Family Day at Indy

[ajwest92]

Today Angie (my wife), Lauren (my daughter), and me went to Indy today for a day of fun. We went to the Indy Zoo in the morning and the local Meijer store in Greenfield for the Andretti Green Racing team signing later that night...that's right, ALL FOUR MEMBERS OF AGR.

Now Angie was dreading the signing since we made plans for it...she has only went to one signing in her lifetime and she didn't have to wait ten minutes for the autograph. But not even I thought anything would happen like this...but that's for later.

the zoo trip was a great time. We took pictures, walked a good long time, had fun with Lauren. They even had a "Zoopolis 500" turtle race there. Even with the endless armies of schoolkids and the sun at full power today, we had a great time at the zoo. And I didn't find any fellow DCZ's relatives there in captivity, so there are no pics of them. Sorry.

Now for the fun part...

After we left the zoo and got a late lunch, the three of us got in line at Meijer's around 3 PM for the signing. Here is a quick recap of what went down;

3:15: We met four guys in front of us. They were excited to be in line for Danica.

4:00: The usual CC application forms came around...I usually don't fill them out, but they were offering free food coupons for doing so. Angie said do them, and I said...OK. Angie takes the coupons and leaves me with Lauren.

4:25: the manager comes back in line with an associate to take my place in line. She takes me to the service center and hands me the phone for a query about my credit history. I answer every question right and get told that I have been approved. I can't believe that I get approved...again. I know that I get CC approvals like crazy, but geez...can't I just get the free food instead?

4:45: I get back in line to Angie telling what she got for free...roasted chicken, pizza, pie, donuts, and soda. I eat good for two nights. Good.

The get to talking the four guys again. Now they seem really excited to see Danica after repeated comings and goings.

5:00: The three of us get our wristbands for the signing. (I didn't say everything would be funny.)

5:10: Angie, after a soda run, shows off a new shirt she got for the racing sim game they had. I went to the sim and played the game as well. One problem...the biggest size they had was XL. OUCH. Oh well, it was fun.

5:30: Now the guys are REALLY, REALLY excited about Danica. One of them has a deep gash above his eye...must have been something in the Cokes...

5:50: Two of Greenfield's finest come to see the four guys. They take them away for questioning about their behavior. No one says anything, but the plain clothes cops working that day ask us if they were drinking. I find a old towel that I used for wiping up their spilled drink and they smelled it...that's all she wrote.

6:10: The AGR gang shows up. The auto session begins. I get told kindly that I can't take any posed photos or get more pics after we leave the line...jerks.

6:20: We get our autos, take our pics, pack up and leave. Angie tells me this was nothing like anything she thought. I tell her the same thing. Now she wants to go with me at any other signings i want to go to...YES!!!

We couldn't believe that we had that much fun today. We didn't get home until 9:30...13 hours on the road. Angie told everyone on her sites about the fun today, especially the auto session. I am so glad that she wants to go with me now. And the zoos...I'll go once, maybe twice a year to keep her happy.

10:30; Reheated the roasted chicken for dinner...mmm, good.

Alex

[ajwest92]

here are the pics...if they are too big, I apologize...

Marco Andretti hamming up for Angie...


Marco and Tony Kanaan...


Hedeki Mutoh...


and of course, Danica...still looking good.


and the goodies we got:

My hero cards...


the back of Angie's shirt signed by all four drivers. she alos got a hero card signed by Marco, Tony, and Hedeki...I can't believe she forgot Danica!!!


And last, for Lauren, hero cards personalized for her:


Thanks for looking, Alex

[ampguard88]

Is meijer pronounced (my jer) or (my yer) or (me jer) or (me yer)? Just wondering, we don't have those in Arkysaw. Nice pics by the way, must have been awesome to meet them.

[KahnesWrath]

Love the Marco, Kannan and Patrick, cant quite read the other guy.

[minicup]

Lucky you meat some of the best drivers of the best team. Must of been cool.

[Allison28]

Now this was one GREAT story sharing & Congrats to you on an Awesome Day of Memories!

[Y2j767]

great looking pics, pretty cool!!

[17nut]

Originally Posted by KahnesWrath

Love the Marco, Kannan and Patrick, cant quite read the other guy.

I think thats either Harold or Kumar!! JK nice pics exp the Danica

[ajwest92]

Thanks for the compliments...we got a new camera with our tax refund and it works like a dream.

For ampguard88: It is pronounced me-yer...it is a regional chain store in the Midwest...they have stores in five states: IL, IN, OH, MI, and KY. Marco does a few appearances a year for them, about half on them around Indy in May. Every once in awhile, they will have a special guest or two with him. Last year in KY, he had both Michael and Mario with him...I didn't hear about it until the day of the signing and I wasn't able to get off for it...BUMMER.

I hope that they will be few good signings from the Cup guys when NASCAR comes to Indy in July.

Alex

[harley2001]

Great story on your trip. Did your little one have a good time?