And she has a party dress too to keep up with us classy guys.

Well then there now.....

Your covered!

And bricks...bringing bricks too...

Classy!! Loved that show....I wanna be Kojak though.

Just pull over under the arch. I'll send the boys down there to pick you up.

Better than Elka? Wow....

Yes, even Ludmila.

I liked that post, then un-liked it, just so I could like it a second time.

Pics or it didn't happen. Specifically the hand-to-hand jello rasslin' event.

Just a quick update. Pappy's is working on the Saturday BBQ price for us. If we can get 40 or more there we get the Private Room for about 3 hours I believe. And the menu will be amazing. I'm asking them for that price and if it looks like we can't get that many we can improvise. I have contacted a couple of hotels and am waiting for replies back.

Make sure you are RSVP'ing as soon as you can so I can have some fairly solid numbers to work with. I don't want to over promise the hotel or anyone else but I don't want to get caught short either.

You may now return to your normal shaving activities!

Reminder to arrive at the meet up early on Friday to avoid afternoon traffic.

Looks like the Poplar Street Bridge most commutes. All those Illinois people trying to cross the river twice a day.

Bonus history moment since we brought up the commute - when St. Louis/Missouri were looking at building a new bridge across the Mississippi a few years ago (there are several) Illinois cheered the idea. It is rather a nightmare many mornings trying to get everybody from the East side over to Missouri for work. And, in the evening, it's a nightmare in reverse. So, the idea to build a new bridge that would carry I-70 was born. The States located the property on both sides of the river, did the engineering studies etc., etc., and.....when it came time to pony up the money.....Illinois suddenly said they didn't have anything in the budget so, thanks Missouri, we'll let you pay for it and we'll use it.

Well, Missouri didn't have the same issues as Illinois, since far fewer people commute from MO to IL for work. So, the bridge stalled for a bit. Finally, the legislature in Missouri started debating funding and decided that the bridge did indeed need to be built. And, if Illinois couldn't or wouldn't pay their share that was ok. We'd just build it anyway and make it a toll road inbound from Illinois. They figured the tolls collected would pay for things and then some. Also, discussion was held to waive the toll for MO residents coming in from Illinois. I have no idea if it was a bluff or not but it worked. Illinois ponied up, the bridge was built and named the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge, or in local lingo, "The Stan Span".

If you're coming from the East you may take it when you drive in, though you'll more likely take the Poplar Street Bridge. It isn't nearly as fancy and has no cool story that I know of. Sorry about that.

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I expect a block of Pro-Vel, a switchblade, and two cans of Red Bull waiting upon my arrival. Gotta be alert and prepared in the Lou.

No idea what I will do with the Pro-Vel yet, but I will let you know.

Speaking of the world's most amazing cheese, the thought had occurred that since we are planning the Saturday lunch at Pappy's for some of the world's best BBQ, we might want to consider having Imo's Pizza delivered for the evening.

Now, as to the switchblade request, I'll have the boys take care of that but....this is the Lou. You sure you aren't bringing the wrong thing to a gunfight? Or will the Red Bull have you alert and on point enough to knock those stray bullets out of the air like a superhero?

Yes. Yes you should. And a pickup bed filled with 40s of icy Kong Cobra, another local product.

When the cops show, we'll just tell them that we're just setting up for a Nelly video shoot, and everything is kosher.

We'll be long gone before anyone realizes what just happened.

RE: Safety in The Lou, and other concerns

The cops will probably just park their empty camera car on the block. That way they can post the video later online. That's their current strategy for dealing with a huge problem area in North City - park the car with an obvious camera on top so they can watch from an office somewhere. My first reaction was to ask how long before the locals shot the camera off the car. So far it's stayed intact but bets are running about 2 to 1 that it doesn't survive another week.

And when Nelly and posse finally do roll up, we'll fit right in.

not in my budget .bought too many razors.....

Yep you would need one when you work in places like this. On the Illinois side of the river under the Eads bridge also known by most as east saint louis. The odd part is since the east side is the late night till whenever party spot you find many beer bottles and cans on the way in and a lot of car parts and pieces on the way out. Strange how that works

I’ve had to work overnights in north city neighborhoods installing fiber optics and not a single person bothered us for more than a cigarette, now the day crew there were almost ran over by a high speed pursuit, one of the trucks broken into.