Same Time, Next year

It sounds like the Cubs, but we will get 'em next year. Congrats to the Beavers, but GO HEELS!

Hey Sis

This is for the NC/OSU rematch in the College Baseball World Series.

GO HEELS!

On the way home (Dial-Up Warning)

From Irwin, PA, K and I stopped at the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayette Station, WV. I have driven over it many times, but never stopped to look. K and I have also been under it whitewater rafting, but that was many years ago. This time, we stopped.

This is a bridge they close once per year for about 4-6 hours so that people having a higher level of insanity than me can base jump off, as it is about 1000 feet up from the river bed. On normal days, help vehicles are near-by in case you break down as they want no one on the bridge, to prevent other silly ideas.

A warning to my brother: if you look at the pictures, you will stare at the center of the bridge, and not at the edges, you might fall off.

Travels over the weekend

This weekend, K and I went on a road trip to Irwin, PA for a memorial service for Aunt L, a wonderful, dignified lady that was a great person to around. She was married to my mom's brother for 59 years before succumbing to cancer in the spring. There were 20 or so people in attendance, some from both sides of their family with K and I representing ours.

It was a time for remembering fun things we did, memories of family members now gone and share news of our lives as they happen in the place where we all say our family started. Uncle J, Aunt L, B, B and J had a great relationship inside their family and with my family and for that I am grateful.

Below are some pics:

My Uncle J

J, B and B
B and her family M and T

My cousin B, in a silly moment after having her picture taken many times.



I also want to thank my Aunt W for taking such great care of many of my family members grave sites. This one is from my sister and Great Aunt, however, my Mom's and other Aunt's look great as well.

Happy Father's Day, Dad

56k, no way. I found this video on youtube, it is 9+ minutes long and says much without saying too much. Anyway, Dad, Happy Father's Day, you taugh me much about being a Dad, thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-c_wgKAs-8

New Responsibilities

I have new job responsibilities. I will be responsible for the Municipal market in Georgia, Alabama and the Florida panhandle. It should be interesting as I have called it the "Dark Side" for many years. It was offered to me without opportunity to decline, if you know what I mean. This is an add-on with no responsibilities removed. We shall see.

With A home for

The summer, things around here are quite hectic. A has 3 jobs and is taking an Anatomy class at the local UNC campus.

A has her lifeguard job, she coaches the pool swim team (and gets paid for it) and works at a local relatively fast food restaurant called Cook-Out at night when the pool is closed. By at night, this is from 9PM or so until close. These folks close at 2AM Sunday through Wednesday and until 4AM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A gets home around 3AM on some days and around 5AM when she works the weekends.

When she is not working, she is studying or sleeping. The best part about this is she has very little time to get into too much trouble. She is either working, studying or sleeping.

I think that A is getting exposed to more of America than she expected. Cook-out is a drive through/walk-up only type restaurant with no indoor seating on a busy corner. She is the only person of her race working at this restaurant. She has seen: many people ordering at the drive through with guns in their laps, some pretty wicked fights in a parking lot across the street and even a gunshot or two from her perch at the restaurant. This restaurant is only about 3 miles from our home, yet a world away.

The place has a significant safety program in place for closers at 3/4/5 AM to prevent possible problems. All of the money goes into the safe that cannot be opened by any single person. Also, when it is time to leave, some of the people go to their cars while others remain in the building. Once safely in their cars, locked, cell phones in hand and started, the others then head for their cars.

It has been really interesting to hear the stories that A brings home, even at 5 AM. I told you the drama would increase, but you did not believe me.

Hope your week is a good one.