Welcome to Becky's Blog

Italy 2011

2011-11-10T16:40:00.002-06:00

Some photo highlights of my trip to Italy with James and Nancy, Oct. 20-31, 2011

The Duomo in Florence

The Pantheon in Rome

The Ponte Vecchio in Florence

The Basilica San Francesco d'Assisi

St. Peter's Square at the Vatican

My Sebastian turned 9!!!!!!!!!

2011-10-11T18:47:00.001-05:00

I took to a Cardinals game on her actual birthday, Sept. 25th. It was the last home game of the regular season this year. (we beat the cubs!!!!)
I always give her a Cardinals shirt with her age on it as the jersey number... this year was 9 and that is retired as Enos Slaughter's number. I took this photo outside the stadium right by the Slaughter statue.

Look who I met this time!!!!

2011-09-06T15:53:00.002-05:00

Chris, Gloria, Chris' dad and I went to the Duquoin State Fair (in Illinois) and saw Marty Stuart in concert and had some great fair food. We had corn dogs, sweet corn, I had a cherry limeade, and then a lemon shake-up after the concert.
Connie Smith, Marty's wife opened the concert and he and the Fabulous Superlatives rocked it after her... it was so fun. Then we stood in line to meet him and get his autograph. And we mentioned we were from the Sheldon and he remembered his concert here and said he wanted to some back and play here again. It was so fun and so worth the two hour drive. Thanks, Chris for driving! Yay, Marty Stuart!!!!!!!

Am I crazy???

2011-06-11T12:19:00.003-05:00

I have committed to walk a 1/2 marathon... I have 12 1/2 months to train to walk 13.1 miles. My dear friend, Kel, has committed to training with me and agreed to be my motivation. We have done well in the first two weeks of training. Out of 14 days we have walked 11 of those I believe. The hottest part of our year so far and we've been walking mostly after dark... so it's not so hot. One walk we took Kel's daughter N and she cried 3/4 of the way around the park... not so pleasant. I took one evening on her bike and that made us run a little to keep up with her.
So my goal is to walk the half in Portland, OR next 4th of July (2012)... my friend, julie, and I were planning to go to Portland anyway for the barbershop convention over the weekend after the 4th and she found that they have a half and a full marathon on the actual day of the 4th of july so we are going to go out a day early and walk the half. Jul has done four 1/2's in the last year... she said she'd walk my pace if I agreed to do it. Kel and our friend Beth have decided to go to Portland as well... should be fun!!!!!

My Godparents

2011-05-10T18:35:00.002-05:00

a wedding photo, 1944

My godfather, Alan Vierheller, passed away on March 30. He was 93 years old and he died two days before my godparents' 67th wedding anniversary. We had a funeral for him on Monday, April 4 and then had a interment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetary on April 12. Mom officiated at the funeral and at the interment, which was just Phyllis, my godmother, Mom and myself. Alan was in the Marines and so they had Marines at the interment, a gun salute, and Taps on the bugle. They then folded the flag and presented it to Phyllis. They also presented three of the shell casings and a medallion to her.
Alan retired in 1982, so they had been side-by-side for almost 30 years. She has said to me she turns to his chair and wants to tell him things and then realizes he's not there. She is doing okay considering. I have been going and watching Cardinal baseball games with her on Wednesdays. We took her to church on Easter and then to brunch with the family. She had not been to church in quite a while as they both have been very hard of hearing for a while and couldn't enjoy the services.
I hope we can be a comfort to her in her life without Alan. Sixty seven years is a long time to be with someone. It's sad to see her without him.

Some new friends...

2011-05-10T18:18:00.002-05:00

I was asked by my pastor to meet some new people and if I would bring them to our church sometime as they live near me. Rev. Jill and her husband, Chali, have been visiting these people as a favor to another member of our church. I went with Jill on Saturday to meet D.B. and his family. They just moved to St. Louis from Bhutan. I have to admit I so thought Bhutan was in Africa. I am ignorant. I now know from this weekend that Bhutan is near India and Nepal. D. B. and his family were in refugee camps in Nepal, I believe, for 18 years! Eighteen YEARS! He is only 37 years old and he had been in the camp for 18 years. He speaks English quite well as he taught English in Bhutan. His wife and his brother are learning English, but will catch on quickly. They are Hindu, but want to meet Americans and have American friends, so they are willing to visit our church. They are being assisted by the International Institute, here in South City. They are taking English classes and classes about job searching and interviewing. I have learned a couple Nepalan words... I know "thank you": dinya-vat. (my spelling!) and I should know a couple more but I realize that I am a very visual learner and I can't just hear things and repeat and learn. Namaste means good morning or a greeting the first time you meet a person in a day.
I wish I knew a place to get D. B. a job... He would be good at anything and he would catch on to most things quickly. I can tell he's frustrated about not being able to provide for his family.
I did pick them up Sunday and take them to church with me. D.B. and his wife were eager to meet people at church. And D.B. tried to sing along to the hymns. It was cute.
A beginning to something interesting...I'm sure there will be more postings about them.

Love it!!!!

2010-12-22T16:23:00.004-06:00

Can I just say that I love where I work!!!!

( The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries)

and that I love where I live!!!!!

(The City of St. Louis, Missouri.)

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas to all !!!!!!!!!!

Chaplain of the Year! (My Mother!)

2010-12-21T17:23:00.003-06:00

Rev. Royal Gunter is the proud recipient of the United Methodist Chaplain of the Year Award! This award is presented by the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare. Royal will travel to San Antonio, Texas in March 2011 to receive this award.

She serves as Director of Pastoral Care and Church Relations in the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church at Gambrill Gardens, in Ellisville, Missouri.

She has been serving at this retirement community for 12 years and was a seminary intern before she was hired on staff at Gambrill Gardens.

Royal was an English and French major and took Secondary Education courses to become a teacher. She later obtained a Master's Degree in Adult Education at UMSL and her second Master's, in Divinity from Eden Seminary.

Royal and her husband, Donn, have three adult children and two granddaughters living in the St. Louis area. Royal believes she has been blessed abundantly and is convinced that "God is good!"

Happy 100th Anniversary to UUMC!!!

2010-10-09T12:22:00.002-05:00

Our church is having its centennial celebration this weekend! Happy 100 years to University United Methodist Church, in University City, Missouri!

Guess who I met LAST NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-09-25T12:30:00.003-05:00

THE AVETT BROTHERS!!

A friend in high places got us to the meet and greet before the concert last night at the Pageant! The guys, Scott, Seth, Bob and Joe, were so super nice and cool. They signed a present for a co-worker who couldn't make it to the show. She's gonna be so excited. The concert was amazing, like always. SO much fun. Best live show out there these days! (in this photo, which I found online, it's not from the concert last night, left to right: Joe, on cello, Bob on bass, Scott on banjo, and Seth on acoustic guitar.)

Vegas Roadtrip...

2010-08-26T13:40:00.002-05:00

I drove with my dear friend Jesse and her four children to Las Vegas... they just moved there in June and had come to STL for three weeks for her cousin's wedding. The driving itself was uneventful... I will have to type up the story of what happened when we got to Vegas when I have more time... It was good to spend time with Jesse and the kids were good on the trip. (we left Saturday morning, drove Saturday and Sunday and made it to Vegas about 8pm or so Sunday... then my flight home was Monday night at 7:20. "Fast" trip!)

Lyle Lovett at the Sheldon!

2010-08-04T16:47:00.003-05:00

Lyle Lovett played the Sheldon this past Monday. It was an awesome show. I did not know his music but it was very enjoyable and fun! This photo is by our photographer, Ray Marklin.

today!

2010-07-17T10:47:00.003-05:00

I am headed to the Cardinals game with a friend and her parents... I just checked and these are the most expensive seats in the entire Stadium. They are the all you can eat and drink seats, the green ones right behind home plate...and there is an air conditioned area where you can go if it's too hot outside, which it will be today.
But on a serious note... Adam Wainwright is pitching and he's been aweSOME at home.
I love me some Cardinals baseball!
(Thanks, Nancy!!!)

Then I am headed to the Lady GAGA concert with my best-y James tonight... what a long and fun day!!! (Thanks, James!!!)

Guess who I MET?!?!?

2010-07-17T10:07:00.002-05:00

I totally forgot to blog this!!! I left for ASP the day after this happened and just thought yesterday I didn't let everyone know!!!

After the Harry Connick Jr. concert here at the Fox on June 11th, my friend Becky E. and I thought we would wait in line outside the back door of the Fox to get Harry's autograph. Security who works there, and that I know, told me there is a line that forms and Harry signs for everyone in line, so if I want to meet him I should just get in line. (The concert was awesome by the way. I'm not to fond of his recent album, but he played a lot of older stuff and told funny stories. It was great fun. )
All day on that day, which was a Friday a co-worker and I were plotting to try to figure out how to get Harry across the parking lot... only 100 yards from the Fox to the Sheldon. We sent a letter over to try to get it put in his dressing room... who knows if it made it. And we were ready to give him a tour of the facility. No dice.
After the concert we figured that he wouldn't be outside for a little while, so I went to the Sheldon and got a City of Gabriels book, which is a book the Sheldon published on the history of Jazz that came out of St. Louis. (Harry is in the book b/c a couple of guys who have been in his band through the years have been from STL. His current bassist Neal Caine is from the LOU.)
So I'm standing in line with Becky E. and I tell her I am really nervous. I don't think I'll be able to form words in front of him. (I have loved Harry since I saw him on Arsenio Hall in 1990 or 1989... long ago...I am slightly obssessed and meeting him is going to blow my mind...I can't believe that I haven't stood in this line for autographs before this... what was I thinking?? )
So we get up to him, I ask "can I give you a present?" he says "well of course, that's awfully sweet" *sigh* ohmigoodness... so I try to explain why I am giving him this book and that that building right there is a concert hall and art galleries... Becky said I made sense but, whoaaa, I was nervous... and he signed my ticket. ohhh myyy... I just met Harry freaking Connick jr!!!!

I love him!!

Fun with Sebastian over the 4th of July...

2010-07-09T09:51:00.003-05:00

Aren't her little freckles cute??
We have such fun together... usually!

Appalachia Service Project 2010

2010-06-30T16:11:00.002-05:00

Our group before we left on Saturday the 12th.

Where we stayed...

The work our crew did...fun roof!

Dixie Chicks and The Eagles!!!!

2010-06-25T10:13:00.002-05:00

Niki and I went to see the Dixie Chicks and the Eagles at Busch Stadium last night. It turned out to be a beautiful night and the concert was totally fun. Wish both groups could have played longer. Will be singing Seven Bridges Road in my head for weeks! A once in a lifetime experience!

A nice thank you!

2010-06-10T16:29:00.002-05:00

My boss and I received these beautiful flowers from one of our artists whose exhibit opened on Friday. Aren't they gorgeous?

Best concert of the season!!

2010-05-14T13:40:00.002-05:00

Marty Stuart played the Sheldon on April 30th. It was the best show of our 2009-2010 season, I think. It was so amazing. I was very impressed and he was impressed with our hall. It was his debut here and I can't wait until he comes back.

His backup band, the Fabulous Superlatives were great as well. I am now a Marty Stuart fan, for sure!!

Out with the old and in with the gold...

2010-04-27T17:59:00.002-05:00

I had to get a new car...not so excited about this...for many reasons. But I will have to say good bye to my Eagle Talon. I loved that car. My new car is gold... so that's one reason to like it... go Black and Gold! (U of Missouri colors) I need to sell my Talon. get some money for it... but it's quite sick. needs major repairs... I drove it hard for 11 years...

The Sheldon Gala 2010!

2010-03-24T16:59:00.001-05:00

Our annual night to get all dolled up! Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra entertained that evening at the Sheldon's annual Gala concert and dinner. What fun!

fun at the play park with Sebastian...

2010-03-23T18:10:00.001-05:00

She's getting too old...where does the time go??? It seems like she'll be a teenager tomorrow!

San Antonio and Austin, TEXAS!!

2010-03-23T17:36:00.002-05:00

My friend Julie and I went to San Antonio, Texas this past weekend and had lots of fun. We did the Riverwalk, SeaWorld, a day trip to Austin, the missions, and had good food. My friend Nicole was in Austin the week prior for South by Southwest, a Music and film festival. We saw her briefly in Austin. We attended a mariachi Mass at the San Jose mission on Sunday, which was almost my favorite part of our weekend. Nicole told me today that that's where she was married... (should have know that ahead of time. )

my sentiments exactly...

2010-03-09T17:23:00.000-06:00

(written by The Avett Brothers) If you put your ear to the street, you can hear the rumble of the world in motion; people going to and from work, to school, to the grocery store. You may even hear the whisper of their living rooms, their conversation, their complaints, and if you're lucky, their laugh...ter. If you're almost anywhere in America , you'll hear something different, something special, something you recognize but haven't heard in a long time. It is the sound of a real celebration. It is not New Year's, and it is not a political convention. It is neither a prime time game-show, nor a music video countdown, bloated with fame and sponsorship. What you are hearing is the love for a music. It is the unbridled outcry of support for a song that sings to the heart, that dances with the soul. The jubilation is in the theaters, the bars, the music clubs, the festivals. The love is for a band. The songs are honest: just chords with real voices singing real melodies. But, the heart and the energy with which they are sung, is really why people are talking, and why so many sing along. They are a reality in a world of entertainment built with smoke and mirrors, and when they play, the common man can break the mirrors and blow the smoke away, so that all that's left behind is the unwavering beauty of the songs. That's the commotion, that's the celebration, and wherever The Avett Brothers are tonight, that's what you'll find.

At the House of Blues, March 7, 2010
The Avett Brothers

The most fabulous group ever!!!

2010-03-09T12:13:00.002-06:00

I went to Chicago this past Sunday with my friend Caron to see the AVETT BROTHERS!!!!! I love love love love them and they are fantastic live!!!!!! SOOOO much fun. The concert was at the House of Blues and the theatre is on the second floor... well people jump and dance a lot to the Avetts music... the floor was bouncing and moving...This is my only photo I took with my phone, but it turned out pretty good. Joe on cello on the left, then Bob on bass, Scott A. on banjo, and Seth A., in his "wife beater" t-shirt and on acoustic guitar. I got a event print, one in an edition of 60, to add to my "Avett Bros concert poster collection" ( I have two now)... LOVE THEM!

St. Louis Musicians for Haiti Benefit Concert at the Sheldon...

2010-02-10T16:20:00.004-06:00

We, here at the Sheldon, had a benefit concert for Haiti relief and for Doctors without Borders last night. It was aMAzing! It was all STL performers, the likes of Brian Owens, Kim Massie, Peter Martin and Mardra Thomas (all pictured here). Also we had Bottoms Up Blues Gang, Peter Henderson, a group called Mayor Taylor, and the always amazing Christine Brewer.

Julius Hunter was the MC and we raised... wait for it... over $20,000!!! Highlights of the concert and evening were definitely the duet of Christine Brewer and Brian Owens, doing the song The Prayer, by Andrea Boccelli and Celine Dion (I believe)... soooooo awesome... Brian Owens all by himself...I had never seen him before and I was missing something. Then during Kim Massie's set she asked people to bring money to the stage and they did... then Julius did like an altar call type thing and there was money floating down from the balcony to fill the buckets... when we were close to $20,000 but not quite... I had tears in my eyes at the end, it was the most awesome sight of generosity I have seen. HEC-TV aired it live and we will get a DVD of it sometime. Other people have to see this! But like our exe. director said today it was a "had to be here" to experience it kind of event. (I'm so glad I work at the Sheldon. Neat things happen here!)

My finished cable knit socks!

2010-01-29T09:19:00.003-06:00

I have only worn them for this photo... they are headed into a needle craft exhibit at our church for the month of February. (Will it still be cold enough to wear them in March??)

The Avett Brothers (and solo stuff from Seth)

2010-01-15T13:12:00.003-06:00

[ I love this photo btw---so hilarious]

I adore the Avett Brothers and here is Seth doing solo stuff... who knew?? I am going to Chicago on March 6-8 to see them at the House of Blues that Sunday! I cannot wait. I am missing them at Missouri Theater in Columbia... but seriously what are they doing from the 2nd (in Columbia) and the 7th on Sunday (in Chicago)... perfect opportunity to stop in STL... someone needs to call and make a suggestion...

They are the best live! Their concerts are super fun and I wish people who like them could make the trip with me. (James and friend are going but they won't appreciate it liek some people would....)

Christmas Eve 2009!

2010-01-13T13:23:00.001-06:00

Sebastian and me at church on Christmas Eve. Collin took the photo.

my finished cable knit sock (#1)

2009-12-08T19:39:00.000-06:00

my first attempt at knitting cables...

2009-11-11T10:57:00.002-06:00

This is my cabled sock I am knitting. It is amazingly simple to knit cables... My pal Becky gave me this yarn for my birthday and said I have to find a pattern that has an interesting pattern or design knitted into it... I thought cables would be fun and saw on Youtube how easy cables really are... I can't wait until I am done. I want to wear them.

Cables and other misc stuff...

2009-11-10T17:39:00.003-06:00

I taught myself to knit cables from Youtube... super easy! I will have to post a photo of my socks in progress... they look so neat! Next might have to be an actual cable sweater... oohh that sounds scary... I have to get through one and half more socks...

I think I am hosting Thanksgiving at my new tiny apartment... it'll be cozy and fun hopefully... I actually might have to buy two more plates to match my fiestaware so everyone can have matching dishes.

I'm going to see In the Heights tonight at the Fox Theater... free tix... can't pass them up...Tomorrow I am helping my friend Nicole paint her house...

Christmas will be here before we know it... I have my mom for the Xmas exchange... I need to figure out what I am getting her. And I need to get Sebastian her bike. I told her I would get her one when she learned to read. Well, she's a reading fool and Aunt Becky needs to make good on her promise. I'll have to look on Craigslist...

One month since Brent and Margaret got married and tomorrow is one year since Brent proposed to her... wow time goes fast...

Happy Tuesday night!!

~ciao!

November 1st!!

2009-11-10T17:36:00.001-06:00

Sebastian looks spooky... you can still see her eye makeup from Halloween. Our friend Jim at church took this photo. I kept her up too late and got her up too early. (What a bad auntie!!)

Oh how I do love that girl!!

Collin Grey... are you 16 already??

2009-10-17T10:56:00.003-05:00

no she's only 12... Soon to be a teenager though... Wow how she's grown. And she's still sweet... Please stay that way! Love you Collie Coll...

My Sweet Sebastian!

2009-10-17T10:53:00.001-05:00

Ohmigoodness did she look gorgeous for the wedding... I love that girl!!

The new Mr. and Mrs. Gunter!!

2009-10-17T10:44:00.004-05:00

Congrats to my brother and his new wife, Margaret! (doesn't that sound like he had an old wife...this is his first... lol!!)

a new title at work...

2009-09-02T12:35:00.002-05:00

Hey all--

I received a new title at work. My new title is Gallery Coordinator and Education Manager.
Yay me!! I didn't get a raise because we had economic difficulties, like everyone else this past year... We did end in the black so we are getting bonuses... Yay!

Photos from DC...

2009-07-28T19:16:00.002-05:00

Here are a few photos from DC. I didn't take my good camera so this are digital... and my digital camera stinks... it eats batteries and then doesn't work. So this is some of what we did.

DC baby!!!

2009-07-20T23:09:00.003-05:00

This is the quick run down of what we did while in DC...
Thursday:
National Gallery of Art
National Archives
Monuments by Moonlight bus tour

Friday:
US Capitol
Library of Congress
Lunch at Union Station with my cousin Colleen
Supreme Court
Arlington Cemetary and Tomb of the Unknowns, changing of the guard
Nationals baseball game vs. poopy cubs

Saturday:
National Air and Space Museum
National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of American History
lunch at Cosi
Cochran Gallery of Art
National Portrait Gallery
dinner at Jaleo, a tapas restaurant, with old church friends, Tim and Monika

Sunday:
Went up in the Washington Monument
WWII Memorial
Vietnam Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Korean War Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
Eastern Market
US Holocaust Memorial Museum
Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and dinner at Fish Market restaurant

Monday:
Police Memorial
Ford's Theater and Peterson House
Lunch at Old Ebbitt Grill
flew home...whew!!!

photos to come....

A record setting weekend!!! Gold Medals Abound!!!

2009-07-06T22:39:00.002-05:00

Well... we, St. Louis barbershoppers, has an awesome weekend. The 2009 Barbershop Harmony Society convention and contests were in Anaheim this weekend. The Ambassadors of Harmony won gold with record breaking scores... beating a chorus that has won everytime they have been eligible since the 1970's... Vocal Majority. Crossroads, a local quartet, who contains the director of AOH, Jim Henry, also won gold in the quartet competition.

What an amazing weekend! (More to come... )

The Avett Brothers!!!

2009-07-01T14:53:00.002-05:00

A big group from work went last Thursday to see the Avett Brothers at the Pageant!! They rocked it... they just make me happy... I saw on a blog that a woman had gone to 6o Avett Bros concerts... I thought I was obsessed... not really comparatively... it was only my third TAB concert. I'll have to keep working to catch up with that lady. They are amazing live... their recordings are good but to see them live... a real treat. (Their opening act was good, too. Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers.)

Going for Gold In Anaheim!!

2009-07-01T14:49:00.003-05:00

We are rooting for the Ambassadors of Harmony and for Crossroads!!! If all goes well we will come home with gold medals... AOH would have to pull an upset, of sorts... Crossroads should win, as they were second last year.

Random thoughts....

2009-06-11T10:46:00.002-05:00

Hello out there--

First-- I am in my new apt. and I love it... I would post some pics but I don't have a computer at the new digs...

Second-- I went to Circus Flora, a STL based circus, this past Sunday with Dad and Sebastian. I was so awesome. but back up a bit. One of our church members is the exe. director of CF and had the Wallendas of the Flying Wallendas, come and do a worship service on a portable high wire contraption. Tino, the dad, does a sermon sitting on a chair on the high wire... My hands were sweating the whole time. It was a wonderful message and it was them neat to see them perform in the one ring circus later that day.

Third-- I leave for Appalachia Service Project on Saturday, my 14th trip to ASP. I am not really ready. Have been too busy with work and all to ready prepare for the trip. I need to get me ASp stuff from Mom and Dad's, which I will do tonight, when I go meet the fam for dinner because my Aunt Carol is coming through STL on her way home from Biloxi, where she has been for two years almost... helping people rebuild homes destroyed in Katrina.

Fourth-- I get back from Kentucky on June 20th just in time to go to the Ambassadors of harmony show. They are competing at the International competition in Anaheim over the fourth of JUly... my friend Julie and I are going as groupies to cheer them on. Crossroads, a quartet from AOH, is also competing and are hopefully, slotted to win... I want gold medals!! AOH, with an upset, could win it all as well.

Fifth-- then later in July my friend Niki and I are going to Washington DC. That should be really fun.

gotta go--

peace and take care...

becks

My new apartment!!!

2009-05-08T12:40:00.002-05:00

I don't think many people at all read this blog... but...

I got an apartment!!!!!

I move in next Friday!!!!

I'll send out a notice of my new address... soon!!!

I'm excited...

Yay me!!!

( And I'll have a house warming as soon as I get some furniture for peps to sit on...)

Manny :(

2009-05-08T12:38:00.003-05:00

My Dad said we should have tried to get Manny Ramirez on the Cardinals... I said no no no we don't want that kind of guy on our team... now this drug testing thing...see that is why we don't want him as a Cardinal.

Serving a meal...

2009-04-13T19:11:00.002-05:00

I have been a co-chair of our mission and social justice committee at church now for over a year. I was getting adjusted to the responsibility and don't feel that I got that much accomplished last year. SO this year my goal is to set up more volunteering opportunities and one that I have started is going downtown to Centenary UMC to serve meals to homeless and needy in the city. Tonight was the second time our church was supposed to help. We helped on March 30 and had a good group, and we were the only group helping that evening. It is from 4:30 to 6:30 on Mondays so its a hard time for most people. We only had myself and another gentleman and his son from our church this afternoon. There was a larger group from another church so we had more than enough people to help. Last time I was serving on the line and didn't have much interaction with the people who came to eat the meal. Tonight I took the line tickets so got to say hi to everyone and thanks for the ticket. Everyone was very apreciative and friendly.
But driving home I have this conflicting feelings about this service opportunity.
Why are there people in this very rich country that have to come to a soup kitchen for their meals? Why are there homeless people in the United States? What can we do to help... I guess helping serve meals at Centenary is my small part to help those in these situations.
On Sunday evenings, Mom and Dad take turns with others from our church to pick up the left over bread from a local Panera ("Bread Co.") and Mom takes it to a place where people can stay if they have family members in the hospital and Dad takes part of the bread to a homeless women's shelter downtown. I wondered if we didn't come pick it up would all this bread go in the dumpster? Are there other days that the bread is not picked up and do they throw it in the dumpster? Could we have this bread donated to Centenary Cares? And like tonight... at the meal service, they had spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and dessert. There was no sauce for the spaghetti. "Mr. L" who is in charge was worried that people were going to object to not having sauce for the pasta. How can we fix this problem? Where does their food come from... the first time we were there they had fried chicken and we almost ran out. We served over 200 people and tonight only 139 line tickets were given out and they offered seconds to people. Just plain pasta though.
Is there anything we can do to help get more nutrious meals served at every meal they serve?
Can restaurants, instead of throwing out food at the end of the night get that to people who need it? The Bread Co. pickup is coordinated through Operation Food Search, I believe, so maybe I can coordinate getting bread down to Centenary sometime.
There is a lot running through my head about this experience... maybe I will continue my rant another day...
peace,
becks

At the Karaoke bar... last Thursday...

2009-04-02T22:32:00.002-05:00

I went with James to the Karaoke bar last Thursday... We don't sing but it's fun to laugh at people who do... I watched the Mizzou basketball game on tv while we ate and sang along... The tv I was watching was regular cable and the ones in the bar were directv and had about an 8 second delay. I was basically the only one watching the small tv. I first noticed the delay when Denmon made his more than half court shot right at half time. I screamed and then 8 seconds later the bar erupted... strange. We did win that game... to make it to the elite 8. ANywhoo. that's James' friend Mike in the photo with us. A regular at Karaoke took the photo of us and emailed it to James. how sweet.

The tooth fairy??

2009-03-27T17:38:00.002-05:00

I had my wisdom teeth pulled this morning... will the tooth fairy visit me??
I feel pretty good. I can tell it's almost time for pain pills.

And additional note-- Congrats to the Mizzou Tigers! We made it to the Elite Eight!!! and we face UCONN on Saturday. Thanks to Digger Phelps, who is probably the only national sportscaster who has confidence in the Tigers. Whooo, they play an exciting style of ball. I read in the Post-Dispatch that they turned the fastest 40 minutes in basketball into the fiercest 40 minutes of basketball. Go tigers, go tigers, get your groove on!!! This is exciting. I love my Missouri sports.

The Tigers are Big 12 Champions!!!! Way to Go Mizzou!!!

2009-03-15T14:01:00.001-05:00

A Girls' Weekend in Chicago...

2009-03-09T18:02:00.003-05:00

Julie and I drove to Chicago to meet Beth and Laura to celebrate Julie's 30th birthday this past weekend. Beth lives in a suburb of Chicago and Laura is now teaching in central Michgian. We had such a fun time even though the weather was less than desirable. We had a lovely day with Beth Friday. It was gorgeous for March in Chicago. Then downtown Chicago, it rained Saturday and Sunday. We ended up takng more taxis than we had planned and bought more umbrellas that we wanted to...
Friday in the suburbs we went to an outlet mall and found some bargains. we took the train into Downtown. Julie's parents graciously paid for two nights at a downtown hotel. Thank you very much, Mr. and Mrs. T.
Friday night Beth, Julie and I went to Second City. Then Laura arrived late that evening. Before Second City we had a delicious mexican dinner. Saturday we had a lazy morning and went to the hotel's pool and hot tub. We had chicago style pizza for lunch, went to the Planetarium in the afternoon, stumbled across Carmine's Italian for a very yummy dinner. We ended up at the Hancock building for cocktails. It was cloudy and foggy so on the 96th floor it looked like the windows were frosted. We were there for a while and then one moment we all realized that we could see out and see the city lights. It was quite neat.
Sunday morning we had another lazy morning as Laura had to catch a 12:15 train home. Beth, Julie and I found Nordstrom Rack and then had lunch at Potbelly's.
Then we caught the train back to Beth's, and Julie and I drove home.

We had such a fun time together and hopefully made Julie's 30th memorable.

purdy flowers...

2009-03-01T15:22:00.002-06:00

My friend Kelly brought me flowers as a thank you for getting tickets for Jim Brickman, at the Sheldon, for her and her dad. She surprised her father by telling him to get dressed up and meet at her house at such and such a time and then drove him to the Sheldon and he finally figured it out... he loves Jim Brickman and they had a fabulous time. Thanks Kel, for the flowers. They're beautiful. (No one has given me lilies for a very long time...I love them.)

William Elliott Whitmore...

2009-02-26T21:29:00.004-06:00

I have found more new music... I love discovering new music and
thanks to my friend Nicole, I discovered William Elliott Whitmore.
We celebrated Nicole's birthday at Iron Barley, a place in STL that
was featured on Travel Channel's Man Vs. Food last night, in fact.
Then we went to Off Broadway, a little venue, where we saw, as Nicole calls him... W.E. Dub... I had listened to his music on his myspace page during the day and his performance was great. I really enjoyed him. I came right home... quite late and downloaded his cd from itunes...check him out. (Jess, he kind of reminds me of Keb' Mo) He's younger than he looks and than his voice sounds. Really neat deep voice. His myspace is: http://www.myspace.com/williamewhitmore
and his website is: http://www.williamelliottwhitmore.com/

After our opening tonight...

2009-02-20T22:20:00.004-06:00

Here's the website to our gallery page... check it out...maybe it will encourage some of you who haven't made it to the Sheldon yet...

(this is just a stock press photo... not from the opening tonight;)

www.thesheldon.org/galleries.asp

We had an awesome opening tonight. Well over 500 people came through the galleries upstairs... who knows how many didn't make it upstairs...

Lookup all our new exhibits... five opened tonight. It's a great mix of interesting subjects and artwork...

This work is a painting by Cindy Tower. It is amazing how much detail is in her paintings. They are so neat but you have to see them in person to do them justice.

Another great concert at the Sheldon...

2009-02-09T22:39:00.007-06:00

I went with my friends, Susan and Daniel, to a show at the Sheldon. We saw Dr. John and the Lower 911, and the Neville Brothers. It was billed as the Mardi Gras Mambo concert. It rocked. it was very fun and many many were dancing in the aisles and having a little too much to drink... At one point I said it was like a freak show... all the worst dancers were showing off.. anyhoo... the music was fun and had a good groove to it.

I love this perk of free tickets to see shows I wouldn't pay for but loved the experience once I saw these groups live...The Sheldon, the perfect place for music and art...

M-I-Z!!!

2009-02-09T22:32:00.003-06:00

We beat ku!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 62-60! Wow what a game... I would have killed myself if it went into overtime... I hate overtime. (survived too many close games in college) I didn't know we were ranked... but I'll take it... we just might leap frog over the 16th ranked ku... Way to go Tigers!
I love my Tigers! Gotta have faith. My father does not have faith in them and was totally shocked that they won...Gotta be postive and believe that we will win. M-i-s-s-o-u-r-i !!!! So jealous that they, the students got to storm the court... never stormed the court in college.... stormed the field in football but never the basketball court...Once a tiger, always a tiger!

Our opening....

2008-12-13T10:15:00.003-06:00

We had a great opening. It was fun. I didn't keep track of the number of people who came but we had a real good steady flow of people through. Many friends and a couple people who had heard of it through other means... I only took photos before everyone started coming... I forgot to take more during the heart of the reception. I got beautiful flowers from my good friend Jesse... Thanks so much Jess. We sold five photos... now we know the popular ones! I sold two books. So it was a successful evening. Thanks to all who made it.

My caricature...

2008-12-12T11:05:00.004-06:00

We had our caricatures drawn by Dan Martin, the artist who draws the Weatherbird for the St. Louis Post Dispatch... We are using them on our Sheldon holiday cards. Didn't mine turn out cute?? I should put the whole card on my blog... maybe tomorrow.

Our exhibit at Fort Gondo...

2008-12-11T21:48:00.002-06:00

This is a photo I took while I was installing at Fort Gondo.
This is my half of the main wall. I think it looks awesome.
I worked on it Monday while James was at work. Then
When he got off we finished his side...

I will put more on the blog after the opening Friday night. It'll be fun. yea!

My exhibit...

2008-12-11T10:30:00.002-06:00

(top photo by J.P. Agnew, bottom by Rebecca M. Gunter)

“Lost in Spain"

Photography by Rebecca M. Gunter and J. P. Agnew

This exhibit is the result of exploration of Andalusia, the south of Spain.Cities photographed during this adventure include Sevilla, Ronda,Torremolinos, Granada, and Malaga.

Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts

3151 Cherokee Street

St. Louis, MO 63118

Opening reception: This Friday, Dec.12th, 6-9pm

The gallery will also be open:

Fridays 6-10pm

Saturdays 10-4pm

Sundays 1-5pm

from Dec. 13th to Dec. 28th

For more info contact:

Rebecca M. Gunter

at rmgphoto27@gmail.com

My Harry...

2008-12-09T17:30:00.004-06:00

We went to see my favorite performer on Sunday night... it was amazing. Harry Connick Jr. is so entertaining. He tells great stories. I can't believe the way he can play piano... I was in awe.

He needs to come perform at the Sheldon. I would die... but only after I met him...I can dream, can't I?

Congrats!

2008-11-23T18:27:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to my brother, Brent and his soon to be bride, Margaret! Brent proposed on Tuesday, Nov. 11 and she said YES! We are so excited to have her join the family officially. They have done lots of planning since then and have set the date of Oct.10, 2009. (And yesterday she found her dress. She's so excited.) Brian and the girls will be in the wedding and I was asked to be the photographer... but I declined... I do not have the experience to be a wedding photographer...I am assisting Margaret in finding a good one.. but it will not be me. I might take some... I think I agreed to do their engagement photo. But anyhoo... Congratulations to the future Mr. and Mrs. Brent Gunter!!

Tagged!...

2008-11-20T11:29:00.003-06:00

The rules with this tag:
Answer the following questions using just one word and tag seven people.
Where is your cell phone? purse
Where is your significant other?nonexistant
Your hair color? red
Your mother? thoughtful
Your favorite thing? photography
Your dream last night? work
Your dream/goal? family
The room you’re in? giftshop
Your hobby? knitting
Your fear? unemployment
Where do you want to be in 6 years?house
Where were you last night? Julie's
What you’re not? outspoken
One of your wish-list items? car
Where you grew up? STL
The last thing you did? email
What are you wearing?fleece
Your TV? small
Your pet? heaven
Your computer? slow
Your mood? sleepy
Missing someone? bff
Your car? old
Something you’re not wearing? sweater
Favorite store? Target
Your summer? ASP
Love someone? forever
Your favorite color? green
When is the last time you laughed? last night
Last time you cried? election

I tag... Julie, Laura, Beth...by email...

Obama, Obama, Obama!

2008-11-06T15:34:00.002-06:00

Well, I'm excited about the prospect of Barack Obama as president. This photo is from after the Crosby and Nash concert on Tuesday night. We had an after party and people got to watch the acceptance speech. The concert ran longer than expected and David Crosby had someone on his bus checking the news and announced that Obama had won. Congrats President-Elect Obama!

(photo by Ray Marklin)

Granada and Ronda

2008-11-02T19:50:00.001-06:00

Granada and the Alhambra...

2008-11-02T19:40:00.002-06:00

Taaadaaa....more Spain!! yippee!!

2008-10-22T19:46:00.001-05:00

Mas fotos de Espana...

2008-10-22T19:24:00.001-05:00

Flamenco dancers... and our condo in Spain

2008-10-17T22:41:00.006-05:00

We went to see a flamenco dancer demo at a sister resort and it was quite neat. At the end they were trying to get people to come up an try it. Everyone in front of us said no and by the time they got back to us James said what the hay and went up to try. SO this is my attempt to capture the dance with rapid fire on my digital camera. I was so busy fiddling with the camera I didn 't really get to see what he was doing. Everyone around us was very impressed he tried it.

Our condo was pretty nice and the grounds were beautiful. There was a pool in this courtyard area... not heated so we did not swim there. Up at the main office and desk area there was a heated pool, bar and a mini golf course. We swam briefly one afternoon.

more from Espana...

2008-10-16T23:02:00.002-05:00

1. Calas de Mijas
2. Plaza de Espana, in Sevilla
3. Cathedral de Sevilla
4. Ronda, a white town (with my Holga camera)

Some photos from Spain...

2008-10-13T18:37:00.002-05:00

The first one is about the only photo that we took of ourselves...with the timer on the digital camera. The second is a cat near the University of Sevilla, third a street in Sevilla, and the fourth is the tower of the Cathedral of Sevilla, La Giralda. These are all from the first batch of film I got developed. I get to pick up five more rolls tomorrow.

Spain...Andalucia, Sevilla, Ronda, Granada...etc...

2008-10-06T21:10:00.003-05:00

James and I are back from Spain and we had a marvelous time. He took 20 rolls of film and I took 22...I win!... I have some photos that I took with the digital camera that I can share with you here and now... but the fancy photos will come in waves as I can afford to develop them...in bunches. So here we are... I tried to take photos of us in Spain. We took a few but...

Anywhoo.... here are a few to start the many posts that this trip will require. ( the first... us in the STL airport, 2nd: a close up that is cute...not sure where... probably an airport... and the 3rd: the Madrid airport... felt like we lived in airports there for a while...) This is just a teaser and will have to continue at a later date.

I think our favorite place was Sevilla. It was a neat city. Beautiful. The cathedral was amazing and we walked up the tower, La Giralda. The view was spectactular. We went to La Maestranza, the bull ring and took the tour... no bullfights while we were there... my "favorite" (the only one I really know) El Juli, fought the night before we arrived in Spain. Just missed him.

One thing about Spanish cities that I enjoyed is that there are areas in the very heart of the cities where cars aren't allowed and you walk though the streets without worry of cars... mostly. (Taxis and mopeds go where ever they want.) It's nice.

James and I drove our rental car and thank God that James is a good and aggressive driver. I think I would have been eaten alive in the round abouts... We managed to find the smallest streets in each city. A couple of times we had to open the windows and pull in the side mirrors to get though certain places... craaazy. The cars are tiny there. they have to be. We did see one Hummer. I'm not sure how they manage.

I'll have to go back with someone who is food minded... James is not an adventurous eater. I did have paella once and sangria twice. Olives once and seafood once... but didn't really do the tapas thing... because that's something you share and James wouldn't have eaten anything I wanted. We had really good Italian once. Good pastries and good cafe con leche... coffee with milk.

Well it was a great trip overall... we survived eight days together and only one argument. ( which was actually a continuation of an argument we have had before....) so successful.

I loved Spain and highly recommend it to anyone. I'll tell you the tips and suggestions of a successful trip...navigating roads without street signs and directional help on highway signs...

Adios for now.

I'm off to Spain!

2008-09-27T09:00:00.002-05:00

I am going to Spain and I can't believe it... I am going with my friend James and our flight leaves for Chicago at 12:40 this afternoon. Then to Madrid and then Malaga... We are spending Monday night in Sevilla, then day trips to Ronda, Cordoba and Granada. Maybe a couple days on the beach. We are taking over 40 rolls of film and between us... seven cameras. Wow, can't wait! We get back on Sunday Oct. 5th.
Have a good week and talk to y'all when I get home... Adios and vaya con Dios!

The Avett Brothers...the sequel...

2008-09-19T23:12:00.002-05:00

Nicole, Chris and I drove to Columbia, MO on
Wednesday night to see the Avett Brothers
perform at the Bluenote's Summerfest free
concert in the street in front of the Bluenote. We thought they went on at 8:30 pm and made it in good time, enough time to meet my friend Steve and his wife Hannah for a drink at Boone's Tavern. The Avett Bros (TAB) didn't start playing until 9 and Steve and Hannah had to go meet another friend at 9pm. I thought they would enjoy TAB but I guess we'll never know. I love TAB and can't get enough. I thoroughly enjoyed their set. Nicole kind of knows them and spoke to their stage manager. He said they were planning on making it back to STL in the spring of '09. I can't wait.

(this is just a photo I found online... Scott on the left and Seth on the right.)
Check them out at their website... www.theavettbrothers.com, they have several good cd's and ep's. They are so different live than they are on their records. They are super high energy live and it is so fun to bop along with them at concerts. I adore them. What fun we had on Wednesday.

I finally finished...

2008-09-15T23:03:00.004-05:00

I completed my second green sock... the pair I was going to give my Mom. But she turned her nose up at the fact that they are green. So, I guess I will keep them and make her a blue pair.

This is my third pair of socks. I will make another pair. . . I just think I want to make a blanket from my Kniting for Peace book.

_________________________

I leave for Spain in 12 days. I am excited and nervous. I know it wil be a blast but its scary, too

(my keyboard won't work correctly so sorry for the typos.)

Dad left for harvest yesterday. He is waiting in Great Bend for corn to dry. Exciting. ;)

I have a busy 12 days before i leave. Everyone have a great week.

the tag I'm it game...

2008-08-26T00:17:00.003-05:00

How it works:
1. Post the rules of the game at the beginning.
2. Each player answers questions about themselves
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and post their names, then goes to their blogs and leave them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read the players blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answers

Where were you 5 years ago?
in a strikingly similar situation...only... working part time instead of full-time.

What are 5 things on your to do list for today?
1. Get to sleep... I usually don't have this problem
2. in the morning... I will go to work... to work on formatting wall labels, deinstalling an exhibit, paperwork, etc. at the galleries.
3. Bring laundry up from the laundry room
4. stay after work for a concert by Symmetry
5. Go to get a drink with Julie and Allyson... an early birthday celebration

What are 5 snacks you enjoy?
1. chips and salsa
2. cheese and crackers
3. apples
4. pretzels
5. chips and other dips

What are 5 things you would do if you were a billionaire?
1. Quit my job!!!
2. Open a bakery or pastry shop... or a stationery/ paper store
3. Take a while and travel the world
4. Buy my bro, Brian:a house, other bro, Brent: a new house, myself: a loft and my parents: a condo or whatever they want
5. Donate to some of my favorite organizations and charities

What are five of your bad habits?
1. procrasinating
2. being lazy
3. not having a lot of patience
4. worrying
5. being short tempered

What are five places you've lived?
1. Maryland Heights, MO
2. in dorms in Columbia, MO
3. on Lyons Street in Columbia, MO
4. Cuernavaca, Mexico
5.Guadalajara, Mexico
(not in that order necessarily...)

What are 5 jobs you've had?
1. babysitting
2. dorm cafeteria
3. YMCA group leader for before and after school care
4. Gallery assistant, part time
5. Gallery assistant, full-time

Five people I tag.
All the people I know that have blogs have already been tagged...
So here are some people that read my blog...just email me responses
1. Becky E.
2. Niki B.
3. Julie T.
4. Aunt Carol
5. Aunt Margie

The ipod quiz thingy...

2008-08-25T18:12:00.005-05:00

Try it yourself... put your ipod on shuffle and answer each question with what song comes up... no skipping songs... write just what it says.

Here's what my ipod said about me...
Did I have a happy childhood? Bluesy Revolution, Hootie and the Blowfish
What kind of person was I ? The Very thought of you, Wynton Marsalis
Am I in love? Follow the Music, Harry Connick Jr
If so, what is that person like? Arboles de la Barranca, Lila Downs
If not, do I want to be? You give me something, James Morrison
How do I feel about love? Sympathize, Amos Lee
What was today like?: Cumbia del Mole, Lila Downs
What are most days like?: Over and Over, Nelly and Tim McGraw
Whats my life like?: Great Day, Gas House Gang
What is in store for this weekend?:Sheik Of Araby, HCJr.
How is my life going?: The Killing Stone, Hootie
Do I act my age?: Feet off the Ground, Erin Bode
What song will be played at my Wedding?: Charade, HCJr
How does the world see me?: Tangerine, HCJr
Will I have a happy life?: Nowhere with Love, HCJr
What do my friends really think of me?: Bring Him Home, Vocal Sprectrum
Do people secretly lust after me?: I Don't Know, Keb' Mo
How can I make myself happy?: So Hard, Dixie Chicks
What does my family think of me?: Saucy Sailor, Wailin Jennys
What should I do with my life?: New Orleans, HCJr
What is my signature dancing song?: In My Life, Nelly
What do I think my current theme song is?: Working in the Coal Mine, HCJr
What does everyone else think my current theme song is?: Fool, Hootie
What is my life theme song?: God Trying to get your attention, Keb' Mo
What best describes my life?: I love Paris, Peter Cincotti
What best describes my friends?: White Trash Wedding, Dixie Chicks
What best describes the person I love?: Baby Hold on, Dixie Chicks
Have you had sex?: My Romance, Wynton Marsalis
What describes my worst enemy?: Goodbye Philadelphia, Peter Cincotti
Do I enjoy life?: Only Lonely, Hootie
Am I a good person?: Michelle Post, Hootie
Do I make others happy?: One by One, Hootie

Happy Birthday to my big Bro!!!

2008-08-12T23:53:00.002-05:00

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, dear Brian,
Happy Birthday to you!

He's one year away from a big one...I need to start thinking about the celebration.

Girls' Weekend at Kentucky Lake...

2008-08-12T23:41:00.002-05:00

The last weekend of July I went to Kentucky Lake with my friends, Julie, Beth and Allyson. Julie's parents have a "cabin cruiser"... small yacht...that we visited over Memorial Day weekend as well. This time it was warm enough to get in the water and we spent plenty of time in the water... it was a blast. We used what seemed like gallons of sunscreen but I still ended up getting burnt...what fun. We are talking about having a trip to the lake every summer... a beginning to a tradition. Thanks to Julie's parents for being willing to put up with us for a weekend. And to end with a quote from the weekend... "Let God be your fun-noodle!!!"

A great concert...

2008-08-12T23:35:00.002-05:00

I went to see Amos Lee tonight at the Pageant. I just thought it was awesome. He kept me so in the moment... usually I day dream alot at concerts, I'm sorry to say. Amos engaged me and I loved every moment of his concert. Now I'll have a couple of weeks here where I can't get enough Amos. (He has three great albums if you are looking for some good music.)

Roll Jordan Roll...

2008-07-12T22:07:00.002-05:00

Here is a clip of the quartet Crossroads... the bass is Jim Henry, the director of the Ambassadors of Harmony...they just placed 2nd in the world at International. It is a song from a gospel group and for some reason pronounce Jordan... jerdan...way cool song though. This performance is just from an afterglow of something, not an official performance.

Enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqDfZcord3c

A Silver Medal kind of weekend...

2008-07-08T09:53:00.002-05:00

My friend Julie and I decided to go to Nashville this past weekend for the International Barbershop Convention and Competition. Her aunt and uncle and sister live there so we had free board... Dad was already planning to go as our local chorus, The Ambassadors of Harmony(AOH), were competing and were one of the choruses aiming for first. (Last year AOH tied for first and lost by the tie breaker score of singing.) This year they were up against one of the choruses that win every time they are eligible to compete. You sit out two years if you win. The Masters of Harmony have won every third year since the 80's. Well...

As you can see by the title of this posting...we came in second again... this time by seven points out of 3000 possible points...wow... that's close...
Now next year we compete against a chorus...The Vocal Majority... who wins every third year and has since the 70's.

And our director, Jim Henry, is in a new quartet, Crossroads, and competed for the first time at the international level. They placed second as well. (They were amazing!)

Silver medals all around!!

Appalachia Service Project (ASP) 2008

2008-06-26T21:30:00.003-05:00

This is the whole group from our church that went on ASP this year. We left Saturday, June 7 and drove to Lexington KY and stayed the night at the Wesley Foundation at the University of Kentucky. Sunday morning we went to Keeneland Racetrack, where they let people see the track, watch workouts of the horses and walk in the stables.

We also stopped at Cumberland Falls on the way down. It was quite pretty.

We worked in Scott County, Tennessee. We stayed at the old Winfield Elementary school. That meant no indoor showers. Showers were constructed outside with 2x4's and black plastic. Luckily we could hook up to the kitchen's water heater so we had hot showers. There was one temperature... hot. It was neat to shower under the blue sky.

This is my work crew. Doug as my co-leader and Paul, Kelly, Pierce and Makeda were our youth.

This is the crew at the picnic Thursday night with the family we worked for that week, Marilyn and her dad, Arthur.

This is the kitchen we were working on. Our first job was to check the flooring, and then the foundations under the floor. We couldn't put a new floor down until the plumber finished his work... and we don't know when that is happening. You can see the ceiling we took down and the new insulation we put up. By the end of the week we had re-drywalled the kitchen area.

It was a good week all in all. We were the first week of the summer so we began the projects and got to "break" in the staff. They tried their best to do their jobs and we did accomplish a lot. The youth are already asking when do we find out when we go next year. Applications are due in the fall so....soon. (ASP works with over 14,000 volunteers in a summer. This year's goal is to work on 500 homes in the Central Appalachia region. They work in 25 different counties in four states, KY, TN, VA, and WV. Lots of work still needs to be done in this area. It's such a good organization. Yay, ASP!!!)

My Little Sebastian...

2008-06-22T22:19:00.004-05:00

Who's not so little anymore...our soon-to-be kindergartener...just wait until I post the new pictures of her with her new glasses on...she's too cute.

Bye Bye Blue Volvo...... :(

2008-06-22T21:45:00.002-05:00

This was my uncle Reed's car and my parents had possession of it since 1975... Well this week we had to say goodbye to the sporty little blueness that it was... I will leave the story for later... but... goodbye, old friend.
(it needed a name...I loved that car.)

My record at the New Busch Stadium

2008-05-30T23:36:00.002-05:00

I have kept track of my wins and loses at the new Busch... I went to the game tonight and we won... just barely, but we did. So now I am 20-3!! Dad always tells me when we are not winning to "get down to the stadium right now". :)

I love my Cardinals. Tonight was the major league debut of Joe Mather. He made an amazing catch in right field and then got his first big league hit and RBI. Welcome to the big leagues, #62!

GO Cards!!!!!!

Memorial Day Weekend 2008

2008-05-30T23:27:00.002-05:00

I went to Kentucky Lake with my friend Julie, and then our friend Laura drove up from Auburn, AL to stay the weekend with us on Julie's parents "house boat"...I say house boat because we slept on it. It has two queen sized beds and two full baths on it, but I would have to say it is a nicer boat that what you think of when some one says house boat. We had a fabulous time. We spent Saturday night out in the lake tied to four other boats. Sunday we decided to wake to see the sunrise... this picture is from that event(photo by Julie). Sunday we went into town, Puducah, to the quilt museum and an art festival. And then Monday it rained! We had such a good time though. I was invited back at the end of July. We have invited our friend Beth, who's in Naperville, IL, to come down with us. Can't wait.

2008-05-11T00:19:00.003-05:00

Happy Mother's Day!!

(No, I did not take this photo... just thought it was pretty...have a good day.)

I finished my fifth sock...

2008-05-11T00:09:00.004-05:00

This is the first sock of my third pair of socks that I have knitted. It's not ribbed so it doesn't stretch like the others... I think they will be a gift to my mother. Last August my friend Becky E. and I went to the Stitch-n-pitch Cardinals baseball game and I was intimidated by the whole row of women in front of us who were knitting socks...I had yet to attempt socks. Well this year we have tickets again (May 28th) and I can take my sixth sock and knit with the best of them... yay me!!

The cool poster from the Avett Brothers concert...

2008-05-10T23:58:00.002-05:00

We used a company called the Bungaloo to create the posters for our new concert series, the Sheldon Sessions. This one is from the Avett Brothers concert. (And yes there are three guys in the band... I only mentioned two before...I forgot poor Bob. He plays the stand up bass. Actually there are four...I'm not sure of the fourth guy's name, he played the cello.)
Anywhooo... I'm new fan. ;) http://www.theavettbrothers.com

The Avett Brothers...

2008-05-10T13:46:00.004-05:00

This is a new group I am addicted to... they played the Sheldon Tuesday night and Wednesday I bought 2 of their albums. Check them out... even though the albums don't really represent what they can do live. That's Scott on the left and Seth on the right. (I met Scott.)
They play the Blue Note in Columbia, MO on June 7th... I wish I could go but that's the day we leave for ASP. They were so energetic... just thinking about the show makes me smile. Yay Avett Brothers! (The photo was taken by Ray Marklin.)

Easter 2008

2008-03-27T21:15:00.002-05:00

The Easter Bunny found Sebastian even though she was at her grandparents' house... look at all those eggs.
It snowed Easter morning here in STL and Sebastian wore the poncho I made for Collin a couple years ago. Here she is at our church. Collin, Brian, Becky and Brent met us at the History Museum for a brunch buffet after church.

Collin And Sebastian...

2008-03-02T18:21:00.004-06:00

We had professional photos of the girls made yesterday. Collin is 11 years old and Sebastian is five. I think they are quite cute. They had fun together.

A present for Isabelle...

2008-02-22T21:11:00.003-06:00

I made this cardigan for the baby my boss and her husband are about to adopt. They are going on Feb29th to pick up Isabelle Rose from Guatemala. We are doing a surprise party at work and a group gift... hopefully she's not reading my blog ;) So I am saving this gift for Isabelle's first birthday which is April 13th... not too far away. ( I still need to get a couple cute buttons... so it's not completely finished.)

(The first photo is the real color... not sure what happened on the second photo...it's not orange...it's pink!)

Congrats to the new parents: Guy and Olivia Bour... and their new daughter: Isabelle Rose Bour!!!

The Sheldon Gala 2008!

2008-02-09T22:50:00.000-06:00

Tonight was the Gala at the Sheldon... our big fundraiser dinner and concert. This year's entertainment was the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra featuring Wynton Marsalis. We had 15 musicians on our little stage. They are on tour doing Duke Ellington songs and it was fabulous. Our theme for the Gala was "Mood Indigo" with a New York twist...we had cocktails at 6pm, the concert at 7:30 and then dinner after at 9:30pm, and you could stay and dance the night away...
I was stationed in the galleries...which most gala patrons did not have time to visit...I welcomed the single ticket patrons. Then I was able to enjoy the concert. I helped direct people to their tables for dinner, along with four other staff. I, again, did not get to eat the big dinner...so I left at 9:40pm... after being at work since 9:45am and having a 2 hour break.
Anywhoo... the concert was amazing. Wynton is a treat. And one other in the orchestra is a Sheldon fav... Victor Goines.

Now I have a busy week ahead as we open six new exhibits on Friday, the 15th. (Which is 6 days away... we have four installed and 2 to go...) I can't wait until this next week is OVER!

Happy Heart Day a little early!

Listen to this:

2008-02-09T12:05:00.000-06:00

Mizzou Named National Champs By One BCS Computer Ranking
Anderson-Hester Computer Rankings Lists Tigers On Top

Jan. 17, 2008
Columbia, Mo. - Based on the strength of its 12-2 season, the 2007 Missouri Football team was named national champions according to the Anderson & Hester College Football Computer Rankings. The poll, which is one of six computer rankings to officially be used by the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings, made its updates following bowl season, and when the smoke cleared, Mizzou stood atop the rankings, .005 points ahead of conference rival Kansas.

The deciding factor between the Tigers and Jayhawks likely came down to strength of schedule, as MU's schedule was rated as the nation's 25th-toughest by Anderson & Hester, while KU's rated 61st. Mizzou's schedule strength was highest among the top eight teams in the rankings, as well.

Mizzou finished ranked fourth in the final Associated Press top-25, marking the highest-ever finish for MU in the final AP poll. The Tigers were sixth in the final BCS poll, which were not updated after bowl season.

What a perk!

2008-02-05T21:51:00.000-06:00

I have to say that one great perk of working at the Sheldon is, definitely, getting to see any concert I want... Tonight I stayed for a 8pm show of Natalie MacMaster. She is a fiddler from Cape Breton, Canada... where they have a great tradition of Scottish music and fiddling. The Scottish brought their fiddle music over in the 1700's and it is still going strong. She was amazing. She also clogs... right before intermission she had a clog-off with the banjo player and drummer...(they didn't dance...they played their respective instruments.) And her cello player turned 14 today! He is home schooled on the road and is awesome.

My second pair of socks...

2008-01-23T22:46:00.000-06:00

Here is the second pair of socks I have knitted. The neat yarn was a Christmas gift from my dear friend Niki. They went alot faster than my first pair of socks. Socks are fun to knit. My friend Susan refuses to learn...she thinks it's "too hard"...

Tah Dah!!!!!

Can't wait to wear them to work tomorrow... Yay for me!

A knitting project...

2008-01-17T22:03:00.000-06:00

This is a hat I knitted for my boss, Olivia. And I was talking to her husband and he said she is actually wearing it when she takes her morning walks... I was surprised but pleased that it is being worn. ;)

Christmas 2007!

2008-01-17T21:55:00.001-06:00

Sebastian helping decorate our real tree that we had upstairs.
Collin and Sebastian on Christmas morning by the artifical tree downstairs... (the tree looks really small in this photo... it is 6 feet tall...an illusion. ;)...)
Grandma Royal and Sebastian while opening presents on Christmas morn...

(yeah it's the middle of January but I have been inspired by Jesse to blog my photos from Christmas.)

A cute photo from my b'day weekend...

2008-01-17T21:44:00.000-06:00

Hey all-

This a cute photo that my Aunt Ronda took of Sebastian and me before we went to the Cardinals game on my birthday celebration weekend. Sorry it took so long to blog it...

Thanks Ronda for sending the cd and the photo in your Xmas card.