Word.

Jen and I went down to Matthiessen State Park about an hour and a half out into the sticks. With the first days in the 60’s in recent memory we had taken Chloe out on Saturday to one of the park district forest preserves. Chloe is a swimmer and the forest preserves don’t allow her to run off the leash or even swim off the least. Also the trails are pretty short. After the drive down south we hit Matthiessen at about 1 o’clock. I often joke about the freeway overpasses being the highest hills in Illinois. Matthiessen doesn’t necessarily impress with its positive elevation but its negative elevation.

Tiny streams have carved out amazing canyons into the soft sandstone deposits creating giant cutouts in the middle of a forest. Some of the drops are hundreds of feet straight down. Many of the trails are open and graded through the forest consisting of crushed stone while the descents into the canyon are often wood or concrete walkways that are attached to the sides of the canyon walls. After setting out to cover the 3 miles of trails in the park we headed down into the first canyon. Once into the canyon it was a little tricky leading Chloe across some of the creeks. There are man made pedestal to jump across but Chloe couldn’t really get the hand of jumping from rock to rock. So we just let her swim across and she was fine.

Well I could go on forever about the waterfalls and the giant swimming holes that Chloe had fun in but just before we headed out of the last canyon there was one more small water fall to see. It included a short crossing of a muddy section of stream that was aided by a couple of fallen tree branches. I started acrross and suddenly saw a shadow from behind. I was already doing my best to keep the mud off of my shoes when Jen let out a scream. She had just slipped in the mud at the beginning of the log. As she got her pant leg out of the mud she realized that the mud had just sucked her favorite Sketcher off of her foot. After regaining her balance and not knowing exactly where it was she lost the shoe the hunt began. I was wearing shorts so I did my best attempt as a gold digger up to my knees and elbows in no-so-warm water. Chloe during this time just wanted to play in the mud. After about 20 minutes and being out of my shoes knee deep in mud it was over… Matthiessen State Park 1, Jenifer Brandl 0. Now we have a one footed girl with a soggy sock and soaked jeans that still needed to get up out of the canyon and back to the parking lot. I gave Jen my shoes and walked out barefoot. Looking like a hillbilly with a girl in shoes 3 sizes too big dragging her feet along the rocky trail being led by a dog that could go another 3 miles we finally made it back to the car after a 40-minutes to an hour walk. All in all a good time but stay away from the muddy creek crossings.

First note… I have to fix my picture uploads so no banner in the little Title banner. I also have to redo my header since there was an update to the theme.

Well I had darts last night and it looks like 2nd place is the best I can do. Craig wrapped up the title with a 5 and 1 night but the battle for 2nd has Dave, Brian, and myself all within one game of each other. Brian had leap frogged me last week to take a 1 game lead over me. After some close games with Brian last night I squeaked out a 4-2 record last night getting me back ahead of him with 27 wins. With Dave running into Craig and the report was he took 5 meaning Dave took 1, we’re all knotted up at 27 for Dave and myself with Brian one behind at 26.

Also looks like the Sunday Tournament will be at Cousin’s or at least thats where I’ll be playing this weekend.

So last night while watching the elimination of Chikezie Eze (somebody had to go) Jen took pride in the Sasquatch bristle she had growing on her legs. This got me to thinking of growing out my goutee once again. I then found a link to the announcement of the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championships being held in Anchorage Alaska May 23, 2009. Will a year to grow it out I think I could make a run for at least the Dupage County regional maybe even best beard in Illinois. What an honor that would be. Then I could share in the pride Jen has for her occasional leg hair.

There isn’t a single word of English in this clip but you understand whats happening here loud and clear. Those silly Japanese

Now that’s dedication!

I just happen to have been sent this Gem of a video. People often think that as an only child I’m spoiled. Well, I don’t think I am and I’ve been told on a couple occasions that people were surprised to hear I was an only child. Well my own personal retrospective aside, this girl is the epitome of SPOILED. The only saving grace is the mom promptly giving the keys back to the salesman.

This is pretty funny…

*** UPDATE***
You can catch all of the photos here.

Well I’ve been trying to see the Chicago River turned Green for a couple years now. I’m looking for some takers to get down there early on the train and then hit up a few bars for some Green beer after they turn the river into what looks like a pool of coolant. Any takers. Give me a call or drop me an email.

Well after a couple of ho hum weeks in my weekly dart league I went 6-0. I was matched up with Dave and Nineth(not ninth). Nineth threw better darts than the previous time we were matched up. She had me beat in a couple of the games we were paired up on. We’ll see what the stats show next week. I believe I should be up into 2nd or 3rd from my current 4th place spot.

Jen has been nipping at Kristina’s heels the last couple of weeks. With my 6-0 while playing against Kristina it helped Jen inch a little closer since she won more games than she lost. Jen should be within a game or two of 1st place when the standing comeout next week.

I think it’s time for me to get a set of darts of my own.

Well , we were treated to a surprise visit from Bel this weekend. After being sick most of the day on Friday I heard Bel was in town on Saturday. After being in bed from the moment I got home Friday night I figured I should stop down for a drink since I had not left my bed in 24 hours. I showered at 12:30 in the morning to catch a beer before last call at 2. It was a little crazy in the bar since it was also Anthony, the owner’s, wife Lisa’s birthday. Good thing I slept all day as even after Tree Guys closed there was still a dozen people in our apartment till the wee hours of the morning.

You can see the rest of the pics Here at Flickr