July 29, 2011
Now What? Confusion Reigns!

I thought about it, but never knew what I would write after my father died; I knew what had to be done immediately, arranging an appropriate service is just the beginning of a paperwork project involving bureaucratic companies and government agencies. So I know, I've got a lot to do. But back to the blog.......
I changed the header picture a few weeks ago. My cousin gave me this picture, I find it very comforting in that this is a good picture of my father as "daddy." She told me she remembered I was sick that day; there are many amongst us who believe that condition still exists to this day. Uncle Elliott's Mercury is in the background.
So what else happens here? The funeral was nice, short, simple. Exactly what he wanted. We did not plan on the heat so the short service worked well and was ended by singing Bless be The Tie. Jackson was presented the flag by Nephew Kevin. Sweet.
Off to Englewood Baptist for a nice reception and lunch. Not unlike many other funerals I saw several people I never see otherwise. We had lots of pictures out, many friends commented on how sweet and kind my gentleman father was; I told them they should have known him when I was 16 and tried to wear out every set of tires on every car he had...........................But they were right.
On the Thursday before he died I went to Raleigh to work. I sometimes enjoy listening to Howard Stern (see the second paragraph....sick) but on this particular morning decided to listen to John Boy and Billy as the listing on my Sirius radio showed "Lady Gaga in studio." No need to listen to this; didn't know much about her but had a pretty good idea of what I think. Several telephone calls interrupted my listening (damned customers) so I didn't hear the introduction; however as I started listening I was surprised to hear her anti-drug message, talk about the phoniness of the entertainment business, advise her young fans to abstain from sex until their 20's, decry bullying in the schools, and then discuss her Christianity and spiritualism. Yeah, it's still me, check the header, John Riley typed that. Later she sang Edge of Glory while accompanying herself on the piano. It is a song about watching her grandfather die while holding her grandmother's hand. The whole experience blew me away, especially the song. Give it a listen if you dare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_GMgkcc2KM
So I'm going to sell everything and become one of her little monsters following her from concert to concert, BYE!
JK, but needless to say I was impressed by that young lady and of course parts of the song touched my heart. Quite a 180 from my prior preconceived thoughts about her.
On to my Daddy:
Can I properly reflect on his life, love and family without making a joke and possibly offending some people? Can I capture a glimmer of the essence of what made him? Is it possible to write a few words, sentences and paragraphs that describe how I feel? How others feel? How my mother feels? How my brother feels? How his daughter in laws and grandchildren feel? Nope, you probably know I'm not that good a writer....................
I'm sad that he is gone, but I am a Christian and happy that he is whole and well again and in heaven. But I've got a hole in my heart that started long before the day he died; going back and forth to Mama's I rode down Bridges Street several times this week and each time thought I was supposed to stop at Crystal Bluffs. I don't think that feeling will go away anytime soon. Probably will feel the same way after church and lunch on Sundays listening to the Prairie Home Companion as I went to see him. Garrison Keiller is a funny guy in a sick twisted way. Wonder if he in related to us? I hope you get my wandering point.....
I've been told I will remember good things about my daddy as time goes by, but right now I think about him lying in that bed wasting away. I'm sorry, no sugar-coating today. But I am confident that thought process will fade into happier times eventually. The mind, spirit and body have good ways of protecting one from oneself.
So yes, the dark Irish side comes out every now and then. But then as with my many other sentiments, feelings and emotions I get a baseball bat and chase it back into the closet, only to be retrieved during analysis or drunken stupors.
So if you haven't already, let's smile:
I wonder where I will take my lunchtime naps now? Think they'll let me turn the sofa in his room at the nursing home and watch TV? Uh, don't mind him, creature of habit. Dink's house? Don't think so...............Won't be long before Jackson goes back to school and TAR to work so it's back to the office
OK, we have to laugh and remember the fun times, so let's make merry. Grab a hot dog with extra onions, put the base of your palm up to your mouth and make a long farting noise.
There, you did something funny.
The day ended nicely as this old toad was rescued by a lovely young princess at the Nash County offices. Seeing her capped a very good day.
Next week I will post some pictures and try to be funnier.

July 22, 2011
Bad News.......................But Oh Well

Good week during which my toys were worked on and repaired. The motorcycle sounds like a million dollars, very nice and I can't wait to ride it. Even ended up with a flat bicycle tire this week as it seemed as though everything I own needed fixing. All is well.
Our trip to the great white north was disrupted as our friend's wedding is now "off." We 're all really sorry to hear that, but after some last minute finagling we've decided to press on.
Today we go to Pennsylvania in search of cooler weather. I do not think we will find any, however tonight we plan to sleep in that northern state regardless. Saturday we will attend the BMW MOA international rally http://www.bmwmoa.org/rally11 in Bloomsburg, or at least that is the plan. Plans change you know.........
Instead of heading to Wilmington DE for a wedding, we are going to Baltimore to play downtown in the Inner Harbor area for the weekend. We are sad that our friend is not getting married but are confident that things work out in time (see John Calvin) for the best.
Then after all of that, we'll be home Monday night, or at least that is what we plan..............(another Calvin joke)

And another picture of that cute little Calvin who obviously has a bladder problem. This time his issue is with a Teresa Earnhardt........................

Maybe if he drinks some cranberry juice he will not have to urinate on everything. On vacation, cheers! And oh yes, no nudity it is!

July 15, 2010
Is Nudity Next?

After a considerable jump in viewers this week after my sensual dance with Turret's Syndrome, I'm thinking of new ways to lure in readers............................Nudity? Partial nudity? Your thoughts?
Not a bad week although my body continues to disintegrate; everything else seemed to get fixed this week: Dink's van, Jackson's Honda, TAR's Honda, the big boat, the yellow boat........... all were in the shop or being worked on at home. Oh yes, the motorcycle is still in the shop in Beaufort, seems the universal joint broke. Wonder who was in charge of re-fastening that important item? Wonder who I could blame that on? Yep, me, no one else; I seem to remember loosening it to reposition the rear drive assembly and..........................

....................................well, you get the idea; hope you like this picture from my school daze, only one of me that made the annual
The week ended up on a better note though, so I'm not complaining. I made some calls.....oh yeah, I forgot who is reading. Anyway, yadda yadda yadda long story short I got a free manicure and needed a box car to bring home the orders.
And another week in NC is in the books, heading out next weekend for Yankee-land. Alert the officials, TSA, and the appropriate wildlife officers: the Rileys are heading north.

July 8, 2011
This Blog Has Not Been Rated

I apologize in advance for too many pictures and the raunchy nature of this blog. If easily offended you may want to go back to your Favorites listing or home page. I feel it is necessary to cleanse this out of my system occasionally.
Broke the bike Saturday; transmission failed on the island. Not sure what I'll do next, might disassemble and ship to a specialist in Charlottesville, VA.
We had a nice but quick trip to DC this week; as Jackson said it really went well for us not to have any plans after the first afternoon. On Tuesday we dove up to Arlington National Cemetery (did you know that you can't picnic on the grounds?), went to Congress and toured behind the scenes with Andrew High; TAR and Jackson were impressed to stand in the midst of so much American history on the floor of the House of Representatives. I do this regularly so........................well, I must admit to being a bit in awe of the history within feet of me. Of course we saw the Air and Space Museum. That evening we tried something REALLY different: Oyamel (www.oyamel.com) restaurant on 7th Street. They serve Mexican food in tapas style servings. I started with a cherry/hibiscus margarita and lost consciousness shortly thereafter. Just kidding, we tried a lot of different foods and for the first time ate goat. It had a very distinctive taste, not too baaaaaaaaaaad but I don't think I'll want any more. Afterwards we went to see Bad Teacher and laughed a lot. Cameron Diaz is a bit over the top but funny. OK there was this one scene where she is.........................shoot, here comes SWMBO; I'll tell you later; very nasty!
Been in DC a bunch of times through the years, never seen this stature. OK Meade, you got lucky one time, it's not as though we're going to build a monument to you; well maybe we will

Right off the Mall we found an art gallery that our family sponsored. It's good to see the Ri ley Foundation hard at work appropriating the vast profits from the Ri ley Lumber Yard. (we own a lumber yard? Not sure where it is...................)

In the Natural History Museum Jackson greets a distant relative; you got me, our first cousin

Toured the Supreme Court for the first time, neat building. Jackson's early career path had him headed here after an All-Star stint in the NBA. And of course that was after his jobs as a burglar and a sniper; the good ones not the bad ones!

Jackson checked out the Justice Department; might end up working there one day. I think he might end up running the place.....................

Saw the monument erected for our sweet daughter-in-law; did a recent in house survey and she was voted our favorite daughter-in-law also!

Jackson in the American History Museum with a trio of his fellow Hampden-Sydney boys

Are you still there? I told you this might get a little rough, but oooooooooooooooooo k. So Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake are at his house and; dang it, here she comes again. (make whistling noise and look inconspicuous, nothing to see here............................)
Let's see, Wednesday as we continued our flight from the Arlington National Cemetery Police we went to the Archives, American History and Natural History. That evening we saw the Nationals beat the Cubs. Fun evening with Andrew High, but if he doesn't bring Leanne next time I'm dumping him in the Anacostia.
Thursday morning we evaded the police and went to the Spy Museum; been trying to go there ever since it opened when Kevin was an intern in the Senate. It was a good museum, but interesting how it showed all of the outdated analog technology. What seemed so high-tech in the 60's and 70's looks like it belongs in a ...................... no, I got nothing. What happened to my simile talent?
We walked by Ford's Theater Wednesday and Jackson and I talked how we've been in there many times but never looked for the alley where Booth escaped. In truth we've never looked for it until that day but we didn't find it as we headed to the ballgame.

The Peterson House was closed for renovations.

But on Thursday as we walked from the Spy Museum we saw an alley. Despite the dramatic objections of TAR we went into the alley. According to Jackson, Booth escaped through the rear entry of the theater and used a horse held by a child, As he mounted the horse he kicked the kid in the head, probably as he spurred the horse. This is called Baptist Alley because a church was once in the structure. You can see the bricked-over doors and windows, but according to the on-duty ranger at the theater the door is in the same place. A previously undiscovered DC treasure!

Any chance you're still reading? OK we now have a rating

R- Restricted

Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian

You've been warned several times.
While at the game Wednesday night I saw a Cubs fan with this shirt. I think I'll print some up and sell them the next time Duke plays Farolina.

And I'm going to blame that outrageous comment on the lovely and talented Cameron Diaz who used that word about 1,000 times Wednesday night. Since I have no originality I must have heard it somewhere...........
I'll try to do better next week, or maybe not since this post was so long; tune in to see.

July 1, 2011
Let Freedom Ring

Pretty good week with Buddy the alpaca stealing the show at VBS Tuesday night. My efforts to lasso Buddy and ride him down Arendell Street were thwarted by the adult leaders. TAR and I had a lot of fun playing with the children, and you can't ever get enough stale cookies and Chek Cola.........................think hard, do you remember that?
Pop seems a little more cognitive this week. Sometimes he communicates, sometime he doesn't. Rode the motorcycle there last night and he was more talkative than usual, but then as a nurse came in he clammed up. Must have thought she was Dink.
Skipping through the channels the other night and saw the 1967 Indianapolis 500. Amazing to see who made that race: AJ Foyt, Al Unser, Denis Hulme, Jim McElreath, Parnelli Jones, Bobby Unser, Gordon Johncock, Cale Yarborough, Jackie Stewart, Jochen Rindt, Dan Gurney, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Johnny Rutherford, Wally Dallenbach Sr., Mario Andretti, Lloyd Ruby, Jim Clark and Graham Hill and 14 other guys. Amazing field and a great race won by AJ, who predicted before the race that the STP turbine car would break.
Thanks to Campbell Tellman I got the BMW carburetors in sync Wednesday morning. It didn't take that long once the pressure gauge "element" arrived. A few minor tweaks later and she runs much better. Took the GPS with me last night and found the speedometer is off by a bit. I just need to calibrate the difference and consider that variable, especially on the city streets. Last night's ride was good, 55+ miles, and only one little problem. After I left the nursing home and started back into town on Bridges Street she sputtered and started cutting out. I was able to safely coast to a side street; quick diagnosis revealed that the fuel cocks were still cut off from when I shut her down at Crystal Bluffs. DOH! Just need to figure out how I can blame that on TAR......................
I'm not sure who the guy is shown singing here, but the backup singer is Keith Morgan's daughter. Another one from our old neighborhood; their entire family had a lot of musical skills.

Many of you have expressed weariness at seeing the picture of me on the bike at the header of this blog, so I'm going to try out another one below. Please let me know how you like this

Happy Independence Day, we're off to DC to see some sights; think anyone else will be up there for the week of July the 4th? This also marks our 8th anniversary of being Moreheadians, and our 5th or 6th anniversary of no longer being considered dingbatters (have to live here either two or three years full time according to local sources). The locals tried to scare us off with fireworks that first year, but we toughed it out.................................Let freedom ring!