Handstands Across America » Blacksburg

Ben and Jerry Free Cone Day is a Sham!

Sam E. — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:22:00 +0000

bogus! i want my ice cream!

Last time in the sky (for a bit)

Sam E. — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:15:00 +0000

Sadly, I had to leave the Hokie Flying Club, who I learned how to fly with. I got to fly for the last time (for now) this past Tuesday. I was in Blacksburg to fly, resign from the club and to work.

I got to stay in the Microtel for 2 of the 5 days I was there and here is my lovely bed……….

As far as flying goes, we went up for a “Scenic Review” as it states in my log.

We did notice that the plane’s log book had an unusual entry from the day before… Check it out in a large size to see what I’m talking about.

We finished flying an hour earlier than expected, so I used that time to sneak over to the Tech Bookstore and grab something to help my transition to being a South Carolinian. I got some Hokie “Croakies”.

Sooo, that is that. I’m back in Arlington for now with a move-in date of April 30th!

March 2009 – 12 of 12 – Blacksburg, VA to Greenville, SC

Sam E. — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:51:00 +0000

Well, I woke up on an air matress, in a house where the owner’s girlfriend ran the car through the garage the night before… Didn’t get a picture til I got to work though, cause I forgot it was the 12th! I didn’t keep track of exact times the pictures were taken… Not really important I suppose, because I’m making this a “12 on 12″.

Zach and I worked together ALL morning on Project Schedules

Went for a Business lunch in his pimped out KIA

Panera was Delicious. Got the Smokehouse Turkey Panini and a Asian Sesame Chicken Salad

Jared went running in the office in the afternoon

Monkeys and monsters were held captive at my desk for the day, thanks to the previous tenant

Chick-fil-a for dinner on the way out of Christiansburg

Driving my boat full of my bed and many other things (cause I’m moving soon!)

I-74 and I-77 Junction (I chose I-77)

Mountain Dew to the rescue for the 270 mile drive

Driving on I-485 (which apparently not a road, even on google maps right now)

Welcome to South Carolina, wee!

I have made it, time to move in with my dresser and backpack!

Successful day. “12 on 12″. Done.

Don’t forget to check out Brian’s and Mike’s… They probably did theirs too! (or will post tomorrow)

Stump – A New (To Me) Tailgating Game Review

Sam E. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:09:00 +0000

I was introduced to a new tailgating game called stump… it was pretty fun

Players	2+
Age range	Legal drinking age
Setup time	5 minutes

Equipment:

1 Hammer
1 Tree stump or flat portion of tree trunk
1 2.5″ – 3″ Nail per player
Beer

It involves flipping a hammer, earning the right to strike nails and keeping your nail as the last one standing!

Check out the offical rules on Wikipedia.

(Image taken from Wikipedia)

Hokies win, 23-13 over Maryland

Sam E. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:49:00 +0000

So, it’s been awesome being down in Blacksburg the past week. I’ve got to hang out with a lot of friends I haven’t seen in a long time, get re-checked out on the Cessna, and work from the office.

Got to go to the game last night, which rocked. I met up with my Steve and tailgated. Cops were going a little crazy because they gave someones dad a ticket for drinking in public ($25 ticket), and then I heard that during half time they started coming and towing cars out of their yard… The landlord showed up, drunk people were yelling, cops were working things out, tow trucks were messing up cars trying to get them out…

Anyways, the rule was, put your drink in a cup and you will be fine.

Didn’t get a turkey leg this time, but they are delicious.

Steve!

Maroon and Orange on the face, need to go full face/chest next year cause this looks a lil… lame.

We win!

Ahh, life is good.

Sam E. — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:00:00 +0000

So, my last day in Blacksburg was yesterday and it was a good day. Busy with a teleconference at work and such, and then saying my “goodbyes” to people. My favorite response to me heading out for this trip was “Dammnnnn” and was appopriately by Chris E, as well as “Don’t get eaten by grizzlies!” from others. It was nice getting good luck wishes (thank you for them!), to chat with people for a few before leaving town, and to reflect on all the friendships I’ve made in Blacksburg.

On the drive back I started reflecting some about life in general. In my mind I pictured the path I was driving on the road as like one of those measuring tapes that retract themselves. (I know, my mind is strange) I was getting pulled closer and closer to home, and farther from my 7 years of Blacksburg college/working life. I looked out the window and saw a pretty sunset, and was just thinking about how thankful I am for life being as good as it is.

I am:

Healthy
Finacially stable (til near the end of my trip) but then I will be working again for the same great company when I get back!
Got a great family
Got a great girl
Leaving for one of those trips that people always say they’ll do, but only few follow through with in 8 days
Got my pilots license in the past two weeks
A camping trip with TONS of friends this weekend
The mindset to keep looking forward and up

Just to show off how awesome my momma is… she sent me an e-card today and the note said:

“When you were little you said that homeless people should
just bum a quarter and call their families to come get them
and take them home. I hope your entire life stays cozy.”

I thought that was mighty cute, and it’s nice to know you can bring up a kid to be soo innocent. In any case, life is good and I want to thank everyone who is a part of it and say thanks for all the birthday wishes.

Cheers!

ADDED: Special thanks to Becky and the “Guys Eating Stuff” craze for featuring my attempt to eat my dream sized M&M!

Homeless

Sam E. — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:05:00 +0000

So in just under 9 hours I will be this man. My lease ends today and I will officially be a homeless computer programmer. A lovely world it is! He is completely burden free of “cleaning” and “making the bed”. Ahh, what a wonderful life, sleeping on the streets!

Well, not too far from the truth. Graciously crashing with Jared, Kristen, Family and then off on my Handstands Across America adventure I go starting July 24th!

I am looking forward to helping out Kristen with all of her new found furniture and then hopefully will be wrapping up my 7 year stint in Blacksburg. I told myself I had to leave Blacksburg by the time I was 25 so I wouldn’t be a townie for life. I will be leaving on the night of July 14th… and considering my birthday is the 15th, I’d say that is one closely met goal!

Onward to my new home! (your couch and the great outdoors!)

Get Your Move On

Sam E. — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:22:00 +0000

The past two weeks have been CRAZY, and the next two will not let up.

Next Two Weeks…

Thursday(3rd):
-Packed my car this morning (soo full)
-Driving up to Arlington after work
-Unpacking/Cleaning Current room at home

Friday(4th):
-Community Parade in the AM with family
-Going to Stafford to hang out with my Cousin April
-Going to Woodbridge(ish) to Jason’s house for the 4th

Saturday(5th):
-Going to Arlington to Drop off my speakers, mixing board, and Kristen’s car.
-Going out in Baltimore to hang out with Shulsky, Martha and Brett

Sunday(6th):
-Going back to Arlington for Afternoon/Dinner
-Driving back to Blacksburg

Monday(7th):
-Full Day of Work
-Pack up final things and move to Jared’s house for storage
-List things on craigslist or email equivalent

Tuesday(8th):
-Full Day of Work
-Maybe some flying??
-Get rid of said “craiglist” items or dump them

Wednesday(9th):
-Full Day of Work
-Dentist Appointment (Cavities filled)
-Clean out trash and final things from the house
-Super Scrubbing of the house

Thursday(10th):
-Lease ends
-Turn in Keys
-Final cleaning?
-Pack Kristen’s stuff into my car
-Softball Game (tourney begins)
-Sleep at Jared’s

Friday(11th):
-Full Day of Work
-Drive to Greenville, SC to visit Kristen/Help move her in

Saturday(12th):
-Go to her storage unit, load all the stuff into her new place
-Get her place somewhat situated

Sunday(13th):
-Drive Back to Blacksburg
-Pack up my stuff that I left at Jared’s into my car
-Crash at Jared’s

Monday(14th):
-LAST DAY IN BLACKSBURG!! (This trip is really happening!)
-Teleconference/Webex presentation
-Drive to Arlington
-Unpack

Tuesday(15th):
-Full day of work (from Arlington)
-IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!

That weekend… Camping in celebration of 1/4 century of Sam

phew.

More Pics from Danville XC

Sam E. — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:14:00 +0000

This is how I got there…

Outside the terminal

Revised Plan for XC Solo?

Sam E. — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:35:00 +0000

If i go from Blacksburg->Danville->NewRiver->Blacksburg… That is 150.4 ooo I love minimums Might end up doing that instead to make it more straight forward, being my first solo XC and all.

Plan for First XC Solo

Sam E. — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:47:00 +0000

I have to plan this flight out and get it approved on Saturday, but I should be flying it for my long solo cross country (Which must have a leg which is at least 50nm and must be 150nm total at least). This flight will have a 64nm flight to Danville and will be 154.6nm total, so just right!

Excited/stressed to plan/hope weather is good.

Blacksburg->Danville->”Blue Ridge Airport”->New River->Blacksburg (154.6nm)
View Larger Map

First Cross-Country Flight to Bluefield

Sam E. — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:51:00 +0000

Today was my first cross country flight!

Blacksburg (KBCB) -> Bluefield (KBLF) @ 4500′

Bluefield (KBLF) -> New River (KPSK) @ 5500′

New River (KPSK) -> Blacksburg (KBCB)

View Larger Map

So, my first leg got off to a not so great start. We ended up in Princeton, WV which I thought was Bluefield and that got me all turned around, finally we started to loop around the “town” and the airport was off to my right, I was a little confused, but it all makes sense when you look at the GPS track. (We weren’t allowed to use anything but the compass and the map for the flight) Anyways, it was a good day and first Cross Country experience because I learned how important it is to stay on your heading, correct when you can do so, and if you have gone as far as you planned, and you’re not there… something is going awry.

Well, it was odd that on our last short leg we were really low on fuel in our left tank and the right was pretty much full. After we were back in Blacksburg we found out that we’d been flying the whole day without a gas cap on the right wing. I guess it wasn’t put on securely after fueling up the plane. This made sense of the left tank being low (it was the only tank with suction to the tank). In any case, the new guy “Hop” (Last name ‘Hopper’) from LC’s flying service (Blacksburg’s new F.B.O.) helped us search for us and the maintenance guy from Blacksburg (Jim) was finally able to find it on the taxi way down towards where you turn onto the runway. Well, that was a lucky day!

Well, definitely a fun (at times mildly nerve racking) first cross country flight!

Beware of picture theft!

Sam E. — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:36:00 +0000

Soo… I stumbled across a picture of myself on my friend Rebecca’s blog, and never even knew it was there! Shammery I say!

Check out more “Guys Eating Stuff”

Let me out!

Sam E. — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:08:00 +0000

Soo, I rode my bike over to the Tee Hangars today to take some more pictures. They turned out pretty well as can be seen below However… I think the gate is activated by weight when a car pulls up to it and I was not heavy enough. So… I broke out of the airport by scaling the fence, and then used my access card to open the gate and rescue my bike and backpack.

Cessna 150 Cockpit

Piper Cherokee HDR

Ever Been to Heritage Park in Blacksburg, Virginia? You should go.

Sam E. — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:01:00 +0000

Heritage Park is beautiful. They just finished a new bridge there back in January and you can ride all the way to Pandapas Pond. My goal was to get back to the top of Horse Nettle Trail where I was this past Thursday. I was successful and managed to make it up and down while avoiding the rain. I found it very peaceful to be up there on the trail because when you stopped, you heard absolutely nothing. Ahhhh… So great.

I took my new wide angle lens and went at it! Here are some pictures of Heritage Park before and after I hiked up to the Horse Nettle Trail. I used Photomatrix to create these HDR shots and they turned out pretty decently.

HDR makes everything better

Trail in Heritage Park

Abandoned Building

View From the Gazebo at the Entrance to the Old Farm Trail that leads to Horse Nettle

Stream, Cows, Field, Clouds