There and back, in only 3 days.

Atlanta was having some lovely weather while I was there. In the mid to high sixties and some sunshine. Thursday I spent cooking our Thanksgiving dinner.

Sandy bought a 12 lb turkey for us and we fixed cream cheese mashed potatoes, gravy (which was wonderful if I may say so myself), dressing, green bean casserole, pepper jelly spiked cranberries, mashed rutabaga and macaroni and cheese. By the time we sat down to dinner, we both had lost our appetites. We had been grazing all afternoon. We have an array of cheese and crackers and I had made double deviled eggs and we had other goodies too numerous to mention. We picked at our plates, put away all the food, washed the dishes and retired to the sofas to watch tv. We both promptly fell asleep.

We slept in on Friday and dropped in Best Buy and Sandy got several movies. When we got back home it was time for dinner. We reheated everything but the turkey and made open faced sandwiches with mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing. It really tasted better the second day and we both ate heartily. We had some of the Dutch Apple pie the Sandy got at the World Market. It was also very good. We then watched "The DaVinci Code" which I thought was very good. I had read the book but forgot the majority of the plot. After that, we started to watch "Thank You For Smoking" but both started snoozing so we caved in and went to bed.

Saturday we slept in again, stayed in our pjs till after noon and watched "Thank You For Smoking" in full. It was hysterical. A very funny movie. After we cleaned up, we ate more turkey dinner leftovers before it was time for her to take me to the airport.

I have not said one word about Sandy's dog, Blue. She is the cutest dog. I think she has some Australian Sheep Herder in her. She's a big dog, 65 lbs at least. Sandy has done a good job of raising her because he minds, doesn't bark a lot and is great company for her. I find myself looking around for her. Yeah, right. Jake would have convulsions. LOL

I had one of the best times yet. Sandy is a wonderful hostess and her home is lovely. I came home wanting to dismantle my entire house and start over again. She has given me some ideas to perk up my place a little bit. I've been in here 15 years and it could stand a little redo, so I think that's going to be my quest for 2007. Fix up the place.

Thanksgiving time is always a time for reflection for me. I can get to feeling sorry for myself very quickly. But when I stop - look around - and see exactly how lucky I am, I thank God for being so good to me. He has given me a family, even though we are scattered, we are bound to each other. He has given me a family of friends to whom I am bound. Without them I could not exist. They are the glue that holds me together.

Once again, thank you dear God for the blessings you have given me. I ask once more...

God bless you all.