Author Archive: George Kasdorf

Christmas Lights = Santa’s landing strip

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Last weekend while the activities director was making plans for the family holiday, the “best boy”, or maybe he is the “Key Grip”, was outside putting up the decorations.

    • The traditional process dictates that:

a)

    • The lights must NOT be tested before being strung up.

b)

    • They are all tossed into a big box when taken down the prior year, shaken well (not stirred) then placed into the attic where mice can chew on them.

c)

    The main rule is the traditional stringing of the Kazology Christmas Lighting Spectacular must absolutely wait until the coldest and darkest day in late December.

I am very pleased to report that in 2007 the tradition has been maintained! I think it was about 8 pm, and 20 degrees outside when completed. If we were not such traditionalists we would have done this on Saturday after Thanksgiving when it was daylight and 50 degrees, but what fun would that be anyway? It was a very good year having only achieved a 20% light failure rate!

The final step in the process, we have already taken the pledge that “next year we are going to get LED lights with the 100,000 hour guarantee and tangle free design….. right….. sure we will…. you betcha boss….. don’t hold your breath!

Until the last mini-light fails to work disabling the entire strand,
George

Memory Lane – Lined by British, Americans, Trappers and Indians.

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The Feast of the Hunters Moon in West Lafayette Indiand October 2007.
A weekend trip! Hooray. The ever restless Kasdorf Activities Director found another fun trip for us to take. When we were attending Purdue University we always visited the “Feast of the Hunters Moon” held every year in West Lafayette Indiana. We had been only one time since then and that was . . . er . . . “several” years ago. We all decided it did indeed sound like a fun weekend so we made a few calls, packed up and took off early Saturday morning. We made it there early and spent the rest of the at the Feast until they lowered the ensign and marched off into the sunset. A full photo album including some movies of the Fife and Drum Corps, including one of the only bagpipe units has been posted. They had nine corps which supposedly is more than ever gather anywhere else.
It was great fun seeing all the trappers, Indians, British, German and American soldiers, and others dressed fitting for the period. Bigger than I remembered, I believe it has grown, but it seems mostly the food stands and trinket sales has grown. The military encampment is not what it used to be, but otherwise very similar to 30 years ago.
We also visited the Purdue campus and pictures will eventually make their way onto the web site. We visited the old hangouts… Harry’s Chocolate shop and Arni’s restaurant. The main hangout “Pierce Street Station” is now gone and has been replaced by a six story parking garage… NOT progress in my mind! Nancy went into her old dorm and it was as she remembered. We also visited “Grad House” where we both had rooms… and we met… (awwww…..) visiting the reception desk, the scene of a late night “streaking” years ago. (Hi John!) I forget names, but do believe Cindy sticks in my mind, even through the near asphyxiation brought on by the use of a brown paper bag… okay, enough reminiscing!

Until the last bottle of Ripple is drunk,
George

The Gambler – hits the buffet….

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The old MGM Grand casino in Detroit is no more… but in it’s place is a new permanent casino. We ventured into downtown Detroit on a Saturday night to see the sights.
The new MGM Grand Casino in downtown Detroit Michigan.
We made it into the parking structure after sitting for some time in traffic, misguided directions by a policeman. . . “Hey there’s two lanes – use them both”. Well there are two lanes, but one went straight and NOT into the parking garage! So after a quick loop around the block we made it into the garage.

A tour around the casino floor to check everything out, the Wolfgang Puck restaurant, Aqua, Ice and other restaurants we elected to… do the buffet!

A few pictures of the experience can be seen here.

Until the final chip falls,
George

The Falls (of Niagara)

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A quick add from the road.
Niagara falls at night - a Kazology 2007 road trip adventure.

Having had vacation plans cancelled several times before this year, we tried again for the labor day weekend. This time we made it! Hitting the road early morning we made the falls by early afternoon. Several hours and lots of walking later we left with a lot of pictures, and weary. We all agreed the falls area has changed a lot in the years since we last visited, probably 25 or so for Nancy and I! The changes are not all for the better either…..

More pictures will be posted in the album area later so this shot of the falls at night will have to do until then.

I managed to get the album out there, so if you are interested in seeing some shots I took, up to the final ocean wave rolled over the pants leg – with the camera in it.

Until the final cubic liter of water cascades onto the rocks below,
George

FOR SALE: Canon SD 700IS only used a few months. Recently removed dust, pocket lint, finger grime, etc. using a natural salt water solution. Great little DIY project for handyman.

The race that almost was, was, but was delayed two times.

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August 19th., 2007 we made the annual outing to the running of the GFS Gordon Food Servi 3M 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn Michigan. We made it there, but the drivers did not! Well, actually they were there, but a single car never made it to the track all day. Rain – rain – rain. Unending rain. We still had a good time, walked the lot viewing the merchandise that was available from all the drivers, the racetrack, the Army, Navy and Marines and so on. Our total purchases equaled the number of laps they ran that day = 0. Oh wait, I did get a badge holder so I could put the ticket in it so as not to get it soaked in my pants!
A break for Italian sausage sandwich and up to the stands for the start of the race! Well, they were sort of racing the jet drier trucks that were doing a great job of getting the track dry – really! The surface of the track was turning that light gray which indicates the moisture was out of the asphalt, and they even started announcing the drivers and awarding the checks to them from last weeks race. Then the rain started up again. The trucks made a few more laps, then gave it up as a lost cause – which it was. I think the drivers, crews and the MIS managment knew something they were not telling us since normally by the time they do the driver intro’s the car’s are on pit road getting prepped and ready to go. This time the tool boxs were not even uncovered let alone bringing the cars out to the track. About 3:30 we took a look at the skies and the time of day and decided they were not going to run at all on Sunday, so we packed up and took off. On the way home we heard they had called the race shortly after we left the track. In retrospect I am really glad we left when we did…. the parking area is totally grass – which was already getting pretty well mushed up after a week of rain and thousands of cars coming into the parking area. It must have gotten really bad later on. This was backed up by a letter which came a week later from the track thanking all the fans. It also noted there would need to be some improvements to the parking areas!! No doubt!. The race was supposed to be help Monday at 1, which was also cancelled, which was the first time in many years it was cancelled two days in a row. It was then rescheduled for Tuesday at 10 am…. this time it did run. 24 was leading until close to the end when he got taken out…. oh well, still leading in the points race and is a lock for the final 10 spots.

Until they put a roof over MIS,
George