Still Winter

argh.

Snow this morning.  Down to seven tonight.  Endless.

Go Green!

14 years ago I got interested in a little activity called March Madness. The reason: our local Michigan State Spartans had won the NCAA tournament that year . I remember I had a borrowed camera that I took down to the capital to take pictures. That was my first digital camera experience. I remember I was so excited that crossing the street by the NAPS building I actually tripped and fell.  Thankfully I did not break the camera.

Since then I have learned more about brackets. Not enough to get many right but it has been fun. Thursday at work we had a green and white snack day. It was fun and fortunately our Spartans won again

Unconscious Mutterings

Week 582

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Encourage :: hearten
2. Geography :: map
3. Entrance :: exit
4. Helicopter :: whirlibird
5. Creation :: beginning
6. Pillars :: mainstay
7. Article :: news story
8. Desk :: work station
9. Discouraging :: word
10. Display :: show

http://subliminal.lunanina.com/

First day of spring

We've been robbed!!!!

Chicago Union Station

Things we like at Chicago Union Station.

The Great Hall:

The activity for the trains is all underground and under another building but love love love the look of the Great Hall.  New since we were last there: it is used for private and public events. An awesome site and sight, it opened in 1925.

The Grand Staircase:

If you are a Kevin Costner fan, you know this as the "Untouchables" staircase.

Tabasco

I have to admit, I always thought Tabasco was a word like ketchup - a generic term for hot sauce.  Now, thanks to my New Orleans trip, I know differently.  I didn't acquire this information in New Orleans: rather, the train went through bayou country and it was so intriguing that when I hear Louisiana Bayou (this time on Sixty Minutes) I pay attention.

Tabasco: a sixth generation business.

Train trip!

and hunting for spring.

In February the boss called a meeting with those of us charged with keeping the computer system up-to-date.  Our software provider was holding a "summit" in New Orleans, and he wondered if we wanted to go. I am not a good flyer, so normally I beg off these engagements.  However, I knew the train went from Chicago to New Orleans, and somehow going  to New Orleans seemed like a really cool thing, so I said, why sure, if I can train it!

Our boss tries to work with individual quirks.  One of our service techs didn't want to fly to a conference, so the boss rented a car for him and let him go, so I knew there was precedent.  The boss smiled and said, book it!

It might be an overnight-er, I reminded him.

Book a sleeper, then.

Oh, I don't mind coach.

Book a sleeper.

So I did.  What a blast!

I took the Blue Water to Chicago.  I had to wait for the New Orleans train, so I went up in the Willis (Sears) tower to see frozen Lake Michigan.  Brrrr.

Unconscious Mutterings --- I have returned!

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Crunch :: Captain
2. Handle :: pan
3. Stoned :: drugged
4. Kettle :: pot
5. Worst :: best
6. Agreement :: rappaport
7. Keg :: beer
8. Legacy :: gift
9. Gig :: engagement
10. Nails :: bite

http://subliminal.lunanina.com/