Barb, Abby and I watched Hotel Rwanda last night. Well done movie.
The only shortcoming was the inability within a commercial movie to really portray the massacre. I represent a man from the Congo who has political refugee status in the U.S. He forged a passport to get his sister out of Congo. Women are raped and murdered in the Congo on a regular basis by the "soldiers" of both the rebels and the government. In getting to know him, we discussed the carnage in depth; it is incredible. In any event, we should count our blessings that in this country the government keeps the animals under some control.
daddio
P.S. Colin. No, animals does not refer to blacks. It refers to men of all colors.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
My Boss
Yesterday the Urbana office took a road trip to our home office in Peoria for a pot lunch for a retiring employee. I took a cherry pie I'd baked and folks gushed over it. Fruit pies are pretty easy to make, unless you decide to make your own pie crust( with lard; they are the best).
My boss is a chronic tie buyer and gave me about 20 ties which are $100.00 to $150.00 dollar ties. He buys them, wears them three to four times, or not at all, then gives them to me for free. It is extremely generous of him.After an extremely rocky start we really have become incredibly tight friends; he has really looked out for me in many ways, including good annual raises.
love you all,
daddio
My boss is a chronic tie buyer and gave me about 20 ties which are $100.00 to $150.00 dollar ties. He buys them, wears them three to four times, or not at all, then gives them to me for free. It is extremely generous of him.After an extremely rocky start we really have become incredibly tight friends; he has really looked out for me in many ways, including good annual raises.
love you all,
daddio
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Michigan
Folks,
I'm not much of a sports fan anymore, but......... the Illini beat the Wolverines last night and a successful basketball season for me is when you just beat Michigan, the rest is icing on the cake.
On a more serious note, we are enduring layoffs of union workers in building services at the UI, ie, carpenters , electricians, millwrights. I'm not sure I've seen this since I've been here. Need to check my facts on that issue.In any event it is disturbing.
No reason to come unglued, just a reminder that this is a recession that may last for many more years.
love you all,
dadio
I'm not much of a sports fan anymore, but......... the Illini beat the Wolverines last night and a successful basketball season for me is when you just beat Michigan, the rest is icing on the cake.
On a more serious note, we are enduring layoffs of union workers in building services at the UI, ie, carpenters , electricians, millwrights. I'm not sure I've seen this since I've been here. Need to check my facts on that issue.In any event it is disturbing.
No reason to come unglued, just a reminder that this is a recession that may last for many more years.
love you all,
dadio
Monday, February 22, 2010
The President Shows His Gumption
After much criticism from lefties like me( "lefty "only on the subjects of aid to the poor and lower middle class) the President has shown he can take the punch and come roaring back. I believe the President took a play from Ali's book (aka Cassius Clay):"the rope a dope" i.e., take an incredible beating on the ropes by your opponent, then, after being almost counted down,out of nowhere come out with a devasting assault on the opposing fighter producing a knockout or a TKO. It worked for Ali, and I believe it will work for the President now: we are going to get a health bill with substantial reforms.
Many of you know there were only two boxers in history who could take the punishing blows of the "rope a dope"; add one more to that group- our President
daddio
Many of you know there were only two boxers in history who could take the punishing blows of the "rope a dope"; add one more to that group- our President
daddio
Friday, February 19, 2010
Jeff, Jane, and Paul
Had a wonderful "nite run" to Tiskilwa Wednesday night to visit with Jeff, Jane, Paul and Mom. great time!!! I got me some good hugs.
Jeff and I will make an AirCon trip to California to visit Paul; time undetermined. I need to check in with my friends at the U.S. Marshall's to get us a late flight from Terre Haute FCI to California BOP. I haven't told Jeff who our fellow passengers will be, but, suffice it to say, at 58, Jeff is not the "young meat the boys eat". Now, if I can get Joel to go, he may be in some trouble; he is still looking pretty good.
Gallows humor aside, I really treasure my close connections with my family. When I get together with family, even for a few hours,it seems like the world has stopped; I am where I need to be and want to be.
Mom has always been right; family is all we really have.
Love to all my family
daddio
Jeff and I will make an AirCon trip to California to visit Paul; time undetermined. I need to check in with my friends at the U.S. Marshall's to get us a late flight from Terre Haute FCI to California BOP. I haven't told Jeff who our fellow passengers will be, but, suffice it to say, at 58, Jeff is not the "young meat the boys eat". Now, if I can get Joel to go, he may be in some trouble; he is still looking pretty good.
Gallows humor aside, I really treasure my close connections with my family. When I get together with family, even for a few hours,it seems like the world has stopped; I am where I need to be and want to be.
Mom has always been right; family is all we really have.
Love to all my family
daddio
Monday, February 15, 2010
Abby and Daddio debate
Folks,
If I want to add a contact to gmail I believe it would be user friendly to just go to gmail "Contacts" hit "add a contact" and add the new contact. It doesn't apparently work that way. Abby believes the current mode, ie, starting a new email and putting the new address on the same, and automatically thereby adding the new contact to your contact list is more user friendly. HIUH???
Readers, please contact, I hate losing arguments to the petulant abby
daddio
If I want to add a contact to gmail I believe it would be user friendly to just go to gmail "Contacts" hit "add a contact" and add the new contact. It doesn't apparently work that way. Abby believes the current mode, ie, starting a new email and putting the new address on the same, and automatically thereby adding the new contact to your contact list is more user friendly. HIUH???
Readers, please contact, I hate losing arguments to the petulant abby
daddio
Valentine's Day
Dear Folks,
Wonderful Valentine's day for the federally employed. Three days of vacation with health benefits!
Anyway; Howie and I walked this weekend and I wore a backpack with 25 lbs of weight during the walk. 25# is suggested for most adults backpacking, but, as my daughters know, I am stronger than most men so I'll eventually train up to 50#s; sometimes there are some ladies who hike with us and we real men should carry their packs too( Jeff, how many pounds did we carry at Philmont?)
Barb and I watched two movies this weekend: Godfather part I, and part of(no pun intended)Godfather part II. We will go to a movie today: I'm rooting for the new Leonardo Caprio horror film, but she who must be obeyed will make the final decision.
Barb and I went to the play Abby directed Friday night: great!!!! Abby worked very hard as she always does for her craft.
Abby and Barb bought a gorgeous prom dress for Abby yesterday; she is striking.( remember my girls: Beth, Abby and Kristin- "the clothes don't make the girl, the girl makes the clothes").
Believe it or not I had to put a hold on "Homage" so I'll be starting a bit late; but, the fact someone else in Urbana is reading it shows how literate a community is Urbana!
Well, I need to up my lithium level a tad as I am in one of my "over the top" moods this morning, but, ain't mania great!!
Love you all dearly, especially "all my children"( Colin, you were to send me an email with a picture of you, Beth, Abby, AND Kristen that I can use as a header; where is it my man?
love,
daddio
Wonderful Valentine's day for the federally employed. Three days of vacation with health benefits!
Anyway; Howie and I walked this weekend and I wore a backpack with 25 lbs of weight during the walk. 25# is suggested for most adults backpacking, but, as my daughters know, I am stronger than most men so I'll eventually train up to 50#s; sometimes there are some ladies who hike with us and we real men should carry their packs too( Jeff, how many pounds did we carry at Philmont?)
Barb and I watched two movies this weekend: Godfather part I, and part of(no pun intended)Godfather part II. We will go to a movie today: I'm rooting for the new Leonardo Caprio horror film, but she who must be obeyed will make the final decision.
Barb and I went to the play Abby directed Friday night: great!!!! Abby worked very hard as she always does for her craft.
Abby and Barb bought a gorgeous prom dress for Abby yesterday; she is striking.( remember my girls: Beth, Abby and Kristin- "the clothes don't make the girl, the girl makes the clothes").
Believe it or not I had to put a hold on "Homage" so I'll be starting a bit late; but, the fact someone else in Urbana is reading it shows how literate a community is Urbana!
Well, I need to up my lithium level a tad as I am in one of my "over the top" moods this morning, but, ain't mania great!!
Love you all dearly, especially "all my children"( Colin, you were to send me an email with a picture of you, Beth, Abby, AND Kristen that I can use as a header; where is it my man?
love,
daddio
Monday, February 8, 2010
A Winter Wonderland
Daddio went winter camping with the Corn Desert Hiking group at Kickapoo Park this weekend. We had a huge fire and many funny stories. Many were drinking but daddio kept his vows and was the designated camper, i.e., I kept a very careful eye on the fire and those who ventured near it.I met many new nice people ; folks who like backcamping and hiking. I'm planning a three to four day backpacking trip in the Shawnee in March with the group. They eat great food by the way.
I'm finishing "The What is the What"(great book Colin!), and will be tearing into " Homage".
daddio
I'm finishing "The What is the What"(great book Colin!), and will be tearing into " Homage".
daddio
Thursday, February 4, 2010
February Book Club-Joel
Joel,
We have convened a meeting of the Taylor Book Club. You were not invited for a reason. It is the unanimous decision of the group that unless you post a February book selection by midnight today you will be placed on double secret probation, and I will have to choose a Danielle Steele novel for your February selection which only you will be mandated to read, AND, submit a precis regarding the same to the book club. The rest of us, by default, will be reading "Homage to Catalonia" by George Orwell. This book should be available in all public libraries so I suggest our members secure one now. It can be bought cheaply in paperback but I abhor wasting money so please rent from the library and give the amount you would have paid for the book to the book club treasury to see if we can pay for a remedial reading course for Joel(he will need it once he gets hooked on Danielle Steele".
daddio
daddio
We have convened a meeting of the Taylor Book Club. You were not invited for a reason. It is the unanimous decision of the group that unless you post a February book selection by midnight today you will be placed on double secret probation, and I will have to choose a Danielle Steele novel for your February selection which only you will be mandated to read, AND, submit a precis regarding the same to the book club. The rest of us, by default, will be reading "Homage to Catalonia" by George Orwell. This book should be available in all public libraries so I suggest our members secure one now. It can be bought cheaply in paperback but I abhor wasting money so please rent from the library and give the amount you would have paid for the book to the book club treasury to see if we can pay for a remedial reading course for Joel(he will need it once he gets hooked on Danielle Steele".
daddio
daddio
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