6.30.2008
And the hits keep on coming...
From KSDK-TV: Chrysler LLC said Monday it will close one Missouri plant indefinitely this fall and cut production at another due to slumping demand for trucks and other large vehicles.
Officials with the Auburn Hills-based automaker said in a conference call that it will shutter the St. Louis South plant, which makes minivans, effective Oct. 31. The St. Louis North plant, which makes full-size pickup trucks, will reduce operations from two shifts to one.
I guess the new Chrysler won't be investing that $1 billion dollars now.
Officials with the Auburn Hills-based automaker said in a conference call that it will shutter the St. Louis South plant, which makes minivans, effective Oct. 31. The St. Louis North plant, which makes full-size pickup trucks, will reduce operations from two shifts to one.
I guess the new Chrysler won't be investing that $1 billion dollars now.
6.29.2008
The new plates are here!!!
So, my personalized plates finally arrived at the Drivers License office this week...I've been waiting for them for over a month.
And here they are:
If you know me at all, you probably know both reasons why I chose these particular plates--clean and dirty. ;)
I actually wanted these plates:
Would these have not totally been appropriate?! Unfortunately, to get MoBot plates, you have to be a MoBot member ($60/year), get the authorization statement from MoBot for the plates ($35) and pay the MO specialty plate fee ($15). Eh...no.
So I went with the breast cancer plates--$25 to the Missouri Women's Council and the $15 fee. Easier...and just as important and cool. Maybe even cooler than MoBot plates, actually.
Ah...now Cleo feels truly complete. Any other items I want for her are luxuries and way down the food chain. One of these days, though...I'm dropping the turbocharged 4-cylinder in her...as soon as I make my first million. :)
And here they are:
If you know me at all, you probably know both reasons why I chose these particular plates--clean and dirty. ;)
I actually wanted these plates:
Would these have not totally been appropriate?! Unfortunately, to get MoBot plates, you have to be a MoBot member ($60/year), get the authorization statement from MoBot for the plates ($35) and pay the MO specialty plate fee ($15). Eh...no.
So I went with the breast cancer plates--$25 to the Missouri Women's Council and the $15 fee. Easier...and just as important and cool. Maybe even cooler than MoBot plates, actually.
Ah...now Cleo feels truly complete. Any other items I want for her are luxuries and way down the food chain. One of these days, though...I'm dropping the turbocharged 4-cylinder in her...as soon as I make my first million. :)
6.28.2008
May the door hit you firmly in the ass on the way out
From today's Post-Dispatch: Archbishop Raymond Burke today was appointed to lead the Vatican's supreme court.
The new position means Burke will leave St. Louis after heading the archdiocese here for more than four years.
Burke has held other positions on the Vatican's Apostolic Signatura, as the court is known, through his career. The Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority of the Catholic Church. Burke would be the first American to hold the position.
If you are a devout Catholic, you probably think Burke is a great man who worked hard to deepen the faith among the followers.
However, if you are a "normal" Catholic, you probably think that Burke is a total prick who particularly fucked over the folks at St. Stanislaus Kostka over the past few years.
I don't think he did anything to make people want to be "more" Catholic. Although, he's really just towing the Vatican line. Which is fine...so long as the Catholic Church wants to continue to dwindle in importance and influence, especially in Europe and North America.
So long, Archbishop Burke...don't come back anytime soon...really.
The new position means Burke will leave St. Louis after heading the archdiocese here for more than four years.
Burke has held other positions on the Vatican's Apostolic Signatura, as the court is known, through his career. The Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority of the Catholic Church. Burke would be the first American to hold the position.
If you are a devout Catholic, you probably think Burke is a great man who worked hard to deepen the faith among the followers.
However, if you are a "normal" Catholic, you probably think that Burke is a total prick who particularly fucked over the folks at St. Stanislaus Kostka over the past few years.
I don't think he did anything to make people want to be "more" Catholic. Although, he's really just towing the Vatican line. Which is fine...so long as the Catholic Church wants to continue to dwindle in importance and influence, especially in Europe and North America.
So long, Archbishop Burke...don't come back anytime soon...really.
6.27.2008
Orbz promo
The last picture show
Take a good look at this picture...it's the last one you will see of me for a while:
I have decided that I will not have myself photographed for the foreseeable future.
Over the last several years, I have become increasingly disgusted with the way I look in photos. Looking at our wedding and vacation photos was incredibly hard to do, because I think I look like total shit. I can't stand myself anymore.
I have a weight control problem, and have had it pretty much all my life. Recently, I hit my highest weight ever:
I'm down a bit from that high point, but I have a long long way to go.
I am fortunate in that I do not have diabetes or high blood pressure, and I'm glad that my cardiomyopathy was not caused by my weight...in fact, my heart is working almost normally thanks to medication. But those medications wipe me the fuck out, to the point where I recently filed for disability...I couldn't work full-time right now if I wanted to. I also have a hard time standing or sitting for any significant amount of time...I basically have to move around every half-hour or so. And I hurt almost constantly.
I know I can lose this weight...I've lost a large amount of weight before. And I believe that I know what it will take to make this loss stick this time. But I have to do it and I have to do it now. I think I get around pretty well for a guy that weighs almost 400 lbs...but that's not going to last much longer. If I don't make the change now, my later years--if I have them--will be no fun. And April and I have a 60-year minimum on our marriage. ;)
The next picture you see of me will look quite different. I will be fitter. And happier. And sexier. Sexier than I already am. Alright, you can all stop panting now. ;)
How long will it take? Who knows? But I'm going to get this fucking weight off in a healthy manner...or die trying.
I have decided that I will not have myself photographed for the foreseeable future.
Over the last several years, I have become increasingly disgusted with the way I look in photos. Looking at our wedding and vacation photos was incredibly hard to do, because I think I look like total shit. I can't stand myself anymore.
I have a weight control problem, and have had it pretty much all my life. Recently, I hit my highest weight ever:
I'm down a bit from that high point, but I have a long long way to go.
I am fortunate in that I do not have diabetes or high blood pressure, and I'm glad that my cardiomyopathy was not caused by my weight...in fact, my heart is working almost normally thanks to medication. But those medications wipe me the fuck out, to the point where I recently filed for disability...I couldn't work full-time right now if I wanted to. I also have a hard time standing or sitting for any significant amount of time...I basically have to move around every half-hour or so. And I hurt almost constantly.
I know I can lose this weight...I've lost a large amount of weight before. And I believe that I know what it will take to make this loss stick this time. But I have to do it and I have to do it now. I think I get around pretty well for a guy that weighs almost 400 lbs...but that's not going to last much longer. If I don't make the change now, my later years--if I have them--will be no fun. And April and I have a 60-year minimum on our marriage. ;)
The next picture you see of me will look quite different. I will be fitter. And happier. And sexier. Sexier than I already am. Alright, you can all stop panting now. ;)
How long will it take? Who knows? But I'm going to get this fucking weight off in a healthy manner...or die trying.
6.26.2008
There's a reason your client is unemployed
From MSNBC: "The fact that no team in Major League Baseball has made an offer for Barry even at the minimum salary has created a level of suspicion that is currently being investigated," (Barry Bonds' agent Jeff) Borris said.
"Let’s look at the facts. Barry performed admirably in 2007. Barry is healthy. Barry has been offered at the minimum salary and Barry’s trial date is in March of 2009, so there would be no interruption of the 2008 season. It defies explanation as to why he is not employed in 2008 with a major league club."
It doesn't defy explanation, Jeff. Your client is considered a fraud and an asshole. No one wants to deal with the mess that would come with signing your client. Even the Giants decided to let him go...and San Francisco was pretty much the only place where fans actually liked him. Tony LaRussa (manager of the Cardinals) apparently wanted to sign him, but ownership wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole. And I advocated signing Bonds last year, because if there's anyplace where a sports figure can rehab their image, it's St. Louis.
So take off your tin foil hat, Jeff, and realize that Barry is damaged goods that not even a thrift store would take.
"Let’s look at the facts. Barry performed admirably in 2007. Barry is healthy. Barry has been offered at the minimum salary and Barry’s trial date is in March of 2009, so there would be no interruption of the 2008 season. It defies explanation as to why he is not employed in 2008 with a major league club."
It doesn't defy explanation, Jeff. Your client is considered a fraud and an asshole. No one wants to deal with the mess that would come with signing your client. Even the Giants decided to let him go...and San Francisco was pretty much the only place where fans actually liked him. Tony LaRussa (manager of the Cardinals) apparently wanted to sign him, but ownership wouldn't touch him with a 10-foot pole. And I advocated signing Bonds last year, because if there's anyplace where a sports figure can rehab their image, it's St. Louis.
So take off your tin foil hat, Jeff, and realize that Barry is damaged goods that not even a thrift store would take.
6.25.2008
Sycamore: Damn good actor?
As some of you know, the Missus works for St. Louis Children's Hospital's Advocacy and Outreach Department. I volunteered to be part of the new Safety Street layout...you can see the old layout and learn about Safety Street here.
In the new layout, I am supposed to be a rough-looking stranger. The woman who did our wedding photos is doing the photography for the new layout, and I went to get my photos done at her studio last week. When the layout is completed, thanks to the magic of digital photography, I will be leaning out a car window with a menacing stare.
April went to a meeting at the company that is actually creating the layout...they are building a kiosk for her new Safety Store that opens in October. During her meeting, some company folks mentioned that they received the photos from the Safety Street shoot...one of them said, "The guy in the car looks really scary!"
April then mentioned that I was her husband, to which the lady then said that I was very effective in my role.
As soon as the layout is done, I'm going to get myself photographed next to Scary Guy...maybe I can even get a cardboard cutout or something. That would rock!
I scare adults, yet children, crazies and the homeless love me...go figure.
In the new layout, I am supposed to be a rough-looking stranger. The woman who did our wedding photos is doing the photography for the new layout, and I went to get my photos done at her studio last week. When the layout is completed, thanks to the magic of digital photography, I will be leaning out a car window with a menacing stare.
April went to a meeting at the company that is actually creating the layout...they are building a kiosk for her new Safety Store that opens in October. During her meeting, some company folks mentioned that they received the photos from the Safety Street shoot...one of them said, "The guy in the car looks really scary!"
April then mentioned that I was her husband, to which the lady then said that I was very effective in my role.
As soon as the layout is done, I'm going to get myself photographed next to Scary Guy...maybe I can even get a cardboard cutout or something. That would rock!
I scare adults, yet children, crazies and the homeless love me...go figure.
6.24.2008
Living in the Edge
Even though we've been home over a week now, I want to post about the car we had out East...because Americans make good cars and people should know about them.
While on vacation, April and I drove a 2008 Ford Edge Limited, which is a mid-size crossover SUV. We were supposed to get a compact or mid-sized car, but Hertz was fresh out, so we got an upgrade. I'm not the biggest fan of SUVs or Fords, but this one isn't so bad.
It looks big...it's only 8 inches shorter than an Explorer:
But it doesn't feel big. Maybe it doesn't feel so big because it doesn't sit as high up as an Explorer. And it drives like a car, albeit a big car...but it didn't feel difficult to drive and wasn't too difficult to park. Of course, I had a little help on that. The cabin layout was decent--I prefer the setup of my Cobalt better, but all the controls were pretty easy to use.
Our Edge was totally tricked out: leather interior, rear-parking assist (the closer you get to an item, the faster the car beeps), a navigation system (courtesy of Hertz) and my favorite item--SYNC.
SYNC is the new system developed by Ford and Microsoft that lets you control your cell phone and iPod with your voice. Once you figure out how to set it up and use it, it's cool. There were a few glitches...it never wanted to play Motorhead or The Roots. But I rarely had to pick up my phone or iPod while in the car...all I had to do was hit the SYNC button and say a command. It even reads text messages from your phone back to you! For $395, I'd add it on to my car.
Gas mileage was...eh. Not bad, I guess. With the A/C on constantly, we got 17 city/21 highway. EPA rates it 15/22, so I guess that's decent. Especially given the power...265 horses out of the Ford Duratec 35 V6 engine. It had good acceleration, but it labored with the A/C on...I didn't test it without the A/C.
(And it gets 76hp/L...one particular person out there will be pleased with that number.)
Overall, it's not a vehicle I would buy, but it is a nice ride. Nice enough that we put almost 1200 miles on it in 9 days. The Americans have been getting better at the car game for a while now, but in 2008, they have to pretty much get it perfect if they want to survive. Apparently, the Edge is selling well and getting a lot of kudos.
It's in everyone's interests to make sure that The Big 3 make it through their latest crises...if one goes down, it will hurt the world over. I hope that they've learned from their mistakes...and that this doesn't become another failed lesson a la the 1970s.
While on vacation, April and I drove a 2008 Ford Edge Limited, which is a mid-size crossover SUV. We were supposed to get a compact or mid-sized car, but Hertz was fresh out, so we got an upgrade. I'm not the biggest fan of SUVs or Fords, but this one isn't so bad.
It looks big...it's only 8 inches shorter than an Explorer:
But it doesn't feel big. Maybe it doesn't feel so big because it doesn't sit as high up as an Explorer. And it drives like a car, albeit a big car...but it didn't feel difficult to drive and wasn't too difficult to park. Of course, I had a little help on that. The cabin layout was decent--I prefer the setup of my Cobalt better, but all the controls were pretty easy to use.
Our Edge was totally tricked out: leather interior, rear-parking assist (the closer you get to an item, the faster the car beeps), a navigation system (courtesy of Hertz) and my favorite item--SYNC.
SYNC is the new system developed by Ford and Microsoft that lets you control your cell phone and iPod with your voice. Once you figure out how to set it up and use it, it's cool. There were a few glitches...it never wanted to play Motorhead or The Roots. But I rarely had to pick up my phone or iPod while in the car...all I had to do was hit the SYNC button and say a command. It even reads text messages from your phone back to you! For $395, I'd add it on to my car.
Gas mileage was...eh. Not bad, I guess. With the A/C on constantly, we got 17 city/21 highway. EPA rates it 15/22, so I guess that's decent. Especially given the power...265 horses out of the Ford Duratec 35 V6 engine. It had good acceleration, but it labored with the A/C on...I didn't test it without the A/C.
(And it gets 76hp/L...one particular person out there will be pleased with that number.)
Overall, it's not a vehicle I would buy, but it is a nice ride. Nice enough that we put almost 1200 miles on it in 9 days. The Americans have been getting better at the car game for a while now, but in 2008, they have to pretty much get it perfect if they want to survive. Apparently, the Edge is selling well and getting a lot of kudos.
It's in everyone's interests to make sure that The Big 3 make it through their latest crises...if one goes down, it will hurt the world over. I hope that they've learned from their mistakes...and that this doesn't become another failed lesson a la the 1970s.
6.23.2008
RIP George Carlin
They don't make comedians like him anymore.
Shit
Piss
Fuck
Cunt
Cocksucker
Motherfucker
Tits
I can't believe he was 71 years old...wow! He was ranked by Comedy Central as the #2 stand-up comedian of all time, behind Richard Pryor. That seems right.
Rest in peace...
Shit
Piss
Fuck
Cunt
Cocksucker
Motherfucker
Tits
I can't believe he was 71 years old...wow! He was ranked by Comedy Central as the #2 stand-up comedian of all time, behind Richard Pryor. That seems right.
Rest in peace...
6.22.2008
You can't make shit like this up
Delivery drivers regularly swap stories...and we regularly embellish them. But the one I'm about to tell you is so ridiculous, you can't make it up.
I work in a neighborhood called the Central West End. There isn't an equivalent in Philadelphia...it's basically be a combination of the Art Museum area and University City: Lots of high-rise apartments, condos, shops and restaurants, anchored by two huge hospitals and a medical school. And it's next to a big freakin' park. April works in the area as does my mom...now I do too.
Last night, Dave (one of the drivers) took a delivery over to the Chase Park Plaza, an upscale hotel and condo building a few blocks from our store. He took the delivery inside the building, the customer came down and paid for their order and Dave headed back to his car.
As he was walking back to his car, he saw a bellhop pushing a luggage cart with some Imo's boxes on it. Dave thought it was strange to have a bellhop pushing a few pizzas into the building on a cart.
As he got up to his passenger side window, he noticed that the bag that contained the next order he was delivering was now empty, and in it's place was $19.
Apparently, someone was really hungry and/or really wanted Imo's.
Our boss called the customer and explained that the driver was robbed, and that we'd get a new order out as soon as possible. Although, technically, Dave wasn't robbed...
That's a hard story to top, folks!
I work in a neighborhood called the Central West End. There isn't an equivalent in Philadelphia...it's basically be a combination of the Art Museum area and University City: Lots of high-rise apartments, condos, shops and restaurants, anchored by two huge hospitals and a medical school. And it's next to a big freakin' park. April works in the area as does my mom...now I do too.
Last night, Dave (one of the drivers) took a delivery over to the Chase Park Plaza, an upscale hotel and condo building a few blocks from our store. He took the delivery inside the building, the customer came down and paid for their order and Dave headed back to his car.
As he was walking back to his car, he saw a bellhop pushing a luggage cart with some Imo's boxes on it. Dave thought it was strange to have a bellhop pushing a few pizzas into the building on a cart.
As he got up to his passenger side window, he noticed that the bag that contained the next order he was delivering was now empty, and in it's place was $19.
Apparently, someone was really hungry and/or really wanted Imo's.
Our boss called the customer and explained that the driver was robbed, and that we'd get a new order out as soon as possible. Although, technically, Dave wasn't robbed...
That's a hard story to top, folks!
6.21.2008
I will support the InBev buyout of A-B...
...if InBev becomes an American company and bases itself in St. Louis.
If InBev agreed to that, I don't think there would be any complaints about the buyout.
(It'll never happen, but you never know.)
If InBev agreed to that, I don't think there would be any complaints about the buyout.
(It'll never happen, but you never know.)
East Coast days 7-9 and wrap up
Jesus...I am so behind on shit! Anyway...here's a recap of the last days of our vacation...finally.
Friday morning, I woke up early, specifically because I wanted to get breakfast from my favorite cardiac cart...Terry & Eleni's. I was concerned that the owners might have moved or gotten out of the business...but there it was, at the NW corner of 16th and Market:
This cart is in front of my old office building, 1601 Market AKA 5 Penn Center. My former company has so many floors in the building, their name is on the building (along with KPMG):
In the year and a half that I worked at 1601 Market, I never once ate lunch from Terry & Eleni's...only breakfast: a turkey bacon, egg & cheese sandwich and a 16 ounce bottle of chocolate milk. Never anything else, other than maybe OJ instead of chocolate milk.
I was not disappointed...delicious as usual. April enjoyed her sandwich as well.
Lunch was at Marathon Grill with my friend John from Radian. Marathon is a local chain (though all their locations are in or near Center City) that is similar to Cosi (or for you non-Philly folks: BreadCo or Panera with sit-down service and liquor).
After lunch, we finally went out for some sightseeing. I took April around the city, showing her where I used to hang, which kept us mainly in Northwest and Northeast Philly.
While in Philly, April got addicted to Wawa. It's not hard to do...they have great sandwiches and delicious blue raspberry soda. I swear, we did like 4 Wawa sandwich runs in 3 days. This is a photo from the one on E. Erie Ave. near the El:
Dinner was with my friend Meg at the Elephant & Castle, which is a small chain in the US and Canada that specializes in British and American food. I didn't know it was a chain, but we don't have any here in St. Louis, so it's all good. The food wasn't that bad...we were originally going to eat at the restaurant at the hotel, but they had live music and it was too loud for our liking.
After breakfast at the Great American Diner & Pub in Bensalem, Saturday was beach day!!! A trip over to Belmar, NJ is always a good time!
After some time at the beach, we headed over to Vix Emporium, at 50th and Baltimore in University City. Vix is a smorgasbord of cool shit, with many handmade items. It's run by my friend Sean Dorn (who previously operated a similar store called MiaLou in the same spot a few years back) and his lovely lady Emily. I really liked MiaLou, and Vix is even better...I hope they're successful.
Dinner was at Pat Bombino's, at 9th and Catherine in South Philly. The place is less than a year old, and they just got their liquor license 2 weeks ago. Pretty good food, though a bit pricey. We met Gina and Dave from The Cellar for the first time in person...they're very nice peeps.
After a late night, we planned to sleep until about 10am Sunday, pack up and head out. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be...
A fire alarm woke us up at 9, and we had to evacuate the building. Not sure what happened, but everything was alright.
Our last meal in Philly was with my dear friend Eva, who some of you know as Wolf, an occasional Manifesto writer. Trolley Car Diner is not exactly a diner...well, it is, but for being a diner, it's pretty upscale. Great food, though. And of course, always good to hang out with Eva.
After some driving around in Old City and a stop for souvenirs, we headed back to Baltimore and on to St. Louis. Fortunately, the plane home was only 2/3 full, so we had room to stretch out a bit. By the time we got home to our apartment, it was after 10pm CDT.
It was a great trip...one of my best vacations ever, if not the best. I love Baltimore and Philadelphia. Could I ever live in either of them again? I dunno...St. Louis is where my heart--and sanity--are. Extended visits are alright, I guess. As much as I enjoyed the trip, I was so ready to get back home.
And here are the rest of the photos we took...
Philadelphia City Hall, from S. Broad St., though the last shot is actually from S. Penn Sq.:
Shots from the Radisson Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia:
Don't ask:
The entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the famous "Rocky" steps:
Gas was pretty fucking expensive in Philly:
It's not just any church, it's The Church of Philadelphia:
April feeling refreshed with a Rita's gelati after getting overheated:
Very refreshed, indeed!
Our last shot of the Philadelphia skyline, along the eastbound Schuylkill Expressway near 30th St. Station:
The end.
Friday morning, I woke up early, specifically because I wanted to get breakfast from my favorite cardiac cart...Terry & Eleni's. I was concerned that the owners might have moved or gotten out of the business...but there it was, at the NW corner of 16th and Market:
This cart is in front of my old office building, 1601 Market AKA 5 Penn Center. My former company has so many floors in the building, their name is on the building (along with KPMG):
In the year and a half that I worked at 1601 Market, I never once ate lunch from Terry & Eleni's...only breakfast: a turkey bacon, egg & cheese sandwich and a 16 ounce bottle of chocolate milk. Never anything else, other than maybe OJ instead of chocolate milk.
I was not disappointed...delicious as usual. April enjoyed her sandwich as well.
Lunch was at Marathon Grill with my friend John from Radian. Marathon is a local chain (though all their locations are in or near Center City) that is similar to Cosi (or for you non-Philly folks: BreadCo or Panera with sit-down service and liquor).
After lunch, we finally went out for some sightseeing. I took April around the city, showing her where I used to hang, which kept us mainly in Northwest and Northeast Philly.
While in Philly, April got addicted to Wawa. It's not hard to do...they have great sandwiches and delicious blue raspberry soda. I swear, we did like 4 Wawa sandwich runs in 3 days. This is a photo from the one on E. Erie Ave. near the El:
Dinner was with my friend Meg at the Elephant & Castle, which is a small chain in the US and Canada that specializes in British and American food. I didn't know it was a chain, but we don't have any here in St. Louis, so it's all good. The food wasn't that bad...we were originally going to eat at the restaurant at the hotel, but they had live music and it was too loud for our liking.
After breakfast at the Great American Diner & Pub in Bensalem, Saturday was beach day!!! A trip over to Belmar, NJ is always a good time!
After some time at the beach, we headed over to Vix Emporium, at 50th and Baltimore in University City. Vix is a smorgasbord of cool shit, with many handmade items. It's run by my friend Sean Dorn (who previously operated a similar store called MiaLou in the same spot a few years back) and his lovely lady Emily. I really liked MiaLou, and Vix is even better...I hope they're successful.
Dinner was at Pat Bombino's, at 9th and Catherine in South Philly. The place is less than a year old, and they just got their liquor license 2 weeks ago. Pretty good food, though a bit pricey. We met Gina and Dave from The Cellar for the first time in person...they're very nice peeps.
After a late night, we planned to sleep until about 10am Sunday, pack up and head out. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be...
A fire alarm woke us up at 9, and we had to evacuate the building. Not sure what happened, but everything was alright.
Our last meal in Philly was with my dear friend Eva, who some of you know as Wolf, an occasional Manifesto writer. Trolley Car Diner is not exactly a diner...well, it is, but for being a diner, it's pretty upscale. Great food, though. And of course, always good to hang out with Eva.
After some driving around in Old City and a stop for souvenirs, we headed back to Baltimore and on to St. Louis. Fortunately, the plane home was only 2/3 full, so we had room to stretch out a bit. By the time we got home to our apartment, it was after 10pm CDT.
It was a great trip...one of my best vacations ever, if not the best. I love Baltimore and Philadelphia. Could I ever live in either of them again? I dunno...St. Louis is where my heart--and sanity--are. Extended visits are alright, I guess. As much as I enjoyed the trip, I was so ready to get back home.
And here are the rest of the photos we took...
Philadelphia City Hall, from S. Broad St., though the last shot is actually from S. Penn Sq.:
Shots from the Radisson Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia:
Don't ask:
The entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the famous "Rocky" steps:
Gas was pretty fucking expensive in Philly:
It's not just any church, it's The Church of Philadelphia:
April feeling refreshed with a Rita's gelati after getting overheated:
Very refreshed, indeed!
Our last shot of the Philadelphia skyline, along the eastbound Schuylkill Expressway near 30th St. Station:
The end.
6.12.2008
East Coast day 6b and photo parade
Let it be known that for the first time since June 26, 2005, this Manifesto is being written in Philadelphia, PA USA, where the first Manifesto was written over 6 years ago.
Greetings from the delightful Radisson Warwick Hotel in Rittenhouse Square! It feels so good to be back "home." To some degree, it's like I never left.
April's been having some leg and ankle issues this week--probably from having to sit so much, so we decided to just hang out at the hotel room last night. Dinner was simple--hoagies from Wawa...awww yeah! There was just one small problem in getting said hoagies...
When I worked at 19th and Chestnut, there was a Wawa just up the street at 20th. I double-checked Wawa's website and the store was still listed. So I walked over there from 17th and Locust (see the red line in the map photo)...
No Wawa. It's now some other convenience store and deli.
I then checked yellowpages.com on my phone...one location was listed on Rittenhouse Square and a second at 17th and Arch. The Rittenhouse location didn't sound familiar...and I saw nothing at the address listed. So I walked over to 17th and Arch (pink line), got us dinner and walked back to the hotel (green line).
I did a little bit of walking, as you can see:
I actually had a hoagie at a Wawa near Baltimore yesterday...but they're just so good! And we don't have Wawas anywhere near St. Louis.
Lessee...what's up later today? I plan to walk up to 16th and Market later this morning to see if the cardiac cart that I used to get breakfast from is still there. It's out in front of my old office building, so I suspect I might see some old friends out there. Hopefully we can grab lunch with a friend of mine from Radian, and then I don't know what's up with dinner. We'll drive around and I'll show April all the cool places and stuff in town.
This weekend is going to kick 95 kinds of ass...maybe more.
Did I mention that I woke April up just so she could see the 6ABC Action News intro?
More later today...and now, time for miscellaneous photos.
April attended the 17th Annual Summer Institute on Injury Prevention & Control at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She actually won a scholarship to attend...they paid for her hotel and the institute. Smart girl, that April.
Here we are at the Rusty Scupper. They had a dinner for all the scholarship winners there Monday night, and they let me tag along...and they paid for me! Mmmm...
Here are the scholarship winners:
In the I-395 Tunnel in Washington, DC Tuesday night:
One of the speakers during the Institute:
Touring the Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Shock Trauma is the setting for one of the shows on the Discovery Health Channel...I'm not sure what the show is called, though.
On the helicopter pad at Shock Trauma:
At the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems. Apparently, the State of Maryland has the ultimate control over all EMS personnel in the state, and they're managed through MIEMSS.
The control room:
The President's Chair at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine...only the Presidents of the Medical School now sit in the chair.
Mr. Johns Hopkins himself:
The front of the School of Public Health:
The Billings Building at Johns Hopkins Hospital:
Me at Sammy's Trattoria on N. Charles St. Thursday:
April and our friend Susan, who is originally from St. Louis, but now lives in Baltimore:
Well, April and I did split two bottles of wine:
All 3 of us:
Greetings from the delightful Radisson Warwick Hotel in Rittenhouse Square! It feels so good to be back "home." To some degree, it's like I never left.
April's been having some leg and ankle issues this week--probably from having to sit so much, so we decided to just hang out at the hotel room last night. Dinner was simple--hoagies from Wawa...awww yeah! There was just one small problem in getting said hoagies...
When I worked at 19th and Chestnut, there was a Wawa just up the street at 20th. I double-checked Wawa's website and the store was still listed. So I walked over there from 17th and Locust (see the red line in the map photo)...
No Wawa. It's now some other convenience store and deli.
I then checked yellowpages.com on my phone...one location was listed on Rittenhouse Square and a second at 17th and Arch. The Rittenhouse location didn't sound familiar...and I saw nothing at the address listed. So I walked over to 17th and Arch (pink line), got us dinner and walked back to the hotel (green line).
I did a little bit of walking, as you can see:
I actually had a hoagie at a Wawa near Baltimore yesterday...but they're just so good! And we don't have Wawas anywhere near St. Louis.
Lessee...what's up later today? I plan to walk up to 16th and Market later this morning to see if the cardiac cart that I used to get breakfast from is still there. It's out in front of my old office building, so I suspect I might see some old friends out there. Hopefully we can grab lunch with a friend of mine from Radian, and then I don't know what's up with dinner. We'll drive around and I'll show April all the cool places and stuff in town.
This weekend is going to kick 95 kinds of ass...maybe more.
Did I mention that I woke April up just so she could see the 6ABC Action News intro?
More later today...and now, time for miscellaneous photos.
April attended the 17th Annual Summer Institute on Injury Prevention & Control at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She actually won a scholarship to attend...they paid for her hotel and the institute. Smart girl, that April.
Here we are at the Rusty Scupper. They had a dinner for all the scholarship winners there Monday night, and they let me tag along...and they paid for me! Mmmm...
Here are the scholarship winners:
In the I-395 Tunnel in Washington, DC Tuesday night:
One of the speakers during the Institute:
Touring the Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Shock Trauma is the setting for one of the shows on the Discovery Health Channel...I'm not sure what the show is called, though.
On the helicopter pad at Shock Trauma:
At the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems. Apparently, the State of Maryland has the ultimate control over all EMS personnel in the state, and they're managed through MIEMSS.
The control room:
The President's Chair at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine...only the Presidents of the Medical School now sit in the chair.
Mr. Johns Hopkins himself:
The front of the School of Public Health:
The Billings Building at Johns Hopkins Hospital:
Me at Sammy's Trattoria on N. Charles St. Thursday:
April and our friend Susan, who is originally from St. Louis, but now lives in Baltimore:
Well, April and I did split two bottles of wine:
All 3 of us:
