Our Weekend Road Trip this week takes us to Little Rock, Arkansas for a tour of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. The 150,000 square foot structure cost approximately $165 million to construct, and it sits within the boundaries of a 28 acre park. The Clinton Library is the second largest Presidential Library. The Ronald Reagan Library is the largest.

And, I know a secret about the library that no one else does! Soon, you’ll know it too.

William J. Clinton Presidential Library

Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham—the college years

A full-size replica of the Oval Office.

Gibson Lucille-style guitar signed by B.B. King, Jonh Fogerty, Eric Clapton, Gloria Estephan, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, John Mellencamp, Garth Brooks, and Lenny Kravitz.

Okay, here’s the secret. I noticed this guitar was hanging upside down (it’s a right-handed guitar positioned as if a left-handed guitarist was about to play it)  and it was bugging the heck out me, assuming a non-musician hung it that way. And you know me, I went straight to the top for answers. Well, I was correct, they didn’t know it was upside down. Not a clue. So the head honcho sent a message to someone else who forwarded it to someone else…well, you get the idea. Finally, though, I did receive the information I sought…sort of. Here’s what they told me (basically, they passed the buck). Still, this is great “inside” information that no one knows but you and me.

“This guitar was part of our temporary exhibit “World of Music” which ran from May, 2005 to January, 2006. This exhibit was designed by Ralph Appelbaum and Associates from New York and our museum staff had little to do with the installation.

Because we had little involvement, we can only guess why it was hung that way (it kind of looks like two of the signatures are right side up when you hang it this way, one is sideways and one is upside down) but we cannot say for sure.

One thing I want to make sure you know: This item is no longer on exhibit at the Clinton Library. When it came down in 2006, it was returned to storage.

The guitar was a gift to President Clinton from Hootie and the Blowfish and it is signed by that band.”

Actual presidential limousine. It’s heavily armored.

Ballet shoes worn by a young Hillary Rodham.

After a long week of playing cops and robbers, it’s finally time to take a day off from fighting crime. And, in celebration of The Graveyard Shift’s five-year anniversary, here’s the very first Weekend Road Trip.

Also, you’ll find clue #4 in WPA’s “Name The Keynote Speaker” contest at the bottom of the page. Good luck!

Please, sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.

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We’ve received numerous responses to the “name the keynote speaker” contest. Please keep them coming.

For those of you who are joining us for the first time, here’s how the contest works.

To kick things off this year, we’re running a super-easy contest, and here’s how it goes. The first person to guess the name of the 2013 WPA keynote speaker wins a free FATS session (Firearms Simulator Training). I’ll post clues each day, starting today, until Monday when I’ll reveal the names of the winner and of the keynote speaker. You must, however, send your guess to me via email at lofland32@msn.com. Please DO NOT post the name on this website!! We want to give everyone a shot at this.

So here goes, and good luck!

The first three clues are:

Clue #1 – One of his/her books was made into a mid-90’s TV movie.

#2 – He/she sold his/her first book at the ripe old age of 20.

#3 – This superstar author used to work in the food service industry.

Today’s clue:

Clue #4 – The author writes one series where the protagonist resides in Massachusetts, in the same city where I used to live.

*Remember, send your guess to me at lofland32@msn.com. DO NOT post your answer in the comments section of this blog!  Doing so will automatically disqualify your entry.

The first correct answer receives the free FATS session at the 2013 WPA. The session is for the winner of this contest only, and is not transferable. There is no redeemable cash value.

Also, a second contest begins next Tuesday, with another great prize going to the winner!

Another week has passed and, although crime still marches on, everyone deserves a break once in a while. So it’s time for us to sign 10-7 ( out of service), pack the car, and head out of town for a little R&R. Our Weekend Road Trip this week takes us to Washington state in the Olympic Mountains overlooking the San Juan Islands. Take a deep breath. The hours-long hike up and over to the water is not for the weak.  Enjoy the view.

Western hemlock trees are abundant along the coastline. Able to grow to heights over 100 feet, some western hemlocks have been known to live 1,200 years and beyond.

It was an exhausting trek through dense brush, but definitely worth the effort.

The waters just off the coast are the playground to orcas. And, interestingly, the islands, unlike nearby Seattle, get sunshine around 250 days a year.

After an hour of exploring and wildlife-watching, it was time to start the long arduous climb back. Seeing a couple of bald eagles soaring above, though, was a nice end to a great day.

Capitola, California is located in Santa Cruz County on Monterey Bay. According to Capitola/Santa Cruz lore, in the early 1960s, a large group of normally passive birds began attacking Capitola residents and tourists.

Nearby Santa Cruz was a favorite vacation spot for a well-known movie director. He’d read about the bird attacks and decided to make a movie about it. The director’s name was Alfred Hitchcock. The movie…The Birds.

One of my favorite spots in the world…