HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEBBIE

Most of you know last week was Deb’s 50th birthday. As a birthday surprise I took he to the Veranda B+B in Senoia Ga. Over the years we have stayed many times at the Veranda, we love the place. The Veranda is where the cast of “Fried Green Tomatoes” stayed during filming. The movie “Broken Bridges” with Toby Keith was filmed in the Veranda.

There have been some changes since out last visit to the inn. Bobby and Jan Boles, the inn keepers, have retired and sold out. The new owners, Rick and Laura Reynolds, are doing a fine job keeping up the high standards, in service and food, set by the Boles.

The surprise for Deb was that I invited her Dad and his lady friend Brenda, her mom, Micah and his fiancée Christine, and her sister Katie. Unfortunately her mom is still in Louisiana and did not make it. Deb and I got to the inn about 4:00 Friday afternoon and she was shocked to see Pops there. One at a time the others showed up and took her aback. We walked to main street in Senoia for dinner. Main street has just under gone a complete period correct (1900) makeover. We ate dinner at McGuire’s Irish Pub. It was easy to find, around the corner and down stairs from “The Red Neck Gourmet”.

After we ate we strolled down to the “Senoia Coffee Shop” for a cup of decaf. We were happy to see two fellows playing music. Deb made the remark Sue would love it. They played Celtic tuned on a variety of dulcimers’ and small drums. They were very entertaining.

We returned to the Veranda for a game of Rook and a good night sleep.

On Saturday we woke to a breakfast that was way more food than anyone needed. We walked off some of breakfast by heading around the corner to see the home used in “Fried Green Tomatoes”.

Next we loaded up and headed to Juliette Ga. to see the “Whistle Stop Café” from the movie.
When we got there we found out the “Green Tomato Festival” was going on. The place was jammed but we had fun. Thank goodness we were so full from breakfast the line for the Café was around the block.

Next we drove over to Warn Springs for the afternoon. We walked the shops and did a little shopping before heading back to Senoia. We had dinner at McGuire’s again so Micah could see the Georgia – LSU game. We settled in back the Veranda and played “Phase 10”. At 11:30 we called it quits and retreated to our rooms.

Before leaving this morning we gorged on another amazing breakfast then took some pictures and all headed home.

One of the benefits of staying at the Veranda is we can be home in an hour or so. We had the run of the place all weekend, there were other guest but we only saw them at breakfast. Debs dad said this is as good as being home but someone cooks and cleans for you.

Another Weekend Gone.

Another weekend gone. This weekend we had another house full. Deb’s brother Johnny came in from Canada to see his daughter Sidney. Sid lives in South Carolina now and Johnny drove up on Friday to pick her up. Deb’s mom had come back from Tennessee with her on Tuesday so she could visit, then go back to Canada with Johnny for a month.
On Thursday we got a call that Jeanette’s (Deb’s mom) brother was not doing well, he has been sick for a long time. On Saturday morning we put her on a plane for Louisiana.
Katie, Deb’s sister, came down to see Johnny and Sidney on Saturday and also spent the night with us. The picture below is Sidney, Johnny, Debbie and Katie racing Mario carts on the WII. On Sunday I got up early and headed to Road Atlanta for the Vintage car races. I left about 6:30am and it was about 55%. I was on the bike but was dressed well. I met my buddy John in Winder and we got to the track by 8:00. By mid-day it was beautiful and we had a great time. I love the old cars. I saw a 1955 Corvette that was an old factory race car. 1955 was the first year they put a V8 in the Corvette and they only made 3 race cars, and this is the only one left. I have no idea what the value of that car is but I’m sure it is up there. John made the statement as we walked in the pits that the smell alternated between racing fuel and money. He was right on. I headed home about 3:00pm and had a good long ride home on a perfect fall afternoon.

Fall In the Mountains. Aint it Beautyfull?

First things first. The answer to last weeks question was in deed Mythbuster Adam Savage. I think the glasses gave him away.

Well today Tommy and I took a nice little motorcycle ride. Since he is a new rider we wanted to keep the group small. I left my house about 7:30am and was not sure about the weather. The sky was full of heavy low hanging clouds. It sure looked like rain was coming. I decided to head to Tom’s house anyway and see what he thought.
I got to Tommy and Tonya’s place just as Tonya and the kids were leaving for church. Tom suited up and we were on our way. As we left his neighborhood a very fine mist appeared on our visors, bit in a few miles we were out of that. The clouds still looked bad but we rode on. We took a rout threw Gainesville and northeast to Clarksville. The picture above is at a stop for coffee in Clarksville but the store was closed.
We took Hwy 197 north; it is a nice curvy road that follows a river and cuts threw pastures then winds up at Lake Burton. The lake was up to the brim unlike Lanier that was as low as I have ever seen it. We stopped at a park on the lake for a pit stop and use of the little boys’ room. We soon found Ga. Hwy 76 and turned west threw Young Harris, Hiawassee then found lunch at a hole in the wall in Blairsville. The name of the place was Hole in the Wall so I wasn’t kidding.
By now the sky was blue and sunny. It turned out to be a perfect day to ride. The leaves are so colorful this year. I think the next 2 weeks will be peak watching time.
Tom and I took off south on Hwy 129 and made our next stop atop Blood Mountain. We saw a good number of motorcycles and some bicycles up there. You have to be one tough cookie to ride the mountains on a bicycle. We followed 129 back past Cleveland and in to Gainesville. We split up at hwy 53 and 211 in Flowery Branch; I came home by way of Winder, Loganville and Conyers. I totaled 294 miles for the day so Tommy should have about 80 less. I had a great time and Tom got some seat time. Nothing could be better for new and old riders.

THE WINDY CITY

Well I need to start out with a big “Job Well Done” to Katie and Bryan. Maddy is a doll, and I know the two of you will guide her on the long journey ahead of her with the same love and parenting you have received.

Deb is in Tennessee for some work and some visiting. She will be home on Tuesday so I am on my own till then.
I was in Chicago for a trade show this week. I went up on Sunday and returned late Tuesday. I love going to the big cities, especially this time of year. On Sunday night I went for a walk to look for some dinner.

I was staying at the Congress hotel, on Michigan Ave, one of the main streets in town. I headed north for 6 or 7 blocks then went west for a block and found Wabash St. Wabash has the Ell over it, reminded me of Kensington Ave, On Wabash I found “The Exchequer” it had a sign that said “voted best deep dish pizza in Chicago”. One of my plans for this trip was to try real Chicago style deep dish pizza so this was the place for me. It was a bar and restaurant, and the White Sox were playing in a playoff game. Watching the game in a bar with real Sox fans was cool. It turns out that this place was once known as “Diner 226” and was a dinner club owned by Al Capone, It was during prohibition and he had gambling up stairs and booze in the basement. There was a secret tunnel down stairs to get away when the cops came. I ordered a small pizza and it was great. I could only eat half of it but it was worth the walk.

I met Jack Allison (he works in our Birmingham office) in the lobby the next morning. Jack told me that McCormick Place was only 2 miles away, and asked if I wanted to walk. Jack is 71 and I was not going to let him show me up, so off we went. We headed 2 blocks over to Lake Michigan and went south.

Who ever told Jack 2 miles was way off. It was well over 4 miles and I think it was 5 miles. After that we had 6 hours standing on the show floor. My dogs were barking that night. The show was slow but we got a few leads so it is time to get to selling.

See you guys later. Bill

Time for a BRAIN BUSTER

Ok this is just for fun. In the Billy Joel Video for “Your only Human” is a scene with a boy being saved from drowning The actor who plays the swimmer is presently one of the stars of a weekly TV show. I know all of the TOWHEY boy’s love this show. You can go to you tube and type in (Billy Joel Your only Human) or try the address below. At the 2 min and 30 sec. mark you get a good look at him. You can stop it there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbuU1OtaX4g

I am leaving for Chicago Sunday morning but will be checking for your answers. Good luck. This will ether jump out at you or stump you completely.
I will talk to you when I get back.