MattPie

Red coat would be awesome, BTW. :) I'm a little confused as to your route there, but I think I have the gist. What might be fun is if you're going to Boston for the "Start", Yorktown, VA is between VA beach and Richmond, and where it effectively "ended". Jamestown VA is nearby, and that's the first permanent settlement in the US, another start (if I remember right). Interesting that you're hitting Skyline drive (if we're talking about the same one, between Wanyeboro, VA at the South end and North end at Front Royal, VA). I've never done Skyline, but it turns into the Blue Ridge Parkway at the south end. I've done the BRP end to end (but not all at once), and it's a nice drive (similar to Skyline, from what I hear). I'd be really tempted to run from VA Beach to Asheville NC (1 day drive, stop in Greensboro NC for lunch). Then, Asheville to Skyline via the BRP (another day or so). Skyline can take awhile, since the speed limit is 35 and the rangers are strict. BRP is 35 and 45, but a little less strict. I love Asheville NC as well. I spent a couple days there last summer, and I'm heading down this February. Oh, and if you do go VA Beach to Skyline directly, US17 and VA3 are nicer roads than the interstates (M-roads). They're generally 4 lanes (Dual Carriageway?), but hilly and a little windy and run thru towns. You can still make time on them, but they're more interesting. There's some great twisty backroads around there too, if you like that sort of thing I'll recommend a few.

I must have been there on a slow day a few weeks ago, not much debauchery. :-( Phildelphia has several good places to find beer, if that's of interest. Also, Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA has a bunch of history (Navy, mostly), and a fantastic German place (The Bier Garden) within walking distance of a few hotels. If you're going to the outer banks, it's "on the way".

I put my "Home of a Bills fan" sign out today. It always gets a chuckle from my Steelers-fan neighbor. :)

Apologies if I'm repeating myself, but I've been predicting 6-10 every year for nearly 20 years. Welcome to the bandwagon. :)

Interesting analogy. I hated "orange" chocolate until I had some much mellower, natural-tasting stuff. Now I don't mind it if I can find it.

Same here. It's a gimick, but fun for a case a year. There are some that do have pumpkin in them, but really they don't taste all that different. The watermelon beer is better than you'd think. It's using real watermelon, so it's a nice mellow addition to the wheat-beer base. As I don't like many lager (as opposed to ale) beers, I tend to agree with you.

It's many places around here. Wegmans regularly stocks a couple types, and I've found the Watermelon on tap a few places. Had a couple on Saturday.

There are mother-###### snakes in his mother-###### car.

I'm with you on this one. Beer (and wine for that matter), break down into three categories: beer I like, beer I don't like, and beer I haven't had before. Maybe it's just laziness on my part, but reading someone's description has no link to the part of my brain that records tastes. If you're sitting with someone, I find that offering that person some is far more efficient than trying to describe it. What helps is my personality tends to like variety over perfection. I've run into very few beers I couldn't stand to drink, so even if a beer isn't perfect it's enjoyable. So if you order something, odds are I'll at least enjoy the process of drinking it, even if I wouldn't order it again.

He's the second coming of Steamin' Willie Beamin.

:w00t:

It's really nice of the Bills to kill off hope before the season starts. This way when they go 6-10, we can all say that they played better than expected.

Didn't really plan on it, but my wife and I saw the Dead Milkmen on Saturday. They were playing a free concert to benefit Rally for Rock, which is a Philly organization to provide music education to kids. DM are one of those bands I like, but I never managed to see. As soon as they started playing, it was like I was transported 25 years into the past. Incredible. https://www.facebook...42972512574744/ My house is just down the road (a mile or two) from where they went to high school. I have a whole new appreciation for their music, and understand what it would be like to be bored enough (as a kid) to drink bleach. :)

Lucky, the PA Driver's License Center doesn't take cash, debit, or credit, just checks and money orders. I'm surprised that wasn't complained about above. The tag places take checks or debit, maybe credit.

Heh. At least there are tons of tag places, so as long as you pick your spot registering your car will only be a 20-minute process. My wife just did her switch a month or three ago. Don't remember it being that bad, but we had a BC, passport, marriage license, and some stuff (magazines) with her name on them. And I was there, with my existing PA license. I don't remember it being that bad the first time around, but that was long enough ago (2005) that the federal checks on licenses weren't in place yet. (hint: I'm betting if you were a new NYS resident it'd be just as bad). Complaint: the new WGR Android app. Seems they forgot the quit/close button again so it's always running. Coupled with the new, more invasive privs, it's uninstalled now.

Overheard in Philly: 15-year-old kid, "I wonder why the Danny Briere jerseys are on sale." Dad: "That's because the Flyers cut him." "What? The Flyers are so stupid."

Good for him, maybe he can catch on with a winning team.

That's the great thing about football ramping up: hockey isn't far behind.

And, starred in my "Places to Try" list. Thanks! I haven't been to this place before, but I've heard good things about it: http://www.bubesbrewery.com/ It's in Mt. Joy, so only an exit or three further down the road.

I don't know the details, but there has to be some sort of electrical connector between the wheel and the column which slides (I don't think you could get away with a straight cord since the wheel turns too far). Or, there is a cable and the individual wires have broken/worn the insulation off so their intermingling in an electron ######. Sorry to say it, but I doubt it will be cheap (if I'm right, I hope I'm not).

Elma, but close enough. Iroquois 1994.

Those "One Before I Die" kids are too young to be whining.

I have a Thurman Thomas signed hat somewhere. He spoke at the EMW (Elma - Marilla - Wales) football banquet when I was a kid.

Cool. Cambodian is a lot like Thai with less spice. So I'm guessing it's all pretty similar. I'll have to find a Laotion place down in Philly to try it for myself. Lunch: few-days-old Wegmans Basamati rice, with fresh ground black pepper and Dinosaur BBQ seasoning. It's one step up from baked beans straight out of the can (Hobo-beans).

6-10. That's been my prediction every year since the mid-90s.