Ultimate dog tease

"Covered it with what?"  haha, love love love this dog!

City Garden and other places

May 21-22 weekend

St. Louis links:

Terrace View
http://www.fialafood.com/Jim_Fialas_Restaurants/THE_TERRACE_VIEW.html
Nice little restaurant with a minimal décor (and minimal menu). Mark had the chicken with cheddar, caramelized onion, mushrooms and arugula sandwich (which he said was good other than the chicken being a bit rubbery…eww, hate it when that happens). I had the organic tilapia with dill aioli, lettuce, tomato and onion sandwich (which was dee-lish!)

City Garden
http://www.citygardenstl.org/
Not much to this little garden other than a few pieces of unusual art, nice plants and lovely landscaping. It’s an attractive spot downtown and has a nice view of the Arch.

The Delmar Loop
http://visittheloop.com/
The loop has plenty of cool places to walk and stop. Plus, it has Michael McDonald’s star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame, among these others: http://stlouiswalkoffame.org/star-location/.

Jilly’s Cupcakes
http://www.jillyscupcakebar.com/
The cupcakes at Jilly’s were really BIG and really pretty but a little dry and only so-so tasting (imo). Personally, I much prefer the The Cup’s cupcakes in the Central West End and Edwardsville (yum yum). I hear Jilly’s has a great Sunday brunch though and hope to give it a try.

Joplin tornado

It’s hard to fathom the unbelievable devastation a tornado can produce until you see the pictures.

May 22, 2011 - Joplin, MO
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1389737/Joplin-MO-tornado-At-89-dead-twister-cuts-4-mile-swathe-Missouri-town.html

There, but for the grace of God, go us all.

two years

I seem to write a lot about my dad. And I think that’s because in one way or another he’s on my mind nearly every day, even more so today with it being the 2nd anniversary of his death. I’ll go to his grave today and with my eyes closed try to remember all the dear things about him I never want to forget. There are so many things I never want to forget. Sometimes I wonder if it's really important to visit a loved ones grave. Does it make us feel better, even if they don’t know we’re there? Do they know we're there? I’ve wondered about this before. I think of past visits over the last two years, his birthdays, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other times when I’ve needed to feel close to him again. Sometimes it helped and sometimes it didn’t. Sometimes it just felt empty. Though I know where to find my dad I don’t believe it’s where he really is. I think about where he is now and wonder what it’s like, if he’s aware in some spiritual sort of way that I’m still here, or is he sleeping, resting in peace until the day he’s united with Christ. Is he already? I wish I knew the answers but then again I know we’re not meant to know, not until our own time comes. I know dad used to wonder too. I can still see him sitting in his favorite chair looking out the window with a faraway look as if contemplating the Universe and what it was really all about. He always wanted to know what it was all about. I know he still had questions when he left but I feel certain that even with his questions, deep down, he knew there was more than could ever be explained. He may not have understood God the way he desired but he knew God. He always knew he was there.

A little hot tub humor

When Mark asked if I would help him dispose of his hot tub last Saturday I thought sure ok. He had a plan. He rented a dumpster and acquired a saw powerful enough to cut the "fiberglass" hot tub into manageable pieces. He and I would then simply haul the thing piece by piece to the front yard and place them in the dumpster. Fairly simple plan right? Uh, no. It would have been a real mission impossible without the assistance of our two helpmates Marilyn and Jake. God love 'em!

Friday the 13th and Jessica Lea Mayfield

On this Friday the 13th the weather may have been bad but the music was all good. Mark and I had the pleasure of seeing three unique and entertaining bands at Off Broadway. The highlight of the show was of course Jessica Lea Mayfield. Opening up for Jessica was Blood Pony followed by Nathaniel Rateliff.

Blood Pony (below), this local St. Louis band has lots of members and handclapping/foot stomping fans. Their music may start out a little slow [yawn] but eventually builds layer upon layer into an enthusiastic crescendo [yes!]. A band I liked and appreciated a bit more than Mark.

Nathaniel Rateliff (below), Denver, CO, an interesting and slightly rumpled musician. I love his voice and the way he belts out songs with it. Standing near the front of the stage I didn’t notice the loud talking the night of the show…until I listened to this video. The video really picked up the noisy crowd. Gross as it was when it happened it could explain why in the middle of his song Nathaniel shot a loogie clear across the stage floor. ha! That’ll teach a rude crowd. Eww ick and yuck Nathaniel (but I love your voice so I forgive you).

Whimper and Wail (loogie and all)

Jessica Lea Mayfield (below), a 21-year-old singer-songwriter, from Kent, OH known for writing dark and sad songs with a plaintive minimalist style that draws on both country and rock music (Wikipedia, and I couldn't agree more). I can’t say enough about this young woman. She has a gentle shy way and a sweet sounding sometimes haunting voice, a truly mesmerizing and talented performer. Like Mark says…she’s going places (or words to that effect).

This video includes three partial songs by Jessica.

Nathaniel Rateliff

Nathaniel and Mark

Jessica Lea Mayfield





Guitarist Richie Kirkpatrick

For another great song and a video better than mine:

Jessica Lea Mayfield - Sometimes at Night

A weekend past

This post is a little late but better late than never I suppose. The video below is from last weekend (when the weather was warm and the skies were dry, very much unlike the current one).  The accompanying song is called "Please Don't Go," a great old song by Willie Tee.

A great mother's day

I had a great Mother's Day yesterday. Good food and good company at mom's house, nice gifts from my kids. From Emily, a framed picture of her and I (on table below) along with a cute top and necklace. From Mandy, a sweet Mother's Day card plus an Express gift card. From Jake, a Mother's Day card and promise of a dinner (Thursday, right Jake?). And, to top it off, beautiful flowers from my grandson Jude (with a little help from his mommy). What a great Mother's Day. What a great family.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

I Love You!

Mom and I, 1964

Mom and her Harry & David goodies, May 8, 2011

Gotta go to Aiello's

Mark and I tried a new pizza place in downtown Granite the other day. It's called Aiello's Pizzeria and it's located across the street from the new cinema. Both of us were impressed with our hand tossed pizza's great flavor and crust and happy to see the restaurant booming with business. Hopefully in time places like Aiello's will help downtown GC truly come back to life.

http://www.bnd.com/2011/04/25/1681625/new-businesses-are-helping-to.html

1318 Niedringhaus Ave

(618) 451-5855

A hero in the family

http://www.stlbeacon.org/issues-politics/112-region/110043-bin-ladens-death-closes-a-long-open-chapter-for-afghan-vet

With the events of the last few days I can’t think of anything more fitting than posting the above link to a story about my cousin Phillip, my Aunt Betty Lou and Uncle Tom’s son. Years ago I remember hearing talk of Phillip giving up his job and enlisting in the Army. I remember thinking to myself at the time “he’s crazy”. After all, he had a wife and three children at home (he now has four). He had everything to stay home and live for. I couldn’t imagine giving up a good job, leaving your family, and putting your life in imminent danger. I’m more selfish than that. I couldn’t understand then but a lot has happened in this crazy world since and I think I understand a little more. I now realize Phillip wasn’t “crazy” for putting himself in a position he surely didn’t want to be in. He wasn’t crazy. He simply cared. He cared about what happened to others and he wanted to make it better. When it comes to life’s tragedies there are those of us who tend to sit back and let others get involved and do “something” and then there are people like my cousin Phillip who actually do something. After reading his story I realize more than ever the meaning behind the term “war hero”. I believe my cousin’s a hero. My aunt and uncle must be extremely proud of their son. I know my dad would have been proud of his nephew. Phillip gave his heart for something he believed in and even though he paid a hard price he believes to this day he would do it all again. I think that’s the bravest thing of all.

Phillip, at one of Uncle Conrad's Christmas parties

Five years after 911:
http://graphics.stltoday.com/online/baldwin/

Just a silly little dog movie

I live with two dogs. Winnie, an old dog, who's 12 or 13 years old. And Lola, a young dog (Emily's dog, who thinks she's mine) who's 3. Winnie and Lola have very different personalities. Winnie's a sweetheart without a mean bone in her body. Lola's uhh...well, Lola. She likes to pester Winnie any chance she gets; actually, she likes to pester everyone any chance she gets, and she likes moles, among other strange things. Sometimes it's hectic and crazy living in a house with two dogs but one thing about it. No matter how serious life can get, no matter the ups, no matter the downs, these two dogs can always make me laugh, and scream, but mostly laugh. :)