Cherry Blossoms were Gone But Had a Perfect Day in Washington

Not a cloud in the high blue sky and 75 degrees hosted a perfect day in Washington. 

Lulu has to make a presentation to a subcommittee Friday - so we had a day of leisure to spend in our nation's capital. We started our experience with an all-day pass for the Metro. Our hotel in Ballston VA was on the orange line - so in minutes we were at the Smithsonian Metro Stop. 

Lulu wanted to see the cherry blossoms along the tidal basin so we walked there to find the blossoms on the ground - we were too late. But we did stumble on the delightful "Tulip Library." Lulu collects pictures visiting every library she can - and this was no exception.

Five Trips to Chicago - 1962 - 1990 - 1993 - 2009 - 2010

Picture - 1 - The Palmer House where Lulu received her award in 1990 - 2 - The  plaza next to our Fairmont Hotel today.

We just had the pleasure of spending 3 days in Chicago. It is a neat city - too bad it can be so cloud - windy - and snowy. Today as we left it was 80 degrees - not bad for a springtime along the lake.

1. (1962) My first trip to Chicago was as a 14 year old Boy Scout. Dad did not have a lot of money but he wanted me to go to Philmont NM - the Boy Scout camp in the desert Southwest. He arranged for me to go with a group from Scranton. We rode on the famous Phoebe Snow train of the Erie and Lackawanna Railroad. On that 1962 trip we spent a day touring Chicago on a Gray Line bus.

2. (1990) Lulu's doctoral dissertation was selected best in the country by the ALISE. She received a $1000 check and an all-expense-paid trip to Chicago - staying at The Palmer House and presenting at the convention.

The Trailing Spouse Pans Billy Elliot Opening Night in Chicago

Pictures - Lulu at Billy Elliot Opening - Elton John takes a curtain call

I am on the road again for the next 9 days with Lulu as she does the stuff that presidents of the AASL do. The ALA has their main offices in Chicago so that is where the tour starts - then we go to Washington DC - then drive to State College and Tamaqua PA - finally flying back to Tallahassee from sunny ABE Airport in Allentown. Maybe I am a little cranky having to leave Tallahassee during the two most beautiful weeks of the year or maybe it is because I had to leave our new property just a few days from closing - so my review of the Billy Elliot opening here may be viewed through coke bottle glasses. It was really nice for Lulu to score two tickets to my favorite play just a block from our hotel.

Lulu Scored Opening Night Tickets for Billy Elliot Opening Night in Chicago and Didn't Even Know it

We had a nice flight from Florida. We got to our Fairmont Hotel - got dressed and went to the theatre. They had the red carpet out - we asked why - opening night! Solidarity forever! We're proud to be working class.

Chicago is my kind of town - if it didn't snow here.

Sent from my iPhone

Elian Gonzalez - Ten Years After

It has been 10 years since Elian was returned to Cuba to live with his father. Where has the time gone? He is 16 now.

Later Note - as of 11/24/12 - 635 people have read this post.

Solar Powered Plane to Circle World

PAYERNE, Switzerland (AP) -- Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard's team took its round-the-world solar plane prototype into the skies for the first time Wednesday, with four propellers lifting the massive craft off the ground at near bicycle speed.

Piccard said the two-hour test flight will examine if the plane, with the wingspan of a Boeing 747 and the weight of a small car, can keep a straight trajectory. The team plans to fly it around the world next year.

Good Luck Drew & Duke - Good Luck Hickory

Son Drew went to Duke and he is the biggest Blue Devil fan I know. His son Jack is almost two and he is the littlest Blue Devil in my life now - and don't forget his mother Robin and Uncle Travis.

Tonight we will all be watching the championship game. Duke will be Duke - Butler will be the smallest school in the game in 40 years.

Duke is a heavy gambling favorite but I am guessing that 95% of the fans in the arena and watching on TV will be hoping for the upset.

In the movie "Hoosiers" a small school in Indiana beat the city power to win the state championship. The school in the movie is called Hickory High School - in real life the school was from the small town of Milan. The hero in that game was Bobby Plump.

Bobby Plump went on to play for the Butler Bulldogs in the Butler Arena which just a few miles from tonight's game. A famous line in the movie was, "Let's win this one for all the small schools that never had a chance to be here."

"I want to win this one for my Dad."

Drew Got His iPad First!

Drew was at the Apple store early this morning waiting in line. He had pre-ordered two Apple iPads - I guess one for each hand.

Then - he sold one of his reservations for $50 to another guy.

Now he is home - his eyes are glazed over - like a kitten with too much catnip.

Big Weekend - March "iPad" Madness

Today is Dad's birthday. He would be 94 if he were still alive. Alas - he died 28 years too early to experience March "iPad" Madness.

Tomorrow - April 3rd - a day that will live in infamy. Apple will deliver millions of ipads to stores and customers all over America. Everything has been choreographed for customers to receive their new miracle tool through UPS at precisely the same time.

iPad is supposed to be a revolutionary new computer product to "change" the world forever. For $500 (plus tax and shipping) - millions of Apple groupies will be receiving this 8 x 10 x 1/2 inch sheet of glass that is supposed to change the world.

Simply put - it is a handheld computer that allows you to type directly on the color screen to send messages - listen to music - view photos - play games - watch videos - read email - and surf the net.  It looks just like Apple's iPhone - only bigger - but you currently can't use it as a telephone. Some folks call it a "tweener" - it will fill the void between a cell phone and a laptop computer.

Techie critics are already panning it as a useless piece of garbage. Comedians are having a field day over the silly "iPad" name. Others are claiming it will be the replacement of a hallowed icon - the book - and savior of the obsolete news standard - the newspaper.

I have taken the bait. For the last few days - I have been checking the UPS site hoping the "brown pen guy" will be drawing circles around my home predicting an early delivery.

iPad Day - April 3rd 2010. You have been warned.

FSU Girls Lose to Uconn Girls

FSU girls made it to the Elite 8 - then the clock struck midnight. the scoreboard read 90-50 - a nice easy round number to remember. They finished the season 29-6 - best record ever. We  lose two seniors - and have supposedly the best recruit in the country coming to town in the fall. It was a great run by a group of very nice girls. If this success keeps up - season tickets are going to be going higher than $15.

And Then There Were Eight - FSU Beat Miss St - 74-71

For the first time in Florida State history - the Seminole girls basketball team is one of the 8 finalists. On Tuesday night is the biggest test. They play Connecticut. The Huskies have won over 50 in a row and are the current national champions.

A Nope for Pope

By MAUREEN DOWD Reprinted from Today's NY Times

Yup, we need a Nope.

A nun who is pope.

The Catholic Church can never recover as long as its Holy Shepherd is seen as a black sheep in the ever-darkening sex abuse scandal.

Now we learn the sickening news that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, nicknamed "God's Rottweiler" when he was the church's enforcer on matters of faith and sin, ignored repeated warnings and looked away in the case of the Rev. Lawrence C. Murphy, a Wisconsin priest who molested as many as 200 deaf boys.

Out With the Old Truck - In With the New

Usually my days are pretty bland - but today I had a month's worth of action.

I listed my old truck on Craigslist at 9 AM and got over 20 calls and emails about it. Two people visited - first one wanted to put a deposit on it - second one came with the cash.

The Tacoma was a nice truck - but it was only two wheel drive. When I took it down the hill to the lake out back - sometimes it would not make it back up the hill - slipping in the leaves and mulch. So I went looking for a four wheel drive - and found a nice Ford F150. Lulu does not care much what I buy as long as it is the right color.

Woodburners Pollute - Cause Problems

From The Times News, Lehighton PA

Residents register complaints during meeting of borough council

By RON GOWER rgower@tnonline.com

Lehighton borough has an ordinance governing outdoor wood burners, but one resident who was "grandfathered" regarding the regulations literally has been causing a big stink in his neighborhood.

Why Is This Lady Smiling? Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick

Florida State Wins in Overtime - On to the Sweet 16

From The Tallahassee Democrat (www.tdo.com)
By Aimee Sachs
Angel Gray covered her eyes as St. John's forward Da'Shena Stevens took the final shot at the buzzer in overtime.
Florida State's senior guard didn't want to see her career as a Seminole end at the Civic Center Monday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Stevens' shot did not fall, and the Seminoles hung on to win 66-65 on a night Florida State committed 21 turnovers.

Jean enjoying St Johns and FSU Tied at Half 30-30

Florida State won by one point in overtime! They advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA playoffs. Jean Freed - Nancy's friend from back home enjoyed the game. Tomorrow she flies back to Pennsylvania. She plans to visit us in London for a week this summer.

It was the most exciting game of the neither. Neither team was up by more than 5.