Crossroads

The Crossroads
Originally uploaded by d_j_critchley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A

We've just recovered from our 200 mile Elvis pilgrimage , did I say recovered, possibly in a week or so.

On Saturday we drove down to Memphis after experiencing the joy of Cracker Barrel restaurant en-route! The next day we rolled out of bed and walked down through a deserted Memphis to a deserted Beale Street for breakfast and then visited Sun records and the Museum of Rock and Soul and then a great evening in Rum Boogie listening to The Plantation Allstars.

Monday was a big day for us; all we did was visit Graceland. We got VIP passes and because it wasn't very busy we had the place pretty much to ourselves/ It would take too long for me to write about all the jumpsuits, gold records, planes, rooms and cheeseburgers but I will say I was very impressed.

On Tuesday we popped across the Misssississississsississpi to Arkansas for breakfast (at Waffle House) and then went to the Stax museum. Afterwards some locals drove into the back of our car and we drove into the 'hood before calling the police. We recovered from our ordeal by going to a Soul Food restaurant. In the evening we went to BB Kings Blues Club and saw a pop band ...

On Wednesday we went to the Civil Rights Museum and I hung out and took some pictures. We then drove down to the crossroads and then to Elvis Presley's birthplace in Tupelo. We eventually arrived in Nashville and I went to bed while Jo and Helen went to the bar!

On Thursday we went round the Country and Western Hall of fame and then a tour of RCA studio B (where Elvis recorded half of his records). In the evening we hit some bars and saw two and a bit bands.

After a bit of a lie in on Friday we took on the task of driving home and got back to a snowy/icy Stratford Landing about 2130!

Ice Ice Baby

Along the road
Originally uploaded by d_j_critchley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxN_pbMOFk0

Well. it's back to work for us both now, my first job was to book travel for my meeting in Florida; oh warmer weather!

We headed up to Wisp for some snowboarding, it was a long journey but it was cold and we were expecting precipitation. The conditions were great and we got a few runs in even if it was very cold and then the freezing rain arived. Not quite the precipitation we were after and certainly didn't enjoy the icy lift seats or extremely slick conditions at the top of the mountain. Luckily the slopes were OK and it was fun getting coated in ice. The journey home was fun as the ice kept accumulating on the car and when we stopped for petrol there was over a centimetre of ice we had to get rid of; fortunately the ice melted of the car by the time we got home.

The temperatures stayed low for the rest of the week; very low, so much so my sweat froze on my glasses to and from work which was tough.

Joey arrived in time for Helen's birthday and we had a lovely evening eating cake and drinking and chatting. On Sunday we went to the Inauguration "We Are One" concert and "saw" Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder. As well as Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington reading historical passages!

Then on Monday we took Joey to Whitetail for some snowboarding in lovely snow showers; it was hard going for Joey but she did well for her first effort. We had some good runs down the mountain and then had a very relaxed evening. Then on Tuesday we caught the Metro into town for a little thing called the Presidential Inauguration, it was damn cold, but I'm glad we made the effort. Helen and Joey ventured into the crowd while I chilled, and I mean chilled, by the Lincoln Memorial. Listening to the speeches I thought it was apt I should be standing by the Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

After all the speeches were over we walked up to the Zoo to see all the animals that weren't there because they were in bed because it was so cold and they we joined lots of people on the Metro for the ride home.

Peace!

The New Year

Cat tails
Originally uploaded by d_j_critchley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a84TmrJpBCw

We've had a quiet time between Christmas and New Year's day watching movies and playing board games. We did venture out of the house for a short bike ride with Kitty and went into DC to see the Shakespeare Theatre Company's brilliant production of Twelfth Night. We managed to offset any culture gained by playing Raving Rabbids TV party and watching Bolt in 3d at the cinema.

We went round to Roger and Lynn's on New Year's eve and didn't get to bed until about 5 in the morning. We did have great fun playing Sculptorades, Crokinole, table football as well as some quiz games and even finding time to eat and drink.

Helen has become addicted to Wii fit and has unlocked all the exercises and games, I'm lagging a bit but hope to be back on the programme once I get back to work.

In the new year we went to the American History museum, which didn't seem to have many exhibits and at least one factual error; they had Barack Obama on a list of US presidents even though he won't be inaugurated until 20 Jan.

After that we went back to the theatre to join a discussion on the production of Twelfth Night. We did contribute to the discussion even though the other participants may not have understood what we were saying. We kept up the cultural theme by going to the Hard Times Cafe for Chili and then to Tiffany's Tavern to introduce Kitty to the experience that is live Bluegrass. To recover we went to Denny's for breakfast and then walked round Huntley Meadows Park to see if we could spot any beavers. We did see half a dozen deer, some squirrels and signs of beavers, but no beavers.

Monday was Kitty's last day in the US and I took her to see our chiropractor who spent 90 minutes adjusting her spine and it must have done her good as she looked quite different afterward. Then after a casual lunch and one last slice of Christmas Cake we drove Kitty out to Dulles airport and watched her through security. Then the last thing to do was take down the decorations :o(