dad's angry side

well.................I suppose I was a bit over the top on Colin's spot on his blog............but, the guy( the pres) seems to have gotten himself into the inner beltway tunnel vision; although I concede he has been on the road out in the hinterland.
We'll see

daddio

" On Kindness"

Our November book selection is available at The Urbana Free Library and I am #1 in the waiting list. I encourage our members to first check with their local library for the book before spending the money on a personal one. A "penny saved is a penny earned" and our libraries need good circulation numbers so the donors and governments keep them in existence.

dad

Books and stuff

Soon it will be too late to sign up for the Taylor Family Book Club November selection. You of course can sign up for the December offering, or, take a shot at the November book " On Kindness".

Afghanistan hauntingly echos Vietnam... "give us more troops and we will secure victory".

Dad

Eric Shot The Sheriff

A touching moment last night at Taylor Street at UIC. Eric played like a pro; I was 10 feet away at one time and was frankly astounded by his skill. If you don't see one of his performances you are just plain stupid ( excepting those who live outside of Illinois for whom Uncle Joel I believe can secure a CD.). Colin couldn't come (he has seen Eric perform before so he is not stupid) but Bethany and I and Uncle Joel were there in full force. Eric's rendition of "I Shot the Sherriff" was a heart stealer; that is one of my favorite pieces; I sing and hum it all the time. Eric really put the right touch upon it. He was down on it like duck on a june bug.

Eric played some other arrangments of his own which were very good, but.... nothing tops Eric's vocals on "Sheriff". That boy can sing the pain right into your soul.

The gig started at 9:30 PM and ended at 11:30 PM. I will be at Eric's next performance; wild horses cannot keep me away.

Bethany and I had a great chat on the way down and back to/fro her apartment. Love to spend time with my Bethany.

Abby took the lead in the main school production; Abby is an artist who sticks to her craft through the thick and the thin. She's had some bad disappointments on casting,but she has manned-up and stayed the course. Kudos Babe.

As I get into my last score I believe to hell with money and work; I'm going to spend the maximum time left with "all my children", Mom, my nephews and siblings, and most importantly, my bride of 33 years, Barbara Lynn Hughes.

Its a good life if I remember what Mom taught me- it is family that really counts, and in the end, nothing else really counts.

Love you all,

daddio

Happy Birthday Colin!

Good day: Colin's 28th: Cheers.

This weekend we traveled with Mom to Appleton, Wisconsin for nephew Jeff and fiance Karrie's wedding. It was perfect. The bride was of course beautiful, in a gown made by her sister Emily. Emily also, with nephew Jeff on the guitar, sang a beautiful song. Nephew Jeff played an original piece of his own: outstanding!!. Hope to see Jeff play tomorrow night in Chicago. I'll report on this blog re the same.

Any interest out there for a small book club via this blog with Mom and me? We'd pick a book once a month and then we could all comment on this blog our thoughts, impressions, criticisms,etc of the book. Please respond here if interested. Our first book would probably be one by the author of "The Sheltering Sky", a book Mom and I both recently finished.

Again, Happy Birthday to Colin!!

Dad

Painting and Banking with Mom

Mom and I visited the bank in Princeton today and visited with the cashiers. Cindy Hayes (now remarried to a banker) was there and visited with us, as well as with my old friend Larry Magnuson. We had lunch at the Princeton truck stop out across I-80. I have eaten there many times and it is really a favorite of mine. Biscuits and gravy, soup beans and ham;cornbread. No better eating in the Midwest. Later we came back from Tiskilwa to have supper in Urbana. Tomorrow we are off to Appleton, Wisconsin for Jeff's wedding. Mom is reading "The Sheltering Sky" with me. She was able to borrow it through the Tiskilwa Library system. We often forget the many things that government does so well and for so many. Our public library systems are an example of government excellence that the private sector will not or cannot provide for the citizenry.

It is a good year.