Good point. I've seen Egyptian artifacts in three different venues - Seattle, Denver, and the Met in NYC. In Seattle it was the first time they brought the Tutankhamun exhibit to the U.S. The Denver exhibit was laid out to show the ancient Egyptian's philosophy of preparing for the afterlife. I can't remember how much of that was original and how much reproduction. Ditto with the Met. My inclination when I see anything in an exhibit that patrons can actually touch (or damage) is to assume it's a reproduction, or one of thousands and of a non-critical nature.

Meanwhile, regarding those pyramids outside the city of Cairo... did you know that you can still see the chisel marks in those enormous stones? Consider the level of metallurgy at that time; how often they would have had to resharpen their tools. My husband is a woodworker with a large collection of antique hand tools, and the idea of seeing the evidence of those long dead stonecutters still visible in the stone blocks fascinates him. Such evidence fascinated British archaeologists too and for decades, which is why the British museum is swimming in artifact inventory.

They hid out after closing. They flipped the authorities of a foreign nation, and their rules, the bird. The premise of their attitude was egotism, disrespect and self-entitlement. Even stone can be destroyed if enough people (read: immature adults) follow their 'its-all-about-me' example.

If they had fallen on their climb up the pyramid and been unable to get back down on their own, they no doubt would have expected those same disrespected gatekeepers to kindly and carefully haul their asses back down for medical attention. Were photos the only thing they took, or did they happen to have a chisel and hammer with them? Did they leave anything behind? There are no restrooms at the top of the pyramid.

Shall I go on, James?

'hitchhiker's budget' = broke (generally speaking) I've never had a hitchhiker offer me money for gas. Not saying it doesn't happen, it's just not my experience.

... and when you say 'ran across'? Cuz the man who came to cut and bail our hay actually did 'run across' a fawn. It's been twenty years, and I can still remember the scream. *shudder*

Also wondered if her only luggage is the coffee cup in her hand. Even if her butt is cute, jet fuel is spendy. (Around $5.20 per gallon today)

Most folks who are fond of their state think it's a little piece of heaven, and don't understand why anyone would want to live any place else. Nebraskans will actually say so out loud - it's "God's Country".

Okay, I'll bite... is it the dry rub or the sauce, that puts you off? ( I don't much care for either of the bbq sauces that are heavy on the tomato, or mustard.)