AUGUST 1, 2016, MONDAY
I left at 7 a.m. from Richmond, even though that would mean I would hit Indianapolis at 8 a.m., right in the middle of Indianapolis rush hour. And, i went right through the center of the city. Traffic was heavy, but there were no slow-downs. I stopped on the west side in Speedway and went to the Kroger store and bought two more Fuzzy's Premium Vodka 100th Running of the Indy 500 commemorative bottles.
I will be giving one to my good friend and teaching Buddy, Terri, who is a major INDY CAR fan.
Drove I-74 northwest. Gas at Crawfordsville, Indiana, a usual stop for me, was down 9 cents to $2.
Took Illinois-47 north of Mahomet and stopped in Morris at the Burger King, which still has those great greasy tacos (much like those at Jack-in-the-Box or Jacks as they call themselves now).
Arrived home and cut the grass which needed it with all the rain we've been getting since I was gone. Went boating and then to J's for half-price pizza and NTN where we had a #3 and #4 team finish.
Then went to the Sons of the American Legion meeting at the Fox Lake Legion.
Home At Last. --RoadDog
HELL! ... Let's Offend Everybody! How do you get a sweet little 80-year-old lady to say the "F" word? Answer: Get another sweet little 80-year-old lady to yell "Bingo!"
Being an account of some things I'm interested in, what I'm doing, and reflections on my past, especially music.
Listen to this man. Seven years of college, you know. Trying to reason with 2020 and, now, 2022.
Showing posts with label N.C. Summer 2016. Show all posts
Showing posts with label N.C. Summer 2016. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Monday, September 12, 2016
North Carolina Summer 2016-- Part 12: On the Way Home
July 31, Sunday.
US-70 to Raleigh and then I-40. Doing this on a Sunday means there is no traffic jams. Got off on US-421 and stopped at a Cook-Out restaurant which has a really good Carolina bbq, slaw, fries and hush puppies for $3.99. Good deal.
Then US-52 to I-77 and gas and Chocolate Uglys at Wytheville. Gas now $1.87. I always love gas under $2. Experienced long back ups at the first two toll booths heading north on the West Virginia Turnpike and just plain heavy traffic. Sunday must be a big travel day in the state. Then I hit quite a long traffic stop a few miles outside of Charleston. Never did see why we had that backup.
I-77 north to US-33 and then into Ohio. Stopped at a place I've been meaning to stop at in Logan, Ohio, called Millstone BBQ. I'll definitely stop again..
I-70 through Columbus to Motel 6 in Richmond, Indiana, for the night.
A Traveling, Eating Kind of Day. --RoadDog
OH HELL! ... Let's Offend Everybody: What is the difference between a southern zoo and a northern zoo? Answer: The southern zoo has a description of the animal along with a recipe.
Sorry If You're Offended, But These Are Funny.
US-70 to Raleigh and then I-40. Doing this on a Sunday means there is no traffic jams. Got off on US-421 and stopped at a Cook-Out restaurant which has a really good Carolina bbq, slaw, fries and hush puppies for $3.99. Good deal.
Then US-52 to I-77 and gas and Chocolate Uglys at Wytheville. Gas now $1.87. I always love gas under $2. Experienced long back ups at the first two toll booths heading north on the West Virginia Turnpike and just plain heavy traffic. Sunday must be a big travel day in the state. Then I hit quite a long traffic stop a few miles outside of Charleston. Never did see why we had that backup.
I-77 north to US-33 and then into Ohio. Stopped at a place I've been meaning to stop at in Logan, Ohio, called Millstone BBQ. I'll definitely stop again..
I-70 through Columbus to Motel 6 in Richmond, Indiana, for the night.
A Traveling, Eating Kind of Day. --RoadDog
OH HELL! ... Let's Offend Everybody: What is the difference between a southern zoo and a northern zoo? Answer: The southern zoo has a description of the animal along with a recipe.
Sorry If You're Offended, But These Are Funny.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
North Carolina Summer 2016-- Part 11: More 'Cue, Calabash Shrimp and Dancing
July 29, Friday.
Did some serious watering at Mom's place and went to Wal-Mart to replace the i-Pad charger I had left at the beach. Bob and I had the great buffet at McCall's out on the Goldsboro US-70 bypass. Not only do they have that great Eastern Carolina 'cue and slaw, but on Fridays they also have Calabash-style shrimp.
July 30, Saturday.
Spent most of the day going through Mom's papers and things. This is a massive job. Bob, Chie and I went over to LaGrange to a place called Good Times for a dance with a really good local band called Classic Connection. They played all kinds of music, including Beach songs. This was a real dancing crowd.
--RoadDog
Did some serious watering at Mom's place and went to Wal-Mart to replace the i-Pad charger I had left at the beach. Bob and I had the great buffet at McCall's out on the Goldsboro US-70 bypass. Not only do they have that great Eastern Carolina 'cue and slaw, but on Fridays they also have Calabash-style shrimp.
July 30, Saturday.
Spent most of the day going through Mom's papers and things. This is a massive job. Bob, Chie and I went over to LaGrange to a place called Good Times for a dance with a really good local band called Classic Connection. They played all kinds of music, including Beach songs. This was a real dancing crowd.
--RoadDog
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
North Carolina Summer 2016-- Part 10: Leaving the Beach and Beach Music
JULY 28, THURSDAY
Read the paper and had breakfast on the front porch and took a walk on the beach.
July 28th, Thursday.
The appraiser came over and looked at the condo and took a lot of pictures. Before and after he came I worked on Mom's memoirs, making corrections.
Closed the place up (and only left my I-Pad charger and wash cloth and bath towel). I went to the Topsail Beach Town Hall and had the water/garbage bill transferred to my name and then closed out the cable, telephone and wi-fi at Holly Ridge.
Stopped at Paul's Famous Hot Dogs (a family tradition) in Rocky Point, N.C.. Drove back to Goldsboro.
later that night, my brother Bob and I went to the Center Street Jam downtown and saw one of the hottest beach bands around these days, Jim Quick and Coastline, and ate at Torino's Mexican Restaurant. One mighty good steak nachos.
--RoadDog
Read the paper and had breakfast on the front porch and took a walk on the beach.
July 28th, Thursday.
The appraiser came over and looked at the condo and took a lot of pictures. Before and after he came I worked on Mom's memoirs, making corrections.
Closed the place up (and only left my I-Pad charger and wash cloth and bath towel). I went to the Topsail Beach Town Hall and had the water/garbage bill transferred to my name and then closed out the cable, telephone and wi-fi at Holly Ridge.
Stopped at Paul's Famous Hot Dogs (a family tradition) in Rocky Point, N.C.. Drove back to Goldsboro.
later that night, my brother Bob and I went to the Center Street Jam downtown and saw one of the hottest beach bands around these days, Jim Quick and Coastline, and ate at Torino's Mexican Restaurant. One mighty good steak nachos.
--RoadDog
Monday, August 8, 2016
North Carolina Summer 2016-- Part 9: One More Day at the Beach
JULY 27, WEDNESDAY
The usual coffee, newspaper and breakfast on the front deck.
I called a real estate appraiser to come over and give me an idea what the condo was worth, but he was busy today and way too hot. He'll come over tomorrow.
This was the hottest of a whole bunch of hot days as of yet. It was brutal. Even those nice breezes you get at the beach weren't there in the morning.
Eventually, it did get a breeze and I took a walk along the beach.
Later took a ride to Surf City and crossed the landmark old (1950s) swing bridge that will be replaced starting in the fall and saw a place with a whole lot of cars out front and decided to check it out. After some difficulty find a parking spot, I went inside the Shuckin' Shack. Fortunately, there was a seat at the bar. They had $2.50 bottles of Red Stripe on Wednesdays, so ordered several.
Best of all, they had lobster rolls on the menu, something I've been wanting to try for a long time. It is like a lobster hot dog with chunks of that delicacy. It was as good as I thought.
The entertainer at the Trailer Bar had not yet started so went back to Mom's place and sat out on both front decks and watched another sunset.
-- RoadDog
The usual coffee, newspaper and breakfast on the front deck.
I called a real estate appraiser to come over and give me an idea what the condo was worth, but he was busy today and way too hot. He'll come over tomorrow.
This was the hottest of a whole bunch of hot days as of yet. It was brutal. Even those nice breezes you get at the beach weren't there in the morning.
Eventually, it did get a breeze and I took a walk along the beach.
Later took a ride to Surf City and crossed the landmark old (1950s) swing bridge that will be replaced starting in the fall and saw a place with a whole lot of cars out front and decided to check it out. After some difficulty find a parking spot, I went inside the Shuckin' Shack. Fortunately, there was a seat at the bar. They had $2.50 bottles of Red Stripe on Wednesdays, so ordered several.
Best of all, they had lobster rolls on the menu, something I've been wanting to try for a long time. It is like a lobster hot dog with chunks of that delicacy. It was as good as I thought.
The entertainer at the Trailer Bar had not yet started so went back to Mom's place and sat out on both front decks and watched another sunset.
-- RoadDog
Friday, August 5, 2016
North Carolina Summer of 2016-- Part 8: Half Price Drinks, Wings and Live Trivia
JULY 26, TUESDAY
Godwin's (been there since the early 1950s) for the newspaper and out on FP (front porch for coffee and breakfast. Walked the beach twice today.
Back on the FP, both second and third levels.
I went to the Home Port Bar and Restaurant in Topsail Beach as this is thee day of the deals. Enjoyed $2 domestic drafts and $2.50 craft beer as well as the chicken wing special (ten for $3.25) All these items were half the usual price. Also played live trivia with a couple from Boca Raton, Florida.
Enjoyed talking with the next door neighbors and then saw a real pretty susset from the ipstaors balcony.
--RoadDog
Godwin's (been there since the early 1950s) for the newspaper and out on FP (front porch for coffee and breakfast. Walked the beach twice today.
Back on the FP, both second and third levels.
I went to the Home Port Bar and Restaurant in Topsail Beach as this is thee day of the deals. Enjoyed $2 domestic drafts and $2.50 craft beer as well as the chicken wing special (ten for $3.25) All these items were half the usual price. Also played live trivia with a couple from Boca Raton, Florida.
Enjoyed talking with the next door neighbors and then saw a real pretty susset from the ipstaors balcony.
--RoadDog
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
North Carolina Summer 2016-- Part 7: A Day at the Beach
JULY 25, MONDAY
I went to the Jolly Roger Pier in Topsail Beach and bought the Wilmington Star-News and read it on the front porch of the condo and had my coffee. Walked the beach and had dinner at Highway 55, used to be called Andy's, and had their great Philly cheesesteak sandwich. The performer had not started at the Trailer Bar so went to Gallagher's for a drink.
Back to the condo and enjoyed the ocean view from the upper floor (3rd) and then a real pretty sunset over the sound.
We have a nice view of both the ocean and the sound from the upper floor of the condo.
Relaxing and Eating. --RoadDog
A CASE OF BLACK DEATH: An elderly priest was tending his beloved roses when a passerby stopped to ask how the roses were doing. He said not bad, but they suffered from "a disease peculiar to this area known as the the 'black death'." The passerby asked what that was and the priest replied, "Nuns with scissors."
I went to the Jolly Roger Pier in Topsail Beach and bought the Wilmington Star-News and read it on the front porch of the condo and had my coffee. Walked the beach and had dinner at Highway 55, used to be called Andy's, and had their great Philly cheesesteak sandwich. The performer had not started at the Trailer Bar so went to Gallagher's for a drink.
Back to the condo and enjoyed the ocean view from the upper floor (3rd) and then a real pretty sunset over the sound.
We have a nice view of both the ocean and the sound from the upper floor of the condo.
Relaxing and Eating. --RoadDog
A CASE OF BLACK DEATH: An elderly priest was tending his beloved roses when a passerby stopped to ask how the roses were doing. He said not bad, but they suffered from "a disease peculiar to this area known as the the 'black death'." The passerby asked what that was and the priest replied, "Nuns with scissors."
Thursday, July 28, 2016
North Carolina Summer 2016-- Part 5: Hanging Out at Topsail Beach, N.C.
July 24-July 26
I certainly enjoy driving over to either the Jolly Roger Pier or Godwin's every morning to buy my copy of the Wilmington Star-News, then coming back to the condo and having coffee and reading it on the front porch and listening to the ocean across the street. Being on what is called the Second Row, we have Ocean Boulevard, a line of Front Row cottages and then dunes across the street between us and the ocean.
I have obviously been keeping up with the blogs, but plan to stop Wi-Fi, land phone and cable service at the condo before I leave.
It has been excessively hot with temps every day in the upper 90s, which has kept me inside a lot. Just too hot to be outside much. Not bad on the beach though as there always is a good breeze.
I go out and walk the beach looking for shells and "lima beans," rocks that have been polished into that shape by thousands of years in the ocean. I wade in the water and often bring a chair and sit out by ocean. Just love the sound of the surf rolling in.
Little Ol' Beach Bum Me. --RoadDog
I certainly enjoy driving over to either the Jolly Roger Pier or Godwin's every morning to buy my copy of the Wilmington Star-News, then coming back to the condo and having coffee and reading it on the front porch and listening to the ocean across the street. Being on what is called the Second Row, we have Ocean Boulevard, a line of Front Row cottages and then dunes across the street between us and the ocean.
I have obviously been keeping up with the blogs, but plan to stop Wi-Fi, land phone and cable service at the condo before I leave.
It has been excessively hot with temps every day in the upper 90s, which has kept me inside a lot. Just too hot to be outside much. Not bad on the beach though as there always is a good breeze.
I go out and walk the beach looking for shells and "lima beans," rocks that have been polished into that shape by thousands of years in the ocean. I wade in the water and often bring a chair and sit out by ocean. Just love the sound of the surf rolling in.
Little Ol' Beach Bum Me. --RoadDog
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
North Carolina Summer 2016-- Part 4: Traffic, Fort Fisher, a Donut and Topsail Beach
SATURDAY, JULY 23
Chia made a great breakfast at Mom's house and I drove to Wilmington, N.C.. Wilmington has to be one of the worst cities to drive anywhere near it in the country. If the traffic doesn't get you, the photo-enforced lights will. Traffic is especially bad around UNC-Wilmington.
I went to my favorite history place, Fort Fisher which was the reason I got into all this history stuff that so impacted my life (why I taught social studies for 33 years). Took as walk around the fort and then heard Richard Triebe talk about the fate of the Fort Fisher prisoners at the North's horrible Elmira Prison in New York where half of them died in just a few months.
Then got my Britt's Donut fix in Carolina Beach and drove to Topsail Beach to Mom's condo.
--RoadDog
Chia made a great breakfast at Mom's house and I drove to Wilmington, N.C.. Wilmington has to be one of the worst cities to drive anywhere near it in the country. If the traffic doesn't get you, the photo-enforced lights will. Traffic is especially bad around UNC-Wilmington.
I went to my favorite history place, Fort Fisher which was the reason I got into all this history stuff that so impacted my life (why I taught social studies for 33 years). Took as walk around the fort and then heard Richard Triebe talk about the fate of the Fort Fisher prisoners at the North's horrible Elmira Prison in New York where half of them died in just a few months.
Then got my Britt's Donut fix in Carolina Beach and drove to Topsail Beach to Mom's condo.
--RoadDog
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Those "Idge" Phones At the Beach-- Topsail Beach, North Carolina
Again, an "Idge" phone are those cell phones that you see people blankly staring at (especially the 9 to 30 year-old crowd, but sadly, a lot of older folk, "Idge" stands for "Idiot" phones. My brother Bob refers to my flip phone as a "Dumb" phone. It is only dumb because its owner has had it since 2002 and still doesn't know how to use it. Actually, its owner is technologically challenged in today's pc speak.
I am now (Tuesday, July 26) at the condo at Topsail Beach, North Carolina. Essentially it is and will be mine until I sell it (hopefully).
However, in case you're wondering what this has to do with "Idge" phones, I saw two REALLY sad things once I got here. I saw three boys riding their bicycles down the side of the highway with cars whizzing by them within a few feet. And, believe-it-or-not, these idiots were looking at their "Idge" phones.
And, when I walked across the street from the condo to the ocean, I saw three young teens walking on the beach and staring at their "Idge" phones as if in a trance. Their phones clearly owned them. And then, even worse, their father had his "Idge" phone out and was checking on wi-fi hot spots and calling out numbers. I think they also might have been doing something with that Pokey Man thing.
I Done Believe I Done Seen Elephants Fly. --RoadDumb
I am now (Tuesday, July 26) at the condo at Topsail Beach, North Carolina. Essentially it is and will be mine until I sell it (hopefully).
However, in case you're wondering what this has to do with "Idge" phones, I saw two REALLY sad things once I got here. I saw three boys riding their bicycles down the side of the highway with cars whizzing by them within a few feet. And, believe-it-or-not, these idiots were looking at their "Idge" phones.
And, when I walked across the street from the condo to the ocean, I saw three young teens walking on the beach and staring at their "Idge" phones as if in a trance. Their phones clearly owned them. And then, even worse, their father had his "Idge" phone out and was checking on wi-fi hot spots and calling out numbers. I think they also might have been doing something with that Pokey Man thing.
I Done Believe I Done Seen Elephants Fly. --RoadDumb
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Summer North Carolina 2016-- Part 3: The Problem With Croakers and Mom's TVs
JULY 21ST, THURSDAY: Bob's shredder gave out, so I went out and bought one. Spent the day sorting through mostly medical records and destapling, tearing and sorting them out.
Bob and I went to a buffet place called Murray's in Goldsboro. Good food, other than their fish-of-the-day, croaker. I didn't think I would ever find a fish I didn't like. but this was one!! Besides more bones than I could count, was that ever a fishy taste.
Later I had the '11 Malibu's oil changed and did some shopping at places we don't have around us at home like Big Lots, Books-A-Million and Target.
JULY 22ND, FRIDAY
One thing about Mom's TVs and that is that I have always had a problem turning them on. Anywhere else, I just hit power and I have it. But not Mom's TVs. There are several steps you have to go through and me being technologically challenged, this is not an easy thing to do.
A whole lot more "paper" work. Dollar Tree (for Mom's church donation Thank You notes), gas ($1.97), Ollie's (kind of a junky Big Lots, but you never know what you are going to find), K-Mart (none within 40 miles of us at home) and a visit out to Mom and Dad's graves at Willow Dale Cemetery.
--RoadDog
Bob and I went to a buffet place called Murray's in Goldsboro. Good food, other than their fish-of-the-day, croaker. I didn't think I would ever find a fish I didn't like. but this was one!! Besides more bones than I could count, was that ever a fishy taste.
Later I had the '11 Malibu's oil changed and did some shopping at places we don't have around us at home like Big Lots, Books-A-Million and Target.
JULY 22ND, FRIDAY
One thing about Mom's TVs and that is that I have always had a problem turning them on. Anywhere else, I just hit power and I have it. But not Mom's TVs. There are several steps you have to go through and me being technologically challenged, this is not an easy thing to do.
A whole lot more "paper" work. Dollar Tree (for Mom's church donation Thank You notes), gas ($1.97), Ollie's (kind of a junky Big Lots, but you never know what you are going to find), K-Mart (none within 40 miles of us at home) and a visit out to Mom and Dad's graves at Willow Dale Cemetery.
--RoadDog
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Summer North Carolina 2016-- Part 2: Mom's Death and the Aftermath
This would be the usual time I would go down to North Carolina to visit with Mom and Bob in Goldsboro, but since last month, things have gone topsy-turvey with Mom's unexpected death at age 85.
This means a whole lot of work going through her papers and talking with people about this and that. I mean she kept records of all sorts dating back to 1998 when Dad died. And, I have to look at every single paper. It is slow going.
I also stand to inherit the condo at Topsail Beach. It is paid for, but there are association dues, electric (no gas at least) water, garbage, cable, land telephone and wi-fi to take care of and that is a job in itself. Since I live about 1200 miles away and long a go we decided not to have a second home somewhere, we can afford it, but don't want the hassle of owning two places. One is bad enough.
Of course, this means getting an appraisal, dealing with the condo association, fixing the lower level after the floods from several months ago, listing it and so forth.
Plus,we don't won't to be tied down to just one place we have to go every time.
I Am At the Condo Right Now. --RoadDog
This means a whole lot of work going through her papers and talking with people about this and that. I mean she kept records of all sorts dating back to 1998 when Dad died. And, I have to look at every single paper. It is slow going.
I also stand to inherit the condo at Topsail Beach. It is paid for, but there are association dues, electric (no gas at least) water, garbage, cable, land telephone and wi-fi to take care of and that is a job in itself. Since I live about 1200 miles away and long a go we decided not to have a second home somewhere, we can afford it, but don't want the hassle of owning two places. One is bad enough.
Of course, this means getting an appraisal, dealing with the condo association, fixing the lower level after the floods from several months ago, listing it and so forth.
Plus,we don't won't to be tied down to just one place we have to go every time.
I Am At the Condo Right Now. --RoadDog
Summer North Carolina 2016-- Part 1: Gettin' My Cincy Chili, Chocolate Uglys, Snappy Lunch and Wilber's 'Cue Fixes
JULY 19, TUESDAY
I left for North Carolina to help settle affairs with my mom's estate and took the usual route there, now becoming very familiar with the third trip in as many months. I got through Indianapolis during rush hour without a problem and stopped for my usual Cincy chili fix at Skyline Chili. I drove to the east side of Columbus, Ohio, and then went on to Athens, Ohio, where I stayed at Super 8.
JULY 20, WEDNESDAY
On US-33 to I-77 in West Virginia. No Virginia peanuts at the Virginia Welcome Center, but they said they had it on order. I need my Va. peanut fix as well. Stopped at Wytheville, Virginia, for the cheapest gas of the trip, $1.90, and got my Chocolate Ugly fix.
Then stopped at Mt. Airy, N.C., for my Snappy Lunch porkchop sandwich fix. I-40 was busy, but made it through the Raleigh-Durham "Strangler' always a horrible traffic jam. Arrived in Goldsboro, N.C., and went to Wilber's BBQ for my 'cue fix with Bob and Andy.
Gettin' My Fixes. --RoadDog
I left for North Carolina to help settle affairs with my mom's estate and took the usual route there, now becoming very familiar with the third trip in as many months. I got through Indianapolis during rush hour without a problem and stopped for my usual Cincy chili fix at Skyline Chili. I drove to the east side of Columbus, Ohio, and then went on to Athens, Ohio, where I stayed at Super 8.
JULY 20, WEDNESDAY
On US-33 to I-77 in West Virginia. No Virginia peanuts at the Virginia Welcome Center, but they said they had it on order. I need my Va. peanut fix as well. Stopped at Wytheville, Virginia, for the cheapest gas of the trip, $1.90, and got my Chocolate Ugly fix.
Then stopped at Mt. Airy, N.C., for my Snappy Lunch porkchop sandwich fix. I-40 was busy, but made it through the Raleigh-Durham "Strangler' always a horrible traffic jam. Arrived in Goldsboro, N.C., and went to Wilber's BBQ for my 'cue fix with Bob and Andy.
Gettin' My Fixes. --RoadDog
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)