The Out of Towners

We haven't really been out of town for a while, for more than a day trip anyway. Gosh, I think the last time we really went anywhere is when we were in Oregon last summer!

Well, much as I love Idaho, and as contented as I was to be homebound for quite a while, once I settle in, I have to escape the environs, if you will, and go somewhere quite different.

Thankfully before I did our taxes I planned a trip. (Mr. President, I do support you, but do you have to pay for the stimulus on my back alone, I ask you? J/K but it feels that way this year.)

For years, TH and I have talked about going to a NASCAR race. For years, we have not done so. Then, while in Reno last May, some friends who go every year mentioned that they had slashed ticket prices due to the economy.

Ah, NASCAR. I get weird looks for liking it - my boss said somewhat timidly this morning, "Oh, is that a sport?" Here's the thing, kids. It's damn hard to drive a car on a banked track at 150 plus miles per hour. I have been 125 on a straightaway in my Camaro (Mom, please ignore most of this paragraph) and that is much, much different, but it gives you a slight idea of how fast things could go wrong. And yes, you can like NASCAR and be college educated, somewhat liberal in your politics, have Jane Austen as one of your favorite authors and know who Yo-Yo Ma is. So there.

So, we started nosing around. Packages are way expensive, but I'm a do-it-yourself kind of gal and found that with one plane ticket for free, booking a hotel room through Hotwire (and, we ended up at the Stratosphere, which really isn't bad) and finding a company that didn't ask for your right kidney to shuttle you to the racetrack and back we could do it fairly inexpensively.

We're flying down Saturday, back Monday night. Our only splurge on the trip (since the rest of it is now paid for) is dinner at this place on Saturday. I was thinking of a show, but then my new Packer blog buddy Jersey Al told me how much it was (I was close, but not enough) and I went "never mind"! It will be fun though. We really didn't go anywhere for our wedding anniversary in December so this is in place of a big dinner then.

Then Sunday - the race! While our friends from Reno are unfortunately not going this year, my friend Renee (the Mom of our longtime babysitter now bride S), her husband, and a bunch of their friends, some of whom we know and love are going. They park their RVs there - in fact, I'd like to bet they are already ensconced at the track since time trials have started. We'll hook up with them Sunday and if our seats totally suck and it's cold/rainy (yes, it's supposed to rain Saturday at least in Vegas), I'm hanging out with Renee in the RV and having a beer.

My hope, of course, is that I will see this handsome pair in the winner's circle at the end:

Ella's a little bigger now, but her daddy's just as handsome. Go Jeff Gordon!

Weekend Sports Update

Let's see...where to start.

Maybe...HERE.

At the risk of repeating myself..."we don't need no stinking Brett Favre"....

That's 6, baby. Touchdowns. In ONE game. Like Broadway Joe. Lovin' the New Yawk Bretts.

Then, there's this. Here's the QB of the future (oops, I injured my shoulder. Not my hammy, even while going to the fridge for a PBR, as lostinutah predicted, but who's counting)...

I do like Aaron Rodgers. The Packers, however, have screwed the pooch this year and are in over their heads. Thanks, Ted Thompson, you rock.

Lastly, there's this little gem of an inter-Nevada university trophy called the Fremont Cannon. Said cannon is owned by whichever of the universities in Nevada have won last year's game. In case you're counting, there's basically two universities, the northernmost of which is my alma mater. I'm not always passionate about them as my school years there were so-so, but I'm proud of two things. Owning UNLV's booty in football and getting to the sweet 16 in basketball (yeah, whoo).

Most of the time I've been connected to University of Nevada, Reno, the cannnon has resided with MY school. I've never been to a game at UNLV with UNR but I wish I'd been there last night. By the time it was over...pretty much everyone left in the whole place was wearing Silver and Blue. And shrieking. And that, my friends, was great fun to watch. Because, as a good Nevada alumnus, I hate the Rebels. (It's like Idaho vs. Boise State. Trust me.)

Oh, and Jeff got 4th in the NASCAR race (damn The Husband and his Jimmie Johnson who keeps winning) and the Jaguars won too. All in all, a good weekend sports-wise.

Now, on to packing for the move...someone want to come and help? Never mind, I know the answer to that question. (Psst...I'll buy you a beer if you help).

Oh, and I thought Barack held his own. Well, maybe a bit better than that. :)

12 days until the Jazz kick off their season.

Yeah!!!

Must thank Bonnie, who works in my department, because she, bless her heart, went to Bristol, Tennesee this weekend, specifically to support my favorite driver in NASCAR (hers too, she was afraid to admit it to me until I disclosed my preference) - he may be unpopular with some fans because he is a winner, but this season has been rough for him, and I was glad to see him do well. I think it's because he had a loyal fan in the audience, and the backing of another - I "ordered" her to make him do well!

He is pretty darned cute, one must admit.

Go Jeff! Go DuPont Chevrolet #24!