As of July 1, 2009 I will be alot less productive, but the roads will probably be safer while I’m on them.  As of tomorrow, Virginians  can no longer text while driving.  This ban also includes reading texts and reading and sending emails.  However, Virginians can still use hand-held phones while driving if they are over 18 years old.  Drivers can also read and type if they are legally stopped or parked.  I guess we will all be praying for more red lights!  Today, I think I’ll work exclusively from my car and blackberry, just to get it out of my system.

My Wedding Day HIV/ AIDS Ribbon

The CDC warns that over 1 million Americans are living with the HIV virus today.  250,000 of them are unaware of their condition.  In conjunction with National HIV Testing Day, June 27, 2009, the Fredericksburg Area HIV/ AIDS Support Services will be holding an open house on Friday, June 26, 2009 from 9am-5pm.  The staff will be offering free HIV testing, food, education, and fun.  For more information click here. 

Testing is quick and easy.  An oral swab is used to gather saliva and then is analyzed to detect antibodies that are being produced.  Results are back within 3 days and results are shared at a follow-up appointment. 

HIV/ AIDS is a virus that sees no color, no age, no sex, no nationality, no religion, and no sexual orientation.  It is preventable, but not curable.  The virus has early symptoms like the flu – headache, fever, sore muscles and joints, swollen lymph nodes, stomach ache, and sometimes a skin rash.  During the initial stages of the virus you will not test positive.  It takes a few weeks to a few months for your body to start producing the antibodies that are detected by the HIV/ AIDS test.    

My father passed away on September 17, 1996 due to complications from the AIDS virus.  He lived 5 short years after being diagnosed with the disease.  His symptoms showed up as the Shingles virus in February 1991.   He was 52 when he died.  I was 17.  He missed my high school graduation, my college graduation, meeting and approving of my future-husband, my wedding, and my future children will never meet their maternal-grandfather.  There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss him and wish that he could know how I’ve turned out.  Medicine has changed in the past 13 years.  So many advances have been made.  Quality and quantity of life is enhanced by early detection.  5 years wasn’t long enough to say goodbye.  5 years only gave me enough time to know how much I loved him and how much I would miss him.  For your family, for your friends, for yourself… get tested.

I will be walking in honor of my father this Sunday, June 28, 2009 at the AIDS Walk/ Run 5k at the Cannon Ridge Golf Course.  After finding out about my father, someone once said to me, “We don’t get to pick our parents.”  My response, “If I could, I still would have picked my dad.”  I am walking for regret, love, and hope.  I am walking for my father.

(You can still register to particpate at Virginia Runner in Central Park on June 27 10am-5pm or on race day at Cannon Ridge starting at 7am.  FredStock will be starting at Cannon Ridge at 11am in conjunction with the AIDS Walk/ Run 5k.  Music starts at 11am and ends at 8pm.  Concert is free, but donations are accepted.  Bring chairs and blankets, but coolers are prohibited).

Num Num Num!  It’s almost turkey leg time again!  The Fredericksburg Fair will be in town again July 24 – August 2, 2009. This year will consist of some traditional attractions, as well as some new events to look forward to!  This year’s schedule includes the following activities (click here for a full list of activities):

More information about this year’s fair can be found at www.fredfair.com.  Hope to see you there! I’ll be the girl behind the turkey leg!

It’s that time of year again!  The Bluemont Concert Series will be starting again next weekend in Fredericksburg.  Admission is $5 per person, $4 for Bluemont Friends and Seniors, and $2 for children under 12.  The concert takes place at Maury Stadium on the corner of Hanover Street and Kenmore Ave in downtown Fredericksburg.  If there is inclement weather then the concert is moved to James Monroe High School on the corner of Fall Hill Ave and Washington Ave. 

This summer’s schedule is:

June 27            Black Sheep – a mix of Reggae, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues

July 4               Scott Ainslie – Blues

July 11             Junkyard Saints – blends New Orleans R&B, Zydeco, Latin, Ska, Jump Blues and Mardi Gras Funk.

July 18             Martinsburg Jazz Orchestra – 18 piece Jazz ensemble

July 25             John McCutcheon – Folk

August 1           Notorious – Traditional and Acoustic Contemporary

August 8           The Lindsay Family – a family of horn players

August 15         Knicely Jazz Combo – Jazz, Blues, Swing, and Bluegrass

August 22         The Daryl Davis Band – 5 piece Rhythm and and Blues Rock Band

Wow!  A whole year!  It’s been a year since SarahiouslySpeaking hit the internet and what a year it has been!  I want to thank everyone who has read my posts, subscribed to the blog, or stumbled across my site.  I want to send a special thank you to everyone who has left comments.  Your comments have made me a better REALTOR and much better blogger. 

I also want to thank a few individuals specifically.  This last year would not have been possible had it not been for the contributions of Matthew Rathbun, Sarah Cooper, Kim Wood, Clint Miller, Danilo Bogdanovic, Jeremy Hart, Heather Elias, and Ben Martin.  Thank you for encouraging me to be me through SarahiouslySpeaking.  And, I can’t forget the man who named the blog – Bill Lublin.  You created the prfect name for this platform.  

Happy Birthday SarahiouslySpeaking!  Here’s to another year of blogging, sharing, and celebrating!

(Best Waitress In Years – Lara, pictured with Bill Lublin and Jay Thompson)

In honor of Waiter/ Waitress Day I decided to post something for the best waitress I have had in years!  Last week I went to the NAR Mid-Year Conference in Washington DC.  On our last night there a few of us stopped into Open City (2331 Calvert St NW) for dinner.  This was purely by chance.  It turned into one of the liveliest and entertaining dinners I have ever had thanks to our waitress Lara.  She was fantastic.  Her service was impeccable, but her personality really did make the evening.  She joked around with us, gave us “cute” nicknames and made the evening very memorable.  We were sad when her section closed at 10:30 and we had to leave.  Lara has been a topic of conversation since last week and I am sure we will be raving about her for years.  I know I will be going back to Open City the next time I’m in DC.  I suggest you scope her out when you’re in town.  You will not regret it!

Today I mourn the loss of my 20′s and celebrate the birth of my 30′s.  I’ve never been afraid of growing older; I’m just not a huge fan of growing up.  I don’t want to live in a world where I can’t have a moonbounce at my birthday party, or one where I can’t dance crazy-like at a wedding, or eat cereal for dinner.  I don’t want to miss or forget the joys of being a kid, like the feeling of the first day of summer, or the excitement of wearing your first pair of heels.   

I hear your 30′s is a good decade.  I’m looking forward to finding the truth in this.  But, give me a few days to embrace my new age!

The Marine Corp 1/2 Marathon is this weekend!  Above is a route map.  Several roads will be closed from 6am-noon to accommodate the marathon participants.  Please plan to avoid these roads accordingly. 

I would also like to extend well wishes and good health to run of my favorite Marine Corp 1/2 Marathon runners, @craig42k!  We will be giving you more cowbell on Prince Edward Street!

A first class stamp now costs 44 cents, as compared to 42 cents yesterday.  Why the increase?  Well, the cost of doing business has increased.  The postal service is still recovering from the inflated gas prices of last year, as well, as trying to stay afloat in this recession.  With all the talk of cutting the postal week from 6 days to 5 days, I’m quite surprised we are only seeing a 2 cent increase.  But, I also know this won’t be the last increase in the near future.  If you have Forever Stamps, like the one pictured above, you are good to go.  If you have 42 cent stamps you will need to invest in a few penny stamps to accompany them.

(In my attempt to draw more consumers to downtown restaurants and attractions I’ve decided to mention, and critique, some of my favorite places to go.  Capital Ale House is first up!)

My husband has been begging me to go with him to Dollar Burger Night at Capital Ale House for several weeks and we finally had an opportunity to go this past Monday.  Of course, when a restaurant offers food for a dollar you can expect a crowd.  We were not disappointed.  We got there at 6pm and were told it would be a 45 minute wait.  The hostess was less than hospitable, but I will let it slide because the wait staff and bartenders are usually very friendly.  After 15 minutes of waiting, two seats opened up at the bar and we grabbed them.  There are 3 burgers that are $1 and the other burgers are $2.  If you want cheese added it is an extra 50 cents.  Still, not a bad deal.  I ordered the Ale House Burger (with cheese) and my husband ordered the Smokehouse Burger.   You can add on fries as a side item or an appetizer.  The side item is cheaper, but may not be enough fries for two people.  We ordered the appetizer and there were enough fries for 4 people.  You can not get your burger made to order on Dollar Burger Night.  The burgers were delivered to our seats within 15 minutes of ordering and were cooked medium well.  They were actually quite juicy, however, a little bland.  But for $1.50, it was a good burger.  Once we added the cheese, fries, and beers to our order we spent $40 at Dollar Burger Night, but it was a good meal and would have been a $50 tab on a normal night.  Next time we will know to order a $1 burger (maybe add cheese) and waters and get out of there for under $6! 

Do I recommend Dollar Burger Night?  Yes.  But I highly encourage you to make a reservation and prepare to spend at least $20 a person if you want upgrades! 

Dollar Burger Night:  Every Monday Night

Location:  917 Caroline St. Fredericksburg City