Father's Day 2008

We had a good weekend; took Pop and Dink to Rocky Mount to celebrate the 60th birthdays of John and Betty Ruth. We had hot dogs and hamburgers that were very good, although for a while I thought I was in Roanoke Rapids because there was slaw on the table! Their daughter did a great job preparing for the party; saw lots of people I haven't seen in a long time; lots of fun; just that slaw for hot dogs, who would want that?

Here's a shot of the prototype for a concrete block system Jackson wants to use for his BSA Eagle project. The concept is to make concrete blocks such as this for VBS children to personalize with religious and chruch symbols. After they harden we will sink them below grass level in the front of the church as a meditation walk. This was his first atttempt using pizza boxes. We will either have to reinforce the boxes or use a wood frame to form the concrete. Wish him luck, this is the summer he has to finish it off.

OK, here is the famous wicker furniture. The new color looks good, and I stand corrected, I can sit comfortably with the new cushions.

And another shot of the new (casual) dining room furniture. We used it on Sunday to feed the crowds with fried chicken and shredded pork

And lastly, my new addition. I bought this burner from Williams Hardware for use with the Holland grill. I can use it to fry and cook ouside.

Now let's see how it works, OK Terri hold the camera, turn it on, focus, I'll just turn the gas on, light this match, put it close to the burner and.........................

Off to Chicago tomorrow and then "beach week" starts Saturday

MCAS Cherry Point Air Show June 6th, 2008

And lest we forget, this was the anniversary of D-Day in 1944.

Friday evening Jackson and I went to Havelock for the evening show. When we arrived we saw many different types of static displays including this Kiowa 58 similar to the one flown by our family's great American Nephew Kevin. I called Kevin while we were there but he wouldn't tell me where they normally hide the keys; I thought maybe I'd take Jackson up for a quick ride..................................


It was hot, we looked at a lot of aircraft and talked with Ryan Hough, a member of our church and a great American who flies Harriers. He was there with his wife Kate, and sons Sam and Eli.

Here goes the Mighty Herc, a support C-130 for the Blue Angels

Two biplances doing a loop

Some T-34 trainers performing the Trojan Horse manuever

and then performing a formation flyby down the flightline

One of the highlights was watching a F-15 and a P-51 Mustang, separately and together. It's amazing to see how small and slow the WW2 state of the art warplane is when compared to the supersonic jet

Here is the F-15 going down the flightline

and then another shot of the pair; I don't think they were racing


This is a soaring glider with sparks and fireworks

This is a bi-plane shooting sparks for nighttime effect

And speaking of great Americans, Nicu was in town! He flew a T-34 trainer up from Pensacola for a static display. On Saturday morning he managed to get in a half day fishing with us, and we caught a few Spanish and blues; enough for a couple of dinners.Thanks to Captain Bill Weinhold for putting us on them.

The Jackson and I laid pinestraw and experimented with concrete pizza boxes for his BSA Eagle project. We saw a couple of jets lining up for the air show; saw one Harrier going faster than I've ever seen one. It was a long hot day so on Sunday we pretty much stayed in the AC and got caught up on some office work.

Off to Ohio tomorrow, Jackson is getting all of his wisdom teeth removed today so he will be a little uncomfortable for a couple of days. Father's Day is next Sunday so in case either of the boys read this, I like my Ferraris in the traditional rosso corso

June 5, 2008
Went fishing for a little while Tuesday and saw the saltwater drinking Shackleford ponies; left behind by Spanish explorers from the 17th century.................or were they left behind my farmers who used to live on the Banks? You decide, they are pretty from a distance.

The wicker is back in the house. First time we've used it since 806 Hayden Avenue, and that has been a while. The new black color looks nice

The landscaping is finished; well the landscaper is finished, I'm not.

And last but not least, the new table and chairs are here! It is a beautiful set

You know, I'm beginning to think the house project is just about over. On to the next project now, restoring that 73 Daytona Spyder that Terri is going to surprise me with on Father's Day; or is it our anniversary? Can't remember, but I will act surprised, very surprised! Trust me, it will be cheap compared to the house project

Lloyd family reunion
We traveled to Raleigh on Sunday for the annual Lloyd family reunion/buffet/free-for all. This is Terri's mother's side of the family; she came from a large family that meets on the first Sunday of June every year for a eating contest, uh, excuse me, a family reunion. This year I portrayed the part of the condemned man; figuring that as long as I was eating they wouldn't hang me. It was good, we took the miata up there and enjoyed the ride up and back (30+ MPG), but managed to get caught in a storm the last 15 miles coming home.

The buffet line
The Conga line, no just kidding; looks like Uncle Tim was able to get to the front of the serving line; hope that little old lady he knocked down is OK; that was an impressive trap block but she got up fairly quickly, just a little woozy

Jay, Holly and Cooper were there. They came up from Sanford after church to join in the festivities. I took a picture of Lynn and Elizabeth also but it was a little too dark to publish.

And of course the best little grandson in the whole wide world was there! He opted for the Afghan instead of the buffet line. His father used to do the same thing, always tried to get "the juice" out of his shirts.

That's it from Carteret County; in town all week, might go fishing Tuesday, taking Pop & Dink to Nashville for more legal work on Friday. Hope to put some fish pics on later this week

Memorial Day 2008

The Fishin Optishin came in Friday afternoon and we went out to get a head start on what we planned to be a fish fry Saturday evening. It didn't work out very well, we were only able to boat a few skinny Spanish mackerals. Dink wanted fresh fish Saturday night and the pressure was on.
Saturday morning we were joined by the Ancient Guy Shoved Out of the Plane (Old Paratrooper) and we set out early despite threatening skies and 100% promise of rain. Guess what happened? It rained! We came back in mid-morning with nothing in the bucket.
We went back out that afternoon after lunch at Mrs. Culpepper's Thai Buffet (including crabcakes and fried flounder, ice cream one dollar extra) we were only able to boat one little gray trout. However we ran into a chum with a bottle of rum....well you know the rest of the story. Typical of so many people down here, if you're on a boat, you're fishing; looks like Sarah got a little nibble (you need to look closely here) Guess that's what happens when you troll with wounded wild animals.

The best part of the ride home was, well the ride home. After the rains the skies were pretty.

Sunday morning we nailed some pretty Spanish early, caught a few fryer blues, and then targeted flounders at an artificial reef. Lo and behold someone followed us to our "secret spot" Knew I should have blindfolded him that time I took him.

The Spanish agreed to line up for a pretty picture if we would promise to let them go later; although while they were lined up they did a Rockettes tribute to George Gershwin, but we lied. We like to practice catch, filet, ingest, digest, and release fishing.

This happy little fellow is trying to create an optical illusion. Yes Bobby, they both weigh 8 pounds

Another masterpiece from the Fishin Optishin. Too bad he created this delicacy in Durham and not Morehead.

We saw more boats Sunday than I believe I've ever seen before except for a Fourth of July, Labor Day, or Seafood Festival weekend. I guess we're done griping about $4.00 gasoline; it's going to stay there unless we cut our consumption. And I point that finger right at myself; we rode to Swansboro Sunday afternoon with the Owner, and to Shackleford Monday afternoon.

In town all week, hope to go with Jackson early Saturday morning for a half day trip.

All pictures courtesy of The Fishin Optishin, and used without the permission of the NFL, Major League Baseball, or HeMustBeHigh Productions

Back from Colorado May 21 2008
Just got back in from a week-long trip to Denver and Colorado Springs; worked there for a few days with one of our best reps and then went to the AHRI meeting at the Broadmoor. Here's an example of the artwork in my hotel room, odd, in most hotels where I stay the artwork isn't lit, and is bolted to the wall. Hope they don't notice this is missing for a while.........
Believe it or not, and most people don't and that's OK; I won the men's tennis tournament. Won the doubles last year, no trophy yet, this year they gave a gift certificate. Bought a visor at the pro shop with my earnings

Pike's Peak, absolutely beautiful. On Sunday, after I won the AHRI men's tennis tournament, did I mention that? Anyway, after I won another championship (2 straight years, but who is counting?) I drove west to the other side of this beautiful mountain. Went up on Cripple Creek and by Victor, a couple of old gold mining towns. Cripple Creek residents are upset that mining companies want to go in and do some clear cuts, can't say that I blame them.

An example of what I believe is a gold mine

Went to the gate at Pike's Peak but it was too late to see if I could Race to the Clouds. It was funny that younger people at the meeting had never heard about the hill climb they do here; it was once one of the biggest races in the world, the open wheel division has run since 1916On Wednesday morning before our meetings cousin Mike Reilly and I went out to the USAF Academy. Here's a shot from the visitor's center looking back to their famous chapel

Static shot near their airfield. Not sure what it is but I'm sure many of my readers do. Their airfield was in constant usage, gliders were going up constantly and parachutists were jumping two at a time

Outside shot of the chapel, really beautiful. We were surprised to hear how they try to install a strong faith basis in the cadetsInside shot in the chapel, there is a stainless cross above the altar

A video of a USAF group marching, we suspect for their graduation this weekend, as they pass final inspection they break rank, watch until the end

Good time, nice five star hotel, beautiful area, and did I mention another championship? I did? Are you sure? OK I'll drop it, but trust me at my age I don't get many of those so sue me if I enjoy them when I get them.

Summer starts with Memorial Day this weekend, got the Old Paratrooper and the Fishin Optishin coming in to fish, maybe we'll find another trophy...................................

More Videos
Dave and I fished all day today (Saturday 5/10) without any results to speak of. Had some heavy weather overnight that might have messed things up; offshore the swell was a bit too much for our little boat. Ended up going to Lookout, the Haystacks, all over but no fish for supper.
This video shows Nell One going under the Beaufort/Radio Island HighRise Bridge. As we go under the bridge we enter the Morehead City Turning Basin (deepwater terminal)

This clip shows a run from one of the entrances to the Haystacks back to the Beaufort Bridge. We pass a tug pushing a couple of barges on our starboard.

And the last film shows Nell One in her true environment, up a creek looking for puppy drum, trout, flounder, whatever. This is the type of fishing I really enjoy down here.

Off to CO next week, check back later