Constant Reader discussion

An unfortunate convergence of events conspired to pare our convention down to a Girls' Weekend. Lynn, Tonya, Sara C and I are having a grand time, gossiping (see, you should have been here) laughing, walking a whole lot, however slowly because of a bad foot, bad knees, and bad backs. Sometimes we even talk about books. And best of all we're eating incredible food (which contributes to the slowness) and drinking more than we probably should. Right now, Lynn is reading the menu of the Art Museum brunch that we are going to go to in about an hour. My stomach is already anticipating. However, we are sick of seeing beets on menus.

Yesterday we went to the Gateway Arch. We weren't able to go to the top because it was sold out, which bummed us out, but secretly relieved most of us. That little pod that goes up is really tiny. Tonya brought her family which makes the group seem more festive. More later.

https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...

Tonya, Sherry, Lynn, Sara C, Margo, and Jerry.

Here is one thing we saw yesterday.

http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/4880735

Thanks, Sherry.

Nice!

Last night we had the slumber party in our room. I must have messed up with the arrangements, though, because the dancing boys never showed up. At least we didn't get any calls from the front desk asking us to end the loud party.

Today we've been enjoying beautiful weather and a leisurely day, starting with brunch at the Art Museum. After touring the parts of the museum that interested us, we left for some frozen custard at Ted Drewes, followed by a nap for some of us :)

Later we'll have our business meeting and readings, followed by dinner on The Hill.

Food! More food!

I always knew that Kansas City was known for excellent restaurants and good food, but Saint Louis? Who knew? Looks like everyone is having a blast!. With the Mississippi, Mark Twain, and the Gateway Arch, Lynn picked a great city! Sorry I'm not there, but glad to see that you are all having a great time.

I've been to St. Louis a couple of times. Have even been up in that Arch. It's a great city.

If I had been there, I probably could not have made myself go up in the Arch.

I wish I were there with you!

Jane wrote: "If I had been there, I probably could not have made myself go up in the Arch.

I wish I were there with you!"

I wish you were here, too, Jane. We are missing several meal shots.

This morning we said goodbye to Tonya and Sara and Tonya's family. l already miss them. Lynn and I had a marvelous drive up to Hannibal, Missouri. We came back on a different route which was absolutely delightful. It ran along the Mississippi for a long way and then went inland into farmland for a while. The trees were just about at their peak, and the light was perfect. When I get home I will organize a file of pictures I took. Don't expect a whole lot people pictures. I was with a bunch of women who are camera-shy. And I like taking pictures because I am never IN them.

Katy, Barb and Jane - I wish you all had been able to join us too! It's been a very relaxing getaway for me and I've loved catching up with Sherry, Tonya and Sara. Of course, now I'm going to have to go home and figure out how to lose all the weight I've gained from eating at all these great restaurants. Maybe I'll have to follow Sara's lead and get a Fitbit!

I want one, too!

I wish I could have been there too! I'm really hoping to be at the next one.

I'm home! We had a great time. Thank you so much, Lynn. Within the next few days I will make a concerted effort to organize the photos I took and post a link. The weather was just fantastic, the food marvelous, the company unparalleled.

I got home safe and sound this afternoon too, after an beautiful drive through areas of gorgeous fall colors. In spite of the small turnout, we had a great time. In fact, I think we probably talked more as a group (especially about books and CR) because there were so few of us.

One thing I don't think we've mentioned yet is the British author theme at the hotel. Each room is named for an author - they give you a souvenir bookmark with the author's name and have a copy of one of the author's books in the room. Sherry and I were in the Henry Fielding room (Tom Jones was the book) and I think someone was in A. A. Milne, with Winnie the Pooh as the book. (Was that you, Tonya?) I can't recall the third author though.

Didn't she tell me our room was "Winnie the Pooh?" I am sure she did, so maybe not every room is named after the author.

After the brunch on Sunday, I had started a walk around the park when suddenly I thought to myself that during that probably average-length meal, we had surely talked about or mentioned a record number of books. I stopped to jot down a few of them:

Cloud Atlas
Ghostwritten
Number 9 Dream
The Shadow of the Wind
Gone With the Wind
Tenth of December
Devil in the White City
Stories of Raymond Carver
To Die For
The English Patient
Being Dead
Disgrace

There were more, I know! Just a regular brunch for Constant Readers.

(Sherry, this is for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B57bO... )

HA! Thanks, Tonya, Explanation: I think I'm the only person in the world who didn't like The English Patient. But not for the reasons Elaine didn't like it. It didn't use the best part of the book. I loved the book, and it wasn't a romance, but the movie turned it into a romance and chopped off the part that I thought made the book powerful. Don't ask me what that is, I only have the residue left of my impressions.

Tonya and Sara, do you remember the name of the YA book (I think it was by Ursula Le Guin) that you were talking about? I said I owned it but haven't read it, but Lily had. I've looked at all of ULG's books and I can't find it. Was it someone else?

wrinkle in time l'engle.

No wonder I couldn't find it! Thanks, Sara.

Sara wrote: "wrinkle in time l'engle."

I remember reding that with my kids. They loved it.

I believe I read it in my 20s and enjoyed it then.

Hm, I wasn't in on that discussion. I've never read it.

I think that might have been just Sherry, Sara and me. Maybe while you were walking and petting dogs in the park around the Art Museum?

Well, please forgive my mostly silent state since leaving STL. Had access to a tablet, which I proved to be singularly incompetent on, hence my weird little message above. Have many things to organize in my head, but I can say without hesitation: hell of a good weekend, certainly highlighted by waiting for freight trains as Sherry made up "Trapped Between Two Trains"--an instant classic--from the back seat and Lynn & I almost passed out from laughing so hard.

And, believe it or not, my Fitbit didn't record Saturday's activity--not sure why, going to investigate, but it said it was my least active day of the week!!!! grrrr.

Amtrak only 45 minutes late into Chicago from Carbondale, IL.

That's just not fair, Sara. I would give your Fitbit a good talking to. By the way, Lynn and I both bought Fitbits. But I haven't quite figured mine out yet. I'm glad my silly serenade was entertaining. I really didn't have that much to drink. Glad your Amtrak was only a bit late. Much better than your hours'-long frustrating trip to STL.

I'm glad you got home safely, Sara, and without as much delay as the trip down. Just thinking about that silly time waiting for the trains to pass has me smiling this morning. We did a good job of entertaining ourselves!

I hope my new Fitbit doesn't do that to me. I've got the app on my phone now, so I can check status even when I don't have access to the computer. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not... I can see myself starting to check it obsessively for progress reports.

Here is a link to a few of the pictures I took. I'm not finished, but I thought I'd get started. I didn't tag or identify anything yet, so if you have any questions, ask me.

http://shkell.smugmug.com/Travel/Cons...

Sherry wrote: "Here is a link to a few of the pictures I took. I'm not finished, but I thought I'd get started. I didn't tag or identify anything yet, so if you have any questions, ask me.

http://shkell.smugmug...."

Ack! There's a naked man in the garden.

Ruth wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Here is a link to a few of the pictures I took. I'm not finished, but I thought I'd get started. I didn't tag or identify anything yet, so if you have any questions, ask me.

http://..."

A headless (and armless) man, and a bodyless woman. It evens out.

Ruth wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Here is a link to a few of the pictures I took. I'm not finished, but I thought I'd get started. I didn't tag or identify anything yet, so if you have any questions, ask me.

http://..."

But he doesn't look dangerous :)

Thanks for including some of my favorites in this first batch, Sherry!

For what it's worth to everyone I've never been to St. Louis but I've been joy following everyone's comments

Sherry wrote: "Here is a link to a few of the pictures I took. I'm not finished, but I thought I'd get started. I didn't tag or identify anything yet, so if you have any questions, ask me.

http://shkell.smugmug...."

Wait, where are the other bear pictures???? :-)

Sara wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Here is a link to a few of the pictures I took. I'm not finished, but I thought I'd get started. I didn't tag or identify anything yet, so if you have any questions, ask me.

http://..."

You mean the one where he's trying to eat me?

Where were those statue shots taken? I love the idea of a head just laying there in a garden.

They were in the garden outside the hotel.

They are great photos. I love the arch disappearing into the clouds and the statues are great, including your relaxing lady :)

My day was absolutely made by the arrival of the Greetings from St. Louis postcard in this morning's mail!

I regret that circumstances prevented my attending this year, not least because (did anyone note it at the time?) 2014 marks twenty years that we've been having the get-togethers. The onset of fall has become so inextricably linked in my mind with these annual events that not taking part left a palpable void. Rest assured, at least, that i was thinking about you folks.

I don't suppose anyone took any surreptitious videos....?

Are you kidding, Allen? It was hard enough to get people to agree to be in one picture at the dinner table.

I'm glad you liked the postcard. Tonya found it in the museum gift shop and we thought it was just perfect for the occasion :)

Sherry wrote: "Sara wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Here is a link to a few of the pictures I took. I'm not finished, but I thought I'd get started. I didn't tag or identify anything yet, so if you have any questions, ask..."

Yes, you canoodling with the bear!

oh, finally! I had said just today that the postal service failed us!

Allen wrote: "My day was absolutely made by the arrival of the Greetings from St. Louis postcard in this morning's mail!

I regret that circumstances prevented my attending this year, not least because (did ..."

No, Allen, you are the videographer. I take stills. No one wanted their picture taken, so you get to see some of the things we saw, but you don't get to see much of us. Such is your punishment for not being there :)

Here is me canoodling with the bear.

I don't know which is scarier, me or the bear.

I put up a few more pictures, mostly from the Saint Louis Art Museum, which is wonderful.

http://shkell.smugmug.com/Travel/Cons...

Sherry wrote: "Here is me canoodling with the bear.

"

I love that picture!

I dunno, I expect canoodling to be...gentler. You look like you're running for your life from the bear.