The Countdown is Over!

Let the reindeer games begin with the 40th anniversary broadcast of the longest running holiday special in television history. Don't miss it!

Sunday, Sunday

Went to Silsbee this morning and went to church with Dad. Had a good visit with Dad and also with Martha. Today, I called an old Dodge roommate who was from Conneticut. Hadn't talked to Mindi in probably close to fifteen years. Gene and I moved right after the last time I got a letter from her and in the move, I lost her contact info including her now-married name. I had done a search for her maiden name in her old hometown in Conneticut and got a hit, but just never gotten around to calling the number. It was her brother. I didn't even remember that she had a brother. She was really surprised when I called her! She sounded the same. What a character! She always had some outrageous stories to tell even when we were in our twenties. Now she's a mom with teenagers and has been a dog walker for two years in a chichi town in Conneticut. Was fun to catch up. This evening, a little tv watching for me and Gene. Also, Movie Gallery finally had a copy of Chronicles of Riddick available. Heard it was a disappointment and not as good as Pitch Black. We'll see!

It was a really pretty day today, so I drove over to the house at the lake and did some rearranging. Got all the "estate sale" stuff into the old room and set up the living room to be functional again. Got the remaining bed in there to serve as a daybed. Remaining chairs not too comfortable but servicable. Also, talked to Martha today and she invited us to her Christmas event at her house. So now our Christmas plans are firmed up with both mine and Gene's families. Times are lean all around, but Christmas will be rich with family.

Video Viewing Tonight: the 2004 Starsky & Hutch with Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller and Snoop Dogg. It had some funny moments. Okay for a rental.

The Countdown Continues

Thanksgiving 2004

Today has felt like a Sunday all day. Dad is spending Thanksgiving with Geneva's family. I'm glad they are still including him and loving him. It's our first Thanksgiving without her. I miss her, too. Martha is at the Clark's get together. So Gene and I spent the day with his local family.

We picked up Mary and Celeste and treated them to Thanksgiving Buffet at The Hot Biscuit in Cleveland. When there's just a handful of people, it just can't be beat. Everything you could want at a Thanksgiving meal (except Mary's divine hollandaise sauce), no preparation, no cleanup. It fits my current idea of hosting the holiday meal to a "T". On the way home we called Kim in Virginia and all talked to her and discussed Christmas plans. When we dropped them off, Gene spent some time visiting with Celeste and Mary gave me a tour of her plants. A nice visit.

Gene and I spent a quiet evening watching movies. Tonight's selections: Saved with Macaulay Culkin, Jena Malone, and Mandy Moore as Hilary Faye
and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Both recommended.

Well, This Is Fun

Check out this AUDIO GALLERY if you'd like to hear Ouiser Boudreaux in STEEL MAGNOLIAS say "I'm not crazy, M'Lynn. I've just been in a very bad mood for forty years!" Or the calm 9000 Series, Hal, from 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY reveal "I know that you were planning to disconnect me and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen." And of course there's John Wayne's BIG JAKE and his "Well son, since you haven't learned to respect your elders, it's time you learned to respect your betters." Enjoy your favorite movie quotes today!

TV's AMAZING RACE 6

was today's liveliest topic. Ericka and Caroline got really and I
mean REALLY excited about becoming contestants. They sat right down and started filling out the application as a "Co-Worker" team. They were disappointed to learn that the deadline had passed for the next one, AMAZING RACE 7, but they're going to get AndrewT to film their video anyway and send it off as soon as the applications for "8" come out. That's been assigned to me. "You check every day for the new one, Ms. Judy. That's your job." Hmm. Wonder what percentage of the $1 mil is mine? I better at least get invited to the party! Seriously, it would be so fun to see them racing across the world. Hey, you can't win if you don't enter!

Heard that today was Oprah's Favorite Things giveaway day. Okay, I know it's excessive and bordering on obscene and she acts like she's paying for it all. I've heard her say, "They wouldn't donate enough for everybody so they're not my favorite anymore." But it's still fun to take a look.
LINK TO OPRAH'S FAVORITE THINGS 2004

COUNTDOWN BEGINS: Nine days left!

Another Rainy Day

Great day for napping. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Rainy, rainy weekend

Lots of rain this weekend. Had to work at the big preview day, then went to the football game of all things. Probably has been six or maybe even ten years since I've gone to a game. But had fun with friends even though it was rainy.

STRESS LEVEL: Relaxed

Yep, much better. Getting to stay home and just relax today. Aaahhhhh.

LINK Does the internet have everything? Going to this link will take you to a site where you can toss a virtual coin when you've got some big decision to make.

Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me

Click HERE for my favorite news program.

Stress Level: EXTREME

Helping with a baby shower Friday, the sale of contents of the lakehouse Saturday and Sunday, the conference Monday ... yikes! And all of it requiring lots of preparation. See you on the other side of it all when I can breathe again next week.

Old Friends

While I was making my lunch today, I thought about the first person I ever saw put potato chips on their sandwich. So I called this roommate from college days and it was great catching up.



Like BLTs? Make one with lettuce, tomato, and pork rinds .... crunchy and tastes like a BLT. Really!

LINK Check out this blog that gives you a recipe each day. Recipes like Almond Joy Bars, Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad, A&W Chili Dogs, and A1 Sauce.

Honoring our Veterans

I attended a program at Silsbee High School today for veterans. Their custom for this annual event is to have it a couple days early so as not to conflict with other Veteran's Day events. This was Dad's first time to go to this one and I wanted to go with him. And of course, at 87 he was one of the oldest there. But glad to see there were still quite a few of those old WWII guys still kicking around!



A nice program. But the best part was seeing Dad run into people he knew - people that he grew up with, people from former churches. Hoping it will contribute to a feeling of community for him. I know he's lonesome.



I also knew quite a few folks, too. Silsbee is as much a hometown for me as any other place since we moved so much. I'm glad I went.

Getting ready for the sale

Today, I went up to Dad's house at the lake and put tags on items for the big sale on Saturday. Also worked on the signs some. Weather forecast indicates cold weather this weekend. Will have to dig out some warm socks!

Time Value Calculator

Want to know how much your time is really worth? Here is a calculator that you might want to check out.

On a Clear Day, You Can See ... Well, Pretty Far

.

How cool is this?


A clear canoe!

This "Molokini" canoe by Clear Blue Hawaii is made out of the same stuff as bullet proof glass.


And check out this clear kayak. It's foldable! They made the structure from carbon fiber & kevlar and covered it with a military-grade Urethane skin. The whole thing only weighs 26 lbs!

Habitat for Jiminy Cricket

The International Museum of Collage - collage, assemblage and
constructive arts -
ASSEMBLAGE D' ASSEMBLAGE
Empty those junk drawers and get busy!

P B & J Sandwiches

Today's lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwich brought about a discussion on Wine Jelly. Okay, maybe the apricot jelly in my desk has been unrefrigerated a little too long!