Dear Wal,
I've been busy. On Monday I went flyfishing, and on Tuesday I went to the Nascar Hall of Fame.
First of all, let me establish that before this I had been fishing maybe once, and it wasn't flyfishing. And it was in a pond, not in a river. We went to this little fishing shop (don't remember what the name was-sorry guys) and I had to put on this giant pair of waders. It was weird, I didn't think the booties would keep my feet dry but they did. The boots were really heavy full of water. It was really bizarre walking through a river and not getting wet. I'm used to fumbling around barefoot.
I only got the line stuck in a tree once. It got stuck in things in the river like six times though. I sucked pretty badly. I only caught one fish, and what felt like a thousand got away. It was surprise when I actually caught the one fish. It was a very small fish. I didn't get to hold it. I think our guide thought I would catch a bigger one that I could hold. Not so. Either that or he thought I would scream or something. I wouldn't have. I probably would have dropped it, though.
Anyway, we were fishing in a river where you're not allowed to keep the fish, so I don't have any proof. Heather (My friend's sister from Florida. She's awesome. She kicks butt at sports of all kinds.) caught six or seven fish, one of which was this really big rainbow trout. Unfortunately we didn't have a camera, so you'll have to take my word for it. She was saying that since she didn't have a picture she could say whatever she wanted about it's size. Sarah, Heather's friend, also caught a bunch of fish but she kept getting her line stuck in trees.
But it was fun. I wore my Skillet hat (signed, by the way. By the guy who plays the violin...it's sad that I don't know his name.) and our guide asked us about what music we all liked. Sarah and Heather both said they liked country, and I said I liked rock and metal and alternative. Well, pretty much everything but country. I listen to a lot of different stuff.
Anyway, we got home really tired. I was super car sick from riding in their giant Suburban. Riding in the back seat and getting bounced around everywhere really sucks. I went to bed at around eight, but didn't get to sleep until midnight. It sucked. German was really weighing on me that day. As I said the other day, it's a seriously intense course.
Onward! The next morning we got up and bundled into the Suburban again (This time I was armed with anti-motion sickness pills.) and headed off to Charlotte to go visit the Nascar Hall of Fame. I came up with a story for my Batman fanfic on the way, which was encouraging. Jason has been sorely neglected. When we got there we meandered around in the Hall for a while before we got lunch and went on a bus tour to Earnhardt-Ganassi and the super speedway. It was awesome. We got to go in the winner's circle.
At the museum we went in the simulator like four times. It was just way too much fun. Once I got the hang of it and I wasn't crashing anymore, I had a lap time of 1:02.6. Seeing all the old cars in the museum was really cool. I had only seen the new car up close once before that. The Hall itself had a really nice feel to it-it wasn't boring at all. And this is me we're talking about. I abhor walking around in museums. It usually drives me completely up the wall. The food was good too.
Earnhardt-Ganassi was really cool. I got to listen to our tour guide ramble about engines and chassis and all kinds of things. The track was really, really hot. I have a higher appreciation for those poor people who have to stand out there in the heat in fire suites.
Throughout the entire thing they were all talking about how nice it was to see kids interested in Nascar, because the sport needed the younger demographic to survive. I didn't say it, but I couldn't help thinking that if the races were shorter and more exciting, then they would definitely draw in more young people. I mean, we've been a Nascar family forever and I still have trouble sitting there for four hours watching them go around in circles. The main complaint from most of my friends when I ask them if they like Nascar is that it's too boring, because all they do is drive in circles. My dad, who is 69, thinks the same thing. He always just watches the first 60 laps and the last 60 laps of all the long races except the shootout.
Just my thoughts, anyway.
/endrant
P.S. Sorry for the lack of pictures. It's either post this now, or three days later when I finally get the pictures from Dad.
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