Jet Lag

Our flying experience started out a bit rough, with Andy being "randomly" chosen for a security inspection. It was a bit of an inconvenience, but it provided Victor, Kala, and Kismet with some well needed entertainment, so we're not complaining. After an overnight flight (through which Kismet slept like an angel, mostly) and a three hour layover (through which Kismet did not sleep like an angel), we have finally arrived in Virginia. We could tell, because the first smell that greeted us as we left the airport and entered the heavy, humid air (another indicator of our locale), was the smell of pipe tobacco. However, the very next thing we all noticed was the lush, green forest that surrounds us everywhere. A desert dweller by birth, Kala keeps expecting to turn a corner and find us "out in the open," but here there really is no "open." We are completely enveloped by verdant splendor, and we're loving it!

Upon checking in at the Quarterpath Inn, we realized that none of us had had a proper meal since last night, and we paid a visit to Andy's favorite restaurant here, Peking, an enormous Mongolian, Chinese, and Japanese buffet, with a noodle bar featuring noodles from all over eastern Asia. Andy was thrilled to be back in the land of real egg rolls, Kala enjoyed a hearty bowl of Mongolian barbecue, and Victor sampled lots of new and exciting items. He was thrilled to try and enjoy sushi, after Kala admitted that, while it seems to be cool to eat sushi these days, she just doesn't like it. Kismet loved the sweet potato, and as usual, spent most of her time charming our waitress (who still remembered Andy four years after he stopped being a regular customer) and anybody else she saw.

Following our delicious breakfast/lunch/dinner (with jet lag, who can tell?), we stopped in at the Comic Cubicle, our friend Mark's comic book store. We were delighted to meet his wife and see his new store, while Victor bounced from one display to another, like a kid in a...well, a comic book store! Victor is a big fan of Japanese anime, and was absolutely in heaven at the Comic Cubicle. He left wearing a big smile and carrying a lot of new reading material, which we're sure will last him...well, knowing him, about an afternoon!

After a fun day of dining, visiting a good friend, and doing some necessary shopping, we returned to the Inn to rest for the evening and to share the day's events with you. Tomorrow, we will venture out to Jamestown before catching up with our good friend Vicki for dinner. See you then!