USS Indianapolis Museum

   Last weekend when our GPS had us driving around in circles looking for The 100 Acre Park, Don had spotted a billboard advertising the USS Indianapolis Museum. We've lived in the Indy area for 24 years and never knew there was one. I made a mental note about it.
   A little research this past week on the museum lead me to the Indianapolis War Memorial downtown on the Military Park Square. We decided we would check it out on Saturday.And check it out we did.
   The War Memorial is quite a beautiful work of architecture. It covers 5 city blocks and was conceived in 1919 to honor our WWI vets. Admission is free. Donations are accepted. Please conduct yourself with reverence.

 
  Upon entering we were led to a replica of the USS Indianapolis's radio room by a very eager and knowledgeable volunteer. He took great pride in explaining all the different equipment and how it would've been used on board ship.

    We even learned how the term "A cup of Joe" originated. In 1914, then Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels banned the serving of alcohol on naval ships leaving sailors to imbibe of the next strongest drink on board, coffee.

   So what began as a tribute to our returning World War I veterans came to encompass all the United States veterans who ever fought in any American war beginning with the Revolutionary War.

   We were surprised to learn that  Revolutionary War battles had been fought right here in Indiana. We had no idea that battles had raged this far west so early in the birth of our nation. We also learned that at the Siege of Fort Sackville in Vincennes, George Rogers Clark seized control of the fort from the British thus ensuring Clark's reputation as an early American military hero.

   We listened to a recording of Franklin Delano Roosevelt over an old time radio announcing the attack on Pearl Harbor and America entering into World War II. We saw many life size dioramas depicting battle scenes, Buffalo soldiers, MASH medical units, the Salvation Army, Ernie Pyle, a replica of the bunker that Saddam Hussein was hiding in when he was finally located, and so much more. Every war from the Revolution to present day Afghanistan was depicted.

   Of course, the Memorial wouldn't be complete without a tribute to honor our fallen from 9-11. I stood memorized before a steel beam that had come from the World Trade Center, remembering that dreadful day still so fresh in America's consciousness.

   I plan to take my father, a Korean War vet, here when he comes to visit in October. I think he will be very impressed and humbled, like we were.

   THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS.

   Here's looking at you kid......................................................

IMA's 100 Acre Park

   It looked to be a beautiful weekend. The heat had subsided, the humidity was low, and no rain in sight. We decided it was a perfect day to take our four-legged "son" for a hike.

   I suggested the Indianapolis Museum of Art's 100 Acre Park. I had seen it advertised and thought it'd be fun and interesting. "Let's make an afternoon of it. I'll pack us a picnic lunch," I said. Don and Tucker agreed.
   We loaded up the truck, plugged the address into the trucks GPS and off we went.

   An hour later and we were back at the IUPUI campus for the third time. Obviously our GPS didn't know the difference between Michigan Street and Michigan Road. Tucker was getting restless and Don was getting impatient. He even insinuated that the 100 Acre Park must be a figment of my imagination. But I was adamant. I knew I'd seen it on tv and in the newspaper.
   Ding, ding, ding, ding. The light bulb over my head goes on. I have an idea.
   I punched the IMA's address into the Mapquest app on my iPhone and wha-la, we're not any where near our destination. I turn on the speaker and off we go, again (through some of the grittier parts of town, but hey, it's the fastest route).
   We arrived! We pile out. Don puts on his day pack and puts Tucker on his leash. I don my fanny pack and the hike commences.

   The park opened in June 2010. There are perhaps a dozen different artworks scattered within the park perimeters. Some functional, some whimsical, all are pleasurable.

   There is Indy Island, a fully inhabitable experimental living structure. Residents customize the interior to suit their anticipated needs, then test their hypothesis by inhabiting the island in the Summer.

   Bench Around the Lake is a series of 15 vivid yellow benches placed in different areas of the park. We got the biggest kick out of this one. Looks like Mother Nature dropped a boulder on it! HaHa! Glad we weren't sitting there when it happened!

   There are two exhibits in The Meadow that the children really seem to enjoy. Funky Bones, a group of 20 "bones" that depict a giant human skeleton, and Chop Stick, a tree branch-like formation with tables, swings and a concession stand.

    Free Basket is a hit with the older kids. They can bring their basketballs and make up their own version of the game on this atypical court.

   I found the Eden II intriguing. A large, imposing ship emerging from the depths of 100 Acres Lake.

   This marks the entry way to Park of the Laments. A square within a square composed of flowers, shrubs and trees. There are limestone benches to sit upon for moments of quiet contemplation.

    On the Mall is a widely recognized work of art. The LOVE sculpture. This is the spot our youngest daughter and son-in-law chose to have their engagement photos taken. Fitting, don't you think?

    This is only a small selection of the art on display here. There's also the Lily House with it's beautiful formal gardens and Allee. The Greenhouse Shop, the Waller Bridge, the Marsh Cove and the Wetlands. Over 3 miles of pathways to stroll.

    We had a very pleasant afternoon. We'll be back. I'll bet this park is just gorgeous in the Fall.

   Here's looking at you kid......................

Our Week From Hell or Serving Time in Purgatory

   Don took a week of vacation time so we could take the Suite Pea back to the manufacturer (DRV) for repair work on the bedroom slide. We also had an appointment with Tiara RV Service Center for updates to our rig.
   We arrived Sunday afternoon in Howe, IN and set up in the parking lot at DRV where they offer a 50A plug in to rigs they are servicing.

   Friends of ours we met through the Indiana Chapter of Escapees invited us over to their campsite for dinner. One of the few highlights of this trip; where they laid out a spread of fish tacos, assorted salads and dessert. The tacos were made from fresh Halibut that a member had caught while in Alaska. What a delicious treat that was!
   We visited into the evening, catching up with each others lives then back to our rig we headed to get some shut eye prior to our 5 AM wake up call.

   And it's mostly downhill from there on in.

   Monday 5 AM: Roll out of bed. Get cleaned up. Leave the rig for the day while it's in the shop.
   Monday 2:30 PM: Return to DRV at the end of their shift. Work crew perplexed. Slide not fixed. Sleep in parking lot.

   Tuesday 5 AM: Roll out of bed. Get cleaned up. Leave rig for the day while it's in the shop.
   Tuesday 2:30 PM: Return to DRV at the end of their shift. Work crew perplexed. Slide not fixed, however, DRV has decided to call in reinforcements. Lippert Components to take a gander at it. Sleep in parking lot.

   Wednesday 5 AM: Roll out of bed. Get cleaned up. Leave the rig for the day while it's in the shop.
   Wednesday 2:30 PM: Return to DRV at the end of their shift. We're told the slide is fixed. Lippert replaced the hydraulic actuators. We hook up, pull out and head for Elkhart, IN and Tiara RV Service Center for the upgrades we want to have done.

   Thursday 6 AM: Aah! An extra hour of sleep. Roll out of bed. Get cleaned up. Leave rig for the day while it's in the shop.
   Thursday 5 PM: Return to Tiara at the end of their shift. Second AC still not installed. Chimney fan for refrigerator still not installed. Short in kitchen island footlights still not repaired. Direct TV satellite still not installed.

   At this point, we'd had enough. We leave the Suite Pea with Tiara for service to start at 6 AM Friday and we check into a hotel room for the night. Aah! Full service! Air conditioning! And we get to sleep in!

   Friday 5 PM: Return to Tiara at the end of their shift. TV satellite installed. AC installed. (Although not checked out). Wrong fan ordered/shipped for the refrigerator. Not installed. Short in kitchen light still not repaired. Service Center closed for the weekend and we're out of vacation time.

   While all of this is going on, we are trying our best to keep an appointment with an Amish gentleman in Shipshewana to discuss him building and installing a desk/dining room table combo for the Suite Pea; an appointment that is consistently being canceled and rescheduled.

   We leave Tiara and Elkhart behind us and head for Shipshe where we check into a 30A campsite at Shipshewana Campground North. It's convenient to Mr. Yoder's farm and woodworking shop. He takes pity on our plight and he and his family come to us to take measurements and retrieve a cupboard door so as to match the stain.
   Meanwhile Don is struggling mightily to turn off the zone 2 AC that SHOULD run independently from the zone 1 AC unit, but isn't. It's consistently tripping the breaker.Houston? We have a problem. Do we stay in the area, returning to Tiara on Monday morning to fix the problem while Don's pay is docked or do we find us a 50A site to see if we trip the breaker there as well? Fortunately, Shipshewana Campground North has a sister park on the south side of town with 50A hookups. We pack it in and are on the move again.

Fill'er Up!!

   Finally by 9 PM we're unhitched, settled in, with no problems with the breaker, and we're ready for some supper. Since we had anticipated our frig being shut off for the fan installation, our food supply is limited. That's okay. There's mouth watering made from scratch, Amish cooking to be had in town.
   OH NO! What's this? They roll up the sidewalks in town at 9 PM? We settle for Subway, not quite what our taste buds had anticipated. That evening, under the light of a full moon, we stroll hand in hand listening to the gentle cadence of horse hooves clop, clop, clopping down the lane. How relaxing! We needed that!

   Saturday morning after a simple breakfast of oatmeal and strawberries we venture out to do some grocery shopping. Being quite familiar with the area, we know the Amish shops to visit for baked goods, bulk foods, meats and dairy products. Driving the back roads through the bucolic countryside soothes our weariness and frustrations.
   We end our day snug in our home on wheels, being lolled by the rain on our roof, thunder rolling across the sky, and the decision made to return in the Spring for repairs when Don is FINALLY retired and we are no longer under any time constraints

   P.S. Our bedroom slide is still sticking.
 
   Here's looking at you kid..................................