h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

sorry, i thought it might be best to start a new conversation here as it was beginning to look like we had taken over cristiana's message center with our conversation. if we are just reminiscing and comparing what was to what is she may begin to feel we're excluding her.

no, they don't light up the eades bridge anymore, but the metrolink runs on rails underneath the surface to the 'east side' now. and just last year they put spotlights on the arch that light it up at night every night, they used to just do it for special occasions (like the pope's visit a few years ago).

the arena (or checkerdome, depending on how long ago you were here) was torn down a few years back as well, amidst much opposition

how long ago did you leave st. louis?

(and did you know that sheryl crow's song 'leaving las vegas' was titled 'leaving st. louis' when she first wrote it?)

hi! me again!
sorry. instead of disrupt the other other thread further i thought i'd link you back here again let me explain a little bit.

while the whole of our community is indeed open to any and to all to seek and to find, there are a few 'unwritten guidelines' that you may be unaware of. i'm sure ottox didn't mean to come off as hostile, but with all of his friends, he goes to their page and starts a 'hej' thread which is generally a conversation just between him and that person. of course we all respect these conversations, and while we might read them, we usually don't comment in any other than our own 'hej' thread. so from ottox's point of view we were having a private conversation and you butted in.

he's not the only person who does this, lots of people have 'private' conversations onsite which is why it's generally a good idea to read some of the backlog before posting to a conversation that's been previously established.

ottox is a wonderful guy! a better way to meet him would be here to stop by his fan club: F52345?thread=100982 (tho i wouldn't attempt to read all the backlog, you can easily see that we all post there often telling ottox what a wonderful guy he is!) or even start a new conversation on his page at U150740 .

also, on your own page if you click on the link that says 'click here to be notified of new conversations about this entry' whenever someone leaves you a message on your message center (like this one) it will automatically show up in your conversations

so, how's everything else? it's dull and rainy here too.

I believe Christiana will understand. She might have felt part of it. I'll visit her. No lights of Eades Bridge! That used to be quite a sight, very pretty. I remember buying hot pretzles from a vender, the real pretzles not the frozen and reheated ones, at the Missouri side of the bridge. Ah, those days are gone. The metro is new to me. I have not been to my home city in almost 15 years. My family moved away just as the Arch was being built, but I got a chance to visit it when my brother was taking his PhD at St Louis University in 1984. I have great memories of the checkerdome (and checkerboard square. It is sad to see old friends go.

My Father took his MD at St. Louis University in 1951. He was in private practice (internal medicine) on Telegraph Road until he got tired of telling folks they worried too much about money then had to charge them. So, in 1961, when I was 7, my family moved to Omaha where my Father became Chief of Gastroenterology at Creighton's Memorial St. Joseph's Hospital. Eventually Dad became Chairman of the whole School of Internal Medicine (1968-1971). But he was miserable at Creighton. Dad was much more into reserch and clinical medicine; Creighton stressed the money. In 1971 Dad, while retaining his faculty status at Creighton, became Chief of Medical Staff at the local Veterans Hospital. By the time he died, at the young age of 56, he had published 167 research papers. That was 1980. He died of liver failure caused by an old WWII wound and hepetitus. My Mom and we 7 children miss him greatly. One of his biggest research projects put Storz Beer out of business (remember Storz?) They, like all domestic beers, were puting cobalt salts in the beer to make it foam better. Storz took the fall because Dad used it in his research as a control factor; the public jumped to the conclusion that only Storz had colbalt salts in it. The cobalt salts caused heavy beer drinkers to get a heart disease called megalomyocardiopathy, a big bloated heart that could no longer pump blood. It was Dad's "15" minutes. There was even an article in Time magazine about him. So, I have lived in Omaha (not my favorite place) since 1961. I am 47 years old and hold a Masters Degree in History (US Foreign Relations with emphasis on USSR). I have been teaching part-time for 22 years. I absolutely love teaching. Were I to finish my PhD (I won't unless someone gives me a bunch of $) I could teach full-time. There you have a sysnopsis of my family history. Now to a different matter.

I was quite offended by Ottox. I was trying to figure a funny way to introduce myself. I have heard a lot about him on h2g2 and wanted to meet him. We have a lot of h2g2 friends in common. This is the forth time in >one week< I have had my ass chewed for something I was innocent of or did out of sheer ignorance. We are supposed to be friends on h2g2. I am getting tired of the back-biting, the intrigue, the one-up-man-ship, and the braggadocio so ostentatiously displayed by more than a few members. I am giving serious thought about leaving h2g2. At the least, I need a vacation. If you do not hear from me but wish to continue a correspondence feel free to do so at I would love to hear from you and more details about St. Louis.

Bye now!

Micheal Jay Mole

oh, micheal
i hope you'll reconsider. we *are* supposed to be friends on h2g2, but at it's base it *is* a community. some people here are bound to be the neighbors who regularly send their dog to crap on your lawn (and ottox, if you're lurking, please don't take that the wrong way, i wasn't intending you specifically (or at all in my case)). i don't know if ottox was the one who chewed you out all four times but i'm guessing probably not. if i'm having a great day that tends to come across in my postings, if i'm having a particularly poopy day that tends to come across too. i don't think ottox was 'mad' at you persay, he did just use a smiley indicating he felt you were intruding and not a he was really miffed about it.

i've come across many people that i don't care for in this great land of h2g2, and it's alot easier to avoid them than it is to avoid the trashy people that live across the street from me. and by far i've met many more wonderful people here, more than enough to make up for the losers.

i'll move on to the other subject, but if i don't see you after a few days, i'll email you and pester you to come back because i was really enjoying our conversations.

it appears that you left st. louis about ten years before i was born. so the hometown you remember is not the one i know now. but that makes the recollections even more adventurous as far as i'm concerned. a few months ago at 'sam's warehouse' i found a book called 'st. louis, then and now'. i've seen it in several bookstores as well. it is a fascinating book, i think you would agree. it's primarily photo comparisons of various areas of the city over the last century or so with a small bit of commentary. if you think you'd be interested i could see if there are still any floating around.

if your family left in '61 then there probably wasn't much of st. charles there when you were here. we lived in berkely when i was born, and moved to st. charles in '74. the only thing there was a k-mart. then back in the late 80's st. charles became the fastest growing community in the entire u.s.

but you remember the last of the city's heyday. sportsman's park, the highlands, forest park, keil opera house, trains in union station. i remember when i was very young going downtown at christmas time and window shopping, it seemed magical at the time . the famous barr downtown had the best winter wonderland and the best french onion soup.

i don't have as colorful a background as you do, of course i'm about sixteen years behind you my whole family is from st. louis back to my maternal grandmother who is from potosi, and my paternal great grandparents who were from yugoslavia and austria. i haven't actually gotten much of a college education due to my own lack of motivation, altho i do have a passion for education and am determined to return to school one day. i would go into psychology with a hope of becoming a youth counsellor, because i feel that part of the world's problems stem from the fact that teenagers and pre-teens are the people who need the most help and get the least of it. parental values have broken down over the years, and these kids are thrown out into the world after school with unrealistic ideas and expectations.

i'd like to think of leaving st. louis someday, not because i don't like it, but just because there are so many other great places to be. but right now there are too many family ties here, perhaps i'll have to wait until i retire

Hmmm...I'll hang around a bit. Gosh I have been a member of h2g2 over 2 years. Wonder why I never heard about this "hej" thing? Amy the Ant inducted me into h2g2 (I knew her long before I joined, she helped me out on the Apple Support pages), I would have thought she would have told me of h2g2 etiquette. Archangle Galaxy Babe is my Guardian and she also never informed me of this netiquette logo. Plus, golly, it was h2g2's birthday party! Is it as though I caught you two necking in the park? However, now that I am aware of my breach of etiquitte I will walk more cautiously. The other >incidents< did not involve Ottox and are much too complex to explain, especially for the whole community to gape, glare, laugh, and be embarassed over. Suffice to say I received one apology (greatfully accepted), made a new friend whose teeth I had to pull to get them to come out of their shell (turns out to be a great fellow/gal), and the third remains unresolved as I have not yet had a reply from a personal email. All this in one week, my second or third week of being an ACE! st. broelan, I am an over-sensitive person, much too sensitive. Ask Amy the Ant. I have never struck a person nor raised my voice in anger in my life. I believe strongly in Monty Python's school of "Run Away, Run Away" when it comes to tension or conflict. Perhaps that is one reason I have never married or had childred, much as I have wanted. I came very close to marriage once only to be walked over. So I tend to hibernate and be a hermit. I don't think I ever got over the hurt. I do not want to be hurt again, nor do I want to be the cause of hurt. This is one big reason I am not a "joiner." Several times since the "break-up" women have taken a crush on me, women for which I just did not have that special warm fuzzy feeling: there was no spark. One woman I hurt, but we remained friends (she died last October 11 at age 44). Another woman I almost had to tell to ...k off to get rid of her. I refuse to be put in a position where I will cause harm or hurt to someone else. Two other women were certifiably nuts: no joke! One tried to kill herself so often she was committed for a year (I did not know she has a split personality disorder). She was so psycho she tried to kill me with a drug overdose (put it in my glass). Yet another (and she really hurt me) was, unknown to me, not taking her Lithobid(tm) and Prozac(tm). If I had known this I might not have been so devastated when she left the laundromat with another guy! I have had a rough life, especially recently. Only my Guru (Amy) and my Guardian (Archangle Galaxy Babe) know the full story. I do not mean to be playing my own "pity" fiddle, I am just telling you why little things tend to hit me deeper down than most people. Maybe its because I write poetry and wanted, at one time, to be an established poet. That is why I went into history: subject material for poems.

Complex as h2g2, and it is way beyond me, I suggest another post. The post of helping members get to know one another, instead of just stumbling across each other. With the exception of Amy and AGB that is how I got to know anyone here (until I was ACE'ed). I am just not good at introducing myself to individuals (but I can address a crowd of thousands and never sweat a drop); I feel odd dropping in and saying "Hi! This Is Micheal Mole, you know, the guy too thick to learn GuidML.) I know, I know, it sounds like low self esteem. But I really shine once I get to know a person. I would have taken it better from Ottox if he had said, "Hey, bugger off chap. This is a private conversation." The way he phrased it made it sound I knew I was transgressing an understood etittque rule. I had no clue. Now I am terrified of him. Enough of this doggerel.

I remember St. Charles clearly. I was down to St. Louis often while my brother was working on his PhD (Surrealist Authors) and remember driving down highway 40 which, if I remember correctly, runs very close to St. Charles. I also remember all the little "cities" that surround and strangle St. Louis, like Clayton. My brother was stopped in Clayton and the cop found >one< Valium (tm) on him. My brother did not carry the whole prescription bottle with him. The cop was about to let him go when a 'friend' he was giving a lift became belligerent with the cop and demanded his badge number. Wham! Out comes the gun and handcuffs. Both were arrested for posession of a controlled substance without a valid prescription. My brother got the works: strip search and finger-printed. Fortunately, my cousin is a lawyer in St. Louis (still is: married Captain Kangroo's daughter) and got my brother out of jail and the charges dropped. Needless to say my brother is no longer 'friends' with his travelling companion.

Does St. Louis still hold the Soulard Market in the warehouse district? Every farmer from a hundred miles around would bring their produce and offer them for sale. Such fresh and delicious food I never have had. Its all organic too (at least it was). Send me the ISBN number of the "Now & Then" book. I can probably use my faculty privilege to order a copy for the library or myself. I would love to see it!

Yes I do remember some of the city's last great days (hey, there are more to come!). I remember the last of the street cars: they scared the p's out of me. Union Station is gutted or gone isn't it? I remember when Sportsman Park Stadium (correct name?) was being torn down because Busch Stadium was about to be built. I wanted to stay and watch the old stadium being raized, but adults do not enjoy the same pleasures children do (I still would go if I had the chance!). Keil Opera House I do not recall. I do not believe my folks attended opera much (to my Mom's dismay). I remember the Fox Theater on Grand St. Tickets were only 10 cents and candies five cents. Incidentally, the last of the trolly cars ran up and down Schodoe (can't spell it anymore ;-(). Famous Barr! Ha.I had forgotten. Your are so right about the French Onion Soup: I could eat myself sick on it.

I have no real family ties in St. Louis anymore, except my cousin the lawyer. All of my family is from Tazwell/Woodford counties Illinois: the Eureka area. Mom went to school with Ronald Reagan. She said he was a jerk and a liar then too. Mom also went to school with James Jones of "From Here to Eternity" fame. My family was just puting down roots when Dad decided, without asking Mom (no women's lib then), to move to Omaha. All of us have regretted the move at one time or another.

I hope you do continue your education. You are good at counsolling; you calmed me down. . Really, I can tell by the way you express yourself you would be very good. Our (well not mine) children need all the guidance in the world of today (guns, crack, STD, etc.) they can get. I got in on the tail end of the hippie craze and I >know< some counselling would have helped me. Don't give up on your education. If $ is the issue look for grants; they are all over the place for those willing to work with urban kids.

Yugoslavia and Austria huh? I will not comment because my observations, while most complementary, might be embarassing.
I am 100% Irish/Welsh. Raised Catholic but have fallen away. When I was baptised and confirmed the latin rites were still used. Since then I have studied so many Eastern religions that I can no longer believe in one religion to the exclusion of another. If pushed I would say I am Sikh/Taoist.

I want to travel too, and if I can just outlive my Mom (not to be morbid) I stand to inherit a tidy sum from my Father's trust. I could then get rid of all my material things (or store them--my books!) but my guitar and my Tigger would have to come with me.

To h2g2 be, or not to h2g2 be, that is the question. Time will tell. In all honesty I may be too busy teaching this summer to stop by much. I want to keep my ACE badge so I'llhave to spend some time here. However, if I get another job, which would make me fully employed (yea) I will be working 50 hours a week. Ouch!

I promise I will not leave just yet, but I have already started tearing down my home page. Perhaps I can learn some GuideML and rebuild. For the future ! Thanks for your words of encouragement st broelan. (I still think Ottox is gonna 'sap' me. He will know what that means.)

Micheal Jay Mole ACE

hey micheal

sorry for the longish delay, i've been tied up elsewhere for a bit. i wanted to let you know tho, that the 'hej' conversations are just an ottox thing... but a private conversation would be any established conversation between just two people, regardless of what the title was. i've come across them a few times just wandering around. participants are usually apt to forgive a 'newbie' the first time, but have little tolerance for 'repeat offenders'. i don't think ottox will hold anything against you, he understands that you didn't know then that you were intruding and that you do know now.

as far as helping members get to know each other better there are dozens of 'special interest' groups, where people who are knowledgeable in the same areas or have the same hobbies can talk about a common subject and get to know one another that way. there is a complete list of them at <./>thepost</.>. i don't have a link directly to the page right at the moment, but i can get one. there are geographical researcher groups for people that live close to one another, volunteer schemes like the aces, fantasy clubs, religious gatherings, sports clubs, a literary society, and virtual 'neighbourhoods' within the community. ask h2g2 (i'll have to get you a link, i don't have that one right off) where any researcher can ask anything, and any other researchers can answer. another good way is joining in on the talking points featured on the front page. ultimately it's not necessarily a question of going and introducing yourself to anyone, but finding a topic you're comfortable talking on and meeting other people in the course of the conversation.

originally this is how i found you and cristiana. cristiana made a comment to a conversation that i was involved in last year that had essentially been dropped, but when she posted it came back up on my page. i went to read her comment and then went to see her page where i found you helping her out, and helping new people find their footing is a more neutral ground to meet on (the discussion she posted to was about abortion). so i decided to jump in and got to know the two of you that way.

back in old st. lou... yes soulard market is still on, it's literally been at least fifteen years since i've been there tho. union station is still standing, tho hasn't seen a train in years. they rennovated it about fifteen years ago or so and now it's a shopping mall and hotel. i worked in one of the shops out there a few years back and i really enjoyed it, even if it was a long commute for a part time sales position. i still like going down there at christmas time

whereas you saw the destruction of sportsmans park for busch stadium, sadly i'm afraid i will see busch go in favor of a new state-of-the-art baseball field. i'm against it... but like you said, adults are a little more resistant to change. oddly enough my mother feels busch's time has come and we need a new stadium. i just don't know how i'd feel about having it go missing from the skyline.

maybe i'm confusing keil opera house with keil auditorium, but they were both there together just a few blocks east of union station on market street. well, they still are, or at least one of them is. it's been vacant and unused for almost a decade and debate rages about what to do with it. they used to have all manner of shows there, and i think it should still be used as a performing arts center, but i don't have a voice in the city

fox theatre remains, tho tickets have gone up a bit last december i paid $98 for two seats to see the 'trans-siberian orchestra' in concert. it was still money well spent.

i need to be running off now... i'll be back around tomorrow for a bit then off for a few days. i hope you're finding things a little friendlier around here

Haven't forgotten you st broelan, just very bust! Will stop by again soon!

MJM ACE

same here
actually we're getting ready to go out of town for a few days, so i probably won't be back online until after memorial day. i wanted to let you know that i would be away and not just ignoring you

i also meant to get back here with the isbn from the book i was telling you about... actually i found it on amazon a few weeks ago but couldn't find a way to copy a link here and then forgot all about it. but in lieu of a link here is the isbn: 1-57145-243-5. if you look it up on amazon there are a few sample pages you can open.

i'll be on the east coast for the next week or so, i'll catch up with you when i get back! take care

Let me know when you return. I have become friends with Ottox under the most unusual of circumstances. It is much more of a story than me simply saying "sorry" to Ottox. I put my foot squarely in my mouth in the most outrageous manner. Look at Ottox's page under "AWK!", but first look at my "Apology". It is really quite funny and I think all three (yes three, you will understand) of us had a good laugh.

BTW, have you had horrid server problems lately? I cannot get online more than 50% of the time. Is this related to the 'new' server?

Have a good time on the east coast. Say hello to my sister if you are near Salisbury, Maryland. Her name is Anne.

I am going to search the University Library for the book. It is so convienient to be able to access the library via the internet. Additionally, the university server is >super< fast.

Keil Performing Arts..Yes I do believe I remember it, though again I was probably too young to remember attending it. Glad Union Station is being used. Last I saw it, it was an abandoned rust heap. I agree it is sad to see the Busch Stadium go. It really wasn't that old. (40 years?) Can you imagine the fuss if someone tried to tear down Fenway Park or Wrigley Field?

Catch me when you get back! I want to see your reaction to the exchange between Ottox and myself. Its a riot. Could be a stage comedy!

Travel safely!

MJM ACE & Court Jester

i'm back, actually i was around a bit last week and i'm still trying to catch up on some backlog. i saw a little of your conversations with ottox before i left, and i'm catching the rest of them as i'm dredging thru backlog. i'm glad everything turned out alright.

i was having problems loading pages before i left, it seems to be running smoothly now. we didn't get to maryland, we spent a week in the carolinas. we started in georgia where we visited an old school friend of mine overnight before heading to savannah. then we stayed the night in savannah before leaving for myrtle beach, south carolina. we were three days in myrtle beach then went north to atlantic beach near morehead city, north carolina for three more days. after that it was home at last. it was a wonderful trip and i only wish we had more time to spend in atlanta and north carolina.

but i'm back to the daily grind now. is summer school in session yet?

well, it seems you're having a busy summer

i hope you make it back around soon! and i hope you're having a nice and safe summer

take care, catch me when you come back around!