Yearly Kos: missed it

One of the few weekends when I would be out of town, there is the Yearly Kos in Chicago.

Senator Durbin addressed the Yearly Kos though:

Some photos are here.

I also missed an anti-racist counter rally at Kalamazoo, Michigan. Nikki’s nest reported on it.

In Peoria, John Morris (currently on the city council) will be running for Ray LaHood’s seat. Peoria Pundit Reports:

Although he often took positions as a member of the Peoria City Council that I opposed, I always liked John Morris and enjoyed chatting with him. He is almost constantly upbeat and cheerful. When the roll was called at the start of meetings, he always answered “present” instead of “here.” As often as not, Morris wasn’t in his seat at the start of meetings, but in the audience shaking hands with someone.

And he’s announced he is going to run for Congress.

I think the guy is going to be a formidable opponent for anyone who runs. He certainly knows campaigning, and I’m sure he has a better grasp of the issues facing cities than will most of his opponents. He knows a thing or two about fundraising. Like Aaron Schock, Morris has a bit of boyishness about him, but unlike Schock, he doesn’t come across as perhaps trying to rise up the ranks a bit too fast.

Also, from the Peoria Journal Star:

State Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, still says he’s strongly considering the post, and state Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria, says he’s also still thinking about it, but isn’t in “a real big rush” to make a decision and loves his job.

I’m telling you: watch out for Schock. This guy is a political winner, though I remain an ideological opponent of his.

Okie-part II

Workout notes Nada yet; I hope to get a few miles of walking later this morning.
Update: 4 miles plus on the St. Edwards course. My hamstring/knee didn’t bother me at all; in fact I forgot it was dinged. That is a good sign.

Trip We stopped at Arrowhead State Park in Oklahoma. This is just north of McAlester and on Lake Eufaula. For the runners: there are trails in the area; these some are very, very rocky. There is also a swimming area, though I’d recommend swimming a “parallel to the shore” course, as there are power boats in the deeper parts of the lake.

The Lake

Olivia wading out of the Lake

I don’t know what this is; it is an organic(?) “clear jelly like sac” around the stems of one of the reeds in the lake. I’ll have to look this up. It isn’t a bryozoan colony, and it doesn’t appear to be eggs of some sort.

We also found small toads and cricket frogs nearby; the toads were about 100-200 meters away from the lake and the cricket frogs were near the waterline.

I find these interesting as they are only distantly genetically related, but they evolved to have a similar appearance and to do the same sorts of things.

One more family photo: