Arkansas. It Tempts Me.
So. Catching up on the ol' posting.
Two weeks ago I went to Memphis for a quick work trip.
I went to Memphis, and, well, it was fucking hot. I mean, oh my god, sweltering-the-sweat-is-blinding-me hot. Fortunately for the kids there, they have random little water parks downtown (well, at least one):
So, it's friday afternoon and i finish my little speaking gig. i've got maybe 2 hours to put to good use before i have to go to the airport. i had gotten it in to my little geek heart that i would go over to Arkansas.
Why, you ask? well. underneath the occasional flurry of coolness i am, well, a complete and total geek. dork. all of those things that i now embrace as really cute parts of me. but i digress...i've been to all but 4 of the 50 states: Alaska, South Dakota, Oklahama, and Arkansas. I was hoping--hoping--that i could find a way to quicky cross Arkansas off the list.
Now. why i didn't just pay a fucking cab to drive me across the bridge, dance around on the little arkansas ground, and come back...who knows. never one to do things super-easy, i guess. i wanted adventure. so, adventure, i would have.
i hopped on the little Memphis trolley and rode all the way down to the end of the line. then, i started walking. and walking. and sweating. 30 minutes. 45. i was going to make it, dammit. i could see the bridge rising ahead of me. the river was beside me.
i had searched around and found that there was a little path to the bridge crossing the river. and i only had to make it halfway across the river to officially be in Arkansas. Then, dripping in sweat, i hit it. the little sign that says "private property". are. you. kidding. me? i collapse in exhaustion. laughter. then, i pose.
holy crap. overheating, i scrambled up through a TV parking lot, found a gas station (and some much needed powerade) and hustled back to the trolley. i put my feet up. i rode back. on the way, i found this piece of Americana:
Did you know Piggly Wiggly started in Memphis?
Two weeks ago I went to Memphis for a quick work trip.
I went to Memphis, and, well, it was fucking hot. I mean, oh my god, sweltering-the-sweat-is-blinding-me hot. Fortunately for the kids there, they have random little water parks downtown (well, at least one):
So, it's friday afternoon and i finish my little speaking gig. i've got maybe 2 hours to put to good use before i have to go to the airport. i had gotten it in to my little geek heart that i would go over to Arkansas.
Why, you ask? well. underneath the occasional flurry of coolness i am, well, a complete and total geek. dork. all of those things that i now embrace as really cute parts of me. but i digress...i've been to all but 4 of the 50 states: Alaska, South Dakota, Oklahama, and Arkansas. I was hoping--hoping--that i could find a way to quicky cross Arkansas off the list.
Now. why i didn't just pay a fucking cab to drive me across the bridge, dance around on the little arkansas ground, and come back...who knows. never one to do things super-easy, i guess. i wanted adventure. so, adventure, i would have.
i hopped on the little Memphis trolley and rode all the way down to the end of the line. then, i started walking. and walking. and sweating. 30 minutes. 45. i was going to make it, dammit. i could see the bridge rising ahead of me. the river was beside me.
i had searched around and found that there was a little path to the bridge crossing the river. and i only had to make it halfway across the river to officially be in Arkansas. Then, dripping in sweat, i hit it. the little sign that says "private property". are. you. kidding. me? i collapse in exhaustion. laughter. then, i pose.
holy crap. overheating, i scrambled up through a TV parking lot, found a gas station (and some much needed powerade) and hustled back to the trolley. i put my feet up. i rode back. on the way, i found this piece of Americana:
Did you know Piggly Wiggly started in Memphis?