It’s A Dry Heat
Much preferable to a suffocating lung-drowning sauna; I prefer to take my showers intentionally.
Continue reading →DT
Cracker Barrel
I used to like Cracker Barrel. I didn't eat there often but I enjoyed the food when I was there. I enjoyed the atmosphere, I even enjoyed the kitschy gift shop. I haven't been to one since before this kerflufffle - more from lack of opportunity than politics. It was still "Cracker Barrel" last time I visited.
Sometimes just knowing some little piece of my culture is there is enough even if I don't visit often.
I don't think I'll visit again.
Damn the DEI woke ...
Words of Robby Starbuck:
The American people are sick of having our culture and heritage stripped from us.
All these things that are nostalgic Americana are constantly being stomped on, and we're being told that there's something wrong with it, that we should be ashamed of it in some way, that it needs to be replaced with something more inclusive or more driven by these DEI characteristics," he continued. "I think people are just sick of it. We've had enough, and we don't want our whole country stripped down to where we have no semblance of, you know, that sort of nostalgic Americana culture.
I've been watching old late 50s/early 60s TV westerns with Mrs DT - turns out my foreign-born wife likes them (so do I - much better without commercials). Most of these have the advance warning "Outdated cultural depiction" and rated PG (violence, smoking, drinking). I guess good wins over bad, often by use of guns along with no "woke" elements is outdated but these shows were morality plays suitable for children of that era. I was of the later edge of the "hippies" and while some of it sank in, most of it did not (for example, I learned to despise Democrats when I heard McGovern speak). I guess that's me.
So I prefer to be outdated based on nostalgic American culture. It wasn't outdated nor nostalgic in the time I was raised; it's too bad those of today (and apparently so many of my generation as well) feel such morals are inappropriate and obsolete.
Continue reading →Eclipse
On this date in 2017, I was lucky enough to live more or less on the line of totality
Ruby Ridge
The Year Of A Tree
There's a tree near the eastern-most point of Jamestown Island, Virginia at the parking area for the trail to Black Point. I spent a fair amount of time on the island when I lived in the area and sort-of accidentally took pictures of this tree at various times of the year.
Here's a piece of "getting to know DT" for those curious - you know who you are :)
I lived in Tidewater, Virginia for near-on 10% of my life but never considered it home, never considered it "permanent"; went through the required rigamarole to maintain Idaho residency and paid out-of-state taxes to Virginia. Unlike Maryland where I also spent too much time, I'd consider re-visiting parts of Virginia. However, like my feelings for Florida, I hope to never set foot in Maryland again.
Two Tunes For Tuesday – Beau Brummels
A sample of some obscure – and some maybe not obscure – tunes from my strange and off-the-wall collection.
Today’s selection: Beau Brummels "Laugh, Laugh" & "Just A Little" 1964 & 1965
"Laugh, Laugh" was the first "hit single" of the 1960s to come out of San Francisco in response to the onslaught of the British Invasion.
An early "psychedelic era" San Francisco band, their early work was produced by Sly Stone - before he became Sly Stone. Laugh, Laugh was released in late 1964 and achieved it's highest level in February 1965. One of the promotion events for Laugh, Laugh was an appearance on The Flintstones as the Beau Brummelstones. Just A Little was the follow-up hit, released in April 1965 and hit its highest ranking in June 1965, becoming the Beau Brummels' highest rated tune.
Although the band released other compositions, none achieved the status of these two songs. The band underwent personnel changes in 1965 due to medical conditions and military induction; the band finally fell apart in 1969.
Continue reading →Thunderheads Brewing
Mid-August. Time for the beginning of change of seasons. I'm ready for Memorial Day.
Summer isn't over - temperatures in high 90s this week - and temperatures into 100s possible into September, but the beginning of the end-of-summer thunderstorms - sometimes without water reaching the ground ("virga") - is a sign that autumn is beginning to force its way into planning.
During my recent journey, I noticed the trees beginning to change color. Early August seemed a bit soon; perhaps a hard winter is coming. Haven't had one of those in a while.
I don't go into the high country after mid-August without being prepared for freezing rain and snow. Not likely but not unheard of either. I was in Denver one year when the snowfall before Labor Day was heavy enough to cause significant tree damage - the leaves were still green - and that was only at 6000 ft.
My honey locust is beginning to show signs of yellowing ....
Green River – Green River, Wyoming
The primary tributary of the Colorado River, drainage of the region where Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah join. The confluence of the rivers is near Moab, Utah.
Historically, the Colorado River began where the Green and Grand Rivers joined ... then politics got involved in 1921 when a Colorado Representative petitioned to have the Grand River renamed to the Colorado (over the objections of representatives of Wyoming and Utah as well as the USGS).
John Wesley Powell took a party down the river by boat (and through the Grand Canyon) in 1869 and named most of the features along the river(s)
Not that this fellow cares a whit about any of this.
Continue reading →Cross-Country Driving
Though I ended up stopping at Loves more often than Pilot/Flying J
I found the food at these major truck stops cheaper and better* than what's found at McDonald's et al ... though Runza's through Nebraska are worth a stop.
*though there's still plenty of junk food available as well
Continue reading →Back In The Saddle Again
Haven't noticed this much construction on the Interstates since they were being built in the mid-70s.
Did my thing, saw some people I see only once a year, then headed back to civilization ...
"Can you hear me now?"
Why no ... no I can't.
But then I finished my trip, came home, and fired up the computer ...
Back in the saddle again ...
Continue reading →