December 11, 2009
Weekend update

It's hard to believe but my father came home from the hospital yesterday. We really were surprised and elated to have him back at Crystal Bluffs. I went by there last night and he was more alert, but still a little confused about what happened. Good news

I was in MD, DC and VA for most of the week; too busy for pictures.

Good news from Sanford; Jay and Holly are expecting a little girl. How does Dink Duke Riley sound?

Preparing for Christmas, and you?

December 6, 2009

Another Pop update

Good news, he has been moved to a private room. There aren't any significant changes, good or bad to report, but he continues to hold his own.

We're all waiting on a big old you-know-what to get that reconnected colon working right. Thanks for your thoughts, prayers and concern.

December 2, 2009
Pop update

FYI, my father had some health issues Sunday night which required surgery Monday morning for colitis. In his health situation surgery is and was the last resort. Not unlike a lot of people in that age range with the last stage of kidney function, getting him to wake up and removal of the ventilator were among many major concerns.

So far, so good. This morning there was no change but I just visited him after lunch today (Thursday) and he was sitting up and able to speak. His speech is hoarse and not very legible, but a big improvement from earlier.

I will keep you updated.

November 29, 2009
The poor child..............................

OK, got it; take a look at the nose wiggling going on here; why you would think she had half a pork chop bone sticking out of her foot with all of these visual clues. Guess we're lucky it was only one wooden bead up that hooter.

Enjoy K-girl

Great weekend with the Sanford Rileys; off to MD and VA for next week

November 27, 2009

First and foremost, happy 50-something birthday to the Dutchass

Now for some sordid and assorted videos retrieved from the vault.

#1 Cooper gets a flying lesson from GUD

Next, NK shows us his hand dexterity

In this video, at 0:46 everyone gets a threat, or was it a promise; then Kevin gets busted by Dink, who we later learn "has a bag"

Then Jay retrieves his gift, gets busted by Dink, then gets advice from Dave, Dink, and then yours truly

Now a sermon from NK

last an intersting video featuring Princess Kristi. Observe closely, at 1:19 Kristi makes a strange motion with her nose.....anyone care to guess what that was all about? Oh sure, easy to know now, but who knew at the time that she had secretly hidden a 1963 Chevrolet Biscayne up her nose? OK, my imagination running wild....yes MY imagiantion running wild; it was only a wooden bead from the summer before.

(OK, I tried for a day to upload this darn thing, I give up; you'll have to see it on your next trip to MhC)

Interested in buying copies? Before you answer "heck yeah" remember that Jackson is going to school next year and we need LOTS of moolah if he wants to go to Hampden-Sydney; they're not going to be cheap.
Happy Thanksgiving

November 22, 2009
Back from DC, some more pics

Here are some shots leftover from last week in DC, and by popular request, well, read the whole blog and you'll see it

Pennsylvania Avenue from the front of our hotel; amazing to think of how much history occured on this road, especially on November 22.

Another shot of the Capitol from the mall.

And one more from in front of the hotel

Terri met the most famous DC resident; honest to goodness she made me take this picture

Terri in the US History museum. Listen carefully to her speech (your speech will appear in 5 seconds) I guess she got mad when I put the camera on good old LBJ

And last but not least by request, Riding On The Train.....enjoy Cooper, see you Thursday!

Oh, still there? Jackson visited Hampden Sidney College Saturday and was impressed.

November 15, 2009

In DC this week for some industry meetings (www.AHRInet.org). Left Rocky Mount Saturday morning using AMTRAK. The train is a good way to get to downtown DC, and not have to pay $40 a night to park the truck. This was Terri's first trip on a train, the car was not as clean as she would like, the ride not as smooth.....................probably not going to be the way we see Europe.

Interesting to go into the terminal in Rocky Mount; here is a shot of the tile pattern in the bathroom. It is the same design as the bathroom at 520 Mill Street. That's an odd coincidence don't you think? ACL must have got a very good deal on a bulk buy in 1954.

Guess we should just be happy we didn't have one of these too

Oh by the way, sometimes people don't like it when you take pictures in public restrooms. While in DC we went by the White House, very pretty in the twilight. Guess you're not just supposed to drop in un-announced; we couldn't see the Obama family. Another thing I learned on this trip......

And now for something completely different; something for you FO..............

And a film for you Cooper; filmed while riding on a train. I wrote a song about it called Riding On A Train; it has the same melody as Peter Griffin's Riding On A Bus. Let me know if you want to hear it; I recorded Nana singing it(comments, down at the bottom of this post)

Our reception was at the ESPN Zone last night, lots of fun. Saturday night we had a dinner at the Old Ebbitt Grill; we're not starving.

That's it from DC