Lately, I've been thinking a lot about baseball.
Soccer, hockey, basketball, college baseball--all are in the process of or have recently crowned champions.
Lord Stanley's cup in the Carolinas. College World Series champions...in Oregon? My late friend John Dye, who hated most sports, wouldn't have been happy with an Oregon State Championship in anything. He worked on his PhD at Oregon and was of the belief that nothing good ever came from Corvalis. But who plays baseball in Oregon? Where did these kids come from?
Soccer. So much talk of the U.S. team's failure in the world's most popular sport. Sometimes, this country's lack of international conformity ticks me off...however, this is a case where my sporting spirit is aroused.
This country was founded on originality/non-conformity. We don't do well with international stuff.
Let's face it, there's not much new under the sun--sports, like songs, (the Beatles invented most rock song structures and styles, which were derived from blues, country, soul, and jazz, and back it goes...) have mostly been done before. Generally, sports are based on the "goal/ball, etc." model.
There's two thingies on each end of some sort of playing surface. You guard yours, and try to exploit your enemy's/opponent's. This idea is downright militaristic, really. I wonder how a team of Iraqi insurgents would fare against the American military in a game of soccer? How about a game of baseball? Best 4 out of 7? I'm pretty sure we could take them, and no one would care if we kicked them in the shins.
Baseball isn't even a wholly original game. Cricket, Rounders. End of history lesson.
To me, baseball is wholly different than cricket or rounders, because I've played it, and I understand it. Good ol' American baseball has very complex rules (raise your hand if you truly understand the infield fly rule?) and its intricacies make it "boring" to a lot of people. . .
...And I don't blame them for finding it boring. Truly, I don't understand the intricacies of soccer, but I don't think its intricacies are...as intricate.
Baseball is a truly elegant game. There's no arguing this--no sport requires a more well-rounded athlete--strength, hand-eye coordination, vision, leaping ability, the ability to play well on both offense and defense...baseball players do lots of things well, including what is universally considered the most difficult thing in all sports--hitting a ball, 3 inches in diameter-- thrown pretty much AT you at speeds approaching 100 mph-- with a 2 1/4 inch bat.
What about other sports?
I think American (particularly the professional brand) football is really the wussiest sport. They make a major production number of playing 2 hours once a week on Sundays with a long break between halves, extended dancing in the end zone, prissy padding and prima donnas to spare. Loosely based on rugby--which they play in shorts and no pads and helmets. Rugby players...not wusses.
Hockey players. Not wusses.
While this is another ball/goal/surface game, there's a variation--the ball's a puck and the surface is ice. These guys skate!!! Hockey games go on for hours. Most players are missing teeth. There's strength, endurance...hockey players go out there almost every night during a very lengthy season...there's always blood spurting, hard checking, high sticking action. Do hockey players whine? Never. Badasses, all.
Soccer. Yet another ball/goal sport, this is another one played on grass. zzz. the ball is round. The only real hitch is you can't use your hands. Well. Unless you're the goalie. There's an idea, have the goalie on equal..."footing" with everyone else--he only uses his feet, then you've got a better, more high scoring sport!
So you started kicking a ball when you were 2. You got better at it, and some people got better at it than others. You kick the ball. You sometimes hit it with your head. If you're a goalie, you are allowed to catch the ball in your hands. Endurance is required, but often, there are long pauses or breaks in the action when players, hands on hips, casually walk about the field.
As a soccer fan, you wait. And wait....and wait some more.
I can find the nuance in every single pitch of a baseball game, anticipate what the pitcher, catcher, and batter are thinking, and know that each infielder and outfielder are thinking about the current situation. Players consider what they need to do in a seemingly endless list of possible scenarios so that they are ready to execute. Still, sometimes the execution fails.
Soccer. Kick it to that guy. He's good. Nope, no opening there. Kick it back to that other guy.
Now, I know there's attacking, strategies, etc. in Soccer--but the number of soccer strategies is finite! That's why I can hang in, watch, and enjoy soccer for maybe 30 minutes before I get completely bored with it.
Even those American football wussies can come up with a variety of different plays to run--and they all have cool names like flea flicker, Statue of Liberty (it only works once, don't throw it away...) reverses, fakes, and more....
But no other sport has the bunt. The bunt is the one sports play in the world that's almost impossible to defense, even if the defensive team knows its coming. A well-placed bunt requires the defense to execute perfectly to get a free out. There's also varations on the bunt theme--bunting for a base hit for the faster guys, the "straight sacrifice" to move a runner over, the squeeze offers endless thrills and comes in two varieties-- the safety squeeze, and my favorite--the suicide squeeze--this is where there's a guy on third, he starts barreling straight for home and hopes and prays for two or three things--most importantly that the guy at the plate got the signal and bunts, because if he swings the runner could get a bat or ball right in the face...if the batter does nothing, then the runner is sure to be out. Now that's high drama.
Kick the ball to that guy. Nope. Nothing there. Kick it back. zzz.
So in a season where my hometown, favorite team the Atlanta Braves are bad after 14 straight years of mostly goodness, I'm slowly converting to Detroit Tiger-ism (I have a weakness for worst to first teams).
In a very sporty summer, I'm trying to understand why the rest of the world is surprised or even cares that we don't play well with them when it comes to sports.
Earlier this summer, in a baseball tournament that was engineered to let the Americans win (World Baseball Classic) at America's past time against the rest of the world, we managed a resounding loss.
The bottom line--there's no money in playing well with others, and money is what brings America to play.
Go Beavers.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Finally!
It took me forever to get that silly vacation blogged. I'm glad that things are getting back to normal. Look for updates and corrections to the vacation blog. I'll also be adding some photos over time. For now, I'm happy to be successfully relocated, along with Dawniepants, to Douglasville, GA.
Dawn will begin work next week at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, GA, and henceforth, there will be no sad lamentations from 297 miles away.
Our move was stressful, but well managed. Four days on the road in a big truck...a load from Georgia, a load from North Carolina.
whee, we're settling in. Dawn, she's amazing...organizing the kitchen and the clothes while I just sort of stare at and occasionally empty boxes and do all the heavy lifting and electronic set ups.
So, dear readers, today is just an update to get me moving back in the right direction. I've got some great ideas for future entries, and look for me to be spending more time with you as I'm able very soon.
Dawn will begin work next week at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, GA, and henceforth, there will be no sad lamentations from 297 miles away.
Our move was stressful, but well managed. Four days on the road in a big truck...a load from Georgia, a load from North Carolina.
whee, we're settling in. Dawn, she's amazing...organizing the kitchen and the clothes while I just sort of stare at and occasionally empty boxes and do all the heavy lifting and electronic set ups.
So, dear readers, today is just an update to get me moving back in the right direction. I've got some great ideas for future entries, and look for me to be spending more time with you as I'm able very soon.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Day Eleven, Chicago, IL to Dalton, GA
June 5, 2006
Lots and Lots and Lots and Lots and Lots of driving to do.
So ...let's break it up by stopping at amusement parks!
We headed out early, early, early on Monday morning--we hit the road by 7 with quite a ways to go. Dawn drove us through the outskirts of Chicago, then we headed South toward Indianapolis.
Our first stop was right outside of Indy. Stupid time zones. I have no idea what time it is most of the time in Indiana. Suddenly, it was Eastern time again. I anticipated being able to get a sausage biscuit and a cup of coffee at any McDonalds. Instead, at what I think is 9:30, the menu at McDonalds stops and changes right before my eyes. Arrgggh! Yet another reason never to eat there anymore.
So instead of McDonald's, I settle for a pretty good cup of gas station coffee and a snack cake, Little Debbie style.
We drive on, hit Indianapolis where I have to play the song!
"Can't go west, can't go east
I'm stuck in Indianapolis with a fuel pump that's deceased
Ten days on the road now I'm four hours from my home town
Is this hell or Indianapolis with no way to get around"
You can only really go North and South on Indianapolis's perimeter, which adds deliciously to the punniness of the chorus. Thanks to Dawn for that bit of info.
Just inside of Indy, my mom called, and my dad was in the hospital. Later that day, he an an appendectomy. I was so far away, I couldn't do anything, and I thought, well, dad would want us to have fun sooo. . .
From Indianapolis, it didn't seem all that far to Louisvlle, KY where we stopped first at Arby's for a sandwhich--the slowest Arby's on earth mind you and then to Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. I caught up with Mom on the phone while we were having lunch and things were slightly scary with dad, but overall ok.
We rode Chang, which is kind of a bigger, better Georgia Scorcher--but not by much. We rode "Greezed Lightnin" one of the rare, remaining Shwarzkopf rides (along with the Mindbender at SFOG, one of my favorites)--You get launched into a loop, then up at an angle, then back down and through the loop, back through the station, up another length of angled track and then back to the station--very fun, but apparently they slow it down too much now when it goes back through the station. They had a crappy wanna be Batman ride that just beat me, we half expected stuff to come flying off it at any time. We then rode their two wooden coasters, Twisted twins---neat because you can ride it in two different directions, and Thunder Run, a good, solid ride.
So whee! How spontaneous are we? With season passes and $5 parking, it was a good way to pass some time and stretch our legs.
We drove on. And on. Then we started to see signs for Bowling Green and our interest was peaked.
Bowling Green is home to Beech Bend Amusments. We thought we would stop there on the way up, but talked ourselves out of it. We were glad that we did, because when we arrived, we learned that their new roller coaster was shut down that day because it had been hit by lightning.
Beech Bend is mostly a very every day kind of park, not too different than a county fair. You have to ride through a good stretch of rural farmland to get to it...They have a mouse ride, a beat up county fair style steel coaster with a loop (rare apparently)...and a few other rides....
BUT
They went out and spent several million dollars on the Kentucky Rumbler....
We arrived at the park, nestled gently in central time, with about an hour left to ride. Dawn insisted that we ride the steel coaster, but she at least waited to do that second. The rumbler was a damn fine ride, we can to equate it to a "mini thunderhead," with some of the same good qualities and sensations as the DollyWood ride, but still not nearly quite so good.
The steel coaster beat me up a bit, the cars were tiny and the loop, given its tightness, was just punishing.
We then went back for several more rides on the Kentucky Rumbler and we enjoyed it a bunch.
We headed out with a few minutes to spare just before closing but...
We had to go back. Dawn had forgotten about their mouse ride and insisted that we catch it. We did, it was mildly fun and sort of spinny.
Driving mode. Big time.
Just outside of Bowling Green, we saw...not the world's biggest, the world's best, or the 2nd largest or whatever flea market...we saw what is 'the World's Most Awesome Flea Market.' yay!
We hit Tennessee just as darkness was closing in around 8...lightning flashed and bounced across the rolling hills, but we avoided the storm. We hit Nashville, and shortly after, stopped for dinner at a Waffle House. We needed the nourishment and coffee fix at this point and we enjoyed our meal, shuffled over to a gas station and fueled up, and headed back to the road.
The stretch between Nashville and Chattanooga is daunting at night--hilly and curvy, even on the interstate. We got through that and then into Northern Georgia for about 10 miles, then back out--so close, yet still so far...we hit Chattanooga about 10:30. Then we hit a wall at Dalton and just couldn't make it on in to Cedartown. We stayed at a very creepy Best Western, but the bed was comfortable enough.
So, in one day we drove around 700 miles, hit two amusment parks, my dad survived his appendix removal, and we got back almost...home.
Lots and Lots and Lots and Lots and Lots of driving to do.
So ...let's break it up by stopping at amusement parks!
We headed out early, early, early on Monday morning--we hit the road by 7 with quite a ways to go. Dawn drove us through the outskirts of Chicago, then we headed South toward Indianapolis.
Our first stop was right outside of Indy. Stupid time zones. I have no idea what time it is most of the time in Indiana. Suddenly, it was Eastern time again. I anticipated being able to get a sausage biscuit and a cup of coffee at any McDonalds. Instead, at what I think is 9:30, the menu at McDonalds stops and changes right before my eyes. Arrgggh! Yet another reason never to eat there anymore.
So instead of McDonald's, I settle for a pretty good cup of gas station coffee and a snack cake, Little Debbie style.
We drive on, hit Indianapolis where I have to play the song!
"Can't go west, can't go east
I'm stuck in Indianapolis with a fuel pump that's deceased
Ten days on the road now I'm four hours from my home town
Is this hell or Indianapolis with no way to get around"
You can only really go North and South on Indianapolis's perimeter, which adds deliciously to the punniness of the chorus. Thanks to Dawn for that bit of info.
Just inside of Indy, my mom called, and my dad was in the hospital. Later that day, he an an appendectomy. I was so far away, I couldn't do anything, and I thought, well, dad would want us to have fun sooo. . .
From Indianapolis, it didn't seem all that far to Louisvlle, KY where we stopped first at Arby's for a sandwhich--the slowest Arby's on earth mind you and then to Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. I caught up with Mom on the phone while we were having lunch and things were slightly scary with dad, but overall ok.
We rode Chang, which is kind of a bigger, better Georgia Scorcher--but not by much. We rode "Greezed Lightnin" one of the rare, remaining Shwarzkopf rides (along with the Mindbender at SFOG, one of my favorites)--You get launched into a loop, then up at an angle, then back down and through the loop, back through the station, up another length of angled track and then back to the station--very fun, but apparently they slow it down too much now when it goes back through the station. They had a crappy wanna be Batman ride that just beat me, we half expected stuff to come flying off it at any time. We then rode their two wooden coasters, Twisted twins---neat because you can ride it in two different directions, and Thunder Run, a good, solid ride.
So whee! How spontaneous are we? With season passes and $5 parking, it was a good way to pass some time and stretch our legs.
We drove on. And on. Then we started to see signs for Bowling Green and our interest was peaked.
Bowling Green is home to Beech Bend Amusments. We thought we would stop there on the way up, but talked ourselves out of it. We were glad that we did, because when we arrived, we learned that their new roller coaster was shut down that day because it had been hit by lightning.
Beech Bend is mostly a very every day kind of park, not too different than a county fair. You have to ride through a good stretch of rural farmland to get to it...They have a mouse ride, a beat up county fair style steel coaster with a loop (rare apparently)...and a few other rides....
BUT
They went out and spent several million dollars on the Kentucky Rumbler....
We arrived at the park, nestled gently in central time, with about an hour left to ride. Dawn insisted that we ride the steel coaster, but she at least waited to do that second. The rumbler was a damn fine ride, we can to equate it to a "mini thunderhead," with some of the same good qualities and sensations as the DollyWood ride, but still not nearly quite so good.
The steel coaster beat me up a bit, the cars were tiny and the loop, given its tightness, was just punishing.
We then went back for several more rides on the Kentucky Rumbler and we enjoyed it a bunch.
We headed out with a few minutes to spare just before closing but...
We had to go back. Dawn had forgotten about their mouse ride and insisted that we catch it. We did, it was mildly fun and sort of spinny.
Driving mode. Big time.
Just outside of Bowling Green, we saw...not the world's biggest, the world's best, or the 2nd largest or whatever flea market...we saw what is 'the World's Most Awesome Flea Market.' yay!
We hit Tennessee just as darkness was closing in around 8...lightning flashed and bounced across the rolling hills, but we avoided the storm. We hit Nashville, and shortly after, stopped for dinner at a Waffle House. We needed the nourishment and coffee fix at this point and we enjoyed our meal, shuffled over to a gas station and fueled up, and headed back to the road.
The stretch between Nashville and Chattanooga is daunting at night--hilly and curvy, even on the interstate. We got through that and then into Northern Georgia for about 10 miles, then back out--so close, yet still so far...we hit Chattanooga about 10:30. Then we hit a wall at Dalton and just couldn't make it on in to Cedartown. We stayed at a very creepy Best Western, but the bed was comfortable enough.
So, in one day we drove around 700 miles, hit two amusment parks, my dad survived his appendix removal, and we got back almost...home.
Day Ten, Chicagoland
June 4, 2006
The last day in Chicagoland. Dawn's Dad and Mary Beth are pitching a cookout. The midwesterners, they like to cook out a lot in the spring and summer. It's not as big a deal in the South where we can cook out, probably, ohh, 300 or more days a year comfortably.
It's a bit harder to get the grill started when its encased in ice I reckon.
Today, I'd meet a lot of Dawn's extended family and Mary Beth's family.
We started out by meeting Dawn's dad...and Dawn's dad's new bike. This is the neatest contraption--a motorized bicycle with a simple battery and electric motor drive set up so that you don't have to pedal if you don't want to. I rode it down the block a bit. It was heavy, and tall, and Dawn had trouble riding it. It was pretty fun though the thing will go pretty fast!
We then went inside and settled into a comfortable couch. Dawn, who was struggling with allergies and the Indiana Beach crud I'd likely given her took benadryl and soon fell asleep in my lap. I was on my own...
I met Hugh, Betty, Hugh, jr, Hugh Jr's wife, Dawn's Aunt Sharon, her cousin Paul....lots of people!
Mary Beth's mom, Betty, is grand. In her working years, she was a flight attendant for TWA and had fascinating stories of travel. More recently, she had visited Macon and Savannah during a time when she was stranded, post 9/11, in Georgia just prior to a vacation trip out of the country. She has a wonderfully outgoing spirit and attitude, and in spite of some recent health problems, maintains a lovely energy and enthusiasm. She made me feel very welcome with her warmth and spirit.
Hugh, Sr. and Hugh, Jr., Mary Beth's dad and brother, are both attorneys. They were really fun to talk to, even if, at times, I felt slightly cross examined! Somehow, they discovered my southern accent where others didn't.
Hugh, Jr.: "You're from the south, I bet you're a republican?"
Pants: "Umm, no, not at all actually."
They were both very good conversationalists--topics ranged from southern geography and racism to pre-nuptial agreements and living wills. Hugh fascinated with me a story I was familiar with about his brother's participation in the taking of Mt. Surabachi at Iwo Jima during World War II, and Ira Hayes, who was immortalized in song by Johnny Cash.
We talked about cubs vs. sox and other sports related issues.
We then had a very nice lunch--dogs, burgers, sausages, chips, beer. Everyone had a great time talking and eating.
At some point during lunch, I made my one, unfortunate comment and embarassed Dawn's dad. About some issue in the aforementioned family videos, he said "I don't know what I was thinking that day!" and I observed that he'd had on really, really tight jean shorts that were probably cutting off circulation and imparing his thinking. Oh well. I wanted to show balls, too though.
After lunch, and a spot of dangerous front yard softball during which the neighborhood windows became endangered-- Dawn's dad led us on a long walk down to the Des Planes river through a local park/wild life preserve.
Yankees are funny. They're afraid of deer! Watch them! They might run at you! We did see several beautiful deer, amazing to me how close they are to people.
I think a lot of it was show for the kids though. At least I hope so. Hugh, Jr's kids were a lot of fun and they went walking with us, along with Jason, Dawn's cousin Paul, Dawn, me, and Dawn's dad. There were tales of alien abduction, satanic sacrafice, and mysterious monsters dwelling in the deep woods by the river. Dawn's dad is really entertaining, and I think she must have had fun with him when they were kids.
We did see several beautiful deer, amazing to me how close they are to people.
We walked all the way down to the banks of the river, where even those of us with good shoes struggled to stay upright. Dawn did well, even though she had on sandals that weren't the best for muddy river bottom hiking.
We came back and settled in, folks began to leave and it was nice for us to have some time just with Dawn's dad and Mary Beth. We chatted, listened to music, and played some pool. I played fairly respectably, though Dawn's dad pretty well mopped the floor with me.
We seemed to get Dawn's dad's blessing and endorsement at the end of the day as we were leaving....and that felt positive.
....A very nice day.
The last day in Chicagoland. Dawn's Dad and Mary Beth are pitching a cookout. The midwesterners, they like to cook out a lot in the spring and summer. It's not as big a deal in the South where we can cook out, probably, ohh, 300 or more days a year comfortably.
It's a bit harder to get the grill started when its encased in ice I reckon.
Today, I'd meet a lot of Dawn's extended family and Mary Beth's family.
We started out by meeting Dawn's dad...and Dawn's dad's new bike. This is the neatest contraption--a motorized bicycle with a simple battery and electric motor drive set up so that you don't have to pedal if you don't want to. I rode it down the block a bit. It was heavy, and tall, and Dawn had trouble riding it. It was pretty fun though the thing will go pretty fast!
We then went inside and settled into a comfortable couch. Dawn, who was struggling with allergies and the Indiana Beach crud I'd likely given her took benadryl and soon fell asleep in my lap. I was on my own...
I met Hugh, Betty, Hugh, jr, Hugh Jr's wife, Dawn's Aunt Sharon, her cousin Paul....lots of people!
Mary Beth's mom, Betty, is grand. In her working years, she was a flight attendant for TWA and had fascinating stories of travel. More recently, she had visited Macon and Savannah during a time when she was stranded, post 9/11, in Georgia just prior to a vacation trip out of the country. She has a wonderfully outgoing spirit and attitude, and in spite of some recent health problems, maintains a lovely energy and enthusiasm. She made me feel very welcome with her warmth and spirit.
Hugh, Sr. and Hugh, Jr., Mary Beth's dad and brother, are both attorneys. They were really fun to talk to, even if, at times, I felt slightly cross examined! Somehow, they discovered my southern accent where others didn't.
Hugh, Jr.: "You're from the south, I bet you're a republican?"
Pants: "Umm, no, not at all actually."
They were both very good conversationalists--topics ranged from southern geography and racism to pre-nuptial agreements and living wills. Hugh fascinated with me a story I was familiar with about his brother's participation in the taking of Mt. Surabachi at Iwo Jima during World War II, and Ira Hayes, who was immortalized in song by Johnny Cash.
We talked about cubs vs. sox and other sports related issues.
We then had a very nice lunch--dogs, burgers, sausages, chips, beer. Everyone had a great time talking and eating.
At some point during lunch, I made my one, unfortunate comment and embarassed Dawn's dad. About some issue in the aforementioned family videos, he said "I don't know what I was thinking that day!" and I observed that he'd had on really, really tight jean shorts that were probably cutting off circulation and imparing his thinking. Oh well. I wanted to show balls, too though.
After lunch, and a spot of dangerous front yard softball during which the neighborhood windows became endangered-- Dawn's dad led us on a long walk down to the Des Planes river through a local park/wild life preserve.
Yankees are funny. They're afraid of deer! Watch them! They might run at you! We did see several beautiful deer, amazing to me how close they are to people.
I think a lot of it was show for the kids though. At least I hope so. Hugh, Jr's kids were a lot of fun and they went walking with us, along with Jason, Dawn's cousin Paul, Dawn, me, and Dawn's dad. There were tales of alien abduction, satanic sacrafice, and mysterious monsters dwelling in the deep woods by the river. Dawn's dad is really entertaining, and I think she must have had fun with him when they were kids.
We did see several beautiful deer, amazing to me how close they are to people.
We walked all the way down to the banks of the river, where even those of us with good shoes struggled to stay upright. Dawn did well, even though she had on sandals that weren't the best for muddy river bottom hiking.
We came back and settled in, folks began to leave and it was nice for us to have some time just with Dawn's dad and Mary Beth. We chatted, listened to music, and played some pool. I played fairly respectably, though Dawn's dad pretty well mopped the floor with me.
We seemed to get Dawn's dad's blessing and endorsement at the end of the day as we were leaving....and that felt positive.
....A very nice day.
Day Eight--Chicago, IL
June 2, 2006
Thanks so much to John, Judy, Rick, and Mary Beth for an amazing day!
Today, we'd finally go into the city again! I was very much looking forward to some in town Chicago time. We headed out around 9:30 and got the El. We got off the El and began to walk around. We went over and under the layers of street and sub-street that make up Chicago's streets. We got out of that for awhile, and walked over to Millenium Park, and started toward Grant Park and the famous Buckingham Fountain, but we realized time was short and we had a distance to walk yet to meet Dawn's Aunt Judy and Uncle John, her Dad, and Mary Beth by the river for the Architecture Tour.
I was so very excited about the tour. Everyone I'd talked to about Chicago who'd been spoke of its excellence. There are lots of tour boats on the Chicago River, but the Chicago Architecture Foundation offers a 90 minute boat tour with an informed docent who offers fascinating facts and insights about Chicago's varied buildings and skyscrapers.
About 2/3 through the tour, out of the grey, and without warning from any morning weather report, it began to rain! We thought we could handle it, but the drops were big and cold--so we took shelter below decks. The rain soon stopped, so we went back up top. The docent was very smart and very detailed--he showed us the health club where Oprah and Senator Obama are members. He offered interesting facts and figures about all the buildings, how they fit the landscape, how they were influenced by other, surrounding buildings, and essentially, why the landscape of Chicago is as it is...for better or worse.
There were giant disasters--The former post office, once the world's largest and has since been replaced by the new world's largest post office--was attractive structurally, but the internal space was ill managed across multiple floors so it had to be replaced. That and its on the National Register of Historic Places, so it can't be destroyed.
I learned thatThe Sear's Tower, the nation's tallest, is actually composed of 9 buildings, arranged in a way that would allow it to continue to go higher, not limited structurally from bearing more height, but only by the FAA who asked them not to build it any taller.
Buildings, old and new, all accompanied by stories frame the Chicago skyscape. It's an amazingly beautiful town, and if you go, be sure to take the tour. If you're from St. Louis or Michigan, be nice, even though the river is designed to dump the worst of Chicago onto you.
After the tour, we were all hungry. We headed down to Uno's for their famous deep dish pizza.
It was yummy. We had some beer, pizza, and good conversation. We learned that Dawn's dad had been there ages ago, and forced to endure onions on his pizza! Ew!
After a very lovely late lunch, we all walked down to the famous Marshall Field's store, which will sadly, be converted to Macy's. The retailer has a lot of history and tradition. After Marshall Field's, Rick and Mary Beth had to head back to the burbs, so we said goodbye.
We then hopped down and around the theater district for a few minutes, saw the world's tallest religious structure (Methodist for those of you who are curious), and for our last visit, the Palmer House, to take some pictures for my mom.
We said goodbye to John and Judy, who'd been wonderful tour guides and very generous, and hopped back onto the El for our ride back to the burbs.
We got back and we were kind of lying around. Our late lunch diminished around 9 and we went out for dinner at a local eatery--they are all over the suburbs--good food, variety...We shared a milk shake for dessert and then headed back for a nap. S i g h. We're really tired now.
Thanks so much to John, Judy, Rick, and Mary Beth for an amazing day!
Today, we'd finally go into the city again! I was very much looking forward to some in town Chicago time. We headed out around 9:30 and got the El. We got off the El and began to walk around. We went over and under the layers of street and sub-street that make up Chicago's streets. We got out of that for awhile, and walked over to Millenium Park, and started toward Grant Park and the famous Buckingham Fountain, but we realized time was short and we had a distance to walk yet to meet Dawn's Aunt Judy and Uncle John, her Dad, and Mary Beth by the river for the Architecture Tour.
I was so very excited about the tour. Everyone I'd talked to about Chicago who'd been spoke of its excellence. There are lots of tour boats on the Chicago River, but the Chicago Architecture Foundation offers a 90 minute boat tour with an informed docent who offers fascinating facts and insights about Chicago's varied buildings and skyscrapers.
About 2/3 through the tour, out of the grey, and without warning from any morning weather report, it began to rain! We thought we could handle it, but the drops were big and cold--so we took shelter below decks. The rain soon stopped, so we went back up top. The docent was very smart and very detailed--he showed us the health club where Oprah and Senator Obama are members. He offered interesting facts and figures about all the buildings, how they fit the landscape, how they were influenced by other, surrounding buildings, and essentially, why the landscape of Chicago is as it is...for better or worse.
There were giant disasters--The former post office, once the world's largest and has since been replaced by the new world's largest post office--was attractive structurally, but the internal space was ill managed across multiple floors so it had to be replaced. That and its on the National Register of Historic Places, so it can't be destroyed.
I learned thatThe Sear's Tower, the nation's tallest, is actually composed of 9 buildings, arranged in a way that would allow it to continue to go higher, not limited structurally from bearing more height, but only by the FAA who asked them not to build it any taller.
Buildings, old and new, all accompanied by stories frame the Chicago skyscape. It's an amazingly beautiful town, and if you go, be sure to take the tour. If you're from St. Louis or Michigan, be nice, even though the river is designed to dump the worst of Chicago onto you.
After the tour, we were all hungry. We headed down to Uno's for their famous deep dish pizza.
It was yummy. We had some beer, pizza, and good conversation. We learned that Dawn's dad had been there ages ago, and forced to endure onions on his pizza! Ew!
After a very lovely late lunch, we all walked down to the famous Marshall Field's store, which will sadly, be converted to Macy's. The retailer has a lot of history and tradition. After Marshall Field's, Rick and Mary Beth had to head back to the burbs, so we said goodbye.
We then hopped down and around the theater district for a few minutes, saw the world's tallest religious structure (Methodist for those of you who are curious), and for our last visit, the Palmer House, to take some pictures for my mom.
We said goodbye to John and Judy, who'd been wonderful tour guides and very generous, and hopped back onto the El for our ride back to the burbs.
We got back and we were kind of lying around. Our late lunch diminished around 9 and we went out for dinner at a local eatery--they are all over the suburbs--good food, variety...We shared a milk shake for dessert and then headed back for a nap. S i g h. We're really tired now.
Day Nine--Chicagoland
June 3, 2006
It was the day I had dreaded since the beginning. Bridesmaid's dress day.
Dawn was to meet Sue at her house (again, way out the Ike) to get the group organized and then drive over to David's Bridal in who knows what 'burb (there are so many, I'm losing track at this point) and pick out, get fitted for a bridesmaid's dress. Sue did have an innovation--choose from these dresses, pick then one that best fits your body type, etc, but you'll all get it in the same color.
Smart.
What am I supposed to do while all these women try on dresses for two hours?
I asked. I begged. I just wanted Dawn to drop me off at the nice little Caribou coffee in LaGrange and let me hang out there until they were done. I didn't wanna go! I wanted them to have their girl time.
Dawn wanted me to eat lunch with them when they were done and meet them all. I was trapped in a gi-normous catch-22, and I finally hit my head against the wall of social "on-ness."
So what did Mr. Grumpypants do? When we arrived at Sue's, he chose to sat in the car. He was extracted, not very willingly, by Dawn. He met everyone as pleasantly as he could (Sue's sister, Sue's MOM! Sheesh! girls everywhere!) and finally calmed down a bit. Everyone went into Sue's house for awhile, he just stood around outside.
So finally, Dawn comes back out, and Mr. Grumpypants feels better once he insists that we follow them to the dress store. "IF I can only have a car, I can escape."
..And I did. As soon as we got to the shop, I skeedaddled out of there. I drove around and found this nice sort of wholesale, cut out bin bookstore. It was a big store, full of stuff, and I spent a couple of hours reading and browsing and rather enjoyed myself.
Dawn finally called and everyone was happier, I was happier. I still felt a little like I was intruding on girl time, but I kept my usual witty banter mostly to myself and enjoyed our faux-nese lunch at the Panda Express.
What else we did that day is kind of a blur to me. It's been awhile.
It was the day I had dreaded since the beginning. Bridesmaid's dress day.
Dawn was to meet Sue at her house (again, way out the Ike) to get the group organized and then drive over to David's Bridal in who knows what 'burb (there are so many, I'm losing track at this point) and pick out, get fitted for a bridesmaid's dress. Sue did have an innovation--choose from these dresses, pick then one that best fits your body type, etc, but you'll all get it in the same color.
Smart.
What am I supposed to do while all these women try on dresses for two hours?
I asked. I begged. I just wanted Dawn to drop me off at the nice little Caribou coffee in LaGrange and let me hang out there until they were done. I didn't wanna go! I wanted them to have their girl time.
Dawn wanted me to eat lunch with them when they were done and meet them all. I was trapped in a gi-normous catch-22, and I finally hit my head against the wall of social "on-ness."
So what did Mr. Grumpypants do? When we arrived at Sue's, he chose to sat in the car. He was extracted, not very willingly, by Dawn. He met everyone as pleasantly as he could (Sue's sister, Sue's MOM! Sheesh! girls everywhere!) and finally calmed down a bit. Everyone went into Sue's house for awhile, he just stood around outside.
So finally, Dawn comes back out, and Mr. Grumpypants feels better once he insists that we follow them to the dress store. "IF I can only have a car, I can escape."
..And I did. As soon as we got to the shop, I skeedaddled out of there. I drove around and found this nice sort of wholesale, cut out bin bookstore. It was a big store, full of stuff, and I spent a couple of hours reading and browsing and rather enjoyed myself.
Dawn finally called and everyone was happier, I was happier. I still felt a little like I was intruding on girl time, but I kept my usual witty banter mostly to myself and enjoyed our faux-nese lunch at the Panda Express.
What else we did that day is kind of a blur to me. It's been awhile.
Day Seven, Chicagoland
June 1, 2006
Following the Cubs game, we both were very tired and not feeling that great, so we got a good sleep--Jason's apartment is very nice, and he keeps it very cool and comfortable, ideal for sleeping. The major problem living on central time...sheesh. The sun comes up really early--around 5:30--and right through the window of the guest room.
This particular morning, we were able to sleep a bit. We had no real obligations for the day, so we buzzed around the suburbs, looking at all the different places Dawn had lived, worked, and gone to school. She showed me the famous car sculpture (most notably featured in Wayne's World but NOT in Aurora) , her high school, various "Berwin bungalows" where her family had lived. We went through Berwin, Oak Park, Forest Park, Riverside..and then some. The "Big Ben, Parliament" of the Chicago suburbs was the Des Plaines river, which we must've crossed 100 times while in the area.
The highlight of the day was a stop for a mid morning coffee at a Caribou in what I think was my favorite suburb, La Grange. Its a lovely little area with lots of restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, speciality stores, a movie theater--a little of everything all within a square mile. We enjoyed our coffee--it was very soothing on my throat, which was still rather sore at this point--and thumbed through the local "what's going on in Chicago and the burbs" paper.
For lunch, we stopped into the restaurant where Dawn used to work, a Chicago area institution--Portillo's. I had the classic Italian beef sandwich, cheese fries, and a coke. They had lovely cake but there was no room for dessert after eating this...this...thing. Dripping with au jus, a soft french bread roll is smothered in italian style spiced beef, onions, peppers and who knows what else. Pretty tasty, I must admit, even as I've try to kick the beef habit. I'm on vacation, leave me alone.
Stuffed, we rolled out of the restaurant and tooled around a bit more. We did a mid afternoon stop over at Dawn's dad's house, where we happened to catch her step mom, Mary Beth in. She welcomed us warmly, we met the family cat, and sat chatting for awhile until Dawn's friend Sue called us to join her for dinner at Lalo's--another fine suburban institution, this time the food of choice was Mexican.
At Lalo's, the food is very spicy and authentic, and every guest gets a warm and hearty cup of mexican chicken soup that is one of Dawn's favorites. In addition to chips and salsa, each table gets a plate of cold, spicy vegetables to enjoy--carrots, roasted garlic, and more with a definitive and spicy heat juxtaposed against a physical chill...very nice. I got a sampler platter, all with chicken--including a chilie relleno, taco, and a couple of other items. It was so much food I couldn't nearly finish it all.
After dinner, we followed Sue "up the Ike" to her house, a cute little place she keeps with her fiancee' Eric. They have two dogs, a new and lively rescued golden, and Sue's childhood dog____she's had since she was 16! Eric was way into college baseball. He had played at Cumberland Univ. in Tennessee, and in his travels, he'd played at Rome's Berry College, only about 20 minutes from where I grew up in Cedartown. He remembered it distinctly as during the game, several deer jumped the outfield fence and ran past him. We had good conversation about geography, life, baseball, graduate school, education and I enjoyed meeting him. I look forward to their wedding in January. I just looked up to see how his alma mater Cumberland did in the tournament--and they allll but won the NAIA College World Series...Soooo close! they lost 5-4 in 11 innings in the final. Urg.
After the long day, we packed it in and headed back to Jason's for a rest, watched a little TV, and went to bed fairly early. Tomorrow, Chicago.
Following the Cubs game, we both were very tired and not feeling that great, so we got a good sleep--Jason's apartment is very nice, and he keeps it very cool and comfortable, ideal for sleeping. The major problem living on central time...sheesh. The sun comes up really early--around 5:30--and right through the window of the guest room.
This particular morning, we were able to sleep a bit. We had no real obligations for the day, so we buzzed around the suburbs, looking at all the different places Dawn had lived, worked, and gone to school. She showed me the famous car sculpture (most notably featured in Wayne's World but NOT in Aurora) , her high school, various "Berwin bungalows" where her family had lived. We went through Berwin, Oak Park, Forest Park, Riverside..and then some. The "Big Ben, Parliament" of the Chicago suburbs was the Des Plaines river, which we must've crossed 100 times while in the area.
The highlight of the day was a stop for a mid morning coffee at a Caribou in what I think was my favorite suburb, La Grange. Its a lovely little area with lots of restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, speciality stores, a movie theater--a little of everything all within a square mile. We enjoyed our coffee--it was very soothing on my throat, which was still rather sore at this point--and thumbed through the local "what's going on in Chicago and the burbs" paper.
For lunch, we stopped into the restaurant where Dawn used to work, a Chicago area institution--Portillo's. I had the classic Italian beef sandwich, cheese fries, and a coke. They had lovely cake but there was no room for dessert after eating this...this...thing. Dripping with au jus, a soft french bread roll is smothered in italian style spiced beef, onions, peppers and who knows what else. Pretty tasty, I must admit, even as I've try to kick the beef habit. I'm on vacation, leave me alone.
Stuffed, we rolled out of the restaurant and tooled around a bit more. We did a mid afternoon stop over at Dawn's dad's house, where we happened to catch her step mom, Mary Beth in. She welcomed us warmly, we met the family cat, and sat chatting for awhile until Dawn's friend Sue called us to join her for dinner at Lalo's--another fine suburban institution, this time the food of choice was Mexican.
At Lalo's, the food is very spicy and authentic, and every guest gets a warm and hearty cup of mexican chicken soup that is one of Dawn's favorites. In addition to chips and salsa, each table gets a plate of cold, spicy vegetables to enjoy--carrots, roasted garlic, and more with a definitive and spicy heat juxtaposed against a physical chill...very nice. I got a sampler platter, all with chicken--including a chilie relleno, taco, and a couple of other items. It was so much food I couldn't nearly finish it all.
After dinner, we followed Sue "up the Ike" to her house, a cute little place she keeps with her fiancee' Eric. They have two dogs, a new and lively rescued golden, and Sue's childhood dog____she's had since she was 16! Eric was way into college baseball. He had played at Cumberland Univ. in Tennessee, and in his travels, he'd played at Rome's Berry College, only about 20 minutes from where I grew up in Cedartown. He remembered it distinctly as during the game, several deer jumped the outfield fence and ran past him. We had good conversation about geography, life, baseball, graduate school, education and I enjoyed meeting him. I look forward to their wedding in January. I just looked up to see how his alma mater Cumberland did in the tournament--and they allll but won the NAIA College World Series...Soooo close! they lost 5-4 in 11 innings in the final. Urg.
After the long day, we packed it in and headed back to Jason's for a rest, watched a little TV, and went to bed fairly early. Tomorrow, Chicago.
Day Six-- Peoria, IL to Chicago, IL
May 31, 2006
"You suck, Griffey!"
We got up reasonably early, got ourselves showered and organized, finished up some laundry and got on the road to Chicago. Driving and driving and driving up to the city...still corn. Where is it? Where's the sprawl?
Suddenly, the corn disappears and it's replaced by yummy! chemical plants! It would appear that the bulk of America's chemicals are produced between nowhere and Chicago.
Finally, I saw something familiar to me. Was it Chicago? NO! It was the gigantic chemical plant in Joliet, seen in the opening sequence of the Blues Brothers. Dawn was funny, saying that little kids riding in the car at night upon seeing this plant would say "mommy, is that Chicago?" I was doing that in the daylight.
We arrived at Jason's house around 5:30 or so. We unloaded, talked with Jason and his girlfriend Jen for awhile, and then we began the hustle down to Wrigley Field.
Jason drove us out of the burbs toward the El. As you turn onto a main road, you get your first view of Chicago proper from a distance. The Sears Tower has the same sort of omnipresence as the Washington Monument when you're in DC--sometimes, even in the most obscure and distant corner of the burbs, you can turn your head just right and squint and see the giant black tower.
We got to the EL station, bought transit cards, and hopped on. The El is much cleaner than the NYC subways. Atlanta could learn a great lesson from Chicago; the train lines extend well into the suburbs--and there are several train and other travel options--commuter lines, the El, buses--all pretty affordable.
I'd heard the train ride into Wrigley was fun, and it is--there's a buzz in the air. From the train, you see Wrigleyville's old buildings and fans milling about as you arrive near the park. We walked in and the sights and sounds of arguably the world's greatest ball park filled the senses.
Jason walked really fast--he really wanted to make batting practice, and we did. We took our seat in the bleachers, amongst the bums and then stood up to watch batting practice, hoping for a shot at a baseball. Several well hit balls came very near us, but we didn't luck out. It was fun to watch the players interact with the fans--particularly the Cincinatti players. They were taunting and teasing the bums with balls..will he throw it? won't he?
A couple of the more committed bums who very strictly maintain Wrigley rules tossed balls caught from Reds players back onto the playing field to resounding cheers .
Before game time, Dawn and I went out to fetch some food--the park isn't known for its food, actually, the Southsider's U.S. Cellular field is alleged to have better eats. We did get a couple of beers and a right decent bratwurst though! I enjoyed it. We got back to our seats. As we finished up our food, the inevitable happened. . . Dawn became ground zero for gull poop. She got beaned on the side of the face by one of Wrigley's nastiest inhabitants, a lake Michigan seagull.
Gross!
The game started. I paid most attention to Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs' great pitcher. He had a mediocre night--of course, he bookended this performance with two near no hitters...and to Ken Griffey, Jr. who, according to Cubs fans, 'Sucks.'
Which really means you don't suck, but you're good and you're keeping our team from winning. Therefore you suck to me. Anytime Griffey made a great play or got a good hit (he got on base most every time and launched a homer) he was reminded of his suckin'. He looked back at the bums a lot and was just kinda smilin'. He's pushing 600 homeruns and he's won a bunch of gold gloves. The guy knows he doesn't suck.
The Cubs fans know this too, and I think to tell a player from the opposition he sucks is a gesture of respect...if someone really sucked, why bother telling them? They know...
Late in the game, we had a Ronnie Woo sighting. I have to admit, I was not familiar with him and his mojo, but this guy is a very interesting story!
Apparently homeless and destitute, he makes his living being the world's greatest Cubs fan:
"Wickers is a celebrity around Wrigley Field, and he works the crowds as if he were the mayor of Wrigleyville. We won’t deny that to many Cubs constituents he is an irritation: his trademark call sounds like a sea gull in heat and he sings it relentlessly. But Wrigley Field, with so many idiosyncrasies already, wouldn’t be the same without him. And who can say what Ronnie Wickers would be without Wrigley Field and the Cubs? Ronnie Wickers survives off the Cubs. He barters his meals, housing and transportation with the Cubs tickets he gets from players. Fans who have come to know him in the 16 years he has been a regular (he says he hasn’t missed a home game since 1969) buy him beers, hot dogs, take him out to dinner, and once in a while give him a few bucks, which he invariably gambles on the Illinois lottery." --Tim Bannon, the Chicago Reader
Woo Woo walks the stadium with his trademark chant "woo cubs!" "woo Lee!", in earlier years "Woo Sandberg!" The bleacher fans loved him--he signed autographs, got food and beer sent his way, got hugs from girls--he seemed to be really enjoying himself and enjoying cheering.
The Cubs were behind when he came into the bleachers, and his inspiration and cheerleading really seemed to turn the momentum of the game and the cubs came back a bit...
...Of course, they still lost.
There's no arguing with consistent mediocrity. Go Cubs!
We left the game and circled the stadium, taking a few pictures of the famous Wrigley Marquee.
Elwood: I'm gonna quit work first thing in the morning.
Jake: And how are you gonna get to work Mr Lead Foot, Mr Hot Rod, Mr Motor Head? Those cops took your license away. They got your name, your address.
Elwood: No they don't got my address. I falsified my renewal. I put 1060 West Addison.
Jake: 1060 West Addison? That's Wrigley Field.
"You suck, Griffey!"
We got up reasonably early, got ourselves showered and organized, finished up some laundry and got on the road to Chicago. Driving and driving and driving up to the city...still corn. Where is it? Where's the sprawl?
Suddenly, the corn disappears and it's replaced by yummy! chemical plants! It would appear that the bulk of America's chemicals are produced between nowhere and Chicago.
Finally, I saw something familiar to me. Was it Chicago? NO! It was the gigantic chemical plant in Joliet, seen in the opening sequence of the Blues Brothers. Dawn was funny, saying that little kids riding in the car at night upon seeing this plant would say "mommy, is that Chicago?" I was doing that in the daylight.
We arrived at Jason's house around 5:30 or so. We unloaded, talked with Jason and his girlfriend Jen for awhile, and then we began the hustle down to Wrigley Field.
Jason drove us out of the burbs toward the El. As you turn onto a main road, you get your first view of Chicago proper from a distance. The Sears Tower has the same sort of omnipresence as the Washington Monument when you're in DC--sometimes, even in the most obscure and distant corner of the burbs, you can turn your head just right and squint and see the giant black tower.
We got to the EL station, bought transit cards, and hopped on. The El is much cleaner than the NYC subways. Atlanta could learn a great lesson from Chicago; the train lines extend well into the suburbs--and there are several train and other travel options--commuter lines, the El, buses--all pretty affordable.
I'd heard the train ride into Wrigley was fun, and it is--there's a buzz in the air. From the train, you see Wrigleyville's old buildings and fans milling about as you arrive near the park. We walked in and the sights and sounds of arguably the world's greatest ball park filled the senses.
Jason walked really fast--he really wanted to make batting practice, and we did. We took our seat in the bleachers, amongst the bums and then stood up to watch batting practice, hoping for a shot at a baseball. Several well hit balls came very near us, but we didn't luck out. It was fun to watch the players interact with the fans--particularly the Cincinatti players. They were taunting and teasing the bums with balls..will he throw it? won't he?
A couple of the more committed bums who very strictly maintain Wrigley rules tossed balls caught from Reds players back onto the playing field to resounding cheers .
Before game time, Dawn and I went out to fetch some food--the park isn't known for its food, actually, the Southsider's U.S. Cellular field is alleged to have better eats. We did get a couple of beers and a right decent bratwurst though! I enjoyed it. We got back to our seats. As we finished up our food, the inevitable happened. . . Dawn became ground zero for gull poop. She got beaned on the side of the face by one of Wrigley's nastiest inhabitants, a lake Michigan seagull.
Gross!
The game started. I paid most attention to Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs' great pitcher. He had a mediocre night--of course, he bookended this performance with two near no hitters...and to Ken Griffey, Jr. who, according to Cubs fans, 'Sucks.'
Which really means you don't suck, but you're good and you're keeping our team from winning. Therefore you suck to me. Anytime Griffey made a great play or got a good hit (he got on base most every time and launched a homer) he was reminded of his suckin'. He looked back at the bums a lot and was just kinda smilin'. He's pushing 600 homeruns and he's won a bunch of gold gloves. The guy knows he doesn't suck.
The Cubs fans know this too, and I think to tell a player from the opposition he sucks is a gesture of respect...if someone really sucked, why bother telling them? They know...
Late in the game, we had a Ronnie Woo sighting. I have to admit, I was not familiar with him and his mojo, but this guy is a very interesting story!
Apparently homeless and destitute, he makes his living being the world's greatest Cubs fan:
"Wickers is a celebrity around Wrigley Field, and he works the crowds as if he were the mayor of Wrigleyville. We won’t deny that to many Cubs constituents he is an irritation: his trademark call sounds like a sea gull in heat and he sings it relentlessly.
Woo Woo walks the stadium with his trademark chant "woo cubs!" "woo Lee!", in earlier years "Woo Sandberg!" The bleacher fans loved him--he signed autographs, got food and beer sent his way, got hugs from girls--he seemed to be really enjoying himself and enjoying cheering.
The Cubs were behind when he came into the bleachers, and his inspiration and cheerleading really seemed to turn the momentum of the game and the cubs came back a bit...
...Of course, they still lost.
There's no arguing with consistent mediocrity. Go Cubs!
We left the game and circled the stadium, taking a few pictures of the famous Wrigley Marquee.
Elwood: I'm gonna quit work first thing in the morning.
Jake: And how are you gonna get to work Mr Lead Foot, Mr Hot Rod, Mr Motor Head? Those cops took your license away. They got your name, your address.
Elwood: No they don't got my address. I falsified my renewal. I put 1060 West Addison.
Jake: 1060 West Addison? That's Wrigley Field.
Day Five, Peoria, IL
May 30, 2006
Woke up early. didn't feel very well. Needed coffee. Dawn and I made a little breakfast with Lou's famous Wisconsin bacon. He sent away for it mail order, and it's some of the best damn bacon I've ever had .
Following that, I felt tired, sick, and lazy so I retired lazily to the couch and watched Magnum P.I. reruns while Dawn colored her mom's hair and they did other girly stuff.
Lou got in around 5:30, and they cooked out chicken on the grill and we visited, chatted, played with the kitties. We enjoyed porch sitting and conversation for awhile, and then Dawn's mom broke out the family videos!
It was really fun to watch a younger Dawn. 8th grade graduation party Dawn was a hoot. Dawn's brother, Jason--who'd later become an accountant--watched over Dawn's shoulder as she got cards and checks from friends and family members. "I didn't see that last check...how much was it?" Jason said, with a running tally in his head.
Dawn was hilarious. When asked what she learned in school she offered up the quadratic formula, spouted off very quickly and with a thick midwestern accent. She was, as she still is, cute--her curly hair and shy expressions were indicative then of the adult version of Dawn.
There were a couple of wardrobe changes throughout the graduation party day. Very funny stuff.
Jason was a riot. He was pretty rough and tumble--climbing trees and hitting a basketball with a baseball bat. This batting activity resulted in a reprimand from his mom "If you break anything with that, it's coming outta your paper route" and "That's it, you're grounded for three days!"
Dawn's dad had on some tight fitting cut off blue jeans. A mention of those later would get me in a little trouble!
The next video was a cook out with Dawn's mom and her sisters, full of endless energy, singing every song that came on the radio while Dawn and Jason got haircuts from their Aunt Dorothy.
Dawn asked while we were watching, "Mom, how could you let her cut our HAIR?!? The resulting bangs were pretty hilarious on Jason, and I have no idea what happened to the back of Dawn's head.
Next there was an older, high school senior Dawn working it as a back up singer.
It was nice because I got to see Dawn and her family in a different light before actually meeting them!
We went to bed, I was still feeling rather ill. Dawn went to do her evening bathroom ritual and I fell asleep. She came back into the room and popped a benadryl in me.
Goodnight.
Woke up early. didn't feel very well. Needed coffee. Dawn and I made a little breakfast with Lou's famous Wisconsin bacon. He sent away for it mail order, and it's some of the best damn bacon I've ever had .
Following that, I felt tired, sick, and lazy so I retired lazily to the couch and watched Magnum P.I. reruns while Dawn colored her mom's hair and they did other girly stuff.
Lou got in around 5:30, and they cooked out chicken on the grill and we visited, chatted, played with the kitties. We enjoyed porch sitting and conversation for awhile, and then Dawn's mom broke out the family videos!
It was really fun to watch a younger Dawn. 8th grade graduation party Dawn was a hoot. Dawn's brother, Jason--who'd later become an accountant--watched over Dawn's shoulder as she got cards and checks from friends and family members. "I didn't see that last check...how much was it?" Jason said, with a running tally in his head.
Dawn was hilarious. When asked what she learned in school she offered up the quadratic formula, spouted off very quickly and with a thick midwestern accent. She was, as she still is, cute--her curly hair and shy expressions were indicative then of the adult version of Dawn.
There were a couple of wardrobe changes throughout the graduation party day. Very funny stuff.
Jason was a riot. He was pretty rough and tumble--climbing trees and hitting a basketball with a baseball bat. This batting activity resulted in a reprimand from his mom "If you break anything with that, it's coming outta your paper route" and "That's it, you're grounded for three days!"
Dawn's dad had on some tight fitting cut off blue jeans. A mention of those later would get me in a little trouble!
The next video was a cook out with Dawn's mom and her sisters, full of endless energy, singing every song that came on the radio while Dawn and Jason got haircuts from their Aunt Dorothy.
Dawn asked while we were watching, "Mom, how could you let her cut our HAIR?!? The resulting bangs were pretty hilarious on Jason, and I have no idea what happened to the back of Dawn's head.
Next there was an older, high school senior Dawn working it as a back up singer.
It was nice because I got to see Dawn and her family in a different light before actually meeting them!
We went to bed, I was still feeling rather ill. Dawn went to do her evening bathroom ritual and I fell asleep. She came back into the room and popped a benadryl in me.
Goodnight.
Day Four--Monticello, IN to Peoria, IL
May 29, 2006
Last night, Dawn and I went to Wal-Mart...yes....Wal-Mart after we left Indiana Beach. We needed a few things. Throughout the day, my throat had started to tickle. I felt really, really drained and I think I'd finally hit my first travel wall. After wandering through the store for a minute or two, I trapsed off on my own.
"Where are you going?"
--I need stuff.
"What do you need?"
--I'll show you when I find it.
I needed beverages of all kinds and types. I picked up a gatorade and then I really wanted a beer. Alcohol sometimes really helps me feel better and helps me rest better--I think it really does a number on sore throats in particular, so I tried to track down a beer.
It was Sunday.
Dawn reassured me before we left and has often sung the praises of how "you can always get alcohol on Sunday in the midwest."
Not.
S i g h. Oh well. I was grumpy. Dawn was a bit putzy and I was goofy/funny/grumpy...
(While searching the store for Benadryl)
"Oh look, its a Barbie camping set, I always wanted one of these."
"I don't care, unless she's got some Barbie Benadryl!!!"
All this to say, on Monday morning, as we started he drive to Peoria, I didn't feel well.
So what better time to meet Dawn's friends, Melinda and Sharon!
We left in a fairly timely fashion and arrived in the Urbana-Champaign, IL area around 12:30.
This was my first meeting with two of Dawn's bestest friends, Melinda and Sharon, and I was definitely nervous. Feeling a little gross didn't help, but--I just did the best I could.
It was Memorial Day, and we found our dining options limited. Dawn had a pizza place in mind, but unfortunately, when we arrived there, it was closed. So we went to this other pizza joint that was pretty good, too and ate lunch and had good conversation for a couple of hours. Sharon currently works in the communications industry and it was neat hearing about her job, her most recent reading, a new book on the Beatles. Melinda does graphic design for some dirty Illinois republicans, but insists that we shouldn't hold it against her.
After a relaxing lunch, we set out to find somewhere to enjoy a drink and more conversation, and an area where these lovely young professional women could take pictures, because that's what women do when they get together.
The first place, sort of a college town, pool hall, game room area was, of course, cloesd. The second place--a fairly nice chain mexican joint was open and we had margaritas. Ahh the alcohol I needed was finally available to me. Yay! The combination of alcohol and citrus really soothed my throat. I had two drinks. Whee!
After drinks and pictures, we all parted ways--Dawn took time to drive me around the places she'd lived in Urbana-Champaign. She'd lived in some neat residence halls there. The University of Illinois is typically "Big 10" in its appearance...it isn't as pretty a campus as Michigan or Wisconsin, nor as large, but it's still a very nice campus. Dawn had a great story about the opossum that used to live right outside her door.
At last, the Morrow Plots. We ran by the University of Illinois Library, most of which sits below ground. I've alluded to this earlier, and the great song sung by the a capella group the Other Guys... "you can't throw shade on the corn...no sir, we don't mess around our liberry's underground...."
So we took some pictures and wrapped up Urbana, then off to Normal, IL to see where Dawn went to college at Illinois State University. The Illinois State campus is very nice, too. Normal is a cute college town. I got to see the world's largest residence hall, where Dawn lived for a number of years. Later in the trip, I'd get to see the second largest at the University of Illinois-Chicago. It was nice to listen to Dawn explore memory lane as we drove around the campus and the town.
At long last, off to Peoria and Dawn's mom's.
We arrived in the late afternoon and enjoyed porch conversation with Dawn's mom Lori, and her husband Lou(is). As the evening progressed, Lou broke out the Karaoke machine. Everyone sang and had fun, even me--I had to be talked into it. Lou made me realize I needed to not be a stick in the mud.."it's just for fun" he said...
So I sang through a couple of country classics, "Okie from Muskogee" and "Stand by Your Man."
Of course, my rendition of "Stand by Your Man" brought the house down, and then we could all go to bed.
Dawn's "Loco-motion" was probably the biggest hit of the evening, though.
Last night, Dawn and I went to Wal-Mart...yes....Wal-Mart after we left Indiana Beach. We needed a few things. Throughout the day, my throat had started to tickle. I felt really, really drained and I think I'd finally hit my first travel wall. After wandering through the store for a minute or two, I trapsed off on my own.
"Where are you going?"
--I need stuff.
"What do you need?"
--I'll show you when I find it.
I needed beverages of all kinds and types. I picked up a gatorade and then I really wanted a beer. Alcohol sometimes really helps me feel better and helps me rest better--I think it really does a number on sore throats in particular, so I tried to track down a beer.
It was Sunday.
Dawn reassured me before we left and has often sung the praises of how "you can always get alcohol on Sunday in the midwest."
Not.
S i g h. Oh well. I was grumpy. Dawn was a bit putzy and I was goofy/funny/grumpy...
(While searching the store for Benadryl)
"Oh look, its a Barbie camping set, I always wanted one of these."
"I don't care, unless she's got some Barbie Benadryl!!!"
All this to say, on Monday morning, as we started he drive to Peoria, I didn't feel well.
So what better time to meet Dawn's friends, Melinda and Sharon!
We left in a fairly timely fashion and arrived in the Urbana-Champaign, IL area around 12:30.
This was my first meeting with two of Dawn's bestest friends, Melinda and Sharon, and I was definitely nervous. Feeling a little gross didn't help, but--I just did the best I could.
It was Memorial Day, and we found our dining options limited. Dawn had a pizza place in mind, but unfortunately, when we arrived there, it was closed. So we went to this other pizza joint that was pretty good, too and ate lunch and had good conversation for a couple of hours. Sharon currently works in the communications industry and it was neat hearing about her job, her most recent reading, a new book on the Beatles. Melinda does graphic design for some dirty Illinois republicans, but insists that we shouldn't hold it against her.
After a relaxing lunch, we set out to find somewhere to enjoy a drink and more conversation, and an area where these lovely young professional women could take pictures, because that's what women do when they get together.
The first place, sort of a college town, pool hall, game room area was, of course, cloesd. The second place--a fairly nice chain mexican joint was open and we had margaritas. Ahh the alcohol I needed was finally available to me. Yay! The combination of alcohol and citrus really soothed my throat. I had two drinks. Whee!
After drinks and pictures, we all parted ways--Dawn took time to drive me around the places she'd lived in Urbana-Champaign. She'd lived in some neat residence halls there. The University of Illinois is typically "Big 10" in its appearance...it isn't as pretty a campus as Michigan or Wisconsin, nor as large, but it's still a very nice campus. Dawn had a great story about the opossum that used to live right outside her door.
At last, the Morrow Plots. We ran by the University of Illinois Library, most of which sits below ground. I've alluded to this earlier, and the great song sung by the a capella group the Other Guys... "you can't throw shade on the corn...no sir, we don't mess around our liberry's underground...."
So we took some pictures and wrapped up Urbana, then off to Normal, IL to see where Dawn went to college at Illinois State University. The Illinois State campus is very nice, too. Normal is a cute college town. I got to see the world's largest residence hall, where Dawn lived for a number of years. Later in the trip, I'd get to see the second largest at the University of Illinois-Chicago. It was nice to listen to Dawn explore memory lane as we drove around the campus and the town.
At long last, off to Peoria and Dawn's mom's.
We arrived in the late afternoon and enjoyed porch conversation with Dawn's mom Lori, and her husband Lou(is). As the evening progressed, Lou broke out the Karaoke machine. Everyone sang and had fun, even me--I had to be talked into it. Lou made me realize I needed to not be a stick in the mud.."it's just for fun" he said...
So I sang through a couple of country classics, "Okie from Muskogee" and "Stand by Your Man."
Of course, my rendition of "Stand by Your Man" brought the house down, and then we could all go to bed.
Dawn's "Loco-motion" was probably the biggest hit of the evening, though.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Day Three--Santa Claus, IN to Monticello, IN
May 28, 2006
Central? Eastern? Central? Eastern. Arrggh!
After two days at Holiday World, yeah. We didn't get an early start on Sunday morning. We putzed more than usual, having juice, coffee, and biscuits from the Day's Inn continental breakfast area. When we finally got the car loaded, and our butts down in the seat, we were running pretty late.
Eh, we're on vacation.
So we started the drive to Monticello, IN and Indiana Beach.
Indiana Beach is a very special place for Dawn. It was the park of her childhood long before they installed two very nice roller coasters. There's camping, games, lots of rides, giant carp, bars, restaurants, a dance hall--anything that children or parents might want to do is there.
I've come up with several analogies to help me understand Indiana Beach...
It's like Atlantic City coughed up a hairball, and it was Indiana Beach
The Hamptons for Hoosiers.
I joke, but actually, we took a ride on the Riverboat around Shaefer Lake, and yeah, there's some incredible homes.
The Chicago Catskills
So we arrived in Monticello in the late afternoon. On the way in to town, I insisted we book a hotel for the evening. We saw the adoreable and clean looking Monticello Inn on the way in so we called--fortunately, they had rooms available and we made a reservation.
After the trauma of a missing driver's license and the application of sunscreen, we headed over "Indiana's longest suspension bridge (430 ft.)" and into the park.
We paid our way in and then wandered back and forth across the peninsula taking things in. We hopped on what is a pretty fun drop ride, the Double Shot. It was a nice first thing to do as it let me see the park from way up in the air over the lake.
The clientele is interesting. Lots of nice, normal families with kids enjoying themselves. Lots of kids who are too young to be wearing that (nose ring, belly ring, bikini, make up, tattoo), some trashy folk who had trouble reading the "shirts and shoes required" signs, a few scattered coaster dorks, and us.
We were both hungry after that, so we took in a corn dog. Then we were ready to ride!
We headed over to the hoosier hurricane, a very fun roller coaster that takes you around the park. We then rode the wonderfully named Cornball Express, an excellent curvy ride with some fun swings and hops.
We wandered some more, taking in some air conditioning and watching people play Fascination, a fun game involving getting balls in an appropriate order by dropping them into a box--its like tic tac toe in a sense, I still don't quite understand it. It's fun to watch because the ladies that manage the game have attitude and voices like a pack of cigarettes.
We bought a bag of popcorn and fed the hordes of gigantic carp that accumulate along the edges of the lake.
I think Dawn gets bored with me sometimes because I'm not too big on playing games.
We went on the park's two county fair style steel coasters, Tig'rrr and Galaxi. They were reasonably fun, though Tig'rrr beat me up a little bit. Galaxi was more fun. It has some genuine height and movement to it and some good little drops.
We played some skee ball and won enough tickets to get a giant gummi gecko. We ate him on the way to the hotel for the evening. He was sour, but filling.
We rode on the ferris wheel--it's a really big one! No restraints, big buckets, and a lot of noise. The height of it made me a little antsy, but it was ok.
Prior to the gecko, Dawn got tacos, and I got a nice amusment park hot dog and we ate over by the lake, bathed in the light of the ferris wheel.
Since Monticello is on Eastern time, it didn't get completely dark until almost 11. This was rather fascintaing to watch...the glowing orb of 9 PM sun, the glossy blonde-blue-orange 10 PM sunset...
We had one last late night ride on each coaster. It was really pretty to see the giant ferris wheel all lit up as we passed by it on the Hoosier Hurricane.
We left the park shortly before it closed. We drove out by the campground...through Dawn's memories, opened up the gecko, and headed to the Monticello Inn for the night.
Central? Eastern? Central? Eastern. Arrggh!
After two days at Holiday World, yeah. We didn't get an early start on Sunday morning. We putzed more than usual, having juice, coffee, and biscuits from the Day's Inn continental breakfast area. When we finally got the car loaded, and our butts down in the seat, we were running pretty late.
Eh, we're on vacation.
So we started the drive to Monticello, IN and Indiana Beach.
Indiana Beach is a very special place for Dawn. It was the park of her childhood long before they installed two very nice roller coasters. There's camping, games, lots of rides, giant carp, bars, restaurants, a dance hall--anything that children or parents might want to do is there.
I've come up with several analogies to help me understand Indiana Beach...
It's like Atlantic City coughed up a hairball, and it was Indiana Beach
The Hamptons for Hoosiers.
I joke, but actually, we took a ride on the Riverboat around Shaefer Lake, and yeah, there's some incredible homes.
The Chicago Catskills
So we arrived in Monticello in the late afternoon. On the way in to town, I insisted we book a hotel for the evening. We saw the adoreable and clean looking Monticello Inn on the way in so we called--fortunately, they had rooms available and we made a reservation.
After the trauma of a missing driver's license and the application of sunscreen, we headed over "Indiana's longest suspension bridge (430 ft.)" and into the park.
We paid our way in and then wandered back and forth across the peninsula taking things in. We hopped on what is a pretty fun drop ride, the Double Shot. It was a nice first thing to do as it let me see the park from way up in the air over the lake.
The clientele is interesting. Lots of nice, normal families with kids enjoying themselves. Lots of kids who are too young to be wearing that (nose ring, belly ring, bikini, make up, tattoo), some trashy folk who had trouble reading the "shirts and shoes required" signs, a few scattered coaster dorks, and us.
We were both hungry after that, so we took in a corn dog. Then we were ready to ride!
We headed over to the hoosier hurricane, a very fun roller coaster that takes you around the park. We then rode the wonderfully named Cornball Express, an excellent curvy ride with some fun swings and hops.
We wandered some more, taking in some air conditioning and watching people play Fascination, a fun game involving getting balls in an appropriate order by dropping them into a box--its like tic tac toe in a sense, I still don't quite understand it. It's fun to watch because the ladies that manage the game have attitude and voices like a pack of cigarettes.
We bought a bag of popcorn and fed the hordes of gigantic carp that accumulate along the edges of the lake.
I think Dawn gets bored with me sometimes because I'm not too big on playing games.
We went on the park's two county fair style steel coasters, Tig'rrr and Galaxi. They were reasonably fun, though Tig'rrr beat me up a little bit. Galaxi was more fun. It has some genuine height and movement to it and some good little drops.
We played some skee ball and won enough tickets to get a giant gummi gecko. We ate him on the way to the hotel for the evening. He was sour, but filling.
We rode on the ferris wheel--it's a really big one! No restraints, big buckets, and a lot of noise. The height of it made me a little antsy, but it was ok.
Prior to the gecko, Dawn got tacos, and I got a nice amusment park hot dog and we ate over by the lake, bathed in the light of the ferris wheel.
Since Monticello is on Eastern time, it didn't get completely dark until almost 11. This was rather fascintaing to watch...the glowing orb of 9 PM sun, the glossy blonde-blue-orange 10 PM sunset...
We had one last late night ride on each coaster. It was really pretty to see the giant ferris wheel all lit up as we passed by it on the Hoosier Hurricane.
We left the park shortly before it closed. We drove out by the campground...through Dawn's memories, opened up the gecko, and headed to the Monticello Inn for the night.
Day Two--Santa Claus, IN
Saturday, May 27, 2006
"Morning Honey."
"--Uuugggh."
"Do you want to go to the water park?"
--"Not really. Well. I will if you want."
"Petulant s i g h."
--"Ok, let's go."
In my 34 years, I haven't always been kind to myself. I've been overweight for most of it, though I've done better over the past couple of years. The idea of exposing most of myself for a day at the water park was kind of daunting. This is a little different than swimming, which I don't really mind. This is walking around shirtless, shoeless ( I wish I had less gross feet), in my case, tanless and exposed for several hours with lots of people around watching.
I got over it.
By far, Dawn and I were in the upper ranks of body quality there. So I quickly lost the insecurity and began to enjoy myself.
We got there as the water park opened for the day's event--we first took a dip in the wave pool. It was unusually warm in Indiana that week, however, at 10 AM, the water still had quite a chill on it. We eased our way in and it was invigorating.
After a few minutes there, we shared breakfast with a very nice couple from Tennessee. Very normal folks in their middle years, they'd just sent their son off to college at Stanford in California. We enjoyed hearing about their travels and how they worked amusement park visits into their son's college visits. Holiday again provided the meal--a variety of muffins, fruit, fruit dip, coffee and juices served buffet style by the always lovely park staff.
After breakfast and a short rest, we headed over to the water slides. We first rode an open racing slide called Jungle Racer that was really fun! you ride down a hill with several hops, one or two of which induced a little air time sensation. There's a screen at the end of the ride that tells you how you placed against the other riders.
Following that, we got on the larger water slides, Zinga--which is a long, curvy tunnel out into what resembles a big toilet bowl (now I know what it's like to be flushed) and finally, Zoombabwe, the world's tallest enclosed water ride.
After the big water rides, we took a long, leisurely trip on the lazy river. We floated around, pushing each other into the various spout and waterfall elements. Dawn finally sank me--she pushed me under a water fall and I adjusted myself right out of the float. We enjoyed this for a good, long while, soaking in the sun and talking to folks as they floated by. Finally, we got out, rode some of the smaller water slides, and then started back toward the hotel.
Along the road from Santa Claus to Jasper, there's a cute town called Ferdinand, where you'll find a delightful monastery, Monastery Immaculate Conception. We drove up to it and looked around for a bit from the car, and then discovered they had a gift shop. We decided to drop in for a visit, as Dawn thoughtfully thought to look for saints for her co-workers Mario and Maylen.
It's hard to find saints in Boone, NC.
So she called Mario, who wanted a St. Joseph, and we asked one of the nuns working in the shop to recommend something for Maylen, who is from Guatemala. The sister suggested Mary of Guadalupe since she is is very dear to the people of Central America, and Maylen's name may have "Mary" in part as its source.
Following this, we drove back to the hotel where someone putzed, and then finally, since both of us were starting to think the Chinese food/air freshener lobby smell was appetizing, went out to find food in downtown Jasper.
Dawn had selected a local restaurant/bar with German food in Jasper that looked appealing. They restaurant part wasn't open when we got there, but the bartender offered a nice recommendation and we headed over a block to the Millhouse restaurant. We were seen to by a very friendly staff who brought us refreshing water and fun local beers from the tap. We got free self-serve soup, which was a very nice start since we were really hungry, I chose the chicken soup, rich and savory, and Dawn chose broccoli/cheese soup which was also nice.
I was feeling hungry and in need of protein, so I ordered the meatloaf. It came with thick, brown gravy (unlike what I'm used to here in the South), very nice mashed potatoes, and the best grilled veggies I think I've ever had--red onions, a little garlic, bell peppers, zucchini--a very nice collage of color and healthy things to offset the beefiness of my entree.
Dawn ordered a pecan crusted chicken salad that looked yummy--mandarin oranges, chicken, fresh greens, and other surprises.
Feeling rested, refilled, and refreshed, we headed back to the hotel for awhile and relaxed for a bit before we had to head back out to the park. We had to be on time--entering the park just as it closed to the public. The meal at the park was a nice cook out, with hot dogs, hamburgers, and other treats.
I failed to mention in my previous post that pizza , veggies and ahh yes. delightful and delicious Holiday World fudge were the highlights of the first night's meal.
We wanted to get a ride on the Voyage before dark. It's better to be able to see what's coming, if you can manage to look straight ahead!
They lines were pretty immense so we didn't make it on for awihle. When we did, it was pretty dark already, and the first ride damn near broke my ribs...we were sitting near the back and on one banked turn I was tossed against the side of the car pretty hard, so much so that it actually knocked the breath out of me. I whined for the rest of the evening :).
Dawn and I got our share of rides on Voyage pretty early on. We got with Danny P., Matthew, and Matthew's dad--they have the best relationship, and they go to lots of parks and events together--and headed over to ride the other new, featured ride in the Thanksgiving area of Holiday World--the Gobbler Getaway.
You're given a turkey caller (gun) with which you are supposed to call (shoot) turkeys. You ride through a very nice array of animatronic turkeys and things, shooting away. I think John did the best in our car...
I'm certain his wrists and dominant hand are in excellent shape for gaming...
I was a terribly distant second, but then again, I've been on a date.
One more ride on the Voyage...in the back...we had finally learned to ride it. This isn't a hand's up, relax and get the most out of it kind of ride. Brace yourself...pretty hard.
Dawn and I spent the rest of our time at Holiday World happily walking back and forth between Raven and Legend, getting great rides on both with virtually no wait.
We held hands, and walked out of the park finally, after another free soda--I think it was hard for both of us to leave, it's a really enjoyable place.
"Morning Honey."
"--Uuugggh."
"Do you want to go to the water park?"
--"Not really. Well. I will if you want."
"Petulant s i g h."
--"Ok, let's go."
In my 34 years, I haven't always been kind to myself. I've been overweight for most of it, though I've done better over the past couple of years. The idea of exposing most of myself for a day at the water park was kind of daunting. This is a little different than swimming, which I don't really mind. This is walking around shirtless, shoeless ( I wish I had less gross feet), in my case, tanless and exposed for several hours with lots of people around watching.
I got over it.
By far, Dawn and I were in the upper ranks of body quality there. So I quickly lost the insecurity and began to enjoy myself.
We got there as the water park opened for the day's event--we first took a dip in the wave pool. It was unusually warm in Indiana that week, however, at 10 AM, the water still had quite a chill on it. We eased our way in and it was invigorating.
After a few minutes there, we shared breakfast with a very nice couple from Tennessee. Very normal folks in their middle years, they'd just sent their son off to college at Stanford in California. We enjoyed hearing about their travels and how they worked amusement park visits into their son's college visits. Holiday again provided the meal--a variety of muffins, fruit, fruit dip, coffee and juices served buffet style by the always lovely park staff.
After breakfast and a short rest, we headed over to the water slides. We first rode an open racing slide called Jungle Racer that was really fun! you ride down a hill with several hops, one or two of which induced a little air time sensation. There's a screen at the end of the ride that tells you how you placed against the other riders.
Following that, we got on the larger water slides, Zinga--which is a long, curvy tunnel out into what resembles a big toilet bowl (now I know what it's like to be flushed) and finally, Zoombabwe, the world's tallest enclosed water ride.
After the big water rides, we took a long, leisurely trip on the lazy river. We floated around, pushing each other into the various spout and waterfall elements. Dawn finally sank me--she pushed me under a water fall and I adjusted myself right out of the float. We enjoyed this for a good, long while, soaking in the sun and talking to folks as they floated by. Finally, we got out, rode some of the smaller water slides, and then started back toward the hotel.
Along the road from Santa Claus to Jasper, there's a cute town called Ferdinand, where you'll find a delightful monastery, Monastery Immaculate Conception. We drove up to it and looked around for a bit from the car, and then discovered they had a gift shop. We decided to drop in for a visit, as Dawn thoughtfully thought to look for saints for her co-workers Mario and Maylen.
It's hard to find saints in Boone, NC.
So she called Mario, who wanted a St. Joseph, and we asked one of the nuns working in the shop to recommend something for Maylen, who is from Guatemala. The sister suggested Mary of Guadalupe since she is is very dear to the people of Central America, and Maylen's name may have "Mary" in part as its source.
Following this, we drove back to the hotel where someone putzed, and then finally, since both of us were starting to think the Chinese food/air freshener lobby smell was appetizing, went out to find food in downtown Jasper.
Dawn had selected a local restaurant/bar with German food in Jasper that looked appealing. They restaurant part wasn't open when we got there, but the bartender offered a nice recommendation and we headed over a block to the Millhouse restaurant. We were seen to by a very friendly staff who brought us refreshing water and fun local beers from the tap. We got free self-serve soup, which was a very nice start since we were really hungry, I chose the chicken soup, rich and savory, and Dawn chose broccoli/cheese soup which was also nice.
I was feeling hungry and in need of protein, so I ordered the meatloaf. It came with thick, brown gravy (unlike what I'm used to here in the South), very nice mashed potatoes, and the best grilled veggies I think I've ever had--red onions, a little garlic, bell peppers, zucchini--a very nice collage of color and healthy things to offset the beefiness of my entree.
Dawn ordered a pecan crusted chicken salad that looked yummy--mandarin oranges, chicken, fresh greens, and other surprises.
Feeling rested, refilled, and refreshed, we headed back to the hotel for awhile and relaxed for a bit before we had to head back out to the park. We had to be on time--entering the park just as it closed to the public. The meal at the park was a nice cook out, with hot dogs, hamburgers, and other treats.
I failed to mention in my previous post that pizza , veggies and ahh yes. delightful and delicious Holiday World fudge were the highlights of the first night's meal.
We wanted to get a ride on the Voyage before dark. It's better to be able to see what's coming, if you can manage to look straight ahead!
They lines were pretty immense so we didn't make it on for awihle. When we did, it was pretty dark already, and the first ride damn near broke my ribs...we were sitting near the back and on one banked turn I was tossed against the side of the car pretty hard, so much so that it actually knocked the breath out of me. I whined for the rest of the evening :).
Dawn and I got our share of rides on Voyage pretty early on. We got with Danny P., Matthew, and Matthew's dad--they have the best relationship, and they go to lots of parks and events together--and headed over to ride the other new, featured ride in the Thanksgiving area of Holiday World--the Gobbler Getaway.
You're given a turkey caller (gun) with which you are supposed to call (shoot) turkeys. You ride through a very nice array of animatronic turkeys and things, shooting away. I think John did the best in our car...
I'm certain his wrists and dominant hand are in excellent shape for gaming...
I was a terribly distant second, but then again, I've been on a date.
One more ride on the Voyage...in the back...we had finally learned to ride it. This isn't a hand's up, relax and get the most out of it kind of ride. Brace yourself...pretty hard.
Dawn and I spent the rest of our time at Holiday World happily walking back and forth between Raven and Legend, getting great rides on both with virtually no wait.
We held hands, and walked out of the park finally, after another free soda--I think it was hard for both of us to leave, it's a really enjoyable place.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Day One-Cedartown, GA to Santa Claus, IN
This is it...what you've been waiting for...FINALLY!!! It's here. A new blog posting from mr. pants detailing the highs and lows, the ups and downs, the lift hills and bunny hops, the cornfields and skyscrapers, the baseball and the roller coasters.
I'm going to try and do a day-by-day remembrance. Sorry dear readers, I was bad and didn't have a lot of internet access throughout the duration of the trip for a daily update--so some details from the two week cornball voyage will get lost I'm afraid...
Anyway, here it goes...
Day One--Friday, May 26, 2006:
After a good night's sleep at mom and dad's, we managed to hit the road in our rented, sunset gold Kia Rio by 7 AM. Our pact to eat at only non-chain restaurants was broken pretty early. We wound our way through Rome, Ga on U.S. 53 to Calhoun, Ga. where we stopped for breakfast and coffee at IHOP. I needed coffee. Leave me alone!
Travel Tip 1: Get the biggest item on the menu at IHOP and ask for an extra plate. There's a bit of an upcharge but, it's cheap and tasty.
We got back on the road pretty quickly, hitting I-75 north and making our way through Chattanooga and later Nashville and into Kentucky and the William H. Natcher Parkway and Toll Road. We had to be very careful in our little Kia, for we did not have cruise control and maintaining a reasonable speed when the roads are flat, open, and arrow straight for miles and miles at a time is difficult.
Our first great eating achievement of the trip came in Owensboro, KY. Dawn is so good at road trippin'; she found this really great bbq joint in Owensboro that I can reccommend very highly called Moonlite B-B-Q.
The BBQ was very tasty and fresh, with a heavier saucier red-brown sauce that we both prefer. The BBQ offering unique to Kentucky, at least as far as I know, was barbecued mutton. Baaa. Dawn liked that better than me, but it certainly wasn't horrible.
There were two additional sauces on the table, one sort of brown and spicy, the other almost like broth infused with black pepper. The peppery one was particularly yummy and made the mutton more palatable to me.
The BBQ, fresh vegetables, desserts, and oh so much more is served buffet style at lunch and at the bargain price of $12 a person for all you can eat...and I can eat a lot.
After lunch, Dawn took us on an alternative route through downtown Owensboro. It's a cute little town right on the border between KY and IN.
After a little confusion--we made it down to the Ohio river, but found it difficult to get across--we finally made it into Indiana. Because of our diversion, we only got a small glimpse of what is supposedly considered the most beautiful suspension bridge in Kentucky or something.
A lesson for Indiana--get some more substantial and attractive signs to welcome folks into your state!
So on to US 231 and Holiday World!
We arrived in Santa Claus and mosied through to our hotel, the Day's Inn in Jasper, IN. We got a great laugh when we pulled into what is a fairly nice Day's Inn and discovered that it was directly across the street from a fairly substantial prison. Whee! Only the classiest for us of course. We were fortunate and timely, and arrived around 4 PM, giving us plenty of time to unload and relax for a bit before hitting Holiday World. We walked into the corridor of the hotel, and found the foulest of odors--chinese food blended with a strong air freshener. Either one of these odors alone is not unpleasant, but bring them together for total odorgrossness.
We settled in, relaxed, freshened up, rested for a bit, watched a little TV, and then Dawn got a text message from her good friend Matthew from California. His text message said simply:
"Voyage: Ho...Lee...Shit."
So much for rest and relaxation. My darling began to bounce off the walls a bit, so given that we had about a 20 mile ride back to the park, we started moving in that direction.
As we made or drive down to the park, we came around the back end of Holiday World. Dawn made eye contact with the beastly Voyage for the first time, and giddiness prevailed. It really is a pretty ride, wood and steel enmeshed in tracks, wheels, curves, hops, and drops. The lift hill and first drop, at about 160 feet and a 66 degree angle is incredible even visually.
We arrived, greeting friends and dorks both known and unknown. We got our tickets organized, met with Dawn's good friend Matthew--for me the first time meeting him, he's a very nice guy, and known to every coaster enthusiast it seems, and then met with Danny P., our good friend from Ohio who I first met in Dollywood last December.
Dawn was eager, but determined that I would ride the two other very, very good coasters at Holiday World, Raven and Legend, both part of the Halloween themed area of the park before Voyage. We got in quickly, prior to the park's closing and the event/meal beginning and got a ride on Raven--a beautiful, smooth, and exciting ride, though very brief. It's a very efficent roller coaster and I would enjoy riding it many more times over the weekend.
So we went to the meet and greet and the meal, and I enjoyed meeting some of Dawn's coaster cronies. It's really fun to people watch at these events. This hobby has interesting adherents...the "reasonably normal," the "woefully socially inept," the "geeks of unimaginable stereotypical geekiness," the "hangers on" and then there's the category I fall in, along with a few others the "I kinda dig this, but I'm here with my girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband/friend."
After I visit a few more parks, and yes, after I geek out about this stuff a little bit more, I hope to join Dawn in the ranks of the "reasonably normal."
That's not to say there's anyone I'm passing judgment on anyone, its just like any large social grouping--there's categories and social structure. Everyone is really nice to everyone else, a LOT of people know each other from previous events, and there's lots of great conversation and interaction.
That being said, there's some wacky people, too....the "ride it until I'm sick" crowd the "life revolves around roller coasters, why are we in this water park, ugh" crowd...many personalities and attitudes in the mildly obsessive world of coaster enthusiasts.
I have to say great things about the fine folks that own and manage Holiday World. The owners are very involved. I'd venture to say that Pat Koch is the hardest working person in the Amusement Industry. Over the weekend, if the park was open, she was there and visible and working. Even the administrative staff, including Pat, are out and about, checking lap bars and seat belts, talking to people, answering questions and with just the most amazing attitude and energy. The whole staff of the park works hard, is friendly and energetic, and does everything possible to make folks comfortable and happy.
So after dinner we walked back to the Legend. It's a bigger coaster, longer ride than its ornithological counterpart. It's in the Halloween area of the park and it channels Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Ichabod's legendary ride with its mad dash around the track, its numerous head choppers, and elongated tunnel.
I was throughly entertained by both coasters and torn between which I liked best.
Finally, it was on to the Voyage to stand in line with 2,ooo other people.
The anticipation was building for both of us. We finally got up to the platform and on the train. We were so very excited, and the tension was surreal.
Intense. This is by far the most intense roller coaster I've experienced in my limited experience. The amazing speed--around 70 mph at times--combined with an amazing lift hill and drop, the breakneck turns, the 90 degree banking and the triple down in the dark just tear a person up.
And then there's a bit more. A few more hard twists, turns, hops all at incredible speed and then finally it stops.
The first ride, I was all over it and didn't understand why everyone was kinda whiny about the last stretch give me more, I felt like it was sort of a bonus ride, extra innings, overtime.
After the next couple of rides, I wanted it to stop.
Dawn summarizes well..."Can I just get off after the triple down? Thanks!"
"The voyage is like, a really hot chick, but she's kind of a bitch."
--Pants
"Farm after farm after farm, all with the same elements--barn, house, silo, tractor, but in slightly different arrangements....arrrrgh!!!!"
--Pants
I'm going to try and do a day-by-day remembrance. Sorry dear readers, I was bad and didn't have a lot of internet access throughout the duration of the trip for a daily update--so some details from the two week cornball voyage will get lost I'm afraid...
Anyway, here it goes...
Day One--Friday, May 26, 2006:
After a good night's sleep at mom and dad's, we managed to hit the road in our rented, sunset gold Kia Rio by 7 AM. Our pact to eat at only non-chain restaurants was broken pretty early. We wound our way through Rome, Ga on U.S. 53 to Calhoun, Ga. where we stopped for breakfast and coffee at IHOP. I needed coffee. Leave me alone!
Travel Tip 1: Get the biggest item on the menu at IHOP and ask for an extra plate. There's a bit of an upcharge but, it's cheap and tasty.
We got back on the road pretty quickly, hitting I-75 north and making our way through Chattanooga and later Nashville and into Kentucky and the William H. Natcher Parkway and Toll Road. We had to be very careful in our little Kia, for we did not have cruise control and maintaining a reasonable speed when the roads are flat, open, and arrow straight for miles and miles at a time is difficult.
Our first great eating achievement of the trip came in Owensboro, KY. Dawn is so good at road trippin'; she found this really great bbq joint in Owensboro that I can reccommend very highly called Moonlite B-B-Q.
The BBQ was very tasty and fresh, with a heavier saucier red-brown sauce that we both prefer. The BBQ offering unique to Kentucky, at least as far as I know, was barbecued mutton. Baaa. Dawn liked that better than me, but it certainly wasn't horrible.
There were two additional sauces on the table, one sort of brown and spicy, the other almost like broth infused with black pepper. The peppery one was particularly yummy and made the mutton more palatable to me.
The BBQ, fresh vegetables, desserts, and oh so much more is served buffet style at lunch and at the bargain price of $12 a person for all you can eat...and I can eat a lot.
After lunch, Dawn took us on an alternative route through downtown Owensboro. It's a cute little town right on the border between KY and IN.
After a little confusion--we made it down to the Ohio river, but found it difficult to get across--we finally made it into Indiana. Because of our diversion, we only got a small glimpse of what is supposedly considered the most beautiful suspension bridge in Kentucky or something.
A lesson for Indiana--get some more substantial and attractive signs to welcome folks into your state!
So on to US 231 and Holiday World!
We arrived in Santa Claus and mosied through to our hotel, the Day's Inn in Jasper, IN. We got a great laugh when we pulled into what is a fairly nice Day's Inn and discovered that it was directly across the street from a fairly substantial prison. Whee! Only the classiest for us of course. We were fortunate and timely, and arrived around 4 PM, giving us plenty of time to unload and relax for a bit before hitting Holiday World. We walked into the corridor of the hotel, and found the foulest of odors--chinese food blended with a strong air freshener. Either one of these odors alone is not unpleasant, but bring them together for total odorgrossness.
We settled in, relaxed, freshened up, rested for a bit, watched a little TV, and then Dawn got a text message from her good friend Matthew from California. His text message said simply:
"Voyage: Ho...Lee...Shit."
So much for rest and relaxation. My darling began to bounce off the walls a bit, so given that we had about a 20 mile ride back to the park, we started moving in that direction.
As we made or drive down to the park, we came around the back end of Holiday World. Dawn made eye contact with the beastly Voyage for the first time, and giddiness prevailed. It really is a pretty ride, wood and steel enmeshed in tracks, wheels, curves, hops, and drops. The lift hill and first drop, at about 160 feet and a 66 degree angle is incredible even visually.
We arrived, greeting friends and dorks both known and unknown. We got our tickets organized, met with Dawn's good friend Matthew--for me the first time meeting him, he's a very nice guy, and known to every coaster enthusiast it seems, and then met with Danny P., our good friend from Ohio who I first met in Dollywood last December.
Dawn was eager, but determined that I would ride the two other very, very good coasters at Holiday World, Raven and Legend, both part of the Halloween themed area of the park before Voyage. We got in quickly, prior to the park's closing and the event/meal beginning and got a ride on Raven--a beautiful, smooth, and exciting ride, though very brief. It's a very efficent roller coaster and I would enjoy riding it many more times over the weekend.
So we went to the meet and greet and the meal, and I enjoyed meeting some of Dawn's coaster cronies. It's really fun to people watch at these events. This hobby has interesting adherents...the "reasonably normal," the "woefully socially inept," the "geeks of unimaginable stereotypical geekiness," the "hangers on" and then there's the category I fall in, along with a few others the "I kinda dig this, but I'm here with my girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband/friend."
After I visit a few more parks, and yes, after I geek out about this stuff a little bit more, I hope to join Dawn in the ranks of the "reasonably normal."
That's not to say there's anyone I'm passing judgment on anyone, its just like any large social grouping--there's categories and social structure. Everyone is really nice to everyone else, a LOT of people know each other from previous events, and there's lots of great conversation and interaction.
That being said, there's some wacky people, too....the "ride it until I'm sick" crowd the "life revolves around roller coasters, why are we in this water park, ugh" crowd...many personalities and attitudes in the mildly obsessive world of coaster enthusiasts.
I have to say great things about the fine folks that own and manage Holiday World. The owners are very involved. I'd venture to say that Pat Koch is the hardest working person in the Amusement Industry. Over the weekend, if the park was open, she was there and visible and working. Even the administrative staff, including Pat, are out and about, checking lap bars and seat belts, talking to people, answering questions and with just the most amazing attitude and energy. The whole staff of the park works hard, is friendly and energetic, and does everything possible to make folks comfortable and happy.
So after dinner we walked back to the Legend. It's a bigger coaster, longer ride than its ornithological counterpart. It's in the Halloween area of the park and it channels Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Ichabod's legendary ride with its mad dash around the track, its numerous head choppers, and elongated tunnel.
I was throughly entertained by both coasters and torn between which I liked best.
Finally, it was on to the Voyage to stand in line with 2,ooo other people.
The anticipation was building for both of us. We finally got up to the platform and on the train. We were so very excited, and the tension was surreal.
Intense. This is by far the most intense roller coaster I've experienced in my limited experience. The amazing speed--around 70 mph at times--combined with an amazing lift hill and drop, the breakneck turns, the 90 degree banking and the triple down in the dark just tear a person up.
And then there's a bit more. A few more hard twists, turns, hops all at incredible speed and then finally it stops.
The first ride, I was all over it and didn't understand why everyone was kinda whiny about the last stretch give me more, I felt like it was sort of a bonus ride, extra innings, overtime.
After the next couple of rides, I wanted it to stop.
Dawn summarizes well..."Can I just get off after the triple down? Thanks!"
"The voyage is like, a really hot chick, but she's kind of a bitch."
--Pants
"Farm after farm after farm, all with the same elements--barn, house, silo, tractor, but in slightly different arrangements....arrrrgh!!!!"
--Pants
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