How are you? Spring is still bursting out all over out there. I think the flowering trees in the city are trying to impress us with their beauty. I’m impressed. I’m almost stupefied. Everywhere you look is a glorious display of form and color. The shrubs, the flowers, even the grass, are vibrant. Hail to thee, o joyous spring!

Did any of you go to the Kiwanis Pancake Day last Saturday? Junior and I went with Mr. Zanza. My, Junior can pack away the pancakes. My, o my! Junior is at that sensitive age where he is aware of the opposite sex, but he has no idea of what to do with them. I pointed out that all those pancakes might affect his waistline, thus making him less attractive to girls. That was a mistake. I really hurt him. To compensate for the emotional pain, he ate even more. The poor dear. Well, we certainly got our money’s worth. I wonder if they’ll let us back in next year.

I do not want to start an argument here, but I feel I must say that I endorse the Positively Racine campaign. Like Ms. WhyNot, I can see good arising from it. Our city needs a better self-image. Once people are of a positive mindset, it becomes contagious. That’s what we need to move forward. Of course, Mr. OrbsCorbs and others have a right to disagree. In fact, they positively do.

Of course, the state recall primary was yesterday. I am so frustrated that our political system has become an either/or operation. There is no middle ground, there are no moderate candidates, there is no compromise. Either you are this or you are that. There is no third option other than the useless write-in. The ideological gridlock is complete, cemented in place with hatred and fear. It’s a shame that for being so technologically connected, we are personally disconnected by politics. I have an opinion of politicians, but I will not sully my own blog with it.

Finally, I would like to give a big, hearty THANK YOU to our local area law enforcement officials, firefighters, and EMTs. You put your very lives on the line to protect ours. We want you to know that we appreciate it. We want you to know that we are grateful for your work and your presence in our lives. May God bless you.

Bless you, too, my dear readers. Thank you for stopping by to try my “wares.” I am flattered by your attention. I love you all.

Left, right, or dynamite? Ask Madame Zoltar: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

I hope you are enjoying the spring. Don’t forget to say a positive thing or two about our town. “You catch more flies with honey.” Stay sweet, my dears. Here’s a new word site: http://home.comcast.net/~wwftd/Frame1.html Schizothemia!

Open Blog - Wednesday

Why isn't it spelt 'Wensday?'

Interesting Article

There is an interest article in the JT today. Click here for JT Article

Talk about a “slush fund”, the City of Racine has funds from last year still sitting in an account. My question is, “why aren’t those dollars moved automatically into a 2012 account”?

When it comes to the end of the year and you have $2,500 in your checking account do you just leave it there and start a new checking account?

I believe this is another reason our taxes are high because of miss use of funds and hiding them for, ‘Oh what should I call them’, special projects.

Open Blog - Tuesday

That reminds me of the owl and the cat video that Orbs posted a few days ago. 

"Every Breath You Take" Revisited

Wildlife Photos

Here it is, as I promised, another installment of wildlife photos. Instead of waterfowl, I'm bringing this one closer to home and into the backyards. Blackbirds are quite common everywhere, yet little is seemingly known in the difference between the species. Here are some of them found in the Racine area...


Above is a male Red-winged Blackbird. Picture taken at Pritchard Park. Red-wings are often found anywhere there is tall grasses and marches, especially among the cattails were they thrive. While the females tend to be a dusky brown in color, the males have red plumage on their wings. Red-wings are omnivorous, feeding mostly on seeds and wheat grains, however they'll snack on insects.


Above is the Common Grackle. Picture taken on a front lawn on Charles Street. These icterids can be easily found on lawns and open fields, often in flocks. This robin sized bird can be identified by a long tail and feathers that are appear black with purple, green or blue indescence on their heads. They'll eat most anything-often seen on the ground foraging for bugs, especially after a lawn trimming.


Above is the Brown-headed Cowbird. Picture taken at Roosevelt Park. Found where ever there are open fields and lawns, often foraging with Starlings and Grackles. Cowbirds are brood parasites, meaning they'll lay eggs in other bird's nests. The young Cowbirds are taken care of by the host parents in expense of their own young.

Above is the European Starling. Picture taken at Roosevelt Park. Commonly found on lawns and parks everywhere. Identified by the metallic sheen plumage and white spots. Often they are found foraging for insects among other blackbirds. This invasive species was introduced to the Americas by the English settlers in the late 1800's. Since then, they have adapted and multiplied to a point where they have become a nuisance.

All pictures here were taken by Tender Heart and me using either a Sony DSC-H2 Cyber-shot or a Sony DSC-W350 Cyber-shot. Wildlife photography is not easy. Animals don't pose for pictures, nor even stay still. Most often, they are gone before the camera is ever focused. For every good shot, a few are missed completely.

Here is a partial list of complete misses for last week...

A Red Fox with cub. (You know about that already)
A Green Heron at Trout Ponds (I finally got him this afternoon)
A Baltimore Oriole at Trout Ponds
A couple of Eastern Chipmonks at Sanders Park.

Never fear, I've a few dozen pictures ready to be posted and more coming as I head out there with armed with a camera. Some pics will SURPRISE you....

?????????? - Can't think of a name for it

Let's call this a "pre-blog"

I'm reading a book that has really made me think.
It's about introverts and extroverts.
I have always thought of myself as one in particular, and now am not so sure.
Before I post what I got from this book so far, I thought it would be fun to guess what each other are, then I will follow in a day or so with an excerpt from the book and 'out' myself.
Happy guessing, this should be fun. Please don't give up what you think you are until the next installment - GO!

Open Blog - Monday

I will try my darnedest.

Just a little something.....



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQB5Bl_2GKI&feature=related

Pictures of the Bradley Center!

I don't want anyone to get mad at me about this. I just want you to see how the Bradley Center really looks on the inside and the outside. These pictures I took about two years ago when my daughter auditioned for American Idol. This is what it looks like and I don't see anything wrong with it.

"Cat and owl playing - Fum & Gebra - Perfect friendship!"

https://www.facebook.com/fumandgebra

What a cute and curious couple. 

I Got My Positively Racine Bracelet

This is such a good idea.  Instead of dealing with Racine's problems, just don't talk about them.  Sheer genius.

I made a crack in another blog that we should have Positively Police to enforce the pledge to ignore reality.  That's silly, but it wouldn't hurt to have a couple of people canvassing the city to report those who talk trash about our town.  We should also encourage people to turn in their neighbors and friends if they say anything bad about Racine.

That's the way to deal with Racine's issues positively.

Old Time Roller Skates

Open Blog - Weekend

Yay!

Herb Kohl wants a new arena for HIS Milwaukee Bucks.

We are already paying for a stadium in Milwaukee I personally don’t want to pay for and we’ll be paying forever on that one

Miller Park does nothing for me. Politicians said it will bring money into our community; ya right, as of today none of them can show or prove how much money has been spent in Racine because of it. It’s impossible to track; it just sounded good when they wanted the money.

Granted it’s not a huge amount, 0.1% but it will never go away, and I believe if we have to chip in for an arena that increase will never go away.

Let the players pay for it, they make millions of dollars!

LET THEM MOVE TO ANOTHER CITY! Somewhere way out of Wisconsin.

Click here for JSOnline Article

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another exciting episode of Four for Fridays. It's been an interesting week so far with some overtime thrown in. Anyways, here are some questions...

1) What states have you been too?

2) What airports have you been to?

3) Do you know of anyone that is a picky eater?

4) What was the most dangerous stunt you have ever done?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

Dance, my darlings, dance.

3:30 A.M.

The sleep was still in my eyes... 3 A.M., the streets were dark, barren and void of life, at least so I thought. I made my way through the darkness, rolling along the desolate side street, headlights leading the way. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the yellowish gleam of eyes piercing the darkness. A cat I thought. As I was rolling along, almost beside her, I noticed the big ears and a bushy tail-the unmistakable characteristics of a fox! Amazed and gawking at this elusive creature, I couldn't hardly believe my eyes. I had only seen a few of them in wild.

I had just turned my attention to road before me when another critter suddenly appeared directly in front of my car. "Whoa!" I screamed, jerking the wheel violently to the left. Tires screeched and squealed. My heart was pounding as I rolled my Chevy to a stop. It was a baby fox! It was just a little smaller than a Chihuahua and twice as cute. I had never seen a baby fox before. I looked into my rear view mirror to see if I killed him. All I could see was darkness. Not wanting to let it rest, I turned the car around to survey the area.

There they were! Alive! Both the mama and her cub were standing on the sidewalk staring back at me. My camera! I remembered that I had my small camera in my dashboard compartment, just for situations like these. This could be a photo opportunity of a lifetime for me. As I was fumbling around for my camera in darkness, the sly pair started to trot off in the opposite direction. Damn! I slammed the car into reverse with wild abandon, the game was on! The hunter and the hunted. I had to get a photo. Foxes move fast, therefore I had split seconds to stop the car, roll down the window, focus the camera and snap a shot. By the time I stuck my camera out the window into the darkness, the foxes had slipped underneath a wooden fence and into the night.....

Wildlife photography is not as easy as it seems..

"Greatest Card Trick Ever"

How is that even possible?

Open Blog - Thursday

Happy Thursday, you little devils.

A Wednesday Evening

My windows are open because it is over 80 degrees out there.  I am folding laundry.  The choir at the church next door is practicing.  They have their windows open, too.  A joyful sound.  Then a siren, then a lot of sirens pierce and twist the music.  I turn on the police scanner. A shooting on the south side.  The choir stops singing,  almost as if they know.  There is a lot of activity and confusion on the scanner.  I turn it off.  It's not even summer yet.  It's not even dark.

"Prairie student a state-level winner in Google logo design contest"

From The Journal Times.com:

"WIND POINT — Prairie School second-grader Dylan Hoffman combined his love of pirates and drawing to create an award-winning Google logo.

"Dylan, 7, of Caledonia, is one of 50 state winners in Google’s fifth annual 'Doodle 4 Google' contest, which had kindergarteners through 12th-graders design a Google homepage logo. Votes cast online until May 10 will determine if Dylan becomes a national finalist."

Read more: http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/prairie-student-a-state-level-winner-in-google-logo-design/article_c3dd3640-9466-11e1-8a1b-0019bb2963f4.html

Read the story and check out Dylan's artwork. You can vote for Dylan's drawing here: http://www.google.com/doodle4google/vote.html

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my blooming buds and buddies!  How are you?  The extravaganza known as spring keeps putting on a show.  I had occasion to be west of the interstate a couple of times in the past week, and everything is blooming a month ahead of schedule there.  Lilacs were my dear mother’s favorite flowers.  They always bloom around the time of her birthday in late May.  A little west of here, the lilac flowers are already out in full regalia.  Oh my, indeed.  I’d ask Mother Nature what’s going on, but our feud is still in force, and she never gives me a straight answer, anyway. 

Tomorrow, Thursday, is National Day of Prayer.  Racine will observe it with ceremonies at City Hall, starting at 11:45 AM.  Read more about it here:  http://www.journaltimes.com/calendar/community/national-day-of-prayer-events/event_b2e0e926-93bd-11e1-a932-0019bb2963f4.html

Friday, of course, is a Downtown Racine First Friday, with all sorts of merriment downtown.  You can read more here:  http://www.journaltimes.com/lifestyles/leisure/first-fridays-returns-may-with-expanded-hours/article_280dba52-9301-11e1-bd80-001a4bcf887a.html

Also, don’t forget that Friday is Positively Racine Day:  http://www.jtirregulars.com/2012/04/help-positively-racine-day-on-friday.html  You can get a wristband and/or sign a pledge to speak positively of Racine.

“RACINE — The newly revamped Dr. Laurel Salton Clark Memorial Fountain will open for the summer season on Friday:” I love the fountain.  Read more: http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/splash-fountain-back-in-operation-on-friday/article_bd58df04-937b-11e1-82c5-0019bb2963f4.html

If that isn’t enough: “RACINE — A Racine native who wrote the novel named Amazon’s best book of 2011 will read excerpts from it and talk about the writing process in a free event at the Golden Rondelle Theater on Friday.” Read more: http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/racine-native-at-golden-rondelle-friday-to-discuss-the-art/article_8eb43ebe-92f9-11e1-915a-001a4bcf887a.html

I’m sure there is much more going on this weekend in Racine and surrounding areas.  As the spring warms, more and more activities come to life.  There are more and more people out and about.  Motorists, beware the joggers and bicyclists out there.  Some of those on the bicycles follow no rules of the road.  Sometimes, I just stop and let them pass me by, especially if it is a horde of youngsters.  Be wary behind the wheel.

So many activities that I can’t keep up.  And this is just the beginning of the fun.  Soon we’ll have the professional bicyclists and triathletes in town.  If 2012 is the apocalypse (I know it isn’t), then let’s have a blowout season. 

Thank you so much for stopping by to read my blog.  I appreciate each and every pair of eyes that scan my words.  I can feel the love.  It almost tickles.  You make my day when you read my blog.  Thank you, again

Answers to questions you haven’t even thought of: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Have a beautiful week, my dears.  The long range weather forecast doesn’t look too good, with lots of rain and cloudy days.  Pshaw, as if they know what they are doing.  Enjoy life, avoid strife.  Diallelus!

Open Blog - Wednesday

That's much better than "Hump Day."

Spring In Wisconsin!

I was talking this over with Drew telling him I wanted to do something really different on my blog. I wanted to let everyone know what different kinds of trees, wildflowers and plants are around Wisconsin. I am not going to be posting all the pictures in one post, it will be in very many different posts as I go out and get the pictures.

Drew and I like to go out for drives around are area. We are also going to be going up north by our families to visit so I will be taking some more pictures from up there also. I am having fun getting this going and probably making Drew crazy with doing this also. When we are out driving I see something I would like to take a picture of and I tell him to stop.

Drew is also doing something different on his blog it is about wildlife around here. I can't wait to see how he gets his going. I know that is going to be really good. We are both taking pictures for each other. So some of the pictures are going to be by him or I. Believe me I will not remember what pictures are from him or I.

This is at Pricthard Park. With the fountain there are Crimson King Maple Purple Leaf Trees. I really like this picture with the fountain.

This was taken by Drew's work while I was waiting for him to come out. This is a Cherry Blossom Tree. When I am sitting in the car waiting for him to come out of work I always see the birds in the tree.

This picture is of a Sargent Crab Apple Tree. This was taken right outside our place. Yes I get to see this beautiful tree every day and the birds in it too.

This picture was taken on Four Mile Rd. on my way to pick Drew up from work. This is a Weeping Cherry Tree. I thought it was really pretty.

This is the start of my post and I really hope everyone enjoys this. I am having fun going around and getting the pictures to share with all of you. Feel free to leave your comments and I will read them.

Have a great day to all of you!♥

Open Blog - Tuesday

Twos-day for the second open blog of the week.

Franco Corelli sings "Core 'ngrato"

My dad loved tenors. He loved to listen to them. When he went out to the bars, if he got drunk enough, he would start singing himself. This often got him tossed out of the bars. 

I heard a lot of it at home from scratchy old LPs.  I developed a minor taste for it.  Above is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite tenors, "NHK Tokyo. November 21, 1973."

Nicholson Wildlife Refuge

In the past couple of months my girlfriend and I have been driving around the county taking pictures of wildlife and flowering plants. We've snapped some photos of some of the common backyard sights as well as some interesting surprises. We are hoping to educate as well as honing in on our photography skills. We are not exactly the Nation Geographic quality type of photographers, but we will sure try.

One of our stops was the little known Nicholson Wildlife Refuge here in Racine County. Located on 5 Mile Road between Nicholson Road and County Truck V, this 127 acre gem offers a paradise for shoreline birds like Great Blue Herons, Snow Geese, Canadian Geese, Tundra Swans, Mallards and Hooded Mergansers as well as Magnolia Warblers, Red Wing Blackbirds and Savanna Sparrows. Deer and Beaver also has been sighted there. Below is video I found on YouTube to give viewers a taste of what can be seen there. Just remember when visiting, it's the luck of the draw in finding anything. Sometimes you'll get very lucky...



This is just a prelude to what is to come...we are presently sorting through photos and taking more along way. So in the upcoming weeks, you'll see photos coming in...

Open Blog - Monday

Mondays do me.

Useless Information

Did you know:


Forrest Gump had sex once and ended up with a son?

Useless Information

Did you know:


Forrest Gump had sex once and ended up with a son?

Van Halen - "Runnin' With The Devil"

"I found the simple life ain't so simple." Diamond Dave and Van Halen at their best.