Colleen Ryckert Cook

hello all! Still overworked and underpaid, but thought I’d swing by for some quick recaps. Since we last spoke, I:

1. Rocked all night with Chris, Will and the other Coldplay boys. Their opening acts (yes, multiple) were cool, too. Can’t go wrong with a band whose lead singer references The Flying Burrito Brothers in his banter.

2. Spent a raucous movie night at my kids’ school, watching Kung Fu Panda and learning how to break wood. No, I wasn’t one of the lucky folk picked to actually break wood (I took pictures for the yearbook instead), but I now know how to balance my weight and find the right pitch to grunt at it should I ever in the future think it a good idea to break wood in half with my fist.

3. Caravaned (sort of) with my supersized family to rural Illinois to surprise Sister No. 4 for her birthday party/co-party with niece turning 14 and watch my nephew play in the state championship football semifinals (they lost). Then we trekked back to St. Louis for a supersized Italian dinner and copious wine.

The next morning. Only half of us made it up in time for the walking tour of the riverfront.

 

4. Stuffed myself, one thrill-seeking son, one birthday girl niece and one recently licensed nephew in the tiny elevator/torture chamber that takes adventurous souls to the top of the Gateway Arch. We were the only ones brave (foolish?) enough to go. It was cool, I’d do it again!

The spot of red in the green here is No. 1 son, firmly on the ground