Home Away From Home, at the Tacoma Dome!

This past week found us at the Tacoma Dome for the Monster Truck Show ... Back again for NASCAR reps supporting the building of a NASCAR track in Washington State ... and once more, for the Toby Keith concert!

SHertz had so much to do at the Monster Truck set up at the Tacoma Dome.  Between working with the grounds crew, helping the mechanics with the final turns of the wrench, making cotton candy, and sprucing up the trucks ... a bears work is never done!

The drivers were all so friendly.  Grave Digger, Blue Thunder, Pastrana ... all of them were just so much fun to play with!  And it is always fun to see who is involved with what ... did you know that Martina McBride is involved with Monster Trucks?!  Check out Survivor.

The Tacoma Dome staff was just as helpful as possible!  And the grounds crew helped SHertz get everything just right!  Of course, to hear him tell it, he did it all by himself! 

And for the record, if you think a Monster Truck driver isn't a Hero ... ask the young boy who got to ride in one of the trucks as part of the Make-a-Wish Foundation.  He was all smiles, as were the drivers who got to shine in his huge, happy smile!

January 19th, we were back at the Dome for the "Back the Track" event, that brought out some of the legends of NASCAR, and the Indy Racing League. 

For us, it was a chance to come face to face with Kasey Kahne, and thank him for all he has done for troop morale via HeroToHero.us.

Reps from our own JTF joined us, and were rewarded with a photo op that included some of the greats of the racetrack.  Not only did Kasey stand with us, but we were honored when he was joined by Al Unser, Sr, Darrell Waltrip, and Sam Hornish, Jr.

SHertz was working his charm on Darrell, and they made quick friends!  Kasey and Al were honored with coins from the 555 "Triple Nickel" troops.  And newly returned Cpt Harris, of the 555, was honored in a photo with the greats!

Kasey added his signature to SHertz' bunker coat ... SHertz is really getting hard to live with!

Thank you so much gentlemen, you made our night!

You'd think it couldn't get much better ... but did I mention Toby Keith?  TOBY KEITH!!!  Wow!  He performed with Joe Nichols, Scotty Emerick, and Danielle Peck, at the Tacoma Dome on January 21st.  And we were there to experience it all ... from the truly funny Ford Truck commercial that opened his act, to the explosion of red, white, and blue confetti that shot out at all of us as he ended with "American Soldier", and "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue".  Toby rocked!

We even got to see one of our JTF on the screen, when the camera panned over to a jubilant USMC Sgt Jonathan Coffey, in full dress blues!  Well done Jonathan!  Sgt Coffey actually escorted a recently wounded fellow Marine backstage for a personal "meet & greet" with Toby.

One of our favorite moments during the concert was when Toby paused to pay tribute to our Firefighters, State Patrol, Sheriffs, and men & women in the military.  Obviously, he hit on all of our personal faves!

I had never heard Joe Nichols before, but he has a new fan now!  This guy is a sweetheart.  Great voice, and huge talent ... and fun songs! the crowd was on its feet for most of his performance.

Afterwards, Joe Nichols showed up at McCabe's American Music Cafe wearing a #37 Seahawks jersey ... niiiiiiiiiice!

He signed autographs, and even posed for photos with SHertz, after signing SHertz' bunker coat.

McCabe's was packed!  Wrangler butts, cowboy boots and hats set the mood, and the WSCFF Burn Foundation firefighters lifted the mood even higher!  Everyone had a blast!

Toward the end of the evening, SHertz was hanging with the firefighters, when he made friends with the DJ.  Before you knew it, he was lifted high above the crowd, to cheers, as his exploits were touted!

Folks came over and added special things to his collection of pins and more.  Just an absolute great night!

We look forward to our next trip to the Dome ... look at what has happened already!

We LOVE the Tacoma Dome!  It is such a staple of our skyline, immediately recognizable.  Did you know ... The Tacoma Dome’s roof was built with 1.6 million board feet and weighs 1,444,000 pounds. 24,541,382 cubic feet of concrete was used in the construction of the Tacoma Dome.  This is enough to build a sidewalk 70 miles long.  The Tacoma Dome is 530 feet in diameter and 152 feet tall.  Facts from ... http://www.tacomadome.org/DomeInfo/Facts.htm 

Oh, and one last thing ...

GO SEAHAWKS!!!