Why Reagan Was The Greatest President In My Time

In practical terms, "Reaganomics" has to be considered one of the reasons that Reagan has come to be thought of as a great president. Reaganomics created an unmatched period of economic prosperity. It was only the Democratic-controlled congress' insistence on continuing to raise wasteful government spending beyond the means that even this economic boom would support that cut sort the prosperity that Reaganomics brought.

It was also Reagan who rebuilt our military, after his predecessor had practically destroyed it through neglect.

It was Reagan's policies that so weakened our greatest enemy of that time, the Soviet Union, to the point where it fell apart not long thereafter.

It was Reagan's policies that stopped the spread of Communism in Latin America before it became a direct threat to us. To understand how important this is, consider the problems we now have with illegal immigrants from Mexico, and then try to imagine how it would be if these illegal immigrants were Communists intent on bringing Communism with them into our country.

It was Reagan who made America strong again, after the previous administration saw America weakened and humiliated.

Not to mention the Berlin Wall being torn down!

Aside from his practical accomplishments, Reagan's personality almost certainly had a great deal to do with his perceived greatness. He was "The Great Communicator". His speeches rang with optimism and comfort and patriotism. After the humiliating Carter years, Reagan made us again feel proud to be Americans, and confident in our nation's future.

Birthday Road Trip 2010

The day began with cooking up some waffles on the brand new griddle. They were quite tasty. We were all packed and ready to go. Denielle said she would do the driving. Our first quest was to find a man made out of plastic barrels. That was so challenging that we gave up trying to find him. Oh well, on to the next stop we went. The John Dillinger Museum was pretty interesting with interactive displays and original artifacts from the Depression Era and his life. Together we learned gangster vocabulary words, I wore a bulletproof vest, spent a little time in jail right after getting fingerprinted. There were even life-sized wax figures of famous gangsters during that era. Overall, this was a neat experience. Next to the museum was an art display called “From Trash to Treasure.” This was also a fun little display of household items found in junkyards and transformed into works of art. So much for visiting Hammond, Indiana, we were on to our next stop.
Live Gospel Music McDonalds? Not this time. We came, we saw, we had a light snack. The performances are on 3 different days in the evening. There were some glass decorations like you would see in a church and a collection of Gospel singer awards were on display. I did hear gospel music playing on the speakers when I went to the restroom. Maybe another time. A little further down the road, we looked for an obsessed sign builder. This simply didn’t exist and I certainly had no obsession to try to find it anymore. Let’s head to Michigan now!
Trucking along to some fine tunes in the car, I did most of the driving now. We were looking for Exit 34. Coloma, Michigan was the place. This was a worthwhile stop for sure. Wine, chocolate and Cider! First stop was Contessa Wine Cellars. This had an old world charm to it as well as modern amenities. There was quite an array of wines to taste. We bought a bottle and looked around outside. Spectacular orchard vistas could be seen from the terrace overlooking the rich, green valley below. Just ¼ mile away was The Chocolate Garden. The truffles here are the most delicious ones on the face of the earth, I am convinced! This place was featured on the Food Network and Fine Living TV. We each had a cyan pepper truffle. Creamy gooey chocolate with a BITE! Yummy. We washed it down with cider from Grandpa’s Cider Mill. We sat at the bar, had an open mind and tried different cider shots. Some of the blends were rum, peanut butter, mango, horchata , and pumpkin. We got a pint of horchata. It was delicious!
We drove for another half hour over to Bangor, Michigan were we found a giant Muffler Man (turned into a Viking) at a high school football field. 5 minutes of pictures and ooohs and aaaawwws. Ok….let’s go. We drove another hour and arrived at perhaps the highlight of the day. Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant located in Fennville, Michigan. It was more than a meal….it was an experience. It was like dining in a country kitchen/antique store. Nick knacks all around made for a lot of eye candy and photographs. They had awesome pies, chili, and apple butter bread. Lot’s of history here, including a stuffed dog from the 1930’s that sits on a sleigh! This place has been here since 1916 and I would gladly stop here again and again.
After getting all tossed around in Holland on our quest for the Dutch-Themed town….we gave up. U-Turn city is what they should call it.. Route 31 is soooo bizarre and ass-backwards. Let’s head to Rockford and have dinner at Rosie’s Diner (The most famous diner in the world!). This spot is a real treat! 3 different silver boxcars make up the experience. We sat at a booth and felt at peace. BBQ pork sandwich and chips for me. Denny had pork chops and mashed potatoes, I think. There’s even a mini golf course behind the diner that opens this weekend. It looked fun with all the giant food items.. Finally we made it to pop’s place and relaxed for the evening. An exhausting but real exciting birthday journey to the “Coasts of Gowen.”
The End

Long time gone

So I diappeared from the world of blogging for about 10 months now! I still write and I will continue to still write! I am getting married in a few months and I am suppose to have brain surgery soon! I have bizzare seizure sensations that occur a couple of times daily due to a lesion in my temporal lobe. I have a bum leg that I need to train harder with. I am suppose to participate in a bike ride tomorrow for MS victims but the weather is suppose to be extreme. I will get back on track with the writing. Here is a recent review I did on The Drowsy Chaperone:

If you want to see a tribute to old 1920’s musicals, this is the show for you! While it was light on plot, it was also quite heavy on the comedy. The Drowsy Chaperone was full of captivating rhythms and tons of up-tempo dance numbers. You will be humming several of the tunes at home for many days. This was a musical-inside-a comedy. What a spectacular performance that paid tribute to period pieces in the guise of a fake musical. The director kept everything moving well, with a phenomenal set design and energetic lighting too. The show was alive! It truly felt like a full-blown musical! What do I mean by this you might ask? Well let me tell you.
There’s this lonely guy, “the man in chair,” who is a shut-in basically. James Harms is hilarious and fascinating as the nameless narrator of the story. Essentially he hates theatre but loves musicals. He detests sitting in the dark and waiting for people to turn off their cell phones. Instead, the nameless man in the chair listens to his shows at home on his ancient record player. He is a true fan of musicals. The props above the stage have miniature musical posters and collectibles that reveal his passion. Overall, he is withdrawn and fantasizes when he gets out his vinyl records in order to escape the “blues” of his daily life. As spectators, we spend time in his apartment sympathizing with him and his infatuation. His favorite show, the fictional “Drowsy Chaperone,” is what he plays for the evening. He takes us through the entire double album from 1928. It literally comes to life in his apartment. Sometimes he stops the show to talk about the actors playing the parts or he’ll point out strange lyrics and absurd plot twists. Even the needle getting stuck in the groove of the old 78rpm is a witty moment as the whole cast get stuck in a five second loop.
Marriott’s in-the-round stage unquestionably enhances the intimacy and magic of this harmonious production. It is perhaps the finest show I have ever watched at the Marriott. There are big dance numbers that introduce all of the characters in their outrageous costumes. Speaking of dancing, there was a couple of amazing tap dancing routines that reminded me of Gene Kelly’s performance in Singin in the Rain. A show stealer, I felt, was a wacky Latin lover-type character named Aldolpho, played by Adam Pelty. He had great stage presence falling over, getting lost in his cape, messing up his hair and dropping his cane several times. Some of the other actors were actually spitting water at each other. It was a wild and thrilling ride. The spectators were completely drawn into this dreamy world created by a record player. The Jazz era and Vaudeville styles were nicely done. The Drowsy Chaperone is fresh and original but cleverly done in that 1920’s flashback style. I thought this was well written, ridiculous, remarkable and even affectionate. It was a true ode to musical theatre.

A Cherished Cafe Awakens From Ruins

My adventures on Route 66 in July all of a sudden had me on a quest for a simple and inexpensive diner that had been buried and forgotten for several decades. It was about 8:30 in the morning when I pulled onto the easy streets of Atlanta, Illinois. The downtown area is really friendly. There is even a painted smile on the water tower. Drivers would pass me on the streets nodding and waving withcheerful expressions. This cozy little settlement just oozes with that feeling of community. It’s just “southern” enough in Illinois to immediately recognize the “accent” and the “hospitality.” There’s plenty of interesting history here such as an old library that is being turned into a museum, a historic clock tower, a grain elevator from 1903 and a traditional mechanic shop that claims to be an “official” Route 66 mechanic. I also enjoyed several fascinating murals painted on the brick walls all around the town. What a fun place to be! As I pulled over to the side of the road, I looked back over my left shoulder and there it was. Palm’s Grill Café, right across from the giant statue of a Paul Bunyan holding a big ole hot dog. This place was once a flourishing stop along the classic route. The original café spent more than 34 years in the business, even serving as the Greyhound bus stop. But, when I-55 was constructed, a lot of things changed. Traffic bypassed Atlanta, the crowds faded and the grills ran out of heat. After the 1960’s, the café was vacated. Everything was in complete disrepair. It was a crumbling mess and bowing away from the foundation. Not anymore. It has now been fully restored and ready for customers. When I first got out of my car, I walked across the street and headed towards ‘The Grill,’ as the locals call it. I was greeted with waves and that motion to “come on in,” as I peaked in through the window. I couldn’t resist. A key feature that I noticed right away was the restored 30 foot long countertop. In the original café, a long slab of polished marble greeted customers as they pulled up to the stool. This one was a laminated marble pattern but it looked great and was a clever way to save money. The old cash register and phone, as well as a vintage refrigerator, were all there to make the cafe appear as it did during its 1930s heyday. There was even an old-fashioned radio plugged in behind the counter that only played oldies music. It was amazing how I felt like I took a step back in time. I was ready to experience the way it used to taste in an old café. As I hopped onto the chair, the waitress was quite enthusiastic to serve me. I ordered coffee and a short stack of pancakes. My breakfast was delicious. A few older couples were seated as well, just talking amongst themselves. I could tell they were local. I overheard lot of chatting about neighborhood happenings about “this person” and “the weather.” I of course, stood out with my camera and my notebook. I was an obvious tourist. “Can I get you anything else? We make our own pies here. We have peach, blueberry, banana cream and coconut cream. They’re very popular,” the waitress told me. Another favorite she recommended was the blue plate special, consisting of meat and two or three side dishes on a divided blue plate. I told her that I would be back another time and had to get going. Another remarkable feature I noticed on the way out of the building was the classic neon sign over the door, complete with Greyhound bus signage. After nearly four decades of sleep, this place was alive again. The spirit of the original Palm’s Grill Café was captured brilliantly. New life was breathed into Atlanta via the new café. The vibe at this revived diner is absolutely positive. I am thrilled that I stopped here on my Route 66 journey. I highly recommend that others do the same. You can’t argue with good food and good conversations, even ones that are overheard.

Pig Hip Story On Route 66

I was driving along on Route 66. It was a nice day and quiet on the highway. Only a few birds could be heard chirping away. Anyways, I recently left the town of Lincoln and soon I entered the town of Broadwell. On my right I noticed a sign and saw what used to be called The Pig Hip Restaurant. There was a stone marker and a mural on a sign post that looked interesting. I was reading about how this place used to draw large crowds and was known for it’s famous Barbeque. I walked over to the house and I looked through the screened in porch and saw an old man sleeping in a chair. For some reason I took his picture and then I walked inside. As the door opened, I jolted the man from the chair but he had a big smile on his face. He invited me in to sit down and he starts telling me stories. His name is Ernie Edwards. I had never heard of him before. He’s actually pretty famous. He’s a little heavy set and has a bandage wrapped around his right knee. He has a little bit of trouble getting up and down from a chair. He is extremely friendly and talkative.
He started the restaurant business in the 1940’s making fries and pork sandwiches. The sandwiches could be bought for 15 cents in those days. When the place opened, he had three tables, a bar and $150 of borrowed money. His major competitor at the time was the owner of the original Steak N Shake. They eventually became friends after much debate as to who owned the building where he started his restaurant. He quit the business in 1991. He figured that was enough time and had no intentions of letting it continue. Several years later they made it into a museum, with the help of many volunteers. Unfortunately, in 2007 the place burnt to the ground. He and his third wife (first two wives passed away) were driving home one day and noticed all the smoke and they were listening to the news on the radio about it. Then he realized when they got much closer to home that something smelled awfully familiar. He laughed about it though. It was an electrical fire, the fire department said. Ernie blames the cat.
The first story he told me was when he turned 90 (he’s 92 now) they made a 40 pound cake for him. He had met Col Sanders once (of Kentucky Fried Chicken) and that’s what they did for him when he turned 90. So he wanted the same thing. I said to him that he definitely does not look 92. He said he didn’t feel it either. I guess he dared someone to make the cake and to his surprise they did. It was very heavy! He laughed about that as well. Hundreds of people showed up at his home for his birthday despite the museum burning down. He was overwhelmed.
One late night, back in the 1940’s, a young drunk kid came stumbling into the restaurant and wanted to pay Ernie 20 bucks to drive him to Chicago (which was several hours away). He said that he couldn’t because he has to take care of the restaurant and there’s just no way he would be able to. Ernie told him to sleep in his car and wait for a soldier or a truck driver to come passing through who may be headed that way. He was sure that the kid would get a ride for free. So the kid lit up with that drunken smile and said, “Hey, that’s what I’ll do!” Sure enough he got his ride to Chicago later that night after a truck came plowing through and knocked over the garbage cans out in front first.
There was another store across the street that Ernie would stop in to visit. He told me he was a smart business man when this idea came to him. He would buy several coca colas from the store and stock them at his restaurant. One day a gentleman comes in and noticed them behind the counter. He turned to Ernie and said that he was really thirsty and he would pay just about anything for a coca cola. He thought about it and sold it to him for much more than what he originally paid for. That same gentlemen made his business selling cough syrup made from the coca colas he kept buying from Ernie. Of course in those days a lot of folks probably just assumed that those drinks were still made with cocaine.
Other things he mentioned to me were that he met Al Capone who loaned him 50 bucks, perhaps for the restaurant start up. He must have paid him back eventually, maybe a free dinner for him and his boys. He salvaged some memorabilia from the recent fire like plaques and pictures of volunteers who helped him create the museum. He has several kids who are all successful. He also met one of the actors from the TV show M.A.S.H. who wanted to buy one of his menus. Ernie refused to sell and the guy tried to take legal action towards him. That eventually ended. He shared a lot of interesting memories with me. Whenever a married woman came into his restaurant he would get his picture taken with them (without the husbands) while wearing a chef’s hat. It was just his thing. He had photos of some of those shots hanging on the wall. There’s a register that Ernie used to record the hundreds of marriage ceremonies he performed as Justice of the Peace during the 1950’s.
He was glad that I came by to talk to him. He said that I made his day and wished more people would stop by to visit. It was very memorable and special for me as well. I shook his hand and went on my way. I am glad I paid a visit to the old “coot”, a name that a news reporter gave him when he started to bad mouth the Chicago Cubs one time and printed that in the newspaper. I guess the story was a bit exaggerated. There’s always something unforgettable and funny happening with old Ernie. I asked him before I left how he came up with the name of his restaurant. He said, “One day, a hungry farmer came into the diner and saw some fresh baked ham on the stove. He pointed to the ham and said, ‘Give me a slice of that pig hip!’ and well, the rest is history you might say.”

Ghost Towns and Route 66

Lately I have been fascinated by the allure of Route 66 and Ghost Towns. There is something pretty awesome about being out on the open road never knowing what you're gonna see or do next. Sometimes its better to be neither "here" nor "there." It's the "in-between" moments where the good stuff is at. Just "being" out on the road is the fun. There doesn't always have to be a destination. As for the ghost towns, they're ominous and creepy for starters. Like something out of a Stephen King book. I tend to do more blogging soon. I'm taking next week off from work and I plan to get my "kicks" down in Joliet, Dwight, Pontiac, and if time allows, a place called Funk's Grove (which is the only ghost town on the Illinois portion of Route 66). I will tell you all about my 2 day journey next week. Here are a couple of photo's for now...

"united together"

I'd like to connect with the roots

of the Harlem Renaissance

Hey man you ever hear of

Langston Hughes?

A Negro who was

neither black nor white

he wrote some poems

one of them was called

cross

white old man

black old mother

lived and wrote

in Harlem

Have you ever heard Bird on a sax?

Jazz....

Oh so truly American

What was a Negro?

Is he the essential American?

Out there always finding solace

his meaning out there

on the streets of Harlem

abstract morality

You bind together

in the village

the bronx

Harlem

You have something in common

A lot of you believe

in the same things

live and let live

you can be happy

without becoming a millionaire

maybe you feel

like you belong there

it's the general feeling

a brotherhood

awakening race

consciousness

a cultural movement

rebirth

New York City

the center of change

then

accomplishments then

created a livelihood now

an interest

in Negro life

and power to the people

it must have been insane

a revolution of thoughts

you are the roots

of possibility

and i am inspired.