Sun, September 24, 2023;  St. Louis

 

A great football weekend for us.  The Missouri Tigers beat Memphis and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Chicago Bears.  Go Chiefs!  And—Taylor Swift was in Kelce’s box watching the game.  A little romance maybe?

Canyon Lands National Park with friends Rick and Andrea who we met in California.

 

 

Mon, September 11, 2023:  St. Louis, MO: 

 

Windows on the World, 107^th Floor of the World Trade Center:

 

Had drinks in this beautiful restaurant back in the late 70s with my daughter.  The view from up there was incredible.  Let us never forget all the people that lost their lives that day.

Matchbook I took as a souvenir.  So glad I did.

The restaurant was in the building with the antenna.

 

Fri, July 21, 2023:  St. Louis, MO:  Sadly, Tony Bennet died.  He was 96.  But what a life he had.  I met him a couple of times and saw him perform in Ashville and St. Louis.  Loved him.  RIP Tony!

 

Thu, May 18, 2023:  St. Louis, MO:  On Wednesday I and a friend of mine went to lunch at The Lodge at Pere Marquette.  This lodge was built by the CCC back in 1933 to 1939.  It took 6 years to build.  Besides this beautiful lodge, there are several cottages with fireplaces on the property.  We used to go there for Thanksgiving, Easter, and Mother’s Day where they would put on this huge buffet.  Unfortunately they can no longer do that because they can’t get the wait staff or kitchen staff.  Apparently, people don’t want to work anymore.  This is a beautiful property with commanding views of the Illinois River.  And the drive there is beautiful along the Great River Road with the huge bluffs along the Mississippi River. 

The dining room

Bluffs along the Mississippi

One of the cottages

Sun, Apr 30, 2023:  St. Louis, MO:  We went to the ballet yesterday to see the St. Louis Ballet production of Swan Lake at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri campus.   What a great performance.  And they were accompanied by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.  I bought box seats this time and was a little concerned.  But they were perfect.  No one around us.  We were above the fray with a great view of the stage.  When I lived in Hendersonville, NC, I paid big bucks to see the Bolshoi Ballet perform in Asheville, NC, and they did a scene from Swan Lake—the dying swan scene.  And saw Mikhail Baryshnikov perform.  My girlfriend and I attended the gala afterword.  Mikhail and the troupe were at a table near us, but we didn’t try to talk with him.  Probably a good thing. 

Mon, Apr 3, 2023:  St. Louis, MO:  We’ve had great weather since we’ve been home.  Low to mid-70s the past couple of days.  And tomorrow mid to upper 80s.  But tomorrow evening through Wednesday morning we’re supposed to get severe weather (sigh).  Guess we’ll enjoy the nice weather while we can.  Have been working on cleaning up the courtyard and will have the deck power washed.  Out and about today and picked up a couple of books at the library.  At least I’ll have something to read when the weather turns.  Keeping our fingers crossed it won’t be too bad.   

New York City

The Boathouse Restaurant
Central Park

Mike's daughter, Laurie, and I
Grand Central Station

My daughter, Michele, and I

Thu, Mar 30, 2023:  New Albany, MS, to St. Louis, MO:  Up early this morning, had breakfast, and were on the road by 8:00.  It was in the upper 40s when we left New Albany, but it warmed up quickly.  I started out driving and we were through Memphis and across the Mississippi by 9:15.  Not bad.  I drove for 2-1/2 hours and then we stopped at a rest area and Mike took over.  Stopped in Sikeston for lunch and continued on.  A beautiful, sunny day.  We were home by 3:00 and it was 73!  A front coming through tomorrow, but we’re home safe and sound. 

The St. Louis Arch