The lovely Helen issued an invitation for some of her readers to blog about their home towns, so here I am! (Yes, I know she's "come out" as Shannon, but she'll always be Helen to me)  As a part of Around The World in 80 Blogs I'm going to tell you about the city I love, St Louis, Missouri .

Perhaps the most recognizable feature of St Louis is "The Arch".  It's actually not owned, or run by the city of St Louis.  It's a part of The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, and is not owned or run by the city of St Louis.

"The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis’ role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson’s role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history, and to Dred Scott who sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse." from the park service website

I won't bore you with a history lesson, though if you do come to visit I highly recommend you spend some time in the museum located below the Arch.  There's a lot of information there about the Westward Expansion.  Riding the tram to the top of the Arch is pretty cool also.

The Mississippi river is an integral part of St Louis.  We use it both for commerce and entertainment. Just one picture of the river doesn't do it justice, so here's a video of one of our outings

The St Louis area consists of the City, and the surrounding municipalities.  Because we border the state of Illinois, parts of the greater St Louis area are actually in that state, not Missouri.  I live in the city proper, on the south side, in an area called the Dutchtown Neighborhood.

Since St Louis is in the midwest, we get a wide range in the climate.  We see snow in the winter, and 90 degree heat in the summer.  The variety in the weather is one of the things I like.

There are lots of places to go, and things to do here. Much of it is located in beautiful Forest park. The Zoo the Art Museum, the Planetarium, and a host of other things are located here, but for the natives, there's a winter tradition that all kids--young and old--try to experience: Sledding on Art Hill

We have three professional Sports franchises here

but I have to honest.  The only one I care about is my beloved Cardinals. Like many St Louis natives, I'm a rabid baseball fan.  We root hard for our Cardinals, but will cheer an opposing player if he makes a good play.  Players seldom get boo'd unless they've really done something to piss us off.

I can't let your visit pass by without a look at my girlies.  Here's my teenager on her way to one of the three no-hitters she threw as a high school freshman on the Varsity team

And her younger sister on her way to winning the 12u division in her softball league

I could go on, but I think you get a pretty good picture. 

If you ever get a chance to visit St Louis, I know you'll have a good time, and see why we love it here so much.

~Easy

PS:  Be sure you stop by Ted Drewes

 It really is good!

Finally!  A day I can just chill.  Nothing but laundry and the NFL on today's schedule. 

As you can see, Joey is on board with the football too.

~Easy

This week's Photo Friday challenge was Homemade

These are some of the tulips that come up in my front yard every year.

~Easy

This week's Photo Friday challenge was From My Past.

This is a picture of the Teenager playing my first guitar.  I got it when I was in the 3rd grade.

~Easy

I'm taking a brief moment from my Internet Crack habit to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

~Easy

Anyone who sneers at patriotism—and continues to live in the society whose supporters he scorns—is a parasite, a fraud, or a fool. Often all three.

~Spider Robinson

The Pledge of Allegiance was written for the Columbus Day celebration and it was first published back in 1892.  The original version was much simpler:

I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all.

Over the years, words were added, and changed until 1954, when President Eisenhower approved adding the words "under God".  That was the last change made, and so we have the current version:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all.

Here's the thing though, by saying this, one is pledging to see that these ideals are upheld, not affirming that they're being carried out.  

The only reason not to take an oath, or a pledge is because one doesn't believe in what it says.

Patriotism does not mean that you think your country is perfect, or blameless, or even particularly likeable on balance; nor does it mean that you serve it blindly, go where it tells you to go and kill whom it tells you to kill. It means that you are committed to keeping it alive and making it better

~Spider Robinson

As one with a gay brother, and a lesbian sister I weep for them, and for a country that is so far failing to live up to it's ideals.  However, I fail to see that young Will is accomplishing anything other than to expose himself to abuse.  If he truly believes that as a nation we are failing to live up to the Pledge, then he should be pointing the finger at the hypocrite who say the words, but don't mean them.

He should be proudly pledging his allegiance to these ideals, and diligently working toward making them a reality.

UU's are lining up to support this young man and his actions, but not looking for the deeper meaning.  That's where the church I was raised in, grew up in, and still want to believe in, has failed me again. Rather than trying to promote a deeper dialogue, they gleefully point out to the young man making a stand, regardless of the correctness or the consequences.

It's like telling kids that the 1st principle of UU is that we believe that every person is valuable.  The trouble is, the 1st principle doesn't say that.  What it says is that we believe in The inherent worth and dignity of every person. If you can't see that there's a world of difference in those two phrases, then I'm not sure we can discuss anything.

When one takes a stand like this, one has to think it out.  This was what I tried to impart to the youth when I was teaching Sunday school at my old UU church.  There were three things I stressed:

1. Make up your own mind
2. Get the facts before you make up your mind
3. Re-examine your belief when new facts appear

UU's often profess to be liberal thinkers, but forget what that means. The first definition at dictionary.com is: favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.

That's the crux of it right there. Favorable to progress or reform doesn't mean anything more than being open to new ideas. Sadly, many people who want to flaunt their liberal credentials are as closed minded as any right-wing wacko, and anyone who feels otherwise is some kind of hate monger or fool.  The current state of UU was summed up perfectly below

I know that there are people who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that!

~Tom Lehrer

 

I know that the grilling days are almost done for this year. Truthfully, I hadn't expected them to be this nice for this long, though I usually grill well into December.

Today I spent some time at halftime--thank heaven for the 'pause' function on the TiVo--and grilled some lunch for a change. Polish sausages on an open flame, with bourbon soaked, applewood chips for flavor.

The game wasn't going well, so lots of beer was consumed during this grilling session.  Thankfully, both the game and the sausages turned out OK!

~Easy

My entry for this week's Photo Friday challenge: Vehicle

This is the Pierre Laclede, one of several trains that run around the perimeter of the St Louis Zoo.

~Easy

Today's challenge for Photo Friday was Three.

This was a play at 3rd base in a league game as one of the girls from the Teenager's school stole 3rd base.

~Easy

If there's no Public Option, then nothing has really changed, has it?

~~~~~

There's a lot of debate about health care in the USA, but it all boils down to one central concept: 
Should everyone have access to a doctor, both before and after they get sick?

If your answer is yes, then you have to admit that SOMETHING has to be done.  Let's get it started, and fix any errors down the road.

If your answer is no, then we have a fundamental dsiagreement in principle, and nothing more to talk about.  On some things, there is no middle ground.

~~~~~

If later facts change anything, then we have something to discuss.  Otherwise, it's already old news

~~~~~

McGraw Millhaven spent an hour on the story of a bereaved mother calling the PM of Great Britain and dressing him down for spelling errors in a condolence letter that he hand wrote to her.  While this is interesting, it's a story about the PM of Great Britain.  It's not worth an HOUR of your show, or my life.

Also, from what I've heard, Gordon Brown is blind in one eye and has notoriously bad handwriting.  Perhaps it's sloppiness, not poor spelling? 

In any case, the leader of Great Britain took the time to hand write a letter.  That says a lot about the man, whatever you think of his politics.

~~~~~

Oh, and I don't have any idea of what Gordon Brown's politics are, nor do I particularly care.  He's really not my problem.

~~~~~

Gay marriage was voted down in Maine.    It's bullshit, but again,  it doesn't affect me.

Or maybe it does.  If they let gays get married then I'll have to buy a wedding present for my Sister-in-Law and her partner, and my little brother and his partner.  Probably for Margo & Vicky, and Murray & James too.  

OK.  I am now officially opposed to Gay Marriage until the economy improves or I'm done paying off my furnace.

~~~~~

Can you tell I'm getting remarkably unconcerned about most things.  If it won't affect my daily life, then I really don't give a shit, and don't have energy to spare for it.

~Eas