We are Back

We had a good trip to the mountains. The hotel was great as usual and the crowds were not bad. The peak season for the leaf color was the week before we arrived , but there was lots to see going south on the Blue ridge parkway. We took a short trip to Cherokee to visit the casino  and the colors were better as we drove south. The casino in Cherokee is something  , you come out of the mountain from a winding mountain road into small village  and dominating the entire landscape is the  Casino and Hotel. it is not as large as the one in Vegas , but large and we were there on Wednesday and it was busy . This the blue color version  of Vegas when you looked at the shops and restaurants located  in there. We had lunch at a local place on the way out of town and it was a great meal.

We had dinner in the hotel three times and the last two meal were outstanding. The terrace is always good and the weather was great so the outside seating  was perfect . The best food there is in the Horizons  which is becoming one of my favorite high end restaurant . These folk make ordinary with a a flair. One of the item which I didn't order was Kobe beef  or that what it said on the menu, but after a little conversation it was the Texas copy (wag-wag???) Vj has a Lamb loin which I never hear of it was great and I had fish. The highlight was the Tuna  appetizer the best I have ever had .


It is a long ride , but made a little easier with the new ride , I hated to part with my old car  now I am glad I did.


Vj did great and enjoyed her self . We will do something  for new years , maybe back to Wrightville beach for the event. Vj like upscale dinning and she has overcome the stigma of having help with her plate  so it works out great.


To cold here for golf this weekend , we played yesterday and it was on the cusp of being below my threshold of 50 f


Life is good!

MOM's birthday

Tomorrow is my mother's birthday, she will be 88 years old and she lives by her self and handles her life in a very independent manner. She tells us she wishes to live in her house until she reaches 90 and than it will be time to join her brother and sis in the assisted living facility ? We will see if she still feels the same way in two years. We that is vj, ken and I took her to brunch this morning she look great and is still sharp in the brains department. If genes are an indicator I am looking good , however not sure what the other side look like so it could be an offset. The Apple founder said you are born along and you die along , guess he is correct.


My favorite season of the year is fall and this fall has not been a disappointing , the weather is great. VJ & I are headed to grove park for a day or so . We are not traveling anymore except for a day or so here and there so  we try to go somewhere relativity close and nice. A  little sightseeing and a 5 star restaurant one night and a little wine and we will come home and back to normal.


We had a hot prospect on the house , but they landed in Clayton , folk that move in here new like the Clayton area. The guy spent a lot of time in the community talking to folk and I think his family was more comfortable in Clayton . I am told they got a bigger house for less money on the golf course.


VJ is doing well her balance is not good and her speech continues to slip a little , but she maintain the great attitude. I worry about her falling which she does often, normally she just slip off a chair or get her feet crossed . I am afraid she will take  hard fall and sh will lose her  confidence and retreat into sitting  in one place to be safe. I saw my grandmother go Thur that when she broke a hip   late in life.


Finished with the hospital and playing a little more golf ,I am glad I have the ability to play in my back yard . I can be home quick if needed. I hope we can find the same situation when we move (IF)

Life is good!

50 years

Fifty years ago this week I became a member of the US Navy and left for boot camp at great lakes training center, which is located 50 miles north of Chicago . The boot camp experience was a life changer. The first thing that happen is to make you look and act like ever one else who is there. The same clothes , the same hair cut and ever one is treated the same. All of you personal belonging are sent home the first day and the navy provides you with all that you will need for the next 12 weeks. It didn't make any difference who you were before you arrived now you became part of a unite of 75 or so and you either conformed or you didn't last long . For a small town boy who had gotten by at home for the most part on my personality this was a new game and i learned to adapt and conform . It took me many years to understand why i need to spend four hours in the middle of a very cold December night  guarding a empty trash dumpster .


I left the navy after 4years and 4month , but returned to the navy reserves and retired in 1985 .The medical benefit that results from my services have turned out to very valuable to me and VJ. I never thought about benefits much during my service , just have a good time .


The activity on our house has stopped , even a drop in the list price didn't bring any activity. The mortgage rates are the lowest in my memory , but folk who are worried about their job are not willing to buy a house and if they are willing to buy they have a house for sale somewhere..


The weather has turned quite cool for the weekend , there was snow in the high mountains overnight , guess it is time to go to the grove park for a few days.Trying catch the leaf color at its peak is a guessing game so we go for the chance to get away and when we can get the best room rate.


Vj continues to do well and I think her recent med change was helpful . 


Life is Good!