Carolina Blues
There is a certain restfulness I feel in my soul whenever I'm in the South. People are much gentler, life is just a bit slower paced, and the food is plentiful.
When I arrived in Charlotte on Sunday, the road leading from the airport to the interstate is known as the Billy Graham Parkway. It says alot about what is valued by people here. I'm sure there are other monuments to other great Carolinans such as Jesse Helms or Elizabeth Dole. But the thought of every visitor and returning resident being greeted by the name of a man who spoke a simple message of God's love whilst living a life of unparalleled integrity - well, that put a lump in my throat.
The Sunday night drive from Charlotte to Winston-Salem was 85 miles. Thanks to the post-Thanksgiving travel, it took about 2 1/2 hours to get to my hotel. After I settled in my room, I hung my shirts and suits on hangers in the bathroom and turned on the hot water in the shower to steam them wrinkle-free. I must have left the water on too long because when I went to check on them the bathroom walls were dripping with water, the floor was covered and the counter was drenched. I quickly shut off the water, toweled off the ceiling, walls, sink, toilet and floor and opened the door. The fresh air helped the humidity to subside in the bathroom. But it did the trick, and my clothes were wrinkle-free for the week.
Between not feeling well on Monday and teaching this class for the first time, I haven't done much in the way of sightseeing. I know that Krispy Kreme started here in Winston-Salem, and NASCAR has a museum around here. Perhaps next time I'm in town I'll check them out. But the one adventure I had was at dinner tonight at Hill's Lexington Style Bar-B-Que.
I didn't like it.
The primary ingredient in the barbeque preparation was vinegar, and I didn't much care for the vinegar-soaked pork that was on my plate along with what they called "red slaw". Their "famous" banana pudding was OK, and the hush puppies were interesting. Sadly, the best part of the meal was the baked beans and the fried okra. Both of those get a grade of "pretty good". Suffice to say, after striking out twice in the Carolinas with barbeque (the first time was May 1996 in Columbia, SC) I'll stick to other Southern fare while I'm here and wait until I get back to Arkansas or Texas for some barbeque. Considering that I'll be spending 2 of the next 5 weeks in Arkansas, you can count on me living "high on the hog" - specifically, the Whole Hog Cafe.
When I arrived in Charlotte on Sunday, the road leading from the airport to the interstate is known as the Billy Graham Parkway. It says alot about what is valued by people here. I'm sure there are other monuments to other great Carolinans such as Jesse Helms or Elizabeth Dole. But the thought of every visitor and returning resident being greeted by the name of a man who spoke a simple message of God's love whilst living a life of unparalleled integrity - well, that put a lump in my throat.
The Sunday night drive from Charlotte to Winston-Salem was 85 miles. Thanks to the post-Thanksgiving travel, it took about 2 1/2 hours to get to my hotel. After I settled in my room, I hung my shirts and suits on hangers in the bathroom and turned on the hot water in the shower to steam them wrinkle-free. I must have left the water on too long because when I went to check on them the bathroom walls were dripping with water, the floor was covered and the counter was drenched. I quickly shut off the water, toweled off the ceiling, walls, sink, toilet and floor and opened the door. The fresh air helped the humidity to subside in the bathroom. But it did the trick, and my clothes were wrinkle-free for the week.
Between not feeling well on Monday and teaching this class for the first time, I haven't done much in the way of sightseeing. I know that Krispy Kreme started here in Winston-Salem, and NASCAR has a museum around here. Perhaps next time I'm in town I'll check them out. But the one adventure I had was at dinner tonight at Hill's Lexington Style Bar-B-Que.
I didn't like it.
The primary ingredient in the barbeque preparation was vinegar, and I didn't much care for the vinegar-soaked pork that was on my plate along with what they called "red slaw". Their "famous" banana pudding was OK, and the hush puppies were interesting. Sadly, the best part of the meal was the baked beans and the fried okra. Both of those get a grade of "pretty good". Suffice to say, after striking out twice in the Carolinas with barbeque (the first time was May 1996 in Columbia, SC) I'll stick to other Southern fare while I'm here and wait until I get back to Arkansas or Texas for some barbeque. Considering that I'll be spending 2 of the next 5 weeks in Arkansas, you can count on me living "high on the hog" - specifically, the Whole Hog Cafe.
