JB The Tour Guide

"Hey John-Boy, what are you doing Friday?"

"It depends," he replied.

"Uh oh," SisIggy commented. "Depends on whether work is involved."

So went the banter Tuesday evening at the Dark's house where we were eating oysters and chili.

All I wanted to know was whether he wanted to take the Front Royal Civil War Tour. Something we had talked about for the past year or so. JB has been so busy of late going to gambling school and we have been busy trying to fend off lechers, er creditors.

But our gig was over Thursday and he's been out of school for several weeks and I was sure his fall yard work was waning.

"That's not a bad idea and I think I am free that day. So we scheduled it then and set it Friday morning. We met at the town's visitor center and before we could leave, the docents told us about the Tour CD and guide that was available. "And it's on sale now, only $10.98."

JB paid the tab and we popped in the CD, waiting for the beep to start our drive.

"Turn right out of the parking lot, go to the stoplight and turn right. Turn off the CD until you drive 4.3 miles to the Asbury Church on the right for the start of the tour.

There were a total of 10 stops as we drove back to and through the town. Each stop provided us with additional background and made it even more enjoyable. Once we finished, we found the tour book had several side tours to the house where Stonewall Jackson had dinner after the battle and the now non-existent railroad depot that Turner Ashby burnt out while cutting the telegraph wires preventing the union army commander (Banks) from learning of Jackson's eminent arrival (of course after dinner and a night's rest).

We went back to get JB's car and thank the docents for their help. And for extra brochures on other civil was sites in the commonweath we haven't been to yet. As soon as we got home, he spread the map at the table, got out his compass and rule and began plotting the next trip.

"Wonder when Dark Garden and the Heirs will be available?" he asked.

"Well," I stated. "Let's ask."

Follow-up note: It seems the CD is actually an interactive CD... We popped it in the computer and SisIggy was so intrigued, she promised that she would take the tour "if Dark Garden went too."

How about it Dark? Heirs?

Roanoke College or Bust

If you've been reading SisIggy's blog by now you know that Heir II had decided Roanoke College will be his home for the next four years. And if this is the first you're hearing about it, pull up a chair and see why.

The heir had already been accepted via early admission and had even been given a substantial financial aid package for the school. But with college expenses expected to be almost $40,000 the first year we told him that unless he was able to get a full ride, we wouldn't be able to help.

He had applied site unseen. RC had an open house last Saturday and with the help of the grandparents, we drove to Salem Saturday to check out the campus. The pre-dawn trip was very rainy and we arrived just in time for Heir II to visit one-on-one with a computer science professor who did a little personal recruitment.

We also attended a financial aid session that was tops (Lord knows we need financial aid) and then it was time for brunch.

I had expected watercress sandwiches and tea with maybe a few cookies sprinkled in.

What we got was a weekend brunch in the school's dining hall that was heaven.

Real scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy and even omelets. Fresh fruit, a salad bar and the best compote I have ever eaten. And to hear our tour guide and even a Roanoke recruiter tell us the weekend food was sub-par to the rest of the week.

"Lobster Newburg, shrimp, prime rib and even Leg of Lamb with mint jelly," both told us. "Our chef's are graduates of the Culinery Institute of America. How many schools can say that?"

Yet Heir II wasn't sold on that alone. He was really impressed with the bank of cold cereal he saw once we entered the facility.

"I'm coming here," he said. "If nothing else, I'll be the new mascot."