"WoooHooo - We're Off to the Races Again - March 12, 2008"

Well, it's that time of year again! Friday morning as soon as I get off work, Becca and I are headed to Lakeland, Fla. for the first Hooter's race of the season! I can't wait - life for the next few months will be hectic, but ooooh so much fun..... Be watching for new pics - you know me!  It'll be great to see Dusty and his folks again.  Sure have missed them.

Have a great week and remember that I love you all! 

"Dependability - November 6, 2007"

First of all I'd like to say that I had an awesome time at the races over the weekend. It was great being with Dusty and the gang and I'm sure gonna miss it until the season starts back up. We met some of the drivers and crews that we didn't know and hung out with them for a little while Saturday night at the hotel and had an absolute blast with them. I hope we'll get to see more of them next year.

Now for the down side of my weekend trip - when I got back to work today I had a bit of a shock. We are allowed to swap days with other people so that we can save vacation time or get days off that we need when we would otherwise be working. I had swapped with someone for one of the weekend days thinking that she could be depended on and she didn't bother to show up or to get a replacement to work for her. This made me look really bad and also made me loose 12 hours of overtime pay. Not only was I terribly embarassed by this, but now I have to figure out how to make ends meet since I'll be loosing quiet a bit of pay.

I guess I have different values from most folks, because I was raised that if you committed to do something then you did it or you made sure it got done. It was called dependability when I was growing up, but now I guess most people look at it as "every man for himself". It's a sad day, but I guess it was to be expected. Oh well, "Once bit - twice shy" as the old saying goes. I just know that it won't happen again. I learned my lesson.

Thanks for letting me vent and I hope you all have a great week! Remember that I Love You All!

"We're Off to Lakeland - November 2, 2007"

Well, ended up having to work for a little while tonight so I was late getting my cooking done, but I'm finally through. I'm headed to the sack for a little shut eye and then hope that we'll be heading out by 9:00 AM for Florida.

I'm excited and a little sad - this is the last race of the season and I'm actually going to miss the mad rush to get everything done and hit the road..... but at least I have Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up - they're always a mad rush at trying to get everything done!

Have a great weekend - I know I will! Say a little prayer for a safe trip for Bobby, Becca and I and we'll see you when we get home -

"One More Race This Season - October 22, 2007"

Well, we made it to South Georgia and back, safe and sound. Bobby and Becca both got to go and we had a wonderful time. Bobby worked with Justin Wakefield to learn how to spot for Dusty, just in case he ever needs a backup spotter. Becca and I taught Justin's wife, Jennifer, to score and she did a great job. Becca scored for Chase Pistone and Jennifer scored for Jeff Fultz. The race was pretty exciting. Dusty had problems getting the car set up and had to get into the race on a provisional - causing him to have to start 35th. He ended up having a great race and finished 13th. Because of that he was awarded the Hard Charger award for the race, so not a bad night overall....

We have one more race in Lakeland, FL in two weeks and then will be off for several months. I'll miss it, but it will give me time to rest up for next season and regroup. Then off we go again, and I'll be a happy happy camper!!!

"Cecil Race at South Georgia Motorsports Park - Oct. 16, 2007"

Well, this weekend we are off to the South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, GA which is near Valdosta for the Hooter's all pro race. Becca and I will leave sometime Friday morning after I sleep for a few hours (I have to work 6 PM to 6 AM Thursday night).

I'll be cooking for a larger group than usual because a lot of Dusty's family and friends from the Savannah area will come over for this race. It'll be lots of fun and this is a really nice track.

I'm kind of sad because this is the next to the last race of the season and then we have a break of several months before we start back up. Guess it's a good thing though, I need to build my vacation time back up!

Have a great week and remember that I love you all!

"We're Back From Iowa! - Sept. 24, 2007"

Oh my goodness - what a wonderful time we had! We got back in last night about 1:00 AM after leaving Iowa at 9:30 yesterday morning. Becca and I shared the driving going up and coming back.

We got into Newton at about 10:30 their time on Thursday night and met up with Dusty and the gang at the hotel. Friday morning started early - we had to be at the track at around 8:00 to get our credentials. Friday the team struggled with getting the car set up - it was a brand new car - so they had to start from the bottom up.

Friday night there was a "Fan-Fair" for the race fans to visit the infield, tour the garage and haulers and to meet the teams and drivers. It was pretty fun - I passed out cards and talked to the fans while the team was doing the last minute things that needed to be done to the car. Becca helped put the decals on during that time.

Saturday, we had to be at the track at 7:00 AM to get started and to get the car through tech. The spoiler was too wide and we were missing the taillight decals so we didn't pass the first time through tech. I told Dusty that he needed the taillight decals so that the other drivers would be able to tell when he hit the brakes - after all we were expecting the rest of the field to be behind him!

Unfortunately, we didn't qualify too well - we were 30th, but at least we made the field - there were 4 guys that didn't.

There was a concert by country singer Craig Morgan later in the afternoon and a driver autograph session at the same time. It was great - I thought I wouldn't get to see the concert and it turned out that we were right there with it! We had a ball with the drivers and were all rocking out to the concert.

Becca and I both scored the race - Becca for the 52 car of Kirk Leone and me for Dusty. We had a great view of the track.

Dusty's car was really fast and he managed to make it up to 7th by lap 111 but then the alternator went out. What they didn't realize at the time was that it was draining the battery and on lap 159 the car went dead just as Dusty passed the entrance to pit road. Unfortunately he didn't have enough power to make it back to the pits and stopped halfway down the back stretch and had to be pushed back to the pits. We lost 5 laps and were never able to recover them. It was a real shame too, because he had at least a top 5 car and was consistently passing cars the whole time he was racing. His lap times were faster than the 2nd place car, so I know he would have done well.

We still had a great time and just love working with this team - they are awesome folks and such a joy to be around.

I won't get to go to the Myrtle Beach race because I have to work that weekend, but Becca is planning on going. I hope to get to go to the next two after that though.

"The Iowa Race is Coming Up - Sept. 14, 2007"

I'm getting so excited - by this time next week Becca and I will be in Newton, Iowa at the new speedway that was built by Rusty Wallace. The Hooters team that I cook for and score for will be racing there on Saturday. Becca helps Dusty during the autograph sessions and then scores for whatever driver needs a scorer.

We will leave on Thursday as soon as Becca gets off of work and drive straight through. It will take us about 16-18 hours (including stopping for gas and to eat) of driving but it's always worth it. Up to now, the Mansfield, Ohio track was the furthest that we have gone to get to a race. We'll be driving about a thousand miles to get to the Iowa track.

I have always loved driving - it gives me some good quality quiet time and that gives me the time I need to talk to God and "do some splaining" about the things I need to get forgiven for. Mostly they're little things, but I still need to ask for the forgiveness.

It has also helped to bring Becca and I back together. She moved out last November and our relationship was really really strained for a long time. I wasn't happy with her (and I'm still not crazy about what she is doing) but going to the races together has given us a chance to get back on the right track to getting close again. After all, when you spend 16 hours in a pickup truck alone together, you have to get along with each other.

Well, I have to go walk on my treadmill and then get ready for work. It's supposed to storm tonight and that means that it will be an insane night at work. Just another fun Friday night in D'ville....

Love you all (even if you're reading this and I don't even know you!)