There are rocking chairs here at the Saint Louis airport. The drinks here are overpriced.

But the museums in the park are free.

Moon River

Was playing when I first wrote to describe this rooftop bar scene. I may have lost tha t post. It said I'm soaking up sun, beer, chips and tapenade. The women are mostly wearing black and white, with spots of red, pink and purple interspersed around.

I've been reading Wonder Boys since June. I'm up to 3 am on the first day of the story. That Grady Tripp gets into ba lot of scrapes.

Now Dancing in the Moonlight is playing. I love this song.

Moon over St. Louis

Is there ever; big, golden, round moon. Checking into the hotel alone feels weird. Everything is moons here with a few stars. I'm in between the Redd Foxx and the Tennesee Williams suites. I've got two hours on the folks here and I slept on the flight from Chicago but I'm hesitant to go out. I'm not accustomed to the vibe here yet. I've unpacked. To retire to a book or tv seems lame.

I don't have a plan for Nick. He doesn't get here until tomorrow night.

On the conference, people followed one person's story about dropping his kid off at college with their menories of getting to Reed. The early adult undergrad experience feels so formative. But what is formed? I became a mother of a new generation but I feel like a kid.

Noticing travelling couples I remembered what it is like to have a partner to consult with and bicker. Now I bicker with myself by motoblur smart phone.

After a while of being nervous and not eating, I've been on a bit of binge lately. Ice cream, cheesy sandwiches, pasta, red vines and lots of sunflower seeds.

I haven't had a drink in several days and feel like in the absense of alcohol I'm getting bloated. The idea of a cabbage fast sounds appealing.

I'm behind on some things and when that happens, I tend to look around at all the other things to do and have a hard time starting anything.

Since my last big CD buying spree and the lost glasses stupid tax, I've been spending money on other people which is OK I guess. There isn't anything pressing on my wish list.

I'm getting a little anxious about the Pickathon. Typical for me to look forward to something for a long time and then get cold feet as it approaches.

Onion rings.

I bought a birthday cake without knowing what was underneath the frosting. I hoped it could be a good surprise, but it turned out to white, not to be what the person who it was intended for wanted. Luckily, I got a little fancy chocolate thing too.

12 candles for 38 (3+8) and 1 to grow. I blew them out.

I went to my second estate sale ever on Sunday. They were both eerily the same; same layout of house, same old lady doilies and odd knick knacks, same sad sense of the stuff left behind when a life ends.

My friend who knows about estate sales and being fashionable said I'd be a fool not to buy the grey leather coat with white fur trim at $20, so I did. I also put in a blind bid on a worn dining room rug. The estate sale guy today called and said I can have it for $200. I've wanted an old rug, but I'm not sure that this one really will go with my decor.

It feels vulture-like to buy this stuff from a dead person. Actually, maybe the lady or man of the house just has to move to a nursing home. Who knows? But in the spirit of reuse, I'll try not to feel morbid. I don't when I get stuff from Goodwill. And buying new stuff is probably more harmful in the long run.