November 10 2020        

Just some photos to catch you up......so to speak

Hope to find a few more before the weather turns.

Deep Sea Fishing

Uncle Tim sponsored a bluewater adventure last Saturday that was a ton of fun. We brought home some tasty blackfin tuna, and a nice king:

The highlight of the day was about lunchtime when the wind started kicking up and the fishing slowed down. Then this happened:

A lot of fun, but then a pretty rough ride back home. On Sunday we fished using the Parker and had an unremarkable day. Scott, Seth and his friend went in the morning, SWMBO after lunch. Odd day, had something cut a cigar in two but missed the stinger hook. Not much else, but a couple of flounders on Clark spoons and this toothy critter caught in 10 feet of water past the breakers:

Really odd, great fishing weekend. Hope we can score some more. 

Just pictures

Yes, imagine a blog like that. Enjoy these shots from last week:

Bear

Weather you like it or not

Squall

The old cabin

The importance of being cousin Ernest

So Inspired

.......or not, had some funny photos to add.

We are getting rid of some things, starting with books. If you ever gave me a book and you want it back, ACT NOW! 

I found this in a book, remember this when "someone" calls you and asks you what you think John would like as a present. BTW, the correct answer always rhymes with Bonny Talker Fred. 

In front of our local Mexican restaurant, wow what a neat old VW van. After sensing the aroma coming from the van I was hungry too!

An old friend from the last century. Gary Mondale and I hiked around the Devil's Tower. Our plan was to drive out there and do that again this summer, but it looks like Maggie Valley will be as close as we get during 2020. Maybe next year. 

Finally an updated shot of Bigfoot. Apparently his name is Darrell, and he is being careful

Off to the mountains Thursday. 

Rain

All is seems to do the past few days. We were able to go to the Big Rock Landing Friday night and see the winning marlin. She was a beaut, weighed right at 500 pounds and won the tournament.........in a center console. Really neat, and a neighbor came in second and won over a million bucks. 

Nephew Kevin was on the tube tonight, please take a look when you can. He is in the top left. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-MS6OmLPpg
And that is all..............

Well That Is Weird

After all of the trouble I went to get my hair cut like I am supposed to at age 65, I did not lose the expected 10 pounds. However my helmet fits a bit more loosely now.

In case you haven't noticed the world went nuts this past week. And we got to see a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral. 

SWMBO and I went to the beach, or as I like to call it Ocracoke  Island last Sunday.

We had a nice lunch at an old favorite..........

.........followed by some quality time on the beach

See a common denominator?

Actually the time on the beach was not high quality, the wind was heavy and we only stayed there about an hour. Despite the surf I did fly fish a little and caught a small blue. Ocracoke is in worse shape than we imagined, the reconstruction after Dorian is still in full swing. Lord help anyone on that island if the wind stops blowing this summer, it will be skeeter heaven this year, standing water is everywhere.

Speaking of Ocracoke, do you pronounce the K or leave it at coh? I told SWMBO that Dink did not pronounce that second part, but who would ever think I would source Dink as a guide for proper pronunciation? I've heard others who omitted the K also. Along those lines, did you know the word "pronunciation" is one of the most mis-pronounced words in the English language? I am an expert on these things, axe anyone.

So it is late Friday afternoon, time for the wind to start blowing at 20+ so that I can't fish. Oh well..........

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Last weekend was a blast! #2 and family came to see us, we went DownEast Saturday, fished Sunday, rode Sunday, and then SWMBO and I fished again Monday. We had fresh Spanish Saturday night, and fresh blues Monday night. We were seafoOD. 

Yes, I know you want to see fish pictures, but I like this beautifully restored classic we saw in Beaufort:

And they laughed when Daddy built a "bimini" for that old Crosby sled, we should have taken a picture. This is a catamaran with what resembles a party tent for the cabin. To top it off (let's call him) Jethro is standing on the stern while bottom fishing. She looked beautiful. 

Had a wire leader that found its way into my prop over the weekend, ended up taking the prop off and checking the seals this week. Heck of a lot bigger job than when I last did that on a 6HP Johnson. 

So today was the big haircut day, I hope I lost 10+ pounds, that would explain a lot. OK I borrowed that joke from someone else, sue me

                           Before:

                            After:

Yes I know, looks like my father, I'll take that. I figured I'd get my money's worth.

Tomorrow we have work around the house, Sunday we are off to the beach...but what beach you ask? Tune in next week to see, same fat time, same fat channel.

Memorial Day

It is good to see that nearly everyone on Facebook has figured out the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran's Day.

No one told Travolta the Indy 500 will be in August

             

And speaking of great pictures here is one of NK, his family and their new acquisition: 

               

Oh to be a fly on the wall, but just for a few minutes, then I would have to leave.

We will have company this weekend, hope we can get some quality time on the water and maybe catch a little fishy for supper. 

Thanks to all who gave it all. 

May 18, 2020

Race Day!

My favorite race weekend of the year is upcoming, Monaco in morning, the Indy 500 midday, and then the 600 from Charlotte that evening. I can't wait!

Say what? Corona what? Well fudge, now this virus thing is serious.

So shall we look at some old vids?

My favorite driver at the most difficult course: enjoy Senna and turn your speakers waaaaaaaaaay up. 

Keep in mind he had to take his hand off the wheel to shift.

On to Indy, here is a shot of the best-ever flyover last year. Initially I thought.......mehhhhhhh, but two of the planes came back, did a lap and then punched a hole in the sky:

Even though I was in a some pain due to a little back injury (which was corrected the following week) I am glad we went. 

Last weekend SWMBO and I went fishing in her boat and brought home some little Spanish and a pretty blue. The blue served as an appetizer, fried in chunks and served with horsey sauce, really brought out the taste!

Next weekend..........maybe some more fresh fish with Elizabeth and Jackson, we will see. 

May 8, 2020

A Week In Camp Would Do Me Well

Last weekend while in Cary we ate like royalty, this week more of the same (except for hot dogs, red hot hot dogs) and tonight SWMBO went to Cox's for takeout, Queen's cut prime rib, get it?

Moving on, we have a special on this fan this week:

I wonder how many thousands of these we have sold in the past, and sure enough as soon as I announced it we got orders for several pallets. 

                      

Selling is easy, anyone can do it! Especially when it is a product that is priced correctly, performs exceptionally, is in stock and can ship quickly; hey, what is the common denominator? Anyone care to guess?

Happy Mother's Day! I wrote a devotion about mothers for our church: https://www.firstpresmhc.org/daily-devotions-of-staff

At the time of this post it hasn't appeared yet, they are subject to censorship and may not make it, but it has to do with mothers duhhhhhhhhhhh I know SWMBO had it rough, especially with a husband who wasn't that good at being a father and wasn't around all of the time, but honestly, how do young mothers do it now during quarantine? With all of the other duties let us throw in teaching, and by the way all of the kids are at home all of the time!!! Notice how I compartmentalized all of mothering into "all of the other duties?" While you're dipping your bullets in poison and looking up my address throw in "giving birth." A day isn't enough, I say let's give them two days.

And not to spoil the surprise but I gave SWMBO her fishing license for Mother's Day. I know I spoil her, but that is a Riley tradition, except for the fact that Dink loved to fish, as did my other mama Lottie.

Tomorrow is an off day, Sunday we fish, or I fish, we or I will have to see. Hopefully I will post some pretty ocean and maybe even fish pictures next week. 

In the words of the credit manager at Trion so many years ago: happy mudders day to all you mudders.

Oh yes, what camp you asked? Don't ask. 

May 5, 2020

Sinko de Mayonaise

Happy birthday to Keelyn and Betsy Vann on this special day:

We ventured out of Carteret County Saturday, feasted on delicious rib-eyes with Elizabeth and Jackson, homemade flapjacks in the morning, then sang happy birthday to my mother-in-law, accompanied by an idiot on his ukulele:

               

As a special birthday reward I was treated to CharGrill hot dogs, banana pudding frozen custards and a tank of gas! Should have gone fishing..........Happy birthday to me!

April 24, 2020

Know This Guy?



SWMBO wants to cut my hair using his nickname for clippers. If you don't see me I'm under the tomato plants

COVID-19

It is hard to believe that it has been a month now and probably will be another.
This thing

........has disrupted our lives like nothing else has ever. And I see that my last post was in August, 2017. Anybody still there?