The Perfect Day, Or Why Do My Feet Hurt So?

Recently I was able to spend the better part of the day with my daughter, Patricia.  We don't get to be together as much as either one of us wants.  She works two jobs and until recently I worked full time.  When a Friday came and neither of us had commitments, we took full advantage of the opportunity to be together.

What do women do with a free day and no deadline driven tasks to complete, you ask?  Well we went shopping!  One of our favorite places to go together is Old Time Pottery.  We set off for that mecca of retail madness with stern determination to stay within our budgets, but to see EVERYTHING in that store. 

We walked every aisle in a pre-thought out fashion.  First was the clearance racks and aisles.  No paying full retail for us.  Then we looked at all the rugs.  When we found ourselves at the back corner of the building we found a rack of several faux flower arrangements. 

Orchid in My Living/Dining Room

I loved it the moment I saw it.  There was a beautiful orchid.  I had to have it.  My daughter treated me to it.  I didn't expect her to do that.  I gladly held onto it as we covered the entire store.  Then we decided to have some lunch.  All the people who know me well know my favorite eat out meals are at Mexican restaurants.  So off we went to Camino Real.

Patricia and I Relax with Mexician Food



Together is Better

You may have noticed that I indulged my desire for a diet cola.  I am supposed to stay away from caffeine because it affects my heart in a negative way.  I had not had a cola since May, but I couldn't resist this one time.  We were laughing and having such a good time.  Now you know people, that nothing tastes better with Mexican food than a large diet cola.  So I drank a glass and then a refill glass.

I promise to be better tomorrow.  Really.

After lunch we went to Hobby Lobby where again we walked the entire layout of the rows.  Patricia found a great fabric and I came away with six rust colored candles, the beginning of my fall decorating.

By this time I was exhausted.  When I got home I put my feet up and rested for as long as I could.  Walter came home soon thereafter and we left for the ball park.  A sweet grandson had a 5:30 game.  Luckily, we take lawn chairs and I could rest my weary body while watching his game.

Yes, this was a perfect day.

Gatlinburg is Fun

For years we have gone to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to relax and rest.  In the last twenty years the landscape has changed so much.  Businesses come and go.  The boundries for Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg used to be distinctly separated.  Now the towns touch edges so that the entire area is looked on as one continuous tourist area.

So when we stayed over after Jean left for Chattanooga, we decided to experience a few things we had not done in recent visits to the area.  We traveled to a high vantage point to see the Gatlinburg area from afar.

These photos show how beautiful the Smoky Mountains are from a distance.

In the evening we planned to see a show.  In the past we have gone to many of the plays offered and have always found them quality entertainment for the dollars spent.  The shows also come and go, so it is best to see one that catches your eye because another show may be playing there when you get back into the area.  We decided to go to the Country Tonite venue.

The show was fun.  We even had a chance after the performance to get a few pictures with the cast and crew.  That is always fun, especialy for Walter.  You know, he never meets a stranger.  I am a little more reserved and sometimes I miss out on a great experience just because I am a little too shy.



Walter and Several Performers

Me and the Talented Band

Walter even got to go on stage for a little routine.  He is not shy to contribute to the fun of an evening.  The lady who brought him onto the stage was replaced by a man while Walter was not paying attention.  "She/He" was rubbing Walter's head.  All the time Walter thought it was the woman!  When he realized what had happened to him, he ran around the stage until he could flee to his seat.  Ha! Ha!

The next day, rather than drive into Gatlinburg and struggle with the parking, the fees and all the walking, we decided to park our car and take the shuttle into Gatlinburg.  For a small $1.50 we could spend the entire day sight seeing and taking in the small stores and venues without the stress of going back to the car to pay any additional parking fees needed because time had run out.  We could wander back and forth to any or all of the shops and be free of any distractions.

Ready for Our Trip into Town

We thought the prior evening was over and forgotten but we were wrong.  During this leisurely visit we found out several people who had been at the theatre were also in the town.  We were recognized and spoken to by quite a few fellow attendees.

In fact we were taking photos outside a tourist spot when a couple asked if we would like them to take our picure together.  They announced that they had seen Walter's "run" last night.  He is now "Famous"! What could we do but pose for them?  They also took the following photo of us.



Outside Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler

This establishment smelled strongly of sour mash.  Wow!  We were tired of walking so we took advantage of the rocking chairs that were set up for tourists.  A nice band was playing mountain sounds, so we stayed for a bit, resting and listening.

The Bluegrass Band had a Great Sound

When we had relaxed sufficiently, we resumed out trip down the strip.  For years, we had talked about going into Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum.  Well this was the day we decided to just do it!  We saw Jesse James items of interest and all kinds of prison documents, shanks, and exhibits.  The museum had so many odd and strange items that it boggled our minds.  Everything was guarded so no pictures were allowed.

There was one area where pictures were encouraged.  We couldn't resist taking a picture of each of us on the world's largest chair.

Now we thought this was funny.  Reminds me of a Lily Tomlin routine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocBO0fr1Ui4&NR=1&feature=endscreen

After having all this fun we decided to have some supper.  My favorite Mexican restaurant is Jose's.  So off we went to get to the table before it got too crowded.

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures of the two of us.  Notice the happy smiles that we both have. We had shared a wonderful day together in a relaxed way.  Our 25th year together started out with a home run. God is good!

 

 

 



Turning 60 is Good

My sister, Jean, turned 60 on August 31.  While we were still on vacation, we decided to pop in to see her.  I had talked to Elizabeth about a week earlier that we would like to come for a visit and she had agreed that Jean would like to see us.  Her doctor had instructed her to rest for a month and then she would take up another round of chemotherapy.  This time her chemo would be by mouth rather than through her veins.

We arrived there on Thursday afternoon and surprised her with our visit. Her family had decorated the apartment with all things relating to 60.  She was upbeat and happy to see us.  They already had a cake so we brought ice cream.  We sang to her and gave her a present – a $60 gift card to Dress Barn.  She loved it!  Many friends had sent cards and small gifts.  Her best gift was that all of them were going back home to Chattanooga for a few days.

So the next day we visited Jean and Edd while Elizabeth was at her cooking school lesson.  After she got back from school, they left.  Elizabeth had received a matching cap to the pants they have to wear.  It was a black plaid outfit which looked very nice, kind of in the “Chopped” look.  (Side note:  Walter and I really enjoy that show on the Food Network.)  She shared with us the knife set she has that has her name engraved on the blades.  Since they are chef quality, they should last her a life time.  So soon after she arrived, we said our goodbyes and good wishes and left for our own adventures.

It was good to see Jean and the family.  She showed me her scar and the redness that the radiation had left.  I could tell it was painful for her to wear her undergarments against that reddened skin.  But she is here, alive and travelling and 60!  This is praise to me.  She is witnessing to a man who believes he has done too many wrong things in his life for God to ever forgive him.  Jean is trying to help him see that God can and will forgive anything.

God is good!  The cream she was given has helped with the skin over the surgery scar.  She has no open places on her skin today. Jean will see her doctor tomorrow and she thinks he may start her on the pills then if all proves ready.  She is to take them for 5 years.  The Dolly Parton Foundation covers some of her medical care expenses which is fabulous.  God bless them.



Delicious Chocolate and Vanilla Cake

Sixty? Who Cares?

Edd, Jean, Elizabeth & Walter

Me, Sister & Niece

Delay Feature on Camera Allowed Us All in the Picture

Enjoying Being Together

I will post more later on what else we did in Gatlinburg.

Tulsa Visit - TPAC

While we were visiting Aunt Nell and family, we also celebrated our 24^th wedding anniversary.  The real date is August 27, 2012 however we celebrated a day early, as the pictures show.  Walter and Paul researched the route to a nice Italian restaurant which Walter had found on the internet and away we went into Tulsa! It was a wonderful, intimate place where we dined in luxury.

Villa Revenna Early Dining Section

 We had great meals and Walter practiced taking pictures of us with the delay feature on our camera.

Walter & I Enjoyed the Extra Attention We Were Given by the Wait Staff

 

Walter's Meal of Shrimp & Pasta

My Dish of Spaghetti Alla Bolognese Sauce - Delicious

For anyone visting in the Tulsa downtown area, I would suggest you visit Villa Revenna.  The food and the service were both extra special.  When we told them we were on to a play they made sure we had everything we wanted and fast!

Here we are in front of the restaurant.  It was a charming place.



Walter had also secured us tickets to Neil Berg’s widely acclaimed “100 Years of Broadway” at Tulsa’s performing arts center.

In Front of the Art Gallery in the Tulsa Performing Arts Center

It is a musical revue of Broadway’s most celebrated shows. Believe it or not, we had 2^nd row center tickets.

Mr. Berg was on stage playing the piano and giving the audience facts about the singers and the songs, and how the nearly 30 songs were selected for his revue. It was a perfect evening topped off by getting to have pictures made with Mr. Berg and three of the performers.

Neil Berg, Creator/Co-Producer of the show Poses with Us

Rita Harvey Played the Lead Role in The Phantom of the Opera

Rita Harvey, who is also married to Mr. Berg, sang "Think of Me".  She was fabulous.

Carter Calvert Played Grizabella in the Broadway National Tour of CATS!

I swear my knees were weak hearing Ms. Calvert sing "Memories" and me being so close to her. I mean seeing her from the 2nd row. WOW!  I couldn't help but tear up!

Chuck Wagner Played Beast in Disney's Beauty & the Beast

Chuck Wagner is a rather tall man and a baritone without equal. He originated the title roles in Jekyll & Hyde.

Mr. Wagner is Heads Above Ms. Calvert and Me

Nice Smiles Guys!

I was delighted with our anniversary celebrations.  So much talent and charm in the rooms.  Now you know I am referring to Walter  - now don't you?  He picked the perfect way for us to mark our 24 years of togetherness.  I couldn't ask for anything more.

P.S.:  The following evening we ran into a young lady who was sitting in front of us at TPAC.  During intermission she had sung for us.  She has a beautiful operatic voice.  Her name is Alex Langford.   We will watch for her because if she continues to sing, she will be known in the professional ranks, I predict.  And how funny was it that she showed up at the Olive Garden the following day?

Alex Langford has Been Singing Opera Since She Was Three!

 

 

Tulsa Visit

August 25 - August 28, 2012

We took several days off to visit family in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Sevierville, Tennessee.  This post is about our trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is heavy with pictures as we tried to document each trip in their own special ways.

After a Mexican Meal in the Denver Airport

We left the Nashville airport to fly to Denver where we had a four hour layover.  Then we were on to Tulsa.  That made for a long day but the price was reasonable as we had Southwest Rapid Rewards for three legs of the trip which allowed us to only have to pay for one portion of one trip.  The return trip did not have a layover, only a plane change.

We went out to visit Aunt Nell, her son Paul, and his family.  In April she and Uncle Tommy had settled into a nice three room apartment.  July 26, my Uncle Tommy died from cancer.  He was 94.  Aunt Nell is faring well. After a 68 year marriage, I am sure there are times of total sorrow.  It is to be expected.  She receives many letters and calls from friends which help her spirits stay high.   

 

Walter, Paul & I Surround Aunt Nell

On Sunday, we accompanied Aunt Nell to her church which is about a good sized block from her apartment.  We also went to her Sunday school with her.  The Ruth Class, ladies over 70, enjoyed having Walter in the class, and to tell the truth, I think he enjoyed himself too.

The picture of Aunt Nell is in the main room of her three room apartment.  It is in a nice gated community.  The complex is for anyone.  When her eyes fail, Paul is already looking into moving her to an assisted living facility that is just down the road a few yards.

Olive Garden Meal with Family



DeTina and Daughter Divinity

 

On our anniversary day, we spent a good part of the day shopping with Aunt Nell.  She wanted several things and we felt that we could help out to give the others a break.  We found her needles, bedroom slippers, orange sticks, powder puff, etc.  We got smart and starting putting her in a wheelchair which saved everyone some energy.  She wanted curtains and a winter coat.  We priced several curtains in three different stores, but she decided she needed more information before purchasing any and I was glad of that.  DeTina had volunteered to go with her to Goodwill to look for the coat.  They thought she wanted a style that was not made anymore.  At the days end we met up at the Olive Garden for supper.  Mary Anne, Paul, Aunt Nell, DeTina and Divinity ate with us.  It was a great visit but not everyone got into the group picture.