Shining Down On Me

On Monday I was driving home from taking Freedom to the library. I was a little distracted and reflecting on all the things that were piling up on my plate. Freedom, from the backseat, started yelling at me to look at the sky. Thinking I was about to drive into an oncoming tornado, I slammed on my brakes and looked up. Thank God there was no one behind me because I would have been rear-ended! But I saw the most amazing sky and it reminded me of all the blessings in my life and how I should be keeping them in the forefront of my mind instead of all the negative things. It looked like God had placed a spotlight in the sky for me to see and know that I needed to focus on the good things around me! As soon as I pulled into the driveway, I rushed to get my camera and was able to capture some of the vision that was filling the sky...

Thriving Within A Drought

St. Louis has had its fair share of days without rain. We were officially in a drought, according to the ever correct weathermen, in July. While plants withered away in the hot sun, longing for a deep drink of water, there were a few precious blooms that emerged among the dry and brittle branches and leaves. I have captured a few of those blooms here...

St. Louis From Above

Recently I took a trip to the top of the St. Louis Arch. I absolutely have a phobia of heights so this was a fantastic feat for me. The things we do for our loved ones is truly amazing. But, all in all, I did get some amazing photos of St. Louis that I want to share!

Bowling Is Not Just For Senior Citizens Anymore!

Back when I was in elementary school I thought it was so cool that my grandparents were on a bowling league. They suddenly lost all coolness when I entered high school and was ridiculed for spending weekends at the bowling alley with the “old people”. I did not realize how much my shunning their sport really hurt them until recently.

In a desperate attempt to draw in customers, bowling alleys teamed up and offered Kids Bowl Free Summer Program. Kids could come and bowl two free games. Freedom was not so sure about bowling last summer until she spent a few fun-filled afternoons with her friends tossing bowling balls down the lane.

She begged me this summer to go every week. While we did not make it a weekly endeavor at first – I still had misgivings about the coolness of the bowling alley – we did eventually become regulars. Every visit we made I saw more and more kids, teens and young adults enjoying the promotions that were being offered to beat the heat of summer. One of Freedom’s friends, Sprite, informed me that bowling was the coolest thing around. Another friend, Liberty, had never been bowling until this past summer and now says that bowling is the best thing ever!

Albeit, these are seven and eight year olds proclaiming the coolness of bowling, there were others such as the group of high school students in the next lane who were taking selfies and having a blast doing the unlimited bowling for $5.00. They were having such a great time and were talking about joining a bowling league.

Liberty’s mom and Sprite’s mom and dad also enjoyed bowling while the kiddos tossed bowling balls down the lane amid gales of laughter and finger-pointing fun. I decided that I would give bowling another try. Go figure – I actually had a blast! I may not be the insecure teen that I once was, but I still had the preconceived notions that bowling was not the cool thing to do and it was so lame. I had refused to give it a try last year because heaven forbid someone should see me hurling a 12 pound ball down a lane towards pins in hopes on knocking them all down.

Now, I, Micki Holley have joined a bowling league! Gasp! Freedom has jumped on board, too. She is a part of a kid’s bowling league where she is working diligently towards earning her very own bowling ball. She has teamed up with her best friends, Sprite and Liberty and loves every second of it.

I was amazed at the number of kids, ages 5 to 17 that are on bowling leagues! My own adult league is made up of mostly 20 to 30 somethings with a few 40+ year olds in the mix. Maybe I am just not there when it is senior citizen day at the bowling alley, but even then I have re-discovered something. It does not matter what others see as lame or un-cool. If you enjoy doing it, that is all that matters.

As for my grandparents, when they found out that Freedom had joined a bowling league, they were so proud. When they discovered that I was bowling too, they were speechless! To give them that little bit of pleasure and in a way a connection when their health is failing is a gift that I will always cherish and I hope that Freedom will come to understand that her great-grandparents have passed on a legacy for her to be proud of. Even though they will never get to see her bowl, she feels a camaraderie with them that can never be broken. Her 8 year old heart beats in rhythm with their 80+ year old hearts.

So, the next time you think bowling may be fun, take the time to follow that thought to your nearest bowling alley and give it a try. The relaxed atmosphere and interesting mix of people is well worth the effort!

Homemade Salsa -- Restaurant Style

How many times have we sat in a Mexican restuarant munching on chips and salsa throughout our visit? I am a chips and salsa junkie and if I could get away with just stuffing my face with tortilla chips and salsa when I go a Mexican restuarant, I surely would.

I cannot wait for summer to arrive and my tomatoes to be weighted down with juicy, ripe tomatoes. This means I can make salsa by the gallon! I have glass jars that I use to store the homemade salsa and have been known to pass out jars to friends and colleagues.

This year, my tomatoes are taking their sweet time ripening so thanks to a very dear friend, Melissa, I was able to make a batch of salsa. Thank you Melissa for providing so of the tastiest tomatoes I have had in a very long time!

One friend asked me to share my recipe for homemade, restaurant style salsa. So, Jane, this one is for you. I hope that everyone does try this recipe, it is super simple and very flavorful. You have the ability to control the heat and sweetness of the recipe, which I love. You can also add things to the salsa to make it your own.

Needed Ingredients:

2 pounds tomatoes
1 large white onion (peel and quarter)
2 jalapeno peppers (medium to large size)
2 cloves garlic (medium size)
1 teaspoon salt (plus extra to taste)
1/3 cup fresh cilantro (finely chopped)
1 lime
Suger (to taste)

Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees. Slice tomatoes and place on cookie sheet (you may need 2 cookie sheets), sprinkle with salt. Slice jalapenos (stem and seed) and add to cookie sheet. Add garlic cloves (peeled) and quartered white onion to cookie sheet. Cook in oven for about 15-20 minutes, tomatoes and onions will be softened by not mushy. Let cool for about 5-10 minutes.

Transfer all ingredients from cookie sheet into blender and pulse until finely mixed. Romove to a medium bowl and stir in cilantro and lime juice (cut lime in half and sqeeze over the salsa). Using salt and sugar, season the salsa to taste.

I would transfer to a glass container and chill in the refrigerator at least  45 minutes to an hour before serving.

You can store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or you can freeze in glass containers for up to 3 months.

I like to add corn kernels to the salsa to give it more depth. You can also adjust the amount of jalapeno peppers that you use to adjust the heat of the dish.

**I will also be sharing this on my other blog -- MickiHolley19.blogspot.com

Paw Print Stepping Stone

I absolutely love these paw print stepping stones. They are 100% concrete and make a great accent to any space. Many people have purchased these from me and had me paint their pets' names on them. One client bought one for each dog she had owned through the years and I painted a name on each one. It created a unique showpiece for her rose garden and gave her a memorial for each beloved pet.

$25 + S/H or Personalized for $30 + S/H PayPal Accepted, Contact for information

Shih Tzu Statue

I found unpainted concrete statues at my new favorite haunting ground, Pat's Concrete. These darling little shih tzu dogs were among the things I found.

I painted  them and posted them online a few years ago. Every one that I had sold. I just recently bought more statues and am in the process of painting them. They will be offered for sale and if you would like to own one of these darling little dogs, contact me. They will be painted and sealed so they can go in your garden, on your patio or on your shelf inside.

$25 + S/H -- pick your color, PayPal Accepted

Black & White

Silver & White

Chocolate & White

y>

From the Garden...Photography

While I am not a great photographer, I have been able to capture a few nice shots with my camera. My daughter, Freedom, has also taken up playing with the camera. I will be posting some photos for your viewing pleasure of things we find interesting....

Melons and squash invaded my corn patch!

Overflowing garden bed.

Green beans anyone?

From our garden...cantaloupe is almost ready!

Patience

 “Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting.”

― Joyce Meyer 

How many times have we claimed to be patient but we fidget and we wallow in our righteousness demanding to know exactly when our patience was going to pay off. Is that really be a patient person?

My patience has been tested time and again by my students who seem to know exactly how far they can push me. I had always thought I was showing patience until I had a student come to me and ask why I seemed so agitated. I told him I was patiently waiting for everyone to finish with a simple task -- getting there books out and turning to page 118. It then hit me, was I truly being patient? I was pacing back in forth in front of the class, picking up my book and setting it down, picking up my notes and then setting them down. I was never simply standing quietly and waiting. I was like a caged animal ready to pounce on the students who did not right away comply with my request.

It takes strength to fully understand that to be a patient person, you have to have a certain amount of peace within your soul. I lacked that peace when I was in the classroom last school year. It was not until the very last few weeks that I truly understood that the caged energy I displayed when "patiently" waiting for my students to follow directions was portraying a very impatient person ready to criticize their work.

This summer I have been focusing on patience and sitting quietly and displaying an aura of calmness and quietness. Patience is simply accepting that we must wait and cannot hurry the process no matter how much we fidget or try to push it along. It took a high school student to open my eyes to my impatient behavior. Are you a patient person or are you a person who thinks that you are patient? 

Easter Dinner Inspires Good Food and Great Memories

Last Easter I was asked to create an article detailing some of my best Easter inspired recipes. That article was published on Yahoo under the title Easter Inspires Recipes and Memories, since Yahoo Voices has been disassembled, here is the actual article.

Easter has a special meaning in our home. It is the time for us to gather with friends and family while celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have had many friends come to our table throughout the years and enjoy the scrumptious dishes we prepare. While a beautifully traditional baked ham is always a staple on Easter, it is the side dishes that truly shine and are given the rave reviews.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes 
Sweet potatoes are often overlooked but I find them much more interesting than your basic mashed potatoes. This recipe was actually a bit of an accident that turned out to be a favorite among my guests. Last Easter I did not purchase enough sweet potatoes to serve the number of guests that were coming. After frantically digging through the pantry for anything to help stretch them, I came across canned pumpkin. Desperation led to a very tasty dish!

5 pound bag sweet potatoes (cooked and peeled) 
2 tablespoons cinnamon 
1 tablespoon nutmeg 
1 teaspoon ginger 
1 16 ounce can pumpkin

1.        After sweet potatoes are cooked and peeled, mash until lumps are gone.

2.       Blend in cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger

3.       Mix into the sweet potatoes the canned pumpkin

4.       Put into baking dish and bake for 30 minutes on 300 degrees Fahrenheit

* Canned sweet potatoes or yams can be substituted for fresh, drain well before mashing. Also note that fresh pumpkin can be used instead of canned. 

* Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger can be altered to taste.

Grilled Vegetable Salad 
My daughter is a picky eater and it can be a challenge to get her to try new things. I came across a recipe for a grilled vegetable salad and thought it was something she would try. I was pleasantly surprised that she liked it and asked for seconds. I have since put my own spin on the recipe and it is a fan favorite at Easter.

For the Dressing: 
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt 
1/4 cup milk 
1/4 cup lemon juice 
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 
1/8 teaspoon salt 
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

For the Vegetable Salad: 
1/4 pound carrots peeled and cut diagonally in ½ inch pieces (baby carrots work just as well, generally cut in half) 
1/4 pound green beans, trimmed 
1/4 pound asparagus, trimmed 
1/4 pound sugar snap peas, trimmed 
1 cup red onion, sliced 1/2 inch thick 
1 cup thinly sliced radishes 
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 
Cooking Spray 
6 cups torn Romaine lettuce

1.        Dressing: combine all the ingredients, stir together with a whisk until well blended. Cover and chill for about 1 hour

2.     Prepare the grill to about medium heat

3.      Salad: cook the green beans, sugar snap peas, carrots, radishes and asparagus in boiling water until they are crisp tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and then put them into an ice water bath, drain again. Place the vegetables into a large bowl. Add in the red onion. Spray the vegetables lightly with cooking spray to coat. Sprinkle with black pepper, salt and garlic powder. Toss gently to coat the vegetables.

4.      Coat a wire grilling basket with cooking spray and place the vegetables in it. Put the grilling basket on the grill rack for 7 minutes on each side or until the vegetables become lightly browned.

5.      Put the lettuce in a large serving bowl and top with grilled vegetables. Lightly drizzle the dressing over the top. Gently toss the salad.

* I have also grilled corn on the cob and then sliced the corn from the cob to add to the salad. This gives it a little more flavor and an extra punch of color

Home-Made Carrot Cake 
It goes without saying that Easter simply is not Easter if there is no carrot cake offered for dessert. My mom loves carrot cake. I remember when I was little, about 5 or 6 years old, I was disgusted with the thought that carrots were allowed to be put into a cake. I refused to eat carrot cake until well into my teens. My mom and I laugh about it to this day! This is a super easy recipe that is absolutely delicious, I found it a few years ago online and have since added my own touch to it. So put the boxed mixes and store bought icing away.

For the Icing: 
8 ounces cream cheese, softened 
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (in a pinch I have ever used salted butter) 
2 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar 
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream 
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
1/8 teaspoon salt (if you use salted butter, you will not need to add salt)

For the Carrot Cake: 
1 cup packed light brown sugar 
3/4 cup canola oil (you can use vegetable oil; the cake is a little more dense) 
1/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt (you can use plain Greek, vanilla just adds more flavor) 
3 large eggs 
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
2 cups all-purpose four 
1 teaspoon baking soda 
2 teaspoons cinnamon 
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 
1/2 teaspoon all-spice 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
2 cups carrots, finely grated 
2/3 cup pecans, chopped (plus 1/3 cup for garnish) 
1/3 cup raisins

To Make the Cake:

1.        Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.       Spray a 10 inch spring-form pan with cooking spray (you can use a 9 inch in a pinch), set aside for later use.

3.       Mix in a large bowl using a hand mixer or use a stand mixer: combine brown sugar and canola oil, then beat in the Greek yogurt until fully combined. The mixture will be gritty and very thick. Add the eggs in one at a time beating well between. Add in the vanilla. Once fully mixed set aside.

4.       In another bowl combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, all-spice and salt. Stir the ingredients manually until they are just combined then add in the wet ingredients manually stirring until the ingredients are just combined and no flour pockets are visible.

5.         Fold the shredded carrots, chopped pecans and raisins into the batter.

6.        Pour the prepared batter into the spring-form pan.

7.        Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Keep a close watch on the cake to ensure it does not over-bake. Let cake cool completely before frosting or frosting will melt.

To Make the Icing

1.      On medium speed, beat the cream cheese and butter together for about 2-3 minutes or until creamy and thoroughly combined. Add in 2 cups confectioner's sugar and beat until thick and fully combined.

2.    Add in 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed for another 2 minutes. Keep adding confectioner's sugar in small amounts until the desired thickness is reached.

3.     Add salt to taste but no more than 1/8 teaspoon.

4.    Once cake is cooled, frost the cake, sprinkle remaining chopped pecans on top then store in the refrigerator covered.

Although there are so many more recipes that I have discovered and made my own through the years, these three have been staples on the dinner table for years. Each one reminds me of past celebrations and the people who have graced my table. There was the time my crazy neighbor took the entire bowl of mashed sweet potatoes and dumped onto her plate because she liked it so much. Or there was the time my retired pastor tried to feed his grilled vegetable salad to our dachshund! As another Easter celebration approaches, I will reflect on years past but also look forward to many more memories made around the dinner table.

Yahoo Contributor Closing Down

I have been a contributor for Yahoo! for several years and  have posted several pieces that I have linked to through blogger. Yahoo Contributor has just announced that they will be closing. Most of my work that has been posted on Yahoo will no longer be available through the links that I have posted.

I will be going through and updating my posts, but if you find a link that is not working, please message me and let me know where the link is so I can update it.

Most of my work will be re-posted here and on my other blog, Bleeding Blue For St. Louis. Check back often for new posts and re-posts of past work.

I want to thank all of my faithful followers from Yahoo and hope that you continue to follow me on here as well as other venues that I continue to write for.

Happy Reading!
~Micki Holley 

A Teacher's Failure

Since being tossed into the classroom at the tender age of 19 with a small group of high school students that no one else in the school wanted, I have learned to cherish the “misfits” of each school that I have been a part of. I have only lost two students, one to prison and one to death that have been categorized as one of my misfits.

That was until this past spring when another student that I had worked so hard to get through to turned his back and walked away without earning a diploma and with no hope within his beaten soul.

He is a cocky Mississippi teenage boy who had been dealt a pretty tough hand, but he seemed to be able to pull himself up and weasel his way into the hearts of those trying to help him. He is a charmer and a manipulator, then again, most of my misfits are that way, that is why I love them and work so hard to push them along.

He was one of 30 something students in the alternative program. He made bad choices, viewed the world with the hard edge of tough love and worked hard at being charismatic to the adults in his life. While I have build bonds with my students, I could feel that he was always pulling back and hiding. He tended to hide behind the victim persona whenever things got tough and while many of the teachers wanted to protect him, there also came a time when he needed to stand firmly on his own two feet.

*********************************************************************************

American Health Care Academy

*********************************************************************************

The last quarter of the spring semester was crunch time and I tried my hardest to push him towards the finish line. As the last few weeks dawned, I realized that he was not standing on his own and he would never succeed. He just was not ready. Needless to say, the end of the school year loomed and the news was delivered that he would not receive his diploma. He needed to come back for one more semester.

Best wishes to all of my misfits!

He imploded and made rash decisions that will have adverse affects on him the rest of his life. His goal was to be the first person in his family to graduate high school and in his mind, he failed. He could not see that his goal was still firmly in place and it was just going to take him an extra six months to achieve.

His charm evaporated and he became a petulant child who pouted and threw a temper tantrum. It was an expected reaction because of the swift personality shifts that I had seen in the past. But it hurt nonetheless. He was one of my babies and to see him hurting and all of us were helpless to soothe him.

In my 15 years of teaching and working with my misfits, this was my third failure and while there is still hope that he will figure it out and push himself up to stand on his own feet, I still feel as if I have utterly failed.

These failures have not defined me though. I see the hundreds of students who have graced my door and wiggled into my heart. I hear their successes and share in their triumphs. They are the ones who push me to continue doing what I love and putting myself out there year after year.

5 Grilling Tips for Great Food

With grilling season about to begin in full swing, I recently wrote an article for Yahoo Contributor about the 5 best grilling tips. Read my take on making the best tasting grilled food for a summer full of making memories and sharing meals.

Rumors Fly Around Washington Capitals’ Jaroslav Halak

The most interesting thing about the Internet is that anything can be put out there and immediately be seen as truth. There are numerous online posts circulating about Washington Capitals goaltender, Jaroslav Halak, regarding his not playing against his former team, the St. Louis Blues. The media jumped onto the frenzied bandwagon and sensationalized a non-story to make Halak out to be less than loyal to his current team.

In an article posted on Puck Daddy, Jaroslav Halak asks out of start vs. St. Louis Blues, former teammates, writer Greg Wyshynski states, “it should not be too surprising that Jaroslav Halak asked Washington Capitals coach Adam Oates not to play him against his former team, the St. Louis Blues…” Wyshynski goes on to state that Halak is “admitting that he’d harm the Capitals’ changes of winning this game if he started.” It has always been my belief to gather all of the facts prior to blowing something so nominal out of proportion.

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Here is the full statement made by Capitals head coach Adam Oates. Oates’ full comments, for the record: “We know the feelings when you go into your old stomping ground and it’s not always easy and you’re not always comfortable, at least the first time. We talked to [Halak] and he just wasn’t 100 percent comfortable. Unfortunately this time of year and where we’re at, we can’t afford that and Holts has played great lately. We feel really good about that and Holts is playing.”

This is not an unusual occurrence in regards to a goaltender facing their former team for the first time. St. Louis Blues’ Ryan Miller did play when his former team, the Buffalo Sabres, came into St. Louis. Common sense tells us that a goaltender’s former team knows too much about the mental preparedness and the physical pitfalls of their game. So why is Halak sitting out of the St. Louis Blues game such a big deal? It is not. The big deal is that the media blew it up and made Halak out to be an unstable head case.

Halak has had his fair share of melt downs, but then again, find a NHL goaltender that has never had a melt down. For the media to persecute him, I felt it was uncalled for. Halak is a strong goaltender and I still stand behind my opinion about the intelligence of the Ryan Miller/Steve Ott and Jaroslav Halak/Chris Stewart trade. It was not the best move that Blues’ General Manager, Doug Armstrong, has made in recent history.

I am proud of Halak for standing up and saying that he never asked to be removed from the line-up against the Blues. In an article for the Washington Post, Jaroslav Halak’s agent ‘bewildered’ Adam Oates broke trust between player, coach, Halak’s agent, Allan Walsh, spoke up and defended his client. Even if comments given to the media were twisted and the internet being what it is blew the story out of the water, there is a thing called trust that must exist between a player and coach. By Oates admitting that Halak was not “100 percent comfortable”, he divulged a private conversation and probably made Halak a little more wary of going to him. This situation could cause hard feelings between the two and make Halak’s stay in Washington short-lived.

Fans Experience Different Treatment During St. Louis Blues Game

COMMENTARY | This past Tuesday, April 1^st, the St. Louis Blues faced off against the Philadelphia Flyers and I decided to conduct a little experiment during the game. I was there with my sister and partner in crime; we had glass level seating and all-access to the Blue Note Lounge. We have never come across a Scottrade employee that has been rude, unkind or unwilling to go the extra mile for our comfort and enjoyment of the game. I gave three young men tickets to the game as well. Their seats were located in the upper bowl of Scottrade Center. They were dressed like typical young guys; clean clothes, baseball caps turned backward, clean cut albeit a little loud and somewhat rough around the edges.

Kristy and I arrived first and enjoyed a nice meal in the Blue Note Lounge. The guys arrived with the general admission when the gates opened at 6:00 p.m. We met up near the Lounge entrance and I watched usher and security reaction to the guys. Security guards remained close and ushers seemed to guard their areas with extra caution. This to me was interesting because I have been able to move freely around the concourse and club sections of the Scottrade Center without feeling as if I were under surveillance or would be barred from certain areas. The guys tried to enter the club level and were immediately barred by the usher. The usher went so far as to physically put his hands on one of the guys. Prior to the start of the game, I invited the guys down to the glass level seating to watch the players warm up before the start of the game. As they enjoyed being so close to the ice, I observed the reactions of those around us. The ushers were friendly and helpful to Kristy and me; however, they kept a close watch on the three guys.

The "Guys" enjoying the game!

We parted company after the warm-ups, the guys made their way to their upper bowl seats while I once again enjoyed the amenities of the Blue Note Lounge. I stopped and spoke to our usher, a very nice gentleman who had just had hip replacement surgery. Kristy came through a different section to get to our seats and was met with helpful and friendly ushers and event security. After enjoying the first period, we all met up again and I had another experiment to try. The game day photographers who snap photos of the fans and hock their wares have a green screen set up where fans can be placed in the locker room or at ice level wearing quirky jerseys and holding beat-up hockey sticks. Kristy and I have had this done before simply for the fun of it. The photographers at the green screen have always been quite funny and easy-going. When we arrived with the three guys in tow there was an immediate shift in the attitudes of the workers. I noticed it immediately as did Kristy. This being the first game for all the guys, they did not know anything was amiss. After getting the photos taken and hearing the sales speech that is always given, one of the photographers became absolutely irate with one of the guys who snapped a picture of the photos that was on the screen for us to look at. Rather than explain to him that it was not allowed, the photographer started yelling at all three of the guys. I will point out that there are absolutely no signs posted that states taking pictures of the photos on the screen is prohibited. Kristy and I walked away unscathed and finding the situation very amusing.

After leaving the green screen area and the rather irritated photographer, I noticed that a security guard was following us as we made our way through the crowd towards the Blue Note Lounge. We parted ways again; the guys back to their seats and Kristy to the Lounge while I headed back to my seat. This time I went through a different section to see if I would get stopped trying to go down to the glass seats. The usher, a smiling, older woman, let me walk right past her without looking at my ticket or questioning where I was going. I walked back to my seats to find an interloper parked there. After telling the enthusiastic fan that he was in my seat, a security guard came up and asked me if I were experiencing a problem. I told him the other person was just a little lost. The security guard told me that if I needed anything, just find him and he would be happy to help. An interesting note is that the security guard allowed the interloper to remain down at glass seats even though he was bragging that his seats were “way up there”. 

With about ten minutes left in the game I sent a text message to the guys and told them that there were three seats open right in front of us. The seats had been open the entire game. The usher and security guard refused to allow them down to the seats even though there were others who had been allowed to sit down there. This was a little frustrating and showed a bias against these three young men. They were finally able to “sneak” down before the shoot-out started and the usher let them stay.

I admit that I used these three young guys as an experiment because I had heard other fans complain about their experiences with employees at the Scottrade Center. I have only had one issue with a bad-tempered employee in all the years that I have attended Blues games and events. I do admit to trying to sit in sections where my favorite ushers are located. My absolute favorite usher is a young college student named Scott. He is always so upbeat and willing to go the extra mile to make sure that the game is enjoyable. Watching the trials that the three guys went through during their visit to the Scottrade Center, I can fully understand why people do complain. These guys were followed by security everywhere that I observed them and they were treated with disdain by several employees. While the Blues pride themselves on great game day experiences for their fans, there are preconceived prejudices that prevent certain fans from being free from scrutiny and being shadowed while in the Scottrade Center. I was truly surprised that not every person had the same level of courtesy and enjoyment while attending a Blues game.

I do apologize to the three guys that I observed during the game. I used them for my own investigative purposes and while they claim they enjoyed the game, I did purposely place them in situations just to watch the reactions of the employees. My findings helped to rip the rose colored glasses off my eyes regarding a fan’s experience during a Blues game at the Scottrade Center.

**Also posted on MickiHolleyBleedsBlue.Blogspot.com 

Success of Alternative Programs in Public High Schools

With the inception of No Child Left Behind, the need for alternative programs rose sharply within the past decade. I have the privilege of working within one such program and I documented three students who have shown without a doubt that this particular program is successful. It is successful because it is geared more towards credit recovery and life skills rather than a study hall of sorts to house the students until graduation. The students that I work with have to study and be motivated enough to want to reach out and grasp the opportunities that the alternative program offers them. I have altered names of both the students and the teachers since these kids are currently in high school. These are fictitious characters created for your reading enjoyment, they are real students who are becoming successful individuals due to the step up provided by their teachers and administrators.

This piece was published on Yahoo Voices and can be viewed here:
http://voices.yahoo.com/success-alternative-programs-public-high-schools-12572955.html?cat=4

Team USA Hockey Players to Watch at the Winter Olympics in Sochi

There are articles that cause an uproar, especially when the topic deals with sports. Every fan has their favorite team and player, to slight that player or downplay their skills is considered a crime. While this article published on Yahoo Sports where I am a recurring contributor was written voicing my opinion, it received numerous comments and heated debates.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/team-usa-hockey-players-watch-winter-olympics-sochi-202600943.html

Jaroslav Halak for Ryan Miller: Are the St Louis Blues Trying to Deal

Blues fans are loyal to their players and this article published by Yahoo Sports where I am a recurring contributor led to very strong emotions. Halak and Miller fans all weighed in on this trade rumor.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/jaroslav-halak-ryan-miller-st-louis-blues-trying-184000665--nhl.html

Olympic Curling Terms Fans Need To Know

This article was written for Yahoo Sports where I am a recurring contributor.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympic-curling-terms-fans-know-195900065.html

St Louis Blues' Jaroslav Halak vs Brian Elliott

This is an article that was published by Yahoo Sports where I am a recurring contributor. This is another article that garnered strong responses by Blues fans.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/st-louis-blues-jaroslav-halak-vs-brian-elliott-222200986--nhl.html

St. Louis Blues TJ Oshie Named To Team USA

This is an article that has been published on Yahoo Sports where I am a recurring contributor. This article became a hot topic and many readers considered it controversial as it did not jive well with the general consensus.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/st-louis-blues-39-t-j-oshie-named-210800280--nhl.html

Rating of Witches vs. Monkeys

The game Witches vs. Monkeys is a spin-off of the ultra-popular game Angry Birds. In this version, living things are still being used as projectiles moving from left to right across the screen. The gamer is able to control the direction and the force of their shot by pulling back on an elastic slingshot, using either a direct or indirect fire pattern. Witches vs. Monkeys has a more powerful slingshot than in Angry Birds. The gamer must possess greater skill in order to not overshoot or undershoot the target.

Witches possess different magical powers at various levels and can cause varying levels of damage. There are five witches each possessing different powers. Those are Black, Red, Brown, Blue and Green. There are five different sizes of monkeys and all monkeys must be cleared before the gamer can advance to the next level. Monkeys will be hiding behind a variety of objects including pillars, stones, glass, etc. Each level achieved will graduate in difficulty and the gamer must adapt and gain skills as they advance through the levels.

Graphics and sounds for Witches vs. Monkeys are 3.5 stars out for 5 stars. While the sound effects are interesting, there tends to be an element of cheesiness to certain sounds. It lends a comedic air to the game at inappropriate intervals.  The sounds when loading are garbled and the high pitch of the witches’ voices is a little shrill for the ear.

Gameplay gets 5 stars out of 5 stars for smoothness of play and ease of understanding the game when first starting out.  The gamer has great interaction with the game and there are so many aspects in which the gamer feels like they are part of the game.

Playtime gets 4 stars out of 5 stars. While the game is interesting and holds the attention of the gamer, the time it takes to play each level varies depending on the skill of the gamer. An experienced gamer will find several of the lower levels easy and will lose interest quickly.

Replay value is 4.5 stars out of 5 stars. While the game is fascinating when first played, some gamers may find it redundant and will not have the entertainment value to hold their attention for more than one play.

Overall, Witches vs. Monkeys has a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars. The entertainment value is close to that of Angry Birds and gamers are excited about this spin-off. The graphics are cute and have a comical flair to them as well do the sounds. Due to the sounds being somewhat garbled and the witches’ cackles being too shrill, some gamers will turn the sound down or off to avoid the aspects that are overwhelming to the ear. Gamers will enjoy the game, but due to the ease of the first few levels, the replay value may be low. Witches vs. Monkeys is an entertaining game that will thrill gamers to have an alternative to Angry Birds.

Irrigation Valves

Westside Wholesale is the place to get quality irrigation valves. Whether installing a new irrigation system, maintaining or upgrading an existing system, the valves are an important part. Westside exclusively carries Rainbird irrigation valves including sprinkler, angled, industrial and residential.

Sprinkler Valves
Rainbird’s 1” inlet brass sprinkler valve is a durable valve that is great for either commercial or residential use. It is Rainbird MDC decoder system compatible and accepts a latching solenoid. This valve prevents flooding and landscape damage as well as conserves water. It has an internal and external bleed that regulates pressure and allows for the flushing of debris from the system.

The Rainbird 1" inlet residential sprinkler valve is not just for residential use but can also be used for commercial. It features a balanced pressure diaphragm giving it the potential for a long life and very little maintenance. There is an external and internal bleed, the external allows for the system to be flushed while the internal allows for spray-free manual operation.

Angled Valves

The Rainbird 1 ½” inlet globe and angle irrigation valve is flexible and easy to install. It is made of PVC and has a closed forward flow design. It has an internal bleed that is manual and allows the valve to operate without allowing water to fill the valve box, it also regulates pressure and allows for the pressure to manually adjusted. There is a one piece solenoid that has a captured plunger and spring.

The Rainbird 1" inlet globe and angle irrigation valve has a non-rising flow control handle that allows the water flow to be adjusted. There is a one piece solenoid with a captured plunger. The valve is slow closing to prevent water hammer and any system damage from such. It does have a manual internal bleed that will allow the pressure to be attuned to fit the needs of the system.

Industrial and Residential Valves
Rainbird’s 1" inlet residential anti-siphon sprinkler valve with flow control has an atmospheric backflow preventer along with electric remote control. These valves are easy to turn and have flow control capabilities. There is an external bleed that allows for the system to be manually flushed.

Rainbird’s 1" inlet industrial irrigation valve is a durable valve built for reliability and longevity. It has globe structure with a sealed, forward flow design. This valve has low flow capabilities for several uses. There is a manual internal and external bleed as well as a flow control handle.

Irrigation Supplies

Westside Wholesale has a wide array of irrigation supplies from Rainbird including valves, controls, sprinklers and drip irrigation. Everything that is needed to install an irrigation system is also available at reasonable prices.

There are numerous Rainbird sprinklers to pick from and each one has specific features that will enhance the irrigation system to fit specific needs. Sprinklers include full or part circle rotating, impact rotor, lawn, rain sensor, spray head, diffuser, and irrigation along with several other types.

Rainbird Sprinklers

Full or part circle rotating sprinklers feature full circle or adjustable arc, TNT bearings are long-wearing and the straight through flow allows for excellent work in clean and dirty water. They also feature stainless steel distance control diffuser pins and brass, bronze and stainless steel finishes.

Irrigation controllers are also available. Irrigation controls are used to operate irrigation systems automatically. This includes lawn sprinklers and drip irrigation systems. Control products include rain sensors, field transmitter, automatic programmable irrigation controllers, control zone kits and other types of controllers. 

Irrigation valves are what is used to turn the sprinkler systems off and on. Rainbird offers several irrigation valves including residential, stem pressure regulator, check valve models, valve adapters and many more valve options.

There are several supplies that are required when installing and maintaining an irrigation system. Those supplies include solenoid repair kits, tee fitting tubing, compression coupling tubing, tube cutting tools, rotor screwdrivers, and much more.

Westside Wholesalers offers everything needed to install an irrigation system and keep it operational. Their products are cost-effective and are well-made and long-lasting.

Rotor impact sprinklers have proven impact drive and long wearing TNT bearings. They are adjustable up to 340 degrees and have Precision Jet tube technology to minimize side splashing. Rotor impact sprinklers come in brass and stainless steel.

Rainbird Irrigation Controllers

The Rainbird ESP modular irrigation controller is able to be installed while the controller is in operation and allows for multiple programs with multiple start times. This controller offers enhanced diagnostic feedback and alerts. It also has a master valve and pump start circuit with a built in lithium battery.

The Rainbird 1 station control module for TBOS field transmitter is another irrigation controller that is offered. This control module features station timing and active sensor connection that accommodates the RSD-Bex rain sensor. It operates one valve per station.

Rainbird Irrigation Valves

The Rainbird 1” inlet residential sprinkler valve has several neat features including a balanced pressure diaphragm, an external bleed to flush the system, an internal bleed to operate manually without spray. They are energy efficient and have a low power solenoid along with several other features.