Almost every family member has been eliminated from the Buckley Pool. To keep things interesting for the rest of the NFL season, like I have done in the past, I will be creating Shanahan Family Pool to take us through the remaining games and, possibly, the playoffs and Super Bowl. Stay Tuned!
As many of you know, I have been playing Pickleball for the past few years. My nephew, Dave, introduced me to the game, and I am completely addicted. Recently, Dave entered the 2023 National Pickleball Championship Tournament in Dallas, Texas. Since that is just a two hour drive from Austin, I decided drive up there and watch him play. I made a video of the activities that week. You can watch it here:
In September 2023, my brother-in-law, Dan Klepper, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. I travelled to Lincoln, Nebraska to attend the banquet on Friday, September 23rd. We also attended the Nebraska football game the next day. (Nebraska defeated Louisiana Tech 28-14). Here are some pics of those events.
The first stop was a kind of mini-family reunion in Omaha at Tracks Lounge, a restaurant owned by two of my nephews, Justin and Mark. Here are some pictures:
I stayed at my niece Tammi’s house in Fremont. Another niece, Anna, and her husband Dustin and their almost 2-year-old son Asher Joe also stayed there. Everyone who knows me knows that one of my favorite places growing up in Omaha was Zestos, a fast-food restaurant. My favorite thing to get was a chocolate soda. The Zestos in Omaha has closed, but they have one in Fremont. Of course, we all went there.
Friday was the Hall of Fame banquet. It was held on the University of Nebraska campus.
On Saturday a lot of us had tickets to the game between Nebraska and Louisiana Tech. Before the game, we had the traditional tailgate party. Here is how it looked:
After the tailgating, it was time to watch the game. I had not been in that stadium for 57 years, back when Nebraska was a powerhouse, and I was amazed at how much it had changed. Because of all the good years since then, the stadium now holds 90,000 people and all the seats are filled for every home game. In the middle of the 4th Quarter the game was temporarily suspended, but it eventually resumed, and Nebraska won 28-14. Here are some pics:
Day 1 – Set Sail
Day 2 – Fun Day at Sea
Day 3 – Freeport, Bahamas
Day 4 – Princess Cay
Day 5 – (Part 1) – Nassau,Bahamas
Day 5 – (Part2) – Nassau, Bahamas
Day 6 – (Christmas Day) – Fun Day at Sea
Day 7 – Last Day of Cruise
It’s been over 2 years since my last post….
That #@**!!?..!! COVID-19 thing! But I AM BACK!
From now on I will be posting videos on my Blog.
Here is the first one. (Be sure to Unmute the sound.)
It looks best on a PC or tablet, but it will work on your phone.
To view, click on the link below.
↓
↓
Uncle Joe’s Road 2021 Road Trips
XXXX
Here is the deal. I have six sisters, three brothers and more nieces and nephews than I can count. Three of my sisters and one of my nieces were all born in September (It gets very cold in Nebraska in January, so people tend to stay inside and find things to do).
A few years ago, the “September” babies decided to get together and take a trip to celebrate all our birthdays. When went to Savannah, Georgia and stayed in an Airbnb. It was a great idea and a great trip, so we decided to do it again this year. Sister Rose (Sep 23) arranged for a BnB in San Francisco so we could go to places like Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf and some of the fine restaurants in that great city. We also planned to take in an Oakland A’s baseball game.
Here is Nancy (Sep 20), Rose (Sep 23) and Myself (Sep 1), when we first arrived at the BnB:
Behind us is what we called the “Stairway to Nowhere” … sorry Sarah Palin. It is a spiral staircase that actually just goes up to the ceiling and stops. Weird.
Here are the Birthday people:
Me (Sep 1), My Niece Anna (Sep 14), My sister Nancy (Sep 20 ), My sister Rosemary (Sep 23) and my sister Susie (Sep (28).
Thursday, September 19, 2019
About an hour after I arrived in San Francisco, we decided to look for a place to eat. The street in front of the BnB was very narrow and there were cars parked on the street directly across from where I was parked. I totally misjudged how wide the street was and, while looking both ways for oncoming traffic, I hit a car on the other side of the street with the car I had rented.
The damage looked like this:
Being the honest person I am, I left a note on the damaged car with my name and phone number. I was not worried because I had purchased what I believed to be “full” coverage insurance on the rental car.
Turns out I did not read the insurance policy correctly. Any damage to the rental car was fully covered, but damage to other vehicles was NOT covered. That damage had to be reported to my personal auto insurance. It was covered, but I had to pay a $200.00 deductible. That was a very valuable lesson and I will be sure to read everything the next time I rent a car and purchase insurance.
Friday, September 20, 2019
This morning we went to Chinatown. That is a very famous part of San Francisco.
Here are some pictures of our time there:
On Friday afternoon we went to the Pier 39 which is a shopping center and popular tourist attraction built on a pier in San Francisco, California. At Pier 39, there are shops, restaurants, a video arcade, street performances, the Aquarium of the Bay, virtual 3D rides, and views of California sea lions hauled out on docks on Pier 39’s marina.
One of the things we (at least Rosemary) tried was the “Aquamassage“. Basically what that is a quick, convenient way to get a full-body massage. Jets of water are used over a protective plastic barrier to give a relaxing massage without the need to remove any clothing, or apply any lotions or oils. No physical touching involved, the entire massage is given by the machine.
Here is what that looks like:
She said that it was “amazing”. I didn’t try it, but I wished that I had. It wasn’t that expensive. Here are the prices:
In addition to the “Aquamassage”, there were numerous gadgets designed to massage you in various ways. Nancy and Susie tried out the “shoulder massage”.
A few California sea lions began “hauling out” on PIER 39’s K-Dock shortly after the Loma Prieta earthquake hit San Francisco in October 1989. By January 1990, the boisterous barking pinnipeds started to arrive in droves and completely took over K-Dock, much to the exasperation of PIER 39’s Marina tenants. The Marina Staff turned to The Marine Mammal Center, an organization devoted to the rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals, for advice about their new slippery tenants. After much debate and research, the experts from The Marine Mammal Center recommended that the sea lions stay in their newfound home.
With a plentiful supply of food from the Bay and an environment protected from predators, the PIER 39 Marina proved to be an ideal living situation for the sea lions. Within a few short months, the number of sea lions grew to more than 300 and hit an all-time record of 1,701 in November 2009.
While the number of sea lions at K-Dock rise and fall with the seasons, available food supply and natural migration patterns, the world famous sea lions always have a home at PIER 39.
Another inhabitant of Pier 39 who let me take a selfie with him/her:
Later than evening we were joined by Anna and Dustin. We went to a Sports bar and had some drinks. Then we took an Uber down to the famous Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. If you are younger than 50 years old you probably have no idea of the history of that area.
My niece Tammi falls into the Under 50 category, so she looked it up. Here is what she sent us:
Haight-Ashbury : Birthplace of the 1960s counterculture movement, Haight-Ashbury draws a lively, diverse crowd looking to soak up the historic hippie vibe. Upper Haight Street is a hodgepodge of vintage clothing boutiques, record shops, bookstores, dive bars and casual, eclectic restaurants. Bordering Golden Gate Park, the neighborhood features many colorful, well-preserved Victorian homes, including the storied Grateful Dead House.
We took a picture at that famous intersection (with our signs, of course).
Then we had a great dinner right down the street:
I had the Tiramisu …. Mmmm ….
Saturday, September 21,2019
Anna and Dustin were busy this morning, so Nancy, Rosemary, Susie and I set out to explore the neighborhood where the BnB we were staying at was located. It was in the “Castro” District of San Francisco. In case you don’t know what that is (before I came on this trip I did not), here is what Google says about that area:
“The Castro District, commonly referenced as The Castro, is a neighborhood in The Castro District. The Castro was one of the first gay neighborhoods in the United States.
Having transformed from a working-class neighborhood through the 1960s and 1970s, the Castro remains one of the most prominent symbols of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activism and events in the world.”
The Castro is a “thriving marketplace for all things gay” meaning everything in the area is catered to people who identify with LGBT culture and other associated meanings to the word gay. There are cafes, the Castro Theater, and many businesses that cater to or openly welcome LGBT consumers. These establishments make the Castro an area of high spending and lead to high tourist traffic. In addition to the city’s locals, people travel to visit the shops and restaurants as well as the events that take place, such as the Castro Street Fair.
My blog is “Rated G – For General Audiences“, so I won’t go into detail or post any questionable pictures of what we saw and heard, other than to say it was a “very interesting” area.
We went to a place called Hot Cookie and had some delicious pastries for breakfast. There were other goodies for sale, but I won’t describe them. None of us purchased any of them. Here are some pics:
I was not aware of this calculation. If you take your man’s shoe size and add 2, you will get your “Drag Queen” shoe size. Who knew? I like the $69.99 shoe, but that’s just me.
On Saturday afternoon, we were joined by Anna and Dustin. Before we went to the Oakland A’s game that night, Susie, Dustin and Anna had a surprise for us. They had arranged for us to go on a Gondola ride on Lake Merritt in Oakland. It was a really a great surprise that we all enjoyed very much.
The Gondola captain was named Mike. Dustin and Anna provided champagne for everyone (Cola for me). Mike sang a few Italian songs as he rowed us around the Lake. In one of my favorite Elvis movies, Viva Las Vegas, Elvis sang an Italian song called Santa Lucia. I asked Mike if he knew that song. He said he was familiar with it, but could not sing it. Everything else was so great that I didn’t care.
Here are some pics:
After the gondola ride, we all went to the RingCentral Coliseum to watch the Oakland A’s play the Texas Rangers. Rosemary, Anna, Dustin and I are die hard baseball fans. Nancy and Susie … not so much, but they were good sports and went anyway.
Here are some pics:
As with any other event since 911 involving thousands of people, security was tight … Thank You Osama Bin Laden.
After the game (which Oakland won 12-3 … lots of home runs), fans were allowed to go down on the field and watch an excellent fireworks show:
September 22, 2019
This was the last day of our September Birthdays trip. Again, Anna had to stay home and work on her dossier, but Dustin was able to join us.
The whole day was spent in Sonoma and Napa Valley, regions known everywhere for wine making. We saw all the vineyards and visited several wineries for some wine tasting. The others enjoyed sampling all the various wines while I enjoyed hearing the wine masters tell the stories and secrets behind the various types of wines.
We started off with a delicious breakfast in Sonoma.
Then it was off to the vineyards and wineries. Everywhere we went we saw grape vines … lots of grape vines.
ONE FINAL NOTE TO END A GREAT TRIP:
In September of 1968, I was stationed near Santa Barbara, California. A good friend of mine from South Omaha was in the Navy and his ship was going to dock in Oakland for a few days. We decided to meet up in Oakland and do some sightseeing in San Francisco.
I drove up the coast from Santa Barbara and crossed the Golden Gate Bridge into Oakland … at least that is what I have been telling people for the last 50 years. It turns out that to get to Oakland from San Francisco you use the Oakland Bay Bridge, not the Golden Gate. Until this trip, I had never been on the Golden Gate.
To get to Sonoma from San Francisco, you do cross the Golden Gate and, on September 20, 2019, I finally was able to say I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. I don’t have a picture because it was so foggy that morning that you could not even see the bridge, but I did get a T-Shirt, so I am no longer a liar.
See you all next trip.
Updated September 9, 2019
Time to go back to Texas. I am at the airport in Bangkok right now. From here I fly to Tokyo, Japan (7 hours), then to Los Angeles (10 hours), then to Austin (3 hours). I stayed up most of last night so I could sleep most of that flight time.
It was a great trip. I am glad I made it. (One more Bucket List item to check off).
Updated September 8, 2019
OK. I’ll just go ahead and say it. The “Taste of Thailand Tour” was the best part of my 2019 trip to Thailand. I learned so much about the history and customs of Thai food that I will never be able to remember all of it, especially the names some of which are very hard to pronounce.
I also ate so much that I don’t think I will need to eat again for a few days. Each place we visited had small samples of their specialty, but, if we found something that we really enjoyed, we were encouraged to eat as many samples as we wished. (And we did).
Speaking of hard to pronounce words, our Tour Guide was a pooying (Thai Girl) named KhiewWan. She knows that name is hard to remember or pronounce by non-Thai people so she told us to call her “Katy.” That is something I remember from my time in Thailand. Most Thai people have nicknames because their names are so difficult to pronounce. For example, the King of Thailand’s name is Maha Wachiralongkon . I have no idea what his nickname is and I was afraid to ask.
Here is “Katy”:
One of the first things I learned about Thai food is that many herbs and spices are used to bring out the flavor of whatever the main dish is (rice, chicken, pork, beef, etc.).
Katy took us to a place that supplies spices to the vendors and restaurants in Bangkok. She warned us that the strongest curry used in Thai cooking is Orange Curry. She said if we ever go to a Thai restaurant and see a dish on the menu with Orange Curry to avoid it unless we have a death wish.
Rice is a staple of most Asian food. However, when you are buying food from street vendors, it is pretty difficult to eat rice while walking down the street. The vendors have solved this problem by selling the rice in plastic bags. You just squeeze the rice right into your mouth. No utensils needed.
I made two new friends on the tour. This is Francisca and Altan. She is from Brazil and he from Turkey. They met while attending school at USC. They apparently are pretty well situated financially because they took a semester off from college and are taking a two month tour of Asia. They are spending 3 weeks in Thailand alone.
The only thing I wasn’t really crazy about was the Thai tea. I am not a fan of tea anyway, but Katy said that I should try everything. It wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t good.
Another thing that I remember from my time in Thailand is Thai people only use chopsticks for certain dishes. Most of the time they use a fork and a spoon. You pick up the food with the fork, put it into the spoon and then eat from the spoon.
Another strange custom is eating what they call “sticky rice.” You eat it by compressing with your right-hand fingers and using it to scoop up food and sauces. Katy taught us this method.
I also learned something about eating in Brazil from Francisca. She said the people there never eat with their fingers. They always use utensils to eat any food, even chicken or pizza, even sandwiches. Altan is a muslim and does not eat pork. That was unfortunate for him because pork is the main ingredient in many Thai dishes.
I have many more pictures, but I think you get the point which is if you want some good eating go to Thailand. Failing that, go to a good Thai restaurant, but don’t ask for chopsticks.
We topped off the tour by eating some coconut ice cream. It was delicious. I asked Katy if they had any chocolate syrup to put on top. She made a face that meant “Yuck!”.
Updated September 7, 2019
I don’t have many regrets about the time I spent in Thailand all those years ago, but one thing I am sorry for is that, when, for the first time in my life I was in a foreign country, I didn’t make more of an effort to absorb the culture.
I did try to learn the language. Eventually I got to the point where I could do things like count to 100, order food in a restaurant or ask for directions. I also took some classes about Buddhism in a local Temple because I was curious about religions other than the one I was brought up in.
One thing I did not do was get in to the food. Whenever I tell someone I lived in Thailand for a while they almost always ask me about the food. Thailand is famous for its food and I am sorry to say I know very little about it. I think I was a little homesick for the good old USA back then and I usually ate the American food that was available on the base.
Even when I did go off base, I stuck to things like cheeseburgers, fries and pizza … things that reminded me of home.
On this trip, I want to try as many Thai foods as I have time for, especially their famous “street” vendors.
I did my due diligence and found out there is a company called “Tastes of Thailand” which provides an all-day tour devoted entirely to the food of Thailand. They take you to various restaurants, street vendors and other places where you get to sample what we call “Thai Food”, but what they just call “food”.
The thing that caught my eye was a sentence in their brochure that said: “Do NOT eat breakfast before starting the tour. We will feed you until you cry Uncle!”
I signed up and will be taking the tour tomorrow. It is an all-day tour which I hope will prove very educational as well as delicious.
Stay tuned.
Updated September 6, 2019
In most cities that attract large numbers of tourists, they have what they call “Hop On Hop Off” bus tours which stop at some of the most popular attractions of the city. You buy a ticket, get on the bus and get off at whatever site you want, look around, maybe spend some money, then get on the next bus to the next attraction on the tour.
In Bangkok, they have the same thing, except it is a “Hop On Hop Off” boat that goes up and down the Chao Phraya River which flows through the center of the city. That sounded fun, so I bought a ticket.
The first stop was the WKB Siam shopping center which I had already seen, so I didn’t get off the boat there.
The next stop was the Wat Arun Buddhist Temple. You have to see this place to believe it. I will say one thing for the Buddhists. When they build a Temple, they do not mess around. Everything is so gigantic that you really can’t fit most of the buildings in a picture unless you stand a very long way back.
But, I tried anyway. Here are some pictures:
Of course, in a place like this, you gotta have rules.
One of the stops on the river tour was the “Grand Palace.” This is the official residence of the King. Again, I have to repeat, you have to see this to really appreciate the magnitude of the site. All in all, the complex covers 2.3 million square feet. In comparison, the official residence of the President of the United States contains 55,000 square feet. Of course, even Donald J. Trump does not claim to be a descendant of the gods (at least not publicly).
First, a little history. The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782. Several royal ceremonies and state functions are held within the walls of the palace every year. The palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand. If you are a Thai citizen, you get to see the Palace for free. If you are not, it costs 500 Thai Baht (about 15 bucks and it is worth it.)
Here are some pics:
When I was in Thailand and took some classes in Buddhism, I did not become a Buddhist, but I did become a fan of meditation, which is a big part of that religion. I still meditate on a daily basis. I recommend it to anyone, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Updated September 5, 2019
Back in Bangkok:
There is a shopping mall here called MKB Siam (Siam is what Thailand was called until 1949 when the name was changed to the Kingdom of Thailand).
I heard about this place when I was looking for places to go. I couldn’t believe what I read, so I decided I just had to go there.
It is a store about the size of a Walmart Superstore (maybe even larger) and it is dedicated to “All Things Cellphone.” That is right. They don’t sell anything there but cell phones and cell phone-related items. They have aisle after aisle of cell phones, charges, cables, attachments, cases, cell phone repair shops, and all kinds of related gadgets and paraphernalia in a market-type environment with stalls crammed into every available space.
I am not kidding. You would not believe this place. I walked around for about an hour and only saw about half of what was available. Here are a couple of pictures, but they don’t really show how huge this place is:
Updated September 4, 2019
About 60 miles (96 kilometers) south of Bangkok is where I was stationed in April, 1970. The place was called Utapao Air Base. It was located right outside of a small village called Sattahip.
Today I did some investigating and found out there was a bus that goes to Sattahip from Bangkok every day, so I bought a ticket and literally took a trip back to the past.
I was expecting everything to be different. After all, it has been half a century since I was there last. I was not wrong. First of all, the Air Base is gone. It has been replaced by dozens of high rise condominiums. The base was right on the Gulf of Thailand, so these condos are in a prime location.
As for Sattahip. It is still there, but it is no longer a sleepy little village surrounded by huts most of which had no electricity or running water when I was there. All those luxury condos have turned it into a rather large, modern city. I did not recognize one single thing, except the name.
Oh well, I can’t say I’m disappointed. It was just what I expected. On the bus trip back to Bangkok, I was wondering whatever happened to that little restaurant I used to go to and that waitress who never spoke to me again. Just a couple of the many things I will never know.
C ‘est la vie.
In Thailand, even Ronald McDonald uses the traditional Thai greeting. It is called “The Wai.”
“Sawadee”, Ronald.
Sawadee
Updated September 3, 2019
(You may get a little confused by the dates I post things. Thailand is exactly 12 hours ahead of the US. If it is 8 PM on Wednesday where you are, it is 8 AM on Thursday here. Kind of blows my mind.)
Here is the view of Bangkok from my hotel room:
This certainly not the Bangkok I knew back in 1970. I did a little research and found the population of this city in 1970 was about 2 million people. Today it is over 10 million. It is like a totally different city. Think of Omaha, Nebraska when I left home in 1968. The Crossroads Mall was just a few years old and 72nd Street was about as far west as you could go. Today that Mall is gone (I think) and I have a sister who lives off 156th Street.
The hotel has an “Infinity” pool on the roof that looks like you could swim right off the edge (you can’t).
You think traffic is bad where you are? Here is the same view of the city from my room that I took at 11 o’clock at night. It is worse during the day:
Thank goodness I will not be driving. In addition to the traffic, they drive on the left making it more confusing.
Luckily, getting around in the city without a car is pretty easy. They have a train system that will take you just about anywhere once you learn how to navigate. Only you don’t want to do what I did a little while ago. You don’t want to try and take it during rush hour. They pack people in like sardines. I came back a couple hours later and the train was about half empty.
Updated September 2, 2019
After taking a 3 hour flight from Austin to Los Angeles and a 2 hour layover in LA then a 14 1/2 hour flight from LA to Hong Kong then another 2 hour layover in Hong Kong then a 3 hour flight I FINALLY arrived in Bangkok.
The first thing I noticed in Thailand was something I didn’t see back in 1970. A lot of people were wearing masks. Here is one at the airport:
This made me curious, so I Googled it. Here is the explanation if you don’t already know:
In 1934, a global pandemic of influenza struck solidifying the face mask’s place in Asian culture. At first, face masks were only worn in Japan during the winter months, when cold and flu viruses are at their height. The Japanese predisposition toward being polite created a culture whereby people wore face masks in Japan to ward off giving their germs to others more so than protecting themselves from contamination.
Some Asians say they wear surgical masks when they are on their scooters because they often get blasts of smog, small bugs, or dust in their faces from passing buses. Nearly everyone rides scooters in Asian countries, so wearing face masks could be very useful.
Some people say that they wear masks because they long to protect themselves from sun rays which can age the skin prematurely over time. Smooth, youthful skin is seen as a feature of beauty in Asia, therefore Asians wear masks to keep their skin protected from the harmful effects of prolonged exposure to the sun.
Conclusion:
Overall, we will never fully be able to answer the question: Why do Asians wear masks, because as it seems the answers are as varied as the people who wear them. Whether for health reasons, fashion reasons, or simply to avoid social interaction, one thing is certain: wearing masks in Asia is here to stay.
Anyway, that is what Google says.
I previously mentioned that they have pictures of the King everywhere in Thailand. One of the first things I saw was one of those pictures. I don’t know if taking a selfie with a picture of the King would be considered disrespectful, so I made sure no one was around to see me do it.
That is not the person who was King in 1970. It is his son. The King who got me in trouble all those years ago looked like this.
Updated September 1, 2019
I’m on my way to the airport to start the 9,156 mile journey “back to the past.” I have been doing a lot of thinking about the time I spent there. I have a lot of stories. Here is one:
One of the first things that happens when the military sends you to a foreign country is the “orientation’. They sit you down and tell you how to behave in the country where you will be living. There are lots of “do’s” and “don’ts”.
During my orientation, one of the first things covered was how deeply respected the King of Thailand is. He is generally considered to be a descendent of the gods. You will see pictures of the king in every home, every shop, every restaurant, every public building. The people in Thailand worship their king and it is very easy to say or do something they will find offensive. The best thing to do is not say anything at all involving the king.
I had gotten into the habit of eating dinner in a little restaurant just outside the base. There was a waitress there that I kind of liked, so I would always sit at one of her tables and we would always joke with each other. You might even call it flirting.
One night, she messed up my order and I jokingly told here that I was just going to tip her one Thai Baht. In those days, that was worth about 5 cents. She called me a name in Thai which I knew meant “cheapskate.” I pointed to the coin and said: “What is wrong with this? It has a picture of the king on it.”
I knew instantly that I had made a huge mistake. She thought I was making fun of the King. She gave me a very dirty look and walked away. From that day to the day I left Thailand, she never spoke to me again. Whenever I would come back to the restaurant and sit at one of her tables, she would get someone else to wait on me. I tried many times to apologize, but she wouldn’t have it.
The moral of the story is: “If you ever go to Thailand, do NOT talk about the king.”
Question: What do the words Ciao, Salut, Aloha, Servus, Shalom and Sawadee have in common?
Answer: They are words in different languages that mean both “Hello” and “Goodbye”.
I bring this up because I have decided where my next adventure will be. In March 1970, I was a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. I came to work one morning and there was a manila envelope on my desk. I opened it and I saw orders sending me to Utapao Air Base in Thailand.
This was in the middle of the Vietnam War and Thailand is located just to the West of Vietnam. However, Thailand was not part of the war so it was not considered a combat zone. I didn’t get combat pay, but I also didn’t get shot at. Fair trade.
The first word I learned when I got to Thailand was “Sawadee”, the word which means both hello and goodbye.
I have always wanted to go back and see the places I saw when I was stationed there. The time I spent there was one of the most exciting and interesting periods of my life. I know the whole world has changed since then and I doubt I will even recognize the place, but, you never know.
On my 74th birthday, September 1, I will board a plane and begin that 9,156-mile trip “Back to the Past.”
Stay tuned.
When I was invited to my niece, Kim’s, wedding , I decided to make the wedding part of a long road trip that included some of my “Bucket List” destinations.
That trip would take 3,289 miles and I would go through 11 states (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and Arkansas).
Here is the route:
I wanted to attend the wedding, of course, but I also wanted to eat at my favorite place in Omaha, Joe Tess’ Restaurant, to see baseball games with the Brewers, White Sox and Astros in Wisconsin, Chicago and Houston. I also wanted to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and Elvis’ home at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.
I managed to do all of these things, except Joe Tess. The heavy rains and bad weather in Oklahoma and Kansas delayed my trip so that I reached Omaha too early in the morning to have the “Famous Fish Dinner” at Joe Tess.
On the first half of my trip it rained and rained and rained. I spent a lot of time looking at this view from the front of my car:
When I stopped in Omaha, I drove by the Yambor’s house on 21st Street. It looked like this:
The house is falling down. It looks like no one was living it it or even could live in it. Very sad.
When I got to Saukville, the site of the wedding, some of us went to a nearby city called Ft Washington. It was right on Lake Michigan and we had an excellent seafood lunch at a place called Schooner Pub. Here are some pics:
Of course, as usual, I got a T-shirt to commemorate the occasion:
In every Shanahan Family gathering there is a Poker game, a Craps game or a Blackjack game. The day before the wedding there was a Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament. My brother-in-law, Ron, took first place. I came in second. I will take my winnings, as usual, and buy a T-bone steak dinner at a nice restaurant. Fewer meals taste better than a dinner bought with OTM (Other People’s Money). Thank you John, Rose, Dave, Jason and Dustin.
On the morning of the wedding. Dave, Jason and I went on a 15 mile bike ride. Halfway through, we stopped to fuel up at a place called Milwaukee Ale House, right on the Milwaukee River. (You can store calories as long as you burn them off). Here is what I had. It was called:
Wisconsin Pretzel Bun Knuckleburger
“Usinger’s pork brat with sauerkraut, sauteed onions and a side of beer cheese. Served on a pretzel bun.” Mmmm …..
Getting ready for the wedding there was a “Twirl” photo op. (They didn’t ask me to twirl. I would have declined anyway.) Here are Bridget and Anna twirling:
Here are some of the pictures I took at the wedding. You won’t see any pictures of me dancing because … well, I was taking the pictures, so I couldn’t very well take any pictures while I was ‘getting down’. If you have any pictures of me “busting a move” feel free to send them and I will post them here.
Milwaukee Brewers vs Philadelphia Phillies on May 26 (the day after the big wedding).
Some family members decided to go to Miller Park in Milwaukee to watch the Brewers and Phillies play some baseball. We saw quite a game. 5 Home Runs in all. The Brewers won 9-1. Here are some pics:
On Monday, I headed for Chicago. I wanted to watch the White Sox play the Kansas City Royals. I actually wanted to watch the Cubs at Wrigley Field, but they were on the road. Ironically, they were in Texas playing the Astros.
On Tuesday, it was off to Cleveland, Ohio and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Off to Memphis and Graceland.
He was born in Tupelo, Mississippi in a 2 room shack, the son of a truck driver.
He grew up to be so rich that he could give away Cadillacs.
He could sell out any venue until the day he died, on August 16, 1977
He died in Memphis, Tennessee in a mansion on a street named after him.
I have loved his music since the first time I saw him on the Ed Sullivan show when I was about 12 years old. I have been to Graceland several time, both before and after he died. I wanted to go one more time and I did it today, May 30, 2019.
Here are some pictures:
When I was in high school, I read a list of President Kennedy’s favorite books. One of the books on that list was From Russia With Love, a James Bond novel by Ian Fleming.
I decided to read the book and I instantly became a James Bond fan. Fleming wrote 12 Bond novels and 2 short stories. I read all of them, most of them more than once.
Three of the novels, Dr. No, Live and Let Die and The Man with the Golden Gun took place in Jamaica. The first Bond movie, Dr. No, was filmed in Jamaica. It seemed like a pretty cool place. Ever since I saw that movie, I have wanted to go there.
Well, that “bucket list” item, is about to be realized. I am currently planning a trip to Jamaica on my 73rd birthday, September 1. This will not be a cruise because, on a cruise, you just get to spend a few hours in whatever city the ship docks. I want to spend several days in Jamaica so I can do some real exploring.
Stay tuned.
Day 1 – September 1, 2018
Austin to Kingston
Flew from Austin to Atlanta. 5 hour layover in Atlanta (I hate that. For some reason, when you are stuck in an airport, hours seem like days)
Finally got to Kingston late last night. Too late and too dark to see anything so I just hit the sack. I will start exploring this morning.
I am staying at the Spanish Court Hotel. It is really nice.
Day 2 – September 2, 2018
Kingston, Jamaica
Today is Sunday and there isn’t much going on. (Note to Self : Think about that when you plan the next trip.) I spent the day walking around the neighborhood of the hotel. One thing I noticed (as a person previously involved in the home building business) is that all of the homes here in Kingston are made out of concrete. Than made me curious, so I did some research.
Here is what I discovered:
Prior to 1952, most homes in Jamaica were built out of local and imported woods, much like we do in the U.S. However, this changed after the Caribbean Cement Company started production in 1952, and concrete gradually overtook wood as the most popular construction material.
Replacing wood with concrete has made new construction even safer against natural hazards, such as hurricanes and earthquakes and fires, as well as being more environmentally friendly. (Note to Anna Rose and Joe C. Maybe there is another book on fire prevention here in the Caribbean).
Anyway, here are some pictures I took of homes in this neighborhood:
A few other things I noticed on this otherwise uneventful day:
In Jamaica they don’t have “Diet Coke”. At least they don’t call it that. They call it “Light Taste” Coke. (Couldn’t find any Pepsi here):
Also, you can feel like a rich person here. I have a pocketful of these:
Too bad it’s only worth $3.66 in American dollars.
Jamaica is one of only 76 countries in the world (about one-third of all countries) that drive on the left side of the road. This can get confusing, and even dangerous, for those of us who are used to driving on the right side.
I won’t be driving here, so that is not a problem, but I still have to be careful. For example, when you are about to step off the curb into the street, you have to make sure you look to the right for traffic instead of the left as you do the in the US.
I learned that lesson a couple of times today as I was walking around Kingston.
Day 3 – September 3, 2018
The pool at my hotel is pretty amazing. I really liked this sign (especially Rule #9):
For most of the time, I was the only person at the pool. That’s fine with me. I think I would do well in a post-Apocalyptic world where I was the last man on earth (with maybe a few Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders).
Day 4 – September 4, 2018
The Food
Before I came to Jamaica, many people told me about the “Jerk” food. I am always interested in trying new food in the places I visit. I did try the “jerk chicken” and the “jerk pork” here in Jamaica. The truth is I loved them both. However, as I have posted here many times, people have to tell me when food is bad. I don’t think I have ever had an meal anywhere that I did not enjoy.
Once, when I was on a winning streak in Las Vegas, I ate in the most expensive restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip. I had a rib eye steak dinner that cost almost $100. (no alcohol, of course). The next day I ate at McDonald’s (Quarter Pounder with Cheese and Fries), about $5.00. I enjoyed both meals equally … and I never paid $100 for a meal again.
Having said all that, today I ate in a restaurant here in Jamaica. I ordered the “Escoveitched Fish” and it was really good … much better than the jerk chicken or jerk pork.
The menu described the dish as: “Fried fish topped with a spicy sauce and pickled vegetable medley, including sweet peppers, onion, chayote and carrots are lightly cooked in a vinegar sauce that it’s seasoned with garlic, thyme, Jamaican pimentos and scotch bonnet pepper.”
It was delicious. I still prefer the Famous Fish Dinner at Joe Tess’, but that dinner comes with a side order of South Omaha Nostalgia. Hard to beat that.
Here is what it looked like:’
Day 5 – September 5, 2018
Emancipation Park
On August 1, 1834, slavery was officially abolished in Jamaica. That was 29 years before it was abolished in the United States. In 2002, a park called Emancipation Park was dedicated to commemorate this historic event. It is one of the most popular parks in Jamaica, so I wanted to visit it.
One of the most prominent statues in the park is called Redemption Song. The statue portrays two former slaves, a male and a female standing naked in a pool of water with their eyes looking towards the sky. It was named after a Bob Marley song (I will get to Mr. Marley later).
Here I am in front of the statue:
Here are some more pictures of the park. The thing that impressed me the most was how clean the park was. No Litter. No cigarette butts. No trash whatsoever. When I was there, there were more people sweeping and cleaning than there were visitors. Nice.
Apparently, if you want your wedding pictures taken in the park, it will cost you $2,000.00.
Not to worry, that translates to only about 14 bucks in American dollars (probably the cheapest wedding expense a couple will experience).
Day 6 – September 6, 2018
Jamaica’s Elvis Presley
Before coming to Jamaica I didn’t know much about the island. That’s one reason I wanted to come here. There were a few things I did know. I knew that Bob Marley was Jamaica’s version of Elvis Presley. I knew that the music he played was called “Reggae.”
In my lifetime, I have studied most of the major religions and I knew that Marley belonged to the Rastafarian religion which originated in Jamaica in the 1930’s. They believe in the Bible but do not consider themselves to be “Christian.”
The thing most people know about the Rastafarians is that they consider ganja (marijuana) to be sacred and they use it as part of their spiritual rituals.
To say that Marley was the Jamaican Elvis is really an understatement. Marley is much more popular in Jamaica than Elvis is in the United States. Everywhere you go, you see his picture. Everywhere you go you hear his music. They play it on the radio, in the airport, in the hotels, in the shops, on the street and in the restaurants.
When I was searching for places to visit in Jamaica, the Bob Marley Museum came up over and over. When I asked anyone in Jamaica to recommend a place to visit, the first place they mentioned was that museum. Like Elvis’ Graceland, Marley’s home has been turned into a museum. And, like Graceland, they do not allow you to take pictures inside the place, but here are some photos outside the museum.
Here is a place in the backyard of his home where he would sit, smoke pot and write his songs:
As you can tell, I was really fascinated by the story of Bob Marley. I heard so many of his songs wherever I went in Jamaica that I think I have become a fan. I bought one of his CD’s at the museum. I will play it when I get home.
Here are a few more things I found interesting about Marley.
Day 7 – September 7, 2018
Back to the US of A
It was a great trip and I am glad I made it. I learned a lot about Jamaica and that is always my goal when I travel.
One last thing ….
Whenever I leave my country and return, I see a sign like this, and I am glad to be back Home:
Thanks … and stay tuned for my next trip … probably sometime in the first few months of 2019.
