Road Trippin’ Part One
Chris and I took off late afternoon on Friday, heading towards Charlotte taking whatever path we felt like. We stopped for gas just outside of a town called Metropolis in Southern Illinois. So, like any rural town with a vague tie to a fictional character (see Hannibal, MO or Riverside, IA), they’re going to go overboard trying to milk some tourist dollars from aforementioned tie. So we saw the giant Superman. 
Then someone yelled at us as they drove by “You need to find something to do.” Indeed. Maybe we could head over to the two-story Dippin’ Dots this joint sported. 
Then we drove and drove and drove and drove and just when we thought we were on the homestretch to getting to Asheville, we see there’s a detour. The detour, which I located on the map after reading various flashing signs, was going to be about two hours out of our way, with no real option to avoid. SERVED. Little did I realize my friend Michelle, who we were going to visit, called and left me a message about said detour that I failed to listen to so it was my own damn fault.
(On November 16th, 2009 at 10:24 pm)
So, randomly, I know someone from Metropolis. Although I don’t think I knew about the giant Superman, or if I did I just said “Yeah, whatever. Giant Ketchup Bottle, Chrome Monkey, Superman. Illinois is weird.”
(On November 17th, 2009 at 8:13 am)
I knew there was a giant Superman somewhere…as I’d seen many of my friends using it for Myspace and Facebook pix….lol
(On November 17th, 2009 at 10:45 am)
The bigger attraction in Metropolis is Fort Masaac. But I won’t get all nerdy about history. I’m sure you’re aware of its existence.
The even bigger mystery revealed to me is that of the chrome monkey. I want to go to there.
On a side note, have you seen that giant Santa Claus statue in Evansville, IN? Or, here in Springfield, we have a giant, skinny Abe Lincoln holding an axe. I call him Axe Murderer Abe although he’s technically a railsplitter, but whatever, dude. It’s still weird.