Degutis Insights » Personal http://www.degutis.com/blog rambling, rambling, rambling Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:24:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Celebrating our 11th anniversary – Part 2 http://www.degutis.com/blog/celebrating-our-11th-anniversary-%e2%80%93-part-2/ http://www.degutis.com/blog/celebrating-our-11th-anniversary-%e2%80%93-part-2/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:32:50 +0000 Al http://www.degutis.com/blog/?p=972

For our formal anniversary dinner, we took a train ride. Not on any old train, but on an old electric train. We didn’t take the train to get to our dinner destination; dinner was on the train. The train departed from the East Troy Electric Railway and Train Museum in East Troy, Wisconsin which features award-winning dinner train service on the railroad’s Art Deco diner twins, Ravenswood and Beverly Shores. We dined on the Beverly Shores (#24), which was built in 1927, rebuilt in the 1940′s and restored in 1995.

The train ride was two hours long and stopped at Phantom Lake, where we caught the sunset, before it returned to the train museum.

Photos below (or go to www.degutis.com/blog)

East Troy Electric Railway Ticket Booth The Beverly Shores and Ravenswood The Ravenswood Front of the Ravenswood Inside the Beverly Shores Dinnertime on the Beverly Shores Sunset at Phantom Lake Post sunset ambience The train at night

]]> http://www.degutis.com/blog/celebrating-our-11th-anniversary-%e2%80%93-part-2/feed/ 0 Celebrating our 11th anniversary – Part 1 http://www.degutis.com/blog/celebrating-our-11th-anniversary-part1/ http://www.degutis.com/blog/celebrating-our-11th-anniversary-part1/#comments Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:16:30 +0000 Al http://www.degutis.com/blog/?p=952

We celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary on September 13, 2009. Since we had plans to go out for a formal anniversary dinner on Saturday the 19th, we decided to do something we haven’t done in 7 years or more. We went canoeing.

While on the Kishwaukee River (“The Kish”) it dawned on me that canoeing on our anniversary was apropos.

Canoeing, like a marriage, takes teamwork. One person can do all the paddling, but that wears a person down quickly. Sharing the work not only eases the burden, but can also speed things along.

Canoeing also requires a coordinated effort. If both people paddle on the same side of the canoe, it will veer to the other side. Getting to the destination requires teamwork.

Here are some photos from our canoe trip. Unfortunately, not pictured is the eagle that flew overhead.

DSC01645 DSC01670 IMG_2403 DSC01642 DSC01649 IMG_2444 ]]> http://www.degutis.com/blog/celebrating-our-11th-anniversary-part1/feed/ 0 Help fight cancer by going to a party: Walla-Pa-Looza http://www.degutis.com/blog/walla-pa-looza-2009/ http://www.degutis.com/blog/walla-pa-looza-2009/#comments Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:51:37 +0000 Al http://www.degutis.com/blog/?p=895

Look around you at four other people. Odds are that one of you may get cancer. Why not help the American Cancer Society by attending a party?

What party?

Walla-Pa-Looza!

Walla-Pa-Looza was started by a guy that saw a need to party and raise money at the same time.

Walla-Pa-Looza is about good bands, good friends, good food, and a good cause.

Money raised at the event will benefit the American Cancer Society.

The event will be held at the Johnsburg Community Club, 2315 W. Church Street, Johnsburg, Illinois and will feature four live bands playing throughout the day:

  • Blush
  • Peter & The Versatiles
  • Danny & The Devils
  • Always Frantic

How much did you spend on Starbucks or other coffee this week?
A mere $5.00 donation gets you into Walla-Pa-Looza and kids under 12 are free.

Walla-Pa-Looza  runs from 2:00pm-11:00pm

In addition to the bands, there will be a 50/50 Raffle, Silent Auction, Ticket Raffle, Activities for the children and more Food and beverages will be provided for purchase on site.

For more information, or to make a donation at any time:
http://www.walla-pa-looza.org

Also, the organizers of the event received some sad news as seen in this week in the Northwest Herald, which just reinforces the need for your participation in this event to help it succeed:
Cancer fundraiser gets personal
http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2009/07/29/r_ugziiy3grui2gbap3ch68w/

Pass this along to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and strangers!

Thanks
Al

]]> http://www.degutis.com/blog/walla-pa-looza-2009/feed/ 2 The Twitter Tale of an Illinois Power Outage http://www.degutis.com/blog/twitter-tale-illinois-power-outage/ http://www.degutis.com/blog/twitter-tale-illinois-power-outage/#comments Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:25:26 +0000 Al http://www.degutis.com/blog/?p=635
You may have seen the various Twitter reports of incidents as they’ve taken place, or shortly there after. The most recent, and most news worthy, is the account shortly after the US Airways plane landed safely in the Hudson River (Wall Street Journal post). A month earlier a Continental airplane slid off the runaway in Denver and the story unfolded via Mike Wilson’s Twitter account. Not all events are news worthy. Nonetheless even small, localized event are chronicled on Twitter as they occur.

On Monday January 26, 2009 a power outage occurred in parts of McHenry County, IL (Northwest Herald report). Below are the tweets that chronicled this event from a few Twitter users.

Power out in what looks like the whole neighborhood. Family all downstairs preparing for zombie attack. @rbieber (Woodstock, IL) 20:31

Power is out… what the heck. @jolisouci (Capron, IL) 20:32

so many candles lit I feel like I’m living the last scene in Carrie. @rbieber 20:35

WOW major power outage. Parts of Woodstock, IL and Capron, IL according to @rbieber and @jolisouci. Any other reports? @frumpa (Woodstock, IL) 20:41

Power is back on. Too bad I couldn’t pause this PBS special on Oppenheimer’s trial! @jolisouci 20:43

@jolisouci how long was power out for you. We only lost power for a minute but sounds like @rbieber is still in the dark (know what I mean?) @frumpa 20:44

Power outage longer than Linux server UPS lasts. There goes my uptime @rbieber 20:45

Jonna still doesn’t get this Twitter thing. She replies to me verbally. @rbieber 20:47

forgot to tell the family I was afraid of the dark. Panic setting in. @rbieber 20:48

Can’t breathe … Oh wait this is a power outage. Not stuck in space …  @rbieber 20:49

Dammit, I just put by Braille books in the basement yesterday. @rbieber 20:58

Dear god. I’m sorry for goofing on Ubuntu Christian Edition. Please turn the lights on now. @rbieber 21:04

Is in hell: power is out in the whole town and Ron is entertaining the family with ifart @jonna404  (Woodstock, IL) 21:06

I eat chocolate fudge pop tarts and drink Guiness – two things you can’t find in the dark. Just my luck. @rbieber 21:09

Power back on. @rbieber 21:12

@frumpa your power just went out? Ours was out for about an hour, came back at 9:10 @imps (Woodstock, IL) 22:00

There you have it, citizen’s journalism at it’s best.
Also, more information on the iFart app for the iPhone.
Posted by Al Degutis
More information on the iFart app for the iPhone here.
]]> http://www.degutis.com/blog/twitter-tale-illinois-power-outage/feed/ 2 National Day of Service 2008 – Help Home of the Sparrow http://www.degutis.com/blog/national-day-of-service-2008-hos/ http://www.degutis.com/blog/national-day-of-service-2008-hos/#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:56:12 +0000 Al http://www.degutis.com/blog/?p=611

Today we remember Martin Luther King. This day is also being observed as the National Day of Service. How are you doing your part? Seth Godin lists a number of great ideas on how you can be of service today or any day.

I’d like to add one more option: volunteering.

Judy has been a volunteer at the Sparrow’s Nest Thrift Store for over six months. Proceeds from The Sparrow’s Nest Thrift Stores help support the Home of the Sparrow McHenry County Interfaith Shelter Program.

Home of the Sparrow provides transitional housing and supportive services to homeless women and children in northern Illinois. Home of the Sparrow’s mission is to empower individuals and families to eliminate homelessness, joblessness and hunger by teaching self-reliance, independence and self-discipline. The program goals and objectives of HOS specifically focus on individuals and families who were homeless and now participate in our program. Every facet of HOS’ program is designed to foster independence and teach life skills to help break the cycle that perpetuates homelessness.

Make a difference in someone’s life today by helping out this great organization, whether through a donation or volunteering your time.

Volunteer opportunities

Donate to Home of the Sparrow

~ Posted by Al Degutis

]]> http://www.degutis.com/blog/national-day-of-service-2008-hos/feed/ 1 What is Twitter worth to you? http://www.degutis.com/blog/what-is-twitter-worth-to-you/ http://www.degutis.com/blog/what-is-twitter-worth-to-you/#comments Mon, 26 May 2008 05:00:46 +0000 Al http://www.degutis.com/blog/?p=19

Twitter can be addicting. It can also be very frustrating when it is down. Some people have suggested that Twitter charge for the service and use those funds to provide a more reliable “Pro” service. So, the question is “What is Twitter worth to you?”

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Interacted with another Barton employee and once again felt the tinge of tears and emotion well up inside. Just when I thought I had moved past that stage.  I realize now that I may never be over it. Barton was a great place to work and the people there are great. They were a part of my life for many years and I will always feel that tug of emotion when I think about them or interact with them, because I care. I know they feel the same, that’s just the way it was there. Like family.

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