Here is a picture of her pin:
Thursday, March 30, 2006
My Mom is Certifiable!
Mom recently completed an online G.I. Technician Certification Program. Yeah Mom!
Here is a picture of her pin:
Here is a picture of her pin:
Spain Trip Preparations Volume II
Our checks cleared the bank....so that means our old passports made it to the Passport Office. Now lets hope they turn them around pretty quickly. The form says 6 - 8 weeks and it has been just over 4 weeks, so I am not getting ansy.......just yet!
Let's Recap our preparation list:
#1 Decide to Go - DONE
#2 Pick a date - DONE
#3 Book Flight / Hotel - DONE
#4 RENEW Passports!!! - IN PROCESS
#5 Buy new Camera - DONE
Check out this baby!
The manual is only 171 pages!!!
Oh well, I've got plenty of time to learn all about it. Especially between our workouts, our jobs, learning spanish, outings with the Lacubrious Jonezes, chores, and the like...yep...pleeeennnty of time....yikes!!! It's only 66 days!!!
Thanks to LacubriousTwo for doing all the research on this camera and deciding that now was the time to buy it...it is too cool!
Let's Recap our preparation list:
#1 Decide to Go - DONE
#2 Pick a date - DONE
#3 Book Flight / Hotel - DONE
#4 RENEW Passports!!! - IN PROCESS
#5 Buy new Camera - DONE
Check out this baby!
The manual is only 171 pages!!!
Oh well, I've got plenty of time to learn all about it. Especially between our workouts, our jobs, learning spanish, outings with the Lacubrious Jonezes, chores, and the like...yep...pleeeennnty of time....yikes!!! It's only 66 days!!!
Thanks to LacubriousTwo for doing all the research on this camera and deciding that now was the time to buy it...it is too cool!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Rockin' the Night for ALS
Once again (has a year gone by so soon?) we attended the Rocking the Night for ALS Event in Ferguson, Missouri. This time we brought 12 people with us! Check out the pictures below:
Javier Mendoza is Rockin' the Night!
Uncle Ed is in the witness protection program!
What is Dad doing?!
Two Eds are better than one!
Doug & Joyce are having a great time!
Shhh! Daddy is sleeping...
DURING THE LOUDEST BAND OF ALL!!!!
David Karns Project was Rockin' the Night!
The Upright Animals were Rockin' the Night!
Here's a link to last years blog entry!
Javier Mendoza is Rockin' the Night!
Uncle Ed is in the witness protection program!
What is Dad doing?!
Two Eds are better than one!
Doug & Joyce are having a great time!
Shhh! Daddy is sleeping...
DURING THE LOUDEST BAND OF ALL!!!!
David Karns Project was Rockin' the Night!
The Upright Animals were Rockin' the Night!
Here's a link to last years blog entry!
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Sun Motel - Gig #1
We and Mr LacubriousJonez (Mrs. LJZ was not able to attend in whole form) headed out to take in a "new" band: SunMotel
They were playing at "Off Broadway"....so after some food and drink at Growler's we headed over and enjoyed the music! Here are some photos - courtesy of Mr. LJZ:
Mr&Mrs. LacubriousJonez - or at least a representation of the Mrs.
Is she really drinking STAG beer!
Mr&Mrs. Lacubrious or is that ole squinky-eye I see there!
Mr&Mrs. LacubriousJonez at the pschydelic Off Broadway. I think the VO&H2O is starting to get to Mr. LJZ!
They were playing at "Off Broadway"....so after some food and drink at Growler's we headed over and enjoyed the music! Here are some photos - courtesy of Mr. LJZ:
Mr&Mrs. LacubriousJonez - or at least a representation of the Mrs.
Is she really drinking STAG beer!
Mr&Mrs. Lacubrious or is that ole squinky-eye I see there!
Mr&Mrs. LacubriousJonez at the pschydelic Off Broadway. I think the VO&H2O is starting to get to Mr. LJZ!
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Spain Trip Preparations Volume 1
#1 Decide to Go
#2 Pick a date
#3 Book Flight / Hotel
#4 RENEW Passports!!!
Check out our mug shots from our original passports! Oh, we were so young...and adorable ...well maybe that is a bit of a stretch!
Check out those bangs!!!
Wow, you have bangs too!
#2 Pick a date
#3 Book Flight / Hotel
#4 RENEW Passports!!!
Check out our mug shots from our original passports! Oh, we were so young...and adorable ...well maybe that is a bit of a stretch!
Check out those bangs!!!
Wow, you have bangs too!
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
My Aunt is famous!!!
The following information was broadcast on the HGTV Series, "The Carol Duvall Show. Do these look familiar????????????
Colorful fabric ornaments were sent in by Joanne Szakal of Gerald, Mo., that looked like two-inch yo-yos but they weren't...quite. Actually Joanne started by cutting fabric circles and stitching round the outside edge of each one but when she pulled the thread to gather the stitching she first inserted a two-inch cardboard circle. After knotting and cutting the thread she added a colorful sticker or decorated cardboard circle to cover the rough edges. They were very festive.
Monday, January 02, 2006
España
Well it looks like the trip to Spain is on!
We are planing on leaving the fourth of June and returning on the sixteenth. Tentatively we would board the plane in St. Louis at 2:24pm change planes in New York and arrive in Madrid on the 5th at 7:45am. The actual flight time from NY to Madrid is a little less than 8 hours.
At the point of landing in Madrid we have three choices:
1) Stay in a hotel in Madrid and use that as our home base.
2) Continue on a flight to Sevilla and stay there or in Cordoba.
3) Get on the Ave (train) in Madrid and Stay in Cordoba.
The cost on options one and two is close to the same where as option three would cost a bit more but include a nice train ride. Option one gives us access to the most places for the least money once we are settled in. There are also a lot more choices in resturants in Madrid. (I found a web site that lists 25 vegetarian places.) There is also a book we might want to get called The New Spain - Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants.
I am posting here to get feedback from the Lacubrious Crew and anyone else who cares to put in their two cents worth.
We are planing on leaving the fourth of June and returning on the sixteenth. Tentatively we would board the plane in St. Louis at 2:24pm change planes in New York and arrive in Madrid on the 5th at 7:45am. The actual flight time from NY to Madrid is a little less than 8 hours.
At the point of landing in Madrid we have three choices:
1) Stay in a hotel in Madrid and use that as our home base.
2) Continue on a flight to Sevilla and stay there or in Cordoba.
3) Get on the Ave (train) in Madrid and Stay in Cordoba.
The cost on options one and two is close to the same where as option three would cost a bit more but include a nice train ride. Option one gives us access to the most places for the least money once we are settled in. There are also a lot more choices in resturants in Madrid. (I found a web site that lists 25 vegetarian places.) There is also a book we might want to get called The New Spain - Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants.
I am posting here to get feedback from the Lacubrious Crew and anyone else who cares to put in their two cents worth.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Merry Christmas from the Szakal, Ploskunyak, Dziejma, and Henderson Families
Christmas 2005 at The Szakals House:
Friday, December 30, 2005
Notes From Spain
Hey all,
We found this site: http://notesfromspain.com (via a podcast I found on iTunes). It is maintained by a British guy who has been living in Spain for 7 years, after only planning to stay for a month! The podcasts (26+) are insights into life in Spain from a non-native point of view, but sometimes includes dialogue from his wife who is a native of Madrid. Plus he has photos that go along with some of them. Check it out!
We found this site: http://notesfromspain.com (via a podcast I found on iTunes). It is maintained by a British guy who has been living in Spain for 7 years, after only planning to stay for a month! The podcasts (26+) are insights into life in Spain from a non-native point of view, but sometimes includes dialogue from his wife who is a native of Madrid. Plus he has photos that go along with some of them. Check it out!
An evening at Brandt's...
Rushed home from work today to pick MrsLacubriousJonez and head down to Growler's to meet LacubriousToo and MrLacubriousJonez for dinner. Alas, Growler's was too crowded so we decided to head to Delmar (at night) and eat at Brandt's before catching Javier's show at the same locale.
We worked our way through a pitcher or two (or three?) of Warsteiner Dunkel (yum!) and veggie burgers, pasta pesto (double-yum) and cashew chicken....forgetting to order our appetizer of Spinach Dip! The owner was nice enough to seat us where we could catch the show and our waiter was very attentive.
Javi, along with David and Carl, played three sets. The acoustics were a little rough, due to the hard surfaces in the restaurant, but the show was great and even included a birthday song dedication to yours truly! A la' Lluvias en Abril!
We saw several Javi Fans that we recognized from other shows over the past year (has it been nearly a year already?!) and everyone was really enjoying the music along with the beer, wine and spirits abundantly flowing!
All in all a great night and the only minor mishap was Cinder-fella (aka LacubriousToo) losing his shoe, but only for a moment.....Talk about kickin' up your heels! Hay Carumba!
We worked our way through a pitcher or two (or three?) of Warsteiner Dunkel (yum!) and veggie burgers, pasta pesto (double-yum) and cashew chicken....forgetting to order our appetizer of Spinach Dip! The owner was nice enough to seat us where we could catch the show and our waiter was very attentive.
Javi, along with David and Carl, played three sets. The acoustics were a little rough, due to the hard surfaces in the restaurant, but the show was great and even included a birthday song dedication to yours truly! A la' Lluvias en Abril!
We saw several Javi Fans that we recognized from other shows over the past year (has it been nearly a year already?!) and everyone was really enjoying the music along with the beer, wine and spirits abundantly flowing!
All in all a great night and the only minor mishap was Cinder-fella (aka LacubriousToo) losing his shoe, but only for a moment.....Talk about kickin' up your heels! Hay Carumba!
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Today is my birthday...
Today I received this from Ed, Joanne, Holly, and Ryan
Happy Birthday
Who needs candles.
You can't blow these out, but they are sure better to take off the cake.
Happy Birthday Kim.
Happy Birthday
Who needs candles.
You can't blow these out, but they are sure better to take off the cake.
Happy Birthday Kim.
Also the following items were bestowed on behalf of Bill:
And the card! So Cute!
A Happy Birthday Singing Phone Call from Mom.
A Happy Birthday Phone Call from my Brother, Kev.
A Happy Birthday phone Call from Dad, Thanks for letting everyone in the office know!
A Happy Birthday Phone Call from my Brother, Kev.
A Happy Birthday phone Call from Dad, Thanks for letting everyone in the office know!
And this email card from Ed & Joanne:
Darrin took me out to dinner at The Hawthorne Inn and gave me a DVD:
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Dialogues...
...via email...
L2: Hey, Are you listening to music?
L1: On and Off, Why?
L2: I just wondered. I have been listening to Peter Gabriel, but if you get a chance, check out the very first part of JMB's "Step Into My Place". Does that sound like a door to you?
L1: It DOES sound like a door! What's up with that?
L2: I guess it's someone stepping into his place....
L1: LOL...That should go on the list of 10 (100?) questions for Javier!
L2: Hey, Are you listening to music?
L1: On and Off, Why?
L2: I just wondered. I have been listening to Peter Gabriel, but if you get a chance, check out the very first part of JMB's "Step Into My Place". Does that sound like a door to you?
L1: It DOES sound like a door! What's up with that?
L2: I guess it's someone stepping into his place....
L1: LOL...That should go on the list of 10 (100?) questions for Javier!
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Final at Finale'
Saturday December 17, the Lacubrious Crew attended the last two shows of Javier Mendoza Band.
Here is the message Javi posted on his message board concerning the breakup of the band:
Having developed a rapport with Javi and the guys, and experiencing a great number of shows over the last year, we were very sad but not completely surprised when we heard the news. Over the last few JMB shows we noticed that attendance was starting to fall off and at the last Cicero's show, the opening band "Fundamental Elements" had a large group that did not stay for JMB. I think this show had a real effect on Javi. I don't think the attendance problem has anything to do with the band members, or their skills. I personally think that Javi's target market has been changing over the last couple of years and becoming more mature. Overwhelmingly the people purchasing tickets to Cicero's and Blueberry Hill are in their early to mid 20s (at least at the shows we have attended). This, in my opinion, is why Javi's solo and duo shows are doing so well at places like Erato Wine Bar.
That being said, ON TO FINALE'
We started the evening at our favorite pub Growlers, after a great dinner and a couple of outstanding beers, we headed to the Finale' restaurant and Music venue. We arrived about 7:00pm picked up our tickets (for both shows) and were promptly escorted to our table. The venue was beautiful, and the acoustics were better than any other venue we have visited!
First off I have to say that the shows were both INCREDIBLE! This evening was in the top 1% of JMB shows that I have experienced. Everyone seemed very relaxed and ready to play. At the end of the first set , which went by way too fast, we talked to Jim, Moisés, David, Julie and Andrea for a few minutes and moved to our new table for the second show. When we got settled in and ordered a drink, Javi dropped by the table to bring us a "surprise" CD of some of the early versions of his songs and a few unpublished tracks. Just before the set started we were joined by Steve Leslie and his girl friend Adrianne. Steve is also a very talented musician and singer /songwriter who had not heard JMB before.
Tom James took some great pictures of the show:
(Sorry, the pictures previously listed here are no longer available)
Towards the end of the set Javi dedicated the song "Join the Party"” to the Lacubrious Crew. After the show we introduced Steve to the band, talked to Javi for a few more minutes and headed home.
Goodbye JMB, you will be missed.
To Javi, may 2006 be your best year yet!!!!
Here is the message Javi posted on his message board concerning the breakup of the band:
Jim, Moisés and David will be performing with me one last time at Finale in Clayton as a band. Come check it out! After this show I'll be performing with other musicians as well as David and Carl. Jim and Moisés are pursuing their other project full time. The JMB crew is parting, but I'll be performing solo, or with other musicians until I'm no longer in this world. Javier Mendoza is stronger than ever!
I am currently working on a brand new DVD and cd with new songs and in the summer I'll be going to Spain to work on a new CD. So keep on coming to shows and picking up my music, because without you I'd be doing something else!
Thanks as always for your continued support! You are the reason I'm still here! I'll see at upcoming shows in 2005 and 2006.
Having developed a rapport with Javi and the guys, and experiencing a great number of shows over the last year, we were very sad but not completely surprised when we heard the news. Over the last few JMB shows we noticed that attendance was starting to fall off and at the last Cicero's show, the opening band "Fundamental Elements" had a large group that did not stay for JMB. I think this show had a real effect on Javi. I don't think the attendance problem has anything to do with the band members, or their skills. I personally think that Javi's target market has been changing over the last couple of years and becoming more mature. Overwhelmingly the people purchasing tickets to Cicero's and Blueberry Hill are in their early to mid 20s (at least at the shows we have attended). This, in my opinion, is why Javi's solo and duo shows are doing so well at places like Erato Wine Bar.
That being said, ON TO FINALE'
We started the evening at our favorite pub Growlers, after a great dinner and a couple of outstanding beers, we headed to the Finale' restaurant and Music venue. We arrived about 7:00pm picked up our tickets (for both shows) and were promptly escorted to our table. The venue was beautiful, and the acoustics were better than any other venue we have visited!
First off I have to say that the shows were both INCREDIBLE! This evening was in the top 1% of JMB shows that I have experienced. Everyone seemed very relaxed and ready to play. At the end of the first set , which went by way too fast, we talked to Jim, Moisés, David, Julie and Andrea for a few minutes and moved to our new table for the second show. When we got settled in and ordered a drink, Javi dropped by the table to bring us a "surprise" CD of some of the early versions of his songs and a few unpublished tracks. Just before the set started we were joined by Steve Leslie and his girl friend Adrianne. Steve is also a very talented musician and singer /songwriter who had not heard JMB before.
Tom James took some great pictures of the show:
(Sorry, the pictures previously listed here are no longer available)
Towards the end of the set Javi dedicated the song "Join the Party"” to the Lacubrious Crew. After the show we introduced Steve to the band, talked to Javi for a few more minutes and headed home.
Goodbye JMB, you will be missed.
To Javi, may 2006 be your best year yet!!!!
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Columbia - Return to Music Cafe....
So after our last experience at the music café, you'd think we would never return...but here we are again. Let me explain; we're back in town with plans to see Javi at the Cherry St. Artisan on Friday. Being we are here a day early, we decide to hit our favorite pizza joint in Columbia, Shakspeare's Pizza. Lo and behold, who do we spot but STENDEK! He's a musician we saw at the Savoy way back. Sure enough he is playing at the Blue Fugue, formerly the Music Café. Thus we now have plans for the evening!
STENDEK was entertaining for the first part of the show, but then he turned to "mixing" / DJ-ing or whatever you call it. We listended for awhile but the smoke was killing us so headed to the hotel to get some much needed rest and get ready for Friday!
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Friday, November 11, 2005
Sunday, October 30, 2005
When to draw the line between work-life and home-life...
Either my brother got creative with his riding lawn mower, or the city of Mowtown has a new law man!
....And yes it even has working police-style lights!!!
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)