September 21, 2012

We Can Change The World

TAR and I went to Chicago this week to the 2012 Mechanical Systems Week (used to be called Comfortech) to represent Skuttle in booth number 807. I knew attendance might be off when none of our reps needed a badge....................

Dink fell Sunday and hit the back of her head on the sidewalk; little goofy(er) than normal but should be back to whatever her normal is soon.

rearrange the world........................

On the way we stopped in Mount Airy and caught the Snappy right before they closed. It has been a long time since I've enjoyed a pork chop sandwich, and boy oh boy did I ever enjoy this one.

While in Chicago.....OK, Schaumburg we visited the Weber Grill. I've been there once before and was not disapointed. Yes, that Weber Grill, and yes, they cook everything using charcoal and big kettles. 

Won't you please come to Chicago for a ride?

I paused long enough to take this picture of my fresh garden salad with no dressing. You can barely see the roasted spinach in the upper corner of my plate, so I did have some greens. Amazing how much they can do on those grills; still not sure how they fixed that martini

And now we are on our way home, Shelbyville IN for tonight; still not sure how I manage to schedule these late night drives, should have studied harder in school. OK, should have studied in school.

And we're all strung out going in different directions, maybe we'll all get together one day. In town most of next week, and then we're supposed to go somewhere Saturday. Oh yes, a wedding.

Won't you please come to Chicago? Guess it is too late for that

Lyrics courtesy without the permission of Graham Nash

September 14, 2012

Things That Make You Go Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Busy, busy week in Ohio and then unexpectedly in VA this week; home late last night in time to shovel some paperwork and get ready for next week in Chicago. 

Woke up Thursday morning in West Virginia and saw this sitting in the parking lot. Do you know what kind of car this is? Looks like someone was heading towards a vintage racing event; that has to be an awfully expensive hobby. Hmmmmmmm

And in other thoughts provoked from watching movies; why does the hero get the crap beat out of him and doesn't ever act like it hurts, but yet winces in pain while being cleaned up with an alcohol swab by his (always attractive) girlfriend/wife? And for that matter, while running away from the bad guys why does the hero hold his (always attractive) girlfriend/wife's hand? Is it not known to them that they can run much faster by themselves than hooked together? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

And speaking of the movies, I have been told I will be attending one involving Meryl Streep in another couple of hours. Seems as though someone told someone this is a "can't miss." Wonder where my flask is? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

The race car is an Allard, British from the 50's

Visit Skuttle at the Chicago Mechanical Systems Week 2012 in booth 807. 

September 7, 2012

Papa's Got A Brand New Bag

Or at least a new cover picture, hope you like it. I don't know why Jackson is grinning so much in that picture; probably best that I did not know then, and not know now. I have a feeling it might have to do with an un-flushed toilet

No funny pictures this week, sorry, no girls jumping on trampolines or things that make noise

No comments from the peanut gallery about the cannon fire? Surprising.............

I forgot some birthdays last week: Nephew Kevin turned the ripe old age of 32, and Dink turned an approximate age of 89, we are not really sure. Happy birthday to both. We took Dink to Wilson for BBQ, to the cemetery to see Daddy, then by Crews Shearin's on our way to see Lottie High in Nashville. All visits went very well; Mrs. High was in good shape and really enjoyed our visit...........everyone did, great day.

Played golf with our oldest son Nicu Sunday (oldest son? whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?) He gave me three strokes on the front nine and then shot a 32 on the front. At the turn he went into the bathroom and worked on his alignment looking in the mirror; I don't think he ever saw me creeping up on him with the one iron. Good time and a nice weekend.

My thoughts to ponder for the next week have to do with movies:

• why is it that the monster, be it the mummy, Frankenstein, you name it, kills the person who saves or resuscitates him? OK, that's the first person he sees, but you would think that as the mad scientist rebuilds this creature he would put something in his brain that reminds the monster not to kill him. Maybe like a picture with a post-it note "do not kill this guy"
• Ever been to the grocery store? OK, that weeded a few out.....ever been to the grocery store and bought bread? OK, a few more are gone now. Ever been to the grocery store and bought French or Italian bread? You know, the type that looks like a long cylindrical roll? Was it wrapped in plastic or paper or did the grocer just throw it in your shopping bag unwrapped, and it was hanging out the top? Hang on, there's a point to this, I'm just trying to remember it......Got it, here's why I'm asking: Because in every movie or television show, well there it is.......out there just begging to get germs alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllover it. Why is that? Where do these people shop that they don't wrap bread?

I'll let you worry about that while I'm off to the land of Cleve early Monday, be back home Thursday

August 31, 2012

Things that make noise

Someone sneaked onto my deck and took a picture of my new grill, guess that patent is going down the toilet…………

Nice picture of the royal family of England. I know they are proud of their country recently hosting the Olympics, and how their family is growing……………whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Like I told Jackson when he went off to college a couple of years ago:

1) everyone has a camera with them at all times

2) don’t trust anyone to be respectful and not use their camera when you make bad decisions

3) don’t trust whitey

Funny observation on relationships, you might have to blow this up to read it but it is funny

Now for this week’s observations

Fake milk sucks; I thought skim milk (or skin milk, or blue milk) was bad 15 years ago when I started using it, but this almond stuff is awful. Maybe if I can find the right flavor, but I’m having trouble finding the Johnnie Walker Red selection.

According to a recent ad on television I need a Dodge truck that is so cool motorcycle riders acknowledge me……………pretty sad. Has it come to that point Chrysler? Really?

Cooper is learning to play the game after one day of kindergarten. His teacher asked if he had a good day and he replied “no, I had a great day.” I see a bright future for this young man, already figuring out the system. Now Cooper there are three things I want you to remember……….

TAR and I went out on the “big boat” last Sunday afternoon. The ICW was so stained that it left a nice brown ring on the boat. We caught a few fish for dinner, fresh is always the best ingredient, and then came in before a squall line caught us. Here’s the kicker: first time on that boat in two months….to the day, two months. Pretty sad

And now for girls bouncing on trampolines, no wait, that’s next week. And now for things that make noise; finally got to witness the Fort Macon salvo Wednesday afternoon. Impressive.

Happy Labor Day and so long dingbatters. 

August 24, 2012

Here Is Your Clue Sherlock (anonymous)

Google ‘rains down in Africa” See if you can put it together from there, if not, get help…...................................................…and enjoy that next hot pocket meal

A nice picture of Jay at a Republican rally in Raleigh; he’s very active in the party. Wonder if anyone can make money in politics? Dear Anonymous, I'm not really looking for you to answer that, that’s called a rhetorical question, Go ahead and look it up, we’ll wait

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OK, everyone back? Jackson is safe and sound in DC, had a little illness the first few days but now seems better. I’m in PA this morning and plan to stop by and check on him this afternoon on the way home. Hope that he enjoys American for the next semester.

Got a free hotel room for one night in exchange for switching away from an overbooked hotel, funny, I don’t remember the Ramada Inn being such a sewer

And now random thoughts of which I'm certain you crave:

Happiness is checking into a strange hotel and finding the television channels in alphabetical order. Glory be what a happy day. OCD?  And no, not the Ramada Inn, it was in my new favorite hotel in Georgetown

Stopped in VA for some crabmeat on the way home last Sunday, saw a sign advertising the next county Tea Party meeting. It was in King George County…………..get it? King George County Tea Party………..(sound of crickets in the background)……..tumbling tumbleweed rolls by………….you see Anonymous, King George was the king of England way back when the …………..oh never mind. Seems like one of those fellows was from Arkansas………..

Last but not least, or maybe it is………I admit that I spend too much time in the Wal Mart near our house, I don’t really mind it because in there my nickname is Slim. Last Sunday as we grocery shopped for Jackson at Whole Foods it occurred to me that no one, I mean absolutely no one in Whole Foods was obese. See a pattern?

Home all next week! Yea! Ten feet of paperwork sitting on my desk, boooooooooooo
So long and farewell Eddie Glasgow, you always made everyone smile, rest in peace.

August 17, 2012

I'll Miss You Too

Productive times in New England and New York this past week, Pennsylvania up next.

But before all of that we get to take Jackson to DC for his semester at American University tomorrow. You think DC will be different from Farmville VA? 

We'll miss him but plan to see him at least a couple of times this semester

August 10, 2012

It Was 33 Years Ago Tomorrow

This is a good example of how productive our local fishing season has been this year; ivy growing around the mobile fish-cleaning table. No bait, no fish....no fish, no crabs. Maybe the fall season will improve.

Everyone wants to get into marketing; someone convinced someone this would be a good idea to improve business. No offense, but I'm thinking this is what happens when you take advice from family and in-laws...........better yet, it's what happens when you listen to people I like to call faux-neauveau-experts, or FN experts. From Charleston WV yesterday................not sure about you, but seeing a cartoon drawing of a chef on fire didn't make me hungry. It was late morning when I saw this and the parking lot was empty. I went around the corner to the place where the sign shows a wino in an alley puking, now that is marketing! 

Our first shot of the Milky Way from Mars. 

No, that was a joke, here is the first shot from Curiosity. 

That's funny, I don't care who you are.........and his name is Marvyn Martian in case you wondered. 

Happy trails to my old leader Marty Hansell who retires next week. We wish him a long healthy retirement and thank him for what he did for our family.

And happy 33rd to my sweetie, thanks for putting up with my daily load of horse manure (see, I didn't say shit, are you so very proud of me?) Thanks for not killing me like I know you planned.....................