TAKING IN THE BLESSINGS OF LIFE

Monday was my birthday and today was Judy’s…we were twins you know!

Mom took us out to eat yesterday in honor of the occasions. I didn’t want her to pay, but since we took her all around Turkey Creek shopping, she insisted…so thanks mom! As you can see, she had quite a day herself, buying a new suit for church (Judy is holding it), getting a makeup update at Penny’s, and she left lots of food to eat today! She doesn’t eat much, so a meal out is usually good for a day or two at home.

Today was moving day for Tia and Corey, so we took Lily for the day. It was the first time we have had her for over 8 hours, and it was nice. It really gave us time to bond and start treating her the way we used to Katie Bug. Being at our house seemed to make us all more relaxed and the house is still new to her, so it was an adventure exploring. It was also the first time got to share lunch with her and Judy even got to share a nap with her; although, Judy got up as soon as Lily was asleep.

Judy and Lily had played hard at blowing and chasing bubbles all morning, so she needed a little rest. Note the big bubbles in the photos of the two…Judy was proud of herself!

I left around 2:15 for an eye appointment, and when I returned Tracy and Katie (and Zack) had dropped by to play with Lily. They were drawing names and pictures with chalk on the driveway (which is currently being washed away with a heavy downpour of rain), and Lily played with some toys in the birdbath! Yeah, the birdbath, but it was clean water…I’ve never seen a bird in it since we bought it – too close to the lake I suppose.

Gary, her “pop-pop”, came by about 5:30 and picked Lily up. We were tired, being old folks, but we hated to see the little thing go. She had hugged and kissed around on us all day and we already miss it, however, our heart is aglow and warm enough to last until next visit!

YOU'VE SEEN MY HOMETOWN, NOW SEE MY COUNTY...

Come visit soon!

MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATIONS

Here's hoping your Memorial Celebration was as good as ours. GOD BLESS'EM!

DON'T YOU DARE FORGET THEM!

It's been 43 years since I was in Vietnam on Memorial Day. We had hot dogs and hamburgers even then...you do the same. I salute all the vets out there and even those that weren't!

THIS IS MY HOMETOWN

Take a quick look around Harriman, Tennessee, my hometown. GO HERE

It's probably a lot like your hometown...slowly being choked out by Wal-Mart and the ever encroaching big city shopping malls. However there is still life here, and if you look very closely, you'll see the beauty of what was once a thriving community.

The old Victorian Buildings are still standing...waiting for something new to happen to bring the people back to visit and admire them once again.

The Princess Theater restoration project hopes that from an arts and cultural center, in the old theater building in Downtown Harriman, will grow another bustling community full of hope and brighter future for our children.

"APPALACHIAN DREAMS" MOVES TO POST-PRODUCTION

Saturday's matinee and evening show called "Appalachian Dreams" was, without a doubt, a grand success, but it wore us all out! Filming, planning, rehearsing, and editing had been going on since mid-January and everyone was whipped by the time it was all over around 9PM Saturday night! I even had blisters on my feet from all the running around it did backstage. Still photography is hard work!

The dream for this show began with Gary Baker (local business man) and Muse Watson (star of TV and film), but then the fire jumped to Bill Landry (local celebrity host of the "Heartland Series") and Michael Golebiewski (Dept. Head of Humanities at RSCC)! Without their parts, the show would not have been as coordinated and professional as it was.

My personal congratulations to everyone involved...I know exactly how hard you worked, and it paid off!

We all know how much Bill, Michael, and Gary put into the show, but I have to acknowledge cameramen Doug Mills, Andy Garrett, Matt Mullins, and Lee Ellis for their patience throughout the "on location" interview filming, all the rehearsals, all the editing, and, of course, both shows Saturday!

We must not forget Jon Chemay and Cody Hazelwood, and the others in and feeding sound to the sound booth.

There was Jimbo Duncan and company providing sound to the performers, Bill Farnham directing the curtains and acts off stage, and Angie Buck Skidmore marking the cues for everyone, and those hard working folks up in the lights above.

Then their are the acts themselves to recognize, Jenny Ballard and Maggie Kholbusch, Elizabeth Rose, the Lantana Drifters and especially Audine and Edd Webb, the Pickn' Grin house band, the Babahatchie Community Band and especially to its founder Dr. Joe Williams and the conductor McCall Bohanan, the Sister's of the Silver Sage (Donna, Rhonda, and Janet), The Chickadees (Sandra, Linda, and Ferrell), and the wonderful Phillippi Primitive Baptist Church choir, featuring Jerry Eskridge, April Chrisco, and Barbara Moore! And, last but not least, all the actors and dancers directed by Jennifer Austin of "Arts in Motion"!

Oh, I mustn't forget all you wonderful folks that came out to support the Princess Theater Foundation and its goal to restore the Princess Theater to cultural importance to Roane County. Our hope is that your contribution to the show was paid back in an entertaining evening. Please come again and again!

What a show people...you were outstanding and audience was more than impressed with your dedication, hard work, and talent! I apologize if I've left out anyone by name, but you all were important and can now add a big paragraph on your resumes!

Now begins the post-production work...an endeavor to make a professional looking DVD of the "Appalachian Dreams" show. From what I saw, there will be loads of wonderful footage from which to chose, so it too will undoubtably be a great hit as well. I can hardly wait to buy my copy!

I'M STILL BLOGGING - JUST NOT HERE AS MUCH

Most of my time lately has been devoted to my Princess Theater blog, and the stage show production "Appalachian Dreams" that will happen this coming Saturday.

The show will star local celebrity Bill Landry (star of the "Heartland Series"), and is directed by Michael Golebiewski (Head of the Humanities Department at Roane State Community College - RSCC).

The show, first of many to come, will raise funds needed to restore the Princess Theater to her former glory, and create an arts and cultural center that will help revitalize Downtown Harriman, Tennessee.

Anyway, as you will see from the blog, everyone has been very busy rehearsing for the show. The show is made up of area talent, and will be shown in a format similar to Garrison Keillor's "Pairie Home Companion" show on PBS. The crew and some of the acting talent is made up of students from Bill Landry's Media Production class at RSCC. It will be quite an experience for all involved.When rehearsal was over last evening, a storm had just passed through the area, leaving the streets wet. As I passed the Princess Theater in town, on my way home, noticed that someone had left the marquee lights on outside. I pulled over and snapped this photo. It almost appeared that the theater was open again. That is the dream...that one day soon it will be open for business once again.

SO, DID I MENTION I'VE BEEN TO FLORIDA?!

Well, here are the meals we enjoyed while at Cape San Blas! If you want to see the beach photos and wildflower pictures, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/23056599@N00/sets/72157617881015893/ and check'em out! Mine you...you'll need a 15 to 20 minutes of free time.

The seafood was wonderful...after all, Apalachicola is the "Oyster Capitol of the World!"

We had them raw. We had them Mexicali Baked. We had them Rockefellered (no it ain't a word)! Great either way!

A little hint, next time you are at a fancy seafood house, order Basa fish! Wonderful! Some places sell it for Grouper anyway, so you might as well order it by its proper name! Great tasting fish!

Anyway, here are the photos of the food, and Cape San Blas is so remote that each meal was a minimum investment of a round trip drive of 50 miles...some were over a 100, but worth every minute of the investment!

"FRIED SHRIMP" AT BOSS OYSTERS

"FRIED JUMBO SHRIMP" WITH BLACK BEANS AND RICE AT BOSS OYSTERS

"SEAFOOD PLATTER" AT TOUCAN'S

"SCALLOP PLATTER" AT HARRY A'S

"RICE ENCRUSTED SCALLOPS WITH JALAPENO SAUCE" AT THE SUNSET COASTAL GRILL

"RAW OYSTERS" AT BOSS OYSTERS

"RAW OYSTERS" AT BOSS OYSTERS

"FRIED OYSTER BASKET" AT HARRY A'S

OLD FASHIONED ICE CREAM PARLOR IN APALACHICOLA

"MEXICALI BAKED OYSTERS" AT TOUCAN'S

"EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK OMELET" AT CAROLINE'S ON THE RIVER

"KEY LIME PIE" AT TOUCAN'S ON MEXICO BEACH

"OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER" AT TOUCAN'S

"POORBOY BREAKFAST SANDWICH" AT CAROLINE'S ON THE RIVER

"BLACKENED SHRIMP WITH GRITS" AT BOSS OYSTERS