Be serious.

What are the magic words that I can use to convince people how important this next election in Arkansans is?

I guess all I can say is that we get what we deserve. I whole-heartedly endorse Ms. Joyce Elliott and I hope you all will join me in helping her get elected. She will be replacing the beloved Congressman Vic Snyder. Her opponent, T1m Gr1ffin, does not have our state's interests in mind.

If anyone is down with organizing a small, intimate fundraising mixer for Ms. Elliott, please contact me! We can make it an affair with people we know and care about, instead of stuffy soiree.

Southern Fried

We went to Memphis with Leigh & Robert (aka BellWood) last weekend. Other than the southern fried heat, it was the ideal way to spend a Saturday. My only other complaint was that I couldn't get truly hungry for our second meal. Terrible, I know.

We started at Gus's Fried Chicken. I can say with certainty that it is the best fried chicken I know. Leigh said "foodgasm". OTM! Crispy, juicy, molten. It dissolves in your mouth! ATM & I agreed that one shouldn't overindulge in Gus's, maybe enjoy it once or twice annually.

They have superb fried green 'maters, which are filled with lava.

Would it be indecent to use this as a screensaver? Please note the fork, warped by fried green tomato lava-filling:

After eating, we drove over to the Cooper-Young district so BellWood could smell see for themselves the House Of Mews. They were actually open, so Leigh and I stepped inside. Briefly. I love the House of Mews for their work, but the odor of cat urine is so strong, I was openly gagging in there. I managed to get a couple of snapshots before I ran back outside. Look at this sweet pea's fluffy toes!

Smart guys, outside, breathing air:

The fellas went on to Goner Records to dig through crates while Leigh & I went oot & aboot. First stop? TAX Museum.

I've been to the Stax Museum several times before, but I'll never get tired of it. We debated whether we should go to the actual museum part w/o the guys, but thought better of it. Not enough time. Instead, we drove over to the National Ornamental Metal Museum, a previously unknown destination. Thanks be to Leigh for enlightening me! While I probably wouldn't always pay the fee to see the exhibit inside, the grounds are great for wandering around. It is across the street from a park that has mounds very similar to the ones at Toltec Mounds State Park. We thought how it'd be nice to bring food there and dine underneath the behemoth hardwoods. Anyway, the entry gate to the museum? You could probably spend a half-hour just looking at it. It doesn't look so special here, but...

A full English:

Pinky waaaaaaaaay out:

The museum has a grounds kitteh! A sign of intelligence and progressiveness.

We wandered into the Schering-Plough Smithy where everything has a blackened tint coating and they have samples of metal work. Neat!

Oven and anvil:

Pretty!

Wacky!

The museum is situated on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. Of course you can't capture this view with a camera:

After leaving the museum, we went to pick the guys up @ Goner. The rest of the day was spent hopping from one air-conditioned watering hole to the next. It was. so. hot.

Drinks @ Otherlands:

Drinks @ the Peabody:

We did try to work up an appetite by walking around downtown. It was a little challenging as we had to deal with the 6 (and counting) "B's". BBQ, Beale St. bullshit, Bieber-mania, beer, blues, baseball, etc. We agreed on Rendezvous for supper, since Robert has never been, but after discovering that the wait for a table was over an hour, we decided to go to another institution. A very wise decision!

This photo spooks me a little.

ATM lightens the mood:

Interstate is the current reigning champ as far as BBQ dives in Memphis go. I am not a huge fan of Rendezvous, even though I understand the appeal, so I'm glad that I've finally, FINALLY, found my joint. My chopped pork sandwich was so...perfect. It really was. I cannot wait to have another. Don't attempt to pick the sandwich up, it is too loaded down with cole slaw, pork & sauce. Forklift.

No. I didn't have room. I pretty much forced it down. No regrets. I love sweet potato pie:

Wall of Fame:

After eating our perfect meal, we left town. It was a full circle kind of thing; we passed Gus's on our way out. It was nice of ATM to drive. Sometimes I-40 can be charming. We were sleepy, full of food, listening to Memphis radio, and looking at the stars. We did get to listen to ATM's special day-trip BBQ mix before we dropped off BellWood at their home. I always am missing Memphis! (Next time: Earnestine & Hazel's, the Lamplighter)

This is what you eat the next day:

SS Miiippi

25 July 2010, 2:53 p.m.

We just drove out of Lake Village, AR, after stopping there to have a picnic and to stretch our legs. It is so muggy which makes it unbearable to have pants on or to just be a mammal. I am tired, but content. I probably would not be mistaken to assume that the other passengers, ATM & KMHD, are dreaming of cool showers, precious pets, and some serious lounging, like me.

We are returning from a quick jaunt to Mississippi where ATM's parents, both sets (but mostly his mum and stepfather) threw us a precious engagement party. It was beach themed and we were instructed to dress thusly and to just show up. We took our costume assignment very seriously. Captains's hats, fresh, crisp white pants (or shorts), aviators, and a laaaaid back demeanor. ATM even compiled a smooth yacht rock mix. KMHD accompanied us; it was the perfect opportunity for her to meet her new family. When you marry, you gain quite a few more family members. When you marry me, you get a two for one deal.

Welcome aboard!

(Maybe you've noticed that the date stamp is incorrect. You'd be right. It was a borrowed camera & I didn't realize you had to manually turn that feature off.)

ATM's mum is pretty generous with detail when it comes to party planning. There were beachy decorations in the nooks and crannies & a huge, delicious spread of food. I was surprised to see some of my baby photos (sneaky sneaky, KMHD!) sitting on a table amongst ATM's. A rememorandum! Look how much we've grown! (And grown! And grown!) I was in the kitchen talking to ATM when KMHD entered and proclaimed, "THERE IS A BAND IN THE LIVING ROOM." Well, it wasn't a huge get up or anything, just two guys! But, hello, hired musicians! The party got fancy, fast!

Here is KMHD & Ganga, aged 102, enjoying the smooth grooves. Ganga is the first centenarian that I've ever met. She is ATM's stepmother's grandmother. She's so charming & special! She really liked the musicians. She swayed and sang along with them.

Ah, the sensual saxophone. Rock on, playa.

Captains have moms, too:

ARE YOU READY TO SEE THE FOOD SPREAD? K If it wasn't local fare, it was catered by ATM's cousin, or just plain homemade. <---The best kind. All I can say to ATM's mom is WELL PLAYED, MADAM!

Mississippi State University has a dairy & bakery. The cheese & sweets pictured below? From the MSU dairy & bakery. How many synonyms are there for 'delicious'? I cannot wait to go to Starkville to visit DM, KM & CM...and to get an edam cheese ball & some Turkish macaroons! Seriously, though, if I could just take some of their food science classes (and not awful courses like accounting), I'd consider going to MSU. I basically want to learn how to make cheese and bake things. Go Bulldogs!

I was very happy to see ATM's brother, DM, his wife KM, and their son, CM. They are such a sweet, loving little family unit! We are really hoping to meet them in Memphis to go to the zoo and look at the polar bears!

Here's CM. We had to pull him off the piano when he started playing Steely Dan's FM.

He said "ta-da":

ATM's mum, KM, CM & DM:

Anthony, ATM & ATM's dad:

Business is slow

I've been losing blocks of time to these pain relievers & muscle relaxers. Not much to ponder, nothing to report. Business is slow. I am feeling better, though. I do report to work, at the very least.

ATM & I went to a movie last weekend. We saw the trailer for Tron:Legacy. Frankly, I am more excited about the Daft Punk soundtrack than the movie itself. I can claim that I've logged about 3 honest hours searching the internet for any Daft Punk/Tron leaks. There is some stuff out there, but it's hard to say if they are real, plants, or imposters.


What do you call an attraction to cool, French robots?

Hmmm, let's see. Other than work, physical therapy, and spending time at home drooling, I did manage to get some hang-time with Keiko, Luca, Leigh & Heather (henceforth referred to as KlLH) earlier this week to enjoy summertime desserts and to discuss nothing and everything. Leigh, Keiko & I are hosting Heather & Zach's baby shower in August, so we discussed that, too. Looks like we may have a nacho bar (YES!!!), Mexican coke, churros, etc.

That's all I got.

UPDATE! <---le clic!