Vacation Diaries Part 2

Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Myrtle Beach I had Kidney Dialysis treatment in a center called Davita. Everything went pretty well there and this allowed my wife a break from home treatment to enjoy her vacation. The Beach Colony Resort was an awesome place to stay. Three pools, a lazy river, 2 hot tubs, a spa , a gym, an arcade, and racquetball courts made for a great week for all. The outside bar was a nice touch too. The beach access was easy to get to from the resort and my wife loved our lifeguard, Parker. He is a college student at Clemson and was there to rescue me when a one foot wave beat me up pretty bad. Perry had my back even though he almost drowned me. I still love him and he is still in the will. We enjoyed having my mother in  law and father in law with this year. We ate a joint called the Dead Dog Saloon in Murrell's Inlet that was really good. Perry had a cheeseburger and fries. Dolly Parton has a place in Myrtle Beach. It used to be a Dixie Stampede dinner show. Now it is called Pirate's Cove and it was an awesome experience. The food was good and the show was highly entertaining. We left Myrtle Beach on Saturday morning and went to Pigeon Forge, TN for a couple of days. We took Perry to the Hollywood Car Museum and saw some of George Barris' car collection. That was neat and the pictures are great. I wanted to go to Ripley's Aquarium which was fantastic. The highlight of our trip there was The Titanic Museum. It is a replica of the front of the ship built in the Smoky Mountains. We went on a self-guided tour and three hours and 45 minutes later we closed the place. What an experience! Overall we had a great time.

I'm BAAAAAAACK!!!!

I had a great vacation with my wife, our son, and my Mother and Father in law. The trip started Friday June 3rd after a round of home dialysis. My wife did all of the driving for me and Perry. On the first day, we went to Ashville, NC foe a sleepover. Lunch on Friday was at Sonny's Barbecue in Corbin, KY. What a great BBQ Beef Brisket! Perry had a Cheeseburger and fries. Stacy had a Pork trio plate. It was a great experience. In Ashville. we met up with Mom and Pop. Dinner was at the Apollo Fire Greek Restaurant. Everyone had a Greek salad but Perry. He had a cheeseburger and fries. I had a platter that had Greek salad, Lamb Gyro, Greek Meatballs, and marinated chicken. Chicken Alfredo was consumed by the rest of our party. That was a great find by Jim Johnson! Saturday morning, after a free breakfast at the hotel where Perry had a Cheeseburger and Fries, we caravaned to The Beach Colony Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC. We spent a week there. We stayed on the ninth floor. Most resort hotels do not have a thirteenth floor or a thirteenth room on each floor due to it's unlucky connotation. My wonderful family stayed in room 914. This funny fact was not lost on my superstitious wife Stacy. She slept with one eye open for two nights.

Sunday was a wonderful day at the beach after a plate of Stacy's Famous Biscuits and Gravy. I was adorned in tan, flowered swim trunks, a tan, sleeveless shirt, blue and gray beach shoes, and a blue on blue beach towel, which is the size of Texas. My head was covered with the sharpest Panama Jack hat. To complete this picture. I was spray painted in SPF 60 sunscreen. The texture is comparable to the Maple Syrup at FlapJack's in Gatlinburg, TN.Right Said Fred was spot on! "I'm Too Sexy!"  For lunch, We had Ham and Swiss sandwiches. Perry had a Cheeseburger and Fries. After a late afternoon swim in the pool and hot tub, I attempted a lap in the lazy river. This was a great source of amusement for my family. Two scraped knees and three knots on the head later, we were back in the room for a great BBQ chicken breast dinner prepared by my beautiful wife. Perry had a Cheeseburger and Fries. What a fantastic start to one of my favorite vacations. TO BE CONTINUED...

It's a Goode Thing!

Last night, I went to dinner with my family. We took my mother to Edward's Drive In here in Indianapolis. We had a wonderful meal and then went for a ride. We stopped off at the home of my great aunt and uncle, Lonnie and Norma Rigney. They re both 82 years old and full of life and stories. My grandfather, Virgil Rigney, and Uncle Lonnie came to Indianapolis in the 1940s. they were a huge part of starting the Teamster's union on the trucking docks in Central Indiana. I sat for two hours and listened to stories about Jimmy Hoffa and Frank Fitzsimmons, both legends in the Teamsters lore. What a night!

I got to thinking about my last name. Are there any famous Goode's or Rigney's? I went to Wikipedia and researched both. Here is the information on the last name Goode:

• Alex Goode (Born 1988), British rugby union player
• Alexander D. Goode (1911-1943), US Army chaplain
• Andy Goode (born 1980), British rugby union player
• Coleridge Goode (born 1914), Jamaican British jazz musician
• Daniel Goode (born 1936), American composer and clarinetist
• David Goode (born 1971), British organist
• David R. Goode, retired CEO of Norfolk Southern Corporation
• Elena Goode (born 1982), American actress who stars on the daytime soap As The World Turns
• Erich Goode, American sociologist
• George Brown Goode (1851–1896), American ichthyologist
• Harry H. Goode (1909-1960), American engineer
• Harry King Goode (1892 - 1942), British World War I flying ace
• Jeff Goode, American television show creator
• Jamie Goode, British wine writer
• Joanne Goode, former British badminton player
• John Goode (1829–1909), American politician
• John Paul Goode (1862–1932), American geographer
• John J. Goode (born 1956), Irish shipping magnate
• Lynda Tolbert-Goode (born 1967), American hurdler
• Malvin Russell Goode (born 1908), African-American television journalist
• Mary Goode (born 1979), field hockey goalkeeper from Ireland
• Matthew Goode (born 1978), British actor
• Milton Goode (born 1960), American high jumper
• Patrick Gaines Goode (born 1798), American lawyer, and legislator
• Richard Goode (born 1943), American classical pianist
• Roger Goode, South African DJ
• Roy Goode (born 1933), British lawyer
• Sarah E. Goode (born 1850), first African American woman to get a US patent
• Virgil Goode (born 1946), American politician
• W. Wilson Goode, Jr. (born 1965), Philadelphia City Councilman
• Wilson Goode (born 1938), former Mayor of Philadelphia

Fictional characters:

• Ebeneezer Goode

And we all know about Chuck Berry's famous little diddy, "Johnny B. Goode". I find it intriguing that my last name has appeared in so many walks of life. My cousin Roger is a South African DJ! So, that's where I get my love for music from...A mayor, a lawyer, an actor, and a wine writer too!!! I am overwhelmed!

So...now back to Wikipedia. The last name Rigney did not yield as much information. I found one famous Rigney. Bill Rigney, baseball player for the New York Giants (prior to the move San Francisco). Check this out:

William Joseph Rigney (January 29, 1918 — February 20, 2001) was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. A native of Alameda, California, he batted and threw right-handed.
A 26-season major league veteran, Rigney played for the New York Giants from 1946 through 1953. His most productive season came in 1947, when he collected career-highs in home runs (17), RBI (59), runs (84), hits (142), doubles (24) and games played (130). An All-Star in 1948, he was a .259 career hitter with 41 home runs and 212 RBI in 654 games.
Following his playing career, Rigney served as the Giants manager from 1956-60, leading the club in its first season after moving from New York to San Francisco in 1958. He then became the expansion Los Angeles Angels' first manager in 1961, moved with them to Anaheim, and remained until the 1969 season, winning the AL Manager of the Year Award in 1962.

Isn't that cool! My son Perry Walls wants to take my name when he turns 18. That will be the biggest honor in my life! He is my legacy. It is Goode to be me. I love you all more!