The Girdle of Melian

We spent two nights in New York City during our road trip. I’d been hoping to stay at the Algonquin Hotel , that haven for writers from the 1920s on, who met as part of the Algonquin Round Table , which also features a resident cat named Matilda. The Algonquin also offers a Writer’s Block special, offering 25 per cent off their best rate if you present a work in progress or a published work. Unfortunately, we were told that this rate was for prior reservations only, and not offered on the spot, though we both showed up with manuscripts in hand. We ended up at the Clarion Park Avenue . This hotel may not have as storied a history, boast a pet or offer the chance to meet other writers. What it did do for me, however, was provide an intense bout of inspiration. I woke up the next morning directly out of a dream of a brand new murder mystery, a story whose bare bones were all laid out for me – all I had to do was take notes. The only catch is that the detective in the story is Hercule Po...

A number of posts and photographs on our travels, as well as a post on "Writer's Block, Algonquin Hotel, NYC" will come soon. For now, though, I and the good people at the Talbott Tavern, Bardstown, Kentucky, need your help. What is this thing?

More songs added, here ! And an Australian take on The Hobbit , here . Meanwhile, I'd like to post a clip of Homer Simpson in New York City, as part of my travel series (details to come!), but the copyright restrictions seem to be strictly enforced. Here 's a description.

"It's cloudy out in Pittsburgh It's raining in Saigon Snow's fallin' all across the Michigan line Well she sits by the lights of the Christmas tree With the radio softly on Thinkin' how a good man is so hard to find..." I was going to put up a page for Country Roads Take Me Home (about West Virginia) but we're just driving through.

I think the Carter Family did a version of this: "Blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining Shine on the one that's gone and proved untrue Blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue It was on a moonlight night the stars were shining bright When they whispered from on high your love has said good-bye Blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining Shine on the one that's gone and said good-bye."

While in Nashville... "I have heard your stories about your fast trains But now I'll tell you bout one all the southern folks have seen She's the beauty of the southland listen to that whistle scream It's that Pan American on her way to New Orleans She leaves Cincinnati headin' down that Dixon Line When she passes that Nashville Tower you can hear that whistle whine Stick your hand right out the window and feel that southern breeze You're on that Pan American on her way to New Orleans..."

"I'm goin' to Jackson, and that's a fact. Yeah, we're goin' to Jackson, ain't never comin' back."