Southern Slingshot

1 car
1 wedding
2 people
74 hours
1745 driven miles

This past weekend was Bob & Anna's wedding in Atlanta. With plane tickets $200+ from EWR/PHL, and $300+ from LVIA (ABE), plus hotel, we decided to cut the cost in 1/3 and drive the 1600 miles.

We left Thursday night, and stayed at Tracie's in Frederick as a hopping-off point. We got there in time for me to watch my NCAA bracket go down the drain, as Duke lost. We left Friday morning at about 7am, after a quick breakfast with Tracie at Waffle House. Chunked and covered please :^)

We decided to use the road trip time to see some things. We chose to drive down US 340 to Harper's Ferry, WV, and then to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah NP (the northern 1/3). Great scenery in Shenandoah. The facilities were closed, so we got a free ride, somehow. We saw lots of deer (49 per Lisa's count) along our 30 mile drive, and I even got to hike a section of the AT in VA (albeit ~1 mile). Nice trail, great park. Definitely worth another visit. I heard nothing for a while. Nothing. No cars, planes, etc. Calm wind. Just me and my tinnitus. There was light snow recently in the higher elevations, and the trail had a nice dusting of snow. If you decide to go to Shenandoah, and not stay in the park, look into Berry Patch Inn near Luray, VA. We passed this place, and the views from it were incredible.

After Shenandoah, we headed west back to I-81, and our final destination. Driving through I-81 in VA is sweet. There are mountains on either side, and the highway is buffered by farms and pastures on either side. Lots of cows. Going up and over the Blue Ridge Mtns (I-77) was pretty cool. The road is even deserving of a Runaway Truck Ramp (more), as we head into the flatter lands of NC.

We rolled into Atlanta at about 8pm. Traffic was SOOO thick heading in/out of the city. Unbelievable traffic. It makes Philly and NYC traffic look not too bad. We checked into the hotel room, and went next door to Rock Bottom Brewery for dinner/drinks/NCAA. Good beer.

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Saturday came, and we headed out to see some sights. We chose Stone Mountain Park. Basically, its a big granite rock on the outskirts of Atlanta, complete with ultra-touristy golf course, mini amusements, laser light show, and aerial tram. It was 1.4 slickrock miles to the top. We were expecting spring conditions, but we found weather similar to Mount Washington in NH. Windy, and still cool. Windy enough that the tram was not in operation the previous day. We made it back in time to nap and prepare for the wedding.

Bob & Anna's wedding was very nice. It was a Presbyterian ceremony. Southern weddings are a little different than what we're used to. The reception had much less structure than our heavily-planned Yankee weddings. It was a buffet-style cocktail reception, with the stations and all, and with open seating. This allowed everyone to mingle more. The ceremonial dances, speeches, and cake cutting were interspersed throughout the night.

We saw some old friends, and made some new ones. It was odd being to a "Weather Wedding" . Bob works for the NWS, so his work friends were there, as were some of us from RU Wx, including Shaun, who works at NWS-Anchorage.

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We tried to leave early on Sunday. 6:20am early. Using the open roads, I made really good time. We were on target to make it home in under 12 hours (including stops). Funny that we hit traffic at a known construction site about 40 miles from home. I rolled the dice, and decided to not take a detour. We were stuck for about 1/2 hour. On the way, Lisa and I noticed a Mary Kay Pontiac Vibe. Lisa exchanged Mary Kay pleasantries with the consultants in the Vibe, and we trudged on along I-81.

Pictures:
Bob & Anna's pictures. Incredible pictures. I love the photojournalistic style. We have some pictures, but they pale in comparrison. We also had "issues" with our pictures too.

Shenandoah

Driving

Atlanta/Stone Mtn

Bob & Anna's Wedding

LOST... new tonite!

Found this blurb on TheTailSection:

Reruns Killing Lost?
Lately, there has been a movement by ABC brass and LOST production staff to educate the rerun averse masses on the necessity of the frequent, and painful, hiatuses. The question is, does this understanding help? Should frustrated viewers feel better about the "cool off", knowing it is necessary for the networks to calculate their advertising rates?

Are the business aspects of LOST more important than presenting the story in an optimal way? LOST is, after all, a cliff-hanger styled serial.

According to the approximately six-million viewers who have tuned out, permanently, the answer seems to be no. Sadly LOST has developed an attrition in season two that is enormous. If the trend were to continue on track through season three, the show will be history by season four.

Surely, part of the drop off is due to frustration over the answers given, and what is apparently an uneven season in a sense of quality. (While consistently good, there have been a few boners this year.) The problem is compounded when one of these elements is left to resonate around the water coolers.

In averages, Fox's 24 has now surpassed LOST in loyal viewers, (around 14 million to LOST's 12), and this success is attributed largely to the networks no rerun policies.

Of course the big question is, would LOST viewers do better with a longer hiatus between seasons, and no reruns?
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Actually, I was kind of getting tired of 24. Season after season, there are terrorists, hostages, corruption, etc. Anyone who Jack interrogates always wants "full immunity" from the President. It gets tired. Its like always pulling a Draw Four WILD card in UNO (how many are there in a deck?). Also, its always someone around Jack getting manipulated in order to derail his investigation. How many times will he say, "Damnit!" ?

Yes, we need more LOST. On the off weeks, I forget what's happening, and all the minute details that the writers so thoughtfully throw in as dork fodder (and possible spoilers).

Down to the River Below...

On Sunday, Lisa and I went to High Rocks / Ralph Stover SP / Tohickon Valley Park to check out the kayakers/rafters riding the high water from the Tohickon Dam release. I'm glad we don't kayak, it was damn cold on Sunday, and the water was even colder. They release water from Lake Nockamixon in March and November. We can see this spectacle twice a year!

I remember coming here once before. I went climbing, one summer back in college, with my cousins Matt and Andrew, and their cousin Chris. I remember Chris' old Subaru GL wagon. Really sweet. We turned off the AC to make it up inclines. Good ol' 1.8L engine. It had an oil leak too. When we stopped for gas, the car would smoke. He also introduced me to Taco Bell on that outing too.

Regardless, Lisa and I agreed that this park was worth another look. I'd like to hike the rim and river trails a little more, when its not so cold out, and when we don't have to hurry back to make a basketball game. It was fun, we picked up lunch at Wawa, and ate in the car at the park. If it were not so cold, we would have eaten outside. Next time will be just as cute, but with more hiking. I'd like to do an entire loop.

Did You Eat My Donut?... and then put it back?

Last Wednesday (3/15) was a co-worker's last day. My boss brought in donuts for her (I know, high class). Well, I was looking forward to having some leftover, partially-stale donuts Thursday morning. When the elder statesman of the office left, he said there were 3+ left.


This is what I found Thursday morning. It was like some giant rat-monster had gotten into the donuts. It looks like someone BIT INTO a donut, and LEFT IT there. So, totally grossed out, I passed on the donuts. They were now stale, since they had been broken open (essentially, their "seal" had been broken). Fair enough, I really don't need any donuts.

I had a suspect. "BC" is notorious around the office for his lack of cleanliness, lack of respect for others, and general life knowledge (the even sadder part is that BC is 45 years old, and lives in a rented mobile home... but that is another story). BC was away at a workshop all day Wednesday (and again on Thursday). I figured he took some for breakfast on his way. What aggravates me is his sorry attempt at having a "piece" of the one donut. Hell, it looks like he took a honking bite out of it, and put it back.

This is similar to the trick with the Whitman's Sampler, where you stick your thumb in the butt of the candy, to see what's inside, and then put it back if you dislike it (just use the candy-map, damnit!). Same idea with cream/jelly donuts; look at the port hole, and see what's inside. Red= jelly, yellow=cream.

So, I confronted BC about the Donut Episode. Its the principle here. He ripped apart donuts with his grimey hands, and left the scraps for others. I have had enough of his lack of respect for things and general malaise. He said he took 2 donuts Wednesday night. Fine with me. Then, he admitted to just trying to gently tear apart the other jelly donut, and have just a piece of it. He said he thought they were going to be thrown out anyway, so he could have his way with them. Then, if you think that, throw them out when you're done. Don't leave them on the table for others to discover, especially after Old Man River wrote "Good Morning Joe" on the box for me. A Good Morning it was not.

BC offered to buy me more donuts, to make up for it. Sorry, that doesn't work for me. How about YOU, BC, take more care with your cleanliness around an office environment? When we want 1/2 of something (muffin, donut, bagel, cake), we slice it evenly, with a knife. This way, other people know that the item has only been halved, and not raped and mangled (as was this case). Also, we try to handle unclaimed food as little a possible, and tearing apart food would violate that courtesy.

Thank You.

-J

Nothing New...

I know its been a few weeks. However, we've been pretty busy. What else is new. Busy, but nothing too big to write about here. All I can say is that the next few weeks will be just as busy on the weekends.

This weekend is my sister's wedding shower. Lisa put a lot of work into that, and I'm sure things will go off well. On Sunday, we plan to do some things around town. Fun stuff, like visit Moravian Tileworks, and go to High Rocks / Ralph Stover SP to see the Tohickon Dam release. Kayakers love to ride the wave produced by the water realease. Its excitement, here in Bucks County.

Anyone know anything good to do in Atlanta? We're going down there March 24-26 for my friend's wedding. We might hit Stone Mountain, and get a taste of springtime.