Take me out to the ball game!

Many thanks to my friend Patrick for giving me tickets to the St. Louis Cardinals baseball game this past Sat. April 28, 2007. He got the tickets through his employer.

My dad was able to come up from the country and accompany me! A very rare occasion, indeed. I haven't been to the ballgame with my dad since the early 90's maybe? Check us out....

Anyway, we had fun! There were hot dogs and cokes in abundance...I mean that literally. The tickets came with a couple of coupons for a free small coke and small hot dog. What a treat, and might I add saved us a FORTUNE in consessions!!!

Thanks again for sharing, Patrick!

On a more tragic note, one of the Cardinals' relief pitchers, 29 year old Josh Hancock, was killed later that evening in a car accident. He had pitched in this game.

Life is short, yall.

It's on now!!!

As some of you know...I am planning a trip to England in September 2007 to visit my dear friend Amelia & her dapper husband Poe.

Today's most notable development comes in the form of the official purchase of my airline tickets.

Wow.

That was very daunting. Personally, a huge step for me to click that 'Purchase' button. I have been to the Continental Airlines website many many times pricing and checking the flight times and available seats and such, but today, I actually reserved my seats!!!

I will be leaving St. Louis on Sat. Sept. 15, 2007 on a 2 1/2 hour flight to Newark, NJ. After a 6 hour layover, I will board another flight to Bristol, England. This flight will be about 7 hours long. I will arrive on Sunday morning Sept. 16, 2007.

While I am visiting England, we are planning an extended weekend trip to Florence, Italy. We are most likely leaving England on Thu. Sep. 20, 2007 and coming back to England on Mon. Sep. 24, 2007.

We may take a train ride up to Genoa on Sat. Sep. 22, 2007, where my ancestors are from. (supposedly, I should look further into that first)

The return flights are similar to my departure flights with the obvious exception of opposite direction.

I'm so excited at the same time, very nervous. My passport has been ordered. I'll keep you informed of my travel developments as they unfold.

Please feel free to share any travel advice or if you have visited any of these places, please make some suggestions of things you liked to do on your visit!

Welcome Friends & Family!

Come on in!

I created this blog over a year ago. I never could understand why more people didn't visit it and interact with me on it. Then I realized - I had never emailed anyone with a link to it!! (Duh, Bec)

Acutally, I have been very inconsistant with my postings. I'm turning over a new leaf and am going to use this blog as a platform for keeping in touch with people and vice versa.

I will be making all sorts of posts, so bookmark it, visit often and feel free to sign up so you can post comments!

The Enterprising Kitchen

I have recently discovered this interesting group out of Chicago. Here is a little about them:

The Enterprising Kitchen (TEK), a nonprofit social enterprise, provides workforce development and support services to women who are working toward self-sufficiency and economic independence. Within the context of a business where we manufacture natural soaps and spa products, under the brand name Choices from The Enterprising Kitchen, women receive intensive workforce preparation and skills development including: paid employment, work and life skills training, individualized career planning, high school equivalency preparation, technology training, financial planning and a variety of other support services. Located in Chicago, our enterprise enables lower-income women who have been unemployed and underemployed to maximize their individual potential and move into sustainable employment after 6-12 months. The Enterprising Kitchen was founded in 1996 and in 2005 relocated to a larger, more efficient training and production facility located in Chicago's Ravenswood industrial corridor.

Go see what they have!

Friday's Feast #140

Appetizer
What is your favorite kind of bread?
I would have to say the baked variety.

Soup
When was the last time you bought a new pillow?
I bought two new pillows for my bed around last Christmas.

Salad
Approximately how many hours per week do you spend surfing the ‘net?
Hmmm, hard to say. I'll say, not as many as I'd like to, but more than I should!

Main Course
What’s the highest you remember your temperature being?
I dunno, 102 or 103? I used to have trouble with my tonsils alot, so I'm sure I've had some fevers to go with.

Dessert
Fill in the blanks: When I ____________, I _____________.
When I breathe, I live.

Almost over...

Tax season is just about finished!
That's good and bad. I work for an accounting and tax prep service. These days, I'm very, very tired, my house is severly neglected and I have no social life to speak of, but on the other hand, I'm funding a trip to England, Ireland & Italy in Sept.


Wooo hoo!

Kudos, my friend!

My friend over at Patrick Says was chosen as "Blog of the Day" for 4/10/07 on the Pay Per Post website.
Keep up the good work, bro.

Ah ha!

Well, I think I figured it out...
(back story) I live on a very strict budget. I know how much I have, what goes out and what is coming up. All my bills get paid, I've started myself on a snowballing payment plan to move towards a debt free life. I know my money. I'm the kind of person who is just waiting for the bill to come, so I can pay it.
Yesterday when I checked my balance, there was an outstanding amount that did not match my outstanding items. This made me have that uneasy and fussy feeling all day until I verified it & sure enough, one of my bills (for internet) cleared for double! So, after many phone calls and customer service reps (some even spoke English!) the problem is now being fixed. They did admit it was their mistake, 'course that doesn't make my money instantly reappear....
But, my fussy feeling is gone!

Fussy....

Today, I'm feelin' sorta fussy. It's like I'm carrying around a bad feeling I can't shake. Anyone else have days like this? I'm sure it will get better later.
On the other hand, I've made some much needed improvements to the look of my blog (if you haven't noticed). Maybe now I'll start using it!

Friday's Feast #138

Appetizer:
When you travel, which mode of transportation do you prefer?
I love to fly in airplanes!!! I consider it a privilege.

Soup:
Have you ever met a blogging friend in person?
Well, I have a friend, who has a blog. I'm sure that's not what you mean here LOL

Salad:
When was the last time you were really, really tired?
Um, yesterday. I work for a tax prep service, so this time of year is very tiring.

Main Course:
If you could have dinner with any one fictional character from a book or movie, who would it be?
Hmmm, well, I might pick Boss Hog (from the Dukes of Hazzard)...but mostly because I think the dinner would be well laid out with yummies.

Dessert:
Fill in the blank: One day, I hope to see _______________.
Italy. One day this September, to be exact!