Obama-polooza

Usually, I let my own photos do the talking, but they don't even come close to doing the Obama Election Rally justice. So, check them out on the tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-081104-obama-rally-grant-park-photogallery,0,647742.photogallery


See that red arrow? That's where Noah, Frances, Megan, and I were. Practically hugging and hi-fiving Obama himself.


I haven't heard how many people were downtown to see Obama win. I've heard 100,000, but that has to be only the people who had tickets. My guess is it was between 1 - 2 million people. They were everywhere.




Here's crossing the bridge security checkpoint for people who don't have tickets.




USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!




First their was Lincoln and now Obama. Chicago is awesome!


Frances and Noah


Watching the election results on CNN. Did anyone else see Will.I.Am do the Star Wars hologram thing? I thought it was just a blue screen thing at first. But, I guess Anderson Cooper could actually see it in the studio. I read an article that said that CNN needed 44 cameras and 20 computers to generate a 3-D image in the studio. The future is now.




OBAMA WINS!


Noah and Frances on the train ride back home.

If Ithaca Is Gorge-ous, Then Illinois Is Dell-icious...

Megan and I went to Starved Rock for the weekend. So, not much to comment on other than look at the colors and dells/gorges/canyons:


Days Inn swimming pool


Top of Starved Rock
















This is Starved Rock


Here's the island where all the eagles gather during migration or something






Peering way down Eagle Outlook or something


















An optical illusion makes me appear to be bow-legged...






















Funny graffiti. I like that this was someone's collaboration. Someone to do the writing. Someone to do the drawing. I also like the drawing of the McCain baby eater wears a cape...








Looking down at a man playing with his dogs from an outlook about 100+ feet up.


The company Megan and I keep these days...


















































We tried to stay in one of these cabins, but they were all full. They are pretty much always full. But, I like the Days Inn at Oglesby because it had a pool and hot tub!!!


Steps carved into the rock






Wasp nest














The main lodge at Starved Rock.










panorama!












My little splunker!








Megan on a cliff


Actually, we spent our weekend on a cliff




What does a port-o-potty have to do with a skunk with a gun?


In Peru, Megan and I went to a restaurant called "Mark Allen's American Cuisine" or something like that. It was really good and Megan and I were their mascots. I'm even wearing the same outfit. WEIRD!


Just south of Staved Rock State Park is Mathiassen State Park. The rest of the photos are from there.










Megan crossing the river




Me at "Goliath's Bathtub."


























WE FOUND THE "SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS" ROCK!!!




Notice the little man at bottom center meditating...










So, we took this shot and it looked like we were in front of a "green screen" or photoshoped or something. So, we had to retake it so it would look more "real," which it really is.


For some reason, it only looks more fake...


My little splunker again!


On the way home, Megan and I stopped in Ottawa, Illinois at Washington Park, which was one of the sites of the Lincoln/Douglas Debates. I wanted to continue my tradition of standing with the statues of presidents, but this town was way too smart for me. That fountain was really a moat about 3 feet deep with freezing water and sharks. So, I had to settle for a distance shot. But, you better believe that Ottawa better improve their statue security for the next time I am there because I am bringing wooden planks, rope, and more the next time I'm there. YOU HEAR ME OTTAWA!

That's it for now (which was a lot in this super blog). If you made it down this far, thanks for viewing. Also, next blog will be about Obama's election party in Grant Park (if I can get within a hundred miles of it).

xoxo,

Mike