OldTroubador's blog post - Eclectica

I am heading south to South Carolina after spending a day in New Hampshire. Now don't get me wrong, New Hampshire is a pretty state and the people are nice, but....
For breakfast today, I asked if they had any grits. I was shown a selection of sandpaper.
I looked at the CD's they had for sale; I didn't recognize any of the artists. I'm afraid if I had asked for Molly Hatchet, I would have been sent to see an old woman about an axe; Blackfoot – someone who hadn't washed their feet in a few months. If I had mentioned Bocephus, I probably would have been arrested for public profanity.
I'm back below the Mason/Dixon Line now and I can feel my sinuses getting back to normal. And, I have regained the letter R in my vocabulary.
Don't the heaters work in the cars up there? Nearly everyone I saw driving by was wearing a heavy coat, gloves, and hat.
How can you tell a transplant to Massachussets? They are the ones using a turn signal.

Tighty's blog yesterday reminded me of a story. When I worked and lived in North Carolina, we had to go through an annual physical, complete with bloodwork. My friend and workmate had a terrible time keeping his cholesterol numbers down; they usually were between 225-250, no matter what he did. Mine was in the 140 region, no matter what I ate. So when the results came in, I would celebrate. On the following Saturday, I would make breakfast. First, I would fry a half pound of bacon. Then I would crack about 4-5 eggs in the grease in the pan. After they were done, I would start frying slices of bread in grease until it was all gone. I would plate the fried bread, layer it with bacon, then put the eggs on top of all that. Oh yeah, now THAT”S good eats!!!
And on Monday? You better believed I bragged about it.

For those that don't know, I used to live in New Jersey. Hey, don't blame me, I was five years old when Mom and Dad brought me there. I don't miss much about that place except the food. Picture this: Two brothers behind the counter, both tossing pizza dough in the air. Slap on some sauce, toss on the cheese, scatter some pepperoni, then into the oven it goes. At some point during the evening, the two brothers will get into a fight, one will use a pizza knife, the other will defend himself with a pie pan. Mama is in the kitchen sweating over a bubbling pot of sauce, whose secret is more closely guarded than the Queen's jewels. Papa is at a corner table, wearing a suit, sipping grappa. Now that's real pizza. Pizza Hut/Papa John's/Little Caesar's can all kiss my ass.
And where else can you get Hungarian/Portugese/Thai/Indian/German food, all on the same night, just by walking a few blocks except in the New York/New Jersey metroplex?

I drove through/into eight states today: New Hampshire, Massachussetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. I can only do that in the Northeast because the states are so small. I have it on good authority that after this year's baseball season, the winner of the AL East will get to annex Connecticut, the loser will get Rhode Island. That works out well because Rhode Island is nothing but a suburb of Boston anyway.

If all you ever see of the Atlantic seaboard states is along I-95, you are missing out on a lot. For all my complaining, I really do enjoy driving through most of the aforementioned states. Just keep me away from the cities. The lakes, streams, and rivers are beautiful. The history in New England is unbelievable – towns founded in the 1600's, the early American authors and artists all lived up there, and of course, it was where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired. And for those who are into industrial history, all the old factories in all the old cities are still there. Many have been re-purposed. Sadly, some are vacant and vandalized, but they are all a part of the history of our country.

Someone climbed to the top of Jugtown Mountain on I-78 in New Jersey and poured colored water down the icicles hanging off the rock cut. They were red, and blue, and green, and purple. It was a treat to see that.

The first person killed for the cause of American freedom was a black man, Crispus Attucks, who was killed during the Boston Massacre.

Did I mention how beautiful that part of the country is? I really do enjoy it. The fall colors, the mountains, the Pine Barrens of New Jersey – get off of I-95 and run the back roads. Go to Sandy Hook in New Jersey and see the cliffs come right to the beach, then explore the twin spire lighthouse at the top. Go to Mystic Seaport in Connecticut and see a wonderfully restored fishing village from the 1600-1800's, complete with perfectly restored or replicated water craft of the day. It's worth the trip. Go north on I-87 in New York and turn right to take the road to Ticonderoga. The lakes on either side are breath-taking. The road ends at Lake Champlain; who knows, you may get lucky and see Champs, the local lake monster, a la the Loch Ness monster. Then ride the ferry across the lake to Vermont and continue your adventure.

I spent $20 on Girl Scout cookies earlier in the week. The money went to a good cause. I'm not talking about the Girl Scouts, I talking about feeding my addiction.

How do you break the finger of a Boston Red Sox fan? Punch him in the nose.

Spring is coming. I saw it when I was down south last time. Is it just me or is one of life's pleasures just sitting outside in the evening and listening to the tree frogs serenade each other? By the way, for those of you north of the Potomac River, spring has not been cancelled as rumored. It has just been postponed and will be combined with the Fourth of July celebrations this year, to be immediately followed by more cold weather. Hey, it's got to be true, I read it on the internet.

Has anyone else ever been on the phone with someone special and fallen asleep during the call? Not because the other person is boring, but just from being worn out? I thought so. Have any of you ever woke up and shouted “Shields and Yarnell!” ? Guess I'm the only one then.

I can't wait to run through the heartland in a few months. There is something reassuring about watching the farmers plowing their fields and getting them ready for planting.

I'm not the best truck driver out on the highways, but compared to a lot of the critters and wingnuts out there, I have to be in the top 5%.

The Tappan Zee Bridge is being rebuilt. They have started putting the new pilings into the Hudson River.

This winter has been so bad, even the Freebird is suffering from hypertension after ingesting all the salt that's been laid down on the roads.

In a little less than 4400 miles, I will have put 100,000 miles on the Freebird III. I should hit the magic number in a little less than two weeks. I've been in her for almost nine months now. Damn, she's a good truck.

It's time for a little music.

A little Blackfoot, with Shorty Medlocke on banjo.


And a little Hank, Jr.