My friend Elie Gardner wrote a really nice blog post today about a man in her neighborhood. Elie is a one of the talented photojournalists that I work with at the P-D. Her blogs always contain pretty pictures! : )
Flowers For Steve
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Why I Love KDHX Community Radio...
FM 88.1 KDHX is a fun little independent, community radio station that's been on the air here in St. Louis for around 20 years. The station is staffed almost totally by volunteer DJs who have their own blocks of time each day to play their chosen format of music. A co-worker here at the P-D does a family-oriented music show every Saturday morning, for instance. I've always been a casual listener but a couple of months ago I started tuning in more frequently. I hear music on their shows that I wouldn't hear anywhere else or that wouldn't get played on corporate commercialized radio.
Case in point: I was listening to Cat Pick's "Emotional Rescue" Monday morning drive-time show this past Monday. She played the song "Transatlantic" by a Polish pop/rock group called Silver Rocket. I had never even heard of them or any of their work. She had only heard of them via their MySpace page. I really loved the song and did some research on the band. Their CD "Tesla" is not in any record store but is only available for digital download. I downloaded the CD from Amazon .com for $5.99.
By the way, "Tesla" is, as you might imagine, a reference to the 19th century inventor/genius Nikolay Tesla. The CD is a concept album based on his life. How cool is that?
Case in point: I was listening to Cat Pick's "Emotional Rescue" Monday morning drive-time show this past Monday. She played the song "Transatlantic" by a Polish pop/rock group called Silver Rocket. I had never even heard of them or any of their work. She had only heard of them via their MySpace page. I really loved the song and did some research on the band. Their CD "Tesla" is not in any record store but is only available for digital download. I downloaded the CD from Amazon .com for $5.99.
By the way, "Tesla" is, as you might imagine, a reference to the 19th century inventor/genius Nikolay Tesla. The CD is a concept album based on his life. How cool is that?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday Night Stream Of Consciousness...
- halloween jokes are great. - why do demons hang out with ghouls? read all the way to the end for the answer!
- really strong cold front has been blowing in today. So strong I could almost taste it. Really strong winds have been prevalent as a result. Looked out my patio door at dusk tonight and saw Elvira Gulch pedaling through the sky on her bicycle.
- all campaign literature received in my mailbox goes straight into the recycling cart in the garage, got that?
- waited way too long to take a vacation week. really needed this one. kept a couple of appointments, did some cleaning, visited with an old friend, but what I am happiest about are the afternoons Chili-dog and I spent on long walks. and the playtime I had with Lydia Joy on Wednesday.
- had to up the ol' thermostat a couple of degrees to 72..was a bit too cool for my comfort.
- word of the day is apicoectomy. That's what your tooth needs when the root canal doesn't take and infection rears up again. it's my reality coming up on Tuesday. ugh.
- those poor, poor Colorado Buffaloes. They had to be the team to play Mizzou after they lost 2 in a row. 58-0 means you had a successful homecoming game.
- Phillies vs. Rays. not interested in the least.
- because demons are a ghoul's best friend.
- really strong cold front has been blowing in today. So strong I could almost taste it. Really strong winds have been prevalent as a result. Looked out my patio door at dusk tonight and saw Elvira Gulch pedaling through the sky on her bicycle.
- all campaign literature received in my mailbox goes straight into the recycling cart in the garage, got that?
- waited way too long to take a vacation week. really needed this one. kept a couple of appointments, did some cleaning, visited with an old friend, but what I am happiest about are the afternoons Chili-dog and I spent on long walks. and the playtime I had with Lydia Joy on Wednesday.
- had to up the ol' thermostat a couple of degrees to 72..was a bit too cool for my comfort.
- word of the day is apicoectomy. That's what your tooth needs when the root canal doesn't take and infection rears up again. it's my reality coming up on Tuesday. ugh.
- those poor, poor Colorado Buffaloes. They had to be the team to play Mizzou after they lost 2 in a row. 58-0 means you had a successful homecoming game.
- Phillies vs. Rays. not interested in the least.
- because demons are a ghoul's best friend.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
A-Walkin' We Went...
Chili-dog and I took advantage of a perfect Fall afternoon to explore some trails down south. I packed up the car and we headed down to Ste. Genevieve County. We lunched at Hawn State Park, then drove a little further over to Pickle Springs Natural Area, and finished with a short trek at Hickory Canyons Natural Area.
Pickle Springs has a WOW! factor for scenery of 10+, folks. I've been meaning to check it out for a a while but never took the time to drive down. Hickory Canyon's main attractions are its magnificent box canyons which appear almost out of nowhere.
I knew I picked the right place to hike today when, about 3/4 of the way down the trail at Pickle Springs, I happened upon Post-Dispatch travel writer extraordinaire Tom Uhlenbrock and his wife. When it comes to interesting places, Tom has been there, seen that. He highly recommended one of the long trails at Hawn State Park. I'll have to get back there soon.
Pictures are here at my Flickr page.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The Call To Serve...
I sat for an hour today with my old friend David Westmoreland today at a St. Louis BreadCo and caught up with him. It had been a while since we'd visited at any length.
David responded to God's call to serve with Campus Crusade For Christ about 7 years ago. He currently serves with their Great Commission Global Prayer Movement in Orlando, FL. If you'd like to know more, David would love to share with you. E-mail him at david.westmoreland@uscm.org .
David responded to God's call to serve with Campus Crusade For Christ about 7 years ago. He currently serves with their Great Commission Global Prayer Movement in Orlando, FL. If you'd like to know more, David would love to share with you. E-mail him at david.westmoreland@uscm.org .
So That's Where They Went...
...was cleaning in my office room just now. This little hamper just sits unused in the corner taking up space and I thought I would check to see if anything was in there.
This is what I found:
This is what was inside: 
2 sweatshirts, 2 pair of swim trunks, 1 long-sleeved t-shirt, 1 henley-style shirt, 1 sweater, and 1 pair of brown socks. I remember looking for those clothes last year and not finding them. Guess they weren't that important to me. I don't remember stuffing them inside that hamper, that's for sure.
This is what I found:
This is what was inside: 
2 sweatshirts, 2 pair of swim trunks, 1 long-sleeved t-shirt, 1 henley-style shirt, 1 sweater, and 1 pair of brown socks. I remember looking for those clothes last year and not finding them. Guess they weren't that important to me. I don't remember stuffing them inside that hamper, that's for sure.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Dog Goes To Day Camp...
I'm going to leave Chili-dog at my local Kennelwood's Doggie Day Camp tomorrow. This will be her first time there, so my fingers are crossed. It costs $20/day but the first time is free so you aren't on the hook if your dog doesn't play well with others. Chili doesn't get much doggie-to-doggie time and I am hopeful this will be a good experience for her.
*****EDIT***** - Thursday evening
The experience wasn't the greatest for her, according to the "counselor" in charge of the dogs. "kind of stressful," "freaked out" were terms used in her little report card. She was moved away from the pack of dogs and did one-on-ones with the "counselor." I expected something like this might happen...she may need to be gradually worked into this.
*****EDIT***** - Thursday evening
The experience wasn't the greatest for her, according to the "counselor" in charge of the dogs. "kind of stressful," "freaked out" were terms used in her little report card. She was moved away from the pack of dogs and did one-on-ones with the "counselor." I expected something like this might happen...she may need to be gradually worked into this.
Don't Write Anything You Wouldn't Want Your Mother To Read...
in talking to my mom tonight, I found out she finally found this little blog. For no reason in particular, I never informed her of the address. I thought she knew since my dad happened upon it some time ago. Guess not. Sorry, Mom!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Bringing The Heat...
Time for my first-ever blog poll! I turned on my heat for the first time this fall yesterday. I'm going to try keeping it set at 70 degrees for a while. Where do you set your thermostat?
Sunday Night Stream Of Conscsiousness...
- so after 4 years of owning a bike, I finally invested in a good cyclometer. I will now know my average speed and total mileage for each trip. why wasn't this important to me before?
- mizzou football = disappointing. The 'Horns schooled them but good last night on national TV. all that national championship and heisman talk was foolish, to begin with. you don't ascend that high, that fast after so many years of bad-ness. Reality=they're the sixth best team in the Big 12. How bad do you want it, guys?
- Who was that team that stomped the Cowboys today? That QB that filled in for Romo couldn't have been any more immobile if he was the Statue of Liberty.
- I think Chili enjoyed her her first-ever trip to Kirkwood Park yesterday morning. She surely was interested in the ducks that inhabit Walker Lake. Sans leash, she would have taken a swim to meet them.
- random freaky fact: the husband and wife who managed the Ponderosa Steakhouse I worked at in high school live down the street and around the corner from me. Discovered that when their dog ran out in the street to meet Chili-dog during our walk tonight. The man was, um, frustrated at his dog and yelled at it and kicked it in the ribs to get it back across the street. He obviously didn't remember me and I didn't feel like making a scene so we just walked on.
- knew that a video of the two St. Louis fire trucks colliding would be YouTube-d at some point...sure enough here it is.
- sure am enjoying the new Ray LaMontagne CD...the voice, the voice.
- mizzou football = disappointing. The 'Horns schooled them but good last night on national TV. all that national championship and heisman talk was foolish, to begin with. you don't ascend that high, that fast after so many years of bad-ness. Reality=they're the sixth best team in the Big 12. How bad do you want it, guys?
- Who was that team that stomped the Cowboys today? That QB that filled in for Romo couldn't have been any more immobile if he was the Statue of Liberty.
- I think Chili enjoyed her her first-ever trip to Kirkwood Park yesterday morning. She surely was interested in the ducks that inhabit Walker Lake. Sans leash, she would have taken a swim to meet them.
- random freaky fact: the husband and wife who managed the Ponderosa Steakhouse I worked at in high school live down the street and around the corner from me. Discovered that when their dog ran out in the street to meet Chili-dog during our walk tonight. The man was, um, frustrated at his dog and yelled at it and kicked it in the ribs to get it back across the street. He obviously didn't remember me and I didn't feel like making a scene so we just walked on.
- knew that a video of the two St. Louis fire trucks colliding would be YouTube-d at some point...sure enough here it is.
- sure am enjoying the new Ray LaMontagne CD...the voice, the voice.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Come, Thou Fount Of Every Piano Man...
I'm at worship rehearsal at church, at the moment. The piano player and the worship leader just did an extended riff of "Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" set to the tune of Billy Joel's "The Piano Man." It actually works if you situate the words just so...
If You Like Piña Coladas...
...and getting caught in the rain...
Don't like the former but I experienced the latter last night. Was walking Chili during a break in the rain showers. I was optimistic that we'd stay dry but alas, the wind picked up and the rains resumed while we were the farthest away from my house. Both doggie and owner got drenched. Chili didn't seemed to mind; she looked up at me as if to say, "oh, well!" and shook off the water. So glad I had clean towels in the basement.
Don't like the former but I experienced the latter last night. Was walking Chili during a break in the rain showers. I was optimistic that we'd stay dry but alas, the wind picked up and the rains resumed while we were the farthest away from my house. Both doggie and owner got drenched. Chili didn't seemed to mind; she looked up at me as if to say, "oh, well!" and shook off the water. So glad I had clean towels in the basement.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Note To Self...
no grapes before dinner...unless you just want said dinner to be interrupted to go write a letter to your congressman*...
*expression courtesy of Brooke from Four Of Clubbs
*expression courtesy of Brooke from Four Of Clubbs
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Sunday Night Stream Of Consciousness...
- another gorgeous Fall weekend has come and gone. a little warm, but as Roy Ayers said, everybody loves the sunshine!
- spent a good portion of yesterday chiseling concrete with a hand-held air hammer. so glad I went to college...that's real man's work, though.
- Happy Birthday wishes go out to my dear dad; he had a very good birthday today. Birthday lunch of steak and potatoes with all the family gathered 'round the table. mom, me and Chili-dog, bro, sis-in-law, and adorable Lydia in her high chair. He got to spend the afternoon with the grand-baby and grand-dog. I think he was pleased. Chili-dog didn't get the chance to get up close with Lydia. They observed each other from a safe distance.
- Too bad for ol' Mizzou - I think Coach P. got out-coached by Coach G. It hurts now but they'll be better off for it in the long run. I wouldn't look forward to playing the 'Horns next week.
- My dad has mad carpentry skills...the cabinets he built to create a basement wet bar are outta sight! the maple wood for the cabinet drawers came from a tree in my yard that I had to have cut down last summer. remember: reclaimreuserecycle.
- spent a good portion of yesterday chiseling concrete with a hand-held air hammer. so glad I went to college...that's real man's work, though.
- Happy Birthday wishes go out to my dear dad; he had a very good birthday today. Birthday lunch of steak and potatoes with all the family gathered 'round the table. mom, me and Chili-dog, bro, sis-in-law, and adorable Lydia in her high chair. He got to spend the afternoon with the grand-baby and grand-dog. I think he was pleased. Chili-dog didn't get the chance to get up close with Lydia. They observed each other from a safe distance.
- Too bad for ol' Mizzou - I think Coach P. got out-coached by Coach G. It hurts now but they'll be better off for it in the long run. I wouldn't look forward to playing the 'Horns next week.
- My dad has mad carpentry skills...the cabinets he built to create a basement wet bar are outta sight! the maple wood for the cabinet drawers came from a tree in my yard that I had to have cut down last summer. remember: reclaimreuserecycle.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
ALERT: Random Fredbird Sighting!...
Friday morning...I pulled up behind a car in traffic at the intersection of Tucker and Market on my way to work. Into my field of vision came none other than.....FREDBIRD!!The beloved Cardinals mascot was tooling along in a red golf cart, westbound on Market Street. Same old dopey grin on his face (er...beak?)...he waved to everyone as he passed by.
Friday, October 10, 2008
I'm Undecided???...
While I was out walking Chili-dog tonight I got a call on my home phone from Angela Hunter. She was calling from an Arkansas area code on behalf of the Barack Obama for President campaign. Her message stated that she had me marked as an undecided voter and would I please consider voting for Barack Obama for President if I haven't made up my mind yet? She left the phone number of the St. Louis Obama office for my convenience.
How did this person determine that I'm an undecided voter? I've never participated in any political polling and have discussed my political preferences with exactly NO ONE.
Her phone number is on my caller ID and I have half a mind to call her back tomorrow to find out.
How did this person determine that I'm an undecided voter? I've never participated in any political polling and have discussed my political preferences with exactly NO ONE.
Her phone number is on my caller ID and I have half a mind to call her back tomorrow to find out.
Gnats!...
swarms of them. Black Gnats. Egyptian Plague Black Gnats. made my bike ride on Grant's Trail yesterday oh-so-not pleasant. Totally ruined the good vibes emitted by the late-afternoon sunshine and pleasantly mild air.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
An Idea For The St. Louis Rams...
HARARE, ZIMBABWE (Reuters) - A Zimbabwean soccer player drowned in a crocodile-infested river during a ritual to cleanse his team of bad spirits before a match, a state newspaper said on Tuesday.
(I'm only kidding, folks...when a team is 0-4, desperation kinda sets in!)
(I'm only kidding, folks...when a team is 0-4, desperation kinda sets in!)
Monday, October 06, 2008
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Sunday Night Stream Of Consciousness...
- fantastic fall weekend here in the midwest. sunny days and oh-so-just-right temperatures....lovelovelove it.
- Chili-dog and I had a dog-gone good time at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge yesterday. She met lots of other dogs and got lots of lovin' from people. Wish I'd remembered to wear sunscreen, or at least a hat! Thank you God for Aloe Vera gel. Pictures are here.
- Happiness is warm peanut butter cookies, a glass of milk, and a winning MU football team on the tube. Thanks, Mom! (Chili-dog and I watched the game in Festus on the folks' big-screen TV.)
- great to see Mizzou blow up Nebraska but it would have been so much sweeter if the 'Huskers were actually a good team, as in years past. Tigers - shore up that pass defense and get ready for the Cowboys next week!
- A Disney animated movie actually won the box office wars this weekend. Yeah.
- No, I haven't watched the debates and don't plan to watch any future ones. I also don't understand all the fuss about the economy, either. That's why I couldn't do a business major in college, couldn't grasp the concepts of economics. Just keep it from crashing, boys, OK? BUT SERIOUSLY, the P-D's Dave Nicklaus wrote a very informative column for today's paper about what the problem is and why it happened. Check it out here.
- Won't say the recent rounds of layoffs at work didn't make people nervous, but it seems everyone's looking over their shoulder lately.
- I recently discovered a band from Seattle called Fleet Foxes. Recently, as in, like, last Thursday. Their debut record sounds like a collaboration between the Beach Boys and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. It's stuck in my car's CD player at the moment.
- Chili-dog and I had a dog-gone good time at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge yesterday. She met lots of other dogs and got lots of lovin' from people. Wish I'd remembered to wear sunscreen, or at least a hat! Thank you God for Aloe Vera gel. Pictures are here.
- Happiness is warm peanut butter cookies, a glass of milk, and a winning MU football team on the tube. Thanks, Mom! (Chili-dog and I watched the game in Festus on the folks' big-screen TV.)
- great to see Mizzou blow up Nebraska but it would have been so much sweeter if the 'Huskers were actually a good team, as in years past. Tigers - shore up that pass defense and get ready for the Cowboys next week!
- A Disney animated movie actually won the box office wars this weekend. Yeah.
- No, I haven't watched the debates and don't plan to watch any future ones. I also don't understand all the fuss about the economy, either. That's why I couldn't do a business major in college, couldn't grasp the concepts of economics. Just keep it from crashing, boys, OK? BUT SERIOUSLY, the P-D's Dave Nicklaus wrote a very informative column for today's paper about what the problem is and why it happened. Check it out here.
- Won't say the recent rounds of layoffs at work didn't make people nervous, but it seems everyone's looking over their shoulder lately.
- I recently discovered a band from Seattle called Fleet Foxes. Recently, as in, like, last Thursday. Their debut record sounds like a collaboration between the Beach Boys and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. It's stuck in my car's CD player at the moment.
Jaydogg's First V-Blog...
Home-grown video we used in our church service today to introduce a new sermon series in 1 Corinthians called "Core Strengths." Dunno who the man behind the shades is but rumor has it he's a distant cousin of a certain blogging friend of mine...
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Everyone Loves A Dumb Criminal Story, Right?...
Man Arrested After Fireworks Ignite In Car
CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (AP) - A Central Falls man faces criminal charges after the cigarette he was smoking inside a car apparently ignited fireworks. Police arrested a 28-year-old man on Sunday after an officer found a black 1997 Infinity smoking in the middle of the street.
Firefighters were called to the scene to extinguish the blaze. No one was injured.
The man told police he was smoking a cigarette inside the Infinity when fireworks near his feet ignited. Witnesses told police they saw a passenger in the Infinity tossing fireworks from the vehicle shortly before police arrived.
The man was charged with the use or possession of fireworks under $500.
---
Information from: The Times, http://www.pawtuckettimes.com
My comment - there are easier ways to have a hot rod!
CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (AP) - A Central Falls man faces criminal charges after the cigarette he was smoking inside a car apparently ignited fireworks. Police arrested a 28-year-old man on Sunday after an officer found a black 1997 Infinity smoking in the middle of the street.
Firefighters were called to the scene to extinguish the blaze. No one was injured.
The man told police he was smoking a cigarette inside the Infinity when fireworks near his feet ignited. Witnesses told police they saw a passenger in the Infinity tossing fireworks from the vehicle shortly before police arrived.
The man was charged with the use or possession of fireworks under $500.
---
Information from: The Times, http://www.pawtuckettimes.com
My comment - there are easier ways to have a hot rod!
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