THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS

Driving around in Scottsboro, AL we discovered a unique downtown. The courthouse being the main attraction; with the one-way streets we drove around it several times.
Before getting into the town Joe was trying to search his brain/the history part/as to what he remembered about The Scottsboro Boys.
Signs in front of the courthouse refreshed his memory
to the drama attached to this town, so many years ago.

  The gist of the story~~nine black teenagers were accused of raping two white women, on March 25,1931.  The controversy of the trials went on for years.  In 1976 it finally came to be that the boys (now men, some having spent many years imprisoned) were pardoned, by the Governor of AL.

To this day ~ were these boys guilty? 

To jog your memory further, you can copy and paste the address below to learn more about

The Scottsboro Boys.

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_acct.html

IT'S A BIRD ~ IT'S A PLANE ~ IT'S SUPERMAN!

Tired of driving we figured a little diversion was in order. 
We followed our GPS to the little town of Metropolis, IL.  Yes!! That is the town Superman called home.  Believe me, the people of this town have capatialized on that little tidbit!  

 Clark Kent and Lois Lane walking to their jobs, at the Daily Planet. Opps, here it's called the Metropolis Planet.

Superman dominates the main drag of this old town. He is standing guard in the center of town and flying from buildings.

Superman Joe posed for a picture in one of the put your head on me bodies.
Hmmmm...just isn't the same, is it?!  Wonder what his buddies will say about this picture!

Murals of Superman cartoons and other characters of the times were painted on the buildings downtown. http://www.supermuseum.com/

Betty Boop~this one's for you Andrea!

UNCLAIMED BAGGAGE CENTER

Overnight in Scottsboro, AL had us at the Liberty Restaurant early in the morning. After a tasty, "like Mom would make it" breakfast, we were at the Unclaimed Baggage Center when it opened at 9:00.  There, along with several other snowbirds, on their trek to the North. Many "Snowbirds" must have seen the Travel Channel show about this place!

 We split up at the entrance. Joe went to what interested him and I was off to the electronics section. I left there quickly and went to browse the hundreds of books. Picking one out I met Joe and we took off, discussing the prices of some of the items we saw.
Joe saw watches ranging in price from $10 to $9,000.
I studied a diamond ring that was going for $17,000, 
thinking that if I had a ring worth that much, I'd make sure it was on my finger! Now, these are reduced prices/the actual appraised prices are much higher. 
The rest of the store was basically a glorified thrift store.  Nothing much tickled my fancy today. 
The book I  purchased is THE TECATE JOURNAL by: Keith Bowden. (Seventy days on the Rio Grande.)
Glad we stopped ~~ now we've been there.

WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE! HEADING TOWARD IT THOUGH...

...NOR ARE WE IN FLORIDA~ON THE ROAD AGAIN...

We left Florida at 6:00a.m. ~ even though I have been awake since 3:00a.m.!  Just couldn't sleep thinking of everything that still needed to be done.  Finished packing the van and we were on the road, heading to MickeyD's, for coffee! 

Approaching Atlanta, Georgia. Should be reaching our first destination - Scottsboro, AL - by early this evening. Tomorrow we will browse the Unclaimed Baggage Center.  I intently watched the program about it on the travel channel...then some RV'ers we know (Hi Odel and Laurie)toured it recently...should be an interesting diversion on our way to Missouri. 
A post about our adventure at the UCBC will be upcoming. 

A QUIRKY THRIFT STORE FIND

        WELL ~ THIS WAS AN APPROPRIATE FIND!

Thrifting is becoming a hobby for me. I used to collect antiques, until I became one!  Now, it's more the "hunt" I like, in Thrift Stores.  I couldn't resist this mug--even if it never sees coffee--it will grace the windowsill with its presence.
Now, did I find the mug/or did the mug find me?
            http://abirdandabirdie.blogspot.com/

A NIGHT AT OLD TOWN ~~ KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA

           CRUISING THE STREETS OF OLD TOWN

In Old Town,  Hwy. 92 Kissimmee, FL every Saturday night there is a cruise. It's a legal cruise featuring almost 200 cars. Great music of the 50's and 60's is blaring through the speakers. 

We know the words to every song.  We sing along - along with every other "Snowbird" on the street.  I took several pictures, but figure you all know what old cars look like.  Of course, my favorites are the VW bugs!  Having had a VW Bug, VW van, VW Rabbit and currently a VW Beetle, you could say I have an infinity for Volkswagons.

Andrea poses with the resident pirate.  The firey car, on a pedestal, is at the grill and pub appropriately labeled, KOOL KATZ--where we feasted on delicious sandwiches.

Bill poses with a ghoul from the local Haunted House.  Oh, and Marilyn is still trying to hold her skirt down/like she really wanted to!

A fun place to relax and take you back in time.

EARTH DAY 2010

               40TH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH DAY