The Crystal Lake Blog

Joe Caputo & Sons

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:17:00 +0000

I know, I keep griping about Caputo’s but I was near by and picked up a few things. They are very disorganized. Half the stuff in the sales paper was either not on the shelves or properly tagged. This is something that should have been done the night before, not on the day of the sale.

Just look how bad these tomatoes are. There were plenty of these rotten ones. This is how much of their produce is.

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Woodstock Farmers Market

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:31:00 +0000

Last Saturday, I went to the Woodstock Farmers Market. That farmers market is more appealing to me than the one in Crystal Lake. Anyway, since my wife doesn’t like buying beef from a store, we tried something new. We heard some good stuff about about Willow Lea Stock Farm and natural raised beef. We took a chance and bought a six pack of hamburger patties and one pack of stew meat. Yesterday, I cooked the burgers on the grill. For sure it was pretty smokey and the flames got pretty high if the lid was open too long. We were really surprised. The beef tasted so much different than the store bought meat and looked more natural as well. Next week I will be going there to pick up some more meat.

The price are not so bad. Ground beef is $4 a lb. The six burgers were $11 for 2.25 lbs. The stew meat was $6.50 a lb. I don’t mind so much paying these prices as a long I as I a better product.

Technorati Tags: Willow Lea Stock Farm,Natural Beef,Woodstock Farmers Market

I can’t wait any longer for Joseph’s

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:02:00 +0000

I drove by Joseph’s and I hope this is a good indication of them opening soon. This is a blue dumpster which looks like it is ready for pickup. Shopping at Caputo’s is just terrible.

It doesn’t even look like they have started on Fresh Market. I didn’t get a chance to look through the window. Maybe they are working on the inside?

Technorati Tags: Joseph's Marketplace,Fram Fresh Market

Cool Caterpillar

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0000

I saw this in front of my garage the other day. It is a yellow fuzzy caterpillar also know as a banded or pale tussock moth caterpillar. Don’t ask me how I know this…

Hello Again

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:55:00 +0000

Well, I am back after a summer break. The kids are back to school, I changed the design of my blog (hope it is better), and there have been a lot of things happening around town.

Joseph's Marketplace has been shut down for a long time because of storm damage. I really miss them and hope that they will open soon. I will not shop at Jewel or Dominick's. Aldi’s only has so much. The only other choice is Caputo’s in Lake in the Hills, but they are terrible! Where in the hell do they get their fruits and vegetables!? They are always rotten! I saw that there is going to be a new Fresh Market opening in Crystal Lake where the old Borders use to be. They are supposed to be cheaper than Garden Fresh, we will see. Garden Fresh didn’t last very long. I wonder who will open first, Joseph’s or Fresh Market.

The construction on Route 14 has been a bear… will they ever get done? Also, what is with all the fancy brick work and parking stalls? The planters sitting on the walk ways are so huge that there is not enough sidewalk for two people to walk side by side. What is the point of the beautification? Most will just drive by it anyway. I wonder if the construction will be done before any more stores go out of business?

Cancelled Netflix

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:49:00 +0000

I officially cancelled Netflix this morning due to the increase in pricing. Now it is time to find other alternatives such as Redbox and Hulu. What I like about Hulu, they stream the last television shows. The only issue that I have is Apple is looking to buy them out.

Consumers are being left with less and less choices for services. There is no such thing as competition anymore. If I am going to be left with no choices, I’d rather do without.

Technorati Tags: Goodbye Netflix,Netflix,Life,Thoughts,Crystal Lake Il,McHenry County,The Crystal Lake Blog,Hulu,Redbox

Thought

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:08:00 +0000

There is no death, only form change. Life does go on and on.

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Picture of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:26:00 +0000

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Thought

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:58:00 +0000

When one is silent and one’s body is at peace, the heart slowly starts beating in the same rhythm as everything else in existence. Life is not made from one thing, it is made from many.

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Eagle

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:45:00 +0000

Technorati Tags: Picture of the Day,Photography,Crystal Lake Il,McHenry County

Bicycle Shop or Big Box Store?

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:55:00 +0000

Out of 100% of people who own bikes I would say 20% are professional riders, 30% ride at least four times per week and 50% are weekend only riders. I fall between the four times per week and weekend category.

What is better. A bicycle shop bike or a bike from Wal-Mart or Sports Authority? Why or why not?

I have been looking for a bike for quite some time now and have dealt with retail technicians and bike shop personnel. Bikes from a bike shop are very pricey. The price of one bike is comparable to two to three bikes from a retail store.

Bike shops say their products are far more superior than retail bikes. The few sales people that I talk to said their bikes have better parts. How are they better? I was told better chains, better brakes, better gears and etc., but still no definite answer.

A sporting's goods place was able to answer one of the questions I had. There are two types of Shimano shifters. Shimano who makes the shifters for the more expensive bike shop bikes and a company who makes Shimano knockoffs for retail bikes (another company has brought the rights to produce the knockoff Shimano shifters).

Here are my thoughts so far on bike shops:

Trek Model 820 and 3500 – Uncomfortable to ride. Too many of the gear shifting parts are made out of plastic. Gears are not smooth shifting. Bike technicians know what they are doing. Starting at $340 and up, these are over priced for what they are.

Schwinn in general – Schwinn is no longer Schwinn. Schwinn is made by Dorel. Schwinn seems to be more over priced than any other brand out there. If you want a Schwinn, I would rather buy one at Wal-Mart, I think they are actually better and the price is more reasonable.

My other beef with bike shops is the customer service. One would think that paying so much for a bike that the customer service would be pleasant, not! Most shop owners in the area are bitter, rude and full of themselves.

As for regular retail:

Wal-Mart, Target, Toy R Us and Kmart have a good selection on bikes in store and online. Wal-Mart has the best online service since just about all of their products are shipped to the store for free. Bike assembly is less than desirable, sometimes. I have seen some poorly assemble bikes. I think a lot of it has to do with people messing with them a lot. Usually I prefer to get the bike in the box and assemble it myself. The cost of the bikes is more realistic too.

Technorati Tags: Bicycle,Bike Riding,Bikes,Life,Thoughts,Crystal Lake Il,McHenry County,The Crystal Lake Blog

Thought

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:49:00 +0000

Others will be there for you when you are feeling down and out. Don’t be shy or embarrassed to share your feelings with those people. Your friends and family know you better than you do.

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Picture of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:09:00 +0000

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Thought

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 12:54:00 +0000

There is a Chinese saying:

To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend; to read it for a second time is to meet an old one.

Technorati Tags: Life,Thoughts,Crystal Lake Il,McHenry County,The Crystal Lake Blog

Cancelling Netflix, Getting Too Costly

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:36:00 +0000

Well, it is time to say goodbye to Netflix. They have decided to split their DVD movie and streaming service into two separate services. Streaming at $7.99 and DVD rental starting at $7.99. It is not worth it for me to keep both or one or the other. The streaming end has no new stuff while the DVD end takes too long to get new releases.

Goodbye Netflix and hello Hulu and Redbox

Technorati Tags: Goodbye Netflix,Netflix,Life,Thoughts,Crystal Lake Il,McHenry County,The Crystal Lake Blog,Hulu,Redbox

Special Brush Pick Up

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:29:00 +0000

City of Crystal Lake

Storm Damage Branch/Limb Collection
The City of Crystal Lake Public Works Department is continuing with cleanup operations throughout the City. Crews have been working around the clock in order to clear roadways obstructed by debris from the storm. After roads are completely cleared, limbs and branches will continue to be removed in areas blocking access to homes and businesses.
As a result of the high winds causing fallen branches and debris, the City of Crystal Lake Public Works Department will conduct a special branch and limb collection beginning on Monday, July 18, 2011. All brush must be less than 6” in diameter and no more than 6 feet in length.

Crews will pass through each City street only once, so residents should have any brush, branches or tree limbs that they wish to be collected moved to the parkway by 7:00 a.m. on Monday, July 18, 2011 to ensure that it will be picked up.

Also, the City will open the Brush Drop-Off center. Residents can drop off brush, branches or tree limbs at Wastewater Treatment Plant #2, located at the intersection of Coventry Lane and Dartmoor Drive, during the following times:

Wednesday, July 13, 2011- 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 14, 2011- 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Friday, July 15, 2011- 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 16, 2011- 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Woo Hoo! Electricity!

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:00:00 +0000

I don’t know for how long….. but we have power.

I don’t think Com Ed is reimbursing for food loss. I’m sure they will take of businesses though.

Woodstock Farmers Market

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 14:28:00 +0000

I went to the Woodstock Farmers Market on Saturday, I will have have to go back at later time though. There wasn’t much in the way of vegetables, too early I guess. I did buy some beef patties from Willow Lea Stock Farm and they were awesome! They raise their cows naturally.

Technorati Tags: Woodstock Farmers Market,Willow Lea Stock Farm,Crystal Lake Il,McHenry County,The Crystal Lake Blog

How bad do you want something?

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 11:54:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted a certain something badly enough but it seems unrealistic? If one keeps pushing, one will get there a lot sooner than later. It might not be easy at first, but once one gets started, it won't be so bad.

Technorati Tags: Life,Thoughts,Crystal Lake Il,McHenry County,The Crystal Lake Blog

Thought

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:31:00 +0000

It is said that a mirror is the window to one’s soul. I don’t know about the soul, but it is definitely a self portrait of oneself.

Technorati Tags: Life,Thoughts,Crystal Lake Il,McHenry County,The Crystal Lake Blog

MuseScore Free music composition & notation software

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:21:00 +0000

I found this really good free music notation software that I thinks others will enjoy too.

Link: http://musescore.org/

For those who love to dabble in music and do not have the money to buy professional notation software, MuseScore is a very good free alternative. Your project can either be printed out, saved as a PDF or a MIDI file. It can also import and export of Music XML and standard MIDI files.

Thought I’d share.

Technorati Tags: MuseScore,Free Software,Free Notation Software,Crystal Lake Il,McHenry County,The Crystal Lake Blog

Picture of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:43:00 +0000

Technorati Tags: Picture of the Day,Photography,Crystal Lake Il,McHenry County

Congrats to the Crystal Lake Library

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:23:00 +0000

This year I missed the Lakeside Fest and the fireworks. Oh well, I just didn’t feel like going. I did go the the Arlington Park fireworks show on Sunday and it was fantastic.

I did hear that the Crystal Lake Library took first place for the best float… congratulations to them! The Chess workshop will also start soon, I can’t wait.

Chess Workshops
Thursdays, July 14, 21, 28 and
August 4, 11, 18 and 25
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Storytime Room
Your knight has been captured! What is your
next move? Chess master Bob Cairone is
here to help. If you know how to play chess,
you are welcome to attend this seven-week
session and learn strategy, chess etiquette
and problem-solving skills. Meet other chess
players and have fun. Workshops will be
followed by a tournament for participants on
September 1.

Technorati Tags: Crystal Lake Library,Thoughts,Crystal Lake Il,McHenry County,The Crystal Lake Blog

Happy 4th of July!

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:48:00 +0000

What it reads:

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Signatures

Georgia: Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall George Walton	North Carolina: William Hooper Joseph Hewes John Penn South Carolina: Edward Rutledge Thomas Heyward, Jr. Thomas Lynch, Jr. Arthur Middleton	Massachusetts: John Hancock Maryland: Samuel Chase William Paca Thomas Stone Charles Carroll of Carrollton Virginia: George Wythe Richard Henry Lee Thomas Jefferson Benjamin Harrison Thomas Nelson, Jr. Francis Lightfoot Lee Carter Braxton
Pennsylvania: Robert Morris Benjamin Rush Benjamin Franklin John Morton George Clymer James Smith George Taylor James Wilson George Ross Delaware: Caesar Rodney George Read Thomas McKean	New York: William Floyd Philip Livingston Francis Lewis Lewis Morris New Jersey: Richard Stockton John Witherspoon Francis Hopkinson John Hart Abraham Clark	New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett William Whipple Massachusetts: Samuel Adams John Adams Robert Treat Paine Elbridge Gerry Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins William Ellery Connecticut: Roger Sherman Samuel Huntington William Williams Oliver Wolcott New Hampshire: Matthew Thornton

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Thought

noreply@blogger.com (Chip) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 11:41:00 +0000

One should be thankful for each and every morning. Enjoy life now and not worry about things that will not matter next year.

Technorati Tags: Life,Thoughts,Crystal Lake Il,McHenry County,The Crystal Lake Blog