I had a great weekend! One of my good friends came down to Springfield on Friday night to visit and left today after lunch. He got in Friday night at around 10 and we c came back here and my friend had a little taste of the famous Springfield Cashew Chicken. We have like over 70 Chinese restaurants in Springfield, all with this famous Cashew Chicken. . . which isn't really Chinese, its an American creation. Saturday ended up being a busy day and we left here at about 10 in the morning and I showed my friend all the schools I went to including the high school I graduated from. Then we went to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and had a good time there, which I have not been to in a long time! Next, we went to Springfield Lake and the park area, where in high school we did the extreme hill work outs for cross country there. Next, we made it to Bass Pro to show my friend how big it really is and ate at the restaurant there, which was okay. Then I showed him out in West Springfield the school I went to in Kindergarten and first grade and the rental house we lived in. Wow, that has changed nothing much used to be out that way and now it is all built up and growing!

Then, we made it to Wilson's Creek Battlefield, which was one of the biggest Civil War Battles west of the Mississippi. It was the 145th Anniversiry of the battle this weekend. We went through the museum and drove through the area and walked around a bit. I learned a little bit always. . . of course growing up I always considered myself pro-Union you know and that Missouri was on the good side since we were part of the Union, even though they allowed us to still have slaves. Okay, just a sidenote here. . . I am totally against slavery and think that is one of the worst pieces of our history in the United States. I just wanted to get that out before I talk to much into detail about stuff. Well, anyway we were going through the museum which was a bit biased towards the South, which reflects a lot of peoples' views in this area still today. Anyway, I didn't realize thast Southwest Missouri was a pivotal area and Southwest Missouri wanted to split from the rest of the state and join the Confederacy. Springfield was a major strategic city for both sides. Anyway, even though Wilson's Creek was won by the South, they still lost a lot of men and the North achieved what it wanted. But I have to say it was very surreal to walk on the battlefied, at "Bloody Hill" where most of the casualties happened and to see the cannons there. It was like you could feel it that something happened there, it was a deep feeling. I cannot really describe it. But then of course in the museum and stuff it talked about how by the end of the war Missouri was pretty much in chaos and the Union armies and stuff pretty much went through and ravaged people and destroyed everything. I am sure in this very pro-Southern area the Union didn't forget to put shame on this area also like they did in much of the South. Once again I am not saying the South should've won or anything, but it is apparent still to me the feelings of resentment towards the North for what they did to the South. Almost like the saying, "those damn yankees!" Just my little speal about that. . .

After that we met my parents for dinner at a local pizza place and then we went to the Springfield Cardinals game, the St. Louis Cardinals Double A team. Those are a lot of fun and I am going again tonight with my dad since we have season tickets. Then after that my friend and I went out for frozen custard and I showed him Drury University. Then we went home and played pool and a game of chess with a drink.

Good weekend! I am hoping to hear some vital stuff this week about Korea, I am getting excited! I'll keep you all posted.