Wes' Excellent Adventure XIV 10/7

Needed to get away. Lots of emotions now that my little buddy Gallifrey Wicket Bushby - aka Bubba passed.

One place that he and I liked to travel to was the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. Lots of smells for a dog. Of course I could only take him when they had their dog days. We went to one of those earlier in the year.

Here are some photographs.

My new "used" car, after someone rear ended my new car a few months back. I have always enjoyed the Soul, very versatile. I would fold the back seats down and allow Bubba to run around in the back and hang out the windows as we drove around.

One icon that Bubba and I enjoyed was going to this cut down tree, turned into a chair. Earlier this year we went there and Christi took our photograph. Bubba is never interested in having is photograph taken, which was okay. We (I) still captured the memory.

I stopped and took to a path. Having a bad foot keeps me from a lot of activity I used to enjoy. I needed the stretch and went down this path and photographed.

Though I had been back to Morton a few times, I basically just drove around and photographed. This time I walked behind the facility. I was surprised of the changes. A really nice place to bring a book and read near the running water. One of the pleasures my mom would have enjoyed, so I think I will do the same next year.

On the way back home I drove down IL-53. I do that a lot, just so I can pass through Joliet. My dad went to high school there. Since I was that far down I kept going, so that I could see him at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. He wanted to be buried there, and rightfully so. Both he and I were born in February. Me, on February 12th, sharing the same birthday as Abraham Lincoln. My dad served in the end of WWII as a flight engineer on a B-17 and a PBY Catalina. My dad has a fancy for seaplanes after that.

Next stop, the Polk-A-Dot Drive In located in Braidwood, IL. part of the old Rt. 66. This is a cool place with good burgers. Well worth a single trip to eat at.

I took the long way back, paralleling the Kankakee River. There was a truck ahead of me pulling a very wide load. That had to stop oncoming traffic and pull them over to the side to allow the load to pass. So, I chose to make some stops to photograph the river. The first couple photos you can see a couple guy wading and fly fishing (I think that is what they were doing).

This made for a long day, mostly driving. I enjoy driving. Gives me time to reflect, enjoy what is around, to be at peace.

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Thank You, Gallifrey Wicket Bushby - aka Bubba

Thank you, Bubba. Thank you for your unwavering love. Thank you for the friendship. Thank you for being you.

From the first day being the Alpha in the house, to the last day of needing our help, each of those days and the days between were the best of our lives.

I will remember your determined self, your independence, your acknowledgment of needing to be loved. The games we played. The strength we gave each other. All this and more is the life we had together.

Go forth master Bubba. Be at peace, knowing you gave us all your love until the end. Blessed be the ones who make you cry. Blessed are the ones who chose to be with one another.

Gallifrey Wicket Bushby aka "Bubba"

Born in 2013

Bushby from 2015 to October 1st 2024

May you now rest in peace

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It all started with a puppy mill raid in St. Anne, IL. WGN Channel 9 News covered the event, with a quick video clip of will be "Bubba", the only one standing in his cage looking around with curiosity. We contacted Marcella Raymond who was reporting, and she connected us. (For more go to this link. The video no longer is there, however is where we first saw Bubba.) If this website is still functional, you can see some of Bubba's mates in the puppy mill.

He woke up every morning ready to take on the word. Squirrel chasing and squeaker kills was his primary agenda. Then later he became permanently ill and because of the meds his priority took to wanting food, and more food. Well yesterday and this morning he felt his journey was over. I could tell as he looked a me, not knowing what to do now.

Zero expectations other than raising a happier puppy from an abusive mass broader, yet he met all of our expectations. His first sighting, WGN Channel 9 News.

We were playmates. The game . . . keep away! We found the the only toy that would last was a small hedgehog with a squeaker. He would bite it, pull on it. then turn and face me and do it, bating me to try and take it. When I didn't, he'd bait me again by dropping it closer to me while keeping an eye on my actions. As soon as I made a move he was all over it. Some tug of war, some hide-in-seek.

His idea of fun was not "fetch". Rather, being the independent / bully dog he was, "it's mine and you cannot have it back.

Bubba ran for President on 2016. No votes.

Thanks For the Half-Million Views

Very First Blog August 13, 2011
"The Carlson Oxbow Nature Park - Hammond IN"

Thank you to everyone who views my blogs. We reached over a half-million views this morning, and it could not be been done without your blessings . . .

The very first blog is shown above. A total of 882 blogs have been posted since then. Roughly 566 views per blog. The lowest amount of views is probably around 8 views. The blog with the most views is of my dad, at 5.56k, followed next by one of my Yoga blogs at 3.73k.

Nearing retirement, I hope to blow this out of the water in a couple of years, as I concentrate on improving my photography, writing, blogging. Any help / patience you can give me along the way is always appreciated.

Best regards,

Wes Bushby

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Christi's First Ride

It is the little things in life that count. Last year we ordered Christi a new bicycle. It was to be delivered mid October, however the pandemic put a kibosh on that. The delivery was extended, twice, until it arrived this February.

She was hoping to still get some riding in at the end of last year. Obviously the delay in delivery, and all the snow we had in February, did not allow that until today.

You can tell by the smile on her face how rejoiced she is to have a "new" bicycle, and not the low end ones you would find at the box stores. This one fits her, rides nice, and is ergonomic.

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Christi's 1st Helicopter Ride

This Sunday was the memorial service at EAA Oshkosh for those who passed since the last EAA convention. My dad was among those names. To give you some framework, my dad went back the second day to join EAA and obtained #26. I joined much later with number #84,624. I signed Christi up last year and she is #1,275,845.

Some of the photographs from the service can be found on my blog about my dad (click here for link, still working on those photos). These photos are from our extended stay after the service, starting with the shuttle ride back from the service.

After we went back to the museum to rest and cool off, we walked out to the Bell helicopter rides. Christi saw them on the way back and wanted to take a hop. This next set of photographs are from the walk out there.

The path out there was across the runway, so we had to stop and wait for the chopper to pass. Photo time.

We arrived at the hanger where everyone was queued to take a hop. Perhaps 50 people ahead of us. They were running maybe 5 helicopters, and each took 2 passengers. So the line move pretty quickly. While inside I took these two photographs.

Proof that Christi went up, and obviously I took a few photographs to document this inauguration.

I walked down to the crossing of the runway to photograph her fly back. I did not photograph the landing. I thought this would be cooler.

Some photographs afterward, toward the Children area of the convention.

So we stayed a while to watch the air show. Christi was excited to see it. Me, it looked a bit lame given the air shows I have been to. Being a Sunday and the place probably 80% cleared out, it was to be expected.

This you do not see every day, let alone once a year. A F4U Corsair and an F-18 Super Hornet flying alongside each other. I can just picture the conversation, "speed up", "no, you slow down". Fortunately the high speed of the F4U and the slow speed of the F-18 overlap enough that it was not a problem to fly in tight formation for this great show of vintage and today's power.

Christi photographed more of the airshow. She may post some photos on her blog.

EAA

(Experimental Aircraft Association)

3000 Poberezny Road

Oshkosh, WI 54903

920.426.4800

(43o50'04"N 088o33'25"W)

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At the bottom of this blog post are five buttons to click on: E-mail this, Blog this, Share to Twitter, Share to Facebook, and Share to Pinterest. Please take advantage of them and share this blog post with your friends.

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