Driving lessons

We passed a student driver on the way back from dropping our friends off at their apartment this past Sunday. The first thing I noticed was the nice spacious vehicle they had. I learned to drive in a Dodge Neon. Do you know how to cram four high school kids and a driving instructor into a two door car? Very carefully.

As I passed the kid going the speed limit (lame) I glanced over and saw the typical ten and two hands on the wheel. The only time I really have two hands on the wheel is during the two snow storms that occur each year or when I am making a turn (and that isn't always the case). Hell, I once drove fifty miles on the highway just using my knees in my Cavalier.

The kid was also up on the steering wheel. As close as you can get without actually removing the steering wheel and holding onto the steering column. I remember being that kid. I can remember driving south on the highway back home for fifteen minutes and getting off the highway and turning around and going back. It was exhilarating. Now....not so much. And then I thought about it, I have been driving for thirteen years. People that are taking drivers ed. in high school right now either were not born or just born as I was getting my learner's permit.

A picture and a dream

As I was looking through my pictures of Wilson's Creek yesterday I came across this one and realized how much I did enjoy it. Of the one hundred some pictures that I took, this one is my favorite.

I had a strange dream this morning and I know that if I don't write it down now, I won't remember it. I traveled back in time and somehow met up with my younger self. Not two or three years younger, I'm talking riding around on a bike in the fourth grade younger. There was no great revelation when I met younger self, the world did not implode, and the space time continuum did not get all funked up. It was just something random.

The reason I bring this up is I thought about something after I got out of bed, because you can sleep after meeting their younger persona? So, the thought I had is if you can go back in time and change your future, would you? I'm not talking about going back to 1933 and killing Adolph Hitler, or telling Amelia Earhart not to take that last flight. I'm talking about talking to yourself and letting them know about your current life. Would that change your younger mind? This is something that can keep people up at night (or wake them up an hour early). And what would change?



I don't know if I would want anything to change.

Comedians and water

Why do comedians have water or another drink on stage? They never drink it. We just finished watching Patton Oswalt, who is hilarious, and he took only a few sips. The typical comedian stage contains the following: bottle of water (one), bar stool (one), random background, microphone (with stand). But why the water if it is not used?

The only comedians I have ever seen drink the drink that they have on stage with them is Ron White and Mitch Hedberg. Ron White is an alcoholic and Mitch Hedberg was high and needed something to take care of the cotton in his mouth.

So depressing....

I heard one of the most depressing things on the radio today. The backroom at work has a small radio that they turn on every once in a while to make the day go by quickly. Anyway, they had it on a random station that was playing a top twenty show. Apparently one of the songs was Miley Cyrus and I walked by at the end of the songs and the dj came on the radio and said the following...

"That was Miley Cyrus. And oh, she is just so so so hot."

I hate the radio.

Even steven

The second day of my trip to Wilson's Creek was not as extensive as the first because of the weather. Rain came through the area, but I was up early and had a chance to check out the rest of the site.

The most exciting part of it was the Ray house, which is the only original building left. And judging by the size, they were fairly well off. There was not much to read or learn about the family, just that their house was used as a field hospital. And they hid in the cellar during the fighting.

Stations four and six were more of just stopping off points to show battlefield positioning by the Union Army. There wasn't at either site other than a map and a plaque.

Station eight gave a great overview of the entire battlefield. It was on the ridge that the Union Army entered, and later exited, the battlefield. It gave great closure to the entire experience.

I did have a chance to walk through the museum after leaving the park. It was well done, and should most likely be walked through before going to the battlefield. After going through it, you have a better understanding of why the battle was fought there, the positioning of the armies, and overall outcome and consequences, actions, and reactions by the warring factions.

In retrospect, the park can be visited in just one day. I feel that I made the right decision to break up the visit into two days. With all the walking, and the four hour drive from Wichita, it would have been a little too much to take in.

irritating football

I'm watching NFL Live right now on ESPN, and I don't know why. I know what 'stories' they are going to be talking about for the next half hour. Michael Vick and Brett Favre.

I'm sorry, but Michael Vick doesn't deserve to be playing. I think that all the teams should have blacklisted him. The only reason Philly signed him is to sell seats, but guess what Philly Fan, he ain't playing this year. Andy Reid will back Donavon McNabb until either of them retire. I think he is done playing for good teams. Only sad desperate teams will sign him in the hopes that he can play for a game or two.

Memo to Mr. Farve

Re: Your Career

It is over.

Sincerely,

Me

Enough of this 'unnamed Vikings player' saying that he has signed with the team and that he will start playing right before the regular season starts. IF he does play with them, it will be a waste of time. He isn't going to be in shape, he is just going to try to throw the ball like he did ten and fifteen years ago (even though he doesn't have the arm strength for it) and it will result in interceptions. Don't get me wrong, I want him to sign and play with the Vikings so Detroit can beat the hell out of them because they have an old beat up quarterback that doesn't know his career ended when he retired the first time two years ago.

The odd stations

The first leg of the trip is pretty much wrapped up. I spent four and a half hours at Wilson's Creek, and am only half way done with the park. Now, the only other Civil War park I have ever been to is Gettysburg, so there is no real way to compare the two. Gettysburg was so monstrous people-wise compared to Wilson's Creek. There were roughly sixteen thousand regular army and militia at Wilson's Creek, twenty five hundred(ish) of which would die. This battle is important for a few reasons. It was the first battle west of the Mississippi and where the first Union general, Nathaniel Lyon, was killed.

The park is very well preserved. The national park service has constructed paths for hiking and horseback riding. You cannot get out onto the battlefield itself except where the artillery and headquarters are located. But it is great to see. It is basically out in the middle of the woods and fields (like Missouri is). There are eight different sections or stations in which you can get out of your car and walk around and read stuff and get an idea of how the battlefield was laid out. And the battlefield isn't very big. You have Gettysburg which seems to go on forever and ever, damn near into Maryland. There are several areas that you can scale to the top of a hill and look over the east and west sides of the battlefield.

In order not to overload my inner nerd, I decided to just look at four of the stations (the odd numbered ones). The first section was an old house, of which there is nothing left except parts of the foundation. It was a mill and a house that actually survived the battle, but collapsed because of a fire later on.

Station three was the militia headquarters and artillery position. The Missouri militia got support from an artillery battery from Arkansas. So the Union and Militia had an artillery battle, fun times. Station five had a cannon firing demonstration. It was fun because it was the exact same cannon we fire at Fort Mackinac, a six pounder. I will say though, our demonstrations were much better, but they had a six man team that could load and fire it in a short amount of time. That was impressive.

The last station I went to today had the only real marker in the entire park (that I know of so far). It marked where Nathaniel Lyon was killed. There was also a sink hole where he and thirty Union soldiers were buried during the night. That sink hole was really really creepy. I don't get creeped out by many things, but this sink hole is out in the woods, on a trail, far from anywhere. *shiver*

That is a recap of the first day. Tomorrow, will be the remaining stations and, time permiting, a trip into their museum. The drive out here isn't bad, only about four hours, and it went by quickly despite not having anyone to talk to. Which can be a good thing sometimes. It is a thought collecting drive.

Trip for myself

I came to the realization the other day that I didn't want to sit around this weekend, so I am going on a road trip. Nothing big, just to a Civil War battlefield a few hours away! It is located just south of Springfield, Missouri. I am very excited.

On top of this idea, the park is free to go to this weekend. Talk about everything lining up!

baseball beatdown

The Tigers are playing the Boston Red Sox right now and they had a brawl last night. It made me smile. Fights in baseball aren't the best. There are maybe a hand full of punches (mostly off kilter) before everyone on both teams pile up in the middle of the field. Unless the pitcher is Nolan Ryan beating down Robin Ventura or Kyle Farnsworth spearing a batter, which are the two greatest pitcher/batter fights I have ever ever ever seen, this is how the fights go.

The reason I loved this fight is because the Tigers pitcher, Rick Porcello is only twenty years old and he handled Kevin Youkilis like a man. He backed up, dodged the helmet throw (bush league by the way), and wrapped up his arms before any punches could connect. Then, the best part, he rolled his shoulder and threw him down on the ground and landed on top of him. If Porcello had gotten his arms free, I'm sure he would have gotten some great shots in. And he was piiiiiiiiiised about being charged by Youkilis too.

In his defense, he was protecting his own batter, Miguel Cabrera, who got plunked. The beaning code is 'you hit one of ours, we hit one of yours'. If the pitch gets away from the pitcher and is an accident, there is no retaliation, but if it is thrown at a hitter to intimidate them, then it is go time. I love the fact that he didn't wait for a veteran pitcher to take the mound to retaliate, he did it himself. It showed great poise for the situation.

Review of a great week

The important thing about vacations is being able to look back at them remember all the great things about them. No one looks back at the travel time with longing eyes, who the hell wants to remember sitting on a plane or in an airport?

When we landed in Detroit, my brother and his girlfriend picked us up. It was a wonderful start to the trip because we got to see them for the first time since we went out to Seattle last fall. We got to catch up with them and it made the five hour car ride go by quickly. We made it to the cabin in time for dinner that night. The family was there and even though we saw them in June, it felt like it was much longer than that.

We had a bonfire that night, and my sister and brother-in-law came down with their three kids (who seemed to have grown in the course of the month and a half). Extended family members came down for the evening as well. Once again, it was just nice to see everyone.

The next day, we ventured up to the Soo for several days with my wife's family. More visiting ensued, which included a trip to the Antlers. The Antlers restaurant can best be described as PETA's worst nightmare. There are stuffed animals EVERYWHERE! It is great, and the food isn't half bad. We also took a trip out to the woods to go blueberry picking. My memories of picking blueberries are not the best. It always seemed to be sunny, with no clouds, in the middle of July and very very hot. Very uncomfortable. We drove not far from the Soo and just went back in the woods. The results? Buleberry pancakes, muffins, and dumplings. Yes!

The last part of the week we went back to the cabin with my family. It included a day trip on the boat. We took it out and just shut it off and relaxed. It didn't get hot enough to jump in, but the option was there. We had several more campfires, drank several more beers, and made s'mores. It was fun to watch my nephew and niece eat them. They would take a bite, get distracted, and then take another bite about five minutes later. It took them a long time to finish just one. The bonfires went to the wee hours of the morning.

The best part of the vacation? I didn't wear a watch the entire week. Lame, I know, but it is essential for trips not to care about what time it is or needing to be somewhere.

Vacation finale

One thing that I enjoy about smaller airports is that they are not bitches about internet. The Flint airport and the Wichita airport offer free high speed internet. I don't understand the point of charging people to use the internet when you are in a place of business. I know the idea is to make a living by earning money, but come on...

The free internet helps to pass the time for several reasons. I haven't been able to check my email since the fourth. Not to worry, there wasn't anything important in it. I get to do the fun 'I am at such and such an airport waiting for my flight' status on Facebook, because everyone needs to know. It allows me to update my podcasts that are fun and interesting (look up The Memory Palace on itunes) or more serious. And, I get to do this. I do have another post set up for the Cheap Beer Experiment, but I do not have the cord for the pictures that I took of the beer (it was forgotten in my wife's tote bag).

I have quite a long journey ahead of me and partly behind me. We left the cabin this morning about eleven o'clock and arrived at the airport close to three thirty. My brother dropped me off and I got through security quickly (another perk of small airports). I had time to watch the last inning of the Tigers Twins game (good guys won). The early part was the easy part, it was just a car ride. I fly for two hours to Atlanta and then another two hours to Wichita, with only forty five minutes in between flights. I enjoy having an hour or two for a layover. It gives me time to stretch my legs and walk around and people watch. Direct flights are not my friend. We had a direct flight once that was to Detroit. By the end, my legs and back were both screaming in agony because I get crammed into the small seats on the plane. Oh the perils of being over six feet tall.

The vacation rundown is on it's way (more than likely posted tomorrow)