Existing In BFE

Tim and Chris resting and talking about their visit to a quilt shop. Who knows, maybe we'll soon see a quilted Harley seat. Dave, Olie Olson, taking a much needed respite from the many and varied shops that litter Bishop Hill. Olie Olson posing suggestively at a Bishop Hill shop. Strange and erotic windvane with a farmer seemingly beating his pork. The North Henderson Mild Ones strolling the shops at Bishop Hill. "You can lead a whore to culture, but you can't make her think." Dorothy Parker Even those of us in BFE have a craving for culture. On Saturday the North Henderson Mild Ones saddled up and biked to Bishop Hill. We checked out the pottery and quilt shops and soaked up some history at the chapel. This is photographic verification that beer is not the only thing we bike to. Chris and CG joined us and it was great having them there. The wind was brutal but any day riding is fun.

Tim and Richard. Everyone had the 2 - 2 - 2. Richard looking studly. The weekend started with a trip to Aledo to have breakfast at the Garden. The weather was great and we didn't want to end it too soon so we jogged up to Preemption to an open house at Hammer's and then over to RT 150 and then home to BFE .

Picture of Missy smudges at window. Can't bear to wash it off. Sunset near BFE. Odd painting called "Isle of the Dead". Sign of the economic times. Florida bar sent by Patti. Award winning monument from Lackey's in Galesburg.

T-Minus 17 Days...And Counting

From my rear-view mirror: Carrie and Tim in the foreground, and Dave in the rear. View from my bike. Wonder if I'll ever see open road in Florida? Looks like a chicken riding a motorcycle, but actually two separate cement sculptures. We stopped shortly attempting to find the Mississippi Fairgrounds, new home of Sturgis on the River. Tim's funny quip: "Hey Mike, ever see a c__k that hard?" Stopped in Aledo on way home and had a beer and supper with Mark & Holly at Scooter's, via BeerBellies.

From Muscatine we wanted to have a barley pop in Keithsburg so we went across the river and headed South. When we reached the road that goes into town, we discovered they were oiling the road...both sides...on a Saturday. We pulled off and decided to head further east and catch another road. We found a gravel road not too far down and at an intersection tried to catch the road again hoping that the oiling was just that section. We were wrong. Once again we tried the oil road but bailed where a guy was holding a stop/slow sign. Once again we tried a gravel road and came upon another intersection. We turned right and after a while came to a dead end! OK, back we go and turn right this time, hoping to catch the original gravel road we tried before. This is what we came upon. Rushing water over the road. But Tim sent Carried down to see if she could come up with navigable road. Down to the end of the road she walked - and Tim decided to take his bike down to see the situation. Water rush...

My renter bailed on me yesterday. I had just gotten done cancelling the power, cable, and garbage pick-up, and so I called to tell him that he could go ahead and make the calls to get his stuff lined up. I could tell he wasn't talking too much and then he said he and his wife/girlfriend were getting back together. Why didn't he tell me when he knew? Jerk. Now I have to get rolling to find someone again, a nd fast.

Carrie took these videos of me on my bike this past weekend. What is really strange is that 99% of the time I'd have a helmet on. It was a hot day and wanted to cool off. It was a great day for riding: breakfast at 11 th Street Precinct Pub in East Davenport, over to the Fairgrounds for the Sturgis event, then off to Muscatine and Keithsburg , Aledo and back to BFE . Interesting things along the way. More on this trip in the coming days. Bummer event for the weekend: I missed a call from Brendan in England.

1. When asked to write a story using only 6 words, Ernest Hemingway wrote, "For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn." Neighbor Tim was able to do the same: "Tits and tires, nothing but trouble." 2. My former boss but constant friend, Gay Johnson wrote me: two word marriages made in heaven: school's out summer time July Fourth fireworks extravaganza (what it lacks in fluidity, it makes up for in anticipation) chocolate cake 3. Speaking of Gay, she used to bring us our paychecks with a little bonus. She handed out PayDay candy bars. In fact she kind of got me hooked on them. Well, Hershey, bless their hearts, has created the Avalanche, a PayDay covered in chocolate. They are extremely difficult to find. Can't find them anywhere in Galesburg except for the Dick Blick commissary. I had to travel to Aledo to find them. After you guys watch The Wire and Gran Torino , go find an Avalanche. 4. I'm going to have a difficult time submitting my letter of resignation...

This is my buddy Nick Campagna, a Securitas guard at Dick Blick. He is a horse follower. Used to own one and always checks the paper for the latest line. This guy fashioned a hat made of balloons at the Scooters at Hooters bike show lst weekend. You really have to be secure to wear this thing at a biker rally. Old postcard of the Pier in Downtown St. Petersburg. I love this old photo of a foggy street. It has a mysterious aura about it like something is about to happen, and it ain't good. Ryan and I at the Crab Shack last weekend. I think that waitress in the back was shakin' in that dance they do. Just serve the food. I had the crispy shrimp but Ryan had the crab pot: a neat large pot full of crab legs, potatoes, sweet corn and anything else they could scrunge up in the kitchen. Nice meal. Thats what i'm having next time I'm there. (Pic compliments of Carrie)

Tim in front of Tweety's Hi-Way Tap. The first hole at the Club. I hit many bad shots from here, but at least its a downhill shot so I always got a good roll. Neighbor Tim and I took off Sunday for a trip to Seaton , Keithsburg , Aledo and Burgess. The old homestead looked a bit rundown in Seaton , and old Blackies is nothing like old Blackies anymore in Keithsburg . Apparently the floods have caused entire renovations to the place. As Lee Frick told us, the basement has been filled with cement and the bar is now on the other side of the room. They have $1.00 Bloody Mary's on Sundays so had a couple, and off to Aledo and the Club. Looks like they were setting up for a band with ancient people with cowboy hats and bad hairpieces getting prime spots in the beer garden out back. Ran into bro Mark at the Club, had a couple of free beers and then off to Burgess. Ran into everyone and heard a hair-raising tale from Andrea. There's luck and then there is really good luck, ...

The North Henderson Mild Ones took to their bikes this past weekend and journeyed to Peoria to check out the Scooters At Hooters bike show on the Riverfront. Lots of nice bikes and those girls in the orange shorts sure are talented: one was a world class hula hooper , and others sang and danced. We walked down to Joe's Crab Shack and really liked the crispy shrimp. Cool place except for the " Shakin ' thang " that they did once. Waitresses of varying shapes and sizes come out on the patio and do some dancing and choreography. It smacked of those creepy violinists that stroll around...it disrupts the meal and conversation and it gets old after 20 seconds. I can do without the entertainment and the spotlight, just give me the good food. Of course, that tends to be my personality: leave me alone. I glanced at other patrons and they seemed to enjoy it so...keep on shakin ' (just don't shake around me)! But then again, these guys didn't have the orange shorts...

This was a Fed Ex envelope that was on my desk to be processed yesterday. For the want of a single typo, the entire address became comical. You go, Harry!

The old Econo-Inn, next to Thornton's gas station burned Thursday morning. One guy from Monmouth died. Don't know any other details at this time. Thought you ex-Galesburg residents might like to know.

Remember this? Miss it? Hell, out here in BFE we even get stuck in Rio. This is for all you train lovers down in Florida, or Birmingham, England who miss the waits, the horns and the sounds of rolling stock.

Found On Treasure Island Beach T-Minus 32 Days

Almost forgot to post this. Someone at work gave me a pound of morel mushrooms and I gave a half pound to a friend. So I ended up with this tasty batch last month or so. Just wanted you guys in Florida and England to feast your eyes on the Midwest's finest seasonal delicacy .

Last night I went over to NHCC to have a beer with Tim, CO Chris and CG. When I left I heard a couple of frogs in the full throaty cacophony of love in front of my house. This sound is one I love especially having had three ponds in our back yard on Chambers street. It is, for me, a sound of summer. Oh, and by the way, it was not my intention, but in recording the sounds I inadvertantly captured Richard upstairs in his bedroom. Not sure what is going on but it was not my intention to spy.

Neighbor Tim, a compulsive cleaner of his beautiful blue Harley, turned his attention to my bike this weekend. While I went to the Blick picnic this past Saturday, where I won a $25.00 gift certificate, Tim came over here are took my Kawasaki and cleaned it! I admit to being a clean- aholic with my old cars, but bikes are tougher: too many nooks, crannys , and other unnamed places hard to get to. So, I kind of let it go and just wipe down major parts and forget the rest. Evidently Tim was embarrassed to be seen with a dirty bike, so out-of-his-skull bored that he couldn't conceive of doing anything else, expects to be paid (remember "I hope..."), or just plain wanted to do something nice. Anyway, it was a damn nice thing to do so, "Thanks, Tim". You know, that kind of thing could only happen in a small town like BFE , where there is a sense of we-are-all-in-this-together mentality. I bet it won't happen in Florida. More likely it will get ripped off. Thank...

1. Had a great breakfast last Sunday with bro Phil and Jeanne. Went to Iowa Machine Shed since you can't get to Port Byron from here. They had the biggest cinnamon rolls I have ever seen. Maybe softball size? 2. Saw "The Reader" this week. Powerful film. Winslett won an Oscar. I'm not sure it is for everyone, but I sure liked it. 3. Speaking of powerful films : I am reminded of a teacher at the Mary Davis Home who rejected my pleas to show "Schindler's List" during Holocaust Week. She said the film was inappropriate NOT for the Nazi atrocities , of which there were many, but rather for a short scene of two people making love without showing nudity. One of the more dumber thought processes I had ever seen. Speaking of Schindler, I think it should be shown in every classroom of every grade in every year. Like the survivors of the camps, we should "Never Forget." And shame on those who have bought into the extreme notion that the Holocaust never ...

...after our chat, I thought I would send you pictures of glorious emptiness .

I just got done watching Marley and Me and I hated this movie. I had it and saved it for a special afternoon because I thought it would be good. But I hated it. Mostly because it got it all wrong. OK, I liked the last 10 minutes, only because it finally got it right. The book and the movie played on the phrase, "...the world's worst dog." The last 10 minutes saved this from being "...the world's worst movie." Most of the movie centered around Marley eating answering machines, linoleum, entire bags of food, and drywall. Ha ha ha. Then it centered around John and his wife trying to get pregnant, dissatisfaction with work, and the problems of child-rearing. Ha ha ha. But mostly it was about an undisciplined dog which created havoc for them, their neighbors and from the looks of it the entire South Florida population. Of course there was the untrue, contrived and unrealistic attempt at dog obedience school with a cartoonish 1-dimensional teacher. Ha ha ha. Ow...

Carrie and Tim, my neighbors, completed the Motorcycle Safety Class over the Memorial Day weekend and she is just itching to get her own wheels. Yesterday she practised on one of Tim's bikes, and here, exclusively on the blog, she reveals to us she has the right stuff. Except for a hiccup at the first she handled it like a pro.