Wintry Mix - Sounds Delightful Doesn't It?

The mind might conjure any sort of delightful romantic concoction:

- One might think of a bouquet of white roses, holly, Snowy white alstroemeria, red hypericum berries, with magnolia leafs – lovely.
- Some delightful music, in anticipation of the post-holiday dip into the winter doldrums: Winter Mix - pop-savvy and indie-riffic enough to melt the icicles straight off your stereo – delightful.
- Or possibly, some lovely crunchy nutty sort of thing covered in white chocolate with silvery snowflake embellishments – delish.

One would NOT think of crappy, cold, icy, miserable, snowy, wet weather.

Sadly, the wintry mix in Dallas is the latter:
- Roads are slippery.
- Businesses (that we don’t work for) are closed
- People are stuck in ditches (not anyone we know)
- Bagels stay in bed.

I have some chicken in Barbeque sauce simmering in the crock-pot at home for dinner, which will be eaten by the fire with the whole Thursday night gang and at least two small bagels in attendance.

How are you surviving the cold?

MOVIE CRITIC

Over the last few weeks, Karen and I have seen 4 movies. That is probably 4 more than we have seeen in over a year. Marley and Me, Gran Torino, Benjamin Buttons, and Slumdog Millionaire. We enjoyed each of them. The acting of Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino was excellent and the story lines in Benjamin Buttons and Slumdog were a bit off center but both movies are highly recommended. Now if we can get some local theater to get FrostNixon, we both would be happy campers. For some reason or another, our local theaters turn their backs on movies that may be deemed controversial.

Miserable Cold

Ralph is going into his forth week of a nasty winter cold. They've done bloodwork, chest x-rays and they are sending me to an eye-ear-nose and throat specialist next 

Tuesday. I'm pretty much wiped out.

Baby News From Texas

So, we've talked to several of you, either on the phone or in person, but for those who don't know: Alison and I are officially having a girl!

I will post ultrasound pics tomorrow - my good scanner is @ the office.

Ultrasound photos were a bit fuzzy, so I embellished. My unborn child is ROCK AND ROLL.

SO! EXCITING!

Happy 21st Birthday, Grace!!

Besides swearing in a new president, yesterday ushered in Grace Thompson's newfound adulthood.  Congratulations, Grace!  We would all love to hear how you celebrated.  How about a couple pictures and a recap?!

HEY TEXAS!!!!

What gives, Texas?  In scanning the last several weeks of Gazette posts, contributions seem to be coming from the same loyal contributors.  What, do you think you are busier than we are?  Do you think that we aren't interested in what mundane things you might be doing on the weekend? Do you not want to share?  We've already lost Atlanta and Tulsa.  We should at least, be able to keep our little group together.

So, I would like to throw out a bit of praise for Mike and Ali's children's book re-telling the nativity story with a twist.  Great story and fabulous illustrations!!  Mike should be teaching a school on talent, 'cause he's got it. Every time I turned a page, it was like - "how did he do that?!"

Dylan & Me

Justin and I saw the movie "Marley & Me" today. We both enjoyed it, and definitely identified with the trials and tribulations (and fun) of parenting a large, incorrigible lab.

Happy Birthday Anne!

A wonderful thing happened 26 years ago.  Anne was born on a clear, crisp Sunday morning at the Northern Westchester Hospital in Katonah, New York.  Her father and I were (and still are!) in awe at the amazing human being we had created.  She was beautiful!  A perfect swirl of black hair surrounded her porcelain face.  And when she opened her eyes, it was obvious that at less than a hour old, she already knew more than the two of us put together.  Twenty six years later, she is still beautiful, a long, thick mane of black hair surrounding her porcelain face.  

Ruby Sue (the wing queen)

A mysterious package came via UPS yesterday, addressed to Dylan Finegold.  Inside, were two well-sealed, frozen pheasant wings.  No directions, no recipe, nothing.  Just a note from Ruby Sue, the Wing Queen.  One of our Indiana friends (the same clever guy who sent us the "Shalom Y'all" welcome mat), upon meeting Dylan a year ago decided that he was a perfect bird dog.  And, anyone worthy of his camouflage knows there is only one way to train 'em.  The wings are still in the freezer awaiting further instruction.

You never know where you'll see yourself...

...on the internet! I had never even seen this picture before until I stumbled across it courtesy of Facebook. Can anyone find mini Anne? (Hint: Mom thought it would be cool to buy me an all-purple outfit that year)

The Rat Pack is Back

JoAnne and Ralph went to Raleigh on Saturday to see The Rat Pack Is Back. It is a totally different show than the version they saw last year. The cast is the same one playing at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Apparently they periodically take the show on the road for a week. The cast played Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop. They were accompanied by a 12 piece orchestra. The impersonations and music were excellent.

Marley and Me

Well, Norman and I finally saw it.  I am such a wimp when it comes to anything sad that I had been putting off seeing the movie until I knew it would soon be gone from the theater here in Southern Pines.  Though I never had such a rascal of a dog as Marley, the joy and friendship AND heartbreak that my dogs have given me over the years was depicted perfectly in Marley and Me.   But, anyone who has ever met the KC Dylan (and seen the relationship he has with my oldest daughter) would say that this movie was about them. If you are a dog person, see it.  And, bring kleenex.  Even my dad said that at the end, "I had to blow my nose".