Meet the Hawks

With our tickets in hand, and a beautiful sunny day in St. Louis, Mike and I head down to scope out the down town area. Mike makes a few circles around the Center and scopes out where to park and our exit after the game is over.
We found a parking spot on a main street and walk on over to Busch stadium. It looks like a really awesome place to watch baseball with the playing field below ground level. Everything was a buzz with the workers sprucing up the place for opening day.

We are just wandering around the area and stumble on Hawks fans standing outside the Westin Hotel. Must be where they are staying!
I didn't have anything to do, so I got behind a rope and waited. Mike he went to feed the meter.

The wait worth it? I think so!
The coach was the first one out. Mike wasn't back from the car yet and I didn't have anything for him to sign so I just shook his hand and wished him luck.

Then the players started filing out. Mike got back and I grabbed his hat. I wasn't sure what to do wave the hat at them to sign or snap their picture. I took a few pictures, but really wanted some autographs.
I got Kane and Hossa on Mike's hat.

I always thought that it looked strange with grown men and women with Toews and Kane hockey sweaters on. Those boys are old enough to be my sons. I'm thinking a Hull, Miketa, or Esposito would be more fitting. I changed my mind. Patrick Kane signed everything that was waved in his face and posed for pictures with fans. HIS sweater I would wear.
We go back to the car to a parking ticket. WTF! The meter had 18 minutes on it. No Parking between 4-6. Opps! so we just paid $25 for a couple Hawks autographs.

The game -
I haven't been to a hockey game in like forever. I forgot how cold it is. i grab a beer and Mike gets a Pepsi and we settle in for the warm ups.
US at the glass.

I got us seats in the 8th row. View from our seats.

Niemi in action.

We had a great time - The only bad thing was the score.
Mike can still amaze me with his photographic "map" memory and we were out of there in record time.

Hello from St. Louis

I surprised Mike with Blackhawk tickets for our anniversary - oh yeah in St. Louis!

We got down here on Sunday and we are staying at the new hotel near the new receptions place.
We started out downtown St. Charles to check out the 2 places that Mary told us about for the rehearsal dinner.
The first place we went got the thumbs down (even thought they had great draft beer - Moose Drool). We liked the second place, met up with the manager and secured a spot for Friday the 13th.

We then head on over to the casino (really right around the corner). I sit at a penny slot. First pull 400 I win 400 time my bet or $4. Woo Hoo!
I'm getting adventurous, as much as I do when I gamble, and try a joker poker machine for a quarter. My fifth or sixth time around I decide to go for a inside straight flush, come on queen of spades, (Mike is laughing) and cha-ching. $75 and I'm going home. Thank You!

Monday morn we walked over to the reception hall and checked that out. Thumbs UP! Then we walked on over to the Casino. (about 15 minutes me walking and 7 or 8 minutes Bryan and Andy walking) downhill there/uphill back. Very do-able if someone wanted to stay there. Put a few bucks into the joker poker machines, but still ahead.
They do have piagow, but it wasn't open.
Had lunch downtown St. Charles. We ate outside in a garden with the magnolias and the forsythia blooming.
Had dinner at the Murpheys where Maryellen and I pretty much figured out the rehearsal dinner menu. We can't get enough "wedding talk".

Heading into downtown St. Louis today to walk around.

BLACKHAWKS game tonight!!!!!!!! Go Hawks!

Helloooo Anyone There?

Apparently I'm not the only one who has been missing.

I decided that I deserve something new to wear. Why? - because I have dropped at least one size, we are taking a trip, and I need a pick me up. I have no idea what made me think that shopping would make me feel better.

I head over to the mall in St. Charles and there are no stores there. Seriously the only stores are the anchor ones. Real bummer. It felt a little scary walking by all these empty stores, but I just got in line with the mall walkers and followed them.

Of course I didn't buy anything (I really don't know how women can do this all the time and actually enjoy it), but I did get my steps in.

Oh Yeah, I stopped in Von Maur and my dress for the wedding is on sale - $65 dollars cheaper. Ain't that a kick in the pants!

Tag Along

It's 60 degress outside and the forecast calls for snow tomorrow. What?
I call Mom and ask her if she wants to get out of the house and tag along with me while I do my errands. she said Yes!

We stopped at the S.E. Fire station to get our blood pressure checked and to see Sharen.
Sharen took us into the bay to show off the new hook and ladder truck.


We finished our running around, so bring on the snow. (for the last time, I hope) - Mom got out of the house and I got to spend some time with my Mom. A good day!

Got Out

With this warm weather today...
The neighbor's son got his motorcycle out of their garage that he stores there.
The other neighbor got out his vintage vet.
Mike got out our bikes. (His golf clubs got out yesterday)


Me - I got the sheets out on the line.

Oh, and I got the flower beds in front of the house cleaned out.

Vase?

I love fresh flowers in my house.
Spring is the perfect time to bring in the forsythia, lilacs, daffodils, tulips, Hyacinths, or what ever is growing wild in my yard. They are almost ready!

My husband realizes this and sends me flowers. He doesn't spend too much money and it really makes me happy. When I was working he would send them to me there and everybody would ask why? "because my husband loves me"!

Now I have way too many vases in the downstairs storage and I only keep the ones I like.

This Valentine's day (also 24th anniversary) he brought them home from the store himself. When the carnations and roses had finally wilted I went to clean the vase and realize that this would make a perfect drinking glass (hold 32 oz).

It's a well known fact that I DO NOT like to drink out of plastic, unless of course it's beer in a beer garden or my special cup with the rubber bottom for a beverage in the hot tub. At home it's glass always. I don't drink soda and I don't like ice in my water or green tea at home, just a slice of lemon and I'm good to go.

I can drink 2 or 3 of these and get my water in for the day so you decide.....

Vase? or drinking glass?

Dear Camera,

If you had stayed with me this weekend you would have seen.
A female deer make her nest under our bedroom window. (I hope she isn't waiting to eat my tulips and hosta that are peeking through).
You would have captured Bryan and Mary with their heads together addressing and stuffing the "Save the Date" magnets.
I would of gotten a picture of Mom with her oldest daughter Vicki and one of her youngest daughters (me)having lunch together on her 87th birthday.

BUT NOOOOO you had to travel on the train with Mike to Reno and see this.

Eat More?

So I finished my three week purification process and I can start adding different foods besides vege's and fruit into my diet. That was 2 weeks ago.

The thing is I don't want to. I'm really feeling great and I don't want to F it up. I started eating rice and oatmeal for breakfast and when Bryan, Mary and I went our for lunch I ate a Mexican salad. That's about the farthest I have ventured away from this program. I talked with my doctor and he recommended adding some dairy this week.

Mike is gone on his annual bowling trip (he rode the train to Reno) and I am free to eat anything and everything I want, so I can't blame my first slip up on him.

I really thought that my first slip up would be alcohol, but it turns out it wasn't.

Mike won a Keurig coffee maker at the credit union dinner and I broke down and had a cup of decaf.

Coffee over beer, wine or a Margarita what is wrong with me?

Mary Margaret

When I was growing up Sharen and I had to attend Catholic school during the summer. We would try anything to get out of going. Classes would start with mass at the church across from the school.

When Mike and I went to church last Sunday I was disappointed to see the piano up front covered - No music? Then I heard the organ start up and the choir up in the choir loft and I almost burst out laughing. It brought back the time that Sharen and I got caught sneaking up into the loft trying to get away from school. There are two place that you do not go in church without an invitation one is behind the altar and the other is up in the choir loft. It had a wooden stair case that wound up and reminded me of a Nancy Drew Mystery Book.

We had a teacher by the name of Sister Mary Margaret. She carried a ruler, but all she did was tap your desk. Her big thing was taking you for a walk during recess back and forth in front of the school and made you recite prayers. You didn't get to play on the playground and the whole world could see that you were getting a talking to. We used to call her "the Walker Taker."

Now every time I get a email from Bryan's Mary Margaret or when I hear her Father affectionly says her name, I smile and it brings back memories of my Mary Margaret, the "Walker Taker".
Maybe the man upstairs is telling me to smile more, by putting back a Mary Margaret into my life. I think it's working! I'm beginning to love the name.