I wonder why ...

This song keeps playing in my head? "The Love Boat soon will be making its way, The Love Boat promises something for everyone ..." I'll bet one person I know can tell us. She's so excited and who can blame her?

Happy Birthday, Zack

Happy Birthday, Zack! 17? No Way!

Happy Birthday, Daddy

Family Celebration

A Fabulous Discovery ...

Those of you who have never truly been overweight may not be able to fully appreciate the wonderful discovery I made today. While taking pictures of cars at Fisher Mazda, I happened to rest the camera on my tummy while waiting between photos, and what did I see? MY FEET! WOW! It was sooooo coooool! I didn't have to bend over or suck anything in - they were just there, staring straight up at me through the camera screen. I had to snap the picture - I'm sure you understand, right? That was at 9:30 this morning and I just knew the rest of the day was going to be a good day!

Memories ...

Where does your mom work? She sells Tupperware! That's what my mama did for years. I'll bet we had every piece they made ... and a beautiful station wagon to haul it all in! I bet Mama can name every piece in this picture I found while looking through some old advertising books the other day. I see the cereal bowls and the servalier set, the tumblers and the mini salt and pepper shakers, and who could live without the huge mixing bowl or the really cool "cake taker!" What is really amazing is that I still use a lot of these same pieces today. I remember riding with Mama to her tupperware parties, especially the ones in Toxaway and Quebec - because she was there late at night and she needed someone to go with her. Guess having a 10 year old with you is considered "protection" in those parts! LOL! Learning about which tupperware piece you could fill with water, seal and turn upside down without spilling (the one gallon pitcher); how to cut lettuce without turning it brown ("use this green thingy and NOT a metal knife"); and how to "burp" your tupperware to keep the food fresh ~ all these things I learned from my mama, the tupperware lady. Even if I am not the best cook in the world, I do know how to stock a kitchen (just ask Frank, he loves MY kitchen!) Thanks Mama!

My Favorite

Today was Cary Grant today in our home! Amy and I played "lazy" and watched two 1937 movies starring Cary Grant: Topper & The Awful Truth! Both were wonderful! I love his humor ... and he's pretty, too! I think I am in love! LOL! He is definitely my favorite actor of all time. I'm glad he made so many movies because I think I might be upset if I thought I had watched the last one. I like his movies so much I have a timer set up on our new DVR that searches and records all Cary Grant movies ... automatically. Our next one up is Once Upon A Time about a caterpillar that dances. It's pretty good so far.

So, not that many of you answer my questions when I pose them on this blog that everyone insists they read, but for those that do (Amanda) - who is your favorite actor and if you could have a whole day devoted to their movies, would you?

Parkway Tour Pictures

Linville Falls Ride

This time a week ago, Frank and I had just finished a two mile hike to view the Linville Falls just off the Parkway. It was near the end of a beautiful ride we started around 2 that day when we got onto the Parkway at Hwy 74 near River Ridge in Asheville. We took the north route following our motorcycle guide book refers to as the "Grandfather Loop." It was the coolest ride ... literally, it was probably 10 degrees cooler up there. I actually had cold arms for most of the trip. There was very little traffic, the roads were lined with rhodedendrons, and it was just a very peaceful ride. When we finished the ride and got off the Parkway at Hwy 321 Blowing Rock & Boone, we decided it was about 8:45 and maybe we should find a hotel because it was going to be way too cold for the 2 hour ride home. What we didn't know was that the cheapest thing in Boone was about $130! Whew, I don't think so! So, after a quick look at the map and a call to 1-800-DAYSINN, we decided on spending the night in Lenoir. By the time we got there and checked in to the hotel, we realized we were quite hungry ... and quite dirty! We hopped in and out of the shower and tried to find a place that wasn't fast food that was open at 11:30 at night (in a town a bit smaller than Hooterville.) We found a Ruby Tuesday's, devoured what was left of their salad bar, had a very tasty turkey avocado burger and headed back for snoozeville! It's amazing how tiring riding can be. We got up the next morning and decided to take 64 West back through Morganton and Lake Lure. It was really nice. More photos in the next post.

Do You Suffer from Paraskevidekatriaphobia?

I know, I know - it's been a week since I have written! I have been so covered up at work that I have been here late every night and when I get home I haven't even felt like opening the computer up (no, I don't have a fever!) I don't think I ever thought I would get to the stage where I didn't want to get on the computer but lately I have hardly had the strength to move the mouse another step. Last night I was sound asleep on the couch by 8:15, Frank got up to go to bed at 11:15 and I beat him to the bed and was asleep again by the time he got there! I think I will sleep all weekend. I have no desire to go anywhere or do anything except CHILL!

Okay, so I am tired, but I don't have Paraskevidekatriaphobia! Do you? You do if you have a fear of Friday the 13th! Luckily, that is the least of my problems this week! Got to go for now - will tell you about the ride Frank and I took last week next time I have a chance. It was beautiful!

My Camera Makes Me Happy

My friend, Angela took this picture of me while I was coaxing her daughter into posing for me. I really like the photo, probably because it shows me doing something I am confident in - something that is fun and that I am pretty decent at doing. The photos below are some of the ones I took of Emma for her 4th birthday.

The Sea Is Calling ...

Frank's last words before he left this morning were, "I know you'll have something cool planned for this weekend, right?" Of course, I do! NOT! I have been so busy all I want to do is crash, but if I do have to get out of the house I would love to go to Charleston. It's been over a year, I think, and I am missing it. Wish me luck with priceline.com today. I don't have a lot of money, but I would love to introduce my new car to my favorite old town.

Snap, Crackle, Pop!

Every good day should start with a good breakfast. Maybe it was in honor of Independence Day and the sound of fireworks that have populated the air lately or maybe I was just hungry for a bit of nostalgia. Not really sure what prompted me to buy the Rice Krispies, but one krispy bite into them, I remembered why they used to be my favorite cereal! I bought the box last week and finished them off this morning! I love the taste and found it refreshingly "grown-up" that I enjoyed them just as much without the heaping spoonfuls of sugar I used to bathe them in! Isn't it funny how people enjoy their cereal differently? I love my krispies and my honey nut cheerios with cold skim milk and eating them while they are still crunchy. Frank, on the other hand, won't eat any cereal unless it's soggy from sitting in whole milk. What's your favorite cereal and how do you like to eat it?

Does Anyone Know?

What kind of flower this is? We saw it at the Arboretum, but it wasn't labeled. I have never seen anything like it before. (You can click on it to make it bigger.)

Pages I did Yesterday

Frank with the plane he wanted so bad spending the day fixing it and watching it scoot along the ground - it finally made it into the air ... for about 5 secs! It crashed once and he put it back together only to have it go up, up, up and come straight back down. He is now saving for a helicopter!

A couple of weeks ago, Angela and I took Emma to the Arboretum to check out the flowers and do a little photo shoot for her 4th birthday. This layout has two of my favorites. The flowers were just gorgeous.