Best of 2007: Vertical in a Flat Land

Chicago is not known for its rolling hills and valleys. It is a land that has been flattened by glacial ice sheets and its only inclines that I have seen are when you cross over an interstate. If you walk around though you can certainly feel the heights. Or maybe its because we are small.Chicago Board of Trade

Sears Tower as seen from the river.

The Walk across on the Wrigley Building

Looking into a alley.

This extra large flag is inside on of the atrium's in the Macy's (Marshall Field's)

Here are a couple of Chicago architecture sites.
Building the Windy City

Chicago Landmarks

Great Building Chicago

Go out and take some picture! Kim

What I Did This Weekend - KCCX 2007

Cyclocross National Championships 2007 - Kansas City
Saturday, December 15


I never laid down to get the shot. There were plenty of photographers who did.
The first turn is the best. They are all together. The excitement is very high.These riders found the best line through the mud.
Sunday, December 16

Men's Collegiates running up the steps. There were 143 racers from all over the U.S.

We were very thankful that the sun was out.

You had to bring your own chair as there was nothing to sit on. We had our own, thankfully.

Katie Compton is the winner for Women's Elite. 72 women started.

Each race was had a different personality. Either by temperature, freezing mud, thawing mud, sleet, sun or no sun. It turns the course into a real challenge.

Our favorite Todd Wells. Though I did meet Jessie Anthony's parents.

The winner, Tim Johnson shakes hands with Jonathan Page.

Stacks of medals.

Men's Elite Podium

Archive: Skyline

Skylines are a cities signature.
Telling all in shapes, tones and texture.
Telling the history of growth and struggle.
It is a story of choices.
Will it be a wedding cake or chair type building?
Will it be glass, terracotta, steel or cast iron?
The skyline is the dream of architects and the reality of those that live and work in them.

Here is natures version of a skyline.

1) Chicago,Il
2) Galena, Il
3) Dubuque, Ia,
4) Des Moines, Ia
5) Denver, Co
6) Rocky Mountain National Park. (This is 3 pictures merged together)

Kim's Creed

Be
Prepared.
Do Your Best.
Be Thankful!
Have An Open Mind.
Grab The Opportunity
Be True To Yourself and Others
Learn Something New Each Day
Listen to the Still Small Voice
No Job is Done Until all the tools are put away.
Good Manners and Strong Character Will Go Far.
Follow
Your
Deams
May there be Peace on Earth and in Your Life.

Archive: My Street

I am fortunate to live on my street. The boulevard is where the old interurban ran.
The neighborhood picnics are filled with lively conversations of riding the trolley, greasing the tracks or hopping on and off while it was moving. There are stories of people pushing the neighborhood leaves to the center, after the tracks were taken out and lighting them.
That must have been pretty cool to see!

The colors are vibrant on this May day

Riding to school in the spring.
The sunlight breaks through in late August.The light is very strange. It was for a fleeting moment though. I don't think it lasted for more than two minutes. Mid December and there is no snow on the ground.

Jingle All The Way - Jingle Cross 2007

It was another great weekend for cyclocross racing. Even better than that. Over 600 racers in twenty-seven races-HOLY Cow! Check out the website for Jingle Cross

Professionals Todd Wells and Chris Horner come early to sign autographs.

Lining up for Womens Beginners.
Kicking up the sand through the barn.
I am not the only one who takes the pictures.

One of my favorite pictures. I like the one I took with Mike in it better- but I'm not double posting. See the Bike Tech blog. http://bike-tech-racing.blogspot.com/

We had our prayer flags flying.
Blue is space, White is air or clouds or wind, Red is fire, Green is water and Yellow is earth.

http://www.prayerflags.com/

The kids race was run to watch. The Grinch showed up- trying to cheat...imagine that!

Our friend Carl Buchanan.Hey- I've seen this guy before. Check out his wonderful photography at Fry guy

Chris Horner shredding like crazy!

Todd Wells- Riding up the Run-up.
That was so long , steep and never ending.
Only a couple guys could ride up.

Podium.

Middle Park Madness Nov 2007

It's the girls lining up for the start. The course was 1.5 miles running up, jumping over barriers, screaming downhill and grabbing a little air. The place was Bettendorf, Iowa Middle Park.

This hill was long and steep ending with a flat and then more up.

This is the best picture that I took today. I bet John"Greenie" could feel their breath.

Framed by Autumn oaks.

Through the trees to the jump.

It was a great day for racing despite one guy having a horrible fall. It only goes to show that this can be dangerous. The racers are all highly skilled but sometimes an accident can happen.

Archive: Racine, Wisconsin

These pictures were taken awhile ago but that doesn't mean I don't think that they are less important than a recent photo. I love the variations of blues and greys. Triangles are in every picture. I like how the sail, masts and clouds compose themselves.

Racine Yacht Club with Sea Scouts, a part of Boy Scouts of America. It was a weekend of sailing, meeting new people and eating wonderful food.

Since I live so far from any great body of water,
it was a treat to be on the water and taking pictures.

Tying the knot.

Twilight

Early Morning Light