As Jack would remind us
ummmm, excuse me, as Captain Jack Sparrow would remind us, timing is everything. Comedy for instance would be vastly diminished were it not for timing. The better part of the quotes in that video up there are dependent on it. Thered be far less laughter if it werent for the innate ability of storytellers to know when to take a breath, when to speak aside, when to shout or even just when to shut the heck up
You get the point.
Oh sure, thered still be slapstick, I mean who doesnt enjoy watching people other then ourselves suffer grievous injury. Its very human (possibly somewhat disturbing, but still
human). Even so, the great physical comedians have also been masters of timing. Otherwise the pratfalls wouldnt occur in just the right spot within the narrative. The problem here it that sometimes, that timing
that ability to seize something while its most available
or (to continually torture an already tortured phrase) to strike while the iron is hot
may be impeded by something as simple as a prior engagement, a scheduling error, or that apparent attractions relative level of importance at the time. Of course, this really means that the opportune moment was never at hand to begin with. It only appeared to be beckoning to you; like a moment when you could have done the right thing but you just passed on by. Sadly (and sometimes just as well), those things will have to wait for another day.
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Not Gonna Happen
Wed spent a good two or three hours roaming around the RRHoH and even did the Disney thing and exited through the gift shop. Once back outside I noticed something I hadnt noticed before.
The flags were at half-mast. I looked around the area and noticed several other sites proudly flying our fine national standard and the swallow tale pennant that represents our hosts, but none of them were displayed in a state of mourning. It was only later that we discovered the reasoning for this. The HoF honors it members upon their passing in this manner and Dick Clark had passed away a couple of days before. I remembered hearing about it, but didnt put it together until later.
Anyway, that picture also illustrates that there was one more exhibit on site that day. A bus.
(Not another bus
)
This was an old tour bus
specifically one belonging to the estate of Jonny Cash. They were offering small group tours of the interior, which might have been an interesting little diversion. Problem was, theyd just taken a break for lunch and wouldnt start back up for a couple of hours. Well
we werent in the mood to wait quite that long to see the inside of a bus; just not a very opportune time for it. However, if youre interested, heres what they thought you ought to know about it
The next thing I noticed (well I knew it was there because I dont generally miss such things) was a ship.
Really!!
You found a way to work a ship into this side trip?
Yes I did. Like I said, I knew that one was there, but again the timing was going to be off (Ill get back to that in a minute). So just what is that fairly odd-looking vessel? Well, by name, its the
SS William G. Mather. By purpose, it a retired Great Lakes bulk freighter and now, a museum ship. There are a good number of military vessels that are maintained for the public, but the work-a-day ships that make it possible for you to have easy access to everything from cereal to Cadillacs, those are harder to come by. And this one is very well restored and maintained according to me research. As such I was interested in getting aboard. Problem was, the ship is only open seasonally from late May through early October. This was April 20th. Not happenin.
And Im pretty sure that yall are breathing a sigh of relief right about here arent ya? Not to worry, Ill punish you with several more ships latter on if this morass
thats a promise (or maybe a threat).
In truth, I wasnt all that disappointed here. Getting on board that one would just have been a bonus. However, there was another little boat less then a thousand yards east of where Johnnys bus was parked over there that Im quite disappointed about not experiencing. This one
USS Cod (SS-224)
A WW-II vintage Submarine that is still configured as originally built (the only one configured as such and in amazing condition). So why did I miss this opportunity?
Because I didnt know about it.
I screwed up
royally. I knew that the SS Mather was in Cleveland, because its an oddity as museum ships go and for that reason the fact stuck in my mind. Had I taken a little bit more time to research this days spur of the moment destination though, Id have tried very hard to see this other ship. Ill warn those (few) of you that may now be interested in this attraction though, its in
very original condition; meaning that no one has cut easy access doorways into the hull or added stairwells between decks. If you want to see this sub, youve got to climb the ladders and negotiate the hatches.
Come to think of it
Tamara probably would have been none too pleased with that last fact.
Its probably best that I missed that opportunity.
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The Finals
Well thats all were going to see of Cleveland on this trip, but it was only early afternoon. We had time to get into other things if it suited us. We headed straight up 9th street to get back to the interstates which all meat up right where the other stadium in town sits.
That would be The Jake (financially referred to as: Progressive Field, but thats just lame). At this point we had the opportunity to make a left that would have taken us south on I-77; toward home if we so chose, but more importantly toward Canton. Only about an hours drive and wed be at a very different
Hall of Fame.
But
And yall knew that this was coming
but, the opportune moment for that diversion was not upon us. However, I can direct you over to someone elses most excellent TR experience of this said same venue who actually managed to arrive at
this hallowed destination.
We, however, needed to make another right turn onto I-90 and start back toward the southwest. There was somewhere else we needed to be, and (given the distance) a limited amount of time left over to get there. We refilled the gas tank and just grabbed some fast food along the way (nothing to report
). Then it was back on the road.
I-90
I-71
I-270
I-70
Miles of highway sameness broken up by only one really intriguing sight. This one
My word I do believe thats a little pink house
Headed toward Indiana!
Yep
it is a little pink house. Now we know where they come form.
Theyre shipped into Indiana form central Ohio.
Mystery solved.
Back to the driving
I-70
I-75
and then
and then
What a minute!
Thats where this foolishness started off yesterday!
Yes it is.
If you remember, I said that our kids had made it to the semifinal round, but I neglected to relate precisely how that second run was received. Question now answered; they made it into the finals! First time on a national level and they were going to get a third shot at the judges.
Since the final round for our classification was not scheduled to start until around 6pm, and their assigned time slot wasnt until close to 7:00, we figured that we had just enough time to make it to the RnR-HoH, look around and get back with only a little time to spare. As it turns out, I timed it spot on. We had just enough time to park, get in the building, grab a hotdog and find a seat before the first group of twelve started their performance. An hour later, our youngens took the floor
got set
and were ready for the first downbeat
Howd they do
well as a parent I know that the performance was flawless (not to mention that Amazing Grace almost always yanks tears out of the corner of my eyes
it just does that). Judges however, are less partial, so a unanimous declaration wasnt likely just yet. Wed have to let the rest of the units perform as well (go figure). Then the next class had to have time to run through their round of finals as well, so it was fairly late when the folks in charge of this shindig finally cleared the floor and started to set up for the awards
Just a bit latter, the brought down the house lights, hit the color spots, and pumped up the music
And then reintroduced and marched each finalist group down the stairs and back in to the arena floor one at a time
Before long the entire floor was filled. The twelve schools in our classification were lined up in performance order on the left side
You can see our kids smack in the middle there; sixth group from the right. And as the scores were announced and the placements made known
Thats right where theyd finish. Sixth place
in the nation
not to shabby. The kids that won it all did so in a bit of upset. The group third from the right just made dang few mistakes and catapulted themselves over top of the next two that were ahead of them in the Semis. So now what? Well, its time to party
Pandemonium ensued as everyone broke ranks and the crowed expanded the ciaos by pouring onto the floor in search of their loved ones. Great work all around from each and every youngen there and an exciting finish to a very full and adventurous day for us.
The grand prize of the day?
Our son actually consented to having a picture taken
With his momma!
Not the best shot from a lighting or quality perspective, but that right there is a picture of two very happy people.
And that
makes me very happy.
Next up: Time to head it back home
but not
just
yet
you mean this fellow?
:
I haven't gotten good enough at palming the camera-phone to be able to pull it off. But it doesn't seem fair that they have a James Bond Aston-Martin there and you can't pose by it. 
