rajafacesbothways

Thriller!

Okay. So I missed the gorgeous drive to D.C. and the March For Sanity with about 200,000 other people. My entertainment was scaled down to watching the dance performance down Main Street of Thriller from the rooftop--undeniably the best view possible.

The dance began with the cast of about 65 prone on the street in front of Favas.

When the music began, they rose "from the dead" all in costume and began dancing down the street:

The Performance ended near the end of the block, by Galvins. What was mind blowing was the size of the crowd--estimated at 3,000, standing 7-8 deep at both ends and both sides of Main Street. I have never seen that many people here!

In less than an hour, everyone had dispersed, the street was almost empty. And I was warm and comfy, watching Fred and Ginger dancing The Continental.

Curses! Foiled Again---

It seems insane, but my trip to Washington DC for the "March to Restore Sanity" on Saturday had to be canceled. Since her mother is slipping away rapidly, Ellen can't leave and in all decency  we can't prop her 88-year-old Alzheimer Mom in the back seat and take her along. (although I admit to that very fleeting thought--and would want my kids to do that for me)

I guess there is a plus to staying here however. I'll be able to view the "Thriller" dance in the Halloween parade down Main Street on Saturday night. And avoid a crowd of over a quarter million marchers and the possibility of being the oldest one there..

Road Trip? We'll See

Am living in limbo, waiting to see if a road trip materializes to Washington DC for the Jon Stewart/ Steven Cobert rally on the National Mall-- Return to Sanity/Keep fear Alive--totally unlike Glen Beck's "Come to Jesus" tea party at the Lincoln Memorial.

A friend, Ellen, who teaches history at Georgetown College, and I decided to leave here after her last Friday class, drive to D.C. and return Sunday. The only holdup at this point is Ellen's mother could be dying any day. Breathe on, Mama!

During the 60's, I missed the anti-war marches, married into a family of stanch Republicans and was raising babies. This rally sounds like fun and something i believe in, especially after seeing a Rand Paul supporter here knock down and stomp on a woman who didn't agree with him. 

And tonight Pat Boone called me (robocall) urging me to vote for Rand Paul! Like I could be influenced by a washed-up, old singer with dyed hair wearing white bucks shoes.

Monday First Friday

First Friday met here for turkey soup--all have been so busy with WEG, Keenland and Georgetown college, we've been unable to get together since Juilee's birthday in July. I made our favorite turkey soup--a delicious combo of turkey, tomatoes, beans, peppers, spices, topped with cilantro, avocado, sour cream, cheese and squeezed fresh limes. However, the real flavor comes from the conversation. It's our version of New York's Algonquin Round Table in the thirties.

Except that this in Kentucky and my table is square.

Riding High

I've been scanning more slides and came across one of myself with friend Judy in ChaingMai mountains of Thailand, riding an elephant. As I recall it, I was smuggling WMDs and secret orders across enemy lines into a hidden outpost of the Himalayas.

Or not.

Just wanted to show that Trixie riding the Chicago cows and Lexinton horses has nothing on me!

 

Where Are They Now?

While alive, there is a tendency for members of my family to disappear now and then. However locating them when dead also seems to be a challenge. We located my sister-in-law, Sheila, who died in May; her ashes are in a box in the kitchen of her Ohio sister, awaiting burial next summer in a small Ohio town.

Our brother (and her husband) Tom, who recently died in Lacey, WA is enroute from there to MA, where his son will keep him in a bottle (appropriately) until the next family reunion. By then, we plan to decide where he will go.

However, the big surprise was to discover there is no record  of our mother, (who died January 2004) being buried next to our dad--although we were there for the funeral. Daddy had a tendency to run off, so this was the first time they were together in 18 years. Surely she hasn't left him! Peprerwotk should prove us right.

Saint Peter better keep a good clipboard at the Pearly Gates checkpoint. We could all end up in the wrong crowd.....

 

Arresting Development

Over the past several years, I have gotten out of 17 consecutive traffic tickets--something to be either proud of or embarrassed about. Everything from left turn from right hand lane, wrong way on a one way street, and a fistful of (safe) speeding. Doesn't matter. My rules are never cry, always have seatbelt fastened, and say "Excuse me OFFICER, please tell me whst I was doing wrong." (then give them that look). In a small WI town, one even ceased writing the ticket, tore it up and told me to go buy myself something nice with the $115 fine instead!

It was only a matter of time. Got a letter from the IL State Dept of Transportation with a photo of my license plate on it for skipping a toll booth  (one of the 4 to get out of Chicago). It was pouring down rain and dark and I actually found it too dangerous to get over to the toll lane. I owed them $62.

No excuses. ...it was better to pay the fine than to risk an accident.

But ironic that a camera is what finally nailed me.

I don't plan to try to extend my record.

Film, Food and Flavor

Shot a roll of Ilford infrared film--consensus is it doesn't have the quality of the Kodak discontinued infrared, but worth a try. Got some back road shots and a few old bridges in the Frankfort area. The highlight and secondary goal was to try Rick's White Light Diner along the Kentucky River in Frankfort. A tiny old building, the interior covered with posters with an assortment of "stuff" on the walls and ceiling, it has space for a couple of tables and half dozen bar stools. The owner, Rick, who was featured on the food network--Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, is a real character, who is also a hellofa cook.Everything is prepared to order with the finest ingredients.

I had an oyster porboy on homemade roll, fresh aspargras, slaw and a beer. My friend had the beef barbeque, fried potatoes and a beer. Delicious! We arrived just before closing--everything was prepared on demand, and when finished cooking Rick joined us, sitting on a ledge across from the counter. He propped his feet on the edge of the counter, had a beer and shared conversation as flavorful as his cooking.

 

Tea Anyone?

Heard ranting from the Court house square and wandered down to check it out. Yes! Just as I thought--a tea party rally.  LOTS of Rand Paul signs. Moffet, next year's wannabe Governor who is pro-life, pro-liberty, anti the Constitutionality of Federal laws, mandates and regulations, etc. was speaking to a group of about 125-150 tea party-ers.  Our local state representative followed him and our present "chosen by God" mayor was there with her supporters.  Lots of nodding of acceptence  and applause from the all white 45-65 years audience. No surprise there. Only the little kids seemed as bored as I was.

The speakers basicaly made me want to go puke in the bushes but I have a certain decorum to maintain so I left to have a beer on my porch. And as an officer for the upcoming election, having continued to avoid being a part of a duel, I don't want to blow my identity.

 

It's Not Over 'til it's Over

Took about 20 more photos of Trixie on some more of the Lexington horses, which will be removed  tomorrow and stored for later auction. And have one last bout of being a docent for some high school kids a the "Gift From the Desert" exhibit which will also end tomorrow. The flags on Main Street are still flying aside those foreign flags but I'm sure they'll soon be replaced with the pumpkin flags for Halloween.

 Never think small....The remaining squirrel that we assumed was stealing the flourishing green tomatoes from the rooftop plant turned out to be a fat possum who wandered into the cage/trap for a lone walnut last night.