Big broad shoulders opening up for a big hug

Yesternight, Tina and I drove back into Chicago with a feeling of relief and thankfulness.

We were able to drive down to NC in just over 11 hours, a record. And we got back in about 11.5. Another record.

When we see the Willis Tower in the distance, one of us inevitably says something like, “Gosh, I love this city. How could we live anywhere else?”

We revel for 15 minutes in how great it is to live here.

How great it is to drive back into a city with so much diversity of race, opinion, ideas and creativity.

Here, you get a variety of people who may shoot you, take your money, or hug you and be your friend.

I know, that sounds like your neighborhood, too. But you’re — likely — not surrounded by this beautiful concrete jungle.

Perhaps my religion is Chicago. It’s got heaven, hell and a shit load of what’s between.

But it’s visible. It’s real. And the reality of it makes all the difference.

Happy New Year to you and yours.

Tips on getting gas for your vehicle

I thought this was really helpful information about filling your gas tank and getting the most out of it over at TYWKIWDBI.

Tips on getting gas for your vehicle

Let’s tiptoe into Hobby Lobby and belt out a scream

In the world of manufactured, contrived controversies, the Hobby Lobby drama is surely some of the best of all time.

And by best, I mean worst.

Over the last week, Tina and I were in North Carolina visiting my family and friends. While there, Tina wanted to buy some spray paint so my parents guided us toward Hobby Lobby, a — according to my dad — very lucrative chain hobby store apparently owned by Christians.

Evangelical Christians, perhaps is a better descriptor.

With Obama’s health care legislation slowly coming into effect, Hobby Lobby’s owners are up-in-arms over the requirement to have insurance coverage for its employees that includes access to birth control and more importantly the morning after pill and the week after pill.

You can read more about it — in mainstream media — here, here, here, here and oh — look at that — here. 

I remember hearing a bit about the story — in mainstream media — over the past couple weeks.

I write that, because people who post it are claiming the mainstream media is not covering it.

So just so we’re straight, the mainstream media is covering the story. The complaint should be, “But they aren’t screaming about how awful this Christian oppression is!”

Oh the horror. Oh the pain.

While we were standing in line to buy spray paint at Hobby Lobby, my dad told Tina about the greatness of the Hobby Lobby Enterprise, that they make great profits. They treat their employees with a family-centric goodness (they get off evenings and Sundays). They are profitable and stand by their Christian principles.

Last night, I saw this update on Facebook:

Peeper Dee Catchup! 363 to 365

 

 

les moustaches by sunny lee

 

This is a special Peeper Dee. Since I’ve been enjoying friends and family, I haven’t prioritized the blog at all.

But now that we’re back in Chicago, I am uploading all the submissions from the past three days in no particular order.

This is also the second to last PPD. So if you’re going to submit, tomorrow’s the day.

Peeper Dee #362

by Xina

 

Only three chances left to submit PPDs. We’re not doing daily photo submissions next year.

Not in this format anyway.

by Becky F

what a deal by j-dub

by Tina Louise

 

Peeper Dee #361

a non-believer’s view at heaven’s gate by sunny lee

This is PPD from Wednesday.

by Xina

 

the backyard of my youth by J-dub

 

Peeper Dee Catchup, #359, #360 and inadvertent Wednesdogs!

Wednesdog by Tina Louise

Tina and I are in North Carolina celebrating the holiday season with family.

We hope you are celebrating with friends and family, too, and aren’t spending too much time on your computer to see this in the first place.

But if you are, enjoy this PPD catchup edition that includes two Wednesdog images. See if you can figure out which ones are which.

Images are in no particular order.

Needmore Road! by Tina Louise

setting lights by j-dub

stocking by j-dub

by Pea-dub

by Pea Dub

by Xina

albino balls by sunny lee

by sunny lee

Meowy Howlidays from Le Café Witteveen

Here is our howling holiday card for 2012.

Again and again, thanks for reading. Thanks for your comments. Thanks for enjoying the photography and the fun.

And thanks for being you.

The only you there is.

That’s what they tell me anyway.

 

 

Peeper Dee #358

by Xina

things on a thing by sunny lee

anna the great by Jude C

by Pea Dub

 

Christmas Decor by J-dub

 

 

Peeper Dee #357

by Pete T.

 

Here is PPD #357.

Many of you know that I fail to post many of your submissions. I hate missing someone’s submission. More than you know.

Yesterday I forgot a rare-submitter submission from Pete T. (petursey).

So I’m placing his on top today.

Only a few days left of Cafe Witteveen PPDs. So get yours in today!

 

horse shit by sunny lee

by Jude C

by Pea Dub

Nothing says “love” like writing it on a wall by J-dub