Powell’s

A trip to Powell’s was one of the conditions John and Donna set when they began planning (or not planning) Go Father West ’09.  Today was the day.   As we walked toward the “City of Books” Donna remembered the hours and hours spent there when she lived in Portland.  She wondered if it had changed like the rest of the city or if it would feel like going home.  John was enamored from the minute he saw the creative bike racks outside.

They entered and Donna noticed some changes but it still had that homey feel.  John entered with baited breath wondering if it would live up to the expectations set by so many who had been there before.  He was curious to find out if it would measure up to Anderson’s standards, especially considering the immense nature of the store.  Would it live up to the “Eat, Read, Sleep” motto that both espouse?

We walked through the aisles absorbing the vast number of books.  Comparing the two stores (or was it necessary to compare them at all?) feels like comparing apples to oranges.   Could such a large bookstore compare to the intimacy of Anderson’s?  John felt like he was in a public library. He kept thinking that the employees were reference librarians.

The conclusion is that both stores are unique.  John holds loyal to Anderson’s and Donna remains an avid fan of Powell’s, although John would shop at Powell’s on a regular basis if he lived in Portland.  Regardless, Powell’s is a wonderful place that should be experienced if you find yourself in Portland.

Where’s our Diet Coke?

The drive was beginning to get a bit long when Donna noticed a sign for a “drive thru tree.”  She yelped with glee as she asked John if they could stop and steered the car toward the exit.  Had John said he did not want to go she knows the car would still have made the detour.  We soon found ourselves at the entrance to the “Drive-Thru Tree” and paid our $5 admission.  We wound down a narrow road as Donna pondered what would happen if another car came from the other direction.  (She was not aware that it was a one way road).  We arrived at the tree and waited behind several cars for our turn to drive through.  As we entered Donna carefully checked John’s mirrors to make sure they would clear it as they laughed at the ridiculousness of the whole thing.  We both wondered how the tree could survive with a huge hole in it but it seemed to be doing just fine.  Donna thought all in all it as a worthwhile $5.oo investment.

Self-Pic on the Pacific Coast

Self-Pic on the Pacific Coast, originally uploaded by Litandmore.

This picture was taken moments after surpassing the miles driven during GW ’07 and GE ’08 (not a combined total).

Let’s Disconnect

Donna and John will not check or post to any social networking sites or send text messages for the next 24 hours. They are mutually playing the “Let’s Disconnect” card. They will randomly turn on their phones to check for voicemail messages but will not check or read anything further.

This card starts as soon as they recap their evening. If John catches Donna disobeying this card (or vice-versa), the other will have to pay an extra day. This may make Donna pay on her own birthday. Wouldn’t that be sad?

San Francisco Highlights

We began the morning walking around town seeing what there was to discover.  Our first great discovery was China Town.  We walked the streets marveling at how steep they were and looking in all the shop windows as we passed.

Later in the afternoon we switched hotels to one near Fisherman’s Wharf.  We once again found ourselves wandering around absorbing all that was around us.  We loved watching the Sea Lions play on the docks at Pier 39.

The street performers that were everywhere amazed us – especially the 12 year old spray paint artist who baffled all who watched.

As we walked back to our hotel the sun began to set over the Golden Gate Bridge.  Beautiful!

Pigeon Visits Fisherman’s Wharf

Pigeon Visits Fisherman’s Wharf, originally uploaded by Litandmore.

Pigeon had a great day riding around San Francisco in Donna’s bag. He thought there were way too many seagulls and wondered where all of the pigeons were hiding. We told him that he could visit NYC in the near future. That seemed to calm him down. (We wonder if Mo Willems knows that his characters have seen most of the United States thanks to an elementary school teacher and a school librarian.)

John Wears Stilts

John Wears Stilts, originally uploaded by Litandmore.

Greetings from Dateland, AZ

Once again we took one of Eve’s suggestions, this time to try a Date Shake, and did not walk away dissatisfied. There are many captions one could write to succinctly and creatively describe the above photograph (imagine Beat 360).

To learn more about the “World Famous Date Shake” and Dateland, Arizona, visit http://www.dateland.com/.

After 54 hours in the car…

we still smile and laugh. Right now we are sitting on the balcony of our hotel that faces the Pacific Ocean.  Can you believe all of the places we have explored in less than one week?

Where I Read this Summer: Baton Rouge

Where I Read this Summer: Baton Rouge, originally uploaded by Litandmore.

Who is the perfect travel companion?

Who is the perfect travel companion?, originally uploaded by Litandmore.

It is 2:34 AM and we are in Houston. Night! :)

We’re going to Graceland

“The Mississippi Delta was shining
Like a National guitar,
I am following the river
Down the highway
Through the cradle of the Civil War,

I’m going to Graceland
Graceland
In Memphis Tennessee
I’m going to Graceland…”

We drove down Elvis Presley Boulevard and anxiously awaited our arrival at Graceland.  We parked in the parking lot and purchased our mansion tickets then boarded the bus for the ride across the street to Graceland.  Neither of us were particularly fond of the headsets we were given as we both teach and know enough about headsets to be a bit squeamish around them but we wore them nonetheless.

We drove through the legendary gates (Grammar Girl might refer to them as historical – not historic) and entered the grounds.  Both of us were surprised to learn that Elvis did not come up with the name Graceland on his own – it was already named that when he purchased it and he liked the  name so much he kept it.

The first floor and basement were both open for viewing but the upstairs, his private quarters, was off limits out of respect.  The house was decked out in true 70’s splendor – blue glass dishes in the living room, shades of avocado and orange throughout the kitchen, and lovely avocado shag throughout the jungle room.

Both of us especially liked the basement media room that included three TVs and a lightening bolt on the vivid yellow and blue walls that proclaimed TCB ( Taking Care of Business).

We went out back to Vernon Presley’s office and got quite a chuckle at the sign hanging on his door.  Apparently taking care of business was a theme that ran through all of Graceland.

We meandered through his trophy room needing sunglasses to shield our eyes from the multitude of gold records (and gold suits) that graced it.  It was somewhat overwhelming to see the sheer number of awards he had received.

We then walked across the lawn to the racquetball court which we learned was built at a cost of over $200,000 – twice as much as the cost of Graceland itself.  This room was filled with even more awards.

Our final stop was the Meditation Garden where Elvis, his mother, his father, his grandmother, and his twin brother are buried.  It is amazing how many people still leave flowers and notes after all these years.  John and Donna also puzzled over the woman who was crying.  A dear friend?  We doubt it.

At that point we had taken care of all the business we had at Graceland and boarded the shuttle back to the land of shopping opportunity where we purchased a few choice trinkets to remember our time at the home of the King of Rock and Roll.

Pigeon’s Visit Day on Vacation