After a month of chilling out in Ohio, it was time to let the good times roll in Tennessee. Our bus from the airport came with a red carpet... here's Sara giving you Angelia Jolie leg:
The simple life:
Our hotel was around the corner from the famous Peabody Hotel. Home of Lansky's and the ducks:
Elvis designer jackets in the windows... you know its gonna be a good town.
After grocery shopping and settling down, a bunch of us girls went out for some BBQ and Karaoke:
Beale Street: like Bourbon Street Light.
The karaoke joint had an odd painting on the side of the stage. Here's Christy's interpretation:
And here you can see how accurate she was:
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Another mural town! I was particularly fond of the Jolson and Cabaret paintings. I wish I'd gotten a picture of Shrek's... it was Shrek as Elvis and it was adorable.
On our way to the theatre was Huey's - a local bar famous for its ceiling full of toothpicks. You take 'em outta your sandwich and shoot them through your straw. Not very sanitary, but pretty awesome to look at:
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On Wednesday, we decided to make the trek out to Elvis's home, Graceland. A free shuttle ran from the Rock and Soul museum, so Gil and I rallied the troops:
Waiting for the bus:
Driving past Sun Studios:
The Heartbreak Hotel:
And finally, arriving and getting tickets!
Here it is, folks! The insane home of Elvis and his family. I took a TON of pictures, so scroll away:
Mr. Presley, sr.
The Jungle Room has green carpet. On the ceiling.
The basement stairs had crazy mirrors:
More mirrors:
The billiards room was INSANE:
Imagine the dust! My allergies would have been over the limit.
More carpet leading to the Jungle room:
Gil, stealing a glance:
Trophy room (which was actually a museum of its own):
Even the Jews love him!
Elvis in film:
The king was obsessed with Hawaii:
The thing I loved most about visiting Graceland was finding out about all of Elvis's charity work. He was a deeply generous man:
Countless checks written to various organizations:
With the King himself:
The last place Elvis spent time before his death: a family room filled with comfortable couches and musical instruments.
And games. And gym equipment.
The platinum room. We were dumbfounded:
Some of his more fabulous onesies:
And finally, the King's final resting place.
The gates of Graceland are covered with signatures of adoring fans and followers:
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Next up, Elvis's car museum!
LIVING for the purple caddie:
The classic pink caddie:
Gil attempts to fill the tank:
Pin-up girl style:
One more of that fabulous purple diva:
We also had the opportunity to check out Elvis's personal jets:
Swanky toilet:
14 Karat Gold SEATBELTS. For shame.
Gil couldn't resist jumping on the King's bed:
Inside the smaller jet, the seats look like something out of a Beatles album cover. Yellow Submarine, indeed:
Walking back to the shuttle, we enjoyed the music of a high-school orchestra. They must have run out of Elvis tunes, cause they were playing Fiddler on the Roof.
So long, Graceland! Thanks for the memories and the sweet ride:
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GLASSBLOWING!
No, really. Glassblowing.
Tom found a groupon for cheap glassblowing classes in Memphis, so we piled in a cab and got ready to melt.
Here, our instructor demonstrates the art of blowing molten glass. She makes it look easy. It is NOT EASY.
Tom, brave soul, went first:
We took turns. The goggles help block the orange flames so you can see what you're doing. I spent a little too much time spreading colored glass bits on my ornament:
I could pass for a semi-pro. Not really.
Cameron:
Once our ornaments were finished, they had to set and cool in what looked like a bucket of kitty litter:
Tom and his ornament:
Ray's perfect orb:
Gorgeous glass jellyfish lamp:
My teardrop Christmas ornament!
Not bad for our first try!
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This is funny:
But this is funnier:
Yikes. Even my robot was appalled:
To make up for it, here is a fountain full of fire:
And a hilariously misspelled menu (Danicing Pigs):
Spelling aside, that was some damn good eating:
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Memphis marked the latest in a long line of murals. This time we payed homage to Memphis the musical, choreographed by our own Sergio Trujillo. Here is their basic ad design:
Here is their mural:
And here is ours:
Echoing the rose bit from the tango de amor:
Signed by the company:
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There are no words:
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On Sunday between shows, the locals put together an enormous pot luck BBQ in our honor:
The food was so good, I never wanted to leave. Sadly, Madison was waiting...
Luckily our travel day was full of birthday celebrations:
He's a pretty princess, that one:
Sitting next to Patrick on the plane, we entertained ourselves with a magic pen booklet:
Until we finally arrived in Madison, WI. Land of cheese curds and unpredictable weather. Biggie was glad to be back on solid ground:
More soon!
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