Blast from the past: Roanoke, Virginia

Sometime around the election I had the opportunity to travel to Roanoke, Va. It is definitely not a thriving metropolis -- in fact, my hotel (which seemed to be frequented by truck drivers) included passes to the workout facilities at the YMCA across the street because it did not have workout facilities itself. What Roanoke lacks in work out facilities it makes up with a DQ and Joe the Plumber supporters. Who knew Joe was a source of such sage advice? ("Joe the Plumber says vote then come to DQ"). The election had to be a horrible disappointment for Roanoke.