The Kentucky Chronicles - Day 4

This'll have to be quick, since checkout's in an hour. Maybe I'll post part II tonight.

Spent Sunday night at the Combs Motel in Hazard. Combs is a huge name in Kentucky, and while I understand not all Combs are alike, let's just say Mr. Combs' comments about the Civil Rights Movement reminded me that not everyone thinks progress is progress. That's all I'll say.

Well, and that I ate at Applebee's twice on Sunday -- and not even different Applebee's, the same one. I don't know whether that says more about me, or Hazard.

Monday morning, I went to the Perry County Library in Hazard and photocopied $5 worth of information on the area and era I'm interested in. Then I hopped in my car and drove a few hours to Pineville, where I spent the night near Cumberland Gap at Pine Mountain State Park Resort.

The area is gorgeous and I drove and hiked through areas that made me want to breathe deeply.


I'm headed north toward Lexington today -- might go halfway or so. Tomorrow at 1 I have an interview with Linda (a former Combs!) in the genealogy section of the History Museum. I'm hoping she can round out her cousin's perspective a little.

At least her cousin had some awesome gourds on display.

You bet I coveted the horn. Plan on making one next year now. Save me a long piece if you've got one.

THE (IN)FAMOUS ROPE SWING

Bed In A Bath

The kids started the day by moving a number of their toys to a new secret hideaway: the bathtub.

Then they spent the rest of the day moving from room to room devising elaborate games and situations. (Lots of furniture moving, dress up, whispering, and laughing.)

Ended the day with an attempt at sleeping side-by-side, head to foot, in the bathtub -- with pillows and stuffed animals and blankets and a thick Hello Kitty sock over the spout above Aubrey's head.

That lasted about 30 minutes, with more laughter and whispering, but had to be stopped because every move in there sounded like a bottle of shampoo dropping to the floor -- which would ultimately make for unhappy neighbors below us, no matter how nice they are. Fortunately, the kids had had their fun and were game for sleeping on the floor of their bedroom next to each other, which is where those two little peanuts are now.

As for Mother's Day, nothing could've made me happier today than knowing my kids were having this kind of fun while I (1) spent the morning writing at Starbucks, (2) went for an 11:30 2-hour hike with girlfriends (fellow moms), (3) had a 3 o'clock marguerita outside in the sun on the deck of a sweet little taco shop with said moms, and (4) came home to be with my family and make bbq ribs while the kids still played and Mick studied for an oral cancer test.