John Ratcliff's Weblog

On Friday, January 11, 2008 a unique musical performance will be held in Wentzville. This event is sponsored by ‘Appetizers for the Soul’, a Lake Saint Louis social group that promotes fellowship with food on the second Friday of each month. This will be a free concert and is open to people of all spiritual beliefs. Musicians Bradford Smith and Mike Web, of Kirtan St. Louis, will perform in an ideal setting at the Wentzville Masonic Lodge (602 Meyer Road). Kirtan is singing or chanting to create a spiritual connection. Kirtan comes from the Bhakti yoga movement of 15th century India where they used singing as one of many ways to experience and enhance their connection to God. The song structure evolves from a call and response format. This allows for the group to be guided on an emotional journey, starting slow and relaxed, then picking up the tempo to create tension, followed by relaxing again and finally settling into a silence that creates a space for meditation. Many of the Chan...

I know my son would love to be able to see a video of his new puppy. This morning General got a chance to play with a Mastiff puppy nearly his same age. I'm sure this video is probably too long, but it was surely a delight to watch these two guys play fight for a while.

I was fortunate enough to have a very nice weekend. In fact, technically, it is not quite over. In a little while I am going to sit down and watch the colts/patriots game and have a few beers. On Friday evening my son called to tell us he had bought a puppy. Of course, his buying a puppy pretty much meant that we were getting a puppy as well. He bought a 4 month old Sheltie from a pet store. The dog was originally $1,200 but had been marked down on clearance to a little under $400 because it was getting so old. The puppy is very nice but acts a little bit skittish and afraid. I think it has been somewhat traumatized by spending the first four months of its life living in a cage. Hopefully he will adjust soon and start coming out of his shell. From what I have read about Sheltie's they are excellent dogs; very intelligent, loyal, and full of energy. On Friday evening I took my son out to the Comedy Forum to see an act. Unfortunately they didn't actually have a comedian,...