More Than Meets the Eye

This is more than just a picture of a flower in my yard. It is the first attempt at taking a picture on my phone and sending it directly to my blog without going through a computer.

I learned how to do it myself - NOT ! I had the able assistance of my son-in-law . Thanks, e !

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And I Was Thinking of Giving a Wal-mart Gift Card

Presently, I have 9 graduation invitations in my drawer waiting for me to decide on a gift to send. An internet article on graduation gifts caught my eye so I clicked on it and read it.

Skin resurfacing, liposuction, breast implants and nose jobs now show up at the top of many grad's wish list. From 2002 to 2006, cosmetic surgery performed on kids from ages 13 to 19 doubled to 244,124 including 47,000 nose jobs and 9000 breast implants.

I am attempting to be "Open for Renovation" and not let myself get outdated in my thinking, but I may have to give up on that one.

Time Flies - and Occasionally Stands Still

Friday night the phone rang and it was Jane and Dianne.

To set the stage, Jane and Dianne were my closest friends throughout my school years. Most people referred to us as The Three Muskateers - one was rarely seen without the other two. We went to the same school, same church, were in the same clubs at school, in the band and the list could go on and on. Almost every weekend we spent the night with each other. We spent thousands of hours in the summers at Dianne's parents' lake house.

Janes' dad was killed in a wreck when we were in junior high school and we spent several nights at her house piled up in her bed grieving over a lost parent.

Dianne was in a serious boating accident in high school almost losing her leg and we spent lots of nights piled in a hospital bed grieving for our injured friend.

They were one year ahead of me in school and the bond was so close that I went to summer school and skipped my senior year in high so that I could enroll in the same college at the same time they went to college.

Time, circumstances, and distance separated us over the years and when they called Friday night, thery were in town for their 50th high school reunion! We made a plan to meet on Saturday. It had been many years since I had seen either of them.

Some things change drastically over time and some things never change. We don't look the same (one of us has gray hair and two of us are still very "naturally" blond); we don't act quite the same (thank goodness ) but we feel the same. True friendship never changes. It's amazing how our minds can recall the minutia of seemingly insignificant events - events that become the cornerstone of the memories of a happy life lived so many years ago.

We reminisced, showed pictures of children and grandchildren and told silly stories (we would probably have told a few more if Jane had not brought her serious-minded husband along) and we had an absolute blast !

Occasionally time stands still and allows us to recapture moments that might otherwise be forgotten.

Thanks for the visit, girls ! I will always love you.

American Idol Standings

After last night's elimination, here are the poll standings:

Eric - 50 points
Amy - 25 points
April - 50 points
Kirk - 50 points
Kristen - 50 points
Terry H. - 90 points
Susan T. - 0 points
Chuck - 90 points
Susan C. - 50 points
John - 65 points
Sara - 90 points
Benji - 90 points
Terry W. - 50 points
Pam J. - 40 points

Further calculation shows that no person has the top four left. The following people have 3 of the top 4 left:

Amy
Eric
Kristen
Kirk
Pam J.
Benji
Terry W.
Susan T.
John Q

The only participants who have Blake in the top 4 are:

Amy
Eric
April
Kristen

So, I think at this point, it is still up for grabs !

Grandmom's Bragging Rights

This past weekend, my granddaughter participated in a music competition at Chadek Conservatory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and received a Superior rating. This entitles her to compete in the State competition. Congratulations, Kristen ! We are so proud of you !






Yesterday, my grandson won 1st place in his high school sectional golf competition and his team won first place in their division. The top two teams from each section participate in the state competition in Auburn in a couple of weeks! Congratulations, Will ! That is awesome !

This is Cool !

A week from this Sunday, at three minutes and four seconds after 2:00 a.m. , the date and time will be 02:03:04;05/06/07. According to people who sit around and figure those things out, that will never happen again. I believe them because I am certainly not going to go to the trouble of trying to prove them wrong !

Beautiful Smile !

This is my granddaughter without her braces ! She just got them off today. It was a happy day for her !

Just Doesn't Get Much Better !

Here are some things that happened to me this weekend :

My son, son-in-law, and granddaughter went to the A Day game in Tuscaloosa (along with about 93,000 others) to see their beloved TIDE and they had a blast !

My daughter and son-in-law traveled to Kentucky to visit friends and went to their first horse race. They also had a blast !

My granddaughter participated in a music competition at Chadek Music Conservatory in Chattanooga and did extremely well. She is also getting her braces off today.

My grandson came and spent over three hours at our house just visiting . His high school golf team played in three tournaments this week and came in 1st, 1st, and 2nd.

I took a meal to an extended family member who was recovering from surgery and took another extended family member on an outing to DeSoto State Park.

I had dinner with some favorite in-laws from Heflin, Alabama.

The weather was extremely beautiful and I sat in the yard for a while and watched the birds.

Thank Goodness !!!

Sanjaya is gone !! We won't have to be subjected to his talentless attempt at singing anymore on AI. Since I picked Lakisha to win, I'm pretty sure I won't be taking home the pot of money because she is not measuring up to the high standard she set the first week when she sang the Jennifer Hudson song from "Dreamgirls" which prompted Simon to tell the other contestants to book their tickets home.

It's strange how things change on the show. I was totally surprised that Blake was in the bottom three. I guess the unpredictability of it is what keeps millions of us tuning in each week to see what happens.

This is Gross !

A zoo keeper had his arm bitten off by a crocodile. Fortunately, the arm was reattached but not before a photographer snapped this prize pic !

Status Report of American Idol Pool

To date, these are the points scored by each person participating in our American Idol pool:

Eric - 50 points
Amy - 25 points
April - 50 points
Kirk - 50 points
Kristen - 50 points
Terry H. - 50 points
Susan T. - 0 points
Chuck - 50 points
Susan C. - 50 points
John - 25 points
Sara - 50 points
Benji - 50 points
Terry W. - 50 points
Pam J. - 0 points

Extraordinary Snow Ball Bush

I took this picture yesterday. This is located in downtown Fort Payne close to the court house. I believe it is the most beautiful bush I have ever seen.

The picture doesn't begin to do it justice. Did I mention in an earlier post how much I love Spring ?

Congratulations, Amy and Jeff !

My daughter, Amy, participated in the ING Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon yesterday. There were 15,000 participants and she made it to the finish line in less than 4 hours, which exceeded her goal by an hour and 10 mintues.

Our friend, Jeff, also participated, and finished in slightly over two hours which also exceeded his goal. We are all proud of both of you !

It Was a Hoot !

Yesterday, my son Kirk, agreed to play on a basketball team for his daughter's youth group at church. The game was "loosely-regulated" allowing players to foul with no penalty. Kirk's method of "guarding" the opposing team was to run his wheelchair full speed ahead at the person with the ball preventing them from having any chance at scoring !

Watching him was a blast !

Talent Winners

Will (grandson) and Hunter Hawkins won 2nd place in their high school talent competition last night. They played "Dueling Banjos" from the movie "Deliverance" and it was great ! The audience was clapping so hard during the best part I could barely hear the instruments. I was really proud of them. And they won $75.00 for their second place victory. Congratulations, Will and Hunter !

Spring is Here !

I know the official first day of spring is not until tomorrow but yesterday as I was making my rounds, I couldn't help but get out my phone and snap some pics of trees and shrubs coming to life ! Absolutely one of my favorite times of year. And the dogwoods haven't even started blooming yet.

American Idol Pool Entries

Due to popular demand, I am posting the entries in our American Idol pool so those of you who participated can keep up with who has the most points. Getting # 1 correct scores 100 points; 2-4 gets you 70 points each; 5-7 earns you 40 points each and 8-10 earns 25 points each. I am not sure exactly how the points work because I am not the system administrator so any and all questions regarding scoring should be addressed to Terry H.

Amy's Picks:
1. LaKisha
2. Blake
3. Melinda
4. Chris R.
5. Gina
6. Jordin
7. Chris S.
8. Stephanie
9. Phil
10. Haley

Eric's Picks:
1. Melinda
2. Blake
3. LaKisha
4. Chris R.
5. Jordin
6. Stephanie
7. Gina
8. Chris S.
9. Haley
10. Phil

April's Picks:
1. Melinda
2. Chris R.
3. Blake
4. Stephanie
5. Jordin
6. LaKisha
7. Chris S.
8. Gina
9. Haley
10. Phil

Kristen's Picks:
1. Melinda
2. LaKisha
3. Chris R.
4. Blake
5. Stephanie
6. Jordin
7. Chris S
8. Gina
9. Phil
10. Haley

Kirk's Picks:
1. Melinda
2. Jordin
3. LaKisha
4. Stephanie
5. Brandon
6. Gina
7. Blake
8. Chris R.
9. Chris S.
10. Haley

Susan T. Hawkins Picks:
1. Jordin
2. LaKisha
3. Melinda
4. Chris R.
5. Blake
6. Haley
7. Gina
8. Sanjaya
9. Stephanie
10. Phil

Terry Hawkins Picks:
1. LaKisha
2. Melinda
3. Phil
4. Sanjaya
5. Jordin
6. Blake
7. Chris R.
8. Gina
9. Stephanie
10. Haley

Sara's Picks:
1. LaKisha
2. Melinda
3. Chris R.
4. Gina
5. Phil
6. Stephanie
7. Blake
8. Jordin
9. Chris S.
10. Haley

John Q's Picks:
1. LaKisha
2. Melinda
3. Stephanie
4. Jordin
5. Blake
6. Gina
7. Phil
8. Chris S
9. Chris R
10. Brandon

Chuck's Picks:
1. Melinda
2. Stephanie
3. Lakisha
4. Chris S.
5. Blake
6. Sanjaya
7. Chris R
8. Phil
9. Gina
10. Haley

Susan C. Hawkins Picks:
1. LaKisha
2. Melinda
3. Chris R.
4. Phil
5. Stephanie
6. Blake
7. Jordin
8. Chris S.
9. Gina
10. Brandon

Benji's Picks:
1. Melinda
2. LaKisha
3. Jordin
4. Stephanie
5. Phil
6. Gina
7. Blake
8. Chris R.
9. Chris S.
10. Haley

Terry Willmon's Picks:
1. Melinda
2. LaKisha
3. Phil
4. Jordin
5. Chris S.
6. Blake
7. Stephanie
8. Gina
9. Chris R
10. Haley

Pam James' Picks:
1 LaKisha
2. Melinda
3. Jordin
4. Chris S
5. Phil
6. Gina
7. Blake
8. Stephanie
9. Chris R
10. Brandon

A Prize for the Ugliest Outfit

Celebrities do some strange things - one of which is having a go-zillion dollars at their disposal to buy clothes and then coming out in outfits like these. Which do you think wins the prize for the ugliest ?

My Day at the Hospital

You may remember after reading a previous post, that I have a strong aversion to anything remotely connected with medicine, doctor's offices, and hospitals. Yesterday, I had to go to the hospital for a little "procedure".

First, they make you come there at 5:00 a.m. so you can wait another five hours to be called in for surgery. Then they give you what they call the "little stick" which is where they run the 7 inch needle into your arm to start your I.V. Then you strip , don the beautiful hospital gown and wait your turn. Finally, someone comes with a 10-inch wide cold table to transport you to the holding pen just outside the operating room. You can remain in this pen for a long time while they ask you your name and date of birth and what you are there for about 100 times - (it seems to me they should know that stuff already) Finally, they come to take you to the operating room.

Let me assure you that an operating room is the most foreboding place I know. It looks like the inside of a Star Wars Space Station. The temperature is kept at 60 degrees and every person in there except the patient is wrapped from head to toe with hats, coats, gloves, and masks - nothing exposed but their eyes ! The patient, on the other hand is lying there naked on a cold slab of steel with a klieg light directed at his or her worst parts.

They hook you up to about 25 monitors and show you the tray of knives, chisels, hammers, saws, probes, tubes, etc., and then wonder why your blood pressure just went up 20 points ! Finally, the little guy with the needle says, "We are going to give you a little something to make you rest", and by the time you say the "O" part of "Okay", you are gone.

Minutes later you are back in that holding pen without a clue about what went on in that cold room. They give you the complimentary flat-tasting Sprite and send you back home; in my case, with a resolve never to say a word about any ailment again for fear of being taken back to that dreadful place ! By my count, I have been in a hospital 3 times (other than to give birth) so I figure that's about 20 + years between visits. Hopefully, yesterday's visit will hold me another 20 years !

Happy Birthday, Susan

Forty three years ago today, my daughter Susan came into the world. Our family has been so lucky to have her in our lives. She is a talented musician, a very smart businesswoman, and a loving wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend.

Susan has kept us laughing with her sense of humor and quick wit. She loves being with family and friends and of course, we love being with her.

Happy Birthday, Suz, and thank you for being such a wonderful, loving daughter.

I love you.

Invasion of the Body Scanners

The Transportation Security Laboratory is testing the new airport body scanner and this picture is of a fully-clothed woman as she looks on the scanner.

I hope it is about 25 years before this security system goes into effect. By then, I figure one of two things: (1) Either I won't be flying anywhere, or (2) I won't give a flip about what I look like naked.

Prize Contest

My blogger son-in-law offered a prize contest on his blog (which I won, I might add) so I thought I would offer my own contest.

I am offering a prize for the best headline submitted which might appear in the year 2050. It must be based on current trends. Submit your entry and a panel of one (me) will select the winner and award the prize. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

1. "George Z. Bush Plans Presidential Run in 2052."

2. "Baby Conceived Naturally - Scientists Puzzled."

3. "Postal Service Raises 1st Class Stamp to $16.82 & Reduces Mail Delivery to Once a Week."

4. "85-year, $70 Billion Study Reveals Diet and Exercise Are Key to Weight Loss."

Now let me have your entries.

Countdown to Cruise Begins. . .

Five years ago our family went on an awesome cruise and we vowed to go on another one as soon as possible. It has taken five years for the "possible" to materialize but we are headed to the Caribbean three months from today !

You might think three months is a long time for a countdown but think of all the stuff you have to do to prepare for a cruise . First of all, you have to lose at least 20 pounds (you could possibly gain that all back during cruise week), then you have to try to get somewhat of a tan - you know, brown fat looks better than white fat any day. Then you have to save up lots of money for the purchase of trinkets that allure you from every port. Some of our family members have to save up money to throw away in the casino each night.

Then there is the shopping for the cute cruise clothes and ordering updated passports and deciding which shore excursions to take and deciding which shoes to take and deciding how to pack everything you own in a small bag that will fit under the bed in your stateroom and on and on . . . .

Three months and counting ----- I can't wait !

What Could You Do With $1,000,000.00 ?

1. You could go to www.buybritneyshair.com and be the lucky owner of Britney Spears recently- shorn locks of hair; or
2. You could provide innoculations against disease for thousands of people who cannot afford them; or
3. You could provide school textbooks for hundreds of disadvantaged children; or
4. You could provide warm blankets for 50,000 homeless people; or
5. You could rebuild 20 homes for Katrina victims; or
6. You could help find a cure for AIDS, breast cancer, cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy.

But if have a million bucks and you are hell bent on having something that belonged to Britney, it would make more sense to purchase her house which is also for sale.

Come to think of it - anyone considering buying her hair probably wouldn't know or care what made sense and what didn't.

Did You Hear About . . .

. . . . .the paranoid dyslexic who thought he was following somebody ?

The TAMS

Last night we went with some friends to J.T.'s Fish House to see The TAMS. The have to be getting up in years because they have been performing for almost 40 years. They looked like they were about 25 years old. The energy they had was electric !

They were so entertaining and we certainly enjoyed the performance. The only bad thing was for those of you who know how small J.T.'s is, there was standing room only by the time we got there so we either had to sit in an adjoining room or stand in the room where they were performing so we obviously decided not to stand for the entire 4 hours. If you ever get a chance to see The TAMS, it is well worth the effort.

Happy Birthday, Amy

Today my youngest child turns 32. Here she is a few years ago helping me unload the dishwasher (which was one of her favorite things to do.) She mostly liked hearing the silverware clang on the floor as she slung it across the room.

Her brother and sister were 16 and 11 when she was born so I had a lot of help in spoiling her. She has always been a wonderful daughter and sister and has brought so much joy and happiness to our family.

Happy Birthday, Amy. We are very proud of you and love you so much !

Special Occassion Weekend

Sunday, our family is getting together to celebrate three special occassions.

1. My granddaughter, Kristen, is celebrating her 15th birthday, February 11th. She is extremely smart and talented. She makes all A's in school, is in many activities, is an accomplished pianist and of course loves hanging out with her friends and talking on her cell phone. She is looking forward to getting her driver's permit. She drives her grandmother crazy by not wearing a jacket or coat when it is cold. Happy Birthday, Kristen. We love you very much !

2. Sunday, February 11th , is also the 13th wedding anniversary of my daughter and son-in-law. They were high school sweethearts and after going their separate ways for a few years, they got back together and have a great little family. They are both loving parents to Will and they bring much joy and happiness to all our family. Happy Anniversary, Susan and Terry.

3. Tuesday, February 13th, is my daughter Amy's birthday. (Sorry, Amy, I couldn't find a picture of you by yourself on my computer.) Amy is pictured above on the left with her brother and sister. Amy is a loving wife and family member. She wins the prize for being thoughtful about sending cards and remembering every one on their special occasions. She is smart, talented and has a very successful career in social work and lives in Atlanta. We love you Amy and hope you have a wonderful birthday.

I Was Tagged

My young friend, Heidi, tagged me and that means I have to tell some weird things about myself that people may not know. Since my life is such an open book (I blab everything I know about myself to friends and family) I don't know how much of my weirdness goes unknown but here goes:

I have recurring dreams of cats crawling all over me and I can't get them off. (I understand there are gurus out there who interpret dreams but I'll bet that stumps the hell out of them.)

I am pretty much a neat-freak when it comes to my house but one of my children found a stash of useless tags which I had taken off new clothes for years and just left in a pile on the closet shelf - go figure that one.

I am a worry wart ! If I don't have anything to worry about, I concoct something !

I like to control everything. Doesn't work too well with spouses - maybe that accounts for why I have had three - oops, didn't mean to tell that !

My nickname is "Chay" but only my dad and brother ever called me that so I guess that wasn't much of one - how many peoople have to call you by a name for it to be a "nickname" anyway?

I don't mind getting old but I don't want to act, look and feel old.

My lifelong dream has been to do something spectacular with music - like appearing on Broadway or singing with a huge choral group, etc. Too old now but I still like thinking about it.

I could live the rest of my life on hors d'ouvres.

I tag Susan.

SNOW !

We had snow on the ground this morning and I have not seen snow in a long time. It hasn't snowed in Alabama since we moved back from south Florida and of course, I didn't see it there so it was exciting to see !

I got up at 5:30 and there was a pretty good blanket of it on the ground but shortly thereafter, the temperature rose, the snow changed to rain and by the time I came to work, it was just wet and slushy and almost gone. Oh well, it was pretty for the short time it lasted.

What Will They Think of Next ?

Even though I do not understand most of the technology we have today, I am still fascinated by it. I saw yesterday where they now have three refrigerators which have computers in them. They can tell what you are out of and make a list of items you need to restock. If you want to subscribe to online grocery shopping, you could have the computer send your list to the online grocery and the food would be delivered to you.

Now if they can just figure out how to cook it, put it on the table, and clean up the kitchen, I'm in.

Weekend Movie Reviews

Rarely do I see three movies in one weekend but this was one of those exceptions and I have to say I loved them all. Now that's a feat for me to watch three movies and like all of them. Coincidentally, they were all based on a true story which makes them even more interesting. Here is Quinn's Review:

"Dreamgirls" - Loosely based on the lives and careers of the Supremes - it was awesome ! I loved the music and the acting was superb. Jennifer Hudson blew me away with her singing and Danny Glover, Jamie Foxx, Beyonce, and Eddie Murphy also did a phenomenal job. I would highly recommend seeing it - especially if you like music.

"The Pursuit of Happyness" - Based on a true story and you will leave the theatre with renewed hope for the human spirit. A homeless guy with a 5-year-old boy to raise alone, out of sheer will and determination, makes it as a stock broker on Wall Street and becomes an extremely successful and wealthy business man. The title role was played by Will Smith and the little 5-year-old boy is amazing. This is a feel-good movie and I highly recommend it.

"Coach Carter" - This has been out for some time and we saw it on a movie chanel on T.V. but once again, a true story of a coach in an inner-city school who risked his job to turn lives of students around at a school known for academic failures into
a place where kids were motivated to learn and succeed in life as well as in sports. Samuel L. Jackson played Coach Carter. Of course, it won't win any Oscars and the outcome was pretty predictible but any movie that makes me feel good and that makes me see all the good that is happening under very adverse circumstances is well worth spending a couple of hours of my time watching.

Neglecting the Blog

I think blogging must run in cycles. I have six blogs that I check every day and most of my blogging friends have been pretty sporadic about their posts lately. For one thing, our family has had a lot going on since Christmas but hopefully with Amy's new car, Susan's trip to Las Vegas and February birthdays coming up, we will have lots of things to write about.

I'll try to do better about coming up with interesting things to post also.

Good Luck, Eleanor

This weekend my niece will be a contestant in the Alabama Junior Miss Pageant. Many of her family members, including myself and my daughters, daughter-in-law and granddaughter will be there to cheer her on. She is a very smart and talented young lady and I'm sure she will do well in the competition.

The Junior Miss Pageant is based on talent, poise, academic achievements, interview questions, and physical fitness. It carries rewards of many college scholarships. Eleanor will be singing a song from "Phantom of the Opera" for her talent and she has a beautiful voice. We are all very proud of her.

It's Great to Be an Auburn Tiger

Once again the Auburn Tigers have scored a major win! They won the Pontiac Game Play of the Year and $100,000 worth of scholarships to go with the honor. Of course, the play was one against Florida ! Need I say that Auburn was the ONLY team that beat Florida this year and as of last night, Florida became the National Champions by giving Ohio State a bad whipping !!! Congrats to the SEC and to the Tigers !

Thank God for Saban

I don't really care who is the coach at Alabama but I am surely glad they hired somebody because I am soooooo tired of hearing about it! And I hope he is worth that $30,000,000 they are paying him because they could hire about 300 academic teachers at the same school for that amount.

Sometimes it's Good to Be a Goat

A recent article on Zodiac signs claimed that Capricorns are more concerned with the impressions they leave on the world than any other sign. Some words associated with Capricorns are: success, hard work, integrity and commitment. Good qualities, I believe.

The article went on to say that, " The Goat sets an example of personal and professional success worthy of us all." Of course, we must first put into practice those qualities which are supposedly innate in us Capricorns. Practicing what we preach is always the biggest challenge.

In addition to myself, other much more renowned Capricorns are Martin Luther King, Mary J. Blige, Lloyd Bridges, Aristotle Onassis, Edward Teller and Ronnie Van Zant. Happy birthday to goats everywhere.

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 ?