Our 49th Wedding Anniversary-- Part 12: Filming for a TV Pilot Show

AUGUST 26, 2022

Back to Grant Hills Motel and it was getting quite crowded with people walking all over the place.  There was even a movie crew there setting things up and testing a drone for aerial shots.  We knew that we couldn't get the room for tomorrow night because of a big wedding taking place nearby, so thought they must be there to film it.  With a twenty-person film crew, what kind of big deal wedding was that going to be?

We went inside, got our drinks and back outside to sit and watch the goings on.  Again, this is why we like mom and pop motels.  That sitting outside on a pleasant night is just the ticket.

We later learned that the film crew (and actors) were there to film a pilot for a new TV series or possibly a film about clowns.  There was one guy in a particularly striking (and a little scary) clown outfit.  They had already filmed some exterior shots around the motel.

And, they even filmed a segment in the room next to ours where a bad cop went in and killed two people.  The two people in the room were not actors but motel guests who had been asked to do the honors.  We had even talked to them a bit when we arrived back at the motel.

The cop had a fake gun (probably because of the accidental killing of a cast member in a big Hollywood film shoot earlier this year).

Watch Out for the Clowns and Cop.  --RoadDog

Our 49th Wedding Anniversary-- Part 9: A 'Great" Morning at a Mom and Pop Motel

Continued from November 13th.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022

Got my coffee from the office as well as a free copy of today's Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph-Herald.  The price of it is now $1.50 Monday to Saturday.  A little bit higher but definitely better than the Chicago tribune which is now $4 daily.  I will be cancelling my subscription, sadly, soon.  I love having a print paper in my hand, but not at $140 every two months.

Sat outside the room, had my coffee and read the paper.  Now that's good living to me.

The neighbors in Room 14 left for breakfast and a boat ride  in Dubuque, but will not be coming back to the motel.  Too bad, we sure had a nice conversation with them last night.  Those old Mom and Pop motels are very conducive to sitting outside your room and talking with fellow travelers, something you can't do in newer motels.

I watched some of "South Park," a really funny adult cartoon show which unfortunately attracts a lot of kids to watch it.  It is hilarious, but things they talk about and cursing should not be for kids.

--RoadDog

Our 49th Wedding Anniversary-- Part 8: Toasting 49 Years and That Little Bottle of Blue Nun

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25

We walked over to the VFW, about a block away and enjoyed their $2 drafts and especially enjoyed talking with the other folks there.  You can almost always strike up a conversation at this "Cheers" kind of a place.  Hopefully, the Gold Room will be better the next time we go there as it is a "Cheers" kind of place also.  Yesterday, we only had one and then done.

Returned to the motel and had our Riesling wine while we toasted 49 years of being wed and Amby and his little bottle of Blue Nun.

We didn't have anyone sitting outside their room last night, but tonight was different.  The people in the rooms next to us were outside and we had a great talk with them.  One couple were farmers from near Galesburg.

Sitting outside your room and talking with fellow travelers is one of our favorite things about staying in a mom and pop motel.

--RoadTalk

Our 49th Wedding Anniversary

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24

This was the first time Liz and I had been farther than about twenty miles from the house since March 2020 because of the COVID thing.  I had driven as far away as 35 miles to Marengo a couple times (and even to the Indy 500, but friends drove).

We went to Galena, Illinois, where we went on our honeymoon in August 1973.  This was before it became such a popular place as it is today. 

We took Il-47 to Il-176 and then US-20 (US-20 is the U.S. Grant Highway in Illinois because of his living in Galena) the rest of the way.   We stayed at the Grant Hills Motel just south of Galena.  This is an old mom and pop kind of motel where you park right outside your room.  We especially like this place because you can sit outside at night and talk to other people staying there.

This was a 130 mile trip.  That is really not that far, but since this was way farther than I had driven since 2020, I was quite tired when I got there and had to take a nap. 

After that, we drove on US-20 past the that neat old downtown to Wal Mart to stock up on beer and a bottle of Jim Beam for that outside sitting at night.

--RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  If it was just a three-hour trip, why did Mrs. Howell have so many clothes?

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 28-31: Friday Is National Vietnam War Veterans Day

Note, there are other celebrations on these days.  I just pick a few of the ones.  For all of them go to checkiday and type in the date.

MARCH 28

CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK DAY-- **  So important for early reading.  Every child should have picture books.

EAT AN ESKIMO PIE DAY--  **  Avoid brain freeze, though.


MARCH 29

NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY--  **  The last American troops came home March 29, 1973.  I'll be putting up my flags on Saturday.

NATIONAL MOM AND POP BUSINESS OWNERS DAY--  **  The backbone of America.


MARCH 30

PENCIL DAY--  **  Our first real writing instrument.

NATIONAL TAKE A WALK IN A PARK DAY--  **  It is so relaxing.  When I see parks, I don't get as mad with my taxes.


MARCH 31

NATIONAL TATER DAY--  **  Any kind of potato is alright with me, especially loaded baked potatoes, French fries and, of course, tater tots.

NATIONAL CRAYON DAY--  **  Please don't eat the crayons.  Keep that point sharp.

Taters, Taters, French-Fried Taters.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  Underwater, you can hear a blue whale's heartbeat from two miles away.

Just Got Back From Our 45th Anniversary Trip

Liz and I just got back from a seven day trip out to the Mississippi River and back for our 45th wedding anniversary.  The trip covered seven days, 401 miles and three states.

We were married in DeKalb, Illinois, on August 25, 1973, and went to Galena, Illinois, for our honeymoon.

This trip was out to Galena for four days and to Dubuque, Iowa, for two days.

And, by coincidence, this year August 25 fell on a Saturday, the same day we were married.

We went to a lot of bars in Galena and stayed at the Grant Hills Motel, a mom and pop place.  Enjoyed sitting outside the room and talking with other  travelers, something you can't do in the new motels.

I also did a lot of history at the Washburne and U.S. Grant homes and the LST-325 World War II ship in Dubuque.

A Real Good Time.  --RoadDog

We're Back from Our 66 on 66 Cruise-- Part 1: To Lebanon

We left Spring Grove on Thursday, October 12 and returned, 2,005 miles later on Sunday, October 22.

Since Liz and I are both 66 this year, we decided to do like Paul, and drive on Route 66 when we're 66.  Only, he, by the way, as in Beatle Paul McCartney, drove the whole way.  We just drove from Joliet, Illinois, to Arcadia, Oklahoma, just outside Oklahoma City.

We had originally considered going the whole way from downtown Chicago to Santa Monica, but decided just to concentrate on our favorite four states.  That, and we wanted to stay in as many old motels as possible and we accomplished that.

October 12--  Route 66 Hotel in Springfield, Illinois
Oct.  13-14--  Munger-Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri

On the Road Again.  --RoadDog

MORE COFFEE SIGNS:  You can't even remember your second cup.

NC Bound Fall 2013-- Part 3: Andy Griffith's Hometown

September 7th

Still scared about that near miss for me of the deer when I entered Virginia and got gas at Wytheville for $3.20, the cheapest on the trip down (but it always is cheapest). Down, down, down that decline to leave Virginia.

Arrived in Mt. Airy, Andy Griffith's hometown and the town Mayberry was based on. Drove along Andy Griffith Parkway (US-52 bypass) and got a room at the Mayberry Motor Inn, a real Mom and Pop motel that is well kept up. Enjoyed the gazebo before driving over to graze at Golden Corral.

Afterwards drove on Mt. Airy's main street (the original US-52) and must say, the town is closed by 6 pm. Back to the motel and sat out at the gazebo and met my brother-from-another-mother and had a great talk with him about the Civil War and World War II.

We were even treated to a fireworks display from the county fair taking place close by.

--RoadDog