We are in Gainesville, Florida; a comfy 66 degrees. Looking back on the week, we got out of the Memphis area just in time to avoid some serious tornadoes and nasty storms.
Here things are the best, warms temps, light breezes and practically no rain in sight.
We decided to stay another day here to take advantage of the bike trails around the University of Florida and surrounding area. I will definitely bring my camera today. Yesterday I got lazy and only brought water with me...thankfully! I forgot how quickly one dehydrates in this weather and needed it badly.
I also was able to experience my first flat tire! Well, fortunately I did not get it while we were on the trail. I noticed some gold colored stubby garland material stuff on my front tire and when I stopped to look at it, all that was left was a Phillips head of a screw or nail. I went to pull it out and Chuck said, don't...wait till we get back to the van.
Good thing too...when we removed it there was this l-o-n-g h-i-s-s-s-s-s...and then it was flat. Had a spare tube in my kit, so we fixed it after dinner and today we are literally ready to roll again.
Guess I better get another tube...just in case. We are planning a lot of miles on this trip! And it has only just begun.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Gibson Guitars
Today we toured the Gibson Guitar factory located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee.
We waited in the store area for the appointed time for the tour to start, I found a cool looking Jukebox; Chuck found an interesting guitar...
The group was a small one so we had the tour guide practically to ourselves. Ready to answer our questions at any time. What I found most interesting is that the entire wooden part of the instrument is all hand made and tooled. The finishes are also all hand done. This of course is reflected in the final price tag, but nice to know that quality instruments are still hand made in this country.
If I ever get to Pennsylvania, I want to visit the Martin Guitar company and see the differences in approach etc.
Anyway below are pictures of the tour and steps along the way to becoming a Gibson Guitar!
The wood is shaped by moisture and special cutting tools; then glued. No fasteners of any kind are used to hold the components together.
Once the guitar is assembled the finish work can begin..it is long and arduous, but beautiful when completed.
Any little mess up at the finish stage can render the final product...junk. So patience and steady hands are a necessity!
Once it has gone through all the stages to becoming a Gibson, a professional musician must play every note possible to determine that it has passed all requirements and meets the Gibson Standards.
We waited in the store area for the appointed time for the tour to start, I found a cool looking Jukebox; Chuck found an interesting guitar...
The group was a small one so we had the tour guide practically to ourselves. Ready to answer our questions at any time. What I found most interesting is that the entire wooden part of the instrument is all hand made and tooled. The finishes are also all hand done. This of course is reflected in the final price tag, but nice to know that quality instruments are still hand made in this country.
If I ever get to Pennsylvania, I want to visit the Martin Guitar company and see the differences in approach etc.
Anyway below are pictures of the tour and steps along the way to becoming a Gibson Guitar!
The wood is shaped by moisture and special cutting tools; then glued. No fasteners of any kind are used to hold the components together.
Once the guitar is assembled the finish work can begin..it is long and arduous, but beautiful when completed.
Any little mess up at the finish stage can render the final product...junk. So patience and steady hands are a necessity!
Once it has gone through all the stages to becoming a Gibson, a professional musician must play every note possible to determine that it has passed all requirements and meets the Gibson Standards.
Graceland and the rest
We toured Graceland today. The operation was put together very nicely and yet I found myself, at times, feeling uncomfortable; like looking into the man's private world (if that was ever possible) and touching on things best left alone. As is usually the case no flash photography was allowed so most of the pictures of the inside of the home do not appear light enough to be posted. Instead I am picking the costume and other shots that we all remember him best in
...except for the last ones.
It was very nice to see all the stuff and bittersweet knowing that he, like so many others, have gone too soon.
Maybe we can catch the Gibson guitar company tour before we move on to our next adventure.
...except for the last ones.
It was very nice to see all the stuff and bittersweet knowing that he, like so many others, have gone too soon.
Maybe we can catch the Gibson guitar company tour before we move on to our next adventure.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
First Elvis Sighting and more Memphis, TN
We began our sojourn today and caught Memphis and Beale St. before we even checked in to our hotel.
So here is our welcome to Memphis, the first Elvis sighting and several pics from Beale Street.
Here is the welcome EGG at the Memphis visitors center
Elvis gets a special room...
As does B B King
I thought some of the eating and drinking establishments deserved to be memorialized, further explanations should not be needed.
Tomorrow Graceland.
But for now we are heading out to Marlowes for what promises to be the best ribs in town. I will let you know.
They actually deliver. But as you can see they don't use just any ond car. THEY use a pink cadillac...how cool is that?
Here is the full slab of ribs that Chuck ordered, I hd to good sense to stick with a half slab..I'm stuffed beyond belief!
Ok, I'm back and the Ribs were the BEST! I am so glad I was willing to take a chance on a name that was unknown to me...the ribs were fantastic...meaty, moist and the sauce was perfect! The pictures do not do them justice.
Then the SUPERBOWL! So much stuff, so little time.
So here is our welcome to Memphis, the first Elvis sighting and several pics from Beale Street.
Here is the welcome EGG at the Memphis visitors center
Elvis gets a special room...
As does B B KingI thought some of the eating and drinking establishments deserved to be memorialized, further explanations should not be needed.
Tomorrow Graceland.
But for now we are heading out to Marlowes for what promises to be the best ribs in town. I will let you know.
They actually deliver. But as you can see they don't use just any ond car. THEY use a pink cadillac...how cool is that?
Here is the full slab of ribs that Chuck ordered, I hd to good sense to stick with a half slab..I'm stuffed beyond belief!
Ok, I'm back and the Ribs were the BEST! I am so glad I was willing to take a chance on a name that was unknown to me...the ribs were fantastic...meaty, moist and the sauce was perfect! The pictures do not do them justice.
Then the SUPERBOWL! So much stuff, so little time.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Retirement Puzzlers
Okay...I am retired now for better than half a year and I have a few questions.
Take today for example, we are threatened with a show-stopping snow; is one entitled to a snow day when they are retired? If so...How do you report it?
Then of course there is the question about vacation days...but that would imply my working today to figure it out and I can't. I'm retired.
Take today for example, we are threatened with a show-stopping snow; is one entitled to a snow day when they are retired? If so...How do you report it?
Then of course there is the question about vacation days...but that would imply my working today to figure it out and I can't. I'm retired.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Election Humor
While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by
a truck and dies.
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems
there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you
see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the man.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is
have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,
down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle
of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him,
shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.
They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and
champagne.
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a
good time dancing and telling joke s. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on h eaven where St Peter is waiting for him.
"Now it's time to visit heaven."
So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls
moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a
good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.
Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."
The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would
never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I
would be better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren
land covered with waste and garbage.
He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and
putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.
"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and
there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning...... Today you voted."
a truck and dies.
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems
there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you
see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the man.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is
have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,
down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle
of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him,
shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.
They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and
champagne.
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a
good time dancing and telling joke s. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on h eaven where St Peter is waiting for him.
"Now it's time to visit heaven."
So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls
moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a
good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.
Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."
The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would
never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I
would be better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren
land covered with waste and garbage.
He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and
putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.
"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and
there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning...... Today you voted."
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