A Wednesday in Atlanta
While Sharon occupied herself today at the Mall of Georgia, Elizabeth and I headed downtown for our gala tour of Atlanta.
And everywhere we went, something happened. Bear with me and I’ll explain.
We began our day with a visit to CNN Center, where we had briefly visited during last year’s vacation. I promised Elizabeth I’d take her on the CNN studio tour.
So I did.
Oh, no! A giant 15-year-old has invaded CNN headquarters!
The highlight of the tour for me was getting a huge hug from my favorite CNN anchor, Robin Meade.
What happened there: During our visit, the news came out that terrorists currently on trial in Canada had discussed one day possibly attacking CNN Center.
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Once we finished the tour, my old pal Michael Dabrowa took Elizabeth on a tour of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution building. Mike and I worked together in the early 1990s at the Rock Hill Herald. Before Elizabeth was born.
Elizabeth was very impressed with how many people came over to say hello. “You know everybody,” she said with awe.
No, not everybody, Elizabeth. Just the cool kids…
From left to right: Lisa Transiskus, graphics editor Joanne Sosangelis, Jemal Brinson, Charles Jones, moi and Mikey.
What happened there: Not long after our visit, managing editor Hank Klibanoff announced he was leaving the paper.
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Then, I took Elizabeth to Atlanta’s Grant Park to visit the Cyclorama — a giant painting of the Battle of Atlanta. I had seen the thing once before, but Elizabeth — who has recently taken a huge interest in the Civil War — loved it.
What happened there: We learned that the evening before, a body had been found in Grant Park.
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On the way back to my in-laws’ house in Lilburn, I suggested we stop for something to drink. So I pulled off I-85 at the Druid Hills exit and stopped at a Taco Bell for a couple of Cokes.
What happened there: Minutes after we continued home, a car at that same exit caught fire and resulted in a huge, huge traffic foulup.
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Today’s final toll: One editor resigned, one dead body, one burnt-out car and a terroristic threat.
And now, for my pitch: Send me money. Or I’ll come visit your city next!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
OH Charles, please do, we could use some exciting news instead of the policy dramas we get daily.
June 24th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Seems as though you had a pretty full day Chuck Wagon. I’d say your work in Atlanta is just about done.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:30 am
charles, i feel your pain.
now, bear with me a moment…
some of you have heard of my uncanny ability to bring the weather with me (’Weather with You,’ incidentally, one of my favorite Crowded House tunes, but i digress), so for the rest of you, i open the door to speculate on the weather disaster headed for Orlando. without further ado:
jan. 1998: my first winter in missouri. snow and ice close MU for the first time in, like, 100 years.
apr. 1999: tornadoes demolish homes in columbia, mo.
dec-jan. 2001-2002: snow (about an inch) closed I-10 between new orleans and baton rouge, la., where i was living.
jan. 2003: snowstorm shuts down washington and surrounding regions. i, sady, was in LA and my return flight was delayed three days.
sept. 2005 and may- dec. 2006: record- breaking florida hurricane seasons.
oct. 2007-feb. 2008: almost record-breaking snowfall in st. louis.
april 2008: my piece de resistance (so far), st.louis has an earthquake. yes, an EARTHQUAKE.
there are other, more scattered instances from my youth (like the roller rink we left after hearing tornado siren on a trip to north carolia in ruins as the lede photo on the next day’s paper), but these are the ones that count, i think.
so, what’s the speculation? will florida be under water next year? is it possible that a state as hot as hell could actally freeze over?
and just so charles doesn’t think i’ve hijacked his blog, i’ll move this to my own tomorrow. i still don’t have a computer at home and intended this to be short response. apparantly, i’m more bored than i thought.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
You could be Ryan Powell. Wherever he goes, teams go to championships.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Apparently the hybrid in BSG was referring to you as the “Harbinger of Death” and not Starbuck.
See you in a couple of weeks Chuck.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Charles, to get to Bronzer, you have to drive through my neck of the woods, er, beach. Just leave that karma on the Tampa side of the bay! Heh.