January 14, 2011

Let It Snow Let It Snow I'm Going to Florida

I've had enough of this crap. We woke up to a pretty snowfall Monday morning; that's two for the year but who is counting? I am that's who! I'm tired of this stuff, and it's too damn cold for my achy bones. But enough griping and on to our story.........

We awakened Monday morning to an enchanted snowfall covering our beautiful Crystal Coast.......I can't write this. It snowed and Jackson had to leave early Monday morning instead of Tuesday. Shoot.

But the previous Sunday we went to redeem our Christmas presents from Jay & Holly at this place in Fayetteville http://www.paracletexp.com/ Quite an experience flying around like Peter Pan, doing acrobatic somersaults, sweeping up to the top and then down to the bottom like a majestic bald eagle.......OK, not really. It was fun, and I got a few little snippets of soaring, but most of the time I was flopping around like a fish on the deck. Jackson got the hang of it and did well. Quite an experience, I recommend it if you're in the area.
Here is a preview of your Christmas card next December; act surprised:

And here is the snow, yes it was pretty.

Seriously though, I need to fly to St. SomeWhere. Working in Florida all next week; maybe, just maybe it will be a little warmer there. Want me to pick you up some citrus? How about one of those gator heads?

January 7, 2011
Start the music Jay.................

First things first; happy 89th birthday Daddy. Going to take him an El's hot dog (mustard and extra onions) mid-afternoon to stimulate a little food intake.

Tip of the cap to Santa Claus for his overnight construction of this playground for Cooper and Keelyn. After a New Year's Eve celebration at the High's in Durham we went down to Sanford to celebrate 2011. I would recap the "eve" for you but, well..........you know.

Cooper showed how to use the climbing wall (imagine Indiana Jones music here, not the last edition, the three good ones)

We had fun with Heather and Kevin last night; SWMBO and Bev tried to scare her by telling about the fun of giving birth. Great dinner conversation.............

In Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina all week, who knows where I'll be next week?

December 31, 2010
If you're going to get it done in 2010..................

.............you better get to it quickly. It's hard to believe this year has gotten by us so fast. A lot happened in 2010; lots of good times and unfortunately some sad ones too. But as a wise man once said, that's the way it is, and that is the way it was in 2010. I'm starting to think the world isn't operating on my plan.......
Great Christmas with family in Morehead and Smithfield. Lots of fun, and I'd like to thank my granddaughter for giving me that gift that keeps on giving: a cold.
One last passing shot before I sign out for the year and head for merriment and debauchery in Durham (imagine!), many of you didn't believe that She Who Must Be Obeyed would really spring for a motorcycle for me. Well stand back boys and girls, here's the picture...............

As you can plainly see, an extended member of the family is seen beside the bike instructing me on proper usage. Grandma always said if you can't say something nice.....................
And Happy New Year. We'll be in Durham Friday night (let's see, where is that pistol?) and down to Sanford early Saturday morning.
Off to Ohio bright and early Monday.
Have fun

December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas

Spending the holidays with family and friends; all is well. Planning on more of the same throughout the week, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Parents' 62nd anniversary is the 26th
Oh, and Terri gave me a bike....BMW 1200 RT

December 20, 2010
She's Real Fine My POS....................

Giddy up giddy up POS.............

Saw this specimen from the 60's sitting on the side of the road in Havelock Saturday morning. She's obviously already driven her current owner mad; the price tag is $8,000.00. Uh, say what? Added an extra zero there didn't you Billy Bob? Oh, mint condition, low mileage; well why didn't you say so? Any chance there are a couple of genuine Daytona Rolexes and a wad of $100 bills in the glove box? No? Then I'd say you probably have a couple of extra zeroes on the end of that price.

Funny how we romanticize our old cars; I thought the 68 LeMens; yes I spelled it that way intentionally, was a pretty car; still do, pretty lines, the famous Pontiac snout (you see kids, Pontiac was a GM line years ago, back before the government took them over.............), and a nice throaty 350 under the hood, which was in retrospect one of the best things about that car. That was a nice hood. Let me know if you want to know the LeMens story

Sorriest transmission ever made this side of a push-button Valiant/Dart; the two speed Slim Jim insured a smooth transition from too high to too low. Oh, and it leaked.

Nope, not on my Christmas list, and not unlike some women I know, still a pretty shape after all these years.

And so this is Christmas, a good week planned with family, in-laws and out-laws. We helped Jay finish his playground set yesterday and got home dog tired last last night. This is a slow time of the year so I'll try to finish my Marketing Plan 2011 this week; and my AHRI thesis next. In anticipation of this extra work I've already started packing on extra "energy pounds" or as I like to say, larding up for the grueling work schedule.

My thoughts are with those having a tough time right now.

Merry Christmas

December 10, 2010
It's Time To Turn.....

.........so you don't burn (joke courtesy of John-Boy and Billy), and turn I did, right off Highway 101 and to my sister-in-law's house. Luckily my brother will get to stay there some of the time if she gives him a key. The sign on the Methodist church was my reminder to turn......... Reminds me of something the pastor said at my uncle Dick's funeral; not really sure exactly what was said but from what I understand my uncle Elliot kindly invited him to leave or get his head bashed in..................................but as usual, I digress. Get the full story from Betty Ruth.

They have a nice house in Eastman's Creek and will enjoy it for many years.

Joy to the world! I was in Boston and New England last week, boy oh boy do the people talk funny up there. Had a little ballgame out in Foxboro that had all of them worked up; kept talking about killing the Jets, and from what I heard they did.

Beautiful flight from Boston into NYC, flew over Central Park, down the Hudson, turned at the Battery and up the East River. Looking down on the west side of the park I remembered 30 years ago hearing from Howard Cosell on Monday Night Football that John Lennon had been shot. 30 years; wonder what he would have done with that time? Wish I'd been sitting on the left side of the airplane so I could have taken some pictures, but you've probably seen New York City before.

While in Revere, MA I saw this establishment. I'm not sure what they're selling there but I'm a big fan.

Productive visits with lots of HVAC distributors; I think we did some good.

And I think I'm going to be in town for the rest of the year; other than a possible day trip or two. You'll find this hard to believe but I'm taking the Basic Motorcycle Rider course this weekend at Carteret Community College. 6:00PM-10:00 PM tonight, 8:00AM-6:00PM Saturday, and 8:00AM-6:00PM Sunday. Twenty-four hours! I think that's probably more classroom time than I accumulated at NCSU.

Y'all can keep a secret can't you? Don't tell my daddy. OK, my ten minutes are up; yes that's how long it takes to do a blog weekly, try it sometime.

December 3, 2010
Everybody Dance Now............

In Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina this past week. I enjoy making solo distributor calls and I made a bunch of them this week. Saw a little bit of snow and a whole lot of rain.

Which leads to the first question: Who is this lady and why is she so happy? Looks like she's ready to dance. Here's a hint: she is standing in front of her house on Mill Street..................Perhaps she'd just stepped in something?

And now the next question: Why isn't this guy smiling? He's got it all figured out now; how he's going to grow up and sell IAQ products to HVAC distributors and contractors. Got a cereal bowl haircut, his brother's hand-me-down clothes, and the world by the tail and doesn't even know it. By the way, we're still on Mill Street here.......

And a good picture of the Old Man taken today! Caught him in a good mood this afternoon at Crystal Bluffs; all dressed up in a red sweater and a navy sports coat and living large. It is good to see him laughing. He'd just told me he drove through Richmond yesterday..........

That's it from the right coast; going fishing in the morning and then off to Boston early Monday morning on a rare flight from Wilmington instead of New Bern.