Bloglines Notifier...

This little blog is beginning to pick up a bit more traffic lately, so I want to let my readers know about Bloglines Notifier. It's an unobtrusive piece of software that resides in your Windows system tray and notifies you when your favorite blogs are updated. Thus, you would avoid needlessly clicking over here to see if I've updated. Simply download and install the software for free, then type in the names of each blog you read and et voila! I have about 11 blogs that I read regularly so this little program is a real time-saver.

Worth A Read...

Couple of good columns in today's newspaper. Bill McClellan laments the decline and fall of the Pulitzer family culture at the Post-Dispatch. Meanwhile, sports columnist Dan O'Neill weighs in with a great commentary on the decline and fall of Roger Clemens.

A Suite Experience...

I had a great time at the Cardinals game tonight. The Cardinals had a great time at the game too, winning 7-2 over the at-least-for-tonight hapless Cincinnati Reds. Joel Piñeiro held the Reds in check for 7 scoreless innings. Ron Villone and Anthony Reyes finished up, with Reyes ruining the shutout by tossing one errant pitch that landed over the center field wall. The Reds started off poorly with a Keystone Kops-style base running play that killed the momentum they were building. Troy Glaus notched a Little League home run, circling the bases after a Reds outfielder misplayed his double. I think he's still running as I write this.

The suite experience was nice. I consumed a hot dog and 2 plates of nachos, a soft pretzel, and some Blue Bunny Screamer ice cream. Free food does, in fact, taste better. Especially when the home team is winning.

I posted some pictures here.

Oh, and during the game I worried a bit about having to walk back to my car afterwards. I parked in a lot 5 blocks away from the stadium and even if I stayed with the crowd, well, you just never know. Well, as I'm walking away from the stadium, who do I find in front of me but one of the pastors from my church, his wife, and another couple whom I know! They were parked in the same lot as me so we all walked together in safety. Thanks, God!

SUITE!...

Sunday Night Stream Of Consciousness...

-- I really enjoy sleeping late on Saturday mornings; by late I mean 8-8:30 a.m.-ish. The usual routine is: take dog out to do her business, come back to do spiritual business (morning devotional: My Utmost For His Highest, Updated Edition - I highly recommend it), throw on some clothes and take dog for walk if weather is good, return and have breakfast, and then on with the day.

-- Did some shopping yesterday. Really need some new work shoes and non-work tennis shoes. Could not find anything that I liked. Made a late-afternoon trip to Crestwood Mall. (sorry, recently its name changed to Crestwood COURT since its new owners took over). The mall is in really sad shape these days. Almost a ghost town inside, a far cry from when my mom and brother and I would journey up there from Festus when I was a teenager. I did find a new pair of khaki Dockers to replace my current pair of khaki Dockers, which are an unknown number of years old and falling apart at the seams.

-- I'm so proud of myself. I have actually purchased a wedding gift more than a week in advance of the wedding. Wish I could get off work the day before the wedding, not looking forward to the solo drive to Wichita.

-- I'm proud of myself for another reason. I accomplished a household repair all by myself! The toilet in my half-bath was leaking water all over the place so one new water supply line plus one new fill valve equals no more leaky toilet. YAY!

-- Rented "Lars And The Real Girl" last night. It's a quirky little movie that you, too, should rent. Trust me on this one.

-- I am now the owner of a really nice La-Z-Boy side chair/recliner and 2 end-tables that had been in my Papaw's front room. My front room needed some more furniture so my mom brought them back with her yesterday. She was in Malden Friday and Saturday beginning the long process of cleaning out the house and preparing it for sale. Yes, it will be hard to say goodbye to that house. If I had the money, I'd buy it.

-- My mom and dad logged some Lydia-time at the Missouri Botanical Garden on Wednesday and they got in some Chili-time while they were at my house today.

-- My friend J was due to have her baby today but her husband G reports tonight that baby L is reluctant to come out so J will be induced later this week.

-- Got a bad case of love, people, my heart is filled with misery - so sings B.B. King. That song blew my mind when I was shopping at Eddie Bauer one day. I immediately iTunes'd it onto my iPod when I got home that day. Some people play air guitar or air drums; being a one-time keyboard player, I play air-organ on that song.

-- Employment at my company does have its occasional perks. I and my co-workers will be enjoying this Tuesday night's Cardinals baseball game from one of the Busch Stadium suites, courtesy of our advertising division. In addition, I was able to score 2 FREE TICKETS to an upcoming performance of Jersey Boys at the (Fabulous) Fox Theater. Enjoy the show, Mom and Dad!

-- was supposed to ride bikes with last Sunday's pack of riders but it was raining and 49 degrees at the pack leader's house this afternoon so he cancelled our ride. Amen, brother.

-- It's now after 11:00 so I really should do my body a favor and get to bed soon. I leave you with the end panel from a recent re-run of a Calvin and Hobbes comic. It really hit me hard, in light of recent events in my life. The context: Calvin has just found out the baby raccoon he rescued has died. His words :

"I'm crying because out there he's gone but he's not gone inside of me"

Whatchootalkinbout?

I almost never spend any time watching the BET cable network, but last Sunday I was surfing and happened upon a rerun (re-run?) of "Diff'rent Strokes." Oh, the nostalgia...

Feel The Burn...

knocked out 15 miles on the bike today. Some friends from church and I met at Creve Coeur Lake to enjoy the Spring sunshine. We went west across the northern edge of the lake then turned northwest to parallel the Page Ave. extension and crossed over Missouri River, before turning around at the Katy Trail. I neglected to bring sunscreen so I may be feeling the "burn" tomorrow, hopefully not too bad. I had a great time and managed to keep up with the others pretty easily. Not too bad for my first long ride of the year. I did a short preliminary ride on Grant's Trail yesterday to make sure my bike was still in good shape.

I would like to teach Chili to run beside me as I ride; am I dreaming?

*EDIT* - no sunburn but lingering soreness... : )

They Found Him...

....that person that TV news always seems to find when covering a natural disaster. By the way, Chili and slept through the earthquake but I did feel the aftershock this morning.

Another Year Older...

Now I am officially 34 years old. I am reminded as I am every birthday about the OB/GYN whose lunch hour was interrupted so I could be delivered safely. My arrival was early by about 6 weeks; I guess I just couldn't wait any longer.

Much has happened in the last year. It hardly seems possible that a year has gone by, actually. I still remember well what was happening this time last year. My unfortunate root canal, the Virginia Tech shootings, my birthday supper at Pietro's.

If I'd only known how much would be different a year later! I am a first-time uncle (love ya, Lydia Joy!). I am a first-time dog owner (love ya, Chili-dog!). I am now grandparent-less (love ya, Papaw and Clara!).

What will this birthday year bring?

Annoying...

It's annoying when a co-worker's unattended cell phone rings, but if their ringtone is REO Speedwagon, I guess it's not so bad.

Our Security Is Outsourced...

A few days ago, a company-wide e-mail was sent reminding all employees to wear their badges at all times while in the building. I didn't think anything about it but I really should have. Today another company-wide e-mail was sent announcing the outsourcing of our security guards to a local security company. I assume this means all our company-employed security guards will be out the door soon. This is why we should wear our badges because the new guards will not know who we are, as opposed to our familiar guards, whom we see every day and know who we are. I suppose some of our guards could still be around but they'll be working AT my company instead of FOR my company, likely at a lower salary and benefits level.

**SIGH** another harsh reality of corporate life in the modern economy...

And if you're wondering if this could happen to me, it could--but it absolutely won't, I am assured by my managers.

Best $5.99 I've Spent In A While...

10 Matlocks headed to Steak and Ale tonight for dinner and conversation. The steaks were really, really, good. What better way to top it off than with a slice of apple pie? My Uncle J. and I decided to indulge. This was the restaurant's version of apple pie:
a MINIATURE apple pie, served warm and a la mode.

Oh. My.

It was as good as it looks. The cost? $5.99 but I would've paid twice that.

Down South(west)...

I'm blogging tonight from Springfield, MO. My cousin S. got married here a few hours ago. All but one of the Matlock brothers and sisters came for the occasion. (Well, the sister had to be here since it was her son getting hitched!) It was a nice wedding and reception. We are getting together tonight for a dinner and "catch-up" session at local eatery somewhere close by.

It's been 13 years since I've been in Springfield. The last time was during a tour stop with the NEMO Singers of what was then Northeast Missouri State University. One thing I will take away from this trip: if you want to get anywhere in this town, you have to take Glenstone Ave. to get there, at some point.

Chili is once again being served by St. Louis Pet Sitters. Their last visits with her were, in their words, g-r-r-r-eat.

At Three Months...

My niece Lydia Joy turned 3 months old last Friday and was dedicated at her church on Sunday (along with 22(!) other babies and toddlers). She wore a white dress that was a gift from my dad.

She did make the trip down for her great-grandpa's funeral, but had to hang out in the church nursery. She met lots of family members for the first time!

My brother sent a bunch more pictures out on Wednesday - see them here.

Back Home...

I'm back in the saddle of the 'Lou tonight. It's way too early to write in-depth about what I experienced over the weekend. For now I'll just describe it as distinctly cathartic, if I'm defining that word appropriately. Lots of releasing happened; stress, tension, pain, and emotion were released in varying degrees.

Thanks to everyone who prayed.

P.S. - Thanks to St. Louis Pet Sitters for taking such good care of my doggie!

In Memory Of...

Bill and Clara. They married quietly on a Sunday afternoon in June, 2005--two widowers who needed someone with whom to continue the sunset of their lives. I was more than a little wary when they announced their decision to marry but I figured they were old enough to know what they were doing! Clara proved to be a sweet woman, different in many ways from my beloved Mamaw but still a wonderful partner for my Papaw.

Their earthly bodies died within forty-eight hours of each other this week. Clara passed away on Wednesday morning following unforeseen complications after surgery on March 27. Bill's struggle with cancer ended on Friday just after 8:00 a.m. His health had been in decline since last summer and his last months were spent at home in hospice care.

I was fortunate and blessed to have known them. Gone but never, ever forgotten.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his godly ones. (Psalm 116:15 NASB)

Indeed.

They've Gone Away...

The smile of your spirit
The glory of your soul
Aren't you so happy to be free
And flying in the air, so wonderful....

U-verse: Installed and Online...

I've been online with AT&T's U-verse internet TV and broadband service for a few days now and I'm very happy with it. If any of my readers have the chance to get it where they live, check it out! My installer was very professional and competent. It took about 4 hours to get everything wired and installed properly. The TV comes in through my existing co-axial cable so no new holes in the house! YAY! The picture seems brighter and clearer, somehow. I guess it's that digital signal coming in, huh? : ) I'm now using the co-axial cable that fed into my computer room but never got used. The broadband internet is as fast as promised as well.

I discovered a really cool feature the other night. I can browse my Flickr photos on my TV! Since my TV signal and broadband share the same connection, my TV and computer can interact. I switch to a certain channel, press a button on the remote, and in a few seconds, my pictures come up! This happens because my Flickr login is the same as my AT&T/Yahoo! login (Yahoo! owns Flickr and is partners with AT&T).

Now, being an incurable button-pusher, I have already managed to screw up a button or two on the remote, so I'll be calling tech support at some point.