Big Red at RIR

When I arrived at Richmond Raceway on Thursday afternoon for the East Coast Sawmill and Logging Expo, I went into shock and had to change all of my plans for the weekend on the fly.  The entire RIR compound was filled with every kind of heavy equipment imaginable plus all of the logging and sawmill equipment.  Easily, there were over 1,000 vendors.  And, all of them had to eat and drink, not counting any show goers.

My plan for the weekend was to have Tank and I work Friday–usually a slow day at the shows.  Peggy was tied up with Allison’s graduation from VCU’s School of the Arts and Laura was teaching school.  Both would be available on Saturday, traditionally the busy day of a weekend show.

Logging Show

When I saw all of those vendors I knew Tank and I would be in trouble with just the two of us working.  So, I placed an emergency call to Chuck and Ryan and had them head to Richmond.  Thankfully, they were available and arrived about 11 am Friday.

We got busy about 30 minutes before the start of the Expo and stayed slammed all day.  After arriving, Ryan basically did nothing but squeeze lemons.  Tank cooked, I worked the register and filled orders and Chuck helped Tank, hauled water, helped me pouring lemonade and whatever else needed to be done.  We got thru the day with fairly decent service. And, it was huge, one of the best days I’ve had at an RIR show.

Right Across from Big Red

We used 56 lbs of sugar on Friday alone.

Saturday, the weatherman didn’t cooperate as well as on Friday.  It was much cooler and threatened   rain all day.  Although we only saw a sprinkle or two, our sales were down a little from the day before.  But, together, it was a great weekend.  Laura spent all day squeezing lemons, Peggy poured lemonade.  By the end of the day, I think they both felt like a lemon.

We put out something like 100 gal. of fresh squeezed lemonade for the two days.

Can I Have One for the Farm?

In addition, we sold out of burgers both days, sold out of corndogs, fries and cokes on Saturday, had five Ribeye Steaks left and 4 hot dogs.  That’s a lot of food too.  Funnel cakes were a little weak on Friday but strong on Saturday.

After tear down, Peggy and I drove back to the farm and hit one awful storm.  Thankfully, that didn’t happen during the show.

I’m at the farm for a total of about 15 hours, then head to Harrisonburg.  Tomorrow, I start another long home stand of the Potomac Nationals including the 3 day Memorial Day Weekend.  If the weather is nice, how many lemons will I need for the week?

Uncle Slam with Some Kids

This week had so many highs and lows, I’m not sure I can relate them all.  But the old adage The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat forced itself into my thinking for this report.

The week started Monday with the first game of a 7 game home stand of the Potomac Nationals.  This was our third Monday of the season.  For the first two, I had Tank in Woodbridge to help and both of them were terrible.  Nothing like the Mondays of last year.  So, I decided to work this one by myself and, of course, I got hammered.  While it still wasn’t like last years’ during the summer months, it was a good game right on the borderline of what one person could handle. Basically, I got through it but without the quick service I prefer.

Tuesday was a Brutal Night

Tuesday was cold and miserable and despite a rehab appearence by Big League Pitcher Jason Marquis, which normally would draw a big crowd and a good night for us, about 50 fans were there and I had total sales of $18.

As I have related at times in the past, the Big Red tent at the PNat games has on occasion taken a foul ball or two off the canopy and on a more prevalent basis, has had foul balls bouncing nearby.  One game last year had six all within 3 or four feet.  Tuesday night, during the 7th inning, I was cooking one of the few funnel cakes I cooked that night, when I took a direct strike from a foul ball. . . .right on the cheek of my butt!  We’re not sure how it happened or how it was possible for a foul to get into the middle of my tent without hitting something beside my butt, but it did.  And, it hit hard enough the the ball ricocheted off me a traveled about 40 feet to the wall of the ticket booth building.

Oompa's Big Butt

Needless to say, I took a good bit of ribbing from the PNats staff.

The next morning, I was at Peggy’s and went into the bathroom to shave and shower.  Kagen, Peggy’s 3 year old grandson, decided to come in and help.  First, he announced to the world, “Oompa is Naked.”

Then, he pointed to a certain portion of my anatomy, and said, “Oompa’s Big Butt.”

“Yea, kid. I got hit by a baseball and it’s swollen,” I replied under my breath and hollered for Todd to get his son before I drowned him.

Cajon and Handsonic and JWP

Wednesday and Thursday were both slow nights but at least better than Tuesday.  Easily handled by myself which saves me on a little labor costs.  Thursday’s entertainment was worth noting.  JWP (Just Wanna Play) performed during the pregame of $1 beverage night.  They are a really good Top 40 type of band that played a lot of music I like.  I enjoyed them a bunch.  Their drummer had a set up I’ve never seen before–yes, I know folks. I must live under a rock.– He sat on a Cajon, a box drum that made different percussion sounds depending on where he tapped on it with his hands, plus had a Handsonic next to him, that he played.  All with his hands and it sounded just like a full drum set without the overwhelming volume in a small space.  I was fascinated with his performance.

After the game, I drove back to the farm, got a couple hours of sleep, loaded up Big Red and moved it to Liberty High School for the Bedford County Relay for Life starting Friday night.  Due to the wet football field and forecast of more storms, the Relay was moved inside so I had to set up along a sidewalk at the rear of the building.  Not the best location for Tank and Laura because we weren’t right in the middle of the action like at most Relays.  I headed for Harrisonburg to pick up Peggy and then on to Woodbridge for Friday’s game and a big crowd.

Crowds Coming into The Pfitz

Peggy and I had a decent game Friday night but the crowd was diminished some by a storm right at Gates Open with some pretty good sized hail.  The game was delayed about 30 minutes but was played in full.  In the meantime, the Bedford Relay was closed down early due to a big storm system heading right at Liberty High School.  Tank and Laura ended up with less than half of what should have been sold at the Relay.

On Saturday, Chuck and Ryan joined me in Woodbridge. Peggy couldn’t work the weekend as she had to be in Lynchburg. 

Sunday Autograph Session

It was a beautiful day for baseball and Scout night where some 1,000 scouts camp out in the outfield after the game. We were expecting a good game but nothing like happened.  We ran out of lemons in the 6th inning and were too busy for me to make a store run to get more. By the way, that was over a case of lemons for the game.  It ended up being my second largest PNat game surpassed only by last 4th of July.  And, we did it with only three of us working.

Just Wanna Play

Sunday had a huge presale of tickets as well so I had Chuck and Ryan come back.  Sundays have always been disappointing to me so I was hoping for a good game but not counting on a great game.  Of course, I hit BJ’s early Sunday and got another case of lemons.  It was gone by the 6th inning again so we had no Fresh Squeezed Lemonade again for the last part of the game.  And the totals for the day far exceed any Sunday from last year.

Despite all of the ups and down, it was a great week for Big Red.

And, my bruise has all but cleared up.  My bruised ego is another story.

This week, we’re off to Richmond for the Logging Show.  We’ll be offering a full menu and it should be a big weekend for us. Tank, Laura and I will work most of it with Peggy coming in when she can get away from Allison’s graduation festivities.

My thoughts were with Daniel and Allison all week but especially yesterday when they had their dad’s Memorial Service.  May he Rest In Peace.

I wonder how many cases of lemons I need for the next PNats home stand?

On Monday, Tank and I drove back to Woodbridge for a short 4 game stand of the PNats.  Last year, with the $1 ticket, $1 dogs promotion, Monday’s were great.  This year they have been terrible and this week was the same.

Tuesday was another of the early games with an expected gang of 1,000 middle school kids and 300 senior citizens scheduled.  240 kids and about 50 seniors showed up.  So, it was another wasted game.

I had noticed a low speed miss, somewhere in the 35-40mph range from Sweet Pea.  After Tuesday’s game, if happened again as I was pulling out of the parking lot on my way to Peggy’s in Harrisonburg.  It happened again after I got off the Interstate.

So, Wednesday morning, I took her to a garage and was told I needed a tune up and probably wires. “Fine,” I said. “Go to it.  I have to be back in Woodbridge by 4 pm.”

While doing the tune up, the mechanic managed to break a spark plug and I was told they could bore it out, put in some kind of coil and put the new plug in.  Three hours later, and by then, I had to cancel out of the PNat game, they finally got the plug in and fired Sweet Pea up.  It was banging so badly I knew something had seriously gone wrong.

They told me they had to keep it until morning to pull the heads. At 10 am, they informed me that I needed a new engine.

Big Red's New Partner

After arranging for a two truck to get Sweet pea back to Lynchburg to the mechanics that work on our vehicles all of the time and renting a car to get to Woodbridge and back to the farm, the idiots gave me a bill for $850.

Unfortunately, they were right about one thing.  Sweet Pea was dead.

So, I had to go out shopping and got a good deal on a Ford Explorer.  So, Big Red is back in business with a nice new ride.

This week is crazy.  I leave in the morning for Woodbridge and a 7 game home stand.  Thursday night I drive back to Lynchburg and pick up Big Red for the Bedford County Relay for Life at Liberty High School on Friday.  Tank and Laura are working that while I get back to Woodbridge for the weekend’s conclusion of the home stand.

On a personal note:  we have scheduled Mom’s Memorial Service for Monday, June 28 at 4:30 pm.  I know that is an odd day and time but it fits with my schedule, plus Jason, Nancy and the kids, and Sandy, Anna and Hannah can all get here.  It will be at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church with a reception following.

Autograph Session at PNat Game

The past two weeks have been full for the Big Red Crew.  That period came to an end last night at Richmond Raceway with the end of our second race week of the year.

It all started last Monday with a long hame stand of the Potomac Nationals in Woodbridge.  Tank and I worked the first game expecting a big night like Mondays last year.  We were totally disappointed.

Tuesday was middle school day and the game started at 10 am. There were

Middle School Kids Filing Into the Pfitz

 1500 middle school kids and I think every one of them wanted a funnel cake.  Tank and I were overwhelmed and I completely lost control of the front as about 10 kids across, 5 kids deep and all of them screaming out orders and throwing money at me.  We got through it and it was a really good day.

Tank headed back to Lynchburg and on Wednesday, I worked the game alone and it was cold and foggy.  A very small crowd and the worst game I’ve ever had at Woodbridge.

Carl Stoll and the Danger Zone

Thursday was $1 beverage night and featured a great blues rock band called Carl Stoll and the Danger Zone.  They were fabulous and I enjoyed the entertainment during the pre-game period.  An average game for a Thursday.

The weekend was a scheduling nightmare.  I opened by myself on Friday and Tank and Laura drove up to take over and finish out the game.  Meanwhile, I drove back to Lynchburg, picked up Big Red and moved it to Lynchburg College for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Carnival.

Big Red at Big Brothers Big Sisters Carnival

The weather forecast was horrible and I felt sure both the Carnival and Saturday’s game at Woodbridge would be ruined.  In addition, the rain was supposed to continue on Sunday with a high likelihood of another rainout.

The forecast was so ominous, that the Carnival was moved inside with Big Red sitting outside.  Not the best scenerio for a good business day.

Friday night, Tank and Laura had a really good game but not too much for the two of them working.

Uncle Slam Greets a Fan

Saturday, with an almost certainty of rain, I cancelled Chuck and Ryan out to save them from a wasted trip from Harrisonburg to Woodbridge and back.  I figured Tank and Laura could handle what little bit we might have on a rainy Saturday.

Wrong.

It never rained in Woodbridge until after midnight and Tank and Laura got slammed.  Their total would have been acceptable with four people working.

Meanwhile, in Lynchburg, it never rained, the event had a great crowd and

Laura Fighting Powdered Sugar in the Wind

 Jean and I were busy all afternoon.  The folks just got their food and sat around on the grassy hillside enjoying the sunshine and a hot dog or funnel cake.

After taking Big Red home, I dorve back to Woodbridge for Sunday’s game not so much for the game as Tank and Laura could handle that, but to tear down everything I need to move to Richmond for the races.

It never rained on Sunday and was another good game.  Despite what should have been a disastorous week, we ended up having a really good one.

Tent Going Up at RIR

I planned to set up at Richmond Raceway on Wednesday but had to delay that as my tent company didn’t get my tent up until Thursday afternoon.  I finally got everything ready to go by Thurday evening.

Friday was a full schedule with all of the practices and qualifying for both the Nationwide race Friday night and the Sprint Cup Race on Saturday night.

I had a full crew with Tank, Laura, Peggy, Chuck, Ryan, Jean, Oswaldo and myself.  Friday was dead all day.  The Nationwide Race was OK but nothing like a Cup Race.

Big Red Crew was Awesome

Saturday, we sat around all day and did nothing.  We finall got busy about 6pm and stayed that way all night.  It was awesome.

We were really running on all cylinders on Saturday and were turning 15-20 customers every 5 minutes. The longest anyone waited for a funnel cake was 5 minutes.  My crew did a fantastic job and it was by far the best service we’ve given for a race.

Tank at His Best

I’m back home for a day to clean up everthing from last week and repack for Woodbridge and another PNat Homestand that starts tomorrow night.  As always, I’ll update to Twitter and Facebook via my phone.

On a personal note, my thanks for all the thoughts, prayers, notes and emails surrounding Mom’s passing.  We’ve tentatively scheduled her Memorial Service on June 28.  I’ll advise when that is finalized.

Big Crowd at RIR for Sprint Cup Race

This post is cross posted from Falls, off the Rocker, Jason’s personal blog.

At some point tonight, St. Peter’s gonna have a mess on his hands. Elsie Falls, 91, passed away early this evening. She was a pistol right up to the end, and I’m pretty sure the angels up there are tidying up the place so as to avoid her wrath. Now, my grandmother wasn’t a mean woman by any stretch of the imagination. But when you’re around her, you’d better mind your manners, pick up your mess, wipe your nose and stop pickin’ at that … whatever it is.

If he’s lucky, St. Peter paid heed when Granddad warned him a few years ago this day would come.

It’s hard to tell stories about my family for fear the dysfunctional parts will embarrass or piss someone off. But Elsie Falls, my father’s mother, is one of the few of our clan that you can’t tell a bad story about. She taught dance … folk dancing mostly … most of her life. If that wasn’t her full-time job, taking care of my Grandfather was. He was in World War II for three weeks and Walter Reed Medical Center for three years. He lost most of one leg, parts of both arms and every chance at a normal life in a fox hole in France in 1942. His dutiful wife cared for him and my Aunt Jean on her own, kept him in insulin shots (he was also diabetic … apparently lost a bet with God or something) and, luckily for me, bore Sr. a son in 1949. Jr. is my dad.

When I was born in 1973, Grandmom was right there. When my Dad left when I was three, his mother tried like hell to take his place, all the while taking care of her mother and siblings, my Grandfather and more, all of whom lived hours away from me.

I only wish she hadn’t taken care of that evil poodle Louie who is burning in hell somewhere, I’m certain.

Grandmom came and got me every summer and many winters, took me to Roanoke to watch ballgames with Granddad, Lynchburg to see Mee-Maw (her mother) and command the riding lawn mower on the back lot at the family farm. After dad got his life together, she even took me to Pittsburgh to see him every chance she could.

In a lot of ways, Elsie Falls was the glue that kept our family together all these years. She’s why we grew up smart, clean and healthy. She’s why we love each other despite our idiosyncrasies and differences. She’s why we know from whence we came, that no one is better than us but neither are we than they.

At four-feet, nine inches on a tall day, she was a dainty, even fragile woman. But looks are deceiving. If it came down to her and angry bull, I’m takin’ the old lady every time.

Unfortunately, 91 years, eight months, Alzheimer’s Disease and congestive heart failure got the best of her. We hate to see her go, but know it was time. Besides, I hear tale Granddad’s been flirtin’ with some chorus gals up there and St. Peter hasn’t been tuckin’ his shirt in of late.

Watch out, fellas. Elsie’s on her way.

PHOTO: Elsie Falls with her great grandson, Grant. Summer, 2006.

Jean, Chuck and Ryan ReadyFor Saturday Sales

In my humble opinion, the Washington Nationals made a marketing blunder in the handling of phenom Stephen Strasburg surrounding his professional debut.  Strasburg started yesterday for the Harrisburg Senators in AA as they played at Altoona.  While roughed up a bit, Strasburg pitched well and eventually earned the win.

Oddly enough, the Nationals other first round pick last year, Drew Storen, got the save.  Many of us have felt the future of the Nationals pitching staff will rest on those two arms.

Frozen Friday

Here in lies the Nationals blunder.  Altoona, Harrisburg’s rival in the Western Division of the Eastern League, got the benefit of the circus surrounding Strasburg’s first professional start.  Not only was it a media circus like Altoona has never seen, but they drew almost 8,000 fans.  That will probably be their largest attendance of the year.

If someone in the Nationals office had a thinking cap on, they would have sent Strasburg to Potomac, even if for only one start.  That would have been yesterday as well, but it would have assured a huge opening weekend for the PNats.  After starting yesterday, they then could have called him up to Harrisburg for his next start which would have been during the Senators first homestand.  Both of the Nationals farm teams would have had huge opening weekends and a financial shot in the arm in an economy where minor league baseball struggles.

Uncle Slam Greets Fans

Altoona got the biggest return on Strasburg’s coattails.

The PNats opening four game set with Salem was a little rough on us.  Sister Jean and I set up on Thursday in 40MPH winds.  Ever tried to set up a tent when it kept trying to take off?  We knew rains were coming and the game was questionable, but the storm hit so fast and hard during the second inning that we were cought completely off guard.  Took a lot of water in the hot oil, credit card machine and cash register got soaked, paper plates and napkins ruined, and even a tarp melted as it got driven into the oil while trying to get the fryers covered.  Somehow, the tent stayed on the ground.

Shenandoah Harley Davidson and Hosses n' Hogs Fun Day

After that fiasco, we drove back to the farm, picked up Big Red and moved it to Staunton and set up at Shenandoah Harley Davidson for the Hosses n’ Hogs Fun Day on Saturday. We got back to Woodbridge in time to clean up and reset up for the double header with gates opening at 4:30pm.

The wind was still blowing only the temperature had dropped about 35 degrees.  We froze and actually shut down during the 3rd inning of the second game.

Business for both night was horrible to say the least.

Some of the Cars

On Saturday, Tank and Laura had a decent day in Staunton in an event I hope we get asked back for.  Really great folks and they had a good crowd seeing the 100+ Mustangs on display and a ton of motorcycles. There was also a Chili cookoff and a bunch of other activities.

I was ready for a big Saturday night at Woodbridge and had Chuck, Ryan, Jean and myself ready to go.  While we had a great run during the middle part of the game, it just didn’t happen overall and our totals for the day was one of the worst Saturday’s we’ve had since our start with the PNats last year.

Bobbi jacks, My First Customer at Every game

Sunday was a beautiful, warm day and was about average for Sunday sales and was a great lemonade day.  All in all for the opening homestand, we were down a bit but not that bad considering the weather.

It was great to be back with the PNats family.  Most of their staff is back so it was like a homecoming.  They are such good people from Owner Art on down to the kids working concessions.  And we are treated like they really care that we’re a part of the team.  You don’t always find that in my business.

With coverage on their signage and a couple of mentions in the program, our season will catch up with last year’s sales and I’m looking for a nice increase by the end of the season.

Autograph Session Every Sunday

One of the pleasant changes in the PNats family is the addition of Will Fleming as the play-by-play guy.  He is fabulous.  Plus, his broadcasts are now run through a speaker in the Cafe where we’re located so I can keep up with what is happening during the games.

On Suanday, a four year old and his dad ordered a lemonade.  The little lad took a sip, looked up at Jean and said, “That sure is refreshing.”  I almost fell in the oil.

This week, I have nothing scheduled.  Jason is speaking in Staunton and is flying in tomorrow night to spend a couple nights at the farm.  So if you’re anywhere in the vacinity of Forest or Lynchburg, lock up the children and small pets ’cause when the Falls boys get together, bourbon drinking usually pursues.  We’ve been known to have two or three (or 10) adult beverages.  It’s probably good that I have the rest of the week off to nurse my hangover.

Next week, we’re back at it.  A seven game homestand with the PNats and a Big Brother and Big Sisters Event at Lynchburg College on Saturday.  Another crazy week.

Big Red at W&L Relay for Life

Friday night and Saturday morning found Big Red at the ACS Washington and Lee Relay for Life. It is their second year of the event and as such is not as big as some of the other Relays we’ll be doing later in the year. However, Tank and I stayed busy until after midnight, then struggled to stay awake through the night. 

I always thought getting Big Red into the location at VMI was the toughest parking job I’d faced, but W&L topped that.  The Relay was held on the Field Hockey Field and I had to back Red through a narrow gate, back down the length of the field, make a 90 degree turn at the end of the field and proceed to the opposite corner (all done backing).  The main problem was with the turn which had a 10′ drop on one side and a 30′ drop on the other.  Definitely challenged my driving skills. 

90 Degree Turn I had to Back Around

Relays aren’t the most successful outings for us.  We pay ACS a hefty percentage.  But with Peggy, her mom, one brother and her daughter cancer survivors, plus my mom with almost 50 years survivorship, it is just a good thing for us to do.  As a result, you see a number of relays through my schedule for the next couple of months. 

I spent the holiday at Peggy’s and as usual she cooked for the clan.  While it was fun being with Kagen and P’s family, I was in my usual Bah Humbug holiday spirit.  Admittedly, the turkey and the oyster were awesome, but I ate too much.  Does that surprise anyone? 

My Holiday Spirit

This week is our first nutty week of the year.  The Potomac Nationals season starts in Woodbridge on Thursday with a 4 game home stand.  On Saturday, Tank and Laura will be working the Hosses n’ Hogs Fun Day at Shenandoah Harley Davidson in Staunton.  My biggest problem is that after the Thursday night game, I have to drive back to the farm, get a couple hours of sleep, hook up Big Red and move it to Staunton.  After setting up there, I drive on to Woodbridge for the Friday night game.

Kagen with his new Bull Dozer

Hopefully, the weatherman will cooperate and we should have a really good week.The following week, Jason is scheduled to speak in Staunton so I have an open week to spend a little time with him.  It is one of the few open weeks I have between now and Thanksgiving.  I’m sure some adult beverages my be in my future.

Tank at His First Nascar Event

According to the legend, Clay Earle built the Martinsville Speedway a long time ago out in the middle of a cowpasture.  He became dissatisfied with his profits because he only had the two races each year.  To increase his cash flow, he opened a gambling parlor right on the property.  Remember, this was so long ago that there was no Atlantic City and probably no Las Vegas.  And, it was very illegal.

Somewhere along the line, old Clay got busted, but that isn’t the meat of the legend.  Seems the weather Gods were enraged at illegal activities and swore to forever doom the Speedway to rain or snow for the spring race.  And, once more, the Gods got their revenge.

Martinsville and the weather Gods tried to get the best of me, but I prevailed.

View From Big Red's Tent

I couldn’t have picked a better spot for our set up.  We were right on the main straight near the start/finish line under the grandstands.  But, due to some miscommunication, my spot was only 12×12 and I had planned for the same 15×15 like at other races.  You’d be suprised how much a difference that makes and it took us all weekend to finally get everything set for maximum productivity.

Tank and I opened on Friday for practice and qualifying but there was almost noone there and of course, the Cup qualifying was rained out.  We did $86 for the day.  And, everything got soaked and dirty.

Peggy, Chuck and Ryan got in during the afternoon, and Jean and Laura (the future Mrs. Tank) arrived early Friday evening traveling after Laura finished her teaching for the day.  Because you can’t find a motel room during race weeks at Martinsville, I had rented a mobile home out in the middle of nowhere where we all stayed.  No television nor radio and very limited phone signal.  Almost felt like I was living in the days of Clay Earle.

Just to complicate matters, while I was brushing my teeth Saturday morning, I threw my back out.  So I spent the rest of the time in Martinsville crooked and in pain.

Crowd During Truck Race

Saturday was the truck race and after cleaning up from the rain, replacing wet and dirty table cloths on all of my tables.  Remember, we’re under the grandstands so rain just washes all of the dirt and debris from above down on us.  And, I can’t move very well.

Because we were expecting high volume, we fired up the Big Boy along with the other two fryers we’d used on Friday, only it kept shutting down.  We think it was some kind of switch failure but I had no way of fixing it on site. Finally, after about an hour of starting, shutting down and restarting, we  got it up to temperature and it stayed that way so we could use it.  But every morning, it took an hour to get the Big Boy going.  That will be corrected before my next race.

Despite some more rain, the truck race was run.  While we were busy, it was nowhere near the volume of sales we should have had with our location.

Sunday started off fine.  A little on the cold side, but the crowds started  coming and we got up to driver introductions, and the weather Gods hurled more revenge at us.  And, the race finally was postponed until Monday.

That presented a whole new bunch of problems. Mainly, Tank and Laura had to be back in Lynchburg for work on Monday so I was two people short.  And, we had to clean up and resetup everything  after it finally quit raining.  My back was still hurting but not as bad as on Saturday and Sunday.  And, we got hammered.  To make matters worse, I guess I was worried about the Big Boy staying at temperature and stuck two fingers on my left hand in the oil.  Big Boy was at temperature and the oil was at 380 degrees.  Just ask my fingers.  Oh, yes. I’m left handed.

The Big Boy

In the end, we had a really big day.  Our service wasn’t as good as I’d liked mostly from using only one cash register instead of two we use with a full staff. Taking the orders and money was actually our slowest point.  I handled the Big Boy and Chuck cooked from the other two doing both funnel cakes and corn dogs.  And, we were able to stay ahead of the front all day.

Chuck also handled the batter so he was doing two full jobs all day.  He was fabulous. Jean, Peggy and Ryan each split up the extra work of our other short person and we got through it.

Monday night, after tearing down and packing up, I drove back to the farm, tired, dirty, beaten, sore and two fingers unusable.  And, of course, it rained going home.

This weekend, Tank and I are doing the Washington and Lee Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society in Lexington.  We’ll be cooking full menu from 4 pm Friday until 8 am Saturday.  That’s right folks.  An all nighter.

Should I try to negotiate with the weather Gods before my next trip to Martinsville?

Big Red in Nashville

The first ever Firefly Funnel Cake Fandango ended in Austin, TX last Monday. A 31 hour drive to get Big Red back to Virginia followed and I assure you, it wasn’t much fun.  But the Fandango was a blast so I guess it was worth it.

There were some problems along the way and we learned some lessons.  But I got to meet a lot of people, make so valuable contacts and have a much better handle on doing something like this again in the future.  To our knowledge, something like this has never been done so we were blazing new trails in the funnel cake business.

My thanks to Firefly Vodka, Tim Hayden and Tom Martin, and of course, to Jason. I hope you enjoyed following our antics.

After meeting Jason in Nashville, we had to make a last minute change of location due to a conflict at the original location, and opened on Music Row at Wheels. Despite a great location and a lot of foot traffic, I wasn’t that busy but really enjoyed the live music coming from several bars.

Crossing the Mississippi River

Little Rock was next and was the best of the traveling events. Big Whiskey’s was a fabulous place. The staff and customers embraced us and we had a night like I’d envisioned from the conception of the Fandango idea.  The Firefly distribution folks in Little Rock were great as well, which was something that was missing in Nashville and Dallas.

The only negative to Little Rock was the tornado warnings while I was cooking that I eluded to in a previous post.  I still get a little queesy thinking about that.

Dallas featured another last minute change of location and to a place where I couldn’t even open Big Red.  So, it was a complete bust for me, but I got to spend an evening with Jason and made a couple of great contacts for possible future business.

Dallas Traffic

Friday, at Molotov’s in Austin was the Big Event of the Fandango and what will probably be a legendary party for SXSWs for ever. Only, just before opening, I was shut down by some city official because my set up location in front of Molotov’s was enfringing on City Right of Ways. Nobody, including the owners of Molotov’s and the Austin police who helped me with traffic control while I parked Big Red, had any idea that was a problem. I had to move to a nearby parking lot which required anyone from the party to cross two heavily trafficked streets to get to me.  While it was a good night and a night to meet many of the folks I wanted to meet in Austin, it would have been ten times better right outside Molotov’s and the Party.

Chelsea at Little Woodrow's in Austin

For the next three days, I was at Little Woodrow’s because I could avoid that same Right of Way problem had we moved on to the other planned locations in Austin.  And, Little Woodrow’s was a fabulous place with a huge outdoor patio. A very pet friendly bar, they are a favoite with the locals.  Also, they have a Taco vendor that gave me access to a concessions person familiar with Austin and I was able to start a plan for another year correcting the problems we faced this year.

While we drew in some folks, it wasn’t as successful as I’d preferred.

Happy Birthday, Kagen

One thing worth noting:  Austin has about a million Great Tailed Grackles, a bird I knew nothing about. We have Grackles in Virginia but they are nothing like their cousins found in Texas and Louisianna. Gave me something to do while waiting for customers: Watching the mating rituals of the males that strut around like the NBC Peacook with their foot long tails all ruffled up, and the slightly smaller females who keep saying, ” Go Away.”

The most valuable lesson for me was that the bar scene just isn’t a great venue for funnel cakes. Even with a Firefly Vodka Peach Tea Glaze for the cakes. (By the way, that was extremely popular). I need to stick to what I do best: the major sporting events or at least shows at major venues like the Civic Center in Austin for SXSW.

Kagen and His New Thomas Train Set

I got back to Virginia and had to make a terribly difficult decision. Both my grandson, Grant, and Peggy’s grandson, Kagen, had birthday parties on Saturday. Obviously, I couldn’t be in Louisville and Harrisonburg at the same time.  Since I’m not sure this old fat body could take another 24 hours of driving to get to Kentucky and back, I celebrated with Kagen.

Some New DVDs

Grant, hopefully I’ll get to your birthday next year.

For the Big Red crew, we’re off to Martinsville for out first race of the year.  We’ll be located on the front straight right near the start/finish line under the grandstands.  That is probably the best location we’ve ever had for a Nascar event and the week should be huge.  Tank and I are setting up on Wednesday and we’ll open on Friday for qualifying.  I’ll keep everyone posted via my phone and will report next weekend after the race.

Tom Martin tried to capture the magic, but I got the in way with an orange boa someone draped around me. Here’s the recap:

Firefly Funnel Cake Fandango: The Party from Jason Falls on Vimeo.

What an awesome time. Big props to Molotov for the locale, the City of Austin for not running dad off too much, all the kick-ass people who came to party with us and, of course, Firefly Vodka for making Fandango possible. We had fun, introduced a lot of people to Firefly Vodka (you should try it if you haven’t) and sold a few funnel cakes along the way, too.

And in case you couldn’t hear it, the lovely young lady in the video was the famous fashion blogger, Erika Lehmann of ChicShopperChick.com. The dude buying funnel cakes was my buddy Chuck Hemann.

Dad will report back on his Austin adventures soon. In the meantime, follow him on Twitter.