Good Friends, Good Times!

This past weekend the Wilson's came by Casa del Smith for a far too short visit. It was great to see them and catch up on the past few months. Since Dave retired last fall we thought that we might persuade them to stay a week but regretfully they were only able to stay two days. But during that time we discovered a lot of things to do for their next visit(s).
On Friday evening we went to the village of Labadie (one lumber store, one gas station, one general store, and two very good restaurants) and had dinner at the Hawthorne Inn. We talked, ate, talked some more and ate some more (actually that pretty much sums up the weekend, talking and eating)--ain't that great! On Saturday we mapped out an intinerary to the Missouri Botanical Garden, lunch at Nadoz-a bistro near SLU campus, a Michael Eastman photographic exhibit at the SLU Museum of Art; a quick loop through downtown for a quick peek at the Arch, Busch Stadium, and then out to the Galleria so Mary Ann and Kim could drop by the official Mary Engelbreit store (the world's highest concentration of checkerboards, sunflowers, and cute drawings of little girls). Along the way we discovered about a dozen other things that Dave put on his list for the next visit.
I hope the Wilsons had as good a time being here as we did having them.

A deep dark secret

I can't keep it a secret any longer. I couldn't help it, honest. And it was not by choice. Kim and Maggie enticed me and I succumbed. Yes, I admit it. . . I . . . am. . . an American Idolater. Shameful, I know, but I can't help it. They never should have gotten rid of Sundance and I, like everyone else, cannot fathom Sanjaya (it can only be some perturbation in the space-time continuum, some sort of black hole or alternate dimension). Melinda should win but probably won't--not "edgy"or "contemporary" or whatever enough. If tomorrow she put out a CD with some Peggy Lee, Ella, and Billy on it I would run out to Barnes & Noble (gadzooks their CD's are expensive) and wait for the doors to open. Did "As Long as He Needs Me" give you chills or what?

What the. . .?

We have a winner(s)! Yes indeed, due to the avalanche of submissions a random drawing resulted in a shared Grand Prize. Both Lindsay and Maggie will receive a luxurious holiday at La Casa del Smith. We'll be waiting! And yes, it is a Billiken.

Quiz of the week. Can you guess what the heck this is? The winner will receive. . .

An all expenses-paid stay at La Casa del Smith Resort! Yes indeed, situated in the beautiful jet-set destination of Eureka, Missouri you will receive deluxe accommodations overlooking the Meramec River Valley, fine dining, and world-class entertainment.

Well, there is a great view, the beds are comfortable, the company is, most of the time, a lot of fun, the food is good, and we'll find something to kill time. So, submit your entries and all correct answers will be placed in the hat for a random drawing. Take care.

Happy Birthday Evie!

Well, Evie's birthday really isn't until March 26th but I thought I might get the word out early so no one will forget (how could you) and to offer a suggestion to friends and family. Last year, Kim and I started an account with the College Savings Plan of Nebraska with Evie as beneficiary. Nebraska's is one the top 529 plans in the country--and if you are from Nebraska you can deduct the contribution from your income. 529 plans are tax-deferred and when Evie withdraws the money for college expenses it will be tax-free. So, while admittedly, a cute dress or teddy bear is lots of fun to give; I thought I might suggest another--less fun now, lots more fun in the future--gift.
If you want to contribute go to College Savings Plan of Nebraska and click on "download payment coupons" in the second paragraph of the page. You can print off the coupon and send them in with your gift.
Drop me a note and I will send you her account number rather than posting it here or you can send the gift to Ron and Maggie and they can send it in.

Lost and Found

This morning we got up at 5 to get Kim to the airport for her 9 am flight (combine commuter traffic and Kim's "two and half hour before departure" rule and it makes sense). Tornado watch in St. Louis, blizzard in Nebraska; what are you gonna do? If you are Kim you are going to sit at the airport through two cancellations and a rescheduled flight for tomorrow morning and wait for your husband who couldn't get back to the airport until 3 pm. That's a lost day.
But, hey, we got a found evening out of the fiasco. After I picked Kim up we stopped at the mall and she was able to get her hair cut, we had a nice early dinner (4:30 - made me feel like a senior citizen) and got to go home with no plans, no to-do's, nothin'. Got to have an extra evening with my gal. Can't beat that. And Kim got an extra day out of the trip. Instead of going to visit J.J. and Zach from Thursday to Sunday evening she'll be there from Friday to Tuesday.

Too Busy, Too Happy

I should have posted something long ago but the Holiday season got to me. Trying to finish up my first semester at SLU and get ready for Christmas just didn't leave much time for blogging. The day before Zach and JJ flew in we were still trying to finish up some of the painting we have been doing. The colors that Kim and MaryLyn picked out are going to be great and at least with the rest of it I won't have to crawl and crouch on a walkboard spread between two extension ladders 15 feet up. Ow, my aching back.
Anyway, no more complaining. We got Zach and JJ here on the 22nd, Maggie and Evie on the 26th, then came Karli and by the 28th Ron was here and we had "Christmas" dinner. Actually, it was quite fun and stretched the holiday out in a very pleasant way.
In between games, walks with Evie, football games, unwrapping presents, and just visiting and lounging I tried to do a few greeting cards. I'm going to run to the Post Office now and get them sent. I know e-cards aren't as nice but I really do think I will consider it in the future. I'll blog some more and get some pictures up. Got to run.

I Hate Charter

Since the day we moved in I have been in a running battle with Charter cable. Each time I think I have won the war I realize that they have simply run another guerrilla action and have out-manuvered me again. Waived installation fees that are charged to our account. Installers who won't get in the attic because it's too hot (this in October), giving up on trying to get cable into the guest rooms and still being charged fortheir installation. Thinking I have it straightened out and never getting the updated statement that I requested. Not to mention the three technicians that come out and replace one bad modem with another. Finally, this morning no cable after getting the still incorrect statement the day before, warning me that they might suspend service. AARRRGGGHHH! Not a good way to start the day. What had they done? Debited an adjustment instead of crediting it and thus increasing the bill (in their favor) by $100. I Hate Charter.
Then there are the call centers. Have the corporate honchos considered how insulting it is to the call center employees and to the customers to require someone in New Delhi to identify himself as "Jerry"? Puhleez, give some respect to your employees by not hiding their culture behind "American" names and don't insult our intelligence by thinking we fall for it.