We can now return to St. Louis because they dropped the slogan "More Than Meets the Arch"

Carrie protests that I'm out of touch, and it's true — haven't actually talked to anyone other than my husband, my parents, and my coworkers in a few weeks. But at least I've had a fairly productive couple of days off work:

– I cooked. And it was good — or so I'm told. Specifically, I cooked Don Sundquist's Poppy Seed Chicken, a recipe handed down from Mom, who got it from a now-deceased florist.

– I bought shoes (blue), a handbag (black with red accents), 10.89 gallons of gas ($29), nail polish (Everlasting Rose), soap (Satsuma from The Body Shop), and instant mashed potatoes. Oh, and poppy seeds.

– I rebeaded an anklet while having a conversation with a neighbor named Regina. Amusing, because I'm not really the neighborly type. Ooh, but I do acknowledge that guy down the street who sits outside all the time waving to people driving by. O_o

So there you go. Accomplishments abound. Eh, but I guess Carrie's right: I've become rather ... withdrawn ... as of late. It comes and goes. I'm trying. –.–

My itch to travel has gotten the best of me, so now I'm off to St. Louis to visit Johnny, Rita, and Ian et ux. It's just an overnight thing, but Paul and I will be staying at this uber-cool, four-star hotel. (Thanks, Priceline!) We've stayed there before, and it's swag. Plans are to go to the StL Zoo or Six Flags or both. An impromptu cookout has been planned for Sunday afternoon. Gotta come up with a hostess gift pronto.

Catch: the "road" part of "road trip" has been delegated to me. Paul's working until 4 or 5 or 6 a.m., then it's time to hop on the road. Fortunately, it's a mere five-hour drive, and I'll have Coast to Coast on the iPod to keep me company. First up on the list: May 13's "Psychedelics, 2012 & Quetzalcoatl." (Show description: "...Daniel Pinchbeck, who discussed ideas from his latest book 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl, as well as his personal experiences with psychedelic 'medicines.'")

I hate to leave Fred alone for 36 hours, but the trip will be worth it. Ian's got a new house. Cell biologist Rita speaks Paul's science-y language. And Johnny has a new job, working at a hidden bar behind a locked door and up a flight of stairs. Intriguing, no?