My Mesopotamia Family

I won’t write as much as I normally do when I blog about an event or happening. I will just let the photos speak for themselves.

Though I will quickly say I need to quit being such an excitable boy and go with the spontaneous which I am known for. But I was irked for sure sitting around until after 1:30 waiting for a phone call on Sunday from someone so we could take off to the Mesopotamia Ox Roast together. When I found out he was already there I told Ruth lets go and off we went.

As it turned out it was for the better that the initial plans didn't work out. I may not have stopped at the yard/barn sale where I met my Mesopotamia family. What a blessing they were. Their hospitality was as if we knew each other for years.

Just keep in mind and I have to continually remind myself, your plans may not work out but slow down better things could be right around the corner as in this case where we made new friends, had a full meal and can't forget the cup of coffee. Thanks Nucci!

Gotta Go-Go!
Carey

Cook Forest / Clear Creek Pennsylvania

Hey Gang,
Instead of writing an in depth review as I normally do I will instead let the photos speak about the trip.

In short will say this.... I avoided the toll roads to save some cash but in turn I didn't save time. Rt. 422 which is the old main route towards where I wanted to head is a direct road but once entering Warren it is nonstop traffic lights one after another. This cost us so much time.

We could have jumped on 80 once in Pa. but I was adamant on saving the change so instead took Rt. 280 which is hilly and slow especially in a 5,000 pound Purple People Greeter machine. Yes the scenery was beautiful but it delayed us and well scared my passengers who may not want to be mentioned by name in case they have to be summoned to court as a witness to my Mario Andretti driving.

The Go-Go Bus crawls up any kind of grade but coming down LOOK OUT! I had to blow past a slow driving car on a double yellow around a curve because my brakes were screaming Hey man we be smoking! Yes I can handle the rolling  barge like a slot car but stopping well now drop the anchor, slam the brakes and pray. I told them please relax would you! They replied how can we when you are saying oh no this is bad, I can't stop, I may run over this car. Gee they didn't have to listen to me.

In summary.... the weather was terrific, the full moon at night light up the campground where flashlights weren't needed and the scenery was gorgeous.

A quick shout out to Beth and Jeff that I met at the campground who restored a cute little "62 Shasta. I told them I wanted to hug their lil trailer. Earl the Indian and his friends. Chris and Red who run a variety store. And all the others who smiled and gave a thumbs up, life is beautiful and yes I have a friend in Pennsylvania, um make that friends.

Gotta Go-Go!
Carey

The Christmas Concert and book signing

Hey Friends,
I will be at this event signing books, please share, thank you!


Gotta Go-Go!
Carey
___________________

Come and Enjoy the Season with a Christmas Concert by Companions of the Lamb! Refreshments will be served!
Bring your Christmas shopping money as there will be gifts available to purchase by Local Christian Authors and Artists!

 The Christmas Concert "GLORY GLORY TO THE KING" includes scripture reading of the Christmas story along with Christmas songs from our newest Christmas CD and a sing along of several traditional Christmas hymns for all to participate in. This presentation which lasts a little over an hour is a great way to share the birth of Christ with everyone and anyone, young and old alike.

Give me three

Hey Gang,
Here is a Hey Gang story.

Wednesday Ruth had an appointment in Chagrin Falls. Before leaving I told her to grab three of my books, I would try selling them while she does her thing.

Chagrin Falls is a terrific little town with all kinds of neat shops. I walked through the village looking for a book store and came upon the Fireside Book Shop, I found out it is the only book store in town.

It is an old school book store. Shelf after shelf crammed with books, mostly new but some old and they boast they can get you just about any book you are looking for.

Anyway, I walk in and ask the lady at the desk if she would be interested in carrying my book. She said I will call the owner Phil and you can ask him. Nice gentleman. He grabbed my book, thumbed through it and told me the commission he would take which I agreed with.

He said OK I will take three. Three! I am so glad you asked for only three and not four because three is all I brought with me.

So its official my book has made it in to a book store. Three copies but its a start.

http://www.firesidebookshop.com/index.html

Gotta GoGo!!
Carey

Part 11 - Gospel Time

Part 11

We are almost drawing to the conclusion of the trip; I sure do know how to drag out a story. 

We found Rocky Hill Baptist church which wasn’t too far from our hotel but definitely out in the country.  Sunday service had already started when we arrived. We entered and took our seats as quietly as possible.  The preacher was in the middle of preaching up a storm.  

 His style was a throw back to the tent revivals of years past, loud and animated.  The church itself was also reminiscent of years past even though it was recently built.   It had wooden pews, piano and they still used hymn books. 

We enjoyed the service but what we found strange was the weird manner of how someone joins their congregation.  A woman stood up and gave a lengthy testimony about her struggles and how she drifted.  She went on for some time about how she repented and will stay committed to God.  Then she said I want to become a member of this church.  The pastor said OK lets take a vote.  But before he said anything further someone else spoke up and verbally gave his support to the lady saying he feels she is sincere.  The pastor then said alright lets take a vote all in favor say aye.  The small congregation gave a loud aye.  Anyone against?  It was silent so her membership was approved right there.  

To be continued...

Gotta GoGo!!

Carey

Sunday Breakfast

Part 10

Sunday I awoke and turned on my pocket transistor AM/FM radio to a AM station playing terrific songs of yesterday, not just top 40 oldies but forgotten oldies, at least in the Cleveland area they are.  And - YES I still carry a pocket transistor radio.  I feel it is a must to have one when traveling for weather alerts plus I just like it, no frills just 2 watts of awesome sound. 

The other sound we woke to was the sound of gunshots.  At first I thought someone was hunting maybe a little too close to the resort but that’s when I remembered on the grounds is a shooting rage.  Thank goodness.  That reminds me of when I made the reservations the lady told me they have a golf course and a shooting range.  I told her I don’t do either one and if I got a hole in one it may be because I misfired a gun and not from the golf course

 We met Dan and Paul for breakfast in the restaurant of the hotel called Look Out Restaurant.  I asked the waitress if it’s the name because of the lookout or because the food is so bad you need to look out.  She laughed but I think it was named for both reasons the scenery and the food which was average at best.  The lookout is terrific and added to the rustic old decor of the restaurant.

  We decided on finding a church before heading out to the caves.  One of the things I love to do when traveling is attending a local church.  I love to experience how others worship and conduct their service, plus it really gives you a feel for the area you are visiting.  Paul asked our waitress whose dad happens to be a pastor.  She gave us directions to Rocky Hill Baptist church.

fiery preacher

weird manner of joining

 any bears

off to mammoth cave

 turkey

World heritage site

Paul got sick

Batman  bat

caves closed

John from wounded warriors

rain and rain and a siren

Lincoln

State rep

gas cap

The dated resort

Part 9

We went from laughing to nervously saying is this where we will be staying?

We left the few lights in town for nothing but darkness.  What made the motel even more eerie was the steep incline to get to it.  Once you get to the top you just about enter the parking lot and there it was – dark and gloomy.

The best way to describe Park Mammoth Resort is a celicant, a real throw back and I mean a real throw back to years ago.  It’s only 2 stories but spread out in a ranch fashion, dark brown siding with few bulbs lighting it.

The overhang where you park under to enter the lobby was also poorly lit.  Once you entered it didn’t get much brighter.  The lobby, sign in desk and the dining area was as dark as the outside.  It looks way older than the year it was built – 1964.  I learned the reason is they built it to look rustic and old - so you add the old look they wanted plus 50 years and the place looks really OLD.  Very little has been updated.  At one time this was THEE resort to stay at.  The golf course, caves on the property, shooting range, swimming pool, a little train circling the hotel and if I heard correctly it sits on 2,000 acres made this the place to be.  I believe the winery and wine tasting room have been recently added; they are in the slow process of updating so you best visit soon if you are into time-warps.

The women at the front desk were quite friendly.  They handed us our room keys and explained that if we get hot they can give us a fan.  The place has air-conditioning but it is only turned on during certain months.  And yes I wrote a room key.  No cards in this place. I loved it.  

I walked the place before retiring for the night.  The halls were sparse and by the entrances old yellowed framed photos hung on the wall.

 

 The one that startled me was the one with the hand.  It seemed as if one time their honored guest Thing from the Adams Family stayed, or maybe it was their place.   

 One balcony I walked out on was a small table and on top were candles.  Yikes!  What ritual went on here?

The rooms are also seriously dated.  If you like frills with new mattresses don’t stay here.  I personally loved the decor and dated look, the feel of the place, the GoGo Bus looked at ease here.

What about that time warp smell?  Well yes it had that too.  In our house we call that smell moof, spelling it as it sounds.  It’s an Italian word translated from broken English.  You know that damp smell found in an old musty basement or cellar filled with old things well that’s the smell.  In today’s sanitized world of man-made products even smells have changed and this resort’s smell reminded me of yesterday, my grandma’s house.  After awhile that smell actually became like an old friend returning and brought back memories.  I started to miss it when I left.  

Gotta GoGo!!

Carey

Before Obama was King there was Elvis

 Hey Gang,

Part 5

I dubbed this trip the throw back trip.  Just about everything we did or saw had a connection to the past. 

The GoGo Bus is a 69 and just driving it gives you a feel of yesterday.  The convention I attended had to do with restoring the nation to years ago, then we saw Elvis’s house, the MLK memorial, the old hotel we stayed, Cave City, Lincoln’s birthplace, the junk antique shops it was just a neat flashback trip.

We followed the travel brochure to Graceland but somehow got lost.  I asked a woman at a gas station for directions.  She gave them, left the gas station, turned around, came back and said follow me I’ll take you there.  Now that’s southern hospitality at its finest.

I just couldn’t believe where Graceland was.  It is shoehorned between junk stores and strip mall after strip mall.  I was as disappointed as when I saw the Alamo in Texas.  The Alamo is also surrounded by stores and tacky tourist shops.   PLEASE don’t think I am comparing the Alamo to Graceland, only comparing the surroundings. 

I pictured Graceland to be like a sprawling southern plantation with nothing around or in an upscale community.  Maybe years ago when it was built it was like that.  I wonder if Elvis were alive today would his neighborhood have declined like it has or if it did would he have fled and moved elsewhere?

 Driving up you see this mirage like structure with a stone fence around it.  The fence is high enough that it makes it difficult to see the mansion.  Graffiti and signatures cover the stone barrier and makes it look almost ghetto-like.  On TV they always show a tight shot so it appears much different than when you see it in person.

Across the street is an Elvis themed gift shop and diner plus both of his airplanes which you can also take a tour of. 

 Next door there are a few tacky tourist shops touting all things Elvis. 

 It was just really weird seeing it, again much different than what I expected.  All the idol worship people give this man you would think leading up to Graceland the streets would be paved with gold, at least gold records.

I was all shook up....

 Gotta GoGo!!

  Carey

Ride to mlk

cable car tracks in road

slept well

Nashville is no longer a country city

crazy busy  chain restaurants

laugh time, man in yard working on car

gloominess of place  eerie driving up

time warp smell

woke to oldies on the radio

look out restaurant asked waitress if its the name because of the lookout or because the food is so bad you need to look out

both, scenery and food is bad

Paul asked for church waitress said go to my dads church

small Baptist church, fiery preacher

weird manner of joining

off to mammoth cave

World heritage site

Paul got sick

Lincoln

State rep

gas cap