DIS Dads Rust Belt Road Trip (2 UPDATES--1/18)

[KatMark]

HOW THE HECK DID I MISS THIS UPDATE? Oh, I know...I was in Dubuque, IA, visiting my son.

Please forgive me for being late for the update, Mark.

It is a great one too. Love the fact that you met so many DISer's on your trip and had such a good time. I don't follow much college football, but after the movie about Marshall, I tend to keep an eye out to see how the team is doing.

You had to have been really hungry to order from Domino's Pizza.

Great photos of everyone.

Can't wait to hear why Julie gets left on a mountain top.

 

[marvali]

Only one page and one update behind this time!!!

(well, unless you count Rob's Tour of Charleston update...)

If you take away the bacon cheeseburger stop, and the tour of the Marshall stadium, your visit to West Virginia is pretty much how I remember my one trip through there.

Still, another great DISmeet! I need to plan a few more of those! I'm trying to figure out how you, Julie and Steve's kids didn't get the memo on the DISmeet color scheme of the day though........

I did think about that as a possible danger...

...then I figured, "There's probably nobody reading this crap anyway."

Hey wait, did I miss the restaurant restroom review in this update.......... going back to check.

Can't wait to hear why Julie gets left on a mountain top.

Hey, you know how Mark is always putting Julie on a pedestal..........

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Having been born in West “by God” Virginia… I have a natural right to say that I, for one, am really sick of that song.

I can only imagine. I don't hear it much, but then again, I live on the East Coast.

Our fine military has no qualms about it, so I believe you’re on solid ground here.

That's a relief. I don't want Fed after me.

The name alone should put that one in the win column.

"Where healthy food is an expletive."

I’d expect no less of a DisDad. Another “epic” Dis-meet in the books. You racked up quite the record during this trip.

It was great! I was glad Julie humored me as I tried to meet up with the guys. A friendship means a little more if you've physically shaken a man's hand, don't you think?

Actually… it’s possible that you have.

If they only have one burger joint, it's a good one.

Oh nooooooo… no bitterness at all. There’s not even a scant hit of sarcasm to be detected in that last paragraph (you’re getting soft in your old age).

Sharp eyed readers of this TR will notice a trend here.

It's an awfully violent trend.

Tell… heck, I’d have been up there fighting the kids for the opportunity to be the engineer.

Most folks will snicker at that, but… I see similar signs throughout my current home state when traversing our interstates, so it’s more a normal site then a humorous one to me.

From the one dark rectangle on the sign, I'm guessing some enterprising venture was out there at some point...and then it was gone.

Let’s see… Huntington to Weston…
You drove right through the capitol city of Charleston. Which means that you missed all of the sites and adventures of… oh wait… no you didn’t. It may be the capitol, but there really ain’t that much to see.

Thanks for the mini-tour! We did indeed drive through Charleston and did not stop. I looked for the dome of the capital building and saw the top of it at one point on the drive. And I enjoyed seeing all the bridges over the river. So it made for some different scenery to break up the drive.

This should be interesting.

That’s just crass… I mean just who would even consider doing such a thing


Hay… could one of y’all hand me one of those big ol’ rocks over there, I think there’s just a little bit more glass left in the walls of my house that needs to be busted out.

I guess there's more than one anal-retentive trip reporter out there...

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Unless you have Barry's van. Then it's a couple of hours, tops.

Good point. I'll have to book my next trip with them. Do you know if they serve anything besides cheeseballs?

According to Brad Paisley, it is a color too!

As a guy, I typically only know the names of 7 colors, so Julie will be impressed it's up to 8!

Hills and trees, Mark, hills and trees.

Sounds like West Virginia.

Hmmmm.... almost seems like Brian might have put him up to it.

It does. Perhaps Steve is Brian's Nemesis Apprentice.

Mmmmmm.... bacon cheeseburger....

I'm just glad that Disney can make some good bacon cheeseburgers. I ate way too many of them when we went.

Yep, Brian and Steve definitely had a talk.

I knew my nemesis must have been involved somehow.

Note to self... If I ever meet Mark, body check him.

I think it only works with kids.

Yeah, but when was the last time football was actually played there?

Ooo, care to respond Steve?

Unless that graffiti is Sarah's handy work, then probably not.

Those are the best kind of people to meet.

You mean DISDads? I agree.

True story: I was eating breakfast in a Holiday Inn Express one time when a guy walked up to the counter, picked up the whole tray of cinnamon rolls and walked out the door. The lady working there that morning looked like she was trying to say something to him, but was just speechless.

Dude! You should have come up and said hi!

Um, I mean...shame on that guy. I've been tempted to do that, but never had the guts. Those things are addictive.

I guess that makes you a nobody then.

I know, I know, I'm reading it too.

At least we know what kind of crowd hangs out in my place.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

OK....I tried to multiquote little things in your update but I obviously or obliviously can't do it and had to start over LOL

It was OUR pleasure to have you here and meet you guys in person finally and further solidify the friendship between our families!!!

I am craving some Fat Pattys right now after reading this!!!

Me too! Gimme a day or so to get there.

As far as the "Marshall Invitational" as you called it...we let you use the home locker room for heavens sake LOL You were officially the "home" team with home field advantage LOL

Gee, thanks. I'd be more impressed if you'd let us use your wide receiver.

I wish we had more time to take you guys to Heritage Farm ...It is an awesome place to see! The show American Pickers broadcast a segment last week that they had recently taped there.

I guess we'll just have to come back! Hillbilly Hot Dogs sounded fun as well.

I personally think that Buddy Bison looks more like Marco the Marshall Mascot...just check out Scotty's hat..you will see the resemblance is uncanny LOL. The glitter in the laundry was just a little touch to help you remember your time with us once you were home.....and mowing the yard sparkling in the sunshine!!

I have to admit there is a resemblance there. As much as I can tell the difference between buffalo, anyway. As for glitter, I feel comfortable stating that glitter is a tool of Satan.

For the record...who is bodychecking who???

I really hope we get to do this again sometime!!! We loved meeting you and your family!!

Fat Patty's was awesome, but next time let's meet in Florida!

 

[AirGoofy]

Trip Report Rental.

I ...then I figured, "There's probably nobody reading this crap anyway."

Good figurin.

Can't wait to hear why Julie gets left on a mountain top.

Hey, you know how Mark is always putting Julie on a pedestal..........

It was great! I was glad Julie humored me as I tried to meet up with the guys.

I like the name Mrs. Knowitall in the signature as well putting her on a pedestal. My DW has been there since the day we were married. Who else could deal with all our brilliance?

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

HOW THE HECK DID I MISS THIS UPDATE? Oh, I know...I was in Dubuque, IA, visiting my son.

Please forgive me for being late for the update, Mark.

That seems like a reasonable excuse. The judges have allowed it.

It is a great one too. Love the fact that you met so many DISer's on your trip and had such a good time. I don't follow much college football, but after the movie about Marshall, I tend to keep an eye out to see how the team is doing.

We had a great time meeting great people!

You had to have been really hungry to order from Domino's Pizza.

Well, you're only as good as the materials you have to work with. We could have driven into town to explore, but everyone was sick of driving and the pool sounded much more appealing.

Besides, there's that old line about pizza (and another activity)...even when it's bad, it's good. Unless it's Chuck E. Cheese.

Great photos of everyone.

Can't wait to hear why Julie gets left on a mountain top.

Thanks! Sounds like everyone is interested in that story...

Only one page and one update behind this time!!!

Slow and steady wins the race!

If you take away the bacon cheeseburger stop, and the tour of the Marshall stadium, your visit to West Virginia is pretty much how I remember my one trip through there.

We're not done with the state yet...we'll explore a bit more in the next update.

Still, another great DISmeet! I need to plan a few more of those! I'm trying to figure out how you, Julie and Steve's kids didn't get the memo on the DISmeet color scheme of the day though........

We were over a week into the road trip at that point. Just having clean clothes was a minor miracle.

Hey wait, did I miss the restaurant restroom review in this update.......... going back to check.

(in my best Jim Carrey voice) Do NOT go in there!

Hey, you know how Mark is always putting Julie on a pedestal..........

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Every road trip typically has a couple of long driving days in the schedule.

We only schedule one long driving day on our road trips to Florida. Of course, that's the entire trip. One. Long. Driving. Day.
But at the end, we're in Disney World.

He told us to park across the street in a bank parking lot that had signs posted specifically saying CUSTOMERS ONLY--ALL OTHERS WILL BE TOWED.

And here I though Texas was the lawless capitol of the US. Looks like West Virginia is giving them a run for their money.

Any negative thoughts were quickly dispelled, however, when we entered the restaurant to find Steve and his family already there, and a plate of cheese fries waiting for us.

You know all those stories in the Bible where people anoint the feet of their guests? If you really wanted to get on the Son of God's good side, have a plate of cheese fries waiting.

Here I am with Steve and what was left of the cheese fries.

No, boys, you can't have dessert until all of your cheese fries are gone.

I had a fun time messing with Ethan throughout the meal as well. He was pretty shy at first, but I think I got him warmed up with some jokes. He was attacking me with bodychecks outside later on, which appears to be how kids express their affection for me.

Evan texted him after we left Chicago. Filled him in on your weaknesses. All of them. In 160 characters. True Story.

After lunch, Steve wanted to show us around town a bit. We took a walk across the street to...the Marshall University football stadium.

Wow, you crossed Wrigley Field and ... wait, that can't be right. Let me check again...up, Joan C. Edwards Stadium off of your "must visit" list in one trip. Impressive. Very Impressive.

OK, I may have made fun of West Virginia a little bit in this post, but I'll be the first to admit - that's pretty awesome how they got a train to turn 90° like that.

Steve and Shari were incredibly hospitable, great company, and obviously very proud of their town. Plus, they know their hamburger joints! It was a joy to meet them. Thanks guys!

We had the pleasure of meeting up with Steve, Shari & the kids last December in Disney World. Our flight was late getting in, and they had to leave right after the Epic Dis Dad's meet at DTD. By some stroke of luck, however, we bumped into each other a few minutes later amongst the crowds. They're some pretty great people.

On the road again

Willie Nelson.

We're doing song references as a contest, right?

Because candy doesn't have enough sugar, let's inject it directly into the teeth.

Dinner this evening was...

...delivered to the room by Domino's Pizza.

Well, you win some, you lose some. And you definitively lost this one.
Not like there are many opportunities to win in Weston, WV.

And then we abandon Julie at the top of a mountain.

Better there than the bottom of a hole I guess.

Unless you have Barry's van. Then it's a couple of hours, tops.

I can do it in a few minutes if you need to, but they'll have to pry your eyelids open with a crow bar when we arrive.

Hills and trees, Mark, hills and trees.

You know, the exact opposite of Indiana. Flat and corn. Flat and corn.

Good point. I'll have to book my next trip with them. Do you know if they serve anything besides cheeseballs?

Chocolate cheese, bacon cheese and root beer.

And if you upgrade to 1st class - bacon.

As a guy, I typically only know the names of 7 colors, so Julie will be impressed it's up to 8!

Egg shell, off white, ivory, seashell, snow,beige, cream, and now... camouflage!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Besides, there's that old line about pizza (and another activity)...even when it's bad, it's good. Unless it's Chuck E. Cheese.

You're not really supposed to do (that other activity) at Chuck E. Cheese. They'll throw you out.

 

[middlepat]

Sorry for the late post there Mark, but great update.

Steve is coming along nicely in his apprenticeship. Especially after hearing about the sparkly lawn mowing incident.

You're not really supposed to do (that other activity) at Chuck E. Cheese. They'll throw you out.

Spoken like a man with experience....

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

You're not really supposed to do (that other activity) at Chuck E. Cheese. They'll throw you out.

Spoken like a man with experience....

I guess we'll have to take his word for it!

 

[KatMark]

I guess we'll have to take his word for it!

As I do with my sons when I don't want to hear/think about these things, I'll just say BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH really, really loud!

 

[GoHerd1028]

Sorry for the late post there Mark, but great update.

Steve is coming along nicely in his apprenticeship. Especially after hearing about the sparkly lawn mowing incident.



Spoken like a man with experience....

You taught me well Brian!!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Trip Report Ownage.

No, you're just renting space. And ninja-posting me.

I like the name Mrs. Knowitall in the signature as well putting her on a pedestal. My DW has been there since the day we were married. Who else could deal with all our brilliance?

That's a great way to look at it!

We only schedule one long driving day on our road trips to Florida. Of course, that's the entire trip. One. Long. Driving. Day.
But at the end, we're in Disney World.

Like the oasis at the end of the desert...

And here I though Texas was the lawless capitol of the US. Looks like West Virginia is giving them a run for their money.

When in Rome, I guess. Or Huntington.

You know all those stories in the Bible where people anoint the feet of their guests? If you really wanted to get on the Son of God's good side, have a plate of cheese fries waiting.

I'm pretty sure cheese fries are on the menu in heaven.

No, boys, you can't have dessert until all of your cheese fries are gone.

Aw, but Dad....

Evan texted him after we left Chicago. Filled him in on your weaknesses. All of them. In 160 characters. True Story.

I have no reason not to believe this.

Wow, you crossed Wrigley Field and ... wait, that can't be right. Let me check again...up, Joan C. Edwards Stadium off of your "must visit" list in one trip. Impressive. Very Impressive.

We went to a U. of Delaware game later in the fall, so Tubby Raymond Field was taken off the list as well.

OK, I may have made fun of West Virginia a little bit in this post, but I'll be the first to admit - that's pretty awesome how they got a train to turn 90° like that.

You'll notice the train is no longer moving.

We had the pleasure of meeting up with Steve, Shari & the kids last December in Disney World. Our flight was late getting in, and they had to leave right after the Epic Dis Dad's meet at DTD. By some stroke of luck, however, we bumped into each other a few minutes later amongst the crowds. They're some pretty great people.

Agreed! They are awesome.

Willie Nelson.

We're doing song references as a contest, right?

+1, I guess. I am basically musically illiterate, having wasted all of my brain cells on movie quotes. Everything on the radio these days is too loud. You call that music? Oh, and get off my lawn!

Because candy doesn't have enough sugar, let's inject it directly into the teeth.

Well, you win some, you lose some. And you definitively lost this one.
Not like there are many opportunities to win in Weston, WV.

You're only as good as the materials you have available.

Better there than the bottom of a hole I guess.

All will be explained.

You know, the exact opposite of Indiana. Flat and corn. Flat and corn.

Don't forget the windmills!

Chocolate cheese, bacon cheese and root beer.

And if you upgrade to 1st class - bacon.

I'm in!

Egg shell, off white, ivory, seashell, snow,beige, cream, and now... camouflage!

Now that's impressive. Those all look like white to me. I stick with the ROY G BIV spectrum for the most part.

Sorry for the late post there Mark, but great update.

Steve is coming along nicely in his apprenticeship. Especially after hearing about the sparkly lawn mowing incident.

As I do with my sons when I don't want to hear/think about these things, I'll just say BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH really, really loud!

I was wondering what that noise was.

You taught me well Brian!!

You already have a nemesis!

 

[MEK]

Great update and fun pictures from both of you DIS dads.

Personally, I think West Virginia has the prettiest Welcome signs and the best welcome centers.

Funny picture of the "no attractions" sign.

Lunch sounds fabulous and what a great afternoon.

I have really enjoyed your trip. Are you heading home next? Beautiful pictures!

 

[nodnol]

Hi Mark, I wanted to let you know that although I didn't comment a lot (not at all?), I managed to read along and I am enjoying your family's trip very much. I had a kind of revelation: those baseball bats, my husband had already when I got to know him, and which I always wondered why he has them (because he never played baseball) - they are Lousiville slugger baseball bats! My DH has spent one year during high school in the USA, in Louisville, Kentucky. So now I know why he has those baseball bats and it was so interesting to read about everything you did and saw there. We want to travel to the USA together for ages, so far it didn't work out, and the only place that is definitely on the list of places we want to visit is of course Louisville.

So thank you very much! To you, Ms. Knowitall and the kids a very happy Christmas!

 

[middlepat]

As I do with my sons when I don't want to hear/think about these things, I'll just say BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH really, really loud!

Mom???

I'm pretty sure cheese fries are on the menu in heaven.

+1, I guess. I am basically musically illiterate, having wasted all of my brain cells on movie quotes. Everything on the radio these days is too loud. You call that music? Oh, and get off my lawn!

Speak up there sonny. I can't hear ya. Dang kids these days.

Don't forget the windmills!

And those orange highway barrels. I still think that I-65 is the national storage location for these.

You already have a nemesis!

We're a friendly bunch at the DisDads and we like to share. That's why we all pick on Barry, 'cause Tim shares his toys.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Great update and fun pictures from both of you DIS dads.

Personally, I think West Virginia has the prettiest Welcome signs and the best welcome centers.

Funny picture of the "no attractions" sign.

Lunch sounds fabulous and what a great afternoon.

I have really enjoyed your trip. Are you heading home next? Beautiful pictures!

Welcome back Mary Ellen! We didn't get to see West Virginia's Welcome Center, so I guess we'll take your word for it.

We still have a couple of days left on the trip to re-cap. But we're definitely on the way back home...

Hi Mark, I wanted to let you know that although I didn't comment a lot (not at all?), I managed to read along and I am enjoying your family's trip very much. I had a kind of revelation: those baseball bats, my husband had already when I got to know him, and which I always wondered why he has them (because he never played baseball) - they are Lousiville slugger baseball bats! My DH has spent one year during high school in the USA, in Louisville, Kentucky. So now I know why he has those baseball bats and it was so interesting to read about everything you did and saw there. We want to travel to the USA together for ages, so far it didn't work out, and the only place that is definitely on the list of places we want to visit is of course Louisville.

So thank you very much! To you, Ms. Knowitall and the kids a very happy Christmas!

Thank you Katharina, and Merry Christmas to you and your family as well! I'm glad you're still reading along.

Your husband has a genuine Louisville Slugger! Very cool. You'd love the city, I think. I hope you can make the trip happen someday.

Speak up there sonny. I can't hear ya. Dang kids these days.

I gotta eat! So I can take my back pills.

And those orange highway barrels. I still think that I-65 is the national storage location for these.

Can't argue, based on what I saw.

We're a friendly bunch at the DisDads and we like to share. That's why we all pick on Barry, 'cause Tim shares his toys.

Plus, Barry takes all that abuse pretty well.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Well, I was going to post an update today, and after working on it off and on throughout the day, my browser suddenly closed out and I lost everything.

Guess I'll try again later...

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

Well, I was going to post an update today, and after working on it off and on throughout the day, my browser suddenly closed out and I lost everything.

Guess I'll try again later...

Wow, I guess it was pretty bad if your own computer didn't want to read it!