Blogs from North America - page 8220

Around the House North America » United States » Illinois » Belleville By JimBeck45April 30th 2007Here are some various pics around our house in Belleville.... read more

In a recent phone conversation, Dad asked me about the television over here. Although the television does not normally play an important role in our lives, we have been watching a bit of it lately, and it has been a fascinating experience, so here’s a wrap up on the drug of the nation: there are over 35 channels for our perusing pleasure, most of them containing the ideal content to make your brain turn into gruel. A lot of bad American movies, un-funny sit-coms, courtroom drama’s, soapies, reality shows, cop/medical shows, infomercials, lifestyle shows and religious (Christian, Hindu, Muslim) guru’s preaching. There is a very strange channel that seems to be a men’s magazine in TV format - featuring people hurting themselves and blowing things up around half naked attractive women 24/7. There is this ... read more

url='/Videos/3013.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3013.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'Bike the Citzurl='/Videos/3020.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3020.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'Lombard Streeturl='/Videos/3019.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3019.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'Cable Car Ride Ja, nach dem ich schon von mehreren angesprochen/-schrieben wurde, wo den der nächste Eintrag bleibt möchte ich das gern mit einem "Hier ist er!" beantworten. Als erstes freut es mich ja zu hören das es doch ein paar Leute außerhalb meiner Familie gibt die hier ab und zu rein schauen. Ja, ich war letztes Wochenende in SF, allerdings muss ich schon ein bisschen eher, nähmlich am Donnerstag anfangen, da ich mir da spontan ein Auto gekauft habe. Ich hattes es über eine Anzeige im Internet gefunden, einen Termin mi... read more

OD's comments: 13.5 miles today. Seven days straight walking since coming back on the trail. Woke up to sun and clear skys. Getting out of camp quicker and made it out in 1.5hrs. Green is starting to cover the trees. There were green trees down lower, but up here on the ridge they were still bare. Today we could almost see leafs come out and unfold. There will be total foliage by tomorrows sunset. Started out on the south side of Blackrock Montain at about the 2,500' level. Walked the obligatory .2 miles back to the trail. Down hill to Blackrock Gap, then up a gradual up hill 6.5 miles toping out just over 3,000'. We dropped down to Sawmill Run Overlook and then over a couple of knobs then up Calf Mountain to the shelter. ... read more

Hang on I thought we had just passed immigration procedures for the United States of America.... We arrived in California to meet up with Jeff and Kristy, who we hadn't seen since their wedding in 2002. Unfortunately they weren't in due to a family bereavement. They were very generous and let us stay in their house in Santa Monica. We wandered around the many blocks of Santa Monica and found Venice. Several small canals where people have built their dreamhomes, some in italian renaissance style. We then drove through the desert, passing forests of Joshua trees to arrive in Las Vegas, which can only be described as "completely crackers" (quote J. Knox). It is a bit like disneyland for adults. Along the "Strip" ie las Vegas Boulvard there are huge hotel complexes (with several thousand ... read more