Monday, September 28, 2009

First to report

Well, I guess I'll be the first to report on the wonderful weekend in the mountains. Bill drove us up to Pigeon Forge without using interstate highways and it was a lovely ride. We came through Gatlinburg and made a few stops including lunch. When we got to Pigeon Forge, we had some time to kill and stopped at an Atlanta Bread Company for a snack and Wi-Fi. It turned out to be the meeting place and we met the rest of our family before going to the cabin.
Now that cabin was something else. It sat on the side of the mountain and provided really great views. The cabin was absolutely beautiful. It was a genuine log cabin done in classy rustic. More classy than rustic. With 8 bedrooms and a ton of sleeper sofas Washington could have housed the Revolutionary army and had room left over. The interior was beautiful knotty pine down to the tables. There was so much to do in the game room that I didn't even mind being house bound due to rain on Saturday. I did, however, mind getting beaten 3 straight time on the Air Hockey table and then 3 straight games of 8 Ball on the pool table by my daughter in law Deb. I gracefully declined a request to play 'Foosball'. (I'm so embarrassed)
The Williams family packed us all with great food all weekend long. I had to abandon my diet for the stay, but the food was wonderful.
Nan & I had a really great time, and it was good to spend some time with the Williams clan. We were happy that Kelly & Josh were there, we don't get to see enough of them. Bryan & Katie were there with Miss Maddy who just charmed everyone. April's brother had their baby there, Emma, who is just 6 months older than Maddy and was busy making friends with everybody.
The drive home was quiet and thankfully uneventful because the weather had cleared. I know I just hit some of the high sopts, but all in all it was a great weekend.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Good read

First off, I'm very happy to be writing this blog and not having a surgeon snipping at my insides. Thank you all those great folks who remembered me in their prayers. I'm still doing a whole bunch of medical stuff to satisfy all the requirements of all the doctors that I have been working with.
The real reason for this blog is to let you in on a great read I just finished. It is a book Peg & Steve gave me called "soul Survivor". It is a true story about a little boy who had 'previous life recall. night mares. The story really gets going good when the Mom & Dad start to research the fragments of information the boy reveals. I saw the family on 'Good Morning America' and was fascinated by them. The Dad is a real stickler for proving it to be bunk and winds up paying honor and homage to some very brave WWII vets that prove the veracity of the child's nightmares. I highly recommend this book as a good read.
Love.

Monday, August 17, 2009

What a great weekend!!

The much traveled military family arrived on Friday afternoon. Katie, Bryan and little Maddy found their way to Stone mountain and were warmly received
I couldn't believe how much Maddy had grown. She cooed and babbled her way into our hearts in the first three minutes sh was here. She was crawling and climbing all over the house. I'm sure she was happy to out of the restraints of the car seat. we had dinner at a local restaurant and she was good as gold.
On Saturday we went to the Georgia Aquarium where she delighted in talking to the fish and trying to grab them. She was such a well behaved little 10 month old. Of course I had a great time on two counts, watching this little child enjoy the sights of such a variety of colors and the fact that the Aquarium is one of my favorite places to visit.
As much fun as Saturday was, Sunday was even better. After charming everyone at Holy Cross, Maddy met so many more of her family. Four of the boys and their families came to visit. (We missed Peg & Tom very much.) It is always such a great time when the family gathers. I like to just sit back and watch them enjoy each other and the little charmer. And charm she did.
Thanks to the family for a great weekend. There was a little talk about my upcoming surgery, but I'm g;ad it was not the topic of discussion. It's going to happen and we are going to make the most of it.
Love.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

A Book I read

I just finished a really good book. The title is "Good Day, The Paul Harvey Story". It is a very well written biography of the famous voice Paul Harvey. It looks at all the various phases of his life and his character
It is very well researched, documented and presented. I, like so many millions of others, have always liked to listen to Paul Harvey and this book tells me why. He and his wife were such radio pioneers and did so much to form news and comment shows so early in the history of radio.
This is a book that I very much recommend. If you like biographies, you will love this book. Thank you Sue for the gift.
Love.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

What the heck you been doing?

As everyone says, it's been a while since I blogged. For the most part, I have been trying this old brain of mine to focus on some dialog for a few short skits. I have been honored to be asked to participate in a fund raiser for the Sclerderma Foundation. My very talented daughter in law and her family wanted to put a fund raiser on to honor their sister Kathleen Basile. It was a day long event on Friday July 31st. In the afternoon there was a golf tournament (I was not asked to play for very obvious reasons). In the evening there was a dinner and entertainment with entertainment, auctions, door prizes, and a grant prize raffle.
I along with some very talented friends from Holly Cross theater ministry, put on some of the evenings entertainment. It was so much fun to be performing with these wonderful people who all have the attitude that they will do what ever is asked from them to help with the cause. we did several numbers from some of the Broadway show that Holy Cross had put on. Gale Goodman Played accompaniment for the singers and her hubby, Bruce took care of the sound requirements. Dennis Nelson did "If I Were a Rich Man". Sarah Mason did "Hello Harry(Dolly)" along with a group of male backup singers. Christina Kravits and a group of female backup singers did "I' Going To Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair". Jim Walsh and the male singers did "You Gotta Have Heart" to round out the show. Jim Basile was the Master of Ceremonies while portrayed the "Oldest Living Bus Boy in Captivity" and introduced the numbers.
Their goal for the days events was $15,000, and the last number I heard was in excess of $20,000 and the money was still coming in. It was a great success for a great cause. The Basile handled the whole thing and did an outstanding job.
Now, I know the question is coming to your mind, "What were you doing all that time?" This old mind of mine takes forever to memorize just a few simple lines. I am the first to admit that age is taking it's roll on my memory capacities. Remembering lines are hard for me, but the rewards of working with such wonderful people more that compensates for the memory loss.
I hope the people that attended to events had as good a time as I had participating.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Wonderful weekend!

I am sorry that I was not first to blog about our July 4th weekend in South Carolina. Peg's blog did a great job in describing the activities, I c an only add that I can't remember a better weekend anywhere.The food was abundant and tasted great. When I got on the scale at home it said "One of you will have to get off." Steve cooked his heart out and we could not stop eating. We gabbed and talked ate and drank and just about wore the house out.
It was so much fun to be relaxed with so many of the family. I don't think anyone stopped smiling until it was time to go. The steaks were great, the ribs were just right and even the potato salad was wonderful. The fireworks show was so much better that the sparklers and helicopters I used to provide my family.
The deck was out of this world. The weather was wonderful and I could have lived on that deck all the time. Steve did a marvelous job. It's big and shady and very comfortable.
I can't thank Steve & Peg for their most generous hospitality. It truly was a wonderful long weekend.
Love

Saturday, June 27, 2009

An Addendum and More

My last blog was about our trip to Helen and to 'Babyland General'. I was reminded by Peg that I had forgotten a very unusual sight. While we were shopping at the Ingle's Supermarket in Cleveland, in the produce department I spotted a lady in a wheel chair who was evidently blind because she had a 'seeing eye' pony. The pony had a harness just like a seeing eye dog with a handle and all. She was holding on to the handle and being led by the pony. Now that is something you don't see everyday. But wait..... there is more! While we were in a shop that sold beautiful 'Dresden China', I noticed that the lady running the shop spoke with a German accent. Not being bashful, I asked if she was in fact from Germany. She confirmed that she was. I asked what part of Germany she was from, because I was stationed in a little town called Goeppingen. Her eyes widened and said that is the town she had lived in. Small world isn't it? I was there in 1951 & 1952, She left there in 1954. She had married a G. I.. I forgot to ask her who she married. It might well have been somebody I knew because ours has the only unit in that little town.
And now on to the present. My Father's Day was a big success. I either heard from or saw all of my children. I even had the pleasure of dinner with Jim & Sue on Monday evening.
Then came my Birthday. Another round of calls and visits from the children. I once again had the pleasure of a lovely dinner with Mike, Michelle & the girls at one of my favorite restaurants.
All in all, this summer, so far has been nothing but a real good time. So now I'll stop writing because my mind is going soft again. I know I forgot a lot and will hear from my Children. Love.