Mass Boston Mission home burns

I'm not sure if it was still used to house the mission, but it did when I was there. Sad. It was a beautiful building.

http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/1740673/?nextnav=recent

New Orleans Dash

This photo was while I was stuck on the freeway, trying to figure out what happened. Lots of downed trees.

My 3 day dash to New Orleans.

Dash to New Orleans.

In keeping with my habit of renting a car and driving forever, I finally decided to see the Gulf of Mexico. I took Hayden with me to ease the pain on “the Mama”.

The trip down started a bit late. I didn’t get going until after 9am. Driving down to southern Illinois was uneventful other than a bad bit of rain south of Decator. I eventually got off the US road and onto the interstate around Salem. Nothing of note other than all the snails around the Arby’s when we stopped for a bathroom break. It only took about 30 minutes before traffic stopped. I mean, it moved occasionally, but at most about1 mile an hour. I decided that I’d seen too many people get stuck in a ditch trying to turn around and I got off on the next exit, around Herrin, IL. 

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=herrin&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=45.957536,65.126953&ie=UTF8&ll=37.818734,-88.948746&spn=0.180083,0.254402&t=h&z=12

The apocalypse seemed to have happened. I had noticed the trees down but I thought it was because there was a storm previously in the week. Was I wrong. There were power lines down and semis trying to backup, hopefully not back to Carbondale. Very interesting pictures.

OK. I finally got my way out of that mess, on to finding a bathroom and somewhere that had power…not until Missouri. I figured I had to get to Memphis before I stop for the night. Long, boring drive. I find Illinois more interesting.

The Motel 6 in West Memphis…meh. Smelled bad there. South Memphis wasn’t any better. Bad storm that night though.

The next day we had breakfast at Waffle House and got stuck at the back parking lot and had to tell a police officer to move his car so we could get out. Drove like mad to get to New Orleans. We went over the causeway (longest bridge over water) and headed for Mobile. There are some amazing bridges down there. Too bad it’s a stupid place to live. As we were headed to Mobile, I realized that I haven’t seen the Gulf yet so we headed to the beach. When we did see it, it was a ruddy brown. Probably due to the river there. There was a ship works there too.

We didn’t get to Mobile. We went in to Alabama, just to say I’d been there, picked up a state map and headed back to Jackson, MS. The drive home from there was uneventful, except I HAD to stop at Cairo, IL. That place should be torn down. And the Fort Defiance park…underwater. I laughed pretty hard at that. What a place. Sheesh.

http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=36.988306,-89.151637&spn=0.002845,0.003975&z=18

Go to the north to view the city, and to the south and east to go over the bridges. I also have my shots of, well, the river, that used to be Fort Defiance.

That’s about it. Had a great time and put on 2050 miles on the Kia Rio that I rented. Good car, cheap trunk latch.

http://groesser.multiply.com/photos/album/20/New_Orleans_Dash

Barbara Bolton

Barbara Bolton, Tracy's mother, passed away today. She will be greatly missed.

Not-Live blogging from Omaha.

Our second day in Omaha included quite a few things. We went to the SAC museum and looked at old planes. Hayden didn't take as much of an interest as we had hoped, but it was fun for me. I really enjoy it. There was also an astronaut there. Not sure which one, but he was signing things. Hayden didn't take much interest and I didn't feel the need, so we just looked at him and walked on. It was very, very cold and windy that day, and Hayden had forgotten his change in the car. You see, he promised his mother to get some smashed pennies and there were 4 machines there. So, we braved the elements and ran out to get them. That occupied a few more minutes.

After looking at the planes and trying to explain the significance of the hardware we were seeing, we headed back to the east of town to Council Bluffs and quickly visited the church buildings there. We didn't actually go in, and it wasn't that interesting. I mainly went because it was close to the Union Pacific museum there. We had lunch at Taco Bell next door. Interesting, huh? Hayden just isn't one to show a whole lot of interest in things. He picks it up, so I don't

view my flapping gums as completely useless. but still, it would be nice for some feedback.

After the museums we, or I should say I, decided to explore the park that you see upon entering Omaha from the East. There are two very large trains up on the hill and I wanted to see them. Turns out, those are the two largest production trains ever used. The Steam Train is called "Big Boy" and has to be similar to the one I saw in North Platte. It is huge. I also found some information here. http://www.steamlocomotive.com/bigboy/. Don't know if that is of interest. 4-8-8-4. Huge train.

The diesel is big one too. Both are articulated trains, meaning that they turn in the middle. They have to in order to get through some of the turns.

The last part of the day was spent at the motel. The room the first night had a whole in the wall and the shower didn't work right. We got a different room for the next night. Hayden had the pool to himself and he thuroughly enjoyed it.

The next morning we went to Old Country Buffet for breakfast (which he again loved) and headed back home. It was a fun time. Hayden also got a few new video games out of the deal.

Live Blog from Omaha Day 1

This isn't the way we arrived. We rented a car, a sports car no less, and high-tailed it to Omaha, stopping at every Sonic on the way...as well as stopping at every rest area. I am becoming somewhat disturbed at how familiar the road has become. I've only traveled on it a few times a year at most. Still, it seems that I've visited Omaha quite a bit. Anyway, the trip here was somewhat boring, as Iowa tends to be. Not much going on on the ride.

The car itself is a Mitsubishi (??) Eclipse. A lot of road noise. It makes listening to the radio kind of annoying, as you are just trying to drown out the road noise. I don't think I'll make a purchase anytime soon.

Last time I was in Omaha, I travelled with Ellie. It appears that we are probably doing the same itinerary. Our first stop was to the Mormon Trail center as well as visiting the temple, this time in daylight. I tried to impress upon Hayden the importance of the temple, and why we consider it so sacred. I think he understands. He was kind of disappointed that he could only enter the temple when he became 12 when he did baptisms for the dead. Still, it was hard for me to keep from breaking down when you saw the list of people buried there in the adjoining cemetery. So many children. What the mormons of that time had to do to ensure that the gospel would survive and so they could practice their religion. I feel so small compared to them.

The visit into the center was a bit less emotional. As we went by the exhibits, I told Hayden about what it meant. He seemed to have a good grasp of it, but he's never had to deal with it so it is still kind of foreign to him. He really liked the log cabin and how a family lived back then. I asked him how he thought our family would enjoy living in such a small house. "It wouldn't work." was his reply. The oxen pulling the wagon was also of great interest. He wanted to know what they were. Buffalo? Cow? He finally determined that they were "made of meat."

After the visit to the center, we then tried to find Old Country Buffet. I tried to let him know that if I couldn't find it, that he shouldn't be disappointed. I mean, I came down the hill and nothing but concrete and signs were presented to me. It was densly packed with people trying to sell me stuff. Well, we did find it and actually had a very good meal. I don't want to sound so surprised by that, but it was really a good meal.

We are staying in a Motel 6. In keeping with my expectations, it is firmly placed in a more industrial area, with lots of tractor sales and shops around us. The place really isn't that bad and I was kind of surprised at how nice the room is. Nice beds, good cable selection on the TV...and then I found the hole in the wall. Not that intrusive, but still, it made me come back to reality. It is a Motel 6. I was kind of put off that upon checking in the girl doing so was behind a small window with little access. Then I had to think that she was fairly petite and cute for that matter. Perhaps it is best that in this job, she is a little removed. Also of some pause was the police car that drove through the parking lot as we were getting our bags. Of course, that is exactly what I would want police to do so why it unnerved me a bit is rather paranoid.

Also when checking in, one of the other guests mentioned the indoor pool. Hayden became excited but I mentioned "Too bad we didn't bring anything for that." At which Hayden stood back, wagged a finger and said, "Let's not be too fast here. I have something." The boy plans for everything. Kind of cool how serious he takes his trips.

Tomorrow, off to the museums.

http://groesser.multiply.com/photos/album/18/Live_Blog_From_Omaha_March_2009

Live Blog From Omaha March 2009

Picks from our visit to Omaha.