We Really Aren't in Kansas Anymore Part Two

This has been a really wonderful time for me. I have been able to spend time with Teri as friend. Her husband and son are just great. For those of you who are young, you can drive at 15 in Mississippi. So, go out, get a job, move here and drive early.



Now, back to the King Cakes. I was told that this kind, (a chocolate King Cake) is a fake. It's got to be an import from somewhere that's not real, (I'm thinking of a smart alec comment to insert here.) so be careful and watch out for the fake chocolate King Cakes--although they probably taste good.





Anyway, last night was so absolutely awesome. We went to Corky's Barbecue. (OK, it's not just that I have gotten to go out to eat that says it was a really wonderful time, the homemade lasagnae was great too.) LOL What a change from the Ramen Noodle Diet I am on when I camp.





this sign hung above the door at Corky's.



And here are a couple of interior shots. There is a band display above the lights. (I really should learn to better edit pics.)

And here is a pic of a signed race car hood, Dale Earnhardt in case you can't read it. The waitress said that a lot of people try to buy it. I really wasn't interested as I couldn't see just how I could get it to fit on the back of the bike.

This is another cool inside shot taken at Corky's. Ok, well, maybe y ou will have to use your imagination. Maybe I should have taken a class in Photography before I left home.

And here we are after our meal. Because I was taking pics, Teri boxed up my food and after the pic, I looked in the box and I realized that the potato salad (made with real sour cream was missing, totally delish, yum) was missing. I had carefully saved it to eat with my leftover barbecue. I of course gave Teri a hard time. grin

I took this one last pic and we headed out the door.

If/when you visit here, the best part is that there is no doubt when it is time to head up for bed. You come back from going to the restroom or getting another glass of tea and well, they make sure that you know it's time to go. (Since I was ill as a teenager, I may miss social cues, so this makes it really easy to figure out.)

Actually, the story is that they have a rather large "dawg" that they would rather didn't sleep on the furniture. Or that is what they told me. You can decide who's story is better.

Happy Trails, I have to move on to Baton Rouge and Tickfaw State Park. It's been great. Marty

We really aren' t in Kansas any more

Just in case you don't believe that, here is the sign that tells me this is true.

Here is the bear wearing little Ruby Slippers.

Did I ever mention that I like to make Teddy Bears?

I really like the pic on the left. And I got to listen to Judy Garland a lot when I was a kid. My dad thought she was an awesome singer to the point where I still can hear the exact sounds to Johnny One Note. And my parents and I sat down together to watch the Wizard of Oz the first time it was on TV. (Ok, OK, I realize that I am dating my self.)

I don't have any ruby slippers. My granddaughters both loved ruby slippers, though.

Now the above sign just cracks me up. My other car is a broom. LOLLOLLOLLLOL I have someone who really should have that on their liscense plate. snicker.

And the sign that changes is awesome. (I am not going to share that with you, it is just too, too personal. But here's a great plate. My dad would die for it.

The scarecrow (above) and the tinman (below) are also absolutely awesome.

Don't ya just love them like I do? If not, take a couple of asprin and come back in a couple of days and the scenery will change. grin

Or you could just scroll down to the next pic.We are cruising down the road and I was asked if I was hungry or not and I said that I could go either way and was told there was a great place for Po'Boys just down the road and then was asked if I had ever eaten a po'boy. I said no, what were they?

They are a sandwich in a hard roll, and you can get them with shrimp or crawfish, etc. So here I go off to another new experience.

We are at a place called Obys in Brandon. Here is a pic of the sandwich and I tried their Gumbo. Did I ever mention that since I have been down here I have really learned to like Gumbo?

Then we started talking about something called King's Cake. I've gotta go but will had more later. HEre are a couple of pics just to get you started. m

m

Memphis to Jackson

Monday January 30, 2007

I get up way too early to go to the Greyhound Station to catch the bus to Jackson. The cab driver is one of those who is really interested in history and you wish that it was actually light out so you could see the downtown area. I do look around and check out hotels so when I come back, I can spend a night or two in the downtown area so I can pick up the flavor of the town.

I remember the downtown area surrounding this bus station. Last year on my way to visit my parents I had a layover here to change busses. On the way in to town on that trip, I was looking around trying to find a better place to eat breakfast than in a Greyhound Bus Station and saw a Denny’s. When I had walked over to that Denny’s the waitress was totally rude and even though the restaurant was less than half full told me that there was no way I could be served.

I asked her why and she just said that was the way it was. I got the idea that they didn’t like serving people who came in on the busses. When I left that Denny’s kind of irate, I looked up and saw a sign for TGIFridays. I thought, wow, I wish it was later, they serve some decent food. When I walked by it, I had realized that the restaurant was attached to a hotel and that they might serve breakfast. They did have a great breakfast buffet at that TGIFridays. If you are at the Greyhound Station in Memphis and have a layover, just walk out the front door and look up and to your left, you will see the sign.

With over an hour to wait and no decent book to read, I now wish that I hadn’t had breakfast before I left the hotel.

Instead, I watch the ASAP Security Service randomly checking out people for weapons and whatever, before they get on the bus. I saw some really interesting knives and bottle of booze that were confiscated. And I have two wonder what Greyhound does with what they confiscate. I mean, these were not cheap knives.

ASAP Security Service has a man on its shirt that has an automatic rifle. Nothing makes me feel safer than the thought of someone who through inadequate background checks could easily be an ex-con proficient in killing people and drug running being issued an M-16.

My bus is picked to be checked out by security and I have to laugh, unless they unload my bag entirely, there is no way they can see even close to every thing. My huge pair of scissors makes it through easily and while the guys having smaller knives are having those smaller knives getting confiscated. Ahh yes, you have to brood upon the insanity of life when you think in terms of world safety and racial profiling. I am an older white woman. The men were young African American gentlemen. The guy doing the checking was a younger African American gentleman.

Huge bottles of booze and knives. Is that rally a bottle of Ripple that I see before me? O-M-G, how can he stand to drink that nasty stuff. Kind of like that old Boone's Farm I used to drink. Where were my brains. Anyhow, I am glad the world is such a safe place now.

On the way to Jackson I shoot some pics out of the bus windows. Here we are in Grenada where there is a dive called Catfish Corner. Most of the bus drivers and several others seem to like to eat there. It looks a little like a hole in the wall, but then again, some of those are the best places to eat.

Now both times that I have been through Grenada, I have not been hungry. Maybe next time I should plan better. As I think about it, I realize that even I couldn’t eat Catfish for Breakfast. It’s next to a tiny mall called Stewart’s Square.

There is a lady on the bus who is just now heading back to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. She was talking about how she lost everything, but that she still thought of NOLA as home and wanted to go back there to live.

I have needed to make some phone calls and I found out that it is 8* up in Michigan pretty near to where I live, not including wind chill. Gee, I am sorry about your luck. Grin.

In the town of Durant there is a sign painted on the side of a wall that says: “Farmer’s Market and Salvage Groceries.” It is painted on the side of a tire store. I have to wonder if the building has changed hands or if something different happens on weekends. I try to get a pic, but can’t get one.

The next shot however is why/how I love the interesting aspects of searching and confiscating stuff from the passengers on a Greyhound Bus. One of the bus stops around this area is in a gas station/food stop which says:

Amigos Gas Station: Cold Beer Hot Food

I mean, why take something away from someone when Greyhound Stations on down the road, sell what is being confiscated?

After they took we leave the town of Durant, I randomly shoot some pics. I was fascinated for a bit by some clouds that looked as if there was a rip in them.

mI understand that a lady on the news said that things that look like that are caused by the heat from jet planes.

Next stop: Jackson

I take some random shots along route 462 to catch the area flavor.

m

m

Exciting stuff, huh?

Here is a shot down at I55 on the way to Jackson. The clouds still look as if there is a rip in them.
I got to lead a teleconference call and enjoyed that. I took some time to look at a pattern for a train afgan. (I like trains, remember when I was at CAlifornia Adventure and had my pic taken by the train that was there?) Then sat and talked with some friends. I did, I did, get to see the Wizard of Oz Conference Room. Film at eleven.

Later that night, we were watching a spot of TV when my daughter called. She wanted me to talk to my grandson to calm him down as he was in the middle of a drug bust. Even though the police knew there was a kid in the bedroom sound asleep, the policeman decided to use utmost caution and to wake him up while holding a gun fully cocked and loaded about four inches from his nose.

Now there has to be something wrong when you are 12, it’s around 10:30 at night, your mother requires you to be home to baby-sit your little sister and you get caught in a drug sting when you don’t do drugs.

I try to calm him down. Having your life threatened at any age is something that you don’t really ever get over. And for him it will be worse as his mother chooses to put him in that situation. Everyday he will think about it while he tries to go to sleep and will wonder if it will happen again. It took me years to get over being cut in a robbery and I wasn’t in that situation again.

My daughter commented that he will grow up to hate the police. It’s interesting, as I see that she hates the police as they drag off her friends who sell drugs. I don’t see it the same way.

It’s not the police who put him in danger, but his mother. They have up to six weeks to charge my daughter. One of my friends owns the house they live in.

My daughter talks about buying a house. She’s just damn lucky she didn’t lose her car. Actually, she still easily could if she doesn’t get a good lawyer. She asks me if I know of one. No offense, but why would I? I don’t do a whole lot that would mean that I would need them.

I miss them all and wish that I could be home.

Happy trails, Marty

Sunday January 28, 2007 Memphis Training Pics

Thank you, NAMI Tennessee for the absolutely awesome time. I can't, absolutely can't tell you just how much I enjoyed meeting all of you and getting to work with all of you was the best. As Michael would say "you guys rock."

Here are the pics that I promised people from the Memphis Training. If you don't want the pic left up, please let me know marty@martyraaymakers.com

I'll add words later, I want to catch a nap. (I am currently using the m's as text holders, blogger can be a pita, sometimes) PITA=Pain in the Assets-or another word should you be so inclined.

mm

mm

The shirt says "Elvis has left the building". And, NAMI TN, thanks so much for the shirt. I really needed another one.

mm

mm

mm

mm

mm

mm

mm

mm

mm

mm

mm

mm

mm

b

Saturday January 26 2007

I can't sleep in as I my mind is occupied with what I need to have happen in the In Our Own Voice Training. I kind of miss the training notebook that I usually use as I have taken notes in every training that I have done.

Comments other people have made that has and hasn't worked when they were presenters. Comments that offended people. Misspellings and what have now become typos. All that stuff.

I look at the agenda and realize that it has changed once again since I did a training. And I have to wonder why there aren't trainers calls anymore where these things are discussed. My training style is a little different from some others but the results speak for themselves.

My mind runs through the needs that I have heard and I think about how we need to come up with presenters who can change what presenter they are on the run, that people are looking for partners or are pairing up with people who went through the previous training so things need to match up well with what was done in the past.

I start to define how I need the training to look and what will be important to help people thoroughly understand, how to make sure people know that the conversation that occurs can be just as important if not more important than the presentations and how to steer the conversations that can take place by the questions you ask as the second person.

And I plan out what and how things will happen. Inch by inch, minute by minute.

Later--things went well today. I had a great time. This is an awesome group of people. I always enjoy the people that I meet when I am doing a training.

I miss my vulcan. It has stopped raining and I feel a need to ride. Instead I check out the prices of motorcycle trailers. Somehow it is just not the same thing.

Happy trails, Marty

Friday January 26, 2007

I declared today a work day and caught up this blog, some NAMI paperwork, called a few people and touched base. I could have gone sightseeing, but I was more in the mood to sleep in and enjoy a leisurely day. I can see Memphis when I come back through.

I got the notebook for the IOOV training tonight and prepared for the training. I didn't have my cards with me of course, and there are some things I do differently. I don't like having people get up in pairs at all. It's a yuck thing for me. I am going to do it because Eileen did it last time, but it really sucks. Oh well.

Gotta get ready for bed. Have a great night. Marty

Thursday January 25, 2007

I couldn't sleep last night so I end up have a hard time getting up. I am never sure just why I move slower and slower when I am having a mental struggle, but I do.

Also, it's kind of interesting. I have an email asking me if I know of any drumming communities in New Jersey and that is where the person who was going to keep my bike was. Wierd, some of those coincidences, huh? I emailed them that I would try to see what I could find out.

My time today is spent finding NAMI Mississippi. It was a great experience for me to be in in a state office other than NAMI Michigan. It was really neat. There were four to five people there and all of them were great to talk to. NAMI Michigan doesn't have staff like that, they run on a literal shoestring. There is no money in the budget for people to run programs. It is not like that here. When I talk to people at NAMI Mississippi, they say things like "I am in charge of this or that program."

I wish that NAMI Michigan had people in charge of specific programs. That would mean that the programs would have more time to grow and someone to go to bat for them trying to get them adequately sponsored and distributed. It's not that Susan isn't awesome, she is, she just has too much to do.

Larry Swearingen (sp) the ED of NAMI Mississippi, let me put my Vulcan at his house. I enjoyed the ride a lot out to his home. It is in a beautiful area. Who am I kidding, I am finding all of Mississippi beautiful.

On the bus, I sit and ride. For a while I look out the window and think about where I am now compared to where I was a few months ago and where I want to be in a couple of years.

Things have been tough for me in the growing and learning department, but I wouldn't change it with anything else in the world. The hardest part of the trip is figuring out how to leave the bike to go to speak somewhere else. I have to figure that out better and get a better cash balance behind me so I am able to not have to depend upon circumstances so much.

I have been looking at different bike trailers that I might be able to tow behind my motorcycle. I want something lightweight that I can shut my stuff in, something that is fairly aerodynamic, and preferably something black as my bike is blue and black. (Always with an eye towards aesthetics.) I need something that will help the weight not come down on my right leg.

While travelling on the bus, I think about how much I miss my grandbabies and am thinking about seeing if I can get home for a couple of days to see them. I love them so very much. They are awesome. If I can get a cheap ticket then Berta might be able to pick me up. Maybe I could splurge on a hotel with a swimming pool and we could all have a great time for a bit. They all swim so incredibly well.

I get into Memphis and realize that where I am staying is just way too far from the downtown area that I want to be in and adjust my thinking to where I will be working on NAMI all day. Wow, what a thrill to be doing that. grin

Happy trails, Marty

Rocky Springs to Clinton and Verizon, OH MY GOODNESS

Today is Wednesday January 24, 2007.

I left the Rocky Springs Campground to see just what is happening with the Memphis In Our Own Voice Training because I was to hear from them and I haven't. I stop by where the cell phone tower is that the guy tells me about. I get a nice strong cell phone signal (5 bars), wait 15 minutes to see if any messages are going to drop in and none do. Wierd I say to myself. Where I am going to try to end up is less than 70 miles down the road and it is barely noon. I decide to look at some more sites along the way and enjoy some more scenery.

It's a nice day. I don't have to wear a snow suit. I am a little chilly, but not really cold. I could be warmer, but only truly love to ride with the visor flipped up. Oops, gotta get offline for a minute and load the pics into the computer. There is one with me in my new tent that will give you a laugh. Paul and Wendy have another pic that I will add in when they give it to me.

Here's the pic that I have of me in the new tent with my stuff all around me.

Catch ya in a few.

Ok, I am back and as you can see I have inserted the picture.

The first place that I stop is at the Lower Choctoaw Boundry Line. the first sign says:

Red Bluff Stand

John Gregg at the lower Choctaw Line respectfully informs the public and travellers particulary, that he keeps constantly on hand a large and general supply of GROCERIES, ground Coffee ready to put up, Sugar Biscuit, Cheese, Dried Beef, or Bacon, and every other article necessry for the accomodation of travellers going through the nation on very reasonable terms. He is also prepared to shoe horses on the shortest notice.

Established in 1802 this hostelry on teh Indian Boundry was the last place a northbound traveller could get provisions.

now in the part of Michigan I was living in, all county lines and all territorial lines seemed to be thoroughly surveyed. I found the following sign fairly amusing because of the difference in cultures. We would probably tear down the trees to put in a tiny surveyor's stake. I am very able to appreciate the difference.

Lower Choctaw Boundary
The line of trees to your left has been a boundary for 200 yeras. It was established in 1765 and marked the eastern limists of teh Old Natchez District. This boundary ran from a point 12 miles east of Vicksburg southward to the 31st parallel.

First surveyed in 1778, it ws reaffirmed by Spain in 1793, and by the United States in 1801.

Since 1820, it has served as the boundary between Hinds and Claiborn Counties, Mississippi.



There seems to be no trail to walk down and to my undiscerning eye, it looks lider there are lines of trees everywhere. sigh But here's a pic on the sign. grin




Here is the Kawasaki sitting in the layby of the Lower Choctaw Boundary.

Nest up is Deans Stand. Here's what the sign says:

The Treaty of Doaks Stand, 1820 opened this land to white settlement. Land was quicly claimed and pioneer families established themselves in this wilderness. Willean Dean and his wife Margaret settled near here on the Old Natchez Trace in 1823.

The Deans supplemented their farm income by offereing lodging to travelers. The clientele was a cross section of the advancing frontier--the homeward bound boatman, the hurrying mail rider, the trader in land and basics, the fugitive, or the ininerant preacher.

On the night of May 12, 1863, General US Grant made his headquarters here after the Battle of Raymond.

I got tired of having the Kawasaki in the pics more than I was, so I tried to take a pic of myself.



Here's the bike at Dean's Stand. I couldn't get both of us in one pic. (I tried, really i did.)




As I ride along, I start to think more and more about how wierd the cell phone thing is. It was frustrating as I can't get Verizon and have tried off and on more than 30 times.

Now we are at the Battle of Raymond:

By the time of the Civil War, the Natchez Trace had lost its signifiance as a national road. One of the sections ran from Port gibson toward jackson but the route veered from teh original Trace to reach Raymond. In the spring of 1863, General U S Grant marched his Union Army over this route after crossing the Mississippi and taking Port Gibson.

On May 8, Grants forces drew fire from a Confederate Brigade, commanded by Brigadere General John Gregg, located on the southern edge of Raymond, three miles east of here. After a day of bitter fighting the confederates withdrew towards Jackson, leaving their wounded in the county courthouse.This convinced Grant of the need to take Jackson in order to ensure success of his forthcoming siege of Vicksburg.

vv

Do you belive that all that stuff in the tent actually fits on this bike? grinI continue on up the road into Clinton, grab some gas and drop by a Wendy's to eat and warm up. About the itme I start on the sour cream and chive baked potato my phone starts to ring and ring.

People are telling me that they have left me many messages, but I am showing none of them. After making some arrangements, I start to eat my cold baked potato and some of my chicken nuggets. All of a sudden my phone starts beeping like crazy that I hae messages. There are over 25, with 9 of them being about business. Grrr. I will have to call a lot of people and apologize. It's frustrating because I even tried to call my voicemail.

I talk to Verizon and voice my dismay. I can't even proactively call my voicemail. What's up with that?

I start calling people back and making plans. I find that I am going to need to leave a day early and the person I was planning on leaving my bike with is gone. I ask her if she can think of a way to find another place to keep my bike. I had wanted to visit with her for a bit also. Get my head screwed on a little straighter as she has had to deal with the Verizon Cell Phone glitch for a while and I hoped that she had found an answer.

I decide to find a hotel room so I can wash some stuff and figure out a way to get things to work.

What occurs to me is that I am having a love affair with Mississippi. I am so enjoying it here. I smile and think about that for a bit. And think about sending my snow suit home. Yeah!