Seattle in 09

Let me say this straight out, Seattle is not my favorite city. Not a big coffee drinker, don't have the right outdoor clothes and the waves aren't big enough to surf. However you can get great salmon anywhere, anytime. They even had it at my free breakfast buffet. I know I am setting myself up for comments but especially this time of year, what's to love? What really yanked my chain was, here in the land of the internet, there is no such thing as free wireless! Surfer Bob had to trek around the corner to the public library and hang out with the homeless just to check his e mail. The good news is the Seattle Public Library is an architectural jewel both outside and in. No visit is complete without paying homage to "Working Man".  I will allow that the flight to Seattle is usually a beautiful view and this time did not disappoint. A picture through a plane window could not do justice to flying into Seattle over the cloud cover at sunset with Mt Rainier peeking through. Superb.

 

Is that bone marrow for horses?

I was actually asked that question and although that is an actual procedure I don't think BMB will be a courier for them anytime soon. (Actually, the transplants are autologous,. No need for BMB) It's all about horses in Lexington. That's all anybody and everybody knows or does. Surfer Bob got a V.I. P. tour from Linda, an old school chum and fellow riding buddy. Obviously, Linda stuck to horses while Bob choose a different kind of ride. The rolling hills of Lexington are beautiful even on a chilly, rainy day in February. One stop on the tour was Ashland Stud Farm. Here you can see some of the past champion thoroughbreds that are now in the heat of stud season. Sorry couldn't resist. The noble beast,  Henrythenavigator, liked Bob's red suit.

What's up with those zombie lawn jockeys?

4 days in Paradise

Finally a courier trip Bone Marrow Bob could sink his teeth into. A short trip to Italy. He started out in Milan hitting all the famous tourist spots. Il Doumo was amazing even in the rain. Oh how Bob wished he could be inside La Scala. Early the next morning Surfer Bob hopped a train to Tuscany to visit friends. The Italian countryside is beautiful even in February.  Back in Milan it was no shoes, no shirt, no Last Supper. Inappropriate attire will not get you in to see da Vinci's masterpiece no matter how much you beg. Unfortunately Surfer Bob had to stay outside Santa Maria del Grazia and settle for some sublime Caravaggio's at the Brera. No photos inside so he settled for his portrait with a banner. 

Follow the Paws

When you are lost in a children's hospital in So Cal you follow the paws. That's what Bob did anyway to get to the cell lab. Otherwise it was another uneventful mission.  No hassles at the airport. On the contrary, the 2 TSA agents were the same ones as the last trip. They recognized BMB so it was a breeze getting through security. The captain of the flight was curious and asked a lot of questions like," what happens if the marrow doesn't get there?" Through rain, sleet, snow and slow flights the marrow will get through. He made every effort and succeeded in bringing the flight in early.

Surfer Bob met his plastic soul mates!!! How serendipitous. The best part is the building is being torn down. What are the chances of Bob finding one of these dudes on ebay? I have no idea what is going on with the Surfer Bob shadow puppet.  It looks like a dinosaur from the La Brea Tar Pits is about to chow down on Bob.

So long 08 welcome 09

Bone Marrow Bob is on the road again. Looks like it's going to be a busy year. First stop.... Chicago. It was cold and snowy but that didn't dampen Bob's spirit even though that made sightseeing a little difficult. How high is the Sears Tower? Don't know didn't see the top.

Ever the art lover, BMB toured the Art Institute of Chicago. They have one of the best collections in the world. Surfer Bob has always wanted his picture taken with " Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jette" and here was his chance. He couldn't pass up the iconic "American Gothic" either. Unfortunately Bob's table manners need a little polishing. Here he is playing hide and seek in the table decoration at The Custom House.  You never know where Surfer Bob/Bone Marrow Bob will turn up. 

Winston Salem

North Carolina is exquisitely beautiful in the fall. I didn't get a picture of the trees because a picture just doesn't cut it. To quote the writer Edward Hoagland ,although he was speaking of another place, "The beauty is so concentrated, excessive, it is slapstick".

So Surfer Bob coasted through the elections. While sight seeing in he passed the Obama headquarters in this newly blue state.

If you're ever in W-S I strongly suggest eating at Sweet Potatoes. There's nothing better than Southern cooking, shrimp and grits, barbecued duck with red and white fries, indeed! Owners Stephanie Tyson(right) and Vivian Joiner(left) took a shine to Bone Marrow Bob and his mission.

For a while I had a hard time figuring out why smoking was still accepted in restaurants and other public places, then it hit me ....Winston Salem duh!

Cincinnati

As I muse about Cincinnati, I find I really don't know much about it. It's home to Proctor and Gamble, the Cincinnati Reds (terrible season), the Bangles(even worse season), the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati and HBO's, John from Cincinnati. Actually John from Cincinnati is only the name. It has nothing to do with the city. It's about a mysterious guy that shows up in California and says he's from Cincinnati. Kind of like the coneheads are from France. Speaking of TV shows, the image I have of Cincinnati is of Les Nessman from the afore mentioned show WKRP tossing turkeys out of a helicopter for a radio promotion. So, it's about time Bone Marrow Bob paid a short visit. There were not a lot of photo opts so here he is crossing the Ohio river. In the courier business you see lots of cities that you otherwise have no reason to go to other than to say "ah yes, I've been there".