Categories
Travel Bob

A stone’s throw from the Durty Leprechaun …



copperleaf_appleton.jpg

Originally uploaded by Suffering the Benz


The view from my fifth floor room at the Copperleaf Boutique Hotel in Appleton, Wisconsin. Overall, nice hotel. OK gym (clean but too few machines). And Appleton was a nice surprise. Great cigar store (Appleton Souvenir and Cigar Co.) a short walk from the hotel and a watering hole called the Durty Leprechaun which, sadly, I didn’t test drive.

That’s the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center to the right, on College Avenue, where I found the cigar store and noticed the Durty Leprechaun.

Rooms with a View group on Flickr …

Categories
Travel Bob

Knoxville airport adds insult to injury …

As I was paying my parking fee late last night at mighty McGhee Tyson airport, I noticed a sign warning that they’re raising rates effective July 1, 2008. Looks as if long term will jump from $8 to $10 a day. Short term is going up, too, but I didn’t catch the rate since I was more focused on the long term increase. Of course, their website makes no mention of the hike. Guess they’re too ashamed to make it public and try to explain themselves.

So gas prices are soaring. Airlines are nickle-diming travelers every chance they get and providing a truly miserable experience. And now the airport is going to charge you an extra $2 a day to park long term. Sorry, but that’s crap. Talk about kicking road warriors when they’re down …

Categories
Music Bob

Tombstone hand and a graveyard mind

I was crushed when I read on Monday that Bo Diddley had died. I came to him through a circuitous route that started with a searing Grateful Dead version of “Not Fade Away,” then to Buddy Holly and finally to the source, big bad Bo.

Most of the tributes I’ve been reading have focused on the famous Bo Diddley beat that’s that’s spine of so many rock songs, but this homage on Literary Kicks focuses on Bo’s verbal prowess. Great read and right on the money. To wit:

“Ellis ‘Bo Diddley’ McDaniels lived to tell stories and create characters. His songs are what made him famous, even more than his beat. His words were as simple as his guitar playing, and just as strong.”

Funny that author Levi Asher also refers to the Live at the Ritz CD that features Ronnie Wood. That was the first Bo Diddley CD I bought, and I knew it wasn’t quite on target. Asher’s assessment of it is right on. Glad I tried again and got to know the real Bo.