This has not been the best year for Big Red.  Lots of reasons:  the economy and the price of gas,  my counting on the new folks at RIR and losing a bunch of really good shows and the races, the weather,  and some questionable scheduling on my part trying to cover for the whole health department debacle at Fredericksburg.  But finally, the Funnel Cake Gods have seen fit to turn things around a bit.  Maybe not all the way, but heading in the right direction for a change. This week was fabulous.  Aft er a slow start at the auction in Richmond on Tuesday, the Balloon Festival in Lexington was awesome.  They'd expected about 1,500 on Thursday night (got close to 2,000) and 6,500 on Friday (closer to 8,000).  And it was a great festival.  Because of other vendors, we could only offer three items:  funnel cakes, ribeyes and sweet tea.  We rocked!  Friday was our second biggest day ever.  And, I actually covered my expenses for the show  on Thursday night.  Friday was all gravy. Saturday at Smith Mountain Lake was equally as good, only with a full menu.  We more than doubled our sales from last year when we did mostly funnel cakes and very little food.  This year, we sold a ton of food and increased our funnel cakes despite having three other funnel cake vendors.  Also, we cut down those long lines and got our customers turned much faster (another reason for the huge increase).  Bottom line:  our second biggest week ever less than $100 from the record. This week has led me to a new plan.  I'm sending Georgie boy a memo requesting we celebrate the 4th every week.  He should be able to do that before he leaves office. Most of you know that I constantly make fun of Tank, Peggy and even my sister.  Today, I won't do that.  You can't imagine the amount of work they've done this week, and how much I really appreciate it.  All of us are tired, stiff and sore.  And taking a much needed day off.  I'm actually taking a couple of days to make a trip to Louisville to see my new grandaughter and grandson.  Oh yea, I might see Jason and Nancy too. At Lexington, Jean worked the front and served the customers.  She did that eventhough she's recovering from a nasty fall in France on here European trip and a boxing match with a yellow jacket nest where she got about 15 stings.  Tank ran the fryers and I handled the grill.  Peggy did all of the prep, mixed batter and brewed tea.  It was so busy, she never got a break.  At the lake, Tank did the same.  I covered the grill and partime on the front.  Peggy worked the front and prepped. One other note of interest from the past couple of weeks.  It appears Donnie and crew at Amelia Raceway may have turned things around finally.  We had a very solid outing there last Saturday and my hopes are up for the remaining summer schedule.  I knew when I started there that I was taking a chance.  Yes the VDKA races would be good, but Donnie was trying to rebuild what was torn down by the previous promoter.  As a result, we had a bunch of losing days.  That appears to be over now. Peggy has a new love interest at Amelia however.  There is a local farmer--somewhere between 85 and 140--that comes by every raceday for a bologna burger.  He keeps asking Peggy to go dancing with him at the Moose in South Boston.  So far, she's resisted, but ....... Also, the long awaited, often delayed closing of our little property sale to the Forest Volunteer Fire Department, happened.  Not only is mother's care now taken care of, but the new Big Red Funnel Cake Trailer is on order and should be here by the end of the month.  And, my niece, Amanda, can soon go flirt with firemen whenever she wants. Its nice to see that little smile on the Gods faces!