An Eerie Coincidence?

Please check out the story on my other blog, bizzymissliz.

If you have the time, maybe you could refer me to a tutorial that would show me how to combine these two blogs under one name....thanks!

Weekend Reflections, D.C. Style

This is your typical tourist "point and shoot" photo that was taken in Washington, D.C, the day after Michael Jackson passed away. This particular Newspaper stand has hundreds of front pages of newspapers from all over the USA. It is an incredible sight. If you look closely towards the right side of the picture you can see the beginnings of the trees, and at the end of the picture is a woman who, I think, is a great example of a tourist.

Each weekend Newtown Area Photo hosts a meme post for photographers (and non-photographers) to share pictures which show reflections of any kind. It's a great place to visit and you can spend hours clicking on other blogs to see their pictures of reflections. It's a wonderful journey into the world of photography that I love to take each weekend. There are some amazing artists out there!

I hope you all are enjoying this holiday weekend. My best wishes to you for the New Year.

Sundays in My City

Have you heard of Unknown Mami? She has a delightful blog where she shares photos of her city on Sundays. She invites the rest of us to link up with her and share some of our own city's photos. Click on the logo to visit Mami's Sundays in My City!

I live in St. Louis, Missouri. Welcome to my city!

These beautiful creatures are a pride and joy of St. Louis. The Clydesdale horses are a symbol of the Anhauser-Busch era. They are still very representative of the former company, as well as, the city of St. Louis.

I took another picture of my Snowpumpkin on my front porch. I thought you might be amused to see the before and after pictures. From the few freezes that we have had, the pumpkin is now a big ball of mush. I tapped it with my foot and nearly went through the whole pumpkin.




Hmmmmm...it reminds me of the saggy things on me!!!!

Have a great Sunday!

Random Dozen

This is a fun meme that I found at Linda's blog, 2nd Cup of Coffee. She's changed it up a little with a Christmasy Theme. Please stop by and share a cup with her. She'll be the bright spot of your day!

Well, here goes:

1. Gingerbread: For or against? Discuss. For, until I watched the "Brothers Grimm" movie with Matt Damon and Heath Ledger. A blob of black goop turned into an evil Gingerbread Man and I just can't eat it anymore!

2. Is it important to you to always stay (live) close to family? It hasn't been that important, however, recent events in my life have made me want to live closer to family.

3. Which holiday pretend character do you wish really existed? Certainly not the Gingerbread Man!

4. Which holiday movie best represents how you feel about Christmas or life? "A Christmas Carol." We get so caught up in money stuff and stuff for us, that we lose sight of the real celebration. The movie also shows how old dogs can change and learn new tricks or ways of living.

5. Is there a particular Christmas song that you're enjoying now? Any that you're tired of? I never get tired of Christmas songs. My favorite song is the Carpenter's "Merry Christmas, Darling." You may already know this, but they wrote it for a college professor of theirs whose wife had passed away and he was going to have to spend Christmas without her. I think their gift was a perfect example of the Christmas Spirit, and I get teary-eyed thinking of him listening to the song for the first time.

6. What is your favorite way to remember those less fortunate at Christmastime? At my work, we have needy families who give us wish lists. All of the items are written on snowflakes and everyone picks out a few. The gifts are returned to the school. Then we deliver the gifts to the families.

7. Does it upset you to see "Xmas" instead of Christmas? How about "Happy Holidays" etc., instead of "Merry Christmas?" "Xmas" doesn't bother me, but the politically correct crap does.

8. How many Christmas programs are you attending this month? None so far. We plan to attend a program that our neighbors are performing in.

9. Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Any chance of that dream becoming a reality? I'm from California. I've been dreaming of a white Christmas my entire life! I have had a couple since we moved to the Midwest. I don't think we will have one this year, but we may get a dusting.

10. Tell me about a Christmas present you received as a child. Pics are always nice. I received a baby doll that moved its arms and legs when you wound it up. (You need to remember that I received this doll during the dinosaur era when they were just beginning to experiment with movable limbs.)

11. How many Christmas parties are you attending this month? I am attending our office luncheon tomorrow and that will be it!

12. How do you keep yourself centered on the significance of Christmas? I get out of my selfcentered persona and concentrate on the joy and happiness of others. And, I sing "Happy Birthday Jesus" Please check out YouTube - Avery Winter-Happy Birthday, Jesus (Cactus Theater) url - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=claKP84h9EE&feature=related

Thanks for humoring me by reading this! I wish everyone the best holiday celebration ever!

I Heart Faces - Pets Week

Please stop over and say hi at I Heart Faces, a Photography Blog. They always have the most amazing photos to share! It's also a great way to get to know a lot of the contributors!

This is our pet, Tootsie. She is not a guy trying to be a girl, but rather looked like a tootsie roll when we adopted her.



Thanks, and have a great day!

Sundays in My City - Recycled Pumpkins

Have you heard of Unknown Mami? She has a delightful blog where she shares photos of her city on Sundays. She invites the rest of us to link up with her and share some of our own city's photos. Click on the logo to visit Mami's Sundays in My City!

I live in St. Louis, Missouri. Welcome to my city!


A few weeks ago, I began my holiday decorating. Yeah, got the tree, santas, snowmen and manger done! I'm good!

The day after Thanksgiving, I decided to drive around the neighborhood and ask the (nice) neighbors if I could have their pumpkins when they were done with them. I wanted to paint them and use them as centerpieces for our staff luncheon last week. I was amazed at how many calls I received saying, "sure, come on by and take them!"


In the main office!

My original plan was to paint them to look like presents, but then I realized it might be hard work...and I just wasn't up for it! Katya suggested I paint them to look like snowman heads. Wow! Who knew? Here are a few of the 25 pumpkins turned snowmen!


In the Library at school!


In the Drama room with Tom!

Some of these may last for another week or so, but I'm not placing any bets! Thanks for stopping by my city! Hope you have a great week!

Surf's Up.....in Heaven!

My head has been in another place this week. I have wanted to post on several occasions, but everytime I tried, I hit a brick wall.

Last April, I wrote my first tribute to my brother, Pete. To read it, click here. The above picture is the result of Rick Green's incredible talents.

Then last week, I wrote once again after he was admitted to the hospital.

This past Monday, December 7, 2009, the Lord brought my brother into his kindgdom. My head has been in a fog all week, partly in denial, and partly accepting the reality of it all. I will never see him again...on earth.

I've been in contact with my sister-in-law throughout the week and have been told some really amazing things about Pete that I did not know. He's worked at his job for the past 20-30 years and has become friends with many of the employees. Once or twice a month, many of them would go out to a local restaurant for Happy Hour. When the company learned of his passing, they called in grief counselors for the employees. This has only been done once before, and it was after 9/11.

On Thursday of this week, the entire company shut down for one minute to pay tribute to my brother. And, as of Thursday night, the Happy Hour roster scheduled for Friday night had grown to 70 people. They were all going to meet, grab a Budweiser, and celebrate his life. I would love to have been there!

Pete was a gentle person. He was never loud or angry. He was the one that was first in line when they passed out common sense. (I think I was hiding behind the door!)He could hold a conversation with a Ph.D. and a five year old at the same time.

He touched everyone with whom he came in contact. He could find sunshine in the darkest of days. When we would visit, I never wanted it to end. We spent a day with him this past summer when the family went to California. That day is fixed in my memory with warm and loving thoughts.

So, I imagine him surfing some really narly waves in heaven right now. He is pain free, energized, and probably has a really nasty tan! Keep those boards waxed bro!

Weekend Reflections Week #11

This is a pool at the Missouri Botanical Gardens here in St. Louis, where several interesting items are reflected. You can see the clouds, the adjoining trees, visitors standing along side the pool, colorful bulbs and skinny looking human statues atop some skinny poles. Did I miss anything?

Each weekend Newtown Area Photo hosts a meme post for photographers (and non-photographers) to share pictures which show reflections of any kind. It's a great place to visit and you can spend hours clicking on other blogs to see their pictures of reflections. It's a wonderful journey into the world of photography that I love to take each weekend. There are some amazing artists out there!

I hope your weekend is colorful, sunny and filled with wonder!

P.S. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, to all my fellow bloggers who have sent words of support and prayers for my brother. They are working. I found out that he is now conscious and will soon breathe on his own. God Bless you all!

My Big Brother

Life began with an intestinal hernia. He was much better after the surgery.
He always had a smile on his face.
Codeine made him see little green men.
He was a happy kid up, full of adventure and full of mischief.
A little on the short side, but cute as a button.
As a teen, girls couldn’t leave him alone.
He loved to surf and smoke cigarettes.
After high school graduation, he grew three inches.
He was happy.

He started college, but the draft interrupted.
He volunteered since his lottery number was 12.
He married a girl who was also cute as a button.
He went to Nam and made it back.
The marriage didn’t work out. Not so happy, but he could still smile.

He met and married his soul mate.
She had a young boy from a previous marriage.
Together they had a little girl.
Life was good and he was very happy.

He wanted to donate a kidney to a friend,
But couldn't because they found a tumor in his body.
Treatment was started to shrink the tumor so they could remove it.
After surgery, treatment continued and successfully killed the cancer.
Through it all, he had a smile on his face.

Six months later, x-rays showed spots on lungs.
Treatment began again and some of the spots disappeared.
Time to quit smoking.
Short breaths, can’t breathe, off to the hospital. Pray.
Blood pressure high, heart rate high, still can’t breathe. Maybe it’s pneumonia.Pray.
Sedate and ventilate.
Blood pressure down, heart rate down and breathing is a little easier.
Praise God.
Organs begin to shut down. Pray.
Organs began working again, color is good, and vitals are good.
Praise God.

Now they think it’s in the blood. Blast of antibiotics. Pray
Maybe the ventilator will come out today.
Praise God.

Please pray for my brother. He will give away his daughter in marriage (to the friend who needed the kidney) next spring at Dodger Stadium.

Thank you and God Bless.

Out With The Pumpkins and In With The Snowmen!

At least I waited two days to start decorating! It's crazy that Christmas decorations in stores were out the day after Halloween! Our local jeweler had their snowflake lights up at the same time! Give us a break!

I don't know about you, but I have a system. I decorate one room at a time (that's how I store the decorations - is that anal enough for you?) - and as I empty the contents of one box, I put all the stuff that was already in the room...into the box. I have to do it this way because I will forget where I put anything and everything!

We would always use decorations in excess for the kids as they were growing up. Well, the youngest is almost 17, so I guess I can hold back on the school made decorations from grades 1-6. (I still put up at least one ornament from each that they made in school!) I'm also a saver...I just can't let the homemade decs go!

If I had my act together I would take some pictures and include them for you to see. Oh well, another post. The planets must be aligned for me to get my act together.

Well, the living room is done! Now it's time for an eight hour break. If I'm lucky, and I get started at the crack of dawn, I just might get a room or two done by sundown tomorrow!

Happy decorating! If you are not decorating, just dust and vacuum...it's a great feeling to know that the bugs are all in one place - the Orek bag!

Check back soon and I'll let you know what I'm doing with all the leftover pumpkins!

Six Word Saturday

IN HIS TIME, NOT IN MINE

Today is Six Word Saturday! Click on the logo if you want to play. While you are at Show My Face, stay a while. It's a great read! Happy Saturday!


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Happy 50th Birthday!

Please come on over to bizzy, my other blog, to join in wishing my good friend a Happy 50th Birthday!

Sundays in My City #7

Have you heard of Unknown Mami? She has a delightful blog where she shares photos of her city on Sundays. She invites the rest of us to link up with her and share some of our own city's photos. Click on the logo to visit Sundays in My City!

I live in St. Louis, Missouri. Welcome to my city!


The above picture is of the Meremac River - sometime between fall and winter.

We have a wonderful state park near us called Castlewood. We go there for hikes, walking the dog, taking pictures, birthday parties, and just enjoying nature. I'd like to share a few photos with you taken by Ed, the 18 year old in the family!


You can almost see Ed's beau between the trunks of the tree!


A fallen tree branch near the banks of the river.


Our pine trees hold their own and provide green during the winter. Here is one growing next to a tree that has lost its leaves.


Lucky for Ed; she has an eye for a good picture! I shoot, and hope for the best!

Hope you enjoyed our park! Have a wonderful week!

Weekend Reflections

Today I´m joining some others at Newton Area Photo. James hosts a new meme called Weekend Reflections.

The rules are simple. This is what he wants us to do:

1)Post a reflection photograph.

2)After posting your Weekend Reflections photo, add your name, country and link to MckLinky.

3)Be sure that your link goes directly to your Weekend Reflections post.

4)Comment on other Weekend Reflections participant’s blogs.

Feel free to be creative. Remember this meme is for any type of reflection. This meme runs Friday 11ish am EST through Sunday, so feel free to link your post anytime within that time frame. Join the fun!


These Kissing Flamingos are residents of the San Diego Zoo. Our family took a trip to Southern California last summer to celebrate my father-in-law's 90th birthday. The zoo is one of the places we had the pleasure to visit.

I love how the water is almost covered in pink from all of the flamingos in the pond. Even the foilage can be seen between the pink and the stick legs of the birds. To watch these magnificent creatures play is a treat not only for the eyes, but lifts the spirit, as well.

Have a wonderful weekend!

This is It - Part Deaux

I just returned from watching this incredible documentary! I didn't have to ask my daughter twice if she wanted to see it with me. It was unbelievable! I forgot that I was watching rehearsals. I felt like I was part of the audience at one of the 50 concerts Michael Jackson had planned.

The film showed every aspect of what goes into the making of a live concert. We were shown the many facets of production...the musicians, the singers, the dancers, the costume people, the makeup people, the technical experts, the documentary film makers, and, of course, the King of Pop. It was wonderful to watch him work!

For a more informative take on the movie, please visit Manic. She goes into great detail about some of the numbers, injects her wonderful sense of humor, and if you have yet to see the movie, you will surely want to after reading her post!

I am saddened by the fact that Michael Jackson is no longer with us. I was saddened that, with all the preparation and manpower by everyone involved with the show, they would not have the privilege to travel the world with Michael and help spread the magic of his incredible musical gifts.

God Bless you Michael! May your soul rest in peace.

This Is It!

A mere three words to describe what might have been an historical musical comeback for one of the most talented singers of all time. If his private life, along with human errors, is put aside, you simply must agree that his status as King of Pop is well-deserved.

I regret never attending a concert of his, even though I desperately wanted to be a part of the magic. I hope this event will leave us all with thoughts of who Michael Jackson was as an entertainer and how hard he worked to bring us the best that he had to give.

Rest in peace.

Night of the Living Cutie-Pies!

I love passing out candy on Halloween nights. We don't get nearly the crowds we used to get, but there are still a few diehards out there. There are so many alternative celebrations for kids today, like mall Trick-or-Treating, Tailgating at schools and/or churches (Trick-or-Treating out of the backs of cars), and home parties. We have a local church that sponsors a carnival which draws big crowds with the rides and food, and then still manages to spread their ministry on Halloween night.


Long gone are the days when you went door to door with your pillow case, staying out until it was almost full of candy, and didn't have think twice about someone stealing your bag of goodies. Not so the case today. I always went with a friend. Times change, and we adapt.


In any case, many little goblins, gremlins and princesses are just as cute as they were 50 years ago. Throughout this post, I've shared some of the costumes worn by my little angels. Some were bought, some were made and some were recycled, but all were worn with the excitment and reckless abandon that comes with the characters that they became on All Hallows Eve!

I Am Blessed

Six Word Saturday - a great way to get the creative writing juices started on a cool Saturday morning. Click on the icon and visit the author of this very clever blog!

I AM BLESSED, THIS I KNOW!

One Year Milestone!

I'm ordering flowers today for a friend in Chicago. She is having a party to celebrate one year of being free of breast cancer. A few of us cannot be there in person to celebrate with her, so our pink flowers will be there for us.

It seems as though just about everyone knows one or more cancer survivors, whether it is a friend, co-worker, or even themselves. I am truly grateful for the advocates, warriors and loud voices of men, women & children everywhere who remind us to get checked and follow up with the check-ups!

Her story is an amazing one, and I won't tell it here and now without her permission. What I will tell you is the incredible amount of strength and support she has received from family and friends near her home, as well as the plethora of friends she has here in St. Louis. Her faith played a very large part in her treatment and recovery. I can picture her praying with her doctors shortly before going under anesthesia, and then again shortly after coming out of it. The chemo treatments...the nurses, the drivers and the entourage who followed her everywhere... they were honored to be a part of her day and prayers. I can also see her sitting in a doctor's office getting bad news, praying with the doctor, and immediately feeling content and assured that no matter what the outcome, she will have the "Big Guy" walking through it with her...every step of the way.

Well, the "Big Guy" did walk through it with her and she is giving a party, not only for herself, but in gratitude for the heavenly intervention. She has been cancer free for one year, has her life back (along with, I think, a new set - I'm so jealous) and if I know her, she has already become involved in giving back to another who is traveling that same scary road.

Congratulations, girlfriend, and God Bless you!

Sundays in My City #3 (on Monday)

We have recently had a lot of rain and gloomy skies in St. Louis. I haven't been able to take any decent pictures of "My City." So, instead, I decided to write about an event held in "My City" that I was privileged to attend this past weekend. I am unable to provide pictures of the event, but found some very cute pictures that resemble the participants.

It has been years since I have attended a fashion show...of any kind. The niece of a good friend was a model in an event called "Catch a Shooting Star Luncheon and Fashion Show." It is an annual event presented by the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis. To learn more about this organization, click here.


The fashion show was delightful. Current pop music played in the background while the models were introduced and walked the runway. One of our local TV personalities emceed the event and read bios of the models as they showed off their fall ensembles from Target. Halfway through the show, the lights went down and the tempo changed as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was played. The ensembles were now a Halloween theme! All of the guests were given small pen-flashlights, and we were then instructed to shine them on the ceiling. The effect was just as fun for us as it was for the models.

My invite to the show was from the aunt of Maggie, one of the models. Maggie is a college graduate, originally from the Chicago area. She is currently living in an extraordinary planned community called “St. Louis Life.” Please check out their website here.

St. Louis Life is a community-based, residential program for young adults with developmental disabilities. Residents work and live in the community and are allowed to make decisions that affect all aspects of their lives. This independent living program offers single-bedroom apartments, job placement/coaching, social, educational and recreational activities, and many other support services. Maggie loves living at St. Louis Life!


Please visit to the website of this incredible organization. It was very heartwarming for me to learn about St. Louis Life. If you have something like this near you, I’d love to hear about it!

By the way, this is my 100th post! Yesssssss, they haven’t kicked me out yet!

100th Post...Just Around the Corner

September was actually a one year birthday for No Excuses, but it sort of snuck by very quietly. Between this blog and Bizzymissliz, this post will be my 99th. How does one celebrate 100 posts of nonsensical venting, whining, bragging, self-indulgence and a little humor? Am I supposed to host a party...a soiree of some sort...or just invite everyone out for coffee? Personally, I like the coffee idea.

My family is still in tact...a little humiliated maybe...but still able to show their faces in public. I still have my day job, my bffs, and the insane silliness that gives me the courage to write when I don't really have anything to say! What I don't have is all the weight I was going to lose or all the great life changes I wanted to make. The amount of life knowledge I've gained from reading about the experiences, opinions, and stories of the many, many bloggers whom I've discovered by hopping from one blog to another, has indisputably enhanced and improved my life tenfold more than the losing any number of pounds, or the disposing any amount of clutter. Yeah, really!

I still desire to support, lend an ear (or shoulder) to, anyone who asks for it. Even though I am more than a half-century old (aren't antiques 50 years old or more?) I feel that I still have so much life to experience. What I don't know, I go to someone more antiqued than me and ask! I'll cry through just about anything with anybody. I will openly give kudos where it is due. I may disagree with posts that I read, but I am in awe of much of the writing. So many bloggers share their incredible gifts through their blogs. These gifts have made me better writer, a more informed woman, and have taught me to cherish every minute of every day.

Thank you to all who have come into my crazy little world! Now, who wants whipped cream on their mocha?

Random Dozen

This is a fun meme that I found at Linda's blog, 2nd Cup of Coffee. Stop by and share a cup with her. She'll be the bright spot of your day!

1. I've always wondered why we were taught both printing and cursive. Do you prefer to print or write cursive? (Keyboard is not a choice.)

Cursive. It just flows better for me. I can read my printing better, but like writing in cursive.

2. Are you a dreamer or a realist?

Mostly I'm a dreamer. Maybe that's why it takes me so long to get things done!

3. Billy Joel or Elton John?

Elton John. I fell in love with my husband listening to his early songs.

4. What is the scariest movie you've ever seen? Not just horror flicks but also ones where the tension or suspense is killer, for example, Flightplan (2005): A bereaved woman and her daughter are flying home from Berlin to America. At 30,000 feet the child vanishes and nobody admits she was ever on that plan.

The Exorcist, Panic Room, The Entity.

5. Now what is the scariest real-life moment you've had?

I let my three year old climb too high on the ladder of a playground structure. I climbed up the ladder to get him and he fell before I could reach him. I caught him by his arm. The guilt is pouring out of me right now. Another moment was when I was driving on a local street and reached down to get something I dropped. When I looked up, I was about 20 feet behind a bus and I was traveling about 40 miles an hour. My first thought was to slam on the brakes, even though I knew we would crash. As I did, there was a force that turned the steering wheel to the right. I missed the bus by inches. I knew I had an angel in the car with me that day.

6. What word do you misspell without fail?

I can't just give one word. Thank goodness for spellcheck!

7. Name something you like to do but are not really talented or good at?

Dance, sew, craft, write....

8. Do you get your emotional/mental batteries recharged by being around people or by having alone time?

Being around people gives me a chance to see how others live their lives. I'm always learning new ways of doing things from others.

9. Have you ever been on TV?

Yes, the first day of school in Fourth Grade, I was on a TV show called The Princess. In my twenties I studied acting and was in a few non-union commercials and movies.

10. Apple or pumpkin pie? (Don't be greedy.)

Apple pie - it's a base for a giant scoop of ice cream!

11. How many magazine subscriptions do you have?

Right now, none. We cut back about a year ago to save money.

12. What lesson do you have to keep re-learning?

When to speak and when to shut up! When to let my teens spread their wings and fly on their own.

Have a great day! Enjoy your coffee!

This Day Just Keeps Getting Better!

This week has been one I'd like to forget! Ed & Katya have recently been dealing with the consequences of some "bad choices." Everything is hush hush...don't let this person know about it, but you can talk with this other person about it. Such drama...I am getting dangerously close to a meltdown!

This past week was also very busy at the high school, with many activities to celebrate Homecoming. It's a lot of fun and the kids love to get involved! There have been "Dress as Your Favorite 80's TV Character," decorating the halls, fun runs, Powder Puff game and plenty of things to do during lunch. Since this is Ed's last Homecoming, I agreed to let her participate in some of the activities.



Some genius brought in one of those jousting tournament games like they had on "Battle of the Network Stars." Ed thought she try it out. She and a partner stood up on these "stool-like" blocks and tried to knock each other off with padded sticks. Ed lost her balance, fell, landing on her midsection on top of the stool. It took the wind out of her for a few seconds, but she's a sport and got right back up. Many of the on-lookers were laughing at her, which just added to the feeling of humiliation that she already had. As she walked back to her lunch table, she knew something wasn't right.

She was very sore, and had trouble sleeping that night, so we propped her up with pillows. That seemed to help some. The next day she still felt very sore and asked if she could see the doctor. The doctor ordered an x-ray and ct scan of her liver. I left work, and kept Ed company at the hospital. So, until we had the results of the tests, those lovely twinges of "what if" were swimming around in my little pin head. She was scheduled to work that night, but I "convinced" her to stay home until we knew if there had been any damage. She found a replacement for work, but needed to pick her up. She and Kat left with the car. It was raining.

About an hour later, the call came..."mom, we just had an accident..." "Okay," I thought. "a little fender-bender - no problem." The only two cars that would get me up to the girls had manual transmissions. I don't drive stick shift cars very well, especially in the rain. A neighbor kindly gave me a ride up to the "party." Everyone involved was okay, but the two cars had obviously disagreed about how to properly say "hello." The front bumper of our chariot was hanging by a thread and the engine was smoking. "This is going to leave a mark," I thought. We exchanged information with the other party, and provided ID to the young, inexperienced and smart-mouthed representative of our city's finest men in blue. Ed & I both spoke at length to our insurance company. Ed's ID was returned, along with a ticket for expired insurance. Our new insurance ID cards were at home on the kitchen counter. The day just kept getting better!



(The above picture is not my car!) The tow trucks came and went, and the parties dispersed. We stood around the parking lot for a few minutes, in 45 degree weather, and realized we had no way home. All at once, the four of us whipped out our cell phones and started calling anyone who owned a car. After an hour went by, three cookies and two cups of coffee from the wonderful people at Regions Bank, our knight in shining armour (Ed's beau) arrived to take us back to our castle.

Once we were at home, the telephone rang. It was Joe from our insurance company. He started his "taped" interview with Ed just as Dad got home from work. Dad stood motionless while she spoke, and I thought his head was going to explode. It didn't, but it was a little pink. We all sat down and had a chat. It was great to get it all out in the open, but I could see the dollar signs coming out of Dad's head as we described the condition of the chariot. We trembled, we cried, and when all was said and done, we went our separate ways to various rooms in the castle and saw no one until the next morning.



The next afternoon, the girls and their friends dolled each other up and they went off in Dad's chariot to the Homecoming dance. After they could no longer move about in their heels, and they were hoarse from screaming for their favorite bff to win Homecoming Queen, they came home. They played board games, and laughed until they were in a Candyland stupor and then fell asleep.

The castle was once again at peace. This day was much better.

Six Word Saturday!

THIS DAY JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER!



Please stop by ShowMyFace and join in the fun! Just click on the logo or click on ShowMyFace in the previous sentence!

Sundays in My City

Have you heard of Unknown Mami? She has a delightful blog where she shares photos of her city on Sundays. She invites the rest of us to link up with her and share some of our own city's photos. Click on the logo to visit Sundays in My City!

I live in St. Louis, MO. Welcome to my city!

One of our frequent backyard visitors.



View from the ground to the top of the Arch.



View from the Arch to the ground below.




You never know what you'll see when you go for a Sunday drive!



This is where I work. I think it looks a little like the mantle of the Maitlin's house at the end of "Beetlejuice!"



Our Family's place of worship. From the outside, it looks like a Pringles potato chip. Once inside, one expects Spock to beam down any minute...




This is where I live. Show me your city!