Turkey, Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and Instant Depression!

Let's see...we ate our selves silly on Thanksgiving and then were subjected to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show last night = instant depression!! I was born weighing more than the models from last night! And if that's not depressing enough...I'm not even 5'2'' anymore (well if I ever really was). I just don't understand how some people are so genetically blessed and then there's the rest of us! I used to say that at least I had brains until Giselle and Heidi started making a brazillian dollars! So beauty and brains...what's a normal old broad supposed to do? Fruit cake anyone?

We did have a wonderful Thanksgiving with Libby and Led and Savannah and Marilyn and tons of friends...I made the dressing, or turkey bread as Riley calls it, cheese cakes and Publix's finest cajun crab dip and spinach dip. Led fries dozens of turkeys for everyone...he's a good boy...and Libby and all her friends made tons of great food. We kidnapped Savannah after dinner so the kiddos could play poker and party all night. Thanks for a wonderful Thanksgiving...we're blessed to have wonderful friends and family.

Now to go see Riley, Chris and Jennifer in Chapel Hill by way of Harrah's Casino in Cherokee, NC! Now that they have moved about 100 miles further, Grandad really doesn't need to drive for 10 hours and Mimi just has to help him out by letting him rest at 250 miles which just happens to be at one of my favorite casinos...and Paula Deen's restaurant doesn't hurt! So now you see why I'll never look like a Victoria's Secret model! Then off to Greenville, SC to finish up a consulting gig with some incredibly wonderful people...if you ever get sick in Greenville...go to St. Francis Hospital...wonderful care!

Hope you've all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend and are ready to ramp up for Christmas! I've finished all my shopping, put up our tiny tree, and mailed all my Christmas and Holiday cards today. Don't you hate me? I may not be tall, thin and blonde, but I'm a heck of an old semi retired broad! Now relax and enjoy the season...and don't forget what it's all about! Thank you Lord for all our many blessings!

Walk the Walk People!

I am struggling a bit in my life right now...there are so many bad things going on in the world that effecting change seems insurmountable. From child abuse at Penn State to continuing economic downturn for the middle class to hungry children in the wealthiest country (that would still be us I think), I wonder how one semi-retired person can even begin to make a difference. When I work, I know that I can impact change in cancer care for the better, but as an individual, can I really impact change in the lives of others? Woody and I had been talking about the fact that Meals on Wheels in Sumner County couldn't meet the needs of those who needed help...and then we started talking about the Samaritan Center Food Bank. We love the Samaritan Center...they are a wonderful not for profit group that serves Sumner County. While I was working this week, Woody went by and talked to them about what they needed. He said the shelves of food were almost bare! While all of us are cutting back on discretionary spending, the majority of us have sufficient food and shelter. We are heading out on Monday to buy food to donate to our local food bank...usually we do things like this quietly as we don't feel the need to talk about good works, but this time I may shout it from the roof tops! If just one person accepts the challenge to walk the walk and donate food, I'll take the heat for talking about good works rather than keeping quiet like we usually do. Now...off the high horse!

Spent most of the past week in Greenville, SC doing a little work. There are some of the most wonderful people in the cancer program at St. Francis Hospital. Their efforts to enhance their program and better serve their community are laudable. Got home around midnight on Wednesday...it reminded me that I'm not as young as I used to be but while I'm working, I am energized. Not enough to go back to full time...but, well you get the picture.

After resting up on Thursday, we picked up Little Miss Dangerous, AKA Savannah (or Nannah as she calls herself), for a sleepover on Friday night. We went to Shane's for dinner...she loves beans and chicken strips and of course we had a coupon! We had great plans for Saturday, but we were having so much fun here at the house that we didn't go anywhere but WallyWorld to pick up a few things. They have some of the cutest little $5 jogging suits that are perfect for daycare. We did puzzles and read and painted Thomas the train! I think you don't always have to spend a lot to entertain your grandchildren! So the tip of the day is give the gift of time to your grandchildren...listen to them, play with them and give them unconditional love. Sometimes that's better than almost anything you can do, except maybe take them to Disney!

We're so excited...we're heading over to Chapel Hill to see Riley....oh and her mommy and daddy too. We don't get to see her as much as we'd like. We had a great Labor Day weekend with both Riley and Savannah but it's still too long between visits. That's one problem that many of us grandparents' share...our kiddos live too far away to see them often. Even retired, we just don't seem to find as much time as we'd like to visit. Or maybe our kids are just too busy!


So this week...walk the walk and do something good for an organization that is serving the needy in your community...I promise you'll feel better than you thought possible! And love on your grandchildren if they are close or send them a card if they are far away! Hugs from H'ville!