Tag Archives: Search for America

Nuts to You

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The latest version of the Search for America Tour has wound down; the credit card bills are in and paid, and we’re left with the memories of a good time, and anticipation of where we’ll head next.

Regrettably, we’re also nearing the end of a magnificent 2 pound bag of salted in the shell peanuts that we bought at a convenience store in the Richmond area. The bag prominently identified the peanut company, and thanks to The Google, we found the website of The Good Earth Peanut Company of Skippers VA.This is in RoVA, the Rest of Virginia, which elevates it in my mind. And joy of joys, you can order their products on-line. I predict we’ll have some excellent goobers in our future.

-k-

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Safe in South Carolina

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Today, the Search for America Tour headed from Raleigh to Myrtle Beach, where I picked up SWMBO at the airport. Our worst fears of her being in alien probe line hell were unfounded. I’d taken her luggage with me when I left for Raleigh, so she was bagless. In addition, she’s riding back home with me in the Monte Carlo, so she had a one-way ticket. I figured she’d only do 3-5 in Leavenworth, with perhaps time off for good behavior.

But, all those fears vanished when I saw her coming down the walkway. We’re now in Conway SC, fixin’ to meet some folks for some socializing. Then tomorrow night, the main event, as we welcome another member into the “Lordy, Lordy, look who’s 40” club. And we’ll welcome him into that august group with all the solemnity such an event deserves.

For a not-so subtle hint as to the details, check here.

-k-

Schools Out, and I’m Shinin’ On

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The last day of my Red Hat class was today. It was without a doubt one of the best training sessions I’ve ever attended. The instructor was really on top of his game, the class attendees were from a variety of backgrounds, and the interactions amongst the group were a training bonus.

Tonight, I’ve found some siblings for the lonely Shiner Bock featured in last night’s post, and am enjoying same whilst folding up the tent, and preparing to take the Search for America Tour eastbound tomorrow. Destination: Myrtle Beach, where I’ll pick up SWMBO at the airport1. From there, we head to Conway SC, for a weekend of festivities.

-k-

1 Presuming she isn’t in interminable alien-probe-line hell, what with having a one-way ticket and no luggage.

The Mixed-up and Splendid Search for America Tour, 2007

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It starts on July 22, with me heading solo to Raleigh NC for some more book-learnin’ and lab work at the RedHat Mothership. Class lasts until Thursday, whereupon I head south to a secure undisclosed location, where I’ll meet SWMBO’s flight and whisk her away about 20 miles or so inland, where we will be attending a birthday celebration of a really good guy on July 28th. Rolling homeward on the 29th, and possibly part of the 30th.

We’re being fitted for our bells; I really would hate missing the blowout we’re planning on attending. As always, details to follow.

-k-

Short Week, including a Road Trip

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With July 4th falling on a Wednesday, SWMBO and I are taking off Thursday and Friday as well. We’ll head over to West Virginia on the 4th, and visit one of SWMBO’s retired co-workers and her husband. We’ll eat their barbeque, drink their beer, and spend the night. Then we’ll roll homeward on the 5th, with a possible stopover at Charlestown Races and Slots on the way back. Gotta help the retirement fund somehow.

The balance of the time off will be spent imparting order from the chaos that is now the tbbs-land Linux test lab. SWMBO has been most patient with the computer cases and cables that have been gracing the living area more than she’d like. And I must agree it’s time to get off the schneid in the old test lab.

Not all the drama of the Search for America Tour, but we’re still looking forward to it.

-k-
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Happy Birthday, Amadeus

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Our grandson, Amadeus1 , turns 10 today. SWMBO and I are proud of him, and regret that the Search for America Tour, and the recuperation therefrom, caused us to get his card/gift off late. Our bad. What’s probably more bad, in his eyes and ears at least, was our calling and singing Happy Birthday to him tonight. We did try to sing on-tune, at least.

We love you, Amadeus!

-k-

1 Great name, ain’t it?.

Land of the Yuppie, Home of the Terminally Rude

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2214 miles on the Search for America, at 9 mph over the posted speed limit. Increasing the LTD fuel economy of our POS Mercury from 18.0 to 23.3. Drivers moving out of the fast lane when they saw you’re faster. And me returning the favor for others.

8 miles to Dulles Airport to return the rental. Being passed on the shoulder and on the gore point of the off-ramp within a mile of the house. Dealing with a Dodge Magnum coming left from the gore point who clearly didn’t understand my right turn signal to get on the off-ramp to the airport. Being cut off on a right-hand merge back onto the Dulles Toll Road fast lane on the return trip.

Damn, I thought we were lost for the last week, with the courtesy and generally nice folks we encountered.

We clearly came back to the place from whence we left. Glad we’re safe and all, but these living arrangements gotta change.

-k-

The Official Hotel of the Search for America Tour

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That would be Hampton Inn. Plentiful and convenient locations, free wifi, and in-room coffee maker that keeps one going until he can head downstairs to the free breakfast, and get some much better coffee. 1

They give AARP discounts, too.

-k-

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1 The free breakfast amounts to a pre-Cracker Barrel breakfast snack; the coffee serves as enough motivation to head to the lobby.

Search for America Tour, 2007, Leg 1

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Tonight finds SWMBO and I west of Nashville, on our way to Hot Springs AR. Normally, we would be in Hot Springs by mid-afternoon tomorrow, but we’re staying in Little Rock tomorrow night. Elder Daughter is taking the red-eye from California, and arrives on Friday morning. So, we’ll stay close to the airport there, and meet her flight on Friday. It’ll be nice to see her again, even though the purpose of the whole trip is a little bittersweet. SWMBO’s mom is beginning to fail noticeably, at least mentally, so this could be the last time they’re all together in some semblance of the way things have always been. I plan to consume my brother-in-law’s beer, watch his TV, and generally hang out.

There are no Buick fuel economy numbers to report; Avis was out of Buicks, so we were stuck with a Mercury Grand Marquis, a supposed equivalent. I made so many snarky comments about the Merc on the drive over that I feel like I’ve blogged them already. I will recognize the efforts of Drew, the Avis agent on duty at Dulles airport this morning. He turned over every Avis inventory for 30 miles in search of Buicks, to no avail. I appreciate his efforts; he did proffer a Lincoln Town car. I told him I’m a GM guy, and asked if they had any Cadillacs. Nope. If I’m going to go funereal when it comes to driving, make mine Cadillac.

The Merc accomplished one thing worthy of note; it maintained my no-fly streak. And that’s worth something, I guess.

-k-

Talladega Memories

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They’ve been racing NASCAR Cup cars at Talladega Speedway since 1969. And I’m plenty old enough to have seen them all. I haven’t, because consistent teevee coverage didn’t arrive until 1979. But that old 2.66 mile, high-banked monster has brought some memorable moments:

  • In the mid 70′s there was a hellacious crash on the backstretch; it took out the majority of the field. I think it was either Benny Parsons or Buddy Baker who later remarked “It looked like a 747 had crashed on the backstretch.”
  • In 1988, Bobby Allison’s car became airborne, pivoted multiple times on an axis from the roof of the car to the floorboards, and came perilously close to entering the grandstands. This ushered in restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega for the next season.
  • Somewhere in the 80′s, a “fan” who is the poster child of the “Whiskey for Breakfast Bunch”, stole the pace car, and made nearly a lap around the track, before several of Alabama’s finest took him into custody coming off turn three.
  • The late, great Dale Earnhardt won his last NASCAR race at Talladega in 2000. He came from 20th with 2 or 3 laps to go, to win the event. Today, he would have celebrated his 56th birthday. Racing still isn’t the same without him.
  • What other track could spawn such jokes as “What has 50,000 legs and 100,000 teeth?” A: The infield at Talladega.

Maybe SWMBO’s and my “Search for America Tour” should head to Alabama someday. I think that would be great.

-k-

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