Well, this is my final blog posting on Blogger. Chris has the new website up and all my blolg entries have been transferred over to it. I will now be posting through the website. Sorry about that. But, to make it easy for you, just click on the link and it will take you to the website and presto...the blog continues. Isn't technology amazing? Here is the link. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter.
www.rickwalksamerica.com
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Dead Presidents Tour II
Well, here it is Sunday night again. As befitting the previous titled DPT from about 6 weeks ago, here is a Presidential trivia question. Who is the only President to be buried in the city of Washington, DC? Another hint: we are still in Virginia. Valda & I went to Staunton (pronounced Stanton) VA this weekend and visited the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Museum and Birthplace. It made the 12th Presidential locale we have been to. It is always fascinating seeing where and how they lived. WW was born in Staunton and only lived there for a year, but his roots are there and so is his Library. It is a pretty unassuming home compared to some we've seen, but it has its place in history, and the town seems to really support that fact.
Later on Saturday, we drove on the Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah NP. Drove about 60 miles or so but was disappointed in the scenery. The air was thick with haze and the views were not up to what we've seen elsewhere. I guess Al Gore might be on to something.
Sunday we got up and went to see James Madison's Montpelier near Orange, VA. For those of you who have been there before, the organization that owns Montpelier started a complete restoration of the home back to the time the JM died there, 1836. They have removed all the additions to the house by the duPont Family (additions that tripled the size of the house that Madison built), and have completely gutted the inside. It wasn't quite what we expected, but the tour was fascinating in its own right. The outside is pretty much complete, but there is a lot of landscaping yet to be done. They expect to be completed in two years. I'll have to go back. He made Presidential locale # 13.
I doubt we'll get up to see Mount Vernon. It's about 250 miles away and we are running out of weekends. Maybe another time. Okay, the answer to the trivia question is Woodrow Wilson, or as his mother knew him, Thomas Wilson. He dropped his first name for some unknown reason when he went to college. He is buried in the National Cathedral, and no, JFK is buried in Arlington Cemetery...in Virginia.
Later on Saturday, we drove on the Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah NP. Drove about 60 miles or so but was disappointed in the scenery. The air was thick with haze and the views were not up to what we've seen elsewhere. I guess Al Gore might be on to something.
Sunday we got up and went to see James Madison's Montpelier near Orange, VA. For those of you who have been there before, the organization that owns Montpelier started a complete restoration of the home back to the time the JM died there, 1836. They have removed all the additions to the house by the duPont Family (additions that tripled the size of the house that Madison built), and have completely gutted the inside. It wasn't quite what we expected, but the tour was fascinating in its own right. The outside is pretty much complete, but there is a lot of landscaping yet to be done. They expect to be completed in two years. I'll have to go back. He made Presidential locale # 13.
I doubt we'll get up to see Mount Vernon. It's about 250 miles away and we are running out of weekends. Maybe another time. Okay, the answer to the trivia question is Woodrow Wilson, or as his mother knew him, Thomas Wilson. He dropped his first name for some unknown reason when he went to college. He is buried in the National Cathedral, and no, JFK is buried in Arlington Cemetery...in Virginia.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Nowhere to hide...
A coincidence happened a couple of weeks ago and got me to thinking about some things that I've experienced over the years, things that are hard to explain. We met some friends, Pam & JR Rodgers from Meridian, MS about 5 years ago when we were both in the campground in Chattanooga, TN. They were there for an extended period and so were we. Anyway, our paths have separated but have crossed from time to time. We've visited them in Mississippi and email and phone talk once in a while. Pam emailed us recently and said she recognized a name in our blog, Gene & Betty Cusano, whom we met in December 2005 at Walt Disney World. The two couples were a part of a 5 or 6 couple group who spent several weeks in the desert of Quartzite, AZ a few years ago. They sort of fell out of touch and were reunited through my blog. Amazing.
Back in 1995, our son Chris was in the midst of a year long stay in India. He had been there several months, and had gone there from Chicago. He lived with a couple of other Americans guys and they got wind of a party for some newly arriving people from the US, and somehow connived an invitation to that party. At the party, Chris was chatting with a girl he didn't know and the talk got around to where are you from, etc. She informed him that she was from Chicago. A few minutes later, Chris found out that she was the sister of a friend of his from Loyola U., a person that Chris sold some of his furniture to before he left Chicago. It turned out that the TV that Chris sold was in the bedroom of the young lady he was talking to in India. Go figure.
Back in the nineties, before Valda & I left Indiana, I was at a lumber yard in Greenwood, IN. There was an older couple at the counter inquiring about a former manager of the place from fifteen years previous. The sales clerk didn't know anything about the former manager, but I did. He and his wife and Valda & I spent time together before they left for Austin, TX. I told the couple what I knew about the whereabouts of the manager and in doing so, my name got tossed around in the conversation. The man asked me if I had any relatives in Florida, specifically Orlando, FL. I told him I had a brother, Keith who lived just outside of Orlando. It turned out that this man built homes in FL and that my brother did his interior trim work on those houses. Amazing.
There's other stories that I'll touch on later. It just goes to show that it doesn't matter where you are or how far away you go, there could be and often times is a link somewhere to your past. It is interesting to know this, and sometimes a bit unnerving to experience it. But it's fun to talk about.
Back in 1995, our son Chris was in the midst of a year long stay in India. He had been there several months, and had gone there from Chicago. He lived with a couple of other Americans guys and they got wind of a party for some newly arriving people from the US, and somehow connived an invitation to that party. At the party, Chris was chatting with a girl he didn't know and the talk got around to where are you from, etc. She informed him that she was from Chicago. A few minutes later, Chris found out that she was the sister of a friend of his from Loyola U., a person that Chris sold some of his furniture to before he left Chicago. It turned out that the TV that Chris sold was in the bedroom of the young lady he was talking to in India. Go figure.
Back in the nineties, before Valda & I left Indiana, I was at a lumber yard in Greenwood, IN. There was an older couple at the counter inquiring about a former manager of the place from fifteen years previous. The sales clerk didn't know anything about the former manager, but I did. He and his wife and Valda & I spent time together before they left for Austin, TX. I told the couple what I knew about the whereabouts of the manager and in doing so, my name got tossed around in the conversation. The man asked me if I had any relatives in Florida, specifically Orlando, FL. I told him I had a brother, Keith who lived just outside of Orlando. It turned out that this man built homes in FL and that my brother did his interior trim work on those houses. Amazing.
There's other stories that I'll touch on later. It just goes to show that it doesn't matter where you are or how far away you go, there could be and often times is a link somewhere to your past. It is interesting to know this, and sometimes a bit unnerving to experience it. But it's fun to talk about.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Seven months to go...
Okay, the weekend is just about over and it's still hot. I have never seen such a hot summer in my life. Valda & I went to WV this weekend and visited some friends from Valda's earlier years. We saw Mr. & Mrs. Herb Eye who just celebrated their 64th anniversary. They live in a farmhouse on the farm where Mr. Eye was born. What a beautiful place they have. We had a great visit. Valda knew their daughter in Charlotte, NC when they were in their teens, and has kept in touch all these years.
The work is proceeding here in Roanoke. We both feel like we are treading water, just biding time till the walk starts. I have a feeling I'm going to get even more antsy as the start date gets closer. We are still contacting people about sponsorships. It is a painfully slow process. You can check out my new website for progress in this area. By the way, Chris got it up and running this past week, it is http://www.rickwalksamerica.com/. Click onto the site and see some of the cool things on it and especially the route map. Nothing else for now.
The work is proceeding here in Roanoke. We both feel like we are treading water, just biding time till the walk starts. I have a feeling I'm going to get even more antsy as the start date gets closer. We are still contacting people about sponsorships. It is a painfully slow process. You can check out my new website for progress in this area. By the way, Chris got it up and running this past week, it is http://www.rickwalksamerica.com/. Click onto the site and see some of the cool things on it and especially the route map. Nothing else for now.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Dog days and Summer haze
Not too much happening here in Virginia this week. Valda & I drove up into the mountains west of Roanoke on Saturday, to see the scenery for sure but also to beat the heat here in the valley. We drove to New Castle and then went south on Hwy 42 about 30 miles, then looped around on some US highways and ended up in Blacksburg. We drove through the Virginia Tech campus and stopped and saw the memorial they have constructed for the 32 people who were killed in April. It was move-in day and there were a lot of people in town. Today they dedicated the memorial and then we heard on TV hat there were several students who were stricken with carbon monoxide poisoning. Five girls are in really bad shape. It just doesn't seem to end for those people.
Son Chris got back to Seattle. He seemed to have a real good time on his trip across the USA. We should have the website any day now. This morning we had a photographer from the Roanoke Times come by and take pictures of me walking along a local road. There is a reporter coming to see us this next Thursday for an interview. Hopefully the story will be in the paper next Saturday or Sunday. If it is like it was in Chattanooga, there will be a link on the Internet to the story. I'll keep you posted.
It's less than 8 months till the start of the walk. Things are progressing, but sometimes it seems like the Dog Days are here. I think a lot of that is because it is so hot and each day seems like the one before. I wish it was 20 degrees cooler and I was in my last week of work here. Oh well, I guess it too will pass.
Son Chris got back to Seattle. He seemed to have a real good time on his trip across the USA. We should have the website any day now. This morning we had a photographer from the Roanoke Times come by and take pictures of me walking along a local road. There is a reporter coming to see us this next Thursday for an interview. Hopefully the story will be in the paper next Saturday or Sunday. If it is like it was in Chattanooga, there will be a link on the Internet to the story. I'll keep you posted.
It's less than 8 months till the start of the walk. Things are progressing, but sometimes it seems like the Dog Days are here. I think a lot of that is because it is so hot and each day seems like the one before. I wish it was 20 degrees cooler and I was in my last week of work here. Oh well, I guess it too will pass.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Sweatin' things out
Wow is it hot!!! It has been over 100 degrees here most of the week, and this next week looks only slightly better. The only consolation is that most of the rest of the country is suffering through the same heat wave. Somehow it doesn't make me feel any better.
Valda & I had a weekend visit from Patricia & Mason Mosley from the Hampton, VA area. They are old SCC friends and worked with us in Birmingham a couple of years ago. We were also campground neighbors in Chattanooga 4 years ago. It was good to see them and catch up on things. We plan a trip to their area before we are done here and are anxious to go to Jamestown and Yorktown which are just down the road from their home. Can't wait.
Not much going on. Our son Chris is in Yellowstone, one of the stops on a cross country trip with friends. He should be back in Seattle this week. Daughter Syndi and husband Trace saw the Sunday round of the PGA tour event in Tulsa today. They said it was miserable hot there too, and spent a lot of the day in a sponsor's tent with A/C. They did go out and watch Tiger when he teed off on the 16th. Must be nice.
Hopefully the week upcoming will be a little easier to take than last week. It's time for my CEA blood test this week and that makes for a bit of tension around here. The cycle continues and the plans go forth. Next year at this time I hope I'm in Ohio somewhere. More later.
Valda & I had a weekend visit from Patricia & Mason Mosley from the Hampton, VA area. They are old SCC friends and worked with us in Birmingham a couple of years ago. We were also campground neighbors in Chattanooga 4 years ago. It was good to see them and catch up on things. We plan a trip to their area before we are done here and are anxious to go to Jamestown and Yorktown which are just down the road from their home. Can't wait.
Not much going on. Our son Chris is in Yellowstone, one of the stops on a cross country trip with friends. He should be back in Seattle this week. Daughter Syndi and husband Trace saw the Sunday round of the PGA tour event in Tulsa today. They said it was miserable hot there too, and spent a lot of the day in a sponsor's tent with A/C. They did go out and watch Tiger when he teed off on the 16th. Must be nice.
Hopefully the week upcoming will be a little easier to take than last week. It's time for my CEA blood test this week and that makes for a bit of tension around here. The cycle continues and the plans go forth. Next year at this time I hope I'm in Ohio somewhere. More later.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Random thoughts
Valda & I went to Appomattox Court House, VA yesterday and toured the small town where Generals Lee and Grant signed the document that ended 4 years of the American Civil War. Nothing fancy, just two men who sat down and agreed to quit fighting each other. After all that had transpired, it was rather anti-climatic.
When I was standing in the actual room that this took place, I was struck by the significance of the event and the fact that I was standing in the same room 142 years later. It just seemed a little unreal to me. I got to thinking about history and how insignificant it can make you feel. I've seen the actual beds where 4 presidents have died, stood 5 feet from where FDR died while having his picture painted. Saw the gun that shot Lincoln and his blood on the pillow where he died. I actually touched Gus Grissom's Mercury capsule (I wasn't supposed to, but I did), the one that spent 40 years or so on the ocean floor. I was in the World Trade Center and walked on the roof of the South Tower just 5 months before it was destroyed. I drove over that collapsed bridge in Minneapolis last September. And, Valda & I spent a couple of hours on the aircraft carrier Lexington in Corpus Christi, TX in January of this year (there was a fire on board the Lex this past week, but the news of it got lost in the bridge story).
Thinking back to these places I've been and knowing what happened either before or after I was there is rather sobering. Two men met in a parlor of an old farmhouse in Appomattox, VA and spent a few minutes making small talk about their shared experience in the Mexican War, then sat down and ended a war that sometimes doesn't want to end. I stood there all those many years later and witnessed that event. How small I felt.
When I was standing in the actual room that this took place, I was struck by the significance of the event and the fact that I was standing in the same room 142 years later. It just seemed a little unreal to me. I got to thinking about history and how insignificant it can make you feel. I've seen the actual beds where 4 presidents have died, stood 5 feet from where FDR died while having his picture painted. Saw the gun that shot Lincoln and his blood on the pillow where he died. I actually touched Gus Grissom's Mercury capsule (I wasn't supposed to, but I did), the one that spent 40 years or so on the ocean floor. I was in the World Trade Center and walked on the roof of the South Tower just 5 months before it was destroyed. I drove over that collapsed bridge in Minneapolis last September. And, Valda & I spent a couple of hours on the aircraft carrier Lexington in Corpus Christi, TX in January of this year (there was a fire on board the Lex this past week, but the news of it got lost in the bridge story).
Thinking back to these places I've been and knowing what happened either before or after I was there is rather sobering. Two men met in a parlor of an old farmhouse in Appomattox, VA and spent a few minutes making small talk about their shared experience in the Mexican War, then sat down and ended a war that sometimes doesn't want to end. I stood there all those many years later and witnessed that event. How small I felt.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Dead Presidents Tour
All right, here is a history trivia question. What two American presidents were neighbors? Hint: Valda & I are still in Virginia. Find the answer in the last paragraph of this posting.
Well, Valda made it back from OK, okay. I picked her up in WV last Saturday and she seemed no worse for the wear. After spending a day or two catching up on her sleep, she was back at it, and I was happy about that. Yes, we are still in VA. I just started the second phase of my work here, and it looks like I probably will be here for a couple of more months or so. With Southern Cross however, one never knows for sure. Just heard from our friends Gene and Betty Cusano (from WDW and SCC), they are now work-free again and having a good time with family in Ohio. They plan to spend the winter in Texas and Quartzite, AZ. Envy.
We heard this week from a friend of ours from WDW who lives in Brazil. She is doing well and sent us a couple of photos, (see above). She is the one in the middle.
Valda is busy contacting people about my upcoming walk. We have the shoes nailed down (http://www.etonicathletic.com/) , the shirts nailed down, and some help from Dick's Sporting Goods. We are still working on a support RV (don't want to take ours, it's too big for Valda to drive), and gasoline help. We have gotten good news from the Cancer Society and the Diabetes Association. Looks like they both will let me walk for their causes. More later as it happens. Hopefully also, the website in a week or so. I've seen the website page, and I think it will really be neat. Chris is doing a good job on it, but is having trouble sandwiching it between trips to the coffeeshops in and around Seattle.
Okay, back to the history trivia lesson from the opening paragraph. The only two presidents who happened to be neighbors were Tom Jefferson and James Monroe. They actually lived about 2 miles apart in Charlottsville, VA, and you can tour both homes in a day. They were very good lifelong friends, and Monroe actually had a bedroom at Monticello where he stayed quite often. I asked the tour guide at Ash Lawn-Higllands (Monroe's home) if Jefferson had a bedroom there, and he just sort of looked at me. Also, just about 26 miles away, is James Madison's home, and Woodrow Wilson's boyhood home and Presidential Library is about 20 miles away in Stauton, VA. As you can see, the Charlottsville area is a cradle of American Presidents. Can't believe the Brickyard 400 is not on Network TV. Nascar has taken a giant step backward as far as I'm concerned. Bu the way, if you read our blog, take a minute and leave a comment or two. We love reading your comments. More later.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Thoughts from Valda
I have been told this is my week to "blog" so here goes. In thinking about what to write I have to go back to when Rick first mentioned to me his idea of Walking across America. My initial reaction was, "Are you crazy"? And then I asked, "Why, How can we afford to do this, and most important, WHO is going to drive the motor home"? But then after the initial shock and having time to think about the scope of such an adventure, I realized that Rick had given this alot of thought and I began to think or ways that I could contribute to the project.
Can you imagine wanting to walk some 3700 miles across the country? Most people have dreams and I have my share of small ones but I am married to a man who dreams in
Technicolor. I am sure I did not envision this when I married him almost 39 years ago. But the excitement of planning for such an event is thrilling. I hope you can share our vision for this adventure via the blog and website. Big dreams or little dreams, it really doesn't matter, I just hope that Rick's experience will motivate everyone to reach for their special dream.
As you know from last week's blog I just returned from a fun filled two weeks with our daughter, son in law, and two grandsons. Grandma had a wonderful time with her two boys. The first week we attended Vacation Bible School, which had a western theme, and we all learned lots of new songs and lessons to apply to our lives each day. We took long walks which always seemed to end at the ice cream store! Imagine that!!!! We swam at the water park, played catch, had special desserts made by the boys (with help from grandma), had an indoor overnight campout with homemade tent where we watched the stars and told ghost stories, complete with hot dogs and s'mores for dinner and flapjacks and bacon for breakfast which was made with the help of both my boys. Grandma took lots and lots of pictures.
The second week our son flew in to visit with everyone. He and the boys may not see each other very often but they sure have a good time when they are together. Thank goodness Jude doesn't call him "Uncle Piss" (his name is Chris) like Nicolas did at that age. Just goes to show that all kids do not talk the same. ha! We all enjoyed a day at the aquarium where we saw the turtles, beavers, and sharks at feeding time.
PRAISE GOD FROM WHO ALL BLESSINGS FLOW.....
I thank God for each one of you and pray that He blesses you and your families with good health, happiness, and all good things in life. Please keep us in your prayers as Rick continues to train for his Walk and for the many details that still have to be ironed out for the actual Walk in 2008
God Be With You. Until later, Valda
Can you imagine wanting to walk some 3700 miles across the country? Most people have dreams and I have my share of small ones but I am married to a man who dreams in
Technicolor. I am sure I did not envision this when I married him almost 39 years ago. But the excitement of planning for such an event is thrilling. I hope you can share our vision for this adventure via the blog and website. Big dreams or little dreams, it really doesn't matter, I just hope that Rick's experience will motivate everyone to reach for their special dream.
As you know from last week's blog I just returned from a fun filled two weeks with our daughter, son in law, and two grandsons. Grandma had a wonderful time with her two boys. The first week we attended Vacation Bible School, which had a western theme, and we all learned lots of new songs and lessons to apply to our lives each day. We took long walks which always seemed to end at the ice cream store! Imagine that!!!! We swam at the water park, played catch, had special desserts made by the boys (with help from grandma), had an indoor overnight campout with homemade tent where we watched the stars and told ghost stories, complete with hot dogs and s'mores for dinner and flapjacks and bacon for breakfast which was made with the help of both my boys. Grandma took lots and lots of pictures.
The second week our son flew in to visit with everyone. He and the boys may not see each other very often but they sure have a good time when they are together. Thank goodness Jude doesn't call him "Uncle Piss" (his name is Chris) like Nicolas did at that age. Just goes to show that all kids do not talk the same. ha! We all enjoyed a day at the aquarium where we saw the turtles, beavers, and sharks at feeding time.
PRAISE GOD FROM WHO ALL BLESSINGS FLOW.....
I thank God for each one of you and pray that He blesses you and your families with good health, happiness, and all good things in life. Please keep us in your prayers as Rick continues to train for his Walk and for the many details that still have to be ironed out for the actual Walk in 2008
God Be With You. Until later, Valda
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Still alone and still lonely
Valda's still in OK and having a really good time it sounds like. Our son Chris will be joining her this Monday and will be there most all next week visiting his nephews. Actually, I'm the only one in the family that will not be there. Sort of sounds like sour grapes. It's still very hot here in Roanoke but the work is going okay. The pedometer I have tells me that I am walking about 8 miles a day on a normal day. I have lost 13 pounds since I last weighed (about 3 weeks ago), so I guess it isn't all bad.
The American Cancer Society said this week they would support me in my walk. There will be some kind of link to their Team ACS website from my website that will allow people to access their pledge information. I hope you all will touch base on this and do what you can. I know cancer is all over the place and most people have had it in their family somewhere, sometime. My mother died of it in 1970 and she had a sister who died of it in 1967. I also had a sister-in-law who passed away with cancer in 1985. It really never had too much of an impact with me though, until I got it in 2003. And then, it became a bit more real.
Wal-Mart has a program where they will match donations/pledges up to $1500 (this is per store). We are waiting on info from them on this. So...if you can, when it gets all set up, do something for someone you know. If you pledge just 1 cent a mile, that is only $37.00 or so. A nickel a mile will set you back about $185,00. And, you have 8-9 months to get it all together. Later.
The American Cancer Society said this week they would support me in my walk. There will be some kind of link to their Team ACS website from my website that will allow people to access their pledge information. I hope you all will touch base on this and do what you can. I know cancer is all over the place and most people have had it in their family somewhere, sometime. My mother died of it in 1970 and she had a sister who died of it in 1967. I also had a sister-in-law who passed away with cancer in 1985. It really never had too much of an impact with me though, until I got it in 2003. And then, it became a bit more real.
Wal-Mart has a program where they will match donations/pledges up to $1500 (this is per store). We are waiting on info from them on this. So...if you can, when it gets all set up, do something for someone you know. If you pledge just 1 cent a mile, that is only $37.00 or so. A nickel a mile will set you back about $185,00. And, you have 8-9 months to get it all together. Later.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
TV dinners and cold cereal
Well, Valda is in Oklahoma for a couple of weeks, and I'm on TV dinners. She needed a grandkid fix and I envy her a whole lot. She got there okay after I drove her 95 miles to a puddle jump airport in Lewisburg, WV. It was actually a real pretty trip and I get to do it all over again in two weeks.
Not much going on here in Roanoke. It's hot, hot, hot. Received my test shoes from Etonic this week. They sent me a running shoe and a walking shoe. I really like them both, but the running shoe has a much bigger landing pad on the shoe bottom, so will probably go with them. I will be going to a local school in a few minutes to walk their track. I have a new pedometer and want to make sure it is properly calibrated, and want to walk three miles in each pair of shoes to get a feel for them. I'm just waiting for it to cool down a little.
Son Chris just emailed and said the website is coming along nicely and he hopes to have a preview of it by the end of next week. I can't wait to see that. I sent him my whole walking itinerary including highways I plan to take so he can place them on the satellite image map. I hope this works out because it is so cool. Check out the new media coverage section on the blog. Pretty neat. More later.
Not much going on here in Roanoke. It's hot, hot, hot. Received my test shoes from Etonic this week. They sent me a running shoe and a walking shoe. I really like them both, but the running shoe has a much bigger landing pad on the shoe bottom, so will probably go with them. I will be going to a local school in a few minutes to walk their track. I have a new pedometer and want to make sure it is properly calibrated, and want to walk three miles in each pair of shoes to get a feel for them. I'm just waiting for it to cool down a little.
Son Chris just emailed and said the website is coming along nicely and he hopes to have a preview of it by the end of next week. I can't wait to see that. I sent him my whole walking itinerary including highways I plan to take so he can place them on the satellite image map. I hope this works out because it is so cool. Check out the new media coverage section on the blog. Pretty neat. More later.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Walt Disney World Utilidors
Okay, some thoughts about Walt Disney World. For those who didn't know, Valda & I worked there from Thanksgiving Day 2005, to March of 2006. We worked in the Emporium on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. The Emporium is the large retail complex on the left side of Main Street if you were walking down the street toward Cinderella's Castle. It is the second busiest retail complex (the store at Downtown Disney is #1) at WDW doing an average of about $300,000.00 a day while we were there. The sales in December were much higher that in January.
To say we kept busy was quite an understatement. Valda & I ran cash registers and worked all over the Emporium. At the end of the day, we usually had an hour to an hour and a half of straightening and restocking. Now, usually there were 20 to 30 of us cast members doing this, so it was a major task. They had a crew come in during this time and clean (both inside the buildings and everything outside). It was quite a show. We both worked hard (about 30 hours a week) but it was something we grew to really enjoy.
I had mentioned the famous Utilidors. They are a series of tunnels that run under the MK with one major tunnel making a circular pattern around the outside perimeter of the complex. There is another major tunnel that goes from North to South directly under the Castle and several smaller short tunnels that run off the circular one here and there. All these tunnels are actually built at ground level, and the MK is setting on what you would call the second story (because of the ground water level). The tunnels house a variety of utilities including a large central vacuum system that speeds all the trash down a huge pipeline to the recycling area. All the water and electricity and communications are in the Utilidors also. There is a major cafeteria and several smaller break rooms with vending. There is a video area with computers for the cast members to access their WDW accounts. There is a HUGE dressing area with rows and rows of costumes. There is a bank where WDW takes all their loot for Brinks to pick up. Brinks actually drives their armored cars into the Utilidors for money pick-up, complete with armed guards. There are also various forklifts, etc. that are always going here and there with supplies. It is a busy and hectic place, and you need to be on your toes when you walk into the place.
Valda & I had a quarter mile walk every day (one way) to our locker and then a short walk to the elevator and up to the backstage area of the Emporium. Everyday, we twice walked under the Castle. It is not all mortar and stone, but rather a steel frame with a fiberglass exterior. It is our understanding that old Walt himself had an apartment in the Castle, and that you can now actually rent it out for your stay. We saw a lot of stuff people normally don't see, and you really haven't lived until you see Minnie Mouse in her bra or Cinderella puffing on a cigarette. Something I'll never forget. More later on this fascinating place.
To say we kept busy was quite an understatement. Valda & I ran cash registers and worked all over the Emporium. At the end of the day, we usually had an hour to an hour and a half of straightening and restocking. Now, usually there were 20 to 30 of us cast members doing this, so it was a major task. They had a crew come in during this time and clean (both inside the buildings and everything outside). It was quite a show. We both worked hard (about 30 hours a week) but it was something we grew to really enjoy.
I had mentioned the famous Utilidors. They are a series of tunnels that run under the MK with one major tunnel making a circular pattern around the outside perimeter of the complex. There is another major tunnel that goes from North to South directly under the Castle and several smaller short tunnels that run off the circular one here and there. All these tunnels are actually built at ground level, and the MK is setting on what you would call the second story (because of the ground water level). The tunnels house a variety of utilities including a large central vacuum system that speeds all the trash down a huge pipeline to the recycling area. All the water and electricity and communications are in the Utilidors also. There is a major cafeteria and several smaller break rooms with vending. There is a video area with computers for the cast members to access their WDW accounts. There is a HUGE dressing area with rows and rows of costumes. There is a bank where WDW takes all their loot for Brinks to pick up. Brinks actually drives their armored cars into the Utilidors for money pick-up, complete with armed guards. There are also various forklifts, etc. that are always going here and there with supplies. It is a busy and hectic place, and you need to be on your toes when you walk into the place.
Valda & I had a quarter mile walk every day (one way) to our locker and then a short walk to the elevator and up to the backstage area of the Emporium. Everyday, we twice walked under the Castle. It is not all mortar and stone, but rather a steel frame with a fiberglass exterior. It is our understanding that old Walt himself had an apartment in the Castle, and that you can now actually rent it out for your stay. We saw a lot of stuff people normally don't see, and you really haven't lived until you see Minnie Mouse in her bra or Cinderella puffing on a cigarette. Something I'll never forget. More later on this fascinating place.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Roanoke
Okay, we are off and working in Roanoke. Very pretty here, lots of hills and it's good training, so everyone says (they aren't the one out climbing them). It has been very humid lately with PM rain storms. Valda & I can't wait to start seeing all the presidents homes here and there throughout the state. We were disappointed not being able to go to IN, but are glad we got to come here. It sort of all worked out.
Our son Chris has been working on our website. He hopes to have it up and running in July. Hopefully we will have a satellite image with a map overlay showing the route. I've seen the first 22 miles of the route this way and it is pretty spectacular. Pretty scary too.
Heard from some old RV friends we met in Homosassa, FL 6 years ago. They also have a blog chronicling their journeys. We haven't seen them since FL, but email back and forth. So far, our paths haven't crossed again, but it's always a possibility. Heard from some people I don't know that work for Southern Cross who just happened to stumble across our blog. It's strange how things happen.
Valda is set to go to Oklahoma for 2 weeks to see Syndi and family, and Chris is flying there too for 4-5 days. Sure wish I could go, but that's not possible right at the moment.
Have many letters out to corporations for sponsorships. Hopefully by the next posting there will be some news. The picture is of Roanoke taken from one of the hills that surround the city. The people here call them mountains...people from Colorado call them bumps. Next time I'll talk about the utilidors at Disney World. All for now.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Goodbye TN, hello VA
It's been awhile between postings and things are happening. First off, Valda & I are going to be leaving Tullahoma on Monday the 18th and strike out for Roanoke, VA. We've never been there except to pass through, and so are excited to be going somewhere we've never been.
Second, it hasn't rained here in middle TN for at least a month. So, last Friday, it looked like rain all day, and finally around four o'clock, it hit. There was a tremendous wind and the next thing we knew, our large awning was setting on top of our RV. The awning was destroyed and it put a hole in our rubber roof. Yesterday the insurance adjuster told us it was about $6000 worth of damage. So, when we get to Roanoke...
We got some very positive feedback from the marketing director of Etonic Worldwide about my shoes. We're waiting on getting things set up with the marketing division. More when that happens.
Had a phone interview with The Chattanooga Times Free Press last week. Kelly Proctor posted the interview on the net as well as publishing it in the paper last Saturday. I accessed the interview by googling my name and then going down the list to where it says something about "Boomer walks across USA..." It is a pretty good read, and you can actually hear a lot of the interview by clicking on the audio box. Pretty neat. Next time I post, I'll be in Roanoke, Virginia (I think).
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Ten months to go
Not much going on here in Tullahoma, TN. I'm walking eight to ten miles a day trying to get through with the work here. I still have about 20 maps to do and quite a few miles left to walk. It's good training for my walk, and I get paid for it.
My son Chris sent me a link to a blog written by a realtor in Orlando, FL who once worked at Disney World. He had a rather lengthy posting about the underground tunnels (utilidors) beneath The Magic Kingdom. He seemed a bit bitter about WDW but had some good info concerning the utilidors. I read it and a few days later visited the site to read it again and couldn't find any indication of that particular blog at all. Curious. We had heard while working at WDW that they were extremely protective of info leaking out about their operation, and I wonder if they somehow persuaded the ex-cast member to delete it. If anyone wants to know about some of the inner workings of WDW, let me know and I'll post some comments about it. It was a great experience as far as I'm concerned and I don't think I'll spill any secrets.
No news on the walk this week. More later.
My son Chris sent me a link to a blog written by a realtor in Orlando, FL who once worked at Disney World. He had a rather lengthy posting about the underground tunnels (utilidors) beneath The Magic Kingdom. He seemed a bit bitter about WDW but had some good info concerning the utilidors. I read it and a few days later visited the site to read it again and couldn't find any indication of that particular blog at all. Curious. We had heard while working at WDW that they were extremely protective of info leaking out about their operation, and I wonder if they somehow persuaded the ex-cast member to delete it. If anyone wants to know about some of the inner workings of WDW, let me know and I'll post some comments about it. It was a great experience as far as I'm concerned and I don't think I'll spill any secrets.
No news on the walk this week. More later.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
A map for the future
Happy Memorial Day. Valda & I thought we would be in Indiana by now and having a bar-b-que with brothers and sisters-in-laws this weekend, but alas, it is not to be. We are still in Tullahoma, TN and will be for about 3 more weeks or so. There is a rumor afloat now that has us going to Dalton, GA to work after Tullahoma, so don't even know if IN is in our future or not this year. I guess I should know better than to mention something before it is etched in stone. Oh well.
Got letters off to Etonic Worldwide (Etonic shoes, which I've worn for the last 15 years) soliciting shoes for the walk. Will know something in a week or so. Also, will post a map of my route. Hope it looks okay. I've played with a Streets & Trips program and scanned a route map in, so we'll see in a few moments if it works or not.
Went off one morning this week without my billfold. About three hours later, I missed it. Called Valda, and sure enough it was in my drawer. Normally, Valda sort of goes through a check list each morning and asks if I have everything, but this morning she wasn't too awake and so didn't ask me if I had my billfold. So...I'm blaming her.
Got to see our son Chris on Friday the 25th in Bowling Green, KY for a couple of hours. He drove down from Louisville and we drove up and met for breakfast. Hadn't seen him since Disney World last January a year ago. He looks good, and it was good seeing him (see photo). Will keep you posted on progress with sponsors. Hope the map posting makes sense.
Got letters off to Etonic Worldwide (Etonic shoes, which I've worn for the last 15 years) soliciting shoes for the walk. Will know something in a week or so. Also, will post a map of my route. Hope it looks okay. I've played with a Streets & Trips program and scanned a route map in, so we'll see in a few moments if it works or not.
Went off one morning this week without my billfold. About three hours later, I missed it. Called Valda, and sure enough it was in my drawer. Normally, Valda sort of goes through a check list each morning and asks if I have everything, but this morning she wasn't too awake and so didn't ask me if I had my billfold. So...I'm blaming her.
Got to see our son Chris on Friday the 25th in Bowling Green, KY for a couple of hours. He drove down from Louisville and we drove up and met for breakfast. Hadn't seen him since Disney World last January a year ago. He looks good, and it was good seeing him (see photo). Will keep you posted on progress with sponsors. Hope the map posting makes sense.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Some answers/some thanks
Okay, to answer some comments. Bonnie in Washington State: We will be walking from Bodega Bay, CA to Coney Island in New York. I probably won't detour the several hundred miles north to walk through your state. I'll have to leave that for another time to visit you and Paul. Wayne & Illene: The name is pronounced Pop Eye, like the sailor man who eats spinach and chases around a tall ugly girl. A funny add to about this. When my daughter Syndi was a very little girl, she had some trouble pronouncing certain words. Popeye was one of them. She pronounced it Pie Pie. Then later when she had kids, her oldest Nicolas (he likes to be called Nic now) started calling me Popeye when he first learned to talk. Quite strange how that all came about.
Rich and Patti: I don't know about the cost of George Dickel whiskey. It is a pretty small operation compared to Jack Daniels (one tenth the size), so you are probably right. By the way, the infamous dog Stump is no relation to you guys (Rich & Patti Stump are very good friends).
Now, I want to thank two people for signing on and helping me out on my upcoming walk. First, my brother Ron Hammersley has offered to underwrite the cost of my shirts and the printing of logos, etc. He owns the Beech Grove Bowl in Indiana, and is the only bowling establishment in the Indianapolis area open 24 hours. You can go to his website at http://www.bgbowl.com/ . If you live in Indy and like to bowl, give his place a shot. Great for families of all ages. Next, I want to thank my good friend David Sease of Sease, Gerig Associates in Indianapolis. He is the Vice-Chairman of a public relations firm in Indy and has given me valuable insight as I start contacting firms pursuant to my walk. If you need services in his field, please check out his website at http://www.seasegerig.com/id17.html .
This is a lengthy blog, so I'll close for now.
Rich and Patti: I don't know about the cost of George Dickel whiskey. It is a pretty small operation compared to Jack Daniels (one tenth the size), so you are probably right. By the way, the infamous dog Stump is no relation to you guys (Rich & Patti Stump are very good friends).
Now, I want to thank two people for signing on and helping me out on my upcoming walk. First, my brother Ron Hammersley has offered to underwrite the cost of my shirts and the printing of logos, etc. He owns the Beech Grove Bowl in Indiana, and is the only bowling establishment in the Indianapolis area open 24 hours. You can go to his website at http://www.bgbowl.com/ . If you live in Indy and like to bowl, give his place a shot. Great for families of all ages. Next, I want to thank my good friend David Sease of Sease, Gerig Associates in Indianapolis. He is the Vice-Chairman of a public relations firm in Indy and has given me valuable insight as I start contacting firms pursuant to my walk. If you need services in his field, please check out his website at http://www.seasegerig.com/id17.html .
This is a lengthy blog, so I'll close for now.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Summer in Tennessee
Well, not much going on today. Valda & I spent the morning visiting the only two distillers in Tennessee. Jack Daniels and George Dickel are both about 12 miles from where we are working and living here in Tullahoma. We went to Lynchburg, TN and walked around the small town. Lots of places to spend your money, but charming. It's interesting, but both these distilleries are in dry counties, and they cannot sell their product where it is made. Taking the day and doing emails and blogs. Typical hot, humid weather here in Tennessee. More later.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Eleven months and counting
Happy Cinco de Mayo. Okay, as promised: two or three weeks ago, while I was working in the Chattanooga area, three East Ridge, TN squad cars pulled up behind me as I was checking a gas leak on a gas main beside the road. This was a little bit unusual to say the least. I thought for a moment they were there because I was parked in the road, and was working in the road, and they were there to offer some sort of protection. WRONG!! Someone had called the cops on me. I have to snoop around houses, hunting gas meters on homes I have never been to before. The gas company provides us no information whatsoever, so I have to check out every house myself. Well...someone didn't like me in their yard I guess, so here comes the cavalry. It all turned out okay though. I showed them my ID and they called the gas company. Five minutes of a little tension (no guns were drawn, but they all had one) and they were on their way. It wasn't really that big a deal, but it was the first time more than one squad car had shown up to check me out.
Movin' on. We are in Tullahoma, TN. We came here on Friday the fourth. Someday we are supposed to go to Indiana, but who knows when. The walking regime has resumed. We have had a bit of a setback, but things are improving and Valda & I are looking ahead. By the way, once everything is set in motion, we will be offering opportunities to sponsor me on my walk across America. Hopefully we will have information where you can pledge so much per mile to either the Cancer Society or the Diabetes Society. There will also be opportunities to direct sponsor me if you want. More later as things progress.
Movin' on. We are in Tullahoma, TN. We came here on Friday the fourth. Someday we are supposed to go to Indiana, but who knows when. The walking regime has resumed. We have had a bit of a setback, but things are improving and Valda & I are looking ahead. By the way, once everything is set in motion, we will be offering opportunities to sponsor me on my walk across America. Hopefully we will have information where you can pledge so much per mile to either the Cancer Society or the Diabetes Society. There will also be opportunities to direct sponsor me if you want. More later as things progress.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
On the move
Goodbye Chattanooga. We are on the move once again. We left Chatt. last Wednesday and drove about 50 miles north to Dunlap, TN. My employer, Southern Cross Corp. wanted me to do a 5 or 6 day gas survey in Dunlap and had me stop here on the way to Indiana. On Thursday, it rained all day, so Valda & I spent the day (our 38th anniversary) in the motorhome watching it rain, and cat-napping.
I'm not sure what you get each other for the 38th, but I think it is laminate. So, we went to The Huddle House, and I handed Valda a laminated menu and told her she could have anything on the breakfast menu...Happy Anniversary.
Neither Stump nor I died from the bite on my left leg. The Health Dept. gave me the okay to leave the area, and I guess Stump got paroled. I believe there may be a grand jury convened about Stump, so I don't know if he's out of the woods yet or not. The leg is healing, but still very sore. I walked 3 miles at work on Friday and was sure glad when the day was over. So it goes.
Valda's leg is feeling better (Sciatic nerve) and she is bouncing around a lot better lately. For a while, we had only two good legs between the two of us...good for a sack race, I guess.
A couple of the attached pictures show some of the scenery around here.
Next time I'll tell about the police action that I was almost in the middle of.
I'm not sure what you get each other for the 38th, but I think it is laminate. So, we went to The Huddle House, and I handed Valda a laminated menu and told her she could have anything on the breakfast menu...Happy Anniversary.
Neither Stump nor I died from the bite on my left leg. The Health Dept. gave me the okay to leave the area, and I guess Stump got paroled. I believe there may be a grand jury convened about Stump, so I don't know if he's out of the woods yet or not. The leg is healing, but still very sore. I walked 3 miles at work on Friday and was sure glad when the day was over. So it goes.
Valda's leg is feeling better (Sciatic nerve) and she is bouncing around a lot better lately. For a while, we had only two good legs between the two of us...good for a sack race, I guess.
A couple of the attached pictures show some of the scenery around here.
Next time I'll tell about the police action that I was almost in the middle of.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Recuperating...somewhat
Well, the leg is healing, but it sure hurts when I walk, or stand, or sit...
Actually, it's doing pretty good considering. The Health Dept. called me last week and said Stump's shot record was out of date and that he was being held without bond for 10 days. They asked me not to leave town till he makes it through his quarantine. So, here we sit until the 25th, then it is on to Dunlap, TN for 5 days of work, and then somewhere in Indiana for the rest of the summer.
It will be good getting out of Chattanooga. It is always good to come here, but it is also good to leave. It makes you feel like things are progressing when you can attach the car, start up the motorhome, put Willy on (On the Road Again) and head on out.
I've been told that I need to explain the blog title to my readers. It is actually quite simple. I'm planning on walking across the USA, and my grandkids call me Popeye. The 'with' part is you all following along as I tell you about the months leading up to the walk, and the actual walk itself. Hence, Walkin' With Popeye. I think it'll be fun.
Actually, it's doing pretty good considering. The Health Dept. called me last week and said Stump's shot record was out of date and that he was being held without bond for 10 days. They asked me not to leave town till he makes it through his quarantine. So, here we sit until the 25th, then it is on to Dunlap, TN for 5 days of work, and then somewhere in Indiana for the rest of the summer.
It will be good getting out of Chattanooga. It is always good to come here, but it is also good to leave. It makes you feel like things are progressing when you can attach the car, start up the motorhome, put Willy on (On the Road Again) and head on out.
I've been told that I need to explain the blog title to my readers. It is actually quite simple. I'm planning on walking across the USA, and my grandkids call me Popeye. The 'with' part is you all following along as I tell you about the months leading up to the walk, and the actual walk itself. Hence, Walkin' With Popeye. I think it'll be fun.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Can you say 'rabies'?
This was a week I'd just soon not have had to go through. Monday through Wednesday was okay, but on Thursday, doing my routine job of inspecting gas meters, searching for gas leaks, I was ambushed by a Pit bull. He was actually chained and staked to the ground, and behind what I thought was a secure chain-link fence, in another yard. I had actually visited his yard just moments before, and talked with his owner. After leaving his yard and moving next door, he was totally out of my mind. However, I apparently wasn't out of his.
He came under the fence and had enough slack in his chain to nail me in the left calf as I walked away from the neighboring gas meter. What a surprise! It hurt, it bled, and it made me mad. But, what do you do? After calling 911 and being tended by EMT's (or is it EMS's), I had to go to a Doc in the Box for treatment. It was either that or the ER. Actually, they were very thorough and attentive. They got me fixed up and on my way. The next day, I got news that the dog (appropriately named Stump) was in a ten day quarantine for outdated shots. As of this posting, Stump is still with us.
Anyway, it was a minor setback to my walking regimen and a minor blow to my morale. Monday, I'm back on the job, and unfortunately, I have to pick it back up next door to Stump's doghouse. Glad he's in dog jail.
He came under the fence and had enough slack in his chain to nail me in the left calf as I walked away from the neighboring gas meter. What a surprise! It hurt, it bled, and it made me mad. But, what do you do? After calling 911 and being tended by EMT's (or is it EMS's), I had to go to a Doc in the Box for treatment. It was either that or the ER. Actually, they were very thorough and attentive. They got me fixed up and on my way. The next day, I got news that the dog (appropriately named Stump) was in a ten day quarantine for outdated shots. As of this posting, Stump is still with us.
Anyway, it was a minor setback to my walking regimen and a minor blow to my morale. Monday, I'm back on the job, and unfortunately, I have to pick it back up next door to Stump's doghouse. Glad he's in dog jail.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
A little background
In the 1990's, I had talked a lot about walking the Appalachian Trail. It was something I wanted to do the year I turned 50. Well...for one reason or another, it didn't happen. The thought of it never really went away though, and a few years later, I saw a documentary on PBS or somewhere about this guy who hiked the AT and filmed it. After seeing that, the thought of me walking the AT definitely went away.
But, I still wanted to do something on that order. I walk a lot in my job, doing safety inspections on natural gas systems, and am happiest when I am walking across country inspecting gas transmission lines. It is usually just me and nature, with my wife Valda moving the car along the route. I started thinking about walking the AT again. However, it just didn't hold the same feeling it had ten years earlier, probably because of that documentary I had seen. But, the walking I did in my job made me realize that I could probably walk highways. They are all usually on a walkable grade, and also provide a place to drive the car. That's when I thought about walking across the country. When I turn 60, it will also mark the 5 year anniversary of my colon cancer surgery. If I have no further health problems, the walk will be on. If you keep reading this blog, you can join me along the way.
But, I still wanted to do something on that order. I walk a lot in my job, doing safety inspections on natural gas systems, and am happiest when I am walking across country inspecting gas transmission lines. It is usually just me and nature, with my wife Valda moving the car along the route. I started thinking about walking the AT again. However, it just didn't hold the same feeling it had ten years earlier, probably because of that documentary I had seen. But, the walking I did in my job made me realize that I could probably walk highways. They are all usually on a walkable grade, and also provide a place to drive the car. That's when I thought about walking across the country. When I turn 60, it will also mark the 5 year anniversary of my colon cancer surgery. If I have no further health problems, the walk will be on. If you keep reading this blog, you can join me along the way.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
12 month countdown
Well, a year from now hopefully, I'll be somewhere east of the Pacific Ocean, walking along some highway, wondering what in the world possessed me to want to do what I'm doing. I'm sure Valda will have been wondering the same thing too. I can't really answer that question yet, but as of right now, it is just something I want to do. A month into the walk, I may not feel that way. Who knows? Right now, I'm getting a bit more psyched up for it, realizing that the next 12 months will probably bring ups and downs in my mood, thoughts about my sanity, and maybe questions about my ability to do it. All I can do right now though is prepare for the 3200 or so odd miles, and wonder just how I'm going to get through Pennsylvania.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
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