St. Louis

The triple-digit midwest heat wave broke for a few days with our arrival from the Pacific Northwest, and we brought some glorious clouds and heavy rain to the region. (You're welcome!) On our first night we were welcomed with a deluge, and Julie kindly retrieved us from our hotel for dinner. Dennis arrived late (how odd!), but that gave the deluge time to ease up and the three of us enjoyed a few beverages at Mosaic, a tapas place on Washington between their loft and our hotel. After dinner and drinks, we went back to the loft to see the hounds and hang out a bit. Dennis the night-owl suggested a walk down to an 80s dance club. He and Julie were still going strong on the dancefloor when Ken and I succumbed to exhaustion and dragged ourselves to our hotel at 2 am.

The next day we were blessed with a magnificent brunch at the loft, prepared by Dennis, who was ably assisted by Julie and the hounds.

 
Me with the hounds at the loft

 
Jodi and Ken at the loft

Ken and I sat around sipping coffee and talking about ourselves. We enjoyed the sun and the pool on the roof-top, then strolled back to our hotel to clean up before the Cardinals game that evening.

The Cards! My first professional baseball game! In fact, the last baseball game I attended was Den's little league SDS team. I know as much now about the game as I did then. Nine players, one is a pitcher, one is a catcher, there's a bull pen and lots of hand signaling.

The weather was perfect... warm, with a light breeze, a few clouds to break up the sky, and the faintest scent of rain. I was assured that this was a most remarkable and rare environmental condition for a baseball game. Busch Stadium was awesome. We enjoyed peanuts and beer and harassing one another. I learned so much about baseball and truly appreciated the sights and sounds and action of the game. The stories behind the players are fascinating. Den and Julie are true fans who know their players, and Ken contributed some ironic quips about Cardinals and Braves players that have dubious Seattle Mariner history.


Ken wore his Mariner hat and a blue shirt. I was quietly grateful the Cards weren't playing the Mariners.

This is me cracking up as Ken makes several attempts to take a picture of us. Between Ken and Den I could hardly breathe, I was laughing so hard.



Pujols at bat. Cards won 5-4, with some tense moments near the end!

The pitching "closer" Izzy (Isringhausen) was employed near the end of the game, and succeeded in not giving up any hits. He would later be named National League player of the week, along with first baseman Mark Teixeira of the Braves... both of whom we saw in action at our game on Aug. 25. Izzy closed 5 games in that week and didn't give up a single hit! Give that man a raise! Thanks Den and Julie for a fun time in those great seats!

 
Den, Jod, and Ken at the Cards game

 
The four of us at Schlafly's after the Cards game

After the game we hit Schlafly's for microbrews and snacks. Night owls D/J stayed for the live punk band outdoors, while Ken and I strolled through downtown, enjoying the late-night crowds of trendy Saturday night club-goers. On the walk home we passed by a nice place with outdoor seating that looked great for the next day's brunch. So on Sunday we slept in a little, then the four of us went for brunch (with mimosas) at Lucas Park Grille. Afterward we strolled about a mile down to the riverfront and Gateway Arch park. We explored the Westward Expansion museum and laid under the arch in the sunlight while we waited our turn on the tram.



We made the journey to the top of the arch, joining the club of 25 million since 1963. Here's Ken getting nervous in the tram on the way to the top.


Electric motors keep the gimbaled car at a comfortable angle despite traveling up an arc... similar to a ferris wheel. Eero Saarinen designed the tram system with the help of a grad school dropout, after being told by numerous elevator professionals that the task was impossible. The dropout grad student figured it out in a week. Incidentally, Eero died from a brain tumor four years before the Arch was completed.


View of the courthouse from the top of the arch. This famous place is where Dred Scott sued unsuccessfully for his freedom from slavery in 1856.



That evening we took a sightseeing riverboat cruise up the Mississippi (image borrowed from the web, thanks to GatewayArch.com). A cab delivered us to the door of The Dubliner, where we feasted on the traditional ales and cuisine of (near) my birthplace. Particuarly fitting right now, because I am reading "Rebels of Ireland" by Edward Rutherfurd.

We took one last stroll back to the loft for late-night conversation and good-byes and seeing the dogs. Thanks Den, Julie, and Ken for a fun weekend! Check back later in the week for more photos of our adventure!