I recently traveled to the only U.S. military base on communist soil and was given unprecedented access to the detention facilities… even maximum security. See the detainees who are the subject of much debate and hear from the top brass who candidly answer my very direct questions.

Watch GTMO: America’s Most Controversial Prison… Wednesday thru Friday, exclusively in the 7 o’clock hour of The Morning Show on Channel 4.. The Local Station

Don’t misunderstand me. I love Jacksonville, the beaches and all it has to offer. But escaping to Vermont allows you to turn back the hands of time; enjoy nature’s beauty and undeveloped wide open spaces. It’s a place that has embraced the concept of “Going Green” because it is so green.

We have a lot of different things planned, but there’s one in particular we want to enjoy on day 1. Carrie and her family used to spend her summers here as a child. Her Granddad had a house on Lake Champlain in West Addison. And, one of her fondest childhood memories was going to the Addison County Fair & Field Days. As luck would have it, we arrive while the fair is still in town. So, guess what we’re doing… go ahead, guess!

Yup, we’re all headed to the fair. Cows, pies (no, it’s not the cow pies I’m talking about – it’s real homemade apple pies – the kind that win competitions), cotton candy and, oh yea, the Ferris wheel and roller coaster.

Now, I’ve been to the Jacksonville Fair and it is a blast. The Fair Grounds are in the middle of the city. I’m not knockin’ it at all. Just doing a little “compare and contrast” here. The Addison County Fair has a bit different setting. It’s nestled against lush tree topped hills and mountains and wide open green fields.

It’s a throw back in time! And everyone in the county shows up to have fun, at least from what Carrie has told me. So, I can’t wait!!!!! We’ll see if it brings back a flood of childhood memories for Carrie; see if my four boys will appreciate being away from the Wii-Fit; see if my Mom and Dad and brother and his family (they’re from the Philly area) can leave the city behind. And, oh yea, we’ll see if I can leave the news grind behind to enjoy a little family fun at the fair!

I’ll let you know and share some pictures right here on The Morning Show blog later this month.

After being quizzed about the menu, specials of the day, how to key in the order on the computer I was told about the fine balance of being there to meet the diners every needs and not being too intrusive (translated – annoying).

 
Well, the time had come and from the “get-go” it was quite a hustle. I never realized the balancing act waiters and waitresses experience. From the time I started at 5PM until the time I closed out my last check at 9PM it was “go, go, go.”

My son Greg is putting himself through school in Tallahassee by waiting tables at Harry’s. He tells me most customers are reasonable but adds there are those who make his job harder. And, he adds, there are some ho don’t think it’s necessary to tip. When they don’t… he takes it personally. But, even with that, these waiters employ the mantra “the customer is always right and if someone stiffs them they move on to the next table.

These men and women work hard for the money. And, for many, it’s more than just a job it’s a profession. Greg’s experience and mine combined has given me have a new appreciation for these servers. I pride myself on being a generous tipper when given good service. So in the future I’ll show my appreciation in a variety of ways.

By the way: Kudos to my fellow servers at Capital Grille. They raised 10 thousand dollars to help that local family. Oh, and they worked for free that night, donating all their tips to the cause.

Why did the screenwriters find it necessary to change not just the story-line, but the ending as well?  That really ticks me off.  I purposely waited to finish the book before heading to the movie theater even though I couldn’t wait to see the flick. There was so much hype surrounding the big screen version.  The trailers were exciting.  The pre-release interviews with the stars, including Tom Hanks, only helped increase my desire to grab some popcorn, red licorice and settle into a cushioned movie theater seat, recline a bit and see the book I enjoyed so much come to life in a way only Hollywood can make happen.

Well, Carrie started to become irritated with me.  Every time there was something in the movie that was inconsistent with the way it was in Dan Brown’s tome I made it very clear. In fact, since I’m being honest here, Carrie would say I became downright annoying with my bellyaching.  But, hey – you DO NOT change the tenor of an author’s book; you DO NOT alter a character’s development; you DO NOT alter some of the “facts” in the book, and you DO NOT change the ending.

By the way, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen this happen.  It seemed to be a common occurrence when the John Grisham books went Hollywood. It’s why I stopped going to see movies made from his books.

Bottom line: I would love to talk to Dan Brown to get his take.

First quench your thirst with a frosty malt beverage for charity.  

An unparalleled selection of American craft beers and imported beers from around the world will be available to sample at the 1st Jacksonville Craft and Import Beer Festival. For those who celebrate and search for great beer join us at the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Crown Royal Touchdown Club East, to experience the rich, bold, and unique flavors you can only get at this event.  Proceeds from this event benefit the Southside Business Men’s Club and their Youth Achievement Program. 

For ticket information:  http://www.beerfestjax.com/

Beat the heat this Saturday and get a certificate for good eats at the Outback Crabshack.

Need to put your PWC in nearby? Then use either the Trout Creek park ramp off Collier Rd. or the Palmo Rd. boat ramp just south of Outback.  For other boat ramp locations, click here.