Eastern Kentucky Sept 2009

September 1^st - 4^th I took a little drive through Eastern Kentucky. I drove the back roads through Cynthiana and Paris to I-64. From there to Cater Caves State Park. I was a nice little cave system quite different from Mammoth Cave (where there were 120 on the tour, here I was just me and the Ranger). You can get right up next to the formations. Plenty of little soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites and a new one (too me) helicites. They can’t decide if they want to form up or down.  After a night in Ashland I took US23 to Whitesburg. I drove through most of the towns (Paintsville, Prestonsburg, Pikeville) on the way, they all had very small streets. Not a lot of room in the mountains for roads. On day three I got up early enough to still catch some fog in the valleys, from a pull off on US119, around Whitesburg . I also made a stop at Kingdom Come State Park. Some beautiful overlooks and trails there. After that I tried to find the top of Black Mtn. but, the road got too rough for the Mustang. The drive on US 119 to Middlesborough  was beautiful. That maps had US 23 from Ashland to Whitesburg colored as scenic. It was nice. If you enjoy refineries. But I will take US119 any day. I took a quick detour to Harlan, just to say I had. I really wanted to make Cumberland Gap at Middlesborough before the visitors center closed. Middlesborough is the only US city in the middle of a meteor crater. How about that? I knew there no alcohol sold here when I didn't see any beer advertisements at the gas stations windows. Plenty of cigarette signs though. No blue laws against that. I went to Harrogate TN to visit the Lincoln Memorial Museum on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University. Interesting but, most of the displays were down for refurbishing. Friday morning the park opened early enough to  get some decent clouds in the Gap shots. The road trip ended in Lexington with a lunch my friend Keith Combs. I’ll have to make this in the fall, one of these years.

Memphis

Took a trip to Memphis last vweekend to see Scott, but first I made a stop at Mammoth Cave.

I went on the new Entrance Tour which was very interesting. The previous days rain made for a lot of water dripping into the cave. The beginning of the tour were steps that descended into a pit. It was almost a waterfall because of the rain. Then there were tight corridors, low ceilings and interesting water cut formations. There were 120 people which slowed down the tour. We had to rush through the last quarter that included Frozen Niagara. Unfortunate.

Friday, after finally getting to Scott's, we went to eat at Crescent City a really good Cajun restaurant.

Saturday it was off to Rendezvous BBQ ribs in downtown Memphis. It's a dry BBQ and it has a little bite back. I thought it was tasty. Then, since the rain let up, we went over to Beale Street to see the acrobats, have a beer and watch the crowd. Bailey whined he was bored. His suggestion was Tunica, MS and go to the gambling boats. Once there the cheapest table was $10. I know I gonna lose money, I just don't want to do it that fast. So it was back to Memphis.

After checking my iPhone I thought the rest of the rains would miss downtown and going to the Redbirds baseball would be safe. As we headed to our seats The Bailey became infatuated by his reflection in a large sheet of pain glass and kissed it. Popping his nose, knees and elbow in the process.

Sunday morning it's back on the road to head home. I took back roads to Jackson, TN, by way of Bolivar, and it was a fairly scenic drive. I also stopped by Mike’s Rock shop in Cave City, KY to pick up a cut geode and some smoky quartz.

Cedar Point(less)

I’ve been trying to get a group of people to head up to Cedar Point in Sandusky OH. It’s the rollercoaster capital of the world. In the end it was only Kevin and I . The afternoon we left I checked the weather for N OH and there was a 20-40% chance of rain. That night, at the hotel it was 50%. The next day 100%. The weather radar was full of rain. We cut our losses and headed back home. A four hour drive one way.

So I wouldn’t be a total loss we stopped in Wapakoneta, OH to visit The Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum. It was a nice little museum with lots of artifacts from Armstrong’s life and the space program. It’s worth a stop if you’re passing by or looking for an hour drive day trip.

 

Tinsley Ellis

On July 17 I met up with Kevin to see Tinsley Ellis at Play by Play Cafe in Silverton. It was a good show, but the opening act, The Scotty Bratcher Band, really kicked it. He’s from Cincy so, I am gonna have to check him out. If I have to go see a band it should be in Cincy, no smoking. I forgot how reassuring it is to go to a blues show. All the other fans make me feel younger and thinner.

Friends and Fun

Monday I had lunch with three friends, Alissa, Trudy and Dawn. They spent half the hour talking about Trudy’s baby shower. What the hell was I thinking? I was still great to get together with them.

That afternoon my friend Chele and I went to Kings Island. We decided to take the twilight special; after 5pm for $25. The website states, “You can do a lot in five hours.” Don’t you believe it. We were only able to hit seven rides: The Beast, The Racer, Backlot Stunt Coaster, The Vortex, Firehawk, and the new Diamondback, twice. The Beast and the Racer are still a lot of fun. I don’t care how old they are.The Stunt Coaster was more cute than thrill. The interesting thing about it was the start. It was a catapult. So you go from 0-60 in a few seconds. I can’t ride The Vortex anymore. Too tall. My knees hit the seat in front of me and the the shoulder harness pressed me into my seat like a medieval torture device. Firehawk was a blast and worth the 50+ minute wait. You get on the ride, then the seat reclines back, you go up the first hill on your back, then at the bottom of the hill it flips over and you’re flying through the air like Superman. As the ride was going up the hill I could feel my iPhone slipping out of my pocket so I spent most of the ride trying to keep a hand on my phone. Diamondback was our first and last ride of the day. It was incredible. The only thing that holds you in is a small lap bar. There is an unobstructed view of everything around you. If the lap bar isn’t too snug you will get so much air time. I felt like I was floating through the whole ride. But being careful not to get slammed into my seat at the bottom of each hill. The last ride on the Diamondback was at sunset,even more fun in the dark. I hadn’t been to Kings Island in, maybe, five years. I should get back more often, but start the day in the morning so I can get in more rides.

Fountain Square Friday

I decided to to do lunch in downtown Cincy Friday. I parked in Covington KY and walked across the Roebling Bridge. I stopped by Mythos to get a gyro and headed to Fountain Square. There were some skateboarders doing demos.

After a scoop of Graters ice cream I went to the top of Carew Tower. Very hazy, I should so this when the weather is not as humid. Lots of cute women out. I think I’ll make this a weekly thing.

That evening I went to The Blue Wisp Jazz Club. They have free jam/workshop from 4:30 to 7. I didn’t stay long, but it was good music.

Lord, forgive me.

I fell off the wagon today and man does it taste goooooood. I bought and made a big ole pitcher of tea. I've had tea in the last three or so months, but all of them fell short of the brew I had, have, perfected over the years. Let see if I can keep it under 1lbs of sugar a week.

To add to it all, I've fallen off the exercise wagon. (I need a seatbelt) I was doing really well, but two weeks ago I wrenched my right knee and I couldn't even ride my exercise bike. Then this week my left ankle started aching. At first I thought I had twisted it on Donald's farm, but when the hurting didn't go away and I could feel the heat coming off the joint. I decided it was gout. I had been taking allopurinal for gout, but during flare ups it can make it worse. So now it's indomethocine until it get better.

4th of July

Not a full week, but at least some stuff to keep it interesting. On Tuesday I met up with Srinivas, Lilia and some of their friends at McCormick's and Schmicks. They had a really good M&S red beer. I miss read the tap and thought it said S&M. I felt a little old when one of the girls said her father's 50th birthday was coming up. Damn, I'm two and a half years younger than her dad. It was a fun get together. Some good laughs.
Wednesday Chele and I went to see Ice Age 3D. $13.75!!!!! for a matinee!!! It was decent movie, but not worth $13.75. 3D needs some improvement. It was blurry and disorienting. After we headed to Bar Louie for dollar burger Wednesdays. The hostess sat us all the way to the back, where the windows overlook the river, and there was Dave Hyden, a comic I use to perform with. He was writing material for a showcase at Newport Funnybone that night. He shot out some material and I tried to tag some of it. I miss writing with the guys.
After Chele and I parted ways went back to the APT, but decided to go back out and see the showcase. I think this was the first showcase (open mic) I had seen in three years. It will be another three years before I go back. I was the same old 'dick and pussy' show. That's what's it called in the biz. Hyden had a good set. Audiences love him. Alex Stone had a great set; very clean, original and funny. It was a hot audience. They were laughing at everything. And NO, I didn't get the urge to get back on stage.

Went home on Thursday and Friday went for a hike along the Egerton Nature Preserve, AKA Donald's farm. There was an old county road that hadn't been used in 80 years. It looked like a trace, it jutted out from the hillside, lined with some rock walls, the road was covered with leaves, no trees and small incline headed up and down the side of the hill. The creek bottom wasn't running, but there were three of four small cascade falls. I nice walk up and down the hill.

I had to take another shower before heading to Louisville to see the Kentucky Show and the Kentucky Center for the Arts. It's a nice short film on the history and beauty of Kentucky. After AAA and library card discount (yep, they asked if I had a library card) it was only $4.
With the movie done I made my first ever visit to see a race at Churchill Downs. Fitz met up with me there. When I told him it was my first visit he said he had been coming to Churchill since he was four. The place is huge, about four time larger than Keeneland. Most of the races only had 6-8 horses in them. Overall I think I was $5 ahead at the end of six races when I left. It's easy to say you're ahead when you don't really keep track of the money.

A light rain fell all day on the 4th of July. I sat out on the back deck to just listen to it hit the leaves on the trees. I started back to Newport around six and when the rain let up I drove over to the Weidemann House to shoot the Cincinnati fireworks. The show was only 10 minutes, I guess since it rained they cut it short. When I got back to Home street I went down to the end of the road to watch the annual battle of Newport and Covington. These People really go all out for their backyard shows.

How long will it last?

95% of all blogs are abandoned. Glad I'm not doing it for the money.

Covington Quest

What a fun Saturday. Three guys and I from TBNK participated in Covington Quest. Thirty, or so, teams (divided into 4 colors groups) compete in 12 challenges ranging from: dressing in firefighter uniforms and carrying a teammate 20 feet, blindman's hot dog eating and bobbing for meat (cow's tongue, below). After each challenge we were given a riddle as to the location of our next destination. I started out running to each challenge, but the rest of the team couldn't keep up. I don't know if could have kept it up for three hours. We covered around six miles all over Covington, Kentucky. (this map takes a few seconds to load) We ended up one hour behind the 1st place team and a half hour out of the prizes. Next year, two months out, I will be team trained and maybe we will cover more ground in less time..

Human Bodies

Friday my niece and I went to see Bodies Human in Louisville. Human bodies preserved by plastination are on display: Limbs, organs, skeletons, blood vessels, nerves and bodies in various positions.
The most interesting thing were displays that exposed only the veins and arteries of legs, arms, kidneys and liver. It's amazing how blood flows through the parts of the body.
The hall very kinda warm and humid and had the smell of an old folks home. The eerie thing of all these human bodies were exhibited in the former Fishers meat packing plant. The donors would be rolling in their graves, if only the had been buried. I wonder if the families were told their relatives would be exhibited with respect. Maybe, when they were alive, the cadavers wanted to be on stage and be famous.

PITP

Went to Party at the Point Wednesday with Ed.
A few, more than normal, beauties that night. (click pics to enlarge)

Flag Day Weekend

It was a good weekend. Rain Friday caused Michael's Little League game to be postponed, so I headed out to Mt Lookout Tavern to meet up with Mel, Aislinn and others. Good lookin' crowd. Too bad they were all under 25. Felt like a chaperon at a junior high dance. Mostly watched game 7 of the NHL Championship with Mel. Too bad for her team the Red Wings.
Saturday I was up to see some Little league. Michael's team made a good comeback to win in the last inning. Michael went with a friend so Marcia, Mike and I headed to had Rio Grande Restaurante. Back at the apartment I started talking about what I had been doin' and they went right to sleep.

That night I met up with some folks from TBNK for karaoke. I belted out and beat up Tom Jones-It's Not Unusual. Evidentially women will scream no matter who sings it. When the college guys got up to yell By The Dashboard Lights I said, 'it's time to go.' (That's my Bud Josh singing)
Sunday more LL Bball. This time it was a loss. Got back to hit the Newport Italian Festival for an hour and sample about four dishes. Mama Vita's was really good. As soon as I left a huge storm hit and washed them out.

Sunday night Mel, Kevin, Aislinn and I got together for a Florence Freedom game. FF won 4-1. It's a nice small park with cheap drinks and food. Not a lot of people there I think they were scared away by the storms. But it was mostly clear in Florence. Afterwards we had one last one at the Beer Cellar on the river in Newport (next to Hooters). Aislinn is from Kalamazoo MI and she suggested Bell's Oberon. It's a nice wheaty beer.

Monday I rehydrated.

Rattle, Rattle, Rattle, Pt 2

I decided to get a second opinion on the catalytic converter so I went to Bill's Service in Latonia. (Bill's Standard Service 3415 Decoursey Ave Covington) The rattle was just a flange to hold the tailpipe. $62.94 to repair. NOT $1100 NEWPORT FIRESTONE!!!! I'ma gonna have to have a talk with Firestone.

Wellness smells tasty.

Went to Walgreens to get a BD card and they had a Wellness RV in the parking lot. Glucose & cholesterol were good. BP, BMI & body comp. a little high, 'cause I'm carrying a little too much around the middle. I'm workin' on that. The odd thing was after I got some gifts and free food.
Hot dogs and potato chips!? How's that for wellness?

Rattle, Rattle, Rattle

That's the sound that has been coming from under my car for the past few weeks. I found out at Firestone the catalytic converter needs to be replaced. $1100! Ouch! Checked around and that is the price. Maybe I can get a free oil change out of them too.

The Excitment Plan

New Todd Snider is out today. One free download on Amazon.
I miss when he would rock out on at least one song per album.
Sounds like there's some up-tempo blues on this one though.

Video on Demand

Here's a link the documentary I did on Mother of God Church in Covington.
and if you're interested The Dinsmore Homestead from last fall.

The weekend

Saturday was Summerfair. I go to this festival every year. A roving band of gypsy artist from all over come to show off their unique works. I didn't buy anything this time. Each year I tell myself to 'just print out your photos and save the money!'
The most interesting artist was EC Seigel. You gotta check out his site. It looks like metal but it's paper mache! I was looking at it for 10 minutes before he told what it was made of. Cool. And I hate using that word.

Spent Friday night with some friends to celebrate June birthdays. I saw some people I hadn't seen in years. One guy is now half his size. Ate some good food then the mosquitoes had their fill of me. The night ended badly though with cornhole and bad jokes.

Sunset

The iPhone sucks at sunset colors. Imagine the sky with a salmon color tint and much more reds and oranges. Next time I'll get my real camera.