Enchantment. Entertainment.

The Enchantment WHEN: May 20, 2010 WHERE: Elizabeth River, Norfolk, VA Until a few years ago, the Elizabeth River that runs through downtown Norfolk was on the country's Top 10 Most Polluted Rivers list - obviously not a good list to make it on. But today, like many days, it was a great place to be. It's not the Panama Canal or the Hudson River but sometimes it seems like it could be. About any marine vessel imaginable is not out of the question to be seen floating along on this waterway. From aircraft carriers, to nuclear submarines, from cruise ships, to 1000ft. cargo ships, from international pleasure yachts to restored colonial-era masted ships; any one of these marine craft are known to sail the waters of the Elizabeth River. Why all this traffic and why in a river in Norfolk, VA? I guess I don't have a definite answer but there are a couple giveaways. First and foremost is the fact that Norfolk is home to the largest naval base in the world; and the most powerful navy in the world at that. That alone makes it no surprise to see any kind or size of naval vessel cruising through its navigable waterways. Secondly, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (as well as commercial shipyards) are found further upstream the Elizabeth River, which brings all types of vessels through downtown Norfolk. Built in 1767 by the British Royal Navy, the shipyard is the oldest, largest, and most faceted shipyard of the US Navy. Additionally, the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard in Newport News is only one of two shipyards in the US that produce and service all nuclear-powered submarines and the only shipyard capable of building nuclear supercarriers. The famous Staten Island Ferry from New York makes frequent stops in Norfolk for repairs. Norfolk is even currently home to the two Hawaiian Superferries (the Alakai and Huakai) that ferried passengers between the Hawaiian islands for a few short years before the company went bankrupt. Three separate port terminals, including one owned by the largest shipping company in the world (Maersk-Sealand), also mean cargo ships can be seen steaming in and out of Norfolk Harbor, almost every hour. A new cruise center built in downtown Norfolk in 2007 has recently introduced cruises to the area, from the two largest cruiselines in the world - Carnival and Royal Caribbean.

The Staten Island Ferry on the Elizabeth River, 2/18/2010

The Hawaiian Superferry, Alakai, on the Elizabeth River, 2/18/2010. Alakai was leaving that day for Haiti to provide relief efforts for the earthquake victims. The USS Sam Rayburn on the Elizabeth River, 04/16/2010

Mix all that together and it becomes apparent why the Elizabeth River sees the type of traffic it does. And somehow I'm fortunate enough to be on its banks Monday through Friday. I've been set up with such an amazing first job that I imagine my next career can only be a demotion in terms of the view. Today, I was greeted (for the fourth time in a month) by a cruise ship on my way to work. Enchantment of the Seas pulled in to Norfolk this morning at 8am after a 5-night cruise to Bermuda. It left this afternoon on a 9-night cruise of the eastern Caribbean. This has been its schedule for the past month and will be for the next few weeks. I am still giddy like a kid when I see one or when other large ships or a submarine goes by. But I've almost come to expect these things, like I take them for granted. Eight months ago I had never seen a cruise ship or submarine or any naval vessel in person, yet already I've seemingly grown accustomed. What's that about?? Still, I enjoy them more than anyone else at work. I get some weird looks and I'm sure I'm known by strangers at my work place as "that guy", as I'm often seen racing out the door or down the sidewalk, camera in hand, chasing after the tenth, twentieth, fiftieth, umpteenth ship to go by that day. The enchantment of the Elizabeth River still hasn't worn off for me, and I hope it never does.

Enchantment of the Seas "spinning" (for lack of a better nautical word) in the Elizabeth River channel this afternoon. The ship is 990ft. long and the channel is about 1,000ft. wide here. Tight fit! Glad I'm not that ship captain, risking putting the prop into the river bed and delaying 2,000 passenger's expensive, tropical vacation.

Enchantment of the Seas blowing her horn as it pushes out on its way to Puerto Rico (cruise itinerary here)

Enchantment of the Seas passing by on the Elizabeth River, accompanied by a couple passing military choppers.

The Entertainment WHEN: May 21, 2010 WHERE: Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater I received an email Monday while at work from the district's Public Affairs Chief, saying that the Norfolk district had received 300 free tickets for the Brad Paisley concert here tomorrow. All we (employees) had to do was reply back if we wanted any and how many (max of 4). I sent my reply immediately and picked them up on Tuesday. We tried to find someone to come with us on the extra two tickets but have not found anyone. It also helps if you KNOW people to ask and don't work with 300 coworkers who have tickets themselves. Either way, we are glad to be going and even more glad that it's absolutely free! It will be our first concert we've been to in over 2 years. We tried to get to a Chris Tomlin concert for his Christmas tour and a Goo Goo Dolls concert last month but both were bad timing. This time the timing is great and price, even better! The concert will be held at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater, as part of Brad's H2O Tour this summer. The amphitheater holds about 20,000 and will also be the site of other big headliners this summer, like Dave Matthews Band, The Jonas Brothers, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, Brooks & Dunn, Creed, American Idol LIVE!, and many others, past and present. Brad Paisley, along with many country singers, lost a lot of personal property and music equipment during the historic floods in Nashville earlier this month. All of Brad Paisley's touring equipment was flooded and ruined and was not available for his summer tour. The first stop on his H2O Tour is Virginia Beach, so they've been here since Monday, practicing with new equipment and trying to get everything in place after only a couple weeks to prepare.

The Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater.

Although Stace and I aren't hard-core country fans (or of Brad Paisley for that matter), we both enjoyed the genre at one time and we still enjoy it from time to time. Out of the 10-ish concerts I've been to as an adult, about 8 of them have been country concerts. And of the country artists I've experienced, they rarely disappoint. Their performances go all-out, they can actually sing in person, and their shows/crowds aren't rated R. Neither of us have seen Brad Paisley in concert and given that we haven't been to a concert in 2 years, a country concert in 4 years, and the tickets are FREE, I'd wager we will be entertained. Cameras are not allowed so I will likely have nothing to blog about regarding the concert beyond this post. If you're randomly, and extremely last-minute visiting Virginia Beach and have nothing to do tomorrow night, look us up! Don't say I didn't offer. ;)