But too damn bad, 'cause I think they're funny.
 Ronn's Birthday Surprise |
June 2007So I'm sitting here, once again sweating, and (believe-it-or-not) still in Atlanta.
Actually, I'm in an area called Stone Mountain, right next to the Stone Mountain State Park... I'm not sweating as badly as I could be, considering that it's 92 degrees out (more on that later). Heather is asleep behind me (though it is only 5:52 in the afternoon), London is asleep on the desk beside me, Baby cat (and senior citizen dog-lette) are both asleep as well... It's just me, and the end of a Zombie film.
When last we left our intrepid adventurer... there was meet-and-greet that it was time to get to. But first I want to say a special "thank you" to my Fiancée and best friend... I forgot to mention a really nifty and sexy surprise my baby coordinated on my birthday. I walked into her booth only to find the other, much prettier Tortuga already in place! Let me just say first, thanks Dakota and Collette, and very-much thanks to my coolest chick in the world.
So nine minutes after I finished my last journal it was time to go to our meet-and-greet. I have to admit that the first several M&Gs weren't a lot of fun for me. I LOVE getting closer to the fans, don't get me wrong... but they were kind of sparsely attended... and kind of nerve-wracking.
Working hard at the meet and greet
But it wasn't just bowling! We also played Laser Tag (Jef and I did very well, until they figured out our strategy. I partnered with good friend Holly but after a few games, I got very tired and the ever sexy Jef, just got sweaty... but in a good way.
 Laser tag with Holly... |
 ...really tires me out... |
 ...but makes Jef glisten and glow |
After the fair's end, it was time to break down our various businesses. Riki and I broke down the Twins assemblage in GA; Heather, the girls, Jack and I broke down all of Jack's businesses, and then finally it was time to break down our drum booth. Our once-thriving business was shelved until next season.
Our booth packed away and empty
- Finish packing up the booth
- Hook up our trailer to the truck and drive 35 minutes away to Stone Mountain Heights RV Park
- Unhook, and level the house
- Drive back to festival site, hook up the 'attic' trailer... and grab the last few items
- Drive back to the RV park, unhook the attic
- Finish leveling the house, hooking up the water, sewer, and aiming the Satellite
- Relax in the POOL
- Walk across the street for a GREAT Chinese buffet.
After that we should have gotten some time to relax, but Noooooo -The next morning at FIVE AM we woke, packed, and departed for Charlotte. We have a friend in the car biz... you've heard us speak fondly of him as our transportation director - Frankie D. So off we went, (with the dog, but leaving the cats in the non air-conditioned trailer... poor things).
We had one day, really to get Heather's replacement vehicle... Frank had nothing on his lot, and the selection at the place he sent us left a bit to be desired... so in the end we actually ended-up at CarMax!
 Heather's new ride |
If you find yourself in the market for a car in Charlotte NC, and Frank (or his contacts) don't have what you're looking for we suggest Brian Hanlon at the Independence CARMAX. Brian is a nice Irish boy, and was helpful and patient... and he had to be. My delicate flower was a little hard to please. After a few hours, and a very comical walk through the building carrying Jazmine, and Heather's purse too... we finally got a replacement vehicle. I'd have liked nothing better than to have kept Heather's car... it was one payment away from being paid-off... or to have only spent what the settlement check amounted to... but we finally got a very nice, (but not too nice) replacement vehicle... and only had to finance a pittance. (Don't tell my financial hero Dave Ramsey!) Don't laugh; we seriously almost bought a minivan!
The whole trip was actually wonderful... we got a call from Muggsy, he was house sitting for a friend in Lake Norman, and not only offered us a place to stay, but even gave us his bed (thanks Uncle Muggsy!)
The next morning we got up early, hopped in our cars (Heather was growing more fond of hers by-the-minute) and went to breakfast with one of Heather's best friends, (and THE TWINSÂ FAN CLUB PRESIDENT!)Â Sharyn Watson (thanks for the breakfast Sharyn!) A dear friend, though I think she now likes Heather more than she likes me.
Right after that we motored over to Frank and Kelly's... I have met loads of cool people in my twenty years on the road... But the DeFeos are family... we hung out, gossiped, giggled, and then they took us out to lunch.
Thanks Frank and Kelly for a GREAT Lunch!
If you're hungry, in Mooresville NC, PLEASE do yourself a favor - check out a restaurant called Issy-belles.
YUM!
Finally, we were on our way home.
 Thanks, Sharon Watson! |
On the trip, we were called by Sharyn again... she had heard that our AC was still broken, and offered to lend us her window unit.
You know, I'm terribly arrogant about my intelligence. I have been tested often and qualify for not only genius... but in the scary-smart percentile... so tell me; How come I never thought of this?
Heather and I sweated and suffered through all of the GA show... with our windows opened, we had to deal with smells, heat, of the spring in Atlanta, and the noise of our employee Bill who lived essentially in our back yard. Why didn't we think to spend just a few hundred smackers and have AC again?
THANKS SHARYN!!!
So a quick trip to Target, and a pretty inventive 'rig job' and we were living like grownups again!
THANKS SHARYN!!!
So we spent the next few days - relaxing... or we would have, except... the RV place wanted us to bring in the trailer, so an inspector could... inspect.
But first we had to wait for him to be ready... on an hour's notice, we brought the trailer in, had it inspected, and brought it back to our RV Park. So NOW we could relax, right?
 MagiQuest.com and our July venue |
Nope... we'd gotten an enquiry through our website, there was a facility in a entertainment complex in Myrtle Beach (at Broadway at The Beach) calledMagiQuest; they were very interested in having us entertain, No... begin an entertainment relationship with their company... But, could I come out and check out the facility?
So Heather and I found ourselves packing up the Dog-lette again, and taking the seven hour drive to Myrtle.
Magiquest is amazing, kind of like a live action World Of Warcraft... sometimes their lines get to be 90 minutes wait... and they'd love to have us do some entertaining to keep people amused, and to draw even moreattention to the facility.
And they were offering a very nice sum.
After the meeting (did I mention we got the job? At least for a trial run for three days in July) Heather and I had a nice little dinner; Heather didn't want to be photographed. After dinner, and a jaunt around the main drag, we searched for hours before finally locating a hotel.
We couldn't find one that accepted pets... so we had to smuggle Jazzy-mo into the hotel in Heather's purse...
Friday, we detoured, slightly to take Heather to something that was very important to me as a child. My Mother, Brother and I travelled so many times between Florida and Jersey. One of the highlights of those many trips was the cheesiest tourist stand in the universe, sitting just south of the North Carolina / South Carolina state line is Pedro's South Of The Border. The signs advertising this place stretch for miles (hundreds of miles) and it was really special to me both as a child, and to take my honey there as well...
 Heather suddenly shy |
 Incognito dog |
 An old friend |
Since all of the other things finally got accomplished, my baby and I have been just catching up on movies (we've seen an ASSLOAD!) seriously maybe twenty! I've gotten some other work done as well... and gotten you guys this journal... This is what I look like finishing it for you. (And yes, My Tattoo is done)
 Here's looking at you, kid |
 Baby cat likes email, too... |
Ronn
