Sophia121's Blog

Hey There!  I took these pictures a couple of weeks ago at the Forest Park Balloon Glow & Race and I'm finally posting them for you to see.  It amazed me at how much fuel was used at this event, especially with gas prices being so high.  How they could afford to fly those balloons is beyond me but I'm glad they did!  The weather wasn't the greatest though.  It was overcast with scattered thunderstorms forecast for both Friday night and Saturday afternoon.  The Energizer Bunny (Hare) wasn't able to fly either which put a damper on things too.  I'm not even sure who won the race this year.  The "Mayflower" balloon won the race last year.  

The event began with the singing of the National Anthem and the Sky Divers landing about an hour or so before dusk.  Some pretty awesome stuff.  Then they started inflating the balloons.  This was my first time witnessing the "Glow" part of the event so I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  I wondered if they kept the flames going constantly throughout the night but they didn't.  What happened was...there was this loud horn that signaled everyone to ignite the flames and hold it for about minute or so.  They did this off and on throughout the evening for what appeared to be every fifteen minutes.  That was a pretty amazing sight.  I imagine it would have been better had they been down by the lake, seeing the reflection of the flames off the water.  Nonetheless, it was fun! 

I was somewhat disappointed this year because of the weather for starters and then we got there late for both the "glow" and for the "race" the next day so we didn't get a good spot to sit.  At any rate, I think we all had fun.  I know I did!     Anyway...come on in and check out some of the pics I took this year!! 

Hi America!

My name is Fannie Mae and I'm Freddy Mac and we're about to give you the ride of your lives!!!

Are ya READY??????

HEY ALL...how's your THURSDAY treating you so far?    

Good I hope but  j u s t  in case it isn't...you've come to the right place.  Welcome to my "GET IT OFF THURSDAY" blog! I'll be posting it every Thursday (memory/time permitting).  So...Gotta a gripe?  Gotta gripe about THE ECONOMY?  Gotta gripe about THE ECONOMY? Gotta gripe about THE ECONOMY? Gotta gripe about ANYTHING???

Well come on in and lets' chat about it.   But remember...ya gotta keep it REAL!

So come on in and GET IT OFF your CHEST!!!

If there's anyone out there who has some spare change set aside for ANY Christmas (yes I said CHRISTMAS!!!) shopping, you'd better GET IT NOW while you still can!!! 

I don't usually shop at Kohl's but I came by a 15% off coupon from Kohl's the other day (thanks buddy boo!) so I thought I'd use it.  Rumor has it that Kohl's started putting their Christmas stuff on display a couple of weeks ago so I thought I'd take a gander as to what they had.  

Now mind you...this is STILL September and it's still 80 degrees outside!  I'm telling you...most of the shelves at Kohl's are bare already!!!  They hardly had any Hallmark ornaments left and only a few boxes of Christmas Cards.  From what I'm told, most stores do not intend to re-stock their inventory once they sell out either! 

SO...AGAIN...IF you plan on doing ANY Christmas shopping this year, you MIGHT want to get out there within the next few weeks and do it early, before it's all gone.  Or you might be doing the old "gift card" thing. 

I don't have to worry because I do all of my Shopping at Walgreen's and they NEVER run out of Christmas stuff...LOL!!!

Happy Shopping!

Peace

Eight Years Later....

What, was yesterday National Come Out of the Closet Day or something?!?!? 

First Clay Aiken (as if we didn't know)...then it was Lindsay Lohan.  Don't get me wrong peeps, I'm not knocking it...to each his own.  I'm just sayin'.

Perhaps their "people" thought it'd be good timing since all the media hype is on "THE BAILOUT" right now. 

Hmmmmmmm....wonder who could be next???? 

ARE YOU READY?!?!?!

This annual event takes place next weekend, beginning with the Balloon Glow on Friday night September 19th in Forest Park.  Are you ready?!?!?  Mind you, I have yet to make it to a Balloon Glow but I have made it to several of the races and it is indeed EXCITING!!!  My grands and I had so much fun last year.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate this year and the event will be just as exciting for us. 

The winner of last years' race was the "Mayflower" balloon.  I'm anxious to see all of the participants and who's gonna win the race this year. See http://www.greatforestparkballoonrace.com/ for more details. 

Come on in to see a few of the shots I took from last year's race...

• I remember a co-worker telling us that a plane had just crashed into one of the twin towers in New York.


• I remember feeling emotion of shock and disbelief.


• I remember the skirmish and huddles around computers trying to find out more information as those tragic events took place at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.


• I remember crying.


• I remember seeing the sadness on the faces of those close to me.


• I remember feeling anger toward those responsible for those events.


• I remember having heated discussions about what happened.


• I remember watching news coverage of the events for hours on end.


• I remember trying to explain to my grandkids "why someone would do this".


• I remember crying.


• I remember feeling afraid whenever a plane would come in for a landing.


• I remember being nervous about what would occur next.


• I remember seeing the politicians coming together on that day.


• I remember the silence as they halted all air traffic.


• I remember a nation that seemed to have come to a screeching halt.


• I remember crying.


• I remember feeling sad for all of those who lost their loved ones on that day.


• I remember seeing coverage of the small children who asked their moms "when is Daddy coming home?"


• I remember seeing coverage of people posting pictures of loved ones in hopes that someone had seen them.


• I remember seeing coverage of the smoke that billowed and smoldered from Manhattan for what seemed like months.


• I remember the sadness.


• I remember praying for the souls that perished on that day and for those who lost their loved ones.


• I remember praying for those who were responsible for those tragic events.


• I remember crying....

Roger Federer has done it again!!  He won his 5th consecutive US Open Tennis title this afternoon.  Critics claimed he was on his way out because he's had some health issues and he's lost a couple of key matches.  One being the singles match at the Olympics this summer in Beijing.  He proved today though that he's not done yet by an impressive straight set win over the up and coming Andy Murray of England.  Well Done Roger....Well Done Sir.

Last night Serena Williams won her US Open Tennis title in straight sets against Serbian, Elena Yankovich!!!  Seemingly to her surprise, she's number one in the WORLD!!!  This just on the heels of Justine Henin's  retirement earlier this year.  A major stumbling block for players over the past few years.   There were rumors of retirement in the Williams' camp but I don't think Serena will be retiring just yet after the show she put on last night.  I'd say...she's B A C K ! ! !

I'm going to be really bored now that tennis is over.  :-(

I know...there's football, but the Rams are still at training camp I believe. 

Our character is often judged by the very "first impression" we make on others.  Giving us that one chance to show others the true fabric of our being.  But how many times have we heard that you can't judge a book by it's cover?  Many right!  Seems like a double standard to me. 

I used to think that I was a pretty good judge of character until recently when I witnessed first hand, the true nature of certain folks' personalities which left me shaking my head in disbelief.  You ever meet anybody like that?  Someone who comes across as being one way and in time proves to be the total opposite.  The thing that's interesting about that is once you put it out there, once you make that "first impression", it's done.  There's no changing it.  No matter how much you'd like to.  Have you ever said or done something in the past that may have given the wrong impression to others and wished you could have that moment back?  I certainly have! 

Politicians often excel at making good "first impressions" because they may only have that one chance to connect with you in order to convince you to vote in their favor.  In the weeks ahead, we'll come to know each of the presidential candidates and their perspective running mates a little better.  It will be interesting to know how much (if at all) of our "first impressions" of them will change by November 4th. 

How many democrats will vote for McCain because of Obama's race?  How many democrats won't vote at all because of Obama's race and inexperience.  How many Hillary supporters will vote for McCain because of Palin?  How many democrats will vote for Obama because of Biden?  How many Hillary supporters won't vote at all.  How many McCain supporters will vote for Obama because of Palin?  How many McCain supporters won't vote at all because of Palin?  How many republicans won't vote at all because of McCain?

My "first impression" of Governor Sarah Palin is that, in spite of her lack of experience in Washington, she is a tenacious politician who brings some (much needed) new energy to the Republican campaign.  Will it be enough to win over those Clinton supporters?  It's doubtful but only time will tell.  Surely the Republican party didn't gamble this whole election on her selection as VP?  They wouldn't do that...would they?

I'll show you mine

if

You'll show me yours!!!!

Come on in and check it out...

Come on In and see what I found!