On the South Side

I see "Intelligent Design" theory has been in the news lately. (If you don't know what that is, here's a quick link for you.) A school teacher in my Sunday-school class asked my opinion as she was upset by all the hooplah. You see, she's a Christian, yet she believes evolution to be true and that it should be taught in biology class. I told her that I didn't personally take much stock in Intelligent Design theory, and that I didn't define it as science. It's a fine philosophy, one that I don't need a scientist to explain to me. I see intelligent design every time I open my eyes, but, that's just me. I do, however, support the dialogue that has ensued in the public arena. That's because, for too long, ( and as I've stated before ) the anti-religious people have gotten their way. I came across an article that, for the most part, says it the way I see it; except the author is an agnostic and I'm a Christian. But, we both believe there...

I'm sitting here listening to the Cards/Cubs game and get this: The Cards are leading 6 to 1, there's 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded for the Cubs and the umpires called a rain delay. That's crazy. But, hey, this is a crazy year. It'll be the last year for Busch Memorial Stadium and everybody is hoping we'll see World Championship #10 played there. I'm not sure how the guy who's responsible for erecting the new stadium by next summer feels about it though. He'll implode the old stadium the minute the season is over which could be in October. Mike Shannon said something during the game tonight that struck me as true. He was commenting on how the Cardinals have played this entire season with intensity. He posited that it might be because of the bitterness "in their bellies" left from the World Series last year. I nodded toward the radio in agreement. "Yeah," I thought, "us too." We're ready for a real Wor...

Where to start There are a very few people in this world that can comprehend the magnitude of the catastrophe that is the flood of New Orleans. The mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisiana are not two of these people. Nor should they be. That would not be a reason they would or should be elected. It is not to their discredit that they were completely overwhelmed. Before I say anymore, allow me to break this issue down into the two natural components. The first is the Hurricane itself with the wind damage and the storm surge damage that has inflicted hell on most of the Gulf Coast. The second is, of course, the flood of New Orleans. Though the hurricane caused the flood, they must be looked at as two distinct events for any of this to make any sense. So, for example, if the flood doesn’t happen, you have the “normal” hurricane clean-up stories in the news. Major damage was none to Biloxi and Gulf Port and these are indeed worthy news stories, but not the kind of drama we saw ...

Everyone was so nice with their comments from last night’s post, it really made me feel better and I really appreciate it. But now what to write about? I don’t know. It’s not that I have nothing on my mind; it’s just that as priorities go, most everything is way down on the list, you know? OK, this has been on my mind today: In Canton, Ohio, there’s a high school with 490 female students, of which 65 are pregnant. Here’s a quote from the story: “School officials are not sure what has contributed to so many pregnancies…” Now, I know what they meant by that, but you have to admit that it’s kind of funny. So, they’ll do a study to find out why the rate is so much higher there than the state or national average. I could save them some money though, if they’d just ask me; I’ve got a hunch as to what caused the pregnancies. Read the story here…

It’s been very different around here since Emily has gone. Annette and I are both prone to spontaneous crying; just for no reason, really. My emotions go from reminiscing over the little girl to praying that God will guide her in these turbulent years. If there’s one thing that I wish the most it would be that she learn to lean on God at this point in her life and not spend a lifetime figuring it out like yours truly. With that, all other things will come in their due time. I apologize for not writing more often and also for this repetitive entry. I confess that it’s all I think about. I probably worry needlessly, I know. I think I’ll feel better when she’s past this first stage; when she gets in the groove, past the I-want-to-come-home phase. I hope everybody will write or email her. Please call or email me if you don’t have her addresses. (I also know that it’s quite possible that I’m the one with the problem and she’s doing great and will continue to do great. So, write or email me!...

Well, Emily is safe and secure in her dorm room. Her roomate is a friend from high-school and her good friend Alex and his roomate (another Metro kid named John) are close by. When Alex came over to the girls room, for some reason I felt very comforted. I like Alex. He's an Eagle Scout, you know. We said our goodbyes rather quickly, which felt appropriate, and were on our way. Christians have a phrase to describe why Jesus came when he did which very much describes our feelings right now: The time had fully come. The time has fully come for this. I think Annette, Emily and I all feel this to be true. Sure, we have our moments of crying, but we know she's where she should be. It's been a whirlwind summer, and today was the zenith. Sleep tight big girl, our thoughts and prayers are with you always.

We're on our way to Columbia to drop Emily off. It's a big day for all of us. Say a little prayer for her would you?

I wanted to write something for Annette for her birthday, which was yesterday. We are both very fortunate in that neither of us gets hung up on having much attention paid on our birthdays. Having said that, I'd like to share some stuff I wrote about her many a year ago. This first one is called "Miss Sunshine." When I met her, she lived in an apartment with an elderly woman upstairs. Mrs. Mellinger was her name, and she was an authentic ragtime piano player. Mrs. Mellinger's pet name for Annette was Miss Sunshine. This song paints a picture of two elderly people meeting across the fence in the yard. A while after I wrote it, Annette put some very nice chords and melody to it. Hey, hey Miss Sunshine How are your cats today? Hope you'all are feelin' fine Hope everything's goin' your way You say you've got just one cat now That's a sad thing to hear Tell me if you could, tell me how And what else has happened this year? You say you held him as ...

I know most you don't care about this, but I'm putting down this in writing now so you can see just how brilliant my political acumen is. I was having dinner with my dad well over a month ago, so he can verify this. We were talking about the Republican Presidential nominee for 2008. The usual cast of characters include: Rudy Guiliani, Jeb Bush, Condi Rice, Bill Frist and maybe George Allen. I told my dad, "There's a dark horse candidate. Can you think of who I talking about?" "Hmmm..." he said, "Nope." "Vice-president Dick Cheney," I said. "Noooo...," said he. Well, Tuesday night (8/9/05) in Aspen CO, Bob Woodward of the Washington Post predicted that the race would be between Hillary Clinton and Dick Cheney. So, there you go. And, who will win this race? President Dick Cheney? Get used to it.

I guess I shouldn't've been surprised. I'd never owned a home before. He's lived across the street from me for all of the 20 years we were on Dover Place. I'd seen him out there plenty of times mowing, watering, edging, painting, scraping, sweating. He began teasing me: "Yeah," he'd begin, "I'll drive by and there you'll be in the front tugging on the mower or taking apart an edger. Richard, the homemaker, that'll be you." "That ain't me," I cried, "It ain't me." Well, come on by some evening, and you'll likely find me in front or back. Edging, mowing, spraying, pulling...sweating. Yes, I've already taken the edger apart and I think I fixed it. Tonight, the condenser pan of AC suddenly stopped draining, so I fixed that too. Wally was right. He was right about another thing too. Camelot has passed. I've gone from eagerly looking out the window to see if anyone was out to hoping there's ...

Friday night, we dropped Emily off at Alex's house, chit-chatted a bit with his mom & dad, then said our good-byes. She's off on her road-trip with her good friends Alex, Max and Leah. Our emotions run up and down like a rollercoaster. Annette could go from anger towards her teenager to crying over her baby in the space of a few seconds. Saturday night we actually went out. Like, you know, out. We went to the Pageant on Delmar to see Butch Wax & the Hollywoods. Emily's former French teacher's long-time boyfriend is the trumpet player and he gave us a couple of tickets. Annette's working as their real estate agent too. Just going out as a couple was nice. After finding a couple of seats, we both had a glass of red wine and really enjoyed the show. It was the band's 20th anniversary show so they had former members and special guests coming up throughout the night. Billy Peek came out at the end and played a few songs to remind everyone how a Rock N Roll ...

OK, now we're really moved out of Dover Place. It's a big event. We're really moved into our new place now. Of course, there's a new pile of boxes to deal with too. Our entire 2nd bedroom is filled with boxes of stuff that we didn't take the first time. Stuff we could probably live without. But, one of the boxes contains journals of mine that date back many years. Well back into my childhood. Back when my mind was sharp. After we get things situated here, I think I'll post some of them on the blog. I was reading through a bit of it the other night before we packed it up, and I was struck with the fact that everything was, of course, written long-hand in ink. Not unusual at all for that time, but strange now to look back on. I am also struck with how, even before converting to Christianity, I was interested in the spiritual side of existence. I wrote about it all the time, using ideas and concepts that are common place for me now, but then, I had no vernacular to...

Hurricane Emily struck the Caribbean in 1987; the year Emily Hudson was born. Hurricane Emily is back in 2005, the year Emily Hudson turns 18. You say it sounds like a lot of supernatural baloney? Supernatural...perhaps. Baloney...perhaps not. I'd say Emily Hudson is like a tropical storm just now. Just warming up. When she gets out into the ocean, she'll gain form and force. Will she be a catagory 1? 2? 5? We shall see.

Well, it's after 5 and I'm getting ready to leave work. I just thought I'd throw a quick entry out here to make myself feel better. I've been wrestling problems with a big printer for a while now, over a month, and no one seems to know how to fix it. I think I've learned enough to go into the printer repair/maintenance business if I feel like it. Like many other St. Louisans, I think the Baseball All-Star game should not be used to determine home-field advantage in the World Series. That's the big-time, and any competitive edge should be earned "on the "field," as Tony LaRussa says; meaning by the teams that are actually in the World Series. I expect the Cardinals to play in the Worlds Series this year, so I'm understandably disappointed not to have a chance for home-field advantage.

Well, a lot of catching up to do...The move onto Center Ct. is done, mostly. We've still got some junk back on Dover to move. Just a lot of little stuff, though. As you may understand, there's been a lot going on with the move coupled with getting Emily ready for college. But, I think it's all in place now. I can sense that there just might be a clearing up ahead. I hope to get back to writing more regularly, though I have not the slightest idea what to write about. Politics? Not unless I can find a way to get to some core that I believe could be enlightening. Family? Yes, I think this web-stuff is indeed a great way for family to stay in touch with one another. Jennifer is here in St. Louis now and I have to tell you, I really feel like I know her much better from reading her blog . I know what's important to her and what's not so important to her. I certainly don't want to argue politics with her, though we can now easily agree on some common issues. Family v...

My parents moved us to Dover Place in 1968. I lived there until I left for my one and only year in college in 1977. I didn't really ever go back. Then, in 1986, Annette and I moved back to Dover Place. I can't quite put it into words what I feel when I look up and down the street; the canopy of sycamores and oaks, the quiet nights, the church around the corner. And the neighbors that you can't imagine living without. Tonight is our last night on Dover Place. We're moving to Center Court. Oh, I know it's not far from here. You'd laugh if you'd hear me describe it as "out of the neighborhood." It's not 10 minutes from here. But, it is out of my neighborhood. I don't know if I'll hear the bells of the Lutheran Church from Center Court. I hope so. But, we'll be back. That's right; one day in a couple of years, we'll move back to Dover Place or Bellerive Boulevard. There's a church in the valley by the wildwood No lovelier...

You could probably convince me that I'd died and am now in Heaven. Except for the dopey preacher outside this computer lab singing Marquritaville. Hmm...maybe it's...nah. Oh, no. Now he's singing Leaving on a Jet Plane. Dear God...I'm sorry...I repent. Take me back. Fayette is really blissful this time of year. I find it very hard to put into words. It's a gift from God plain and simple. I haven't blogged from Fayette this year because we're not in a dorm that has a computer lab. We've only gotten over here a couple times this week. It actually seems just like one big day when I'm up here. I jump out of bed at 7:00 am everymorning and don't get back to the room till about 11:00 - 12:00 every night. Well, three teenage girls just busted into my bliss and informed me that we're going to Dairy Queen. Talk to you later.

I wouldn't blame anyone for not checking/reading this blog anymore. If I didn't want to write it, why would anyone want to read it? But, having said that, tonight; a turning of the page. Emily's graduation party just ended, the last few details of our house-inspection seem to be on the way to being ironed out, and I leave for Science Camp in the morning. I am, as usual, very much looking forward to my week in Fayette. I'll be blogging from there, like I did last year. The curriculum is pretty much the same as last year; I'll be speaking on Darwin/Evolution like I do every year. We're going to add some biology stuff this year. I think we're going to grow some germs or something. Well, seeing how it's late and I haven't packed a single thing yet, I'd better get moving. I'll keep you posted.

In case you're checking this blog and see this comment, I just wanted to tell you that Rich and I have a lot going on these days. Emily has just graduated from high school, and we've been pretty busy with events up till the big day which was Thursday. Rob & Susan: I just found out you didn't get your card because for some reason it got stuck to the mail going to our church and ended up there instead. Kind of weird since I didn't send an announcement to church. Rich has just been too busy to write these days, and I miss not seeing something new. Also, we've been pre-occupied because we have a contract on a house and will be closing on it on June 24th! Our new address will be 6410 Center Court, St. Louis, MO 63116. We drive by it all the time to look at it and hope the neighbors don't notice our car up and down the street a lot. I told Marty that we must really be adults now because Emily is going off to college and a lender is actually going to give us a lo...

A group of us went out for breakfast at Ginghams before we headed over to the cemetery. In attendance were: Myself and Emily, my Dad and step-mom Judy, sister Becky and Steve, Dad's boyhood friend Bill with his girlfriend Sandy (childhood girlfriend of both Jim & Bill), Bill's mother (you call her either Mrs. Wooten or Mom), and two of Bill's kids with a couple of their kids. Oh yeah, and Aunt Mickey and Uncle Gene, too. Steve (Becky's fiancé) is an active Boy Scout Leader and he's spent the entire day yesterday out at the cemetery planting some of the 150,000 small American Flags at the headstones of all the servicemen. He was nice to go along with us again; I'm sure he could have enjoyed relaxing at home. Then we all met back at Jim & Judy's place for a very nice outdoor lunch on the patio next to the pond. Later, after the crowd thinned out, some of us stayed for a second helping of dessert and a game of "marbles." That's a game t...