All My Children

fishy business

2010-07-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

Rondell,

It'a the Big White Whale: Moby Dick. I think close to 700 pages or more.
daddio

War and Peace

2010-06-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

I'm on page 750; 850 pages to go. It is FUN

daddio

War and Peace

2010-06-02T17:36:00.000-07:00

Barb rolls her eyes, but I think this reads like a good soap opera.

daddio

2010-05-07T09:17:00.000-07:00

A "Yellow Raft " was very good. The story is told in reverse in a really neat way. I won't say more as others may have not read it yet.

"War and Peace" is always bad mouthed as long and boring; wrong, its like a good soap opera; I read it in college. Mom, seriously, you'll love the book. Willing to try it?

John

Dead Heat

2010-04-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

Francis' book was a winner and short. I enjoyed it quite a bit!!

daddio

May selections for the Taylor Bookclub

2010-04-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

I have chosen Dick Francis' "Dead Heat " and Michael Dorris' "A Yellow Raft in Blue Water" as our May selections. Please secure these books through your library; it truly is a waste of money to spend $15.00 to $30.00 on a book when you can rent it for free at the library.

daddio

April Book Club Selection

2010-04-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

I really liked our April selection, a collection of three stories by the Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz( pn. Na-gib(long i) Ma- fooz(long oo).

There is a very interesting short biography of Mahfouz at Wikopedia which I recommend.

"Autumn Quail", one of the stories, has a hopeful twist at the end. "Thief and the Dogs", another of the stories, follows a principled rebel(in a strange way) who chooses, at the end, his fate.

daddio

Moving My Bethany

2010-04-19T06:24:00.000-07:00

I had an outstanding weekend. We moved Bethany to 3074 Palmer. This is an elegant, restored turn of the century building. I made new friends: Adam, Deborah, Gabriel and Zachary. Ashley and Bethany are roomates again:YEH!!!. Ashley is one of my favorite people.

Colin impressed me with his moving skills. He is not quite up to daddio's strength and endurance, but, he certainly is outstanding in those areas.

Jeff and Matt, my literary friends visited and I have plans for Jeff'f new book. I believe I will be chosen as his editor and literary agent. It undoubtedly will be a best seller, and Jeff has offered me a generous 5% of the book profits( my retirement has thus been accelerated to age 75; much to the chagrin of my crack dealing defendants). Kristen brought me two dozen delicious oatmeal and raisin cookies, and no kidding, I had then finished off by 8:00PM Sunday.

I can't imagine a better weekend. I truly have no complaints about my life. I will probably die the happiest man in the universe.

Well, love to "All My Children" !!

daddio

eagle creek state park

2010-04-12T05:10:00.000-07:00

did an 11 mile hike this weekend at lake shelbyville and camped overnite with friends from Chicago and mattoon. gorgeous weather. saw two wild turkeys and a blue racer snake. slept without a tent and was warm and cozy. had a great campfire and great food with a dutch oven and good cooks. the trail was moderately rugged and I noticed the young bucks had trouble keeping up with daddio; they don't make um like they used too. some of these young guys just lack grit. hope they are ready when the ruskies hit the east coast or we midwestern rednecks might have to tool out with our long knives and shotguns and save you liberal pansie asses.well, back to chewing my tobacco and shootin squirrels;gonna have me fried squirrel, dandelion greens and cornbread tonight; think ma might have some cool cider in the cellar.

daddio

April Book Selection

2010-04-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

A Trilogy of three novels by Naguib Mahfouz: "The Beggar", "The Thief and the Dogs", and "Autumn Quail".

daddio

Bethany

2010-03-30T05:56:00.000-07:00

Beth's appendectomy surgery went perfectly. Barb is with her;thank the good lord. Bethany will always be my baby girl; can't help it, I'm a dad. Colin really stepped into the breach; got Bethany into surgery and stayed with her all day and into the night; he always is there when we need him; he has grown into the man every father hopes his son will be.

Dad

Helping Others

2010-03-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

Today, I believe I have seen the most important legislation passed in my lifetime and signed by our President. This is a great country where the majority still believes that helping others who can't help themselves is a moral imperative.
I will never forget this day as long as I live. FDR and LBJ stand aside; you were great, but you were not of the character and tenaciousness of President Barack Obama. I am in tears as I write this.

Dad

A vote for those without health care

2010-03-21T07:02:00.000-07:00

Today is the day that good people have made. The vote will be YES in the House for health care. President Obama: you are THE Man.

daddio

Rainy Days and Sundays

2010-03-16T04:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had the clouds and the darkness, but..... we also had Colin visiting with us! We missed Kristin but we will see her Easter at Grandma Barb's; although we still missed her this weekend. I'll just have to let Rondell's stories suffice for now.

Howard and I took an outstanding walk this morning. The stars were bright, it was still dark, and we pretty much had the neighborhood to ourselves. I'm seeing a lot of rabbits out there so I know spring is here.It smells and sounds like spring; it is truly a gift.

Ivanhoe is coming along; a little slower than I had anticipated. It is good historical fiction. When I finish it I'll get a history book on the Crusades; nothing too academic, just some history. Mom, maybe you can join in with me and share your thoughts. The Crusades might have particular relevance given the situation in the mideast these days.

daddio

Ivanhoe and The Speedy Trial Act

2010-03-11T04:14:00.000-08:00

"Ivanhoe" details, in part, the animosity between the Normans and the Anglo-Saxons; good history. It also puts a pretty bad hit on the Jews. Scott wrote the novel in 1819 and it may have been Scott's intent, not to mock the Jews, but to point out the injustice of prejudice to the Jews not only during the 1200's but also in the England of 1819. Anyway.. its a good read and the mysteries are spinning.

Jeff, on another note, Thomas strains the meaning of the statute. He tries his best to invoke strict statutory constuction, but.... Alito is the practical jurist in the dissent. Although the act is obviously statutory, its root is the Constitution, and their is no way the founding father's intended to make the speedy trial right a technical provision to sandbag the government; which is exactly what happened under Thomas' strained opinion; what idiots; Thomas should have stayed with recycling coke cans.

daddio

And the Birds Will Sing

2010-03-10T04:03:00.000-08:00

Howard and I enjoyed the songs of the birds on our morning walk today. The days are longer; we leave work before sunset. There are breakings of soil by emerging flowers; life is on the mend.
Ivanhoe is getting very interesting. The intrigues of the Normans and the Anglo-Saxons are emerging. More on that later.

daddio

Homage and Turkey Run

2010-03-07T05:52:00.000-08:00

Dear Folks,

Finally finished Homage yesterday. About a week late but immediately tore into Ivanhoe. As Mom noted, about 50 of the last 90 pages of Homage chronicle the various left wing party intrigues of the Spanish Civil War and are boring; they reflect left wing stupidity, i.e. it is better to be ideologically correct than to keep fascism out of power.The ideologues lost again, as they usually do, to the detriment of all. Sort of reminds me of the Democrats in Congress today. They could achieve significant health care reform in a heart beat by just adopting the Senate Bill in toto. Instead , they keep their eye over their shoulder to re-election and their own self interest; to heck with the general good.I really think it is time for the President to bring out all the power of the presidency and, even if it costs him the next presidential election, take some very crude and vicious action to bring the Congress to pass a bill NOW. This is not the time for compromise within your own party, its the time to enforce and to use the awesome power that the office of president has to bring people into line. LBJ did it. Roosevelt did it. President Obama can do it.
I'm hoping for the best.

love you all,

daddio

out
On a more positive note-I spent yesterday hiking Turkey Run State Park in Indiana. Weather was o0utstanding. Bethany will remember the which I

Ivanhoe is Still Our March Selection

2010-03-03T14:13:00.000-08:00

Mom is half way through Ivanhoe, so, lets stick with it!!!!

daddio

Homage and Ivanhoe

2010-03-03T04:23:00.000-08:00

By popular demand we are dropping Ivanhoe as our March selection. I ask Mom, within the next two days to announce our March selection. Mom, pick a book you would like to read, don't be intimidated by those intellectuals Joel and Jeff; they are all huff and puff!

Secondly, I strongly recommend those who read "Homage" to "Wikopedia" the Spanish Civil War and read the article. Homage is very confusing because of the many political parties that fought in that war. The article really helps.

daddio

Thunder; Fire; Shudder; Shutter Island?????

2010-03-01T04:01:00.000-08:00

It could be all four.

Barbie and I used our senior citizen discounts at the matinee theatre yesterday to view Shutter Island( which we much enjoyed). I'm still pondering the plot( just figured out the Justice Department license plates on the warden's jeep) Ben Kingsley probably stole the show but DeCaprio was outstanding.

We've heard robins chirping this weekend so spring must be near.

Forgot to tell you all I went on a retreat with the church youth group to Wisconsin last weekend. We did tobogganing, hockey without skates, snowshoes, and cross country skiing. Great time.

I intend to go hiking at Turkey Run this weekend with the Corn Desert Group; will report Monday.

I confess to our book club that I am finishing off a non-book club book today, I'll knock off Homage in a couple nights and will be on track with Ivanhoe by the end of the week. I hope to have a decent report on Homage, but.... Mom didn't like it so maybe I won't either.
.

peace and love,

daddio

Hotel Rwanda

2010-02-26T04:09:00.000-08:00

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.

My Boss

2010-02-25T04:29:00.000-08:00

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

Michigan

2010-02-24T04:16:00.000-08:00

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

The President Shows His Gumption

2010-02-22T11:02:00.000-08:00

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

Jeff, Jane, and Paul

2010-02-19T05:59:00.000-08:00

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

Abby and Daddio debate

2010-02-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

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

Valentine's Day

2010-02-15T06:51:00.000-08:00

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

A Winter Wonderland

2010-02-08T05:23:00.000-08:00

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

February Book Club-Joel

2010-02-04T04:25:00.000-08:00

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

Our President

2010-01-28T04:43:00.000-08:00

The President was outstanding last night. The "girly men": Senate and the House: Republican and Democrats don't have a clue; they are spineless. We need my hero Josef "Joe" Stalin to start the trials.I'm happy to preside; it will be quick but not painless.

daddio

A great Saturday

2010-01-24T08:41:00.000-08:00

Barb and I took a day trip to Chicago to view Kristen's art show; we were not disappointed. I'm still pondering Kristen's four works. Once I've seen a piece of art I need to reflect and think about it for a few days.

We then had a great lunch with my Bethany joining us. I also had the true delight of meeting Romie and her parents. I really believe Romi and I could really connect if I lived in Chicago and could then make the time to spend with Bethany and her. She is a very alert little child and very precious.

Joel, what might our February book selection be? I am anxiously waiting.

Colin, I'm glad you shared Egger's "What is the What" with me. I was reading it last night and this morning and it is outstanding! Zehtoun just doesn't have the same strength and composition

daddio

The Selfish Americans?

2010-01-20T04:27:00.000-08:00

How do you read the American people? On one hand they give nobly and with passion to help out the struggling in Haiti. On the other hand they selfishly guard their own health benefits and deny them to the uninsured and underinsured in their own country; men, women and children with whom they work and live with day by day.The American people poll out as not supporting even a modest reform of our health care system. I reserve special ire for the senior citizens. They enjoy good Medicare coverage financed by even those who have no health insurance themselves( yes, people who work without health insurance still pay the Medicare tax from their payroll earnings); yet, they worry the proposed health care bill might diminish their own health care, and therefore reject the same. Many of our young people cannot get health insurance through their employment and cannot afford it on their own; yes, these are our children and your children, not some fantasized "other".
I am mindful many of our seniors support national health coverage; unfortunately, they are a minority of that age group.

The old kill our young; they devour our seed corn.

To our seniors: have you no shame?

I have all my adult life been proud of this country's support of Social Security and Medicare benefits; they have allowed our senior citizens to have some measure of economic security in their old age.

I am very angry; and I will stay angry

daddio

Zeitoung(sp)

2010-01-14T07:47:00.000-08:00

Folks,

With my apologies to Colin, I don't think this is a really good book. I just don't like the writing style: it reads like poor biography. Having said that , it is a clear and convincing work documenting and damning our own government. It shows a massive disregard and callousness to those who lived in New Orleans. I note this morning we are sending 2000 war hardend Marines to Haiti with many ships and massive aid. Why couldn't we have done that in New Orleans? I don't think we can blame all of this on Bush JR. Anyone who voted for Gore is responsible for this moral failure.

daddio

The Beauty of Cold

2010-01-10T05:35:00.000-08:00

several mornings in a row now I have got up and it is zer0 degrees outside. The air is so wonderfully crisp and clean. If you dress warmly you will be able to walk or hike in comfort. There are very few people out and you pretty much have the trees and sky to yourself.

I'm going to try some hiking at Forest Glen today. The snow ought to have been beaten down on the trails by the deer but we'll have to wait to see.

I've joined an outdoors hiking and backpacking group and we have a winter campout scheduled for February. I have some new eqiupment from Christmas so I am sure I will be out at Forest Glen and Kickapoo for some winter hiking and camping prior to then.

I am finishing "The God of Small Things"; a wonderful book Kristin gave me for Christmas, then I must dig into Eggers book therafter.

Love you "all my children"; which now includes Kristin so I need a picture of Kristin, Colin, Beth and Abby together if any of you can email me one please.

daddio

Taylor Family Book Club

2010-01-01T13:43:00.000-08:00

Well now, Pip was quite the young man now, wasn't he. Great redemption of Miss Havisham, and the same for Pip. Jaggers a bit of a hard guy. Estella made it to the homestretch with panache.

So.........Mom, January is your selection. We expect to hear from you within the next week.

daddio

Christmas of Family

2009-12-27T07:38:00.000-08:00

Another wonderful Christmas at Urbana. Mom was here, which of course is critical to a successful Christmas. Many nice gifts, but more importantly, time to visit and enjoy. Mom took us out for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner at Peking Garden with the Eastin's. From there we traveled to Wesley Church for evening services and then home to a fire on the hearth, and the traditional Sesame Street Christmas and Peter, Paul and Mary PBS Christmas specials. Colin was off to the Freeman household in Tulsa Saturday morning ,arriving late Saturday. Joel hasn't returned my Christmas phone call so he is on double secret probation. Bethany brought her friend Liz here so we could see Liz's beautiful little baby Belle; she is so small I can hold her in my hand. She is very cute!! Bethany is out and around visiting her many friends in Urbana; Abby is busy texting her new crush on her cell phone ( she will deny this accusation, and, to be fair, she is very involved in our family activities; eg, movies, cooking and baking,reading, and generally enjoying each other). Barb is being a good mom, as usual.

Well, another holiday with all my children, so, I have no complaints, only gratitude for the moment.

daddio

Eric on the RUN

2009-12-15T07:30:00.000-08:00

you have to hear Eric's lightning fast pickin and playin to appreciate the boy: he is HOT

"reggie's" at 2150 S State. last night; 8:00- 10:00 PM. Beth, Jay( U of C PhD. student in molecular Biology; MIT graduate; real smart; real nice; real respectful of Bethany; boys that don't respect my girls get knee-capped); Joel, Eric; the band.

This boy Eric is too good to miss.

I luv him; he 's going to big places; I'm bettin on this boy. Stay tuned for the next performance; I'll be there.

daddio

pip and christmas eve

2009-12-08T17:50:00.000-08:00

folks,

any comments on our book? I find Pip to be very brave; I find Miss Havisham to be very strange. I know this is the seminal moment in pip's climb up the ladder, but, isn't Miss Havisham a bit too fantastic?
Thoughts?

daddio

fun and games

2009-12-01T17:22:00.000-08:00

My fellow Americans, I'm taking time away from LBJ's requests for more troops in Afghanistan. I realize another 30,000 troops will most certainly bring us to that light at the end of the table. I know the President has spoken to the French about their occupation, and be assured we are told, the French lost Vietnam, I'm sorry, the Brits and Russians lost Afghanistan because they wouldn't stay the course.

It has come to my attention that two of my beloved may be concerned abou my state of mind based on some of my postings. Be assured, almost everything I put on this blog is stated with tongue in cheek; I'm not serious about 90% of that which I put on blogs.

Now, time to get back to President Nixon' speech; he has a plan to end the wars and I wait with great curiousity regarding the same.

daddio

December book club selection

2009-11-30T19:40:00.000-08:00

'Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Most of you read this in high school..... but, let us do it again. your public library should have several copies. remember, this book starts out on Christmas Eve with little Pip.

jt

Defeat From the Jaws of Victory

2009-11-30T19:02:00.000-08:00

I have taken another beating. After being promised I could smoke cigars after I gave up Lucky Strikes, I was informed tonight I can't smoke cigars either. Barb threatened to leave me in 2 1/2 years(when Abby graduates high school) and Abby said she wasn't talking to me anymore, and then told me she really didn't have much to talk to me about the majority of the time anyway. So, rather than putting up with two screaming meanies for the foreseeable future I folded my tent and went home. The Code says you have to respect and defer to women(there are a few of us real men still around who follow the Code) so, the Code comes first, personal pleasure second.
I'm not whining, just noting that SOME PEOPLE don't honor their contracts.
Oh well, I still have Rondell; and that is plenty for this man.

jt

smokin but not tokin

2009-11-29T13:07:00.000-08:00

Barb, Abby and Beth "outed" me on smoking cigarettes last night. I manned up and confessed, gave up cigaretes forever, but......... I reserved the right to smoke cigars when I so choose.

Great Thanksgiving! Great food! Great family! A special treat of course was having Mom here with us at Thanksgiving. I believe I've spent every Thanksgiving in my entire life with Mom. Correct me fellow bloggers if I am mistaken .
I've decided to ask Rondell to be a regular contributor on my blog. I talked to her by phone in Tupelo today. She is a scream; she has sworn me to silence on her phone number...sorry folks. I told Rondel that but for the fact I am very happily married, I'd be right down there to romance her.
Daddio

November 13, a Friday

2009-11-13T12:58:00.000-08:00

Friday the 13 could be a lucky day. Had a real funny note from Rondell; Hope she keeps contributing to my blog.

A friend of mine who has been in professional theatre, but is pretty much retired, will be coming to one of Abby's shows this weekend at my request. I think Abby would just like to know about pointers, advice, etc. My friend does still give acting lessons on a free lance basis so maybe that is something Abby will want to pursue. Barb and I are very proud of her as she put in an enormous amount of time and work on this show. I am very impressed by her work ethic . She really does the acting in a very real and convincing manner.

Enough already; a good weekend to all.

P.S. I've decided to pick something light for our book club's December reading; maybe something with a holiday theme.

daddio

Health Care

2009-11-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

Hurray! I am confident the health bill will pass both houses.

the A.M.A and AARP have endorsed it; what better support could you have. I hope Rahm and company go absolutely T.V. radio, internet, etc with a knock down commercial on this. I don't care how they pay for it. I'd certainly pony some money to fund the commercial. Colin, do you know what organization is doing the advertising here? Let us spread the word on that, i.e, donations for the commercials.

jt

Health Care Redux

2009-11-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

The President is no LBJ(Medicare), but, the NYT today says our President is going to get it done. Im feeling much better about our President this morning. Go Colin!!!

daddio

dad's angry side

2009-10-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

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"

2009-10-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-10-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-01T16:30:00.000-07:00

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.

Mom

2009-09-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

This Thursday Mom and I will be cleaning out (or at least starting to clean out) her basement storage area. Bad things happen when two impulsive people tackle a project, i.e., Mom and I will probably do too good a job. If you think you have a thing of value in the basement storage area, you probably have till Thursday night at 5:00PM to save it. Mom and I start at 8:00 AM Thursday , so.........

daddio

Antioch

2009-09-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

Barb and I drove to Antioch this weekend to visit our good friends Roger and Karen Daluga. The weather was gorgeous. Our old friends D.R. and Patty Conversa were also there so we had a great time catching up on family news; finding out about their children, and for D.R. and Patty, their children and grandchildren. Next Friday its off to Appleton, Wisconsin for nephew Jeff's wedding. It is truly a good fall full of wonderful events!

2009-09-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

Jess bit the dust this afternoon on more than 5 kilos of cocaine. Guilty of all counts, mandatory life. He manned up; two co-conspirators testified against him to avoid life. He kept his mouth shut. Love the guy. Hope I do the same when judgement day comes for me.

daddio

just drugs and guns

2009-09-23T17:29:00.000-07:00

just drug trials the last two weeks; guns not for a while. military benefits fraud in February, lying to a bankruptcy judge coming up. a crime involving nasty pictures( I can't name the formal crime due to censoring) in the wind x2.

actually, the fact patterns are very similar, and thus, boring. does anyone need a dishwasher-I'm available on demand. I work cheap, but I need health benefits as part of the package.

no, I'm not a rapper

I love you "all my children"

dad

September 21, 2009

2009-09-21T17:46:00.000-07:00

Urbana was rainy and gray this morning. Howie and I pretended we were in London on an overcast day.
Morning walks are great daydreaming time. I can't understand why so many people are hooked into their I-Pods while walking and running in the early morning hours. They can't hear the birds, the wind, the small silences. Urbana is quiet this time of year. The students have settled in and the construction has slowed.
Marvin G. gave me an original unedited copy of the "Red Badge of Courage". I'm looking forward to see if I can notice any differences from the edited copy.
Every day for me its drugs and guns, drugs and guns. Years from now future generations will view this whole illegal drug round-up as a law enforcement anomaly. How could we ever think we could control supply when the demand is endless.

September 20, 2010

2009-09-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

Wonderful day. Colin, Beth and Kristen called me to wish me happy birthday. Barb and Abby treated me like a prince all day. Reading "The Sheltering Sky" by Paul Bowles. Kristen knew the author , who is moderately obscure( Kristen, you are a kindred spirit).

Health care: I'll settle for insurance companies prohibited from excluding pre-existing conditions and at no higher cost than to healthy folk; eligibility to all applicants, no one refused.. No lifetime limit on benefits and government subsidies for premiums based on income. We can get that much done now, might even garner some republican support.

Military: get out of Vietnam; I mean........ Iraq and Afghanistan

Economy: let the market work; no bailouts for bankers and financiers.

Just thought I'd try out a post.....

Love you all,

Dad