Official A2K Gathering in Chicago, May 7th, 2006!

Just out of curiosity, how many people (and who) were able to make it?

I wish I could have been there, but didn't have any time to fly out.

The last gathering I attended was a little one down in Boston about 4 years ago.

Best Regards everyone,

rosborne, Sorry we missed you too! Those that made it were osso, realjohnboy, Walter, Thomas, mac11, joefromchicago, sublime, J_B, yitwail and Mrs yitwail, Eva, wandeljw, and me.

We're in the beginning planning stage for a a2k gathering for next year in Spain. I'm sure somebody will plan another one in the US before then.

O'Bill was definitely there as well

Ooops, sorry OBill; too much wine. BTW, thanks for the two bottles of the fantastic Cab.

Soz...as soon as I got that one of Osso, I showed it to everyone at the table and told them I knew you would love it. (I did, too!) Trying to capture fleeting expressions is much more difficult with a digital camera because of the time delay between pressing the button and the shutter click. Very frustrating.

Aw, Joe. I haven't changed in ten years? If only that were true! (I thought the same about your photo, too. Love the new avatar!) J_B and I share the same complaint...neither of us is photogenic at all. I tried and tried to get a shot of her that would reflect how tall and gorgeous she is, but none even came close. I hope someone else was more successful. (Note to J_B: Be glad you didn't see the ones I deleted!) Likewise, I hope someone managed to get one of me that isn't disgusting.

C.I., you left O'Bill off your list. And yes, unfortunately, he is smoking. When he insisted on lighting up in one taxi over the objections of the driver, the cabbie told him he should quit. We said, "We already did get him to quit once!" Bill, Bill, Bill..........<sigh>

No problem, Eva. That's why when Walter, having only seen a picture of me, told me I don't look like me, I took it as a compliment.

I know what you mean. I tried to pick photos of you that, while not great, were at least not embarrassing. I hope the others will do me the same favor (hint, hint...I hope nobody got a photo of my behind when I was down on all fours cleaning the red wine Bill spilled on the carpet. I know it must have been tempting, you jokers!)

Great pics and even better captions, Eva! Thanks!

If Bill posts the last one he took of me as I was bent over the case of Peligrino, I'll shoot him. I'm sure my eyes covered half my face.

I believe you! That makes me smile. :-)



A-ha, the first "nay" vote I remember seeing for digital cameras. Is it a problem for all of them? A whole lot of my photography is of sozlet, and a whole lot of the photographs I take are attempts to capture fleeting expressions...

I'm going to provide a quickie Cook's tour of our Chicago visit.

This first one was taken from the steps of the Art Institute looking towards Sears Tower.


One of the famous impressionist paintings at the Art Institute.


Another one.


Some art works outside the museum on Michigan Avenue.


Only in Chicago.


I'll post groups of five pictures for the Cook's tour.

I didn't join the group for the Art Institute, because I purchased a City Pass before my arrival - thinking my City Pass included the Art Institute. When I went to the cashier at the Art Institute to get my booklet, the guy told me the Art Institute no longer participated in the City Pass, but he was good enough to give me a free pass that I used on May 4, the date of my arrival in Chicago.

Group 2:

This was taken from my room on the 34th floor of the CQ hotel by the river.


This was our official architectural tour of Chicago on the first morning after some of us shared breakfast at Le Bon Pain; that's the Chicago Board of Trade building.


Don't ask me the name of this building, but the lobby is just magnificient.


This is Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House build during the early part of the last century. It's now under renovation, so we were unable to visit the third floor, and no pictures were allowed inside.

Nice photos, C.I. This mirror-like outdoor sculpture is called "Skyscape". Chicagoans have nicknamed it "The Bean" (that is also the nickname of shewolf's daughter).

Great shots but be careful. link

I think it's okay, because these are not used for "commercial" purpose.

This is at the University of Chicago, School of Architecture. The building is special, because it's a one room buiilding.


This is the train tunnel going through the University of Chicago, Student Union.


Back in the Loop. The modernizatio of the interior of this building is phenominal.


You'll never guess what kind of pizza osso ordered and ate.


At the Duke of Perth.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/imposter222/Chicago5406xD2037.jpg

If you clicked on the Duke of Perth link, you'll see OBill with a big smile. He wore that smile more than 90 percent of the time I saw him, so I know he was really enjoying himself. Didn't we all! BTW, the other ten percent of the time he wasn't smiling was when he played pool with sublime, because they had some big bets going.

Eva, thank you so much for the link to the pictures! I've long wondered what everyone looked like. I've imagined some of you quite differently; others look just like I have always imagined... Maybe next time I shall make the gathering... (You would pick the other side of the globe, though... perhaps the third time will be Honolulu or better still one of the outer islands in the Hawaiian chain?)

Group 3:

Enjoying Chicago Blues.


Oh, yes, there really was good music.


Museum of Science and Industry. A place all visitors to Chicago should visit.


This is the U505, the German sub captured during WWII. They ruined it by paiting it - IMHO.


It was Mayor Daly's kite flying day for the children in front of the museum

I'd've expected that pizza to be bigger, somehow....

Group 4:

We ate at the famous Giardino's for their famous deep dish pizza. It was delicious!


We later went to Green Dolphin Street for jazz.


The club was named after this movie.


We were seated in the back, but the music was loud enough enhanced by loudspeakers.