KimberlyDeprey's Xanga

Puppy Learns Frisbee Tricks

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:18:43 GMT

Please read this first before watching the video...

This is a very short video of Kodi. We rescued him about 8 weeks ago from a local shelter. He was picked up as a stray by animal control and was on his way to euthanasia without rescue. Imagine such a fate to a dog this cute and smart. Another reason to consider your local shelter when looking for a canine companion.

We adopted Kodi in hopes that he would make a good frisbee dog. There were no guarantees but when we ran him through a number of brief tests at the shelter such as fetching and walking on a leash he performed very well.

Steve has recently introduced a soft frisbee to Kodi. Up until today he's pretty much been chasing it and catching it in the air. Today we decided to take it up a notch. We captured this video. KEEP IN MIND, Kodi is only a puppy and this is his first real attempt at ANY frisbee TRICKS.... enjoy!!!

If you fly often you have to read this...

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:42:25 GMT

You need a little background to appreciate this story. I'm sharing a cab to the airport with a friend and we're traveling to two different cities. We arrive at the airport and I have just hopped out of the cab. My friend stays in the cab and travels closer to her airline departure gate. This is my email when all is said and done.

--------Start of email:---------------------

Hello, how are you? How was your trip home? Uneventful I hope. You wouldn't believe what happened to me when I got out of the cab at the airport....

So I go up to the ticket counter because my ticket said one airline but it's written in magnifying glass size writing so I didn't see it and it said "operated by" another airline. So the attendant at the counter says you need gate such and such (like 1/2 mile away). So she tells me to take the escalator downstairs. Ok, no big deal right, how many times have I taken an escalator in my lifetime. As a kid they were a challenge, but heck I'm over it, I'm an adult right...not so fast...

So here I am wallet still out in my hand (1st big mistake) and I started to "rush", (2nd mistake in this comedy of errors that's about the happen).

Now I have this wide luggage bag (3rd mistake) and I approach the escalator. Not thinking I didn't allow enough room for the bag (width wise, mistake number 4 but whose counting) so I get on the escalator moving stairs and I go and the bag stays put.

Do ya think I would let go of the bag handle....no, I keep my death grip on it for some stupid reason, contort my body to go in reverse somehow, proceed to run backward up the escalator in the opposite direction. All the while now my wallet is firmly gripped in my hand while my arm is flailing about (this won't last mind you).

What took about 5 seconds felt like oh...about a week. All of a sudden I see out of the corner of my eye, my wallet. It flies out of my hand and into the air like it's trying to attempt a swan dive for the olympics. I see it flipping through the air in slow motion and there is nothing that I can do about it mind you. My feet are trying to keep up with the escalators stairs which seem to be moving at the speed of light now even though all time as slowed.

Somehow I manage to get my feet ahead of the "treadmill going at light speed" stairs and make my way to the stationary portion of the escalator at the top. I stop and look at my luggage with my death grip still attached and it dawns on me. Why didn't I let go of this stupid bag?

So I gather my senses and I look up and what do I see. A TSA airport security agent. She's standing there starring at me, she witnessed this entire event. She must have been right behind me as I made my way onto the amusement park ride that I just experienced.

Oh wait, this is where it gets really good...

So I smile at here, trying to muster at the very least and ounce of composure when I look to my left and realize that my wallet (with all my cash, credit cards and license) is now perched on a support beam about five feet down, in a no way reachable position by mankind unless you're some sort of stretchable super hero which I might very well be right now after contorting my arm in the way that I did to maintain my luggage death grip just a moment ago.

I'm thinking now that I'm for sure going to miss my flight. There's no way that I'm getting this wallet without some sort of assistance from airport maintenance. I look at the TSA agent and say "do you have some sort of pole or something around here that I could use to get my wallet". She looks at me as though I've just said "can you bake me a cake on this escalator". It's not a difficult problem to solve, there's my wallet, on the beam, I just need something to tap it to knock it down to the ground and I can get it right?

She stands there, doesn't say a word, looks around and then looks back at me. Okay, this helps allot. Now I know why the government spends millions of dollars a year on TSA salaries. They're great problem solvers!

Instead she walks towards where my wallet is and attempts to reach her head and hand down "into" a space mind you with a moving escalator handrail and a steel girder. I pull her back and say STOP, if you get caught in there we're going to have a much bigger problem on our hands.

So instead I go to the edge of the escalator platform, just where the moving stairs meet the steel and dangle a long handle handbag that I still had with me and manage to gently tap my wallet and it falls off the beam, misses another beam by about the width of a hair (if it landed on this beam and gotten stuck who knows, we would have probably had a security breach crisis on our hands considering that I was traveling through Washington D.C..)

So at this time my wallet completes it's swan dive, falls about sixty feet to the concrete floor below. It opens upon impact of course and the contents fly about thirty feet in all directions. Now my personnel belongings are spread all over the airport floor, travelers walking about and I'm upstairs. Nice!

So I jump back to my luggage bag and repeat my death grip approach, hop onto the escalator, this time allowing enough room to clear the handrail, okay learned at least one lesson) and I quickly walk down the moving escalator and drag my luggage down each stair. Ker-clunk....ker-clunk...ker-clunk...ker-clunk...ker-clunk... with each stair. I don't care, I've already embarrassed myself beyond any comparison so why not make it a show stopper at this point! I make my way to the bottom, scurry around like a squirrel gathering all my contents. Stand up, smile and take a bow to all the onlookers!

Lesson learned, pack light, and when you're at the airport remember you're on your own and never ever carry your wallet in your hand!

Signed: The Ever More Savvy Traveler Kimberly

Keith has no idea...at least at the beginning...

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:21:28 GMT

This is funny! A little background about this video. Keith and his bud Jason visit Chicago on a Thursday evening in summer. After a dinner of sushi and a few "beverages" at a favorite local tavern this is what develops. Listen how Jason narrates Keith's signature "walk" after "a few"... (too funny!)

Funny Cat Trick

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:24:14 GMT

This is Jinxy. She loves treats, especially "greenies". Have you ever seen a cat do this? Really funny, she pulls on your arm with all her might just to get the treat...

John Dillinger (look alike) Chicago - Biograph Theatere

Thu, 29 May 2008 12:34:26 GMT

Filming continues for the new movie Public Enemies. Last night we were able to capture a few images of the filming near the Biograph. This is a scene where a character (still not sure if this is Dillinger, need to see the final film) gets shot and falls to the ground. There is also a woman to his right that appears to get shot as well.

Getting photographs of this filming is extremely difficult. They have all access areas barricaded. We managed to get this shot out of a window of an adjacent building. Check back, we hope to post more images and video over the next few days.

Johnny Depp - Chicago Movie Set for 2009 Release of "Public Enemies"

Sun, 25 May 2008 16:01:44 GMT

Universal Studio's is in Chicago now setting up and building sets for a 2009 movie "Public Enemies" staring Johnny Depp . The Plot: The Feds try to take down notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd during a booming crime wave in the 1930s.

This scene that you're about to view is taken from the intersection of Lincoln, Fullerton in Lincoln Park Chicago. About 2 miles north of downtown. It's taken a couple of weeks but now Lincoln avenue has been transformed back to the era of the 30's. Keep in mind that almost everything that you see in this video is fake. All of the storefronts were transformed into old time businesses. Complete building facades were recreated. It really is amazing what they have done! Take a look...

New Print - Burgess Falls Tennessee

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:58:00 GMT

It's complete! Announcing our latest print release, Burgess Falls. We visited these falls when the water levels were at record lows. Because of this we were able to capture much of the rock and moss that is normally covered by water. A very unique photo opportunity for this area of Tennessee! We were also in luck as the clouds remained overcast with just a hint of sunlight hitting the rocks. The results are amazing!! This version, a low resolution web version of the image just doesn't do it justice. The original print size is a 24x30, captured on medium format positive film (Provia).

If you're ever in Chicago this artwork is now on display at Toro Sushi, 2546 N Clark Street.

Toro Sushi, Mitch the master chef at work...

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:30:01 GMT

Do you like sushi? Then when you're in Chicago you must make a visit to Toro Sushi, North Clark Street. Mitch is a master sushi chef! Voted one of the top restaurants in Chicago it's a must visit!! Tell him that Kim & Steve sent you :)

2546 N. Clark St. Chicago IL

http://www.torosushi.biz

Watch Mitch at work

GIVE BLOOD

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:05:48 GMT

Give blood!

I'm so happy! Today I did something really special for human-kind. I donated blood! My friend, who is a blood drive volunteer has been asking me for years to donate and I kept puting it off. Well today that all changed! What a great feeling to know that you're saving lives by donating. You know, if every healthy person donated one pint of blood every year there would never be a shortage!

So here's my funny little list of the top ten reasons to lift your sleeve and donate...

10.    You get to lie down and relax in the middle of a hectic work day
9.         You can meet new friends by waiting for your turn to donate
8.         You get to see your blood in a bag, you wouldn't’t think this is kewl but it really is
7.         You learn what blood type that you are
6.         You get a free iron level analysis
5.         You get a free blood pressure check
4.         All the free ice cold orange juice that you can drink
3.          All the chocolate chip cookies and oreos that you want to eat
2.     You get to use it as an excuse for the day to "take it easy"

1. and the number one (and real) reason to donate blood…you actually help save three lives!

So right now, while you're thinking of it click on the link below and sign up for an appointment with the Red Cross and be a blood donor :) http://www.redcross.org/donate/give/

~Kimberly

Waterfall in Tennessee

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:58:18 GMT

We're back from Tennessee and sending you a short video from Burgess Falls. It's about an hour outside of Nashville. If you're ever in that area and have a chance to visit you should. The hike is short but slightly strenuous and could be a little intimidating if you're afraid of heights. All around, well worth the trek!