Blogs from Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States, North America

BAPTISM OF FIRE Our sixth cousin, four generations removed, was a fellow named Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain from up in Maine. At the beginning of the Civil War Joshua was teaching the German language at Bowdoin College, conducting Sunday school lessons and leading a choir. After First Manassas he got struck with patriotic fervor and enlisted in the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was appointed as lieutenant colonel and made second in command under Colonel Adelbert Ames. When those recalcitrant Maine men got trained up some they marched off to join Dan Butterfield’s Brigade in the Fifth Corps commanded by Joe Hooker. Butterfield is the guy who wrote Taps, he gave his men several other bugle calls distinctive enough to guide them through confusing times. After his failed Peninsular Campaign General George McClellan was removed from ... read more

Our daughter has had a yearning for years to visit Ireland. She has had a picture from Ireland, huge poster a Christmas present from her brother, hanging in her living room for years, got it when she was in high school. So when she announced that she and Kris were saving to go, we were excited for her. After graduation from her tough MBA program this spring, the trip would be the perfect reward. Then she asked if we would come and house sit (in our old house, still not sold, and now being rented to the kids.) Of course we said Yes. Oh, and take care of the 70 lb chocolate lab, Sophie. And the two outside cats. So we knew the priorities--animals then house. We contacted our camping friends Dave and Bonnie Lodge and ... read more

Geo: 38.3009, -77.4591The last month has been a busy one. I started on a new health journey and so far so good, going after my goals one day at a time. Since Baltimore I have stayed local over the last few weeks, I helped my boyfriend and his roommate move houses, watched so many movies at the cinema that I feel like I am a local over there and went out of town as Eduardo decided to move an hour away from me. I experienced my first Super Bowl with my host family and they go as crazy food and drinks wise as the South Africans do for the rugby. I have also made new friends with German girls and I get to spend time with them in the week which is nice. The weather was ... read more

Tamra and I really believed we would be able to sit down each evening, after a full day of racing, but that thought ended immediately. The first racer was up and away at 8a.m. sharp, and, within 45,minutes the rest of the teams were in the air and on their way to the first mandatory fly-by! An absolutely amazing sight , watching for other racers in the air, checking speeds of the other airplanes, and keeping on track for Morganton, North Carolina, a mere 251.99 nautical miles ahead!... read more

In one month's time the Air Race Classic 2015 will gather in Fredericksburg, Va. to start the 2500 statute mile adventure. I am proud to be chosen as a member of "Sky Dancers", team #31, piloted by Tamra Sheffman of Miami Beach, Fl. We will be flying Tamra's Cessna 182. Ther are eight stops along the route, and 2 fly by's, which must be completed in four days of flying dawn to dusk. The Air Race Classic receives wide-spread publicity due to the fact that it is an all female pilot air derby, with the original race having been flown in 1929. ( aka: The Powder Puff Derby). Racers range in age from 17 to 90 years of age and normally fly a stock or minimally modified airplane. Since the race is based on the pilots ... read more