Mandy's Birthday Party-Again.

Mandy's birthday was Wednesday the 23rd, it was her 25th birthday, she has had a party and cake everyday since them.

My girls don't just celebrate their birthday day, it's a birth week. Just about the amount of time Stacy was in labor with each of them.

Half of the wait staff for the Olive Garden are present at this table, hopefully the service at the OG on Friday night was not bad. I know of a party of 14 who went to the OG tonight.

In a room full of Italians someone is going to pull a knife.

Mandy opening her gifts, she got bags, lots of bags.

Playing Yahtzee with Dave, Mandy, Lisa, Scott and Emma.

Even Nichole stopped by for some dinner, cake and to ask her dad if he would please return her power tools. Got to love a daughter who asks for Craftsman tools for Christmas.

Margaritaville

Seems the granddaughter is a parrot head, or for those of you who don't know who Jimmy Buffet is, she likes the Caribbean.

The next Hollywood star.

Emma's Here!

Stacy, Lisa, Emma and Scott made it safely home to Clarksville about 7pm this evening. Emma was a little cranky, but after Pop gave her something to eat and a big hug she was happy. Then I had to share her with Mandy and Dave! (?)

Auntie Mandy and Emma getting to know each other again.

Smilin' Grandbaby, did not realize I could love someone more than I do this little one.
Easy Dave, contrary to popular belief, babies do not bite.
Everyone download and save these photos of Dave, this is as close as he has been to a baby his entire life. He and Emma had some fun, even when Dave was showing Emma a video on his iPhone.

Emma is fasinated with Dave, no matter where he moved to, she tried to follow him.

Dave the baby magnet.

Why do Christians Shoot Their Wounded?

Why is it that Christians shoot their wounded?

Whispering, gossip, twisting facts, backstabbing, pointing fingers, all while acting superior to everyone else. Instead of what we all are, equals, sinners.

As believers we are taught to forgive and forget, yet, once a weakness, or sin surfaces, those inside the "church" judge and shun, rather than encourage and lift up.

If we Christians are the body of Christ, why do we let church "buildings" dictate who we should associate and fellowship with?

If we are true Christians why not embrace all Christians, not just those we see in our "building" on Sunday?

Why can't the body of Christ (Christians) transcend walls, buildings, neighborhoods and reach out to each in a true fashion of fellowship the way it is meant to be?

Just something that has been on my mind for sometime now. So I will "Let go, and Let God."

Amen.

On The Road Again

This could almost be a ditto of last week, minus Chattanooga. Monday afternoon I rode the bike to Knoxville to conduct a new hire orientation on Tuesday morning. Tuesday started out bad as I was doing my expense report and realized my credit card was missing. To make a long story short, it was at Outback where I had dined the night before. But not knowing where the card was to begin with made for an uneasy feeling. I got the card back and the rest of the day was good.

I have not figured out what this is yet, it looks like a huge chicken sculpture in a field outside Knoxville

After the Knoxville orientation I headed East on I-40, got to exit 407 and had to check out the Pro Bass Shop. I was going to call David Morey, like I always do when I visit a Pro Bass Shop, but got caught up in all the stuff and I forgot. I should have called him.

At exit 417 on I-40 is a restaurant that some friends recommend, it's called Perkins. I stopped for lunch and probably will on the way back tomorrow. It's good.

And finally, an outlet store men can identify with, "The Beef Jerky Outlet."

I will take Stacy to the airport on Thursday morning to catch a plane for Jacksonville where Lisa will pick her up. On Friday Stacy, Lisa, Emma and Scott will be heading to Clarksville for good. Keep them in your prayers for safe travel.

Time to Relax

What at week! Monday I left for Chattanooga to conduct interviews for a job start on 1 Aug. After selecting three strong applicants it was on to an overnight stay in Sweetwater TN. Just my luck, the hotel was also the stopping place for several little league baseball teams. I usually don't complain to the hotel staff, but after listening to the kids running up and down the hall, especially after midnight I called the staff who did little or nothing. I was surprised the next morning at check out when the manager said, "I'm not going to ask how your stay was, I already know." She comped by stay. Nice.

Tuesday morning in Lenoir City then on to Johnson City for more recruiting in the afternoon.

Wednesday morning applicant meeting in Johnson City, again for a 1 August job start, have not figured out how to start two jobs on the same day 220 miles apart.

I was also called upon to terminate a sales rep for an existing client in Johnson City and collect her computer and equipment. Needless to say, it was a bad term and she played hide and seek. Told the client it would have to wait until my next trip.

Wednesday night it was back to Knoxville for interviews on Thursday morning. In the morning all my applicants showed up early, so I knocked them all out and was back on the road for home.

I drove straight past the Nashville office had lunch with Stacy at Casa Blahhhaa, then called Dave and Don, we got in 18 at Eastland before dark.

Friday I rode the bike to the office and worked half day, because we are having a job fair on Saturday, I left the office early and golfed with Stacy in the afternoon. She is now beginning to "read" the greens and was so excited to sink an 8 foot breaking putt.

It's Saturday morning, finished reading the weeks newspapers, gone through all my mail and I'm relaxing with my coffee.

I'll ride to Nashville in about an hour for the job fair, return this afternoon to pick up Stacy only to return to Nashville this evening. We are taking Don and Bonnie to Mangianno's on West End as a gift for their 50 wedding anniversary.

Next week, Lisa, Scott and Emma will be moving back from Georgia and in with us as they await quarters on Ft. Campbell. So we will have a full house again, that's something I can live with.

I miss David Graham.

And how was your week?

Nice Relaxing Sunday

Before church today, Mandy was showing me how she is so good at solitare and that she is the greatest player ever. She won two games in a row, so I guess she is pretty good at it.

Today was a nice relaxing Sunday, went to church, met David and Lori for lunch then took the rest of the day off. Just relaxed before another killer week of work and constant running.

Some of you remember Stacy's birthday fan, the $150.00 whirling 5 armed monster. Since installing it, she has been bugging me to replace the one in the living room.

I don't like the one she picked out, so I have been dragging my feet to put it up. I could stall no longer and get away with it so Mandy's Dave and I installed it yesterday. Is it me, or does this fan remind you of a four legged, winged insect? I think so.

Now she would like the one we took out of the living room put into the guest room to replace what? That CEILING FAN. I think she spends half her time thinking of things to keep me busy.

Happy Birthday America!

We started the holiday with me playing 18 at Cole Park and Stacy having breakfast with a neighbor. Then Stacy and I went to Nashville to watch the fireworks.

We had dinner at J Alexander's on West End Ave. I had the Rattlesnake Pasta and Stacy had the Chicken Finger appitizer. Neither could not finish what was served, not that is was not good, it was great. There was so much food, my pasta dish, was the size of a mixing bowl!

I also people watch, don't know what was more entertaining the fireworks or the way people dressed and conducted themselves. You can only step over so many passed out cowboys.

This looks like a lot of people, but this is still early. This was may be a quarter of the folks who showed up.
The Nashville Fire Dept's water cannon boat did doughnuts in the middle of the river spraying water in all directions.
Just chilling waiting for the show.Then the General Jackson showed up. Rumor had it for $80.00, you got dinner, cruise and a ringside seat for the show.

According to all the news networks, Nashville's show was second only to that of Philly's.

The Eye's Have it.

Seems my eyes are OK, they just wanted to be sure there we're no problems from my first exam. My retinas are intact with out holes in them and they are flat. Which I was told is a good thing.

But just to be safe, I have a scheduled appointment every year for the rest of my life. Of course, the doc also told me to be aware of a few things, such as "showers of floaters", " gray vision", or my favorite, " the loss of sight".

If any of those things happen, I need to come in sooner. Duh.

Thanks for all your prayers.

I should have gone to Dr Shelia.

Long Week and it's Only Wednesday

I got to spend Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday in Johnson City TN. Seems my job is taking me farther and farther away. I can no longer visits my sites on a long day.

Johnson City is a nice little town, but because Bristol Motor Speedway is right next door, it has it's own special type of locals. Nice way of saying I was surrounded my NASCAR fans, I felt out of place because I have a retried Army bumper sticker and not a NASCAR sticker. So I took a sharpie and wrote the number 20 on my trunk, 3 on the hood, and 8 on both doors. Everybody loved me.

I took the car because I had a lot of equipment to deliver in Knoxville. Next week, starting on Monday will be a 4 day bike trip.

Monday-Chattanooga. Tuesday-Cleveland, Lenoir City, Johnson City. Wednesday-Johnson City, Knoxville. Thursday-Knoxville, Nashville. Please pray for nice weather, and no rain during the day.

I have an appointment with an eye specialist on July the 3rd, to check on my detached retinas in both eyes. I'm going to get dilated, then have to wait until the Dr gets back to me with the treatment options. Keep me in your prayers as I await the results.

I had to get all my reports finished this evening, because of the holiday on Friday, my eye Dr visit on Thursday, I won't be able to see after my eye appointment.

I love you all, but Stacy is my favorite.