Take Me Out to the Ballgame

I don't feel Spring is truly here until I make my first visit to the ballpark. The aroma of hot dogs, popcorn, and peanuts (not to mention the gourmet items that now show up on every major league ballpark's menu), serve to drive home the notion that mild temperatures and outside fun have finally arrived.

Today I'm heading to my first game of the season and looking forward to soaking up the experience. St. Louis area peeps tend to be a tiny bit obsessed with the Cardinals. We dress up in Cardinals gear and head to the ballpark or to a sports bar or simply listen to the game on the radio.

I remember hearing Harry Carey and Jack Buck on KMOX announce the play-by-play. It's a treasured part of my early days.

"It might be, it could be...it IS...a home run! Hoooly Cow!" 

St. Louis Cardinals baseball makes me think of my dad listening to a tiny transistor radio while barbecuing pork steaks as Mom prepared potato salad and baked beans. We'd groan at every out and cheer every time the home team scored a run.

In Mom's final few years, when she couldn't do much else, she could watch the Cardinals on television. It gave her so much pleasure...especially when "her" team won.

I believe heaven has a special place for Redbird fans, so I'm sure Dad and Mom will be cheering along with me today. Maybe between the three of us we can bring home a winner.

Chillin' At Home

Today not even the air conditioning is sufficient. I've got a fan moving fast enough to make my hair look like I'm hunkering down during a Midwestern twister.

The humidity is an added bonus. It makes the air feel so thick and heavy that you can almost do the breaststroke through it. All in all, not one of our more pleasant days. But, hey, that's the way summer rolls in Missouri, whether we like it or not.

Of course, the whiny side of me is a bit cranky about the whole thing. It would be lovely to have sun, dry air, and 80 degrees for the weekend. But my practical side points out that it could be worse. Try being pregnant in this heat. I noticed only this morning that the perky little weather girl on Channel 5 is about 3 years pregnant (by the way, have you noticed that women these days wear form-fitting clothes that showcase their baby bump? I used to wear a tent-top to hide mine). But I digress...the girl looks like she could go into labor any second. It makes me wonder what would happen if her water breaks on air. Whoops...predicting a 100% chance of isolated showers.

Anyway I wish her well. Anyone as pregnant as she is who can get up at 4 a.m., travel in sweltering heat and stand in front of a fake map of Missouri while wearing Spandex and heels deserves a medal. Guess I better count my blessings and chill.

Move over, Indy and Bogey. I'm turning up the fan...

Hello Mr. Summer

The scent of barbecue lingers. Bellies are full. Skin is a little sore from the places not quite covered by sunscreen that was haphazardly slicked over shoulders. Yes, another Memorial Day weekend is drawing to a close. Summer is here...at least unofficially. At some point during your holiday revels, I hope you were able to take a minute to give thanks for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. If it weren't for them, we'd all be dancing to someone else's tune today.

Meanwhile, late last night we returned from our excursion to the river. The experience made me feel a strange sense of empathy for a pot roast. Baked until well done, thank you very much.

After I  bathed about a pound of dirt off Indy, he grabbed his favorite toy and happily sat next to one of our most treasured modern conveniences...

Ahhhhhh. Now doesn't that feel good?

Bogey wasn't as annoyed as usual about being left behind. His attitude radiated superiority as we dragged in our coolers, dirty clothes, and sweaty bodies. Silly people. Who camps for 3 days in 98 degree heat?

After a glorious long shower and liberal application of anti-itch medication to my numerous bug bites and poison ivy, I felt human enough to dictate a short message:

Hello, Mr. Summer. Glad to see you back. I'm looking forward to spending some more time together, but could you please be a pal and bring down the heat about 10 degrees or so? Your cooperation would be much appreciated. Thank you!

It's back to work tomorrow for me. Time to catch up and dream about what next weekend will bring. Don't you just love a four-day work week?

One Hot Day

On Friday I made a quick trip to our local grocery store to pick up items for the weekend. I jumped out of my car ready to scurry into the cool respite of the store. It was after 10:00 a.m. and already the air steamed with bright sun, heat, and humidity. The first thing I noticed was a car parked near mine. Inside was a young Golden Retriever, panting heavily. The two front windows were cracked open a couple of inches each.

I walked around the car and talked to the dog, waiting for the owner to appear. After about 10 minutes, one of the young baggers came out to collect carts. I pointed out the dog and suggested the car owner be paged. She went inside to speak with her manager. Within a minute or two, she returned to say that this type of thing happened all the time, and her manager said there wasn't anything they could do about it.

My next thought was to call the police. Sweat tricked down my back like a broken faucet. I was burning up and it wasn't me locked in a hot car. So I pulled out my phone to make the call when a man who appeared to be in his fifties walked toward the car. Both hands were loaded with grocery bags. I called out to him and our conversation went something like this...

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"It's really dangerous to leave your dog in a hot car."

"I had the windows cracked and the sun roof partly open." (Indignant)

"It's not enough to keep from killing your dog in this heat."

"I know my dog and he's fine." (Annoyed)

With that remark, he jumped into the car and sped away. In frustration, I couldn't help but shout after him.

"Next time I'll call the police!" I think I even shook my fist at him in some sort of power-to-the-people type gesture.

I'm not sure if he heard my somewhat childish parting shot or not. Not one of my finer moments. I went inside the store and cooled off...in more ways than one. Then I realized something. Never once did the man make eye contact with me. The way I read human nature, that's a sure sign when someone knows they made a mistake.

Although our interaction didn't end well, I decided this seed of discussion would bear fruit later on. I'm sure the man cared about his dog and probably thought he'd be inside the store "just for a second". He intended no harm. But unfortunately, even a few minutes in a hot car can be deadly.

The bagger's description about this type of thing "happening all the time" is really sad. Are we doing a bad job educating the public or do some simply choose to ignore facts? Perhaps getting out the message to one person at a time is the most effective way to make things change. I'm not a huge fan of confrontation, but uncomfortable as it feels, speaking up appears to be the best approach. In any event, I'm pretty sure that man in the parking lot will never leave his dog in a hot car again.

After all, who wants to tangle with a cranky red-faced sweat-ball of a crazy old lady?

Just In Case

Just in case someone at work took the last piece of birthday cake.

Just in case your significant other forgot to make a deposit that caused three checks to bounce.

Just in case the cat threw up on the only place the carpet had left without a spot.

Just in case the dog got loose and you had to chase him around the neighborhood wearing only your nightgown.

Just in case you're sweating and swearing and sweltering on yet another steamy day in July, remember this.

Only five months from today we'll be thinking about other things.

Merry Christmas.

Well Versed

If you're like me, the postal service usually delivers only two things: bills and junk mail. That being the case, I loved it when this copy of Well Versed, an anthology published by the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writer's Guild, appeared on my doorstep. It includes one of my short stories, but what made it even more fun is that a fellow Saturday Writer, Alice Muschany, has two stories included. She always was an overachiever. Way to go, Alice!

The book can be purchased through Amazon.

Meanwhile the heat wave continues. We went to an outdoor concert last night (crazy, I know) thinking we'd stay only for a few songs. However, the band was so good that we stood on hot brick singing and dancing to the blues music of The Red House for about three hours. They were wonderful and we were grateful for the outstanding show they presented in fierce weather conditions.

Hope all of you are keeping safe and cool, including our four-footed friends!

The Heat is On

Today has been another scorching day. We're well into the 90's and the prediction is for the temps to grow increasingly hotter throughout the week. Staying inside seems to be the option of choice for most people and pets. I venture out after work to put fresh water in the bird bath because the wildlife definitely suffers in such extreme temperatures, too. I'm sure the birds are amazed at how quickly this old lady can fill up the community watering trough before beating a path back into the house.

My Indy-Boy is looking shaggy and uncomfortable, so it's about time to schedule another visit for him at the groomer. His summer buzz cut is not only fashionable, but a must in heat.

Bogey is not allowed outside. Therefore he simply doesn't get what all the fuss is about as he lounges in his splendiforous new bed.

"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

On another note (pun intended), I bought this vintage sheet music (circa 1939) from an antique shop.

I thought I knew the music by heart, but was surprised to learn that "Over the Rainbow" had a short introduction with lyrics I'd never heard before. It definitely did not appear in the movie. Any "Wizard of Oz" buffs know the story on this?

From heat to rainbows to wishes...hope all of you have a great evening! Stay cool!

Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot

It's hotter outside than a grilled habanero. My feet seem to sink into sticky asphalt as I plod from an air conditioned car to an air conditioned building. Is it supposed to be this hot in June?

The Midwest is sweating from record heat, so it's time for a reminder. NEVER leave a dog in a hot car. Even with windows open, a vehicle quickly becomes a deadly oven. It doesn't matter if you're "only going to be gone for a few seconds". That's all it takes for heat exhaustion to overcome an animal...or a person for that matter!

I know I'm preaching to the choir, but if each one of us educates at least 2 or 3 other people on the issue, think what a difference we could make! So let's get the word out.

And if you should notice any living being left in a hot car, don't hesitate. Call for help from animal control and/or the police. I've done it before and the authorities are most cooperative in providing assistance and making sure that the person responsible learns a valuable (and often expensive) lesson.

My Dog is Cool provided the above photo. Their site has great tips and interesting facts relevant to all dog owners. Check them out to learn more.

Stay cool!

Backyard Guests

Memorial weekend, the official beginning of summer is coming.  While some love to travel, for many guests, a backyard vacation is all that's needed for fun and relaxation.

"No getting into the water until half an hour after you eat, kids!"

"This place serves the best honey roasted nuts I've ever had!"

"Tomorrow I think I'll ask the management for an extra pillow."

"What does it take to get some breakfast around here?"


We hope you're planning something fun for the weekend.  We'll report more on what we're doing soon.

An Uninvited Guest

Photo and information from Missouri Conservationist Magazine.

The long weekend is over. Although there were a few torrential downpours, enough decent weather intervened to compensate us for the inconvenience. We enjoyed having friends, fun, music, drink, and food. And then there was our uninvited guest...a copperhead snake.

Yes, we were visited by a long and chubby copperhead, one of Missouri's several venomous snakes. A friend noticed it crawling next to a fallen log, and managed a pretty calm, "Better come here and take a look at this", comment.

As you can see from the Missouri Conservationist photo, a copperhead's coloring is beautiful, though he's not at all what you want to find crawling into your tent or sleeping bag.

Copperheads love mixed woodland areas where there is access to water, woodpiles, brush, and rocky areas. Consequently, 9 out of 10 copperheads agree that our place at the river is an ideal site to call home. As an added bonus, these critters are most active in late August through October (mating season), after which they hibernate through the winter in friendly fashion as members of a communal den along with various other types of snakes. I sure wouldn't want to stumble into one of those bedrooms!

Most snake bites in Missouri come from copperheads. Fortunately, the bite is not reported to be fatal for adults, but is extremely painful and can result in serious tissue damage. Prompt medical care is imperative. Due to the smaller size of children and pets, swift assistance is even more critical. Copperheads prefer flight to a fight, but will bite to defend themselves.

Flight is a point upon which both the snake and I can agree.

Well, it certainly wasn't what we expected, and resulted in more than a few shrieks of fright, but even at summer's end Mother Nature always saves a few little surprises for us, doesn't she?

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Image credit to danncer

The upcoming Labor Day weekend is considered to be a time of rest for working people, and the unofficial end of summer. I know I'm looking forward to an extra day off. Hopefully you are, too.

My hummingbirds have nearly all disappeared. I'm starting to see more color on tree leaves. Summer is indeed slowly fading away.

So despite the rainy forecast, I'm planning to enjoy my weekend.

I hope you do the same!

Summer Sights

I took this shot of a blue damselfly on a recent trip to southern Missouri. There were lots of them flying all around the area, with this one landing in a the perfect spot. I loved the contrast of blue against the yellow green leaf.

Here's a bit of critter indentification info. A damselfly holds its wings above the body. A dragonfly's wings are held out to the side. So now you can sound like a true naturalist as you sit and watch flying insects on a summer's day.

However, beyond that piece of information, you're on your own. I looked up damselflies and dragonflies on an insect identification site and there were more types of each listed than I had time to ponder.

I've noticed that daylight is growing shorter. Before long, summer will completely disappear into fall. We'll drag out our sweaters and welcome the new season, though we can't help but mourn the passing of the old one just a bit.

So take time to relax into today. Enjoy the sights, sounds, and scents of summer while you still can. And save a seat for me.

I'll bring the iced tea.

Be Kind

Photo by the wretched


We've been having a run of very hot days with no relief in sight. Given the heat wave, I searched an issue that disturbs me greatly...people who leave their pets in hot cars with the windows cracked. Sure enough, I found a story about a chihuahua in Michigan left in a car a few weeks ago that died of heat stroke. The owner now faces charges of animal abuse. Apparently, people still haven't gotten the message.

The first time I witnessed a dog left in a hot car, I had the store manager page the owner, who came to the car shortly thereafter, arms loaded with grocery bags. I tried to be polite as possible with my comment about how quickly this could have become deadly. The owner looked embarressed, mumbled an apology, and drove away.

The second time I called the police because the car sat in front of a strip mall, and I had no idea where to find the owner. The officer responded and looked up the license plate. Thankfully at that point the owner returned, because the officer was preparing to jimmy open the door in order to rescue the dog. The officer asked me to leave while he had "a talk" with the man.

Long story short...the authorities take such matters seriously.

Even when weather is not so torrid as now, a car with windows cracked can swiftly become a deadly oven. Dogs can only perspire through their paws and mouth. They cannot handle the type of heat created by a car on asphalt with the sun beating down.
United Animal Nations has good information on heat stroke symptoms, emergency treatment, and flyers to hand out for non-life threatening situations. It's aptly titled My Dog is Cool.

I know critters love to go places with their people. But on hot days be kind. Leave them at home in the air conditioning.

And for those people who leave their critters outside, in this weather...PLEASE DON'T!