Grandpa Joe

Museum of Science and Industry

2011-09-10T11:04:00.000-07:00

After a long hiatus, I'm finally traveling again with my buddy Slavik.
Today we went to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

They had lots of cool new exhibits; about half of them were interactive. It was a really nice mix of antiques of the past, to tools of the present, and ideas of the future.

There were about three exhibits that you could interact with via your shadow. In this one, for example, digital butterflies fluttered around, and if you held still they sat on your shadow. Afterwards you can waft them away.

There was also an exhibit where you could see chicks waddle around.
They were really cute and playful, walking up close to the glass.

Unfortunately, a few of them didn't make it...

...just kidding, they're just freshly hatched
and don't have the strength to walk yet.

There was an old cobblestone street, it was like a block from decades past.
They even had an authentic old movie theater that played films from that era.

We got to see the cabin of an old train, which was powered by coal fed into a furnace. There was an amazing collection of trains there, from models to the real thing.

1... 2... 3... Pull!

The race is on (Joe Borczyk is winning).

They also had some full sized coaches. It felt like the wild west.

Here is a moving reproduction of a retro parade.

Dear Santa...

Hung on the ceiling there were many full-sized airplanes. The 727 Jumbo was mounted in a way where you could go in and see the inside.

I was surprised that Joe was able to name some of them just by looking.
He identified the German Sutka dive bomber.

Which got me thinking, Joe's so into WWII stuff,
that we should find a war museum. Maybe even a possible road trip?

"Can you hear me now?"

Throughout the Museum there were many rooms of mirrors.
Some were like a fun-house, other were mazes of reflection.

Damn Smokey, save me some!

The museum also had an amazing collection of space exploration artifacts.
Everything from full sized space suits...

...to real and model space craft, probes, robots, and rockets.

In one of the rooms there was an awesome rotating earth.

There was a movie presentation to go along with it too.
It showed earth's weather, lighting, plant life, and other details.

And now, it's time to go digital...

...good thing Joe Borczyk IS the Matrix !!!

Cool presentation of liquid separation by different boiling points.
Optimus Prime narrated.

There was even a section of plasticized human remains.
The two ones that stuck out were the exploded view,
and circulatory system displays.

Another interactive exhibit, where rolling on a color produces
a thermal image on the screen.

We had a lot of fun, it took us the entire day to cover the whole museum,
but we succeeded! Stay tuned for where we will travel next!

Fall is here...

2009-10-20T01:49:00.000-07:00

...but it ain't stopping us !!!

We explored some local side streets,
and stumbled upon a really cool trail through the woods!

The trail ends with a beautiful view of a lake !!!

Planetarium

2009-08-10T23:27:00.000-07:00

Today we got to go to the Planetarium !!!

The weather was perfect, and the day couldn't have went smoother.
There were so many cool exhibits to see, and movies to watch.

Joe visits Mars.

Aerial photo of Chicago.

Next to the Sun (good the the AC was on) !!!

Genuine restored re-entry pod.

Watching a 3D movie !!!

After lunch we went outside for a bit.
The weather was perfect, we enjoyed walking along the lake.

We checked out a few more exhibits after we got back in.

The student comes to learn...

...and the teacher to... brainwash with propaganda.
Good thing Joe wasn't buying it, lol.

We also got to play dress up !!!

Joe wasn't buying that either.
(I think it was the beard)

Eploring the Shedd Aquarium deeper

2009-07-28T14:33:00.001-07:00

On Monday, we decided to see the Shedd Aquarium again.
Max and Michelle, Slavik's brother and sister, came with.

We had an awesome time, there was so much to see!
They had opened up many new exhibits, and this time
we got the total passes, so we got to see them all.

Here's their main new exhibit, totally re-done.
It looks like a real forest, the detail is amazing!

The only thing was... it was SUPER packed with people.
Who would have figured that on a Monday???
Think we're joking??? Here's the line...

...and it's just to the elevator!!! Not even an exhibit !!!

The layout of their bottom most floor was spectacular.
It looked liked a deep ocean, with glowing glaciers all around.

The belugas are back!!! (Delivered by FedEx)

We also saw a 4D movie. It was a first time for all of us.
Not only are you wearing 3D glasses, but things that happen
on the screen happen in real life, like water squirting,
bubbles, air blowing, seats vibrating, etc.

The scariest part was the demo in the beginning.
On the screen they showed a throng of rats,
as multiple jets blew air down by your feet.
It LITERALLY felt like rats were crawling on you!!!

They also have a really cool cafe where we had lunch.
The outdoor patio is so beautiful !!!!

To the one side you have the lake...

...and the skyline on the other.

All in all it was a great day. A bit crowded, so we would
recommend going on a Wednesday after summer is over.
There is also a brand new show opening soon,
FantaSea, it's supposedly unlike anything else ever made
(There's even a dog that's part of the show).

Brookfield Zoo pt.2

2009-07-14T03:29:00.000-07:00

Slavik's brother Max was over,
the weather was beautiful,
the decision was made to visit Brookfield Zoo.

We were particularly excited about the Dinosaurs...

Some were REALLY HUGE !!!!!!

They also moved their arms, tails, and heads.
One was even spitting water, for some reason.

Even the mean ones came out to play!

Cute baby T-Rex.

Place your bets.

Moose !

We also visited the monkey house.

It was actually pretty packed, for a Monday.

Monkey Headquarters.

Guess what else was on display ???

Yup, a white-skinned Gorilla !!!

And then we also saw one zebra...

...and one buffalo.

All in all, it was a perfect day, and a relaxing walk
through dino-infested Brookfield Zoo.
The dinosaurs alone were worth the visit !!!
Also make sure to check out their gift shops, (^_^)
they currently have TONS of authentic semi-precious gemstones.

Museum of Contemporary Art

2009-06-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

We were Downtown for the second day in a row!
This time we met up with Slavik's friend Brian, and
checked out the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)

We weren't allowed to take pictures of the exhibits,
so were only able to squeeze a few in, secretly.

We do recommend visiting, the museum is small,
but there's a couple of cool exhibits, so it's worth it.
The artwork was really visual, a lot of lights,
colors, and large sculptures.

This is actually just a spotlight and mist,
in a room full of darkness.

We had a really good time!!!

Navy Pier

2009-06-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

We got a chance to visit Navy Pier today.

Arriving early, we first explored the pier, and watched
a lot of boats sail off in the water.

After exploring the pier, we went to the IMAX to see,
Underwater 3D, which was really cool.

Afterward we went to the indoor gardens.

Fountains shot water overhead.

Cirque Shanghai - "Bright Spirit"

2009-06-10T18:58:00.000-07:00

While we were at Navy Pier, we got to see the Cirque Shanghai.
We had really awesome seats, the second row from the stage!!!

The show was fabulous, we couldn't believe some of the stunts
they pulled off. Not only were their skills amazing, but
there was a great variety and complexity to them.

Slavik took a lot of pictures, they came out well, so we'll share 'em.
We do recommend seeing this show, it's a swell time!

First they started juggling the balls with their legs...

...then they spun balls inside metal frames...

...then balanced with all of the balls...

...then bounced the balls to the top to score a basket...

...and then even higher, wow !!!

She made it !!! These girls are experts with balls !!!

Bo-Doom-Chhhhh...

All throughout the show, there was a little girl prancing
around, not really doing much, and then at the end,
she showed off some amazing skills !

She was vaulted on top of the guy on his back,
and then he spun her around three times (like flips),

...and then she stood up on his legs !

Big applause; much deserved.

Slavik's new car

2009-06-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

After three years of not having one, Slavik finally got a car.
It's a 2009 Honda Fit sport, it fits (lol) everything so perfectly.
When we put the wheelchair in the trunk,
there's still the backseat open for passangers.
Yay, now we can get out more!

Kim's House

2009-06-03T19:29:00.001-07:00

We decided to go out to Oswego to visit Kim again.
Her house is so pretty, and the area is really lush & green!

She has a chicken shack, and gets her own fresh eggs.

We went inside the barn to look at the kitty cats.
There was one mommy, and 15 babies !!!

If anyone wants a cute little kitty like this, please let us know!
Kim's trying to find a home for them.

The horses were also out and about...

...as well as "the hounds."

Who let the dogs out? Who? Who? Who? Who?
Who let the dogs out? Who? Who? Who? Who?

Her "tiny" backyard.

To top off the night, Kimmy served some home made dinner.
It was really delicious! We had a great time.

Cheers!

Summer Breeze

2009-06-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

Lately we've been having some wonderful weather.
I hope all of you are getting a chance to enjoy of it!!!

Over the weekend we went riding around,
and packed some bread to feed the local geese.

First, we went across the street to The Timbers pond,
and fed the family of geese there.
There were five adults and one baby.

Then a woman drove by to tell us that it's illegal,
and that we should stop. Okay mam.
So, we packed up all of the bread, and just watched.

Soon after another person started walking up to us, and we all
prepared for another wildlife feeding lecture, when he asked us,
"Hey, you guys want a bike?" Yup, that's right, he was about
to throw away a bike he never used, so we snatched it right up!

For a free bike, it's actually pretty nice. It's an old Schwinn, and
has no rust. It literally looks like he bought it 30 years ago, and
never rode it since then. Good find, we'll make use of it.

After we stashed the bike in the garage, we decided to skate over
by Moraine Valley College, right down the road.

They have a really nice pond there, as well as a nature path
that runs around the entire campus.

We saw some more geese, this time a ton of young ones.
Since we still had the bread on us, we threw the remainder
over so that they would come up close to us.

And close they came! We were surprised how close up they came!

Sometimes I guess you just HAVE to break the law to have fun.

The path is really nice and smooth for roller-chairing!!!

They also have some sculpture we got to see.

All in all it was a beautiful weekend.
We're lucky to live in an area where we could go out,
see some wonderful sites, and enjoy the summer.

Andrew's First Birthday !!!

2009-05-25T22:38:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went to my son Joe's house,
for a Luau to celebrate Andrew's first birthday.
We got really lucky, as the weather was nice and warm (until late).

I dressed as a shark, trapped in a barrier reef.

Everyone was relaxing!

Mommy Tiffany & Andrew.

Time to open gifts!

Here's the monkey painting I painted for Andrew.

Surrounded by a maze of toys.

Hey, this looks interesting.

Whoa! Interesting and SCARY !!!

Patiently awaiting cake...

Happy Birthday Andrew !!! Make a wish !!!

Shark vs. Cake

Shark wins.

Testimony: Story of John Paul II

2009-05-10T19:42:00.000-07:00

We were invited to see Testimony: The Untold Story of
Pope John Paul II by Stanley Stann, Kristin's dad.

Strolling the red carpet.

With Slavik.

With Chelsea.

Stan actually knew one of the members of the Order of Malta,
so we got to go in V.I.P, and munch on the orderves.

Kristin & Slavik

Mark (Kristin's brother) and Chelsea.

Stan, Kristin, and Tanya (sister).

A toast!

We said a prayer before the movie.

Scenes from the film.

We had a great time, and the film was really powerful.
It documented the Pope's journey throughout his life.

The next day, we found out that the Copernicus Center
had to deny 300 people seats, it was completely sold out.
They even had to call police; 300 people were starting
to get pretty rowdy about not being able to get in.

Happy Birthday Joe !!! (#2)

2009-04-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

This weekend a bunch of my family members came by
to visit me and hang out for my birthday.
I had a great time; it was lots of fun.
Thanks to everyone for coming, and all of the wonderful gifts.
You made my birthday really special !!!

Cecilia with baby Adehla, Mark, Amanda, & Orest

Rick, Me (Grandpa Joe), and Ceil

Digital Photo Frame

Rick was my personal helper the whole night!

Sweet puzzle globe and 3D elephant!

Fashion Show !!!!

I was getting snapped on from 3 different cameras,
Like a movie star attacked by paparazzi.

Jill made me this wonderful penguin,
I painted some for her, so she knitted one for me.

I'll put it on my shoulder, and cherish it forever.

Jeff, me, and Jenn

Cameron, me, and Jill

Jeff, me, and Ester

Jennifer and me

Representing with Jeff

Photoshopped Version (Click to Enlarge)

Baby Adehla is so cute! I could play with her for hours!

Amanda, Adehla & me, and Mark

Such cuties

Cynthia and me

Amanda with Adehla, and Cecilia

Adehla with Jill

Another Accident !!!

2009-04-22T06:18:00.001-07:00

Would you believe there was yet another accident
that happened right outside our condo today???

Well, this morning there was a 4-car pile up !!!

The culprits.

Why does stuff keep happening right outside our condo???

Soon the crossing of our driveway and 111th will be declared
the most dangerous intersection in Palos Hills.

Happy Birthday Joe !!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-04-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

4/20/2009
Joe's 82nd
Birthday !!!!!!!!!

The night before, my son Joey took me over to his house for dinner.
We had a great time with the family. Thanks so much for my gift!
War documentaries and beer are some of my favorite things!

On my birthday, Kristin, Slavik, and I went to the Rainforest Cafe.
It was my first time there, I've never been before.

View of the fish tank at our table.

View of the dolphins.

View of the gorillas.

Chowin' down.

Happy Birthday!!! A volcano? "What the heck?"

Clap, clap your hands, and make a wish.

A piece I wish, a piece I wish.

On a delicious mission.

Happy Birthday Joe! Wishing you a 100+ !!!

Time to go.

Hip-hop hurray, ho, hey, hooo...

Time to meet the alligator.

They're Getting Closer...

2009-04-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

Good Morning.
It's 2:30am on 4/18/2009
Someone's pounding on the door.
It's firemen, requesting an inspection.
There's a gas leak; apparently someone
crashed into the gas line outside.

View outside our kitchen window.

111th Street...

...and Heritage Pointe crossing.

Apparently it was a drunk female driver.
She hopped the curb, skidded through the grass,

hit a 10' tall pine tree. She not only uprooted it, but also

cracked a portion off, and sent it flying onto the driveway.

(the tree was then pulled onto the grass by firemen)

She also managed to rupture the gas line, causing a leak,

as well as take out our Heritage Pointe sign.

At 3:15am there was a knock on the door,
"I hope you weren't sleeping, I'm here to turn on your gas,"
Some dude says.
"Nah, why would I want to sleep at 3:15am?"

A while back (in our blog) I remember Cindy mention,
"Just as long as they're not crashing INTO the condo."

Well, they're getting closer.

New Paintings

2009-04-21T11:37:00.000-07:00

Hello there.
I finished these paintings a while ago,
but we're having a hard time finding
12x16 canvas frames, so we decided
to share them with everyone.

Hope you like them !!!

Monkeys for Andrew...

Penguins for Jill...

The next painting will be a self-portrait, I'm starting it
as soon as I feel better (I'm a little bit sick).

More Paintings

2009-04-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody !!!

I've been busy painting lately.
Mother Spring doesn't want to come out and play,
so I stayed inside playing.

These two paintings were done for Henry and Adehla
(my great grandkids).

When the family saw them, they went wild,
and want me to paint 4 more !!!

The next paintings will be a Monkey for Andrew, a Penguin for Jill,
a self-portrait for Jeff, and I'll think of something for Jennifer.

I also know my daughter Ceil want me to paint a floral.
Slavik's even hoping to squeeze himself in, he's got a cool idea.

Well that's about all, I'm so commissioned out !!!
Onto the new paintings...

Polish Museum

2009-03-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

Hi there!
This weekend we visited the Polish Museum in Chicago.
We really enjoyed our stay, they had lots of cool stuff.
Also, a lot of war stuff, so I was in heaven.
It's a pretty small museum, but they have plenty of nice artifacts.

Dress from different regions.

Church made completely of foil.

They had a couple of these really huge paintings.

Chillin' with Pope John Paul II and Lech Walensa.

Religious artifacts.

Beautifully decorated and carved wooden eggs.

They also had a lot of cultural dolls.

Really big and fascinating stained glass.

I love checking out war stuff !!!

At the end of our stay, we visited the gift shop, and found a really cool DVD.
"The rape of Europa" is about what happened to a lot of artwork during
Hitler's raids in WWII. We watched the movie, it was really good!
It paints an interesting history of artwork during those times.
What amazed us is what people did to hide and transport the art,
as well as search and recover.

All in all, it was a small but really nice place.
We recommend this museum to anyone interested in some quick looks at Poland's history, as well as Polish-American history.

Shedd Aquarium

2009-02-10T16:31:00.000-08:00

Slavik and I went to the Shedd Aquarium today.
The weather was really nice,
so we spent a little time downtown afterward.
My favorite fish were the piranhas and swordfish.
We took a lot of great pictures, click them for full view.
I really liked seeing all of the fish.
There were so many different types and sizes.
There was also a diver feeding session we got to see.

Check, check it 'yo !!!!

That thing's HUGE !

Diver feeding the fish.

Nice foreheads.

Little Nemo & Creepy Eel.

Master of Disguise.

Best Friends !!!
(these two literally sat there motionless next to each other)

Rock lobster.

Alien Lobster.

These were Slavik's absolute favorite. Sea Dragons.

There were also plenty of creepy lizards...

...and turtles...

...and frogs.

Colorful Jellies !!!

---------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Represent !!!

My new house ???

Livin' on the Edge.

And remember, in case of Emergency, call Joe Borczyk!

Another Finished Masterpiece

2009-02-09T10:45:00.001-08:00

I'm finally finished with my painting.
It only took me five total days to finish.
It's a "modern" painting, no references.
Let me know what you think, pretty good huh?

Notice how I signed it. I combined the J and B, into a sort of a "logo."

Slavik framed and hung both masterpieces.

Keep a lookout for more to come really soon.
I've been commissioned by my daughter Cecilia
to do two more paintings.
They are a surprise, so I won't say much about it, until I finish them.
(They are gifts).

Interview Part Two

2009-02-09T10:32:00.000-08:00

We have finished another interview, as "part two" to the first.
This time it is a lot longer (21 min), so there will be no write up.
Also, the file being so large, will be impossible to email.
*Please read below how you can hear this interview.

In this interview session, Joe talks about what he remembers
about his wife, as well as family members and events.

Interview part three should be interesting please note:

In interview three Joe will be taking all of your questions.
Please send me anything you would like to ask Joe,
and I will tell him who asked it
or it can remain anonymous; please specify preference).
He will do his best to answer every question, any subject matter.

Have anything you want to ask Joe?
Please email Moose_Works@Comcast.net

*After we have finished the interview,
all three session will be put on a cd,
and sent out to anyone who would like to get a copy.

Thanks!

DEFIANCE (review/interview)

2009-02-05T16:04:00.000-08:00

Joe and me saw the movie Defiance yesterday; it was really good. Also, it reminded Joe a lot about his experiences in World War II. The movie, which is a true story, is about Mr. Bielski. He rescued a lot of Jews during the time when they were being taken to concentration camps. Bielski and the others took refuge inside a forest, and managed to avoid the Germans for two years! It's really amazing how they were able to survive through two Winters!

Similarly, Joe managed to escape from a German labor camp, and took refuge in a forest. He managed to maintain sanity, and survived until the American troops came and rescued him.
So, to share his story, I did an interview with Joe, so that he could share his story with everyone. The interview is transcribed below, and is also available as an audio recorded file. If you are interested in listening to the audio file, please send your request to Moose_Works@comcast.net.

Anyone intersted in getting a little taste of what Joe experienced should really go and see this movie. Although it deals with a lot of hard issues, ultimately it's a positive movie, underlining generosity to others.

Huge thanks to ROB for photoshopping this for us !!!!!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Slavik: Hello, this is session one of the interview with Joe Borczyk. We’re going to be talking about how his experiences in WWII relate to the movie we saw yesterday Defiance. First of all, say hello Joe Borczyk.

Joe: Yes.

S: And, can you say your name please?

J: Joe Borczyk

S: Okay, Joe Borczyk. And, do you remember your experiences in world war two?

J: Yeah, a little bit.

S: Now, I wanna talk specifically about your experiences about getting taken to a German camp. Do you remember getting taken to the German camp?

J: Yeah.

S: And, ummm, how did it happen? Did they come to your village and take you away, or how did they end up catching you?

J: Well I was in, it was the frontlines. I was a…

S: Oh, you were a soldier?

J: No, I was civilian.

S: Oh, you were a civilian?

J: Yeah. I was evacuated from the camp to the mountains.

S: So you were a civilian, and then the German army came and took you to the camp. What kind of camp was it? Was it like a concentration camp? Or was it a labor camp? What kind of camp was it?

J: Labor camp.

S: And what kind of labor did they make you do at the camp?

J: That was in a szlobian place, szlobian place.

S: What kind of work did you do?

J: I worked in a factory.

S: Producing what? What did you make in the factory?

J: We worked on making a huge turbine for water, for the marines.

S: So they basically made you work to help the German army?

J: Yeah.

S: And how long were you at the camp? How long were you there?

J: Three years.

S: You were there three whole years? (wow)

J: Yeah.

S: And then, um, when did you decide to escape?

J: In ’45 American troops came in, and then I was liberated.

S: But, but before that, you were saying that you escaped the camp, and you were living in the forest. Is that right?

J: Yeah.

S: And then how did you manage to escape and live in the forest? How did you manage to escape from them?

J: I just walked off, that’s all.

S: Oh, you just walked out the factory?

J: No, I was evacuated, because the front was coming, the American troops came.

S: So they evacuated you, and then you escaped when they evacuated you?

J: Yeah, then I escaped from them, during the evacuation, and then went in the forest to live a week, two weeks, and then the American troops came.

S: And did you have any friends at the camp you were at with? Friends or family?

J: Oh, no, no, no. I had a friend, who was with me, and they left me, and I left.

S: And when you were living in the forest, were you afraid that you were going to get caught?

J: Oh, yeah.

S: Were there German troops, do you think, looking for you?

J: No, no. I stayed there until the American troops came.

S: Did you know that the American troops were coming?

J: Yeah, yeah.

S: But you didn’t know how much time it would take did you?

J: It was the front lines, you know, the American came and I was free then, you know.

S: And when you were living in the forest (I want to ask you specifically about the forest, because the movie we saw yesterday, Defiance, it kinda showed a picture of how people had to survive in the forest, so I just wanted to ask you a few more questions just about the forest part of it) what kind of food do you eat when you were in the forest for two weeks? What kind of food did you eat?

J: Well, this one week I would go and steal potatoes from the farm.

S: You were stealing potatoes from the farmers, were you afraid of getting caught?

J: No. When you’re hungry, you just don’t care, you know?

S: Yeah. And, um, what time of the year was it? Was it like Spring, or Winter? When was this when you were living in the forest?

J: It was in April.

S: Okay, so it was early Spring huh?

J: Yeah, early Spring.

S: And when you were living in the forest, did you build some kind of shelter? Some kind of hiding [place]? How did you live?

J: You know, I would build a, I would take a log, a wooden log, and build a… Because I knew the Americans were coming. They were shooting rockets.

S: The Americans were shooting rockets at the Germans?

J: Yeah, and then the Germans left, and I was liberated.

S: So when you were living in the forest, you basically built a house out of sticks to live in?

J: No, it was just like a, like a…

S: A tent?

J: Like a…

S: Like a teepee? Like an Indian teepee?

J: Yeah, a teepee.

S: Oh, okay. And when you were living in the forest, were you living alone, or were there other people that also escaped?

J: Yeah, there were three guys and me.

S: Three guys and you, so four guys total?

J: Mmmmhhhhhmmmm.

S: Did you guys any weapons with you, anything for protection?

J: No, no.

S: No weapons huh?

J: No weapons.

S: When you found out that the Americans were coming, were you worried that they might mistake you for a German soldier, and try to kill you?

J: No, I was not afraid.

S: When the American troops came, did they go in the forest to find you, or did you come out of hiding when they came?

J: I came out. I came out and walked to a different community, and then they established a camp.

S: So then what happened after everyone got liberated? What happened afterwards, did you want to return to Poland? Or then did you come to the states? What happened?

J: No, no. Then I joined their established Polish group.

S: So they established a Polish group, and they were willing to take all of you guys to America then?

J: Yeah, that during the American time there was artillery.

S: So basically they wanted you to serve, so then they took you to America?

J: I was doing duty in the camp (multiple).

S: And then as far as the movie yesterday, do you remember the movie that we saw, of the guy liberating the Jews, and they had to live in the forest for two years, did you like the movie?

J: Yeah, I liked it.

S: Do you think it was pretty realistic in its depiction? Because it was based on a true story.

J: That was, it was overdone.

S: A little overdone, huh?

J: Yeah.

S: *laughing* Okay, I think that’s it… One final question is did you want to, uh, why did you make the decision to leave with the American soldiers instead of staying in Poland at the time?

J: It was in Germany.

S: Oh, that was in Germany?

J: Yeah, that was the occupation by American soldiers.

S: But why did you decide to go to America instead of going back to Poland?

J: I guess… I had family in the United States, and I wanted to come here.

S: Because you had more family in the United States than you did Poland?

J: Yeah. Well, at that time, I was fourteen years old, and I wanted to come to America to see my family. In Philadelphia… one in Minnesota, relatives.

S: Okay, well great! Thank you so much Joe. This concludes our interview. I really enjoyed talking with you about your experiences in world war two. I’m sure your family will really like [this].

J: Mmmmmhhhhmmmmm.

S: Do you want to add anything else? Any final words?

J: This is the final word… Thank you… yeah.

S: Okay, thank you so much Joe.

New Masterpiece Begun !!!

2009-02-02T02:29:00.000-08:00

Here is the new painting I started on Friday.
I've made a lot of progress, in only a few days.
This time I didn't use any references! All from inside my head!
Slavik says it looks like Saddam Hussein, hahahahaha.

Sketching helps a lot!

Starting to fill it in with colors.

More paint, more sketching.

Proud.

This is how I fill in hard to reach places.

What do you think? Preeeety good huh?
All of the colors are laid out, only details left to finish...

Hopefully this one will be finished by the end of the week!

"No More Chreeeestmas?"

2009-02-02T02:14:00.000-08:00

Slavik took down all of the Christmas decor, and did some cleaning to welcome an early spring.
So I asked him, "no more Chreeeeeeestmas?"
Kinda sad, so asked him to put the fiber optic tree in my room as a night-light.

Here's a few memories of this year's joyful Christmas season.

I'm looking at a family photo to remember all of you, who is who.
There's so many of you guys!

Autographing the cards.

See? I wasn't kidding...

Wrapping presents! Sneaky shaking...

Detachable finger magic trick. Supermodel pose.

EXTREME WHEELCHAIRING !!!

2008-11-04T09:08:00.000-08:00

Kristin and Slavik strap on their skates,
and take me around town.
Sure beats walking!
Everyone else, waves, and smiles.
I can tell they're jealous.

"Figure Skater" pose

Krissy, taking me by the pond.

Slavik rides on two wheels!

Grabsome!

WheelChair Wheelies !!!

Slavik = Crazy

P.S. During winter I'm having Slavik put on
Ice Skates, and pull me on a Sled !!!!
bwahahahahahhaha.

Millenium Mary

2008-11-04T09:02:00.000-08:00

Last week I noticed something in our kitchen window.
It was the head of Mary, towering over the church
across the street. I showed Slavik, he couldn't believe it.
At first he was scared, fearing Mary-zilla, but soon
gave in, and we went to see her up close and personal.

The statue is amazing !!! Unfortunately, the artist died,
ironically a day after he revealed and celebrated the piece.
As luck would have it, his wife was at the statue when we were
there, so we were able to grieve with her a bit, and offer
words of encouragement. The statue is truly magnificent.

Kristin and Slavik's Costumes

2008-11-04T08:54:00.000-08:00

These two are quite a pair !!!
Just wanted to show you guys their costumes,
I seen pics, and they were both cool and scary!

Slavik made the mask he's wearing out of a
cereal box, inspired by Rob !
Kristin sewed his cloak, and Rob made his
M.F. Doom pendant, blang blang.

His name, is Doom, they wonder just who is he,
but don't worr-rry, believe me he'll get busy,
when it comes to, poetry he's got plenty, la la la.
La la la la la la.

Slavik as M.F. Doom !!!

Kristyn Manstann

Party like it's DOOMSDAY !!! (Terrorist Rob in backdrop)

Kristin and Slavik

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!

2008-11-04T08:46:00.000-08:00

We went to Michael's (for the 50th time this month)
and picked up a fake pumpkin and designer paper.
Slavik's friend Rob came over, and they got to work.
They made 7 huge oragami flowers, and added stems.
Slavik then carved out the face of the pumpkin.
Finally, Rob airbrushed the pumpkin, and put in
L.E.D's inside of it to light it up.
Collaborative Art is where it's at!

This was Kristin's mom's birthday gift from them.
It looks really nice, so I wanted to show all of you!

PAINTING COMPLETE !!!

2008-10-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

Yay, it took me a bit to finish, but here it is!
Not working makes me lazy.
Pretty good huh?
Now we have to frame it,
and you guys have to fight for it.
Hope you like!
Everyone that visits LOVES it.

Still working on a title.

Almost finished...

FINISHED and SIGNED !!!

P.S. I have a brand new canvas ready to go.
What shall I paint next ???

Palos Hills Piggies

2008-10-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

We had to break away from watching the
"End of the World" special on History.
Right across the street there was a huge accident.
Slavik and me watched the aftermath from the balcony.
There were about 3 firetrucks, 3 ambulances, 6 cops, and 2 tow trucks.
Hope the people were okay, two were taken away on stretchers.

Then, about 15 minutes after everything was all cleaned up...
Guy Dudebro gets pulled over right in front of our house.
Backup arrives, his car is searched, and he's arrested.
While the one cop took him to the station, the other awaited
the tow truck to confiscate the car.

Crazy Day! Like Cindy said... "as long as they're not running INTO the condo..."

Literally across the street!

Right outside our condo!

Kitchen Window.

Goodbye!

AAAHHHHHH... The Flu Shot

2008-10-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

The doctor stopped by today to "poke" us.
I jumped up ten feet in the air when the doctor poked me.
That's fine though, I've always wanted a skylight above.
Slavik seemed to take the pain better.

BROOKFIELD ZOO

2008-10-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

Since the weather has been so pleasant lately,
we decided to check out Brookfield Zoo.
Luckily, there weren't too many people there,
so we got to get close to all of the animals!
Usually the animals there are hard to see,
feeding, sleeping, and etc.
But... we just happened to have some awesome
luck, and almost all of the animals were
out and close.
Enjoy the pictures, we had a great time!

Sarah's B-Day PARTY

2008-10-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

These are the pictures we took at Sarah's party.
My son Joe transformed his garage into the ultimate rock shack,
and had a live band play at Sarah's party.
There must have been a hundred kids there
(at least it seemed like it).
Sarah sure has many friends!
We had a great time; the music was cool,
the cake was tasty, good times.

Kim's House

2008-09-30T10:19:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I got a chance to visit Kristin's (Slavik's girlfriend) sister's (Kim) house out in Oswego. Her house is really wide, it has a lot of space. Good thing too, since she has six kids !!! Her house looks like a farmhouse, with barn and all. Out back she has a whole lot of grass and even a pond. I got to see horses (she has two) and chiks in her coupe. The horses got really close, it was neat.

[Left to Right] Kristin, Charlie Horse, Baby Riley,
Kimmy, Promise, and Yours truly.

Her two horses.

Chillin' with Dos Caballos.

She also had two huge golden retrievers as "outside" dogs, and one tiny cutie (promise) as the "inside" dog. I had a lot of fun petting them, they would not let me stop. Whenever I would stop petting them, they would put their paw up on my lap, and demand more attention, hehehehe.

Attacked by two huge golden retrievers.

Promise, the little cutie pie!

Jenn, Ted, and cutie Watson!

2008-09-30T10:13:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks back my Granddaughter Jennifer (Jenn) and her boyfriend Ted stopped over. They also brought their cute dog Watson along for the journey. We had a great time, catching up, chatting, and watching t.v. on the couch. Thanks so much for visiting! Hope to see you soon.

2008-09-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

Here's a post of my artwork.
So far, I painted a picture and crosses,
and did a little bit of clay!

The first thing I wanted to paint was a rooster.
Then I added a barn in the background.
I've got plenty of good references to work from,
including so great pictures I found on Mark's site! [thanks]

This is just the start; I hope to continue my current works,
as well as do plenty more. It's nice to be inspired again.
Look out for more work coming soon.

As always, enjoy...

2008-09-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

One rainy day we decided to go to the Field Museum.
I haven't been there in such a long time!
It happened to be a Target 'free day', so that was nice
as we got to see every exhibit (including specials) for free!

I really enjoyed the Egyptian and Native American culture arts.
And of course, the animals were really special too.

Enjoy the pictures, I had a great time!

2008-09-24T19:33:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone,
I decided to post some progress on my sketches.
Slavik and me set up a few objects,
including a monkey, clock, rabbit, and goat, for me to draw.

I used a charcoal pencil for the outline,
and oil pastels for the colors.
So far so good, I'm really happy with my progress.
My favorite is the fat goat, on the furthest right!

Hope you enjoy...