Dackel Princess

Busy Day In St. Louis

We took a tour this morning that showed us the St. Louis Fox Theater. The theater was built in 1927 and has 4057 seats! This is an old fashioned theater that has been completely restored. In it’s heyday it served as a Vaudeville stage, and movie theater for the early silent films. Thus, there was the most marvelous theater organ I have ever seen.

The fabulous Stan Kann performed for us and we got to see what this beautiful organ could do!

Then we were lucky enough to get a tour of this wonderful monument to the performing arts.

Unfortunately our time there was short and we were whisked off to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

The church has mosaics totaling 41.5 million glass tesserae pieces consisting of over 7,000 colors. The mosaics cover 83,000 square feet (8,000 m.). It is the largest mosaic collection in the world, and was created by 20 different artists including Hildreth Meiere. It is truly magnificent!

While there I stopped in a small chapel and prayed for my friend’s daughter, who is quite ill. Then I lit a candle to the Angels for their help.

Then we were taken to the St. Louis History Museum. Unfortunately there was not nearly enough time to look at the exhibits and have lunch, so we have opted to return on Sunday morning to take some time to go through it at our leisure.

We’re Here!

We arrived at our hotel about 2 o’clock Central time. This was a good deal because once we unloaded the car, Hubby was off to get the brakes fixed!

It’s hot and humid here, with intermittent rain, but not bad at all. It is supposed to be like this the next few days. I’m glad I packed my rain coat!

Our room is rather luxurious! A large king sized bed (for my King! LOL), a comfortable sitting area, TV, a desk, and a balcony. The bath is large and the tub looks rather inviting!

I think I could be very happy here. At least for a few days. I do miss my little dackels and my big boy, Fritz!

Speaking of which, I got a call this morning from my house sitter. Arnie fell out of bed last night and injured his leg. Thankfully D is a Vet Technician and so she brought him in to work with her for a quick check. He is okay, although he jammed his leg into his knee joint and that is sore. The doctor put him on an anti-inflammatory to keep him comfortable during his convalescence. He must rest his leg and stay off of it for a few days.

I wonder if they make doggy crutches?

Tonight is a wine and cheese reception which Hubby and I will attend. I am being so careful with my points I may actually splurge and have a square of cheese! LOL!

Tomorrow we take one tour in the morning to the Anheuser Busch Factory. Then we are free in the afternoon. The evening will see us at a casual dinner. Saturday we are on another tour of the downtown St. Louis area. And that night we have our formal banquet.

Meanwhile, at some point this girl needs to shop. I mean, what’s a vacation for if not to shop, just a little?

First Day On The Road

We actually got on the road by 6:10 AM on Wednesday morning. Not bad. Since the car was all gassed up, we were able to make a clean break from New Hampshire, through Vermont and most of upstate New York before stopping at an Indian Reservation for gas. Then we crossed a short distance into Pennsylvania, and then on to Ohio.

We drove and drove and drove, enjoying mostly empty roads, bright blue skies and satellite radio. I had packed lunch for us and about noon I broke out the food and prepared turkey breast sandwiches for the two of us. The sandwiches were surprisingly good.

Hubby was munching on some salt and vinegar chips nd I had to beg him to stop. Between the smell of them, and listening to the crunch of them, I was going insane! So he very kindly finished up so I could put them away.

We’ve gone 750 miles and have 450 more to go tomorrow. We’ll make it, despite the fact that about 1 1/2 hours after departure the front right brake went on the car! Every time Hubby puts on the brakes it grinds in a gruesome way. Once we arrive in Missouri we will get the car to a brake shop and get it fixed.

Now we will setttle in at our motel and try to get a good night sleep. I know the morning will come all too soon and we will be…..

On the road gain!!!

Departure

Tuesday was spent doing up the last bits of laundry, going through the fridge to toss out anything that won’t keep, or putting it in the freezer, if possible.

Hubby and I packed the last shirts, shorts and shoes into our bags and then piece by piece, we packed the car with our things.

The entire time the dogs were restless. Especially Fritz and Greta, as they have been through this before and recognize all the signs that Mommy and Daddy are going away. Fritz paced back and forth. Greta grumbled, and she followed us around as well. Each time I sat down for a moment, it seemed Greta was in my lap.

Dinner was easy. Leftovers heated up in the microwave. Easy! The only thing I actually cooked were the wax beans and my first eggplant!

Isn’t it beautiful?

Wake up is scheduled for 5:30 AM and departure is set for 6.

Getting Ready

I decided to attend a Weight Watchers meeting on Monday, as I will not be around on Wednesday to go to my usual meeting. Even though it wasn’t a full week, I’d lost 1/2 a pound. I was glad that I’d attended. So far, since I joined Weight Watchers back in January, I haven’t missed one meeting!

After that Hubby and I drove to the big city and picked up our maps and guide books for the trip. We also popped into LL Bean, my favorite back woods clothiers. We actually found a few things, jeans for Hubby, a couple of new turtlenecks for me and a laptop sleeve to protect my new laptop.

We had lunch, and headed back home, where I made my Fiber One Muffins to take on the trip, and then made stuffed peppers with peppers from my very own plant!

Our doggy/house sitter came over for dinner and we chatted about life, the dogs and our trip. The dogs were so happy to see her that I really think they won’t be missing us too much.

Tuesday will be my “finish things up here, do laundry, and pack the car day” for me and Hubby. Our big plan is to have it all set to go Tuesday night and then we will just get up early Wednesday, get in the car and go!

A Year Later

A year ago, Hubby and I attended his Army Aviator’s Reunion, which was held in Washington, DC. I hadn’t reached my highest weight, but I was certainly on my way. There was a woman there who told me I could have a good figure if only I had the correct fitting bra.

Quite honestly, at that point a good bra wasn’t going to do the trick and I knew it.

It wasn’t that I didn’t know I was too heavy last year. I just wasn’t at the point where I could dedicate myself to a new and healthier lifestyle.

Here we are, a year later, and I am nearly to my goal weight. I’m wearing a size 8/10 and while packing my clothing today, I was actually smiling.

This years reunion is in Missouri. Hubby and I have decided to drive out and back. We wanted to spend a little quiet time alone. (You can read here: Didn’t want to go through the stress of flying in.) It will take us a day and a half to drive there.

Our house sitter arrives tomorrow to get the run down on all four dogs. She has been with us since before the puppies were born, and the dogs all consider her family. Emily will also be around after school to check on them.

I shall have my trusty laptop with me and hope to send reports from the road!

I wonder if anyone will recognize me? Long hair, slender body…..I may be smiling like this all week.

Love

Amber Star over at Serenity Days, gifted me with a wonderful award on Saturday. It’s the

award.

I was so honored and it made me feel good. You know I sometimes write about the craziest things and I wonder what people will think. Probably that I have totally lost my mind, which of course is always a possibility! LOL!!!

I do love sharing my life and my loves and I hope to be able to continue this for some time.

Now to pass on the Love! I’m sending this gift to some of my favorite reads each day. I hope you will stop in and visit them too.

First to my cousin Janet. I love that we keep in touch this way, and I never know what beautiful picture she will post or what crazy questions she will have on her Friday Fill-Ins!

Next is Heather. She is one of the kindest people I know and also one of the most positive. I also love her little mini poodle Wolfie!

Bernie,at Burnt Offerings is another wonderful read. I so enjoy hearing about his life with his other half, L, and their renovations to their home as well as their travels.

Renny, at RennyBa’s Terella has taught me so much about Norway, it’s people, food and traditions. I have also gotten to know his wonderful wife, Diane, and I also enjoy reading her blog! Diane you get this love award as well!

There is Gattina in Belgium, who travels far and wide, but also owns my secret love, Arthur a handsome white cat!

And last and perhaps the best is my dear Viking,Tor. He is a warm and wonderful man who lives with his lovely wife Anna and their cats and always his posts are full of warmth.

There you have it. Now go out and share the love!!!

Aging…

My hair stylist informed me today that my hair is getting grayer. Of course, this is why I go in to visit her every 4 weeks for a “dip in her fountain of youth”! But apparently, the little bit of gray that I once had is spreading.

Like a bad case of the flu.

I’m not complaining, mind you, at least I have hair to actually turn gray. Still it saddens me to think that even though I feel young, and look (fairly) young, the old hair is turning against me.

When I got home I looked in the mirror. Hair aside, I’m actually not looking to bad for an old girl of 50. I mean, I’ve seen people my age who look….. well…. much older. There are also the botox beauties not and the plastic dolls that seem to be all over the place these days, at least on the TV and in Hollywood.

I’ve chosen to age gracefully. Well, except for my hair. I do not want all that gray showing. The lines, the wrinkles, and the sags, I will accept with the same good humor that I show the orthotic inserts for my shoes.

It’s just the way it goes.

How do you feel about the aging process? Will you go naturally, or kicking and screaming?