Richmond

Last weekend, we learned to love Nascar.

OK, maybe love is too strong of a word. But we learned to like Nascar after a trip to Richmond. We learned the terminology of garages, the pit, all of the prep work and logistics that goes into a race, all of the advertising, the pre-race drivers' meeting, the checks, the star guests like Demarcus Ware, the Danica Patrick worship, the noise, the all-day tailgating, the exciting as these cars swiftly fly around a 3/4 mile track at speeds I can't ever drive. And we learned about people like Kevin Harvick, who won the Toyota Owners 400. We learned about the fandom of Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joey Logano, Kurt and Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, and our adopted favorite Karl Edwards (he was robbed!).

It was a fun weekend with friends in our Dodge Caravan, the cavernous white minivan. We've been so busy lately, working and traveling (like I'm about to embark upon again..) that you forget what it means to have a day with friends. We also had a mediocre breakfast at the Strawberry Street Cafe, but that gave us a chance to explore Richmond a bit, as well as see the monuments on Monument Avenue.

Now on to the next stop...