American Idol Pool Update

After the 2 round of eliminations which have the same point values, here are the scores at this time:

Sara - 120 points
Amy - 85 points
Kirk- 50 points
Benji- 50 points
Kristen- 0 points
Claire - 25 points
Jamie - 50 points
John - 120 points
Terry W. - 110 points
April - 85 points
Susan - 85 points
Terry H. - 85 points

KUDOS to Will and Kristen

By the time I was Will and Kristen's age, all my grandparents were either dead or in such ill health that they could not enjoy the things that were going on in my life so I feel particularly blessed to be able to witness and be a part of the phenomenal achievements of my grandchildren!

Last Saturday, Kristen won a Superior Award in a piano competition which enables her to perform at the State Piano Competition. Then on Sunday, she won 1st Place in another piano competition which means she is the #1 student at the Chadek Conservatory of Music at University of Chattanooga, and she is only a junior in high school! With this award comes $1000 to apply toward her music education.

Tuesday night, Will was given the Fireman's Award on Auburn University's Golf Team. This award is given to the team member who is the torch bearer for the rest of the team. He is the team member who sets the example for everyone else. He is the one who goes the extra mile in everything he does. He doesn't miss a practice or a workout and is the one who encourages the rest of the team members when they are feeling down and out. He inspires everyone ,by his own example, to be dedicated and committed to school and team efforts.

I really do not know how two young people could do more than Will and Kristen do to maintain high standards for behavior and achievement! You are both a true blessing and an inspiration to us all!

One Word Riddle

There is a word in the English language that has 9 letters. If you remove one letter at a time until you get down to 1 letter, each remaining word is also a word in the English language. The word is "startling". See if you can come up with all the words - removing only one letter at a time.

Remembering Morris

Yesterday, my first cousin Morris, died after attending Easter services at his church. He was almost like a brother to me in my growing up years because we always lived on the same block and our backyards joined each other by way of my grandmother's back yard. We were all like one big family. Morris was three years older than me but we spent many hours during our childhood hiding Easter eggs, playing croquet, riding bikes, playing marbles and counting stars on warm summer nights.

As we grew older, we went our separate ways but always remained close. I could always count on Morris to be there when I needed him.

Morris graduated from law school and served in the Alabama legislature. He maintained a large law practice while owning and operating three banks. He was very active in civic affairs and loved geneology. He was the cousin who always attended all the family gatherings, weddings, baptisms, funerals, and school performances. He was the one cousin from my family who drove to Austin, Texas, to attend the wedding of my daughter and son-in-law.

When I retired from my education job and started my real estate career 19 years ago, Morris was the first person to list property with me and he encouraged me every step of the way. Then when I decided to branch out on my own and start my own company, Morris was the one who stepped up to the plate, stuck his neck out and loaned me $30,000 to get started.

Morris has not been in very good health in recent years so it was not a huge surprise that his heart finally gave up but even though his physical heart is no longer working, the heart of his soul will live on in his family forever.

He was the "kissin' cousin" - he kissed me every time he saw me and always called me "Sally". I love you, buddy, and will miss you terribly!

Poll Results to Date

After the first round of three eliminations which count 25 points each, here are the results:

Sara - 50 points
Amy - 50 points
Kirk - 50 points
Benji - 50 points
Kristen - 0 points
Claire - 25 points
Jamie - 50 points
John - 50 points
Terry W. - 75 points
April - 50 points
Susan - 50 points
Terry H.- 50 points

Lady Gaga

As the name of my blog implies, I am trying to remain open to new ideas, innovations, and changes of the times as I grow older but last night's American Idol presentation of Lady Gaga proves to me that some things are just going to be beyond my ability to understand the new generation.

You Just Can't Fix Stupid

These are actual articles from newspapers.

David and Prom Date

This is grandson David Pitts and his prom date. David was hospitalized for several weeks earlier this year due to a staph infection in his spine and he is currently in rehabilitation but he is a tough and determined young man and did not let that keep him from his senior prom.

You look great, David and your date is lovely!

American Idol Pool

For the past several years, our family and friends have participated in a small betting pool for the winners of American Idol. Listed below are those who submitted entries and the choices they picked.
The scoring is determined by Terry Hawkins each year and he submitted the following rules:

# 1 correct: 100 points
# 2 correct: 75 points
# 3 and 4 : 50 points each (correct in any order)
# 5,6, & 7: 35 points each (correct in any order)
# 8,9 & 10: 25 points each (correct in any order)

Sara's Picks:

1. Danny
2. Matt
3. Adam
4. Allison
5. Lil
6. Kris
7. Anoop
8. Scott
9. Michael
10. Alexis

Amy's Picks:

1. Adam
2. Danny
3. Matt
4. Lil
5. Anoop
6. Allison
7. Michael
8. Megan
9. Kris
10. Scott

Kirk's Picks:

1. Adam
2. Lil
3. Danny
4. Allison
5. Alexis
6. Kris
7. Scott
8. Matt
9. Michael
10. Megan

Benji's Picks:

1. Matt
2. Danny
3. Kris
4. Lil
5. Adam
6. Allison
7. Alexis
8. Anoop
9. Megan
10. Scott

Kristen's Picks:

1. Lil
2. Adam
3. Alexis
4. Danny
5. Scott
6. Michael
7. Allison
8. Anoop
9. Kris
10. Matt

Davidson Family Picks:

1. Danny
2. Kris
3. Matt
4. Lil
5. Allison
6. Megan
7. Adam
8. Scott
9. Alexis
10. Anoop

Jamie Edwards Picks:

1. Adam
2. Danny
3. Lil
4. Matt
5. Allison
6. Alexis
7. Kris
8. Scott
9. Anoop
10. Megan

John's Picks:

1. Adam
2. Matt
3. Danny
4. Allison
5. Lil
6. Kris
7. Anoop
8. Scott
9. Michael
10. Alexis

Terry Willmon's Picks:

1. Danny
2. Matt
3. Kris
4. Lil
5. Adam
6. Anoop
7. Allison
8. Scott
9. Michael
10. Megan

April's Picks:

1. Danny
2. Adam
3. Matt
4. Lil
5. Allison
6. Anoop
7. Alexis
8. Kris
9. Michael
10. Megan

Susan's Picks:

1. Kris
2. Lil
3. Danny
4. Anoop
5. Matt
6. Adam
7. Allison
8. Scott
9. Alexis
10. Michael

Terry Hawkins Picks:

1. Adam
2. Danny
3. Kris
4. Lil
5. Matt
6. Allison
7. Scott
8. Michael
9. Anoop
10. Megan

Happy Birthday, Susan and Terry

My daughter, Susan, and my son-in-law ,Terry are both celebrating birthdays this week. They were high school sweethearts and are now married and are parents to my wonderful grandson, Will. They are moving into a new home this week and are busy following Will around as he plays college golf.

You bring our family so much joy and we love you very much ! I hope you both have a wonderful birthday!!

The Toilet Toll

First, it was charging extra for luggage, then it was doing away with the peanuts, then it was charging for the blankets and pillows, but this is ridiculous!
Europe's largest budget airline carrier, Ryanair, is considering a new cost-cutting measure --- charging to use the toilet on the airplane!! Toll slots on each bathroom door!
Knowing me, I would get 3500 feet up in the air, have a bathroom emergency and be fresh out of pocket change! I just don't think that idea is going to work. I think the money they would earn charging for toilet use would be offset by cleaning services for those who didn't have the proper change for the slot.

Trust me, Ryanair, it ain't gonna be worth it!

Happy Birthday - Kristen and Amy

Two of my favorite girls are celebrating birthdays this week. My daughter Amy has a birthday tomorrow and my granddaughter Kristen had a birthday yesterday.

Happy Birthday Kristen and Amy.

I love you very much!

Hawaii - Here We Come!

My grandson Will qualified to play in his first AU golf tournament to be held in Honolulu, Hawaii, next week! What a way to start his career as an SEC golfer! His mom and two grandmothers are going along for the ride.

We will not have any fun without the rest of the family (it's a rule) but we will try to tolerate the 80 degree weather and gorgeous scenery so we can support Will and his team ! :) We promise to take lots of pictures for sharing.

I Can't Make Up This Stuff !

Morticians say the new trend in preparing the dead for display in the casket is botox injections, and other face and body lifts to make the corpse look younger!

People are actually pre-paying funeral expenses to include cosmetic-enhancing procedures to be done after they are gone. I can hear it now: "I further bequeath to my children and other heirs the sum of $3.00 as it will require the remainder of my estate to make major adjustments to my body in order for me to look good dead."

I don't get it.

Your Doctor Would Never Recommend This

In preparation for Super Bowl Sunday, the airwaves have been inundated with recipes to please the crowds gathered at our homes for eating and watching football. This morning Good Morning America had a recipe for Bacon Explosion ! These are the ingredients: 2 pounds thick cut bacon, 2 pounds Italian sausage, 1 jar barbeque sauce and 1 jar barbeque rub.

Directions include an elaborate task of weaving bacon strips together to form a casing, then frying more bacon to put inside , then rolling sausage into a roll, then cooking on a grill for about 2.5 hours. If you live through smelling the fumes from the cooking, I'm pretty sure you would not make it through the eating without clogging every single vein in your body. I think they should rename it Weapons of Mass Consumption!

Did You Hear the One About ??? - - - -

Edgar and Nina Otto of West Boca, Florida, just spent $155,000.00 to clone their dead dog!

Let me begin by saying I am a "dog person". Have owned many dogs, prefer dogs to cats as pets, have adopted dogs from shelters, have fed stray dogs, have "dog-sat" for people who went out of town and needed their pets cared for, and would never in this world do anything to harm a dog --- but dropping $155,000 smackers in order to get another dog just like the one you had is "over the top" in my opinion.

Last time I adopted a shelter dog it cost me $50 so assuming one can be adopted for about the same amount now, Edgar could have gotten 3100 dogs for the same amount of money. Oh yeah, and he already has 9 other dogs so it ain't like he is lacking for dog-panionship.

Just when I think I have seen or heard it all - - - something like this comes along to blow my mind!

Proud Grandparent . . .

I thought for many years of my life that there was very little to compare to the pride I felt when my children accomplished their goals and fulfilled their dreams. I still have that but now realize that the same feelings are there when my grandchildren achieve those things in life for which they have worked so hard.

This weekend, my granddaughter Kristen, was offered a full tuition music scholarship to University of Alabama and she is only a junior in high school. And my grandson Will who is attending Auburn University on a golf scholarship received a letter stating that he had been named to the Dean's List for academic excellence his first semester there.

Congratulations, Kristen and Will! I could not possibly be more proud and I could not possibly love you more!

January 15th is an Important Day. . . .

January 15, 1559 - Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England
January 15, 1870 - The democratic donkey made its debut in Harper's Weekly
January 15, 1892 - The 13 rules of basketball were established and published.
January 15, 1908 - Edward Teller was born and became the architect of the hydrogen bomb.
January 15, 1967 - The Green Bay Packers won the first Super Bowl, led by Bart Starr.
January 15, 1929 - Martin Luther King, Jr., civil-rights leader was born.
January 15, 1943 - The world's largest office building, The Pentagon, was dedicated.
January 15, 1974 - "Happy Days" premiered on television.
January 15, 1940 - Sara Isbell was born and ushered in the largest snowstorm ever recorded in
Fort Payne, Alabama, measuring an official accumulation of 18".

It's Those Side Effects Again. . .

The drug Fosamax, used in the treatment of Osteoporosis, has now been linked to 23 cases of esophageal cancer and also linked to a condition known as osteonecrosis in which the bone of the jaw dies off. But it may help your osteoporosis!

I know you have all read and heard the warnings of almost every drug on the market: "Take this and it will help your shoulder pain but it may cause rectal bleeding, oozing open sores, impotency, and blindness but you can count on it to help shoulder pain."

A recent magazine I received had one page of advertisement for some drug followed by four pages of side effects which may occur if you take it.

I think I have a handle on all that stuff. I do not take one single pill of any kind. I may be just a disease waiting to happen but the way I look at it, I would rather die from the thing that kills me than from the pills I took to cure it!

A Look Back at 2008

These are some of my highlights of 2008:

1. I lost 30 pounds and have kept it off for 7 months by eating better and exercising regularly at the gym. (I guess that stuff really does work)
2. One of my daughters and son-in-law sold their house and are now building a beautiful new one.
3. Another daughter and son-in-law bought a beautiful house in the neat neighborhood of Oakhurst in Decatur, GA.
4. My grandson, Will, earned a golf scholarship to Auburn University and started his freshman year at college.
5. My granddaughter, Kristen, was one out of only 400 in the U.S. , accepted at Brevard Music School for the summer.
6. My stepson Andy, sold the store where he had worked for 26 years and started a new career as a driver with Maverick Truck Lines.
7. My son, Kirk, was involved in a car accident, broke his back and spent three months in the hospital in Birmingham this summer but pulled through and continues to amaze us with his courage and spirit.
8. My husband, John had quintuple bypass surgery in Birmingham and had to spend several weeks at home recuperating and has recovered in spectacular fashion.
9. My hometown basically lost its entire hosiery industry to South America - an industry which has employed several thousand people in Fort Payne since I was a young girl.
10. Barack Obama was elected President of the United States. (Four years ago when I heard him speak to the Democratic Convention, I turned to John and said, "One day that man will be President of the United States." )

This has been an eventful year - not without some trials and stressful times - but I have been blessed with the most awesome family one can have and they are always my source of strength.

I look forward to 2009 when I turn 69 years old and plan for the celebration of my 25th wedding anniversary with a fabulous trip to Italy! Ciao!