Recently in roadside attractions Category
You Bet Your Ass Ming Does Chicken Right!
In the quest to improve statues or likeness of famous people, Ming now graces the eerie fiberglass, characterized likeness of Colonel Sanders, fried chicken maven.
Ming has powers that far exceed The Colonel. She recently stopped a tornado from touching down in Wilson, and directed it instead to nearby Goldsboro. Ming is a Force of Nature, whereas Col. Sanders is merely a man in a white suit with a string tie.
Ming knows the secret 11 herbs and spices to the famous KFC recipe because she is omniscient, and she attended the C.I.A. (aka Culinary Institute of America).
Before clicking away from this page, take a moment to truly stare at the new and improved Colonel Sanders Ming to fully appreciate the out reaching arms that are frozen in air. Is Ming trying to lure you in for a hug, only to chomp down on your neck, killing you instantly? Or is Ming luring you in so she can Kentucky fry you?
Abe vs. Ming
Out in the middle of almost nowhere in Laramie, Wyoming, is a giant head of Abe Lincoln. It's kind of spooky, creepy, and just a little disconcerting to come upon this giant Abe amidst the trees.
I wonder how it might look to replace the giant Abe head with a giant Ming head. Some advantages to the giant Ming head would be:
- Eyes that glow in the dark when light shines upon them. I'm sure that would cause many a car to swerve off the road at night!
- Warning sounds in the form of Ming's various meows. The statue is located on a mountain, so when snowy, icy, or other poor conditions apply, just flip a switch and Ming will give you ample warning.
- Ming is equipped to purr, thus you know when she is happy and content. I'd hate to think of what sound Abe makes when he's happy and content!
- Abe has dull, omnivore teeth whereas Ming comes fully armed with sharp, pointy fangs! Ming is related to the ancient saber tooth tigers. Need more be said?
- Ming has silky soft fur. Abe's beard looks coarse and scratchy.
- Large, triangular ears to hear distant sounds, plus a better range of hearing. I betcha dollars to donuts that Abe was pretty much stone deaf, even though he had pretty big ears!
What is interesting to note is that all four towns have a Locust Street. I got pictures of myself with Sheep standing at all Locust Street signs, too. All of the towns have large water towers with Centralia painted on them, with the exception of the one in Washington.
Though I may be partial to Centralia, Washington, I have to say that my birthplace is probably the nicest in terms of the condition of the downtown, as well as residences being maintained.
Local Landmark
I scoured the local reviews on Yahoo to find an eatery with high reviews that caters to my penchant for burgers, hot dogs, or barbecue. I came up with Dick's, a local Wilson institution since 1921. The walls were lined with sports celebrities and movie stars signed photos, and there was a man working the grill who has most likely been with the place since it opened. He might even be the Dick in Dick's.
All dogs are served with mustard, chili, and onions. There is the cheese option which I went for along with minus the mustard and chili. They also serve up burgers and sandwiches. The prices were very reasonable and the meal was filling. The only tick mark against the meal was that only sweet tea is available--no unsweet tea for those of who desire the full taste of tea. Also, the restaurant had a sit-down area that was easily filled up for the lunch crowd. Food service was fast and the waitresses made sure our drinks were refreshed. It's a cash only place, no credit or debit cards, which is typical of these little eateries.
It's not the best dog I've ever had, but it was agreeable. I can see this place being quite the hang-out in the summer. I do appreciate being able to get cheese on a hot dog without it being thought of as strange. I'd eventually like to try one of their burgers or sandwiches.
There is something magical about the Good Year Blimp. Perhaps because it brings back childhood memories of summer. Or maybe that it is just larger than life itself. This week the blimp had a brief stay at our local community airport. I didn't get a chance to take personal photos of the blimp, which has caused me great distress. The blimp is one of the 5 Magic Objects That are Mobile. The first such magical object is the fleet of Oscar Mayer Weinermobiles. The remaining three magical mobile objects are yet to be determined, but I'm pretty certain there are five of them.Kennewick: A Tri-Cities Adventure
Over the weekend I drove over the mountains and into the desert within Washington state. After a five hour drive I arrived at my destination: Jodi's house! Jodi is a dear friend I met at LIOS. She was unable to continue in the program, but she is still seeking to become a fellow therapist. She has helped me in a multitude of ways to survive my second year. I wanted to visit with her to celebrate making it through LIOS.The Hounds
Jodi has two doggies: Charlie, the small brown Yoda-looking one, and Magni, the larger black and brown one. The girls were very well-behaved canines. They endeared themselves to me by giving me "boo-boo kitty" eyes each time I ate any food in their presence. They were consumate snarks in begging for food. I eventually caved in and gave them little bits of my left over chicken one evening. Charlie has a very distinct Yoda-like look about her when she raises and perks up her ears.
Ruff's Burgers: Local Greasy Burgery Goodness
When I saw Ruff's I knew that I had to eat there and try out their greasy goodness! I love local burger joints and this one was not disappointing. The prices were reasonable. I was only able to eat the dog and part of my small burger. Jodi said they are famous for their Giant Rurff which is a monster burger.
Columbia River
Rich People's House
Along the river was this "rich person's house" that overlooks the river. It appears that the house was added onto over and over until it became this enormous structure. I find it fun to look at such houses but could not imagine ever living in one because it would take a staff to execute the weekly cleaning!
Assorted Fun
While visiting Jodi we went to a local shop where they sold all sorts of nifty things, and we also found a newly opened metaphysical shop. For lunch one day we tried Garlic Jim's Pizza. We had a very garlicky pizza that was delicious!We also spent a lot of quality time just talking and sharing our respective life stories, getting to know each other better and more deeply. Jodi and I have been through the trials and travails that life has to offer and we've come through. I think of us as having taken the leap of faith into the volcano and it spewed us back out, just like in Joe Versus the Volcano.
I drove back through the Columbia River Gorge instead of going through the mountain pass. I love the drive along the gorge because the river there is just amazing! I was also able to stop in The Dalles, Oregon, and eat at what I call "Country Cousin East". The restaurant's real name is "Cousin's Inn" but it reminds me of our local "Country Cousin" restaurant. They have great mac n' cheese at the restaurant and an amazing sausage and bean soup. The place is always packed when I've gone there.
I'll be going back to spend 4 days with Jodi in August when I attend my first class in Theraplay® in Yakima. I'll have about a 90 minute drive from Kennewick to Yakima, but the drive is all freeway at 70 mph, so it should go quickly.
The physician's residence and office in Old Salem was my favorite in that there was an impressive display of antique medical equipment. Let's have a little fun and see if you can identify what the equipment was used for!
Guess That Medical Equipment!
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The second historical site that I visited with my brother and his family is Old Salem. The historical site is about four to five blocks of the original Salem settlement with restored buildings from the 1770s. The Moravians were the founders of the settlement and their history and baked goods are predominantly featured throughout the village.
In many of the buildings, historical re-enactors are present to give a verbal history of the house and if applicable demonstrate the trades that would have been conducted in the house by the original settlers.
The village had many gift shops, the most popular being the bakery. There people could buy Moravian cookies, sugar cakes, pound cakes, and more.
We had lunch at the Old Salem Tavern. In the old days the tavern served as a place for travellers to stay, and history shows that George Washington spent the night in the tavern on his journey to wherever. I tried two of the specialities on the menu: onion soup and the chicken pie (a Moravian recipe).
I really enjoyed seeing another historical site pertaining to the Moravians. In Pennsylvanian, the old section of Bethlehem there was Moravian College and the original buildings from the 1700s are still standing. I still don't know who the Moravians are insofar as a religious group, and I think they are also an ethnic group. I should have bought that book that explained who they are, but I opted to buy a cookbook of Moravian recipes instead.
