Hatred Makes the World Go Round

While in the Walgreen's Pharmacy drive-through I saw a woman yelling at me through her car window as we sat and waited.
Although i could see her anger i couldn't hear her. I asked her to roll down her window.
She snarled at me and licked her lips.
She rolled her window down to say it again. F---ing Wh-te B-tch.
Over and Over...
I told her it was old-fashioned to act that way. She told me my Grandma was a F---ing Wh-te B-tch too.
Yes, we are Wh-te B-tches. ("orangish/tan" if you ask Jasper)
http://maravillastl.blogspot.com/2009/11/white-people.html
Hatred is real.

Generous Love and Progress

Generous love in the form of anonymous $100 gas card

Gas Men

Today I found the gift card in my mailbox, and the men on the lawn.

I am glad the problem will finally be fixed. But I cannot help being sad that i have several gigantic holes where many lovingly tended plants used to reside, some divisions from friends and family.

Perhaps i will take this opportunity to extend my rain garden up to that area and direct the bioswale down to the basin i dug out this fall.

Help Haiti

An opportunity to help right now...

Haiti Earthquake

Sharp-shinned Hawk

I look out the window nearly everytime I pass by this vacant house. It doesn't take very long for nature to take over abandoned spaces. We had the pleasure of watching this hawk eat a pigeon, while a bunny family huddled in the brush nearby. The Cooper's Hawk and the Sharp-shinned are nearly identical. I think this was a bit small so i guess Sharp-shinned.

Christmas Weapons

A Christmas gift from my Dad to Jasper. I really like this picture.

Friendly Brunch

Brunch with friends on a cold and snowy morning.

St. Louis Handicrafts

Click here for some beautifully sewn by a St. Louis mother.
http://dunhams.typepad.com/halfpinthouse/

Cold

It is 5 degrees right now. We are without gas (heat, hot water, dryer) for the 6th time in the last few weeks.
The process is familiar and lengthy. First the call has to be sent to a service technician. This can take all day or be just a few hours. After diagnosing the problem, a call is sent to the street department. This usually takes the longest and they get water out of the line. Then they have to call the service technician to come back to turn the gas and all appliances back on.

We have had a difficult time getting to someone who can actually help us fix the problem. But today we finally took the plunge and called the Missouri Public Service Commission to file a complaint.
http://www.psc.mo.gov/
This is an ongoing problem that has occurred in the past years as well.

The chairman, CEO and director of Laclede Gas, Douglas Yaeger made $623,333 in 2009.
His total compensation rose 32 percent in 2009. Yaeger’s perks, included a company car, club dues, sports boxes and spousal travel worth over $36,000.
Here is the full article
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/mound-city-money/st-louis-companies/2009/12/salary-bonus-rise-for-lacledes-yaeger/

According to the company, we cannot get the problem fixed until Laclede gets the rate increase they are after.