Mostly True Tales

I had a few clear days on the lake calendar and decided to visit St. Louis for a few days and drove in this morning. Man it’s great to be home. I hadn’t seen the family in a little over a week, not to mention the dogs. I have to return to the lake either Thursday or Friday, but this was a great excuse to bring some stuff home and prepare for my winter transition.

Of course everyone was surprised and glad to see me this afternoon when the Kids got home from school. The dogs were especially happy. Of course, Marcia had siding put on the house while I was gone this year, I think it was the roof last year. She likes to do these types of projects while I’m out of town. I prefer it that way too. The house looks great.

The Shootout boat races are this coming weekend, and I will have to be back at Parkview Bay, because the race weekend is usually one the most (if not the most) crazy weekends of the year. This year it will be a toss up, between the Shootout, and Labor Day weekend, I’ll let you know.

It’s great to be back in my office in St. Louis. A good indicator of how long I’ve been gone is the “Born On Date” of my Bud-Light, March 15th, 2007. It tasted fine. It’s good to be home.

I arrived back in St. Louis Monday afternoon. It was a great trip. It went fast and was far too short, but it’s good to be home. As usual, the visit with Peter and Jackie was non-stop Amazing!

The very first full day I was there we went rug shopping. I was on a tight budget this year, but couldn’t resist bringing home a few extraordinary values. For the most part I stayed under control and set a new record low for spending while shopping for rugs. I absolutely love oriental rugs and don’t think I’ll ever own enough.

I bought the rug in the middle shown above and a few other smaller rugs. Pete zoomed in on this rug like a hawk on a mouse. It certainly was the deal of the day, all three of these were marked down to ridiculously low prices (so low, I can’t say how low). Looking at this picture while I type, I wish I had bought all three.

This place is like a candy store for rug-aholics. There are rugs everywhere, hanging, rolled, and stacked. The picture below shows a stack of rugs that are similar. The top rug has been pulled back, like a page in a book. Note how the back of the rug looks as good as the front.

Here is a style of rug I haven’t seen before, tanks, grenades, pistols, and helicopters. I guess this illustrates what the people of Iran have on their mind. Pete wanted me to buy one of these, simply because they are quite unusual, but it’s not really my style.

Here is a picture from the second floor of one of the rug rooms. Rugs everywhere, every size, color, and pattern conceivable.

One of the many reasons I went to Virginia this time was to pickup my Traveling Magician statue. After nearly 10 years of searching for one, I had just about resigned myself to the fact that I would never own one, but Pete located one at a very good price and I was able to obtain it with his help.

The statue is in unbelievable condition and the finest specimen I have ever seen. It is a true find. Pete and Jackie were genuinely excited to find it for me. Honestly, I don’t know how I got so lucky.

The statue was made in 1877, almost 130 years ago. I was very nervous transporting it back to St. Louis, but managed to do so without mishap. This Traveling Magician has found a new home, my living room.

There is much to do here at home and I am hard at work. With Thanksgiving just days away and Christmas closing in fast. I’m going to have to be extra Amazing the rest of the year. I started it off yesterday by cleaning the garage.

Today I leave for Virginia to visit my good friend and Magic Mentor, Peter Monticup. It’s quite a drive and can be done in one day, but I usually break it up into 2. I hope to take some pictures along the way of the many rivers and mountains I cross on the way there. Once there it will be non-stop Amazing! Magic, Magic, Magic. A little work a little play.

I am very excited. This trip is always very good for my sole and has been long over due. There was little argument from Marcia when they called and asked me to come, she knows I need this and it will be good for me. I think my moods as of late have been driving her crazy and I usually come back from this trip completely re-energized, so she is probably relieved to see me go.