This vid still brings a tear...

I used to want to do what this guy is doing. I almost tried during our senior trip to Chicago. Diane stopped me. I was young... naive... still looks like fun though. 

It's true what they say.

All you need is love. 

2008 Resolutions

It's almost 2008.
That means, I have to get started on my list of resolutions.

I say LIST of resolutions, because if I make one I never follow through; if I make ten, I might stick with one. Who knows? I guess it's worth a try. (They are in no particular order, I just thought a countdown would fit nicely here.

Ten resolutions for 2008

10. Make time to read a lot of good books this year.
9. Blog every day. Something, anything, just blog.
8. Get more violin practice in each week.
7. Move out of my parents' house.
6. Volunteer more.
5. Get along with parents/brother more often.
4. Eat better, excercise regularly -- come up with a plan and stick to it!
3. Get better at drawing/sketching and photography.
2. Keep in regular contact with old friends via phone, e-mail, text, snail mail, whatever.
1. Get my clips organized. Figure out how to be happy professionally and start doing it. (Or at least actively working toward it.)

There.
If I can do a couple of those, even one of those, I will have made myself a better person in 2008, I figure.

First Christmas

My first Christmas with David went off without a hitch.

It started last weekend when he and I exchanged presents. He got me a DSC-W80 Sony Cybershot digital camera (silver) and I got him a Yamaha guitar and starter kit, complete with soft case, extra strings, picks, a tuner and a short instructional DVD. We were both very happy with what we got. He doesn't know how to play yet, although I am trying to teach him what I know about music (translated from the violin, and it isn't that much yet) and he is trying to learn to read tabs. He already knows the beginning to about three songs. :) And he loves it. That's what is important.

Here's my new camera!

After work on Christmas Eve, I picked David up and took him to the Wittman family celebration at the Susnig Center in Jerseyville. Yes, our family is so big we rent a community center for holiday parties. Anyway, it was all overwhelming I'm sure -- at least until we left for my uncle's house afterward, where the crowd was much smaller. Then we went to my cousin's house and played Wii with her family. It was all nice, but kind of strange. For one, my brother was much more outgoing and pleasant than usual, which was great. Plus my cousins, who are all older and all live in Jerseyville so I never got to know any of them well, were a lot of fun. Did I mention they like to drink? We did some of that too.

On Christmas morning, my immediate family went to my Grandma Wittman's for lunch. It was tasty. No one stayed very long, and niether did I this year. Usually, I stay and play Phase 10 for money with the aunts. This year, I had other places to go.

I went to David's parents' house in the afternoon and stayed until about 8 p.m. We had dinner, which was almost entirely different from the one I had at Grandma's -- but also very tasty. Afterward, we played Cardinals World Series Monopoly, which I got from my brother as a present this year.

Good thing too, because my family won't ever play and it might have never gotten played otherwise. David's youngest brother, Dan, whomped the rest of us when he got lucky landing on free parking (which got him more than $1,000 dollars) and then his dad Jim traded him Josh Kinney, which enabled him to construct hotels on half the board. That was the end for the rest of us. His parents and I also exchanged presents. I got them a ceramic candy container shaped like a holiday wreath and filled with Hershey's kisses, because David said his mom would like it and I had no idea what to get them. I'm very new at this. I paid good money for the present, but I still feel bad I didn't get them more. They gave me shower gel, bubble bath, body spray and body creme from bath and Body Works (senusal amber scented, my choice) and a pretty journal with a couple pens -- which David advised them that I would like. And I do. I feel like my present wasn't as good as theirs, but I hope they still like me anyway.

We also watched some Lost (disc 1, season 3) in an attempt to catch up before the new season, and we visited his grandparents who also allegedly like me. Go me :)

Then I went home to sleep. I work the rest of today, tomorrow 9-6 and Friday 2-11, and then I'm on vacation till the folowing Friday. Can't wait. It'll be even better than Christmas to not have to come in to work.

Working on Christmas Eve

Because I was able to scrape myself out of bed at 8:15 this morning (not quite 7:30 but earlier than the usual 9 a.m.) and because I have sporadically eaten two bluberry Special K bars throughout the day instead of taking a lunch, I can be out of work this holiday by 4:15 p.m. Less than two hours to go.

Would have been better if I didn't have to work at all, but hey -- anything's better than last year. Last year I had to work Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day (whereas I get Christmas Day off this year) and ON TOP OF THAT, I became deathly ill on Christmas Day and missed the next 3 days of work. Then I worked New Year's Eve AND Day (which I get off this year) and spent Beer Fest New Year's on meds, unable to partake in much of the alcohol and debauchery.

I guess there's still time for all that. Speaking of sick, one of the editors spent the whole morning sick as a dog -- coughing and wheezing all over the place, unable to call off work because of the lack of people staffing the newsroom on Christmas Eve. And he sits right behind me, so I shudder to think what might be ahead. Luckily I moved to my OTHER desk (yes, I now have two -- this one with a better computer... still not great, but better) halfway across the room. I feel better already.

The good news, if you can call it that, is that I was already not feeling 100 percent but that the Loratidine and psuedoephedrine (fake 24-hour Claritin D) I took this morning is making me feel quite nice. I chose to stock up this week because when the sickness attacked last year, it was the only thing that really helped. Better to be prepared I always say.

So, David is going to meet the Wittman clan tonight, and I'm a little frightened for him. They are so many in number and many of them look the same. I hope they are at least nice and easy to get along with. Also, I hope my grandma doesn't start talking that crap about not being able to have Christmas at her house this year because Carl, her husband who has been dead for years, is grouchy. I assure you Grandma, he was grouchy and now he definitely is not. (I'm just trying to make light of this sad situation people. Plus, it's really awkward...) Seriously though, I hope she doesn't call me Minette. I heard she called my mom Laura last month. I'm glad at least that she'll be around one more Christmas.

I will be taking along my brand new Sony Cybershot, which my lovely boyfriend purchased for me this Christmas. Maybe I'll have some new photos to post. Or maybe not. We'll see.

Tomorrow after church and lunch with the fam (David gets a get out of jail free card this time), I will meet David at his parents' house. This should be far less frightening because his family is small, his parents are nice and his grandma already likes me apparently, but the fact that I've only seen his brothers one time because they seem to hide when I'm around might pose a problem. I'll just have to think of them like James. That seems like something he would do, but then again James is fairly outgoing and friendly around strangers -- he just acts quiet and wierd around my parents.

Anyway, that was a little insight into my holiday. Tomorrow we will open presents and for the next week I'll scramble to get some work done so I can party on New Year's. The question of where this partying will go down remains, since Emily will be in Chicago and thus unable to have her usual themed party. I'm guessing that David will have people at his apartment, or it's back to Norb's. Oh what a way to ring in 2008.

Happy holidays everyone!!

It's almost Christmas

It doesn't really feel like it though.

I'll tell you one thing, I can't wait to get my digitial camera and then to be off for a week again (much needed to get used to this new M-F schedule).

Wish I could make it to Chicago this New Year's but I'd like to spend it with David, and unfortunately he cannot get off -- soo, my Chicago lovelies, you'll have to wait for another day. I miss you!!

Alright, back to work. More updates later.

"Stiff" -- I've finally finished it.

Mary Roach's "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" was all I hoped it would be and more. Even if it did take me forever to read it. (I read slowly, OK?)

When I saw the book at Barnes and Noble early in the year I remembered it being mentioned on an episode of "Six Feet Under," a TV show that I enjoyed for mostly the same reasons I liked the book. I'm morbidly curious. 

I was pleased to see that "Body Worlds," which is currently on display over at the St. Louis Science Center, was mentioned in the last chapter. It kind of excited me for some reason. 

My favorite chapter was the one about body farms, and how they leave bodies out wearing various amounts of clothing in different conditions to measure how fast or slowly the body composes. Roach's descriptions were so vivid that I could almost smell the putrification. 

In any event, the book is wildly interesting, although a little gross at times (if you get queasy, that is). But I recommend that everyone pick it up and at least give it a chance. 

Off to "Wicked" and "I Am America (And So Can You)" before I borrow David's "Haunted" by Chuck Palahuinuk (or whatever), and then "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" (curiously, another TV show featuring Michael C. Hall that can be seen on Showtime) from the library. 

Christmas fun

David and I built a gingerbread house last night. Check it.

This angle looks tasty, but don't let those pieces fool you, they're hard as rocks. 

That tree looks YUMMY. 

An icing avalanche hit this side of the cottage. 

Note the cute little snowman. 

We love doing lamo family-type things like carving pumpkins and making gingerbread houses and baking cookies. You know you think we're cool.

JR's battle with cancer

My former professor (and definitely one of my favorite professors) John Ryan recently wrote an article for the Charleston Times-Courier newspaper about his battle with colon cancer. It's a good read. 

Mostly though, I think it's an important article because colon cancer isn't talked about as much as other cancers, like breast cancer, and awareness of it is just as important. 

I wasn't around when he was missing classes and trying to deal with rough chemotherapy treatments (2006-2007), but I remember hearing about them when I would visit my alma mater -- and it scared me. 

I've known people to have had cancer before, but I never thought once JR would be one of those people. You know, he was that guy who taught us stuff and played along with our Brokeback Mountain-esque jokes about him and Joe and "Theel and Polly," not that guy trying to battle a deadly disease. 

He sent a link out to the article this morning, which I read, and I was happy to discover that he is now cancer free. 

Anyway, I know a lot (or all) of the five people that read this blog (if that) are not 50 yet -- but when you turn it, you need to get a colonoscopy. Don't ever think it couldn't happen to you, because it can. 

And if you're the praying type, pray that "cancer free" stays cancer free. 

Our Media Library

David and I started our own private blog -- (He's a bit self conscious and won't keep it up otherwise) -- for the purpose of expanding our literary horizons and our personal library. 

We found a pretty cool Web site that goes along with it too -- www.goodreads.com -- which allows users to compile lists of books they're read and which ones they want to read, and gives them resources to read and write reviews of books as well as rate them. Pretty much, it's a great way, other than picking random books out of the library and judging a book by its cover, to find great reads that I didn't otherwise know about. 

I'm pretty excited. 

Right now I'm reading "Wicked," "Stiff" and "I Am America (And So Can You)." I can't seem to get enough time to read them... and go to work, and work out, and hang out with the boyfriend, and do Christmas-sy stuff and sleep and play the Sims and all this stuff I'm addicted to now, but I'm working on finding a way to squeeze a good book in when I can, even if it takes forever to finish. 

Any suggestions?

Math Camp Massacre

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!
Starring Thomas, David, Ben, George, Laura and Justin.

Enjoy.

Thank you blogger

for not being as complicated and unforgiving as Word Press. 

I like blogging in you and changing fonts and colors and backgrounds as I please... not having to look up html codes to tweak every little post. Oh, AND having my edits actually published. 

I've come to realize that the reason Word Press probably sucks for me is because a- I really don't know what I'm doing and b- the company that owns our newspaper has all these options fixed to where I can't tweak them on Word Press. It's still frustrating nevertheless. 

Thank you.

Erin Miller's Norb's debut

So, Erin Miller was in town this weekend for a wedding. By in town, I really mean Collinsville -- but she and her friend Ryan were nice enough to drive into Alton to see me. I hear the dry wedding was not so much fun...

I was hanging out with David, Justin, Ben, Thomas and John at the Beagle, watching Mizzou (4) defeat the No. 2 ranked (well, not anymore) Kansas, when she showed up. 

We had a few beers there and spent the rest of the night (till just before 1 or so) hanging out at Norb's, playing Gotcha! and shuffleboard and enjoying dollar Keystone night.

It was a little extra skanky at Norb's last night, so I really hope she doesn't get the wrong idea about me and my hometown. 

Because of recent, crappy events -- we were not able to see each other for my birthday so it was a nice surprise. 

Thanks, Erin Miller. 

P.S. If any of you are ever in town and you don't call me I'm fittna be mad at you!!

I want an EIU Tony Romo jersey

Unfortunately, I cannot afford.

Here's the info though, if you can -- you might want to look into one for yourself:

The jerseys are traditional cut -- broad in the shoulders, and slender in the waist. 

This is a one-of-a-kind jersey like the one that Tony wore when he was an EIU Panther.

To get one, you must donate $200 to the EIU Panther Club. If you want more than one, they can be purchased after that for $100. 

If only I had that type of money. 

Available for people who cannot afford, like myself:

We also have Tony Romo T-shirts (all sizes currently available) that we are selling for $20.00. They are EIU blue with "Eastern Illinois" and Tony's #17 on the front and "Romo" and the #17 on the back.

Family of hunters

Hey-- my family made the front page.

"JERSEYVILLE -- A Jersey County boy gave himself an early birthday present when he shot a 20-point buck Friday morning. 

Jaron Wittman described his big moment Tuesday, a day after his 11th birthday.

Jaron (pronounced Jerun) was hunting Friday with his father, Tom Wittman. The youngster, who has been hunting since he was 8 years old, said he and his dad left to hunt about 6 a.m. and saw no deer from their tree stand until about 9:30 a.m...."

Well, you see where this is going. 

It's kind of hard to believe that my mom's entire family likes hunting and that my immediate family is so different. Not only do none of my family members (not even my Dad and brother) like sports -- they don't like hunting either. 

And while I love me a good Cardinals game, I, too, find hunting extraordinarily yucky. I don't see the fun in killing things really, but I guess this is a pretty big accomplishment for a 10-year-old (and my second cousin). Way to go. :)

Tom Brady = Serial Killer?

Quarterback/Freak of Nature

Serial killer/blood spatter analyst for the police who don't know he kills people

Is it just me, or is there a resemblance?

This guy is wonderful

Funnyface!

I love him soooooo much.
I just thought I'd share that with the world.
The world of like two people who read this blog, but still, the world.

I gave in to football

There's no use fighting it anymore. 

Since I got off early yesterday I went to David's, where my wonderful boyfriend was watching football. I cringed. Did I really have to watch this crap?? But I watched instead of complaining, because who am I to take something he likes away from him after he has been so sweet to me? Especially this weekend.

I've watched football before.

I didn't like it. It was cool when the Rams won the Superbowl, but that was then, and this -- HA HA (joke) -- is now. 

I still don't love it, but I could learn to like it because something was different this time. The team I was watching was pummeling the crap out of the other team, and doing so with a certain flaire that appealed to me. If you watch football, you won't be surprised at what team I was watching.

HOT

So now, I suppose, I am a Patriots fan. 

Go on, pummel me with bandwagon comments, blah.. blah.. blah..  I don't care what you have to say. What I care about is this -- if I am going to watch a sport I don't enjoy on it's own, I want to watch players who are freakishly good and who are breaking records as we speak. Blame David if you must, he doesn't care.

I'm sorry, Rams, Bears... you have nothing for me.

Speaking of football though -- I am on a mission. A mission to find a Tony Romo Eastern jersey. I'll make one if I have to:

I like quarterbacks. 

 

Happy Birthday, now let's suture that knee...

Alright, so my Rick Ankiel birthday (24) was a blast. Or a bang, if we're speaking literally -- a bang that landed me, during my first real hours of being 24, in Alton Memorial Hospital awaiting stiches.

Despite the events that occurred near the end of my birthday weekend, turning 24 was much better than turning 23. 

Brian came into town via Amtrak to spend it with me, David asked off on Saturday, and we had a gay ole' time. 

Thursday was the beginning of my weekend, because we get a personal day at work on our birthdays -- and since mine landed on a day I already had off, Saturday, I took Thursday as my birthday. 

David and I woke up Thursday and played the Sims, a new addicition of mine and my favorite birthday present this year (unless you count Guitar Hero, which I bought myself and was reimbursed for by my dad). We spent the rest of the day in St. Louis -- shopping at West County Mall, where I bought two new sweaters and two new pairs of fun gloves; eating cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory in the Galleria and then getting my hair cut in Grafton on the way home. (It's short, by the way... photos to be available once I get ahold of my charging digital camera that needs replaced). 

Friday I woke up and picked Brian up from the train station. We played Guitar Hero III for the rest of the day while we waited for David to get off work, then we took my dad out to the Regal Beagle for dinner. It was a good time; I had been craving the stuff for weeks. After dinner, we went back to Guitar Hero III. David called his younger brothers Dan and Brian to kick our asses at the game via its online option on the Wii. Dan played the Dragonforce song, the hardest song on the game, on expert and got a 70-something percent. Then, Brian beat everyone at medium, so we lost a whole lot. 

Saturday, my violin lesson was canceled. Brian, my parents, David, Justin and Ben went to St. Louis Buffet Bar and Grill in Wood River for lunch -- which I thought would make everyone happy. We ate WAY too much, and then hung out at Davids until the evening. While awaiting eveyone's arrival at my house, we ate my green confetti cake with orange and black icing and played with the Titty Ball I bought from the Asian Lady in Cincinapolis. Then Cory, Clancy, Sarah, David, Brian and I headed to City Museum in St. Louis. 

They had opened up a new cave area, which was really neat, and we had a ton of fun -- half of us having never been there before (David, Clancy, Brian). Then, we decided to jump in the ball pit. The ball pit sucks. 

The balls are way too bouncy and there is no padding underneath, so when the lady told me to jump in, and I did, the balls parted like the red sea and my knee -- after squarely hitting the concrete below -- began gushing something that looked like the red sea. The lady at the first aid station squirted water on it and sent me on my way -- with a free pass to come back, plus three guests (which was funny, since I had five with me at the time). 

After waking my dad up and asking for advice, he, Brian, David and I headed for Alton Memorial. After waiting for hours, the nurse x-rayed the knee (no broken bones) and then SCRUBBED out the wound, which hurt like a mutha. They had determined that there would be no need for stitches -- that is, until they washed away all the clotting blood. Then, they promptly changed their mind. So that I wouldn't have a skin flap hanging off my knee for the rest of forever, Dr. Emergency Room Guy sewed my skin flap up good with four blue stitches, to be removed by Dr. Ricci (my general physician) on Friday morning. 

By the time we left, around 4 a.m., everyone was starving. Because we ate so much at the buffet we had skipped dinner, and we were feeling the effects. So we picked up my antibiotics and Vicoden from Walgreens, and headed to Steak n' Shake. Then, we went to my house and put in A Clockwork Orange for something to do until Brian's train came. It would be less than two hours of sleep -- so anyone that knows Brian will know why we didn't risk going to bed. 

I went to work, but left early when my pages were finished, because I was BEAT. I feel sick tonight and my knee is still mighty sore. I figure I need MORE sleep and less ulcer-agitating pain medication. 

Anyway, that's my long birthday story. Like my broken thumb graduation night, it'll be one for the books. 

I blog for work now.

Go to www.thetelegraph.com and click the link "Here and There" under blogs. I posted about this earlier but for some reason it linked this account (my personal one) with my WordPress account which is for work. 

I don't need the two to mix

All this has come and gone

Halloween

I spent the weekend before Halloween traveling to Lincoln to attend a party with Matt. It was hosted by a couple named the Boltons, who call themselves the "Bloodtons" around Halloween. Their house was covered in decorations (see the photos provided in the link for examples) -- the bathroom was covered in a plastic wall covering to make the walls look like that of a dungeon, the lights were all dimmed and there were severed heads spread throughout the house. Mostly, we just played card games and watched a ton of scary movies all night. I wore my nurses' scrubs covered in fake blood, and carried a bloody knife. Matt and his girlfriend Rachel were a gay couple and Matt's friend Chris was The Dude from "The Big Lebowski."

Other vacation stuff

I watched a lot of scary movies with David. "Halloween," "Rosemary's Baby" and more. 

Austin

I got on an airplane for the first time in my life and flew from St. Louis to Houston to Austin, where I spent Thursday around 11 a.m. through Saturday around 3 p.m. with Diane and Robert. They took me to a lot of random places, and I had a lot of fun. My favorite place was the Alamo Draft House, which is a really cool place where you can go to the show (we saw "Lars and the Real Girl") and have dinner at the exact same time (I had a caesar salad, raspberry Italian soda, chocolate cake/ice cream and a Mimosa, all just because I could). Some other cool places we went include Ten Thousand Villages of Austin, where I bought a ring from Indonesia. When you buy an item there, the money goes to the artisan in whatever third world country he or she is from. They also print out little stories about the item so you know its back story.  They took me to several out of this world toy stores including Monkey See, Monkey Do. We also went in a variety of boutiques and even a Day of the Dead shop called the Turquoise Door (on South Congress. They have no Web site that I can find, but feel free to Google it). 

I'll add more info once I get the chance to think. 

All in all, my vacation was too short, but it was good. I'm going to request my next week's vacation in January as soon as tomorrow. :)

I miss Halloween

I haven't done anything real Halloween-like this year. It kind of makes me sad. I haven't even gotten to use my liter at fake blood. Remember the good times...

I was creepy wasn't I? I can trace this photo back to... oh, sophomore year of college, I think. You know you're not supposed to get that shit near your eyes. It burns a little.

Dead bodies on display

(Yeah, you know that would excite me right?)

If you pay $18 to get into the STL Science Center's new Body Worlds exhibit -- opening tomorrow -- you can see 20 of them, posed in different positions that mock living activities. Some of their parts, I'm told, have been cut open and spliced out so people can see their insides, and their skin has been removed.

And they're REAL. Donated to science. They've gone through a process called "plastination" during which the parts have been soaked in a silicone liquid several times, stopping decomposition and preserving them for "laypersons" from all over to see. I don't understand the process in detail because I haven't read enough about it, but check out the official site linked below to learn more.

See dead guy playing chess.

Obviously, there is a gross out factor for many, as was obvious when our Telegraph photographer came back from shooting the media sneak preview there. It sparked my curiosity. 

The P-D did a story titled, "Science or Sideshow." I'll be the first to admit, I'd want to see it because of the gross out factor, but there's a part of me that knows this is the chance of a lifetime for a girl who already graduated from college and has no aspirations to go back for a profession in the medical or science field. Or for anyone else who has just under $20 and a stomach that can handle it. You can see what the muscles and parts of our bodies do in certain positions and during or after certain activities. 

I hear there's also a smoker's lung -- a real one, not just the model -- and visitors have been impacted so that they left their cigarettes behind when leaving the museum.

Learn more:

Body Worlds Official Site

St. Louis Science Center - See the exhibit through March

Post-Dispatch coverage

Alton Telegraph video (coming soon)

Check out this artist

Travis Lawrence

I want to post some of my fave images of his, but I'm afraid of copyright infringment, and so you should just check out his site on your own. 

His bio doesn't say much, but I'm gathering that most of his work is really dark, and that he is from rural Illinois. He does paintings, poems, other writings, drawings and photography, and seems to be pretty good at all of those mediums. 

The darkness in his work draws me... I can't really explain myself without sitting here to think about it more, but I do encourage you to check him out, as well as the other artists on:

http://www.meagainsttheworld.net/

The site just launched on Oct. 1, and there are some interesting things to see. My favorite so far just happens to be Lawrence. 

Josh Rowan is also amazing. 

Me, Myself and I

Ever wonder what kind of joy bloggers like me derive from writing about nothing from day to day? Why, oh why, do we do it?

Is it because we love ourselves? 

Does that picture look like an answer to that question to you?

Kidding. I don't really know why I do it to tell you the truth, and I guess I can't speak for other people. 

What I do know is this: I'm always itching to read updates about my friends and the people I know, so I guess somewhere in my mind I'm hoping other people care to read mindless updates about me. Take my boyfriend, for example. I hound him weekly about posting a blog. He's done it once.

For one, I have a lot of free time at work, and I sometimes like to read stuff that takes me away from the newsroom, if not only for a second. 

Second, since leaving a lot of friends in different areas, it seems like it would be a good way to keep in touch -- if only a few more people chose to do it (thank God for MySpace and Facebook eh?) Also, way to go Stephen, on giving me not only a text blog to read, but also a photoblog to stare at every so often.

Just some random thoughts. Off to volleyball!

The magic touch

I got a new fave television show!
ABC's "Pushing Daisies."


It's about a guy, Ned, played by actor Lee Pace, who can bring dead people back to life simply by touching them. Big surprise that I like it, eh??

Ned can't just touch anyone or anything and bring them back all "willy-nilly." There are rules:

Once he touches them, the dead become alive again. Not zombies. Actually alive. But they can only stay alive for one minute -- or someone or something else has to die in their place. That being said, once he's brought a dead person/animal/etc. back to life, he can never touch them again. First touch alive, second touch -- dead, again, forever.

So Ned and a private investigator who learns his secret, Emerson Cod (some of you may know him as "Bishop" in "Waiting"), go around touching dead people, asking them how they died/who killed them, touching them again and then collecting the reward.

One day, things get a little more complicated when one of the dead people Ned is asked to bring back is his childhood sweetheart, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles. He touches her but can't bear to kill her again, so he lets her stay -- the price being the life of the funeral director, who was notorious for stealing heirlooms off dead people anyway (so what's the harm?).

Anyway, there's only been three episodes, all of which can be viewed online at ABC.com, and all of which have been amazing so far.

What I can tell from those first episodes is this:

*Each episode opens with a little story about Ned when he was young, when he was just finding out all the specifics about his "gift." Now a piemaker who runs a little shop called the Pie Hole and chooses to keep many of his secrets to himself, this is the best way we have to learn a little more about our lead character (pretty sexy lead character) each week.

*Each episode involves a murder, or a dead person whose case the piemaker, investigator and dead girl are out to solve, each for different reasons (Emerson to get the reward and Chuck to make the world a better place).

*The piemaker and the dead girl are falling in love with each other, which becomes increasingly more adorable with each episode, and also more interesting because he cannot touch her skin to skin, or she'll be dead again, forever. Some news and entertainment stories I've read about the show say this scenario is, in a way, making a statement about abstinence or at least the dangers of intimacy. I think that's an interesting concept. What I do know about it is this: You know how abstinence pushers and those with "high moral standards" are always saying -- that sexy is mysterious and not slutty, that revealing too much is the wrong idea of sexy? They're right. Something about the electricity between the two characters (shown above) is sexy -- even though they can't so much as kiss on the show. See for yourself if you don't believe me.

Overall, the colors and scenes in the show are so bright, they remind me very much of Tim Burton's creative style, or even Dr. Seuss sometimes (i.e. Chuck's aunts are performers who do water ballet and call themselves "the Darling Mermaid Darlings," and one has an eyepatch).

Every detail has a reason. There is a REASON the writers only gave Chuck's aunt one eye, which you will notice if you watch the pilot episode. 

The characters speak a lot like the Gilmore Girls, only far less annoying, in that they are quick witted and everything they say is perfect like they've rehearsed it a million times (not at all like reality, in that they never really stumble over anything they say). However, it works well in this show, unlike on "Gilmore Girls," because the topic of the show and the bright themes are so overpowering and daydream-like, it just fits in. It may sound like it, but it's not over the top, trust me.

One extra plus, if you like singing, is that one of the characters, a Pie Hole employee named Olive Snook (played by one Kristin Chenoweth) sometimes likes to break out in a musical number. This may not sound wierd to those of you who know Chenoweth from "Wicked," the musical.

That's all I have to say about it for now, but I'd strongly encourage everyone to watch the first three episodes and get caught up before next week!! It airs on ABC at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Welcome, Brianne

So, it turns out Kevin was not only the first to marry, but also the first to have a baby.

He and his lovely wife Abby welcomed their first child on Oct. 13, 2007, which is cool because one day her birthday will end up on a Friday the 13th in October. 

Her name is Brianne Bagwill, and, as you can tell by the pictures, she is a very pretty baby. (You did well guys...)

Daddy Kevin with baby Brianne

Brianne, 2 days old, at Alton Memorial Hospital on Oct. 15

It's the cutest thing -- she has lots of black hair in the back, but none in the front (just like her daddy, Kevin joked).

I went to see her during my lunch break today. 

I held her for a minute, but she wasn't the happiest about it. Kevin says she was hungry... but I know better. Kidding. I'm not worried -- they really start liking me when they're old enough to follow me around and make me play with them. I'm a sucker for playtime.

Alright, back to work.

(Sorry the pics are a little blurry guys, I didn't want to use the flash. You can see one other pic--I didn't take all that many-- at My Photobucket)

A picture I drew

I bought a sketchbook recently because of an interest in drawing more than I do. I'm not really good, but I enjoy doing it. 

I Googled "flowers" and came up with this painting, which I thought I'd make my own.

Here is the original:

Unfortunately, I didn't properly edit my version of the drawing (below) too well. It's originally on white paper, but the colors aren't completely accurate. But here it is nevertheless. 

The woman's skin and the lines of the dress on the bottom right are too faint to come out well. Forgive me! 

I miss...

...driving around with a liter of Mountain Dew and a stick of raw sugar cookie dough while stealing golf flags.

...watching midnight lova and obsessing over the Tatler.

...attending any and every Alton High home hockey game.

...seances in Emily's old room. 

...Twister.

...Spongebob Squarecar the Nova. 

...getting excited over someone wearing a yellow shirt. 

...writing notes in class.

...the Urban Sombrero.

...stalking favorite math teachers. 

...sand volleyball at Cougar Village.

...shaving cream fights in Woodland.

...Spades with Thomas/Beth and usually Cory. 

...HAGMO.

..."Dancing in the Moonlight," in 520-1A

...ping pong/bowling at SIUE's U.C.

...hanging at the mall (taking it waaay back).

...Emily's New Year's Theme Parties.

...fighting Megan's treadmill, and the treadmill winning.

...Hit n' Run and Captain Morgan.

...Find your way to the nipple boob mazes. 

...the porn store. 

..."I'm not a virgin in my butt."

...BINGO.

...Late nights in the DEN.

...ICPA.

...JBanquet. 

..."What? You gonna EAT IT?"

..."as you're going through there."

...drunk dancing at the PP.

...late night trips to Wal-Mart and the claw machine (still got my L & B).

...champagne nights on 12th Street.

...Spaghetti wrestling.

...Laura & Emily's "super juice."

...Black Tie Christmas.

...the Team Campus chastity belt.

..." I know why he did it! He did it for the money!"

Ok that's all for now, although there are MANY more. Probably safe to say you can expect at least a few more of these posts... Just feeling a little nostalgic. Can't sleep... Thanks for the memories guys. 

The shit on Last.fm

I inivited all you people to join me on this music/social networking Web site that can easily be described as a MySpace for music. 

'But MySpace already HAS music! And so does Facebook!'

SHUT your mouth, you don't know what you're talking about. 

Last.fm is for people interested in finding others who have similar interests in sound, or for those who want to broaden their horizons a little. 

Some of the features I enjoy:

My profile. This area says a little about me, but it says more about what I like in music. It lists all the recent tracks I've listened to, artists I've been listening to the most lately, and it even has cute little album artwork. Lately, I've been listening to Radiohead more than most, to try and soak in "In Rainbows." The cool thing is, the program you download lets you sync with iTunes and Windows Media Player so it adds music that you listen to in those programs as well as the ones you hear on the site. I've also been listening to the Flaming Lips, but the site doesn't track my iPod so it doesn't know that. 

Journal. Yeah, right, like I NEED another blog. I might use it to casually keep track of new artists I've found tho. We'll see, as I futher explore.

Friends. Not like your average friends on social networking Web sites... I'm looking at David's profile now. I can stalk him (music wise) and find out what he's been listening to and when. It also rates your compatibility with friends-- whose tastes are similar to yours. David and I are a good match it turns out. Probably all the Radiohead.

Recommendations. I don't really know if I like this part yet. The truth is, I haven't listened to enough tracks to get any recommendations. But the idea is a great one. Like Netflix, the movie rental Web site that takes ratings I have given movies and suggests others I'd like, Last.fm takes songs I've "loved" and listened to and tries to turn me on to new music. 

I'm excited to see what I can get from this site. Back to video uploading now. 

(As you can see, Brightcove software, which is what The Telegraph uses, is quite slow on the uptake. Literally.)

Could I BE any more bored?

I'm hoping by writing this blog about being bored that the gods will realize that I need something to do and decide to give it to me. I have three pages to design, nothing to put on them. 

I hate that I don't have anything to do right now, because in about an hour I will be heading to a long lunch in order to play volleyball, and when I get back I'll be busy as hell. I hate working late on Thursdays. But then again, I hate working early any day. Then again, I really dislike working altogether. Yet I hate idle time. 

Go fig. 

So, I've come to a conclusion over the past few days, and I don't know how it came about but what I DO know is this: One of these days I am going to possibly have to live in Chicago (yes, I said it) in order to expand my job horizons. I don't know what I want to do, but I know I'm not meant to write government stories and crime news for the rest of my life. I just can't, and I won't.

While I love St. Louis, it's just not here for me right now. Maybe it's in Chicago, maybe it's not. All I know is I've expanded my job search horizons a lot. Don't worry St. Louis-- if I leave, I'll definitely be back. And sooner rather than later. 

Anybody got any ideas?

Last.fm is addicting

A great way to turn yourself on (no, not sexually...) to new music, Last.fm deserves a chance. 

If you like finding new bands to listen to, you like opening yourself to new experiences, I don't think you will be sorry.

More later...

Radiohead's new album is out

And it's available, for free or for however much the consumer chooses to pay for it, via download from the band's Web site, www.radiohead.com. 

It's called "In Rainbows," and I heard it last night shortly after it came out, because they happen to be David's favorite band. Now, I have my own copy and am listening to it as I type to determine exactly what I think about it. He thinks its the greatest thing to happen since... well, I don't know what. I agree it's good, but we'll get into specifics later. 

The catch, apparently, is that the sound quality isn't the best. I, myself, can't tell a difference really.

According to Billboard.com:

"Modern rock radio network Xfm will premiere "In Rainbows" (THIS AFTERNOON). The station will play all 10 tracks uninterrupted from the 42-and-a-half-minute long album."

Stay tuned for a review at some point, and/or go check it out for yourself if you like the band.

Voxtrot - "Voxtrot" (2007)

It's been a long time coming, but I've finally decided to review a few CDs I have been turned on to by the boyfriend. Expect them to be posted slowly, few and probably far between.

Voxtrot - "Voxtrot" 

(May 2007)

********** (7.5 of 10)

I was originally drawn to download the CD after hearing the song "Rise Up In the Dirt," which David put on a compilation of music he was trying to get me to listen to. The upbeat song, featured on the band's five-track EP released in April 2006 called "Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives," was instantly a favorite of mine, with a little bit of a 60s pop sound. 

I expected the same from this self-titled album, but unfortunately didn't hear anything that popped out at me the way "Rise Up In the Dirt" did. That being said, the album isn't bad, just not one of the best I've ever heard. I would recommend a listen, and am rating it at about a 7.5 of 10. 

Most of the songs seem to be more mellow than I expected from my first glimpse of the band's stuff. 

The first single that was released off the album, "Blood Red Blood" warranted a 4 out of 5 on my rating scale. It's a song I'd probably like a bit more if I gave it a closer listen, but again, nothing really pops just yet about it. 

Other songs of note on the album include "Future Part 1," "Ghost," "Every Day" and "Real Life Version."

"Ghost" has a slow melody, and is a soothing listen, as is "Future Part 1," which starts out with a melody that surprisingly reminds me of the basic melody to "Dancing in the Moonlight." 

"Every Day" is a charming love song, and the only one on the album to warrant my 5 out of 5 rating, with "Real Life Version" following close behind. Speaking of, if you enjoyed the song "In the Deep" (by Bird York) from the Crash Soundtrack (2004), you'll notice that the chorus "a real life version of yoooouuu" sounds a lot like "in the deeeeeeeeeep."

Many of the tunes are saturated in piano, which I love, and I somewhat agree with spin.com's observation that some of the beats seem very Strokes-ish. However, I don't think I like the two groups for the same reason, so while I can see the comparison, I don't think put or encourage anyone else to put too much stock in it.

Check out the indie pop rock band, straight out of Austin, TX, on www.voxtrot.net

I got a blog!

"The newspaper for which I work is now in the blogosphere. I don't get a blog. I have too many other responsibilities I guess. Although, maybe I ought to ask for one. I could be the entertainment/travel lady. I like writing about places to eat and things to do in the area. Maybe I'll ask..."

That was me several days ago. 

Soon, I should have one. 

I will link it when it's up, but it's mainly a travel and local entertainment blog called "Here and There."

Bye Bye Walt Jocketty

per St. Louis Post-Dispatch...

"The Cardinals and general manager Walt Jocketty have "parted ways," according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation. The Cardinals have scheduled a 4 p.m. news conference to discuss Jocketty'€™s departure after 13 seasons as GM.

Assistant general manager John Mozeliak has been named interim GM by Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and is a candidate to succeed Jocketty on a full-time basis.

Jocketty's contract runs through 2008 and he apparently reached terms on a financial settlement with DeWitt in a meeting Wednesday morning. In the meeting, DeWitt informed Jocketty that the franchise was moving forward without him and thanked Jocketty for his service."

Does that mean TLR is gone too??

"How Jocketty'€™s departure will impact La Russa'€™s decision on whether to return as manager for 2008 is uncertain. La Russa'€™s contract expired after Sunday'€™s regular-season finale at Pittsburgh, and though DeWitt has asked La Russa to return, the manager returned home to Northern California to mull the decision."

Stay tuned to www.stltoday.com for more...

The Telegraph is blogging

Hey everyone who cares...

The newspaper for which I work is now in the blogosphere. The women's rights blog (maybe because I am a woman even though I've never been all gung ho about my gender's rights) and the Accent editor's blog are pretty interesting to read. 

I don't get a blog. I have too many other responsibilities I guess. Although, maybe I ought to ask for one. I could be the entertainment/travel lady. I like writing about places to eat and things to do in the area. 

Maybe I'll ask...

Anyway, they want to get the word out that they're there, so I'm going my part. 

www.thetelegraph.com, click on blogs

Hear My Memories

Every once in awhile, I'll be driving home or to a store or wherever I happen to be going, and I'll hear a song on my radio or iPod that takes my mind somewhere else. Those songs have ceased to remain simple songs that I like or remember or occassionally listen to and have instead become a part of my memories themselves. 

I had one of those nights tonight, when I was on my way home from the newsroom, so I thought I'd sit here with my iPod and write down some of those memories as they come up. Keep in mind, my iPod is set to play at random. Here we go:

"Danger Zone" - Kenny Loggins, Top Gun Soundtrack

I'm sitting in Thomas's navy blue '87 Chevy Nova and we're driving down some highway near here around here at about 90 m.p.h. I don't feel very safe knowing that if we crash in this car (I know, I owned a white '88 model), we will certainly die. At the same time, it's kind of exciting.

Wow, teenagers are stupid. Moving on...

"God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You" - NSYNC

I must be back in high school. I'm sitting in my room after Diane and I got home from an NSYNC concert. We just finished seeing the same show we saw the last concert we went to. It must have been part of the same "No Strings Attached" Tour. I have a hairbrush in my hand and I'm trying to convince myself that I can sing. My room is covered in Justin/JC crap. 

Aww.....

"You Make Me Wanna" - Usher

Now I'm in 8th grade, and I'm at a friend's house. Her name is Jana. We're likely talking about some guy I like. I have a crush on about 50 black guys, probably because before this year I have never known any. 

Life experiences...

"All That She Wants" - Ace of Base

We've now journeyed back to my St. Ambrose days. I'm in Tara Meisenheimer's basement with Abby, Jennifer and likely Lauren. We're plotting which boys we might want to try and kiss during this weekend's party, also at Tara's house, during which we will likely play spin the bottle. I'd like it to be Pat. Or Barry. Or ... 

OK, that's enough. I obviously had crushes on EVERYONE...

This is actually kind of fun.

"Gold Digger" - Kanye West

I'm in my room at 1718 12th Street in Charleston, Ill. trying to relax and watch some Food Network, and this song is playing LOUDLY and eminating from my Asian roommate's humble abode. I'll bet it's Thursday, and she's doing her hair so we can make it to BINGO!!! WOOOO!!

God I miss Bingo.

"Barely Legal" - The Strokes

I am hiding under a bed in Alison Hanold's house nervous because someone is walking around out there in the dark, and I hope it's not Brett, cuz he's it. Someone slides under the bed next to me. There aren't any good spots left. Andy?? That was before I dated him. I'm a senior in high school but I think it's awesome to play Hide and Seek. Mostly since Tim and Elaine invented HAGMO (Hide and Go Make Out). 

OK that was loads of fun. Until next time...

Do You Realize

what a damn fool you are that you missed The Flaming Lips show Friday night at the Pageant? Well, maybe this will give you some sort of idea. 

OK so that wasn't the show we were at, but it looks similar. You get the point.

I went with David and Justin, and it was tons of fun. Unfortunately, we had a wasted ticket no one wanted to buy, so everyone else missed out. 

When I was listening to "Do You Realize" and confetti filled the air and the lights were flashing, everyone's hands in the air, I looked up and felt a rush of exhileration I have rarely felt before. That moment was one of the happiest of my life for some reason. It made me think of how lucky I am to be so happy in the relationship I am in, and it was compounded by the fact that he was standing right behind me with his hands on my waist and the fact that the song makes me melt. 

Just thought I'd share with you one of the happiest moments of my life in recent past. 

Season over for Cards, Mets

So the Mets completely and utterly blew it, and the Phillies are going to the playoffs.

And, which I'm sure you already know, the Cubs are going this year instead of the Cards. The Cards slumped right before their elimination just like NY, and then magically got good again once that E was posted next to their name on mlb.com. Then, they played spoilers. 

The situation has left me with no choice but to remember the better times, and look forward to getting pissed when they haven't made any good off season acquisitions... (i.e. pitching and a power guy)

As much as I dislike the Cubs, it is good news that there is a guy called The Riot playing in the playoffs I guess. Chuckle chuckle.

That is all. 

Cholestorol Check

I have to work a late shift tonight because Missy is on vacation. I guess that works out, except the only way I can make it to volleyball is by skipping dinner and going on my break. Even then, I'll be cutting it close. 

One good thing tho-- without volleyball, I won't be going out like I do every Thursday. Why is that a good thing?

I'm not allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight tonight. 

I recently had to switch doctors because mine hit the road recently. It's OK really, because he was kind of a douche and it turns out my new doctor actually knows what he is doing. And he's really nice. But this fasting thing is the negative that comes with the switch. He wants to check me for everything, and with my dad's heart problems, he wants to check my cholesterol levels. 

That means they're going to take my blood. Only a vile of it, but that doesn't take away from the fact that I have grown accustomed to nausea and feeling faint when they do it. I'm scared. 

I never would have developed that fear had I not tried so desperately to give blood four times, only once successfully, over the years. Dealing with all those newbies poking my veins and missing more than they actually hit them has created a fear I just can't seem to get over. 

I guess getting blood taken will be small pudding compared to what it will be like if I have a cholesterol problem. ON the bright side, I'm young and not very unhealthy, so it probably won't be much of a problem, but if it is, I should be able to control the problem with diet. 

Wish me luck.

Sexual Healing: Rick Ankiel

Actually, I was just listening to the song, and I was thinking about stud Rick Ankiel's recent comeback. And his sexy mug:

So, after a 7 for 55 slump since the HGH report came out Sept. 7, Ricky did it. He finally hit another home run, and went 3 for 4, against Pittsburg Saturday night. 

Then, Sunday, he hit the game winning double for the Cards. 

Sexy. 

Listen to the Music

Hey everyone!

My personal blog has gone musical. 

I will soon be working on a playlist that is different from the one on my MySpace (especially one that isn't black and actually matches the page) sometime soon. 

For now, enjoy some of my favorite music while you listen to me rant and rave. Enjoi.

You should watch these

Harry Potter vids on YouTube.com

DON'T READ ON IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE "DEATHLY HALLOWS," AND WANT TO, SPOILERS AHEAD...

Here's why:

This tribute video for the characters that died took me back to reading the 7th book. I actually shed a tear for Hedwig, Tonks, Lupin, Sanpe, Moody, Sirius, James, Lily, Cedric, Colin Creevey, Dobby and Fred Weasley. They did, in all fairness, forget Dumbledore, but it's still a great one. Go on. Giggle. I don't care, it is a sweet video. If you are a HP fan, you HAVE to watch this.  

Fields of Gold: Harry Potter Tribute to the Fallen

ALSO, remember when all those Brokeback spoofs came out just after the movie? It's amazing how many other movies fit so well in the trailer. Observe. 

Harry Potter and the Brokeback Goblet

My updated calendar

Through Christmas

Sept. 21-23- I'm participating in my third fantasy football draft this year. Since I hate football, this may be surprising to many of you, but let me tell you something. The STL Puppet Jugglers and the Turf Munchers could whoop your asses any day of the week. Let's just hope I Eat Dirt, a team that will be entirely drafted BY ME ONLY, can at least beat the Butt Sluts, who, by the way, are 10-8 this week in their race to 9th place. This is an amazing feat, being that they finished 80+ games out of first and in 12th place of 12 teams.  

Sept. 28-30- David, Justin, anonymous and I are going to see the Flaming Lips at the Pageant on Friday.

Oct. 5-7- begins the Halloween season in this area. No plans yet. 

Oct. 12-14- The 13th is mine and David's  5-month anniversary. Go us.

Oct. 19-21- EIU Homecoming- I might go up for the day on Saturday to see the game and then come back, since I can't get Sundays off anymore. 

Oct. 26-28- It's almost Halloween and I'm on VACATION for nine days. Hopefully I'm doing Halloween stuff! 

Nov. 2-4- I'll be visiting Diane in Austin Nov. 1- 3, then it's back to work on Sunday. 

Nov. 9-11- No plans yet.

Nov. 16-18- MY BIRTHDAY WEEKEND!! Erin and Brian coming for a visit.

Nov. 23-25- No plans yet.

Nov. 30- Dec. 2- No plans yet.

Dec. 7-9- No plans yet.

Dec. 14-16- No plans yet.

Dec. 21-23- It's almost Christmas! No plans yet.

Dec. 28-30- No plans yet, which is sad to say since I've been attending interesting New Year's parties at Emily's for years now. Guess it's time for a new tradition. 

TO DO: 

*Visit Thomas and Beth in Ohio. 

*Visit Chicago.

*Visit Lincoln/EIU

Quick Post: Harry Potter

I rented "Prisoner of Azkaban" last night. 

I have a real problem. 

Quick Post: V-ball

Tonight is our last night of sand volleyball-regular session. The next two weeks will be the tournament. Hopefully we can do better than we have been -- we've recently been through a funk that has been worse than that of the St. Louis Cardinals. And that's sad, because an 8-game streak is almost the entire session. We've been picking it up a little recently, though, and hopefully we'll get back to our old selves.

 

Still haven't heard back from Roxie from Norb's. If we don't soon, we may have a new sponsor, the Regal Beagle. Although I will miss Norb's Thursdays. 

 

--

Oops, I Wapped My Pants

My Journey into Dorkyland

Hey everyone! I read FAN FICTION now!

Laugh all you want. 

It's a serious affliction I contracted from Brian O'Malley's most recent visit. 

And the fact that I can't get enough Harry Potter. 

Here are the sites I have checked out:

www.checkmated.com - a Ron and Hermione site

www.veritaserum.com

www.sugarquill.net

(Those two speak for themselves I think.)

Anyway, I have a thing for Remus Lupin. I don't know why, but it might have to do with the fact that he is a werewolf, but a good guy, which I find interesting. 

The first fan fiction story I read was one that filled in the gap where Tonks and Lupin died, since it happened away from Harry and the "Deathly Hallows" just glances over it. It was told from Tonks' P.o.V. 

The only problem I have so far with fan fiction is that I'll have certain ideas about the way that these "hidden" scenes must have played out and they don't always hit the mark like J.K.R.'s writing usually does. Can't wait for that encyclopedia!

(There will be more as I read on...)

P.S. Wouldn't it be sweet to dress up like Tonks for Halloween?? I am such a nerd.

A Cards v. Cubs weekend

Brian came this weekend. 

It was reminiscent of the last time we saw each other about three weekends in a row, which, obviously, is a good thing. Sadly, we won't make it to three this time. Better luck next time I guess. 

Mr. O'Malley arrived around 1 p.m. Friday and David and I took him to David's favorite restaurant-- Moonlight, in Fosterburg-- for some fried chicken and the house salad that makes it famous around here.

After that, we headed into the city for the game, which we watched from my Pujols Pack seats, in section 447. It was my last game in those seats, behind that black railing you have to look over or under. :(

Adam Wainwright pitched against Carlos Zambrano. Waino looked rocky at first, but basically kept the pace with "Chucky Z" as Brian calls him.

Blasphemy. (see above)

Anyway, the Cards ended up losing 5-3, but not before hitting back to back home runs off Ryan "Dumpster," the Cubs' closer. Oh yeah, did I mention their best player was Jason Isringhausen? Grrr he made me mad. But I was a good loser. I did get my Rick Ankiel shirt (sexy No. 24), so I guess we accomplished something. 

After the game we came home and talked Harry Potter, a recurring theme over the weekend. (By recurring, I mean every 10 minutes or so.) When David got off work at 2, he came over and the subject veered toward sports and Mike Shannon and his dumb quips. Good times. 

The next day, Brian and I headed to the St. Louis Zoo (with the Cubs v. Cards game on the radio, which the Cards lost, again. The good news is, we heard a Shannonism. Something about bringing the bacon...) We rode some Dinosaur simulator, which was a gas, and I took a sweet video of some sort of chimp playing on a fake vine. We were standing next to a bear when some dude told us to find the exit. Apparently the zoo closes at 5... I don't go there often enough to know that already. 

Next, we planned to head downtown to eat and watch the game at JBuck's, only 365 steps from Busch Stadium (or whatever). And on our way there, we planned to ask a scalper how much for a ticket to the second game of the day's doubleheader, just for fun. 

The way there was hell. The balloon race was going on and there were cars EVERYWHERE. Police blocked the highway I needed so I got to Delmar, the quickest way open I knew how to get downtown. 

Who's thirsty?

Need to get somewhere fast?

When we finally got downtown, we got money from an ATM just in case we could get tickets, but every scalper we saw was already talking to someone. So we stopped in front of the ticket windows, where I told Brian to ask if there were any tickets left-- standing room only, whatever-- I mean, what could it hurt?

Good timing= two tickets had just gotten released. We bought them for $44 and saw our second Cards v. Cubs game in a row. Joel Pineiro beat the Cubs' Sean Marshall for the Cardinals' win this time. 4-3. We were even, even if the Cubs and Cards themselves were not. (And they weren't/aren't.)

After the game, we picked up David and played Mario Party at Kevin and Abby's and then went back to David's and asked each other some trivia. I fell asleep so they figured it was time for us to leave. 

Look for an additional post about all the Harry Potter on my mind now...