Springtime!
Mood:  bright

An unseasonally WARM spring has put us into fast forward, here in MO. I need to embrace the season & get a move on planting. With the new roof & siding, it seems as though I can start with new fresh ideas, since I no longer have the need to hide parts of the house.

Happy Easter!

Fall
Mood:  happy


My favorite time of the year! Senses are on overload. Pumpkin bread, mulled apple cider, fireplaces starting up! With all of that to look forward to, raking that gigantic pile of leaves isn't all that bad.

Today we had a crisp autumn morning with an unexpected twist, a quick hail-storm.

Looking forward to the season!

Tony's Birthday
Mood:  celebratory

Tony turned 34 today. I was taken aback after looking at pictures of his tumultuous life. He has endured heart & brain surgery & all the stuff we put him though in PA through the Spitz clinic. I know that there is no "cure" for autism, but there are those times, every so often that T clicks & looks at me like, "I get it". I recall the stories of when mom told him she was sorry & how he genuinely sobbed for hours. I too, have experienced moments like this with him. He seems like he is trapped inside his own body. You can see his true spirit in his eyes. There is a spark in them!

Although the day to day stuff we tend to take for granted, I adore the person he has become & look forward to all there is in the future, he has so many people rooting for him, it amazes me!

We shall celebrate with car-cars on "Speed" , checking out the planes & "heli's" , dancing & eating "Bryer's". Rock on, my brother, you are one awesome guy!

With Love, "Inda"

Summer

SUMMER BOUNTY
Summer is coming to a close & as hot as it has been this summer I am pleased to see that some conciencious gardeners (unlike myself) were able to have a fruitful summer in their gardens. I snuck a few pics while on a walk this morning to clear my head.

St. Louis Singles Contest
Topic: personal views
In late June, Gabe nominated me to be in St. Louis Magazine's Top Singles Issue. Just got word that I didn't make the cut (gasp!)

Thought I would share the questionnaire, it was a fun insight into myself. There is a Singles bash in November fot the winners & nominees ("it was an honor to be nominated...." yeah, yeah)


====================================================

St. Louisuis Magazine
Top Singles Questionnaire

The Basics
Name: Inga Mockapetris

Occupation/Company: Assistant Center Director, Children's World Learning Centers

Age: 38

Status (never married, divorced, etc.): never married

Children, if any: 1 son, Gabriel (13)

How long you have lived in St. Louis: 36 years

What neighborhood you live in: West County

E-mail: ingahoots1@yahoo.com

About You

Please answer as many questions as possible. If you can’t think of something, or the question makes you uncomfortable, skip it. Feel free to be creative and have fun.

Describe yourself in three words: capricious, honest, & creative

Favorite movie: "Monty Python & the Holy Grail" (makes me laugh every time)

Favorite book: First Comes Love by Marion Winik (A true love story with a strong message about living)

Celebrity dream date: John Travolta, traveling in his personal jet

Who would play you in a movie: (Adolescence)- Jodi Foster (Adulthood) Kathleen Turner

Craziest thing you’ve ever done: (that I'll admit to strangers....) sat on the hood of my Grandmother's Plymouth Valiant as she drove down the street. One of my favorite summer Cape Cod rituals.

First thing you’d buy if you won the lottery: A lakeside cabin in Denver, CO

Your (astrological) sign, and does it accurately describe you? Aquarius: I am humanitarian in nature & strive for social change; question authority & unconventional, certainly!!

Cats or dogs? DOGS!

Favorite saying: Think (simple, yet to the point)

Something about you a casual friend would never guess: I was physically disabled as a child. I had Legge-Perthes.

Something you’d never do: hmm.. deliberately commit murder.

Something you hope to do: Travel extensively in Europe (but just leaving the state every so often is an option as well)

Something you’re glad you did, but would never do again: Experienced life under communist rule (1985)-- Makes me appreciate the freedom we have in the US

One thing you’re really good at: photography

One thing you wish you were really good at: math

Biggest pet peeve: slackers!

Favorite item of clothing: My bra

Favorite place in St. Louis for a first date: The Melting Pot

Car you drive: Honda Civic EX

Car you’d like to drive: Mini-Cooper

Favorite drink: Appletini, please

Necessary extravagance: my computer, it keeps my calendar, my creations, my projects & my
music in order.

Favorite fictional character: Grover -- he seems to match my Aquarian attributes

Phobia(s) :loss of a family member in a tragic accident; Also not a big fan of flying over the ocean, not sure how I will get across the pond to travel to Europe when the opportunity arises.

Where you’d go if you could spend three months anywhere in the world: Spain

What you’re most proud of: raising my son well

Would never date someone who: is married, smokes, has a warrant out for his arrest, or is missing his natural teeth. :)

If you were to be reincarnated, what would you come back as: a bird-- what a great way to
eavesdrop!

Five people, living or dead, you’d like to invite to dinner:
1. Mother Theresa- for guidance
2. Dave Koz- for musical inspiration
3. Claude Monet- for artistic inspiration
4. Robin Williams- just amazed by his acting abilities
5. my son, Gabe- to share the experience

Layers of Me
Topic: personal views
Saw this on holly Mc Caig's blog

& just had to lift this, it is a fun way to view yourself & your family & friends.

12 movies: (no particular order)

1. The Breakfast Club
2. Titanic
3. Stepmom
3, The Music Man
4. Monty Python & the Holy Grail
5. Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (original)
6. Life as a House
7. Paper Moon
8. The Birds
9. Rear Window (original)
10. Casa de los Babys
11. Corrina, Corrina
12. The Bad News Bears

11 Good Bands/artists (no particular order)

1. Dave Koz
2. Grover Washington Jr.
3. The Rippingtons
4. Michael Buble
5. Brian Culbertson
6. Boston
7. Mindi Abair
8. Sarah Maclaclahan
9. Sting
10. Billy Joel
11. Paul Hardcastle

10 things about yourself

1. I am creative
2. I had Legge Perthes in the 3-4 grade & had to wear leg braces
3. I love soccer
4. I have hazel eyes
5. I can read upside-down fluently
6. I pierced my own ear in the 8th grade (OUCH)
7. I am a single mom
8. I enjoy listening to jazz music
9. I cry at happy endings
10. I am an advocate for children

9 good friends (no particular order)
1. Anastasia
2. Kathy
3. Lynda
4. Drea
5. Tammy
6. Gina
7. Linda
8. Susan
9. Mary

8 favorite foods/drinks (no particular order)

1. chocolate
2. raspberries
3. nachos
4. lobster
5. mushrooms
6. cucumbers
7. apple-tinis
8. iced tea

7 things you wear daily

1. bra/undies
2. pants
3. sunglasses
4. watch
5. bracelet
6. comfortable shoes
7. a smile

6 Things you hate

1. liars
2. people who do intentional harm to self/others
3. poverty
4. being cast aside
5. roaches
6. clutter

5 things you do daily

1. talk to my son
2. feed the fish
3. check e-mail
4. give Tony a hug
5. read

4 shows you watch (no particular order)

1. ER
2. Judging Amy
3. Trading Spaces
4. Will & Grace

3 Places you have lived

1. Boston, MA
2. Maryland Heights, MO
3. Chesterfield, MO

2 Things you want

1. Guilt-free personal time for myself
2. To be successful

1 Person you want to see right now:
Zara, my high school pal that I recently "found" via the Internet.

All About Me
Mood:  chillin'
Topic: personal views
All About Inga

Inga Mockapetris
Chesterfield, MO

Age: 38

Occupation: child care manager

Family: single mother, son Gabe, age 14

Scrapbooking since: 1992

One superpower she would wish for: invisibility

The most attractive man on earth: gotta be… Dave Koz!

The best gift ever: a pillow from my son that has “Mom, I love you” stitched on it.

A guilty pleasure: My Friday doughnut treat @ work, hey, I earned it!

She’s willing to splurge on: good jazz CD's

Her most treasured possession: my family, they are irreplaceable!

She wishes she could get rid of: my ugly feet

She’ll always keep: my camera, to forever chronicle my life events

She never, ever runs out of: coffee

What she'd do if she were independently wealthy: continue working in education, provide at risk kids with more
resources

The perfect date: a picnic at an outdoor jazz festival & a quiet evening on a boat

A sound that brings back memories: The song “How Sweet it is to be Loved by You”, I tear up,reminded about my son singing it to me when he was 3.

She believes in: people

Something that makes her unique: I do a dead-on “Grover” (Sesame Street) imitation

She’s happiest when: I get to “play” outside in the garden or at the park, without deadlines or being summoned

Topic: At the old ball game...

As Busch Stadium is enjoying its last few games with boisterous baseball fans, I wanted to capture some genuine moments of a baseball stadium that was a symbol of my hometown. When I was young, I recall the overwhelming awe when I walked into the stadium to attend a Shriner's Circus & met a clown up close. (Have I ever really gotten over the clown-phobia!?!) I will fondly recall the view of the skyline, glimpses of the Gateway Arch. The crowded seats, getting to the game early to watch the players warm up. Gabe got a chance to get an autograph & had a couple of up-close encounters with Fredbird.

Never got to see a rock concert @ Busch, but from stories of those who have attended them, it was a wild, loud experience. The Beatles, Billy Joel & Elton John are the ones that were mentioned. Not a lot of dancing room, unless you got into the aisles or onto the field.

Hope to zip downtown early some morning before they tear it down to get additional shots.

Back to school
Mood:  irritated
Topic: here we go again....
This is the time of year that makes me crazy! Not so much that the kids go back to school (that is a good thing, but that the merchandisers prey on us to BUY all the silly school supplies. Today's Sunday St. Louis Post was filled with ads (actually I have seen them since early July). I am all for starting the year with a clean slate, the smell of a new box of crayons brings back TONS of school day memories. It's the whole propaganda agenda that gets my blood boiling. Have we forgotten the focus of a good education? It isn't the tools, gagetry or fashion that will get the grades & stimulate learning! I think that it distracts form what is most important, a QUALITY education, and the cute binders, trendy calculators & cutesy pens, just won't help.

Okay, glad I got that out! Now, I'm off to finish reading The Da Vinci Code. It is an amazing story, keep forgetting it is a work of fiction.

Big storms hit the St. Louis area over the weekend, several thousand without power until Tuesday, possibly affecting work tomorrow. Could be a very interesting day come morning.