ILL-INI

Today was the annual Illini Basketball game in Chicago. Usually at the United Center. Many great games over the years. We have been to 9 Chicago games in the past ten years. Last year we lost to a ranked Gonzaga team in overtime. This year it was University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana vs University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Got two Bachelors degrees from the former and was a professor at the latter for 5 years. Big differences in experiences between those two schools. Grew up in one and worked at the other. Make no mistake, I am an Illini fan. We were going into the game ranked 12 in one poll and 14 in the other. UIC has not been very good this year. They were 4 wins and 7 losses. The Illini were 10 - 1. Look at all the orange in the stands. It was a home game atmosphere.



We were getting together with with two old friends from both institutions to go to the game. All were Illini fans. The Illini got off to a sluggish start. But the Illini rebounded and led 49-41 with about seven minutes to go. However, UIC's "Flames" fought back to even it up as the game wound down.




The term the kids use today is "Fail", I guess I would call it choking. Anyway, the Flames beat the Illini 57-54. No Illini fan was happy. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This picture of Diane at the end of the game says it all.

Go BEARS!

Bears vs Patriots. Snow and wind. It was a classic. I was very proud of the family. No complaining about the cold. It was nearly perfect, except that Bears got pounded. Ackkkkkkkk!

The year of the aquariums- Seattle

There were a couple vaccine meetings in Seattle. The biggest meeting was held by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill Gates talked with the researchers. He was pretty impressive because he knew what was going on. At the end of the Gates meeting we had a dinner at the Seattle Aquarium. 2010 was the year of the aquarium with visits to the Atlanta, New Orleans, and Seattle Aquariums. Man, my blackberry takes crappy pictures.



We have had a big crop of acorns this year. That has really brought in the deer. Here is a big buck on the edge of our yard.

Happy Thanksgiving

Once again the family gathered at our house for Thanksgiving. Its always such a wonderful time.



My cousin Kathy always makes home-made candy. Fudge and turtles. Looks like the turtles are almost gone. Better grab one while you can.

Sequoia National Park

Had a chance for a free weekend in SF and Diane let me take advantage of the situation. Teamed up with Greg and Dan for a short visit to Sequoia National Park. Big Trees and beauty. There are a bunch of lovely hikes that one can take. It was off season and everything was pretty mellow. Very big change from the last visit in summer 2008 (although it was still awesome). Here is a picture of the Sherman Tree, the biggest in the world! You can see some very tiny people at the base of the tree.



Winter had arrived in the Sierras. We were at about 7500 feet. Patches of snow on the ground. In the 50's during the day. Teens at night. That is the Sherman tree in the middle from a distance.



Dan and Greg at the base of the Sherman Tree. Its a BIG tree!



The three of us at the base of the President Tree. I love this spot because there is another monster nearby. Its Chief Sequoyah, which you can see behind and to the left of the President tree. These two trees have been growing within a hundred yerds of each other for more than a thousand years. Its also a couple miles from the parking lot so there are not many people.



Greg and Dan at the base of Chief Sequoyah.



Here I am in a cluster of Big Trees called the Senate.



That evening we were bathed in a most amazing alpine glow.



The woods turned red.




Quite an amazing sunset looking west from the Sierras.



The next morning we went to Kings Canyon National Park and a visit to Boyden Cave. Its official! I love caves. This is a little one, just 750 feet long. But it was quite nice. A marble cave with a number of nice features.



Here are some tube formations hanging from a crack in the ceiling. They are hollow.



Some nice drapery formations.



Greg gives a nice perspective for the size of the cave. Small but sweet.



Here are some interesting curtain formations. Very nice little cave.




Here is a nice image of the Grant Tree, the second biggest tree in the world. It is much younger than the Sherman Tree, but only slightly smaller. Someday it will be the biggest and stay there for about a thousand years. Unfortunately, our 40 hours of fun were over. Back to SF. Have to work tomorrow.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was on Sunday this year. Alex went out trick or treating with some of the kids in the neighborhood. Alex was War Machine from Iron Man 2. Bart said he was too old to go out for candy. But he did in the end in Elmhurst. He was dressed as a teenager. Typical.

Cousin Lynne Turns 50

We went to Paw Paw Michigan for Cousin Lynne's 50th birthday. As you can see it was a Halloween Party. It was fun to spend time with family.