October 19, 2009 – Things

On our way into Atlanta today, we were listening to the radio. The commentator remarked that he did not have sufficient access to a chalk board and consequently discovered that dry erase markers work on window glass. I began to think about the term “chalk board”. As I recall it was in the late 60’s that the black boards I grew up with were deemed offensive to black people. It became politically correct to refer to the hard black sheet of slate as a chalk board. I never really understood the rational, but I suspect that none was needed. I mean we still had black ink, black pencils, and black keys on the piano, but now we had chalk boards. Chalk boards were messy. There were always erasers full of chalk dust, sitting in the chalk tray also filled with chalk dust. Your hands got chalky and the dust got all over your clothes.

It took a while, but the chalk board was replaced by another writing surface. A surface that was easier to keep clean. This surface that could be written on with a plethora of colors that came in pens that never broke or became too short to use. This surface could also be used as a screen for overhead projectors or movies. And by what name do we identify this modern marvel? Of course, we call it a “White Board”. It’s only appropriate.

We are going to visit the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Carol was reading the AAA Guide Book entry on the aquarium to see the particulars. Along with the hours and the costs, they list items which are prohibited in the aquarium. Most of the prohibited items are typical: no outside food or beverages and no gum, each understandable. But it was interesting that guns, knives, matches and lighters are verboten as are fishing poles. Fishing poles at the aquarium? Did Zeke wander in one day with a spinning rod and reel looking to hook a thresher shark on a treble hooked feathered popper bug? Imagine that conversation with the gate guard. I guess if you can’t have a fishing pole you really don’t need the matches or lighter. No sense bringing that camp stove either.

We don’t know where to next. Last week we bought tickets to the NASCAR race at Martinsville, VA this coming weekend. We get to see both the truck race on Saturday and the Sprint car race on Sunday. Tomorrow morning, we will have to check to see about staying another day. The bigger problem is going to be finding a campground within commuting distance of Martinsville. O well, K sirah, sirah.