ARIZONA WINDING DOWN ---

MUSEUM OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS -- AND ARIZONA OPRY ... MAY 12 2014

What a contrast.  After the musical performance the night before at the museum, we returned - and spent most of the day.

This is supposed to be the only museum of its kind in the world and they had at least one - sometimes many - musical instruments from every country in the world except for 3.

The 3 were - I think - North Vietnam and two very small countries I had never heard of.

This section will be mostly pictures.

Then one evening we attended the Arizona Opry - which was a dinner theater.  The meal was served prior to the musical performance, and what a great meal it was.  After all the tables were cleared the music began.  What an absolutely great evening it was. 

I will be sharing one more part of the Arizona trip, and that was Salt River Canyon and Springerville in the Mountains.  And then it was time to come home.  Never enough time.  We put some things on the back burner to hold until next year.

Had downpours this morning, but now the sun is shining.  Willl never get our garden planted at this rate.   I do have 2 tomato plants and 2 green pepper plants in tubs of dirt on the dog's Patio.  How about that.  We have our patio with grills, the dogs have their patio with tomatoes and peppers.  Just to put your mind at ease, the tubs with the plants are up on benches, well out of reach of the dogs.  I am sure you just breathed a sigh of relief.

Have a great day and God Bless.

ARIZONA WINDING DOWN ---

PIMA AIR MUSEUM and MONGOLIAN  THROAT SINGERS...MAY 10 2014

All too fast the trip is winding down.  We spent one day at the air museum, better known as the airplane boneyard.  There are two sections, the real boneyard where old planes are stored.  Rows and rows of them.  then there is the museum, where examples of so many aircraft are on display. 

We opted for the tram ride which would take us around the acres of planes -- way too hot to walk -- the tram cars were roofed, and our driver told us about the different aircraft.  Needless to say this was the way to go!

I can't begin to go into detail - I am sure you don't expect me to remember all this stuff - but will share a few pictures.  We spent most of they day there, and it was all very interesting.  I didn't know there were so many different kinds of stuff that could fly. And were actually called 'airplanes'.

The next evening we went to the Museum of Musical Instruments.  Be prepared when I share the ENTIRE DAY there.  But right now am going to share the musical evening.

The Museum has different artists and musicians scheduled through-out the year performing in the museum theater.  The night we went they  were featuring the MONGOLIAN THROAT SINGERS. 

Don't as me to explain this.  All I can say - IT WAS AWESOME.
And just what are throat singers.  Just what it says.  How do I describe it?  You have to be kidding!  But I'll try,

As they play their various musical instruments sometime they sang normally, in their language, very haunting music.   Then they sang with their throats.  All I can say is - it sounds like clearing their throats, but musically.  It made me ache to listen to them.  You could tell by their expressions that this is a very very difficult way to sing.

Also we only had a short time to see that the museum was something we wanted to spend some time in.  Decided to cancel the next days schedule and return to the museum.   That will be next on the agenda. 

Needless to say it had been a great vacation, and it wasn't over yet. 

Have a great Saturday - AND ALL YOU MOTHERS OUT THERE HAVE A GREAT MOTHER'S DAY TOMORROW, and ALL YOU CHILDREN OUT THERE HONOR OUR MOTHER.

Be thankful and God Bless.

ARIZONA CONTINUED ---

ROCK CITY and PIE ... ORGAN STOP PIZZA ...  MAY 08 2014 


Now if that is not a combination I  don't know what is.  We stopped at a little (very very little) dot on the map known as Rock City - the home of the best pies in the world.  WE had eaten lunch earlier, but were ready for desert.

Yep - the pies were great.  We each had a different kind.  Still don't know which one was best.  Needless to say we took a pie and some sticky buns home with us.    The rest of that day was mostly un-eventful.  Can't have an event all the time, all tho I try my darndest to come up with events.  

The next evening for supper the kids - Linda, Dave, Rachel and Mark - took me to Organ Stop Pizza.  What a weird name for a pizza place.  Large building.  Upon entering you got in line to order your pizza.  While the guys waited, we went into the dining room to get a table - it was help yourself.  And I was stopped in my tracks, and actually speechless for once.

This was a huge dining room.  In center-front there was a very large raised round stage with a very large Wurlitzer Organ in the center.  The entire wall in front of the organ were the pipes, and other musical thinga-a-ma-jigs that were played right from the organ.  The music was amazing.   The organist was amazing.  Not only did he play with no music that I could see, he also took requests and played them.

When it was time for the organist to take his break, the stage began revolving, dropping into the floor.  After his break, the stage again revolved, rising up out of the floor.  I learned later that Pizza Stop had 3 organists, as they rotated, a different one each evening. 

Needless to say the pizza was also delicious and I brought 2 CD's home with me.

Got things to do so had better get crackin'.  Have a great day and God Bless. 

A COMEDY OF ERRORS - continued

ROUTE 66 - MAY 5 2014 ... CONTINUED

This should have been the beginning of week 3.  Wasn't meant to be.

After getting the rental car we found a hotel, trying to figure out my new cell phone, still making phone calls.  I don't care if I never talk on a phone again!!!!!

Talked to the body shop.  Ins. adjuster was there, but it would be a while before they could get to my car.  No way were we going to sit around in a hotel for who knows how long. Decisions decisions decisions.

After much discussion decided to make arrangements to have car flat-bedded to home.  Triple A found us another great towing company, and a great driver.  They made arrangements to meet us at the airport where I had to turn in our rental and pick us up the next day.  From there we would go load the car and head for home.  Another new experience - riding 8 hours in a tow truck!

We took what we had with us, except for what we would need over-night to the body shop and put it all in the car.  

The towing company was JOES TOWING and RECOVERY.  Our driver was Herb Wilson.  Wonderful guy.  Very considerate, easy to talk to, he made the trip actually enjoyable.

By the time we got close to home it was pouring down rain.  Friends were meeting us at the body shop in Elm Grove to drive us home.  It was after 8 p.m. when we arrived, and raining still.  Herb had us stay in the tow truck while he completely unloaded the car into the friends vehicle so we would not get wet.  Then he helped us out of the tow truck -- it was high, pretty big steps, old ladies, three ring circus -- by then he was an old friend.  After a big hug he said he wanted to stay in touch.  Then he was gone.  

God is Good.  Everyone is safe.  A new friend.  A new experience.  At lot to be thankful for.  Be safe and God Bless. 

A COMEDY OF ERRORS ---

ROUTE 66 ... MAY 4 2014...

We had planned our Route 66 odyssey for quite a while.  Finally it was time to start our adventure.  Weather was cool, but sunny.  We potsied across Ohio taking pictures of MP Barns, and other stuff.  Same in Indiana.  Entered Illinois south of Chicago to keep out of the nasty traffic stuff.

That is where we picked up Rt 66.  Just keep in mind that everything connected to Rt.66 is not on the road.  You have to go into the small towns to get it all.

Rt 66 is an old two lane road, much like our country roads around here.  Speed limit usually between 45 and 50.  Great for sightseeing.  And picture taking. 

We were just beginning to get into the interesting stuff - Rocket Man, Polka Dot Inn, Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Midewin National Prairie Talll Grass preserve, historic 2 cell , jail, The diner in Grundy, Carpenter Gothic Church , Standard Oil and Mobil old timey service stations, Burma Shave signs and historic houses and builldings. 

We left Pontiac heading for our next destination.  Driving south on our 2 lane Rt 66.  Cross roads ahead.  We had to turn left to get to our next destination.  Left turn signal on.  Slowed down.  No on-coming traffic in the north bound lane.  Good to go.....

Just started my left turn when a fast-moving car decided to pass me in the north-bound lane ---  not a good decision.  We collided.  No one was injured, but both vehicles needed to be towed.

This is when the fun began.  First, we had two really nice Illinois State Highway Patrolmen on the scene.  I called Triple A to arrange for a tow truck.  The dispatcher got all the pertinent info, should be here in about 30 minutes.  30 minutes became 45.  45 became 50.  Called again, the driver was lost.  No wonder her was lost, he was told to go to a different location.  Another dispatched and arrived shortly. 

In the meantime I was talking to my insurance company when my cell phone died.  Died dead.  Would not even take a charge.  Deader than a door-nail.

Great tow truck driver.  We were towed to a body shop in Bloomington Ill - a fairly large city - then he took us to the airport so we could rent a car. 

To be continued.

Have a great day and God Bless.