Mark and I made our yearly trip to iHobby Expo.  Unlike previous years, Eliza didn't attend.  I can't blame her.  Every year we go, Mark and I say it will be our last.  But when October rolls around, we always seem to go.

Of the many things on display, the train exhibits continue to be the most photogenic.   One of my favorite setups came back out for another showing.  I really can't say I'm a fan of model trains.  But the time, skill, and creativity invested into these layouts is impressive.

The lego model railroad was quite impressive as well.

The largest layout was composed of about 25 sections I believe.

Unlike previous years, I wasn't on a mission to buy an RC Helicopter.  This year was purely for curiousity.  It seems the rest of the industry is in a rut.  Nothing new other than stronger and faster motors, higher capacity batteries, lighter components, that sort of thing.  What did catch my eye was this carbon fibre outrigger hydroplane.  It felt like a single well done layup of carbon fibre that was pressure molded.  That battery cover weighed less than a sheet of paper.  I was really quite impressed.

Other than that, the usual suspects were there.  Michael Gross of family ties fame was there to sign autographs.  Apparently he's a big model railroad fan.  Steve Mungo McMichael was there too.  He's a big RC Car fan.  Interestingly enough, he was at the first iHobby expo I went to a couple of decades ago.

Maybe this will be the last year we go for a while.  We'll see when October 2010 rolls around.  Until then, I really should get to work on my two Hobby Lobby Hunters.

After our summer camping trip, we thought it would be a terrific idea to take my parents camping in the fall to see the explosion of colors at Devil's Lake.  We had hoped Paul and Seung could come out too, but plans didn't mesh enough for that to happen.  So instead Eliza and I made camp on Monday and my parents joined us on Tuesday.  We left together on Thursday and reflected over breakfast at Cracker Barrel.

It was a great trip.  The threat of rain was real, but we didn't really care.  Click here to see annotated pictures from our trip. 

A large order of Country Fried Bacon from Wiener and Still Champion.

For whatever reason, this past weekend was a ridiculously good eating weekend.  Friday evening brought with it Country Fried Bacon from Wiener and Still Champion, courtesy of Mark P.  Wow.  I didn't know bacon could taste like that.  Saturday Lunch was beef brisquet at Sweet Baby Ray's.  Dinner was at Salina and Dino's.  Sunday Lunch was the Venetian Benedict at Walker Brother's in Evanston.  Dinner was a full slab of ribs from ole' Blue eyes place at Twin Anchor's.  A great place to celebrate Paul's 30th birthday.

It's important for me to do that.  There are things I preoccupy myself with.  Things that keep me busy.  Things I look forward to.  It's what I do.  I think about the immediate things around me, and fail to see things that are outside my viewing circle.  This closed focus thinking makes sense.  Self preservation, survival of the species, these sorts of phrases pop in my mind

There are times when I need to stop, take a breath, and look around though.  Frequently, when something awful or something that creates change happens.  Much love to Mike and his family.  Really, I'm still speachless.