Category: Travel

The Keith family recently made  our first trip to Bismarck, North Dakota to visit one of my sisters and her family.  I have a strong dislike of cold weather, so we were sure to time our trip accordingly.  It is a beautiful city with a “Big Sky.”  The economy is doing quite well.  But, I certainly missed the many beautiful trees we have here in the Natural State.  We had a very relaxing and enjoyable trip, and everybody we encountered was very friendly.

Here is a list of random facts, firsts, and enjoyable moments that came up during the trip:

Favorite Actor:  Josh Duhamel –  I know him most from the movie transformers.  I had no idea he was from North Dakota.  Also he is married to Fergie which is news to me.

Favorite Attraction:  Dakota Zoo.  It is much larger than I expected.

Favorite Athlete:  Carson Wentz

Favorite Bar:  Luft Rooftop Beer Garden.  This might be my favorite rooftop bar anywhere.  It sports a retractable rooftop and a very impressive view of the area.

Favorite Football Team:  NDSU Bison

Favorite Restaurant: J60.  We had a splendid time and even better food.

Favorite Exhibit: Dakota Zoo’s prairie dog exhibit.    We had a splendid time and even better food.

First Taste:  Duck Bacon courtesy of Avery’s AM Eatery.  I ate duck bacon for the first time, and I must say that it mostly taste like pig bacon.

Downtown Memphis has been my home for the past three years.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here.  There was never a shortage of entertainment right outside my Barborro Flats Door:

• Memphis Grizzly Basketball Games
• Memphis Red Bird Baseball Games
• Beale Street
• The Pinch District
• Mud Island Park
• South Main Arts District
• The Local
• The Majestic
• The Memphis Zoo
• Shelby Farms

Good times indeed!  Alas, it is time to head back to Central Arkansas.  Though I look forward to the upcoming chapters in my life, I will always look back at my time in Memphis as well spent.

link.

I just got home from my first trip to Washington DC and the trip lived up to my expectations:

Monument:  Lincoln Memorial

Building: The Library of Congress – Its elegance is second to none.  It was easily the most beautiful building I toured.

Smithsonian Museum:  National Gallery of Art –  I spent more time in this museum than any other.

Athlete:  Pete Sampras- The man who won 14 Tennis Grand Slams was born in DC.

All in all, my three days in DC weren’t even enough time to put a dent in the attractions the city has to offer.  I will be planning a return visit in the next couple of years.

My employer, SFI, has recently chosen to send me to our Portsmouth, Ohio plant for 3 days a week. This is scheduled to last for 3-4 weeks. The journey is not too bad. I catch a flight out of Little Rock into Cincinnati, then it is a 2 hour drive from there. I have found the people of in the region to be most pleasant. One of the most fascinating things I have seen is the murals that are painted flood walls (which protect the city from the Ohio River.) Here are two of my favorites.