Thanksgiving Eve

Tomorrow is Turkey Day
Sylvia, Mandy and Alex plan to arrive later today. That will add even more excitement to this household. Grandmother made the cakes, but Sylvia is bringing the pies. I can’t wait to see what she picked out for us this year! Yum Yum!

I wish you could see Grandmother and  me in the morning when we get up early to get the turkey in the oven. It’s like I have a wrestling match with that big old bird. I think he fights back as I work him over to get him in the pan. Grandmother acts as referee. So far I have won every match with the turkeys. And, I don’t intend to start loosing now.

Pumpkin Pie
Here’s a cute Happy Thanksgiving greeting card that shows the making of a pumpkin pie. Just click on the drawing below:

I was Robbed! 
Yesterday while we had gone to the airport to pick up Bethany, my son, Kevin, came over to our house to mow the yard for me. He could not find the gas can, so he called us. We told him where it was, but he still could not find it. We were confused.

It wasn’t until we had arrived home that we found out we had been robbed. Some lowlifes had broken into our out building and robbed me of almost all of my fishing equipment and a 5 gallon can full of gas. They stole 12 fishing rods and reels, 3 tackle boxes, some rod holders, and my gas can. I’m sure the total value will be over $3,000 based on a rough estimate I made. It looks like the robbery took place sometime Sunday night.

Someone said, “Cheer up, things could be worse.” The guy responded, “So I cheered up. And sure enough, things got worse.”

Back for Blood Work
I go back to have more blood work done today. I’m hoping my blood is reacting favorably to the medication.

 

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I hope you are with family and close friends
as you celebrate Thanksgiving 2009.
That always makes the day more special.

~~~

Quote of the Day
We can only be said to be alive in those moments
when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.
~Thornton Wilder

~~~
Joke of the Day

A man in Florida, in his 80s, calls his son in New York one November day.The father says to the son, “I hate to tell you, but we’ve got some troubles here in the house. Your mother and I can’t stand each other anymore, and we’re getting a divorce. I’ve had it! I want to live out the rest of my years in peace. I’m telling you now, so you and your sister shouldn’t go into shock later when I move out.”

He hangs up, and the son immediately calls his sister in the Hamptons and tells her the news.

The sister says, “I’ll handle this.”

She calls Florida and says to her father, “Don’t do ANYTHING till we get there! We’ll be there Wednesday night.”

The father agrees, “All right.”

The old man hangs up the phone and hollers to his wife, “Okay, they’re coming for Thanksgiving. Now, what are we going to tell them for Christmas?”

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Bethany Arrives Today

Thanksgiving Week
The fun all begins today as we expect our daughter to be here later today on flights from Rochester, NY. We’ll be picking her up at the airport later today. Then on Wednesday we expect the middle Tennessee gang to arrive… that’s Mandy & Alex and Sylvia. Then the rest of the crew will be here on Thursday morning. We’ll have at least 15 people for lunch on Thursday.

Basketball Dog
A friend sent me this video that I think you will enjoy if you like dogs and you like basketball.

Venous Thrombosis 
Venous Thrombosis - That’s the name for blood clots that form in a vein—my current health issue in my left hind leg. I had some blood work done yesterday, and it seems the Coumadin has not kicked in very much, so they upped the dosage and want me to continue the Lovenox shots twice a day for 5 more days. I give these shots to myself in my stomach. Each 5 days on the Lovenox costs me about $745 because I am in the famous “donut hole”. Some of you out there are familiar with the donut hole.

My doctor tells me to take it easy and let the medicine do its job. I’d like to be on the go a little bit more than I am, but I’m doing OK.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:

I’m happy. I hope you are too. There’s so much to be thankful for. Let’s all try to do some good today.

~~~

Quote of the Day

There is no such thing as gratitude unexpressed.  If it is unexpressed, it is plain, old-fashioned ingratitude.  ~Robert Brault

~~~
Joke of the Day

Camelot was under attack by a large, fearsome dragon. So, King Arthur called upon his most valiant knight to slay the dragon.

Unfortunately, all of the horses were frightened of the dragon and cowered in terror. All other options exhausted, the knight found a one-eyed, arthritic Great Dane.

But, King Arthur took one look at the dog and shook his head. "I'll kill the dragon myself," he said. "I wouldn't send a knight out on a dog like this." 

Sorry about that. That’s a corny joke!

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Thanksgiving Week

It’s Almost Turkey Day
Our big bird is thawing in the refrigerator and we’ll be putting it in the oven early Thursday morning. Our company will begin arriving on Tuesday, and we’re very exited!

I Feel Good But…
I’ve been on strong blood thinners since last Thursday because of the blood clots in my left leg. I go to the doctor this morning to have my blood checked and perhaps my dosage adjusted.

I have no idea what caused this, or how long I have had these blood clots. I have had no pain in my leg, only a little swelling below the knee and some redness. I had this condition for quite some time, and thought it was related to something else. But since it wasn’t improving, I asked my doctor about it last Tuesday. He did not think it was anything serious, but ordered an Ultra Sound test on my leg just to be safe. I had that run last Thursday. That’s when my situation was discovered. The doctor was as surprised as much as I was. Anyway… We caught it and we’re working on it.

I hope you have a good week. Remember to slow down and be safe at whatever you are doing. You don’t want to have a mishap right before Thanksgiving. You might miss a good meal.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I’ve been looking forward to this week. It’s Thanksgiving week. It’s a good time to count our blessings and demonstrate our gratitude.

~~~

Quote of the Day
God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. 
Have you used one to say "thank you?" 
~William A. Ward

~~~
Joke of the Day

A young man named Jon received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. Jon tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary.

Finally Jon was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. Jon shook the parrot and the parrot got even angrier and more rude. Jon in desperation, threw up his hands and grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer.

For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed.

Then, suddenly there was total quiet, not a peep was heard. Fearing that he had hurt the parrot, Jon quickly opened the door to the freezer.

The parrot calmly stepped out onto Jon's outstretched arm and said "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I am sincerely remorseful for any inappropriate transgressions. I fully intend to do everything I can do to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior".

Jon was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. He was about to ask the parrot why he had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, but the bird continued... "May I ask what the turkey did?"

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Thanksgiving Safety

As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday next week, it would be good for all us to remember practice safety whatever we are doing. We could ruin a wonderful holiday by a little carelessness.

Be Safe at Home or on the Road
When you are driving, drive defensively and slow down. It’s always better to be late than to have an accident.

Here’s a 2 minute video to remind you of safety tips while you are in the kitchen at Thanksgiving, or anytime.

During the holidays we often get excited, but we need to be extra careful, slow down, think clearly, and plan ahead so that we do not have a mishap. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving week and that you and all your loved ones have a wonderful time.

Insurance Issues Settled
Four days after we received a letter from Nationwide telling us they were cancelling our homeowners insurance, our agent finally called. This was to tell us they would continue our policy if we had a certified plumber perform an inspection of our home to verify it being in good condition and if we would increase our deductible.

I was pleased to tell the agency that we did not need insurance with them after Nov. 30, and the new insurance we were getting would save us $1,600 a year. On homeowners insurance, we got better coverage at about 1/3 the cost of Nationwide.

Some have been asking about who our new insurer will be. I am glad to say it is Erie Insurance. I suggest you give them a call if they operate in your state. If you live in Tennessee, send me a note and I can give you the name of the local agent. Erie is much less expensive, especially on homeowners, because they only operate in 11 “chosen” states.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
If you don't stand for something,
you will fall for just about anything.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking.  There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught. 
~J.C. Watts

~~~
Joke of the Day

County Police officers still write their reports by hand, and the data is entered later by a computer tech into their database. One theft report stated that a farmer had lost 2,025 pigs.

Thinking that to be an error, the tech called the farmer directly.

“Is it true Mr. (Smith) that you lost 2,025 pigs?” she asked.
“Yeth.” lisped the farmer.

Being a Howard County girl herself, the tech entered:

“Subject lost 2 sows and 25 pigs.”

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Sportsmanship

The Ultimate
I have heard this story before, but this is a new movie clip that does a great job of describing perhaps the greatest display of sportsmanship ever demonstrated. I hope you can watch this.

Click here to -> Watch Video.

I think that is a wonderful story. Can you believe that this is true. Yes, it really happened. I sure both teams went to bed on soft pillows that night.

There is no better feeling in the world than what you get from doing the right thing! Do good today!

Happy Birthday Greetings to Sylvia 
Sylvia is having a birthday today! I hope she has a  wonderful day. She deserves it.

We’re looking forward to seeing Sylvia, Mandy and Alex for Thanksgiving next week.

(Sylvia was our son Greg’s wife. Greg was killed in an automobile accident in 1983. Mandy, our Granddaughter, is Sylvia and Greg’s daughter. Alex is Mandy’s husband.)

No Fishing Today
I was planning on going fishing today, but my plans got changed due to another health issue. I found out yesterday, to my surprise (and my doctor’s surprise), that I have blood clots in my left leg. So I’ve had to slow down a bit. I’m giving myself 2 shots a day of Lovenox and I’m taking Coumadin to work on these clots. I’m keeping this leg elevated and taking it easy as I write my blog. It will keep my away from the gym, out of the boat, and away from those leaves in the yard, so it could be worse. Other than that, things will be petty much normal for me. Ah, the golden years.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
The wise man said,
“I have often regretted my speech, never my silence”.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Instead of complaining that the rosebush is full of thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses.  ~Proverb

~~~
Joke of the Day

A firefighter is working outside the station when he notices a little girl in a little red wagon with small ladders on the sides, a garden hose coiled in the middle, and wearing a firefighter's helmet. The wagon is being pulled by her dog and her cat.

The firefighter takes a closer look. "That sure is a nice fire-truck," the fire fighter says with high regard.

Thanks," says girl says!

The firefighter notices the girl has tied the wagon to her dog's collar and to the cat's tail.

"Little lady," the firefighter says, "I don't want to tell you how to run your rig, but if you were to tie that rope around the cat's collar, I think you could go faster."

The little girl replies thoughtfully, "You're probably right, but...then I wouldn't have a siren!

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A Week Away! Turkey Day!

Thanksgiving 2009
Next week is Turkey Day! We’re getting all excited. We’re getting anxious for all the fun when we get the gang together!

Bethany will be arriving on Tuesday. Then we expect Mandy & Alex, and Sylvia & Brent on Wednesday night. Dad and Mary and all the others get here on Thursday morning. Jade will not be able to come “home” for Thanksgiving, BUT she will be here for Christmas! We’re excited about that also!

Cooking?
If you are like lots of people you may be doing a lot of cooking this time of the year. Do you need any recipes? If you do the following may help you. It’s the 50+ Friends Cookbook.

While the cookbook is not currently being update, it is currently filled with hundreds of recipes for just about anything. You might want to give it a whirl.

Gift Ideas?
Christmas is just around the corner, and we have lots of birthdays in the fall and winter seasons. So, I was just wondering if you have any great gift ideas you would like to share with Tennessee Granddaddy. If you do send me an email, or put them in a comment to this blog. Thanks!

 

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
They say that an expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less, until eventually he knows everything about nothing.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Empty pockets never held anyone back. 
Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.
~ Norman Vincent Peale

~~~
Joke of the Day

Three preachers are a boat far from land. They decide they are going to confess their shortcomings.

One asks another, 'What is something that you have a problem with?'

The first one says, 'Well, I have a problem with alcohol. I like to take to the bottle sometimes.'

The second one says, 'Well, I have a problem with lust. I have wrong desires and lust after money.'

One of the others asks the third one, 'Well, what is something that you have a problem with?'

The third preacher replies, 'Gossip, and I can't wait to get back to shore!'

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A Driving Lesson

The following article was in the Knoxville News-Sentinel last week. Read it for a good lesson on driving. It’s a little long, but I think it’s worth your time.

CITIZEN’S VOICE
A driving lesson that will last
DR. ROBERT GIBSON

   The gold Camry sat in my blind spot, and its driver refused to slow down or speed up. I was traveling in the right lane on the Pellissippi Parkway between Knoxville and Oak Ridge near the Hardin Valley exit, and I was in a hurry to get to work.
     But gold Camry had me boxed in behind an 18-wheeler going 40 miles per hour. I was going nowhere, with gold Camry on my left rear bumper, blind to my growing frustration. Why won’t this guy pass and let me move over?
    I mashed the accelerator, planning to bolt ahead of the gold Camry and then make a quick move to the left. It didn’t work. Gold Camry accelerated, too, making my aggressive move too risky. I was pinned behind the 18-wheeler.
     My frustration boiled over to anger. As the Camry’s front bumper drew parallel to my driver’s side window, I debated how I might transmit my anger. Shake my fist? Mouth some nasty words as he crept by? Maybe ride his back bumper all the way to Oak Ridge?
    Gold Camry was interfering with progress, and I wanted him know it.
    His front door drew even with mine, and I glanced over with a scowl. I saw a middle-aged man lost in thought. He gripped the wheel in 10-2 position, just like I had learned in driver’s education class.
    I was certain that he would return my glance with an air of superiority. Instead, he kept his eyes on the road, straight ahead, as if I wasn’t even there.
    The 18-wheeler was less than 10 yards ahead; I strained to anticipate the exact moment that the Camry’s back bumper would clear my front bumper. At that instant, I would whip into the left lane, using the maneuver as an obvious message to Gold Camry: Get out of my way, jerk!
    Then, as the gold Camry crept past me, I read its license plate: “SON KIA.”
    Killed in action. Shame crept over me as I comprehended what I had already begun to suspect: Gold Camry wasn’t boxing me in intentionally. And even if he were, what was the value of my few minutes of lost time in comparison to what he had lost?
    I slowed down, letting the gold Camry fade into the distance. Work seemed less important now.
    Since that day, I have often wondered why the driver of the gold Camry chose to put those letters on his license plate. Maybe they reminded him of something he didn’t want to forget, no matter how painful the memory.
    Maybe he wanted other drivers to acknowledge what he and his son had sacrificed for their country. Or maybe he wanted everyone to remember the gravity of war which, as American writer Paul Fussell reminds us, “acts in ways that ask to be imagined before they are condemned.”
    Whatever his intent, the words that I wished to say so emphatically to the driver of the gold Camry changed in an instant.
    I hope the man driving the gold Camry reads this. I want him to know that we met one day on the Pellissippi Parkway, and I was made better by that meeting. I’m sorry, sir. Thank you for your son.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Don't let what you can't do
interfere with what you can do.

~~~

Quote of the Day

It might be more worthwhile if we stopped wringing our hands and started ringing our congressmen.
~Author Unknown

~~~
Joke of the Day

Two country truck drivers are barreling along when they come up to a low bridge.

A sign says, "Clearance: 11"2'." So they get out, measure their truck, and realize that it's 11"6'.

So the first GUY looks at the second GUY and says, "I don't see any cops around....let's go for it!"

(Dumber than dumb… Perhaps in earlier days, these two guys played football at the University of Tennessee before being kicked off the team some stupid crime.)

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