It’s time to start thinking about my next little “solo excursion.” It came to light in a bit of an unusual way: “anticipation!” Or maybe “wishful thinking.” It’ll happen during my wife’s first trip in 2 years to see her sister in Chicago. Which will be in August, after we get back from a short visit to see the grandkids in TN.

My nails were getting a bit long, thus it was time for a fill. So, I went to get my nails done for the trip to the kids’ place.  There were other women having their nails done, and though I wasn’t a constant part of their conversation it was fun to listen to, and lightly chat with, them.  And my nails were done in their usual manner for this trip to TN.

However, it was a good chance to discuss with my tech “what to do about my nails” for my upcoming excursion (in about 4 weeks). Due to the repairs she has made to both big toe nails (I badly broke them) she will keep them all white to insure coverage for the repairs. But I inquired about her making my fingers pretty “next time”.  My only requirement is that whatever she does must be “nail paint on my regular acrylic nails, not acrylic colors”,  so I can remove it myself when needed, without another salon visit. She’s fine with that.  

“So you decide what I’ll wear, OK?”   Some of the things she told me she’s cogitating: traditional “pink and whites” (French manicure), perhaps adding fully white nails on ring fingers, with flowers on them, as accent nails…. or colored accent nails.  “You’d enjoy having your ring fingernail on each hand painted hot pink with flowers…and you’ll love the attention you get! Or maybe all white…  So how long do they have to stay nice?”  “Only for a week” was my response. “That will work.  What color dresses will you be wearing?”   “Brown Floral and Blue/Black floral dresses, white skirt with black top, and sandals.”  “OK, I’ll surprise you with something women will love, but promise me that you’ll wear them the whole week!” 

I promptly replied “Yes, Ma’am!” Can’t wait to see what I end up wearing…

More, once it happens!

Mandy

Yesterday morning I had reason to contact our credit card’s toll free number – and spoke with a very nice lady. Apparently I had softened my voice a bit without thinking, but did nothing else to give a clue about my gender.  Well, except to tell her my name.  (You may remember that my given name – in our family a boy’s name – is nowadays given only to girls.)  And obviously, that was sufficient…through the entire call, I was “Ma’am.”   So nice – and so appropriate – especially since my long acrylic fingernails were tapping the keyboard and I was wearing a house dress!

Then later in the morning, I had to make a run to the pharmacy in a neighboring town, to get some “bargains” which were on the “Honey Do” list.”  Attire: white slide sandals, white 3” inseam women’s shorts, a black crew-neck tunic blouse (long enough to “almost” serve as a short dress), necklace, white toe nails, long light pink fingernails and a purse.  With enough makeup to disguise the dark circles under my eyes!  And from the time I went in the door, to the time I checked out, I was rewarded by staff addressing me as “Ma’am,” and when I checked out, even by “Miss __________” – (my wife’s name – it was her account.)  

Then I stopped at a big-box store for some more “bargains.”   In the check-out line ahead of me, there was a rather feminine being – with short pixie haircut, regular length shorts, long tunic tee, necklace, tiny purse and unisex-type sandals.  (S)he had breasts just a bit more noticeable than my small ones, but pulled money for the purchase out of a pocket in the shorts, and earned a “Thank you, sir, have a nice day.”  I seriously doubt that the party was male.  

But that was my clue to hand the clerk each of my items, making sure she couldn’t miss seeing my long nails (both fingers and toes) while speaking in a softer voice. And it worked…I was rewarded by her departing greeting, of “Thank you, Ma’am – have a nice day.”  That was echoed by the person at the exit, who was checking to be sure nothing was stolen.

Then just after getting home, I noticed a junk hauler making a pickup at the neighbor’s house. As Wifey was heading to the local grocery to pick up some things for dinner, I left the house alongside her, still dressed as above, complete with sandals and white toe nails. I walked over to ask the worker if he has a business card.  No comment about my attire from Wifey…. With the neighbor’s wife standing there writing a check for the worker – and clearly able to see my feet – the worker addressed me as “Ma’am.”  Several times.  And yes, he gave me a card. 

Back in the house, I’d just changed into one of my house dresses and gone into barefoot mode when Wifey arrived home and decided she needed to check out some bargains in town.  She asked me to drive, but I pointed out that I’d already changed clothes.  “It doesn’t matter, sweetie – just put your sandals on, grab your purse and you can go as you are.  Most likely you won’t have to get out of the car. If for some reason I need you to come into the store, I’ll call you on the phone to tell you which aisle I’m in. Don’t worry, you’ll look stylish in your pretty dress and sandals.”

So off we went, with me doing the driving. I waited in the car while she took care of her errand (somewhat concerned that the phone might ring – but it didn’t), and we returned home uneventfully.  Nothing was said about the fact that she was obviously “wearing the pants in our family” while I (like other women leaving the store) was sporting one of my below-the-knee house dresses and white toes. I’d have been right in style!

Other than the case of “nerves”, it was a pleasant experience, to say the least. But I need to get more comfortable wearing dresses around people we know. So I sure hope this continues…

Mandy

The following picture was taken in Buffalo, NY back in 1984. It’s N&W’s steam locomotive #611, during layover in Buffalo, NY after an excursion north from Erie, PA (if I recall correctly.

The 1984 mentioned in my title, refers to the year in which my archive photo was taken.   And is simply “the way 611 looked back then!”

But many folks of the proper age group might well remember that “other Nineteen Eighty Four”, which is/was a dystopian social science fiction novel by the English novelist George Orwell (the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair). It was published on 8 June 1949 as Orwell’s ninth and final book completed in his lifetime.

For those who may not remember, Nineteen Eighty-Four focuses on the consequences on totalitarianism mass surveillance  and repressive regimentation of persons and behaviors within society.  Orwell, himself a democratic socialist, modeled the totalitarian government in the novel after Stalinist Russia and Nazi Germany. More broadly, the novel examines the role of truth and facts within politics and the ways in which they are manipulate. 

Parallels have even been drawn between the novel’s subject matter and real life instances of totalitarianism and violations of freedom of expression, among other themes. 

But that’s a topic for some other discussion!

Mandy

On a recent trip home after visiting our son in TN, we caught wind of a big accident on Interstate 81 in Virginia which had closed all lanes of the road. Fortunately we heard about it early enough that we were in a position to exit the freeway and use an alternate, parallel route – US Route 11.

The approximately 30-mile stretch we traveled of that road showed that it was normally “the road less traveled.” A number of examples of “the way it was” existed. Repurposed former gas stations (see picture), a dis-used private military school, and abandoned businesses of all sorts. Unfortunately, with the accident closing the interstate, and traffic diverting to the alternate route, it was “a zoo.” Backups at stoplights in towns, slow trucks on significant hills, and similar hindrances all abounded.

On one of our frequent trips south, we really need to explore this route by taking short segments with each trip. But knowing we’re anxious to reach our destination, it isn’t highly likely!

Mandy

Segue to Staunton, Virginia: July 2021:

That must be one heck of a garden to require such a huge watering can!

Seriously, this Giant Watering Can in Staunton, Virginia was created in the 1990s by local artist Willie Ferguson. From the ground to the top of the handle, this huge watering can is about 15-feet tall. The watering can stands in the Middle of the busy intersection of Greenville Avenue and South Coalter Street, Extreme caution was used when crossing this intersection. (I didn’t notice them, but allegedly there are giant flower pots on the other side of the bridge!)

The tracks and bridge are both ex-Chesapeake & Ohio railroad, and now belong to CSX Transportation. The Amtrak “Cardinal” tri-weekly passenger train crosses here, and I’ve been a passenger on that train several times. A nice ride between Chicago and Washington, DC! (And I’ve seen the watering can from “up there!”

Mandy

Several years ago, wifey and I were in Chicago, waiting for our train, and decided to do some local sightseeing during the layover.  Our destination for the day was Unity Temple, in suburban Oak Park.   Unprecedented for its time and purpose, Unity Temple is a stunning masterpiece by Frank Lloyd Wright that was given new life – with a $25 million restoration.

In 1905, a lightning strike started a fire which destroyed the wood-framed Oak Park Unity Church. The next morning, Oak Park resident Frank Lloyd Wright offered to design a new church, now known as Unity Temple. The famous architect identified with Unitarianism and believed in its rational humanism. His uncle was a distinguished Unitarian minister and his mother’s family was Welsh Unitarian. What he would design for the congregation by 1909 was unorthodox in both form and materials.

The Unity Church minister asked for a modern but affordable worship space that would embody the principles of “unity, truth, beauty, simplicity, freedom and reason.” The budget was $45,000, a modest amount even in the early 20th century. Building materials had to be inexpensive and as Wright said, “concrete is cheap.” The same concrete molds were used multiple times, as Wright had designed repeating walls with similar dimensions. In that era, bare concrete walls were typically used for industrial buildings, such as factories or grain elevators. But here, Wright uses smooth concrete in new ways – creating a form unlike any other faith-based or religious structure in the country.

Despite the austere and radical façade, Wright delivered on the minister’s request by designing a beautiful, truthful, simple and rational building. When approaching Unity Temple from Lake Street, no entrance is immediately apparent, which creates a pathway of discovery for the visitor. Wright used this architectural technique often in his Prairie Style structures from that era, including the Robie House.  Visitors enter from a quiet side street, pass under wide eaves and walk up steps to the entry doors. Brass letters above the door announce the building’s purpose: “For the worship of God and the service of man.”

Guests pass through a low-ceilinged foyer before entering the sanctuary, where they are bathed in honey-colored light from coffered art glass skylights. This use of tighter, low-ceilinged “compression” moments followed immediately by large open spaces that provide a “release,” was another common spatial technique Wright used to heighten the drama for visitors discovering a space. Although the main ceilings are high, the space is intimate, offering seating for 400 congregants on three levels. And unlike a traditional worship space where the congregation all faces the same direction, the square sanctuary at Unity Temple has three levels and allows a more democratic space where everyone has sight-lines to everyone else. 

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Wright’s unique design broke almost every existing convention for religious architecture. Yet the temple immediately became an icon for modern architecture, and a building the congregation was immensely proud to call its own.

And this little diversion gave us a good way to spend a few hours…

Mandy

For those among us who are railfans, and may recognize locomotives by sight, here is an easy one for you:

Ir’s been many years since I’ve seen the streamlined locomotive N&W 611 in person, or under steam. Several weeks ago, while driving past the Strasburg Railroad in Strasburg PA, that memorable streamlined steam engine was in plain sight in their yard.

It was in for repairs at their shop, though it was operated there under steam at least once so far. Wonder if that means main line operation may be in its future once again?

Enjoy!

Mandy

…Holly Tree Park?

Yes, there is one , and in fact apparently several of these, nationwide .  The specific one to which I refer is located in Perryville, MD on the east side of the north/south B&O Railroad single-track line between Baltimore and Washington, more or less adjacent to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, just without any passenger trains (those are on the Corridor.)  The location of the Park is called Jackson Station.    Wifey and I were on the road recently and stopped by to see it.  She had seen it previously from a special excursion train back in the early 2000’s  (which I was unable to attend 😦     But it was time to get back on site.  Unfortunately it had to be by car this time.

“Once upon a time” (sounds like a story, doesn’t it), there was a great triumvirate of Tannenbaum, which included Cecil County, Maryland. When Americans in the 1940s thought of symbolic Christmas trees they were contemplating the White House Christmas Tree, as well as the Radio City Christmas Tree, which took center stage over Rockefeller Center in New York City.   But what of that third great Christmas tradition of the Greatest Generation?  The Traveler’s Christmas Tree became a national celebrity in its own “right here in Cecil County.”  The Travelers’ Christmas Tree wasn’t your typical evergreen, but a Holly Tree located between Perryville and Charlestown just off Route 40. Known as “The Holly Tree by the Tracks” to locals in an earlier day, it was one of the largest and finest holly trees in the eastern United States at more than 60-feet tall.

In 1930, the Baltimore & Ohio, or B&O, Railroad purchased the land where the ancient holly had grown naturally, from the A.B. Sentman family. The B&O crews had long admired the glorious tree, and pointed it out to the thousands of passengers as they passed by the site. It was under the suggestion of a senior vice president of the B&O Railroad who also lived in Cecil County, George M. Shriver, that the land and tree were purchased. Shriver was a conservationist who sought to protect the tree so close to the tracks and with trackmen working in the area, Shriver ensured the tree and land were carefully tended.

By 1947, when travel by rail reached a zenith, the fame of the Holly Tree dressed in holiday glory as the Travelers’ Christmas Tree, had spread coast to coast and it became one of the most famous Christmas trees in America, lighted and decorated annually by the B&O Railroad workers. Passengers on the B&O’s New York to Washington run looked for the tree, vied for window seats, and thousands of motorists made a pilgrimage to the site from US Route 40, a couple miles east.

During the week prior to Christmas, every single passenger train on the route slowed as they passed the Travelers’ Christmas Tree, to give all those aboard a better look. Those traveling at night would know when they were approaching the spectacle as the coach lights were all dimmed to make the scene even more magical. Conductors, dining car staff, ticket sellers and other employees on the B&O wore red-berry springs plucked from the tree in honor of the Holly Tree, while numerous posters and dining car menu cards informed the traveling public about the festive touch on uniforms.

It’s somewhat challenging to fathom in the day and age when many daily trains rolled on through, that the president of the B&O Railroad made a special trip to Cecil County to throw the switch in a very formal ceremony to light the tree. The nationally renowned B&O Glee Club and Women’s Music Club performed, sometimes as many as 200 singers gathering around, with Handel’s Messiah and the Hallelujah Chorus ringing out through the natural glen formed in that section of the county.   Not only did thousands attend the lighting ceremonies arriving by special trains, automobiles and even on foot, but tens of thousands more listened in by live radio broadcasts or witnessed it later courtesy TV newsreel showings at theaters and on news broadcasts.

May check on it at the holidays…

Mandy

It’s always fun to get a mani and pedi….especially before a solo trip!

Back a few years, the night before boarding the train, I stopped at a nearby salon for my treat…and told the 20something female tech I wanted “the works…but in a pretty shade of red. You pick the best one for me.” So she did. Without asking, since I was already wearing acrylic with pink gel, she re-did all 20 nails in bright red, so they’d be covered well, and look really pretty. Then she added nail art, as the finishing touch, and reminded me: “Ma’am, be sure to stop by when you’re ready to change colors, since you can’t remove it by yourself.”

I suspected it was one of the best mani/pedis I’d had – at least to that point in time! And that was wonderful, because it was destined to stay around for almost two weeks! On that trip, I chose only skirts, blouses and a jumper dress for everyday outfits, and only brought one pair of capris for emergencies. No boy things. Due to space concerns with one small suitcase, I had to limit myself to two pairs of sandals, which meant “no room for any closed-toe shoes.”

The trip went very well, I did not hear the dreaded “S” word, and was sad when I went back to the salon for the switch back to everyday pink! Maybe next time I’ll ask for nail art on my thumbs, too!

things can change so fast.

In a prior post, you’ve seen how my winter-white legs may have precipitated a compliment about my flats from my female “former co-workers” at our recent get-together, and how un-tanned they are compared to the men there…     When I showed my picture to wifey, she suggested that I go out on the deck, and put my legs in the sun for a half hour a day, to start to get a tan (without burning, to help minimize the chance of melanoma.)  “But your dresses are way too long – you’re going to have to hold your hems up so the sun can reach above the part of your thighs covered by your shorts.”  Hmmmm.

Fortunately, we have a very secluded back yard and deck, not visible to any neighbors) which get the sun until about 2PM.   So I took her suggestion, and that afternoon went out to fumble with my hems to get about 15 minutes of sun on my legs.   And found that my long hems were indeed a pain.

Next afternoon, I did the same thing.  But as I was fumbling, I noticed a reflection in the window that my panties were visible, and in order to get the sun higher up on my legs to tan up under where my 3” inseam shorts would be, there was so much loose material that I couldn’t avoid it.   When wifey came out a few minutes later, she reminded me with “Cute panties you’re wearing, dear!”  Yes, I blushed.

So when I went back inside after finishing up, I mentioned that I’m going to stop in at a thrift shop and see if they might have a knee-length (or higher) dress that fits me without showing my panties, for sunning, and wearing around the house in hot weather.   She said “you could just pull up the hem each time and be more careful;” my response was “I’m tired of that – I’d rather just wear a shorter dress for tanning, and then later, around the house.”   Amazingly, I didn’t get any serious resistance. 

Then I remembered:

I already have one!  Ready to go…

I’ll pin the hem up about 5” – instead of fumbling with 17” of fabric each tanning session, and temporarily turn it into a “mini”.  Then, after that project’s complete, I can let it down and hopefully she’ll be so pleased to see me in a knee-length dress instead of a  “mini”, that I can begin to wear it around the house!  Barefooted of course…    Let’s just hope it works out that way!

Will keep you advised!