April's New Car

My daughter-in-law, April, drove in this morning with this new vehicle ! It is really pretty and has so many options, it is unbelievable. It has a voice-activated navigation system so you just tell the car where you want to go and it takes you there.

It also has voice-activated other things such as you can tell it to find a jazz station under the entertainment menu or tell it to turn on the air conditioner, etc. - it is truly a technological marvel.

And speaking of technological marvels, this is the first picture I have taken with my camera phone and then transferred it to my computer so I could put it on my blog. Now considering my limitations, THAT is a technological marvel !

Wonderful Time of Year

There is no event I enjoy more than having all my family at Christmas. Everyone was here this year at the same time - that allowed us to enjoy all the things we like most. One night was singing, playing games, laughing and joking - then there were the church services that are so special at this time of year. The family brunch and gift opening on Christmas day was a new tradition (brunch instead of dinner) that we liked so much, we decided to do it again next year. My extended family consisting of about 40 people gathered at our house on Christmas afternoon for more eating, laughing, talking and catching up on family events that we may have missed during the year.

I am thankful for my family and all the joy they bring to me. I am truly blessed !

Famous Movie Quotes

This year's Official Oscar Poster is made up of quotes from movies which have withstood the test of time and have become household sayings among many of us. Some of my personal favorites are :

"If I forget to tell you later, I had a really good time tonight."

"What we have here is a failure to communicate."

"You want the truth ? - you can't handle the truth!"

"Here's looking at you, kid."

"And to think, I gave him to you."

"Mama always says, Stupid is as stupid does."

"Fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, shrimp gumbo, shrimp scampi, shrimp kabobs, shrimp creole, coconut shrimp, barbeque shrimp, shrimp cocktail, grilled shrimp, and I guess that's about it."

"And I'd like to get you something for Christmas, too, Clark, something really nice."

"It's Christmas, Audrey, we're all in misery."

Do you have some favorite movie quotes that are repeated around your house? If so, let me hear from you.

My $.02 Worth

I am going to jump right into the middle of the Christmas tree controversy and give my opinion.

First, let me assure you that I am more liberal minded than most people you know, and definitely more liberal than most people of my generation. I pride myself on being non-prejudicial in regard to everything - sexual orientation, racial differences, gay marriage, abortion, religious differences, and all the "hot button" topics of today's society but the current hoopla over banning Christmas trees in public is just over the top.

Think about it - if we have to take the word Christmas out of everything we say, we will just become one big blob of confused mess around this time of year. I do not believe Jewish people, Muslims, or people who celebrate Kwanza or subscribe to the teachings of the Dahli Lama or any other religions other than Christianity really take offense to Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and the other trappings associated with this season.

To Christians, Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ, but there is also more to it than that. It is a time when all people celebrate family and friends. It is a time of love and respect and redemption and renewal and remembrance and sharing and expressing love and appreciation to everyone who is a part of our life. It is a time when the cares of the world can be temporarily put aside while we watch the glow of happiness on the faces of children who have just received a visit from Santa Claus, or the twinkle in the eye of a nursing home patient who is sitting listening to a group of children singing Christmas carols to them.

I think we should just "chill out" and enjoy this wonderful season of love,joy, sharing and giving. There are many battles in this world worth fighting - homelessness, world hunger, child abuse, the AIDS epidemic, drug abuse, poverty, and the list goes on and on, but a battle over Christmas trees is not one of them.

They're Multiplying !

Imagine my surprise when I opened the program which listed the orchestra members who are accompanying our Christmas musical presentation and the first viola player listed was named Susan Hawkins ! That makes four that I know. I've already had people tell me they didn't know my Susan played the viola as well as the piano. It's confusing !

Speaking of the Christmas musical, we spent several hours practicing yesterday and we rehearse with the orchestra for the first time tonight and the presentation is tomorrow night. I still get chill bumps when I sing The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah and now I am going to get to sing it with a professional orchestra. That will be awesome !

Serves Them Right !

Whirlwind Weekend

This past Thursday night, my daughter and I flew to Texas, spent Friday and Saturday packing and moving a family member out of her house she had occupied for about 40 years. Then all three of us packed liked sardines into her car with her beloved cat, and made a 16 hour car trip to Atlanta, arriving around 9:00 p.m. The final leg of the trip was my drive from Atlanta to Fort Payne last night. Needless to say, it was a long weekend but we accomplished everything we set out to do and it was a good feeling to have that major task behind us.

I think it always helps us to appreciate others when we see how hard other careers can be. I definitely would not want to be a professional packer and mover ! Although I'm told I'm pretty good at it.

One Benefit of the Blog

During the school year, 1991-1992, our family hosted an exchange student from Finland and had a wonderful year with him. Several years after that he came back to the USA for a brief summer at a University and we saw him again but about 5 years ago, I lost contact with him and had tried, unsuccessfully, to find him. I had searched the "find people" services many times and had tried to find phone numbers through international phone information channels.

Yesterday, out of the blue, my daughter got a comment from him on her blog and he had tracked her down . Thank you, blogsphere, for helping us find our long lost friend !

What About Those Multiple Ceremonies ?

Four months ago today, I published a post about Pamela Anderson and Bob Ritchie (Kid Rock)planning to get married in four different places around the world. They only made it to three of the ceremonies - ditching the Michigan location at the last minute.

Today, I read where Pamela filed for divorce less than four months after the marriages - guess having multiple ceremonies isn't the answer after all.

Things to be thankful for ....

While our Thanksgiving holiday was not without some stress, for the most part, it was absolutely wonderful ! We had some sickness of extended family members which caused some changes of plans and unexpected trips and rearranging of schedules but despite all that, here are the things I enjoyed:

1. Thanksgiving day with my family - eating, talking, laughing and did I mention eathing ?

2. A raucous game of Balderdash which left us with sides hurting from laughing so hard.

3. Shopping on Friday with my girls - yes, I know it's insane but I'm one of those who loves to hit the stores the day after Thanksgiving and stand in long checkout lines with the other go-zillion people who have the same idea of shopping that I do.

4. Eating at Bonefish Grill with my family on Friday night. Wow! I have eaten there many times and have never had a bad meal. (Sorry, Heidi, I can't remember the names of all the food I ate but it was wonderful) Of course, the company could not have been better.

5. Putting up my Christmas tree and outside decorations certainly put me in a festive mood. I sat in the living room last night watching the twinkling lights, looking at the fire and listening to Christmas music .

I'm thankful for holidays and thankful for my family who brings me so much joy !

Think About It

In Dakar this week people waited for days to get bread and water.

People in Zimbabwe have been waiting for weeks to get life-saving vaccines for their children.

In South Africa, people walked for days and stood in line for hours in order to vote.

In America, people camped out for days, stood in line, shot other people who were in line, and robbed people at gunpoint, to get a Play Station 3.

It's sad. We need to be better than that.

Happy Birthday, Eric

My son-in-law Eric is celebrating a birthday today. I credit him for getting me into blogging - a pasttime I thoroughly enjoy. I credit him for making us laugh with his one-liners, for being a good sport , for being a loving family member to us, and for being a good husband to my daughter. Can't ask for much more than that in a son-in-law. Happy Birthday, e, hope you have a great day !

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

THE GOOD : Auburn beat Alabama 22-17 for their 5th straight win over their main rivals. The game was exciting, the weather was beautiful, we had tons of fun with our awesome family and friends, and for Auburn fans, it couldn't have been better.

THE BAD: Our Fort Payne football team lost to Athens in the playoffs 41-7. Fort Payne had lots of turnovers and certainly didn't have a good night Friday night.

THE UGLY: After the Auburn/Alabama game, as Auburn players and coaches tried to enter the tunnel going into their dressing room, Alabama students pelted them with cups, full bottles of water and other trash items. As Auburn's David Irons reached to shake a police officer's hand, an Alabama fan hit him in the eye with a full bottle of water, prompting him to have to be treated by team doctors for a serious eye injury. Now if that's not UGLY, I don't know what is. To be fair, all Alabama fans are not like that but it doesn't take many instances of poor sportsmanship to ruin the reputation of a school.

Great Football Weekend Ahead

As you may have guessed by now, I am an avid football fan - particularly high school and college (not so big on the pros). Anyway, my two favorite teams are playing this weekend. Tonight, my high school alma mater is playing its 12th game of the year - all of which they have won so far. First time since 1935 they have gone undefeated and they are now in playoffs. Go, Wildcats !

Secondly, tomorrow I will be traveling to the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa to cheer my Auburn Tigers to victory. If we win, it will be our 5th straight victory over the Tide. Win or lose, it promises to be a great day with family and friends! War Eagle!

Would have taken a picture but . . .

Unfortunately, my cell phone does not have a camera on it but I was in the drive-through line at the bank today and the new truck in front of me had two bumper stickers: The one on the left said, "God Loves You." The one on the right said , "Welcome to America. Learn to Speak English or Go Home."

Seems to me, one would have to subscribe to one of those beliefs or the other - not both at the same time.

First Family Member Goes Hybrid

My brother Charles came by yesterday to show me his new Toyoto Hybrid. He drove 49.9 miles on his first gallon of gas and claims that in-town driving gets around 60 MPG. The car automatically switches from gasoline to electric when in the idle mode so when stopped at traffic lights or in busy traffic, you are not using gas.

It's a pretty cute design and I'm sure sooner or later we will all be driving cars that do not use gasoline at all - just a matter of time.

Thanks, Tiger

Saturday, after 20 years of representing Auburn University's school spirit, golden eagle Tiger will retire. Tiger has served as War Eagle VI since 1986, soaring over the football stadium at the beginning of home games in a spectacular display of grace, beauty and elegance.

She was honored by the 2002 Winter Olympics Committee in Salt Lake City when she was asked to fly over the opening ceremony of the games.

Earlier this year, Auburn veterinarians diagnosed Tiger with skin cancer and she has since undergone surgery and radiation therapy. In 2005, she was honored for her contributions to Auburn and the state of Alabama by being inducted into the Alabama Animal Hall of Fame.

Tiger's successor, War Eagle VII, will take over at halftime Saturday after Tiger's last flight.

Thank you, Tiger, for making Auburn fans feel so much pride. Job well done.

Favorite Movies

I love going to movies and it is almost impossible to pick out favorites - there are so many I like but there are some which I have watched dozens of time each and still enjoy them. Here are my top 15 picks:

1. The Sound of Music
2. Back Street
3. Titanic
4. Gone With the Wind
5. Pretty Woman
6. Notting Hill
7. Forest Gump
8. Christmas Vacation
9. The Prince of Tides
10.The Notebook
11.An Officer and a Gentleman
12.Driving Miss Daisy
13.The Shawshank Redemption
14.Sleepless in Seattle
15.One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Hard to Believe

A news article today claimed that a 23-year-old woman in Washington state went to the hospital with a severe stomach ache and left there with a full-term baby boy ! She said she didn't have any idea she was pregnant.

Having experienced pregnancy three times, I have some questions about it :

1. Did she notice a large bulge on the front of her body ?
2. Did missing 9 months of "you know what" give her any clue that something
was wrong ?
3. What about the smell of food cooking sending her flying to the bathroom to
throw up ?
4. And even if she missed all those clues, after about the 5th month, a baby
starts moving around inside - initially giving fluttering feelings which
ultimately turn into full-blown, blatent, hard kicks to the ribs commencing
about the 7th month and continuing for the duration of the pregnancy.

Do you think after all that she just figured she had eaten some too spicy chili dogs ?

Check Out This Clock

This is a fascinating clock.

Kristen

My granddaughter participated in the FPHS Calendar Girl contest. She looked so pretty and she was very poised and graceful. We were all so proud of you, Kristen.

Where is the SPCA ?

There is a trend sweeping the country that I do not think I can live long enough to understand --- dressing dogs and cats in clothes !

Do you think our pet friends want to wear clothes ? Trust me, they don't ! I remember the conniption fit our cat pitched when my brothers (at a very early age) tied a scarf around her neck and put booties on her feet to watch her try to get them off !

Now, pet clothes are everywhere. A quick search on the web for pet apparel proves mind-boggling ! Some sub-categories include evening wear, robes, shoes & boots (remember how our cat hated those booties), dresses, costumes, accessories, and sportswear.

If I had thought of this idea myself and was making a gozillion dollars selling it to people who have more money than sense, I might feel differently about it. But since I didn't originate the concept, I think I'll market a training video for dogs and cats which teaches them how to bite, claw, and scratch their way out of the clothes AND give the same treatment to the owners who try to adorn them.

Another Fall Picture from Fort Payne

I took this today while taking pictures of homes for our real estate advertising. Couldn't resist stopping for a minute to soak in the beauty of it.

French Press Coffee

One of my favorite eating establishments is a small restaurant tucked away in the tiny town of New Salem, Georgia, on top of beautiful Lookout Mountain. The food is delicious (the crispy squash is a personal favorite) but I always end the meal with a cup of French Press Coffee. I think I am going to ask for one of those individual French Press coffee pots for my birthday.

If you have never tried it and you are a coffee drinker, try it some time. I guarantee you will love it.

My Favorite Time of Year

I was working out of the office this morning and had my camera with me when I passed by this beautiful scene. Just had to snap a picture.

Information for those who don't care.....

A FOX SPORTS report claims that Mike Tyson wants to fight women on his next tour. I thought he had already done that -

Congratulations Blake and Will

Grandson Will and his best friend Blake won 1st and 2nd place in the Southeastern Junior Golf Tournament this weekend. Blake had a two-day score of 136 and Will had a two-day score of 139 , finishing with an eagle on 18 ! It was a great day !

Almost Perfect

Yesterday was one of those days - almost perfect in every way.

1. Weather was absolutely gorgeous. Blue autumn sky, cool temperature and sunshhine.
2. My grandson, Will, shot a 69 in the Southeastern Junior Golf Tournament.
3. My Auburn Tigers beat undefeated Florida 27-17
4. My children and grandchildren were with me all day.
5. The thing that kept it from being perfect - one of my family members was in Texas.
We missed you, e, it was a grand and glorious day.

A Call from the Past

Forty-five years ago, I had a best friend named Kittye. I was a very young mother at the time living a long way from my family and Kittye was the person who was always there for me. We shared many wonderful times together.

Circumstances caused us to both move to different towns and we managed to visit a few times and correspond frequently but as years weny by, those times became less and less frequent and I have not seen her since 1982.

Over the years, we had both moved a few times and I had tried to find her and she had tried to find me. One day I even approached a lady in an airport who resembled Kittye and asked her name but of course it wasn't her.

Yesterday, I got a call from her - she had finally tracked me down ! It was a somewhat bittersweet call because I learned that she had tried desperately to find me three years ago when her husband died of cancer. (I was living in Florida at the time and she had no way of knowing that)

We talked for an hour last night - trying to catch up on half a lifetime. We live three hours from each other now and I will certainly plan a visit to see her !

True friendships are one of life's greatest blessings !

Wound Licking is Never Fun But . . .

Our beloved Auburn Tigers took a bad beating Saturday when the Hogs rolled into town. It was certainly not Auburn's best day but I understand that - I am not at my best every day. Fortunately, my bad days are not broadcast on national T.V. and then hashed and rehashed a thousand times by the media.

Despite a disappointing game score, we cut another huge notch in our memory log ! We tailgated with family and friends, got goose bumps watching the fabulous marching band, high-fived the players at the Tiger Walk, shopped at Tiger Rags and J&M, and watched with pride as Will (my grandson) got to meet with the head golf coach at a preliminary recruiting session.

As always, we left there chanting, "It's GREAT to be an Auburn Tiger!"

Quote of the Week

"Politicians are like diapers - they should be changed often - and for the same reasons." - Robin Williams

Still Trying to Figure It Out . . .

A recent post by my daughter Amy (on her blog) about reading her high school yearbook prompted me to go in the attic and find one of my yearbooks. She mentioned so many quotes from friends and I know her book was covered in notes and congratulatory messages.

Mine, on the other hand, had no notes, no autographs from friends, and no good wishes written to me by anyone. On every single picture of myself I had printed the word "me". I imagine psychologists would have a heyday with that !

I think it's just plain weird !

For One More Day

I just ordered the book by Mitch Albom entitled , For One More Day. I have read Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven by him and they were the kind of books that stayed with you for a long time. They aren't something you can put down and not remember anything about it the next week.

I saw the author interviewed on GMA and the book, For One More Day, is exactly what you would imagine it would be. If there was someone in your life who is no longer here and you could go back and spend one more day with them, what would you do or say ?

I have already thought of things I would say to my mom or dad if I could spend another day with them or what I would say to my friend, Juanita, if I could spend another day with her or to my extended family member, Wayne, if I could spend another day with him and the list goes on and on.

I hope that in reading this book I will say and do the things that I should to my loved ones now while they are still here because unfortunately, in this life, we don't get the chance to have that "one more day".

Kirk's New Van

Kudoes for the County Fair !

This may not mean much to some but today the County Fair opens in our little town and what excitement it brings ! It isn't just any County Fair - it has won numerous awards for Best County Fair in the state and continues to attract hundreds each night as hardworking people display their accomplishments.

There is a huge tent of prize livestock, including pigs, cattle, roosters, game hens, rabbits and rare breed chickens. Then there is the tent which displays other talents such as quiltmaking, knitting, crocheting, flower arranging, baking, sewing and canning. It is still a significant feat in our county to win a blue ribbon at the Fair.

Almost every club and organization in tha county has a display and the retail businesses (especially farm oriented businesses) bring their state-of-the-art tractors, hay bailers, combines, and trucks for all to view.

Last but not least, there is the carnival which provides gut-slinging rides for the strong and side shows and arcade games for those with weak stomachs. The smell of funnel cakes, popcorn, hotdogs and candy apples permeates the air.

I have an idea that the County Fair may be one of those things that will not survive another generation but I'm glad I have lived in an era where it is still a vibrant event which we all look forward to each fall ! " Start up the cotton candy machine, guys, I'll be there in a little while."

Doctor's Office Waiting Rooms are Bad for Your Health

There is little in this life that I hate worse than going to a doctor. But a "thingy" that came up suddenly on my leg and started growing prompted me to go and I had to endure the dreaded doctor's office waiting room. Last week, it was two hours before I was seen and this week I had to go back to have the "thingy" removed.

I packed a lunch because they told me they were "working me in". That's always a bad term - translated it means you probably need to take some meals, and a change of clothes. And the temperature in those places is usually set around 65 which means I also take a blanket. So, in I go with my camping equipment.

All the people in that room were old and sick ! It was depressing. I'm fairly old and I had the majority of them beat by about 20 years. One man was coughing and choking to the extent that I thought he wouldn't live until he could wait out his time for his appointment.

I decided to amuse myself with reading and my choices of magazines were Child Crafts, a December 2001 edition of Field & Stream and a fairly current issue of Auto Week so I decided to watch the 9" screen T.V. which was bolted to the ceiling about 20 feet from my chair. The program selection was permanently affixed to the Food Network and when they said, "Start by sauteing your duck breast in duck fat", I decided to forego watching T.V. and to just sit there and stare at the afflicted.

After waiting in that room for another three hours, the shots, cutting, bleeding and stitches were a welcome relief !

Choosing a baby's name is important . . .

Last night I read an article about a woman named Ilene Dover. I'll bet it has been tough going through life with a name like that.

What is it with Naked ?

Two articles in the news caught my eye this week. One was about a guy dubbed as "The Naked Cowboy" who plays guitar dressed in nothing but a cowboy hat and boots. He has been arrested on the streets of New York several times but is still planning on making his first CD due out next year.

The second article was about Detroit Lions assistant coach Joe Cullen who is in trouble for driving naked through a Wendy's drive-thru and ordering a burger and fries. He was reported by the clerk at the drive-thru window and was arrested for indecent and obscene conduct.

I don't get it. In my opinion, after about age 3, nakedness loses its cuteness. I think after that it is best to confine naked exposure to showers, bathtubs, hospital operating and delivery tables, and a very few other private places.

The professionals would probably say Joe and Cowboy need therapy - I think they need a full-length mirror!

Remembering 9/11

As we get older, it gets harder to remember details of events that have enfluenced our lives but there are some events which have such an impact on us that the details are indelibly stamped on our memory - not only so we won't forget but so we will be changed by it. The day of September 11, 2001, is one of those days.

I was watching Good Morning, America, while getting ready to go to work and saw the planes hit the World Trade Centers, not fully understanding what was happening. I stopped on the way to work to mail a package to my daughter Amy who was getting married in a few weeks and I was told about the other two planes and that it was determined that our country was being attacked by terrorists.

I remember calling my children who were spread out over three states to make sure they were okay and as the hours went by, I remember that the horror of the situation began to sink in as we all watched for endless hours the pictures of the tragedy which were displayed over and over , maybe in part so that we would not ever forget.

I believe that we cannot live in fear and despair and that we do a disservice to those who lost their lives if we do not learn from the experience and that we look for some good - even if it is just good lessons to be learned.

One lesson is that our time on this earth is fragile. We never know when we leave for work on any given morning whether or not we will return home so we should remember to treat every person we see as if it may be the last time we will have an opportunity to let them know how much they mean to us.

Another lesson we should learn out of such a tragic experience is that that the human spirit in America cannot be destroyed by anyone - especially terrorists. If you don't believe that, revisit the tapes that show hundreds of firefighters going up the stairs to rescue people when going down the stairs to get out would have made much more sense.

And finally, savor every moment you have with your family and those you love. Don't let the fast-paced world of work and responsibility consume you and consume all of your time. Take every opportunity you possibly can to spend time creating memories - which at some point may be the only thing you have left of your time together.

If we do not learn from 9/11, much that was lost will have been in vain.

War Eagle !

Last night, I attended an Auburn Club meeting and it was great ! Imagine a room full of orange and blue with the speakers taking us down memory lane of their days at Auburn.

Beginning with a local retired veterinarian who was a track star at Auburn when it was still Alabama Polytechnic Institute, on to a local all-American football player who played during the Shug Jordan days, then an Auburn basketball player who at 6'11" is still our town's tallest guy. The program also included stories from a local man who played football at Auburn during the glory days of Bo Jackson, Lionel James, Greg Carr and others who played under Coach Pat Dye. And finally, a local Auburnite who has been officiating SEC football games for many years shared lots of sideline stories and admitted that he had been called dumb, blind, one-sided, etc. many times .

The most amazing thing to me was that 6 guys , all outstanding college athletes, from ages mid-40's to mid-80's, could stand up and relate game statistics, almost play by play, remember names of guys that played on their teams and the opposing teams, and give detailed accounts of events that happened to them at Auburn even though it was anywhere from 25 to 65 years ago.

To have that kind of impact, I think you could say it is a very special place !!!

My Fortune Cookie

My fortune today said "You will have a chance at a profitable transaction." Notice it didn't say I would have a profitable transaction - I'll just have a chance at one. Is that good ??

Classy Insults

Some people have a way with words. These are a few of my personal favorites:

"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." - Winston Churchill

"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know." - Abraham Lincoln

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." - Groucho Marx

"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." - Oscar Wilde

"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." - Mark Twain

Autumn in Alabama

There is a little chill in the air this morning and temps. are supposed to be in the high 50's tonight. After a very hot summer, I am ready for cooler weather which brings scenes like this one taken on Lookout Mountain in Fort Payne. For those of you who have never been here, come see for yourself.

Now That's Cold !

I'm sure you have read by now about the 400 employees of RadioShack who received an email saying, "The work force reduction notification is currently in progress. Unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated."

There are some announcements which should absolutely always be done in person. Here are a few :

"You're hired "
"You're terminated"
"I don't want to see you anymore"
"Will you marry me?"
"I'm pregnant"
"I quit"

Where are the Animals?

I know that everytime I long for a time gone by that I risk being tagged as old and out of step with the new generation but I just can't let this pass without commenting on it.

Have you noticed that most of the animal movies don't really have animals in them at all ? They have animated caricatures or computer generated animals endowed with human voices and personalities. Or, god forbid, they have people with octopus heads as in the recent Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

Case in point, I slept through "Finding Nemo" because it did not hold my interest - even with the famous personalities voicing the parts , but one could not possibly have slept through "Old Yellar", "My Friend Flicka, "Lassie Come Home", or any of those great movies which had real animals!

I guess it is easier to artificially generate an animal than it is to train a real one but I would rather see real Penguins any day than hear Tom Cruise imitating a skunk - oh wait, maybe it is more realistic than I think - - -

Keeping Up with the Smoneses. . .

A recent article in the British Observer claimed that some American newlyweds were blending their last names to have a new last name. I guess the Branjolina and Tomkat articles about movie stars started all this but I put together some blended names for our family.

We could have the Hawkoffs or the Shupps. Or we could have the Tchekins or Quibells. Then there could be the Isbinns or the Shilzes or the Offbrands and the Quitts.

I think if this catches on, all the geneologists will have to placed in mental institutions - they can't handle the pressure !

DISSED !!!!!!!

My favorite TV show is Gray's Anatomy and although nominated for 11 awards, it walked away with nada from last night's Emmy Awards. That's just wrong ! But then, I didn't get to vote on that either.

Talk About a Hornet's Nest . . .

Imagine the furor stirred up by the article on Forbes.com written by Michael Noer, who said that many social scientists agree that men should not marry a woman with a career. Why? Because you run a high risk of being cheated on, getting divorced, not having children, and having to live in a messy house !

To adequately respond to this article would consume the entire blogsphere cyberspace network and I wouldn't want to give that much credance to Mr. Noer but I do have one solution for him.

Men can stop marrying career women then they won't have to worry about cheating, divorce, messy houses, etc. for long. They will all become extinct !

WHAT ??????

Pluto no long a planet ??? Who gets to decide that stuff ? Do we not get to vote on it ? I spent years remembering My Very Extravagant Mother Just Served Us Nine Pickles so I could remember the order of the planets from the sun out - now I have to leave off the Pickles ?????

Double Whammy - Female and Leftie

I am left-handed and have suffered through a lifetime of trying to use can openers, classroom writing desks, pencil sharpeners, scissors and a hundred other implements which are designed for the right-handed world.

11% of us were born left-handed including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Albert Einstein, leading us lefties to claim that the right brain makes us smarter and more creative. Less appealing is the fact that we have higher rates of high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, and schizophrenia. ( I have one of those and I'll leave it at that.)

Now, a recent study showed that left-handed college educated males earned 10-15% more than their right-handed counterparts but that did not apply to female lefties.

The study went into extensive detail about greater aptitude in divergent thinking, differing levels of fetal testosterone, and a bunch of other stuff I didn't understand - being female and left-handed, and all.

All I know is, if I'm female, left-handed and suffer from one of those three aforementioned maladies, being more creative isn't going to help me much !

# 3 and # 4

The AP pre-season football poll has Texas ranked # 3 and Auburn ranked # 4. It just doesn't get much better than that !!! I'm a lifelong fan of Auburn and a more recently acquired fan of Texas .

I'm already packing my bags for a big Auburn weekend !!!

War Eagle and Hook'em Horns !!!!

He Should Have Held Out. . .

When former Nike Chief Executive William Perez resigned last January after a little over a year on the job, he got a severance package worth $5.5 million, including $2.8 million that represents two years' base salary and a $1.75 million bonus for 2006 even though he didn't serve for most of the year. Nike accelerated the vesting of restricted stock -- allowing Perez to take another $11 million.

Nike also purchased his Portland, Ore., home for the price he paid, $3.18 million , and picked up the tab on $574,649 worth of renovations Perez made at the home. They offered $56,500 to cover prepaid athletic club fees if he quits the gym.

I just couldn't believe he didn't hold out for a couple of pair of Air Max 360's !

How Southern are You ?

Since I am only 55% Texan, I figured I would do better at being southern, so I devised my own little test. Check it out.

Are you a real southerner

MORE KUDOS FOR ATLANTA

I spent another weekend in Atlanta and every time I go there, I love it even more ! I love big cities - New York and Atlanta being my two favorites. There is more to do than one can possibly imagine. Choosing a restaurant from among the hundreds of choices can be challenging but three of our choices were Ray's in the City for seafood on Saturday night, a little bistro at Atlantic Station for Saturday lunch and the famous hole-in-the-wall burger joint , George's , in Virginia/Highland, which has the best burgers in three states. Amy wanted me to branch out and try a blue cheese burger but I stuck with the regular and it was delish ! They have at least 10 or 12 choices of burgers - think I'll try something new next time.

In honor of Heidi, I wish I could remember the description of my blackened Mahi-Mahi which included a shrimp-crab remoulade, some kind of scrumptious spinach side and their famous mashed potatoes but in spite of my inability to adequately describe it, it was heavenly !! Ray's guarantees that no seafood is served which is more than 48 hours from sea to table . They fly it in 5 times daily.

Amy and Eric's house in Atlanta is adorable ! AND the location could not be better. Close enough to town to be in the middle of everything but it also has its own little neighborhood where people walk their dogs, stroll their babies, hang out at little sidewalk cafes, play frisbees in the park, etc. I'm sure they would love hosting their friends for a visit to their cool city !

Come to Atlanta and see for yourself ! It's awesome !

THE BASS PRO SHOP

I know it is difficult to imagine but I spent over an hour in a Bass Pro Shop in Sevierville, Tennessee, recently and not only did I enjoy it but I was pretty much in awe of the vast appeal for the retail outdoor world.

The building was huge and had fish ponds, waterfalls, a coffee shop and every piece of outdoor sporting equipment known to man.

I didn't spend much time at the deer urine and moose lick displays but I checked out a 4-wheeler that cost almost as much as my car. I registered for a boat to be given away and have stared at the phone since then awaiting the call.

I'm convinced that Eric Rudolph who was able to stay hidden in the North Carolina woods forever had been to this shop for his camouflage gear.

I guess the most fascinating section to me was the camping section. Emeril Lagasse doesn't have as much cooking equipment as campers can purchase for outdoor meals these days. I thought one iron pot and a small Coleman stove would be sufficient for a camping trip but obviously, I was mistaken.

All in all, I decided that I will leave most of the outdoor sports to someone else (although I might be up for a camping trip sometime) but the excursion to the Bass Pro Shop was definitely worth the trip !

THE OCTOPUS WAS UNHURT ....

I was intrigued by an article out of San Antonio, Texas, about a wreck involving a truckload of exotic animals, birds and fish being transported to Texas from Indianapolis.

Now before PETA jumps on my case, I'll hasten to say that I am very sorry that some penguins and fish were killed by passing motorists but I couldn't help but think what I would do if I were driving down the highway and saw a truckload of snakes, alligators, penguins and octopi in the road.

I really believe I would hit the ditch rather than hitting them. Either I am going to be killed trying to avoid them, or the smell from a truckload of penquins would suffocate me to death, or the lone surviving octopus would be highly ticked and would choke me to death or being dumped in the middle of a pile of snakes would result in an immediate heart attack.

No matter what, I figure I'm a goner !

THE ALLURE OF THE SMOKIES







I like the beach and palm trees, I like the therapeutic effect water has on my psyche but there is something about the Smoky Mountains
that draws me back to them for total peace and relaxation.

A small part may be the convenience - I can be in the middle of the Smoky Mountains in three hours drive time. Another part must have to do with wonderful memories of family events. One of my daughters and my step-son were both married there, and my family ushered in the new millennium at a cabin there.

A picnic at Cade's Cove, trying out our musical talents at a recording studio, trick or treating with my youngest daughter there, wading in the streams of the mountain or seeing forever from the top of Clingman's Dome: all experiences which come to mind when I think of how full and contented my life has been.

Some things have changed in the many years I have been traveling to the Smokies - Outlet malls have consumed some of the landscape and traffic can determine what you do and when you do it but nothing has tarnished the mountains' appeal. I still love it.

JUST LIKE THE ENERGIZER BUNNY - THEY KEEP GOING

Friday night in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, we went to a concert featuring Billy Joe Royal and B.J Thomas. They have both been performing more than 30 years and I think I expected a less-than- spectacular show given the age of the performers , the age of the band members, their voices, etc. Brother, was I dead wrong ! I don't believe they have changed a bit ! Two of the band members have been there 24 and 30 years respectively and after performing individually some of their most popular hits, B.J. and Billy Joe sang together and it was awesome !

I love going to a concert where I recognize most of the songs and I think I knew all but two out of at least 30 selections: Here were some of my personal favorites:

"Cherry Hill Park", "Tell It Like it Is", "Hush", and "Down In The Boondocks "- sung by Billy Joe Royal

"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "I Just Can't Help Believin'", "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head", "You're the One", and "Mighty Clouds of Joy" sung by B.J. Thomas.

I certainly enjoyed the music but I also got some satisfaction out of knowing that a person over 60 years old can still give you goose bumps !

REMEMBERING REUBEN . . .

This weekend we went on a little trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and while there we ate breakfast at IHOP. We couldn't help but think of Reuben, our son-in-law's dad, who loved eating breakfast at IHOP.

We had the privilege of meeting Reuben only a few times but in those few encounters, he made a profound impression on us. He was funny, smart, and extremely interesting. Since he and I were both retired educators, we talked "school talk" a lot but he had many other interesting experiences he was always happy to share. By the time we met, he was in somewhat failing health but always had that smile on his face and twinkle in his eye!

His eulogy was filled with rememberances of how he was loved and respected by his family and friends. A life well lived. Thanks for the memories, Reuben, we had an extra pancake for you !

IT'S ON THE NEWS TODAY . . .

A guard dog hired to protect a rare teddy bear collection valued at close to $1 million went berserk Tuesday night and ripped the bears all to pieces ! One bear he beheaded was previously owned by Elvis Presley and was valued at $75,000.

I can't help but wonder what got into that dog. Either he was freaked out by all those beady eyes staring at him, or he has a severe case of doraphobia, or he was just extremely ticked off at being stuck in a hot room with non-communicative animals ! I know how he feels sometimes.

TIME GOES BY . . .

Lyrics of Unchained Melody sung by The Righteous Brothers claim, "Time goes by so slowly ..."

That may be true when waiting to re-unite with the open arms of your love as in the song but in most other instances "Time goes by so quickly..."

Today, my first born is celebrating his 47th birthday ! It seems as if it were only a few years ago that he caught his first fish and slept with it all night. I think it was just a few years later, he was blasting me out of the house with his endless loud music of Fleetwood Mac and ZZ Top.

Shortly after his teenage years, he graduated from college, married and had a daughter - all (seemingly) within a matter of weeks !

He endured my learning how to be a parent when I wasn't much more than a child myself, and through all the bumps of his life and mine, we have always been there for each other sharing unconditional love.

The past 47 years have flown, but what a glorious ride! Happy Birthday, Kirk !

LONG AWAITED COLOGNE

It was announced today that Derek Jeter's cologne will go on sale in November. Wonder what a fragrance blend of red dirt, sweat and spit will smell like ?

SPECTATOR GOLF

I like golf. I tried to learn to play once. I spent several hundred dollars on equipment and I looked good when I unloaded at the course but after that it was all downhill and I resigned myself to enjoying spectator golf.

My husband, son, son-in-law, grandson, and many friends are golfers, I live on a golf course and I watch tournaments on T.V. but this past weekend I took my spectator golf to a whole new level. In order to help entertain our golfing friends who were visiting from Florida, I spent all day every day, two states and three courses, watching golf from the cart !

One thing I got out of my excursion was a new insight into golfing jargon:

"Ni-Shaa" is "nice shot" which is said each time the ball is hit by another person in order to boost the confidence of the ball hitter.
"Get in the Hole" is screamed immediately after the ball is struck even though the ball may not be headed anywhere near the hole.
Talking to the ball is common - "Whoa, ball", "Sit, ball", "Find some darkness, ball", "Bite, ball", and "Roll, ball, roll" are repeated at each hole.

Then there are the terms which I use entirely differently from the way golfers use them such as, "I pulled the damn thing", "I need to draw this one ", "That was soooo fat", and "What a good lie".

Oh, well, I do enjoy the scenery and the company and I did get one more thing out of my 54-hole spectator golfing experience - a major sunburn !

THE SECRET TO MARITAL BLISS ?

I'm probably not the best person to give marriage advice, but I did see where one couple seems to have it figured out - Pamela Anderson and Bob Ritchie (Kid Rock).

They are to be married this Saturday in St. Tropez, France, then they are coming to the U.S. to get married in California, then traveling to Michigan to get married, then ending up in Tennessee to tie the knot.

Maybe if we all had multiple ceremony locations . . . . .

Who said human ingenuity was dead ?

PUTTING IT OFF ONE MORE DAY . . .

Why is it that I put off going to the grocery store until I have one end piece of bread and a teaspoon of outdated milk ? It doesn't make sense because I like to cook and like to eat even better so one would think my attraction to food would make me look forward to the whole grocery experience but no - it doesn't !

Out of town guests coming tomorrow for the weekend forced me to go for the two-buggy trip yesterday and I tried to make it a fun experience so I wouldn't go completely berserk ! I began to look at grocery buying as an adventure and tried to think of one liners for my stand-up comedy routine that I secretly always wanted to do and I wondered - - -

Why do they put croutons in air-tight containers ? Aren't they just stale bread anyway ?
When cheese gets its picture taken, does it say "people"?
Why is lemon juice flavored with artificial flavoring when dishwashing liquid has real lemon?
Spelling Evian backwards should tell you why you are spending $2.00 for a bottle of water.
Then they had the "new and improved" cat food - who knows that ?

I had almost gotten myself into a good mood thinking of funny things when the person in front of me had to have a price check on bok choy (of course no one knew what it was much less how much it cost) and after standing in that line for 20 minutes I resolved not to go back grocery shopping until mid-September !

. . .AND NOW THERE ARE TEN

Part of my renovation to a new phase of life has been in the area of trips to the nail salon. There was a time when first of all, I was a nail biter and a trip to a nail salon would have been fruitless and secondly, I thought only the wealthy or extremely pampered frequented a nail salon, and thirdly, I would have been hard pressed to find a nail salon in small town Fort Payne. That has all changed. Now there are ten nail salons and almost everyone I know goes to one of them. I have fallen into the trap - I absolutely have to have my nails done ! And sometimes I even get my toenails done ! Talk about pampered !

Yesterday, on one of my visits, they told me I needed to have the fake acrylic taken off my nails so I could have more fake acrylic slathered on . I soaked my hands in a solution which I am sure ate off my skin as it was eating off the fake goo. Then, my nails were free and natural and long ! Then they told me I needed to cut my long nails off so they could glue fake tips on and put on more acrylic which I had just spent 30 minutes having removed !

$40 bucks and two hours later, I walked out of there with my pretty new nails - having succumbed once again to the pressure of my new renovation.

Go figure . . .

AT YOUR REQUEST - BLACKBERRY COBBLER

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Crisco
1/2 tsp. salt
6 tablespoons ice water

Mix flour and salt together. Cut shortening into flour mixture with a pastry blender (a fork will do if you don't have a pastry blender but do not use your hands to mix it) until the mixture looks like pea-sized lumps. Add ice water and work into mixture until you can roll into a ball. Place in refrigerator for a few minutes.

2 1/2 - 3 cups fresh blackberries
1 stick butter
2 cups sugar

Take pastry out of fridge, roll out on floured board until it is very thin and cut into 2 inch wide strips. Lay some strips on bottom of oven-safe pan (I use a round aluminum pan about 5 or 6 inches deep)put a layer of blackberries, then a layer of sugar, then pats of butter and repeat layers until all ingredients are used ending with a layer of pastry strips. Bake at 350 about 45 minutes or until pastry is brown on top.

NOTE: All of my mother's recipes which were handed down to me went something like this: "Add berries, put layers of sugar and butter on that until it looks like it has the right consistency . . ." She rarely ever measured anything so coming up with exact amounts of ingredients is challenging to say the least.

Hope this works for you.

. . .AND FOR DESSERT, HOMEMADE ICE CREAM

While I'm not a card carrying member of GRITS (girls raised in the south) I admit I am one of them and as such, there are certain foods which are imperative that one not only enjoys, but also knows how to make: blackberry cobbler, fried green tomatoes, and homemade ice cream !

Last night, I made two freezers - one fresh peach and the other vanilla - to take to a backyard party at my son's home. Of course, as in most cases of events I attend, I was the oldest one there but I was one of the most popular because of my two freezers of homemade ice cream ! One 30-year-old, after consuming three bowls of the tasty concoction asked where one could buy an ice cream freezer ? He said that he had searched all the logical places this summer looking for one - Lowes, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc. and there wasn't one to be found.

That's sad. . ..

OH, THE PRESSURE OF A NAME...

Naming a blog is almost as difficult as naming a new baby - well, maybe not quite that much pressure but pressure to get it just right. My blogger friends and family members seem to have come up with the perfect fit for theirs so I spent a couple of minutes coming up with mine and here goes-

The first part of my life was spent raising children and working in the field of education, teaching school and working for a state education organization. After retiring from that, I embarked on another career in real estate which consumed another 15 years.

I am now entering that phase in life where I want to preserve all the things which have brought me so much joy but I also realize that a renovation is taking place - I don't want to be closed to the ideas and advancements of the 21st century (although I am having a struggle with figuring out where rap music fits into a progressive society) or closed to the technology which I don't even pretend to understand but I want to enjoy the more relaxed pace which retirement brings.

I am Open for Renovation - - - -