March 12, 2010
It's raining

Looks like another rainy weekend, no race, got my first winter cold, but the ACC tournament is on all weekend. Judging from the crowds I guess this year would have been a good one to go watch in person. I heard a couple of weeks ago that tickets were selling online for face value; seems as though some fans thought this might be a "skip" year. Wonder who they are?

I get the pleasure of teaching High School Sunday School Sunday, that should be fun.

And wait, there is a Formula One race on Sunday morning also....the Gulf Air Bahrain GP from Sakhir! Guess I'll need to get the atlas out, no idea where that is; hope they put on a good show, that series needs it.

Off to CT, MA, VT, NH, and NY next week, behave yourself

March 7, 2010

Home for a few days

Sorry, no pictures this week; I was in Chicago for a buying group meeting. I wished I brought my camera, there was a hot rod show at the Rosemount Civic Center across the street. I went in there Wednesday afternoon during a break and saw them setting up. Looked like a lot of street rods and drag cars, but they did have a few oddball interesting cars as well.

The door is on the front and opens forward along with the steering wheel. The one in Chicago was pretty light color blue; not unlike sky blue, which reminds me; who saw the game Saturday night? Lots of fun, but too bad the News and Observer has yet to mention the game in any way shape or form. Not in Sunday's edition; OK, late game, I understand.....but then nothing in Monday's paper either? No story, no editorial column, no box score, not even the final conference standings. It is almost as if......Oh never mind, I think I got it.

Jackson had a good week in tennis, won both of his singles matches. Monday will be a tough match with South Central, and could go a long way in determining the conference champion. Good luck!

Off to Charlotte late in the week, the reels are nearly all strung up, the boats are just about ready; springtime is coming!

February 26. 2010

A week at home

For the first time this year I was able to be at home for the entire week. Niece Kristie and Dave came last weekend for Dink duty and we were able to get a lot of things done around the house. Of course there was some fun, I took off the line on all of the fishing reels and oiled each one. I cranked up the yellow boat engine and let it run some, and caulked the heck out of the stern area in hopes that our feet won't get as wet as last year....serious leak back there! On Wednesday I took the big(ger) boat into Gregory Poole CAT Marine for her annual service.....in case you're having trouble following this; I'm trying to get ready for a little fishing. I ordered replacement line and should get it in next week. I hope to take Easter week off, maybe get some bass fishing in around New Bern late that week.

But back to last week; Sunday afternoon we attended Jackson's induction into the National Honor Society. Words cannot describe how proud we are of this young man and his accomplishments.

Here he signs the register

and then comes forward to be inducted

Then Tuesday night we returned to West Carteret for his induction into the National Technical Honor Society. He earned this with his work in the Future Business Leaders of America; an organization he enjoyed over the past two years.

He even had a speaking part in this ceremony

And then he was inducted

I hope to get the SeaPro back early next week, then it is off to Chicago for the WIT meeting. I travel every week during March, so by month end I'll be ready for a few days off. Part of our vacation will be to Hampden-Sydney for meetings with several key personnel. Looks like that is the way Jackson is leaning. Speaking of HSC, their president was interviewed on CNN Wednesday; want to be impressed? Go to http://news.turner.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=4990

An amazing man, I can't wait to meet him.

February 20, 2010

Vacation

We were on vacation this Saturday morning; Jackson was up at 545 for a tennis tournament in Snow Hill, back to bed, slept until 9 and then breakfast at the beach. Nice..................

No pics this week, kind of quiet except for a quick trip to Durham for a regional REM meeting. Afterwards I drove down to Sanford to spend a little time with the crew there. Lots of fun

The videos from last week are now up and running, I hope you enjoy them.

In town all of next week too!

Happy VD
February 14, 2010
Miscellaneous shots
a beach boy
rare snow shot of our house

A snowman on the beach; look how dark the clouds are offshore, that was the storm that dumped 4-14" on our county
A couple of vids from the Cleveland Cavaliers game last Wednesday night. It was a lot of fun watching the production which is a NBA game; and undoubtedly the greatest player in the history of basketball: LeBron James
This shot is the scoreboard, notice the "DIFF" between the scores. The owners and management of the Cleveland Cavaliers takes the addition and subtraction out of watching an NBA game....good thing too, I forgot my calculator so I was able to know how much the teams were leading or trailing. Good going NBA!

Introductions, everyone gets involved, but still no where as noisy as Cameron Indoor Stadium. A lot of the noise was generated by the scoreboard.

A vid from the PA Turnpike, decreasing tax revenue results in less public services; the Ohio side was much clearer


In town all next week except for a day trip to Durham.

February 7, 2010
The Big Game

(Can't call it the s-u-p-e-r bowl without the express written persmision of the NFL) Looking forward to a good game, let's go Colts

Picked this up from a friend's blog, it is a good way to look at how we use products. Think about it.

I worked in NC and SC last week with MidSouth Marketing, and went to a very nice dinner with the Bumgardners Tuesday night. Having fun with friends on the road helps make travel a little easier. BTW, Mrs. Bumgardner looks better every day, not sure about the Mr.....................

And, stayed in a relatively new Holiday Inn Express on Independence in Matthews that night. Hello old friend.................

Let's see, what's new in MhC? Pop is about the same; Dink had a fairly good week, Duke won and well, let's call them somebody-else lost. Hard to even find their scores now that they're ranked # 78 in the country. Better straighten up tar babies, or else you'll miss the NIT too.

Oh, and Jackson made the National Honor Society, thus fulfilling his obligation as a male Riley that we ALL must make, aw shoot, I couldn't even type that with a straight face. Congratulations for a first in our immediate family. We're very proud.

Off to OH Monday, back later in the week in time for the Daytona weekend

January 31, 2010
Florida, and then some......

I went to Orlando last Sunday for the AHRI Expo Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday I started making distributor calls in Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando, Sanford, and ended up at Daytona Beach late that afternoon. Before taking off for Gainesville for the evening....well you know me, I had to..........

Yes ladies and gentlemen, spring is coming; I could hear the gentle sounds of her sweet approach over the first turn wall, as Rolex 24 Hours cars practiced Wednesday evening. Guess I'm not getting that second seat with the Ferrari team this year; oh well, I'll keep working on it.

I decided to take some pictures of funny license plates as I motored around but none came out well enough to publish. And, I also got some really funny looks; not funny haha, well, you know what I mean

In Gainesville Thursday morning, Jacksonville that afternoon, and then a 5:00 meeting in Savannah. On to Charleston that night, a couple of calls there and back home by 4:30 Friday afternoon. Definitely a busy week, and also very productive. I kind of felt like Sherman cutting through the South except for the fact that I'm not a murdering, earth-scorching scoundrel

Pop is doing some occupational therapy and seems a little more upbeat than earlier in the week. Off to SC tomorrow afternoon, be home before Friday.

K&L are heading home this week

And in other good news Jackson received a letter from HSC offering him a Patrick Henry Scholarship for the next four years. He has tough decisions to make; and we are very proud of him for exploring so many options