Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Day 7--8/17/07
Lots of pics today!! Here and here.
Got up early this morning...we're finally going to see the mansion! Got to the visitors' center at 9am to get our tickets, which were for the noon tours (10 per hour), and we finally got up there around 1:30pm. The reason it took so long is because the tour lasts as long as you want it to. You know, it was so worth the wait (and the price-$70 for the four of us)--it was absolutely amazing. You gotta check it out.
After that we went back to the hotel and relaxed for a while. The kids and the mother-in-law went to Shoney's for dinner, and we stayed behind...lol. I waited to eat, since I was saving my appetite for some BBQ!!! By suggestion, we went to Blues City Cafe. Of course, I had ribs. OMG--they were worth not eating the whole day for. So juicy, so flavorful. Yummy. And cheap--1/2 rack of ribs, cole slaw, baked beans, texas toast, and a drink for only $33 (for both me and Joey). Recommend that place to anyone.
Coincidentally, we were going to the same place later to see a band play. When we got seated for our food, we were sat in the bar...where the band was playing! The rest of the group (minus the kids and my father-in-law) met up with us soon after. The Dempseys (see the video) are awesome. They just keep going for the whole set--no breaks between songs. And they're full of energy--all over the stage, playing each other's instruments, just plain nuts, etc. Wow. After one hell of a day, we were done.
til next time...=)
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Day 6--8/16/07
Pics!
Got up early this morning to go to the Graceland gravesite, but people were still going up with candles from the night before (it was about 7:30am). So we couldn't go up. We went back to the hotel and did some laundry--yay. Then we took a quick drive down to Mississippi and saw Jerry Lee Lewis' house. Came back to Tennessee, went downtown in Memphis and the kids played a game of bowling at Jillian's. After that, we went for lunch. The group split up--the kids and Grandma went for pizza at one of the food court restaurants in Peabody Place, a few of the group went for catfish at The Flying Fish. Joey and I walked around the area and found Renee's--good food, good prices, and good conversation. After we filled up on that, we went over to the Peabody Hotel where the ducks live. Didn't get to see them, since there were too many people there. That's because Priscilla Presley was there to dedicate Elvis' new spot on the duckwalk. Then we got in the van and drove up to Graceland, and finally walked up to see the grave. Wow--all the flowers and memorials were amazing. Then we called it an early night, since we were going to see the inside of the mansion tomorrow morning. Busy day!
til next time...=)
Got up early this morning to go to the Graceland gravesite, but people were still going up with candles from the night before (it was about 7:30am). So we couldn't go up. We went back to the hotel and did some laundry--yay. Then we took a quick drive down to Mississippi and saw Jerry Lee Lewis' house. Came back to Tennessee, went downtown in Memphis and the kids played a game of bowling at Jillian's. After that, we went for lunch. The group split up--the kids and Grandma went for pizza at one of the food court restaurants in Peabody Place, a few of the group went for catfish at The Flying Fish. Joey and I walked around the area and found Renee's--good food, good prices, and good conversation. After we filled up on that, we went over to the Peabody Hotel where the ducks live. Didn't get to see them, since there were too many people there. That's because Priscilla Presley was there to dedicate Elvis' new spot on the duckwalk. Then we got in the van and drove up to Graceland, and finally walked up to see the grave. Wow--all the flowers and memorials were amazing. Then we called it an early night, since we were going to see the inside of the mansion tomorrow morning. Busy day!
til next time...=)
about the bun
Yup, you read right...I'm pregnant. Took the test Friday afternoon, but I had a feeling for a couple weeks. You know--the telltale signs--eating WAY more than normal, peeing way more than normal. Well, that and "it" being about two weeks late...duh.
I know the next question...how does everyone feel about it? EXCITED. Me, Joey, and the kids. When I told the kids it wouldn't come until the end of the school year (I'm thinking May), they were a little bummed, but of course--they don't want to wait THAT long...lol. Joey is actually happier than I am, which is very hard to be at this point. When I told my co-workers, they were shocked and relieved...you know, the "it comes in 3's" rule? Me being pregnant ruled them out...hahaha.
Am I prepared? No, but I have time to get prepared for it. We'll probably have to move, but that's something I'm willing to do. Still have to get EVERYTHING, but again, I have time for that. It's been so long--8 years--I think I forgot what it's like. But everyone says it's like riding a bike...it comes back to ya.
So now I have to set up appointments. Tomorrow I'll call the ob for that...haven't seen one since I had Joey...so it's been a while. But in the meantime, WOOHOO!!!!
til next time...=)
Friday, September 14, 2007
Day 5--8/15/07
Pics? Of course...here.
First thing this morning, went and got coffee from a place called Cafe Francisco...just like the coffee shop I go to at home....mmmm. Then we went to the Pink Palace Planetarium (try saying that 10 times fast!) for a special Elvis laser light show with music and pictures. After that we rode by the river on the trolley. Awesome views, but it was so hot (at least 100 degrees). After that we went back to the hotel to relax for a few, then went back out. This time it was to the Flying Saucer, where they were giving away free Elvis mugs to commemorate the day of his death. After that, we went up to Graceland for the vigil. The traffic was soooooo bad. Duh--85,000 people going to the same place will cause that...lol. We saw the ceremony and stayed for a while, but there was no way I was standing in line (for at least 8 hours) to take a candle up to his grave in the 95 degree heat (at 9pm!). So we left there, and went for a late night snack at CK's. I swear, we were the only white people in there...felt a little awkward. But the food was good! Then we called it a night.
til next time...=)
delay
You know, I've been kinda busy lately...that's why I haven't been posting my vacation entries as fast as usual. You know...moving, not moving, finding out about a bun in the oven, birthdays (and the cupcakes that go along with them), etc. So let me get on with it! Not that the stuff is over...still have birthday parties (combined them this year, but still) to do. Not to mention said bun-in-oven...lol.
til next time...=)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Day 4--8/14/07
Here's today's pics...here.
We slept in this morning, then went for breakfast at the Blue Plate Cafe. Another place with good cheap food. And I had biscuits and sawmill gravy for the first time...MMM. Couldn't get enough of those.
Then the group split up--Joey and I were dropped off at Sun Studios, and the rest of the group went to Autozone Park, where the local baseball team plays. At Sun, it was totally packed with people, and man, was it hot. Good thing they had these fans that blow a water mist--I so want one of these! After about a half-hour wait, we went on the tour. It was awesome. Slim, our tour guide, was really cool. Found out later that he's the best tour guide they have--the other ones are boring compared to him. While on the tour, we listened to music that was recorded there, and got to see some cool artifacts, such as the instruments they used, and the microphone that was used by such icons as Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis. It was awesome. Good thing we got there when we did--after we finished our tour, three tour buses filled with tourists pulled up. Hahahaha....
After that, we drove around for a little while, and eventually went up to Graceland...again. Listened to some music, and saw the Heartbreak Hotel...which by the way IS at the end of Lonely Street. It's a real hotel too...the rooms are designed like the rooms in Elvis' mansion.
It was getting a little late, so we dropped the kids and in-laws off at the hotel...and headed out to Beale St. Wow...all the music, all the people, all the BOOZE!! You know you can walk down that street with an open beer, and the cops won't say a damn thing?!? In fact, on the weekends, the bars are open until 5am, and the cops are at the ends of the street carding people...lol. Anyway, we went to Silky O'Sullivan's and got some drinks. They had dueling piano there--man, they were good. We left there and went up to the Flying Saucer, where they have about 90 different beers on tap! I'm not a beer drinker, so I'm thinking I'm SOL...but no! They have beer that doesn't quite taste like it...I'm game for that. If you go there, you'll see my brother-in-law's saucer hanging on the wall for drinking 100 different beers there (3-a-day limit). Then we went to Dyer's, a burger joint that fries their burgers in grease...and they've been using the same exact grease since they opened in 1929!!! Sounds bad, but damn, that burger was GOOOOOOOD. After that, we went back to the hotel and crashed for the night.
til next time...=)
We slept in this morning, then went for breakfast at the Blue Plate Cafe. Another place with good cheap food. And I had biscuits and sawmill gravy for the first time...MMM. Couldn't get enough of those.
Then the group split up--Joey and I were dropped off at Sun Studios, and the rest of the group went to Autozone Park, where the local baseball team plays. At Sun, it was totally packed with people, and man, was it hot. Good thing they had these fans that blow a water mist--I so want one of these! After about a half-hour wait, we went on the tour. It was awesome. Slim, our tour guide, was really cool. Found out later that he's the best tour guide they have--the other ones are boring compared to him. While on the tour, we listened to music that was recorded there, and got to see some cool artifacts, such as the instruments they used, and the microphone that was used by such icons as Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis. It was awesome. Good thing we got there when we did--after we finished our tour, three tour buses filled with tourists pulled up. Hahahaha....
After that, we drove around for a little while, and eventually went up to Graceland...again. Listened to some music, and saw the Heartbreak Hotel...which by the way IS at the end of Lonely Street. It's a real hotel too...the rooms are designed like the rooms in Elvis' mansion.
It was getting a little late, so we dropped the kids and in-laws off at the hotel...and headed out to Beale St. Wow...all the music, all the people, all the BOOZE!! You know you can walk down that street with an open beer, and the cops won't say a damn thing?!? In fact, on the weekends, the bars are open until 5am, and the cops are at the ends of the street carding people...lol. Anyway, we went to Silky O'Sullivan's and got some drinks. They had dueling piano there--man, they were good. We left there and went up to the Flying Saucer, where they have about 90 different beers on tap! I'm not a beer drinker, so I'm thinking I'm SOL...but no! They have beer that doesn't quite taste like it...I'm game for that. If you go there, you'll see my brother-in-law's saucer hanging on the wall for drinking 100 different beers there (3-a-day limit). Then we went to Dyer's, a burger joint that fries their burgers in grease...and they've been using the same exact grease since they opened in 1929!!! Sounds bad, but damn, that burger was GOOOOOOOD. After that, we went back to the hotel and crashed for the night.
til next time...=)
Monday, September 10, 2007
Day 3--8/13/07
From today...zoo pics and other pics.
We went to the zoo this morning. Saw loads of animals...they were awesome! Then to the fire museum, where the kids got to play on the fire trucks! After that we walked over to the fountains on Union Square. Cool--I mean that literally, since it was about 105 degrees. Went for lunch at a little known place called Westy's. They had some good food there, and cheap! We paid about $10 per person...not bad. Then we did some more driving around, seeing Elvis' high school, St. Jude's Research Hospital, and the Lorraine Hotel, where Martin Luther King was shot (National Civil Rights Museum).
Soon after, we dropped off my father-in-law and headed up to Graceland. Saw some more impersonators...a local news crew was there filming some of them along with the fans who were watching, including our kids. Turns out they were on local TV here too!!! We also looked in the gift shops at the visitors center, and stared in awe of all the people lining up at the gates for the vigil, which was two days away! Stayed up there a few hours, then went back downtown, and got some awesome sunset pics, looking across the Mississippi River. We also went back to the fountains we saw earlier...the kids got wet this time!!! Then back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.
til next time...=)
We went to the zoo this morning. Saw loads of animals...they were awesome! Then to the fire museum, where the kids got to play on the fire trucks! After that we walked over to the fountains on Union Square. Cool--I mean that literally, since it was about 105 degrees. Went for lunch at a little known place called Westy's. They had some good food there, and cheap! We paid about $10 per person...not bad. Then we did some more driving around, seeing Elvis' high school, St. Jude's Research Hospital, and the Lorraine Hotel, where Martin Luther King was shot (National Civil Rights Museum).
Soon after, we dropped off my father-in-law and headed up to Graceland. Saw some more impersonators...a local news crew was there filming some of them along with the fans who were watching, including our kids. Turns out they were on local TV here too!!! We also looked in the gift shops at the visitors center, and stared in awe of all the people lining up at the gates for the vigil, which was two days away! Stayed up there a few hours, then went back downtown, and got some awesome sunset pics, looking across the Mississippi River. We also went back to the fountains we saw earlier...the kids got wet this time!!! Then back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.
til next time...=)
Friday, September 7, 2007
Day 2--8/12/07
Here's the pics for the day...here.
Today we drove from Knoxville (where we stopped for the night) to Nashville and picked up my in-laws at the airport. Then all eight of us (me, Joey, the two kids, his mom, his dad, his brother, and his brother's friend) all squished into a 7 passenger minivan and drove to Memphis (about 2 hours). On the way, we stopped in Cordova (1/2 hour from Memphis) for lunch at CiCi's...we don't have one of those at home...I wish we'd get one. Pizza, salad, and pasta....all you can eat, cheap!
Back on the road, we drove a little through Memphis, then went to our hotel--across the Mississippi in West Memphis, AR. We unpacked, showered, and off we went...we ended up on Beale St., where we walked around, listened to music, and took some pictures. Then we went to Peabody Place, where the kids got to play some video games at Jillian's. Then we got back in the van and drove up to Graceland. We caught some performances from Elvis impersonators (some good, some bad). After all this, we went back to the hotel and called it a night.
til next time...=)
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