Its Christmas time in the City step 2

Check out that tree! Patt and I put it up today. Decorated it between naps, Panthers losing (again) and enjoying a warm house on a cold rainy day in the big city of Raleigh. Decorated ! lights ! Camera ! and does not turn over ! might have something to do with no children, pets, diminutive size, experience, and being nailed to the floor. The stories of trees crashing to the floor in the household of my youth are legend. Well we remember the year Dad was so frustrated he had our tree so that it swung freely from the ceiling. Helping Dad wire the tree to the wall and cornice became a normal, expected, "big boys" part of the routine of putting up the tree of our youth.
We have decorations in the den and little angel choir is in the living room next to our Ecuadorian village church.
and even more little decorations are in the book case next to the box where the Cowboys are losing to the Chargers as Philip Rivers is looking real good. (Go Pack)

Christmas is close step 1

The tree is in the garage, heck you could say it is half way up compared to where it was - at Crabtree Baptist parking lot. I am making progress. I got the boxes of decorations down stairs, some even partially unloaded and stuff set out. Talk about your basic move in process. The boxes almost become furniture before they get unloaded. I think it was last weekend I brought them down from the attic.
As you can see, once again we went all out in the front of the house. Four, count 'em, four windows with candles in them. I reckon we need some yard art and another light or two.

We found the box of angels and have them out and on the mantel and in various other places around the house. We like them. The actual number of them is unknown but it is quite large and many come with stories.
we just might enter a house Christmas decoration contest or something..... yeah -- right...

On our way back home from visiting Patt's family this Thanksgiving we took business 64 and drove through town and stopped at the cemetery behind the Pittsboro Baptist Church to put some flowers on Granny's grave. It was a very pretty drive up 49-64, blue sky and beautiful weather (yes, the top was down too). As we drove by the house, we spoke of the many times we stopped and visited with Granny and Hazel and Clyde on trips back from Charlotte and I of course can not drive through Pittsboro without all kinds of wonderful memories from childhood summer vacation time spent there so long ago.James Kelly and Myrtle Smith lived life in such a fashion that left a legacy of such a positive reputation among people who knew them in Pittsboro and Surry County in the mountains where they were originally from that they must have been really an amazing couple. Of course we remember Granny so well for the love she so freely gave so many people and she so willing and selflessly showered on us.-- and weren't we blessed for it.

Friday after

Thanksgiving day came and went with Patt working like all get out. She was cooking early and long, as we did not eat until late, but the gravy was good as was the rest of the fixin's. I think final count was 15 people in the house though not all for dinner as some came late. Me I helped a little (very) mostly by going to the grocery store for last minute stuff. The day was nice and the top was of course put down in celebration of the pretty day - though it turned very stormy and cold at night.

now on Friday, Patt was no where to be seen as she left the house for a day of shopping in south Charlotte at some big mall with a friend, and I spent the day watching ball games in front of the fire place. (or go shopping? ) I mean a really tough day. Some one had to do it and I reckon it was me so I stayed at watched. Auburn almost beat Alabama and West Va and Pitt are playing a real good game right now. and tomorrow promises more of same.

second visit to a reviewed restaurant

perhaps I should subtitle this post "something to keep in mind"

On our way to Charlotte tonight Patt agreed to dine with me at the Blue Mist (see Restaurant Review number 1 ) despite the relatively large crowd of vehicles parked out front. Patt normally does not like cigarette smoke with her dinner. There was an empty table or two in the non-smoking section in the rear where they have three tables of the eatery-- the rest were full-- and are for the smoking guests.

Patt had BBQ chicken and of course I had the BBQ plate, -- we both agreed the hushpuppies were among the best ever eaten by humans anywhere anytime. Light, crisp yet fluffy, hot, fresh, not at all greasy, in other words, very very good. While enjoying our meal, I overheard the guests at the table behind me discussing vegetable choices -- pinto beans and macaroni n cheese were the two requested. (Does that sound good or what? I about ordered another plate of food right then and there) Anyway back to our neighbor table. The waitress said they only had macaroni n cheese on Tuesdays -- hence the subtitle "something to keep in mind" for this post. I am pretty sure Tuesdays that place will be crowded but worth a stop.

Out of town visitor

We had a guest this past weekend and early part of the week. Stephen and a friend, Drew, came to town on a business trip. On Saturday Stephen, Drew, Eric and I went to the Wake v FSU football game and then on Sunday evening Stephen and Drew went down to meet with some business partners in the eastern part of the state on Monday and Tuesday. They flew back to Panama on Wednesday morning. It was a short but very nice visit with Stephen, who is as full of plans and ideas and fun as always. We had a good and busy time.

This is the Wake band prior to the game on Saturday, (we should have put football suits on them and played them, rather than the football team). The band looked good, our team did not. A sorry final to a not very good season. I had a lot of fun going to the games, and enjoyed having Stephen and Drew at this one, but winning a few more would have been nice. Got all the character built I want, ready for learning how to win now.

After the game, we met a host of relatives, brothers, cousins, in-laws and such, some of whom who attended the Elon v ASU football game and we all enjoyed a wonderful Thai dinner. We were not to disruptive a table to the restaurant, but we did enjoy our family style meal, and piled up plate after plate of some really good food.

Saturday, for the first time in nearly 100 straight Saturdays, I stayed home and did yard work, no football games to go to as Wake had an open date and the betting line was even, the Panthers had lost on Thursday, my adopted team was on the road I think, we were not in Charlotte as we had church responsibilities for Sunday, and so I stayed home and worked in the yard. Raked leaves, cleaned the gutters, and noticed we have this really pretty tree. It is a Red Oak, and just plain pretty.

restaurant Review #5 Health food supply house

In Boone last weekend Mark, Susan, Graham and I stopped by this health food place for breakfast. We struggled with what to order among the various choices of brans, granolas, fruits, and whole organic grains. I do not know if you can see the table below or not, but the portion sizes were small, which took some getting used to, but the nuts were a pleasant surprise.Here is the actual menu- you get it all - no choices - you get it all -- , two kinds of gravy, three kinds of pork, eggs, two kinds of bread, stewed apples, grits, coffee, juice and plenty of water (the pork was salty)(more on that later). The family style servings were large and very very good, and we went after a clean plate club membership too. I asked for a glass of skim or low fat milk when the waitress came by on one of her frequent coffee/water refilling trips (the country ham was salty) and she offered whole milk, to which I declined, stating a preference for skim or low fat. The waitress, offered to put ice in whole milk with the comment "We don't serve anything healthy here". You will note Mark and Graham look a little satiated - they are.Yessiree, if we are back in Boone we will be certainly be eating healthy here again- and be advised you can drink all the coffee and water you want, the bacon is really great (a little salty) and the gravy over the grits and biscuits, wow. We left the parking lot behind with this familiar sign and drove to the airport, flew 2 hours to Maryland and Graham and Susan left us - (they did not even stop by restroom prior to going to the car prior to driving home from the airport- I think I mentioned that the food was salty) - Mark and I then flew on back home. (after a trip to the room). We were looking at a two hour plane ride.

pushing the season

This stuff has been up for at least two weeks, I meant to document it sometime back, but just got to it today. How soon is to soon? I am fixing to tell you - this is. This was up before Halloween even got here -- and leaving Sears tonight, heard the happy sounds of "I'm dreamin' of a white Christmas" --- perhaps but not yet and I had the top down on the car today too.

Also above you can see the Apple store where I go to computer class and learn how to find the on - off switch on my computer. A lot of people never learn that.

Here is Patt standing outside the Santa station at the Mall, I had to about drag her away as she was convinced that Santa would be right back. She really put up a fuss and kept saying she just had to "talk to Santa". Patt had waited and waited and you know how she is when she gets something in her mind --- and listening to me and reason was not on the agenda. Do not let this smile fool you.

they are working hard at finding a new team for me

This past weekend Mark, Susan and Graham took up the challenge of finding a new team for me. Feeling my pain with the long suffering losers I had been pulling for they hauled me off to Boone and after climbing the "graduation picture" stone wall outside the old library took me to meet my new team at the stadium.

Backing up a bit -- Flying over Boone on our way to the airport we passed over the stadium and we saw the Band practicing. (I think that was arranged for me too) (The band did play Tennessee Waltz after the game -- need any more proof ? ) The mountains were sans leaves, but still dramatic and very very pretty on a very clear day.

Of course they arranged for me to meet the coach down on the field before the game though our conversation was brief we did get to chat a while.Down on the field I did get a chance to observe the pre-game warm ups and the team looked ready, the players looked large, and I was pleased with the view, I kinda like close up sometimes.
All in all it was a favorable way to begin the day. Our seats were pretty good too. They were in a skybox up there over my right shoulder. The skybox came complete with cold beverage of choice, (you can imagine mine), fried chicken, all kinds of dip, chips and such, --really nice too by the way.

The opponents were the U Tenn. Chattanooga Mockingbirds and the puns on the name Mockingbirds were so thick you would have thought Atticus Finch and Scout would show up.

They did not but the ASU Chancellor did , with the play on words associated the novel did, and he was glad to meet me too.

and it turned out so as my new team whooped the Mocs pretty badly.

Do not put your trust in idols/false gods or weak teams

Wake Forest has a losing record, as does the Wolfpack, as do the Carolina Panthers, don't get me started on the Carolina Hurricanes, (won 1 lost 13 straight) and even the Onion has lampooned the Charlotte Bobcats. If I were tempted to put my trust in any of these turkeys, I ought to reap the destruction promised in Deuteronomy, Exodus, Leviticus and in the Psalms and so many other places where admonitions against placing faith in false gods are stated. Well, in case some were thinking of trusting in these teams of mine - think again. They are suffering. I am tired of developing character.

Last Saturday, Wake had Miami beat, and in the rain too. Low and behold, we find a way to lose, State got whooped, and the list of pain just went on.

Check out the Bobcats- they are a bunch of scaredy cats.

you can see the actual site here

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/bombastic_team_introduction

I have been unable to make the link thing work with the blog.

try to double click on the picture, I think you can then read it.

Next week Mark and I are taking up with Appalachain State