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What makes the difference between surviving and thriving during a 200-mile ultra journey? For five back-of-the-pack runners at the 2025 Swammie Shuffle 200, the answer emerged organically when they formed what they affectionately dubbed "the Party Pack." This episode pulls back the curtain on an unforgettable adventure along North Carolina's Outer Banks (#OBX), where the collective energy of the group transformed individual suffering into shared triumph. Richard Gleave hosts fellow Party Pack members Stephanie Fonda, Lisa McFadden, Elizabeth Mohan and Mike Edwards as they recount their experiences tackling this challenging 220-mile journey run from Sandbridge, Virginia to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and back.The conversation weaves through the unique challenges of winter ultrarunning on the Outer Banks – navigating long beach stretches, timing food stops when most businesses are closed, and dodging traffic on narrow highway shoulders. What emerges is a masterclass in the psychological advantage of group dynamics during extreme endurance events. As Lisa reflects, "I don't race races, I just participate" – a sentiment that perfectly captures the spirit of this back-of-the-pack adventure.Beyond physical challenges, the group shares surprisingly humorous moments: Mike doing laundry at a KOA in a Hanes t-shirt and undies, Stephanie's excitement at finding what appeared to be $700 (which turned out to be movie prop money), and the collective obsession with securing the elusive Duck Donuts. These light-hearted stories punctuate deeper reflections on why people run such extreme distances, including connections to veterans' causes and personal redemption.Whether you're contemplating your first ultra or already have hundreds of miles under your belt, this conversation offers invaluable insights into the power of companionship during endurance challenges. Sometimes the magic of ultrarunning happens not at the front of the pack, but among those who choose to journey together, making the impossible feel achievable through shared determination and unexpected friendship.Swammie Shuffle 200:https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=114996Cape Fear 24hr:https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=112156Choose to Endure:Email:info@choosetoendure.comWebsite:https://www.choosetoendure.com/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ChoosetoEndureInstagram:https://instagram.com/choose_to_endure?utm_source=qr Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552757049526
Have you ever wondered where the relaxing sounds you listen to come from? When you take this Journey of Relaxation with me you will know exactly where and when it was recorded.These relaxing sounds are coming to you from Sandbridge Beach on March 4, 2022 10:00 am.New intro Support the showTake a moment to find the beauty of nature every day,Duchess of the DunesTikTokFacebookYouTube
With over a decade's worth of experience in the hair-care industry, entrepreneur Shelby Wild is now venturing into the mass hair-care space. In July 2023, Wild unveiled California Naturals, a clean hair-care brand that launched direct-to-consumer and with exclusive distribution at Target. Compared to her previous hair-care brand, Playa, Wild is taking a different approach to hair care by zeroing in on more affordable but still effective products. Currently, all of California Naturals products are priced under $10. According to previous Glossy reporting, prior to launching California Naturals, Wild raised $4 million from consumer investors L Catterton, Sandbridge, Midnight Venture Partners and Elizabeth Street Ventures. Investors Eric Ryan and Roth Martin also contributed to the brand's funding round. Though California Naturals, with its accessible price point, may target a different consumer, the core of why Wild got into hair care in the first place remains. "Most of what I did at Playa informed California Naturals. I always knew that I wanted to create a mass market iteration of Playa," Wild said on the latest episode of the Glossy Beauty Podcast. "I grew up in the South ... and we weren't a high-income family. So for me, throughout my childhood, product development and product discovery was happening on the shelves of Target, CVS and Walmart. It wasn't happening in Sephora or Ulta. While I was creating these prestige products [at Playa], I was also seeing and hearing the feedback — not only from our own customer service channels, but also from my peers at home — that the price point was just too high." As California Naturals approaches its first anniversary, Wild said a few exciting things coming down the pipeline. For starters, the brand tapped pro-skater Tony Hawke, who also serves as the chief culture officer, to create a new fragrance for the brand set to launch this month. A-list actor Owen Wilson also joined the brand and will be a major part of the product development side of the business as well as future marketing campaigns. And in February, California Naturals is set to launch moisture shampoo and conditioner, which was mostly driven by the brand's community and audience. On this week's episode of the Glossy Beauty Podcast, Wild talked about the reason she launched a second brand and the differences between mass and prestige.
Avangrid Renewables wants to run transmission cables from the farm through the neighborhood.
Amy Errett is the founder & CEO of Madison Reed, a hair color brand that sells direct-to-consumer and offline through third-party retail stores like Ulta and through over 50 of their own hair color bars around the U.S. They have raised over $200M in venture capital including most recently from Sandbridge and Marcy Venture Partners, Jay Z's venture firm. Amy Errett is a partner at True Ventures and prior to founding Madison Reed was a general partner at Maveron, a consumer fund founded by Dan Levitan and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz in 1998.
This week on the podcast we had the opportunity to talk to Tim Cafferty founder of Outer Banks Blue and Sandbridge Blue also the host of Sarah and t podcast. He talks about how he got into Real estate, the ins and out of short term rentals property management. So much information I have never heard before about airbnb, laws , regulations, and how to avoid issues while managing rentals. Make sure if you invest in short term rentals you check out this episode!! You wont regret it FOR MORE INFO ABOUT US CHECK OUT https://linktr.ee/Wynningteam757 OUTER BANKS BLUE SANDBRIDGE BLUE https://www.sandbridgevacationrentals.com/ *****DISCLAIMER**** I AM NOT A CPA, ATTORNEY, INSURANCE, CONTRACTOR, LENDER, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR. THE CONTENT IN THESE VIDEOS SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS TAX, LEGAL,INSURANCE, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING, HEALTH OR SAFETY, ELECTRICAL, FINANCIAL ADVICE, OR OTHER AND MAY BE OUTDATED OR INACCURATE; IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO VERIFY ALL INFORMATION YOURSELF. THIS IS A PODCAST AND YOUTUBE VIDEO FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY
The Lion's Edge usually publishes new episodes on Thursday, but I just couldn't wait one more day to talk about college football. I was on vacation last week, trudging around the Sandbridge sand with my girlfriend's family. And as the week went on, my CFB anxiety was hitting all-time highs. When I got back on Saturday, I immediately called up Colby Dant from the College Football Experience -- part of the Sports Gambling Podcast Network -- for some desperately needed CFB medication. Here's our extended conversation, with several actionable highlights, including: betting the Kansas Over win total; Will Anderson to Win the Heisman +2000; all things New Mexico State; plenty of NC State slander. (Go Pirates?) Lots of Week Zero action here, too! That, and so much more, on this week's extra-long episode of The Lion's Edge. Airhorn: Heading to WTA Cleveland, where top-seeded Barbora Krejcikova is a noticeable first-round dog. Make sure to read our team's content on BetMGM's blog, The Roar: https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/ You can view the college football betting page here: https://sports.betmgm.com/en/sports/football-11/betting/usa-9/college-football-211 Social media links: Lion's Edge Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheLionsEdge Lion's Edge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelionsedge/ Lion's Edge TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lionsedgepod
This week on STV, Brad calls in remotely from Sandbridge while fishing on vacation. Ryan is excited to be leaving for Hawaii shortly. Corey and Jim have been busy as beavers clearing out land to make a motocross track for Corey's recent purchase. Will is planning a trip out to Baja to do some riding.
The planned extension, a second route out of Sandbridge, cuts through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Virginia Beach might pass a law to restrict fishing in one of its parks. A local club wants the city to pump the brakes so it can review it.
This week on the podcast we had the opportunity to talk to Tim Cafferty founder of Outer Banks Blue and Sandbridge Blue also the host of Sarah and t podcast. He talks about how he got into Real estate, the ins and out of short term rentals property management. So much information I have never heard before about airbnb, laws , regulations, and how to avoid issues while managing rentals. Make sure if you invest in short term rentals you check out this episode!! You wont regret itFOR MORE INFO ABOUT US CHECK OUT https://linktr.ee/Wynningteam757OUTER BANKS BLUE https://www.instagram.com/kimpimento_realtor/?hl=enSANDBRIDGE BLUE https://www.sandbridgevacationrentals.com/FEATURING: Tim Cafferty Host: Tyler Wynn ( https://linktr.ee/Wynningteam757 )Cohost: Kim Pimento ( https://www.instagram.com/kimpimento_realtor/?hl=en ) MUSIC BY: King Reynard ( https://www.instagram.com/kingreynard11/?hl=en )Special Thank you to Kim Pimento this will be her last episode as a CoHost on the show! She will be the managing broker for Rose and Womble Greenbrier!*****DISCLAIMER****I AM NOT A CPA, ATTORNEY, INSURANCE, CONTRACTOR, LENDER, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR. THE CONTENT IN THESE VIDEOS SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS TAX, LEGAL,INSURANCE, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING, HEALTH OR SAFETY, ELECTRICAL, FINANCIAL ADVICE, OR OTHER AND MAY BE OUTDATED OR INACCURATE; IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO VERIFY ALL INFORMATION YOURSELF. THIS IS A PODCAST AND YOUTUBE VIDEO FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY
Nestled in the southeastern corner of Virginia, Virginia Beach is a premier destination for birding and assorted outdoor adventures. Host Kelly Ball chats with Kelli Norman, director of tourism & sales at Visit Virginia Beach, about the three types of beaches—Chesapeake Bay; Atlantic Ocean; and Sandbridge—that make this a unique and birdy locale. Then Brandon Holland, secretary of Virginia Beach's Audubon chapter, breaks down the area's target bird species and shares his pick for the ideal time to bird Virginia Beach. Brandon encourages anybody who might like a birdy beach break during winter to consider attending the Winter Wildlife Festival, scheduled for January 28-30, 2022. To help visitors plan a trip packed with year-round outdoor adventure opportunities, check out Virginia Beach's Get Outdoors Pass. This mobile-exclusive passport is a collection of curated attractions, tour operators, rentals, and more, offering deals and discounts to redeem during your visit. This episode is sponsored by Visit Virginia Beach.
Jodi Newland, Executive Director of Daniel’s Grace Charitable Foundation sits with Patricia and Ashley to discuss why she created the foundation, and how it is helping cancer patients.After being diagnosed with terminal colon cancer, and receiving help from people around the country, her husband, Daniel Burns, realized how important it is to help others and not always put yourself first. This weighed heavily on him, as he knew he would never be able to repay the kindness he’d received.After Daniel passed, Jodi decided to take steps to honor his last wishes, and created Daniel’s Grace Charitable Foundation.Daniel’s Grace Charitable Foundation helps with the financial struggles that families quite often face when dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Most people don‘t realize that 40% of dread winners lose their entire life’s savings during the first two years of battling cancer. When the family loses their bread winner’s ability to earn, the battles become much more difficult.Through a social worker, or nurse navigator, patients can apply to the foundation. The foundation then helps identify the family’s greatest financial needs ie: rent, utilities etc, and aids the family in bridging the gap.Beyond the financial help, Daniel’s Grace Charitable Foundation supports the emotional aspect of this disease. Through the Little Red Mailbox, people can spread messages of hope and support. This special, red mailbox is located in Little Island Park in Sandbridge, and is open to anyone wanting to lend support or needing to receive or positive messages. There is also a journal in the mailbox where people can write about experiences for others to read.Daniel’s Grace Foundation also sponsors events such as the Concert for Cancer and the Annual Roast on the River. For More Information:danielsgrace.orgFacebook: danielsgracevaInstagram: danielsgracefoundationTo watch this week’s entire episode of Living 757, click here!And if you would like to see someone featured on the show, please send a message to Share@Living757.com and you may just see them here soon!
“We hear a lot about how bad things are in the world. So when you go out and see things that are still happening - the birds are still singing and these little creatures are still out here running around - it gives you the strength to keep going and, also, it gives you a lot of joy.” - Donna Shaunesey Today’s guest, Donna Shaunesey, has been kayak camping and backpacking on her own for over thirty years. Her solo, multi-day trips on Virginia’s rivers, marshes, and swamps have brought her closer to nature AND resulted in some close encounters with wildlife. Donna shares stories of her journeys as well as tips for planning your own overnight adventure. Let’s Go! Mentioned: Rivanna River, Charlottesville https://www.visitcharlottesville.org/listing/rivanna-river/670/ James River State Park, Gladstone https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/james-river False Cape State Park, Virginia Beach https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/false-cape Bivy Sack https://www.theadventurejunkies.com/best-bivy-sack/ Good To Go Dehydrated Foods https://goodto-go.com/# Head Net https://www.rei.com/search?q=head+net Little Island City Park, Sandbridge https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/parks-trails/city-parks/Pages/little-island-park.aspx Merchants Millpond State Park, North Carolina https://www.ncparks.gov/merchants-millpond-state-park/home Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Suffolk https://www.fws.gov/refuge/great_dismal_swamp/ Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area, Charles City https://dwr.virginia.gov/wma/chickahominy/ Saint Mary’s Wilderness, Steele’s Tavern https://www.virginia.org/listings/OutdoorsAndSports/SaintMarysWilderness/ Appomattox River Company, Farmville https://paddleva.com/ High Tor Gear Exchange, Charlottesville https://www.hightorgearexchange.com/ Follow VAOA Podcast: Virginia Outdoor Adventures Website: https://www.virginiaoutdooradventures.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VAOAPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginia_outdoor_adventures/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/VAOAPodcast
If you are ready to hit the beach, head to Virginia Beach, where there is something for everyone. This week we chat with Brianna Simmons, from The Casual Travelist, about her hometown of Virginia Beach and all it has to offer families. ON THE PODCAST 00:30 - Talking with Kim and Tamara about the beach 06:20 - Tamara’s upcoming trip 12:20 - Talking with Brianna 14:25 - How Virginia is doing with Covid-19 15:57 - Different sections of the beach 18:06 - Hotel vs. Beach House 19:45 - Activities 22:29 - Favorite Restaurants 24:40 - When to go 25:36 - Where Brianna wants to go next 26:48 - Brianna’s Favorite Travel Gear 28:20 - Coming up Next ABOUT BRIANNA SIMMONS Brianna Simmons is a travel blogger at the Casual Travelist where she balances her love for travel with a full time career as a physical therapist. Whether you’re getting away for 2 days or 2 weeks she aims to show you how to make the most of your vacation days. Follow Brianna on Facebook and Instagram. TIPS FOR VISITING VIRGINIA BEACH Virginia Beach has a beach experience for just about everyone. The main area is a resort area, which has a three-mile long boardwalk, making it a very family-friendly place to visit. During the summer they usually have music acts and a lot of other activities going on. This is also the area where you can find most of the hotels. If you are looking for a place quiet, you can always visit the Chesapeake Bay area, which is great and has calmer waters. Sandbridge is another area that is relaxing, located at the very northern tip on the Outer Banks. Depending on how long you are staying and where, renting a beach house is a great way to vacation at Virginia Beach. Going to the beach may be the main reason why you are visiting the area but there are definitely some other activities that you can do on your trip. For instance there is a really great Aquarium that also offers dolphin wildlife cruises during the summer months. They also offer whale watching cruises during the winter months. If you want to stay outdoors there are some different state parks you can explore and even camp if you are feeling adventurous. In Chesapeake Bay there is First Landing State Park that has some great wooded or water trails and also offers some camping areas. Around Sandbridge there is False Cape State Park, but you will have to hike or bike there since you can not drive to the park. Holiday weekends are usually very busy. Make sure to check the weather when you are planning your trip, as the days get closer you want to prepare yourself if it ends up being rainy. Being that the beach is on the East Coast you want to keep in mind the chance of hurricanes. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Brianna loves to wear her comfortable clothes, which includes a pair of leggings from American Giant paired with a Marine Layer t-shirt. As another layer she loves to wear her Daisy Wrap from Eddie Bauer that goes with everything. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST Where to Eat in Virginia Beach Beach Packing List - Stuffed Suitcase Hilton Garden Inn - Virginia Beach The Cavalier Hotel Virginia Aquarium Commune Restaurant Bay Local Eatery Lolly’s Creamery Casual Foodist FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play and leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email at podcast@vacationmavens.com. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcase and We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for listening!
This week's Sonic Campfire has the flames put out by The Current. The guys were so busy the past week, the current had to roll into part 2. This time we hear about Will's trip Smoke Hole WV, and Ryan and Brad take a beach trip Virginia. Check it out!! For more In The Currents go to https://rutandriverpursuits.com/ Instagram: @rutandriverpursuits
When you look in the mirror you see something, you see someone, but do you know who they are? Do you know their passions and their purposes? Do you see the true beauty of all they were intended to be? Or are there masks, facades, titles, messes, cracks, lies, addictions, enmeshments that are holding you back from the real you? Today's episode, with guest speaker, Pastor Anthony Hart, has you self-reflecting not by condemnation but by concentration and challenge. He takes what the world would deem dirty and he helps you realize that it doesn't matter what others expectations are, it doesn't matter what others call you or need you to be, it matters who you are called to be. And in the end, no matter what, we're all called to love and it starts with the mirror or self-love. Don't let addictions, stuff, fear, or relationships block you from seeing yourself clearly. It's time to identify who you are - own it - walk into it with confidence - and be just that - You! If you're interested in learning more about Pastor Anthonys ministry check out https://www.facebook.com/thesession757/ If you enjoyed this clip, this is just a taste of the type of authentic conversations and experiences we will share and dive deep within at the Retreat coming up in October in Sandbridge! You won't want to miss the opportunity to unlock your wholeness - mind, body and soul! Plus, we all need some laugh til you cry convos and true rest! Early Bird Specials are still live! www.fitinfaith.co/wholeness-retreat It would be a great honor to hear directly from you! If you'd tag me at @fit__in__faith or #fitinfaithpodcast or even personally message me on Instagram - I would be thrilled to get to know you as a listener and friend! Also, if you're looking to have a guest speaker, podcaster, or coach at your next event - please contact me - https://www.fitinfaith.co/speak-out As always - Cheers to your Health, Happiness and Wholeness Connect with me, Tamra Andress - The Fit in Faith Podcast Host! I'd love to get to know you. https://www.facebook.com/tamraleighandress/ https://www.instagram.com/tamra.andress/ https://www.instagram.com/fitinfaith_podcast/ https://www.pinterest.com/Tamra_Andress/ www.tamraandress.com Tag #fitinfaithpodcast or @tamra.andress Until next time…Prayers towards your joy, health, wealth and wholeness
This Week in Mal’s World, Mal Vincent talks about meeting Noel Langley who wrote the screenplay for “The Wizard of Oz” and who escaped to peaceful Sandbridge to avoid the Hollywood swells. “The Wizard of Oz” comes to Norfolk this Friday, Feb. 15 for four performances through Sunday at Chrysler Hall. Tickets and show information are available at https://www.sevenvenues.com/events/detail/wizard-of-oz.
Sarah and T - The professional Vacation Rental Manager's Podcast
In this Episode our two intrepid vacation rental managers interview Toby Babich of Breckenridge Resort Managers who has formed his company around making sure his employees feel valued, which in turn translates into his guests getting outstanding service. Listen to this VRMA board member, community leader, and mayor of his town puts his personality into his business. In the rapid fire round we hear about Kool and The Gang, and in the News Segment there is big news from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission
"Flash Fiction: “Papagena” by Jay lake and Ruth Nestvold ("Tales of the Rose Knights" #8, originally published in Daily Science Fiction.) Papagena was born on the Borderlands, between the sere landscape of the south and the orange plains to the north, a child of two homes, and when she chose to become a Rose Knight, her allegiance was to the plains as well as the desert, to the fertile land of Osverio as well as the harsher but warmer beauty of the Desertlands. She did not wear only one color. Some said her loyalties were divided, but she was true to both, orange and yellow, fighting with an ancient heart for both armies, giving the strength of her sword arm when the orange knights went to battle and the strength of her shield when the yellow knights needed to defend Sandbridge from intruders. As with all of the Rose Knights about whom the tales are told, Papagena was her own agent, free to go where she would and fight with whom she chose, living off booty and the pay from the campaigns in which she... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Flash Fiction: “Papagena” by Jay lake and Ruth Nestvold ("Tales of the Rose Knights" #8, originally published in Daily Science Fiction.) Papagena was born on the Borderlands, between the sere landscape of the south and the orange plains to the north, a child of two homes, and when she chose to become a Rose Knight, her allegiance was to the plains as well as the desert, to the fertile land of Osverio as well as the harsher but warmer beauty of the Desertlands. She did not wear only one color. Some said her loyalties were divided, but she was true to both, orange and yellow, fighting with an ancient heart for both armies, giving the strength of her sword arm when the orange knights went to battle and the strength of her shield when the yellow knights needed to defend Sandbridge from intruders. As with all of the Rose Knights about whom the tales are told, Papagena was her own agent, free to go where she would and fight with whom she chose, living off booty and the pay from the campaigns in which she... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Show Notes In which we talk about how watching companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook try to “pivot”—that is, attempting (and usually failing) to do something outside their core areas of competency—highlights the difficulty of institutional change in general. We apply this idea to everything from the strengths and weaknesses of different Christian denominations to the way structural change occurs in the government. A few explanatory comments: Yes, we’re fully aware that the PCA (of which Stephen is a member) has lots of missionaries on the field, and that Southern Baptists’ views on alcohol are a great deal more complicated than just generic grumpiness. But those details are less important to the particular discussion we were having today. “The most open of [the Creative Commons licenses]” (from when Stephen’s mind blanked trying to refer to it at the end of the show) is the Attribution 4.0 license. Read more about it here. Chapters Intro (1:32) Tech Companies (1:32–8:16) Denominations Don’t Change Fast Either (8:16–14:26) Dealing in Institutional Realities (14:26–23:06) Conclusion (23:06–24:24) Music “Sandbridge”, from Places, by Brittany Jean and Will Copps. Used by permission. “Winning Slowly Theme”, by Chris Krycho. Used because it’s awesome! (You know it’s true.) Links Things we mentioned in the show—news, books, articles, etc. Report: Google to end forced G+ integration, drastically cut division resources (from Ars Technica) Facebook buying Oculus VR for $2 billion (from The Verge) Apple reportedly nearing $3.2B acquisition of Beats Electronics (from Apple Insider) Culture Making, Andy Crouch To Change the World, James Davison Hunter
Listen here, or read below...Part IMusic is cut like a grid of urban streets – connected, unmoving, and planned by researchers who study the past and future practices. Why is this when mountains and rivers are cut and shaped at random, never to duplicate. Somehow they all fit together in one giant sphere while interacting, colliding, conducting science experiments on each other constantly for those who choose to observe. Non-stop Chemical reactions; wreaking havoc, all the while perpetuating serenity and perfection; and life for all will continue, so long as the law of conservation applies.Rappahannock, Blue Ridge, Northern Neck, Appalachian, Accotink, Mount Vernon, Luray Caverns Chincoteague, Sandbridge, Great Falls, nor-easter, Hurricane Sandy, T-Storms, that big river that runs through the capitol and out to the Atlantic. And so, “The Sun Also Rises.”Part IIYour spring Saturdays were spent pulling sheets of plastic over thick metal wires that arched over beds of sweet potato plants in need of incubation. You had to wrap your fingers around it, digging your knuckles into the wet sand that stuck on its surface, because the plastic created a giant sail against the stormy wind that wanted to lift up with the work you already completed. You had to hold tight, keep it down low, and sandwich it between the ground and a thirty pound sandbag to secure it.Summers were spent walking up and down the rows of plants in the hundred degree heat looking for weeds to pull. Once in a while, if your older brother was able to get out of going to the farm with an excuse of having a church, school, or scout activity, you would be in charge of managing the irrigation. You learned how to bleed water into the furrows by starting hand-pumped siphon pipes that curved over the side-mounds of irrigation ditches they drew from. While you waited for the water to flood the length of the field so you could move the pipes to the next set of rows, you could take a nap in the shade of the large wheel on the tractor. Or if the plant canopy was wide enough, you could lay down just underneath the leaves in a dry furrow until the alarm you set on your watch went off.After harvest, the crop would be taken to the packing shed, where there wasn't much for you to do except watch the workers sort the produce, listen to the holiday music playing over loudspeakers, and stay out of the swerving forklift's way. The railroad tracks ran behind the facility, and you and your brothers would find pennies in the ashtray of your father's truck, lay them across the track, and scour the surrounding rocks trying to find the flattened coins after the train, blasting its horn, rolled over them. At the end of the week, a few large wooden bins filled with sweet potatoes, too small or blemished for the market and not spoiled enough for livestock feed, would be loaded into the bed of your father's truck for delivery to church on Sunday. After the services, families would crowd around the truck and fill their bags with as many sweet potatoes as possible, shake your hand, thank you and your family, and for weeks to come, tell you how delicious they were.Some consider Fresno the heart of agriculture in California, midway of four hundred miles between the metropolises, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and hugged by giant Sequoias to the east and the salty-cold Pacific beaches. Growing up in a farming family, you used to think you wanted your future to have nothing to do with agriculture. Sometimes when you are sitting at a desk in a cubicle, staring at a computer screen, you want go back.Part IIIWhen you finally went back to visit your hometown you couldn’t help but feel disconnected, and the way things were made less sense to you than they did when you lived there.For example: You planned to meet a colleague for coffee at 7:30 a.m. at a place across town from where you were staying. As a dedicated pedestrian you decided you would put what you remembered as an often trampled bus system to use. In your twenties you bicycled the same distance in less than an hour, and could easily drive it in ten minutes. You figured if you left your host’s house by 6:30 a.m., you should make it on time. Good thing you examined the bus system’s website the night before. The closest stop operating that early in the morning was three miles away, and the schedule’s timetable said it would take an hour to get across town.So you got up early and left at 5:15 a.m., jogged the first half of the distance to the bus stop, and walked the rest of the way, getting there ten minutes early. You were the first passenger to board the public limousine, and as you climbed the red carpet steps you made eye contact and solemnly exchanged “hellos” with the driver and dropped your exact dollar-twenty-five fare in the mounted mechanical piggy-bank. About ten other passengers were collected through the duration of the trip from different stops, where the driver was presumably ahead of schedule because after the passengers boarded, he would pull out the sports section of the local rag and read in three to four minute segments before rolling it back up and putting the vessel back in motion. These pauses allowed you to take notice of how peaceful the town’s main drag seemed at that hour, and how well the sound of fingernails being clipped travels from the back of the bus, and how furious Coltrane can make the color blue when you finally attached your headphones. You made it to your stop after a forty minute ride, twenty minutes ahead of schedule, and hiked your final mile to the café and arrived with another glorious ten minutes to spare! Using this free time you realized that it didn’t matter that things didn’t make sense to you because you didn’t live there anymore. Miles Davis left what one might perceive as mistakes on his recordings, but you call those moments “personality, soul, human, and beautiful.”Your Twitter is to you as my blog is to me, as her photograph is to her, as his song is to him, as our painting is to us, as their movie is to them, as its book is to it.You headed to the train station - on foot, of course - by way of some of the most desolate streets in the city. You always found them desolate getting to train stations. You and a man gave each other the right of way while passing on a sidewalk. He was wearing royal blue house-slippers whose color seemed exceptionally vibrant in the low angled sun’s morning light. The belt for his oversized gym shorts were his two hands, each clutching fistfuls of the synthetic and porous cloth at the base of his crotch. Your eye-contact and “what’s up” head nod made him turn his head away from you toward the other side of the street, as if something had just then called for his full attention.You finally caught up to who you speculated was the bread-winner you had been trailing for a half-mile. He stopped walking at his public limousine stop and turned to face perpendicular to the street. He wore a generic back-pack over one shoulder of his security guard uniform. As you approached him, you fantasized one of those great, old-fashioned, early morning greetings you’ve heard legends about. So you encouraged out loud, “good morning!” The worker bee made no movement except for his neck as it slowly pivoted his head, allowing his laser beam eyes to penetrate through his sunglasses’ lenses and follow your UV blockers as you continued walking by, willing to wait forever for that exchange.Two talkative and tattooed ladies jumped into your foot-stream. You caught up to them when one stopped to remove a hitchhiking rock from her shoe. A little discouraged, you mumbled, “morning.’” The non-archaeologist of the pair quickly responded with a “Good Morning” as clear as you ever heard it in your life! All was right with the world! It was as if that reliable and consistent chain café popped up to spare you from having to drink train coffee, and they still sold bran muffins so you could finally get rid of that horrible case of traveler’s gut before you boarded the train with all the other princes and princesses and kings and queens of the valley. That train; for which you would still be ten glorious minutes early!
Listen as we talk to Lisa Roland of Sandbridge Realty in Virginia Beach. Lisa will tell our listeners about her surrounding area and why vacationers should think of visiting her.