We're back home after a great trip! Stopped in Atlanta at Trader Joe's before coming home. We didn't know there was one there -- I love that place!
Hopefully, we will go to Yellowstone in January. We'll keep you posted on our hippie travels!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Have Sweats, Will Travel
Cynthia and I did make it to the tearoom, but she forced me to look nice. Fortunately, she took me to a consignment shop where I bought an entire outfit, including shoes. She couldn't believe I went on a two week trip with three pairs of sweatpants. After we left the consignment shop, we were going back to her house for me to change, but we started talking so much we forgot that and ended up in the parking lot of the tearoom -- me still in my sweats. I had to change in the bathroom. While I was changing, Cynthia was loitering in the hallway when the hostess asked her if she needed something. She just said, "No, my friend is in the bathroom changing. She didn't have any nice clothes so we had to go buy her some so we could have lunch here."
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
What to Wear?
We're in Cleveland, TN, just outside Chattanooga, where we're visiting our friends Lee and Cynthia. We've just spent a great evening together, but Cynthia is determined to take me to a tearoom for lunch tomorrow. In fact, she's even made reservations. Here's the problem. I'm traveling light on this adventure -- when you only change clothes every three or four days, you don't need much -- so I've got exactly three pairs of sweatpants, a couple of t-shirts and my old lady, white, zip-up tennis shoes. And two of the sweatpants are filthy. I told her I'm not going to go out and buy an outfit (including shoes) just for lunch. Well, she's saying we'll figure something out. I may be the worst-dressed person ever to enter what has been chosen as the best tearoom in Tennessee.
Manhattan Project
Even though we lived in Tennessee for 23 years, we had never gone to Oakridge to see all the stuff there about the Manhattan Project. In case you don't know, this was the code name for building the atom bomb that ended World War II. Oakridge is a town just outside Knoxville that the government built for this project. It was a "secret" town that wasn't placed on any maps until after the war ended. Although thousands of people worked there, they had no idea what they were working on. It's hard to believe in this day of the internet, CNN and instant everything. They only knew they were working on something important.
There's a great museum there that explains how the town came about, with lots of interesting tidbits from the era. We also heard a talk by a gentleman who has just published a book of black and white pictures from Oakridge during the Manhattan project.
There's a great museum there that explains how the town came about, with lots of interesting tidbits from the era. We also heard a talk by a gentleman who has just published a book of black and white pictures from Oakridge during the Manhattan project.
Philadelphia
We spent a couple of days in Philadelphia, seeing the sights. The Liberty Bell, the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed, the first Congress . . . it was awe inspiring to walk where our founding fathers walked.
At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we jumped up and down where Rocky jumped up and down. Gary ran up all 72 steps, just like Rocky. We also ate Philly cheesesteaks at the place the Food Network said is the best. They were okay -- I guess I just don't like Philly cheesesteaks that much.
At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we jumped up and down where Rocky jumped up and down. Gary ran up all 72 steps, just like Rocky. We also ate Philly cheesesteaks at the place the Food Network said is the best. They were okay -- I guess I just don't like Philly cheesesteaks that much.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A Slice of Americana
We saw a really great Norman Rockwell exhibition today; it was very well done. I've always loved his work because he could really capture average Americans. My favorite is the one where the grandma and the little boy are in a restaurant praying before their meal, and everyone is looking at them.
By the way, the exhibition was in the King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia. It's the second largest mall in the U.S. And just think, only a few weeks ago, I went to the largest mall in the country, in Minneapolis. I actually liked the one today better!
By the way, the exhibition was in the King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia. It's the second largest mall in the U.S. And just think, only a few weeks ago, I went to the largest mall in the country, in Minneapolis. I actually liked the one today better!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Soaking Up History
So much for seeing friends in Chattanooga. Due to a very contagious stomach bug in their house, they suggested we catch them up on the way back home. So, after driving for several hours in the rain, we spent our first night in a Wal-Mart parking lot somewhere in Virginia (along with several other cars and a truck -- all of us clustered around a sign that said "No Overnight Parking."
We then spent an unexpected and absolutely delightful day in the small town of Lexington, VA, home to Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University. Robert E. Lee was president of Washington and Lee from after the Civil War until his death. According to the helpful lady at the Visitor's Center, he took the job because after the Civil War he really needed a job. I've always admired Lee, and this visit only confirmed that. He was a man of character and integrity. He told his student he only had one rule: Always be a gentleman.
We also saw the grave of Lee's beloved horse, Traveller. Lee always kept the stable open and let Traveller graze on the yard. Today, the stable is still kept open so Traveller's spirit can roam freely.
Interested tidbit of trivia; Robert E. Lee was regarded as a traitor by the government because of his service to the Confederacy. He finally received a pardon from the federal government in the late 1970s by President Ford.
The town of Lexington is so pretty and quaint. We're not on a schedule, and it's was great to explore a place we would have never found if we hadn't jumped off the interstate.
Yesterday, we did Gettysburg, which was absolutely fascinating. It certainly brought out the UDC member in me. (For those of you who don't know, that's United Daughter of the Confederacy -- and to be fair, I'm a DAR, too.) We didn't know how close that battle actually was and could really have gone either way.
We also saw President Eisenhower's home there, which was not luxurious at all, and in many ways, quite spartan. We learned Mamie Eisenhower was addicted to soap operas, "As the World Turns" in particular, and if she had to miss it, she made a secret service agent watch and write down what happened. Remember, this was way before VCRs and TIVO.
Today, we spent the entire day at Valley Forge, where George Washington and his troops spent a terrible winter. And since it is very cold and snowing here today, the weather felt quite appropriate! We actually wimped out and are in a hotel tonight. We felt the need for a hot shower, and I just can't make myself rent a shower at a truck stop!
Tomorrow, Philadelphia.
We then spent an unexpected and absolutely delightful day in the small town of Lexington, VA, home to Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University. Robert E. Lee was president of Washington and Lee from after the Civil War until his death. According to the helpful lady at the Visitor's Center, he took the job because after the Civil War he really needed a job. I've always admired Lee, and this visit only confirmed that. He was a man of character and integrity. He told his student he only had one rule: Always be a gentleman.
We also saw the grave of Lee's beloved horse, Traveller. Lee always kept the stable open and let Traveller graze on the yard. Today, the stable is still kept open so Traveller's spirit can roam freely.
Interested tidbit of trivia; Robert E. Lee was regarded as a traitor by the government because of his service to the Confederacy. He finally received a pardon from the federal government in the late 1970s by President Ford.
The town of Lexington is so pretty and quaint. We're not on a schedule, and it's was great to explore a place we would have never found if we hadn't jumped off the interstate.
Yesterday, we did Gettysburg, which was absolutely fascinating. It certainly brought out the UDC member in me. (For those of you who don't know, that's United Daughter of the Confederacy -- and to be fair, I'm a DAR, too.) We didn't know how close that battle actually was and could really have gone either way.
We also saw President Eisenhower's home there, which was not luxurious at all, and in many ways, quite spartan. We learned Mamie Eisenhower was addicted to soap operas, "As the World Turns" in particular, and if she had to miss it, she made a secret service agent watch and write down what happened. Remember, this was way before VCRs and TIVO.
Today, we spent the entire day at Valley Forge, where George Washington and his troops spent a terrible winter. And since it is very cold and snowing here today, the weather felt quite appropriate! We actually wimped out and are in a hotel tonight. We felt the need for a hot shower, and I just can't make myself rent a shower at a truck stop!
Tomorrow, Philadelphia.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Mid-life Crisis
Our daughter says we're having a mid-life crisis. We didn't really think of it that way. Instead, it just seemed like a natural break since we moved. But maybe this is a mid-life crisis. What is it about these particular years that makes us want to change everything and do something completely different?
When you're young, it seems like you have all the time in the world to do whatever it is your heart desires. But after marriage and jobs and children and houses and dogs and cats . . . the time slips away and suddenly we realize there is an end to this ride. Anybody else feeling the same?
When you're young, it seems like you have all the time in the world to do whatever it is your heart desires. But after marriage and jobs and children and houses and dogs and cats . . . the time slips away and suddenly we realize there is an end to this ride. Anybody else feeling the same?
Rain Again
Last time we left, it was pouring down rain. Today, it's pouring down rain. And we still have to pack the car. I wanted to leave yesterday. Then I wanted to leave first thing this morning. But, at 11 p.m. last night, GB decided we needed to refinish our huge kitchen table. Those of you who know him will understand this is perfectly normal behavior.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Off Again!
We're leaving tomorrow for another hippie adventure. This time, we're going very simple. We basically have a mattress and two sleeping bags in the back of the mini-van, some clothes and a laptop. We're heading up to Chattanooga for GB to fly fish and to visit with some dear, dear friends there. Then, we're planning to drive up to Gettysburg. Not sure if we'll actually get there this trip. GB has a conference back in Chattanooga on the 10th, and I have to be back home for an event on the 12th.
Our friends can't believe we slept in Wal-Mart's parking lot, and our children think we've lost our mind. This is the most fun we've had in years!
Our friends can't believe we slept in Wal-Mart's parking lot, and our children think we've lost our mind. This is the most fun we've had in years!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Where Have We Been?
We didn't just disappear off the face of the earth. Unfortunately, we had a real internet problem. Our ATT data card, which is supposed to work wherever our cell phones work, doesn't. On the trip, it only worked in large cities (and not all the time there), which seriously limited our time to post. Sorry about no posts!
At any rate, we are back and have just finished celebrating Thanksgiving with our children and my mother. The trip was great -- in fact, so great we are doing it again next week. Only this time, we're doing it my way. GB has admitted we took way too much stuff. We didn't use even half of it. For one thing, we took cooking supplies, including gourmet stuff because we like to cook. We didn't use that stuff once, since we discovered we so very much enjoyed eating at all the Mom and Pop places along the way!
We've also discovered that other people seem to be fascinated by what we're doing. My cousin, who stopped by tonight to wish us a Happy Thanksgiving, told us there is even a term for it: funemployed. I googled it, and sure enough that's what we are. The funemployed have decided to take a sabbatical from being gainfully employed in order to have some fun. I think it's because we grew up in the 60s and 70s, and there is a little bit of hippie in all of us who were young then. On our first road trip, we often chose the back roads over the interstate, we talked to people in shops and got tips for the local food joints and at night we slept in the back of the van in our sleeping bags. (Along the sleeping line, coming from the South, we did not anticipate that about 90 percent of the campgrounds in Minnesota and Wisconsin would be closed for the winter. So guess what? We spent several nights sleeping in a Wal-Mart parking lot. No one ever questioned our van being there overnight, and we felt perfectly safe.)
So, next week we're starting out again. This time, we'll head toward Gettysburg and Philadelphia. After that, maybe Canada or maybe we'll come home. When you're funemployed, who knows where you'll turn up next?
At any rate, we are back and have just finished celebrating Thanksgiving with our children and my mother. The trip was great -- in fact, so great we are doing it again next week. Only this time, we're doing it my way. GB has admitted we took way too much stuff. We didn't use even half of it. For one thing, we took cooking supplies, including gourmet stuff because we like to cook. We didn't use that stuff once, since we discovered we so very much enjoyed eating at all the Mom and Pop places along the way!
We've also discovered that other people seem to be fascinated by what we're doing. My cousin, who stopped by tonight to wish us a Happy Thanksgiving, told us there is even a term for it: funemployed. I googled it, and sure enough that's what we are. The funemployed have decided to take a sabbatical from being gainfully employed in order to have some fun. I think it's because we grew up in the 60s and 70s, and there is a little bit of hippie in all of us who were young then. On our first road trip, we often chose the back roads over the interstate, we talked to people in shops and got tips for the local food joints and at night we slept in the back of the van in our sleeping bags. (Along the sleeping line, coming from the South, we did not anticipate that about 90 percent of the campgrounds in Minnesota and Wisconsin would be closed for the winter. So guess what? We spent several nights sleeping in a Wal-Mart parking lot. No one ever questioned our van being there overnight, and we felt perfectly safe.)
So, next week we're starting out again. This time, we'll head toward Gettysburg and Philadelphia. After that, maybe Canada or maybe we'll come home. When you're funemployed, who knows where you'll turn up next?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Road Trips USA: Going First Class in the Used Minivan
Road trips across the USA? Turn the extremely used minivan into the poor man's RV? (Well, it was new when we got it, but with 118,000 miles it's used now.) Taking road trips sounded fun to both of us; converting the minivan into an RV sounded fun for only half of us. I'll let you guess which half. Didn't matter, though. Apparently, road trip planning was in my near future.
We just moved back to Alabama, and GB (husband) decided it was now or never for the great American road trip. A psychologist by trade -- yes, I'm married to a shrink and yes, it is weird sometimes --he wanted to take three months off before opening his new practice We've always enjoyed car tips, and we used to camp frequently, so he put two and two together and came up with three months. Once he broached the idea to me, I started searching the web. Much to my surprise, I discovered there is a whole breed of people out there who do this.
So, good idea, GB.
For weeks ahead of our trip, he haunted the storage aisles of Target and Wal-mart, comparing sizes, prices and products. He wanted to measure the inside of the minivan, but since he was still in Tennessee, and I was in Alabama with the van, he could only guess. This suspense was painful for him, given the precision needed to obtain a Ph.D. Not to mention, he's male, and they measure everything.
Honestly, I really thought it was a good idea at that time. I'm not saying this to make my husband feel good. Even when he said he wanted to go to Minnesota, I didn't flinch much. I hate cold weather. I mean, I really hate it. But I borrowed boots from our daughter, ordered a down coat from Lands End and bought Toastie Toes feet warmers in the camping section of Wal-mart. I can be a good sport when I put my mind to it.
But now, I'm having my first inkling of doubts. We're packing the car. I mean, we're packing the sort of RV. We've been trying to leave for three days, but life keeps getting in the way. Now it's noon and pouring down rain. We've taken all but the front two seats out of the van. GB has played with all sorts of variations on how to pack in a way that will allow us to also sleep. He's got all these rectangular bins, and he's piecing them together like a jigsaw puzzle. A few very large bins? Many small bins? A combination of both? Oh, what will we do? If only NASA was available for consultation. He finally decided on several all the same size. We'll lay camp mats on top of them, open up our sleeping bags and nighty-night.
Okay, I like a firm mattress anyway. So that's settled.
Now, what to pack? GB is pretty much hell-bent on taking everything we own. I think we should see this as a practice road trip. This first one is only going to be a couple of weeks. We're coming back for Thanksgiving. But, no. We've got pots, we've got pans, we've got canned goods, we've got enough fishing stuff to open a store. But then, he only brought his fly fishing equipment, not all the other fishing stuff. He said he would have to leave me home if he brought it all. And he debated that for a few seconds. With the current flood and the vision of Yankee snow in my head, that might be a good idea.
But now, we're off on our great American road trip. The minivan is packed to the brim -- actually there's about two feet left between all our junk and the roof of the car-- and we're ready for anything. Minnesota, here we come. But wait, GB forgot the binnoculars. Let's turn around and get them. Both sets of course, the astronomy ones and the field ones. Oh, yes, the freedom of not having to choose.
We just moved back to Alabama, and GB (husband) decided it was now or never for the great American road trip. A psychologist by trade -- yes, I'm married to a shrink and yes, it is weird sometimes --he wanted to take three months off before opening his new practice We've always enjoyed car tips, and we used to camp frequently, so he put two and two together and came up with three months. Once he broached the idea to me, I started searching the web. Much to my surprise, I discovered there is a whole breed of people out there who do this.
So, good idea, GB.
For weeks ahead of our trip, he haunted the storage aisles of Target and Wal-mart, comparing sizes, prices and products. He wanted to measure the inside of the minivan, but since he was still in Tennessee, and I was in Alabama with the van, he could only guess. This suspense was painful for him, given the precision needed to obtain a Ph.D. Not to mention, he's male, and they measure everything.
Honestly, I really thought it was a good idea at that time. I'm not saying this to make my husband feel good. Even when he said he wanted to go to Minnesota, I didn't flinch much. I hate cold weather. I mean, I really hate it. But I borrowed boots from our daughter, ordered a down coat from Lands End and bought Toastie Toes feet warmers in the camping section of Wal-mart. I can be a good sport when I put my mind to it.
But now, I'm having my first inkling of doubts. We're packing the car. I mean, we're packing the sort of RV. We've been trying to leave for three days, but life keeps getting in the way. Now it's noon and pouring down rain. We've taken all but the front two seats out of the van. GB has played with all sorts of variations on how to pack in a way that will allow us to also sleep. He's got all these rectangular bins, and he's piecing them together like a jigsaw puzzle. A few very large bins? Many small bins? A combination of both? Oh, what will we do? If only NASA was available for consultation. He finally decided on several all the same size. We'll lay camp mats on top of them, open up our sleeping bags and nighty-night.
Okay, I like a firm mattress anyway. So that's settled.
Now, what to pack? GB is pretty much hell-bent on taking everything we own. I think we should see this as a practice road trip. This first one is only going to be a couple of weeks. We're coming back for Thanksgiving. But, no. We've got pots, we've got pans, we've got canned goods, we've got enough fishing stuff to open a store. But then, he only brought his fly fishing equipment, not all the other fishing stuff. He said he would have to leave me home if he brought it all. And he debated that for a few seconds. With the current flood and the vision of Yankee snow in my head, that might be a good idea.
But now, we're off on our great American road trip. The minivan is packed to the brim -- actually there's about two feet left between all our junk and the roof of the car-- and we're ready for anything. Minnesota, here we come. But wait, GB forgot the binnoculars. Let's turn around and get them. Both sets of course, the astronomy ones and the field ones. Oh, yes, the freedom of not having to choose.
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