November 15, 2009

In DC this week for some industry meetings (www.AHRInet.org). Left Rocky Mount Saturday morning using AMTRAK. The train is a good way to get to downtown DC, and not have to pay $40 a night to park the truck. This was Terri's first trip on a train, the car was not as clean as she would like, the ride not as smooth.....................probably not going to be the way we see Europe.

Interesting to go into the terminal in Rocky Mount; here is a shot of the tile pattern in the bathroom. It is the same design as the bathroom at 520 Mill Street. That's an odd coincidence don't you think? ACL must have got a very good deal on a bulk buy in 1954.

Guess we should just be happy we didn't have one of these too

Oh by the way, sometimes people don't like it when you take pictures in public restrooms. While in DC we went by the White House, very pretty in the twilight. Guess you're not just supposed to drop in un-announced; we couldn't see the Obama family. Another thing I learned on this trip......

And now for something completely different; something for you FO..............

And a film for you Cooper; filmed while riding on a train. I wrote a song about it called Riding On A Train; it has the same melody as Peter Griffin's Riding On A Bus. Let me know if you want to hear it; I recorded Nana singing it(comments, down at the bottom of this post)

Our reception was at the ESPN Zone last night, lots of fun. Saturday night we had a dinner at the Old Ebbitt Grill; we're not starving.

That's it from DC

November 8, 2009
Lots to talk about......

Yes I know I am not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition, but the I think what is that all about?

Anyway, last week we went to FL for a trade meeting, where is the proof complete with the geek with the badge.

We came home Thursday night, and fished with the Fishin Optishin Saturday and Sunday. I'll tell you more about those days later, but here is a sneak peek, dinner Saturday night: Virginia Mullet with bacon grits and a vegetable medley. Yummmy! Wonder how many points this is, especially when eaten with a chocolate martini? I'll post some more pictures from this trip as soon as I get them from the FO.

Jackson's last game was Friday night in Little Washington. We took his friend Katie and shivered through a last second 17-14 loss.

Here is the first punt, watch closely and you'll see something happen for the first time this season.

I thought the rout was on but West fought back and held the lead going into the fourth quarter. Here's what the newspaper said about this punt.

Things appeared to be going the exact opposite way in the third quarter. After trading possessions, a 54-yard Riley punt pinned Washington on its own 1-yard line midway though the period. On the Pam Pack’s second play from scrimmage, quarterback Tony Turnage fumbled the snap and McClung recovered at the Washington 2-yard line.With 5:20 remaining in the third quarter, Simmons leapt over a pile of Patriots and Pam Packers for a 1-yard score, and after a Dalton Knight kick, West held a 14-7 lead.

Here is the 54 yard punt

But then again, this is how the headlines for the article read:

West falls in heartbreaker to Pam Pack 17-14 but still squeezes into 3AA playoffs

I'm not sure where they get their material, probably from that guy in the tackle department at the Wal-Mart who always seems to know where the fish are and what they're biting, but alas and alack.....West did not make the playoffs! Season over, and winning 5 games was a big improvement so congratulations Patriots.

I'll post fishing pictures later, FO caught a 13 pound FA

November 2, 2009
Orlando FL
From the Sunday Carteret County News Times:

After a Riley Jackson punt pinned the Rams deep in their own territory, Havelock avoided disaster when a George fumble was recovered by a teammate at the Rams 7-yard line. West was able to force a Havelock punt six plays later. The Patriots started their drive with excellent field position at the West 40-yard line with 3:51 remaining in the half and a chance to tie the score.Papillion, who led West with 146 yards on just 12 carries, gained five yards on first down to set up second-and-five at the 45. But a high snap over quarterback Chris Dodge’s head and a Havelock sack pushed the Patriots back to their 30-yard line.

Riley booted a 55-yard punt to pin Havelock at its own 15-yard line with 2:46 remaining in the half. The West punter, one of 14 seniors honored on senior night, played well in his last game on the Patriots field, averaging 45.6 yards on five punts.

Jackson had his career night Friday night; great way to finish at his last home game.

In Orlando, might take some pictures while I'm down here

October 30, 2009
An evening at the Aquarium

For Halloween we went to the aquarium for some fun and trick or treating. Terri said I would smile, have fun, and take pictures of my grandson and by gum golly she was right! We had a lot of fun playing with Cooper and hundreds of other little rugrats.

Here Cooper demands that the candy-holder "stick'm up!"

Cooper was dressed as Boots from Dora the Explorer.

Cute little fellow don't you think?

I asked if this young man was wearing a blouse....he said no, it's a shirt, Sherlock

Storm troopers were on the scene; here his father keeps him from pointing the death ray zapper directly at me. Go ahead Star Wars geeks, correct me and tell me what the proper weapon name is.........I can wait

Jay, Holly and Cooper..............and one in the oven too! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat ?

A friend of ours competed in the underwater jack-o-lantern carving contest

And Terri walked through the strobe light section and had a great time

Wonder how closely you read my comments? Jackson's Senior Night is tonight, and then we're off to Orlando for a few days. I'll post some pictures from Florida next week.

October 24, 2009
A good day of fishing spoiled........

This weekend was to be a fishing weekend with Davis Powers from Ohio and the FO from Durham. Weather forecasters plotted the estimated winds at 20+ so the FO went to the BBQ festival in Lexington and Davis stayed home. Can't say I blame them, it's supposed to be ugly.

So I got up early this morning and went trout fishing, got my limit before 8:00 and then caught a few big Spanish, some speckled trout, a 2 pound spot and a whole mess of crappies......something that I've been feeding you with this sentence. Bobby and Davis, sit down and let your blood pressure calm down, I didn't go; might go for a couple of hours tomorrow morning if the wind isn't too bad. I'll let you know

Ballgame last night: West lost to famous movie director West Craven 52-35. West Craven is pretty good, # 7 in the state (someone beside me, name not mentioned for obvious reasons asked if that was good, I said well # 7 in the state, she asked how many were in the state; not going to mention her name for fear of reprisal, let's call her She Who Must Be Obeyed; the guy next to me told her we are #7 ....in our conference; don't think it registered because where she's from you're either #1 or 2 in the state; nothing else is acceptable) Anyway we scored first on a good drive, they scored on the first play from scrimmage. Kind of like that all night; they had several big plays, long runs and passes for TD's. Jackson had 7 punts; 42,37,35,19,39,25,23.........31.4 average for the night. Had a shank at the end of the first half, but still put them inside the 15, where they scored from on the first play. That type of night.

Oh, what's this? Why thank you for asking.....this is the trophy I won at the Seafood Festival Golf Tournament. It's a Brant decoy hand carved by Joe Fulcher Jr. 18" from stem to stern; can't decide whether to put lead on the bottom and use it as a decoy, or drill a hole in it and wear it around my neck as bling.....you know, when I'm hanging with my posse........... What do you think?

I'm all out of trite metaphors; So that's it from the old eastern shore. Go Yanks

October 21, 2009
This just in..................
Jackson cleared to play Friday night, film at 11

October 18, 2009
A review of last week

First of all I forgot to mention that Da Boss Marty Hansell also won a golf tournament the week before last. Pigs are flying indeed!

Went to OH, IN, and WV last week making branch calls; lots of fun, been a long time since I did that without a rep; need to do that more often.

Below are some pictures coming down I-77 and in some little town in IN, no idea where. Poor guy in the tractor trailer had a bad day

Jackson was in the Homecoming Court! He was fortunate to escort the lovely Staci Hoell, neither won but they had a good time. You'll notice Jackson has a jersey on but no pads; he had a mild concussion earlier in the week and has to sit for a couple of games. So how exactly does a punter get a concussion? Although he only runs a few plays in games he does practice and hit during practice. He's upset to miss a couple of games but better safe than sorry. Sorry the film isn't very good and the volume is loud so you might want to turn it down......

West celebrates homecoming triumph over Conley, 30-14

Published: Sunday, October 18, 2009 2:05 AM EDT
EVANS KISTLERMOREHEAD CITY — There were a lot of heroes in West Carteret’s 30-14 homecoming victory over winless D.H. Conley on Friday night.But one such hero, starting Patriot junior quarterback Chris Dodge, came up big in a different capacity than the Patriot faithful are used to seeing him perform.Against Conley, West was without the services of starting punter Jackson Riley, who was out with a concussion that occurred in practice earlier in the week, and starting place kicker Dalton Knight, who was in limited capacity after an injury to his ankle sustained at a church function.
Dodge, whose older brother and West graduate, Matt, is one of the top punters in the nation for East Carolina University, took over both duties.

In town all week; Pop has a couple of appointments and so do I.