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Written by Keith Rhoades
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Monday, 23 March 2009 |
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Sunday, which I call my Suburban Domestication day! Sunday Craig and I woke up and briefly talked about some tentative plans for the day and then he mentioned that he had some yard work to do. I said, I would like to help…as it turned out Sunday there was no tourism or things like that. We went to Home Depot and got some supplies and came home and spent nearly the entire afternoon pulling up weeds, trimming bushes, cleaning the yard, raking and general manual labor around the house and it was truly a great experience. Projects like that don’t seem like work when you are doing it with someone and enjoying the company of each other. After we finally finished bagging up 20 bags of debris we headed to the grocery store and bought some groceries. It was a real treat. Craig grilled the best steak I have ever had. They were grilled to perfection along with baked potatoes and salad and ice cream for dessert. We just chilled out and watched a movie at home. Sometimes I get so busy on my trips and caught up into the frenzy of trying to see and do as much as I possibly can in the time that I have that I miss the chance to just settle down and relax. In this case…it was hard manual labor but it felt good to be outdoors, sweating, helping someone, and just having some good conversation. Plus never having a home or growing up in a home I’ve never had the opportunity to do these kind of home upkeep projects. So it was also a learning lesson for me |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 March 2009 )
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Battle of Atlanta and Stone Mountain |
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Written by Keith Rhoades
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Sunday, 22 March 2009 |
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I could not have asked for more perfect weather on a trip….it has been sunny and nicely warm every single day that I have been here so far and today was no exception. After waking up, having coffee we headed to the Cyclorama which contains the worlds largest oil painting …the size of a football field…depicting the Battle of Atlanta which was painted in 1885 by 11 Polish, German, and Austrian painters. It was truly incredible and presented in 360 degree theater that rotates. Also here I learned all about the Battle for Atlanta the decisive battle drawing the war to a close. Atlanta was the artillery and rail center for the south. Sherman laid siege to the city for three days and captured it. The city was completely burned and everyone evacuated and then he began his 100 mile march to the city…completely severing the south. In the three days of Battle for Atlanta 7500 confederate troops were killed…in just 3 days. It is hard to imagine that when thinking we haven’t even lost that many in Iraq in 5 years. It was really interesting the tour and history.  After we drove outside of Atlanta north to Stone Mountain which is the largest monolithic piece of granite in the world! It is in the woodlands and hills of Georgia and has lakes, hiking, plantations and was really interesting and fun. On the face of the granite mountain is carved the image of Robert Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis….sort of like Mt. Rushmore but with famous Confederate people. There is also an aerial tramway to the top of the mountain but we opted to do the hike. It was a really hard hike…it was so steep and as you neared the top there was no shade so we were hiking on granite in direct sun for about an hour. But I was proud of myself….I made it!! So not too bad for a middle aged, overweight, smoker! LOL. The views from on top were incredible…you could see the city of Atlanta in the distance, the foothills of the Apalacians, and the sprawling foothills and red clay land of Georgia. We then hiked back down the mountain and drove around the area which was beautiful.
We headed back to Atlanta and then had Country fried chicken, collard greens, mashed potatoes and gravy with deep fried onion rings and ranch sauce. Yummy! We got home and were pretty tired, sweaty and salty from the hike. So we just unwound, had ice cream and talked. It is also odd I was thinking of “how I came to be in Atlanta….” And it all seems like such twists of fate or courses of destiny that has led to my being in Atlanta for these few days. All of the events in my life that have led me to be here…a series of coincidences or a course that was already destined.? It is always fun for me to think how I ended up wherever I am and the people I know and how the interwoven threads of live weave together a tapestry of memories, experiences and people who bring happiness into your life. |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 March 2009 )
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Written by Keith Rhoades
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Saturday, 21 March 2009 |
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 This was a busy but wonderful day. I was on my own and spent nearly 8 hours walking doing the highlights of Atlanta. Craig had to work so I went with him downtown to work and then started my day off at Centennial Park. My first activity was the CNN Newsroom tour which was so totally awesome. I really enjoyed that. After that I walked up Marrietta street to Decatur street over to Immaculate Conception church which was the oldest and first Catholic Chruch in Atlanta in 1848 and one of four buildings that suvived the burning of Atlanta in 1864. I then went to the Capitol building and congress was in session so it was very busy with lobbyists and congress members.
 After touring around the capitol building I walked (quite a distance) to Oakland Cemetery which was founded in 1850. Here was the grave of Margaret Mitchell (author of my favorite book and movie…Gone with the Wind). There was also a confederate burial area containing 7500 graves…it was very moving and sad to see…so many lost in that war, so young, and brother against brother. At the time, blacks were buried in a segregated area which I visited and then went to the potters field for indigent people and also the Jewish section. There was also a monument and tomb to the unknown confederate soldier. The cemetery was so peaceful, tranquil and thought provoking I meditated for a while. I then walked another long distance to the Auburn section and over to the Matin Luther King Jr. Birthplace, Gravesite and Ebenezer Baptist Church where the civil rights movement all began. It was a great exhibit and very interesting.
By now it was 2 pm and I was famished so I stopped and had some spicy hot garlic wings. I then walked to the train to get back downtown. I was impressed with the Atlanta Transportation. I transferred trains and head up to midtown to see the Margaret Mitchell house. As most of you know…its one of my favorite novels and movies and have read/seen it several times. It was so interesting and fun and it actually gave me a lot insight into Margaret Mitchell and where she got certain ideas for certain characters. It also motivated me to sit down and just write for the sake of writing. She had no intentions of publishing that book…she wrote it just as a hobby and just for fun. By then it was 4 pm and I was pretty tired and Craig was getting off work so I waited in Midtown for him to pick me up. 
We got home and ordered pizza and tonight have been watching Season 1 of Love Boat. Which has actually been a lot of fun. We just had popcorn and pizza and chatting and watching TV…but now it is 1 am and I’m turning in for the nite. Whew! So that is what has been up with me. What a great time and great trip… so much history and touristy things to do and so great to spend time with someone. I forgot how much I missed just having someone to hang out with, talk, go to dinner, laugh, go shopping with. It’s been the perfect blend of quality time with a friend, tourism, history, and meditative solitude! |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 March 2009 )
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Atlanta, Georgia Days 1 & 2 |
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Written by Keith Rhoades
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Thursday, 19 March 2009 |
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Well, here I am in Atlanta, Georgia….this is a bit different than my usual international trips to some off the beaten path destination living from place to place but I have to admit it has been just as fun if not more so and just as enlightening as my “crazy adventures.” My primary reason for this trip was to visit my friend Craig whom I have not seen in a few years. It is odd sometimes how things come full circle or when you think that a part of your life has gone and moved on, they return and you can pick up right where you left off. But I digress….above all it has been so fun to visit with him, to catch up, and to have late night conversations about God, spirituality, politics, friends, struggles, joys and life in general. It has been really, really good for me and I’ve grown tremendously in just the short time I‘ve been here. In fact, I have not felt so happy and at peace as I have the last few days. Day one started off with my journey to Atlanta which went pretty smooth…it was a long day though the flight was only 3 hours and 46 minutes. I arrived in Atlanta on time and was greeted by Craig. That night we stopped at Atlantic Station in midtown for some Thai Food and walking around. We were up until 1 am.  Day two, Craig took off work and we both slept in late (or at least late for me) and headed out in the early morning. Our first stop was Centennial Park which was the home to the 1996 Olympics. We then went to the Georgia Aquarium which has the largest indoor tanks in the world. It was incredible….they had several whale sharks and some awesome beluga whales. The beluga whales were so mesmerizing to watch, meditative We then walked around and had lunch the in CNN food court area. After lunch we went to the world of Coke Museum which was just alright…though I’m glad I saw it. The most interesting part was the end of the tour where you can drink unlimited Coke products from around the world. We then came home and took a nap and then went back out in the evening and met some Craigs friends and went out to a great Italian dinner. Again I didn’t get to be until 1 am.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 March 2009 )
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Blog 
Monday I woke up early and as Craig headed to work he dropped me off in Midtown where I walked over to the Fox theater a glorious 1920’s theater built in Moorish style and is still used for special movie showings. 
I then took the train up to Buckhead and hopped a bus to get to the Atlanta History Museum which was well worth the trip. I first went to an old plantation house which was beautiful and even went on the tour. Also there was the Smith Farm which was from 1850 and remained in the family until 1967 and showed a glimpse into the life of a middle class family in 1850. On the grounds was a slave cabin and history about slave life. Inside the museum was several great exhibits. One was on the native Cherokees who were relocated to Oklahoma in 1838 on the trail of tears. The other one was a Civil War exhibit showing the course of the war and the ultimate cost of 620,000 men who died. The last area was a history of Atlanta during reconstruction and the Twentieth Century. I could have spent all day there…and as it was I spent 4 hours. I then catched a bus up to Buckhead Station where I went to meet up with two acquaintances of mine Katie and Nandi at the CDC. It was fun to catch up and see them. I then hopped the train back to midtown and waited for Craig to get off work. 
