Thursday, May 31, 2018

Celebrate The American Spirit Of Adventure

The Archway in Kearney, Nebraska that spans Interstate-80 always seems to surprise me when I come upon it.  It's just there, in the middle of nothing.  We've never had an opportunity to stop, which maybe we should since it houses a "family friendly historical exhibit tells the story of those who followed the Great Platte River Road and helped to build America."

I like the write-up Roadside America did.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: Roasting In The Arizona Desert

2016: Summer Reading
2015: Music = Sheer Joy
2014: Bean There, Done That
2013: Capital Letters Indeed
2012: Look For The Sign
2011: This Is My Life
2010: The Power Of Liberty
2009: A Day At The Park
2008: A Body Temperature Of 98.6 – The Only Requirement To Work AT McDonald’s
2007: Laughter Is The Best Medicine
2006: Homeless Shelter
2005: Sorry, no post for this day. 

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Prepare To Come About

We just did a quick turn in Newport, Rhode Island, one of my favorite places.  Sadly, we were only there enough time to drop off our load and head out again. 

I didn't even have time for a mansion tour!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: 
Scrambled, Poached, Or Over Easy?

2016: Office Hours
2015: Baking In The Evening Sun
2014: Sundown Heaven Town
2013: Hold The Vodka
2012: Forging America In The Holy Land Of Steel
2011: Captivating
2010: Not That He’s Insensitive Or Anything
2009: Ode To Milk
2008: Eddie On The Rocks Friday
2007: The Unintentional Beating Of A Red State Child
2006: Sorry, no post for this day.
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Oversized Holiday

I took this picture in Rawlins, Wyoming over the Memorial Day weekend.  The entire rig, from tip to tail, must have been 120 feet long.  There were two trucks and two escorts parked in the back corner of the truck stop lot.

With oversized load transportation, there are often travel restrictions that include times of travel, days of travel, and even speed of travel.  Wyoming doesn't allow travel of oversized loads on holidays, as stated, in part, in their Oversize/Overweight Permit Manual:


"Oversize movements requiring escorts shall not be permitted to travel on legal holidays or during local celebrations when heavy local traffic is anticipated. Legal holidays when travel shall be restricted are the following:


New Year's Day - January 1
Memorial Day - The last Monday in May
Independence Day -July 4
Labor Day - The first Monday in September
Thanksgiving Day - The fourth Thursday in November, restricted on Thanksgiving Day only
Christmas Day - December 25


Moves requiring escorts shall not be permitted to travel from one-half hour after sunset the evening before a holiday until one-half hour before sunrise the day after the holiday. When a holiday is combined with a weekend for a 3 day weekend, these restrictions shall be in force from one-half hour after sunset the day proceeding the holiday weekend until one-half hour before sunrise the day following the holiday weekend. 

When a holiday falls on a Saturday, no move requiring escorts shall be permitted from one-half hour after sunset Thursday until one-half hour before sunrise Monday. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, no move requiring escorts shall be permitted from one-half hour after sunset Friday until one-half hour before sunrise Tuesday. Permits requiring escorts during holiday weekends or as determined by the Overweight Loads Office may exceed four days."

We've never hauled anything that would put us at 120-feet in length, but we've hauled several over-width loads and when doing so, were required to obtain permits in each state of travel and abide by their hours of travel.

Which is how we got stuck for an entire weekend at a rest area in Nowheresville,  Pennsylvania that didn't have a lick of internet. 




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2017: Back In The Saddle Again
2016: Wild Kingdom
2015: Cuteness Overload Alert
2014: The World Of Water And Wind And Stone And Wood
2013: Hours Of Excitement
2012: Earl Is The Only Grey In My Life
2011: I Gave The Tattooed Behive A Chance And I Liked It!
2010: A Diet Coke With A Squeeze Of iPod, Please
2009: Eddie In The Creepy Sailor Mask Friday
2008: No Wonder Sailors Came Up With A Special Knot
2007: Bridge To The Gate Of Heaven
2006: Summer Staples 
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Monday, May 28, 2018

Towing Enforced

We were in Rawlins, Wyoming taking a break when Ed decided to take a look at our satellite TV that has been on the fritz. 

While Ed fiddled with the TV, I took a walk since the weather was just as I like it -  56 degrees and overcast - and came across these old parking barriers in the back corner of the truck stop parking lot.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: 
Killer Bikes

2016: Insta Addicted
2015: I Solemnly Swear
2014: From Little Acorns Mighty Oaks Do Grow
2013: No Stack Security
2012: My New Obsession
2011: FANtastic
2010: You Won’t See These Giant Feet In A Museum
2009: Semantically Speaking
2008: He Fought The Ed And The Ed Won
2007: Electric Fence
2006: You’re Such A Pansy!!
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Sunday, May 27, 2018

Tip-Top Turtle

When my mother was a young girl, she had a turtle.  A giant turtle from what we were told.  She named it Tip-Top and my grandfather wrote the name on the turtle's shell in nail polish.

This week, my brother made this turtle for my mother's garden.  His name is also Tip-Top

Welded from nuts of various sizes, it's 9" across, 17.5" from head to tail, and stands 5" off the ground.  It's so heavy my mother can't move it by herself, so my brother placed it in her garden where she directed him to.

He recently created a skateboard out of bolts that he called SK8 4 LIFE, made a fisherman for my cousin, made a photographer for our friend MacG, and made several other sculptures with similar materials.

He's nuts about creating!




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: 
Education In Ruins

2016: She's Dressed In A Tuxedo
2015: Turn Of The Century
2014: The Passing Strange
2013: One Pan Eddie: Five Steps To Paradise
2012: Crossing The Hackensack
2011: Don’t Hate On Me On This Lovely Golden Day
2010: See You At The Curb
2009: A Blaze Of Crotch Sniffing And Licky Kisses
2008: Going To Market
2007: Lazy Sunday
2006: Can Someone Define Their Purpose??
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Historic Dining

I was walking in downtown Salt Lake City when this building between two modern buildings caught my eye.

It reminded me of the story about Edith Macefield of Seattle, who wouldn't sell her house (not even for a million dollars!) and commercial developers built around her on three sides.

The late nineteenth century building in this photo, one of Salt Lake City's most historic, now houses a restaurant called Martine.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2017: Urban Fighter
2016: Throw Back (Way Back!) Thursday
2015: West Texas Depot
2014: Plymouth Trawler
2013: Miles Of Sky And Some Reading Material
2012: Calling All Questions
2011: Rolls-Royces, Sun Kings and Teardrops
2010: Less Is More
2009: A Look At An Oil Baron’s Lookout
2008: Spring In The Maritimes
2007: Envisioning A Huge BLT Sandwich
2006: Eddie’s New Passion Friday
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Friday, May 25, 2018

Ten Levels Of Party Space

The exterior of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building
"For over 100 years, The Joseph Smith Memorial Building has been providing guests from all over the world with exceptional service and hospitality. Previously named the Hotel Utah, construction on the building began in 1909. Two years later in 1911, the hotel opened for business. During its 76 years as a hotel, the Hotel Utah was internationally recognized for its elegance and world-class service, attracting people from US presidents and celebrities to tourists.

At the center, the building has a concrete and steel structure and is covered with white glazed terra cotta and brick. Many additional remodeling projects have been completed over the years. In 1987, the Hotel Utah was closed for renovations. The building reopened in 1993 as a social center and was renamed The Joseph Smith Memorial Building." 
The lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.
Temple Square and the surrounding area in Salt Lake City, Utah is beautiful.  The buildings are historic, the grounds are meticulous, and the streets are immaculate.

This building is beautiful, inside and out.  It's perfect for a special event and is definitely an excellent choice for a wedding venue.  They have several banquet rooms to choose from, and from the photos I've seen, I think my choice would be the Empire Room


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: Eliminator
2016: Nuzzle Me
2015: A Burst Of Color In Texas
2014: It Really Is Just A Rock
2013: Lattes And Love Stuff
2012: If You Don’t Ask, You Don’t Get
2011: Feeling Great About Hands And Breasts (Even If They’re Drooping)
2010: It Pays To Blog About Life On The Road
2009: Bringing A Little Tropical And Some Pretty In Pink To The Trucking World
2008: My Kind Of Festival
2007: Happy Memorial Day
2006: Closing The Age Gap
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Refueling

Researching the 'ol family tree makes one hungry.

There's only a little snack room at the Family History Library and Ed and I wanted real food, so we took a break and took a short walk over to the Blue Lemon.  What a cute little place!  And good food, too.

We started with some of the most delicious Spinach Artichoke Dip (house-made artichoke and spinach dip, served with grilled flatbread and crisp carrots, celery, and cucumbers...$7.00) dip we've ever had.

Ed had the steak Street Tacos (seasoned and seared on iron with fresh peppers and onions fajita style, topped with creamy southwest sauce, slaw or lettuce, salsa fresca, and fresh cilantro.  Served with roasted corn salsa, guacamole, and chili-dusted corn chips...$12.50)
I had the Korean Style Beef Bowl (served over lemon-herbed rice and waterfall salad...$12.50)
A modern little eatery for a quick delicious lunch.




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: Twilight Parking
2016: Truck, Please Take Me To...
2015: It's What's For Dinner
2014: The House Was Nice, But The Tree Was Amazing
2013: Doubling The Gold In Wyoming
2012: Down Louisiana Way, Where The Blue Dog Resides
2011: Crossing The Park To 5th Avenue
2010: All Work, All Play
2009: Was My Mother Hot, Or What???
2008: The Fiddleheads Of Maine
2007: Fifteen Dollar. We Make Nail Nice. No Probrem.
2006: Road Testing The Girl
2005: Ed Time

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Explore The Hive

The Love's truck stop just off I-80 and I-215 is in the perfect location for exploring the Salt Lake City, Utah area.  It is less than three miles west of downtown Salt Lake City and was the perfect spot for us to grab an Uber and head to the Family History Library to continue our genealogical search. 

And if you want to go downtown and beyond, you can walk to the TRAX light rail station, which is located less than a half mile from the truck stop.  


Explore the hive!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: 
An Odd Little Hedgehog
2016: Go Further
2015: Until We Meet Again
2013: Pinged
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

From The Dust Of The Earth

Ed and I have been in Salt Lake City, Utah for almost a week now and have spent four days at The Family History Library

I've done some work on my family tree using what records I have, photos and documents from my maternal grandmother, and the internet.  But nothing compares to what the Genealogical Society of Utah has to offer.

They have the largest collection of its kind in the world and the staff is friendly and incredibly helpful.  And they're happy to do it.  They get excited for you when a lead pans out.  They are experienced and provide suggestions to make the process a little easier.

I've already made incredible progress, finding family members in Italy going back to the 1700s if what I've found can be verified.  Ed found family members going back even further than that!

I'm planning to spend as much time here as I can and hope to come back again as soon as possible.  I don't want too much time to pass before being able to nail down some of the stuff that I can verify with living family members.  There aren't a lot of them left.

So far I'm thrilled with what I've found and if I had to point out one negative thing I've noticed during my research is that a lot of my ancestors have died very early in life.

I guess I better hurry with the research.




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: 
Full Service

2016: Approaching El Paso
2015: Dark And Stormy Abilene
2014: Where The Rooms Have Angels
2013: Under All Is The Land
2012: Squinty Eyes? Check. Big Smile? Check. Ed, Happy? Check.
2011: The Last Great Italian
2010: That’s So Cherry
2009: Crouching Eddie Hidden Lamb Friday
2008: Help Me Understand
2007: Take Two Lattes And Call Me In The Morning
2006: It’s Never Too Late For A Good Sale
2005: The Original Goldfish

Monday, May 21, 2018

Tacos?

We rented a car to run a few errands and do a little sightseeing and before we left the truck stop we had a little visitor.  He stayed on the hood as we drove through the parking lot before finally flying off.

We just had breakfast in the truck so we didn't have any food to share, but I bet if this little guy hangs around long enough he'll get lucky with a taco or some fries.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: 
Set The World On Fire

2016: Eff Your Beauty Standards
2015: This Steak Caused A Buzz
2014: There Was Gold Everywhere
2013: Two Telephone Poles And A Cloud
2012: I’ve Yet To Make Lemonade
2011: Alien Ribs Of The North
2010: White’s Bastard Cousin
2009: Jake
2008: I Might Have To Be Put In Restraints For Our Next Conversation
2007: People Who Are Happy To Help You Drown In Debt
2006: I, I, I
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Maintenance Man

Ed is the only person I know who can look so happy doing a) a tough job and b) doing it covered in grease.

Good thing I bought him that monkey suit!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: 
Always Check Your Mirrors

2016: Summer Fun!
2015: Hudson Glow
2014: What Lies Behind The Gates And Beneath The Gilding
2013: Super Smooth Ride
2012: Handling Meat For Over 144 Years
2011: Investing In Your Investment – Part Two

2010: 
Here’s Your Sign

2009: A Mini And Me
2008: Wild In Tennessee
2007: Isn’t There A Third Evil?
2006: What The Hell Is This?? 
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Once Upon A Time

Yes, I got up early to watch The Royal Wedding.  3:30 a.m. to be exact.  You didn't?? 

I planned on just staying up long enough to see the dress, but then I wound up watching for about two hours.  And I'm glad I did.  I'm a sucker for all this fairytale princess stuff.  

The Most Reverend Bishop Michael Curry brought the house down.  He took the Brits to church!  Chicago style.  It was fantastically moving. 
The Kingdom Choir singing "Stand By Me" was definitely worth rising early for.  They were simply spectacular. Watch their performance here.

I loved everything about the bride - the dress, the veil, her hair, makeup, jewelry.  The simplicity was classic.  And the tiara!  Stunning.  And Harry, well, he just looked super handsome.

Here's one of the formal portraits.

As for pictures and details about the wedding, there's lots more here and here and here.  
And almost every other place you look on the internet.  Where do you think I got these?  I'm still not done looking at all of the photographs.  I'm a little obsessed.
Many happy years to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex!




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: 
Explosive, Powerful, And Short When It Comes To Flying

2016: House Love
2015: Perhaps You Should Have Hired An Airplane, Not A Truck
2014: Another Good Reason For Time Off
2013: I'd Follow Him Anywhere
2012: Yes! We Have No Bananas
2011: Investing In Your Investment – Part One
2010: A Tank Full Of Freightliners
2009: The Sad, Sad Future Of Our Young People
2008: Sighting The American Idiots
2007: Orbiting Out Of Control
2006: Passing Through Life
2005: Texas Pride?

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Devoted To Worship

For the first time in our travels, Ed and I visited Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.  In addition to the Salt Lake Temple, seen here, the 35 acres in and around Temple Square include the Tabernacle (home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra), The Beehive House (Brigham Young's official residence), The Joseph Smith Memorial Building, The Family History Library, and more.
The Salt Lake Temple is the most prominent building in Temple Square.  Surrounded by lush trees, flowers, and water features, and the area feels peaceful and serene even though people continue to stream through.  There are guided tours and presentations, interactive exhibits, art displays, films, etc.  All are free to the public.
A sign near the temple says:  The temple is used by Church members for marriages and other sacred ordinances designed to strengthen families, both now and for eternity.  Begun in 1853, it was completed 40 years later.  Granite rock used in its construction was hauled 23 miles by ox-drawn wagons from Little Cottonwood Canyon.  The walls are nine feet thick at ground level and narrow to six feet thick at the top.  The east enter tower is 210 feet high and is topped by the statue of an angel heralding the restoration to earth of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days.
Ed and I have enjoyed what we've seen so far, and The Family History Library, where we've already spent a couple of days, is amazing.  It houses the largest genealogical collection of its kind in the world.

I've already found several records for my family - including birth records from 1800s Italy for my great grandfather - and I'm looking forward to going back again to delve into even more family history.




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: 
The Daily Coyote

2016: Waiting For A New Life
2015: Fair Winds!
2014: Over Fifty Years In The Making
2013: Boom! Color.
2012: Little Dragonflies Alighting Upon My Ears
2011: Snuggling On Hold
2010: Confessions
2009: There’s Nothing Like The Humor Of A New Yorker
2008: Anne’s Land And Beyond
2007: Butter Me Up
2006: Master Backer Or Master Bater?
2005: Not By The Hair Of My Chinny, Chin, Chin!!