Not So Disastrous After All

I said I'd post more pictures if the river did anything spectacular. It didn't. But I'll post one little panorama anyway. As you can see - we've got water in the parking lot. (Click on the pic, silly, or you won't be able to see anything!)


Say, that's a pretty good looking truck on the left side there, isn't it?

Misc. March Pics

Anthony, taking a break from a hard day of play.

Kenrick is a budding artist.

And Andrea has a new hutch for displaying her blue glass.

Notice the daffodils - spring has sprung!

Water, Water, Everywhere ...

Last week we had a lot of rain. Gallons. And with the ground pretty much saturated, the deluge turned ditches into rivers. I'm always amazed at how much water accumulates in the low spots and the ditches, rushing about in great confusion until it finds its way to Kickapoo Creek and turns it into Big Muddy.

The Illinois River is nearing critical mass too. It's already three and a half feet above the official flood level and rising. Not over the banks downtown yet, but expected to peak Wednesday so we might see some puddles in Riverfront Park. I'll try to get some pictures if there's anything spectacular to see.

This Is Our Family

All right, here it is. My second most favorite family picture of all time -until we take another one.

(November, 2006)

Family Picture

In response to requests from certain acquaintances, I'd like to post my favorite family portrait of all time.

(click the pic to see it full size)

Goodbye Gene

Today we said goodbye to a dear friend and a special sister worker. It was our privilege to know Gene for the last eight of her 91 years, and feel blessed to have been able to share our home a few times even as her health diminished and as her 68 years in the work came to an end. Her funeral was this morning at the convention grounds south of us, and the quiet respect of the three hundred or so who came to see her laid to rest was a testimony of the influence she had and the love she gave to so many. She loved to preach the Gospel. She loved to hear the hymns. She loved God's people and to see the work of God being done in them. She loved our children. We'll miss her quick wit and jolly laugh, her twinkling eyes, her eternal handshakes. We'll miss you, Gene, but we're glad for the joy and the peace that you've proven to the very end and are confident that you've carried from time into eternity treasure that will last forever. Thank you for your example, thank you for the influence you've had on our lives.

Spring is Springing

Ah, spring...

Today I came home from work in my shirtsleeves, enjoying the balmy breeze and the number 71. That was the temperature and it felt guuud. Got the road bike out for a quick ride (see post below) and then uncovered the grill for the first time this year. The pig chops died happy.

You're Going To Do What?

I signed up yesterday for the 2007 Galena Triathlon. This swim-bike-run combo is held in May in beautiful Galena, Illinois. Galena is in the north-west part of the state (top-left, for the directionally challenged), and is surrounded by dairy farms and lots of hills. Steep hills. Perfect triathlon country.

I've done this triathlon a couple of years in a row now (two) and had a lot of fun doing it. That being said, I'm not sure why I've committed to do another one. The first year I was just happy to finish. It's a 'sprint' triathlon, so the distances don't require a tremendous amount of fitness, but last year I knew I hadn't trained enough when my legs started cramping up after the first mile of the four-mile run. I stumbled on (in great pain and agony, enduring hardship and adversity, wishing I had one more shot of PowerGel), and finished 47 seconds slower than my first attempt. I'm resolved to do better this year.

Obviously not resolved enough to spend the winter getting in shape, as my lovely wife is quick to point out, but resolved none the less. And now that I've actually signed up I guess I'd better get the swim goggles unfogged and the bicycle down off its hooks. Wish me luck.

Come Back, Dave!

Today after meeting we went to Corky's Ribs & BBQ to try out the newest southern smoked pig in town. We had high hopes that the BBQ void left by the tragic departure of Famous Dave's from Peoria (could we have a moment of silence please ... ) could be at least partly filled by this intriguingly-named establishment. Corky's promises BBQ cooked "in the old fashioned southern tradition," using charcoal, hickory chips, and a "special blend of tangy sauces," and yet we found the application of such a lofty promise to be lacking at best. I'm never one to complain about food, but I must say that today we left mildly disappointed and missing Dave's more than ever. What was wrong, you might ask? Or you might not, but if you live in Peoria you may have seen the favorable review in the newspaper and wonder what went wrong. And really, the food tasted okay - I had pulled pork and beef brisket, Andrea had smoked turkey, and the kids spread rib sauce from ear to ear - but it just didn't seem like there was enough taste. The pork was a bit fatty (Andrea's pet peeve), the kid's ribs were tough, the baked beans tasted like they came from a can, and the brisket was just ... uninspiring.

To be fair, it's probably not fair to judge anything smoked, sauced, or 'qued to Famous Dave's - where flavor makes your ears stand out and the hairs on the back of your neck dance with joy - but when you know what could be, it's tough to not to be critical. I'll probably go back at least one more time; I saw some good looking ribs that were calling my name and the optimist in me says that surely the big boy ribs are treated a little differently than the kiddy meals. They deserve a taste before passing final judgement.

Current score: Dave's - 5, Everyone Else - 0.