Wednesday, June 28, 2006

The SPAM Museum

 
You either like or hate, there seems to be no in between.  SPAM      Slice it, dice it, broil it, roast it, fry it or just eat ffrom the can.   There are receipes from  47 countries , all over the world from folks that just love their SPAM.
 
The SPAM Museum was a lot of fun and informative as well and a neat gift store for all you SPAM fans  There is also a fan club, check it out at  fanclub.spam.com.
 
When we first entered the museum there was a wall of SPAM cans numbering 3,930.   That's a lot of SPAM. At one can a day, this wall could feed you for ten years!
 
Along with the wall, there was lots to see and do.  They had a SPAM exam,  Chef SPAM, with exotic recipes, WWII SPAMVILLE about all the GI's eating a lot  SPAM, SPAMBURGER ALLEY with a17.5 foot spatula and above that a slice of SPAM that measured in at 25 square feet. I  bet your drooling now.
 
Anyway if you have anyone on your Christmas list who loves SPAM, here is the online store.  It has everything.  Bought a few gifts there myself!     www.spamgift.com
 
 
 

AN ODE TO SPAM(tm)

 

Oh SPAM(tm)! Oh SPAM(tm)! Gourmet delight!
My food by day, my dreams by night.
To carve, to slice, to dice you up -
pureed in a blender and sipped from a cup.

What shining deity from Olympus knelt
down to the earth and hog butt smelt?
Creating then man's eternal desire
for swine entrails congealed by fire.

On some corporate farm, a pig has died.
Eyes, tongue, and snout end up inside
that cube of SPAM(tm) hidden in the can
I now hold in my trembling hand.

More than mere food, SPAM(tm) is for me
a hedonistic expression of gluttonous glee.
Mottled with pork fat, the pink cube engrosses.
My mouth takes it in, my intestine disposes.

Long have my arteries clogged to the sound
of sizzling SPAM(tm) when there's no one around -
furtively chewing or swallowing whole.
Triple bypass by forty, my medical goal.

Other processed meat products I've tried or declined
Vienna Sausages, Treet, even pig's feet in brine.
Though each may be tasty in different ways,
none matches SPAM(tm) for gelatinous glaze.

That glistening pinkness beckons me
with gristle, fat, and BHT.
Oh SPAM(tm), my SPAM(tm) - the taste, the smell!
The sacred meat product, from Hormel.

Friday, June 23, 2006

BooHoo, Poor me!

I  don't believe that I will have any computer connections for the next few days as where we are going they don't have Wi-Fi. 
 Boo hoo, poor me, but will be thinking of you all.  Hopefully by Sunday night, I'll be back on line.   Love to all,      Dawn

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Does anyone out here like Spam, that is Spam in the can.  I'll admit it, I  like it.  I no  longer will be a closet Spam eater.  I'm shouting it out, and I will sleep better tonight now that I have confessed!

And now for the big news. Tomorrow we are planning on stopping in the Spam museum.  Can't beat that for a day on the town!

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

The Bad Badlands

 
 The badlands are a weird wonderful picturesque scene of sharp ridges, steep gullies and knobs that have been whipped into this shape by wind and water. 160 square miles of this bizarre land have been reserved in our National Parks System.
 
We took the 30 mile ride around the badlands loop.  All along the way there are stops for viewing and opicture taking.  If hiking is your thing, you will love the badlands.  They even have a night hike here.
 
As you look at these pictures, imagine how crossing this land must have tortured early day travelers.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Wall Drug

Wall Drug
 
We began seeing signs for Wall Drug 50 miles before we got there. These signs offered free icewater, 5 cent coffee, free coffee and donut to veterans and a host of other enticing offerings.      It's like a brain wash to stop there after reading all the signs.  I don't see how anyone could drive by without stopping.
 
What started out as a drug store is now a massive general store of 72,000 square feet, selling everything from western wear, black hills gold, food and jewelry.   A sign out front states that seating capacity is up to 530 in their cafe.
 
The Wall Drug began in 1931, during the great depression, by giving away free ice water to thirsty travelers. They built their reputation on friendly service and today this family owned business continues in this fashion.
 
I noticed on this visit they have a section out back that is called their back yard.   It's a great place for kids to unwind.  It like a playground and the favorite among the younger set is a hugh hokey Tyrannosaurus Rex  who belches smoke and makes very loud noises every 14 minutes.  Now I know you are all want to see this guy.
 
 

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Spearfish Canyon & Sturgis, SD.

 
A visit to South Dakota and the Black Hills wouldn't be complete without a ride through Spearfish Canyon, part of the Black Hills National Forest.  It twists through the 19 mile  gorge where Spearfish  Creek lines the canyon floor and white limestone cliffs rise of each side of you.  Looking out the window, you'll see what looks like millions of spruce  Christmas trees  high above you, almost covering the blue sky.  From what I heard trout fishermen come to the creek all year long to fish, as it never freezes over.  There are a few waterfalls along the way which people were stopping to take a look at.  The problem was the trees and shrubs have grow so much, it's just not as picturesque as it could be.
 
Next we took a trip out to Sturgis.  Do you remember as a child watching "The Wizard of
Oz?"  Well, Sturgis is something like this.  For 50 weeks of the year Sturgis is a small town, with empty store fronts all along the street..     The total population is in the range of 7,000 people all year long.  
 
 But come August  and as in  the movie it comes alive and is hard to miss.  It's time to rev up for the 66th Black Hills Motorcycle Rally.   This is the grand-daddy of all rallies. Sturgis and other surrounding communities prepare all year for an influx of at least 400,000 cyclists, mostly Harley's I would bet.  This is a mega two week continuous party.  We have friends from Massachusetts that are coming here.  Have fun guys.  Travel safe.   Keep it between the white lines.

Happy Birthday Monica

Can you believe it?
 
Monica Lewinsky turned 31 this week.
 
It seems like only yesterday she was
crawling around the White House
on her hands and knees.
 
They grow up so fast.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Deadwood, SD.

 
Yesterday we went to Deadwood, SD. Somehow I had the impression that this would be a town with lots of western  photo  opportunities.    The ads told us, it was the home of many famous characters of the old West. 
 
 I guess the only thing that was true was it was where Wild Bill Hickok was shot in the back while playing cards in the saloon.  I myself think this is Deadwood's only claim to fame. 
 
 Today it is a rundown town full of casinos.  Every building in town is a casino with the exception of about four gift shops.  To add salt to my wound, I found out Calamity Jane was just a camp follower and a town drunk, was not Wild Bill's girl, and could not shoot for crap.  However she was known as a compassionate soul who often cared for the sick and injured.  How's that for busting a bubble?

Thursday, June 8, 2006

Battle of Little Big Horn

 
Little Bighorn-Custer's Last Stand
 
Did you know that General George Custer was know for his "Custer Luck" before his luck ran out at Little Bighorn.  Up until the end, he had earned this nickname having 11 horses shot out from under him and was only wounded once.  As you can see he exceeded a cats nine lives and his jig was soon to be over.  Maybe he thought he was invinceable.   I'll go with that thought rather than "what was he thinking" or just plain stupid.  Maybe he was just full of himself, being the spearhead of the conflict and had his orders?
 
On top of the Last Stand Hill there is a memorial over a mass grave where the bodies of Custer and his command were hastily buried in shallow graves where they fell.  Custer was later moved to West Point Academy in N.Y.

Sunday, June 4, 2006

Sheridan, WY.

We are now in Sheridan, Wy. until Monday.  This city was recently voted the Number 1 Best Western Town in the U.S. by the Latitude Traveling Magazine. 
 
One doesn't have to be here very long before you know you are in cowboy country.  Ladies, they are everywhere!  If you have dreamed of being a cowboy or girl "Come on down".  As early as 1920, Sheridan boasted over 30 "dude" ranches attracting thousands og guests each summer.
 
The "King" of saddle making, Don Butler,  lives here in Sheridan too.  Now, being a city gal, I don't know Jack about saddles, but he must be good as his price  for a custom-made saddle starts at $3000.00, but can quickly jump into the tens of thousands.
 
The Historic Sheridan Inn is a real treasure .  It was built across from the train depot and was advertised as" the finest hotel between Chicago and San Francisco." Colonel William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody frequented the Inn and was once part owner. He would sit on the grand porch of this gracious building and would audition acts for his "Wild West Show." The Inn is widely known as the "House of 69 Gables" as listed in Ripley's Believe It or Not and it has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.  This was a party place as we would say today.  The wildest one was on the eve of Prohibition's birth in Wyoming.Every liquor glass was carried away for souvenirs and waiters finally had to bring out tea cups to finish serving drinks.  Many well known guests have walked these floors, among them Will Rogers, Ernest Hemmingway (always loved a good bar), Bob Hope,and Herbert Hoover to mention a few.  And NOW, never to be out done, Bob and I bent our elbow there.