Basketball season has started. It is hard for me to switch from football mode to hoops so quickly. The defending champion Lady Trojans played their first home game last night. They faced Converse College but the closest it got was 0-0 before tip off. A.U. leads a different league with a whole other level of play. Still we enjoyed the game. Our girls out played them with little effort. But that is to be expected. All the team got playing time and I was impressed with some of the new faces. It's going to be a fun season.

This was the first home game for the new Athletic Director. Nancy and her staff did a great job.

It is good to see so many faces from last year and renew those friendships.

Next game is Thursday at 5:30 PM . A double header against Lees-McRae .

Check it out.

Why is it that sneaking a nap is so much better? Is it because it is like cheating? Getting something for nothing? It doesn't count?

The past few holidays I could be found sitting in my recliner with the stereo cranked. Was I power napping?

Somehow it's better than putting on P.J.'s and lying down.

Why when we were kids did we resist the nap so much, and now that we are older crave it so often?

Six holiday meals in three and a half days. We came we saw we licked our lips and we devoured. Thanksgiving feasts are a wonderful time to visit, catch-up with family and eat until you nearly burst.

But it's like I told my friends. It's nothing 500 hours in the gym won't fix.

I enjoy spending time with family and friends. But to be honest it's a little too much all bunched together. I really wish it could be spread more evenly through the year.

One more dinner this evening. But mostly today is for recovering by watching the Bulldogs cement their place in history by trouncing Georgia Tech. And the evening is reserved for seeing the Clemson Tigers pound the Gamecocks back into obscurity.

Gooooo Dawgs !! Get'em ...sic 'em ....woof woof !!

Go Tigers !!!

"An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day."

Let's see !!!

• God.. Who Loves me
• A personal relationship with him that is growing.
• The greatest Wife any man has ever known and she's my best friend
• Loving family
• They are all Christ Followers
• An on fire - crazy in love with Jesus church that is amazing
• Wonderful friends
• A safe, warm and comfortable place to sleep
• More food than I should eat
• Enough money to live, pay the bills and some to spare for later in life
• An airplane that I love
• A yard full of cars most of which work and any given time
• My love of great music
• I am an American
• Other than a few aches and pains I am healthy
• An unquenchable thirst for knowledge and the desire to read everything I see

Yeah I am blessed beyond belief
And I am thankful
Happy Turkey Day folks

Shiver me timbers!

Only 13 more days until : Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End DVD

AVAST!

Only a LANDLUBBER would miss it

ARRGH!

Every year we like to get together with our parents and take them to the mountains above Asheville. We missed last year because Kristie's dad was still in recovery from when the tree crashed down on him.

It was wonderful to return to StoneyBrook once again. It is a cottage located right up at the border of the National Forest. Surrounded by thousands of acres of forest land, streams and creeks is a great way to relax and truly enjoy the family. The past couple trips we've included Kristie's grandmother too. I must admit is is a great time.

Our tradition is to stop in Asheville and eat at Tripps. The lemon chicken is my tasty favorite. And we ALL always look forward to the Chocolate Mud dessert.

The last time we were there we happened in town during the Christmas parade, and while that is fun it creates a lot of traffic issues. Plus our Parents are getting older now and walking the hills of town is out of the question. We missed the parade this time however and were able to park right at the door.

After a very filling and satisfying meal we made our way to the cabin. The rest of the time was spent lounging around and naturally watching the Clemson, and UGA football games.

This year I hiked to the top of the mountain and got some great views. Most of the area is steep and rugged, and is within a bear preserve. Kristie insists I keep within walkie-talkie contact because she worries about my meeting 'not so Gentle Ben' on the way, or my falling and getting hurt in one of the many creeks I cross.

She need not have. However back in the cabin is where I needed the caution. I hurt my arm a few months ago and some movements cause sharp pain unexpectedly. It happened in the shower. I was reaching to adjust the spray an wasn't even wet yet. A stabbing pain shot through my arm and I jerked it back in reaction. Big mistake. Jerking it caused me to lose my balance and I fell, OUT of the shower through the curtain and banged my head on first the sink and then the floor. I was able to get up unassisted but scared everyone with the crash I made.

Long story short. After we got the bleeding under control I was not as seriously hurt as I thought. Still I bruised my leg, caused a huge bump on the back of my head, cut and bruised my ear and smashed my shoulder. A week later most has healed but I still don't have full use of my arm. Add that to the preexisting injury and I am one armed man right now. But hey it could have been worse. If any of the others fell like that, I doubt their ability to recover at all.
God protected me from serious injury and reminded me I too am growing older and slower.

Still I had a great time and look forward to next year. Without the pain I hope.

It had been weeks, and it seemed like months since Ashley came over. She has been asking and so have we. Finally we worked out a time in our schedules and set up a Munchkin night. We thought our waking hours had been full lately until we started looking at the social calendar of this six year old. I could not fathom the number of birthdays, dance recitals, soccer games, and so on kids are involved in.

We always like to let Ashley pick the food and be very involved in cooking. She picked her favorite and it was perfect. Chicken strips and oven baked french fries. She did it by herself with just a little safety help .

Dinner was fine, but the night's main feature was being another
Monkey Bread night MMMMmmm GOOD !!

We had asked her what she wanted to do and she said she'd like to see the Steve Martin movie Pink Panther again. We had watched it before and the two of us rolled in the floor during the funniest parts and our favorite one being the hamburger skit. And we both like the idea of a Rally Cat number to the theme song. She has it choreographed for them already.

After the movie the monk and I noticed a couple more Lady Bugs had sneaked in. So we grabbed on old jelly jar and spent a little time catching them. When we had them all we took the jar outside and set them free. A couple had to be urged to flee the jar but a little shaking did the trick. I'm glad to see the cold. Because since it went below freezing the other night not one of the flying VW's are to be found.

Just before she left Ash spotted the glow- in- the- dark object she had given me. First she reminds me not to eat it, because it'll make me sick. I told her I love my little "glow berry " .
She gets this pained look on her face that says ...huh !! She then informs me it is not a berry. I have it upside down. Turned over it is plain to see.... It's a tree! Green Berry or Glow Tree? I guess I am just hopelessly uneducated when it comes to fine art.

A great nights sleep was just the ticket for us. We awoke early and looked out the window. Snow was on the ground
Waking to snow is something of a tradition for us in Canada. Kristie and I have visited Canada five times and it has snowed every time.

After the free breakfast we remembered from before Kris and I packed and started our drive back to the U.S. It was exciting, yet sad too, because the vacations end is close.

We reached the border at Saint Stephen and figured we had one last chance to eat at a Tim Hortons before we crossed.

Then we drove to the checkpoint. The Border Guard on the U.S side was very no nonsense, but never rude.. He looked at BOTH our drivers license and our passports. With a very serious face he ask the usual questions, where we were from, how long we were gone, did we buy drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol. ( NO TO ALL THOSE ) Then he ask if we had any purchases over $ 500 dollars and I replied no. Did we buy gifts ? I blurted out that we just bought a few trinkets. CLICK ! Just like a light switch his whole demeanor changed. He lightened-up and grinned then laughingly said. You can go..Have a nice day. I think the word "trinkets" is the magic border word or something.

The ride back to Bangor was interesting. It was a different route than our trip northward. But just as scenic. As we neared Bangor and some of the surrounding towns we had visited a week earlier we noticed just how drastically the leaves had changed. They were now well past peak and a lot had fallen. In one week. Amazing.

Once back at the Airport Sheraton we relaxed an hour or so. Then we headed out do our last sites and to eat our final meal this vacation. We really were not very hungry. So where did we end up? We found a stateside Tim Hortons across the river in Brewer. Honestly we never failed to get great food from them. I am holding out for a franchise around here one day.

After dinner we returned the rental car. We had logged something over 1400 miles plus taken several ferry rides. It was a good car and a fun ride.

Back at the Hotel we repacked and tried to sleep early. Our flight departed at 6:30 so we had to set alarms for 4am.

We checked out and walked the 150 or so feet to check-in and security. Bangor is a smaller airport than GSP so I expected security to be almost instant. What I did not expect was that 5 flight all depart between 6 and 7 in the morning and each one was packed with snowbirds galore.
I think every one on our flight other than us was heading ultimately to Florida for the winter. It was an amusing sight.
We had great flights and another cup of Seattle's Best in Atlanta. Forget Starbucks, I like Seattle's Best much better.

While waiting to board Kristie and I saw a lady smuggling a dog in her purse. A cute little thing with a ribbon in it's hair. What I want to know is how he got through the X-ray machine unnoticed.

We arrived back at the car and got home with no trouble, heading home. One of the flight crew on our hotel shuttle mentioned rotisserie chicken and that planed the idea with us. So we stopped off at Bloome and got one for our dinner.

It was a great trip and a lot of fun. Wonder where we'll wind up next?

IMPACT !!!

Tonight was volunteer night at NewSpring. I had a great time. It was funny and serious, the band was rocking and Sherry poured from her heart. Saw some great video work and Perry spoke of how without volunteers the church ( all churches ) will wither and die.

After church we all had cookies and ice-cream. Oh and a good time in fellowship.

Thanks NewSpring Staff we love you.

We saw Eddie and Monica and since they hadn't had supper yet we followed them to Firehouse for a sub. Great food and good friends.