Timing is everything and I managed to time a last minute trip to STL around a surprise party for my best friend from college. I flew into STL in the morning, businessed as I had to, then checked into my hotel. It was 2 blocks away from historic downtown St. Charles, so I spent Friday night eating at The Mother-in-Law House Restaurant, and wandering along the MO River and into some stores that were still open. [Surprising to me was the fact that so many of the boutique-y stores closed before 8pm on a Friday night, while it was still light out and while tourists galore were still tourist-ing around town...
On Saturday, I went downtown again (a nice walk in some very hot and humid weather, although it didn't hold a candle to my current 101 degrees and 75-degree dewpoint) and decided at the last minute to go get my toes done for the party. I went into the Chamber of Commerce/Tourism Office and the closest pedicure to my hotel was $56. Yea, right. So I hopped in my 2011 red Impala and drove to the big intersection near the hotel (it was a bit too scary to walk!) and went into Walgreen's. I looked for a nice lady to accost and ask directions from and of course, the very nice lady I chose wasn't a local! But she pointed me to Zumbehl Road, two exits west of where I was, off Interstate 70, and said there were lots of malls there and she was sure I'd find something...
So I went. I found boats, tons of boats parked in the parking lot outside a sporting goods store! They looked so odd in the parking lot; there were more boats than cars! I found a spa/salon who charged $46, but that included a $5 bottle of polish (so I wound up with a stocking stuffer for Mom!). They could take me within 45 minutes and of course I wanted to go back and shower and get ready for the party, so I caved.
To kill 45 minutes I went to the St. Louis Bread Factory, aka Panera Bread in the rest of the world. Apparently the "St. Louis Bread Factory" store name didn't cut it outside of St. Louis... Had a delicious strawberry and poppyseed salad and a large iced tea. Then I went and got probably the worst pedicure of my life for one of the highest costs I've ever paid, but they were cut and clean and polished, even if not as well as I get done here in NJ! I also popped into this knitting store in honor of my middle sister and my mom - they're going to be opening a website and an online store soon...
I got ready, went to C's house, and he was being treated to a day'o'bowling by his 3 sons, since the bowling alley was way more air conditioned than the golf course (their original plan was a day'o'golf!). He came in and was suitably surprised, especially when he saw his ex-roommate T and T's wife, who had come from Kansas City. He commented about the distance, that he couldn't believe they came! Then C's wife said something about them not winning the longest distance travelled award, and she pointed at me.
C was FLOORED! He couldn't believe I had come to MO for his party! He ate dinner with T and J and me, and the three of us stayed the latest, after the rest of the party left. I was the last to leave, at a little after 11pm; his youngest son was falling asleep in the living room! We could have talked all night, but didn't. I wanted to get a shot of the family before I left, so I asked them to pose for me. I couldn't get them to look at me; well, DANNA couldn't get them all organized and in place so I just took a shot. The flash got their attention and they IMMEDIATELY turned to the camera and smiled!
They invited me over for breakfast the next morning but I had to get to the airport so I couldn't. It was so nice to see him - and apparently he, too, feels 6 years is too long between visits. I only wish J had come with me...
Then on Monday, J and I left for AC. He had to be there for a credit union seminar, and spouses always tag along. I lost a little, then broke even, but I prefer to come out ahead. It just didn't work this time; the slots were against me! I sat on the balcony outside their meeting room for a few hours and got a nice sun
We hung around Clifton for a day or so, then went to see Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows, Part 2 in Real-D! It was awesome! My favorite one ever! (We just went to see it a 2nd time this past Tuesday, for free, courtesy of Optimum Triple Play's benefits card.)
This weekend we went to the lake; there's central air there, so staying home where only my bedroom has a small air conditioner is not really an option. I would have to shop in the mall, or sit in B&N for hours...
Speaking of B&N, which leads me to think of Borders... How sad. 10K+ employees are losing their jobs. 10K! In one shot. Not 10 here, 20 there, a few hundred in our building when my company closed down... 10K! I've never been a Borders fan; I didn't like the way their stores were arranged. I feel as though in recent years they looked more at book "stuff" than at "books." At least that was my feeling in-store... I know someone who got their start in a Borders store, worked their way up to shift manager, or store manager (I forget), but then came to work at SDC and we became friends and I know she's hurting over the people she knows from her years there losing their jobs... Do you realize that with the exception of a handful of independents (compared to years ago, and they're going the way of the wind, too, these days), B&N is all that's left?
We spend hours in B&N a week NOW. Guess it will be a bit more crowded soon...
P.S. I gave mom the polish as soon as I got home! And the TSA officer thought my toes looked GREAT when she body scanned me in the airport...
Oooh, nice yarn store! Thanks for the photo! And of the tea room, too. Did you stop and try any?
ReplyDeleteC looks quite different than I remember him, of course, but looks like everyone had a great time.