NUMBER SIXTEEN!!!!!!!!!

HAMMONS FIELD SPRINGFIELD

Saturday Nancy and I went to visit friends Judy and Eddie in Springfield MO. We all went to Hammons field to see our Cardinals lose to their Cardinals on a cold and rainy day.








Albert looks good!!!!


Our Cardinals in their road uniforms.

Hammons was a really good venue to watch a game.

Hammons field taken from the top of Hammons garage

On Sunday we drove to Branson to have lunch at Mel's hard luck diner owned by our friends Mel and Liz.



Eddie and I in front of the aquarium at Bass Pro

Nancy and I on the new Landing in Branson with the shooting water fountains behind us.

We have know Ed,Judy and their family since our Edward was about six months old. We spent hours this weekend reminiscing about the "GOOD TIMES"

Simply speaking we had a great weekend and number sixteen was only the excuse for our get together. Thank you Eddie and Judy for a GREAT TIME!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


[We will keep the number a secret}


However he was born our last spring in Independence Mo.


It was a warm, balmy day and to the parents it seems like only yesterday.





The 1993 version

The boy and his toys.

SWEET SIXTEEN

Old picture but young boy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY and mom and I hope you enjoy your special day on the 30TH

WE are proud of you.

Love

Mom and Dad

NUMBER FIFTEEN IS COMPLETED
One of my goals to reach seventy was to read a CLASSIC book/author once a quarter. Okay it took me till the 26Th of the third month to finish BUT it was worth the time, effort, and struggle it took to finish.
I chose A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens as my first classic. I may have attempted reading in high school but if I did I am sure I read only enough for a book report. This time I read All 517 pages because I wanted too. In fact I had a hard time putting the book down with fifty pages to go.
My friend Kathryn is making my second selection and the final two selections are open for suggestions.
Number ten clue is there will be 198 steps involved.

AN INTERESTING EASTER EGG
HUNT------- INSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Four cousins and two family friends enjoy their hunt for eggs inside.
Due to temperature and snow the woman decided this year the hunt for eggs should be inside.

THE BOY,HIS BROTHER, and A CAST
Last Sunday was not as much fun as today. James fell from the slide at our park last Sunday.
Today he played,ate,and showed off his cast.!!!!!!
Somehow big brother Paul confiscated two of my old briefcases.
A lesson to learn: playing is so much more fun than the emergency room.

NUMBER FOURTEEN IS CERTAINLY UNUSUAL!!!!!

I have had a life long ambition to hold public office but I live in an unincorporated area {no local elected offices}, I am an Independent voter, and I never had the money to run for state or county office as an independent. Last Wednesday in our local paper was listed an opening on our local school board. I immediately sent off a letter indicating my interests and listing my qualifications.

I never expected to hear from them as we have no children currently attending school in the district. Friday when we were hiking at Castlewood park my cell rings and it is the superintendent of Bayless wanting to interview me.

Tonight at 5:00 PM I have an interview with the Bayless school board. I wanted to post before the interview while still optimistic. enthuisactic, and in a good frame of mind. I will post the results in the comment section.

March 12, 2008
Eileen Heath
Bayless School Board Secretary
4530 Weber Road
St. Louis, MO 63123

Dear Eileen
I am interested in filing for the remaining vacant term of the Bayless School Board. I meet all of the requirements listed in the South County Journal.

I am twenty percent completed on my goal to do seventy new things in my seventieth year. I have no doubt I will accomplish my goal.

NUMBER THIRTEEN COMPLETED

My guess is people would drive over a thousand miles to see scenery like photos one and two. Yet I took those photos about twelve miles from our house. Friday we visited Castlewood State Park and walked the scenic river trail.






Nancy spotted this fallen tree

The Meramac river is in the back ground.

This last photo brings back fifty seven year old memories. Long before Castlewood State Park was ever thought of Castlewood city was a summer clubhouse community..[a summer get away type of housing and living.] When I was around twelve my family would visit friends in Castlewood three or four times a year. This building [an Elks club now] was a then big,huge restaurant and bar. I guess the building shrank in the last fifty seven years.

This was my first visit and hike in Castlewood State Park but I will return.

TWELVE IS CHOUTEAU ISLAND

In order to get to the Chain of Rocks bridge from Illinois you have to cross Chouteau Island. We did walking and bird watching on the Island. I am reasonably certain we saw a high flying eagle even thought it is late in the season for Eagles. The Island appears to be a great eagle watching place come next winter.

In fact to get to the Island you have to obviously cross a bridge.The bridge is interesting because it is only one lane wide. If the light is red you have to wait till the on coming traffic clears.


Photo one shows Nancy looking toward the southern part of Chouteau Island.

Photo two shows Chouteau Island on your left, Mosentine Island in the center of photo. I remember in the fifties high school teenagers went to Mosentine for a day of swimming and picnicking. I believe there was a boat that would take us from Venice IL to Mosentine and then return to pick us up.




Southern view of Chouteau



Another view of Mosentine [There is a third Island on the Right}

Final photo is Nancy and a northern view of Chouteau Island.

The bridge was spectacular and Chouteau Island is worth the trip and a return visit.

First hint for number ten It is in the city of St Louis and four maybe five miles from the Mississippi river.

NUMBER ELEVEN!!!!!!!

It took two day but it was worth the effort.

Day one we tried to find the old Chain of Rocks bridge from the Illinois side. Two hours later and one stop to ask for directionsI gave up to try again another day.

Day two we easily found the bridge on the Missouri side. The only place to park required a one mile walk to the entrance.After a half mile walk we were stopped by a fence and had to return to our car.

I did not give up but headed for Illinois on the new 270 Chain of Rocks bridge and finding the bridge and parking lot was reasonably easy.

The one mile walk from Illinois to Missouri and another one mile return walk was worth the effort.

Photos one and two are at the Illinois entrance to the bridge.

Photo three is a view of the new bridge from the old.

The remainder of the photos show some fun things you can do along the walk.

GRANDPAS FAVORITE OBOE PLAYER GIVES A STELLAR PERFORMANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night Grandma and I watched Kelsey perform in her high school Symphonic Band. They played Into the Clouds, Wayfaring Stranger, Cheerio March, and The Gathering of the Ranks of Hebron.

In my pias role as grandpa she simply stole the show.!!!!

THE TRADITION CONTINUES
Friday afternoon Donovan and I began our March Madness by attending the Missouri Valley Quarterfinal doubleheader at the Scottrade Center. His dad and I spent many Sundays at Kiel [original one] Arena [the old one], new Kiel, and Savis Center watching the semifinals of the MVC on Sunday afternoons.
The older I get the more fascinated I become with traditions that travel to the next generation. It would be really great to some day be there with the great grand children generation.

NUMBER TEN ALMOST BUT NOT QUITE!!!!!!!!

Before heading out to do number ten we listened to Donovan play two songs on his new guitar. He has had about four lessons. Would you believe I recognized correctly both tunes.

We then headed out to do number ten. My helpers were Nancy,Edward,and Donovan. However number ten could not be completed because they are only opened on the first Saturday of the month April to November. I guess because of my advancing age I did not correctly read the instructions.



For me number ten is so interesting [something I wanted to do for over sixty years} Exciting since none of the us knew anyone that had done what we wanted to do.Stay tuned till April 5Th as we attempt to accomplish.I am reserving number ten for this event and the next event will be number eleven.I can do that because I am the rule maker and the score keeper, judge, and jury.If anyone other than immediate family care to guess. Be my guest.

If Judy M. reads this I need your e-mail address. Some how the one I have is wrong.