I got there a little early, so I walked up and down Haynes Bridge Road to look around the place. People from restaurants all over Alpharetta and Roswell were setting up. I knew at that point that I shouldn't have had lunch. After stopping at the visitors center on Main Street, I went back to the festival.
By the time I returned, things were in full swing. I walked onto Academy Street where the North Fulton Young Republicans had their table set up. I saw a young lady whom I met at the recently concluded State GOP convention in Marietta (I was a delegate from Clarke County). Afterward, I went down Haynes Bridge Road looking at the delicious foods and picking up menus from as many restaurants as I could. There were wonderful Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Japanese (yeah, I like Asian foods), but also BBQ places, steakhouses (though I am not much of a steak eater), Italian restaurants, and your standard American fare. Too much good food; the selection of what to get was going to be hard.
At the end of the street (Haynes Bridge by Old Milton Parkway) were two members of the Atlanta Beat. They were Dayna Smith (who has played quite well in the minutes that she has put in), and offensive star Sawa Homare of Japan. I actually had the pleasure of chatting with them for a few minutes, which was cool because there are few things I like to talk about more than soccer (except Social Studies and politics of course - *smile*). Having seen them on the field, I know that they are excellent athletes. You have to be in order to play this game. However, they were also very personable and friendly young ladies. Dayna even showed off the kitakana that she learned in Japan as Homare's teammate. Darn, these ladies are athletic, personable, AND smart; where have they been all my life... *smirk* Seriously, I was very impressed by them and if they are indicative of the rest of the players in this league, PR won't be a problem for the WUSA(unlike some of the athletes you hear about in other sports).
After chatting with Dayna and Homare, I walked back to my car and dropped all the stuff I picked up in my car seat. Following that, I returned for the part I had been waiting for. The food. Considering that I am still healing from ankle surgery and need to watch my weight, the food was too good to resist. I had this wonderful Malaysian dish, had an Italian desert, and a sandwich from a local deli. I was full after all that. When getting a coke at a station manned (womanned?) by three girls from Milton High School (in downtown Alpharetta), I met a young lady from China. We started chatting in Chinese, to the amazement of her classmates. It is interesting the reactions I get from people when I start speaking Chinese. I find it amusing because I don't get them when I speak French. Oh well.
On my way out, I said hi to Dayna and Homare (if y'all read this, please send me an email ). I would love to hear from you. I had a good time, gained five pounds (I'll do penance by watching what I eat for the next week, ok?). That darn Catholic guilt thing.