A Bit Of History
I was doing some preliminary work for an ATC and wanted to use this image for a background - but I want to tell a bit of history behind this...
This is 6th Street in 1941. Today what's left of 6th Street is between Kiener Plaza and North Broadway, with the Edward Jones Dome right in the middle. In 1941, it was a much different story. It had 10-cent theaters, the Princess, Empress and Liberty Theaters, with the Barrymores, vaudevillan revues, restaurants all down the street. It was also named the Great White Way, Grand Center, and Midtown.
It's too bad - this postcard is one of the few clues that we did have a Great White Way, just like Broadway in New York City. It must have been a great time going to see heroes in greasepaint and yak-hair moustaches, walking down the street looking at the starry theater facades, the blazing white marquees, sitting in velvet seats, waiting for the velvet curtains to open.
Homecoming
Well, well...it was a busy week for me.
Let's see ~ I picked Lisa D up last Friday and then Saturday morning, Reb, Lisa D and I went to Fulton, MO in my Gift - zoom~zoom! I had a meeting with the Missouri Association of the Deaf (MoAD) board about the 2007 MoAD Conference, of which I will become the Public Relations chairperson. I will be overseeing the program book and advertising, along with the announcements and so on... Reb is the banquet chairperson, as she did an excellent job at the last Conference.
Then we went into the Missouri School for the Deaf school grounds - MSD was playing against Kansas School for the Deaf. I got to talk to a lot of old friends, and chatted with my ex, William B. We have remained good friends, as I have with most of my exes.
It was a very momental homecoming ~ MSD finally beat KSD 62-56! It has been quite a while, since MSD won a game against KSD.
We went out to dinner at a chinese buffet with Karole and her family, William B, Eddie and Lisa; Hal & Angela; and some other friends...got to see George M - it has been a LONG time since I saw him last.
On to Killegrew's Pub - talk with more peeps - saw Larry, Larry, Tim, Ed, too many others...*smh* I just know too many people, don't I?
We left Fulton at 9:30 pm, and got back home at around 10:30 pm. We stayed up late after midnight, though...Lisa D had so much to talk about.
Sunday, we went to Concordia Seminary for the Greater St. Louis Chapter of MoAD general meeting - I'm the Secretary...of course, what else? We talked about the Conference coming up, and did our usual business - then we went to my parents' home to drop off a tape, and pick up some boxes - talked with my parents for a few minutes.
Dropped Lisa D off at her apartment, and went out to dinner with Reb - we decided to try Cannoli's - it was good!!! Back home, did some putting away of stuff and then watched the Food Network Challenge - the chefs had to work with "rice krispies" blocks - very interesting.
Into slumberland - and then woke up this morning to a Monday.
UGH.
Oh well, that's life, I guess.
A Tribute to Susie
Several months ago, I learned of a friend's horse's death...I wrote a tribute poem for her - and she loved it, had it framed. Thought I'd post it here...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arcadian Suzanna
A white mare standing at the bridge’s end…
Looking towards the shadows behind her…
Seeing her mistress, surrounded by friends, crying at the mound of brown earth…
Turning her head, looks up the bridge before her.
Hears a gentle nicker…
Raises her gently dished head towards the sound.
Sees a herd of heavenly horses waiting at the other side,
Susie beholds before her amazed eyes,
Colonel Bird, all decked out in his finery; O’Linda, with her buckskin coat glowing; Mikali Tango, finally all-seeing, with Mama Beard astride her, Aza Gai next to her, with her son, Ra Zaki; Marbet Artemis, surrounded by Jeddah and Sat Nam; and Sunny, the Shetland, sitting besides them, panting in excitement.
Countless others, all hidden in clouds, waiting for her to cross the bridge…
Susie looks behind her once more, at her mistress, still in the shadows, and gives a long, shivery neigh.
She puts a tentative hoof on the bridge path, starts on her long journey upwards…
As Susie moves faster and faster upon the bridge, her long white tail flowing, the Bridge turns to a heaven bound Rainbow Bridge,
As the others wait for her to join them.
As she touches the crest of the Rainbow Bridge, she pauses, turns towards the shadows, and whispers gently towards her mistress, promising to be waiting at the other side when it’s her turn to cross the Rainbow Bridge, along with the Doubletree herd.
Then she is surrounded by her loving friends, and is gently escorted into the heavenly clouds.
And the Rainbow Bridge gives one final shimmer, and then fades from the sky.
Until the next time.
Arcadian Suzanna
1973-2006
Composed by Missy Owoc in memory of Susie
April 27, 2006
Smiles!
I have two creatures - stuffed creatures.
This is Rock 2. It's a mouse shaped stuffed 'animal.' This is the 2nd one Mom made for me - the first Rock wore out years ago - it had lost its tail and most of the nap was rubbed off. No, it never had eyes or whiskers...it was more of a pillow thing to have around. I just happened to fall in love with Rock and Mom remembered that, so she made me Rock 2 for my birthday...heh heh.
Meet Boo. Reb bought it for me at the Gateway to the West Harley Davidson store in South County - she knows I love tuxedo cats, and it was a perfect anniversary gift for me. He's soooo adorable!!!
Checked Daily News
Oh boy... I got a chance to check some news I had been following up on...
1. Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, is doing well from his surgery on his shattered right pastern and laminitis on his left hind hoof - now out of cast and wearing a bandage on his left hoof, still in a cast on his right hind - it may be taken off sometime soon, maybe over the next three-four weeks. That's one bit of good news for such a courageous horse...
2. Lost In The Fog, 2005 Horse of the Year, lost his fight to cancer and was put down - I was very saddened to hear the news.
3. Taylor's Special, a grand old horse, was put down, also. He was one of the best racehorses of his generation - 21 wins out of 41 races. He had been retired to Old Friends Farm in Kentucky and will be buried there.
4. Personal Ensign, Horse of the Year, Broodmare of the Year, and Hall of Famer, has been retired from the broodmare herd - she is also the dam of Our Emblem, sire of War Emblem, 2002 Kentucky Derby winner. I'm sure she will enjoy her retirement - she deserves it!
Got A Headache From Thunking Too Much...
I sit, therefore I sit, therefore I think, therefore I have thunk.
heh heh.
I know, I know, I've blogged almost every day, all week...who in the freaking cares?
Anyway, I was in another blog uploading pictures - and got to thinking again.
You know - you got friends and then you got friends.
Rainy day friends and sunny day friends.
True blue friends.
Friends who comes and goes.
Friends you can't stand.
Friends you can't live without.
Friends who sponge off you.
Friends, friends, friends...
NO wonder why I got a headache.
2001-911
TWO THOUSAND ONE, NINE ELEVEN (2001-911)
Two thousand one, nine eleven
Three thousand plus arrive in heaven
As they pass through the gate,
Thousands more appear in wait
A bearded man with stovepipe hat
Steps forward saying, "Lets sit, lets chat"
They settle down in seats of clouds
A man named Martin shouts out proud
"I have a dream!" and once he did
The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives."
Groups of soldiers in blue and gray
Others in khaki, and green then say
"We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine"
The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain."
From a man on sticks one could hear
"The only thing we have to fear.
The Newcomer said, "We know the rest,
trust us sir, we've passed that test."
"Courage doesn't hide in caves
You can't bury freedom, in a grave,"
The Newcomers had heard this voice before
A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannisport shores
A silence fell within the mist
Somehow the Newcomer knew that this
Meant time had come for her to say
What was in the hearts of the five thousand plus that day
"Back on Earth, we wrote reports,
Watched our children play in sports
Worked our gardens, sang our songs
Went to church and clipped coupons
We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought
Unlike you, great we're not"
The tall man in the stovepipe hat
Stood and said, "Don't talk like that!
Look at your country, look and see
You died for freedom, just like me"
Then, before them all appeared a scene
Of rubbled streets and twisted beams
Death, destruction, smoke and dust
And people working just 'cause they must
Hauling ash, lifting stones,
Knee deep in hell, but not alone
"Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, Yellowman
Side by side helping their fellow man!"
So said Martin, as he watched the scene
"Even from nightmares, can be born a dream."
Down below three firemen raised
The colors high into ashen haze
The soldiers above had seen it before
On Iwo Jima back in '45
The man on sticks studied everything closely
Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly
"I see pain, I see tears,
I see sorrow -- but I don't see fear."
"You left behind husbands and wives
Daughters and sons and so many lives
are suffering now because of this wrong
But look very closely. You're not really gone.
All of those people, even those who've never met you
All of their lives, they'll never forget you
Don't you see what has happened?
Don't you see what you've done?
You've brought them together, together as one.
With that the man in the stovepipe hat said
"Take my hand," and from there he led
three thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heaven
On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven
Author Unknown
The More I Think, The More I Thunk...
You know - I was looking over some blogs - and I came across one that I had completely forgotten about ... I caught up on some of the entries and wanted to comment on them, but I knew I wouldn't be able to.
You see, that person has blocked me off from her life completely...because of a problem with her ex - I'm good friends with that ex - and while I have been able to keep my friendships separate, the person hasn't been able to do so. Also, she totally believes the story her BEST friend has told her about me - of course, about Reb. I think it's just sad, because that person says she prefers to listen to both sides of the story, and to keep those friendships separate - instead, she proved to me that she couldn't do so in my ... place, life, whatever. I can't think of the correct term at this time. Instead, she chose to blast me out in IM and yes, I did save that conversation. She called me a lot of names, and proved to me outright that she did not know the whole story, but chose to believe ONE side, instead of listening to both sides and not making any judgements.
It's sad, though.
I just told her it was fine, it was her choice, and good bye.
Yes, I have thought of her over time, and wished her nothing but the best. I did try to mend the bridge, by offering an olive branch, but she chose to reject it and tell me to back off, that she could keep up with my news in other ways, but not as friends. It's sad that way too, because it shows that she cannot change her ways - I believe that there are always 2nd chances, that people can be friends again, not the same way as before, yes, but friends yes.
I guess it's more her loss than mine - and I will continue to wish the best for her in her life.
Anyway, that's all set aside -
I got a four day weekend coming up, and I am looking so forward to that... I need the break so bad...just doing NOTHING - no traveling at all. Just Reb and me at home...with Saturday and Sunday taking up some time in activities...and then celebrating our two year anniversary in a romantic dinner for two Sunday evening.
Just can't wait.
Meanwhile, I got these friggin' time reports to do. UGH. Gotta catch up on them by tomorrow afternoon before I leave - and also taking care of the frigging paychecks tomorrow.
*smh*
That's life, huh?
Tuesday Thoughts
Whew - another weekend gone by...
Friday night, got home and relaxed - was so tired and cranky, just wanted to relax and watch some TV, go to bed a bit early.
Saturday, I was still pretty cranky - guess it's almost the time of the month...*sob*... we went to GSLAD Hall for the 1st Anniversary Celebration of GSLAD Hall - nice to meet people I haven't seen for quite a while, talk and chat with various friends and acquantainces - and eat BBQ from Bananda's...YUMMY. Baked beans, potato salad, toasted bread, pulled beef, ribs...*burp* with lots of sweet & tangy bbq sauce. Then some chocolate cake - oops. Well, one piece won't hurt me!
That night, we stopped by Lisa & Leon's apartment to surprise them, and to chat with them for about a hour.
Sunday, we went to pick up Lisa, go to MoKaBe's Coffeehouse for lunch and to attend the RSD meeting - while the meeting went well, there were quite a few tense moments. I brought up the subject of elections, and well...the President tried to wave it off, but I kept on - and it's all set for Sunday, NOvember 5th - and then we will go to Hometown Buffet for dinner and to say thank you for all the blessings we have.
Let's see - the schedule calls for a Halloween party October 21st and a Christmas party December 16th...wow, it's gonna be a bit busy for RSD!!!
Then after the meeting, Reb, Lisa, Chrys, Rob and I went to City Diner for dinner - got the Italian Stallion sausage sandwich...YUMMY. However, we had a bad moment - the President paged me afterwards to tell me of an unauthorized meeting on October 8th and I shot back and told him under no circumstances, could I attend that meeting...he then changed it to October 15th and went BYE on me. I then found out Chrys got the same message from the Vice President, and she was upset too.
We got it talked out with the Treasurer, and he agreed with us, as he cannot attend on either date, as he will be working...he wasn't happy, either. *sigh* I knew the Prez was upset with me, but not to this extent.
Dropped Lisa off, and went on home...watched TOYS with Robin Williams...it was very different from what Reb had expected. Smiles - I know the movie always throw people off - the title suggests something else, than what it actually is.
Now - to my thoughts... I was thinking about friends and friendships - I am always thankful and feel so blessed to have so many good friends that I can talk to, even when they're all so far away... Sheila and Lynda in Nebraska, Cheri, Pam & Brad in Ohio, Penny in Illinois, Karole in Kansas City, Tania & Kiki in Alabama, Michele in Texas, Lulu in Washington State, Lisa in Oklahoma and Cody & Natty in Colorado. And then there are the friends around home - Jenifer in Alton, Lisa in South StL City, Lynne in Affton, Chrys and Rob in Ferguson, my parents in Warson Woods and most importantly, Reb. I feel that they are all my lifelines, that I can count on them in moments of need and I do try to be there for them when they need me.
There are so many things that need to be done - paying off the cruise; getting Gift repaired (about $750.00 to repair the bumper and install a new rocker panel on the right side); getting passports; building up my TAC business; going back to school for business administration, accounting, and photoshop classes; and planning and prepping for vacations next year...along with going to Weight Watchers and trying to get up motivation to go back to Curves...URGH.
And there are many more too numerous to mention...*sob*
Also with the house makeover and remodeling that needs to be done!
Now, I'm just fascinated by the pile that the time reports made... I just could stare at them all day. Just stare and stare, watch it grow.
UGH.
For some reason, I got a craving for s'mores again.
Now back to Reality...
K, now that I've gotten something outta my system.
Let's see...gotta catch up a bit.
I do know I had the meeting on August 27th - it went well, am pleased. Will know for sure on Oct. 14th, then I can say something about that situation here after that.
Tuesday, August 29th, was my birthday. I am another year older, none the wiser for it.
Labor Day weekend - was just that. Saturday, I cleaned inside the house, while Reb worked outside. She did all the mowing...smiles. I vacuumed the basement, cleaned up a bit. Saturday night, went to Malone's to meet with Sheila, who was in town, Tammy, John F., Mark E., and two others...of course, Reb went with me! We had a great time - just talking, laughing and catching up with each other's news and lives.
Sunday, we met up with my parents at Stir Crazy - one of my favorite St. Louis restaurants - and then to their home for a late birthday celebration. I got some nice stuff - a framed horse print, a teapot and teacups, a little kitty coin purse, and a couple lottery tickets. Of course, I never win anything...heh heh. My grandmother sent me two cut acrylic blocks, one with a rose and I LOVE YOU underneath, and a kitty playing with yarn in a basket, and a revolving stand that lights up with differnt colors. I also got some sour cream pound cake to take home... YUMMY. Reb had already given me a Star Wars DVD set, and we watched it over the weekend.
Monday - Labor Day - we stayed home. We grilled outside, had beef shish kabobs - delicious. We just basically took it easy that day.
I'm just glad the Monsanto fiscal year is over - it was really busy that week...urgh. I did get all the time reports done in time, stayed late to do it all.
Yesterday, I went back to Weight Watchers. It's been about two months, but I really have to. With all that has been going on, I need to get back on track again. Urgh.
That's life, but it sure sucks sometimes.
Ranting and Venting All Over
Now that Ive finally got the blogs all separated, and this can become my personal blog where I can bitch to my heart's content...
I have been soooo frustrated with so many things going on and so many things that have been going wrong or just plain stupidity, which I have no patience with. I just don't understand peeps - they keep telling me what a good friend I am, that I'm always there for them, but when I need them...they disappear. I'm just glad I have Reb and a few REALLY good friends, that are always there for me.
I have withdrawn from a couple of forums - just not enough time, no motivation. Also, was pretty disappointed about the birthday threads - not made sticky or just not made at all. I know it sounds selfish and self-absorbed of me, but when you consider the times I've been there for them, I'd like a little attention once in a while. Also, no one have even noticed that I haven't been posting in them anymore...oh well. That's me, just chopped liver. When it comes down to having a gathering, of course, they will remember me...because they gonna want me to do it for them, and so on...like for example, I'm responsible for a gathering in two year's time... and not much time to do it all in. I'm still looking for a hotel in another state, as the last two were pretty expensive...and I know too many deafies are gonna scream, too much, too much!
*sigh*
I guess I'm just pretty disappointed with people in general.
Also, was pretty disappointed with my friends - I send out lots of birthday and anniversary cards every month, but when the time came, I got only one, and it was totally unexpected and brought a big smile to my face ~ I will have to remember her from now on, which will be a pleasure to do so. However, when you consider the time, effort and postage done in sending out the cards, it's pretty disappointing when it comes to this.
Now, I know some peeps will be saying, what a neg thing to say, but this is what a blog is for...it's there for you to vent, rant and put down what you're thinking and feeling. In no circumstances, should anyone ever, ever, try to censor anyone from what he/she wants to say in his/her own personal blog. If I want to say something, I will do so. No one has the right to say you can't do this, you can't say that, you shouldn't even do it. It gets UGLY when people think they have the right to say that you cannot write what you feel and think in YOUR OWN BLOG. It makes them look Scroogish, period. Censorship has no place in blogging, period.
And also, I do wish people would stop ... being so BITCHY when I suggest something... just because I say something, does not mean I think you're doing something wrong, such as drugs - I just don't want people telling me that this is going on, they don't like that, they feel, and so on...for example, I suggested to someone that maybe it would be better if they could explain to someone else about naming company that comes over - I just don't want to hear from other people about those named company going over to that person's home and NOT going to the other person's home. I cannot tell people to go over that place, and not go to another place. I just feel it would be better to say that you have company, and that's it.
PERIOD.
I just don't want to hear other peeps complaining that no one ever visits them.
No one comes to visit me or Reb, and we don't complain about that. We just leave it up to those peeps, and if they don't want to pay a visit to us, that's ok. It's not a police state - we all have freedom to do what we want to. In all the years I've lived in StL, not many people have even come to visit me - I know I'm probably not that much liked in StL - and it doesn't bother me. I don't even get that many VP calls - that whenever a VP call comes in, I leave it alone. I don't even bother to answer them anymore, that's how infrequent they are.
Oh well.
That's me.
Just feeling bad for Reb - because I don't know if it's my presence that keeps people from coming over and visiting her - who knows? Maybe it's true.
Also, I just get aggravated with people, saying I'm the one making all the drama - oh plz. I've heard so much shyt, I could write several novels about all that... yeah, I do have my dramas, but come on, I have emails, records and stuff from other people that have done so, and much worse than I could ever do.
*rme*
I guess I do have a lot of pent-up emotions. That's me, I guess. I just don't want to bring any of this negativity into my relationship with Reb - it has been really good between me and her. It's been so positive, it makes me feel good being with her. I guess that's why I wanted to separate all the blogs so I could really let it outta here. Maybe I'll even be able to wake some people up, too. Shake their worlds out of their orbits, and get them to see how I really feel about this.
Who knows?
Yeah, in my dreams. I know it won't make much of a difference, but at least, I'm getting it all outta there and outta my system.
