West Virgina Power News List

Thursday, June 26, 2014

27,000+ steps and 100+ strokes later...

I'm long overdue for about eight posts.  I'll roll back into it with my version of the All-Star break.

Three days is not enough time to do anything, but it is enough to relax for a day, see my wife once and then leave for New Jersey.  The team worked out on Wednesday morning and left in the afternoon for a ten(-ish) hour ride from Charleston to Toms River.

I chose to fly Wednesday morning to LaGuardia and catch up with my best friend.  Shawn lives on Long Island and usually meets up with me in Lakewood for a few days.  I got off the plane at 10:30 am, grabbed some lunch and we hit the links.  Not just any links, but Bethpage Black.  A former and future U.S. Open course.

I'm definitely not qualified to play here, but if you pay the money ($135 for out-of-state golfers and $70 in-state on this public course), they will let anyone ruin their fairways and greens.  In my case, just the greens (you have to hit a fairway to hurt it).

I tend to shoot in the mid to low 90's, but not this day.  Couldn't hit a drive on the front and I couldn't putt on the back.  But what a course!


Here are a few shots of the old men in action.

Shawn hit this one flush down the middle... or at least that is the story we will tell.
My post-World Cup Facebook cover pic.
Bethpage Black is a traditional course and you are only allowed to walk it.  My FitBit gives a more accurate description as to how I hacked the course.


On our way to Lakewood Thursday morning, Shawn and I stopped at Peter Luger's.  This is a world class steakhouse...  and I ordered a white wine to go with my steak.  It was like a record scratched and the room went silent.


They gave me these chocolate-filled gold coins regardless of my faux pas.




 Now I'm full, rich and will never have another bad day.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Redneckery, Rome, and more...

May 24 was our third annual Redneck Night.  This promotional theme night was the brainchild of our former Executive Vice President and has lived on since he left.  In fact, his new team tried to replicate the night.

Redneck Night draws some heat from fans each year.  They believe that we play up the negative connotation and mock the state of West Virginia.  It is meant to be, in fact, so far over the top and absurd that it is just fun and silly.  We have a redneck wedding, which is an actual legal ceremony, a giveaway, a celebrity appearance (NASCAR legend Bobby Allison), and even a redneck sushi shack.

It is all fun and games and no harm is meant.  Our native West Virginian loves the night and even served as the sushi chef.  This theme night won an award in 2012 from the industry, and we hope to win again by taking the night up another level.

The post-redneckery road trip took us to Rome, GA, and Greensboro, NC.  I had not been to Rome's State Mutual Stadium before.  Not a bad park at all...  It is a mini-replica of Lexington's Whitaker Bank Ballpark.  SMS was designed by the same company that did the Lexington park.  If you squint, you might think you are in Kentucky.  Then the humidity punches you in the face and you remember that you are eight hours away from home.

Rome
Lexington
Rome again


I did try the barbecue at Rome's ballpark.  It was nothing special, though it did come served on a Frisbee plate.  If the "plate" had a Braves logo, or even the BBQ place's name, this would have been a cool collectible.  Instead it was plain and I gave my Frisbee to some kids.  We have enough crap at home and I certainly don't need a Frisbee.  They are missing out on a great marketing opportunity.


West Virginia took two out of three, bookending the series with a six run first on Monday and a six run ninth inning on Wednesday.

I had a much better experience in Greensboro this time through.  Last June, I was not a fan.  (Please read my 2013 review and candid thoughts:  If not for you, I wonder who it is late for?)

I tried to be more outgoing in hopes that the stay would be better for everyone.  Who knows if I was successful?  I only know that the press box intern wishes I would hurry up and leave so she could go home.

I had the fortune of trying two great places on this trip.  Monezi is within walking distance of the palatial estate known as the Days Inn Greensboro.  It is a Brazilian buffet.  You pay by either the pound ($7.95) or by the all-you-can-eat plate ($18.95).  Since it was lunch, I went small and by the pound.  Fortunately it was by the weight of the plate and not the weight of the patron before and after, so I got out at $10 with a plate containing plantains, polenta, pulled pork, chicken in wine sauce, pork sausage and a Brazilian chicken empanada.

Trip Advisor lists Monezi as #124 in Greensboro.  While the pricing is high (especially for lunch... I couldn't venture a guess on if I could afford dinner on a per diem), Trip Advisor has this one wrong.  Not knowing all the competition, but seeing fast food ahead of it...  This is a top 50 place (if not top 25).

Monezi's Website

I also ate at Sarah's Kabob Shop.  Trip Advisor says it is number "1".  I "says" they are right.



Sarah's Kabob Shop Website

This is getting longer winded than anticipated, so I'll save the tour of the UNC campus for another day.  I will leave you with this though.  I celebrated a birthday on May 25 and my wife came through.  On my Amazon Wish List, I asked for a US Soccer jersey to help get me set for the World Cup.  In the notes, I added that if the person really loved me, they would customize it with my name and favorite number.


I'll never have another bad day.