Saturday, April 26, 2008

Very sunny today but windy and cold. Rita took us for a walk in Black Hawk State Park, Rock Island, IL.

Then Rita had lunch at Frieda's Bakery in East Moline, IL. The tree are flowering and leaving out, people were out cutting grass. It's very hilly here. there is flooding along the Mississippi. They are asking for volunteers to sand bags and they're building earthen dikes.

On the edge of Bettendorf there are still farms being surrounded by new developements and shopping centers. We wonder if they are happy to be bought out or sad to see generations of work being covered over with concrete?

Tomorrow we fly back to Detroit.

Most Elizabeths

When we were driving thru Illinois last week, we went thru a town called Elizabeth, named after three heroic Elizabeths. They are trying to get the "most" Elizabeths together for a world record. Check out their site: http://www.mostelizabeths.com/

Thanks

Rita would like to thank everyone for all the birthday greetings. We take her out to dinner tonight at the Exotic Thai Restaurant. Rita even let us out of her jacket pocket to have dinner with her.

April 21, 2008

Arrived in Bettendorf, IA yesterday afternoon. It was a great day to drive and the scenery was picturesque - well it would have been if we weren't lying face down on the front passenger seat, covered by a coat. Rita seemed to enjoy it.
Today was a suprisingly short work day, so Rita took us to lunch at a nice Italian restaurant called Biaggi's not far away in Davenport. She didn't share but it smelled very good. Next we visited a Chocolate shop and then took a walk by the Mississippi. She won't let us try our luck in the Casino, said we were too short to reach the slots. Next we went to see a movie and then back to the hotel. It was nice and sunny and warm today. Tomorrow and most of the week it's suppose to rain here so Rita's might go to the laundrymat - hope she doesn't decide we need cleaning. Maybe we should hide.

Flooding at Rock Island, Mississippi River.

Trip to see Auntee April 20, 2008

We took a little side trip on the way to Bettendorf, IA to see Rita's Aunt in SinSinawa. Don't you think SinSinawa is a funny name for a place with lots of Dominican nuns and priests? Maybe it's just us. (http://http//www.sinsinawa.org/Index.htm)

It's a beautiful place not far from Dubuque, IA in Wisconsin. They are on the highest point in the area with beautiful views of the countryside. There are 450 acres of woods and farmland.

Woodstock, IL

Rita took us to the park one day. I was very windy but sunny.

Woodstock has a great townsquare with lots of shops, gazebos and an Opera House. There is no mall here or many chain stores or restaurants. People in the local shops and restaurants were very friendly and helpful.

Rita found out half way thru the install that she had to add some software and equipment and it took a looooonnnnggg time to finish it so we didn't get to go out much.

One morning we were woken up by a fire alarm at 5:50am. But it was just a faulty wire. The next morning it was the rumble of the earthquake early in the morning. What's with earthquakes in Illinois?

April 17, 2008

We're in Woodstock, IL where the movie Groundhog Day was filmed.

March 9, 2008

Sorry this is late posting. Coming back from Weslaco we had a stop over in Houston. the flight was overbooked so Rita volunteered (for a nice ticket), and they put us up overnight and then we flew home Monday. Rita was so tired when she finally got to the hotel that night that she slept almost 10 hours!! Didn't see much of Houston except the airport and the hotel. Maybe next time we'll be able to stay longer.