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The center itself was really cool, too. We got to enter a simulation of the International Space Station (you can see Mike in the Station to the left). We got to see an actual vintage space suit, back when they lined the suit with gold to protect the astronauts. (Obviously, they do not do this anymore.) It was fun-ducational! : )
But we had to hurry and get back on the road, because the plan was to hit Athens by nightfall and it was already late afternoon. There wasn't much to see through Alabama. We just kept playing through the MTV trivia cards. It was a rough drive because there were tons of storms in the area during this trip, and my little roller-skate of a car doesn't do well in storms. (But, obviously, we made it through just fine...)
We stopped for dinner in the cute little city of Opelika, AL, which as the friendly hostess told us, means "Great Swamp." (She also told me she loved my dress, by the way...)
And then we hurried back on the road.
It was hard, because it was getting later and later, and I was getting so awfully tired, but we did it! We made it to Athens!
monday, july 31, 2000
We stayed the night in a great Howard Johnson, and normally I wouldn't plug a hotel, but this place was so great! They were so nice, and they had a computer in the lobby that they let me use to conduct some Copacetique business. And they had a great breakfast with so many options it could make your head spin, plus all the accommodations to prepare your yummy breakfast! For the price, it just can't be beat!
So, we awoke the next day and drove into town. We really didn't know where we were going. Had we have planned for the trip, I could have taken some time to look through my R.E.M. books for the band member's addresses and then we could have stalked the band. : ) But like I said, I'm over Michael Stipe. ; ) But I did want to see the 40 Watt Club (where they and other great bands like the B-52's, Pylon, etc. have played) and Wuxtry Records (where Peter Buck used to work, and where he first met the shy customer Michael Stipe who always bought cool records). So we looked up their addresses in the phone book and off we went!
Thankfully, all of this is located in pretty much the same area, as well as some great shops and restaurants! We had breakfast at the delightful little "Bluebird" (706.549.3663). Mike had a Breakfast Burrito while I had French Toast and a side of Scrambled Eggs. It was incredibly delicious (even if I did find a piece of eggshell in my eggs...Meh. That's life...).