In Memory of Les Paul (1915-2009)

Link to cnn.com post.

Today's bike ride.....

....looks like a dragonhead Pez dispenser? That was my first impression, anyway -- and not one that I'm inclined to stick with.

Madison: An Unexpected View

After a frustrating few hours recording only one-third of the lecture for session 3 of the online Public Library course I'm teaching this fall -- too much material, I determined -- I needed to clear my head. JoAnna had left a letter on the kitchen counter, and I used it as an excuse to bike to the west side Madison post office. From there I followed a circuitous route to Hoyt Park, the same one I had followed last week, to take these pictures. (This time I remembered to replace the disk after uploading pictures onto my computer.)

Based on the engraved dedication, we are apparently just a few months from the 100th anniversary of Owen Parkway. But according to Historic Madison Inc., this roadway was one of the first of a series of scenic drives in and around Madison developed and maintained by the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association starting in 1892.


Trompe L'oeil. A rural overlook? It just appears this way from the angle.


Turn to your right and you'll the the "white building", as Andy used to refer to it during our drives from Kid's Play to Middleton in the late 1980s/early 1990s. (Check page 115 of Stu's book for a view from 1907.)


In the 23 years that I've lived in the Madison area, I didn't realize this wonderfully serene place existed. I'd read about it*, but just couldn't imagine where exactly on the near-west side of Madison it was located. It's so tucked away.

*"Turning Point: The Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association", pp. 114-117 of Madison: The Illustrated Sesquicentennial History, Volume 1, 1856-1931, by Stuart D. Levitan. (Stu, an index would have been great. I would have been happy to help!)


What you see pictured below is obviously not a bike path. Maybe it's a trail to the Hoyt Park shelter and parking lot?


The downward view from the overlook, however, leaves much to be desired.

In the tree-tunneled distance, you see the Hill Farms State Transportation Building and the Ghost Condo.

One more look and I'm gone.

The 40s on 4: In Heavy Rotation

Not among the top 40 songs of 1945, but it would certainly be on my list of personal favorites.



From the year that my parents were married. Here.

Source of my daily listening pleasure. (When I'm not listening to Luxuria Internet radio. Retirement does strange things to my tastes in music.)

Two Rivers: The Four-Square Fish Dinner

Scenes from the 2009 Richard Family reunion

The Vets Club in Two Rivers (Wisconsin) is located on the east side of town, just across the street from Walsh Field, where the Polar Bears play baseball. (In keeping with Two Rivers' "Cool City" theme.)

The furnishings of the first floor dining room are strictly utilitarian, as are those of the basement dining room.

The Vets Club is renown for it lake perch, which I obviously didn't order during our most recent visit. I thought I'd try the haddock -- remembering those tasty, melt-in-your-mouth filets served piping hot at Mr. Elmer's Supper Club in Oshkosh. (My nomination for the best fish fry ever.) When the waitress set the plate in front of me --photo below taken after I'd eaten two pieces -- I experienced an unsettling sense of deja vu. These look just like the potato pancakes I was served at Rolling Meadows. Not good! Fortunately, these fish patties taste much better than they look.

No, it's not a urine sample; it's Bud Light. (Close enough!)

Bud and Brian join us while Eddie dreams of winning the bocce ball tournament at the Richard family reunion the following day.

Group picture. Eddie's head obscures his Grandpa Richard. (But don't blame him; blame the photographer.)

Eddie loves to ponder things. Looks like a smelt this time. JoAnna and her mom appear very interested in the outcome .

Eddie must have made the right decision, though Grandma looks unsure.


Cindy describes in hilrious detail her March 2009 fishy-fish experience at the Vets Club. She ordered the blue gill. (Which begs the question: what does porky-pork taste like?) Sam and Jo listen attentively.

The Vets Club Wall of Fame. (Past Commanders)

The darkly handsome Joseph Richard, JoAnna's and Cindy's grandfather.