RSS QC-Times Blogs
QCTimes.com Blogs (short for "weblogs") are written by Quad-City Times staff and selected members of the Quad-Cities Community. The writing is not supervised by an editor, and readers are free to converse directly with the author (and other readers) in the comments below each post. If you have an idea for a blog and are interested in becoming a community blogger, please contact our online news staff. If you already have your own blog and wish to join our blogroll, click here.
RSS Staff Bloggers
Quad-City Times staff members tackle the issues that fuel their passion.
RSS Cat Tales
Jan Touney, Deb Brasier, Rachel Lemieux and James T. Gale write about those funny felines that chose to live in our abodes.
RSS On The Campaign Trail
Quad-City Times political reporter Ed Tibbetts discusses the news of the day as it pertains to politics.
RSS Q-C Dancing With The Stars
Kay Luna straps on her jivin' shoes and hits the floor as she prepares for Q-C Dancing With The Stars.
RSS To The Dogs
Stephanie De Pasquale barks about what life is like being a mom to a rambunctious puppy and a shy 2-year-old dog.
RSS Live, From Chicago
Quad-City Times education reporter Sheena Dooley live-blogs from the National Education Writers Association conference in Chicago.
RSS The Hole Story
Sports writer Craig DeVrieze takes a swing at the exhilarating and aggravating game of golf, covering topics ranging from pro tours to youngsters, from the state of his own sorry game to that of the transcendent Tiger Woods and all manner of golf in between.
RSS Idol Chatter
American Idol fan David Heitz muses on the show as the season progress and viewers vote off the unworthy.
RSS Race Trax
Quad-City Times sports copy editor Nate Bloomquist discusses motorsports from the Quad-Cities and beyond.
RSS HealthBeat
Deirdre Cox Baker, health reporter for the Quad-City Times, blogs on all things related to developing and keeping a healthy lifestyle.
RSS The Workin' Mom
Quad-City Times features reporter Kay Luna is a new mommy (again) with an infant daughter and a teenage son. Kay writes about juggling life at home and in the office.
RSSFirst Vote
First Vote is a civic journalism project of the Quad-City Times featuring the work of Quad-City area college and high school students covering the presidential campaign from the perspective of first-time voters.
RSS Community Bloggers
Bloggers from the Quad-City community share their thoughts with readers of www.qctimes.com.
RSS Dwyer And Michaels
Radio personalities Dwyer and Michaels share their thoughts on life, liberty and the pursuit of dorkosity, and encourage you to share with them what is on your mind.
RSS Historian On The Move
Dr. Art Pitz offers informed commentary on issues that are in the news, both locally and around the world, from a historian's point of view.
RSS Elesha Writes
Iowa state representative Elesha Gayman, House Dist. 84, writes about being a freshman representative, life at the Capitol, and issues that concern Iowans. She welcomes your participation.
RSS Rainy Day Kids
Rock Island High School junior Amy Booker dishes on all things life, ROTC and boys playing with Barbies.
RSS Legislative Update
A Republican legislator's first-term perspective in the Iowa House from House Dist. 82, Bettendorf.
RSS Jim Fisher
Talk-radio personality Jim Fisher invites you to engage him on the issues that concern you.
RSS Think Outside The Car
Quad-Citians explore avenues of transportation around the area without climbing behind the wheel.
RSS Quad-Cities River Bandits
JD Stambaugh, Mike Folli and Andrew Brown write about life on the road playing for the Quad-Cities River Bandits.
RSS Weekend Musings
Quad-Citian Carmen Darland shares her lighter take on life's journey.
Recent Blogs
mmm…mmm…warmth
May 16th, 2008 by Daya Snapp
The ride home from work was wonderful. The air had a wonderful warmth about it. I decided I couldn’t take the quickest route home so I rode the trail a bit before shooting back towards home. I hope all you bikers get a good ride in tonight. See you all next week.
Posted in Think Outside The Car | No Comments »
Off the bike but still outside the car
May 16th, 2008 by Dan McNeil
No bike or work today. Instead I enjoyed a leisurely morning that included a family walk to KMart. With big plans for the lawn and garden this weekend, we wanted to price mulch and tomato cages. KMart is less then a half mile from our home so we put our son Leo in his stroller and headed up. We live two blocks from Avenue of the Cities and we often walk to KMart, Hy-Vee, and the Great Indian Restaraunt. Leo likes Lamb Vindaloo.
Posted in Think Outside The Car | No Comments »
No lesson today
May 16th, 2008 by Kay Luna
I’ve got some stories to write, and other things going on that have been making me late to pick up the baby a couple times this week (ugh!!! I hate picking her up late. I always feel like such a deadbeat) …
Meanwhile, my dance teacher is still figuring out how to put a lift — eeeek!!! — and a couple of other moves into my routine where there’s a boring part now.
So, we both decided to forget about the lesson today, and instead resume our dance workout schedule on Monday. Works for me.
Posted in Q-C Dancing With The Stars | 1 Comment »
Separation anxiety already?
May 16th, 2008 by Melissa Coulter
The most difficult thing about riding my bike to work is not being able to go out and ride it right now! It’s gorgeous out there. But I am busy today at work, so I can’t even take it for a spin to a lunch spot. I just ate in a meeting in Tim’s office. And now I have to finish my column while my bicycle basks in the sunshine, taunting me. It’s a good motivation to work faster, I guess.
In the words of Harry Nilsson, “I want to ride my bicycle. I want to ride my bike!”
Posted in Think Outside The Car | 1 Comment »
Mama’s off her rocker
May 16th, 2008 by Kay Luna
Did you read the ever-popular, 25-year-old childbirth “bible” when you were pregnant — the “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” book? I sure did, both times (and the first time was way back in 1992).
This last time, I remember thinking the book was a little outdated. Well, apparently, it’s not anymore.
Just look at the new cover of the revised edition. She’s standing up, wearing jeans, showing off her belly. She’s literally “off her rocker!” The old version (first written in 1984) showed a tired mom sitting in a rocking chair, and if I remember right, she was wearing a robe or something — looking a little fragile. That certainly doesn’t fit me as a mom (and a working one, at that), does it you?
Posted in The Workin' Mom | 1 Comment »
And the tally is…
May 16th, 2008 by Ellen Madden
As I ride back and forth over Government Bridge each day I wonder how many others are doing the same. While our numbers may not be significantly large, there does seem to be a steady flow as I always see at least one person ahead of me at different times throughout the day. When I paused to take a photo of the sunset, I was able to turn quickly enough to catch this cyclist that had rolled by me. Two more crossed the bridge before I had my camera tucked and was again on my way. It is terrific to see you all out there and I hope others will be encouraged that they too can give bicycling or other alternative forms of transportation a try.
Posted in Think Outside The Car | No Comments »
Normal
May 16th, 2008 by Daya Snapp
Getting up in the morning and getting my stuff ready for my morning bike ride is becoming just normal routine. I don’t really even think about whether I should take my car or not. I am really enjoying riding everyday.
Posted in Think Outside The Car | No Comments »
Every Week Is Bike To Work Week
May 16th, 2008 by Jeff Cozad
I would like to say that I have been impressed with the number of people that I have seen commuting on bikes this week. Great Job! While the formal Bike To Work Week is now winding down, I would like to encourage everyone that has started commuting by bicycle, foot, or mass transit to continue. I would remind everyone while Bike To Work Week is a great event to increase emphasis on cycling as transportation, every week is Bike To Work Week. Every time someone sees you on a bike, it helps get this message out there. Sunshine and Tailwinds!
Posted in Think Outside The Car | 1 Comment »
Melissa-come-lately
May 16th, 2008 by Melissa Coulter
Well, it took until Friday for all the stars to align. I finally biked to work today. The process of getting my bike and all its accoutrements took a little longer than I planned, but I’m up and running - or should I say pedaling? - now.
I bought a bike from my neighbor that had been sitting unused in her garage for a few years. She never rode it. Even came with a lock. That was delivered into my possession Wednesday evening, but I didn’t have time to get the pancake tires aired up or purchase a helmet until last night.
Posted in Think Outside The Car | 2 Comments »
Hitch my wagon to a what?
May 15th, 2008 by Ellen Madden
Something I have noted a lack of are bike racks. Daya (shout out to a fellow blogger!) and I stopped in downtown Rock Island last evening for a bite of supper before heading to the Ride of Silence. With no rack in site we began evaluating nearby immovable objects.
All the trunks were too large for my chain. Parking related signs near the curb were out as this would create an obstacle for people parked along said curb. We finally settled on a short pipe sticking out of the sidewalk near the building. As we confer now on what this might have been and settle on some sort of gas line, I wonder at the possibly less than brilliant action of chaining anything to it.
Posted in Think Outside The Car | 2 Comments »
