Blogs from North America - page 6774

Greetings from STL. We decided it would be pretty neat to see some fireworks over the Gateway Arch in St. Louis (just once). Hey when in Rome..... We never managed to make it down to the fireworks over the DC Mall (over the WA monument, something I miss, but always too crowded, HOT and stormy). So no regrets in St. Louis. The night was very pleasant, low 80s to high 70s and a nice breeze. I guess this is not the typical heat wave that normally has descended on the St. Louis area this time of year, so we feel like we lucked out in a big way. No rain (or thunder), so we head downtown. First stop, Pappy’s BBQ. This isn’t K.C., but it’s the BEST we have had in STL.... yummy and they have ... read more

The Nintendo DS Lite appears to be the only one of my many rechargeable gadgets whose charger is NOT dual-voltage. This means a simple plug adapter won't cut it... a step-down transformer is necessary to prevent DS fryage. Step-down transformers are almost literally bricks to carry around. They suck. And for one appliance? Some posters in online fora say that buying the European adapter from Nintendo works absolutely fine for charging a US DS Lite, but Nintendo's support website actually says you'd be better off buying a whole 'nother DS Lite game console in Europe. I can see where Nintendo might have nefarious corporate reasons for suggesting such a thing, but I'm also not confident in online gamers' having any deep understanding of how electricity works. This is a tough decision, especially since the DS Lite ... read more

OK, day two..... started off nice.. had a good breakfast at the hotel, got keys for the house early and even had time to go search for the elusive pineapple bun again... Knew I was off to a bad start when we didn't find the buns... After we checked out, I was walking to the parking lot, breathing with my mouth open and kinda of in awe of the outside of the hotel... when some freakoid, says to me... what are you laughing at... I'm like what? huh??? Just keep walking... just keep walking.... We walk up to the house... look on the outside and a window with a torn up curtain... bad sign... is it sketchy?? don't know... can't check in until 3... but we wanted to drop our car off..... The house is located ... read more

Tonight we interupt this blog for a Wildlife Report for Steve Wight. We often interupt selectmen's meetings for discussion of recent wildlife sightings and I don't want Steve to miss out. Wildlife sighted so far on this trip include: White tail deer in Illinois; Jackrabbit in a Colorado train station, Parie dogs in Denver (a little village between the tracks and the road): mule deer in Colorado; a tortoise in Nevada; fox kits in Nebraska; black tail deer in Utah; more cows, horses and goats than you could count; Magpies all over; pelicans; various ducks in several states; and Elk today in California. Funky star fish on the beach today as well. Not much hangs around the train tracks, but we have spotted a few things. One quick story and it's off to bed with me. ... read more

So, what have I done? Since being home, I've been working at this house for Steve and Melissa from my mom's office (the expeditionary studies department of SUNY Plattsburgh). One of the students from the department has been working with them and helped me get this work so I wouldn't be stuffed in the back office of some company doing the most senseless work possible. I've learned how to run electrical outlets and installed lights and switches. I've done work all over the house from sanding and cleaning, to learning how to drive a tractor. I enjoy my job, and even more than that, the people I work with. In addition to that, I've met a lot of kids from the department. I went out with them one night to Peabody's which was not something I ... read more