CrossingRhodes Adventures

Monday, September 3, 2007

Filthy Dirty Racing

Sunday night we went to a local 1/4 mile dirt race track. You know us and racing! We went to Vermilion County Speedway. They raced 5 classes - Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stock, Peer Street Stocks, and Hornets. We were there watching racing for over 4 hours, left at 11:15 pm, and they were still racing. These folks are serious about their dirt racing!!! There was well over 100 cars there. We saw them crash, throw dirt, break down, throw dirt, close door-to-door racing, throw dirt, a fireworks show, throw dirt, throw more dirt - you get the idea.

When we returned to the hotel we were filthy and needed showers. But it sure was a good show. After yesterday's derby and tonight's racing, tomorrow we don't want to sit in any grand stands!!! We did find out during this weekends trip, there will be no shortage of racing for us to watch, once we move here.

Late Model Class

Modified Class

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Allerton Park Explorering

This morning we ventured a little SW to Monticello, IL. Our main reason for going there was Allerton Park. This park is part of the continuing education efforts of U of I. While at the park we walked through th Formal Gardens, Buddha Pavilion, Fu Dog Garden (B's favorite), the Sunken Garden, and the Avenue of the Chinese Musicians. Plus we saw many sculptures and did a little geocaching. Since it was a very warm day, it was a perfect place to wander at a slow pace and just take in the sights. The park is so big, that we only ended up having time to the the northern part. Next time we'll visit the Diversified Farm, the Barn, and the Lost Garden. And we'll visit the southern caches in the park. Come walk with us.....

Fu Dog Garden

Buddha Pavilion

View from pavillion down the length of the Fu Dog Garden

Allerton Mansion

Annual Garden

Square Parterre

Brick Walled Garden

Girl With a Scarf

Adam, The Creation of Man and B - you can figure which is which :)

Avenue of the Chinese Musicians

Sunken Garden

Sun Singer

Death of the Last Centaur

More centaur links: http://www.mythicalrealm.com/creatures/centaurs.html, http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/centaurs.html

House in the Woods

Saturday, September 1, 2007

From Dogs to Derby

We started our day at the dog park and ended our day watching a demolition derby. We went to Hoopeston 64th Annual Sweet Corn Festival. Now you have to know this is a small little farming town, but you would have never guessed that from the amount of people at this festival!!! We're talking rides, junk food, exhibits, merchants, parades, a monster truck and junker demolition cars, lots of them. These folks know how to put on a derby, let me tell you!! And if in the future you are thinking of racing here, check out the flyer.

There was 3 different classes - the Iron class (which we were most familiar with), these are just good old BIG boat junker cars. Each heat was stopped when only 3 cars remained running. From each heat, the running cars returned at the end of the evening for a final feature, where the last car running wins. Then they ran a heat of pick up trucks, until only one truck was running - let's say interesting. And finally a class of compact cars, again until only one car remained running. These little things gave us some entertainment that we had not ever seen. Good ole' down home, in the middle of a corn field entertainment. And enjoy we did!!!!

Iron Class

Yes, I did say pick up trucks.

And when there is a gas leak on the track, you just move the cars and lit a match. Technology not required, but safety crew is provided :)

Gone to the Dogs

We started our day by checking out the local dog park. Saturn is going to be in smelling heaven here. It has large open areas, two seperate areas of different size dogs, and even a dog wash area. Dog and boy heaven!!! It's too bad that Saturn wasn't with us to give us his pat of approval :)

Friday, August 31, 2007

Serious Elevators

They are serious about their grain elevators here in Champaign, IL!!!!!

Pets Are Us. Hobbies too!

Since B and I had the day to ourselves (T had to work while we played), B decided what our plan was for most of the day. Can you say Pet Shops? You know B's love of animals, domestic and otherwise. Bennett planned for us to visit every pet store, fish store and hobby shop in a 20 minute radius (after about 12 minutes in any direction you are surrounded by corn and bean fields).

We started at SailFin Pet Shop on Neil St. This is, by far, the best fish store we have ever been to. It's a truly AMAZING place.

Just clowning around at the fish store :)

B's next summer project?!

Welcome to Our New Landscape

Yesterday was the first day that B took the 6 hour ride to where we will be living (once our Dexter house sells). We had told him about the vast farms, barns, silos, and many grain elevators. It wasn't until he rode down US-57 that he began to appreciate just what we had been discribing!

For B's first semester project he is going to do something on barns, silos and grain elevators. I'd like him to incorporate some of the many photos he took as we drove, research, history, and field trip information. Here is what we experienced as we drove.

New Adventures!

2011 CHANGES - again, life keeps changing. I moved from a marketing job into a full time job as the school principal (just finished my first year). B dropped out of WTMC (yes, I did say dropped out), spent several months not in school (weak attempt at justifying homeschooling) and then enrolled at Clonlara (where hopefully he will graduate from 6/2012). My divorce is final. I am single. I'm am excited and scared. Life it not without bumps, but we get over them - sometime not unscathed - but we get over them!

2010 CHANGES - Many changes, which gives me a host of new topics to blog about! I returned to work in a professional career (more info to come). B has made it through the first year at WTMC - not without some bumps, but overall he did fairly well. And now, B and I live as a family of two. Many changes indeed.

This fall, 2009, B started a dual enrolled program for high school students at our local community college. The program is called Washtenaw Technical Middle College (WTMC) and he goes to the Washtenaw Community College campus (WCC). Watch the blog posts of more details. www.themiddlecollege.org

This has been a big adjustment for both of us!!! We are proud of B's willingness to undertake this program.

Relocating is an Adventure too!

7/7/2010 UPDATE - Well B and I made it through the winter, spring and we're back into summer - all while living at the cottage. For now, that is where we are going to stay. B has a little less than 2 years in his current school program - and if possible we are going to try to stay at the lake. It still means driving to AA 6 days a week - but I've traded my truck in for a small, fuel efficient car (which I hate, miss my truck). For now the cottage is HOME!

9/16/09 - B and I are still living at the cottage (which is normally where we spend our summers). It is our intent to stay there, at least for now. It means 2 hrs a day, 6 days a week, in the car going to and from AA (work and school). But we are safe and comfortable. Time, and probably the winter weather, will tell if we can stay in this location long term. If it does work out, we'll probably end up living at the lake house until B is done with the WTMC program - which will be 5/12.

As of 05/18/09 - DONE DEAL. All stuff moved out, closing done, check cashed, Dexter chapter closed. We are now homeless!

As of 5/09 - the Dexter house is empty and I have reveiwed the closing papers. As long as the buyer comes to the table on closing day, it's a done deal! Long time coming, for sure. Relief is felt, for sure.

As of 04/09 - we have an offer pending on the Dexter house. Deal is moving SUPER S L O W. Frustrating to both B and I. Fingers crossed we will soon know if we should be moving/storing our junk or not. Then it's off to the cottage for the 2 of us. No decisions on our next living location - we'll worry about that in August. Need a break from those thoughts!

As of now 10/08 - the house in Dexter still has not sold, so B and I are still living there. T is still in Champaign. It seems with the current market, it's going to be awhile. Given that - our options for relocation are wide open. There has been talk of B and I not moving to IL, but staying in MI while B finished high school. There has also been crazy talk about B and I moving to Hawaii to establish residency for college - not a bad choice in terms of environment the teacher says! TIME will tell in all of this.

Old Info - We are moving from Dexter, MI to Champaign/Urbana, IL. T is already living and working in IL. B and I are waiting for the house in Dexter to sell.