Fisher Gone

Nashville's world was turned upside down last night with the announcement that Jeff Fisher was leaving as coach of the Titans.  He has been here 16 years and has become not only a favored coach, but also a contributing citizen to  city life and charitable causes.

He seems to be a kind, optimistic gentleman who has had more than his share of troubles with his team this year.  If it is announced that he was fired, many will rouse up in arms against Bud Adams the 86-year-old owner of the team.  Adams has seemed to be slipping into dementia the past year--it remains to be seen what has happened.  It may be that Fisher is fleeing to a less troubled team--he will probably get another job in a week.

At any rate, I will miss seeing him on the sidelines and in the news.

More snow!

Days like today make parents appreciate school even more!  We are out again for the 4th series (count 'em) of  snow days!

I thought Pres. Obama's State of the Union was good, although not as passionate nor inspiring at the one in Arizona.  It was subdued, as was the audience.  He is right, we do sell ourselves too short--we can and are pulling ourselves out of this dark period and moving forward.  May we do it at a faster rate!

Glad to see his ratings up--I want him to succeed and be reelected.  Some of the projected folks who are thinking about running are creepy and scary.  I do not know how they think they can win.

Tennessee has a new Republican governor; we will see if he can outdo Gov. Bredesen.  He did not begin on a positive note though.

I thought the Texas Legislature was poor at governing, but Tennessee has them beat!  The bills that have been offered and passed  since I came to Tennessee are a mockery of government for the people.

Thinking about College

I heard a commentator say that fewer and fewer students could go to college in the years to come because of the cost.  Then a recent newspaper article cited a research study which said that very little is learned by the student in college, no critical thinking, literary skills, skills which can be used in the "real" world, etc.

I would just like to say that this small-town girl gained so much and changed her life by going to college.  Of course, I had to work my way through by staying out a year after high school and working every day of my college career from 1 to 5 in the office of  Foremost Dairies.

We didn't even know what critical thinking was then (50 years ago), but I learned it and literary skills in the classes of teachers like Dr. William Culp (English), Dr.Orvil Filbeck (Education), Dr.Bob Johnson (Bible), Dr. Rita Garrett (English) Dr. Dale Hesser(English), and others whose names escape me.  Majoring in English was the best thing I ever did, and it
 prepared me for wide experiences after graduation. I later became a librarian after attending North Texas State University.  Oh yes, I also got a masters in Secondary Education.

The challenging classes, the dorm life, joining a social club, clashing political  and religious discussions with friends on the debate team, traveling with that team (Until college, I had never been out of my little geographical area) all changed and enriched me.  I can't imagine what I would have become had I not gone to Abilene Christian College (now University). I am certainly a better person now that I would have been.

So I am supporting higher education with my money and my advice today.

Good movies

It is almost unheard of--to see two good movies in  one month!  First came The King's Speech--wonderful acting and a great boost to speech therapists everywhere.  Then Saturday, Doris and I saw True Grit.

I really didn't expect much for this remake, but it was funny, well-acted, almost poetic at the end, and the soundtrack was old hymns.  The young girl was excellent, Haylee somebody, Jeff Bridges was Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon a very funny Texas Ranger.  I don't see why it was not nominated for the best Golden Globe.  Maybe because it is a remake?  It was way better than that garbled mess Inception.

I am wishing I had seen The Social Network.  Could it be better than the two I saw this month?

Finally

Yesterday I finally got Christmas in allll its boxes.  Why does it take so long to take it down?  Now all I have to do is find space for all the boxes in my garage.

I have been in for 5 days because of the snow and ice--I'm ready for me some Starbucks and a trip to the grocery store!

I have loved being in--I never get stir-crazy--there is so much to do.  Besides, there are all those books to read too.  I think I have begun at least five books in the past month, so I must finish at least one of them.  I did finish Walking Across Egypt by Clyde Edgerton.  It is our book club selection for this month--a so-so book with strong characters.

Snow Day

Today was a no school day--the school buses could not get on all roads.  Maddie and Ella came and spent a few hours with me--they helped me finish taking down the Christmas tree and cleared most of my driveway of snow and ice!  They are great help, and they think it is fun when they do it. 

I loved watching them explore and play in the snow.  They followed bunny tracks back to the woods as far as they could, slid down the berm with their sleds, and managed to get covered in snow.

We also had a tea party, of course.

A New Year

I just finished preparing my date books for the year--yes, I have 2--one for my purse and one by the phone.  One can't be too organized!

Birthdays are noted with the age of the day, some appointments circled.  The monthly book club sits alone one the second Thursday.  Phone numbers are listed at the end of the books, including doctors' offices.

Why is it we cling to these books?  Because they tell us that future days are coming with the promise of celebration and excitement.  Because, in my case, they help me to feel more organized and secure because my memory is slipping more and more.  Because they keep me attuned to the needs of others--birthdays, the month I take food to others, the day I read at Wayne Reed, etc.

If I had a Blackberry, I'm sure the process would be easier, but that's a future purchase.  Now, I rely on paper.

Snow

Robert Frost must have stopped by the woods on a day like today:

     Whose woods these are I think I know.
      His house is in the village,  though;
      He will not see me stopping here
      To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My woods are filling with snow as huge flakes fall making a white down duvet for the trees behind my house.

The birds are fighting over seed at the bird feeder, their yellow and red beaks a sharp contrast against the snow.  A fat dove flies in and wins the fight.  The small gray birds fly away to wait.

What a beautiful day here--the snow is wet and heavy--the kind that sticks to the branches of the trees.  I hear that my grandkids are having a ball in it, sledding, throwing snowballs and building snowmen.

Me?  I am not sticking one toe out until it melts.

Christmas Letters

Christmas letters and fruitcakes have similar reputations.  I am one person who enjoys both!  The Christmas letter or note gives the writer more room to share important events, ages of children and their growth,  what the year has brought to the family, and maybe a few little brags.

I just finished my 23rd Christmas letter and am in the throes of getting them in the mail at this late date--today is Epiphany--the end of Christmas.  I enjoy doing the letter, even though I sometimes protest that I have nothing to write.  I enjoy looking over the year to see what has happened and writing about my grandchildren.  I enjoy decorating them a little bit (perhaps someday I will know how to put pictures with them or even send the letter by e-mail with pictures the way Brandon did this year.)  I enjoy looking through my address book to see who I have added , who has moved and  those with whom I no longer correspond--they have moved and I don't know their address or sadly, have died this past year.

I hope that those who receive them will enjoy them too.

Must-see movie

The movies have not been that great this year, but Doris and I saw an excellent one last night.  The King's Speech tells the story of George VI, a reluctant king, who stammered so much, he could hardly be understood.
Public speaking was torture both for him and for the audience.  His wife found him a speech therapist who cured him of the problem, helped him see the reasons for his stuttering, and became his friend.  Colin Firth, who plays the king should get an Oscar.  Geoffrey Rush who playes the teacher should too.  Why can't all movies be thoughtful, entertaining, and just plain good???

I remember seeing pictures of George VI and his wife during World War II.

Christmas has come and gone

Wow! what a fast two weeks!  We had so much fun at the Opryland Hotel.  It is definitely Nashville's jewel.
Our rooms were very nice.  We enjoyed room service for breakfast each day--quite a treat!  We saw the Rockettes, did the Ice show, shopped--their shops are great places for stocking stuffers.  We rode the boat in the Delta--the kids looked forward to that  and we oohed and aahed at the beautiful decorations--the poinsettia tree was especially beautiful  The kids swam .  The hot tub was fun because when entering the pool area from the tub area outsid, steam would encompass the body.

Santa was good to all of us--as especially unique gift was the beautiful snowfall which began Christmas Eve and ended Christmas Day.  The kids were able to use their new sleds to slide down the hill in the back yard.

And we had a feast for lunch.  So, it was a wonderful day and time.