Burnout for Biff

Friday was a challenging day. I covered the “Burnout for Biff” held in Mooresville. It was supposed to run from 3-5 p.m. but as I always do – I got there early, but not early enough. As I was exploring the section featuring Biffle memorabilia, I saw through the windows walls of people. Hmmmm, I thought to myself, I better find out where I’m supposed to be for the burnout.

I was told that there’d be a special area set aside for media. I finally got someone to help me to get to that area which was just enough room to stand smushed against blockades with thousands of other people behind me. I stood on a 6″ section of payment on top of big electric cords surrounded by thousands of people for two hours in the cold. It was something else.

Burnouts are noisy – I learned that.

It was still pretty cool. I’ll be writing that story, if not today, then on Monday.

Burnout for Biff was part of a day long remembrance of NASCAR drive, Greg Biffle who, along with his family (wife and two children) and three other people, died in a plane crash in Statesville on Dec. 18.

From there I had to drive to North Mecklenburg High School to shoot a basketball game. Because I got there late, I had to park in East Oshkosh. Fun, I was already frozen solid and had to walk a good distance hauling camera gear. Got to the entrance and was told by the law enforcement officer that I couldn’t come in. I told him I was on the media list. He told me there was no media list. All the while, my mind was telling me – just go home, you’re tired. But I insisted and was eventually let in.

This team is usually very, very good. It was at this gym I first used a Nikon Z8 and captured Isaiah Evans who now plays for Duke. So there’s good memories to be had there. Evans and his team went on to make it to two state championships – which I shot – both of which they won. Not sure if the boy’s team will make it again this year. The girls are really, really good though.

Shot two games then made my way back home. I left my house at 1 p.m. and didn’t get home until almost 10 p.m.

I wasn’t worth much on Saturday.

Auditing my time via the Monk Manual is going reasonably well. On today’s to do list is to get at least two stories done (one is done), update this blog, check in on goals for the MTOG Vault (done), get some MTOG learning in, do some school work.

Not on my list, but I’d like to get Wally to take me to the newest portion of the Laboratory Rail Trail to try to find a really cool waterfall that I know is there. My knee won’t allow me to walk the whole trail to get there so he’ll park on the side of the road where that section is and wait on me. Plus, this trail is not considered safe for a single female.

I’d like to be able to update this Blog more frequently this week. We’ll see.

Until later …