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Man, the shit is getting real at the Kentucky Derby.
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| Nice stud, wot?! |
This weekend, I attended two charity events in two days, which I expect is a
first for me. On Friday night, Ms. B. and I accompanied our friends Joe and Suzy
Albanese to the fund-raising auction & gala at Piedmont Classical High
School, where Suzy teaches. A few weeks ago, I went to the school to speak to
students about writing (see
"The Author Speaks," April 18, 2017), and this weekend, Suzy was kind enough to pick up a copy of
Blue Devil Island
to offer at the auction. Happily, it commanded a good price for a good cause.
The school provided live music, drinks, and a massive spread of excellent hors
d'oeuvres, which made for an enjoyable and worthy event.
And last night, Ms. B. and I accompanied our friends Jenny Chapman and Doug Cox
to
Autumn Creek Vineyards
to attend the fancy
Run for the Roses Derby Day, their annual fundraiser
for
Help, Inc., an organization that helps victims of domestic violence. Derby Day is a
fairly lavish affair, with a huge auction, raffles for prizes, a catered buffet,
Autumn Creek wine, more live music, and the Kentucky Derby on a huge screen TV
(my horse did not win, alas). All in all, a most entertaining and worthwhile
experience, and I must say I should enjoy making this a regular tradition.
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Beth and Suzy at the Piedmont Classical High School Gala
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Ms. B. sporting a fancy-ass hat for Kentucky Derby Day
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The crowd gathers to watch the Kentucky Derby at Autumn Creek Vineyards
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Once again, I spent part of the weekend helping out my mom in Martinsville,
while also managing to get in some hiking and geocaching. Yesterday morning, I
took a long hike on the trails at Bryan Park North to pick up some of
Night-hawk's new hides, and he was kind enough to offer me a first-to-find
opportunity on one of them prior to its publication as a birthday bonus for an
old, decrepit man. I rather enjoy the trail there that runs near the train
tracks because there you are, out in the middle of the woods, and — what do you
know — here comes a big old train rumbling past you. While I was out there, two
trains came by, one running north, one running south (not at the same time!). I
tend to enjoy train-spotting, as long as I'm not sitting endlessly at a railroad
crossing while a long one goes creeping by.
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The section of trail of Bryan Park North that runs near the train tracks
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Tis far better to encounter one of these while hiking in the woods than
while sitting at a railroad crossing
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This morning, after running some errands in Martinsville, I headed up to Fairy
Stone Park in Patrick County, VA, to go after a relatively new cache hidden
there. It proved a quick find at a scenic spot near Philpott Lake, making for
find #9,419. I quite love that area, I do, as I spent quite a bit of time there
from the time I was a little kid through my college days at nearby Ferrum
College. And finally, on the way back home, I stopped in Reidsville at
The Celtic Fringe
to satisfy my craving for their Welsh Dragon burger, which is a third-pound
Angus beef patty simmered in their one-and-only Welsh Dragon ghost pepper sauce
and topped with pepper jack cheese, candied red cabbage, arugula, and
mayonnaise. (I even like to dip my french fries — which are excellent, by the
way — in a side cup of the sauce.) Make no mistake, this is pure, delicious,
wonderful hellfire! The flavorful, always perfectly cooked burger, the candied
red cabbage, and just a veneer of mayo perfectly complement this sweet but fiery
ghost pepper concoction. Inevitably, if you order a Welsh Dragon Burger, your
server will ask you if you're aware of what you're getting into, and justifiably
so, as I can only imagine the folly of some tyro with a passing fondness for hot
sauce going all-out with one of these.
Not a good idea, my friends.
Kimberly's birthday is coming up this week, so more festivities loom — as do
sixteen tons of work at the office as well as at home. One of these days, I've
gotta get some rest.
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The old dude on the hunt at Fairy Stone Park
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| Arf'ing hot, man. |
