Appetizer
Fill in the blanks: I drew a blank when I tried to answer this question .
Soup
Name something you use to make your home smell good.
Not a thing! If it's not the AC or the furnace it's not smellin' in my pad!
Salad
If you could receive a coupon in the mail for 50% off any product, what would you want it to be for?
A new car! : ) there's nothing wrong with my present wheels, but wouldn't it be fun??
Main Course
Besides sleeping, what do you spend the majority of the hours of your typical day doing?
working!
Dessert
What can you hear right now while answering these questions?
the air conditioner pushing air through the vents, the 'clicking' of computer mice in my office, the witty banter of my co-workers (OK it's not witty but they are bantering.)
Friday, July 21, 2006
I am a displaced storm victim...
...who has quite a bit more empathy for hurricane victims thanks to this week's storm. I got home last night and the temperature in my house was 85ºF. After I cleaned my yard of storm debris, I packed up and headed for my parents' house. It was very nice to be relaxing in their nice cool basement in a big easy chair, believe me! I earned my keep by working out some bugs in their laptop computer and was paid with a bowl of fresh strawberries and ice cream! : ) My brother and sis-in-law arrived later to sleep. They slipped in after we went to bed and were gone before we woke up. This was the first time I slept in my old room since I left in the year 2000. My mom is re-doing my old room so the wallpaper has been stripped and the furniture is askew but I slept well, so that's all that matters! If the power is still off tonight, I'll be there again.
It was a bit eerie driving into work this morning. The sky was cloudy and hazy and the air was still very humid. On the way up, I passed by convoys of National Guardsmen and power company workers from Alabama en route to the city to help with cleanup. My dad is a retired Guardsman so I gave them a wave as I passed.
It was a bit eerie driving into work this morning. The sky was cloudy and hazy and the air was still very humid. On the way up, I passed by convoys of National Guardsmen and power company workers from Alabama en route to the city to help with cleanup. My dad is a retired Guardsman so I gave them a wave as I passed.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Yes, I Survived...
...the nasty ball of hate that descended upon the St. Louis area from the northeast last night. An unusually mighty storm composed of wind, rain, thunder and copious lightning roared through around 7 pm last night. The usual chaos, mayhem, panic, and general disorder that one might expect with a storm like this is present in different parts of the metro area this morning. My electricity is off and likely will be for a good while as news reports say as many as 500,000 customers are also electricity-less. Miraculously, my trees survived the onslaught with only minor damage. I have a front and back yard full of limbs but that's about it. The city itself got hit extraordinarily hard, apparently. My brother and sis-in-law are without power in their little corner of the city. My employer, the Only Local Metropolitan Daily Newspaper In Town, did lose power and it affected today's edition to an extent.
Oh, and today's going to be the hottest day of the year!
Oh, and today's going to be the hottest day of the year!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Does he come with an extended warranty?...
Zinger of the day, courtesy of the P-D's Jeff Gordon, who writes an online sports blog for STLtoday.com:
(speaking of the newest Dallas Star, oft-concussioned hockey star Eric Lindros)
"When the Dallas Stars bought Eric Lindros for $1.5 million, did they purchase the service contract, too?"
(speaking of the newest Dallas Star, oft-concussioned hockey star Eric Lindros)
"When the Dallas Stars bought Eric Lindros for $1.5 million, did they purchase the service contract, too?"
Sunday, July 16, 2006
A Moment of Silence...
...for the man who developed the Blizzard and Full Meal Deal for Dairy Queen. Sam Temperato passed away on Friday at the age of 82. He was a Dairy Queen franchiser in the St. Louis area who introduced those products to the DQ menu in the mid-1980s. As one who has consumed many, many Blizzards and Full Meal Deals over the years, I say, "Thanks, Sam!"
Read his obituary feature here.
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In other news, my secret's out, accidentally, it seems. For no particular good reason, I never got around to telling my parents about this little blog. At lunch today I was beginning to describe my Cardinals experience from Friday night. As I did, my dad mentioned that he'd read about it in my blog! I was a little afraid of their reaction, but there was none to speak of. He said he'd found it accidentally. So, welcome to my mom and dad as new faithful readers!
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In still other news, the new Pottery Barn catalog is out and they are featuring this new bedding ensemble - I think it'd look great in my bedroom, what do my readers think?
Read his obituary feature here.
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In other news, my secret's out, accidentally, it seems. For no particular good reason, I never got around to telling my parents about this little blog. At lunch today I was beginning to describe my Cardinals experience from Friday night. As I did, my dad mentioned that he'd read about it in my blog! I was a little afraid of their reaction, but there was none to speak of. He said he'd found it accidentally. So, welcome to my mom and dad as new faithful readers!
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In still other news, the new Pottery Barn catalog is out and they are featuring this new bedding ensemble - I think it'd look great in my bedroom, what do my readers think?
Friday, July 14, 2006
Oh Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!!!...
WOW, what an experience I had tonight! The best-pitched game the Cardinals have had all season and it happens on the night of my first (and likely only) visit to the swankiest suite in the new stadium. I learned as I was walking to the stadium with some of our Marketing folks that this was the only time all season the P-D gets the All*Star suite, as we have our own, smaller suite for everyday use. Later, I learned that this was a special occasion as the P-D and the Cardinals thanked each other for and celebrated the success of the "Historical Ticket" promotion that just ended. Most of the people that came had something to do with the project, then after they were taken care of, people like me got the leftover suite passes. That was the neat part; executive and managerial types taking in a ballgame with a computer tech, security guards, and paperhandlers.
Did I mention the free food and drink? I had a big pile of taco-beef-and-cheese nachos, a big hot dog slathered with the leftover aforementioned beef and cheese, fresh strawberries and white grapes, and several chocolate chip brownies, all washed down with a cold Sprite. Not all at once, mind you--I grazed throughout the game.
The game was pretty much all good for the home team. "Jimmy Ballgame" Edmonds made two spectacular catches in center field and Chris Carpenter pitched a two-hit shutout as the Cardinals won 5-0.
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In other news, I see that the St. Louis School Board met in "emergency" session tonight and voted to fire their reform-minded superintendent. They had previously fired a well-known, wildly successful, but controversial prep basketball coach, purportedly to send a message to the superintendent. I feel sorry for school kids in the city of St. Louis; politics and personal grudges seem to have taken priority over their education.
Did I mention the free food and drink? I had a big pile of taco-beef-and-cheese nachos, a big hot dog slathered with the leftover aforementioned beef and cheese, fresh strawberries and white grapes, and several chocolate chip brownies, all washed down with a cold Sprite. Not all at once, mind you--I grazed throughout the game.
The game was pretty much all good for the home team. "Jimmy Ballgame" Edmonds made two spectacular catches in center field and Chris Carpenter pitched a two-hit shutout as the Cardinals won 5-0.
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In other news, I see that the St. Louis School Board met in "emergency" session tonight and voted to fire their reform-minded superintendent. They had previously fired a well-known, wildly successful, but controversial prep basketball coach, purportedly to send a message to the superintendent. I feel sorry for school kids in the city of St. Louis; politics and personal grudges seem to have taken priority over their education.
Oh Yeah!!!...
I'll be taking in tonight's Cardinals/Dodgers game from the ALL*STAR SUITE at the new Busch Stadium!!!! My employer gets to use the suite from time to time during the year and one of our Marketing dept. managers just called and offered me a free pass! This is no special favor or treatment, mind you. One of the things that goes with my job is that I get to know a lot of people a little bit. Some I've gotten to know more than others and that's the case with several of the people in the Marketing dept. Once in a while they remember you with something special like this. ONCE IN A WHILE, as in 'the second time in almost nine years') It's never expected, just nice when it does happen.
I haven't been to the new stadium yet so what better way to experience it?
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Lost Dogs in Concert...
Enjoyed a great show last night with my old friend S. whom my brother and I met shortly after joining BSF in 2001. He now lifts weights regularly with my brother and also accompanies us to concerts every now and then. I had a message from S. on Thursday reminding me that the Lost Dogs were coming to Roxana, IL on their 3-week summer tour. They're touring a new album and I hadn't seen them in a few years, so we drove over to the east side last night.
Interested readers can look here for background information on the band. I've been following them since their first album in 1992. I was a high school senior, not supposed to know or care what was happening in west-coast Christian music, but somehow I did. Their music grabbed me and I began expanding my musical horizons to include their other bands and side projects.
The major Christian record labels stopped caring about them a few years ago but they've soldiered on, playing to a well-rooted fan base. Last night's show brought in only about 30 or 40 fans but they gave a great performance, nonetheless. For $10, it couldn't be beat. Besides, what else is going on in Roxana, IL on a Friday night?
I snapped some pictures, whice are posted here.
Interested readers can look here for background information on the band. I've been following them since their first album in 1992. I was a high school senior, not supposed to know or care what was happening in west-coast Christian music, but somehow I did. Their music grabbed me and I began expanding my musical horizons to include their other bands and side projects.
The major Christian record labels stopped caring about them a few years ago but they've soldiered on, playing to a well-rooted fan base. Last night's show brought in only about 30 or 40 fans but they gave a great performance, nonetheless. For $10, it couldn't be beat. Besides, what else is going on in Roxana, IL on a Friday night?
I snapped some pictures, whice are posted here.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Friday's Feast!
Appetizer
When was the last time you visited a hospital?
A few weeks ago, when a beloved cousin was suffering from a fairly malicious virus/infection that landed her in the ICU for a week. She's slowly recovering, last I heard.
Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how ambitious are you?
5 or 6, unfortunately! :)
Salad
Make a sentence using the letters of a body part. (Example: (mouth) My other ukelele tings healthily.)
(toe) - Tofu? Oh, Ewwww!
Main Course
If you were to start a club, what would the subject matter be, and what would you name it?
Probably something to do with music, with a name like the 'You Know Who You Are Club.'
Dessert
What color is the carpet/flooring in your home?
The carpet in my family room/den is off-white, and the ceramic tile in my kitchen is an earthen stone mix of colors. The remainder of the house is natural wood flooring.
When was the last time you visited a hospital?
A few weeks ago, when a beloved cousin was suffering from a fairly malicious virus/infection that landed her in the ICU for a week. She's slowly recovering, last I heard.
Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how ambitious are you?
5 or 6, unfortunately! :)
Salad
Make a sentence using the letters of a body part. (Example: (mouth) My other ukelele tings healthily.)
(toe) - Tofu? Oh, Ewwww!
Main Course
If you were to start a club, what would the subject matter be, and what would you name it?
Probably something to do with music, with a name like the 'You Know Who You Are Club.'
Dessert
What color is the carpet/flooring in your home?
The carpet in my family room/den is off-white, and the ceramic tile in my kitchen is an earthen stone mix of colors. The remainder of the house is natural wood flooring.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Happy 5th of July!
Ugh...July 5th rates right up there with December 26 for post-cool holiday "Iwishididn'thavetogointowork'-iveness.
Had a very nice gathering with old friends and acquaintances last evening. I went to the same place as I have the past few years. Homemade, secret-recipe salsa and 2 different pork tenderloins were among the available refreshments. The weather turned quite soggy just after dinner, with a steady rain that moved in and rained out the local fireworks display we always attend. Happily, the show will go on tonight so the party will resume this evening, with clear skies forecast. The rain did cease just in time for our own little fireworks show. I did get my yearly snout-full of acrid pyrotechnic smoke, which made me happy!
Speaking of fireworks, the P-D published a very funny picture recently. A gentleman in a fireworks tent was pictured proudly cradling an 800-shot small explosive labeled "Maximum Retaliation." The look on his face was hysterical! Also noted in the caption was his $530 purchase of pyrotechnics.
Had a very nice gathering with old friends and acquaintances last evening. I went to the same place as I have the past few years. Homemade, secret-recipe salsa and 2 different pork tenderloins were among the available refreshments. The weather turned quite soggy just after dinner, with a steady rain that moved in and rained out the local fireworks display we always attend. Happily, the show will go on tonight so the party will resume this evening, with clear skies forecast. The rain did cease just in time for our own little fireworks show. I did get my yearly snout-full of acrid pyrotechnic smoke, which made me happy!
Speaking of fireworks, the P-D published a very funny picture recently. A gentleman in a fireworks tent was pictured proudly cradling an 800-shot small explosive labeled "Maximum Retaliation." The look on his face was hysterical! Also noted in the caption was his $530 purchase of pyrotechnics.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Happy July 3!
Just a brief pre-4th check-in before the holiday!
I enjoyed the time-honored summer tradition in St. Louis last evening. Some friends and I did a "Meet Me At The Muny.....The Muny In Forest Park!" and enjoyed the final performance of "Aida." Not the Verdi opera, of course, but the Elton John/Tim Rice version. We all thoroughly enjoyed the performance, even if the altitude of our seats required binoculars! The humidity level was elevated, but I came armed with a liter of water to stay hydrated.
My community chorus staged its annual summer fundraiser concert Saturday night. It was a program of world and patriotic music perfect for the holiday weekend. Ticket sales were about the same as in previous years so I think we'll realize a good profit. Small-world moment: after the concert I helped tear down the stage. One of the men who was also helping (the father of one our our singers - love those people who help at the drop of a hat!) is from a town in mid-Missouri. After he asked where I was from I told him of my beginnings in Malden, MO. He replied that his secretary was from a town right next door! I even knew her family name. Small world, indeed! (even smaller that our concert was titled "One World.")
The weather forecast is rather ominous for us tomorrow. Rain, rain, go away and come again on Wednesday! I have a gathering penciled in for tonight AND tomorrow night.
The frightful tour of the American League Central Division, aka the Legion of DOOM! is over for our tired Cardinales. I wish the All-Star break was this week instead of next week. To go to extra innings against the Royals(!) once is galling but 2 nights in a row?? Ugh...
have a wonderful and safe 4th!
I enjoyed the time-honored summer tradition in St. Louis last evening. Some friends and I did a "Meet Me At The Muny.....The Muny In Forest Park!" and enjoyed the final performance of "Aida." Not the Verdi opera, of course, but the Elton John/Tim Rice version. We all thoroughly enjoyed the performance, even if the altitude of our seats required binoculars! The humidity level was elevated, but I came armed with a liter of water to stay hydrated.
My community chorus staged its annual summer fundraiser concert Saturday night. It was a program of world and patriotic music perfect for the holiday weekend. Ticket sales were about the same as in previous years so I think we'll realize a good profit. Small-world moment: after the concert I helped tear down the stage. One of the men who was also helping (the father of one our our singers - love those people who help at the drop of a hat!) is from a town in mid-Missouri. After he asked where I was from I told him of my beginnings in Malden, MO. He replied that his secretary was from a town right next door! I even knew her family name. Small world, indeed! (even smaller that our concert was titled "One World.")
The weather forecast is rather ominous for us tomorrow. Rain, rain, go away and come again on Wednesday! I have a gathering penciled in for tonight AND tomorrow night.
The frightful tour of the American League Central Division, aka the Legion of DOOM! is over for our tired Cardinales. I wish the All-Star break was this week instead of next week. To go to extra innings against the Royals(!) once is galling but 2 nights in a row?? Ugh...
have a wonderful and safe 4th!
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Friday's Feast! (one day late!)...
Appetizer
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you like your job?
8
Soup
When was the last time you think you were lied to?
Probably sometime while I was working the help desk at work this week!
Salad
Share some lyrics from one of your favorite songs.
Born, by Over the Rhine
I was born to laugh
I learned to laugh through my tears
I was born to love
I'm gonna learn to love without fear
Main Course
What do you do/take when you are in pain?
One Tylenol extra-strength usually does it.
Dessert
Fill in the blanks: My GOD is very ALIVE.
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you like your job?
8
Soup
When was the last time you think you were lied to?
Probably sometime while I was working the help desk at work this week!
Salad
Share some lyrics from one of your favorite songs.
Born, by Over the Rhine
I was born to laugh
I learned to laugh through my tears
I was born to love
I'm gonna learn to love without fear
What do you do/take when you are in pain?
One Tylenol extra-strength usually does it.
Dessert
Fill in the blanks: My GOD is very ALIVE.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Thursday...
It's Thursday, in the midst of the summer's first HOT spell of the season. Rain and thundernlightning are forecast to rumble through later and break the heat into tiny bits.
Nothing much to report on this week, I'm afraid. I've been sharing the help desk load at work each day (except for my monday solo flights!). It reminds me that I like being a tech much better than working the phones.
Our intrepid baseball Cardinals have endured two frightful games against the ChiSox so far this week. Either our pitchers are suddenly really bad or their hitters are just that good. My eyes popped a bit on Tuesday night when I saw the 20-spot they put on us.
I made a new musical discovery yesterday. Read about it in My Tunes.
I've been checking out Mark Lowry's podcasts recently. Mark is a Christian entertainer who was associated with Bill Gaither on the gospel circuit for many years. He's a pretty funny guy.
Nothing much to report on this week, I'm afraid. I've been sharing the help desk load at work each day (except for my monday solo flights!). It reminds me that I like being a tech much better than working the phones.
Our intrepid baseball Cardinals have endured two frightful games against the ChiSox so far this week. Either our pitchers are suddenly really bad or their hitters are just that good. My eyes popped a bit on Tuesday night when I saw the 20-spot they put on us.
I made a new musical discovery yesterday. Read about it in My Tunes.
I've been checking out Mark Lowry's podcasts recently. Mark is a Christian entertainer who was associated with Bill Gaither on the gospel circuit for many years. He's a pretty funny guy.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Hollywood comes to St. Louis!...
I had heard rumors about a movie being filmed in St. Louis and more rumours about Jessica Alba being involved in said movie. Well, today I was making a Father's Day card run to a nearby Hallmark store and noticed a crowd gathered on the sidewalk around an Oberweis Dairy ice cream parlor. I slowed down a bit and saw what looked like a film crew setting up around the building. I drove on and took care of my card-buying, then stopped by the scene on my way back. It turns out I was was right! The movie is called "Bill" and indeed Jessica Alba is starring in the movie. The Oberweis building was being used to film a scene, though it was renamed "Sweet Sweet" for the movie.
NO, I didn't catch even a glimpse of Jessica Alba, because they were filming inside the building while I was there. However, I did run home and get my camera, so here are some pictures I snapped. I stayed for about two hours, then left as a thunderstorm began blowing in from the south.
This was a really cool thing to see because movies NEVER film in St. Louis. One of the bystanders I talked to said that the movie crew really liked filming here. Let's hope we get some more movie traffic as a result!
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I was reminded that my life isn't a movie when I returned home to find the thunderstorm had deposited a large portion of my backyard maple tree onto my deck. Thank goodness for cross-cut saws and yard waste pickup!
NO, I didn't catch even a glimpse of Jessica Alba, because they were filming inside the building while I was there. However, I did run home and get my camera, so here are some pictures I snapped. I stayed for about two hours, then left as a thunderstorm began blowing in from the south.
This was a really cool thing to see because movies NEVER film in St. Louis. One of the bystanders I talked to said that the movie crew really liked filming here. Let's hope we get some more movie traffic as a result!
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I was reminded that my life isn't a movie when I returned home to find the thunderstorm had deposited a large portion of my backyard maple tree onto my deck. Thank goodness for cross-cut saws and yard waste pickup!
Monday, June 12, 2006
Too many beauty pageants?
How do you know when there are too many beauty pageants in the world? When you read this story:
Pageant vet claims Little Miss Horseradish title
Little Miss Horseradish? holy cow.
Pageant vet claims Little Miss Horseradish title
Little Miss Horseradish? holy cow.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Where do you buy your music?
My Tunes updated tonight with a report of my CD-buying spree this weekend. It begs the question, "where do YOU buy your music?" I usually buy from Best Buy because if they have what I'm looking for their prices are usually $14-$15 for a new CD, less for older CDs. I will buy from Borders if Best Buy doesn't have what I'm looking for and/or if the CD is on sale for $15 or less. Borders' prices are usually so high that I check their real-time inventory stock before I go. Beyond those two, I'll go to Amazon or Half.com if I'm looking for a CD that's older and I don't mind buying used. I also frequent the several used CD stores near me for older, out-of-print stuff that's off the beaten path.l
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Nothing exciting happened this weekend. I covered the night shift at work last night and spent a quiet day around the house and doing chores and such. Work's going to be not so fun for the next few weeks as our help desk operator has taken a tech job with our sister publication and I'm one of the two other techs that will be filling in until his position is filled.
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Nothing exciting happened this weekend. I covered the night shift at work last night and spent a quiet day around the house and doing chores and such. Work's going to be not so fun for the next few weeks as our help desk operator has taken a tech job with our sister publication and I'm one of the two other techs that will be filling in until his position is filled.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Got spammed...
I'll be turning on word verification for comments, folks. I got comment-spammed overnight, which isn't cool.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Friday's Feast
Appetizer
About how much money did you spend on gas this week?
It was around $40 at $2.74 or so per gallon.
Soup
What is your favortite brand of toilet paper?
toilet paper? what's that? JUST KIDDING! It's Charmin, in the double roll!
Salad
When was the last time you discovered something that you thought was pure genius?
I have to go along with DCBrownie on this one, the production of Julius Caesar I saw this week was pure genius!
Main Course
What is the least amount of sleep you can get by on per night?
about 6 hours or so.
Dessert
June is a popular month for weddings. Do you know anyone who is getting married this month?
My friend C. is getting married at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Orlando, FL at some point this month, but I haven't been invited. My BSF discussion group leader D. is getting married in Taylor, MO in a couple of weeks, I believe. I was invited but am not attending.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Friends, Romans, Countrymen...
One of the fun things that happens in early summer in St. louis is "Shakespeare in the Park." Shakespeare Festival St. Louis takes over a section of Forest Park for a free open-air production of a Shakespeare play (likely very similar to what DCBrownie and her date experienced last Saturday.) I met some of my Metro Singers friends last night for this year's production of Julius Caesar. We managed to secure a vantage point close to the stage in a blankets-only section. It was a glorious evening full of idyllic sights and sounds. If my readers will indulge me, I will list some of what struck me:
--The expansive stone patio behind the Art Museum that looks out on to Art Hill and the lake beyond it.
--Picnic-ing with friends on a clear, sunny evening (bonus points for bare feet!).
--The perpetually-smiling, big black bear of a dog near us, resting lazily in the grass.
--The band of toga-ed kids that paraded through the crowd, inviting people to the children's show.
--Being so close to the stage so as to actually see the expressions on the actors' faces.
--Taking in a timeless classic of literature and drama performed by skilled actors, in a venue The Bard would surely approve of.
As a bonus, traffic in and out of the park was no problem. I found a close parking lot and didn't get lost leaving the park. It was a very good night.
--The expansive stone patio behind the Art Museum that looks out on to Art Hill and the lake beyond it.
--Picnic-ing with friends on a clear, sunny evening (bonus points for bare feet!).
--The perpetually-smiling, big black bear of a dog near us, resting lazily in the grass.
--The band of toga-ed kids that paraded through the crowd, inviting people to the children's show.
--Being so close to the stage so as to actually see the expressions on the actors' faces.
--Taking in a timeless classic of literature and drama performed by skilled actors, in a venue The Bard would surely approve of.
As a bonus, traffic in and out of the park was no problem. I found a close parking lot and didn't get lost leaving the park. It was a very good night.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
The Weekender...
So ends another weekend...
I am back in my bedroom, sort of. The floors in both bedrooms have been refinished to a flawless satin finish and my furniture is back in place, albeit temporarily. There are still new baseboards and painting yet to be done but at least I can sleep in there again. My parents are returning to the British Virgin Islands this week for more sailing on the high seas, this year with a couple from their church. So I'll have to wait until they return so they can help me finish the project.
This afternoon I drove out to Augusta, MO to bike another section of the Katy Trail. I biked from Augusta out to Marthasville, 23 miles round-trip, in a little less than 3 hours. No Missouri River, just a lot of farmland and breezy woodlands. It was a nice day for biking, with a slight breeze and temperatures in the low 80s. On the way home I got the idea to call my brother for nutritional advice, since I figured my body needed to recover from the bike trip somehow. He advised protein, protein, protein. So, once home, I scarfed down a leftover fried chicken breast from Cracker Barrel, leftover rice from Wednesday night dinner, and a PBJ sandwich. I think I accomplished that little mission nicely.
________
That little earthquake you felt yesterday was the earth trembling when Albert Pujols pulled a muscle in his side during yesterday's game. The media-proclaimed Hero of Cardinal Nation has now landed on the disabled list for the first time in his illustrious career. The injury, coupled wtih Mark Mulder's sudden horribility (and a sudden rash of other injuries), led intrepid P-D columnist Bernie Miklasz to proclaim that the NL Central division race is now "open again." I wouldn't go that far because we went through this last season and won the division. We did rebound nicely today with a 9-6 thrashing of the Cubbies to salvage one game of the series.
In a way, I'm glad AP got hurt because I feel the media coverage of his season thus far was becoming ridiculous. (Now don't get me wrong. I'm as big a fan of AP as anyone else. I love the way he carries himself as a Christian man and the influence he's having on MLB.) My employer, the local metropolitan daily newspaper, today printed one section of a 4-part life-size poster of AP. Maybe now the writers and reporters will figure out that he is indeed human. If they'd attended church with me today, they'd have heard that "man is ordinary, but God is extraordinary." I'm sure AP would second that sentiment.
I am back in my bedroom, sort of. The floors in both bedrooms have been refinished to a flawless satin finish and my furniture is back in place, albeit temporarily. There are still new baseboards and painting yet to be done but at least I can sleep in there again. My parents are returning to the British Virgin Islands this week for more sailing on the high seas, this year with a couple from their church. So I'll have to wait until they return so they can help me finish the project.
This afternoon I drove out to Augusta, MO to bike another section of the Katy Trail. I biked from Augusta out to Marthasville, 23 miles round-trip, in a little less than 3 hours. No Missouri River, just a lot of farmland and breezy woodlands. It was a nice day for biking, with a slight breeze and temperatures in the low 80s. On the way home I got the idea to call my brother for nutritional advice, since I figured my body needed to recover from the bike trip somehow. He advised protein, protein, protein. So, once home, I scarfed down a leftover fried chicken breast from Cracker Barrel, leftover rice from Wednesday night dinner, and a PBJ sandwich. I think I accomplished that little mission nicely.
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That little earthquake you felt yesterday was the earth trembling when Albert Pujols pulled a muscle in his side during yesterday's game. The media-proclaimed Hero of Cardinal Nation has now landed on the disabled list for the first time in his illustrious career. The injury, coupled wtih Mark Mulder's sudden horribility (and a sudden rash of other injuries), led intrepid P-D columnist Bernie Miklasz to proclaim that the NL Central division race is now "open again." I wouldn't go that far because we went through this last season and won the division. We did rebound nicely today with a 9-6 thrashing of the Cubbies to salvage one game of the series.
In a way, I'm glad AP got hurt because I feel the media coverage of his season thus far was becoming ridiculous. (Now don't get me wrong. I'm as big a fan of AP as anyone else. I love the way he carries himself as a Christian man and the influence he's having on MLB.) My employer, the local metropolitan daily newspaper, today printed one section of a 4-part life-size poster of AP. Maybe now the writers and reporters will figure out that he is indeed human. If they'd attended church with me today, they'd have heard that "man is ordinary, but God is extraordinary." I'm sure AP would second that sentiment.
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