Wednesday found us rolling into Little Rock, a little rough around the edges (611 miles) although the trip through Oklahoma was much better than I ever remember, in fact Oklahoma has moved waaay up in my es-teem-o-meter (currently ahead of Barstow, tyvm--ed note: that's short for Thank You Very Much in case you don't understand. I know, those 50-year olds and their acronyms, sheesh). Had lunch in OKC at Konvict Korner the Grateful Bean, a cafe dedicated to social justice through employing and rehabilitating felons.

Yes, that was interesting but they made a great veggie Reuben sandwich. Eh, my food was just okay actually. I was just afraid to offend our waiter since he might've been fresh from prison.We also got a chance to buy some pastries from the Thunder Prairie Bakery that we ate at a reststop somewhere in OK before we crossed into Arkansas. The weather was the hottest we had encountered so far, much hotter than Mojave and oh so humid. PmaK finds the muggy bathroom feeling a real deterent to enjoying the South.

We were booked into an elderly downtown Little Rock hotel that I can only describe as trying hard to come back. Think of an aging aristocrat who forgets to brush his teeth. Someday, with the right vocabulary support, I will describe the room service. Their internet service was subpar, also, hence the absence of a real time blog. Even the KOAs have wi-fi now, just think what our family trips would have been like.

Best sight Wednesday: The sunrise over east Texas.

Best bumper sticker/Tshirt/billboard: Accepting applications -State Troppers- company car included.

Today we got to sleep in since we were going to spend the morning sight seeing in Little Rock. Sad to say we never did spot le petit roche but we gave it a good King try tromping up & down the riverfront. On a spontaneous whim we decided to visit the Central High School Memorial - sight of the Little Rock Nine's valiant attempt to get an equal, not separate education. I have to say, I looked at this historical episode through a teacher's eyes, in fact, the video recollections by the Nine of some of their white teachers, brave & weak, made me teary. PmaK & I were both struck by how ordinary a place it is: a still operational high school across the street from everyday working class homes & gardens. Not like most national points of interest that are frozen in a velvet-roped time. From there we headed to Bill Clinton's Presidential Library, the whole reason we stopped in Little Rock. Wow! Loved the building. I know there are critics but I thought the use of site & space were wonderful. It is open & sunny and appeals to my moderne sensibilities. The brochure said it was influenced by the Trinity College library...hmmm...having been in that library also, I thought that was a real stretch, if I squinted, maybe. Having recently gone to Reagan's library, it was an interesting contrast in time periods & personalities. For one, Clinton's archives include over 1 million emails in addition to the presidential papers. How will they log Obama's texting? Another thing was the absence of fashion glamour since Hillary lacked the fashion panache of Nancy. Ronnie's library might have had a lot of Blass & Ungaro but Bill's had the only presidential Muppet (with the sax). I checked out the President's agenda's on my birthdays for '93 & '95 - not one mention of a birthday call to me.

Headed on to Memphis for dinner (we hoped) at a place that promised PmaK a perfect pecan ball. Had time to discuss if the call to public service is less seemly than medicine or education. Really, think about it.

Unfortunately for us the Little Tea House only opens for lunch. We ended up at another downtown eatery, McEwen's on Monroe. Extremely yummy. We had fried the way it is meant to be - cute little oysters served with a spicy vinegrette. PmaK got shrimp in bourbon sauce with grits & I had a house smoked salmon (plus 2 glasses of Cline's Cashmere red). We've driven 2,000 miles without a yarn stop...have mercy! I deserved the whole bottle. Played Little Feat's Dixie Chicken twice driving Mississippi's riverfront...the bright lights of Memphis.

Best sight: my car (still) parked in the Legacy Hotel lot this morning & the free tampons in McEwen's bathroom.

Best bumper ssticker/Tshirt: I miss Bill