9-30-07 #3

Another day, another trip. We made the drive over to Oxford so mom could get her fix at Square Books. This store has made several "best of" lists over the years. It made Time magazine's top 20 list for bookstores a few years ago. She is pretty well known there as I found out. I took a walk around the square, got these pics of the County Courthouse and City Hall, found a local shop with Ole Miss t-shirts, caps, etc., and as I got back to the bookstore found mom asleep in one of the reading chairs. There are some advantages to being 90. We went from there to the local cafe on the square, the City Grocery. This place has also been recognized nationally, and is the first place I got shrimp and grits. Mom also knows the ownership of this cafe, and told me she is frequently comped here. I met one of the owners as we ate, but no comps came out for the son from Tex. Rats! William Faulkner is the best known Oxford resident, so there is a bronze of him in front of the City Hall. We felt obligated to get pics. Mom took this one pic of me, and I think it's the first picture she's ever taken. She kept putting the LCD screen up to her eye. We finally worked it out, and proceeded on. This old phone booth sits at one corner of the square. It doesn't appear to be in working order, but adds a touch to this quaint city. We're heading over to Rowan Oak next, so follow along.

9-30-07 #2

I'm at my mom's place here in New Albany, Miss. If I had any sense, I'd be spending time buying kudzu covered land in the hills around due to the Toyota plant going up between here and Tupelo. It's going to be one of those major production sites like the one in San Antonio. The state is already upgrading all the highways around, including a new interstate to Memphis. This is going to be BIG for the state.
Speaking of Memphis, we were going up there one day after I dropped my car off to get a leak fixed in a tire. I noticed her inspection sticker was 9 mo.s overdue, and asked her mechanic friend where to get the inspection done. He directed us to the other side of town, and told us the station was "down in a holler". I had always thought places were "up a holler", but I didn't argue. This picture shows mom's position throughout the inspection. The guy doing the work walked around the car stopping to ask me if there was anything needing fixing. I hadn't driven this car for 3 or 4 yr.s, so I told him as far as I knew, no. Next thing I know he's putting on a new sticker, and mom's writing him a check for $5.00. Safety, Miss. style. Afterward, we went on to Memphis, she did what she needed to do, and we proceeded on over to Corky's BBQ. Dry rub ribs..MMMmmmM!
The next day, our trip took us up to Blue Mtn. This is the college mom attended, and I got a pic of her in front of the Admin. Bldg. In the background is the church she attended, so we took a stroll over to it. I got mom up on the stage to play some piano. We were the only people attending services, so when she broke into "Amazing Grace", I couldn't help myself. I grabbed the Good Book, and commenced to puttin' down sinnin', and praisin' believin'. After a good deal of sweat was worked up, and nobody came in to rededicate their lives, we headed on back to New Albany for a night of C-Span. Don't touch that dial, there's more to come.

9-30-07 #1

These posts will cover my ride through the South to catch up with family. My niece and her husband, Lauren and Kendal, had twins at the start of my trip so I had to make it to Arkadelphia, Ark. to check them out. The one picture is of Carly Mac and Camper with a couple of stuffed manatees I'd found in Fla. I had to steal this pic from their Snapfish site because I was handed babies as I got to their house and totally forgot to start taking pictures. I did get this crib shot and Carly Mac swinging away. If this isn't the first time you've seen this post, you'll notice I added these two shots of Kendal sleeping and Lauren doing a self portrait. Once again I had to steal from their Snapfish site. I only had a couple of days to spend in Ark., but I did get to spend some time with Kendal and Lauren, and that was nice. Well, it's off to Miss. to see the head of the clan, so I'll get back at that point. Merci, bon amis. (Anybody know if that's French?)

9-11-07

I made it over to Marfa today, after wasting a little time last night trying to check out the Marfa Lights. It was a bit too rainy and cloudy to see anything. Either that or it was too wet for the people that sneak out in the desert after dark with their spotlights for the show. Skeptical? You bet.
This is the courthouse for Brewster County in Marfa. What struck me is it isn't made of granite blocks, like the ones in the Hill Country. It does fit the area though. I took the road down to Presidio and drove the River Rd. to Lajitas, and Terlingua after getting out of Marfa. From this picture of the Rio Grande, it's hard to tell which side of the river is owned by the great world power, and which side is trying to get there. It's about 50 mi.s of open territory along this road. How in the hell is a fence going to keep us separated?
Anyway, heading on down the road, as I went through Lajitas, then Terlingua, it really struck me how much these towns have changed since the last time I was there in the mid-80's. Progress has hit the Big Bend area. This one picture of the sandy area with the trailers in the background was the site of the Terlingua Store, the underground bar, and the theater. I don't know where they went.
This cloud covered mountain was on the trip back up to Alpine. I somehow managed to slow down enough so I could get out and take this pic. It's a wide open, straight, well paved road where I finally got a chance to feel what my car would do. Check out the speedometer. If I hadn't been holding the camera with one hand I know that shaking image would be showing a higher number. This is speed merchant signing off. I'll be heading down to the Deep South to see family in the next couple of weeks, but I'll keep in touch. See y'all.

9-10-07 #4

From Balmorhea, toward Alpine, I took the trip up to Mcdonald Observatory. After I went through the visitor's center, I drove up to the buildings that house the telescopes. There was a slight problem with the rain shower blowing in. The parking area for visitors is a few hundred feet down the road from the 'scopes. I sat in the car for a minute trying to determine my chances of getting lightning struck while I was scooting from 'scope to 'scope. Decided it wasn't my turn, and went for it. The trouble came when I figured out the self-guided tour did not include entering the buildings, so I took a few pics of the 'scope housings then made a dash back to the car before getting washed off the mountain. There are 3 telescopes up there looking for "dark matter", with the biggest also shooting a laser to the moon, reflecting off a set of mirrors left by one of the Apollo missions. They found the moon is forty feet from the previously thought location, and moving mere inches away per year. Same as I used to do with surveying instruments. As one registered surveyor told me, "we're on the cutting edge". Riiiiight.
The rains did come, so I folded up and headed on to Alpine. I'll be trying to get down to the Rio Grande tomorrow. We'll catch up then. Toodles, noodles.

9-10-07 #3

I mentioned it, so I might as well put the picture in. This is the desert with Balmorhea in the trees. O.K., I FORGOT!

9-10-07 #2

Remember my little flippers....el agua es bueno!

9-10-07

This....kiddies.....is something that'l blow your mind. In the desert outside of Alpine, Tx. (home base for a couple of days) is Balmorhea State Park. This is not your normal state park with mountains, forests, historic sites. No, no, no, this is Barton Springs in the middle of west Tex. The pool is at least as large as Barton Springs and 25' to 30' deep in the center. It's crystal clear, has fish piddling around, and the water is in the low 70 degree range. No blue shock when you jump in, thank God. This being a Monday and schools in session, I had the place to myself except for two couples visiting the area. I got them to take a pic of me in the pool just fartin' around. This would be a great place for snorkeling, but it's clear enough, and clean enough to the point a mask is not necessary. In the one picture of the desert, the pool is located in that treed area. How in the hell did it get here? Who knows, but it is a welcome oasis in this corner of Tex.

9-9-07

Goshdangit, the other thing I was hoping not to see was the party lights on the black & white. I was within sight of my hotel yesterday when there he was. The party pooper said he had clocked me at 79 in a 65. I pleaded, but all he did was drop the ticket down to 75. THANKS A LOT! I guess I was lucky in a strange way because I had gotten up to 100 in a couple of places on the hwy. There wasn't any traffic.
Anyway, I got down to Carlsbad Caverns today, speed limit all the way and from here on. Once you get to the Caverns, you take an elevator down 750 ft. to the "Big Room". There's a mile walk around the room that covers as much ground as 14 football fields. How the first people to explore this found their way around is beyond me. I mean you come up on a rock formation and can't see around it because of all the stalactites, stalacmites, and other obstructions. Well, somebody figured it out and they eventually got this trail in. I took a lot of pictures as I was walking through but with the flash on all the flash light would bounce around and just blur the picture. Without using the flash, the formations came out better, but were fuzzy due to the lens staying open longer. I think I got a few good ones, so see what you think.
I'll be getting back in Texas tomorrow, somewhere near or in Alpine. Buenas noches chimis & changas.

9-8-07 #3

Another day at Santa Fe, only this was during Fiesta. The Plaza was closed to traffic, and looked like the whole population was there. This must be a big day here. Of course there was the mariachi band, and as I passed they were doing some old Mexican song for this lady who was celebrating ochenta y siete today. There were the usual turkey legs and funnel cakes for sale, but there were also the fry bread tacos and fajitas. MMmmm. I got a pack of red chile almonds that, as I ate, tended to wait a minute, then attack with a vengeance. Whooo!
After a couple of hours, I headed out to Taos, searching for a restaurant the two ladies from the day before told me about. It's called the Stakeout, and is not in Taos, but as I was told is about 5 mi.s before you get there. I found it. It's off the main road into Taos, down this gravel road a ways. I got a seat in this patio with a view of the mtn.s all around. A filet mignon and a molten chocolate cake later, I was stuffed and ready to be tucked in.
This was my last day around here, tomorrow I'll be in Carlsbad, N.M. to check out the caverns. I'll get back with y'all then. Tata.

9-8-07 #2

Aaah, nice drive up here to Santa Fe, half desert, half mountains, relaxing. I made my way down to the Plaza for a walk-about, and found it to be quite artsy. There are 18 times as many shops as there are doorways around the square. It's like mini-mall city. One gallery I really liked was the Chuck Jones shop. Remember?, he was the main cartoonist for all the old Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Road Runner, Wiley Coyote, Elmer Fudd films. Almost every cell on display brought back the whole cartoon. I got lots'a yuks out of the place, but at $1200 a pop they can keep 'em. There is one of those old churches at one end of the Plaza. St. Francis of Assissi had something to do with it 'cause it's named after him. A little south of the Plaza is the oldest church building in the U.S. I can't remember all the details, but there it sits. Around the corner and down the alley from this is the oldest house structure in the U.S. It's built on an old pueblo foundation that dates back to 1200. The house was built and being occupied by the Spaniards between 1598 and 1612. That's pretty awesome.
After a little more wandering, I got a bite at this restaurant overlooking the Plaza. As is my wont, I was taking some pictures, and noticed the two ladies trying to back out of the way. I told them it was alright as they added texture to the shot. Well, they just giggled away at that. After eating, I headed on back to the car, but had to stop for a pic with the pachiderms. They were there, I was there...had to happen. Tomorrow starts Fiesta here. I think I'll return. 'Til then, (we're about to catch up).