TRAVELIN' TUESDAY

It was July of 1969, right before they faked the first manned landing on the moon.

I was 19 and had never been anywhere except the country. Southeast Missouri, where my grandpa's farm was located.

I take that back, I did go on a trip to South Bend, Indiana to visit Joe Heklinski and family. (I'm not sure if that's how Heklinski is spelled, but that's how it sounded phonetically)

Joe was a guy who mom and dad befriended in St. Louis, who lived at our housing projects and was going to dentist school with his twin brother.

Mom would make meals for them and dad would help them where he could, and they never forgot the kindness that was shown to them.

Where was I? Oh, yeah, South Bend! 

We went there when I was a little kid, but I barely remember anything. I know I was there, because my mom had pictures of me at the Helinski home.

Back to me at 19! 

Here I was, sitting at Lambert Airport to take my very first airplane trip! 

It was so exciting! 

Now, I had been to Lambert Airport many times, to goof off, play, and irritate the unsuspecting pre-passengers.

Our house was within walking distance from Lambert, and we would walk over there and watch all the cool rich people in their cool rich people clothes, and meander anywhere we wanted to go, except out on the runways.

No security, no cameras watching us, no scanners, no terrorists lurking about...back when America was FREE, and not scared of it's own shadow, like today.

If you have ever seen Lambert  Airport, you know it is very glass looking, but definitely NOT geodesic dome-like in it's appearance, but there is a true geodesic dome at the Climatron at St. Louis Botanical Gardens, but who really gives a flying frick about cock-a-doodie geodesic domes anyway!

My point is, it was very modern, space age looking for that time, and the tube like thing that we walked through to board the plane was like something an astronaut might walk through, and it very much reminded me of a scene from 2001 A Space Odyssey, even though the movie didn't exist yet.

I absolutely loved the take off and steep climb to the heavens, the beautiful, nice stewardesses, and little bitty dinner, but the actual flying part was boring. 

We were heading for Seattle, Washington and made a stop in Lincoln, Nebraska, for some reason, but did not get to see Lincoln, Nebraska because we weren't allowed off the plane.

Who cares about cock-a-doodie Lincoln, Nebraska anyway!

The landing in Seattle was also very cool, and after a bus trip through some breathtakingly beautiful scenery, we reached our destination of Ft. Lewis Army base, during the height of the Viet Nam war, for basic training.

Marty WombacherMarty Wombacher

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Marty Wombacher

Marty WombacherMarty Wombacher

I know what you're thinking! You're thinking I'm obsessed with Marty Wombacher...right?!

Wouldn't you be, if you had a friend that got a write up like this in the Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia?!!

HMMM?!!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marty Wombacher is an American writer and photojournalist 

who lived in New York City from 1993 to 2012. In 2012 he 

moved back to his hometown of Peoria, Illinois and is 

currently doing a blog about living in the midwest.

From 1989 to 1993 he was the editor, publisher and one 

of the primary writers for People of Peoria (later shortened 

to POP) magazine. The magazine was published and 

distributed out 

of Peoria, Illinois. The quarterly publication was popular with 

positive write-ups appearing in the Peoria Journal Star, 

Chicago Tribune and Spin magazine.

In 1993, Wombacher moved to New York City and has written

 for the NY Post, NY Daily News, Time Out New York, Gadfly 

magazine, Nerve magazine and NY Press among others.

From 1993 to 2000 he was the editor, publisher and primary 

writer for 'fishwrap' magazine, a satirical magazine whose 

focus was mainstream media, in particular magazines. The 

magazine was based out of New York City and was given 

favorable write-ups and reviews in: USA Today, Men's 

Journal, The Peoria Journal Star, NY Post, NY Daily News, 

Men's Journal, Chicago Tribune and the NY Press. It had 

national distribution from Big Top Publishing out of San 

Francisco.

In 2002, Wombacher wrote the book, '"99 Beers Off The 

Wall."' He wrote another book, '"The Boy Who Would Be A 

Fire Truck"' in 2009.

Wombacher's first publishing success was Trivial Trivia, 

The Idiot Edition, which he created with Greg Owens. The 

game was a satire of Trivial Pursuit and it became a 

success after DJ Gene Konrad featured the game on his 

local morning show on WIRL in Peoria. The U.P.I. wire 

service picked the story up and it was featured in 

newspapers, radio shows and TV news across the country. 

The peak of the success came when Wombacher and 

Owens appeared on The Today Show in New York City 

and were interviewed by Jane Pauley, in 1986.

Wombacher finished his website, A Guy Walks Into 365 

Bars, on January 10th, 2011.

He retired his Marty After Dark blog in 2012.

He retired his Tripping With Marty. blog in December of 

2012 and moved back to his hometown of Peoria, Illinois.

He's currently blogging at, Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...

References [edit]

• Wombacher on The Morning Show in Australia
• Gladstone, Neil (July 23, 1998). "20 QUESTIONS: Marty Wombacher". fishwrap magazine. Philadelphia City Paper.
• Bell, Bill (July 31, 1995). "It's His Mag Mag Mag Mag 
• World". New York Daily News.
• Peoria Journal Star review by Phil Luciano
• Lulu author interview by Dan London
• Weichselbaum, Simone (March 10, 2010). "Marty 
• Wombacher plans to visit 365 city bars in 365 days and 
• blog about each experience". New York Daily News.
• 365 Bars at Cleveland.com
• Gray, Billy (March 10, 2010). "Man Visits 365 Bars In 
• 365 Days, Stays Sober Enough To Write About It". GuestofaGuest.com.
• NBC Niteside feature article

External links [edit]

• 365 Beers Website
• Marty After Dark Website
• Tripping With Marty Website
• Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...

Categories: 

• American journalists

Anyway, I've been writing comments on 

his Meanwhile Back In Peoria blog 

http://www.meanwhilebackinpeoria.com/

in the form of poems, and I put one to

 music, at his suggestion, and I think it 

turned out pretty stinkin' good!

 Here it is:

STOP THE PRESSES!!!

WE ARE CANCELLING ST. LOUIS SUNDAY FOR A YELLOW ROSE EMERGENCY!!!!

As most of you already know, my dear, sweet, cute, caring , "Yellow Rose Of Texas" has been my best supporter and fantastic friend for a long time now!

She not only encourages me, but so many others on YouTube, and, well, in her life!

She is going through some rough times at this moment, and I am doing this blog posting to let her know how much she means to me, and maybe put a little smile on her little pea pickin' face!

Come on, Rosie! 

Let's see that sweet smile, darlin'!

You can do it..uh..uh...I think you're starting to smile now...Yellow Rose!!

There you go, girl!!!

WOW! Look at that beautiful smile like morning sunshine on a Texas Rose!!!

I will be praying for you, Yellow Rose,

and keeping you in my heart every day!

SATURDAY MORNING POST

CATERPILLAR TRACTOR COMPANY

DOWNSIZING...WILL BEGIN TO MAKE TOY TRACTORS INSTEAD

MAN SWIMS HALFWAY ACROSS ILLINOIS RIVER...LOSES NERVE AND SWIMS BACK TO WHERE HE STARTED

PEORIA'S TWIN TOWERS SOMETIMES SWITCH CLOTHING TO FOOL THEIR TEACHERS

KELLEHER'S IRISH PUB IS NOT REALLY IRISH AT ALL...IT IS ACTUALLY MOLDAVIAN/MAYAN WHEN YOU GET INSIDE

ROCKY AND PETE VONACHEN SAY GOODBYE TO BASEBALL OWNERSHIP AND HELLO 

TO FULL CONTACT BADMINTON

IT HAS BEEN REVEALED THAT GREG AND DAN HAVE  BEEN AIRING THEIR POPULAR RADIO SHOW IN THE BUFF FOR  12 YEARS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE VERY MUCH

A rare moment when they were clothed!

Savor it!

BELOVED COMPANION TO MARTY WOMBACHER, GUMBY, AN ANDROID   NINJA WARRIOR FROM OUTER SPACE ... MADE A MEAL OF MARTY...WHEN FOR THE HUNDREDTH TIME BEER WAS SPILLED ON HIS ANIMATION/ ASSASSINATION CHIP THAT FINALLY ACTIVATED

THE ILLINOIS STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES LAW TO MAKE EVERYONE LIVING IN GERMANTOWN HILLS SWITCH PLACES WITH EVERYONE LIVING ON PEORIA'S SOUTH END... JUST TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS

AN UNDERWATER ENVIRONMENTALIST STUDY OF ASIAN CARP IN THE ILLINOIS RIVER FOUND THEY MOVE ALONG THE RIVER BOTTOM IN LITTLE RICKSHAWS AND ARE VERY POLITE

Okay, it's a badger and not a carp! It was hard enough finding this!!

FAN FRIDAYS

What would you call a dude who hangs out with his "gang" all the time?

Who had no job!

Who had no visible means of support.

Who was seen with prostitutes, and putting his hands on small children.

Who was wanted by the law.

Who was observed going into a building with something that looked like a weapon in his hand, and terrified the people inside!

Who made alcohol without a permit.

Who practiced medicine without a license.

Who was responsible for the death of a whole herd of livestock. About 2000 animals were lost!

Who claimed he was not from earth.

I WOULD CALL HIM JESUS!
Written by Danny Maness

THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY

Maybe you can help me find what word describes many physical and emotional feelings at once.

I couldn't think of one, so I'll make one up. 
How's about multiplephysicalmotionalfeelingsatdasametom.

Multiplephysicalmotionalfeelingsatdasametom is the word that describes the experience that I had every summer as a kid...

Standing on a big rock and then jumping in to the icy cold water of Big Creek in Sam A. Baker State Park in Missouri.

 I looked for photos of Sam A. Baker Park, and I think this is the actual rock I used to jump off!!!

From 90 degrees and 90% humidity to HOLY POLAR BEAR PLUNGE, ITS FREAKIN" COLD!!

I think the shock would stop my old heart if I tried it today!

However, it was not just the opposite physical feelings I experienced. At that brief moment in time, as I plunged into the paralysingly frigid water, my mind went from St. Louis, school, and all things city...to the pure joy of summer vacation, freedom, fun, and fittin'!

My grandpa lived near Sam A. Baker Park and he would take us to the St. Francis river to go fittin'. 
That's how he pronounced fishin'!

He would make fittin' rod holders from forked branches, and set up about 10 rods and reels on them.

He would give me one of his old cane poles to use.

I didn't mind because my dad hated fishin', and this was the only time I got to go,

My dad always said, "When ya go fishin', all ya come home with is a wet butt and a hungry gut!"
He was right, but I loved it anyway!

Everything was so totally alien and wonderful to a city kid like me.

The dragonflies were so cool and beautiful...like  rainbows in flight, and even though they were pretty huge for insects, they were harmless.

I loved the tumble bugs on the river bank, rolling up balls of manure. 

Like circus performers!

The calls of the whippoorwills and bobwhites.

whip·poor·will 

n.

An insect-eating nocturnal North American bird (Caprimulgus vociferus) of the goatsucker family, having spotted brown feathers that blend with its woodland habitat. (Goatsucker?)

Bobwhites are relatively small ground dwelling gallinaceous (chicken-like) birds. Adults stand six to seven inches (24-27 cm) in height and typically weigh about six to seven ounces. Their name derives from their distinctive whistle ("bobwhite").

 You know how some dudes are a chick magnet?

Well, I was a tick magnet!

There are billions of ticks in the Ozark mountains of Missouri, and they loved me!

Mom always checked everyone for ticks and I would usually have two or three on me.

Now, you have to be careful not to leave the head of a tick under your skin or you'll turn into a zombie or something.

So mom would  take one of her Pall Mall cigarettes, and hold the lit end near the tick.

The tick couldn't stand the heat, and would back out, where mom could squish it with her 3 inch long fingernails.

However, I liked my grandpa's way better.

He would put a drop of horse liniment on the tick, and that tick would "skeedattle" like crazy until grandpa squished it with the flat part of his pocket knife blade.

I almost forgot to tell you about the really gross tick thing!

Grandpa's dogs would get ticks on them that swelled up as big as big marbles, REALLY big marbles!

I didn't want to go anywhere near those grotesque creatures, but grandpa pulled them off the dogs very nonchalantly.

He loved his dogs more than he loved people.

Please, don't be mad at me, but I'm including a song I've featured on this blog before, because it goes so well with the story!

It has such a down home country feel to it, and I think you'll like it....again: