Estranged

A couple more pictures that were not selected.





I took this picture last year when Jay went on his first ever trip on the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad. I threw this particular picture into the mix to see if anybody would consider selecting this picture because of the nature of the photo contest.

Nobody took the bait. That is good, because it would have been pandering on the scale of a John McCain VP nominee.





I took this picture at Jester Park. Jay was impressed by this picture and I gave it to him as a birthday present. I think of this picture as being melancholy at first glance, but as being hopeful the longer it is gazed upon.

I named this picture based on an Emily Dickinson poem.

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Spurned

Two more pictures that were not selected.





It took me some time to actually find one of these old merry-go-rounds. I searched high and low and only found one in Boone. Perhaps there is another one somewhere, but the only one I could find was at the Trinity playground.

The point of this picture was to convey movement by making the background a motion blur, but keeping the foreground in focus.





I don't really have much to say about this picture. I can't even remember when or where I took it. It is a black and white flower picture.

Jilted

This is a second picture that was not entered.





This picture was created with an in camera zoom special effect. This picture was taken at The Venue when the Inebriated Saints were playing in a Battle of the Bands.

Mike contacted me to take pictures of the band. I went to The Venue on the agreed night, but the Fire Marshall had closed the place down because water was not hooked up to the fire extinguisher system.

This was the first time I had been to a Boone Bar in almost 2.5 years. I have yet to return.

Not Loved

It is that time of year when we are nearing the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. I took a different tact for selecting pictures this year. I am pleased with the results.

I will get into the process at a later date. But first, I want to reveal the pictures that were nominated, but did not get selected for entry this year.

Below is the first picture that I did not enter.





This picture is of the Downtown First United Methodist Church in Des Moines. I took this picture after eating at a buffet with Russell, Baier and Andree. I took it from the top of a parking ramp across the street.

But I love gatherings. Isn't it ironic?

Lowell has signed on to teach Sunday School for Middle Schoolers. He was recently give a stack of potential books to use as curriculum. One of these books was trying way too hard to be "young" and "hip".





Not only did they try to make the guy on the cover look like a cartoon version of Randal Graves from Clerks, they gave lessons titles like: "That isn't fair. What's up with that?"

There is also a great lesson on the similarities between Jericho and what the United States government did to the Native Americans.

The Wedding of the Year (Prelude)

Not only did I get the honor of being a triple threat at The Wedding of the Year, I also received one of the greatest present I have ever received in my life. That means a lot coming from me. I'm not prone to superlatives.

Jen made a sweet stained glass flower. Rumor has it that Derrick even helped out.








They made 1 for each member of the wedding party. I don't want to brag, but I came home with the orange flower or as I like to call it, "Derrick's Favorite".

The Wedding of the Year (Part 3)

As Shawn and I were called to perform our secondary duty of ushering, I handed my camera to Kelly. She took the following pictures before the battery on the camera gave out.









































I was so completely drained from this wonderful day that I didn't wake up until 1:30 on Sunday afternoon. It was probably a good thing that I limited my dancing at the reception. It is possible that I could still be sleeping.

The Wedding of the Year (Part 2)

This is really a continuation of more pictures of the wedding principals taking it easy backstage before the big show.









































Monica took the pictures of me, including my picture with Jay, the one where he reveals that he truly doesn't like me all that much.

The Wedding of the Year (Part 1)

I didn't take many pictures from The Wedding of the Year because I was quite busy being a triple threat: Groomsman, Usher and Reader Guy. However, I did manage to snap off a few photos here and there.


















































I take many a memory away from an absolutely incredible day, but I'm going to keep those memories, joys, and highs for myself.

First Family Car Accident

On Thursday night, Johnathan became the first member of the family to total a car. This is a shame for me because I had put all my money on Elainie.

Below are a couple of cell phone photos of the destroyed car.








He was uninjured in the accident. All of that windshield damage was caused by the passenger side airbag.

No More Mental Trophies

Last year I won both of the Fantasy Football Leagues that I participate in. This week I finally got what was coming to me, a trophy for the tremendous accomplishment of winning the Fantasy Football League at work. A physical trophy.

The trophy was given to me by League Commissioner and Ortho Bowl loser Jon Dewaard. Luckily for you, fellow Computer Mine employee Mike Vest was on hand to record the moment for posterity.








I have cleared away some space near my work area where I proudly display what I am going to call The Dewaard Trophy.

Some of you might be wondering why I'm displaying a trophy I barely earned in a competition that I hardly give any effort and put my more earned awards in a trunk in a basement. I don't have an answer for you.

83

Today my grandma turned 83.

This is about the only old picture I could find of her. My only observation is this: "I know it was the 70s, but I don't know what my Uncle Gary was thinking with this blue tuxedo."

State Fair Flowers

I love the gardens at the State Fair.







































































Pretty, but not quite as tasty as some shaved ice.

State Fair Olla Podrida

A random selection of pictures from my trip to the State Fair with my Mom, Jay and Teresa.



Ran into Jeff and Yin on the shuttle to the fair.



My new favorite hat.



My favorite State Fair Food. (I firmly believe that "food on a stick" is for tourists.)



Pioneer Hall



My favorite State Fair dessert.



You get to put on your own syrup! As much as you want!



Super Bull



2nd Largest Boar



Goat



Cow nose



Mom in Family Center



Mom in the Family Center



This is a cake.



Also a cake.



Family photo



Bridge



Elvis Impersonator


I didn't take as many pictures as usual, but I did take more flower pictures than normal.

The Eldest Sister

Happy Birthday to my eldest sister, albeit a couple days late!



The old Bennett Antique Shop in the background.


Teresa and Carla


Swanky


Teresa and Mom


Teresa and Dad

Colorado


Teresa and Dad


Colorado


Now by looking at some of those pictures you would guess that Teresa must be like a million years old now. Her friend Rob assures me that she is only 45.*

* I should state that because women are sensitive about their age, Teresa isn't actually 45 either.

That Picture

To answer the question: "Yes I took that picture of Shannon in the Des Moines Register". I thought would post some of my favorite pictures from the photo shoot that will no doubt launch her modeling career.





























Watching all that soap making makes me want to go buy some soap.

Slow on the take...

Some times the Des Moines Register gets real arrogant. They do things like try to me just who it is that "I should get to know".

Some times the Des Moines Register gets it right. However, even when they get it right they are way behind the times. Check out this article from today's Business Section.





Thanks for the tip, Des Moines Register, but I've known that Shannon was somebody to know for years now.

In case you can't read the article, I'm willing to supply you with the important details below.



Saponification Specialist


Name: Shannon Bardole

Title: Saponification Specialist

Company: Little White Lye Soap

City company is located in: Ames, IA

Job description or business description (especially if what you do is unusual your the title is not descriptive):
Saponification is the process of making soap, hence I’m a Saponification Specialist. I am owner/proprietor of the business. I make all-natural bars of soap and laundry soap using only Iowa-raised, free-range lard that I render and lye.

Background:
I have a BA in Family Services from the University of Northern Iowa. I worked at Living History Farms for five years, which is where I learned how to make soap using a historic recipe. I currently serve full-time as Administrative Assistant for United Way of Story County since LWLS is still a small business.

Notable achievements:
Little White Lye Soap has been in business for 20 months. The soap is available for purchase at three retail outlets: Wheatsfield Cooperative Grocery (413 Douglas Avenue, Ames), Indoor Ames Farmers’ Market (526 Main Street Station Suite 103, Ames), and Living History Farms (2600 111th Street, Urbandale). The website (http://www.littlewhitelyesoap.com) has been live for a few months.
Personally, I’ve received recognition at the state level within the Jaycees as top local secretary and state program manager.

Why I do what I do:
I love owning a small business. I love the challenges and opportunities that come along with owning a small business. And I love the product that I sell and use. It’s environmentally friendly, and I think my customers appreciate that, as well.

What I do to get away from work:
I enjoy handiwork of all sorts – knitting, crocheting, sewing. I enjoy traveling to visit my nieces and nephews in Dubuque and Illinois. I also working in the vegetable garden that my dad and I plant annually.

How I give back to the community (or volunteer activities):
I am an active member of the Ames (http://www.amesjaycees.com) and Iowa Junior Chamber (http://www.iowajaycees.org). Through the Jaycees I am able to help raise funds through my leadership as the 2008 Committee Chair of Ames on the Half Shell (http://www.amesonthehalfshell.com) that get put directly back into the community through projects such as the Easter Egg Hunt, Bowling Challenge, Fourth of July Fireworks, and Holiday Food Baskets.

Words to live by: Always have a positive attitude, even if things aren’t going well. Because suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint.

What Iowa can do to attract more people like me:
Iowa needs to keep doing what it’s already doing. I’ve been a life-long Iowan, and I love it here! I love four distinct seasons. I love the friendliness of Iowans. And I love driving in the spring and looking out over fields for miles around.

My mentor:
Frankee Oleson, Executive Director of United Way of Story County, quickly became my mentor after I began working there. She has got to be the most diplomatic person I know. That is something I really want to learn from her.

My leadership philosophy: Being a leader isn’t always comfortable. If you’re doing it right, you’re going to be uncomfortable, make people mad, but learn a lot.

What I would do if I could do something else:
I would love to be a full-time business owner. That is my goal. I’m passionate about quality, hand-crafted, all-natural, local goods, and I’d love to own a business that features all of those products.

If you want to contact me: Please visit http://www.littlewhitelyesoap.com.


You can also view the article online: You should get to know...

Desired Things

On Wednesday night I met Sara for supper. We went to a nice Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Des Moines. I don't think I can actually type out the name of the restaurant, but my best Americanized version of the restaurant name is A Dong. My shorthand review of the meal was that they had incredible appetizers.

Almost any time I hang out with Sara, I learn something new. Sometimes, it is just her current degree of insanity, sometimes it is what part of the body is a perfect vacuum and sometimes it is about art.

Sara introduced me to a poem called Desiderata. Maybe you have heard the poem. I had only heard parts and had never heard the whole thing. I love the poem. Have a quick read.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be
greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career
however humble;
it is a real possession in the
changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you
to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit
to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham,
drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

I read this poem while sucking down my second glass of wheat grass and before I took a wheat grass pill. The poem was not written by a famous poet. The author is a guy named Max Ehrmann.

He wrote the following in his diary:

I should like, if I could, to leave a humble gift -- a bit of chaste prose that had caught up some noble moods.

That seems like a pretty good goal for anybody.

St. Francis Xavier Basilica

After we left the Field of Dreams on Sunday, we visited the St. Francis Xavier Basilica. It is one of only 53 Basilicas in the United States.



Random Flower



Spires



Spires



The Church



Altar



Stained Glass Window



Sanctuary



Spire



Willy






Jay



Dessert in Jesup



Traditional Road Trip Photo


The height of each spire is 212 feet.

The term Basilica is a Greek derivation from "Basileus" meaning a royal or kingly building. In the day of the pagan Roman Empire, most cities had a large building of special architectural design to accommodate large audiences for orators of the day. They were called basilicas. In her earlier centuries, the Catholic church conferred this title on churches of unusual architectural and spiritual significance. Their number is small. Some hold the title by a special Papal edict as is the case of the Dyersville Basilica.

The Basilica is often referred to as the Pope's church for his use in the event he should ever visit the area. There are Major and Minor Basilicas. The Major Basilicas of which there exist only five, are all in Rome, the best known being St. Peter's. The Basilica of St. Mary's in Minneapolis was the first church in the United States to be raised to the rank of a Minor Basilica in 1926.

St. Francis Xavier was the twelfth church in the country so honored. It i unique in that it is one of three in a rural area; all the others are in metropolitan areas.

There are now 53 basilicas in the United States. St. Francis Xavier Basilica is one of the finest examples of the true medieval Gothic architecture. Its graceful and pleasing lines are reminiscent of some of the outstanding Gothic cathedrals in Europe.

-Basilica Pamphlet

Field of Dreams

Jay, Willy and I made a little trip to the Field of Dreams on Sunday. Have a look.



Lunch



Independence, Iowa



Field of Dreams House



The Field of Dreams



Jay



Coming out of the corn field.



The Field of Dreams



Rounding 2nd



Going for Three



Willy and his Camera Phone



Souvenir Shop



The line between the ghost world and the real world.



1st Base



Willy sunning himself on the bleachers.



This is actually what Jay looks like when he watches baseball.



Enjoying the game.



"I love this guy."



The remnants of when the Field of Dreams was owned by two feuding families.


I had never been there before. I think I got much more out of the experience than Willy and Jay. I only wish I had brought a glove and a ball.

Boone County Sea Dogs

We took our seaworthy crafts out for their maiden voyages on Saturday. I took several pictures, but many of them are just too hot for the world wide web. Below are a few pictures that are a little less sexy.



Jay preparing for the voyage.



I bought these shoes so that Bill would be with us in spirit. I have not switched sides.



Going under US30



Willing and his "kayak" style.



My sweet sock tan line.



The river was hardly ever deep enough to where you couldn't walk across it.


Jesse has already expressed interest in becoming a Boone County Sea Dog. He hasn't even seen our sweet patch.

Some Poetry

My friend James has compiled a book of his poetry. You can check it out or buy a copy if you follow this link:


James Book of Poetry


This is one of his poems.

Shadows

Scattered shards of broken glass
I feel as if I�m a shadow of my past

Paint me a portrait of how to be
Someone of strength and beauty

All that is left is the void
The strength I once had destroyed

No comfort no support
Do I have to prove anything?
Nothing to be proven only to myself

Shadows seem such a comfort
No one sees
No one hears
Safely hidden in fear

Wanting to run and hide
Simply can not deny

That I am smart
I am brave
I will not cave

To know this
To think is to believe

I am already the man I wish to be
I just need to change what I think
Perceive differently

Exercise Your Enfranchisement

You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books. Then they get to be men they forget even more. Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I'm free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn't, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that.

- Jefferson Smith; Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

As you all know, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is one of my favorite movies. This little bit from that movie reminds me of how important it is to vote.

Now I'm not urging you to go out and vote this November. That is an awful log time to wait to express one's opinion. What I'm urging you to do is go to the following website:


A Link worth Clicking!


Once you are there you should see something like the picture below:





That is a picture of Becky's rabbit Maude. Once there you should exercise your ability to think for yourself and do what I'm about to tell you to do. Vote for Maude as the "Cutest Pet".

Maude thanks you for your support.

Kentucky FAQ

It is time to answer the most common questions I have received about my trip to Kentucky:

What in Heaven would ever possess somebody to go to Kentucky, even for a visit?

Teresa's significant other Ernie lives in Kuttawa, Kentucky. He is a good guy and I wanted to visit him on his own turf. However, the impetus for the trip was a PostSecret art display in Paducah. If you are asking yourself, "What is PostSecret?", most likely you and I aren't all that close.

Is the South as bad as it is portrayed by Hollywood and country music?

I never quite made it to the Deep South. I was always within safe driving distance of the Illinois border. In fact, Kentucky was a border state. They never joined the Confederate States of America. Kentucky tried to be all neutral during the Civil War and never really fronted for the Union either. That mostly makes Kentucky a big coward, but better yellow than a dirty Reb!

That being said, there are things that you hear in Kentucky that are pretty bad:

• "Down there is where the Klan held there parade a couple years ago." (Incidentally, an awesome story about Ernie is that when the Klan held a parade in a neighboring town, he marched up to the Head Inbreeder and asked for an application. That my friends, takes courage.)
• "When they put up the new Courthouse, they had us tear down a tree where they lynched a little black kid. About 100 years ago a white woman was walking down the street and she said that a black kid whistled at her. So they decided to lynch him. However, he worked at a tobacco farm, so the farmer insisted that they wait to lynch him until after the harvest. When the harvesting was done, the townfolk came and got him and hung him from the tree next to the courthouse. That was about 100 years ago. They decided to cut that tree down last year. It was time for a new start."
• "We shouldn't go to Calvert City. They don't like interracial couples in that town."
• "What do you mean you don't keep your gas pack outside?"
• "I reckon..."

With all of that being said, by far and away the worst town that we voyaged through during our time down there was Cairo, Illinois. In fact, Cairo might be the new crappiest town I have ever been in. It certainly gives the towns of Beaver, Fort Dodge and Newton a run for their money.

I do have to give the people of Illinois some credit. Right next to Cairo was a town called Future City. By the looks of the disrepair that has fallen on Future City, the founders are banking on the future to be similar to the futures predicted by movies like Mad Max or Planet of the Apes.

What is a Gravity Pull Hill?

A Gravity Pull Hill is a hill where if you park you car and put it in neutral, some unseen force will push your uphill. We did park Ernie's car at the base of the hill. After a few moments we were pulled uphill.

Now there are a couple of urban legends surrounded this particular hill. One is that this hill is the site of a spot where a man strapped his cheatin' wife to the back of his wagon and drug her to her death. Her ghost pulls your car up the hill.

Another legend is that a man and his daughter had car troubles at this spot. When they got out the car, they were ran over by a truck. It is their ghosts that are pushing your car up the hill.

Another legend states that if you cover your trunk with baby powder, when you get to the top of the hill you will find 6 hand prints on the trunk of the car.

The true scientific explanation for a gravity hill is that it is an optical illusion. Although the hill looks like it goes uphill, it actually goes downhill. Next time I'm in Kentucky I will see if science is telling the truth.

What is the story behind the Abraham Lincoln bust that you busted up?

The guy who lived in the house next to Ernie's passed away recently. Ernie and his sister bought the house for 1500 dollars. They also bought the lot next to it for 200 dollars. Strapped to the front porch of the house was a bust of Abraham Lincoln. I was intrigued by this bust as soon as I saw it.

I couldn't tell who it was from Teresa's car. I figured since we were down South, it was most likely a bust of Jefferson Davis or Lee or Stonewall Jackson. When we got there I didn't know that Ernie owned this house. I thought that somebody lived there and just didn't keep care of their yard. I didn't want to go trespassing just to get a better looking.

I had visions of some dude without teeth coming out with a shotgun telling me to "Get off my land!"

Later I found out that Ernie owned this house and said that I could have the bust if I wanted it. On Sunday I made my way through the yard and up the porch to claim my prize. I was surprised to find out that the bust was actually of Abraham Lincoln.

As I began to work the bust free from the nail that held it down, Abe's head broke off in my hand.

I was aghast. One thought raced across my mind. "I'm one of them now."

How was the PostSecret display?

It was phenomenal. I had seen the majority of the secrets displayed in the books or on the website, but it is a whole different experience to actually see the real cards. I loved it enough, that I'm considering going up to Minneapolis to see the display again when it moves there in a couple of months.

Was Lambert's really worth a 90 minute wait?

You better believe it. It was worth the 90 minute wait plus the 90 minute drive to get there. If you are ever in Sikeston, Missouri do yourself the huge favor and go there and eat. The service was phenomenal. The food was exquisite. The portions were incredible. The fresh hot throwed rolls were perhaps the second best restaurant rolls I've ever had in my life. The sorghum was awesome. I also came to the conclusion that I could live of fried okra until my heart gave out from having a diet consisting entirely of fried food.

I loved it so much that I even bought a shirt.

So you went to a Southern Baptist church service, how was that?

I would go back, if not for the music, for the gay bashing. Seriously, I could have done without the gay bashing, but the music was incredible. In fact, I would go so far as to say it was the second best praise band this guy has ever heard.

It was also long. We arrived at the service at about 11:15. The service started at about 11:30. We ducked out at about 2:30. The service was still going strong.

I'm not sure how many of my other friends would have enjoyed the service. The energy was good. However, it seemed like a lot of the service was entertainment. The praise band played for over an hour. There was an interpretive dance thrown in for good measure.

It was okay, but I don't think I learned anything from going to the service. I learned a lot from a cultural perspective. I don't think I learned anything about Christianity. The sermon was entertaining and it had lots of energy and it got you going, but I don't think that there was a lesson in there that I could use to apply to my life and make myself a better Christian and therefore a better person. I don't even think that there was anything in there to make me think. What is the old saying? "Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

You went to the Abraham Lincoln Museum. Aren't museums boring?

I have a rule I use when evaluating people. "People that bore easily are boring people." That is on page 17 of my new book: The Wit and Witticism of Christopher D. Bennett.

If I failed to answer your question, hit me up with another question and I'll drop some more knowledge on you.

Another Tribute to Me

Although you might not believe me, on occasion on inspire people to greatness. My recent trip to Kentucky inspired Jay to make this tribute to my Southern Adventure.





I think Jay is crying out for his own trip down South.

Back to Civilization

After desecrating the Lincoln statue, I had to make amends by visiting the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Lincoln's Tomb. This we did on our return trip to civilization.



Traditional Road Trip Photo



Ernie



Waffle House Turtle



Springfield



The Lincoln Family



Booth



Lincoln Portrait



Generals



Douglass



White House



"War is old men talking and young men dying..."



I don't really know this guy.



Old State Capitol (Where Obama announced his run for the White House.)



Teresa



Presidential Library



Presidential Museum



Statue



Lincoln's Tomb



Lincoln's Tomb



Inside Lincoln's Tomb



Lincoln's Final Resting Place



Inside Lincoln's Tomb



Inside Lincoln's Tomb



Lincoln's Tomb



Lincoln's Tomb


Visiting Springfield was an incredible experience. I highly recommend it to anybody that can make it there. You don't even have to be a history nerd.

Kentucky - Day 3

Sunday of the Kentucky trip consisted of going to a Southern Baptist church service and visiting Ernie's pond.



What 1500 bucks buys in Kentucky.



President Lincoln



Church Sign



Church Bus



Sculpture



Sculpture



Teresa and Ernie



Lunch



Home of some great fudge.



Kentucky Dam



Crane



Lunch



Ernie



Desecration



Unofficial Southerner



Citizen of Ernie's Pond



Ernie's Pond



Cat Tails



Berries



Ernie's Sister



Ernie's Tractor




All that was left to do was to head back to civilization.

Down South - Day 2

On Saturday we visited a tobacco farm, went to Newson's (home of the famous hot dog sauce, visited Paducah and then ate at Lambert's. The impetus for this trip was the PostSecret display at the Paducah Art Gallery. The display was certainly worth the trip.



Teresa and Ernie



Tobacco Barn



Ernie in the Tobacco Barn



Tobacco Farm



Tobacco Fields



Tobacco Farmer



Ernie and Teresa



Tobacco Field



Hanging out with Tobacco



Teresa taking a picture with the camera phone



Ernie showing some tobacco tools



I couldn't stop thinking about tomacco the whole time I was there.



The Gravity Pull Hill



Gravity Hill mailbox



Newsom's



Newsom's (Also home of some tasty ham)



Some Peaches



Kentucky Prison Farm



Barges



Taking some pictures



The Art Gallery



Camera Phone Picture



Ernie



Lambert's



90 Minute Wait at Lambert's



Y'all is not a word



Check out the size of that ham



Very annoying detour


There was a 90 minute wait at Lambert's and it was well worth the wait. If you are ever in Sikeston, Missouri do yourself a favor and stop there and eat. It is incredible.

The South - Day 1

Friday was day 1 of my odyssey to the South. I took a few pictures. Here are some of them.



Lunch



Superman II Astronaut Costume



Superman Museum



Teresa



Classic Family Portrait



Metropolis, Illinois



Superman Statue



Superman Statue and Teresa



Superman Statue



Superman



Reflection



Metropolis



I like big statues.



Small Baptist Chapel



Knuckles on Praying Hands



Cross from Southern Baptist Church



Whitehaven



Whitehaven Windows



Kentucky Dam



Teresa


Day 1 of the trip ended with a meal prepared by Ernie that included the largest potato I have ever seen (to the best of my knowledge, not grown near a nuclear power plant) and some tasty pork steak.

That night we loaded back up into the car and toured Ernie's town of Kuttawa and the nearby town of Eddyville. We experienced a gravity pull hill and then drove around a maximum security prison.

It was a good first day.