What 'Shari' means:

Thanks to 'Angie Arthur' I had to find out what 'Shari' means:

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong.You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know.You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.

You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out.Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia.Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person.You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.

You have the classic "Type A" personality.You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.

You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

OKLAHOMA CITY...

This Oklahoma arch was at the state fairgrounds near the building where the wedding reception for Andy and Meghan Behrens was held 10/27/07.

Oklahoma state capitol - visited by Cori, Sally and Al.

Oklahoma state capitol rotunda...

This was a sobering moment as we visited the memorial of the Oklahoma bombing.

The gates of time mark 9:01 the time of innocence 'before the attack' and the wall at the other end of the street marks 9:03, the moment Oklahoma City was changed forever...

"168" chairs stand as a poignant reminder of each life lost on April 19, 1995.

At night the names of the victims can be read on each chair...

The chairs are placed according to the floor on which those killed worked or were visiting.

Many windows were blown out on the adjacent building but the 'Survivor Tree' still stands.

It's a 90 year old American Elm - The explosion burn marks are visible on the tree.

The shallow pool of gently flowing water occupies what was once N.W. Fifth St - which has a very calming sound as you stand and contemplate what happened there.

The reflecting pool during the day... the memorial chairs are on the left where the building was destroyed and the 'Survivor Tree' is on the right...

A rescue team wrote these words on the building across from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building that was destroyed and the words were later used in forming their mission statement...

The OKLAHOMA Experience...

The Riley's left Ohio after work on Thursday (10/25) and traveled approximately 18 hours to Oklahoma for the Wedding reception of Andy and Meghan Behrens (married 9/30/07). We visited with Sally and Al at their home in El Reno, OK on Friday...

Later that evening a dinner was hosted at the Hampton Inn for the family to meet and greet Andy and Meghan. An Italian meal was served and then we shared music and a funny skit by the Plattner family (Chad, Jesse and Javan). They made us all laugh!!!

Cori enjoyed getting to know "Jonas Plattner", her newest nephew!! Jonas looks like he was enjoying himself too.

Andy and Meghan Behrens (the Newlyweds). Sally, Susan and I helped to decorate the hall where the reception was held on Saturday (10/27/07).

Sally did a great job on the table decorations and favors!!! :)

The happy parents: Sally and Al Behrens

Joneses: Angie, Stephanie, Steve and Amy enjoyed the reception...

LauraLee and family enjoyed the party - even Jonas has on his Sunday best!!

Al's brother, Roger, and family from Shaumburg, Illinois visit with Alisa - Sally and Al's daughter from Dallas, TX.

MOM...

Mom loves flowers. She saw these in the foyer
and we asked if we could take her picture with them.
Doesn't she look pretty??

"Steph, Mom and I" Stephanie bought Mom
her festive halloween top.
(I scanned the first (2) pictures and they aren't
as clear as the others I've posted from my camera.)

Sunday, Oct. 21st, a Pumpkin Festival was held

at Chapel Hill and included was a hay-ride. I

have always enjoyed a hay-ride and Mom

enjoyed the ride too along with Darrel & Lori!!

Here we saw the lake on the property from a

different prospective.

Waiting on the hay-ride.

Steph and Mom posed in front of the big pumpkin!!

Seaside Adventure & Other Fun...

Saturday (9/29) Cori, Amanda and I attended a
peanut festival in Emporia, VA as well as stopping
at this roadside stand where Cori bought some
pumpkins, mums and peanuts in the shell.

We also stopped in Smithfield, VA...an historical village.

Sunday, Cori and I enjoyed the day at Busch Gardens

and rode some big roller coasters. This was the

scariest coaster I have ever ridden which sat 10

people across and 3 rows deep. "The Griffin"

Towards the end of the ride it traveled above

a pond and (2) blades in the back picked

up and sprayed water!!! No one got wet, but

it looked really cool...

Tuesday (9/25) We got up at 4:30 am and

we were on Virginia Beach before sunrise with

our cameras for a photo session...

After the photo session, we ate breakfast

at a hotel on the boardwalk and then drove

to the Outer Banks (NC) for a day of exploration...

In the evening we viewed the sunset over

the sound in Corolla, NC.

Corolla is at the end of a strip of land and a

lighthouse is needed to warn any ships in

the vicinity...

Friday we viewed the sand sculptures that

were built on Virginia Beach by teams from

many different countries. This one is of an

American Indian. I wanted to see the

sculptures in progress, but we were never

there at the right time.
Monday (10/1) Wanda and Dick Perry stopped

by on their way to the Outer Banks.

We really enjoyed your visit Wanda and Dick!!!

My stay with Cori was a lot of fun and after all

the stress at work I was grateful to have some

downtime. The only snafu came at the end of

my vacation when I found out I had scheduled

my return flight for AM instead of PM and

therefore had to stay one day longer than I had

planned - what a sacrifice - right?

After placing my luggage back in Cori's car, her car

wouldn't start and we had to have it towed - and

then rented a car for the next day.

When I arrived back in Cleveland my luggage couldn't

be located (2 suitcases). So I'm still dealing with the

airline as they search for me. At work they're going

to get tired of seeing me in the same clothes...I don't

want to go buy anything until I know if they find my

luggage or not.

All in all my vacation was truly enjoyed and God

blessed the time I spent with Cori.

"306 SUNSET LANE"

Home Sweet Home --- 306 Sunset Lane!!!!!!

Memories... 1st day of school, 1st date, measles, Brownies,

trick or treat, ballet and tap w/Mrs. Kettner, neighbors,

Methodist Church, Mounders, hide 'n seek, family reunions,
sledding at the pit, roller skating, boating, camping, Rock

River, drive-ins and root beer... MOM & DAD :)

View of the Sunset Hills Golf Course and time enjoyed on

the patio...

Pretty empty living room... think of all the hours we

enjoyed in this room: monster music with Dad, back

rubs with Mom, hide the thimble, live Christmas

trees and bubble lights. Sharon, Sally and Susan

moved into the 'new' house with Mom and Dad

and later Stephanie, Sheila and 'Kim' (Darrel)

were born.

Dishes, dishes, dishes!! Mom and Dad had their built

in kitchen crew... You wash and I'll dry while we

played "I see something blue"... Last minute

decisions to have a picnic supper at the White Pines

State Park and the great suppers Mom would put

together including FRESH squeezed Lemonade!!

We all enjoyed sitting on the patio and watching the

golfers on the course or sharing skits with the

family...Singing... Dad playing the harmonica...

Singing... Sharing a good laugh... Singing...

Laughing, Laughing, Laughing... What FUN!!!

The Era has come to an END but we sure have

some Great Memories :)

* SUMMER FUN *

Sally, Al and I visited with Mom
Thursday (7/5) before they left
for Oklahoma.
Sally and Al were all packed up and
ready for their trip home when this
picture was taken...

Ben enjoyed getting his feet wet
in Uncle Darrel's pool on the 4th.

Nathan's batting practise with

Uncle Darrel - Nathan had just

hit the ball in this photo...

I was planning to help Nathan put

his 'Thomas' puzzle together but

he did it all by himself. Great Job,

Nathan!! (Nathan looks so grown

up here)

Fun around the campfire..

Andrea was cuddling with

Nathan at the campfire..