Now to Florida!

We had a blast at Woody's party on Saturday! Lots of good food, fun and many friends! Libby wants to invite Helen to all our family gatherings and Jane wants Cindy! I think our friends have bonded. Woody got lots of chocolate as you can see from the couch picture...a good book, chocolate and green tea!

Just finished up all my writing and editing work and now get to start packing for the winter in Florida...there will be so much more to write. Dewey Destin's, Buster's, McGuire's...all our favorite restaurants. We start cleaning the coach today and then the house for the house sitter!

Taylor Swift, Woody's BD and Other Goodies!

So delighted that Taylor Swift won the Entertainer of the Year in Country Music! She has certainly "entertained" this year and deserves the recognition. Highest ratings in years for Saturday Night Live and the CMA's and yet the "boo birds" come out just because she's young. Trust me, she's smarter than most 40 year olds when it comes to managing her career. I can't believe that Wynonna and Naomi Judd dissed her! Jealousy anyone? Why is it that people who haven't had a hit in years take pot shots at the hottest thing going. In case they haven't noticed, Taylor has brought an entirely new set of fans to country music. If the genre doesn't change with the times, it will be defunct in no time! There are classic country stations still playing the old guard, but the contemporary country stations are eating their lunch! Now a disclaimer! Taylor lives in my hometown so I have to be protective!

Woody's birthday is coming up and we're going to have a little party for him on Saturday. Just a few friends and 5 pounds of shrimp and two pounds of cajun crab dip and 90 other things! Do I know my friends or what? I've made little presents for the girls and can't wait to give them to them. I'm finally having time to do a little artsy stuff!

Getting ready to head out to Florida for the winter. Can't wait to see the ocean, friends, Dewey Destin's, McGuire's, and Buster's! Destin is the most wonderful city and I so love to be there. I'd give anything if the hurricaines would leave Florida alone. If I could get insurance without mortgaging the house, I'd love to live there. Our niece should be back here soon to house sit! Unless she gets a play in New York! She's auditioning like crazy! Then we go to Plan B!

I'm going to try to do better about keeping the blog up to date! and then on to the gallery! Lots of great new pictures to add. Have a great week.

Football Fun in the Fall!

A fabulous football weekend in Tennessee! Ole Miss, Jennifer's team, won...Notre Dame finally beat Boston College, but boooo....Florida beat MS State...but at least MS State was respectable playing the #1 team in the land. We southern girls do love our football. The only problem...a quick trip to Publix for shrimp, brownie mix and $200 worth of exotic junk foods, including garlic stuffed olives! We've eaten all day. You know every now and then you just have to forget you're supposed to be dieting.

Tomorrow the Titans have a bye, but there are tons of great NFL games that we have to watch as we have more food to eat!

Life is good! Go Irish!

Fall, Facebook and Fun!

I'm having an identity crisis. I have deserted my blog for facebook! I wonder which I should focus on going forward? Facebook is addictive and real time...just messaged back and forth with my fabulous daughter-in-law. We jot thoughts and activities on a daily basis, and don't even get me started on my farm! Maybe I can do both?

This fall has been busy with some work and lots of play. Between trying to get my yard and flower beds under control, lots of football and a little work, I'm tired. Work has eased up a bit so I've been trying to catch up on things I let slide this summer. I'm not complaining about work...it's allowed me to buy my new TV, and most recently, a Frigidare washer and dryer! Hopefully all the hype about saving energy and water is true. The washer and dryer we had was at least 10-15 years old!! There were some even more fancier ones, but these are black and have a gentle cycle which my old one didn't have so I'm so uptown.

We did a wonderful cruise to Canada on NCL in September. The itinerary was perfect..the ship a bit shabby but the staff were wonderful. We love Peggy's Cove, Sydney and Halifax! If it wasn't cold 10 months out of the year, I could live there! Besides, they have healthcare for all...and it appears that we won't unless Washington can get their act together!

October has been busy already! We went to Olivia's soccer game at Trevecca...she plays for Freed-Hardeman...watched Mississippi State beat MTSU, which made Libby not happy with her dad...cried over our horrid Titans as they are now 0-6....does anyone want any tickets?...and visited with tons of friends. We have to visit lots as we leave again for winter in Florida soon.

Not sure what else to tell you other than I'll work harder to keep you updated on my progress through retirement. I swear I had more time when I was working! and if you're truly a friend...come on over to facebook! I'll still hang out there.

Busy Summer!

Things have been a bit hectic this summer! I have been working for The Oncology Group and traveling a good bit. I'm ready for retirement again! At least for a while.

So it's been weeks since we've chatted. Where to start? Probably the most exciting thing is Miss Libby is pregnant!! Keep Led and Lib in your prayers as they begin the exciting trip through parenthood! I was a bit worried though that she asked me what she would do with a baby after it gets here! Everyone just tells her to call Led's mom or me...hope I remember everything.

I finally entered this century and we bought a 52 inch LCD flat screen TV from Best Buy. Woody and I talked to everyone we knew about our purchase as we are both technologically challenged when it comes to electronics. Everyone said LCD over Plasma so that much we knew. We had been looking at TV's at Sam's because they seemed so cheap. Thank heavens we went to Best Buy...we didn't know about all those other things that you should consider over price. Something like HP, speed, digital compression....I don't know. Talking to our little sales guy was a real education and we're glad we didn't jump the gun...We have a Sony Bravia that is fabulous...watching football is a dream!

Saw Bette Midler on one of my work trips to Las Vegas...and yes, we did work! This was only one night. She is at Caesar's and well worth the time if you are a Bette fan like I am. She has lost a bit of her voice and a step or two but she is still hilarious!! After all at 63, she's in better shape than I am at 60!!! I didn't know what to expect since we usually go to the shows as opposed to the entertainers...she did stand-up comedy that was priceless! Including one fall down comedy bit where she forgot one of her jokes...we thought it was part of the show until Marsha talked to her sister! She had been off for a while. Now on to Cher!

Headed to Jackson last weekend to have lunch with my sister Dana (aka Miss Martha or now Miss Paula) and her hubby! Fantastic lunch...and then off to see my beautiful niece play soccer...she's the beauty pageant queen that's a tomboy! go figure. One of her mean coaches made her practice until she had holes in her knees...well, at least til the skin was scraped off. She got in to play for a bit even though she probably should have rested that torn skin! Miss O is in nursing school at Freed-Hardeman following in her cousin and aunt's footsteps! Wilkes is hanging out playing his music...he is an incredible musician! So the Jackson connection is doing well.

September is looking busy with a trip to East TN for Woody's family reunion, a couple of Titan's football games, and our 25th anniversary cruise to Canada!!! Just a few more months until Florida! I'm ready for beach.

Hope you all are having a wonderful summer...now back to Facebook which is occupying all my time!!

Work! and Play!

I don't even know where to begin! With facebook, I've just drifted away from my blog! I must return....there are so many people and so little time. Where to begin. Since my last entry, I went to Las Vegas for work and to Ohio for work. July and August are really dedicated to The Oncology Group and all our summer work! In between work, we've celebrated Donna's 60th birthday and Holly's whatever day on the Blue Heron, a lovely charter out of Ashland City. A wonderful time was had by all! Holly and Roy went all out on catering this lovely event...I can't believe how much they brought to the boat! But after all, Holly did used to cook on a charter boat! The food was beautiful and tasty...she should cater all the time.

A few friends from Mickey D's headed out to The Catfish House in Springfield for an early bird special...I ate until I was sick! The food was superb...in case you're seeing a trend here...I do love to eat. Throw in a few movies with popcorn and chocolate and life is good.

We did just book a cruise to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island for September! Can't wait. We also finally got into the 21st century with a 52" flat screen tv! Can't wait for Notre Dame and Mississippi State games. Can you tell I work for play and fun stuff? Most old retired people don't have the luxury of picking up this kind of supplemental income. Thank you Lord! and my mom for telling me I had to stay at Union in Jackson for college! I figured out a way to get out of Jackson by going to nursing school! Great choice....really wanted to be an archaeologist or astronaut or marine biologist, but girls didn't have those options in the "old days"!

Thanks so much for being patient with me...you can also check out our facebook at Pat Hudson Edens! See you there!

Woody's New Toy!

Well, I've finally lost my mind. After years of listening to Woody wanting a motorcycle, I gave in. Even rock is worn away by a constant drip of water....that's not to say my husband is a drip...well, maybe a little. All I heard is Harley, Harley, Harley...so I give in and he buys a Honda! His excuse? It had flames! This is just what an almost 65 year old man needs. At least he is taking a motorcycle course this weekend and hopefully it will help keep him safe!

I, on the other hand, have had a delightful week with my BFF Janet. We shopped and ate out and just had all around fun. This is the first time I've done back to back business trips (last week and leaving again Tuesday) but Marsha promises it's just an accident! At least the upcoming trip is Vegas! And you all know how I do love to gamble...unfortunately we're staying at a hotel without a casino! Such trauma! But trust me, I'll find one! We're almost finished with Ohio and Las Vegas will run through September or early October at the latest! Then maybe off for a few months? Hopeful? We'll see!

As you know, we're all on facebook now! Come look for me at Pat Hudson Edens! I have a great farm.

Hope you all had a great 4th of July!

Please excuse us...our FaceBook page is taking precedence over the Ready for Retirement! Just a quick update...we've just been enjoying the pool, visiting with friends, and of course, I've been working some. I finally caved in and let Woody start the process toward getting a motorcycle. I have mixed feelings...it was a pre-nup that he wouldn't get a motorcycle (or donor cycle as I call them) and I would keep my hair red til I die...so the question I have...if he broke the pre-nup does that mean all bets are off? He's such a bad driver and so easily distracted that I'm scared for him! Oh well...retirement is not turning out quite how I pictured it! Woody on a motorcycle and me working!

We did have a ball at Cindy and Lou's on the 3rd of July and watched the Bellevue fireworks. Ate entirely too much. Saturday was yard work which was sorely needed, and Sunday was tennis and golf...watching not playing! Our friends Elroy and Ginny took us out to Shane's Rib Shack for dinner for watching their house...they certainly didn't need to considering all the wonderful things they do for us!

Gotta go work on my farm! See you down the road!