What’s your least favorite sports name in America today?
As a committed fan of Cleveland professional baseball fondly called the Indians for over five decades of my life, I’m disturbed to hear my revered baseball team title referred to as the Guardians today. Giving some thought to this new team title, I reason then why anyone would really care for such a common name that originates from an obscure bridge structure in downtown Cleveland? Or who might I be prompted to guard as in football in this new title when trying to show enthusiasm for today’s baseball game action? Most importantly as well, does this questionably inspiring name seemingly intended for a new generation of fans magically make the players a better performing team? I say not. So you might understand that when I ride around on our road trips these days, I make it a point to wear my old Indians hat with the historic image of Chief Wahoo’s wide smile insignia oftentimes at sporting events I frequent.
Yet it seems that it’s more than a trend setting team title that’s needed to satisfy today’s short attention span crowd to stay interested in “Tribe” baseball. Witness for example my attendance at Friday’s Cleveland Guardians game featuring dollar dog night, $2.00 beers, a twenty two minute fireworks show, a short rap music concert, and of course a heavily timed pitch and hit count version of baseball. Yet there’s a simple answer to such layers of new sports distraction. Just concentrate on the little white ball that keeps the game action moving. Batter up Indians!
Throughout America today, I expect to find places on our road trips to sit and watch television broadcasting of competitive events happening in what’s commonly referred to as the sports bar. Upon desiring food in these somewhat informal places, I might order something quick to prepare and easy to eat before concentrating most of all on the games. While traditional fare like hamburgers and hot dogs seem tempting on these occasions, I personally favor chicken wings as my munching item of choice. Give me ten wings, fried or baked, accompanied by a variety of sauces and a Diet Coke and I’m “good to go” for the upcoming game.
But what happens when something other than the chicken wings themselves are the main feature of my meal? Such a phenomenon happened at a recent road trip stopover in Buffalo, New York at the famed Anchor Bar. For here we frequented the widely recognized home of the original Buffalo Chicken Wing concocted by Frank & Theresa Bellissimo for a group of friends in this city in 1949. Know then upon entering the lobby of this eating establishment, I gazed in awe at a vast collection of historic memorabilia and amusing artifacts accumulated along the walls over the years of its operation. With such hyper focus on this flashy ambience, it oddly did not seem to matter that no sports blared from televisions throughout the building.
As far as the food itself, I ordered my typical ten wings fried and found them tasty yet not remarkable in a somewhat confining dining area. So it goes to show that that the alleged stature of anything being dubbed so famous as “The Anchor” seems strictly in the “eyes of the beholder.” So let the games begin again this NFL season as I foresee making my choice of sports bars more selectively in the future. For it’s not about the food then that really matters! Enjoy the photo collection below.
“Wherever I roam, nature is the only stranger that feels like home.” (Angie Weiland- Crosby)
What makes Vermont a nice place to visit for a summertime home?
Imagine entering the state of Vermont from the southwesterly border and immediately noticing how this pristinely beautiful landscape impacts your mindset positively for your upcoming vacation. Upon sight of this largely undeveloped green expanse of gently undulating land, you seem committed now to slow down and find an ideal spot to enjoy more leisure time outdoors for your current and possibly future summer vacation. As you continue your drive north, the visually stunning Lake Champlain to the west or those verdant Green Mountains inland further catches your attention. For you sense that an extended stay in either location provides a comforting respite from your normally hectic day to day routine. Just stay put for awhile, you reason, and take full advantage of those longer summer days in Vermont offering such stunning natural beauty in your new temporary home.
So you might consider how these two seasoned travelers viewed several, slow paced, recreational opportunities experienced during this week’s road trip stop in Vermont as potential impetus for a more extended stay in the future. Consider then how this vast lake surrounding us in multiple directions seemingly represented for us a formidable barrier for access to and from the state.Yet upon closer inspection of Champlain, it became merely a short car ferry jaunt across in various places to access future excursions to the Adirondack region in New York beyond. So we just parked our car on a transport boat with ease and enjoyed the stunning vistas along the lake for this leisurely ride. Know as well that our visit to the historic site of Fort Ticonderoga included an adjoining boat ride excursion around the southern shores of Lake Champlain. From this location, we envisioned a potential starting point for long term enjoyment of such pristine shoreline environs in the future.The opportunity to experience an open air bluegrass concert in the small ski town of Stowe provided an additional temptation to explore a longer stay in Central Vermont as we gazed in awe at the serene vista of the Green Mountains.
So take a look yourself at my most recent collection of road trip photos and realize that Vermont might offer you that special haven for nature’s calling that you somehow call home.
“I’m a rich tourist today. How about driving me home in style” (It’s A Wonderful Life -movie quote)
What’s your favorite holiday movie of all time?
Every Christmas season, I welcome the chance to watch once again the legendary actor Jimmy Stewart play the forward minded presence of George Bailey in the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life”. For his portrayal of George’s turbulent life in the fictional town of Bedford Falls captures my strong nostalgic feeling about those formative Midwest roots of mine in the small town of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. You see George and I both dreamed of accomplishing titanic feats early on, fell into despair in early adulthood facing seemingly unsurmountable career challenges, yet “rose out of the ashes” as we grew wiser to ultimately realize our self identity in a positive way. Thus fond memories of how much we valued our dreams of finding resilience at home seemed very important for both of us as life’s arduous path took its course in our life.
So with much surprise nearby by our motel location, Ruth and I discovered on our road trip to Seneca Falls, New York, the original town inspiration of Bedford Falls for Director Frank Capra’s script in 1946 for this legendary movie. In fact our short drive through downtown here provided plentiful reminders of Bedford Fall’s depiction in the movie. There’s a Community Bank for instance in the center of town where I envisioned George busily spending so much of his time keeping his “Savings and Loan” Building open for customer use. Martini’s Bar’s close by this location also provided film reminders of a more decadent Bedford Falls that might have happened without George’ benevolent presence there. Of course I could not also miss the original bridge site from the movie where a despondent George jumped off in suicidal fashion only to re-emerge with angel Clarence’s help with renewed faithfulness for his current life. But the crown jewel of this town with respect to the movie took place at the small “It’s a Wonderful Life Museum” containing a sizable collection of artifacts from the movie setup as well as some interesting biographical tidbits about each film character who took part then.
So immerse yourself below in that comforting feeling of how we can measure life’s challenges of our past with a freshness of liking in the following photo collection. For there’s always a place in our heart for returning home as George Bailey once did in this wonderful movie.
What place and time do you most desire time traveling back to the past?
“The muffled drum’s sad roll has beat The soldier’s last tattoo; No more on life’s parade shall meet That brave and fallen few.” (Theodore O’Hara)
I consider myself a fanatic when it comes to learning about Civil War times of America long ago. For I am no casual observer of this conflict, like so many students of my times who relied strictly on facts about the Civil War through high school textbooks or became entertained by a “Hollywood spun” movie depiction or two. So such curiosity to know fuels my strong interest in time traveling in my life back to the those tragic days of July 1-3,1963 when Union and Confederate armies clashed in battle in open fields around the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
I might clarify then my primary motivation to travel back to Gettysburg stems from my desire to study more authentic evidence of Civil War times. For that’s often meant in the past immersing myself with plenty of outside readings about famous battles for research purposes and scheduling timely museum during road trip visits to truthfully feel the wrath of southern slavery and subsequent secession efforts of the Confederacy in antebellum America during that time.
You might also understand my heavy interest in Gettysburg from a biographical perspective, For I’ve often daydreamed about witnessing the excitement of this pivotal moment in American History on November 18, 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln took to the stage and delivered his famed Gettysburg Address at Cemetery Hill to pronounce his vehement opposition to the existence of slavery in the United States. Or such focus on a famous figure might have meant attempting to understand the mindset at Gettysburg of Confederate General Robert E. Lee or Union Commander George Meade as the famous battle ensued. Thus in being obsessed with such human psychology of this conflict, I can also recall several travel instances whereby I stared in silence at Gettysburg’s battlefield environs to envision individual acts of common soldier heroism that took place there during those times.
Perhaps the following photo collection from our recent road visit to Gettysburg best illustrates why one might desire to travel back in time to witness this cruel bloodbath of battle. Looking forward, however, how might these images impact your own perspective about wartime matters in our modern era in some way?
Are there any American car racing fanatics out there? If so, this blog might interest you as I illustrate some impressions of NASCAR’s staying power during our recent road trip visit to Charlotte, North Carolina. To begin with, just consider the simple facts that in 2022, the NASCAR brand proved to be the #1 spectator sport in the United States. For there are over 3,000,000 race enthusiasts tuned in per average on television for each race totaling over 114,000,00 viewers throughout the entire year.
So what motivated me, in particular, to experience NASCAR in Charlotte this weekend? The answer seems a bit complicated to explain. I don’t particularly like inflicting myself to driving at dangerously high speeds but I often experience a sudden rush from watching these drivers push the limits of their vehicles in each race. The “blue collar” nature of mechanically “fixing up” cars to make them go much faster does not particularly impress me but the creative visual appearances of each car definitely “hooks me in”. I wonder with some apprehension as well why there’s such a predominance of ‘”good old boy” southerners who comprise the NASCAR driving circuit, but I admire them all as heroes for their raw courage and driving skills to stretch the limits of their vehicle’s performance.
Thus it’s of some relief to me that my short visit to the Hendrick Motorsports Museum and nearby Charlotte Motor Speedway resolved some of my NASCAR confusion. For I did not need to watch an actual NASCAR event that day in Charlotte to realize that each fast running car I observed more closely at the museum portrayed to me a beautifully designed artpiece rather than a death defying machine. Accordingly, why need I bother judging the culture of NASCAR on this visit when those “All- American” images of winning drivers like Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson so prominently captured my attention instead. Gazing in awe at this silent speedway facility today, my imagination would also run rampant of NASCAR’s historic mark on a colossal human scale. For does this grand stage for auto racing enthusiasts retell the story of those ancient gladiator games of violent life and death struggles that once took place at the famed Colosseum of Rome? Enjoy the photo set of our Charlotte NASCAR visit below.
The use of language in any country can either be a uniting or dividing force for its people. Know then in my use of English language with second language (ESL) Spanish people in South Florida, I’ve thus discovered how uninformed many tend to be about the meanings of informal American idioms describing common cultural situations each day. I mean who am I impressing when such ambiguously loaded expressions sadly produce only “stone silence” in those potential human bonding moments? It furthermore seems reasonable to conclude that such “dumbing down” of English language use with confusing idioms casts significant barriers for such immigrants in learning how to survive and/or thrive in America society each day?
I compose below then a fictional letter proposing an upcoming travel adventure filled with confusing idiom quotations sent to a primarily Spanish speaking friend. I challenge you then to consider how the unclear content of this letter might help Americans tear down those “walls” of informal word confusion to say what’s meant to be conveyed in cross cultural situations more clearly.
Hey Manuel:
I’ve got “ants in my pants” right now to get out of South Florida right now. So I’m “all ears” to know from you of places that are cooler and less crowded now. For I want to “shoot the breeze” with you again as I slowly sip my iced tea and spread thoughts of happy times gone by “straight from the mouth” of your trusting friend.
But it’s “down to the wire” about whether this vacation will ever take place as I’ve been “running around like a chicken with its head cutoff” to take care of daily crises at home. So I suppose you know already that I will apply more “elbow grease” now to get these important matters “off my chest” to find more “peace of mind” to schedule this vacation. For it’s always best that I can “call my own shots” for what has to be done.
Now don’t be surprised, however, if I “pop up in your neck of the woods” in the next week or so. For I’ll give it my “best shot” to get the car ready and take care of my financial obligations”that are “pulling me down” in the next week or so. I “get it” you’re still working so please know that I have no intention of “spoiling your party”. So let’s “touch base” somehow next week and I can “spill the beans” more clearly about how soon I will be in your “neck of the woods” to visit.
What sense does it make for these road trippers to embrace nostalgic reunions this summer?
In accordance with the great American singer Nat King Cole, who once sang, “Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer…” , I’m excited for our next road trip to begin soon. For the stars seemed to be aligned for us now to re-kindle some fun loving times with distant family and friends on four occasions during this sun blissed season.These adventures will thus feature extended stops in Geneva, New York, Burlington, Vermont, Cleveland, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida to fulfill that exciting agenda. See for yourself our entire itinerary in the title photo above along with some captivating images attached below that inspired this vacation.
In upstate New York, I’ve first seized on the opportunity to re-unite with my friend Steve, my Rock n’ Roll drumming colleague as well as former, off campus housing roommate during those youthfully inspired years when we both attended the University of South Florida five decades ago. I might add that it’s quite impressive to me that Steve still plays drums professionally in South Florida to this day. So I look forward to witnessing this gifted percussionist again during a live “gig” in Geneva with his longtime band called “The Echomen” , happening in this city where he first honed his talents. Beyond reminiscing about our mutual musical connections, I also look forward to sharing new ideas with him informally about our hopes and dreams for living happily right now.
Next up on our itinerary we head north toward the Canadian border to spend some much valued time at the summer home in Northern Vermont of my wife’s former college roommate, Theresa and her husband, Bill. In addition to reminiscing with them about those friendly times as South Florida neighbors, it’s so generous of them to have also extended an offer to accompany us on some interesting sightseeing adventures during our short stay around the Burlington area to such iconic places as Fort Ticonderoga and Lake Champaign.
Driving westward then along Lake Erie to my birthplace region in Northeast Ohio, we anticipate a pleasurable stay in Cleveland with my wife’s cousin Jo and her husband Tim. For as my wife spends some valuable couch time relaxing with her family on this visit, I’ve been granted more freedom to enjoy live games of my long revered sports teams from the greater Cleveland area as I once did as a “kid.”
For our final reunion closer to home, there’s University of South Florida Day at Tropicana Field, where we’ve purchased convenient ticket seating in the USF alumni section of the ball park. Thus I look forward to mingling then with former and current USF students and faculty as we watch the Tampa Bay Rays play my beloved Cleveland Guardians on our last Saturday night of this trip. In addition to making such casual alumni meetups in St.Pete, if the weather allows, we might also allot some nostalgic time to tour the main University of South Florida campus earlier that day.
How does road- tripping trigger a patriotic spirit for our country?
Does the deep thinking spirit of Abraham Lincoln about country exist anymore? For I find “American Patriotism” lately to be noticeably “shallow” and overly politicized. So it’s an urgent need of mine these days to find patriotic places and events in my travels that authenticate deep seated understandings of why true patriotism matters in my life. For it’s not enough to just a wave a flag, shoot off fireworks, or sing the National Anthem for example because it’s popularly acceptable at a certain time to do so. True patriotism for me then must instead come from the heart in full recognition of why I choose to live here and believe in the so called “American Way.” So in the following photo set, I’ve compiled from our recent, east coast road trip, a short sample of visual impressions of what I believe best formulates my American identity today.
For your future interest, please note as well that Ruth and I will be embarking on another summer road trip adventure soon, heading to New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Northeast Ohio. So stay tuned!
1. In Savannah, Georgia – Richmond, Virginia
Honestly acknowledged racial injustice patterns that America endured in the past.
2. In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Imagined those life/death struggles that happened day by day on past Civil War battlefields.
3. In Annapolis, Maryland
Immersed myself in the dutiful commitment of the American military experience.
4. In Cary, North Carolina – Baltimore, Maryland
Explored venues to unite all kinds of Americans through sports and music enjoyment endeavors.
5. In Washington D.C. – Atlantic City, New Jersey
Appreciated past American heroes honored for contributions to government, science, and performing arts.
To what extent did the Atlantic City region measure up as a “top notch” tourist experience for us on our road trip?
I first caught sight of Atlantic City when gazing at a line of towering high rise hotels as we drove seaward on a bridge rising over the area’s two inland flowing bays.Taking a closer glance at these mega gambling resorts as we reached the beachfront, I noticed as well across the road some unsightly “pockets” nearby of physical neglect. Know then these areas of boarded up buildings, garbage strewn lots and heavily potholed streets seemed more widespread to me than I might have expected.Traffic conditions along the beach highway on this weekend afternoon also seemed strangely light for a dense resort vicinity of this size along with my sensation of a “creepy” absence of people strolling around streets then in this tourist heavy part in town.
Thus I immediately envisioned that if a savvy vacationer staying strictly near the beach at glitzy Harrahs, The Hard Rock, or Bally’s Hotel, would they even bother to leave those lavish premises to take a good look at such blight around the town? Know however that a more positive assessment of mine about Atlantic City “proper” would happen two days later when we embarked on a short side trip west of the shoreline at Gardner’s Bay. For in this inland waterfront vicinity I witnessed an enlightening renaissance of new city growth occupied by exotic casino hotels, private golf courses, relaxing dockside restaurants and much calmer water views.
Thankfully our hotel accommodations at the historic Claridge Hotel turned out fine as well. For our room provided us a nice view of the city on the 17th floor and also impressed us as comfortable, clean and moderately priced. I might also add my personal affinity for the ” Art Deco” appearance of this hotel which featured an ornately decorated lobby, gold gilded hallways and a collection of old city photo displays strewn on walls throughout the building. Yet in spite of The Claridges’ well restored appearance, I could not stop thinking that this aging hotel seemed well past its prime.
As good luck continued a short distance from our hotel, we discovered an unpretentious looking Irish Pub to eat several of our meals during our four day stay. So while the corn beef, paninis sandwiches, and salads tasted superb here, the real highlights of these dining occasions took place as we gawked at an impressive collection of memorabilia and celebrity portrait photos showcasing America’s entertainment and sports past in various rooms throughout the restaurant.
I would note in contrast, however, that our one time walk along a busy portion of Atlantic City’s oceanfront boardwalk seemed a bit disappointing. For these two tourist saturated Floridians seemed unimpressed by those dated amusement park rides, take out eating “joints” and discount souvenir shopping outlets as we strolled along the way. Likewise, the famed Steel Pier, a prominent icon from the city’s glorious past seemed at first glance “‘tourist trap tacky” and simply out of place from the modernistic Hard Rock Resort situated nearby. Fortunately, a much more appealing boardwalk vantage point for us took place at Absecon Island Point, a few miles north from our hotel, From this far end location, we could now more quietly stroll and enjoy more unobstructed seaside views.
So I’ve decided to show you some of my more appealing views obtained on our visit to Atlantic City in the following photo set.Yet given the overall “rundown” appearance of Atlantic City, I’m feeling dubious, however, as to whether it measures up now as a worthwhile touristic visiting priority for our travel needs. I personally would rather check out seemingly more family friendly coastal cities nearby such as Margate, Mays Landing and Ocean City on a future road trip visit. Or even better, I might suggest we take a quick train to New York City from various other New Jersey locations for a more complete tourist package.
Snippets of a Traveling Mind 
You must be logged in to post a comment.