Nantucket-or-Bust

I created a new Facebook Page

2011-10-30T12:41:00.002-05:00

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Queens-of-Clean-Design/122658847788593?sk=app_106171216118819

Sunny in Fort Lauderdale

2011-04-02T17:12:00.003-05:00

86 degrees and sunny at the pool in Fort Lauderdale.
Ernest, Michael, Anne, Betty, Jill, and Chris.

After a 10-hour drive yesterday we landed at the Courtyard Marriott in sunny Fort Lauderdale. Chris, Jill, & Betty (Jill's mom) flew in last night and are here now. My mom flies in tonight. And then tomorrow morning the last members of our party - Tara & Lance - get here.

Thanks to Betty and her "connections"...we get premium VIP boarding on the ship tomorrow. Because she has taken 80 cruises in her life (Yes, that's right! 80 cruises!), she is considered a "high-roller," and we all will be whisked onto the boat the moment we arrive. Oh yeah!

The ship we are taking is the Ruby Princess. She is a brand-new ship and also HUGE! She is the largest in the Princess fleet. Here's a picture:

Ruby Princess built in 2008 is the largest ship in the Princess Fleet.

I may not post while we're on the ship. I have these images of us running around and around the ship and getting on and off at the ports, swimming, and snorkeling, and shopping and all that in between stuffing our faces with all the fresh food.......sooooo....I may wait to post until we get off the ship next weekend! ;-)

Cheers!
Ernest

Salt & Pepper Haul

2011-03-31T08:02:00.005-05:00

Here are the S&P Shakers Michael found this trip. He's become a super collector (Makes it easy to buy a gift for him... :-) ) I'm just glad they are small...because he now has close to 300 sets!

Blog, my old friend, how I've missed you

2011-03-29T14:50:00.008-05:00

I've come to the realization that I miss my blog. Originally, I intended this to only be a journal of our trip to Nantucket in 2009 ( therein the title: "Nantucket-or-Bust"). But it's just too much darn fun writing it to quit. And since I've never kept a journal before, it seems a worthwhile thing to do. Heaven knows I don't remember half of the fun I had as an exchange student in high school...because I didn't write it down.

So, here's where we're at:

It's Monday, March 29th, and Michael and I have traveled to one of our favorite destinations - Alabama - to hang with Michael's sis and bro-in-law, Anne & Scott. Over the weekend we drove down to a friend's bungalow on the Florida coast and spent a little time wading along the beautiful Gulf Coast. We hit a couple flea markets and 2nd-hand stores, where Michael was (of course) able to add to his thriving Salt & Pepper collection. Here are some pictures:

Scott's son, Tyler, shipped off to Army Basic Training yesterday. He was thrilled to be getting out and starting his life! I remember when I left home after high school. All that excitement! Free at last! ;-)

We are here for another 4 days and then we head to Fort Lauderdale, where we are taking a Princess Cruise to the Bahamas. Even my mother is flying out from Idaho to come along. I can't believe it's actually going to happen. I'll have lots of stories and pictures to post in a week, so stay tuned for that!

Cheers,
Ernest

We've gone south for the winter!

2010-12-29T00:59:00.004-06:00

Above: My brother, Travis, holding his 3-yr-old daughter, Marquel, then Michael, my 10-yr-old niece, Jaicee, then Travis' wife, Shay, and their son Justen -- standing on the top of hoover dam with the Colorado River canyon and the new Hoover Dam Bypass bridge behind them.

I know Michael and I told you all that we were going to "freeze our you-know-whats off in Idaho" for the holidays, but we decided to go south for the winter instead. South as in Wickenburg, Arizona -- just outside of Pheonix. It was 60 degrees today, and we actually lounged around the pool while my niece swam!

On the way here we visited the always astounding Hoover Dam. It is really a remarkable feat of construction. You should definitely visit if you have the time. It's only about 30 miles outside of Las Vegas.

For some reason, the really macabre trivia facts always seem to stick with me. So, here's one about the Hoover Dam. 112 men died during the construction. The man generally considered to be the first to die was a surveyor who drowned in 1922 while looking for the ideal spot to build a dam. The last man to die was his son, who died during construction exactly 13 years to the day later. Creepy, huh?

The new Hoover Dam visitor's center juts out over the gorge and is over 500 feet above the bottom.

Me with my wonderful mother, Edna.

Michael leaning nonchalantly out over the edge!

Michael and my mother, Edna.

More pics of Hoover Dam

2010-12-29T00:30:00.005-06:00

Above is the new Hoover Dam Bypass, which was completed in October of this year and includes the longest concrete arch in the western hemisphere. The bridge is the second highest in the US (behind the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado) at 840 feet above the Colorado River. You can actually park at the edge and walk all the way out to the middle (if you're brave enough!). Prior to this bypass being built, all traffic had to cross over the Hoover Dam itself, with only one lane in each direction -- a major pain in the bum!

The sign above says, "Hoover Dam, 1931-1935." It actually took 5 years to complete, from 1931-1936, but was dedicated in 1935 to coincide with Franklin Roosevelts tour of the West. Amazing to think that this enormous construction only took 5 years to complete...in the middle of the Great Depression.

It is nearly 600 feet down from where I was standing at the top taking this picture, to the bottom where the water spins the turbines and generates all that power to light up Las Vegas!

Some groovy Art Deco sculptures adorn the walkway above.

Michael nervously laughing as I ask him to back up just a little closer to the edge for a good picture!

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in Pocatello, Idaho

2010-09-02T23:16:00.002-05:00

This past week we spent in Idaho visiting Mom and the rest of my family. My mom actually found us work (see our other website: Queensofcleandesign.blogspot.com ), and because of that, we were able to afford the gas to drive home.

As luck would have it...Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was filming in Pocatello, just 50 miles from my home town. So, of course, we had to go see!! Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrn4UEEi3hA

Queens of Clean Website

2010-07-06T13:49:00.002-05:00

I am trying out a new website: Queensofcleandesign.blogspot.com

Remodeling my mom's spare bedroom

2010-06-22T18:14:00.005-05:00

My mom, not being one to let anyone sit around and twiddle their thumbs, had us working on projects. The main one being remodeling her spare bedroom. With dad gone along with the hospital bed, dialysis machine, and mountains of supplies...this room was ripe for a new perspective. And we were excited to do it. Boy, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

The project took us 8 days -- mostly because of the ceiling and the layers upon layers upon layers of wallpaper and paint. We hoped we could just paint over the old wallpaper. Not! But I will tell you that 2 coats of primer is great for removing it. The room had a dropped ceiling consisting of 3-inch fiberglass insulation and walls covered with paneling as old as me. Mom wanted a "Country Cottage" room, and I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

And the ceiling:

We're back to Leavenworth

2010-06-22T17:22:00.007-05:00

The beginning of the Palmer Family Cemetery. 3C is our cattle brand.

Hello everyone. Hope you haven't forgotten about us. We've been in Idaho this last month for my dad's funeral and to stay with my mom -- I just love her so much -- and after 46 years of marriage I didn't want her to be suddenly alone. Theirs was a transcendental love, and I am blessed to have seen it.

My dad was anything but traditional, so a traditional funeral was out the window. He wasn't a religious man, but he was committed to AA for 32 years and that became his church. The service was a traditional AA meeting, which included stories of my dad and all twelve steps of AA. My uncle, who is a beautiful singer, sang an old and stirring hymn. Jill, a friend of Dad's, sang a moving country and western son. And I stumbled through "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, which I used to play and sing for dad at night as he fell asleep. And then we had an old west burial at the ranch. He always said that he didn't want to be buried in that "pile of rocks over town" (city cemetery), so we got permission from the county and started a Palmer Family Cemetery on the ranch. It's a beautiful spot, next to a hundred-year-old cabin where he can see the meadow and the mountains where we run the cattle each summer.

I've never seen a longer line of cars following a hearse. It stretched half-way across the valley. Before we reached the ranch, we transferred the coffin from the hearse to a wagon pulled by a team of horses. Mom rode in the wagon and all the family and friends who brought horses rode along behind the wagon for dad's "last ride".

We also saddled Dad's horse - a beautiful palomino - and led him along sans rider...as a symbol of Dad's "last ride."

Michael did the flowers for the coffin. I thought it was very special that he could do that. I know everyone loved them. He incorporated old-style barbed wire, Dad's spurs, and Dad's felt hat into an arrangement filled with wild flowers.

So, now we are back in Leavenworth. Thank you for all your concern. I hope we can see you sometime this summer.

-Ernest

Cheyenne and Niecy Nash

2010-05-18T12:49:00.003-05:00

I had to write Cheyenne, because I just found out he is hosting the LOGO awards with Niecy Nash........who I ADORE! I told him, "I'm not usually jealous of you, but.....IT'S NIECY NASH! I LOVE HER! COME ON!"

He said he is still writing the show and hopes to get her to do a Dancing with the Stars type opening. Whatever happens it will be funny! So the "New Now Next" awards are on LOGO on Thursday, June 17th. Set your TIVOs. Click record on your DVRs. Or if you're like us, write it down on a piece of paper so you can watch it live.

Cheers,
E

Day 23 - Wyoming to Idaho

2010-05-08T19:12:00.002-05:00

We woke up to snow in Wyoming. This isn't too surprising, since the average elevation is over 6,000 feet. But the roads were clear all the way to my home town of Malad, Idaho. Well, almost! We hit a wild snow storm on the outskirts of Malad. It is May, isn't it? Anyway today the sun is shining and everything is green.

So, I haven't been home for Mother's Day in ages. We had fun picking out cards and flowers for my mom. She, of course, didn't want any gifts. But who doesn't want flowers?!? Instead, she wanted all of us to pitch in and clean up the yard. You should have seen Michael zooming around on the riding lawn mower! He's never ridden one before. He finished mowing everything. LOL

Well, we will be here in Malad for a few more days. I want to take Michael on a scenic drive around the valley and up into the mountains a little ways. We might even go for a horse ride...

Thanks for reading. Our trip is almost to a close. Next stop: Leavenworth aka home.

A note for new readers

2010-05-08T19:06:00.003-05:00

Hello! I just wanted to make a quick note: if you click on "older posts" at the bottom of this page, it will take you to the next page in the blog and the next page after that and so on. There are many more pages and lots more pictures beyond this initial page, and I would love for you to see all of them. And don't be afraid to post a comment (just click on "comments" after any individual entry). One of the first things Michael and I do each morning is look to see if someone has commented on anything.

Cheers,
Ernest

Day 22 - Mount Rushmore

2010-05-06T10:09:00.004-05:00

Another gorgeous day. Another gorgeous sight. This has been such a wonderful journey. You forget just how much there is to see in our own country. This is my second trip to Mount Rushmore and Michael's first. Michael's response was the same as mine and probably most of the people who visit Mount Rushmore...What? They didn't remove the rubble?! The pile of shavings from the sculpture are all piled at the bottom. It's a beautiful sight and well worth the $10 to see it.

Lots of wildlife in this part of the country. We saw these mountain goats above as well as herds of deer and antelope.

After Mount Rushmore it was on to historic Deadwood, South Dakota, a mining town born in the 1800s when outlaws, gunslingers and gamblers ruled the streets. This is the place where famous gunslinger and lawman Wild Bill Hickok was killed playing a game of poker. When he was shot in the back, he was holding a pair of aces and a pair of eights, all black. This has since become known as the "Dead Man's Hand." Today the entire town of Deadwood is a National Historic Landmark. We decided this would be our annual casino visit. We didn't win much, but it was fun nonetheless.

Day 21 - The Badlands

2010-05-04T20:24:00.005-05:00

"Think of all the beauty still left
around you and be happy."
-Anne Frank

Today we drove the scenic byway through the Badlands National Park. It's a very beautiful place....except for the 15 miles of gravel road we didn't know about. Poor Bessie really needs a good wash. (Bessie is our van.)

Day 21 - Corn Palace, Wall Drug

2010-05-04T19:15:00.009-05:00

And today we drove past the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota....

The Corn Palace murals are all made out of corn (husks and all)

And we spent some time wandering around quirky Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota. It's the biggest drug store in the world made famous in the 1930's by offering free ice water and posting signs the world around. The first billboard we saw said, "Wall Drug only 355 miles ahead!" They still offer "free ice water" and "5 cent coffee." I had a yummy burger made from buffalo. And we took lots of silly pictures....

Day 20 - Frank Lloyd Wright Country

2010-05-04T19:00:00.010-05:00

We have been experiencing an unexpected side benefit of our "little jaunt" across the country. We keep driving thru Frank Lloyd Wright country! In western Pennsylvania we drove past the "Falling Water" house - a house actually built atop a waterfall. Visit their website: http://www.fallingwater.org/

And yesterday we were driving along a Wisconsin highway admiring the lovely green countryside when we came upon several enormous houses and fascinating buildings also created by Frank Lloyd Wright-the Taliesen. I don't have any pictures of this, because we came upon it so suddenly. Actually, we nearly drove off the road rubbernecking. But here is that website: http://www.taliesinpreservation.org/

Then we passed thru Amish country. Not that that has anything to do with Frank Lloyd Wright, but it's still cool. This I have pictures of:

Can you imagine plowing a field with a team of 8 horses?!?

Here we bought yummy soaps and yummy chocolates.

And then! And then...we were driving out of another small town when the car in front of us lost a tire. Literally. The car swerved suddenly and came to a very abrupt stop on the side of the road and the front right tire just kept on going down the road, off the side, and out into a field. We stopped and made sure she was okay. Turns out all four lug nuts sheared completely off. I've never seen that before.

Finally, after driving the entire width of Minnesota, we made it across the Mississippi river and spent the night in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Day 19 - The House On The Rock

2010-05-03T19:57:00.008-05:00

"My house will stand on a rock on a hill.

Overlooking a valley deep and still."
-Alex Jordan

Yesterday we visited The House On The Rock Attraction in Spring Green, Wisconsin. It was the coolest thing I have seen in years! I would have driven 100 miles out of my way just to see this. It is ingenious and insane, super swanky and a little bit creepy in spots. It is the Hearst Castle of the Midwest-especially when you consider that when Alex Jordan started building his house on a rock, it was so remote he had to carry all the stone and mortar in on his back.

The "Infinity Room" is 200 feet long with 3,000 windows that juts out over the rocky valley - 168 feet to the bottom. And it's cantilevered. When you walk out to the end it tips and bounces.

Inside the "Infinity Room"

Alex Jordan started building the House On The Rock in 1946. He wanted to be far away from people to explore his imagination. However his visionary architecture sparked the interest of his neighbors. In an effort to discourage gawkers he started charging admission, but this had the opposite effect-it attracted more attention! Now with this ever-increasing income he was able to indulge his eccentric - bordering on obsessive compulsive - collecting. My favorite rooms were the whale room, the breathtaking organ room, and the carousel room.

The whale room at the House On The Rock. This is a replica of a whale locked into battle with a giant octopus. The whale is 200 feet tall and as long as the Statue of Liberty is tall. If you look down near the LEFT corner, you can see Michael! (Click on the picture to see larger.) What's more amazing is that this isn't even the largest room.

The actual house is 14 rooms built on a pinnacle of rock. This is every little boys fantasy! It certainly was mine. A groovy house that is part condo part cave...so cool. Following the house is a peculiar, outlandish complex of rooms, streets, buildings and gardens covering 200 acres. There is simply too much for me to talk about, so here is the website: http://www.houseontherock.com/HOTR_AttractionMain.htm

Super swanky is the word I use to describe the endless couches!

The "Winter Room"

The House On The Rock also has the largest carousel. It boasts over 20,000 lights and 269 handcrafted animals - not one of them a horse. Here is video:

I took more pictures - oh, about a gazillion pictures - far too many to post here, so I have uploaded them all to picasa. Please have a look! It's so cool: http://picasaweb.google.com/ErnestWPalmer/HouseOnTheRock#

Eccentric America meets Roadside Attraction at the Don Q Inn

2010-05-01T22:00:00.009-05:00

This morning we left the Shuberts and drove 9 hours through Cleveland and Chicago to Dodgeville, Wisconsin, which is just east of Madison, Wisconsin. We are staying the weekend at the Don Q Inn. I saw it online and instantly knew we had to stay here.

Lobby of the Don Q Inn in Dodgeville, Wisconsin

The Don Q Inn was featured in People Magazine! In 1988.... It’s hilarious. For example, the lobby is dominated by a mammoth fire pit surrounded by old-style barber chairs. I mean, what? They have seriously wacky “themed” fantasy suites called “Fantasuites”, but we are staying in a standard room. It's old and has dark wood paneling reminiscent of a medieval dungeon. We’ve stayed in much worse. And out front is a giant Boeing C-97 that Farah Fawcett signed after filming a commercial here many years ago. I mean, what? Oh, and there’s also an underground tunnel that leads to the restaurant next door. I’m thoroughly enjoying this. Tomorrow we visit the House On The Rock.

This Boeing C-97 flew to its present location in front of the Don Q Inn in the sixties.
Farah Fawcett signed the fuselage after filming a commercial here in the seventies.

The Don Q Inn in Dodgeville, WI. The chapel at the end is a three-story "Fantasuite"

Day 15 - Visit with the Schuberts in Cleveland, Ohio

2010-05-01T21:49:00.005-05:00

Michael with Bev, Jack, and Chris Schubert

Okay! Listen up, people! The Schuberts RULE! Bev, Chris, and Jack Schubert are former clients of ours from Seattle. About 2 years ago they moved out to Cleveland, Ohio - where Chris is from originally - and since this was on our path more or less, we decided we had to visit them.

On Wednesday we zipped out of Philadelphia and headed west. The roads in western Pennsylvania are gorgeous. And they should be! The tolls cost us $32. We passed through several mountains on our way to Ohio. That’s right, through. Rather than winding around or over, the interstate tunnels right through Alleghany Mountain, Blue Mountain, and several others.

Interstate 276 tunnel through Blue mountain in western Pennsylvania.

After a quick seven hours on the road we arrived at the Schubert’s place outside of Cleveland, Ohio. Holy beautiful house, batman! They are currently living in a stunning 6-bedroom house that sits on 7 manicured acres and includes a 4-car garage and two ponds loaded with frogs, one large turtle and fish. And it’s for sale! Spread the word!!! Bev and Chris and Jack are moving back to Seattle (hooray!) as soon as they can sell their place.

I hate imposing upon people, but they made us feel so comfortable that we stayed 3 days! They took us to local restaurants like Sokolowski’s where you can load yourself with piles of polish cooking. I LOVE local restaurants! And they made sure we visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. I had no idea this was in Cleveland, so I’m thankful they suggested it. Most of the time we just hung out…in their cavernous house. Soooo cool. Thank you Bev and Chris!! (We are still stuffed!)

Here are a few pictures I took of their place:

A beautiful house in the country

2010-05-01T21:45:00.002-05:00

The Schubert's house feels like it is way out in the peaceful countryside even though it's only minutes to downtown Cleveland.

Food and Fun

2010-05-01T21:40:00.003-05:00

Michael getting ready to chow down on his lunch from Sokolowski's. If you're ever in Cleveland check this place out.

Bev's car!

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland

Michael and Ernest posing in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Day 14 - Smithsonian

2010-04-29T23:02:00.004-05:00

The Smithsonian Castle

We had one thing left to see in DC before heading west. And that was the Smithsonian. Now, I realize that there are miles and miles of Smithsonian exhibits in many, many buildings. So, I narrowed it down. I wanted to see the Castle and I wanted to visit the National Museum of Natural History. Ever since seeing a picture book of this museum as a kid I've wanted to go here. It's an item to check off my bucket list!

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Hall of Dinosaurs

We also had a chance to visit with my cousin David Palmer, who lives and works in DC. He is employed by Homeland Security and the part of his job that he can actually talk about...involves the deportation of foreign spies operating on U.S. soil. Cool, huh? We had lunch at a DC Steak House - just the kind of place you can picture lobbyists and politicians swinging deals and making plans for our future.

Me and my cousin David. I don't remember it being that windy.

Washington Monument on the Mall

Day 11-Foul, feted, fuming, foggy, filthy...Philadelphia!

2010-04-29T22:07:00.005-05:00

Michael and Anne in front of Independence Hall

1776 anyone? Every time I see Independence Hall in Philadelphia I start humming songs from the movie musical 1776 like John Adams singing: "We piddle, twiddle, and resolve. Not one damn thing do we solve in foul, feted, fuming, foggy, filthy Philadelphia!" And I picture the great Ron Holgate as Richard Henry Lee of Virginia roaring around on his horse singing: "Here-a-Lee, there-a-Lee, everywhere-a-Lee-a-Lee! And may my blood stop running blue, if I can't deliver unto you a resolution on independency!" But enough of the musical references...

We had another great visit to another historic city today. This was my second time in Philly, and it wasn't as emotional as my first trip. I was really surprised at how patriotic I felt seeing Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell for the first time. But that was prior to 9/11 and you could walk pretty much anywhere you wanted. Today, you have to pass through security cordons and have your bag checked to get near anything. It still brings out my inner patriot, though. It's wonderful to see where our bid for independence began. To walk one block and be where Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence. To sit in the shade of the Betsy Ross house. To send postcards from Benjamin Franklin's Free Post Office -- where old Ben invented the postal system that we still use today. So much history!

The Betsy Ross House

We also visited the Rodin Museum where we saw "The Gates of Hell" and "The Thinker". It's a free museum, so definitely worth the trip.

A bronze cast of the original "Gates of Hell" by Rodin

AND we stuffed ourselves silly with cheese steak sandwiches at Pat's King of Steaks.

Mmmmmm....cheese steak....drool....

Home of the original Philly Cheese Steak!

Preview Video of the new World Trade Center

2010-04-26T08:42:00.004-05:00

Computer generated video preview of the new World Trade Center in New York City.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Day 8 - Washington DC

2010-04-23T21:09:00.006-05:00

No Duff or Geoff in sight...shucks!

Today we piled into Anne's pickup truck and drove down to Washington DC. We're staying north of Philadelphia and on the way to DC is Baltimore. You know what's in Baltimore? Charm City Cakes!! Unfortunately they state very clearly on their website that they don't want visitors. So we just did a drive-by. Surprisingly, they are located in an extremely unappealing part of town. The kind of place where you lock your doors at the stop light.

We stopped at a gas station to use the bathroom, and there was this guy using the pay phone who was lost and asking for directions. We didn't know what the cross street was. As Anne put it, we were between "Scary Street" and "Holy Crap Avenue", right around the corner from "Get Me The Hell Out of Here!!"

In DC, we parked way out of town and took the Metrorail in. The station where we boarded the train has the single longest escalator I've ever seen and the coolest looking boarding platform. We hopped on the Metrorail and got off at the beautiful Union Station right downtown. Easy peasy.

Escalator at the Wheaton Metrorail Station in DC is so long you can hardly see the bottom.

Boarding platform for the Metrorail. Very cool!

Union Station in DC

Trains And Buses And Danger! Oh My!

2010-04-23T20:46:00.003-05:00

I knew in DC we would see important, historical landmarks. I knew that we were taking a bus tour to see those important, historical landmarks. I had no idea my life would be in danger.

It went like this. We decided to take the open top sightseeing bus (www.opentopsightseeing.com). As far as a good and competent tour of DC goes, this wasn't it. But as far as the fun factor goes, it was out of this world! It had rained earlier that day but wasn't raining when we got on the bus. So we decided to ride up top. This is the place to really see DC, since it's completely open and you're up so high you can really see everything...as long as the bus driver doesn't stop in front of a wall of trees!

So the "tour" is a narrated recording. And one of the recorded announcements is to "watch for low hanging branches and wire." They weren't kidding. Watch for low hanging branches and wire on EVERY BLOCK. I was repeatedly slapped in the head by branches dripping with water (from the earlier rain) as I tried to desperately get some good shots with my camera. And then, after we had a narrow miss with another bus and had to back up the street to avoid a collision, the recording was off. So this wonderful voice was describing the significance of a building or a monument that we were still blocks away from. It was awesome! In a terrible Mystery Science Theatre 2000 kind of way. We were laughing so hard, we were crying! I thought for sure the lady in front of me was going to get clothes-lined. Her reflexes were awful slow.

However, if you are looking for a whirlwind tour that does in fact drive you by so many of the fascinating sights of DC, you should take this bus. Just be sure you sit up top. You don't want to miss the fun!

The following pictures are not my best. But they're not bad considering I took them on an overcast day from the top of a moving bus while dodging killer tree branches.

Holocaust Museum

2010-04-23T20:09:00.007-05:00

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC

"The things I saw beggar description.... The visual evidence and the verbal testimony of starvation, cruelty and bestiality were...overpowering.... I made the visit deliberately, in order to be in [a] position to give first-hand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these allegations merely to "propaganda."

-General Dwight D. Eisenhower

April 15, 1945

After the open top tour, we spent 3 hours at the Holocaust Museum. Everyone said this was the thing to see in DC. And they were right. It's...well...horrifying. The museum itself is one large state-of-the-art exhibit with some very creative installations, like the three-story portrait room.

Three-story room of portraits

I was struck by the vast number of pictures that actually show Nazis murdering Jews. I mean, they must have had a photo-journalist along to document everything.... That sure came back to bite them in the ass. The thoroughness, the sheer amount of effort taken by the Nazis to identify and isolate the Jewish population was simply staggering not to mention the cruel efficiency. I mean, 30,000 people in 2 days?!? It's...well...horrifying.

I know people say the room with the shoes is really emotional. And it is. But what I was most moved by were the stories of uprising and revolt in the ghettos, in the death camps themselves, and in small pockets across Europe. These people were utterly defenseless and weak and young. It's as if they were saying, "If you're going to kill me, you're going to do it on my terms." True heroes. Only a handful of these people survived.

Check out their website: http://www.ushmm.org/

Day 5 - Zarin Fabrics, More Good Friends, and Top Of The Rock

2010-04-22T15:10:00.004-05:00

Anne and Michael at Zarin Fabrics

"You know what Betheny? We ARE done." -Jill Zarin

We almost called it quits this morning and headed to Philly. But we rallied instead and ventured into the city one last time. I'm soooo glad we did. It turned out to be another fantastic day. The perfect end to a perfect trip.

Michael watches "The Real Housewives of New York." Not religiously but often enough. And Jill Zarin has a fabric store in the lower east side. We figured it would be too expensive for us, but I though it was worth a shot.

Getting to Zarin Fabrics, we walked through China Town and Little Italy. Actually it was more like China Town then Little Italy then China Town then Little Italy then China Town. It seemed to change every block. Anyway, we found the store and as we approached it Bobby, who is Jill Zarin's husband, came walking out. Another celebrity sighting. So, the fabrics here are primarily upholstery (right up our alley, since we like to recover furniture) and aren't any more expensive than any other store. Plus they are beautiful! Michael found some fabric and would not let anyone touch his Zarin Fabric bag all day!!

More good friends

2010-04-22T11:23:00.007-05:00

David, Ernest, and Charlie hugging it out

I was so excited to see David Austin and Charlie Parker! They are good, good friends from my years as an actor in Seattle. They both looked fabulous. We met for lunch at Arriba Arriba on 51st. It was very interesting to hear what it's like to follow your dreams to New York. As an actor. A director. A playwright.

Charlie just returned from a tour of "Cinderella" across Asia. It's funny to me that you have to move to New York in order to get a tour that takes you away from New York. But that's what happens. Charlie is also on the HBO show "Empire Boardwalk." And she's directing now too.

David and his cute boyfriend (who I still have yet to meet) are doing well and even planning on expanding their family. That's all I'll say about that. I'm not sure he's told everyone yet. And he is still writing and producing plays. He's a genius and probably the funniest person I know. So many memories! David was also in an off-Broadway play, and I was told by other people that he was hilarious in it.

I miss these guys so much. I wish they hadn't moved to NY. But I know they are here doing what they want. And I'm very happy for them.

Tom takes us on a VIP tour of Top Of The Rock

2010-04-22T09:48:00.010-05:00

View of 30 Rock from the street. Can't even see the top from this angle.

Tom (who I ran into yesterday in Times Square) wasn't able to join us for lunch, but he did offer us a free, VIP tour of Top Of The Rock at Rockefeller Center. They boast the best views of the city and a truly unique experience. I couldn't reply "YES" fast enough!

Tom Marino and I shared a makeup mirror years ago as chorus boys at the 5th Avenue Theatre. I had the hugest crush on him. In fact, I repeatedly made a fool of myself trying to make him laugh. He is a beautiful man from the inside out. And he is also the big man in charge of one of the best tours in New York City: The Top Of The Rock. Check out their website: http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/

I could not get a clear shot of Central Park from the top of the Empire State Building. So here's a view from Top Of The Rock. So much better. The park is huge!

Michael, Anne and I from Top Of The Rock. That's the Empire State Building in the background.

Tom and me!

You simply must take this tour when you come to New York. It's better than the Empire State Building.

More pics of Rockefeller Plaza

2010-04-22T09:24:00.003-05:00

Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres between 48th and 51st streets and spanning the area between 5th Avenue and 6th Ave in New York City. Since its inception in 1928, Rockefeller and his wife, decided that this would be more than just a building. It would also be a work of art. The art deco building is infused with art throughout. I said it before, and I'll say it again...this is definitely better than the Empire State Building.

An enormous Swarovsky Crystal Chandelier at 30 Rock. If you could turn this upside down, you would see that it is a replica of the 30 Rockefeller Building. Cool.

One of several stunning murals in the lobby of 30 Rock - this one on the ceiling. See the man on the left, who is shouldering a log? He appears to be standing atop the pillars, and as you move from one pillar to the other, the perspective changes and he actually seems to shift his weight from one foot to the other. Amazing.

At the entrance to 30 Rock

Just when I thought our trip couldn't be more perfect, a rainbow descended over the city! Incredible!

Bridges of New York

2010-04-22T08:25:00.012-05:00

I know there are millions of pictures of bridges, but I wanted some of my own pictures to put on my walls at home.

The Brooklyn Bridge

The Verrazano Bridge

The Verrazano Bridge

Day 4 - Singing Breakfast, WICKED, and good friends

2010-04-22T07:58:00.006-05:00

See the singing waiters at the Stardust Diner!

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over

if you just sit there." -Will Rogers

We started out our 4th day in New York a little slow. And we missed the ferry. That left Stacy (Anne's sister-in-law, Scott's sister) cooling her heals for a couple hours waiting for us. Sorry Stace! But we did manage to get our butts in gear and meet up with Stacy for breakfast at the Stardust Diner. This is on Broadway at 51st and is a rock-n-roll style diner where all the waiters sing! It's pretty awesome. I can't imagine being that cheerful for work every day though. I have videos of this and other parts of our trip, but I will have to wait for a faster, stabler internet connection to post them.

After breakfast, we had a couple hours to kill until our show (WICKED! YES!), so we did more walking. Always with the walking. My word are my calves sore! Below are the pics!

Anne and Stacy at Stardust!

Stacy, Anne, and Michael in front of Radio City Music Hall. I tried to get them to do a Rockettes Kick Line..but they weren't having it!

St Patrick's Cathedral

2010-04-22T07:33:00.007-05:00

St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC

"I do benefits for all religions. I'd hate to blow the hereafter on a technicality" -Bob Hope

I hope I don't offend any of you Catholics out there with the pictures in this blog. I took them out of reverence for the beauty of St. Patrick's Cathedral. I have visited many cathedrals in Europe including St. Peter's at the Vatican, so I was curious how this would compare. It is stunning. Definitely a must see on your New York trip. Also a wonderful spot for quiet reflection.

The beautiful St. Patrick's is were the 9/11 funerals were held.

Inside St. Patrick's main space. The altar is at the far end.

Here you can say your prayer to an individual saint.

More pics of St Patrick's

2010-04-22T07:19:00.002-05:00

Gordon Ramsey's "The London Bar"

2010-04-22T07:12:00.003-05:00

Having drinks at the London Bar

At some points I thought we weren't on a sight seeing tour of New York. We were on a sight seeing tour of reality TV!

I thought it would be fun to have a drink at Gordon Ramsey's Restaurant in New York called "The London Bar". It's at the London Hotel. Beautiful place, but expensive. $23 for a glass of wine and a coke! But I wouldn't have missed going there.

Gordon Ramsey's Restaurant and Bar in NYC

Dinner with Cheyenne and Monte

2010-04-20T21:19:00.011-05:00

After Wicked I got a text from Cheyenne inviting us to dinner. Cheyenne (Jackson) and I go way back. And we used to be really close. I had contacted all of my good friends that I knew were in New York, but Cheyenne was the last one I thought I would get to see. He and Monte are so busy, I didn't think they would have time. But I guess everyone has to eat, right?

They took us to dinner at 44 1/2. I tell you, if you are visiting a big city and you have friends that live there....have them pick the restaurant. This was by far the BEST meal we have had on this trip. And the conversation was even better. I haven't seen Cheyenne or Monte in nearly 10 years, so I was thrilled that we could sit down to dinner and just talk and talk and talk and talk... Cheyenne is still - even with all this success - the same, sweet man I remember.

Cheyenne and Monte

Cheyenne has starred in several Broadway shows including "Xanadu", "Finnians Rainbow", and "All Shook Up." He has also guest starred on "30 Rock" and "Ugly Betty." Here's his fan page: http://www.cheyennejackson.com/ Check him out. Or you can become a fan on his facebook page. He is on the fast track to becoming a huge, huge star.

With Tina Fey on 30 Rock

Xanadu on Broadway

Wicked On Broadway

2010-04-20T20:56:00.004-05:00

Wicked is a perfect show to see on Broadway...whether you are a big musical fan or seeing one for the first time. It has everything. Love story. Comedy. Special Effects. Drama. And - my favorite - girls belting their faces off!!! It was a blast to see this on Broadway.

View of the stage

Michael and Ernest

Stacy Flaherty (Anne's Sister-In-Law) got us the tickets to Wicked!!

Michael and Anne

"Live From Times Square"

2010-04-20T20:46:00.003-05:00

I actually ran into people I know. I mean, what are the odds in a city of 12 million that that would actually happen? I guess pretty good since we were in Times Square and half of Seattle (the half that I was friends with) has moved here. But still!

Walking through Times Square I saw Tom Marino -- looking fabulous in his long wool overcoat, he's so New York -- standing in line at the TKTS booth. He said he never stands in line there, so it was very unusual that we saw him there. I say fate.

And not 40 minutes later, we were walking down a side street past a restaurant and Charlie Parker pops out and calls my name! So awesome. I love this woman. And she looks gooooood!

So we arranged to meet up the next day for lunch or drinks or whatever.

Times Square down Broadway

Michael and Anne on the steps at Times Square

Me and my honey on the steps at Times Square

Day 3 - Empire State Building, Mood, and Ground Zero

2010-04-19T20:50:00.010-05:00

View of the Empire State Building (1,250 feet tall) from the Top of Rockefeller Center.

The perfect day to see all the major tourist stops in Manhattan is definitely a weekday. No lines!

Michael and Anne have been teasing me about my color-coded maps. Let me explain. In preparation for our trip, I printed out a map of Manhattan, circled all the things we wanted to see, numbered them, and then color-coded them a different color for each day with a highlighted walking path. What's wrong with that? It totally works.

So...today was HOT PINK day. We rode all the way to the top of the Empire State Building. Then walked down 42nd to the Chrysler Building. We strolled through majestic Grand Central Station and then rested our feet in Bryant Park (Home of Mercedes Fashion Week and the Project Runway Finale).

After that, we visited Mood and then walked through the financial district on our way to Ground Zero - the sight of the 9/11 attacks.

So after what surely must have been miles of walking...we reached Ground Zero. It's a busy, busy place. Lots of construction. We spent time looking at the previews for the new World Trade Center, and it looks absolutely stunning.

Here we are at the 86th floor observatory at the Empire State Building

The view south from the Empire State Building. The Financial District is in the distance. And past that out in the water is the Statue of Liberty...she looks tiny from this distance even though she is 305 feet tall.

Through the bars at the top of the empire state building

The famous lobby of the Empire State Building - seen in sooo many movies

Chrysler Building

2010-04-19T20:41:00.004-05:00

"You'll stay up, til this place SHINES like the TOP OF THE CHRYSLER BUILDING!" -Miss Hannigan

(My favorite line from the movie Annie!)

View of the Chrysler Building from that other tall building, the Empire State

...and from the street

Next Stop: GRAND CENTRAL STATION

2010-04-19T20:23:00.004-05:00

Grand Central Station

The last time I visited New York, I arrived by train from Philadelphia into Grand Central Station. I was struck by its grandeur and the sound of so many people going so many places. I just had to show Michael.

Even with hundreds of people all talking at once, their sounds are swallowed up by the cavernous space. You can hear how big this place is. Do you know what I mean?

I just love it!

Mood Fabrics...MAKE IT WORK!

2010-04-19T19:56:00.006-05:00

Anne & Michael at Mood

I spent weeks planning this trip to New York...for reals. And Mood Fabrics was at the top of my list! Michael and I are huge fans of Project Runway and, as I'm sure you must know, Mood Fabrics is where the contestants have 30 minutes to fly around the store, narrowly missing colliding with each other, and somehow find that perfect fabric. Or not so perfect...as the case may be. The store is a little difficult to find, so if you are visiting and want to see it -- the entrance is inside a building and up to the 3rd floor. If we hadn't gotten lost we would have arrived 15 minutes earlier and would have maybe seen Mila, Seth Aaron, and Emilio who were there doing a promotion. Seth Aaron rules!

Bryant Park, where they put the "Tent" for fashion week and Project Runway

Bryant Park has the teeny, tiniest carousel

On the way downtown we inadvertently walked past the New York Stock Exchange.
Kind of cool to see it in person. So much POWER!

Ground Zero

2010-04-17T22:46:00.005-05:00

The cross at Ground Zero

Preview of the new World Trade Center. Notice the two square pools. These are sunken pools located in the spots formerly held by the Twin Towers. Very cool.

I was moved by this tiny fire department. On the door is a memorial for their fallen firemen.

Day Two - Manhattan

2010-04-15T21:38:00.005-05:00

I've been to NY a few times, but this is Michael's first visit. There is something special about showing someone you love these truly iconic, American sights for the first time. We are staying on Staten Island while we are here and will be taking the *free* Staten Island Ferry in to Manhattan each day.

Our morning ride takes us right in front of Lady Liberty

The Queen Mary 2 Cruise Ship

The Brooklyn Bridge

Manhattan Skyline

The Wendy Williams Show!!

2010-04-15T21:26:00.004-05:00

Heeeere's Wendy!! Ooooh! Ooooh! Okay, so I'm still wound up from seeing The Wendy Williams show earlier today. We stood in line for nearly three hours before getting into the studio. And we nearly called it quits because of that. But I am sooo glad we didn't! It was a riot. Before the start of the show, I was in a dance-off down on the set. I didn't win...but I must say it's a lot of fun have 100 amped-up people screaming for you!!

Wendy's guests were Kevin Nealon, formerly of Saturday Night Live (Remember Mr. Subliminal? Or Hans and Franz, who wanted to "Pump You Up?") and Malik Yoba who is in "Why Did I Get Married 2". Kevin was very funny. And Malik Yoba, who is recently single, actually gave out his personal email account so any ladies that might be interested can email him. Crazy.

We had so much fun. We were even screaming "WE LOVE YOU WENDY!" Like crazy over-the-top gay men. Oh...wait a minute...! The show will air tomorrow (that's Friday, April 16th) on the CW. Look for us...we're in the back right corner.

Wendy's Studio is quite a bit smaller than I expected. But Wendy is everything I expected and more!

The audience holding pen has a giant makeup mirror, so all the divas can get ready for their chance to be on TV. Very funny. Oh! And there were free donuts and coffee everywhere! My kind of place.

Celebrity Sightings!

2010-04-15T21:18:00.005-05:00

While waiting in line for The Wendy Williams show, we had TWO celebrity sightings. The first was Aiden Turner from All My Children and the most recently eliminated contestant on Dancing With The Stars. I have to say that he is pretty handsome on TV, but...WOW... even better in person!

And we also saw Norman from American Idol. Remember him?!? LOL. Anyway, I wasn't fast enough to get a picture myself, so here is a picture from his infamous audition on American Idol:

Day One - Staten Island

2010-04-14T22:46:00.005-05:00

"Sunrise over Cape Cod"

"Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean." --Christopher Reeve

Our journey back home began today. We rolled off of Nantucket and out of Massachusetts pretty much the same way we arrived exactly one year ago: filled with hope and with Kelly Clarkson blasting on the stereo! It was a perfect, gorgeous day to drive through Rhode Island and Connecticut into New York. We are staying the night at the Staten Island Hilton. I decided to spend a little extra for our hotel tonight, because they have a secure parking lot.... Maybe it's my small-town country upbringing, but I get a little nervous driving into a city as big as New York with everything I own stuffed into a van and spending the night.

We already had our first celebrity sighting! That is, if a Fox News Channel 5 reporter counts... Both Channel 5 and Channel 1 news stations were broadcasting live out front. Apparently the Republican Gubernatorial Candidate for New York was here today. He is in the news for forwarding an email full of extreme racist jokes. Nice.

Tomorrow we see Wendy Williams, live and in person! I guess I better get off the computer and start ironing the dress clothes we are required to wear to the show. Do I even remember how to iron.....?

"Morning muffin on the ferry"

Nantucket Wild-Life

2010-04-12T20:50:00.003-05:00

Michael and Debba! Two good friends posing in front of The Rose And Crown, where they both worked together waiting tables 13 years ago. Debba is now the manager. They have some wild stories to tell!! We will miss you, Debba!

Nantucket Wildlife

2010-04-12T20:47:00.002-05:00

Nantucket Sill-Life

2010-04-12T20:37:00.005-05:00

Well, we leave the day after tomorrow. And I have been trying to placate my anxiety about leaving Nantucket by running around like a wild man snapping pictures. Here are a few:

How You Doin?

2010-04-08T09:36:00.002-05:00

We are leaving Nantucket a day earlier than planned, because we got tickets to see the Wendy Williams Show! How You Doin?

She's pretty outrageous. Should be fun.

Good News! We Don't Have To Move A Thing!

2010-03-22T12:56:00.003-05:00

We just had a great walk-thru with our landlord. Not only will we be getting our full security deposit back -- that's $1,500 people! -- but he is going to buy all of our furniture for $600. That's about as much if not a little more than what we paid for all of it in the first place! Hoo-rah! And the best thing is...we don't have to move a thing. Good news. You didn't see the narrow-assed stairwell we had to bring it all up in. So, Michael and I are very happy. Now we have a few small items that we will donate to the local charity, and then it will be time to pack up the van and head on out.

We are planning to meet Anne in New York on April 15th. We will be there for 3 full days. The highlight of our trip? Wicked on broadway. We really wanted to see a big Broadway production. And I have been forcing Michael to listen to the Wicked soundtrack for the last couple of years! So it should be most enjoyable. Then it's on to Philadelphia to stay with Anne for a week, where we will see the founding city as well as make day-trips into Washington DC.

Cheers,
E

On the road again (soon to be)

2010-02-22T20:09:00.005-06:00

Here's our tentative plan. As before, we need your input about things not to miss and any scenic drives you know of along this route!! (Click on the picture for a larger view.)

(A) Nantucket
(B) New York
(C) Philadelphia
(D) Washington D.C.
(E) Cleveland
(F) Chicago
(G) Mount Rushmore
(H) Yellowstone
(I) Jackson Hole
(J) Malad, Idaho
(K) Moscow, Idaho
(L) Leavenworth

Our year is almost up

2010-02-20T17:14:00.005-06:00

Well, our one year in Nantucket is almost up. We arrived mid-April last year and we will be leaving mid-April of this year. I have mixed emotions about our time here. I'm really glad we came. I've always wanted to see Nantucket and Cape Cod because the architecture and design style are iconic. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't that great. Last summer was windy and rainy. But, we did make lots of new friends. I loved my time doing the show Almost, Maine and really enjoyed those people. We worked a lot. And it cemented my opinion that Michael and I could be really fine interior designers. I want to pursue that when we get back to Leavenworth.

Yes, that's right. Leavenworth. We will be back in that small Bavarian Village by May, and we have already secured the condo to live in again. Woo-hoo! We are in the midst of planning another cross-country road trip! This time across the northern United States. These are our planned stops so far:

New York City
Philadelphia
Washington D.C.
Cleveland
Chicago
Mount Rushmore
Yellowstone National Park
Jackson Hole
Palmer Ranch in Malad, Idaho
University of Idaho (my alma mater)
Leavenworth

What I will miss the most about Nantucket is not the charming waterfront, the fishing village downtown, or the beautiful beaches. It's Brian and Christy. I wish we could pack them in a bag and take them with us.

Stay tuned. Because you know I will be writing daily blogs of our cross-country adventure once it starts.

E

Dr. Drew holding back the tears

2010-02-19T13:54:00.011-06:00

Last night, we watched an episode of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew that had me weeping unashamedly. Mindy McCready, if you remember, was set to be the next country music superstar back in the mid-nineties. And then she disappeared seemingly overnight. She suffered a physically abusive boyfriend, and then alcohol and drug addiction put her in jail for 6 months. On last night's episode of Celebrity Rehab, the gang organized a dinner dedicated to their closest family and friends who were mistreated over the years yet still stayed and loved them. Each patient spoke a few words and then Mindy sang this song. Even Dr. Drew was fighting back the tears. Here's the video:

Watch it on youtube: Mindy McCready Makes Dr. Drew and Tom Sizemore Cry with "I'm Still Here"

Mindy seems to be doing great now, and I personally can't wait for her new album to come out on March 23, 2010! Visit her website: Official Website of Mindy McCready

Not that long ago, I viewed addicts as weak. I had no compassion for them. But now, after struggling with my own demons and coming out on top, I understand how something can be bigger than you. Something can be stronger than you. Something can sneak in and hijack your life. And I get angry that this can happen. Look at Mindy McCready. We have been denied her wonderful talent these last 15 years, and she has been living in hell. Years of her life have been wasted. Years of my life have been wasted. And I want to apologize. Not sure why I'm telling you this, except that if you do know someone struggling with addiction know that it's not the person that is weak, it's the disease that is strong. Perhaps you can have compassion for them. And if you are the one struggling with addiction...please tell someone.

All my best,
E

One night in Pensacola

2010-02-02T20:46:00.006-06:00

We fly out tomorrow and tonight we're in Pensacola, Florida. Anne arranged a wonderful room for us in a very cool hotel that was originally a train depot circa 1912. The Pensacola Grand Hotel (Crowne Plaza) is located on the historic L&N railroad passenger depot. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as an important architectural landmark. Here's the hotel: (if you look real close you can see Michael!)

Beautiful antiques and opulent furnishings are scattered throughout the hotel. The chandelier in the main lobby is a large, multi-arm working chandelier that boasts 225 lights and 150 individual crystal prisms. But I really loved the long, drop-cast solid bronze light that adorns the lobby entrance:

Boy, they'll let anyone in here:

A heavily jeweled ceiling dome, which is lit from behind, is inlaid in the ceiling in the bar:

Art-deco design everywhere, which I love:

Cheers,
E

Only a couple days left

2010-02-01T06:03:00.004-06:00

We only have 2 days left here with Anne & Scott in Alabama. It's been another wonderful visit, if a little cold! Tomorrow Scott is driving us down to Pensacola where we will be spending the night in a hotel that used to be a train depot. Can't wait to see it. We fly back to Nantucket on Wednesday. Also tomorrow, Anne leaves for her 3-month tour in Philadelphia.

Speaking of Anne...I have often told Michael that from my perspective, Anne is the glue that holds this Murphy family together. You all are lucky to have her. But a couple of days ago, she said she was frustrated. She's tired of always being the one to call the rest of the family and to keep in touch. I got the distinct impression, she was thinking of not doing it anymore. I doubt that will happen, it's just not in her nature. But, if you're reading this, get off your ass and call her! She deserves better than that.

Cheers,
Ernest

Favorite quotes

2010-01-28T12:41:00.002-06:00

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the Sleep Talking Man website:

"Oompa loompas don't sing in heaven. They tidy up the clouds."

"Legs time! Everybody get your legs!"

"I haven't put on weight. Your eyes are fat."

"Elephant trunks should be used for elephant things only. Nothing else."

"I can't control the kittens. Too many whiskers! Too many whiskers!"

"Hey, don't... don't say anything. Why don't you put it in an email, then I can ignore it at my pleasure."

"My badger's gonna unleash hell on your ass. Badgertastic!"

"Don't leave the duck there. It's totally irresponsible. Put it on the swing. It will have much more fun"

"Falling in love is WONDERFUL. Especially when it's with me."

Visit their website. It's pretty funny! http://sleeptalkinman.blogspot.com/

Lightning strikes...and the thunder rolls

2010-01-25T19:14:00.005-06:00

A storm knocked out our internet for several days...but now that we are back online, here's what happened this week:

Last night I went to bed early, because I wasn’t feeling well. Not sick, exactly, just uneasy. I figured I was just tired and would feel better in the morning. But I couldn’t sleep. I lay in bed tossing and turning for several hours with a nagging feeling that something was about to happen. I seriously considered calling my family, afraid that something might be wrong there. But it was late. It had to be the intense thunder and lightning storm raging outside that was putting me on edge, right? Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to happen.

About 12:30am, still unable to sleep, I got up to unplug our laptop from the wall outlet. I was worried that a lightning strike might hit nearby and cause a power surge that could fry it. That must have been what was bothering me, right? Tragic foreshadowing. Then I went back to bed and actually fell asleep this time. About 1:00am, a huge lightning strike hit. The light was so brilliant and the bang so loud and so instantaneous that Michael and I both bolted up out of bed. So did Anne. We chatted about it for a bit then Anne and Scott went back to bed. Michael went out for a smoke and then back to bed. There was no chance of me going to sleep. I was still on edge. Besides, there was a good episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on TV.

Ten minutes later, I went out for a cigarette of my own. And the house across the street was on fire. Smoke was billowing out from under the roof. I ran back in the house and shouted to Michael. He got Anne and Scott up. They started calling 911 while Michael and I threw on shoes and clothes and ran across the street to see if anyone was still in the house. Smartly, whoever had been in the house had left their door open when they left, which told us no one was in there. Still, we shouted and shouted but got no response. Michael wanted to run in and check the rooms, but I wasn’t about to let him or anyone else run in there with no indication that someone was inside. All we could do was coax the dogs away from the house. That’s when we saw the first flames licking through the roof. At that point it was all over. A few minutes later the homeowners showed up. They had been down the street at the neighbors probably using their phone. 20 minutes later the first fire truck came. Over the next 2 hours, fire trucks continued to arrive as we watched the house burn to the ground.

We believe the house was struck by lightning and suspect that it was the metal roof that attracted it.

Here’s video:

And the house the next morning:

Pics from Chris!

2010-01-10T07:39:00.004-06:00

Pics from Chris at Christmas lighting!

Jake, Jill, Chris, Bri, Vanna, and Seth

Chris and Jake

Chris, Jill, Bri, Vanna, and Seth on the frozen river.

Sleep Talkin' Man

2010-01-09T19:47:00.002-06:00

This is funny: Sleep Talkin' Man

-E

2010-01-07T17:52:00.005-06:00

Much has happened since my last blog post. I was able to get away from the ranch for a week and fly to Leavenworth to be with Michael. It was great to see Anita and Sue and Robyn and everyone at the Gingerbread Factory. Well, not quite everyone...Lisa was flying to Boston for a funeral as I was flying to Seattle. I was originally supposed to go and work at the Gingerbread Factory in October, but since I couldn't be there, Michael spent the last several weeks picking up the slack for me. He really worked his butt off. No, literally. He lost like 10 pounds.

It was a whirlwind trip. We were only in Leavenworth for 3 days, and we spent all of it in the midst of the craziness that is the Gingerbread Factory. We did sneak away to watch Christmas Lighting with Michael's brother Chris, his girlfriend Jill, and their kids, who climbed out onto the 3rd floor balcony of the Hotel Europa and lit themselves up with lights.

Here are the pictures:

We spent the next few days in Seattle cramming in multiple doctor's appointments and last-minute shopping. We were lucky enough to see Vanna in concert. This girl can really play the sax! She and Michael had called me a few weeks earlier so she could play Edelweiss over the phone. And it was really good! That is, until she bust up laughing half way through...

Live from Lake Stevens Middle School! It's Vanna Murphy on the sax:

"Low Rider"

"Play That Funky Music"

Then we were back on the plane headed to Idaho. I was so happy to have Michael with me. He brightens my day. We had a beautiful White Christmas. Mom had waited for Michael and I to decorate the tree. She wanted it "professionally done." And it turned out absolutely beautiful. I sang at the church for Christmas Eve to a full house. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of being home for 2 months aside from taking care of my dad and feeling, well, useful again....was singing at the church. The Malad Presbyterian Church has a very small, aging congregation... and no Reverend. But each week more people were coming to hear me sing. It was great to sing again for the Lord and for such an appreciative group of people. I love that church, and I'm not particularly religious.

On a side note...one morning Mom and I were sitting at the kitchen table having coffee and Michael came in. He immediately went for the coffee. But before that, he noticed that the paper towels were out and replaced the roll. Then he got his coffee and proceeded outdoors for a smoke. But before that, he noticed the garbage needed a new lining and replaced the lining. Then he went outside for his morning smoke and coffee ritual. I turned to my mom and said, "You know. I have dated other guys who were smart and funny and charming, like Michael. But none of them would have done what he just did." And it's true. It just wouldn't have occurred to them to do those things. But Michael did it without even being asked. What a sweetheart.

So, now it's January 6th, and we are in Alabama with Anne & Scott. I always look forward to visiting them. They genuinely seem excited to see us, and it is just so comfortable to be here. We all love to sit around and comment loudly on HGTV. I have long had a fear of overstaying my welcome with people. I just hate that feeling when you realize that someone doesn't want you around anymore. But I never feel that way here.

Cheers,
E

Cutting of the Christmas Tree

2009-12-08T10:37:00.004-06:00

First, my favorite quote of the week:

"Nine times out of ten I get that little, short one. And she can't remember her ass from a hole in the ground."
-Dad, explaining why his dialysis treatment took longer than usual.

I haven't been home for the annual trek up into the mountains to find and cut down that perfect Christmas tree since I was in high school. This is now a grand adventure, involving several neighbors who have become extended family.

Video:

Sorry if you got a kink in your neck watching that. I have now discovered that I can't turn my camera when taking a video. Has to be horizontal. Like a TV screen, I guess. Huh.

Okay. If you haven't visited my friend Kathryn's blog, you need to! She has a spectacular mind. And she is so descriptive. This makes for some good reading!! She just flew to Johannesburg to help impoverished and orphaned children for the holidays. Here is her blog: My Amazing Journey

I am inspired by friends this year (Hello Rachel! Hello Kathryn!), who are each donating what they can for Christmas to those less fortunate. Kathryn...off to South Africa to share her talent and passion. And Rachel...packing shoe boxes full of toys and goodies and sending them to kids in Southeast Asia. As for me...I'm donating to the local food bank. What are you doing?

Ideas:
My favorite food bank (one that I have needed in the past): Northwest Harvest

Make a loan Change a life: Kiva

Lifelong AIDS Alliance

Find your local food bank: Feeding America

Merry Christmas!

Ernest

Preg-testing, Lion Hunting, And another friend dies

2009-12-03T08:41:00.005-06:00

First, my favorite quote of the week:

"Pablo is no one's bitch anymore. He really filled his big boy pants today......with his balls."
-Tabatha, from Tabatha's Salon Takeover

The circle of life continues on the ranch this week with the cows getting preg-tested. The vet shows up and slips on his really long glove, which covers him from fingertip to shoulder. The cows are run through the chute one by one and the vet reaches in, feels around for the calf, and determines how many month's along she is. Then he takes a giant orange crayon and writes this number on her hip. Hopefully, for the cows' sake, there won't be any zeros. These cows are likely to go to the butcher shop. Poor cow. Yummy hamburger.

Last week, my brother Travis discovered mountain lion tracks in the snow on our property up in the mountains. Mountain Lions are very dangerous and they like to eat little calves, which can cost us quite a bit of money. And in the winter time when snow pushes them down out of the mountains, they can be a danger to pets and even small children. So, Trav and a group of his buddies went hunting. They didn't find them but discovered tracks for more than one lion. They are elusive. My dad has been hunting them his whole life and only killed 3 that I know of. Unless you have a pack of dogs that can corner the lion in a tree, you'll never catch them. But, I'm certain Trav will keep trying!

Above is the mountain lion my dad killed a few years ago. Pictured is Gale Neal on the left and my dad on the right.

Today is another sad day. One of THE BEST things about college was my friend Lacie Hedahl. She was so much fun and so talented. We sang in 2 jazz choirs together for 4 years. She was always ready to hang out. We would sneak over to the snack shop for some junk food or sit and practice in the halls or go out drinking. And she was such a musician. The kind that you paid attention to when she had something to say about the music. The kind that when she sang or played her saxophone you would stand up and cheer, shouting, "Now that's the way it's supposed to be done!" She died over the weekend due to diabetic complications. We had been talking on Facebook for the last year or so. I wish that I had gotten off my ass, to drive the 4 hours it takes to get to Spokane and see her. Goodbye, Lacie!

Dad Update:
I'm allowing myself a small glimmer of excitement. Though Dad would not admit it, he is a little bit stronger this week and more alert. I have been reading everything I can about his problems and learning everything I can about the medicines he gets. And I think I'm making a difference. I'm now able to adjust his medicines each day depending on how he feels and what symptoms I can see. My focus is stopping the diarrhea so that the food and medicine he gets through his feeding tube have the proper time to sit and get absorbed, which will give him strength. Unfortunately one of the medicines he absolutely needs to empty his stomach and alleviate nausea, causes diarrhea. So it's a battle. And my lord, am I tired! My day starts at 6:30am and goes until midnight. If you know me at all...you know that I don't do mornings! Or 17 hour days! But, I am happy to help this man that has given me so much.

Cheers,
Ernest

Dad has surgery, Trav turns 42, and a friend dies

2009-11-16T13:55:00.003-06:00

First, my favorite quote of the week:

"I may be a bitch. But at least I'm good at what I do."
-Tabatha from "Tabatha's Salon Takeover"

This week was full of events. Last Monday, Mom and I decided to take Dad to the ER after he had been throwing up for 24 hours straight. He was diagnosed with pneumonia, which was our biggest worry, and a urinary infection. He has been in the hospital all week, getting pumped full of antibiotics. While there, his doctor discovered a few other problems and may have just figured out what has been causing him to be so nauseous. He was also able to get the surgery that he was too sick to get last week. This was to create a fistula in his upper left arm. Let me scroll down to see if I described what a fistula is in my last post.........nope. Okay. A fistula is when an artery is surgically connected to a vein, making a sort of u-turn in the arm. After a few weeks the vein then becomes as large as the artery. At that point, Dad can receive his dialysis there, and it is safe enough to do in a home environment, which is the ultimate goal.

My older brother, Travis, turned 42 on Friday. It's hard to believe we are getting that old. When I'm home on the ranch and in the house I grew up in, I feel like that dorky teenager all over again. But, I will be 37 in January. Trav celebrated by running his horse right into a badger hole, which threw them both down nearly breaking the horse's leg and severely bruising Trav's collarbone. Then we all went to dinner. Tough being a cowboy...

On a sad note, a friend of mine died over the weekend. He and I went to school together starting in preschool and going all the way to high school. He also helped out several summers on the ranch. He was a funny, smart, irreverent guy. He had been battling alcohol for many years now and when he was in jail 2 years ago, my dad introduced him to Alcoholics Anonymous and became his sponsor. But unfortunately, he lost his battle. He hung himself.

On a lighter note, Michael repainted Vanna's room. She has been wanting to paint it over in her favorite colors...namely...pink, pink, PINK!!! But, Chris kept vetoing the idea. I think he liked the cool jungle mural Michael had previously painted in her room. I guess with Michael there for a full week...Vanna won out! It is now painted in pink and white stripes with black trim. Sounds very French princess, to me! Perhaps Chris will post some pictures online (hint, hint).

That's all for now!

Cheers,
Ernest

Cowboy up! The calves are off to market.

2009-11-05T17:00:00.006-06:00

It's business as usual this week on the Palmer Ranch. Travis and Rick loaded up the calves to send them off to the market. There are around 250 calves to sell this year (we always keep few). The whole process of selling cattle has become very technologically advanced. At the beginning of summer, a videographer comes out to film the calves on the range. The calves are gathered up and then slowly driven in front of the camera. Then that video is uploaded to a satellite where later in the summer it is broadcast across North America for an online auction. It's great because you get a lot more bidders, and this year we got a great price - $1.08/pound. If you figure 600 pounds per calf then that's around $162,000 minus a whole lot of expenses.

Here's video:

Dad Update:
We had the biggest scare yet a couple nights ago. Dad's sugar dropped to 29. That's low enough to put him in a coma or kill him. We mounted a vigil and by 6am his sugar was back up to 96. Still low but acceptable. Very scary. Today he is fine. Each day is up and down, but we are surviving and staying positive.

Cheers,
Ernest

"Happy Halloween" -OR- "What's that buzzing sound?"

2009-11-04T00:49:00.000-06:00

It was a very quiet afternoon. I was diligently working my way through dad's numerous medicines. And then my brother and his family arrived. It was like getting hit by a class 4 tornado.

In the pictures are Jaicee (9-years-old) and Marquel (2-years-old). They were dressed as the "BUMBLE BEE SISTERS!!" Da-da-da-DAH da-DAAAAHHH!! Also pictured is my dad, Tom, and Shay in the background.

DAD UPDATE:
Dad is back home. The scare we had last Sunday turned out only to be a minor infection, so he was home by Wednesday. He does require a lot of work though. He isn't strong enough to stand up on his own. He is still on a feeding tube. He has a rigorous medicine schedule that starts at 6am and goes until 10pm. His diabetes requires regular insulin shots. And he has dialysis 3 days a week in a town 60 miles away. So, it's pretty busy here. He really needs a live-in nurse, but insurance won't pay for it.

I'm definitely making a difference being here. Thanks for all your support.

Cheers,
E

Change in plans

2009-10-28T21:51:00.000-05:00

Sunday night I got a frantic phone call from my sister-in-law, Shay. I barely heard her ask me to come home in between the sobbing. My dad has taken another turn for the worse.

After I left this summer and came back to Nantucket, Dad was moved to a rehabilitation home where they could monitor him. But 2 weeks ago his insurance ran out. So he went home to the ranch in Malad. He was extremely happy to begin with, as you can imagine, but unfortunately was rushed to the hospital again Sunday.

So, I am now headed directly to Idaho tomorrow. I'm going to feel things out and give my family a break. I think it's just been too much for them to handle. If things are serious we may bring Michael to Idaho sooner. But hopefully that won't be the case and hopefully I'll be able to fly up to Seattle/Leavenworth at some point. We shall see!

Thank you for all your support! I will keep you posted.

Cheers,
Ernest

We clicked the button and purchased our tickets

2009-10-23T08:19:00.001-05:00

This week we finally solidified our travel plans for the holidays and purchased our airplane tickets home. We will be leaving Nantucket and flying straight to Seattle on November 3rd. We will be spending most of our time in Leavenworth helping out our favorite business, The Gingerbread Factory, during their busiest time of the year. We'll also be bouncing back and forth to Seattle several times. Hopefully we can spend Thanksgiving with Michael's brother Chris and family. We both have doctors appointments to make. AND we have tickets to SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE at Comcast Arena in Everett on November 21st. Woohoo! (Guilty Pleasure)

We'll be flying to Idaho on December 18th to spend Christmas with my family. On January 5th, we will be flying to Alabama to spend a month with Anne, Scott, & Tyler. Then in February, it is back to Nantucket.

What else happened this week? I threw my back out on Saturday and spent much of the week in a haze of muscle relaxers and pain killers. Michael transformed the large bedroom into a gym. He moved the treadmill in there and set up the Wii Fit, so it's all ready to go. And...get this...he actually worked out! Isn't that awesome? He almost inspired me to work out. Almost.

Also, my dear friend Kathryn announced that she is traveling to Johannesburg, South Africa this winter with a nonprofit group called, "Artists Striving To End Poverty." This group serves a severely disadvantaged community heavily affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, limited education, unemployment, lack of skills and poor housing. Along with several other artists, she will be providing basic dance, drama, music, poetry and playwriting workshops for the children during their holiday break. Basically, she will be bringing joy to kids who need it. What could be a better Christmas present?!? I've known Kathryn for several years. She is giving and supremely talented. We have acted together in many, many shows. I've shared some of my most memorable and fun moments with her and also some of my most personal and devastating moments. If you feel you can donate to her cause, please consider it. I can't think of a better person or cause. Here is a link to her website: http://www.firstgiving.com/kathrynvanmeter

That's all for now!

Cheers,
Ernest

Holy Red Cranberries, Batman!!

2009-10-11T01:18:00.007-05:00

For some reason Michael and I were talking about cranberries this morning. I believe I had mentioned that I wanted to go see one of the cranberry bogs here on the island -- something I had never seen before -- and then he mentioned that Nantucket has an annual cranberry festival. So, I jumped online and...lo and behold...today was Cranberry Fest 2009!

We jumped in the car and headed out to Milestone Cranberry Bog, 193 acres of currently cultivated cranberry bog. Prior to 1959, this bog was 234 acres, making it the largest contiguous natural cranberry bog in the world. Since that time the bog has been divided up to make it more water-efficient. Together, the Milestone Cranberry Bog and the other commercial bogs on Nantucket produce 2 million pounds of cranberries each year.

Cranberry Fest 2009 featured a cranberry harvest, bog tours, hay rides, sheep shearing demonstrations, live music, kid's events, food, fresh berries and other cranberry products, although we missed much of that since we were so late in arriving.

We saw a woman spinning freshly sheared wool into yarn:

A woman weaving beautiful rugs:

And an old-fashioned cranberry separator:

Fun facts about cranberries:

John Webb, one of the first growers, was the first person to notice that good cranberries bounce. Because he had a wooden leg, John couldn't carry his cranberries down the stairs, so he dropped them instead. He soon noticed that the firmest berries bounced to the bottom but the rotten ones stayed on the steps. This discovery eventually led to the cranberry separator pictured above.
Small pockets of air inside the berry cause the cranberry to bounce. Air also causes the berries to float in water.
The cranberry is one of only three fruits native to North America. The other two are the Concord grape and the blueberry.
The cranberry was so named because its pink blossoms resemble the head of a crane ("Craneberry" as it was originally called).

I did get to taste a few things. Walking by one booth, I spied a yummy looking cracker slathered with cranberry jam. I quickly grabbed one, shoved the whole thing in my mouth....and it nearly burned my tongue off! Turns out it was curry cranberry jam. Who would have thought? I guess it tasted good...just eat it in small portions.

Show closes and Fall TV Season begins!

2009-10-05T17:15:00.008-05:00

Sooooo, we closed the show Saturday night to a house so full we had to add extra seats. What a thrill! It's been really nice to do a "straight" show as we call it -- a play that is not a musical. And, best of all, I have made several cool new friends. I love actors. They are so full of energy and come prepackaged with lots of crazy stories.

Now that the show is over, I can finally make room to watch all the new fall TV shows that have just started. Whew! Here's a list of the best we are watching:

mondays...
Castle

tuesdays...

Hells Kitchen
NCIS
Biggest Loser

wednesdays...

So You Think You Can Dance
Glee

thursdays...

Flashforward
Police Women of Broward County
Greys Anatomy
Project Runway

fridays...

Ghost Whisperer
Dollhouse
Stargate Universe

saturdays...

Divine Design
Color Splash

sundays...

Drop Dead Diva
The Amazing Race

My favorite of the season so far is GLEE! It is freaking awesome.

Cheers,

Brrrrr...It's Cold In Here!

2009-09-19T00:57:00.007-05:00

I was on the front page of the Arts & Living Section of this week's Nantucket Newspaper.

Here's the picture:

In this scene Gabrielle and I strip off layer after layer after layer of clothing, as my character tries to show what "comes next" after a first kiss. The play is set way up in the northernmost part of Maine during the bitter winter in a town so small it can't even be classified a town.

We opened Wednesday night to a meager audience (but they seemed to love it!) and the audience has been growing each night. I really adore this play. The characters are so sincere and likable. Plus the playwright has incorporated a thoughtful surprise at the end of each scene. Rachel, you would be perfect for one of the scenes I'm doing...I wish you were here! If any of you have lived or spent time in a small town....you would soooo identify with this show.

Cheers,
Ernest

I've been cast in a play!

2009-09-05T08:32:00.004-05:00

I've been cast in the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket's production of Almonst, Maine. It's a play composed of 15 minute vignettes and I play 3 different characters in 3 of the vignettes. We rehearse for 2 weeks and then go up on the 16th of this month for a 3 week run. Here's the synopsis:

On a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost's residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend -almost- in this delightful midwinter night's dream.

Directed by Jane Karakula

Almost, Maine Website

Our extremely affordable apartment makeover...the reveal

2009-08-30T16:25:00.005-05:00

We have finished furnishing our apartment, so I thought I would post some pics. All the furniture, furnishings, and decorations we either found for free at the Take It Or Leave It or bought at a bargain at garage sales...all for around $500.

For the "before" pics click here and here.

The living room:

The spare bedroom:

The office:

And our master suite:

Nantucket Limerick Challenge

2009-08-25T08:34:00.002-05:00

Here is the Nantucket Limerick Challenge. Pawtucket and Manhasset are actual places.

There once was a man from Nantucket,
Who kept all of his cash in a bucket,
But his daughter, named Nan,
Ran away with a man,
And as for the bucket, Nantucket.
—Princeton Tiger

But he followed the pair to Pawtucket,
The man and the girl with the bucket;
And he said to the man,
He was welcome to Nan,
But as for the bucket, Pawtucket.
—Chicago Tribune

Then the pair followed Pa to Manhasset,
Where he still held the cash as an asset,
But Nan and the man
Stole the money and ran,
And as for the bucket, Manhasset.
—Exchange

Nan had it sent up to Alaska,
It’s farther, she thought, than Nebraska.
Did she and her man,
Fool her Pa with this plan?
The next time I see her, Alaska.
—mailed to us by 'A California Dale,' who credits
his inspiration to Margaret Dale, whose contribution
to this tale appears at www.yesterdaysisland.com

Let’s be clear on Miss Nan and her mate,
The bucket of cash sealed her fate,
Though her motives were pure,
And the good life seemed sure,
‘Twas a community property state.
—Peter Homes,Washington, DC

Okay! Who's got their own limerick? Post it here!

Welcome Baby Emma Louise Potter!!!

2009-08-24T07:43:00.005-05:00

Christy and Brian are now the proud parents of a second girl. Christy went in for her scheduled C-Section on Thursday morning and delivered a beautiful, healthy girl. Emma Louise Potter was born Thursday, August 20th, at 8:40 am and weighed 8lb 5oz. Over the course of the pregnancy, Christy's doctor was unable to determine the sex of the baby, so when the baby was born it was a complete surprise to see a baby girl. Kind of romantic, in my opinion. Congratulations Christy & Brian!!!

Hurricane....Shmurricane....

2009-08-23T17:09:00.005-05:00

Well, my first hurricane was one big fat disappointment. There was none of the running to the plywood store for the covering of the windows....or the stock-piling of the flashlight batteries and the bottled water for the power outages...or any ensuing panic whatsoever. In fact, if it hadn't been on the news, we wouldn't have even known there was a hurricane. It passed several hundred miles out to sea. This is what our friend Eric (aka Big Daddy) had to say about it: "Hurricane Bill? Hah! It didn't even blow hard enough to knock over the gnomes in my garden."

That being said...a few people were washed out to sea at Acadia National Park. I hope they are okay. "Hurricane Horror: Two Missing After Young Girl, Others Are Swept Into Maine Sea"

Oooooo! There's a hurricane a comin!

2009-08-18T20:33:00.002-05:00

Check it out. Hurricane Bill is forming in the Atlantic and is heading our way! Crazy, huh? we're not sure how bad it will be. Probably just severe storms. Michael and I agree on our emergency plan....we're just going over to Brian and Christy's. They have food!

Check out the hurricane at Stormpulse.

Afternoon at the beach

2009-08-17T17:54:00.003-05:00

Our group beach self-portrait...guess who's foot is who's...

Here is Michael making new friends on the beach. They are apparently relatives of the Kennedy's. Later, after much wine, Michael would not remember meeting these guys or asking them to be in a picture with him...but I have the proof!

I've got my binoculars and my beef jerky. All set!

Doesn't this look fake? Like he's in front of a painting or something?

Check ONE item of MY bucket list

2009-08-10T19:04:00.017-05:00

When I grew up we only had 5 TV channels. The three major networks and two PBS stations. So, I watched a LOT of PBS! My favorites were the movie musicals, the after school shows like "3-2-1 Contact!", and the live concerts. Nearly every weekend Mom, Dad and I would watch the Boston Pops in concert. I idolized them. And Saturday night I got to see them LIVE on Nantucket. It was a thrill for me and an item that is now crossed off my Bucket List.

This is an annual concert and from the way those around us prepared for the evening you could tell they do it every year. These people brought racks of folding chairs, collapsible tables, enormous coolers, candles, gas lamps, and lots and lots of food. As for Michael and me....we had 2 bottles of wine, a bag of jerky, some corn chips, and a huge blanket. Just what we needed to sit on the beach, watch the sun set, and enjoy one of the most entertaining orchestras in the business.

Can I first say that Keith Lockhart is short. I mean, I knew he was short. I remember when he auditioned to replace John Williams as conductor how energetic, cute, and well...short... he was. Seriously, the guy is tiny.

The show started with an introduction by Chris Matthews, who is host of MSNBC's "Hardball" (Boo! I can't stand that show). He was surprisingly charming and funny. Then the National Anthem was sung by a local high school girl with a lovely voice (Lucky girl! I'd give and arm an leg to sing with the Boston Pops). Then Keith came bounding onto the stage proudly wearing his Boston Red Sox Jersey and launched into a series of baseball and Fenway Park themed songs. (Lisa, you and Anita totally should have been here!)

The second half of the show featured Michael Cavanaugh. Michael is the star of the Broadway Show "Moving Out", which features incredible choreography by Twyla Tharp set to the music of Billy Joel. He was FANTASTIC!

Oh! We had a celebrity sighting too! We just happend to sit down 10 feet from John Shea and his family. John Shea I know best as Lex Luthor from the 90's TV show "Lois And Clark". He was also on Mutant X, Law & Order, Sex In The City, and Gossip Girls. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790291/

This concert couldn't have come at a better time. The last few weeks have been trying for me. I thought coming out here would be refreshing and exciting. But I've been kind of depressed. We have been working so much that I rarely have energy for anything else. And to be honest, cleaning houses isn't my favorite activity. Plus in the back of my mind I can't help but worry about being so far away from my family in Idaho and my dad who is still in the hospital. So, I've been questioning why we came here. But here now is a perfect reason:

Where else am I going to so easily see the Boston Pops live right on the beach?

Cheers,
Ernest

2009-07-28T09:50:00.000-05:00

Summer is...here?

2009-07-25T10:18:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone! I'd like to say that it's sunny and beautiful on Nantucket...but I'd only be half right. The weather is still mostly rainy. :-(

We've been working pretty much non-stop Monday through Friday. We landed two new jobs thanks to Ashley who was organizing and needed help. We're making money but my word am I tired. And that sucks because today, Saturday, is a gorgeous (and I mean gorgeous) sunny day!!!!

Anita and Lisa to the rescue!!! We received a wonderful care package from the ladies of the Gingerbread Factory as well as a nice card from Rachel. And that made my day. They sent us so many cookies -- too many for us to eat -- that we are spreading them around the island to our friends.

We have one confirmed visit coming up. Anita and Lisa are bringing 2 friends to the island in September! That has me excited. It's also going to force me up and out of our nice apartment to explore the island more, so that I can play tour guide when they visit.

So come on! Who's coming next?!?!?

Cheers,
Ernest

Happy Independence Day Everyone!

2009-07-06T19:54:00.010-05:00

I hope you enjoyed this year's Independence Day as much we did. Finally the weather cleared and we had a beautiful sunny day. We attended a wonderful dinner party at the Upton's. These are the people whose house we clean weekly and where we have been helping Ashley decorate. It was a fun party and such a clear night that we could see the Nantucket fireworks, the fireworks on Martha's Vineyard, and the fireworks at Hyannis on the mainland.

I was a bit surprised when one of the guests at the party, a mother of two, asked what the 4th of July actually meant. So....now a "History Lesson!"

Many people confuse the celebration of the 4th of July for the end of the Revolutionary War. Not true. The Revolutionary War lasted from 1775 to 1783. July 4, 1776 is the day we adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Our 2nd continental congress voted in favor of an independence resolution on July 2, 1776 and the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, was approved and dated July 4th. Because of the date on the Declaration of Independence, we celebrate this day.

Here is some interesting trivia:

Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers of the United States and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence to become president, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary.

In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired, once at morning and again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island, in honor of the 13 colonies that declared independence from Great Britain. Thus began the tradition of the 13-gun salute.

Michael and Ashley.

An Island Traffic Jam

2009-07-05T09:05:00.006-05:00

We encountered this little guy while driving in to town. So, as you can see, we may not be a big metropolis.... but we do still have traffic jams!!

Pics From Home

2009-06-21T12:21:00.007-05:00

I didn't have my fancy camera with me, but I still managed to take some decent pictures with my cell phone. I was born in Malad City, Idaho, and lived there the first 18 years of my life. It is a beautiful mountain valley located in the south eastern corner of the great state of Idaho. I grew up on a 700-acre ranch where we raised alfalfa and wheat and ran 300 head of cattle. This is a view of the valley:

Here is a picture from the front deck of my parents' house. You can see the log cabin where my great-grandfather was born. And way off in the distance you can see the highest mountain in the valley, Oxford Mountain. My family is a true cowboy family. Each year in early summer, our cowboy friends from around the state would join us on an old-fashioned cattle drive. On horseback, we would drive our 300 head of cattle from the base of Oxford mountain to an upper valley, where they would graze until the end of summer.

This is a view of the yard and corrals at my parents' ranch. You can see one of my mom's ubiquitous flower beds and also the John Deere swather. I used to spend 10 hours a day on one of these swathers cutting down the hay. I always felt so out of place running these huge pieces of machinery. Just imagine me plowing the field from sunup to sundown all the while listening to Broadway show-tunes, which would have me crying my eyes out!

The front side of my parents' house:

This is a view of the meadow. Beneath that tree is a small swimming hole that I used to spend hours and hours in.

More Pics From Home

2009-06-21T12:00:00.007-05:00

The Wasatch Mountains run along the eastern side of Salt Lake City, Utah, and they are the western foothills of the great Rocky Mountains. This is the view from the 8th floor of my dad's hospital in Salt Lake City:

My mother's lawn and yard is HUGE! She has a row of lilacs that is at least 70 feet long. Plus she has flowers everywhere:

The first week I was home it was impossibly sunny, and the thermometer pushed 90 degrees. But the last two weeks were filled with big, LOUD, wet thunderstorms. Most of the time midday looked like this:

But...when the rain cleared we were left with beautiful sunsets. This is the view from the backyard of my parents' ranch:

I made it back to Nantucket

2009-06-16T22:52:00.007-05:00

I am back on Nantucket exactly 3 weeks from the day I left, and I want to thank each and every one of you for your kind thoughts, your text messages, and your prayers. They definitely helped. My dad is not completely better, but he is better than before.

When Shay, my sister-in-law (usually a pillar of strength and not one you would want to cross...!), called 3 weeks ago, I could hear her shaking over the phone and I knew I had to go. My dad has been diabetic for over 2 decades, had congestive heart failure several years ago, and has been on dialysis thanks to kidney failure for the last 18 months. His heart normally functions at around 67% capacity ejection fraction....for those of you who don't know, 0% means you're dead and 100% means you're a miracle....and it was at 31% when I got there. He was so weak that the muscles used to swallow food had stopped functioning and we were forced to put him on a feeding tube. He was also incoherent some of the time. Talking to people that were not there and not even recognizing me some of the time. The doctors ran every test they could think of, but were not able to discover the reason for his sudden and rapid decline in health. They adjusted his medication and by the end of the first week, Dad was feeling better. He was even joking with the nurses. For instance:

Nurse, "Tom, you're looking better today."

Dad, "I ain't never gonna look too good."

Nurse, laughing, "Well, you look better than you did yesterday!"

And he did look better. So he was released from the hospital and I became his 24/7 nurse. He was embarrassed at first, but I was happy to do it. He took great care of me as a kid and I told him so. Each day he got better. I made sure he took his medicine, ate his food, hooked up his dialysis machine each night, and got some physical therapy each day (which usually consisted of walking across the yard, hopping in the pickup, and going for a long drive).

Unfortunately, he started getting nauseous by Sunday and after throwing up all night long, we ended up back in the hospital exactly one week later. Well, I spent another week in the hospital and he improved again. He is still in the hospital as I write this, but only because the doctor wants to make absolutely certain he won't be getting nauseous again. He'll be out by the end of the week.

It was nice to be able to go home and help out so much. I have two amazing parents. I was shocked at the number of phone calls, and visitors Dad received. He is a longtime AA member and has sponsored more people than I can remember. So many of those people called to lend their support and to tell me that he saved their life. How cool is that?!? It makes me proud to be his son.

I do wish he was better than he is and I feel guilty about coming back here to Nantucket. But my mom and brother said it was time for me to go, that I was a Godsend. I don't know about that. I'm real happy to be back with Michael again and we do really need to make as much money as we can this summer...but I'm ready to fly back at a moment's notice.

Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts. You really helped me through this.

-Ernest

I'm flying home for a family emergency

2009-05-26T10:09:00.003-05:00

My dad is in the hospital. He's been there for 11 days now, and we're pretty worried. He took a turn for the worse 2 nights ago, so I'm hopping a flight home. He has heart problems, kidney problems, and diabetes. I can only hope he recovers, but we just don't know. If you can find room to pray for him, I would very much appreciate it.

Michael is staying here in Nantucket without me. We have a big job that needs to be finished this week so that we can get paid. And we need that money to pay rent. I'm sorry I have to leave him to do it but I have to go home. If my dad isn't any better by next week, I want to fly Michael out too. We had planned on making a trip to my home in Idaho this summer anyway -- I've been wanting him to see how beautiful and expansive our place is -- I just wish it were under different circumstances. So...Michael could use your support now too.

I love you guys. Thanks for all your kind words.

Cheers,
Ernest

I FOUND STARBUCKS COFFEE!!!

2009-05-22T06:35:00.004-05:00

Thank the Lord in Heaven! I found Starbucks coffee.

A small store called the "Trading Post" has 6 different types of Starbucks coffee, fresh donuts, and the owner is ordering our cigarettes. And the best part is that it's only 2 blocks from our apartment. How sweet it is!

I'm looking forward to the warm weather

2009-05-18T16:14:00.001-05:00

More pics of our new place

2009-05-15T17:37:00.004-05:00

I'm so stoked about this apartment. We have so much room! It's not the condo in Leavenworth (I LOVED the condo in Leavenworth), but it's a good second.

This is the bonus room. We think we'll put the TV up here with the surround sound, so we can turn it up as loud as we want! We may also put another bed up here or use it as a workspace.

And this is the spare bedroom and misc. other pics.