I'm also a big fan of the drive through light displays. There's nothing like driving all the way out to Bull Run or all the way out to Columbia to see those same lights every year.
Of course, we had a good time. As usual, I didn't win anything. I didn't loose everything, but I didn't win anything. I've never had good luck at casinos. The most I've ever won was $175 on a slot machine. That's once out of many trips up there.
that are connected to the restaurant sound system. When certain songs are chosen, the servers all stop what they are doing and dance. It's very cute, but looks like it'd be annoying as hell. Oh well, it's a job. Although, I guess we all kind of do that in the dinner theater biz.
Gee, I thought prices were going down. Do you realize that it would cost me about $280 to fill up here?
The Prize? Two five dollar Virginia Lottery Scratchers!
Well! That ends the speculation. I, for one, am relieved. So relieved, in fact, that it's given me the courage to confess something of my own. . . . OK. . . Here goes. . . . . . .
Well, I had dinner the other day at the Cheesecake Factory in Whiteflint with my little whipped topping, Andi. As always, we were jovial with our server. Now, it being the Factory, we ordered cheesecake for dessert, of course. Loved it! Well, at the end of the meal, our server brought the check by and said, "You know, you two were so much fun! The cheesecake is on me." Yes, he actually comped our cheesecake. The manager even came over to meet and thank us. I'm guessing that the servers are probably allowed to comp a certain number of cheesecakes. I'm just glad we got to be one of those numbers.
Hey, guess what! I did my first professional voiceover this past Tuesday. Here's the background. Someone wrote a poem for the Lorton Arts Foundation's Workhouse Arts Center about the conversion of the prison into an arts complex. The foundation decided to have the poem recorded and put onto a video montage of the conversion. The montage would be presented during the grand opening this month. Well, they wanted someone with a deep booming voice to record the poem. Know anyone like that?
Notice anything wrong with this picture? No, I didn't reverse the image. That "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" sign actually came like that. What's funny is that everyone who arrived kinda had the same reaction. First they would glance at it quickly. Then they would do a double take, followed by a look of confusion. We decided to leave it, because. . . well. . . it had personality.So, lesson for the day: Don't buy party favors from the dollar store.
I wanted to show you a picture of the peach stand Andi and I stopped at Saturday. Were we in the great state of Georgia? No. We found the stand in Delaplane, VA on our way back from driving out to Harrisonburg to move by sister back to college for her junior year. Ugh! Can you believe it, junior year? Man, I feel old. I remember when I used to change her wittle diaper. . . Wow. . .
Another sad day over here at headquarters. Sho'nuff has died. "Who is Sho'nuff?" you say. What, are you kidding me? Sho'nuff was one of the best film villains ever from the one of the best guilty pleasure movies ever, Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon.
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I did mention to Tom this past week that I don't get nearly as fatigued building sets now as I did ten years ago at the West End. I think it's because in those days, we used what I like to call "semi-primitive" tools. When we made platforms and such, we had to stand bent over and drive nails with hammers. By the end of the day, I would feel it in my back and hands and arms. In Tom's current shop, we get to use pneumatic tools. Now I can drive nails with the squeeze of a trigger. I love it..jpg)
Now, if only we could get some air conditioning in the shop.
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I got to see Hancock last night with my good friend Ryan and my #1 Dena. I must say, great movie. There is so much I'd like to tell you about the movie, but I can't for fear of ruining it for you. I can tell you that what you see in the commercials isn't necessarily what you get in the film. Let me explain. I was worried that all the good parts were shown in the commercials, but not to worry. The movie takes you in a direction that you don't expect at all.
Next, it was on to the planes outside. This is an interesting shot because. . . well. . . I used to be a white man until I stuck my face in the back of that jet engine. I had wondered what that "beware of blast" meant.
The plane below actually belonged to The Flintstones. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you will notice feet under the plane which is how they get the plane going down the runway. . . I is highlarious!
Also, WRC's traffic copter was on display. I need to get me one of those to get to and from work.
They also had a few military aircraft including this huge cargo plane which, we found out from one of the crewmen, was used to transport Shamu.
This is a shot of the cargo plane taken from the wing of a midair refueling plane. You could actually go into both planes and sit in the cockpit. The cargo plane was so huge that you actually had to climb up a steep staircase to get to the cockpit.
I must say, the whole thing was pretty cool. . . Actually, it wasn't very cool. It was fairly hot out. The heat inside the cargo plane and the refueler was like a sauna. But, I have to tell you, it was worth it. How often do you get to go into the cockpit of a military plane. I'll definitely go back next year. Thanks for the great idea Joey!
Let me tell you, it was the best game ever! Sucka, Andi, and I went to the game at about 7:45. It was hot, but we could see clouds in the distance and figured we'd get a little rain which would probably cool things down a little.
As you can see, the bleachers are open, so we were still getting wet. Not as bad as above the stands, but still. . . Under the bleachers, there is a concession stand that is kind of a shed-like structure. They only use it when there is a huge crowd for the games. There wasn't much of a crowd that day, so it was closed. Well, Sucka decided to try the employee entrance door in back of the shed. Success! It was unlocked! So we went in. Folks, it was like a sauna in there.
Since it was almost 100º most of the day and the shed had not been used, it was burning up in there. . . but, we were dry. We stayed in the shed for about fifteen minutes. It was fun and funny but also a little scary. During that time, there were many a close thunder clap. Then the lights in the stadium went out. Oh, did I also mention that the wind blew the door shut. BTW, during all this, we couldn't hear anyone else. So, factor in the pouring rain, the thunder and lightning, the pitch black, the hot shed, no one else around, and the door closing by itself. It sounds like something out of a movie.
Since Sucka was furthest from the door, I asked him to take a picture so you could see our perspective. Unfortunately, all I had with me was my cell phone camera with no flash. So, that dark figure is me and that highlighted figure is Andi. 
When the rain finally let up, we came out of the shed. There were actually a few people still there. And, the players had stayed in the dugout, so they were still there also. We stayed around a little while longer to see what would happen next. All of a sudden, the announcer came on the loud speaker. "Ladies and gentlemen, that are still here, we are going to set off the fireworks in five minutes!" Woohoo!!! So, we still got to see the fireworks that they normally do every Saturday home game. Well, we went back up into the stands, walked over to the higher priced box seats (the wet box seats), sat down, and watched the fireworks show.
Haven Dwellers, it was the best time ever. And, you'll be glad to know that I've already started work on the screenplay.
OK, that's not me, and that's not a real engine. It's one of the many model trains they had set up. 
Now here was the fun part, the train tour!
This is the first of two historic rail cars that you could walk through. Here is an exterior and interior shot of the 20th Century Limited rail car.
This is a shot of the MARC train that the 20th Century was attached to at the other end. I just thought it was funny looking out the back of a classic rail car and seeing a modern engine attached. So, I took a picture of it.
Attached to the Dover Harbor was an AMTRAK regional car. Here's a shot of the car's interior and a shot I took of the outside from the regional. That's an Acela over on that other track.
Now, the highlight of the experience was the chance to see the pride of the AMTRAK fleet, the high speed Acela!
I have to say, this is one fine looking train. I hope it rides as good as it looks. Actually, I shouldn't have to wonder, because I had the pleasure of listening to a man on the tour who told me over and over again about how he had ridden the Acela before and how he didn't see the big deal and how he thought it was too bouncy and how he thought it took the curves too fast and on and on. You know how I love to talk to a know-it-all stranger. Anyway, here's an interior shot and a shot looking out the window at the engine on the next track over.
Overall, I had a good time. I would say the only drawback was that the display areas seemed a little chaotic. Hopefully, they'll do a better job next year of creating a traffic flow instead of having people walking in all directions. Oh, and of course, I will be there next year!
