Week 39: Bulls, Bikes, and more Bikes

September 25 & 26, 2010

This weekend I did a few things. I've decided that writing paragraphs is boring, so I'm making lists.

Company Picnic Highlight/Lowlights:
- Good - I dunked my big boss in a dunk tank. Better - I dunked my big big boss
- Good - the pavillion at the Angus Barn was very nice. Worse - The food was not so good
- Good - I watched a lot of people fall off of the mechanical bull. Worse - I lasted far less time on it than they did.

Bike Fest:
- I saw 100's of motorcycles all decked out with fancy paint jobs and lights
- The people watching was fantastic
     - Big Mama's in stretch pants and cowgirl boots
     - Tatoos everywhere
     - Leather
     - Lots of rednecks

On Sunday I took a bike ride on the Tobacco Trail. It was a very nice ride. I road about 7 miles when it started to sprinkle. I decided to turn around. For the first 2 miles back it sprinkled and this was refreshing. The next 4 miles the sprinkle turned into a steady drizzle. The last mile was a down pour! I was drenched by the time I was finished and my butt hurts.

No pictures, I didn't take my camera anywhere. Guess I forgot?

Week 38: Vinos in the Vino Van

September 18, 2010

The 3rd in series of wine tastings with the Soapstoners. This week we added 2 new wine connoisseur Soapstoners and a random guy from Apenzell. We visited 3 wineries: Childress, Old Stone Vineyards, and Stony Mountain Vineyards

The Highlights:

1. Shotgun Betty and GC were not late!

2. DY has operator errors with his camera - ahahaha!

3. New comers The Wine Connoisseusr are kayakers. Their son also got stuck in a seat belt when he was little.

4. Childress was expensive and had a wine that smelled like cat pee.

5. Childress had a 2-member hippie band for our entertainment.

6. We ate Swiss chocolate!

7. PF left the keys hanging in the door of the van for about an hour while we sipped wine in Childress.

8. The Wine Conesours made up a rap song in the vino van.

9. Old Stone Vineyards looked like a hole in the wall, but had great wines of which I bought 2 bottles.

10. Wild West is still trying to win the lottery so we can just wine taste and do mission work for the rest of our lives.

11. We ate at Uncle Bucks where bras and panties are optional.

12. Stony Mountain Vineyards offered a spectacular view of Uwharrie.

13. BM almost lost his hand to a mean doggie.

14. JM didn't spill any wine on her pants.

15. CS you were pretty quiet most of the time, but not so quiet that I didn't here shenanigans from the back seat from you and Shotgun Betty,

16. We went on a short roller coaster ride in the vino van.

17. Both DY and GC tried to get us killed in the vino van. But we dont' hold it against you, THANKS FOR DRIVING!

The Uwharrie View = Spectacular

Week 37: Nittany Lions and Me in Tuscaloosa

Nittany Lions vs. Crimson Tide

1. It is hot and muggy in Tuscaloosa.

2. The Atlanta Chapter of the Penn State Alumni had an awesome tailgate!

3. We had good seats for the game.

4. We got out butts kicked....but it's a building year and for a true freshmen Bolden is doing ok.

5. "A Wild Way to Loose 90 Yards". This article in the Philadephia Inquire sums it up... http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20100912_A_wild_way_to_lose_90_yards.html
6. I ran into someone I went to high school with. Crazy considering Tuscaloosa is 871 miles from my high school.
7. The traffic was a nightmare leaving after the game. Way worse than any Penn State game I have ever been to.
8. Someone at the hotel stole my Nittany Lion magnet off of my car.
9. All-in-all it was a good trip to see my Lions and add another state to my list.
10. WE ARE.....

Week 36: Labor Day with a Campfire and Creamery Ice Cream

September 3-6, 2010

I went home this weekend to visit the family. I drove up on Friday night with a storm brewing. As I was driving up I-81 is was very windy. All of the sudden I saw a tornado. I kid you not! I just kept on driving toward it. I'm not sure what I was thinking; amazement surely! I watched it for about 15 seconds before an overpass and some trees got in my way. By the time I emerged, it was not in sight. There were people stopped in the road ahead; they must have saw it too. It was crazy! I felt like storm chaser. I can see the draw to being one. Maybe I'll look into that for a future career. However, I did see an angel in the clouds ahead, blowing the storm away. Can you see her in the photo?

On Saturday, I helped my parents can chilli, homemade chilli. I was helping my mom brown the hamburger and decided to turn on the light under the counter. As I hit the switch, a jolt of electricity shot through my finger and up my arm. I jumped, yelling "son of a _itch." My mom almost fell ont he floor laughing. Through the laughter I heard, "By the way, you can't touch the stove and the light at the same time." Something isn't grounded in that system. My dad says he needs to look into it. Is the an EE in the house? Browning the hamburger, chopping the onions, shelling the beans, cutting the tomatoes to make chilli. Then the canning process. Later, Ma went and built a fire, then the rest of the family came. We cooked hot dogs, mountain pies, and corn. Then I went and played hide-and-go-seek with my nephews. Later we roasted marshmallows and heard the tall tale of the mountain lion that ran through Utahville killing a dog, getting hit by a car, several people shooting it and still the mountain lion got away. Wonder what's in their water?

On Sunday, Ma, Pa, the nephews, and I went riding rails to trails. We parked a car at each end and the trail was slightly downhill. I soon learned that it is difficult to ride behind Cor and Two. They stop abruptly, without warning and you have to swerve out of the way to avoiding smashing into them. It is also difficult to ride in front of them. Their focus isn't the greatest and they will run into you from behind. It wasn't long before Two popped his chain. We fixed it and road on - stopping for lunch along the way, stopping to throw rocks in the water. Cor peddles fast and then coasts; Two swerves all over the place.

I headed home, showered and drove to State College to visit My Favorite Dental Hygienist. We had dinner at Otto's (yum), then we stopped in Wal-Mart and Giant so I could import some pizza sauce. This gave us enough time to digest a little food before heading off to a great treat - Ice Cream at the new Creamery. This is the first trip to the new Creamery on the Penn State Campus. But do not be mistaken, My Favorite Dental Hygienist and I will now go everytime I come home. I love ice cream. We waited in line and I got chocolate and My Favorite Dental Hygienist got chocolate with extras in it. (I can't remember what was in her ice cream). We then drove across the street to the new botanical gardens. I was to the old ones many many years ago, but the new ones are beautiful. We relaxed and walked around looking at all of the beautiful flowers and the lily pond and chatting about this and that. What a wonderful peaceful evening.

Monday I headed back to the south for the yucky hot weather. The weather had been grand in PA.