A Year Close to Home

Last night while T and I were eating dinner we both agreed it hadn’t been that great of a year financially or goal wise.  We both wish for better and there’s a lot more we want from life.  However I told him I thought some great trips had stumbled upon us, even if they weren’t really very far from home and even if we really didn’t spend that much on them.  Here are our top 3:

*April of 2009 my wonderful husband took me to Gainesville, FL to The Butterfly Rainforest for my 32nd birthday.  It was such a unique experience.  Butterflies everywhere!  We had been to a few releases at the zoo and a local park but this was massive amounts of gigantic butterflies as big as your head, breeds that exist in other countries that are here because it’s a part of a museum.  It was unreal and at one point, yes, I cried.  It was that moving to me.

*Then in September we had tickets to see one of mine and my husband’s favorite bands.  It was on a list we made out loud one day of bands that we must see in our lifetime.  Depeche Mode went above and beyond our expectations of what a concert should be like.  The torrential downpour that left our hair plastered to our heads and our pants legs soaked to the knee (thank goodness we brought ponchos and that we bought covered seats) wasn’t enough to discourage us.  We enjoyed every second of the show and left with huge grins.  The 4 hour drive was well worth it and we had fun hanging out in Tampa, FL prior to the show, so much so that we’ve talked about taking a mini trip down to explore the city a little more.  Oh and a couple behind us offered to take our picture resulting in I think my favorite photo of us this year.

2nd Encore…Personal Jesus!  They sung just about every song we were wanting to hear.  Such an amazing show!

*The last trip was in November, I just wrote about it, and dang if I didn’t bring home a nasty cold but we went to Macon, GA for a family wedding.  I don’t see my cousins enough anymore and it was great to have all my family in one place.  The leaves were changing and T and I had a beautiful ride there and back, listening to music, long talks and just laughing together.  I loved every second of the trip. 

Cutest little place, and such a country name!

Where did you go this year that made an impact on you?

Lucius Lamar Q(uintus) C(incinnatus)

He was born on September 17, 1825, Putnam Country, Georgia and Died January 23, 1893, Macon.  Lawyer, U.S. secretary of the interior (1885-88), and associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1888-93), was also a U.S. representative (1857-60, 1873-77) and senator (1877-85) from Mississippi.  He drafted the Mississippi ordinance of secession from the Union (1861), fought for the Confederacy in the American Civil War, and was appointed Confederate envoy to Russia (1862).  After the war, however, his moderating influence during Reconstruction won him the sobriquet “the Great Pacificator.”  As secretary of the interior he insisted that the Interstate Commerce Commission (created 1887) be subject to the presidency rather than to his own office.

Perhaps Lamar’s most important Supreme Court opinion, a dissent in In re Neagle, 135 U.S. 1 (1890), was an effort to limit the powers of the federal executive branch to those specified in the Constitution and in statutes enacted by Congress.  In his view, the authority of the states could not be overridden by federal executive powers inferred from general theories of government.

Visual source:  procolorado

Lucius Lamar Q(uintus) C(incinnatus)

He was born on September 17, 1825, Putnam Country, Georgia and Died January 23, 1893, Macon.  Lawyer, U.S. secretary of the interior (1885-88), and associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1888-93), was also a U.S. representative (1857-60, 1873-77) and senator (1877-85) from Mississippi.  He drafted the Mississippi ordinance of secession from the Union (1861), fought for the Confederacy in the American Civil War, and was appointed Confederate envoy to Russia (1862).  After the war, however, his moderating influence during Reconstruction won him the sobriquet “the Great Pacificator.”  As secretary of the interior he insisted that the Interstate Commerce Commission (created 1887) be subject to the presidency rather than to his own office.

Perhaps Lamar’s most important Supreme Court opinion, a dissent in In re Neagle, 135 U.S. 1 (1890), was an effort to limit the powers of the federal executive branch to those specified in the Constitution and in statutes enacted by Congress.  In his view, the authority of the states could not be overridden by federal executive powers inferred from general theories of government.

Visual source:  procolorado

Alabama Payday eCash

Alabama is one of the most important states in the United States, especially to America’s overall economy. Alabama’s major industries are essential in helping America’s economy to keep running smoothly.

One reason why Alabama has been successful in its major industries is because of the hard-working individuals that labor within those industries. Day in and day out they put in a good days work for a paycheck, but sometimes that payday doesn’t come soon enough. That’s were we step in. We offer payday loans. Payday loans are also known as cash advance loans, check advance loans, or title loans.

Payday Cash for Emergencies

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Counties in Alabama:

Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Colbert, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Saint Clair, Shelby, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox, Winston

Friday afternoon for 3 hours, I needed to leave the office or cause death.  Went to tobo in Bean.  Water 58 degrees.  Sunny and about 70 ish.  Trolled 6 lines.  Caught 4 tiny LM @ very upper end of the lake on far right beyond my transition bank and around the corner.  Trolled surfacing shad in mid-lake in front of submerged island and the point dock and caught 1 chunky crappie.  Caught 8-9 others in island area.

Saturday, fished about 3 hours Ocmulgee out of Spring Street w/ water @ about 8′ on gauge and about 58 degrees. Sunny and about 75. Amazingly clear for that depth, I went all the way to rocks in front of new park and Synova Beach (sp?).  Missed 4 fishing for big fish with big baits.  None in boat.

Sunday, fished about 3 hours Ocmulgee out of Old Juliette.  60 degree water.  Sunny and high 70s.  Went all the way to rocks past Towaliga.  Caught 1 LM on shaky head and green worm on way up, and caught 3 LM drifting back down the rock section on a Spot.  I tried a lot… buzz baits, 2 x-raps, regular rapalas, shaky head, etc.  Only the Spot worked after that first fish. 0.0 Shoalies.

Here is an idea for you. A dealer who sells to us wholesale worked with a beauty salon here in Macon to put on an after hours gold party at that salon. They just put up signs for about a month, and the beauticians made sure that all the clients during that month were aware. So, Thursday before last, they had the party between 6 and about 9 PM, and they were able to buy $18,000… in MACON, no less. So, if somebody had introduced that salon to us, the referral would have received $900 for a simple introduction, and the beauty shop would have received $1,800 for very, very little effort.

So, do you know anyone who has a beauty salon? Introduce them to me, I’ll do all the work, and you could get paid a few hundred!

It’s been 38 years since Howard “Duane” Allman was killed in a motorcycle crash in Macon, GA. and his brilliant guitar work  forever silenced. Outside of friends and family, and some fans, most people had never heard of him back in October of 1971.

Duane was a significantly gifted musician and played professionally for a short period of time, only five or six years. His biography is all over the place and many facts about him can be learned from various websites and a couple of books. Actually, from his death on October 29, 1971 until the early nineties he was largely forgotten but a web presence helped to bring him back to life as so to speak.

Duane mattered but not just for the fact that he played a brilliant slide guitar, a style seemingly lost to a time when only played by African-American blues greats. And it’s not just the fact that Duane, at age 23, recorded “Layla” with guitar god Eric Clapton. And it is certainly not the fact that he helped revive the reputation of the famed Gibson “Les Paul” guitar. It helps that he pioneered a dual drive lead guitar attack style, anchored by a rhythmic flow of dual drums but that’s not really it either.  The endless list of performers for whom he was a sessionist, such as Aretha Franklin, Wilson Picket, King Curtis, Clarence Carter, Johnny Jenkins, Ronnie  Hawkins, Laura Nyro, Lulu, Sam Samudio, Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett, Herbie Mann and countless others mattered to Duane’s career but they are not the reason that he mattered.

Duane Allman mattered because he was steadfastly his own man, independantly managing his own career and that of his brother and bandmates regardless of what others thought. He was ostensibly the first and last of that breed of individual. Most importantly, he made it work. His simplicity and dedication to his craft kept everyone around him happy. There was no need for pretentiousness, limo’s, the LA party scene and the like. There was Duane and his music, that’s it, what you saw is what you got, 100% genuine.

I often wonder what he would be like had he lived to see his twenty- fifth birthday and beyond, you know could he have kept it real, who knows. This I do know, he was a refreshing personality in these days of drug addled dopers, perverts and other scene stealers whose careers are based on appearances on entertainment websites and in tabloids; entertainers who essentially have no talent, no integrity and seemingly, no soul. The landscape is littered with carcasses of psuedo entertainers that have lived hard, partied harder and been left for dead and enviscerated by every imaginable wanna-be blood sucker.

Some time after Duane’s death, someone spray-painted on a retaining wall in front of his modest Macon house, “Duane Allman, where have you gone?” I wonder too.

Written by MosqueAdin
Friday, 09 February 2007

Macon Mayor, Jack Ellis

Macon Mayor Jack Ellis converted from Christianity to Islam and is now seeking to change his legal name to Hakim Mansour Ellis. Ellis, who was raised as a Christian in Macon, a city located in central Georgia, announced that he became a Sunni Muslim during a ceremony in the west African nation of Senegal.

He said he has been studying the holy Qur’an for years, and that Islam was his ancestor’s religion before they were brought to North America as slaves.

“Why does one become a Christian?” Ellis said. “You do it because it feels right. … To me it’s no big deal. But people like to know what you believe in.”

The 61-year-old mayor said he would keep his last name at the request of his two daughters.

Muslim converts usually change their name, though the practice is not typically required.

Ellis, whose mayoral term expires this year, doesn’t rule out future runs for elected office. But he said that he hasn’t considered how his conversion to Islam could affect his political career.

He says he is proud to be an American living in a country based on religious freedom.

In January, Rep. Keith Ellison took office as the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress. The Michigan Democrat was born in Detroit and converted to Islam while in college.

His election raised debate in the United States, especially after he used the holy Qur’an to take oath of office.

Ellis, who was elected Mayor in July 1999, becoming the first black Mayor in the 176-year history of the city, said Muslims shouldn’t be portrayed as bad people simply because of the acts of a few.

“If anybody wants to know about Islam, I can hold an intelligent conversation,” Ellis said. “What I’ve found is how little we know about the religion.”

The history of Islam in the United States starts in the 18th century, with the first Muslim inhabitants. The sizeable Muslim community in the U.S. has increased greatly over the past one hundred years, mainly due to the increase in the number of Muslim immigrants, and the high rate of Americans who convert to Islam.

According to wikipedia, up to one-third of American Muslims are African Americans who have converted to Islam during the last seventy years.

– AJP and Agencies Last Updated

Source:  Maconmosque.org

Franc-Maçonnerie : un pouvoir au coeur de la républiqueUne enquête de Pascal Catuogno

Révolution douce dans les transports lyonnais

La ville et l’agglomération essaient d’inverser la logique du “tout-voiture” en misant sur la diversité des modes de déplacement.

Le Monde.fr

Voir aussi

• Le Monde.fr – L’homme-clé des transports et le défenseur du vélo

PERMISSION TO CROSSPOST WIDELY

Marilou McGovern in Macon, GA is 78 years old, lives in a trailer and has been caring for abandoned and feral cats in the trailer park.  Most of the cats are tame, but unsterilized.  There are approximately 20 total cats :  5- 3 month old kittens, a few 4-5 month old kittens/teenagers, and the others are adults.

Her landlord will evict her in 30 days if she doesn’t “get rid of the cats”.  The landlord is going to call Animal Control very soon.  She can keep a few, but not 20 cats.

She does not have email.

home    478-743-4014

cell     478-283-4823

If anyone can help with relocation/fostering/adoption, our group may be able to help with the cost of spay/neuter.  We will accept donations to offset the expense of the spay/neuter for these cats.

Holly M. Cohen

Humane Society of Forsyth County

Feral Cat Program of Georgia Coordinator

Cumming, GA 30041

(770) 886-2882   phone

http://www.fcpga.petfinder.com

Mâcon – Aïkido

Robert Dallessandro démontre une technique

Le stage organisé par le Comité Départemental de Saône et Loire d’Aïkido et accueilli par le club local l’Aïkido Mâconnais a une fois de plus remporté un vif succès. Après le traditionnel café de bienvenue les 64 stagiaires se sont mis au travail pour approfondir et partager la pratique de leur art martial favori. Les clubs les plus représentés étaient Dijon avec 14 participants, Mâcon (10) et Chalon (9). Les 31 autres stagiaires étaient répartis entre Sennecey le Grand, Gueugnon, Digoin, Decize, Tramayes, Cuisery, Beaune, Chenove, Belleville, Mirande, Lyon et Chatillon sur Chalaronne. Les 320 m2 de tatamis déployés pour l’occasion au Complexe des Saugeraies étaient bien remplis. Robert Dallessandro 6e dan d’Aïkido et Chargé d’Enseignement National de la Fédération a animer ce stage avec une attention toute particulière pour les moins gradés en leur prodiguant des conseils techniques afin de les aider à progresser dans leur art. Le pot de l’amitié offert par le Comité Départemental en fin de stage a conclu cette journée sur un beau moment de convivialité. Daniel Paul président du Comité a remercié les mâconnais, qui à chaque fois qu’ils ont été sollicités, ont prouvé leur capacité à organiser et à accueillir dans d’excellentes conditions le grand rendez vous de l’Aïkido du département. Le président de l’Aïkido Mâconnais Thierry Porcher et toute son équipe sont très satisfait d’avoir contribué ainsi à la promotion de l’Aîkido.

Pour visualiser toutes les photos du stage cliquez ICI

Durante a semana, coloquei aqui documentarios sobre conspirações diversas, mas uma coisa comum em todas, foi sobre algo ou alguem arquitetando um ‘plano mestre’, no zeitgeist 1 e 2 , e até no refutando, fala sobre algo do tipo, o ENDGAME do alex jones, falou apenas dos rockfellers, e da reuninão bilderberg, ele só não quis se meter com o nome ILLUMINATIS, não sei por que, vai ver se ele falasse ‘eles fazem parte de uma sociedade secreta’ não iam levar o documentário muito a sério.

E o que seria Illuminatis? maçons? etc? é bom saber alguma coisa né..

(lembrando que ninguém é dono da verdade, mas o dia a dia te mostra um lado, e esses documentários te mostram os outros, o que você pensa que está certo, e o que REALMENTE acontece , voce assiste aqui)

veja esse documentário de 2006 se não me engano

são 11 partes, assista todos em sequencia clicando aqui

http://www.youtube.com/user/SeteAntigos7#p/c/8A6EC518F1670A0B/0/mwJ56Y_QQY8

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Illuminatis – saiba quem são eles – Sociedades Secretas

Nesse importante documentário com participações de David Icke, Chris Everard (produtor, diretor e expert em Illuminatis). Baseado em livros como os do Alemão Jan Udo Holey(Vulgo Jan Van Helsing), Robert Anton Wilson, Jordam Maxwell, René Chandelle, Alex Jones, dentre outros…  Nós temos as revelações bombásticas sobre o que vem a ser os Illuminati. A organização Illuminati não é apenas uma nebulosa e fracassada sociedade secreta Alemã do século 17, mas sim uma poderosa organização que controla as outras Sociedades Secretas á partir de dentro. Por tanto os Illuminati são uma sociedade REALMENTE SECRETA! Segundo pesquisas de David Icke e Jan Udo Holey, a Maçonaria seria a testa de ferro principal dos Illuminatis, acima do grau 33 de iniciação maçônica, segundo eles averiguaram, tem mais 13 graus REALMENTE SECRETOS que seriam então chamados de graus illuminati. Esses são os tais mestres ocultos que até os maços mais elevados desconhecem o paradeiro, mas obedecem as ordens! (??) Os Illuminatis por tanto seriam os chefões aqueles que estão na ponta da Pirâmide de poder, e por tanto tem a visão total e livre de todo o panorama em seus quatro lados, nessa posição privilegiada eles manipulam e conduzem a maioria que desconhece as conspirações. O símbolos deles é o Olho que tudo vê, e a Coruja (pode ver no escuro, é carnívora,pode voar, ataca até mesmo as serpentes venenosas). Segundo pesquisas desses sérios homens, os Illuminatis principais são os Banqueiros e grandes empresários da industria, principalmente da industria petrolífera e automotiva.

 Juvenile and Verse Simmons will be performing live at the Dirty Iguana in Macon Georgia on Tuesday (November 17, 2009). Mr. “Back dat thang Up” + Mr. “Buy you a Round” on the same stage = a lot of Girls Gone Wild.

 Will you be there?

Holiday Care Packages for U.S. Military Working Dogs!

Dear Friends,

Girl Scout Troop 60667 of the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia Council, based in Macon, is working on a very exciting service project, and we need YOUR help!

Troop 60667is preparing “care packages” for United States Military Working Dog Teams deployed in combat zones.  A team includes both the dog and its handler.  These very special animals are trained to work as scouts, trackers, sentries, and in many other important ways to assist and protect human troops as they perform their missions.  We would like to show our support for these brave dogs and their handlers by sending them wonderful packages overflowing with both needed items and some special treats to brighten their holidays while they are serving our country far from home.

Donations of funds to purchase the items listed below and/or to cover the costs of shipping OR donations of the items themselves would both be very welcome.  Make checks payable to Girl Scout Troop 60667 and mark “Care Packages for K9s Project” on the memo line, please.

We would also appreciate COUPONS for any of the below items, which will help increase our purchasing power a lot. Even if you don’t usually clip coupons for these items, please consider watching out for these in the next few weeks and passing them along to us!

Our deadline for receiving donations of items or funds for this project is DECEMBER 4, 2009. This is so we can package the gifts carefully, and make sure that they reach deployment areas in time for the holidays.

If you know of businesses willing to donate items or be corporate sponsors for this project, or if you need to arrange for pickup or delivery of donated items, please contact us!

Our email address for this project is: carepackagesforK9s@windstream.net

Our mailing address is:

Girl Scout Troop 60667
Care Packages for K9s Project
c/o Kimberly Schwartz, Adult Project Coordinator
P.O. Box 5191
Macon, GA  31208-5191

The adults who are helping us with this project are:

We also need your help with publicity!  You can assist just by forwarding this email to as many people as you can.  If you are aware of media outlets which might help spread the word about this project, please pass the information along, or let us know who to contact!

Here are the items needed for dogs:

Here are the items needed for handlers:

Note:  Pork and pork by-products are not allowed to be shipped to most Middle East combat locations, so please do not include any human or dog treats containing pork!

Thank you very much for your support!  Please feel free to contact us if we can answer any questions about our project.  We would also appreciate your help in forwarding this message to as many people as you can!

A Middle Georgia Homebuyer
Sell Your House in Georgia in 7 Days or Less!

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Every now and then, even under deadline, I find myself at a place that has nothing to do with my writing, but everything to do with enjoying the pleasures this city has to offer. This time, that pleasure took me to the 567 on Cherry Street to hear Jared Wright (sans Rolys and Bots), Rova Zoetella (a new band) and Oh Dorian (aka Heather Kemp). What I found is that…Sometimes I forget what a great singer/songwriter Jared Wright is. I remember the first time I saw him, at the Singer Songwriter Showcase for the 11th Hour’s Reader Choice Awards. Since then, I’ve enjoyed Red Swill and also fallen totally in love with Roly-Bots. The biggest complaint I’ve heard concerning Jared’s singing is that some people don’t like his voice. I could name off a number of musicians that people don’t consider good singers who are, themselves, very good. I personally like Jared’s voice and it was in fine form Sunday night.

After Jared, the very young Rova Zoetella came on the stage. The music at the start was atmospheric and the singer’s voice was melodic. Once they lulled you into a sense of comfort, coaxing you into the parlor in spider like fashion, they throw in the heavy guitars and the crashing drums and they move from emo to rock. Being fully aware emo is more about the lyrics than the music, I can’t completely rule out emo, but I can say that they fully embraced rock. Even in the noise, there is still a strong bit of melody. When I say noise, I don’t mean it in an old people listening to current rock way, but in that deliberate way that practitioners of noise rock perform. Yes, the noise was there, but so was the melody. Those of us native to Macon’s downtown scene have traditionally gotten our noise rock from Nomenclature and most recently Truffelina with Citizen Insane also dabbling. Rova Zoetella won’t be putting them out of business anytime soon. They are a little too practiced and not as experimental (on and off the stage) as the aforementioned groups.

The interesting thing about Rova Zoetella is that they are always on the verge of something. What I mean is they spent a majority of the show flirting with heavy metal riffs and hardcore screams. They walk the line between melodic and noise without being offensive to either side. They are taking this seriously because, though they are young, there is a lot of maturity in what they are trying to do.

I ran into Heather Kemp one night and she talked to me about how she was going to give up smoking because it was bad for her instrument, her voice. Tonight, the work she has done to keep her instrument tuned is very evident. Her voice was clear as a bell and the sacrifice she is making has only strengthened it. Also, the work she has done on the new songs has helped her transform her older songs. The music was beautiful and hearing new music was exciting. Now, if only she would become more comfortable and less awkward between the songs (though there is something a little endearing about that part of her, like the loud laugh, that just serves as a reminder that you’re dealing with the same old Heather Kemp), I think we would then have a dangerous musician on our hands.

For my posistion at the Telegraph(newspaper) I was asked to write a column. One that I have absolutely no idea what to write it about! I feel like I have all these ideas about things that I’d love to write about but when it comes down to it, I just blank. I don’t know where to begin and where to stop when it comes to the things I enjoy writing about and what would sound good to the people of Macon and whoever else decides to check it out. Such as I know I love to write about things of my childhood and growing up like Lizzie McGuire, 4th grade stories or the ever present Backstreet Boys v. Nsync. I mean come on though, Backstreet Boys forever!!

I’ve also thought about maybe writting about my love for traveling, even more so less traveling and more of just going anywhere. I also thought it would be fun to do a column on the college application/high school career through the eyes of a public school girl. Because compared to others around me in Macon, I think I’ve got a pretty different point of view and I pretty different way that I am going to face college and everything else I approach in the future.

I guess I don’t know if what I write depends more on what people would want to hear or what I have to say? Is something still important if no one else bothers to even look at it or read it? Thats something I think I’ve always dealt with.

In other news, I’m so close to figuring out what I want to do, maybe not major in, but atleast narrowing it down to 3 or 4 things. I know that I just love politics, and I love Macon and Central and education and I’ve always had an interest in creating a better place for macon students to go to school. I know its a hard task and its something so many people in have done before. But I’d like to think that I could help. I don’t know though, maybe I’d be better better in a physchcology field, or culinary. Its just such a huge decision that I really don’t know if I can make it at this point in my life.

Allman Brothers Band

I was born in Georgia and “eat-a-peach” has always had a special meaning to me.

It was 38 years ago last week when Duane Allman kick-started his Harley-Davidson Sportster on an autumn evening in Macon, Georgia.

It had been only a couple months after the summer release and success of the At Fillmore East album which was one of the greatest and high-quality live performances ever recorded.  Stormy Monday (listen to it HERE) is the ultimate blues song.  Duane was taking a break from touring and recording while riding his motorcycle.  A few miles down the road, an oncoming Sam Hall & Sons construction truck was turning well in front of him, but suddenly stopped in mid-intersection and Duane clipped the rear end of the flatbed truck, sustaining fatal injuries. The lead guitarist of the Allman Brothers Band was dead on October 29, 1971 at age 24.

It’s easy to understand how this album is one of the all time great live performances with Gregg Allman’s gritty vocals and dual lead-guitars of Duane and Dickey Betts. The long improvisations on the album never get old.  It was also eerie when bass guitarist Berry Oakley who died in a similar motorcycle accident just 13 months later within 3 blocks of Duane Allman’s fatal accident. No matter what the circumstances, deaths in the world of rock and roll tend to be romanticized over the years and less to do with the tragedy than it does with having good memories.

Duane Allman was one of the most influential guitarists of our time and this post is to remember Skydog.

Photo courtesy of Def Jam Music Group.

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My wife has been out of town for nearly a month for her job so needless to say, I had to find ways to keep myself busy to keep from going nuts and missing her.  I decided a couple of weeks ago that the Thursday I had to myself I would go to Macon, GA.  I promised myself that since we moved back to Atlanta that I would make it a point to go seek some much needed inspiration by paying a visit to the resting place of Allman Brothers Band members Duane Allman and Berry Oakley.  The Allman Brothers Band has been a huge source of inspiration for me for well over 20 years.  Much like the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers Band has been a huge part of the soundtrack of my life so it seemed only suiting that to find some inspiration, I needed to go back to where it all began.

Being less that two hours from Macon made for a nice and easy trip.  I loaded up the iPhone with some Allman’s and hit the road.  One of the first things I noticed before I got to Macon was an exit sign for High Falls Road which was so insane because High Falls was actually playing when I saw it.  I just smiled to myself and just knew it was going to be a fun trip.  My first destination was The Big House.  The Big House is the place that the band, their families, and various friends called home from 1970 to 1973.  It was such a surreal feeling to be standing on the steps where these guys once hung out with their families, drank beer and just plain out lived.  Unfortunately, the Big House isn’t open to the public until December but just being able to see it up close and take in the spirit of it all was a moving experience.  I just smiled to myself, took a few pictures and then made my way back to the car.

My next destination was Rose Hill Cemetery.  I pulled into the cemetery entrance and right away I got this sinking feeling.  Rose Hill Cemetery is not only the place where Duane Allman and Berry Oakley are buried but it’s a place where the Brothers spent a lot of time hanging out, partying and just beign a band of brothers.  This place also inspired songs such as the Duane Allman instrumental “Little Martha” and the ever legendary “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”.  I found a map posted that showed where all the “famous” people are buried and I found the location of Duane and Berry’s graves.  Unfortunately, there was no indication of where Elizabeth Reed’s tomb was so I figured I would just walk it.  I started walking and finally found my way to Duane and Berry’s graves.  Right away my breath was taken away.  First off, the graves are surrounded by a beautiful, black rod iron fence.  My guess is all the years of people coming to the graves, doing rubbings and leaving shit there took it’s toll so this was a great way to still allow you to view the tombs but to keep your distance.  I was going to leave a necklace but out of respect decided it was best to just leave good thoughts and take only inspiration.  The graves are absolutely beautiful and once again, I just smiled and meditated a bit.  In my mind, I thanked them for all the inspiration and music that had become the soundtrack of my life over the years.  It truly was yet another lifting experience.  It also took me back to realize that they were both so young when they died but had accomplished so much in their short lives.  Most don’t accomplish what they did or leave the size of a footprint they left in three times their lives.  I stood up and decided to make my way to seek out Elizabeth Reed which in a cemetery this size would be like searching for a needle in a hay stack.

As I walked back up to the road, I found myself looking over the railroad tracks and taking in yet another breathtaking sight.  I had a grand view of the Ocumulgee River rolling on in all it’s black muddy glory.  I immediately thought of the Grateful Dead song “Black Muddy River” and began to just settle into the sight of it when I hear a voice from behind me say, “We like to refer to her as the Ol’ Muddy Ocumulgee.”  I turned and there was a City of Macon employee sitting on his truck eating his lunch.  He introduced himself to me and we shook hands.  He saw my shirt and knew right away why I was there.  He told me that he likes to eat his lunch everyday at Rose Hill over looking Ol’ Muddy.  “It’s peaceful and the folks around here don’t bug you.” he joked.  We shared a bond immediately.  We were both musicians and both Allman Brothers fans.  He has lived in Macon for many years and knows Rose Hill like the back of his hand.  I told him I was seeking out Elizabeth Reed’s grave and he says, “Hop in and I’ll take you to her.”  I hoped in his truck and in a minute we were right in front of Liz Reed’s grave.  I managed to get a few pictures and he even snapped one of me standing behind her headstone.  He told me the old legend about where the song title for “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” came from.  In a nutshell, he said that it had something to do with a certain female that Dickey Betts used to have “fun” with near this site and in order to change the names to protect the innocent, he used Elizabeth Reed’s name from the gravesite.  We shared a laugh and he offered me a ride back to my car.  We sat a bit more and talked about guitars, the love of music and how many great guitar shops and pawn shops are in Macon.  I pretty much heard his life story which is the kind of fodder that a songwriter like me just lives for.  He was a great guy and as we parted ways I gave him a copy of my CD.  It was really cool talking with this fella but at this point, my tummy was yearning for some good old fashioned soulfood.  He gave me great directions to my final destination, H&H Restaurant.

I got a bit turned around on all the one way streets so I found my way to the Visitors Center and once again, right when I walked in the women knew right away that I was in town for a pilgramage.  “Are you lookin’ for Rose Hill Cemetery darlin’?” the lady asked me.  I told her that I had found all I was looking for and that my final destination was H&H Restaurant.  She just smiled, gave me a map and said, “Darlin’, you’re almost there.  Now you go and get you some of the best food in town ok?”  I got back in the car and in less than three minutes I was in the parking lot of H&H and ready to fill myself with some good vittles.  First bit of order was to situate myself just right so I could get a good picture myself in front of the famous H&H sign that sports the infamouse Allman Brothers Band mushroom.  Once I got that, I made my way inside.  Just like the other sites, my stomach kind of tightend and my breath was taken away.  I could really feel the spirts of my heroes in this room.  The walls were covered with edge to edge pictures of the Allman Brothers Band and the various side projects of their careers.  I made my way to a table and right away ordered my food.  Fried Chicken, sweet corn, rice with gravy, snap beans and glass of sweet tea to wash it all down properly.  I dove right into this food and with the first bite I knew right away why they call this soul food.  There is something to be said about a meal that is good with all the love, respect and gratitude to the customer that is taking it all in.  I took in every bite with a smile and I took in all the images on the wall and the feeling that at one time, the Brothers sat in this very room eating and dreaming of things that were yet to come.  When I was done and ready to go, I was told to go through the kitchen to pay which I thought was odd at first.  I made my way through the kitchen to pay and all of the sudden I was standing right next to Mama Louise herself, the woman responsible for keeping my heroes full of good soul food.  She smile and thanked me for coming and hoped that my first time was a good one.  She says to me, “You look like my boys used to way back when.”  I just smiled and asked her I could give her a hug and she replied, “Sure you can darlin’. You give me that hug!”  I hugged her and thanked her for the great food and that I couldn’t wait to come back.  She welcomed me back anytime and I offered her a copy of my last CD.  She smiled and said, “I will give this a listen.  I love hearing music of all kinds.  Thank you so much.” and she hugged me again.  I was so taken in by this.  I paid my bill, got my H&H T-shirt and made my way to the car.

On the drive back to Atlanta, my mind was full of all the great memories that I had made for that day.  Even in one day I didn’t get to see everything but it was a great start.  I thought about how amazing it was seeing all these legendary sites.  I thought about my little friend, the City of Macon worker and his kindness and our great conversation.  I thought about the sweet little ladies at the Welcome Center and the great experience of meeting Mama Louise.  The people of Macon seem to be really sweet and welcoming people.  I felt very much welcomed and embraced on this day and most of all, I got to pay my respects to the ghosts of my heroes.  What made this trip even more amazing to me was the fact that I didn’t even realize that this very day was the 38th anniversary of Duane Allman’s death.  After all that I had done that day, it didn’t even click with me until I got home and read this on a blog.  That right there made this trip even more exciting for me at the end of it all.  It’s almost as if I was called and pulled to Macon. I went there seeking inspiration and I left feeling inspired.  Mission accomplished without a doubt!

If you’re ever in the need for inspiration I recommend visiting a cemetery. It will put life in a new perspective.

During the past week in Georgia I enjoyed shows in East Point, Atlanta, Decatur, Macon, & Savannah… plus 80-degree weather, time with friends and family, and many beautiful cemeteries.

Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery (right by Ria’s Bluebird – great brunch with veg options) is home to many elegant tombs and lush floral landscapes.

I enjoyed strolling through the markers and contemplating what makes that grass so green…

There is a large section dedicated to Confederate soldiers…

The backdrop of the Atlanta skyline compliments the tombs… which offers an interesting insight into city life.

I took my legs for a walk at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield, which felt phenomenal after over 6000 miles of sitting behind the driver’s wheel.

Back in Missouri a fan recommended I read Southern Storm, a fantastic account of Sherman’s “march to the sea.” Reading about the occupation of Atlanta while overlooking the battlefield definitely left an impression…

Then in Macon I visited the ancient Ocmulgee mounds…

… before going to visit Duane Allman.

Savannah has a spooky vibe about it, and after walking around in a light rain I spent the afternoon reading in an old Revolutionary War cemetery.

Then I spent a couple days hanging out with my cousin in Charleston. It was heaven.

We walked around downtown, through the Circular Church Cemetery…

and I was very happy to see the ocean after weeks of being landlocked.

Some final thoughts:

As the days become windier and wetter and the nights draw in, my mind is drawn back to last winter when we convened for the first time on a cold January evening. I say this because the October Glass Half Fulham meeting was our first, albeit small, milestone; our tenth tasting. Over the last year, we’ve tasted a diverse variety of different wines and explored the viniculture of many different regions. But to mark this occasion, we were to return to one of the most important and historical centers of wine production, Burgundy – source of some of the world’s greatest wines and to the king of white grapes, Chardonnay.

As a way of introduction, LP (our guide for the evening) presented the four major regions of Burgundy – Côte d’Or, Côte Châlonnaise, Mâconnais and Chablis – and described their geography, climate and often confusing classification systems. Burgundy, perhaps more than anywhere else in the world, typifies the concept of terroir, and its influence in wine production is one of the major reasons for the region being able to produce consistently high quality wines throughout history.

We explored the region working roughly north to south, beginning with Chablis in the north-west. Our first wine, the 2007 Domaine Séguinot-Bordet, Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons (Berry Bros. & Rudd, £16.55) was a fine example of a traditional dry Chardonnay, typifying a style which has been reproduced around the world. This wine had hints of vanilla and toast (the similarity to Champagne was noted) on the nose, with butterscotch coming through once left to breath for a few minutes. The taste, however, was not creamy, but unexpectedly acidic. LP explained that given the cooler climate and shorter summers, producers in Chablis use techniques such as malolactic fermentation. The malic acid certainly came through in the apple and mineral flavours which were interesting, if not unpleasant. In contrast, the 2007 Domaine Ghislaine & Jean-Hugues Goisot, St-Bris (Theatre of Wine, £11.20) had none of the crispness or sharpness of taste that was expected. The earthly, mouldy aromas gave way to a sour, but full body that challenged the taste-buds. Many tasters commented that the St-Bris would be an excellent companion to a strong goats cheese.

Leaving Chablis, we moved to Burgundy-proper and took a slight diversion away from Chardonnay to experience the regions ‘other’ white grape variety, Aligoté. One of the components in the blackcurrant liqueur Kir, Aligoté has traditionally had a bad reputation as a wine in its own right, but has had a revival in recent years. The 2008 Blason de Bourgogne, Bourgogne Aligoté (Waitrose, £8.99) had a fabulous golden colour and a bouquet that included sherbert, soft fruits, wood and mild incense. It was the fruit notes that came through most intensely on the palate, producing a curious gone-off strawberries sensation. This wine was perhaps not one of the finest examples of a Burgundy white, but represented good value for money and certainly a talking point. The 2006 Nicolas Potel, Montagny 1er Cru (Berry Bros. & Rudd, £14.50), nearby geographically to the Aligoté but a complete contrast in terms of taste, returned us to the Chardonnay grape. The creamy and fruity flavours, with prominent notes of bananas and pear in particular, proved the variety of taste experiences that the same grape can produce. Many members were reminded of the St-Aubin that we tasted back in January. Whilst we were warned not place full trust in the ‘Premier Cru’ label, this was certainly a high quality wine and the most popular of the evening so far.

Moving further south to Mâcon, we tasted two wines from the central district of Burgundy: 2007 Héritiers du Comte Lafon ‘Les Maranches’, Mâcon-Uchizy (Berry Bros. & Rudd, £17.50) and 2006 Olivier Merlin, St-Véran (Berry Bros. & Rudd, £13.95). The appellations in the Mâconnais region produce large quantities of both red and white wines on their rolling limestone hills, which benefit from larger quantities of sunshine and heat than their northern neighbours; the Chardonnay grapes here are rarely affected by frost. We noted the influence of the geology in the aromas of both wines, particularly flint, which came through in the minerally Mâcon-Uchizy. However, the acidic taste (even more so than the Chablis) was both unexpected and disappointing, which made the St-Véran even more enjoyable. The second example had both an earthy aroma – typical of an oak-aged wine – and a creamy butterscotch flavour. A powerful wine, which would be a fine accompaniment to strongly-flavoured food.

Our penultimate wine of the evening, the 2006 Bret Brothers Cuvée Terres de Fuissé, Pouilly-Fuissé (Berry Bros. & Rudd, £19.50) was from the southern-most point on the limestone plateau on which Burgundy is grown, and an appellation which famously produces wines commanding some of the highest prices in the region. The Bret brothers, highly respected producers, have a reputation for being the mavericks of the Burgundy region and so this tasting was eagerly anticipated. Despite being ever so slightly corked, the quality of the pouilly clearly shone through in the creamy flavours, and was highly praised by all. Many noted that they would seek this out after the tasting to fully experience the wine.

To conclude, we tasted a classic example of Meursault, a large and prosperous appellation in the Côte d’Or. LP noted that although this AC strangely contains no Grand Crus, the Premier Crus are rarely surpassed (and as expensive). The 2004 Yves Boyer-Martenot Meursault Charmes, Meursault 1er Cru (The Sampler, £29.99) had notes of bananas, salami and smoked cheese on the noise, leading to a creamy flavour. This wine would probably improve even more during the next five to eight years.

Many thanks to LP for organising such an enjoyable and insightful tasting. Wines of the evening were as follows:

1) Wine of the evening: 2006 Bret Brothers Cuvée Terres de Fuissé, Pouilly-Fuissé
2) Best value for money: 2006 Olivier Merlin, St-Véran

(report by TH)

[JK's note: Because it was AlM's birthday, we also had the 2003 Domaine Pouderoux Vendange Tardive, Maury (Waitrose, £9.99, 50cl). A vin doux naturel, it is unsurprising that it reminded many of a tawny port, since both are made by fortification. Cherry and mulberry, it nicely complemented AlM's birthday cake. Probably a good accompaniment for chocolate as well!]

Phase three of this journey has officially begun!  We have left Taizé and have arrived in Geneva, a group of seven Americans together on an adventure.  It will be interesting to see how this group travel dynamic works out.  But, for now, it is safe to say that we are happy to be together and happy to be leaving the camp-like accommodations.

Our first group adventure involved our bus ride from Taizé to the train station in Macon.  The bus was jam-packed, and everyone seemed to be willing to stomp on anyone else in order to catch this bus.  Gone was the goodwill fostered from our spiritual pilgrimage– not when there are public transportation schedules to adhere to!  Just as we were getting settled in our seats, a scuffle broke out near the front of the bus:

Australian man: Oh GREAT!  That’s just GREAT!  Take up an ENTIRE SEAT with your bag when there are NO SEATS LEFT on this bus!  SUCH IGNORANCE!

French man at whom he was yelling:  ?

A:  THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!  MOVE YOUR BAG!

F: ? (looks out the window)

A: Dis-GUSTING!  And you call yourself a Christian…

Needless to say, the bus driver was having a bad morning.  But nothing could compare to the visible resignation that emanated from her seat when we finally arrived at the Macon train station…

And a car was blocking her entrance.

She honked and honked, but to no avail.  So, she put her head on her steering wheel and sighed.  Then, she opened the door and said, in that beautiful French language:  ”You will have to get off here, I’m afraid.”

Well!  We Americans had seen enough!  We couldn’t leave this poor woman to her terrible day without giving at least one shot at making it better.  So, we did what any crazy group of Americans in our situation would do:

We recruited French boy scouts from the bus.  And we moved the car.

Though, not ALL of us were willing to undertake the risk.

But, alas!  Victory!  Victory, at last!

Needless to say, I think the bus driver had her day a little brightened…