First Quarter 2010

It's been a busy first 3 months of the year. Of course, the highlight was my cruise (see below and in the right hand column).

Work has been VERY busy. The stimulas package and other initiatives have driven A LOT of community college grant work! It's job security!!!!!

The Disney "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" project put a major workload on my Project Linus volunteer efforts. That is slowly winding down and will result in many new long term volunteers and over 700 blankets for our chapter to donate to children in traumatic situations. See Project Linus Blog (link in right hand column near bottom of page). Our volunteers are wonderful and have done so much to support this effort!

I'm doing fine. Already planning another cruise for next year with girlfriend Donna from Cleveland, OH. We've been close friends since college. I'm staying very active with Project Linus, work, friends and more. I had tickets again this year to the UT Lady Vols. It was a good season but sad to see them lose in the Sweet 16.

The dogs continue to be well, too. Tasha (Shepherd) is blind in one eye due to a cataract. Surgery is not as successful on dogs as it is humans. I'm hoping to avoid that as long as her other eye stays good. Pebbles (beagle mix) has had numerous health problems, but now doing well - seizures are controlled by medicine and it looks like a number of problems she was having are now fixed with the removal of an absessed tooth.

Spring is here - I mowed for the first time yesterday and have already removed one tick (from ME not the dogs). The trees are starting to bloom and early Spring flowers are in bloom. I'm getting anxious to get out on the boat and start enjoying the lake.

Hope this update finds everyone well!

SNOW ICE and MORE SNOW

Well, I'm snowed in. The storm started yesterday/Friday 1/29 with snow, then rain that froze, then sleet/ice, then more snow today, etc. etc. etc. In otherwords, it's a mess. I left my car at Jackson's at the bottom of the hill. I doubt I'll get out tomorrow, but hopefully by Monday. The dogs and I have had a nice quiet day at home.

The Cruise

Myra and I had a great time on our cruise.


It was very relaxing, good weather and lots of fun.
We went to Cozumel where I swam with the Dolphins - see the Smilebox show on the right. Then Belize, Isla Roatan Belize and Grand Cayman. More pictures will follow soon.



We went with a tour group out of Knoxville with Red Hatters from all over the area. We had one formal Red Hat dress-up night.

Red Hat Cruise

My friend Myra and I have booked a "Red Hat Cruise" in January. I'm so excited! By January, I'll be ready for some SUN!!!!

Ohio Weekend

Mom and I went to Ohio the weekend of Sept. 11 - 13. We had a great time. Mom visited with cousins Margaret and Barbara. I visited with Libby, Rick and Megan and all of Bob's family. We spent most the time at John and Kathy's (Bob's daughter) "lake getaway" at Grand Lake St. Mary's. I also had a good visit with Aunt Pat, Aunt Barb, Gary and Chas. I'm already looking forward to my next trip up at Thanksgiving!

September 27 - Sunday

I got the boat moved to Caney Creek Marina. I think I'm really going to be happy there. Nice dock - security - nice restaurant - good bands in the summer - good staff, etc. I got it moved just in time on Friday afternoon during the couple hours of partly cloudy skies - no rain. It rained ALL Day Saturday and altho' it's sunny today, the lake was too muddy and high to take the boat out. http://www.caneycreekmarina.com/

Last Thursday was the traditional "Red Hat" Cookout at Karen Eidson's. We had a great time.

Last weekend Patti and I scrapbooked at the big Memory Magic Crop in Oak Ridge. We had a great time!

It was beautiful today. I worked outside most of the day!

Red Hat

I just love my Red Hat group - Atomic Hot Heads. Some "old" friends and some new friends. We played Bingo at Anita's tonight - what fun. And, better yet, great desserts by Jean - her chocolate pie is the best. Better yet, all kinds of yummy toppings for it and ICE CREAM. We braved the rain, storm, lightening and thunder and made it to Farrgut where there was practically NO RAIN. We made up for it in Roane and Anderson county where it was a down pour!!!