Perry Mason

     When I called my dad tonight he said he was watching a Perry Mason movie. I know he likes them, but he said there was one where it wasn't Raymond Burr in the title role. He likes to remind me how my grandma liked these shows as well. I am not sure if I have seen one of these shows, but I have heard of them. He also told me about the death of Joe Blake of Indianola, father of former major league baseball player Casey Blake. An online article spoke of how he died in a car crash.
    I started the day at my hotel room near the St. Louis airport. I went down to the Phillips 66 and got some mini donuts and milk and orange juice. Then I found the Renaissance Hotel, one of the places where the movie 'Up in the air' was filmed. I got some postcards there. I had just seen my DVD copy of the movie and it looks like not much was filmed there, a scene or two. I took a dip in the pool of about 15 minutes before needing to check out from my hotel, which was not far from this one. I sent a postcard to the post office at the airport and said see you on the other side, as I am sending it to myself. After I checked out I went to eat at a Mexican restaurant and the owner recognized me from my visit last year. I had a Dos Equis beer with my meal, a chicken fajita with rice. It was a struggle getting back to the airport on time as there was a delay on getting my rental car checked in, some mention of wrecked cars arriving soon. I drank a Perrier when I arrived back at MSP. I chose it as I
wanted something for around two dollars and no sugar. I took the bus home and saw an empty can of Busch beer, so I picked it up and threw it out at my stop. It was a reminder of where I had just been.
    It was my typical schedule when I got back, unpacking and then I fell asleep in my chair. I watched the Simpsons, about photos from 6 years earlier, and then had to get to the grocery store.

Lafayette Park And Square, St. Louis

    I went to Lafayette Park and Square in St. Louis today after getting my rental car. I liked reading about this historic neighborhood, and as my dad would say, 'They are playing my song'. I took a walk around the square after finding what I understand to be the 'Chicago house' in the movie 'Up in the air', and found some souvenirs at a nearby shop, a magnet and a postcard. Then it was on to the park. There was some brochures of the park and square so I did take one of each. There was a Washington statue in the park, and a dedication plaque from a chapter of the DAR, or Daughters of the American Revolution. One display spoke of the park being an encampment during the Civil War. I had hoped to see a friend but through text messages I found out she was busy with work, running a nail salon if I am not mistaken. So I decided to continue on to the Botanical Garden, where I got a penny souvenir. There was some wedding photos being taken when I arrived, and after paying for the ticket I went to find the penny machine. It was raining but I had my rain gear, so I was ready. I got a few pictures but then the button on my camera stopped working, and I heard beeps when I tried to take pictures. So it likely means getting a new camera or re-using an old one when I get back home.
    I did make it to the Cardinal museum in Ballpark Village, where I took a quick tour of about 30 minutes. I did learn something, how Stan Musial's mom was fine with him playing baseball and more so than his dad. It reminded me of reading this about Joe DiMaggio, where the mom said 'Leave him alone'. I liked how there was more than just mention of the Cardinals there. Since I have liked reading about Bill Veeck I liked seeing a section about his owning the Browns. There was a rain delay of more than two hours tonight, and the Cardinals lost to the Dodgers 5-1. I had a burger and fries and shake at the Hardee's inside the stadium.  

Fort Leonard Wood

    As far as I know, I have never visited Fort Leonard Wood. But I did just arrive in St. Louis today for my annual visit. When I was at the airport I was trying to do a 'Selfie' with a Snoopy cardboard cutout. Then a man in a military uniform asked if he could help, and he took a better picture than I could. I said I had never served in the military, so I was unsure what branch judging by the uniform. He said he was Army, and had just finished AIT at Fort Leonard Wood, also in Missouri, and would be going on to Florida. He was trained to be a prison guard so it sounds like according to what he was saying he will be most likely sent to Gitmo or a combat zone like Afghanistan. I thanked him for his service and said two of my college roommates had served. His nametag said Perkins. I thought about asking for a picture of or with him, since I like doing the Vivian Maier thing of getting pictures of nearly everything, but I didn't want him to be late for his flight so I didn't ask. To me it was enough that he had helped me. As many of you know, I am prideful and usually won't ask for help but won't turn it down either.
     The flight touched down at Lambert around 4pm and I got checked into my hotel near the airport after 5pm, so I didn't spend much time in my hotel room. I dropped off my bag, and responded to a text message to a friend who lives in the area. Then it was back out again, taking the Metro-Link light rail downtown to the Cardinals baseball game. The Cardinals beat the Dodgers 3-0. It did rain some in the top of the ninth, and I started seeing people leave in droves in the lower level, umbrellas came out. I am thankful the rain held off for a while. I had to walk through a rainstorm after getting back to the airport but not very far, and I am a brisk walker.    

Shining Star, Earth Wind And Fire

  Tonight I left work a little early and took the light rail over to Minneapolis to be part of the filming of a video celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Loft Literary Center, where I have taken writing classes. I also I have a membership with this organization. I sang 2 lines from 'Shining Star', by Earth Wind and Fire. We got it done in 5 takes. The logistics proved to be a challenge as there was somebody singing the song everywhere, starting out on the sidewalk. I understood it as they wanted to show off the entire building, as we ended up on the patio outside which has a nice view of the skyline and the Vikings stadium under construction. It was the first time I had seen the patio, and I had been there many times before.
   I arrived while there still was the social time with some food and drink, then we were assigned partners for the parts of the song we were doing. I liked claiming a souvenir, the sheet with the lyrics on it. It was called the 'lip-dub video taping' by the event coordinators. I was at two different places to sing my lines, on the landing I sang 'in the sky so very dear, yeah' then I moved to the first flight of stairs where I sang 'that's it now I got my own oh yeah'. I was teamed with an older woman, who I noticed after we were done filming had changed her outfit. So she took it seriously on wanting to be in costume with a 70's outfit like they requested. I really didn't have anything that I felt fit the bill. I decided to put a headband on, actually it was a black sash from a dress.

Music Is The Medicine

   Tonight at the comedy venue I recalled one lyric in a song being 'Music is the medicine', and I found it to be relatable. Since many things besides pharmaceuticals can serve this purpose. I also liked hearing two Johnny Cash songs- 'Folsom prison' and 'Hurt', as well as 'Creep' by Radiohead. Much of my set was about music, including hearing 'Umbrella' by Rihanna. Then there was me telling my story through songs that seemed to fit, like 'Control' and 'Nasty' by Janet Jackson. Actually I wrote it in notes as 'my life through songs, marking the time'. Others were about PBR trophy husband, steal a dollar, and the haves and have-nots at the Twins game. Also at the comedy venue, there was a young rapper wearing a Ninja Turtle shirt, he is the one who did 'music is the medicine'.
   I couldn't get many settled letters done as one template was in use by someone else. It was likely somebody who wasn't in the office for the day. For the Wii dancing event we did a bridge walk, and it was a little warm with my leather jacket on. I likely would have brought it with me anyway as I like having something to carry. When I have been questioned about this before, I quoted the movie 'Field of Dreams' as Dr. Graham was believed to have always had an umbrella for this reason. I don't have to say anything at all of course.

Liquor Store Shopping Cart

    Tonight on Facebook another comic, Ragu, spoke of being sad but not to the level of filling a liquor store shopping cart. Then I said there are also hand-held baskets at these stores, and Bus fare said I had a point. When I went to the comedy club tonight, I did this as one of my jokes. I also did ones about observations while attending three baseball games over the weekend. At work I was busy with the payoff report for a while, no surprise when it was the day after a holiday.
   I think about music often, since it is everywhere. While watching the six o'clock news on WCCO during the sports segment from the Twins locker room I heard 'The sign' by Ace of Base. After the comedy show ended, I liked hearing at the venue 'Landslide', the Smashing Pumpkins version. I had to stay until the song was done, and covered one ear to hear it better. I am still wearing a Band-Aid on my hand from a paper cut at the office, I get them all the time and it is annoying.
   Also at the comedy club, International Falls did ones about Facebook friend dumped, pedal pub incident, internet dating, poem to lonely dad, gave up casual sex, caress hair in porta pottie, a visit to Dinky-town, coffee grounds, and art- car on fire, and bathtub full of blood. Magic Man did ones about make my wife disappear, synergy and energy, and HR at Minnesota Daily. A newer comic with two first names did ones about Starbucks, blood diamonds, mascara on beard, and farmers meet dot-com. Fish noodle did ones about squirt don't hurt, Rochester high school prom lock-in, favorite swear word, raised hand instead of clapping, moon facts, Lorne Michaels, own the moon, ride the bus, and learned a lesson. Chalm Skinn did ones about walking a cat, Karaoke, people take it seriously, and the Beastie Boys. A comic I will call 'note paper', since he gave me some, did ones about invented cheapest sandwich, tortillas instead of bread, I want a garage, hobbies, and his Twitter followers. Nebraska did ones about the venue's décor, his lady can't cook, easy bake oven, jobs on Craigslist, The first three-some, Stevie Wonder has another kid, and take shoes off. Blind Side did ones about his lady offered a job in Tennessee, people are like puppies, not a cool dad, and like directing porn.    

Bossman's Comedy Party

   The boss-man had a party for comedians today at his house. There was also a softball game, but the Twins baseball game started at the same time so I went to the Twins game instead. I arrived at his home around 5pm, a part of Minneapolis I hadn't seen much of before, St. Anthony. It helped that many of the street names were named after presidents, and I know the order real well. I found the park where the softball game was held first, as expected it was over by then. I knew from Mapquest directions that the park and the home were about a mile apart so I figured if I could find one then I could find the other. I got a picture of the welcome sign at the park and then I left. After the Twins game I stopped at the 'Beehive' gas station and at first I was hassled by a clerk saying the five dollar bill I wanted to use to pay for some batteries for my camera may not be legal tender as he couldn't see a watermark. Well I could see it! He did accept it though, I am wondering if he was just having fun with me.
     I brought some cheese flavored popcorn, about half was eaten and I will take the rest to the office as I know it will be eaten there. I have just two photos from the event, one was of the food table and the other was of Mason City with his dog. The bossman and his wife have two young sons, one of them was on a kind of scooter much of the time there. At one point I said 'Be careful' as he had a cookie in his hand and I didn't want him to drop it. He offered it to me and I said 'That is for you, you eat it'. His dad said something about sharing. I am not around kids much but I know the best game plan is to be polite and have some patience, more so than with adults. I did say 'You will be all right' at one point when I was waiting for one of them to go down the stairs as I recall this from an Eddie Griffin movie where he said this to a high school student he was mentoring. I would have liked having this encouragement and reassurance when I was young, so I try to give this to kids.
   I think I saw more of my comic friends here than at some of the non-comedy show events I have attended like weddings. Some left shortly after I arrived, others arrived after I did. I will try to remember as many as possible that I at least saw and probably spoke with. Many are in my 'Ring of honor' or written about in this forum. I saw Chalm-Skinn, Woody, Fish noodle, Long straw, Duffel bag, the aforementioned Mason City, the Wisconsin couple, International Falls, Bathtub and his lady, Michigan, Stillwater and his lady, Sub teacher, Big Dog, Brawler, Oklahoma and his lady, Morton Salt and his lady, Mr. Pibb, the one I call 'Red' because of her hair, Kentucky and his lady, Belarus, and the lady of Pottery Barn, who I think was the first to greet me upon arrival. The recent add to my 'Ring of honor', who I think I will call 'Senior leader' as he has a name close to mine at the office, was also there. He was asking if he had a nickname and I said he probably didn't since I hadn't seen him in a while.
     As expected, Oklahoma did talk some about the Twins game I attended as he likes baseball a lot much like I do. He said it was a good one to attend, as the Twins beat Boston 7-2. The Twins were up 7-0 after 2 innings, striking early helped. I told Big Dog as he was leaving, not long after I arrived, that I went because it keeps the memory alive of my favorite movie, 'Good will hunting'. Then he quoted the 'It's not your fault' scene and I said 'Does this mean we are hugging?' as this is how the scene ends. I said a different scene is why it changed my life, motivating me to leave my native Iowa for suburban Chicago. It is the one where Will is talking to Chuckie, who said 'I will kill you' if you are still doing construction in 20 years since you are sitting on a winning lottery ticket. I figured I needed to move on from my job, temping for the state government in Iowa, before I got the same speech. Naturally it was nice to hear Mason City talk about music some, and it does remind me of another house party from last summer, hosted by the late Bill Young. He asked to be called Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but I like 'Mason City' more. I take care of Bathtub and his lady as they are very nice to me so they got greetings early on. It was also nice to see the Wisconsin couple. The husband was wearing an Oakland A's jersey, number 51. The wife found me while I was saying bye to Big Dog. She said me and her were opponents in a cage match, 'Hypothetical fights' where it was said I would win because of all the blog nicknames I created. I was flattered to hear of such a thing, but said I think of it as my circle of friends so I couldn't even give myself permission to 'Roast' friends for a while. Brawler had a Sesame Street shirt on, a good joke as it said 'I was raised on the street'. I liked hearing Bossman tell a story about a canceled driver license, he has already said 'That ship has sailed' on his performing comedy. He is still good at holding court so I told myself I must be content with hearing whatever stories he is telling us. Plenty of food there, I had two of the deviled eggs and one of the long hot dogs. I didn't have any beer as I usually just have it at the clubs, I had a root beer instead. I liked hearing more from Stillwater about his 'Ring of honor' song in the works. It sounds like I will be available to attend the award ceremony next month, where the plans are for it being performed there. It is a Sunday evening, and I wasn't sure if I would be out of town then but I won't be. As usual I enjoyed people telling their stories, like where they were from as I don't necessarily have the chance to hear them at the clubs.