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!

June 24, 2011
Living in a Gangsta's Paradise.........................

Good restful BeachWeek 2011; up at 4:00 AM Monday for a quick trip to Charlotte, back late Tuesday night. Up to Virginia Wednesday afternoon, back Thursday night. Got a lot accomplished but I'm not going to tell you why I went; found out some of my competitors read this blog, so let's just say I had to rent a U-Haul to bring the orders back..........................
Guess a dog can drive you to drink, although I've only seen the FO take a little sip of gin. Hasn't had bourbon in a while either, not since that night he turned into Cinderella. Funny picture, and a great dog; I'll take him whenever you get tired of him

Little smoke encountered on the way back from Charlotte; the News 14 crew told us that it is a combination of smoke from the fires in the northeast and southeast corners of the state. I have it on good authority that it is the smoke from some administration people in Chapel Hell burning parking tickets, you decide

Still have a little gas leak on the port side carburetor on the bike, anyone know how to fix this? I don't want my boot to catch on fire.
And next week I really do think I'll be in town; except for maybe a day trip to Raleigh to see.........................oh wait a second, I can't tell you.

June 17, 2011
Everyone Need a Slogan

Busy week on the old eastern shore, got a lot of office work done, helped Mama with preparation for and her colonoscopy (it was my duty.....get it?) that was successful, and even managed to ride my motorcycle three evenings.
And this week is Beach Week with the in-laws. Duty calls (sophmorific humor arises again) and I will be out of town, but only for two nights. Should be a fun week, maybe we can catch some crabs with the grandchildren.
Niece Kristi and her husband Lance bought a house last week; yes, you probably saw that on the national news (well I did see where someone bought a house but I had no idea I would know them!); welcome to indentured servitude. Glad to see someone buy a house!

Nice slogan huh? I used to tell youth groups, Boy Scouts, basically any kid that would listen that a tattoo proves to me that at some point the wearer or bearer has been drunk.
Had three motorcycle rides this week; logged about 125 miles. I like riding on the highway, but need to practice the slow technical riding skills each time out. Slow speed is more difficult. Still need to synchronize the carburetors, and one leaked a little fuel at the end of the ride last night.
If this wind will ever lie down we'll go fishing. Seems like it's been going for about the last two years; but at least it cools things off a little, and keeps the bugs away.
Off to Charlotte and Newport News next week.

June 11, 2011
SPECIAL BLOG UPDATE
She Has Been Mounted!

..........and ridden successfully. After three months our little BMW is road-worthy. Sorry naked fans, the fairing did go back on, mainly because I didn't want to deal with installing a headlamp. Still have a few minor issues, but she is on the road!

June 10, 2011
Naked Bike or Not Naked Bike?

Whether tis nobler, yeah, that's about all I can remember from Shakespeare. So this is how the bike would look without the fairing and side bags, the top bag is already forgotten, no way is that going back on. What do you think?

With any luck she will be road-ready tomorrow, about time huh? Still haven't figured out how to sync the carburetors yet, might have to play that one by ear. Sorry, that pun was intended. Vote today: naked or not?
Spent two days in Boston this week; the NEFI show was pretty good for about 5 hours on the first day, after that was a bit dismal. Had some good distributor contacts though, so definitely worth our while.
On Sunday night the ISS will be overhead for 6 minutes if you would like to watch. Hope it is clear; contact me if you would like to know the exact time and location in your area.
In town ALL of next week, getting ready for a big Father's Day. Hope I get a frozen lasagna!

June 3, 2011
Happy New Year!

Well it's happy new year if you are a Skuttle employee. Up is good and we ended the previous year up, and in this economy and manufacturing sector that is a good thing. (Turn doom and gloom music on here). Up is up, I'll take it.
Always wanted to know what it was like to take a walk on the sun, or was that a walk in the sun? Either way it is hot; we're not used to seeing 90+ until August but this year is going to be hot. And to think I couldn't wait until summer............... but I have to force myself to remember that our population's discomfort is good for our business, so bring it on!
How hot is it you ask? It's so hot that a friend told me that he cooked some steaks the other day on the deck. No grill needed, just the deck.
Went to West Carteret Wednesday night to judge some senior projects, saw some interesting projects presented by exceptional students. They would have thrown me out by middle school nowadays. These kids are smart, talented, and have so many resources at their fingertips. Its changed a lot even since Jay came through, and with the information technology evolving at speeds faster than we can comprehend. The future looks very bright. Hang on a second,,,,,,,, on the phone.......yes, here is my social security number, I'll just think about what it is, see if you can get it.
Caught a few fish with TAR last Monday afternoon, maybe we can go one day this weekend. Jackson wants to get back up to Swift Creek and tackle some bream; we'll see. If I get some parts in Saturday should be a motorcycle day.
And looky here who is sitting in the White House with the Big O himself: Butch Hoell, Rocky Mount boy doing quite well. Butch is the second person to the left of the guy who really wanted to make sure everyone in Bugtussle saw him by wearing his favorite yellow shirt. Governor The Joker took some help to DC to explain what NC is doing to prepare for the hurricane season. The early hot weather could be a red flag we'll see a few more than normal this year; hope that is only a coincidence. Wonder if they all flew coach or took the train?

And lastly a picture submitted by another Rocky Mount boy done good, the FO with a photograph of the grave of Leslie Nielson. Let er rip indeed; I saw him in the DC airport once; he grabbed the buttocks of the woman there to pick him up and made a funny noise. She squealed with delight, do all ladies enjoy this type of tomfoolery? Inquiring minds need to know; I'm going to do some research. In the mean time RIP, or let er rep Shirley. Off to Boston for a couple of days next week, need to lard up with massive doses of cold seafood and Samuel Adams

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May 27, 2011
That was the week that was, part 2

Left early Monday morning for Hershey, PA. That is one of my favorite destinations, fortunately business takes me up there at least once a year. It's a pretty area of the world, nice people, the rooms are a little pricey but worth it. I was there for the annual NAOHSM meeting (bunch of oil home heating guys) which is held there every other year. Managed to get 18 in Wednesday night at the Hershey CC; great old tract used for the PGA championship in the 40's but with a lot of rain the rough made the round last until 8:45. Good time with old friends regardless. I'm not sure I will be asked back; I misunderstood the message on the sand trap rakes, each one was labeled "LEAVE RAKES IN SAND TRAPS" and I thought they said "RAKE LEAVES IN SAND TRAPS" No wonder it took us so long to play 18........One of our favorite restaurants burned down over the past couple of years; I remember leaving one night and being told that each and every one of us would be welcomed back anytime, individually, not in multiples.

I'll be back in the area in late July for a BMWMOA rally and a friend's wedding, then again in August for the APR Supply Expo.

Wonder if this was started by disgruntled Dunder-Mifflin employees?

Is John Edwards going to prison? Press one to vote yes; two for no, and three for no opinion. Each call costs $9.95
SWMBO reminded me that she 4.0'd each semester in graduate school so technically she was the first Riley to make the Dean's List. Think she's just grabbing on to the Riley name, not sure; but your clue is that I used 4.0'd as a verb...........................................so, probably not. Anyway, we're really proud of you Jackson
Another observation made while contemplating life over a vodka tonic this week; is this the maid from Family Guy or Arnold's baby mama? You decide.........................

And so it is Memorial Day and the roads are filled with dingbatters. Welcome! Spend your money! Leave!
My granddaughter is walking, look out. Running will begin any day now
Happy Memorial Day weekend; go Danica, everybody but Sebastian Vettel, and everybody but Kyle Busch