traveling, part 8 …

… on the Crescent, a looonnnngggg trip back from the city of New Orleans, riding for interminable hours on the train across four states to get back to the starting point in Atlanta. Crossing the vast briny Lake Pontchartrain, and into the piney woods of the southeast. Often between high banks with little to see except the roots of trees along the steep edges of the tracks. Miles and miles of planted pines in various heights and stages of growth that will eventually be harvested for pulp to be fed into paper mills to meet the demands of consumer needs.

Passing rural residences, intermittent crossings when notified by the crew blowing a whistle to warn of the impending unstoppable train barreling down the tracks. Through small towns with merchants in retail shops, home-grown pharmacies and clothing stores,hardware, auto parts, various local businesses, families who work, play live their lives out in the heartland, churches, day-cares and schools. Interestingly – there were no crops to be seen along the hundreds of miles of tracks that often ran parallel to two lane blacktop roads. Some livestock in pastures, but no evidence of any sort of grain or other crop grown to harvest on a rotation for feeding cattle or selling to buyers on contract.

One of the reasons the trip takes such a long time as compared to traveling at a steady speed as one might do in a passenger vehicle going a steady speed: there was no steady speed. Forever slowing down for crossings, to warn vehicles of a risky situation nearby, setting off red flashing lights in advance to prevent disastrous encounters. Or pulling off onto a siding when being passed by other engines towing tankers, boxcars, newly completed autos, lumber, gravel – apparently qualifying for getting the right-of-way over the passengers heading to Louisiana.

Crossing rivers, wetlands, bridges, pastures, at intersections of dirt roads as well as trundling under overpasses for Interstate highways. Stopping in small communities that were planned to pick up or drop off travelers going to or from their business. Mostly undeveloped land, through the hard woods and pines, in many areas where commercial growers had clear cut and planted acres of fast growing pine trees to harvest when mature.

Interesting, as we came to a stop on a siding to see the growth pattern of a palmetto palm. The seeds could be spread by wildlife as the animals search for food, when the plants grow and reproduce. As these plants take root and begin to grow the newly sprouted palm looks spindly, with little likelihood of maturing. Obviously hardy, the young sprouts appear impervious to the effects of drought, flooding, fire – all the ways nature can handicap growth.

A young palmetto, sprouted from seeds scattered by wildlife, probably only several years old, but well established.
This one, growing near the base of a small tree, appears to be several years old, a more mature plant.
These palms as they grow develop such deep roots below ground, they are impervious to wildfires racing through the dry duff on the surface.

As these grow, unimpeded by weather, they mature into palm trees. Known as cabbage or sabal palms, commonly seen along coastal areas from the Carolinas and along the Gulf coast. Best planted in sandy, well drained soil, the trees can grow quite tall, and up to eighteen inches in trunk diameter. Popular additions to landscaping in the southeastern US as well as southern California, the trees are often seen in public places as well as private property.

Cannot say how long it takes them to mature, but this is what they look like grown.

library patron …

…from a very young age: seems like a kid would have to be able to write/print a name in order to apply for a library check-out card. This was prior to the common use of electronics and swiping magnetic strips on plastic when a person actually had to be able to spell. Write one’s name and put it on the little card tucked into the pocket on the back inside cover of the book. Probably every place I have been in residence, there has been a card in my wallet to make use of the benefits of public libraries.

When moving to TN, other people in the household had a card, until I could prove residency. Required in order to apply and receive the privileges of library use. Bring in a utility bill, or bank statement, or proof of rent payment with the mailing address and your legal name as printed on government issued ID, in order to be issued the card.

The receipt below came from the nearby branch of the Dekalb County public library. This building, about a mile away on Clairmont Ave., is the nearest. Without proof of residency, the card belongs to a close relative. Which is somewhat amusing, as her mailing address is actually on a street that is divided in the middle: half in Decatur, half in Atlanta. She lives on the east/Atlanta side.

Notice that the checkout receipt includes ‘savings’ from borrowing vs buying. Pretty interesting.

holiday attire …

… at the Dollar Tree. Where nothing is a dollar any more. Wondering why the owners have not wanted to change the name/sign, since everything starts at $1.25, and goes up to five bucks. That 2027 calendar was two dollars, which was surprising, as the one bought about this time last year was actually the newly inflated price of $1.25. Handing over two dollars to the cashier, and expecting change, she asked if I had fifteen more cents. Did I get a bargain?

This must be a oft-quoted line for the script of ELF movie with Will Ferrell. He does not amuse, so I have not seen any of his films, But will admit that seeing him drsssed like Little Debbie Snack girl on the Jimmy Fallon show was a hoot. Look for it on you tube.

zygo cactus …

… starting to bloom. No one told it that today is the second day of November, and it should not have buds to start opening until at least a month or six weeks from now. There are actually two: relocated from southeast Tennessee to north Georgia about four weeks ago. Healthy plants that have been sitting in a east facing window, getting morning sun but otherwise mostly ignored except for an occasional drink. The plants are native to rainforest environments: love humidity in the way that an orchid or fern will thrive when living in a place that gets a lot of rainfall, continually damp and the air itself feels saturated with moisture.

There are several different varieties, blooming at different times of the year: commonly known as Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus. Although the plants are not actually a member of the cactus family – that plant often found in arid or desert-like environments – the name is likely associated with the fleshy quality of the stems and leaves. As do many of the plants that live in arid locations, with much porous sand that will not hold moisture and generally infertile soil, the succulents seem to thrive in such inhospitable circumstances. With little rainfall, the zygo plants store water like other succulents found in dry desert-like climates, though they are native to the high-humidity, super-moist environment of the rain forests of central and south America.

There are at least two dozen buds on the ends of the segments, looking like they want to open in the next few days. Oddly: the buds appear to be on only one side of the plant, with practically none on the side that is not facing the bight sunlight streaming in the window.

In my limited experience: it seems like most indoor plants tend to thrive when they are planted in containers with good drainage. Both of the zygo I can see from where I sit: in recycled plastic pots, tucked inside other ceramic planters that are water tight. The water poured into the soil around the thriving zygo can soak in, and any excess will drain out through the holes in the bottom of that inexpensive container with multiple holes in the bottom to avoid having the soil/roots sitting in too much moisture. The water can be poured off later, or left in the base of the ceramic container, where it can remain to create a moist environment, without damaging roots that will not thrive if sitting in water.

The top photo, with one white bloom, was taken about five days ago. Lots of buds maturing, in various stages of ‘getting ready’. Hopefully they will hang on, and gradually open over the coming days – but there have been times that some of those will just drop off – possibly due to a change in humidity, light source, someone turning the plant 1/4 turn like I try to do each week when watering. Meaning that the indoor plants, dependent on a human to water them and provide optimum growing conditions, would get a complete one-hundred turn-around in the course of four weeks/a month. Provided, of course, that human care-giver was doing a good job.

Who knows? Also: who knows why or how they can be so temperamental? There have been times when they would start the process of putting on buds, then drop most of them before they could mature enough to open… who knows?

traveling, part 7 …

… to New Orleans for a day at the National WW II Museum. A temporary exhibit that appears to have occupied space designed for rotating shows. Where the previous exhibit might have been the one recently disassembled about Women and the roles they played in the service and on the home front. Where thousands of females stepped into jobs previously held by men who were called up for active duty. The women jumped into assembly lines building ships, airplanes, munitions in factories, uniforms – materiel necessary to feed and arm the men who went to war.

The current exhibit consisted of details of one man’s life as well as dozens of original preserved, framed, hand-drawn cartoons by noted illustrator Bill Mauldin. An newspaper editorial artist embedded with the troops across Europe who sent his work back to the US. Raised in Arizona, trained in art school, Mauldin joined a National Guard unit, was almost immediately activated after going into the Guard, deployed to the European Theater with his fellow Guardsmen.

In time, he developed the cartoon characters of Joe and Willie, disillusioned infantry men in muddy boots and ragged uniforms, foxhole buddies who shared their insights and realities of life in the trenches with fellow soldiers. The illustrations were initially printed in the ‘Stars and Stripes’, eventually appearing in papers across the US, shared with readers on the home front. Years later, post-war, his cartoons and other illustrations were copyrighted and submitted for syndication, viewed in publications from coast to coast.

Mauldin was born in 1921, won a Pulitzer Prize for his work at age 22. Many of his cartoons, depicting the hardships of life in the foxhole, bad food and slogging through miserable weather were published in the “Stars and Stripes”, the newspaper. printed and published for the Infantry. Gen. Patton was very critical of his work, thinking it degrading and insulting to the Army, but Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Eisenhower overrode Patton’s orders and allowed Mauldin to continue his style of commentary through the pair of grubby soldiers.

After the war he continued his work as an editorial cartoonist, and campaigned for congress, but did not win. Mauldin died in 2003, complications of memory impairment and health problems, but continued to illustrate and draw political cartoons for most of his life. When a worker was questioned about the many framed illustrations hanging in the gallery, he insisted the Museum would not display reproductions, and that the dozens of cartoons and associated memorabilia articles were originals and authentic.

This illustration is one of the ones by Mauldin that won a Pulitzer for his work. Published after the Kennedy assassination.

remembering …

… all those who have served in the military. A rag-tag marching band showed up to play about twenty minutes for the entertainment of anyone who wanted to go out and listen. The group of musicians is called the ‘Feed and Seed Abdominal Band’. Not exactly precisely exclusively senior citizens – but it is obvious they have not been marching on the football field for half-time shows in quite awhile. It is possible the group never assembles to practice together, just getting a request to show up at a particular location and time – sort of ‘come if you can’ invitation. Resulting in any of those two dozen appearing at the designated time and place with musical instrument to perform.

It was mostly patriotic music, with the occasion for coming together out on the sidewalk to amuse attendees being Veteran’s Day celebrating. Some of those sitting out there on the breezy overcast day were veterans, but an equal number appearing just for the entertainment value of live music. The musicians: dressed to the nines. From trombone player who had on a kilt, to their leader who was wearing a sequined gold skirt, bright red uniform jacket and candy-striped tights. Dancers in frilly skirts, and one person in a colorful dress who was twirling batons to the music.

Drummers, a tuba player, trombone-ists, clarinets, and someone playing a cow-bell. Saxophone player, flutes, clarinets – all probably people who were part of a high-school band, and still enjoy being musical.

The lights on the bell of the tuba change colors!
This baton twirling is a skill you cannot do without practicing. She was pretty good!
In addition to maybe about two dozen musicians,there were half-dozen of the dancers,just flapping around, dancing to entertain themselves and onlookers.

11.11.26 …

… is an internationally recognized date that is more than just a reason for federal buildings and banks to have a day off rom work. Posting explanatory notices on the door about why they are not open for business. Identifying that fact that this is the day in history when the document was signed to end the conflict in Europe of World War One. Meant to be the definitive statement or agreement that a misery=inducing event of this maginture would never happen again.

The original agreement was signed in 1918, well over one hundred years ago. It took place in Compingne, France, indicating that the conflict between Germany and the Allied Forces would cease. Many European nations refer to the day as ‘Armistice Day’, observing two minutes of silence at 11:00 am. Meant to represent that gunfire has ended, and peace will prevail. The red poppy, worn by many is a nod to the poem ‘In Flanders Field’ by John McRae, who was a member of the Canadian forces as well as a surgeon.

In June of 1914, if you were paying attention in World History class, you will recall that Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were killed by the political faction known as The Black Hand.This started a chain of events that eventually let to the conflict. Various countries in Europe got involved, and the political turmoil became a war that affected most of the continent. The convoluted complicated series of alliances that followed included Britain getting involved when Belgium’s’ choice for neutrality was ignored as more countries choose to active troops.

The author of the poem was a Canadian citizen, who penned the lines after the death of his friend and army compatriot was killed in Belgium. The reference to Flanders is an area in western Belgium where much of the war took place, ultimately a million lives were lost in the conflict. At the time of the battles, the fields were blooming with wild poppies, which became a symbol of the horrific experience of lives lost, blood shed, price of men’s pride in waging war.

traveling, part 6 …

… in the roomette, on the Amtrak ‘Crescent’ from Atlanta, GA to New Orleans, Louisiana. Departing ATL at 9:08am, and arriving in NO after dark around ten o’clock, having done nothing all day long but sit, read, get fed pre-fab meals from the dining services. Probably actually prepared by the same people who do the contract catering for one of the major airlines flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson airport around the clock, around the globe. Delivered by a very friendly employee/steward? to the tiny roomette we had reserved that was barely big enough for two adults to stand at the same time.

We had questions, he had good answers as he had been on the job, working for the Amtrak system for nearly two decades, taking the train from NO to NYC and back every four days. Based in Louisiana, he gets on the train expecting to travel for up to twelve hours to get to Atlanta, then continue on up the Atlantic seaboard through Washington and on to New York. This is a four day job: with the crew working four on/four off before they start back on the same route again.

End of this particular route is NYC, where the company provides housing, and the crew has about a twenty hour lay-over before they get back on the train to return to New Orleans for a four day break before doing it all over again. Other routes will vary with the length of time and distance from one end to the other. Taking orders for meals from travelers, who have a pre-printed menu of options: breakfast, lunch,dinner, and delivering the meals (in take out containers bagged by room number on each side of the aisle by the person in the dining car who sorts and packages). Nicely appointed dining car: linen table cloths and bud vases with fresh flowers on each table. The workers/hosts?/porters? have some cleaning chores, as most railcars have two tiny rest rooms, and a shower in each car. They are required to have the rooms in their assigned car ready to roll for the next shift/steward to just climb the steps, welcome riders.

The plan was to get on board, find seating and enjoy the scenery: looking out the windows as we traveled the rails from north central Georgia to the bottom of the ‘boot’ arriving in New Orleans to stay for two nights and then return to Atlanta. The day in=between devoted to touring the exhibits at the National World War II Museum, located within a couple of blocks of the Mississippi River. Expanded over the years to nearly fill two city blocks, with some permanent displays focused on either European campaign or the story of island jumping in the Pacific war battling entrenched Japanese forces. Also several temporary/long term but not permanent exhibits – one currently displaying dozens of preserved, original cartoons by noted illustrator and war correspondent Bill Mauldin, creator of infantrymen Willie and Joe.

This is wahat that tiny space looks like with both beds made up for overnight travel. Only room for one person to step inside the room and climb into a bed at the time.
This is one of two sleeping places found in each roomette, after it has been made ready. There are these straps that keep sleepers from falling out.
A tiny little fold-out table for food, dining up against the window between the two seats. People sitting on each side fill find their knees nearly touching, shuffling to make room for everyone’s feet. Not unbearable, but gets cramped after twelve hours – a trip down the narrow hallway to the rest room is a relief in more ways than one….

It seems quite possible that the train we traveled on for nearly twenty-four hours from Atlanta to New Orleans and back again does not actually any of the rails we were traveling on. And equally possible that the rail companies that DO own the different sections receive payment for other trains using their tracks. Not sure how it works, as the part where someone is responsible for keeping up with who, how long in both time and miles, how many cars, how frequently that competing business makes use of ‘your’ tracks is far to convoluted for the average human. I cannot imagine how anyone, without benefit of some type logistical plotting or algorithm or computer program designed to hold a mountain of information could manage the challenge.

traveling, part 5 …

… on the passenger train across the southeastern corridor from Atlanta to New Orleans, Louisiana. Basically on what might be considered a ‘lark’ or joy riding – but not like getting on your bicycle to go to the store for a Snickers or PayDay bar. Which is the sort of excursion a teenager might take on allowance day, just because you can, right?

There is a senset the scope of the project has grown over the years, expanding in size and quality/number of exhibits, both permanent and rotating.

With a running conversation about taking a jaunt on a train, and interest in things of a historical nature, the decision was made to combine the two: ride the Amtrak to NO, LA and spend a day at the WW II Museum. Reading details of Dr. Google, supplied by questionable AI sources. The Museum opened in 2000, started as uniforms, journals, letters found in attics, newspaper clippings, military paraphernalia, medals belonging to older veterans.

Many items donated, becoming part of a growing collection, accumulated by noted author Stephen Ambrose, and fellow historian Dr. Nick Muller, with encouragement by President Eisenhower. Apparently Ambrose was a young, ambitions college teacher, who approached the then President about helping to organize his personal papers, with the possible idea of accessing for Ambrose to assemble the documents in some fashion for later study/use. Reportedly Eisenhower expressed his desire to recognize the service men and women who were part of that ‘Greatest Generation’ – individuals who returned from active service to families, jobs, ordinary life after their experiences in Europe and the Pacific.

Eisenhower showered much praise on the man who is credited the development of the landing craft seen in the black and white snapshots and grainy video films. Those photos were displayed on the screens as the doors opened, where visitors viewed the decades-old film. Images of the first wave of military poured out in shoulder deep water on the beach of Normandy.

Known as the ‘Higgins boat’, it was built in a ship yard on the banks of the Mississippi River in New Orleans. A product of Higgins Industries, with the official military designation: LC,V,P (landing craft, vehicle, personnel) designed by the ship-building company of industrialist Andrew Higgins. Eisenhower believed that the landing on the beaches of France would not have been successful, without the boats transporting troops across the English channel, literally altering the course of world history.

traveling, part 4 …

… to Louisiana, viewing a special exhibit at the WW II museum, relating the history of the USS New Orleans, as it was involved in the fight against Japan in the Pacific Theater. Two films available for visitors to view (for a fee, after paying admittance): one narrated by Tom Hanks about WW II in Europe and the Pacific, and the other movie about the history of the USS New Orleans. Apparently the designation of the ships’ name can be reused as older vessels are retired, as there is more than one ship that has been given the title over the decades.

Starting with the Navy in WWII, when the Japanese blew into Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands and decimated the Pacific Fleet, sent from the California coast to the mid-Pacific,. The current version of the USS New Orleans is a San Antonio class vessel designed to transport Marines for fast deployment, shipping vehicles as well as logistical support. It is actually the fourth ship to be christened under this name, and was built in New Orleans at the Avondale shipyard, now known as the Avondale Global Gateway (at one time the largest employer in the state of Louisiana.)

The first USS New Orleans: severely damaged by a Japanese torpedo that literally destroyed the bow of the ship. The Heavy Cruiser was at the Battle of Guadalcanal in the south Pacific, when the magazine/munitions storage on the front/bow was hit by a ‘long lance’ torpedo that detonated fuel tanks. Amazingly it did not sink, even with 150 feet of the bow missing. The ship limped nearly two thousand miles to Australia, in reverse, where temporary repairs could be done. With enough work done there to get it to the US coast where there is a ship yard in Puget Sound. While the New Orleans was en route, damaged, chugging in reverse, the ship builders had been fabricating a new bow to military specifications, based on plans for a sister ship the SS Astoria, long before the actual arrival of the damaged boat.

That missing section of the bow was recently found by divers. Covered in coral growths from decades of salt water. Where it has laid on the ocean floor since November 30,1942. There are photos available online, showing the open compartments where the metal was sheared off from the bow.

All this trivia courtesy of wikipedia, and generated by AI, the world worrier that is filling our heads with flotsam and jetsam. Also: Dr. Google, who might be making stuff up out of whole cloth to weigh us down and drown our senses with useless information.