Throwback Thursday: Scans from Los Angeles

  Today's "throwback" is going to focus on photos I took on vacations around Los Angeles and California back in 1987 and 1994. I didn't take as many photos back then because, well I couldn't afford the film in the age before digital. I didn't know what would come out, you couldn't just "delete" photos you didn't like, and there were times that rolls of film didn't get developed(due to lack of money) and/or just got lost.

Quick Trip down the Bristol-Memphis Highway

  A week or so ago, we took a "quick" trip to Sevierville to pick up Mom for something-er-other. I put "quick" in quotation marks because "quick" would mean the 3 hour ride along Interstate 40. But we actually had most of Sunday so we took Highway 70, the old Bristol-Memphis Highway, roughly from

Signs, Everywhere Signs, Old Motel Signs

Another "sign" that I was born in the wrong decade(or perhaps have intense feelings from past lives), is the feeling I get when seeing old motel signs. There almost isn't anything that evokes life on the road quite like a kitschy and googie architectured motel sign. The giant arrows, "vacancy" neon, and bright colors-all now fading into nothingness. The old "motor hotels" along Route 66, Dixie Highway and other roads that were the interstate before the interstate. There aren't many left so I try to get snapshots when I can. New motel/hotel signs are so boring now. 

Give me the past anyday.

Etowah Motel in Etowah, Tennessee. I've been told it's gone now.

Scenic Motel, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

411 Motel, Maryville, Tennessee

Tuckaleechee Village, Townsend, Tennessee

Canal Motel, Old Route 66, Chain of Rocks, Illinois

Bel-Aire Manor Motel, Old Route 66 Springfield, Illinois

Overton Motel, Livingston, Tennessee

Sands Motel, Van Horn, Texas

Bridgeway Motel, Smithville, Tennessee

Ragland Motel, Indian Mound, Tennessee

Sonny Gray Number Retired

  On  Thursday night, Sonny Gray, pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, had his high school number retired. He returned home to Smyrna for the ceremony that took place during half time of the Smyrna Bulldogs-Riverdale Warriors game.

  After the ceremony, in which it was stated that the #2 uniform would still be used by players who are deemed worthy by showing excellence on and off the field, Sonny was interviewed by several local news stations

  He smiled and waved and interacted with the student section of the stands.

  And then he stopped for a group who wanted 'selfies' with him. He also signed a few autographs(including signing my game program!). 

  Thanks for coming home Sonny! Too bad the Bulldogs lost the game 42-20.