We're now on Bourbon Street at Chateau Sonesta - having spread the wealth to the French Market by purchasing things we'll never use, and trinkets for friends - who will thank us and toss them in the back of a drawer.
We're headed out to take more pictures and will post them here as we get them. We'll be careful to screen out the boring ones, and ones that are too personal to share. (there are SOO many transvestites in this city!)
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Monday, December 27, 2004
Verve
I have no creative thoughts today. It appears I will be writing one of those "here's what I did today" entries, so I should apologize in advance.
The day started with a trip to the car dealership to have the tires rotated and balanced. The excitement of the trip was palpable. Then a quick stop at Lowe's to get light bulbs, a self-coiling hose (to water the atrium) and a new toilet flush handle. WOW! I did witness a hit-n-run accident in the parking lot and provided a description of the vehicle to authorities. My heart nearly exploded from the stimulus.
I continued home, where a list titled "things to do before vacation" awaited me. I couldn't WAIT to dig right in! Obviously the list included changing light bulbs, watering the atrium and fixing the toilet. Good thing I am in complete and total control of my emotions.
Afterward, I met up with Tawnya and Danny for late lunch at TGIFriday, then saw the movie "Meet the Fockers." It was irritating in spots, and much like my day, fairly predictable. Then we dropped Danny at a friends to spend the night, came home and watched the Rams beat the Eagles on MNF, which was fairly shocking. We hit the hot tub for a few minutes, then retired for the night.
I have no idea how I was able to function today, considering the furious ado. I just hope things slow down soon.
The day started with a trip to the car dealership to have the tires rotated and balanced. The excitement of the trip was palpable. Then a quick stop at Lowe's to get light bulbs, a self-coiling hose (to water the atrium) and a new toilet flush handle. WOW! I did witness a hit-n-run accident in the parking lot and provided a description of the vehicle to authorities. My heart nearly exploded from the stimulus.
I continued home, where a list titled "things to do before vacation" awaited me. I couldn't WAIT to dig right in! Obviously the list included changing light bulbs, watering the atrium and fixing the toilet. Good thing I am in complete and total control of my emotions.
Afterward, I met up with Tawnya and Danny for late lunch at TGIFriday, then saw the movie "Meet the Fockers." It was irritating in spots, and much like my day, fairly predictable. Then we dropped Danny at a friends to spend the night, came home and watched the Rams beat the Eagles on MNF, which was fairly shocking. We hit the hot tub for a few minutes, then retired for the night.
I have no idea how I was able to function today, considering the furious ado. I just hope things slow down soon.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Christmas Day 2004
It's a sunny, beautiful day on Christmas morning here in St. Louis. Most of our TRADITIONAL Christmas celebration is over, we opened gifts and had the Christmas morning activities with the kids yesterday. It's amazing how Christmas seems like a race against "the others." (the kids' other parents) Ah, a subject for a different blog.
Afterward, we began our day of driving, with the first stop at Tawnya's parents for feasting and opening more presents. It turned out to be a great stop, my sister and brother-in-law got me a half-pint of Jack Daniels, which we quickly opened and passed around. It was "gone in 60 seconds."
We left at around 3:30 and dropped our son Danny off at Dan's. (one of "the others") Then it was on to Columbia to drop Courtney off at her Mom's and drove to Warsaw to take my Mom home. We covered almost 600 miles in 10 hours, with only one small delay... a run-in with a Pettis county highway patrol officer who graciously issued us nothing more than a Merry Christmas, and wishes for a safe SLOWER trip. We finally got home at about 1 am and lapsed into a coma until 9 this morning.
Our Christmas day is starting with a fire in the hearth room, a good breakfast/coffee and watching the travel channel for ideas. Soon we'll call family and spread merriment, then go to Rick & Robins for food and drinks. Tonight we'll head to the chinese restaurant and pig out with Gary, Mike & Paula.
I'm hoping that I can spend the wee hours of the morning as Christmas passes, in the backyard under the stars with my wife and some hot chocolate. I'm sure we'll talk about how next year maybe WE can have the kids on Christmas... about how next years gifts will be more creative and less expensive... and we'll probably lament about how Christmas has been distorted into a barely recognizable ghost of its former self.
Then we'll toast and go to bed.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, whoever and wherever you are... and may you have a blessed 2005!
Afterward, we began our day of driving, with the first stop at Tawnya's parents for feasting and opening more presents. It turned out to be a great stop, my sister and brother-in-law got me a half-pint of Jack Daniels, which we quickly opened and passed around. It was "gone in 60 seconds."
We left at around 3:30 and dropped our son Danny off at Dan's. (one of "the others") Then it was on to Columbia to drop Courtney off at her Mom's and drove to Warsaw to take my Mom home. We covered almost 600 miles in 10 hours, with only one small delay... a run-in with a Pettis county highway patrol officer who graciously issued us nothing more than a Merry Christmas, and wishes for a safe SLOWER trip. We finally got home at about 1 am and lapsed into a coma until 9 this morning.
Our Christmas day is starting with a fire in the hearth room, a good breakfast/coffee and watching the travel channel for ideas. Soon we'll call family and spread merriment, then go to Rick & Robins for food and drinks. Tonight we'll head to the chinese restaurant and pig out with Gary, Mike & Paula.
Side note: during dinner, Dr. Mike and I will plan our next idea to make a million, which we'll later agree would never work anyway.
I'm hoping that I can spend the wee hours of the morning as Christmas passes, in the backyard under the stars with my wife and some hot chocolate. I'm sure we'll talk about how next year maybe WE can have the kids on Christmas... about how next years gifts will be more creative and less expensive... and we'll probably lament about how Christmas has been distorted into a barely recognizable ghost of its former self.
Then we'll toast and go to bed.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, whoever and wherever you are... and may you have a blessed 2005!
Words
Things pop into my mind and I seldom have control of when or why. Having said that...
I'm in the business of words... so I wonder what the most uttered words on Christmas day might be here in America. Would it be MERRY CHRISTMAS, or GOOD MORNING? I'd say THANK YOU is right up there, probably at number two. I believe the number one most uttered phrase on Christmas morning is probably "I didn't know."
I'll bet if you really think about it, I DIDN'T KNOW is probably Christmas mornings most articulated phrase.
I'm glad I got to the bottom of that.
I'm in the business of words... so I wonder what the most uttered words on Christmas day might be here in America. Would it be MERRY CHRISTMAS, or GOOD MORNING? I'd say THANK YOU is right up there, probably at number two. I believe the number one most uttered phrase on Christmas morning is probably "I didn't know."
"I didn't know what size to get you."
"I didn't know if green was your color."
"I didn't know if you'd really like an oil painting of deer mating."
"I didn't know if you were still collecting statuettes of Donald Trump."
I'll bet if you really think about it, I DIDN'T KNOW is probably Christmas mornings most articulated phrase.
"I didn't know if Sam was getting you the matching fishnet hose to go with this leather thong."
I'm glad I got to the bottom of that.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Does Santa have tits?
I'm wrapping. I have finished my Christmas shopping. I am elated, I am tired, I am relieved!
During my show today, we discussed the sex of Santa. Oh sure, most assume he's a "he." "He" is not. He couldn't be.
This is my spin on why, based loosely on an editorial I read once:
First, has a man ever chosen a gift more than a couple of days before Christmas? Of course not. He waits until nothing remains except Pocket Fishermen, Cap Snafflers and a smattering of medium-size shirts. (gee, could this be why most gifts from a man have to be exchanged?) Evidence: Santa=woman
Then there's the whole "stopping and asking for directions" thing. Do you think for one minute that Santa could get to all those chimneys without getting lost once? And if Santa WERE a man, I guarantee he'd still be driving around looking for addresses on Valentine's Day. So obviously Santa is stopping and asking the gas station attendant when in doubt. Fortunately for Santa, the only gas station open on Christmas eve night is being manned by Elvis - and they have a mutual secrecy "clause." (har har, get it?) Evidence: Santa=woman
And how about the whole "reindeer" thing? If Santa WERE male, those deer would be gutted, field dressed and hung by their hind legs before departing the North Pole! And I'm pretty certain at least one of the racks would be headed via Fed Ex to a taxidermist for mounting. Evidence: Santa=woman
A few other reasons Santa must be a woman -
During my show today, we discussed the sex of Santa. Oh sure, most assume he's a "he." "He" is not. He couldn't be.
This is my spin on why, based loosely on an editorial I read once:
First, has a man ever chosen a gift more than a couple of days before Christmas? Of course not. He waits until nothing remains except Pocket Fishermen, Cap Snafflers and a smattering of medium-size shirts. (gee, could this be why most gifts from a man have to be exchanged?) Evidence: Santa=woman
Then there's the whole "stopping and asking for directions" thing. Do you think for one minute that Santa could get to all those chimneys without getting lost once? And if Santa WERE a man, I guarantee he'd still be driving around looking for addresses on Valentine's Day. So obviously Santa is stopping and asking the gas station attendant when in doubt. Fortunately for Santa, the only gas station open on Christmas eve night is being manned by Elvis - and they have a mutual secrecy "clause." (har har, get it?) Evidence: Santa=woman
And how about the whole "reindeer" thing? If Santa WERE male, those deer would be gutted, field dressed and hung by their hind legs before departing the North Pole! And I'm pretty certain at least one of the racks would be headed via Fed Ex to a taxidermist for mounting. Evidence: Santa=woman
A few other reasons Santa must be a woman -
- Men never answer mail, nor do they read it.
- Men wouldn't be caught dead hanging with red-and-green-dressed midgets, it would be too much of a blow to their masculinity.
- The phrase HO HO HO would NEVER be his trademark, it practically guarantees he'll never get laid.
- It would be difficult to imagine a man being okay with the "bowl full of jelly" comparison.
- A stocking never crossed a man's mind without having a female leg in it... why would Santa be any different?
Last, but not least... being in charge of Christmas would require serious commitment. Overwhelming predominance of evidence: Santa=woman
I'm glad we finally know the truth. I can now get back to wrapping my wife's new jerky machine.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Fear and Lasagna
St. Louis Rams suck.
I was forced to rise at a ridiculously early hour this morning after staying up a little too late the night before. Tawnya worked into the wee hours, making dessert for the girls in her Bunko group... she's hosting a party tonight for twenty players... and I tried to keep her company, but I forced myself into bed prematurely to avoid the morning headache which accompanies lack of sleep.
My wife is serving homemade lasagna, salad, dinner rolls... and dream pie & fudge for dessert. And of course, I can't have any. "It's for the girls!"
So the boys and I will head to Frailey's to watch Monday night football and drink beers. And I won't bring her any.
Mom's here visiting for the week, so we're telling stories and catching up. I was just thinking about fears our parents instill in us, as I was handing her a particularly robust pair of scissors. I began thinking about how long she terrorized me by making me believe I could possibly fall on a pair, driving them deep into my own chest... even though I haven't fallen in that manner since I was - oh, 6. As if somehow my wrist would encounter a strange centrifugal force and turn at just the right moment (called the "shear instant") and become a deadly dagger of death. An inadvertent self-serve bayonet.
Remember Mom telling you how it is dangerous to lick the peanut butter knife? Again, as if you could find a way to fall face-first directly onto it, driving it deep into your skull via your PB&J hole... causing severe life-threatening esophageal lacerations.
Deadly, horrifying pseudo-SWORDS, those butter knives.
Talk about irrational mother-imposed fear.
I was forced to rise at a ridiculously early hour this morning after staying up a little too late the night before. Tawnya worked into the wee hours, making dessert for the girls in her Bunko group... she's hosting a party tonight for twenty players... and I tried to keep her company, but I forced myself into bed prematurely to avoid the morning headache which accompanies lack of sleep.
My wife is serving homemade lasagna, salad, dinner rolls... and dream pie & fudge for dessert. And of course, I can't have any. "It's for the girls!"
So the boys and I will head to Frailey's to watch Monday night football and drink beers. And I won't bring her any.
Mom's here visiting for the week, so we're telling stories and catching up. I was just thinking about fears our parents instill in us, as I was handing her a particularly robust pair of scissors. I began thinking about how long she terrorized me by making me believe I could possibly fall on a pair, driving them deep into my own chest... even though I haven't fallen in that manner since I was - oh, 6. As if somehow my wrist would encounter a strange centrifugal force and turn at just the right moment (called the "shear instant") and become a deadly dagger of death. An inadvertent self-serve bayonet.
Remember Mom telling you how it is dangerous to lick the peanut butter knife? Again, as if you could find a way to fall face-first directly onto it, driving it deep into your skull via your PB&J hole... causing severe life-threatening esophageal lacerations.
Deadly, horrifying pseudo-SWORDS, those butter knives.
Talk about irrational mother-imposed fear.
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Travel and Elvis
Bright sunshine this morning, but a cold front moves through St. Louis tomorrow and will leave us in the low teens to single-digits. Some friends suggested that we all get out of town right after Christmas, around the 28th, and head to... someplace warm. I checked the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico... and there are no flights available. Period.
So the next idea was to drive somewhere warm. I looked into Destin, but the highs during that time are supposed to be only in the low 50's... so the cold weather is headed way south that week. No part of Florida will be warm except Miami, but flights are 3 times normal rate.
I checked into New Orleans, but weather there will be 50s daytime, 20s at night. There are Caribbean cruises available, but Rick's not a big fan of boats... and again the problem is, the cost of a flight to the port is twice the cost of the cruise itself.
So we may be destined to stay here and rough it out. Did I mention I hate cold weather?
I was reading the news about the sale of Elvis Presley Enterprises. It includes movie and music rights, rights to his image and likeness, the land across the street from Graceland, the planes... basically the business and all his professional accomplishments. It was all sold by his daughter Lisa Marie for a mere 100 million dollars! A pittance, considering it's a cash generator - 45 million EACH YEAR. What was she thinking? Gosh, I hope Elvis really is dead. I'd hate to know he was witnessing the selling off of his accomplishments and fame for the basic equivalent of beer and cigarette money. At least she's retained a place to drink and smoke them away - she keeps Graceland and the 13 acres it sits on.
Hey, maybe we'll go to Memphis! Gambling and ribs can go a long way toward feeling warm.
I still haven't set the tree up, but it's happening today, no excuses. Then, tonight I'll finish my Christmas shopping. We have hell-week coming, Monday night Tawnya is hosting a bunko party. Twenty giggling, dice rolling, gossiping women will take over my living room and disrupt my spiritual "center." Thursday we host another holiday party with friends and family at 5 that evening. (the entire week I be busy in the recording studio, and I'm doing the morning show on the Bull Monday thru Thursday) Friday we'll celebrate Christmas with Tawnya's family, then drive the kids to their "other" parents' houses. (two hours in opposite directions) Finally, Christmas day we'll get a break.
God REST ye merry gentlemen.
Yeah, right.
So the next idea was to drive somewhere warm. I looked into Destin, but the highs during that time are supposed to be only in the low 50's... so the cold weather is headed way south that week. No part of Florida will be warm except Miami, but flights are 3 times normal rate.
I checked into New Orleans, but weather there will be 50s daytime, 20s at night. There are Caribbean cruises available, but Rick's not a big fan of boats... and again the problem is, the cost of a flight to the port is twice the cost of the cruise itself.
So we may be destined to stay here and rough it out. Did I mention I hate cold weather?
I was reading the news about the sale of Elvis Presley Enterprises. It includes movie and music rights, rights to his image and likeness, the land across the street from Graceland, the planes... basically the business and all his professional accomplishments. It was all sold by his daughter Lisa Marie for a mere 100 million dollars! A pittance, considering it's a cash generator - 45 million EACH YEAR. What was she thinking? Gosh, I hope Elvis really is dead. I'd hate to know he was witnessing the selling off of his accomplishments and fame for the basic equivalent of beer and cigarette money. At least she's retained a place to drink and smoke them away - she keeps Graceland and the 13 acres it sits on.
Hey, maybe we'll go to Memphis! Gambling and ribs can go a long way toward feeling warm.
I still haven't set the tree up, but it's happening today, no excuses. Then, tonight I'll finish my Christmas shopping. We have hell-week coming, Monday night Tawnya is hosting a bunko party. Twenty giggling, dice rolling, gossiping women will take over my living room and disrupt my spiritual "center." Thursday we host another holiday party with friends and family at 5 that evening. (the entire week I be busy in the recording studio, and I'm doing the morning show on the Bull Monday thru Thursday) Friday we'll celebrate Christmas with Tawnya's family, then drive the kids to their "other" parents' houses. (two hours in opposite directions) Finally, Christmas day we'll get a break.
God REST ye merry gentlemen.
Yeah, right.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Hospitals, Christmas & the Chinese
I haven't posted for a couple of days, I've had my hands quite full.
Tuesday morning started as usual, made coffee and opened my laptop to start scouring the news sites to find out what happened overnight. A few minutes later I'm feeling this pain in my right jaw and right-upper back below my shoulder blade. Hmmm... that feels weird. Generally, if it's your heart it will be in the left side of your body, so I wasn't particularly worried, but decided to call my doctor anyway. He sent me right to the ER...
...which of course screwed up my entire day.
I'm only 40 and in relatively decent shape - so I knew it was nothing big. I went through a battery of tests and x-rays. All tests were perfectly normal, the x-ray showed nothing. They scheduled me for a stress test, just to make sure. After thinking about it, it appears it was a sore gum/tooth and indigestion. Jesus what a waste of the day. The good news is, I got to find out for sure that I was heart-healthy, always a nice thing to know.
After the hectic day at the hospital, we had our traditional yearly Sam's Steakhouse dinner with our friends Debbie and Tim. Ironic, after being tested for heart-related problems I figured it was time for a 24-ounce porterhouse, baked potato and salad. (the salad cancels out the steak, so it's okay... right?) It was fun catching up with Debbie & Tim, the last time we saw them was earlier this year when Tawnya organized a trip to New Orleans for my 40th birthday. It was great, 10 people went for 4 days and we got really wasted. (shocking pictures below, scroll down) It's become a tradition among a circle of our friends to celebrate my birthday somewhere out of town. My 39th was in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Another favorite tradition of mine - every Christmas night we have a late dinner at a Chinese restaurant. We always celebrate the holiday on Christmas EVE, which leaves our entire Christmas day open to do whatever we want. Pretty cool actually... the Chinese don't celebrate Christmas, and since it's harder to find an open restaurant on Christmas night than lettuce in Kirstie Alley's digestive tract, you always have a good amount of company. And generally there's a vibe in the room, sort of a "thank goodness Christmas is over" camraderie.
Strange, I ALREADY feel that vibe at my house.
So it's Wednesday, and I told myself I'd have the Christmas tree up last Sunday. It's still in the box, but... the box is out of storage and sitting in the middle of the family room! Such PROGRESS! Hopefully, sometime before the 24th, I'll open the box and assemble its contents.
Tuesday morning started as usual, made coffee and opened my laptop to start scouring the news sites to find out what happened overnight. A few minutes later I'm feeling this pain in my right jaw and right-upper back below my shoulder blade. Hmmm... that feels weird. Generally, if it's your heart it will be in the left side of your body, so I wasn't particularly worried, but decided to call my doctor anyway. He sent me right to the ER...
...which of course screwed up my entire day.
I'm only 40 and in relatively decent shape - so I knew it was nothing big. I went through a battery of tests and x-rays. All tests were perfectly normal, the x-ray showed nothing. They scheduled me for a stress test, just to make sure. After thinking about it, it appears it was a sore gum/tooth and indigestion. Jesus what a waste of the day. The good news is, I got to find out for sure that I was heart-healthy, always a nice thing to know.
After the hectic day at the hospital, we had our traditional yearly Sam's Steakhouse dinner with our friends Debbie and Tim. Ironic, after being tested for heart-related problems I figured it was time for a 24-ounce porterhouse, baked potato and salad. (the salad cancels out the steak, so it's okay... right?) It was fun catching up with Debbie & Tim, the last time we saw them was earlier this year when Tawnya organized a trip to New Orleans for my 40th birthday. It was great, 10 people went for 4 days and we got really wasted. (shocking pictures below, scroll down) It's become a tradition among a circle of our friends to celebrate my birthday somewhere out of town. My 39th was in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Another favorite tradition of mine - every Christmas night we have a late dinner at a Chinese restaurant. We always celebrate the holiday on Christmas EVE, which leaves our entire Christmas day open to do whatever we want. Pretty cool actually... the Chinese don't celebrate Christmas, and since it's harder to find an open restaurant on Christmas night than lettuce in Kirstie Alley's digestive tract, you always have a good amount of company. And generally there's a vibe in the room, sort of a "thank goodness Christmas is over" camraderie.
Strange, I ALREADY feel that vibe at my house.
So it's Wednesday, and I told myself I'd have the Christmas tree up last Sunday. It's still in the box, but... the box is out of storage and sitting in the middle of the family room! Such PROGRESS! Hopefully, sometime before the 24th, I'll open the box and assemble its contents.
New Orleans Birthday Trip Pics!
I am sofa king hammered (slur the words together to get the meaning)
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