Like the Make-a-Wish kid, only I'm not dying

At least I hope I'm not dying. But if I am, I'll go out a very happy, NASCAR-lovin', dyke.

You see, every year, I take some of the money I earn from consulting and I spend it selfishly on myself. The first year I bought a camera. 2006 was a better year and I bought a new guitar. 2007 was an especially good consulting year, so I asked for more than usual for my selfish splurge, and decided I wanted to go to a NASCAR race. Like a little kid inviting friends to her birthday party, I asked Syd if she and K would come to Virginia if I took care of the tickets and accommodations. It was a deal struck months ago.

Though the climb up the bleachers to our seats just about killed old out-of-shape me, we had GREAT seats. My NASCAR buddy Eleanor, who has been to a few races, advised me to get seats up high, because down low you'll get covered in rubber. Thanks Eleanor (she's a big-time Stewart fan, BTW).



This just a slice of Martinsville Speedway's campgrounds. The sea of trailers went on for as far as the eye could see. The place was packed. We procured a great spot with lots of room, not far from the heliport where we could see racers and team owners coming and going all weekend long.




My camera doesn't have a great telephoto lens, but this is our camp site as seen from our seats at the track. The camper, which is awesome I might add, is on the left, and our screen tent is on the right. We had five times the space of any other camp site on the grounds.

Not all was perfect however. We had an asshat for a neighbor. With binoculars, we could see him stealing beer from our cooler while we were at the truck race on Saturday.




Syd has to keep an eye on her wife K. Here she is copping a feel while posing for a picture with my wife. Courtney still hasn't washed her breast, BTW...


And I know for a fact K was checking out my ass, because I overheard her declaring with surprise, "OMG, Trop has a tattoo!" There's only one way she'd have known that.

Keep an eye on that woman of yours Syd, she's a shameless hussy.



Amanda tried her best to be a typical, cranky, 14-year-old, but she just couldn't pull it off. Here she is wearing one of K's hats. The kid knows nothing about racing, but up in the stands, once the green flag waved, she was totally into it.



To see what a dumbass yours truly is, you'll have to go to Syd's blog. She's has the goods on me, damnit.

I have to finish by saying how lucky I am to have a wife who puts up with my NASCAR obsession. She went above and beyond, making the weekend work for us both financially and logistically. Court, I love you to the moon and beyond.

And I will never ever be able to thank Syd and K enough for making my first NASCAR race an experience of a lifetime. Syd, you and K mean the world to me. I love you like sisters. Thanks for everything.