Potpourri From Blues Town

Life is Memphis remains interesting, to say the least. Apparently there is a gang operating near the University of Memphis which, by the way, is only a few miles from where we are staying. People are being robbed at (shot)gun point. This same area is where the New York rapist was apprehended a month or so ago.

The twins on American Idol that are under arrest for identity theft and bad check writing are from Memphis. They are getting a lot of PR. On one televised news conference they went on about how anyone who thinks they should be dropped from American Idol because of their criminal (my words) activities “don’t know what it’s like to be poor”, as if being poor justifies stealing someone else’s identity, ripping off businesses and writing bad checks. Hey, they were poor, so it’s ok. Bull Hockey!!

Ahhh Cupid! Love is alive in Memphis (or not). A local radio station is going to give away a divorce on St. Valentine’s Day. The deejays are inviting interested people to send in their reasons why they should win the divorce. It has to be an amicable, no mud-slinging, finger-pointing, child custody battling separation.

Speaking of UofM, their Tigers basketball team is ranked #3, with its sights on #1. They are part of Conference USA, the same conference that Tulane is in. Whatever happened to the glory days of Green Wave basketball? Roll Wave!! Sigh.

In the bargain basement, if you like Italian food, you can’t go wrong at Macaroni Grill. Especially the spaghetti and meatballs. Twice now I’ve ordered spaghetti and meat balls with meat sauce and Pinole nuts, and both times I had to take at least half home. Not only did I get four meals for the price of two, but it’s one of the cheapest meals on the menu to boot!!

It looks like our Deal’s Gap group has grown to 10 people, including significant others! Add us to the rest of the local gang and we should have close to 20 people. It looks to be an excellent adventure, sans Bill and Ted (although Bill is thinking about coming).

Schools in Memphis are easily as good as those in New Orleans. They’re turning out some real scholars… On the news this AM was a story about vandalism at a local school where a student apparently didn’t care for his teacher, as the word “BICTH” (sic) had been spray painted on the wall! You go, Einstein!!

And on a final note, how about the flight attendant from Germantown (a mile or two from our hotel) that tried to take a dummy grenade on an airplane? She must have been a natural blonde. Makes me feel safe riding the friendly skies.

Take care and God bless you all!!!