Yesterday was Anela’s birthday. Since I am a horrible person I had her birthday mixed up and forgot to wish her a happy birthday. So I will do that now:

Happy birthday Anela!

I hope your birthday WAS magnificent and I will see you at the party on Friday!

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After Nader and I left Winterset City Park, we came back and went to the John Wayne Birthplace Museum. I have been to the outside of the museum several times, but I have never been inside. Going inside was somewhat unfinished business for me of a personal nature. So I was very glad that I finally got to do it.

Here are some pictures of the museum and some pictures when we went back to downtown Winterset before leaving for out next stop.

I need to point out that while I enjoyemany John Wayne movies, I freely point out that he was a garbage human being. John Wayne was a coward’s coward. A draft dodger that hid behind his wife and children to avoid fighting in WWII, all the while cheating on his wife with another woman. He was a notorious bigot and an informant to one of the biggest black eyes in American history… the House “Un-American” Activities Committee. One of the biggest black eyes in American history, so far.

I’m pretty good at separating art from artist. So on this occasion I would like to share my John Wayne Movie Power Rankings. I’ve probably seen only half his movies and even that is probably a generous assessment. So factor that in if you want to come at me that THE CONQUEROR is is his best movie, well, not that one. I’ve seen that one.

JOHN WAYNE POWER RANKINGS

10. Rooster Cogburn
9. Big Jake
8. The Searchers
7. Red River
6. The Quiet Man
5. Rio Bravo
4. McLintock
3. Sons of Katie Elder
2. True Grit
1. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

As always, my list is is final and beyond contestation. No questions at this time.

If you were wondering, the next stop on the road trip was to Creston to check out their sweet murals.