Update: Emilyn on the big screen!

Thanks so much, Carmen, for capturing this moment! She looks like a star! They all were so great.

Emilyn's big night at the ballpark

What a great night at the ballpark! About 30 degrees warmer than when we went last time. We had seats at the top-top-top of the stands. We were surrounded by friends and families from school. Grandma was there. Allen was good. And the Cards beat the dreaded Cubs 4-3!

But, of course, the best part came at the 7th inning stretch, when the Sorrento Singers took the field.

I'm sorry that this is the best quality video I could get... I wasn't very close, and people kept walking in front of me. But, from my perch, I certainly could see more than our families up in right field... They were directly over the action and couldn't see a thing.

Great job, kiddo! I know it was a lot of stress, but I hope it was worth it.

Emilyn's strings concert

Here's the finale... for the rest of the show, please click here.

The NEW China King!

Our old dive of a Chinese restaurant (where the kids used to eat out of takeout lids) got a fancy new makeover! It's almost too nice for us! Check it out!

Allen's latest "best thing"

Allen would like you all to see what he made in school today... A jellyfish!



He won't even part with it so I can hang it on the wall. Miss Amy said he was oh-so-very proud of it, and I can see why.

Emilyn's spring pictures

Available for order right now... Order forms are due Friday. Let me know which pose and what sizes you want, if any. I just think they're fun to look at, even in proof form!

A little light plumbing

So... Steve went out and bought a *ahem* ballcock and fixed the constantly running toilet. I have to say, I almost miss its soothing sussurrations.


Wrench got to play with real wrenches! (He likes them because they're heavy.) "I'm fixing things!" he says.

Sometimes, you just gotta say "Yes" to crack.

Easter at the ballpark

Take us out to the ballgame! It was 50ish, and windy, but we still had fun at Busch Stadium today. Daddy and I had fun, anyway... A really good game! Allen required a lot of maintenance... and half a bag of peanuts. I, going way off my diet, ended up eating nearly everyone's free hot dog! Emilyn generally did OK but probably would rather have been somewhere else! But to my mind, it was a pretty great day.





For more from today, click here.

The inaugural Asilomar egg hunt

Check out this video I shot this morning... and happy Easter to all!

The thrill of victory

Allen hit the mini-jackpot last night at Incredible Pizza Co. He played a game where a ball bounces into holes on a rotating wheel... Each hole is numbered with a ticket value. It went up to "jackpot" -- 210 tickets. But Allen hit 75, the third-biggest spot on the wheel! He was very proud to be such a big winner! (So big he can barely reach!)

Play ball!

But put on a sweater. Or maybe a parka. Yeah, that's probably a better idea. Temperature: 36. Wind chill: 25. Game time: 3:15. Go Cards! Beat those Bucs!

Sweet 'n Low architecture

We're trying to support all of West County's restaurants by eating out too much, and we've got a lot of time on our hands. Plus, my camera's always in my pocketbook.

One more story from vacation

We stopped at a Shoney's on the way home... somewhere in Mississippi, I guess. Anyway, on our way out, there was a group of about 20 soldiers in camo fatigues who were waiting for a big table. Allen pipes up: "That's a lot of the same outfits!" Well, they heard him, and laughed, and it put a smile on every one of their faces. So, that was a nice thing for our boys and girls in uniform. Allen and all of us thank you for all you do.

Rockin' at Lambert's

Yes, we are new to this "Guitar Hero" madness... But, give us a break: We're usually about 10 years behind on cool stuff!

Throwed rolls were good... We managed to not order excessive amounts of food, just the usual unreal portions they give you at Lambert's. We may not eat for a week.

Anyway, it's good to be home. Got a lot of DVR to clear off, that's for sure!

Introducing Giovanni Giordano

My new great-nephew! Congratulations to Ally and Antonio, and new grandparents Lori and Bill. (He looks just like his mommy.)

Halfway home

Hello from beautiful Southaven, Miss., where our suite is luxurious -- but there's no indoor pool, and happy hour has been scaled back to just Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. Shucks. But the suite is really nice. And we've got a whirlpool tub!

I asked Emilyn to take a portrait of me that captures my deep, abiding love for palm trees. I think she did an excellent job:

Later on, we stopped at The Watermelon Patch, a famous roadside attraction and shoe store. They have this cool mural outside showing distance from visitors' hometowns...



We should be home tomorrow afternoon... After we stop in Sikeston for throwed rolls! See you all soon.

Red flag snapping outside my window...

Danger to swimmers! Because the surf is really churning today, and the wind is blowing like heck, straight out of the east.

So, we ventured out to the beach this morning, but it wasn't for long... Not pleasant. Allen caught a face full of wave, and that was it. We fled to the pool.

Then, we headed back over the Dr. W.C. Holmes Bridge to the same shopping plaza where Emilyn and I went to the movies... Pelican Place at Craft Farms. We went shopping at Books A Million... Japanese restaurant Mikato there was good, if empty. Allen seems to have gotten over his fear of Teppanyaki chefs. He panicked at first, but once the fire got going, he wanted to see.

Another important shop in this plaza... Incredible Candies! Emilyn went nuts on the wall of colorful joys, Allen went straight for the gummy sharks. He wanted 5. Daddy and Mommy chose their own treats... I give their truffles a disappointing C-minus. Their chocolate-covered pretzels are good. Solid B.

Well, it's our last day... Gotta eat all this food, do some more laundry, empty the garbage, pack up and head out in the morning. Good spring break. For more photos from our last day at the beach, click here.

Latest stuff from Day 6

Just click on the thumbnail to see the big photo and read its caption.

Happy birthday to my favorite sister

Letters by Jennie. Frame by Emilyn. Principal shell gatherer, Steve. Allen, in the role of Grampy, is lead kibbitzer.

Chill of the North outside my window...

Why'd you guys in St. Louis have to send me your cold front?! Oh, well. I hear it's snowing in NY today, the first day of spring.