Roots

I've always known that my ancestors emigrated to America from Europe in the 1800s. The Gambskys from Poland and the Millers from Denmark. The Jacobs from somewhere in Germany and the Stegers from Bavaria. Only the Stegers came here recently enough for me to have personal contact with any of the immigrants. My grandfather Frank Xavier Steger, Jr., was a toddler when his parents left Germany for America. All I ever knew was that they were from a village near Nuremberg and sailed to America in the early 1890s.

Chicago is "My Kind of Town"

From 200905 Chicago

Ellen and I took advantage of the Memorial Day holiday to make a 10-day weekend of it, going to Appleton and Evanston and Chicago, with even a trip to Stevens Point for lunch tossed in. In Wisconsin, we visited family, in Evanston we visited John at Northwestern University, and everywhere we played tourist, but no place as much as in Chicago, where we visited Navy Pier, adding its Ferris Wheel to the Texas Star, the London Eye and Vienna's historic Riesenrad to our lifetime Ferris Wheel rides; we took a boat ride on the Chicago River; we went down in the coal mine in the Museum of Science and Industry; we celebrated the opening of the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago; we marvelled at the reflection of the city skyline in "The Bean" in Millennium Park; we strolled through Grant Park and up the "Magnificent Mile" that is Michigan Avenue; and more. Photos from all our stops can be seen here:

• Appleton photos
  
• Stevens Point photos
  
• Evanston photos
  
• Chicago photos

Silver Wedding Anniversary Cruise

Ellen and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with an 11-day Caribbean cruise. The time went by as fast as our first 25 years of marriage.

Secret Life of Dogs

Ellen and I occasionally get to dog sit for our neighbors Dave and Deb's dog when they are out of town. Prince is getting on in years, entirely deaf, maybe a little lame, and easily tired on walks. He's as little trouble as a dog can be, except for something our neighbors say they don't see. It's his tendency to go just a little crazy now and then. Call it the secret side of Prince.

12 Not-So-Angry Men

Or rather, 77 Not-At-All-Angry men and women. I'm talking about the jury pool for Dallas District Court. I'm assuming no one wants to serve on a jury, although a few people did raise their hands indicating yes when that question was asked.