Dear Ole Dad

Hey ya'll. I haven't been on the blog in a while. I kept waiting for some good news to share but my Dad ended up in the hospital again but he's back at the healthcare facility now. Poor guy.

I took some photos when I was in Litlle Rock a couple weeks ago. These were taken in the Arkansas Heart Hospital.

Me and my dad. The man that taught me to ride a bicycle. The man that I believed was the biggest and strongest in the world when I was little and that he had the most important job in the world too. And ya know, he's still all that and more :)

On My Way Home

I'm at the Little Rock airport where there is free WI FI and I have bars on my cell. Dad lives in rural Arkansas so I've been in a techno void.

He's OK, thanks for your well wishes.

Vacation Photos - From Little Rock to Branson

This is a photo Jerry took of my Dad & me outside a Kroger's store in Little Rock. I thought the display was lovely and it explained to Jerry why I am so obsessed wth seasonal decorations - seemed all of Arkansas was decked out with pumpkins, mums, & scarecrows! This was taken the evening we spent in Little Rock before departing for Bransont he next morning.

We had a lovely drive through the Ozarks. Here is a photo of the woods. Quite different than all the evergreens of the Pacific Northwest!

Here's a closeup of the beautiful leaves and acorns that were calling it "fall" LOL. We were a little early for the full-on color change but we did see it's beginnings.

I typically avoid "roadside attractions" but we kept seeing this sign for an Arkansas Natural Bridge that I just couldn't pass up all in the spirit of a leisurly trip.

This was the visitor's center for the park. I dreamt about living in a small cabin in the mountains that night.

The second cabin in the park was used as a mini museum with old tools, kitchen ware, etc. The photo is of a REAL still (no longer in use) under the house.

Dad & Jerry by one of several large stone orbs. Not sure if these were natural or not.



Me in front of beautiful foliage. I wanted to stand futher away from the tree but Jerry kept insisting closer and closer until I finally stepped into a spider web! I slapped my head over and over to get the web and it's occupants out of my hair.

Final photo of Dad on the path to the bridge. Impressive rocks.

Little Rock, Arkansas

We just had a FABULOUS dinner at the Whole Hog Cafe in Little Rock. Truly the best BBQ I've ever had but let me tell you about the flight today....

We were getting ready to leave Tampa for Memphis when they let two people on really late. Since they were seated in front of me I could tell by the sound, demeanor, and scent that they had been drinking heavily. They were cussing and making a fuss when they set down - apparently they were in the bar and they didn't hear when the airline was paging them.

They were only on the plane a couple minutes before anyone in ear shot knew a) they were brother and sister, 2) they were going to Paragould Arkansas, and c) their mother had suffered a heart attack. Loud, obnoxious people. And what does the flight attendant do? Sells them more alcohol. Ugh. The good news is that they only sold them one drink.

Now it gets interesting. Something happened between the two and they started to argue, cuss at each other, and shout. Then she started to hit him. It got really out of hand. Passengers were ringing the flight attendants bells but when they came the couple was somehwat better so they did nothing. When they started up again passengers started offering to have one of them trade seats. Eventually a passengers told the flight attendant to tell them they had to trade with him and it worked.

Once they were seperated things improved; however, the passenger who traded to sit by her turned around and bought her two more drinks! I don't understand that at all. My "row mate" thought perhaps he was trying to get her to pass out. I was concerned she would puke. When we touched ground, but still had to taxi to the gate, she tried to light up a cigarette. The guy who traded had to stop her a couple times. When it was time to go she somehow ended out in front of me and was hollaring that some f****** stole her luggage and she was trying to go toward the back of the plane against the flow of traffic. What a nightmare. I was disappointed at the lack of concern by the Northwest crew. If me and all the passengers around me immediatley recognized these folks were drunk, why in the world did they sell them more liquor?