The Last Saturday, Already?

August 30, 2013

Busy, busy busy week; started out with a flat tire on TAR's car which means a new set of tires all the way around, add some wedge, 2 cans of Sunoco racing fuel, a little more forward bite, but as usual I wander around some times...........

While attaching the spare I realized my old trusty rusty 4 way wasn't where it usually stays. Looked here and there, even in the Jeep, nowhere to be found. When you're like me everything has its place and every place has its thing, without it: CHAOS! Started looking even more and discovered my electric trolling motor, a deep cell 12 V battery, and even my electrical trailer connection were gone. No one to blame but myself, I'm guilty of leaving the big garage side door open, but no more!

Feeling a little pissy, maybe a lot pissy, SWMBO reminded me that she wanted to ride in the boat Sunday afternoon and had prepared a picnic. Translated: there is a Wal-Mart sub in the refrigerator. We went to the landing all the while thinking in the back of my head "you know self, you haven't cranked this boat in 4-5 weeks, sure it's going to run? (sometimes I hear voices in my head) Now batting for the New York Yankees (eeees eeees eeeees) nuuuuuuuumber 27 centerfielder John Riley (eee eee eee)" Anyway where was I? We put the boat in and surprise/surprise it cranks right up. She ran really well right up until we got near the exit to our creek and which time she sputtered and shut down. No amount of cursing and cranking brought her back to life, trust me I did both quite a bit, so plan B went into effect quickly. Yes, the wind and tide were not pushing us back towards the landing, oddly enough it was quite the opposite. She headed towards a neighbor's yacht, fortunately we fended her off and into a vacant slip. I didn't want to bother Tow Boat US with such a short tow and after about 30 minutes someone came by and brought us into the end of our dock. After pulling from piling to piling (lots of practice from many sailboats many more years ago) and with the blessing of a full tide we put her back on the trailer. All of which made me feel like this:

Remember that little munchkin? His birthday is Monday, but anyway that's exactly how I felt. After all of that TAR recommended that I NOT go to ride on my bike, pretty reasonable logic in light of everything else. I took the boat to the shop, later they called and said it was the fuel pump. I told them I tried to override the fuel pump by pressing the fuel bulb as the boat owner spun the starter. He laughed and said that would have worked about 20 years ago, but now I have an EFI engine. Oh yeah.................forgot. But now I have plenty of money to spend, simply flush with cash because the old yellow boat is gone. Sold the engine to someone in New Bern, the trailer and boat to a nice young man from Kinston. Down to one boat at home now, ah, forgot about the yellow kayak that SWMBO owns didn't you? Maybe this weekend we''ll get that out for the first time this year!

Whew, and it gets busier which brings me to this this logical question: how old do you have to be to understand this cartoon?

Happy 90th birthday to Dink; she's feeling a lot better this week

Well Lahhh Teeee Dahhhhhh
August 24, 2013

Rest in peace Lottie McAlister High; born June 22, 1924, died August 19, 2013. The commitment service today was about as good as you can get. Extremely coincidental that we buried my brother's second mother last Saturday, mine this Saturday. 

The fact that she passed away on Bill Clinton's birthday will be discussed in a future post; whoops, someone just took her shoe off and took aim................And I will now retire my lahhhh teeee dahhhhhh comments. 

You're Telling Me

August 16, 2013

Odd week that featured yet another quick round trip to Washington; got Jackson home Monday and then to HSC Friday. 

Dink got sprung from rehab this week and is having issues adapting to her house; with help at night we hope she will begin to feel comfortable on her own, so to speak.................

My weekly obituary column this week feature Mrs. Novene Hoell who was a sweet gracious lady. She was also a kind of second mother to my brother and will be missed.

High School reunion, no pictures please

Who do you think of?

And this was on the danged old internet and made me laugh, hope you do too

Back at it next week, heading for Pennsylvania and who knows where else?

You're  A Big Boy Now

August 9, 2013

We went to DC yet again this week, I couldn't resist the opportunity to not only visit with our most important customer but also attend a Congressional reception given by our industry lobby. To say the least I was not impressed....with the reception; Congress is in recess and the event was mainly attended by very hungry and extremely thirsty staff, aides, and interns; but it was a good trip and we got to see Leanne, Andrew, and Jackson. Jackson left early Tuesday for a trip to Chicago (golly Pete this is a big city!) to attend the ALEC meeting. There were demonstrators:

After I saw the picture in a text I sent back a note reading "we used to have a dog named Jesse, Jackson" Well I found that amusing anyway. 

And this picture was found on the internet; I'm publishing it not to make a political statement but to once again show a resemblance to that old french dog we had, Sheeeeee-thead. Looks just like something that old dog would do and since he always had his dog-sensor setting on SCREWUP it looks like something he would do, although as I recall he was a Democrat. 

Saw this in the neighborhood last week, we have some fancy neighbors or maybe the DEA was making an airborne assault

Dink spent another week in lockup, she knows she has to get stronger to bust out, and I think that's in her immediate plans.....as in next week.

RIP brother Gill, you were a good neighbor. 

Happy anniversary to me, and condolences to SWMBO, for 34 years she's been putting up with my unique brand of bovine manure; think I'll get her a really special gift card.

Picking up Jackson Monday, moving him home for just a few days before depositing him at HSC next Friday. Then we're heading towards a high school reunion; seems as though those old farts with whom I graduated have been loose for 40 years. Glad I'm not that old. 

No Good-Bye Yellow Boat Rowed

August 2, 2013

How can it be August 2? Wasn't this going to be the summer of George? Well in a way I guess it was. My potential buyer backed out, shoot I'm ready to get rid of this boat. I'll give you $100.00 if you help me sell it for $1800.00; otherwise I'm going to paint it and sell it for $2500.00 next spring. I will, don't make me do this!

Yes, DC was a lot of fun last weekend. The weather was pleasant and everyone behaved, yes everyone. Watched the Nats hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Mets. Saw two good pitchers go 1-1 for eight innings, great game and Cooper was able to stay the whole game. Cooper Riley, turning 7 years old tomorrow; don't Google his name this week please

We visited the Air and Space Museum (yeah go figure), and the Natural History Museum, and he got a lot out of both. But this was his favorite time: searching for four leaf clovers at Mount Vernon. 

One of the display items at Mount Vernon: a present from Lafayette, the key to the Bastille. But John you might ask, how were you able to take this picture in an area in which cameras are not allowed? Thanks to one of my sons......................

Goodbye to Alan Reiff, pictured here on the right during a Trion sales meeting in the 90's; rest in peace, we will all miss and never forget you. If he wasn't the best rep I've ever had he was certainly in the top 5. 

And just when you thought it was safe to go back to DC we're heading that way again Monday; hope to take SWMBO. I have a reception Monday night, work in the area Tuesday and Wednesday, then maybe spring Dink out Thursday. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh