Hunting for treasure in a disappearing forest

For the last several years almost every spring I travel with my family to visit my Uncle Brian in Wisconsin to hunt for Morel mushrooms. Yes, I love their unique taste and cooking them in a less then gourmet fashion but I love the hunt most. Spending time with Brian and seeing my Grandma “Toddy” is chief of the joys. Nonetheless, chasing down these elusive and mysterious fungi is great fun. This year we covered several miles and spent a couple of hours without seeing one morsel. Nada, zilch, zip! When we were nearing the end of the day and the last stop just north of the town of Merton by the ice age trail we decided to forgo the hunt by the pond as we noticed a piece of land that has always been productive remained. I say remained because it was our understanding that the gravel quarry nearby, one that my Grandpa Jack once owned and operated as a part of his construction business, had taken this stretch of land and gobbled it up and spit it out to make roads and buildings. Alas, we were wrong and strip of forest was still there. I had a sense of peace and happiness as I walked among the forest draped in filtered sunlight. There was hundreds of white Trillium in full blossom carpeting the forest floor. Some of the Trillium had turned to pink which is how they fade – from the purest of white to a soft blush red. At once I saw a nice yellow morel which was the first that size and stature of the day. I parted a stand of May Apples and saw two more. As I got more excited I saw that there were many more. Brian experienced a similar find just about twenty yards northwest of me. Our journey was a lesson in perseverance as it was not till the very end of the day that we found our treasure after hours of scanning the country side for these tasty and elusive fungi.

In all things in nature

As I sat and read this quotation yesterday I couldn't help wonder what Aristotle meant by something of the marvelous. Was he refering to his notable writing on the subject of the unmoved mover? Either way I understood what he meant in general. The next question that came to mind as I was swarmed by enthusiastic children in every direction... Would Aristotle include the scene at Kohl in his defination of nature?

Like saving the Royal Library of Alexandria

I was jogging the streets of my neighborhood yesterday morning in the rain. My neighbors have begun assembling their contribution to the annual 'spring cleanup' that is offered by the city of Highland Park whereby homeowners are able to dispose of unwanted things that would normally be considered special pick up for the outsourced scavenger service Veolia provides the city and its residents. Believe me, I have in mind a large pile of useless clutter that I will contribute... Old car seats, a damaged dehumidifier, boxes of cheap plastic toys, nick knacks and other items that make my life UN-feng shui. The truth is this annual event brings many visitors to the neighborhood to claim another man's trash as their own treasure. I have an example as illustrated below.

I found a full set of leather bound Encyclopedia Britannica bicentennial edition. My first thought while running by these volumes of data was horror as the rain soaked them like cereal in milk. Also envisioned an image of the Royal Library of Alexandria going up in flames. While I know that information is now easily accessed online it seemed unreasonable to throw these books and others to the curb. I imagined how useful they'd be for a child in an impoverished setting desiring to learn but without the resources. I sprinted home and got in my car to pick them up and promptly arranged them in front of a dehumidifier at my Parents house, since mine is broken, and I will find a new home for them this spring. The humor of the situation for me was as I frantically collected the set the homeowner began backing out of their driveway leaving for the day... I thought to myself, "I know this is a bit awkward for you too."

Mr. Bird

Thank you David and Ginger for keeping me company. Also, for humoring me by allowing us to stand at the very back of the theater behind the bar... You know I need space to compute things that are too wonderful for me.

Andrew's sold out concert at the Riviera on Friday in Chicago was just as I anticipated. An honest reflection of the memories of my time spent with Andrew in High School. Unpretentious, wildly creative, and in his own pace & style. Honestly, strikingly handsome as well I suppose though I didn't get near close enough to see him that evening. Ginger did catch a glimpse though and she is after all the one who coined the phrase ILAB as recorded in the senior quote portion of her year book. Truly a gilded Lilly wrapped in a robe of humility. What a pleasure and joy it was to see one so deserving living their personal legend and dream in front of a crowd of thousands of adoring fans/intellects.

Attitude is everything

No wonder the Chicago Police are so ineffective?

Unbelievable!

Sueweet

I learned two things on my trip on Tuesday: 1. My Japanese built Camry 30 years younger will never stack up to a good ole' American built Oldsmobile four four two

2. The importance of considering g2r (grief to return) for all matters of import.

Trumpeter

The Trumpeters are back at the Chicago Botanic Garden -- a signal for me to enjoy the season at hand.

This Is Just to Say

This Is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams

I have eaten

the plums

that were in

the icebox

and which

you were probably

saving

for breakfast

Forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

and so cold

Variations on a Theme by William Carlos Williams by Kenneth Koch

I chopped down the house that you had been saving to live in next summer.

I am sorry, but it was morning, and I had nothing to do

and its wooden beams were so inviting.

We laughed at the hollyhocks together

and then I sprayed them with lye.

Forgive me. I simply do not know what I am doing.

I gave away the money that you had been saving to live on for the next ten years.

The man who asked for it was shabby

and the firm March wind on the porch was so juicy and cold.

Last evening we went dancing and I broke your leg.

Forgive me. I was clumsy and

I wanted you here in the wards, where I am the doctor!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Something that you say which means

that it is necessary to take risks

in order to achieve something.

I Lift Up My Eyes

Lunar Bath

LunarEclipse030307

One perk birthed

by an infant's ear infection

Awake most of the night

enabling a fine moon bath

from my window sill.

Night and Day

In the roaring traffic's boom, in the silence of my lonely room...

Complete Archive

My expertise in network security and business continuity started in the physical security world. Yes folks, that's right, I was 'on stage' working for the Tribune company's National League Ball Club aka the Chicago Cubs. I may take in the game on Sunday -- Working on particulars now. Photos were from my last day. Working with Evelyn and Henry made it all worthwhile...

Global Sunset

I saved this photo and summary I received by email from David February 2003...

I have trouble as I sit and type this entry comprehending how quickly the last four years have unfolded. 'The picture is of Europe and Africa when the sun is setting. Half of the picture is in night. The bright dots you see are the cities lights. The top part of Africa is the Sahara Desert.

This was taken by the crew on board Columbia on its last mission.

This photo was sent via satellite, on a cloudless day. Note how the lights are already on in Holland, Paris, and Barcelona, and how it's still daylight in London, Lisbon, and Madrid. The sun is still shining on the Straight of Gibraltar, and the Mediterranean Sea is already in darkness. In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean you can see the Azores Islands; below them to the right are the Madeira Islands; a bit below are the Canary Islands; and further south, close to the farthest western point of Africa, the Cape Verde Islands. Note how the Sahara is huge and can be seen clearly both during daytime and nighttime. To the left, on top, is Greenland, totally frozen. Fantastic!' Peace. ~J.

Ashes from the Sojourn

Drew Emmitt Band - Flanagan's Central Station - Whitefish, MT 1.30.07 Andrea Harsell - The Other Side - Missoula, MT 2.1.07 Everyday Prophets - Flanagan's Central Station - Whitefish, MT 2.1.07 Moon over Whitefish Lake - The Lodge - Whitefish, MT 2.2.07 Big Mountain Summit House Drinking 'orc juice' before one last run 'hellfire' - Whitefish, MT 2.3.07

View of Flathead Valley from BigMtn Summit House View of Glacier from BigMtn Summit House Yogo Sapphires are mined from limestone and only in MT (note missing ring top right...now residing in IL) - Stephen Isley Jewelry - Whitefish, MT 2.5.07 View from JBF's bay window - Whitefish, MT 2.5.07

time camera

Something of the evanescence of life... Remember when disposable cameras were in? I have been saving an undeveloped disposable camera for the past 14 years... The last few exposures we're from a holiday party I hosted in 1994 with Jim Flanagan at my first residence in Chicago on Buckingham. I decided to try to develop the film over the past weekend since the expiration date had lapsed over 10 years ago. Anyway, upon further reflection I realize I still treasure the analog world and the ironically resilient access it provides to data.