February 12, 2009

Went to Knoxville and Nashville this week. When I started back from Nashville Wednesday evening I ran into and through some pretty bad weather; some rain, but mostly high winds. At one point just east of Knoxville I saw a minor fender bender with traffic backed up behind it. After watching the traffic and subsequent wrecks behind it I decided to film it. Keep in mind this is what I saw after watching it for a while and then deciding to film it.
Submitted for your approval; enjoy the west bound I-40 traffic jam.........................

Dang; can't believe you watched all of that. OK, like cinema du John? This one, I call "Tunnel, 2009" Film by John Riley, special music by Kanye West

Like that one? How about you Ruth Ann Taylor (shout-out #2 for the RAT)
P&D are doing OK, the boat is home, in town all weekend for the 500 (go Tony); off to planet Houston Monday through Wednesday.

February 3, 2009

The day the music died, 50 years ago today.
And soon this high school will no longer be around. I was in the 10th grade before I realized RMHS did not stand for Robert McAlister High's School. I can't remember who told me, but as you probably know I'm not always the quickest...............Bobby promised me they named the school after him
But anyway it appears as though I'm going to outlast the school; many will find that hard to believe. Building a new one right now. In my senior year I was involved in dramatics and we ran lighting, etc. when anyone used the auditorium. There was a catwalk above the audience; when the grammar schools came to see the symphony or the opera, we would climb out on the catwalk and take small pieces of ceiling plaster and drop them on unsuspecting kids; then watch as their teachers would get mad at them for jumping up trying to see who threw something at them. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, good times.....................Guess I should have been studying sometime while I was there but I don't recall ever doing very much of that; probably doesn't come as much of a surprise to many of you.

But the real reason I made this post was to give a shout-out (did I say that correctly?) to my second cousin Ruth Ann Taylor. hey, how you?
Girl, better learn to make that chili.
Peace out (did I say that right?)

January 30, 2009

As mentioned before, I went to Chicago this week for the AHR Expo; but come to think of it, you're probably here looking for an update on Pop. Well just hang on, I need to ramble around for a little while first.
Last Saturday I took the line off all of the reels I'll use next year. After that I oiled and greased the reels, and then cleaned out the tackle boxes and actually threw some old stuff away. Bobby talked me into trying some creek fishing again, so we're keeping the old Coleman Scanoe and prepping some ultralights for that style of fishing. I'm ready!
I had a lot of Clark spoons that were old and rusty; so rather than throwing them away I invested in a can of silver chrome spray paint. Here are the results; we'll have to see how it works. I think I might steal some of Terri's nail polish and paint some red heads on them. Did some old Gotcha lures too.

Looked down to see about Pop didn't you? Hang on; here is the booth in Chicago. Attendance was way off; our industry is not very healthy.
A picture of our New Jersey rep Garry Stamberger with his new addition to his chin. I have no issues with facial hair; but this thing is FreekaZoid. Told him he better be glad I carried my luggage on board on the trip up; otherwise I would have a knife in my pocket and.....................I think he scared some of the street people in Chicago

I also told him he reminded me of Klaus Voorman (who?), Klaus Voorman, yes I know that is one of my most obscure references of all time. Voorman was a studio musician and artist who was well known for a lot of studio work and graphic art work (including one of the Beatles' album covers), but best known for appearing at the Concert for Bangladesh with George Harrison. Somehow or another he appeared in the movie Popeye as the town bandleader. Yes, I watched that movie more than once; I was the one person in the country that liked it; I think Jay did too, of course he was only 3 at the time.........you can do the math and psychiatry. Klaus is a bit thinner than Garry and knows how to trim his goatee properly

Still looking for the Pop update aren't you? One more: here is a very poor shot of the Friday morning breakfast club

OK, here is the Pop update in his own words (during the playoff?), BTW, he's been pretty cold so he really appreciates the old Skuttle shirt he is wearing; it is thick and keeps him warm

He is glad to be home; so am I. In town all of next week too!

January 23, 2009

Quiet Mugsy, don't say anything to anybody, see? I'm going to Chicago next week; coming back on the last plane into town Wednesday night.........see? Here's the way it's going down.........see? We're springing Pop from the joint next week...........see? Keep your big mouth shut...........and nobody gets hurt...........see? Now ix-nay on the alking-tay..............see?

Wish us luck................see?

"There's Got to be a Morning After"

January 21, 2009

Sorry about that, now try not to think about that song the rest of the day (if we can hold on through the night..........was that Helen Reddy? Or Maureen McGovern? Or is that the girl that played Marcia on the Brady Bunch? Or was she Maureen McCormick? We're moving closer to the shoooooooooooooooore; but I digress, as usual)
Picture of the house which might be featured in your next Christmas card; believe it or not Mr. or Mrs. Realtor, there is a manicured lawn under this snow which was designed and installed by the head groundskeeper at Augusta National!

Close up of some of the shrubbery
From the east side of the house
And of course, "the room"
Big Holly bush in our backyard

OK, to answer your question, I have seen snow before; but this is the first time at home in six years so it's kind of special. Enjoy the pictures and try to get that song out of your head and get back to work (we'll escape the darkness, and won't be searching annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnny moooooooooooooooooooooooooooore)

January 20, 2009

A new president, a good inauguration and a great speech. Good luck President Obama.
Believe it or not, we had snow today. Not a bad day for it, as we had no plans except the inauguration and stay at home and work in the office....Jackson is snowboarding at Wintergreen for a few days.
Pop didn't have a good day; we stayed with him for an hour and a half at lunch, and about the same for dinner. He's had a lot of aches and pains, and some recurrent symptoms from his bladder cancer. He wants to get out of rehab but it might be a while until he gets well enough to go home; we're all pulling for him to do so ASAP.
OK, now for snow videos; forgive our enthusiasm; the weather service said we've had 2 inches; and that is 2 inches more than we've had here in the 6 years (hard to believe it has been that long isn't it?) that we've lived here.
Here's a shot from the front yard

And one from the back yard

And another from the front

After we left the rehab center we went to the Wal-Mart (of course, can't go home without a WallyWorld visit); pulled in front of Belk's and took this shot; at 7:00PM there was still a lot of snow coming down

Beautiful day, love the different weather; it's a new day in America

January 18, 2009

During lunch Saturday I decided to get some film of Pop and Dink for our friends and family overseas. I felt the frustrations of any director in trying to get my "actors" to say their lines. Terri likened it to a JohnBoy and Billy skit; well.............here goes:

Take one:
Action!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand cut; now, let's try that again
taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake two
Action!

annnnnnnnnnnnnnd cut

OK, I don't think we're putting on film what the writer wants; let's go around the table and tell us what you're thinking; and remember everyone, speak in complete sentences!

Action!

annnnnnnnnnnnd cut; No, don't speak in incomplete sentences, speak in complete sentences................oh well; OK crew, that's a wrap; I think we've got enough here to put a great storyline together; or maybe not. Remind me to never serve hard liquor for breakfast anymore!

On the way home from rehab Sunday we saw a car with an interesting sticker in the back window. Obviously someone has a very strong opinion about a person named Teresa Earnhardt and has gone to great lenghts to let everyone know.

Uncle Dave shared this holiday picture of Nephew Kevin in Iraq with Santa Claus. Uncle Dave surmised that nephew Kevin got what he wanted from this particular Santa; look closely and see if you can reach the same conclusion........

Let me know if you need the answer to this puzzle; I could have blown the picture up but that would have been too easy.
In town all week; leaving for Chicago next Sunday for the AHR Expo; wish us luck, the HVACR industry needs a bailout if you know anyone giving them............