Sorry folks, I’m way late this year.  No birthday gifts this year, so you’ll have that much more to spend on Christmas.  This is my year end list for those who still shopping for me.  I’ve removed the super high dollar items being we’re all poor this year.You'll see the price and a link to where to buy the item! I make it to easy for you, I know. You can click on the link to see more of a description too.

We'll start with an air blow gun, my $2 one is leaking, so this would be nice.

$20, Sears

To keep the air tools going, I'll need some sockets. These are 1/2" drive deep and standard SAE sockets.

$140, Sears

Need to organize those, so the SAE socket organizer goes well.

$9, Harbor Freight

I also have metric set already, that I need to organize.

$9, Harbor Freight

And we'll need to protect my new toolbox from all these new tools with a tool box liner. This will work, or the kind that is a soft smooth liner, vs this one that has like window screen like form to it. Sorry, I dont have a link for this.

$6, Harbor Freight

We'll also want to add a power tool, 3/8 air ratchet.

$35, Sears

Now we'll need 3/8" drive sockets to go with it.

$30, Sears

Ok we'll switch gears: Cameras is the obvious next items.

This is what I'd really like to get, Canon 5D Mark II kit with the 24-105 IS lens.

$3500, B&H

Or, I suppose body only will suffice. Hurry to order though, they are backordered.

$2700, B&H

This would be the next one I'd want, would much rather have the 5D though. This is the Canon 50D with the 18-200 IS kit lens. It has an instant rebate on it, hurry!

$1615, B&H

So, thats a little high for your budget still, we'll bring it down. Off camera flash cord. One of each length, 20" and 34".

$30, Calumet, $35, Calumet

This one the price dropped, I probably will get it if you don't, a black and a white muslin background, 10'x12'.

$59, B&H, $59, B&H

So, thats the list so far, maybe I'll add more, we'll see. Merry Christmas!

Krissy and I had a fun and eventful weekend, one of the few this year. Missy’s wedding on Saturday, then hiking in Starved Rock State Park on Sunday.

Missy has an important role in Krissy and my life, so her wedding had a special meaning to me (and Krissy). Krissy met Missy in Geology classes at NIU, which is how they became friends. The important role comes to Missy’s neighbor in college, Justin. I’ve known Justin since we lived on the same floor in the dorms. Justin and Missy were neighbors, and would combine parties, which is how Krissy and I met.

So being I was at a wedding, I couldn’t leave my camera in its bag, so here are the photos:

<< Mike and Missy's Wedding Photos >>

To download a larger image in the album, click on the thumbnail and click the download link at the top right of the image.

Congrats Mike and Missy!

When driving this summer, remember that slowing down can really add up.
Be Safe.
85% of work zone crashes in Illinois injure motorists, not workers.
Be Wise.
Keep tires properly inflated - fuel economy decreases by 10-20% when your tires are low.
Save Gas.
Every 5 mph you go above 60 mph is like spending $0.22 more per gallon for gas.
Save Lives.
In Illinois, an average of 7,000 crashes occur in highway work zones every year. (www.illinoistollway.com)

Wait, what? Save gas? Really?

To: Illinois Tollway Media Questions
From: Phil

I just received the Illinois Tollway newsletter about construction and safety. It's an interesting letter I just had one question regarding it, the "Save Gas" statement on it. It said "Save gas, Every 5 mph you go above 60 mph is like spending $0.22 more per gallon for gas." Could I get the source to where this fact came from? Could you supply the data that supports this statement?

Thanks for your help.

Do you believe this statement? I can see that it is somewhat true, but I want proof. Speeds above ~45 mph affect gas mileage but only because of wind resistance. That is if there was no wind resistance, it would be the same gas to go 5 mph as it would be to go 100 mph. So this said, how can they relate such a general statement to the cost of gas? What price are they paying for the gas? What vehicle are they considering? Is this a car? Truck? SUV? Semi? Airplane?

Aerodynamics is critical to the gas mileage you get at higher speeds. I have a 2002 Grand AM GT 3.4L V6 and as a test I drove no more than 70mph, for just over 300 miles (Chicago to Detroit), and I got 33.6 miles per gallon. Granted 200 of those miles I never stopped, but this is what your “highway miles” should be rated at. According to the window sticker that came with my car, it is rated at 20 city and 29 highway. So how can I get over 29 mpg? Well this is what happens when you reduce the gas consuming habits in driving.

Taking off fast, stopping at traffic lights, sitting in traffic, repeatedly speeding up/slowing down, all cause low gas mileage. You can see this topic comes back, Traffic Lights.

I would like to see the Illinois Tollway Newsletter say “If we eliminate unnecessary traffic lights and time the ones that are in use, make roads that can handle the traffic better, we will save you $300/year on gas” because that is as much true as their statement above. Granted they aren’t in control of traffic lights, only toll booths (to take your money in another way), but still.

Not to get too off topic but my car is rather aerodynamic, which lets me go faster and still get good gas mileage. If your driving your new Hummer at 70 mph, guess what, you’ll get bad gas mileage. Hummers are good for doing 15 mph over sand and rocks in the mountains, or driving through 3 feet of water, but not for doing 70 on IL roads. Hell, the Hummer is not even good for doing 15 through downtown traffic. That is unless your driving through the Chicago river, then it’d pay off getting that Hummer.

So moral to the story, don’t give fallacies, give real facts: Stopping less saves more than not going over 60 mph.

So Krissy has wanted another pet for a while. We tried a dog, that didn’t work out. Yes Mica is still doing well, he is with Krissy’s aunt. The 5 pound small puppy we got is now a 35 pound ball of energy. A dog is just what her aunt needed, so it worked out good. We just weren’t home enough for him; he is a very energetic dog.

So what is the other American pet? Yes, a cat. Well I like cats, and have had cats almost all my life; problem is they’ve all been outside cats because I am allergic to cats. Well after many hours of research and looking at the options Krissy found that Siberian cats have less of the protein that produces the allergen. This is not a cure for everyone, some are still allergic to Siberians, but she has wanted to get a kitten for a while. Then she found a 9 year old Siberian cat that was looking for a new home.

So we finally got the time to get up to Wisconsin and pick Sasha up.

Today is day two of the one week trial to see if I’m allergic to her and so far I’d have to say I’m still allergic to her. Krissy is also reacting to her, which she usually isn’t allergic to cats. She did make a nice feather duster by going behind the fridge and washer when we brought her home as it seems that the stress of the car ride home made her really tired because she hid for the first 6 hours she was here. Then she came out, and as friendly as could be just wanted to explore. Jump on anything she could, get to all different altitudes, etc. She is not destructive, but if it looks like she can jump on it, she will. She took to her litter box very well, no problems yet.

Now we’re trying to determine if we are allergic to her, or her shedding and the dust she stirred up. I had more of a reaction yesterday than today, so maybe that’s a good sign, for Krissy that is :).

She has also made a bed of Krissy’s desk.