The Long Weekend

I was so distracted with all of the news about the royal baby that I never got a chance to share the weekend adventures. What a little cutie he is going to be! Okay, I'm done with royal baby fever for a little while.

So....Hubby's squadron had a mess meeting this past Friday. Basically it is when everyone gets together, usually in a bar, and has a good time. But they do do "official" things along with the morale boosting, like introduce the new guys and give out the all important call signs. And it is because of this tradition that now I know some people by the names of Cher (for a man), Jekyll, Frodo, Mush, and Zuko (like Grease!). Hubby's call sign is Tubs, like a bathtub in a restroom. There a huge, long, amazingly inappropriate story that goes along with it, but long story short he feel asleep somewhere he shouldn't have! And you know what it is by his call sign, Tubs! And for about a year now I have been Mrs. Tubs in my own right for exactly the same thing. My long story short is: Boston, 4th of July, too much Bar fun, a gorgeous marble Ritz-Carlton bathroom and a $150 bubble bath I wanted to replicate for a lot less money! Yeah, Mrs. Tubs I am.

So anyway, back to the weekend. I knew some of the guys were going to come over after the mess meeting to hang out before the squadron went downtown to support one of the Air Crewman who DJs. It was his farewell night since he and his family were moving to San Diego the next week, and we wanted to be there to show our support for his passion. I was all up for the guys coming over before we headed out to the club. I can handle a few guys over no problem, I'll just grab a few beers and get ready for loud noises :) On Friday, before the squadron made their way to a local watering hole, I got a phone call from Hubby telling me almost the entire group is coming over afterward and he'll be by to drop off the keg before the meeting. "No big deal" I said. "Great" I mused. Inside, I was freaking! 3 hours! A kegger! He gave me 3 hours to go from a couple of guys to 20 plus with the Skipper! He wasn't sure if wives or girlfriends were coming or not, so I prepped like everyone was going to walk through the house. I immediately went into panic/superwoman/chicken-with-my-head-cut-off cleaning mode! Vacuum, check. Guest room set up, check. Clean every toilet, check. Etc. Home cleaning was done. Then I ventured out to gather food and drinks, I love my Harris Teeter for the one-stop shop less then a mile from my house. Coke, chips, dip, fruit, wine and lots and lots of water. Okay, I was ready. Bring it on. Release the hounds!

 

Then it was onto the Granby Theater. That's our guy Mr. B. We'll miss him when we wanna go dancing. He was the best DJ they had. I know he's having a blast in Cali.

Oh man, that was a long day/night, but it was a really good time. The keg was floated, all the food was gone and no one passed out in the garage. I call that a success. I have no idea how Hubby and I had the energy to go bike riding in Williamsburg the next day. 

It is definitely time to invest in a bike rack with Hubby back in the states. It was like handlebar-peddle Tetris trying to fit the bikes in the back. Maybe next weekend we can take this act further down the road to Busch Gardens. I am craving a roller coaster ride. 

Until next time :) 

  

That was one long weekend...

A long, long, long weekend! But a fun, fun, fun weekend. Lots of pictures were taken and that is precisely what this entry is going to be composed of. Pictures galore, so let's begin!

Friday, Hail and Farewell

These are pictures from the hailing and farewelling (I know, not a word) portion of the night. It is a marvelous tradition. You get to meet the new guys and gals that you'll be seeing for the next few years. And you might even make a really great friend. The farewells on the other hand are not as much fun. While it is a chance to have a little party with the ones you grew to know and love, in a lot of cases, this might be the last time you see them. It is a little bit bitter-sweet, but still a good time to be had.    

Kenny loves bowling. 

Yep, the Hail and Farewell was at a bowling alley. I hadn't been in one of those since Midnight Bowling in the seventh grade at Saratoga Lanes in the good 'ole CC, TX. But don't worry, the party didn't end there. 

Oh yeah, dance dance dance dance! We hit a club! Yes, those are glow sticks in that gentleman's hand....and you know what....he rocked those things better then an 18 year old kid with a pacifier in his mouth grooving to Sandstorm in 1999. 

Saturday, 37th Annual Harborfest

They have everything at this festival: Craft beer, concerts, bad-for-you-but-delicious-food, shopping, fireworks and BOATS!

Lots and lots of boats! 

The detail on some of these boats was awe inspiring. The color and intricate carvings on this one from Delaware made everyone that walked by stop and take a picture or two. 

Hubby being an American. 'Murica!

Can't forget about the weird "mermaid" display that some pirates had. I just felt sorry for the girl in the tank that had to swim in circles and make Flipper noises. But she did look like she loved it! 

This delicious place was at the festival. Mine was a Peanut Butter Cup cupcake. Yumm. 

Then we hopped on the water taxi to Portsmouth. I know, I know. We can never just stay in one place.

Yay, Bier Garden! Hundreds of Beers to chose from, literally.  

Yay, Still! Moscow Mule for Moi. 

Then back to Norfolk we went for the fireworks!

We had a really good view. 

Oooo, Aaahh, That's my favorite! 

Yes, I was a little tipsy by the end of the day. I had a damn good time :) 

Sunday, Williamsburg 

I have no idea what in the hell we were on that let us have enough energy to hit the road with the puppy the next day, but I want it more often. 

We had a little lunch at Dog Street Pub in Merchant's Square. It is mouthwatering good food. They even made a little something for Luna for lunch and kept bringing her ice water since it was 90 degrees out and the poor baby has black hair that insulates better then any wool I have ever found. A walk through the historic area followed lunch and Luna didn't get into one single brawl this time! She's improving on that puppy brain of hers. I couldn't be prouder. 

And that was our weekend! No wonder I have been putting this one off since Sunday. I just got my energy back. Wow, that yoga yesterday really did work to 'center' me. Or maybe it was the Strawberry Abita Beer and cookie cake I made during the thunderstorm last night :) Whatever, it worked!    

Until next time! 

Road trip!

Family Fun Adventure Day! Today the need for excitement took Luna and I to America's Birthplace: Colonial Williamsburg and the Yorktown Battlefields!

These are a few of my happy places. These are the destinations that I never get tired of because I find something new every time I go. So I'm sure it comes as no surprise that we have had annual passes to Williamsburg since we first moved to the area. In fact it might have been one our first purchases when we settled in :) I know I am a history nerd. I can't help it, some people like to visit the Mall of America every summer, I like historical areas. Although I would not mind a trip to Minnesota too. lol.

Here are some pictures that I took of Lu and the historical area of Williamsburg.

Luna is in front of the historical Eastern State Hospital, a.k.a. the Eastern Lunatic Asylum, a.k.a. America's first loony bin! How appropriate. Lu at the loony bin. 

The next photo is in front of Josiah Chowning's. Mr. Chowning opened his tavern in 1766 to "appeal to the ordinary lot" and they certainly still do; I got a sandwich. lol. The restaurant is even better at night when they turn it into a family friendly, but still fun, tavern with games and drinking songs and yummy beer. The Union flag flying means that the English are still in control of Williamsburg. It changes through the weeks to show how far along they are in the Revolution. The actors really get into it when you point the flags out to them!

And the last picture is of the Governor's Place. It is a beautiful and dramatic recreation house that should really be seen. The foyer alone is worth the trip. Fun fact: Both Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry lived here. You know Mr. Henry, the founding father who said "Give me Liberty, or give me death!" I think I just heard a collective 'Oh yeah that guy.'

Then there was the round magazine, it housed the ammunition for the town. The courthouse is the red building on the right. It is one of the original buildings that has stood since the 18th century. They even have stocks and pillory out front for photo shoots and sometimes actors being "punished" by the court. The little white house is either the printer & bookbinder's shop or the tailor's shop. I do not remember. Notice the flag. Red coats still have control. Damn lobsters! (I love getting in character along with the actors!)   

After lunch and quick nap in the shade for Lu, we went further down the Colonial Parkway to Yorktown. 

Lu wanted to explore all of this land so badly, I almost had to jog to keep up with her. These battlefields are the same bunkers and trenches that were used by the British, Americans and French in the Revolution, and both the Union and Confederate Armies during the Civil War. It is wild to think about the events that arose here in two wars separated by less than 80 years. It is sad but beneficial to visit places like this. You learn so much more when you actually get to see and somewhat experience these things. They have volunteer unit reenactments in the main battlefield all the time. Check it out sometime, It is really neat to see how both men and women lived in the camps during the battles. Complete with horses, tents, food and gun demonstrations. Kids love it, especially the adult ones! 

I love these places. I love all of the culture and history that is here. One day you can learn more about the real Pocahontas in Jamestown and the next you can have a conversation with Mary Washington in Williamsburg. I would be very content with living in one of the recreation historical houses and absorbing everything that I could all day, every day. Hey, you can live where ever you want after retirement right? wink,wink!