Through the KeyholeOCTOBER 2026Take a break from your day...Not your typical company OR newsletter |
"This quite possibly is the cleanest city that exists. You can literally eat off of the streets. Home to a very violent conflict in the early 90s, you would never know it today. The water is stunning. The people are so very friendly and believe it or not, some of the best Italian food is made here." Can you guess the location? |
 |
 |
 |
Hello October...October in Chicago is a month of transformation. The city's familiar skyline remains the same, but everything around it begins to change. The long, sun-soaked days of summer give way to crisp mornings, cool evenings, and a landscape painted in shades of gold, amber, crimson, and rust. The people of Chicago seem to embrace this transition with a special appreciation. After months of summer festivals, lakefront walks, and bustling outdoor patios, October invites a slower pace. Neighbors linger a little longer over a hot cup of coffee. Families gather at pumpkin patches and harvest festivals. Couples stroll beneath canopies of colorful leaves in the city's parks, while runners and cyclists enjoy the refreshing autumn air along the lakefront. The climate itself tells a story of change. Cool winds drift off Lake Michigan, carrying the unmistakable scent of fall. The afternoons can still offer moments of warmth, while the evenings remind everyone that winter is patiently waiting beyond the horizon. It is a season balanced perfectly between what has been and what is yet to come. There is something deeply comforting about the changing seasons in Chicago. Autumn teaches us that change does not have to be feared; it can be beautiful. The falling leaves are not an ending but part of a natural cycle, making way for renewal and growth. Each colorful tree becomes a reminder that transformation can be both graceful and inspiring. October encourages people to pause and appreciate the simple things: the crunch of leaves beneath their feet, the glow of a harvest moon, the aroma of apple cider and cinnamon, and the sight of a city wrapped in autumn colors. In a world that often moves too quickly, this season offers a chance to slow down, reflect, and find joy in nature's quiet masterpiece. For many Chicagoans, October is more than just another month on the calendar. It is a celebration of change, a tribute to resilience, and a reminder that some of life's most beautiful moments arrive during the transitions. As the city prepares for winter, October stands as a brief but magnificent chapter, showcasing Chicago at its most colorful, welcoming, and serene. |
 |
 |
 |
One of the Midwest's best-kept October secrets is that the trees don't change color simply because it's colder. In fact, the most brilliant autumn displays often happen after warm, sunny days and cool, crisp nights. These conditions help leaves produce the vibrant reds, oranges, and golds that make October so unforgettable. For many Midwesterners, October is nature's grand finale. The harvest fields glow beneath golden sunsets, migratory birds begin their long journeys south, and entire landscapes seem to transform almost overnight. It is a reminder that some of the most beautiful changes happen quietly, one day at a time. October is a time for football, crisp weather and toasty nights around the backyard firepit. Oh and if you are lucky enough to have a pool, it's time to close it, look at it and long for spring to return. Enjoy it... |
 |
 |
Hat's off to this guy...Case Keenum has been in the NFL since 2012. Until Monday night, his two kids had never seen him play a game. Not one. Not ever. Here is what he said before kickoff. "It means everything. It's incredible because we always say 'Keenum's can do hard things.' So we'll do some hard things tonight. And hopefully I can show them tonight how it's done." He is 38 years old. He was the third quarterback on the Chicago Bears depth chart. Caleb Williams was ruled out. Backup Tyson Bagent went into concussion protocol. So the job fell to the guy nobody expected to take another snap in his life. It had been 1,009 days since Case Keenum started a regular season NFL game. The last one was Christmas Eve of 2023 with the Houston Texans. His son Kyler was born in November of 2019. His daughter Cadence was born in April of 2021. Which means Case Keenum has been an NFL quarterback for every single day that either of his children has been alive, and neither one of them had ever seen him play a game. Cadence was two years old the last time he started one. He arrived at Soldier Field carrying what looked like a paper sack, dressed like a man on his way to a parent teacher conference. The internet had a wonderful time with it. Somebody said his wife must have packed him a lunch. That wife is Kimberly. The family calls her the logistical ninja, because she is the one who has packed and unpacked their whole life through the Houston Texans, the Rams, the Minnesota Vikings, the Denver Broncos, Washington, the Cleveland Browns, the Buffalo Bills, Houston again, and now the Chicago Bears. This is also the man who threw for 19,217 yards at Houston, which is still the most in the history of college football, and then went undrafted. Then the game started. 24 of 34. 247 yards. Two touchdowns. No interceptions. Not sacked one time. Eight yards to Luther Burden III in the first quarter. Forty one yards to Kalif Raymond in the third. Then in the fourth he kept it himself and walked it in from a yard out. Three touchdowns from a third string quarterback. Chicago Bears 27, Philadelphia Eagles 7. When it ended he walked off hyping up the crowd in the north end zone, and the whole stadium stood up for him. And then came the part nobody could have written. Keenum went out to do his postgame interview on the SportsCenter set. His daughter came with him. Five years old, out on that stage next to her dad, waving at a stadium full of Chicago Bears fans who were still standing there cheering for him. Fourteen years of practice squads and backup jobs and new cities and moving trucks. He said it himself when he signed here. More than knowing how to get hit, he knows how to get back up. The first NFL game his kids ever got to watch, their dad won it, and he scored three times doing it. Keenums can do hard things. And kids and adults everywhere arre admiring him. They should and I do... |
Guess the Location Game
Last month the winner of the guess the location game was Jack Johnson who guessed the right answer. I appreciate all of the participation. THANKS FOR PLAYING! |
 |
"This waterfall is actually bigger than Niagra Falls. In this Gem State, this tribal cascade is a twin and the Californians are flocking there for the natural beauty and a new beginning (leave your politics in CA). The french fries are fresh too. You don't have the guess the name of the waterfall...just the state will do." “Gem State” is Idaho’s nickname. The waterfall is Shoshone Falls (near Twin Falls), often called the “Niagara of the West.” It is taller than Niagara Falls (about 212 ft vs. Niagara’s ~167 ft) and is associated with the Shoshone people (“tribal cascade” + “twin”). Idaho has seen notable in-migration from California, and the state is famously known for its potatoes (and thus fresh french fries). In the 1940s, Idaho fish and game officials parachuted beavers into remote wilderness areas.Yes, really. Faced with overpopulated beavers damaging property in settled areas and the need to restock distant habitat, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game loaded live beavers into surplus World War II parachute boxes (designed to cushion the landing) and dropped them from planes into rugged backcountry. The program, sometimes called “beaver bombing” or Operation Beaver Drop, successfully relocated dozens of the animals with surprisingly high survival rates. It’s one of the more creative (and literal) wildlife management stories in American history—and a reminder that Idaho’s wild character has long inspired unconventional solutions. Idaho’s beauty is next-level. Think jagged Sawtooth peaks rising over crystal alpine lakes, Hells Canyon (deeper than the Grand Canyon), Shoshone Falls taller than Niagara, black lava fields at Craters of the Moon, huge wild rivers, hot springs, and endless forests and lakes—all with way fewer crowds than most Western spots. People keep moving here for exactly that. California is still the top source of newcomers (thousands swap licenses every year), followed by Washington and Oregon. They’re trading high costs, traffic, and crowded cities for more space, cheaper living, easy outdoor access, and a chill pace. Growth has cooled a bit from the pandemic boom but is still strong, especially around Boise and up north. Lots of folks are just looking for a fresh start surrounded by real nature. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
A little history ~ 90 seconds |
Trevi Fountain gets a facelift |
Dreamliner simulates NIGHT |
The Wizard of OZ...explained. |
 |
THE REAL MEANING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ, WHAT THEY HID FROM YOU (OZ = Ounces of Gold. The Yellow Brick Road = The Gold Standard.) They told us it was a children’s story. It was actually a warning about bankers, courts, corporations, and the legal fiction system. Here’s the truth: THE STRAW MAN Not a real man, a legal creation. He receives a certificate instead of a brain… just like we receive a Birth Certificate that creates the ALL-CAPS legal PERSON. THE TIN MAN (TIN = Taxpayer Identification Number) A soulless machine that works until it freezes and collapses. The symbol of the worker who becomes “rusted out” by nonstop taxation and labour. THE COWARDLY LION Loud roar, no courage. Just like politicians, judges and officials with titles but no true authority. THE WIZARD Smoke, fire, and a giant hologram head… but behind the curtain is just a scared little man. A perfect metaphor for modern government: Illusion of authority Backed by fear No real power once the curtain is pulled back THE WICKED WITCH (BAR & Policy Enforcers) Controls the flying monkeys, the police. Intimidation, threats, fear. She melts when exposed to truth and lawful jurisdiction. THE POPPY FIELD Dorothy collapses — drugged. The others don’t — because they’re not real humans. A warning about Rockefeller medicine and mass sedation. TOTO (Truth, Totality) Toto = “in toto” = “the whole truth.” Small, unnoticed, but fearless. Toto pulls the curtain and exposes the illusion. That’s why the Witch wanted him — not Dorothy. Truth is the biggest threat to the system. THE VEIL IS FALLING The Wizard of Oz wasn’t fantasy. It was a coded message: • The banking system is an illusion • Corporate government is a façade • Courts are theatres • The ALL-CAPS NAME is not you • The real power was always yours |
Short film. World's Fairs... |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Ingredients For the Cake 2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons vanilla extract For the Cream Cheese Frosting 8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon.
- In a large bowl, beat sugars, oil, eggs, pumpkin puree, and vanilla until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely.
Make the Frosting- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- Spread over the cooled cake.
|
 |
All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
210 S. Milwaukee Ave. Wheeling, IL 60090 USA |
|
