Springtime-- a visit to Five Guys Restaurant and other things.

Since winter was so mild it is hardly a surprise that spring is coming early this year.  I have seen some early flowers popping through the ground and our weeping willow in our backyard is a beautiful light green.  As much as I like winter....and I do, it feels good to have the temperatures hovering around 70 this week.   This is probably Virginia at its finest because the humidity has not shown up yet and the foliage will be making our state a garden of colors.

One of the best parts of spring is the arrival of the daffodils. They are such a beautiful flower and are among the first to bloom.  One of my favorite poems is "Daffodils" by William Wordsworth.  The last stanza is my favorite:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood

They flash upon that  inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude

And then my heart with pleasure fills

And dances with the daffodils

I am glad the flowers and flowering trees are here, but now........let's get started!

My visit to Culpeper County Hospital

While it is true that I once went to Culpeper Hospital when a friend accidentally shot himself in the leg (nope not Plaxico Burress), and another time when a guy from my church was pretty sick and I visited him, but to actually go for myself...it had not happened.  My visit was pretty benign since I just went to have some blood work done.  For going to a hospital, I had a good time...such nice and friendly people there. 

I stepped inside the door and there was RN Debbi Griffith who is listed as a "Case Manager and Patient Representative."  She, like everyone else I would meet in my visit was very friendly and welcoming.  It turns out that she has been employed at Culpeper Regional for the last 20 years!  I asked her about her family and she replied that she had married a "hometown boy" and that she had two kids.  I asked her what it was like working at this hospital and she responded, "We are like family here."

This is the receptionist who normally would be the first person you would meet if, as in my case,  Debbi was not there to say hi first.   This is Stephani Atkins, aka "Sensational Stephani"  so dubbed by the hospital president.  Although Stephani is a life long resident of Rappahanock County she qualifies as a "Face of Culpeper" because she comes to the hospital every day and so is present in the Pepper at least 8 hours a day.

Next I went to the check in station where I provided all of the pertinent personal and medical information that they needed.  I'll just bet that if I didn't like to talk so much, that this would have been a much faster process.  However, next up were these to shiny ladies and they were fun.  On the left is Carol who is an Administrative Registrar and has been at the hospital for four and a half years.  She lives in Facquier County and commutes here.  She has grown children.  On the right is Kayce (love that name) and she is an Admitting Registrar.  Whoopee! She lives in Culpeper!!!! She has two children and says that she loves helping people.

Finally I made it to the person I came to see.  This is Katrina Chapman and her name tag said that she is a "Phlebotomist."  She told me that her mom likes to ask her if that means that she messes with people's frontal brain lobe (in case you miss the joke....that procedure would be a frontal lobotomy and if you are not familiar with it then use Google).  She took my blood for me.  Now, I have had 15 surgeries so far in my life plus cancer and so I have had blood tests hundreds of times.  I am used to people having trouble hitting the vein or having to change arms etc.  Katrina did it perfectly and painlessly and on the first try.  She gets my vote.

MISCELLANEOUS

About a year ago I did one entire blog on people in the Pepper with tattoos.  It was one of the most interesting topics for me because I knew so little about it.  It is the second most read blog I have posted behind the one on Yowell Meadow Park which is somewhat of a phenomenon for  me.  The Yowell Meadow Park topic is still my most read blog most weeks although it is a least a year and a half old.

Anyway......I spotted Sarah Jahoda getting gas and got a picture of her and talked about her skin art.  I will be putting up a second tattoo blog before long and she will be in that one too.  She is an interesting lady who told me that she works seven days a week, mostly decorating cakes.  She told me that she is really a free spirit....I'll bet she is!

Some days I just feel lucky.  I wanted to get some additional pictures for this blog and was driving downtown and saw these two people loading some boxes into the Antioch Baptist Church.  It was lucky for me because I have driven past that church a hundred times and wondered about it.  I stopped to chat and learned that this church is over 150 years old (that makes it one of the oldest in town) and according to the brochure they gave me, was originally called, "The African Church."    The church has just named a new Pastor, Reverend Adrian D. Sledge  and this husband and wife team were moving in some new chairs.  They are Thelma and Robert Moss and have three children.  She is the Financial Clerk and he is a Trustee of the church.

This is Tim James and he works at CVS.  He is 18 years old and a student at Lord Fairfax.  He has lived the the Pepper for five years.  He is extremely efficient and polite and seems like a really nice guy.

FIVE GUYS RESTAURANT

OK.....I admit it, I LOVE FIVE GUYS!!!!  Their hamburgers are sooo good (voted best in Culpeper this year) and have you tried the hot dogs?  Those are both good, but it is the French Fries with vinegar that really does it for me.  These are not fries that are thawed and then served.  Nope they come fresh from the boxes of potatoe stacked by the counter and are cut and fried right on the premises.  You know what is unique about those boxes other than that they are full of Idaho potatoes?  It tells you right on the box which part of Idaho the potatoes being used that week are from.  I have mentioned several times before that I am an Idaho boy, so fresh Idaho potatoes are dude.  (I heard Randy Jackson and Will I Am on American Idol use "dude" that way.....if I have screwed it up then write it off to a guy who chose to retire in Culpeper.)

Behind the counter are Victor Rameriz who is the manager, Kelvin and Erika.  In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to tell you that my brother-in-law owns 25 or so Five Guys Restaurants in California, Idaho, Utah and Oklahoma.  You may not know that the headquarters of Five Guys is in Vienna, VA.  When he was thinking about becoming involved with Five Guys he and his partner came out and stayed with us one night.  We went to this very place and ate.

Here are a neat couple I met at Five Guys enjoying dinner.  They are Ali and James Hanson.  They were a lot of fun, but for about five minutes I could not get a single straight answer from Ali.   James had to come to my aid.  Just look at her and you can see a touch of devilishness there.  After a bit of conversation my head was spinning like Linda Blair's in The Exorcist.  However, once the truth came out I learned that Ali is in a Master's program in Special Education at Mary Washington and James is a Construction Superintendent.  Nice people.

These folks are also at Five Guys and attracted my attention for a couple of reason.  First, they are a group of very nice looking young people.  Second is that they are demonstrating the proper way to eat Five Guys hamburgers.  Note that each and everyone one is using the double fisted technique to hold their hamburger.  Eating at Five Guys is not for the faint of heart or the overly fastidious.  Notice the fries spilling out of the bag.....eating here is, well.... a bit messy, but oh so good.  From left these people are AnthonofTriano who works at Domino's; Chelsea Griffin who is a student at Germanna and works at Hollisters; and Jonathon Duffy who works at the Walmart Distribution Center.

NEW KIDS IN TOWN

OK...they are not so new.  They opened in December, but I did not happen upon them until just now.

I gave them my card and asked them to email me their names and additional info about their business which I believe is catering and a restaurant for New Orleans food.  They are located behind Chilis. When I get the information from them I will post it right here.

                                                  THE BIG FINISH

I have been wanting a picture of these two for a long time.  They are Wayne and Kathy Christensen and they are neighbors of mine.  Often when the weather is good, they sit on their front porch and he sings and plays for her.  It is very romantic and very fun that they do this and very sweet.  They are the best neighbors you could hope for.  I have mentioned here a number of times that I am originally from Boise, Idaho.  These guys lived about thirty miles from Boise before they moved here.  They even talk with the same accent (do we have one?) that we do and are also fans of Boise State football....notice the hat.

That is it for now.  If you want to contact me:

facesofculpeper@gmail.com

I have decided to occasionally add a bonus picture at the end that has nothing to do with the Faces of Culpeper.  This is the first.

My wife and I were visiting the  historical town of Nauvoo, Illinois when I saw these horses in a pasture near a restored farm house.  I loved the colors and the composition.

This is winter!!!!??????? Really??

This has been an unusual winter.  I should have known that I would offend the snow gods when I bought a bright and beautiful snow sled for my grandchildren to ride down the hill behind my house in September of 2010.  It is sort of like a snow board with lively and vivid artwork all over it.  It is going to be great for riding down that hill.... that is if we ever see snow again.  It has sat in my shed now for well over a year just waiting for an accumulation sufficient for a fast ride down the hill.  I spent the first twelve years of my life in Eastern Idaho.  It is cold there!  I understand the weather has mellowed some with time, but the snow would get high enough to bury stop signs.  The street in front of my house was packed so solidly with snow and ice that I remember seeing a "one horse open sleigh," bells and all, jingle through our neighborhood....an amazing and memorable sight!  We young boys would take our sleds and run out behind the slow moving cars and throw the ropes used to pull those sleds over the bumpers of the cars and then hang on for dear life.  The drivers would often tolerate us and give us a nice smooth ride or some would be angry and try to throw us off.  My grandmother lived in a town nearby and there they cordoned off three long blocks from traffic on the street running past her house so the kids could take a fantastic long ride on their sleighs.  Can you imagine.... three blocks?   It was a great time....in retrospect, almost magical.  Now the sleigh I purchased for my grand kids sits in my shed and the hill is nice and green.  Besides I like to wear coats and sweaters and scarfs and other winter gear.  Bummer!

As I have looked for winter shots for this blog, I have more often than not found pictures that looked like they were taken in spring or fall.  So I have to ask you to imagine that these people are in the freezing cold of winter, although the temperature is much more likely to have been in the 50s or 60s than the 30s.  Anyway.....................  let's go see who we have this time.

You meet the nicest people at Frost's Restaurant, a Culpeper landmark.  These folks are long time friends and just decided to have a nice day downtown.  Although it is near Christmas time you  can see by their clothes that it is pretty warm outside.  When I saw the camera on their table I knew I had an instant connection.  They were a lot of fun.  From left to right they are: Warren Stanley, Barbara Stanley, Debbie Hayes and Jim Hayes.   Nice folks!

I was in Cameleer waiting for my wife to complete some shopping and who do I see but Hannah and Mark.  I have to admit that I am a sucker for  a cute lady in a hat so I went over and had a conversation with them.  They are from England.....accent and all..... and are very charming and interesting people.  They have been here for fifteen months and Mark runs the soccer program for the county.

Dawn Lamb is enjoying her shopping in one of the stores in the downtown section of Culpeper.  She is a dental hygienist and her husband is a teacher.  What a great smile!!

Gwen Sadowski is starting a non profit organization to help children in poverty.  In addition to that endeavor, she is a mom.  Busy lady!

I have to admit that I saw this man from a long way away and just knew I had to get his picture.  It is extra fun when you find a person who is unique and Colin Olsen is certainly that. Colin grew up here in the Pepper and then moved to Ashville, North Carolina where he makes his living as a drummer in a rock n roll/soul band.  He had come back to Culpeper to see family and friends during the winter holiday.  I hope he makes it big.

Here are a couple of hard working guys who toil right on through the winter even though their work is mostly done outside.  They are Jack and Daniel of J&K Patios.  Jack is the "J" part of J&K.  He is truly amazing.  I am so impressed with his work.  He is part craftsman, engineer, architect and artist.  His work is beautiful.  He is a guy you just cannot miss with. 

One evening I was at one of my favorite spots, Pete's Pizza, waiting for a couple of Philly Cheese Steak subs (the very best, by the way) and this guy walked in with a couple of other, what I call, "working men."  I was pretty mad at myself because I did not have my camera and he is the kind of person I dream of getting a picture of for this blog.  About a week later my wife and I were picking up some drugs at the Walmart Pharmacy and there he was again.  I still did not have my camera with me, but it was in my car.  The only problem is that I always park clear up in the parking lot beyond any other cars and I was afraid he would be gone when I got back, but luckily he wasn't.  This guy, Brandon Gosney is the genuine article and I suspect a bit of a character.  He is also a dying breed.  I know there are other cowboys in the area, but I haven't seen any of them that really dress the part of the Old West.  He is a bit of an imposing figure.  With him is his girlfriend Angella Warner.  They train horses and he runs a horse rescue operation.  I think that is very cool.  I told them that to find a real cowboy and a pretty girl is about as good as it gets in the Pepper.

Have you ever gone to the grocery store to get milk?    Just to get milk.....that is all?  You think: "Do I need a cart?   Naw......"  We have all done it and that is exactly what happened to Laura here.  Then she remembered that she needed wine and then passed the deli and needed some meat and then some other dairy products.  Did you notice by any chance that she has a young daughter who is a doll and obviously very persuasive.  Do any of us think for a minute that mom here realized that she needed five different kinds of cereal and some flavored smoothies and I don't know what else?  Pretty soon I'll bet you she was longing for that cart (with a broken wheel...after all it is Walmart).  Soon she found herself juggling a bunch of stuff and heading for the checkout as fast as she could before one item started to slip and undid the whole delicate balance.  Is there anyone reading here who has not done this before.....ten times?  I try to be so considerate, but this was such a classic picture that I asked if  she would stop and let me shoot it.  She did although she wasn't totally sure what I was about.  What a sweetheart!!!!  She did tell me that she is a Head Start teacher?  That tells me a lot about who she is and what kind of person. 

January 27th, 2012 apparently the year of no winter.  I knew that it was going to be over 60 degrees and so headed out to see how people were dressed in this, the coldest season of the year, in the Pepper.  This is Allen Kennedy and his girlfriend Kailey and their son, Dacota.  Allen told me that he works at Mary Washington University in the pizza restaurant in the food section of the Student Union Building.  They certainly are not dressed for the coldest time of year. 

This man, Simon Parsons, just made my day.  I have been planning on putting this blog out and calling it  "The Winter That Never Was"  or something like that.  Check the top here and you will see what I decided.  I know that we may get blasted in February but so far the winter has been a big disappointment.  I was just sure that I would find someone on this day, January 27, who was out running in shorts and tshirt.  That would visually tell us everything about the "cold weather."  Just as I turned to go home, I spotted Simon and he made this blog complete.  What a nice guy!!  He is a graduate student at UVA in Education.  As I have so often have mentioned here, I spent 42 years in public education and so I am really hoping the best for him.

 

 

AND NOW FOR THE BIG FINISH........

The big finish this time concerns my wife, Andrea and me.  January 28th is our 45th wedding anniversary!!  I have been so lucky to have a wife who is pretty, smart, an outstanding person and who has put up with me.  So glad she's mine!

Christmas

It is the Christmas season and for my blog this month I am linking a Youtube presentation created by my daughter in law, Gabe using a song I wrote and sing along with beautiful artwork.   It is called, "On That First Christmas Day."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op1MhgKwpYU

Merry Christmas!!!

Best Season of All?....Maybe!

This is such a great time of year!  Now I admit that I am a sucker for good weather and seem to have a short memory when it comes to which season is my favorite.  Right now the weather is brisk and it is getting pretty darn cool at night. Last night it was in the 20s.  The trees are just past their fall prime, but all the leaves on the ground make it a wonderland.   It seems like a pretty great time of year.  As I have mentioned before, I grew up in Idaho and there are cold and long winters there.  It is a rare November that has not seen at least a couple of good snow storms out there.  So here I feel that the good weather that we often experience is just icing on my cake.  The last leaves are brilliant for a long time and we get to break out the sweaters and light jackets.   Sometimes it is hard to figure out what to wear because one minute it is nice and warm and then next minute you need a coat.  All of that being said, it is one of my favorite times of year and today I just might argue that it is my favorite time of the year....and that is true.... at least until my next favorite season rolls around.  I went looking for people to photograph on a couple of the really spectacular days.

Look who I ran into first.  Her name is Christina and she is working for Chili's making deliveries.  She is also a student at Germanna.  She told me that the dashboard on the van lit up saying that the tires were low and so she was taking care of business.   You just have to look at that smile to tell what kind of charmer she is.

Over and over I have said in this blog that you meet the most interesting people here in the Pepper, but let me say again that you really do meet the most interesting people in this town.  This is Dawn Frank and she saw me standing on the corner with my camera and with a big smile commented that it was a nice day for photography. She was right!  We chatted for a few minutes and I discovered that she is the head of the Audio Preservation Unit for the Library of Congress at Mount Pony.  Pretty cool, I think.  She noted that I might be amazed at how big the building is and that it goes waaaayyy back into the mountain.  She said there are seemingly endless hallways and that those hallways are lined with  vaults for the safe keeping of various documents and other historical treasures.  Notice that she is carrying paper bags.  She said that she had just bought a "Dinner for Two"  from the Farmer's Wife and that would be supper at her home.  I think Andrea and I are going to have to try that out.

This is the very hardest kind of picture to get and so I consider it a prize.  To approach any size group of men on the street is difficult because often they aren't interested no matter what it is you want.  Then they all have to look at each other and see if everybody wants in.  If just one guy says no then it is no deal and off they go. These guys went through that process and it was two to one and the third one folded.  These gentlemen work for Chrysler of Culpeper and were on their lunch break.  They are: Zach, Ron and Donny.  In a couple of months their picture will be in the Culpeper Times and they will be famous.  Thanks guys!

Next time you pass a group of men anywhere just test yourself and see if you would be willing to approach them about taking their picture.  Come on now.....don't be shy.

This is seven week old Baby Benjamin taking his mom and grandparents on a walk downtown.  They were the nicest people. I had them moving here and there so I could get a good shot and they never once.....not even for a second....quit smiling.  Then again, they have a lot to smile about.  Mom is Terry Hoffman and then there are Grandpa and Grandma Hoffman from Connecticut.  This was the weekend of the big surprise snow storm in New England when millions of people lost power.  Well, G&G Hoffman were among the millions and so they decided to hang with Benjamin just a little longer.   I am glad they did.

Last summer when my California grand kids were here, I took the two oldest boys bowling.  They are 7 and 9 years old.  We started out having a great time but pretty soon the seven year old got discouraged because he was having trouble getting the ball all the way down the lane and his score was a distant third.   I issued the challenge to him that I bet he could not beat me.  Now, those two boys are nothing if not competitive so  his spirit was renewed and he set out to really whip Grandpa.  I am not a whiz at bowling any more.....thirty years ago I was decent, but now....pitiful.  Even so it was not so easy to throw that game.  I had to put eight or so balls in the gutter in order to lose and I did.  I quickly saw why he had been so discouraged.  However, when the game was over, his big smile and fist pump when the score showed that he had beaten Grandpa,  was worth it all and more.

I have intended ever since to feature the Mountain Run Bowling Alley in my blog.  They were so good to my grandkids and to me.  This is Darien Anderson is a looong time resident of Culpeper and is owner of the establishment. 

I spotted Freddie a couple of hundred yards away and whipped my car around to go see what he was up to sitting on the back of his car.  I got out of my car and asked, "You waitin on a woman?"  He replied, "Yep!"  Brad Paisley has a great song with that title.   Everywhere I go I see men just hanging around waiting for a woman in their life whether a wife, or girlfriend, or daughter.  Freddie works at Martins and is a graduate of CCHS.

YOWELL MEADOW PARK REDUX

One of my favorite places in the Pepper is Yowell Meadow Park.  Often when I go for a walk there I take my camera because something or someone is always happening.  Of the 29 blogs that I have published, by far the most popular one is the feature I did on this park.  People from all over the world have read it and continue to.   The last time I went there with my camera was rather unique because I ran into several  friendly people who represent more of the international community and flavor of Culpeper.

When I got out of my car I immediately saw a group of men playing a game and doing a lot of laughing.  I decided to grab my camera and go over and talk with them.   I don't think I have ever run into a friendlier group of people than these guys.  These men are all from India and work for Telemark.  They were enjoying a game of cricket which I know almost nothing about so they took the time to explain.  In the top shot is Bruce who was the batsman at that moment.  The bowler (comparable to a baseball pitcher) is Mahi and he is in the middle of his windup.  I did not get the name of the last player, but I have emailed them for it and will post it as soon as I get a response.

 

Next I ran into Sam, Chioma and Pauline who were on their way to play tennis.  Sam is originally from Nigeria and Pauline from Liberia.  He is a corrections officer and she is in retailing.  They are considering moving here.  Hope they do!

These two attractive ladies were taking a walk in Yowell which was at its Fall finest.  I don't make this stuff up.....Gabriella on the left is from Hungary....that wraps up my international afternoon at Yowell Meadow Park.  She is a restaurant manager.  Her friend Stephanie is a local lady. 

I think possibly the greatest thing about this season is that in certain years we get to exercise our right to vote.  Our democratic system is what separates us from the rest of the world but it only works if people vote.   Former Deputy Sheriffs, John Grymes and Scott Manual worked for their candidate at the voting station for my neighborhood.  Their work paid off because he won.

AND NOW FOR THE BIG FINISH!

This is a picture taken by my son, Matt on Thanksgiving.  It is part of the Crowley family enjoying our day together at my brother's lake house at Lake Anna.  None of the grandchildren are in this picture which is too bad, but seating was such that it was not possible to get everyone.  A couple of things to note:  In the center of the table at this end, just beyond the sparkling cider is a massive pile of mashed potatoes.  I know I have mentioned we are originally from Idaho and here is the proof.  These are the real deal, Idaho potatoes.  The other part of the "note" is that when the meal was done....so were those potatoes.  There had been more on the stove but there was not even the tiniest scrap of potato left over. 

Is this the best time of year?  Well at least at times it is.  This is one of those times when my family could gather and express our thanks.  Hope you had a good season.

Be sure to watch for my weekly contribution to the Culpeper Times newspaper, "Rich Crowley's Snapshots of Culpeper." 

 

Fall is for....

It seems like the fall curtain dropped October 1st and things really cooled off, then a pretty warm period and now the best of all worlds.....the beautiful Virginia autumn.    I thought that we better record the change and note what things  people do in the fall in the Pepper. 

I thought that a kind of tender picture would be a good place to start.  So......Fall is for taking your great grandson to the Yowell Park.  Yep, I said great grandson!  Here we have Alexander and his great grandson Nate.  I thought that Alexander, like me, was a grandfather and though he is, he also is the great grandfather of this boy.  Alexander was born in the Pepper and then went to Maryland for 35 years where he worked as an engineer and electrician and finally a trainer of race horses.  He has retired from all of those things and moved back here.  Now he uses some of his time with Nate.  Pretty cool.  Note that Nate, who is all boy, has a large goose feather in his hands and his great grandpop has a small one.  These two are obviously close.  

Fall is for flu shots.  My wife Andrea needed a flu shot so when we were at Walmart she agreed to let me take a picture of her getting it.  Now, to defend myself as a photographer, I carefully put the flu shot sign right between the two women.  However, when the nurse started giving the shot, she covered it up with her arms.  I didn't think that Andrea would want that flu shot twice so I just sort of rolled with it.  The RN is Pamela Davis and she moved here in September. Previously she had lived in Delaware.  It is nice to have her here.

In the fall the downtown area comes to life with decorations.  Corn stalks and corn dolls proliferate on the sidewalks.  Here  are the decorations of Pepperberries and Frost's Cafe.

The pumpkin patch in front of  K&M Lawn and Garden Equipment on the corner of Rte 29 and Ira Hoffman really brightens the area. The colors are brilliant!

Here are Kevin and Tanya who have lived here the past three years.  They have got a mum and some pumpkins to take home to their two daughters.  He works for Moen.

Hang on to your hat!!! This is Jim Cavi representing his Lakeside Caterers....and yup that is one whole roasted pig!!  Actually he explained the process to me and it really is a "smoked" pig.  He was selling pork sandwiches and other things near the pumpkins.  Yummy!  Oh!  That is John Payne in the background.

What is the fall without beautiful leaves, pumpkins for carving and mums?  I found Kim Carter and her son Alex among the mums at Meadows Farm.  That's not really where I found them, but I did ask them to walk over to the mum area so I could take a more interesting picture.  Who wants a picture of just mums?  Not me.....especially for a blog called, "Faces of Culpeper."  Kim is a 7th and 8th grade math teacher in Fauquier County although she resides here in the Pepper.  She and Alex were great sports to let me photograph them.  Nice picture, don't you think?

And speaking of mums.......I found the lovely Betsy Sexton in the street watering the mums for sale at Clarke's Hardware.  Betsy like many others, is a recent addition to the Pepper.  She moved here from Pennsylvania last February and.....she likes it here!

I have been planning on doing a blog on soccer and football moms and dads....so Saturday I headed over to the fields near Eastern View High Schools.  Since we have had so much rain recently the officials had decided that the fields needed time to recover and cancelled all of the games for that day.  That was a bummer because I had cleared the time to go spend an hour there.  The parking lot was empty except for one truck and the owner was nearby working.  I went over and met him.  His name is Jonathon Jarvis and he owns JMJ Contracting.  He was taking advantage of the down time on the fields to work on the multi purpose building.  He is a native of Culpeper and seemed like a really good guy!

Sometimes I find something that is much better than what I was looking for.  This is one of those cases.  I had stopped to go into a restaurant to see if there was anything interesting going on there.  Before I went in I noticed that there were a couple of places that I had not noticed before.  The first one (and last one) was Croftburn Market.  It is so very very cool.  It features meat prepared on the premises like All-Natural Black Angus Beef  and a variety of sausages and "Charcuterie."  I had to look that last one up, but it is special and I have not run into it before.  Be sure to Google it.  A big plus is that the staff is so friendly and attractive....at least the women.  I cannot speak for the men.  This is a place you need to visit.  They served me a slice of rum cake and it was beyond delicious.  I need to stop this or the Culpeper Times will ask me to start reviewing restaurants. The staff from left to right is:  Kelly Wilton who recently moved here from Holland.  That is correct....Holland!;   Then Heather Holliday who moved here from New York; Andrew Campbell, owner; and Doug Higgins who is a customer. 

I had gone with my son's family and wife to the pumpkin patch on the corner of 29 and Ira Hoffman last Monday and found Johanna Scott with her kids at the Moon Bounce and slide there.  One of her daughters has the same birthday as one of my granddaughters.  As my wife and I chatted with her we learned that she is a school counselor and her husband is a school teacher.   Talk about a connection!  If you have followed me at all you know that I was the Coordinator for all School Counseling K-12 in Fairfax County.  It was very cool to meet someone in my profession.

Sometimes an event  that seems to be a problem can take an interesting turn and yield unexpected positive results.  I underwent some pretty difficult eye surgery this summer that turned out well, but the one negative was that I had to give up my contacts and switch to glasses.  The positive result turned out to be that I had the opportunity to make a whole bunch of new friends.  I went to America's Best Contacts and Eyeglasses  to buy my new glasses and met the friendliest and most fun group of women there!  They all learned my name right away and my subsequent visits were like gatherings with old pals.  Unfortunately I never got there when the entire staff was working and so a couple of my favorite people are omitted from this picture.  I have to think of a way to make that up to them.  Anyway.....if you have any needs in this area, America's Best is the place to go.  It is located next to Blockbuster.  This bevy from left to right includes:   Danni, Ramilyn, LaTisha, Sandra and Brittany.

This young lady was a pleasant surprise.  As you can see from her shirt, she is employed at Popeyes.  Shamari Roddy came to the Pepper from Grand Rapids, Michigan to help her grandmother who was ill.  With her bright clothes and all of the color around the restaurant, she just jumped out at me.  She looks so good in that outfit and is so pretty that it seems to me that she could be the national spokesperson for Popeyes.

AND NOW FOR THE BIG FINISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bought a new car!!!   Ok, Ok......so it is almost exactly like the last one, but I love it.  It is a brand new Nissan Maxima and it is hot, hot, hot!   After flirting around with the idea of buying a Buick Lacrosse I decided not to mess with success.  You are looking at one happy man. 

That's it for now.  If you have comments, questions or suggestions, my email is:

facesofculpeper@gmail.com

Be sure to watch for Rich Crowley's Snaphots of Culpeper weekly in the Culpeper Times.