Alzheimer's Action Day

is tomorrow, September 21st.  Join me in wearing purple for the cause!

I know it has been awhile since I last blogged.  I've been busy.  Over the course of the last 10 days I have given 7 different talks to groups around Atlanta and Athens.  Today was my last one until October 9th. So, I am resting tonight.  Today's talk wasn't as good as I would have liked it to be -- I was pretty tired going in and I know that affected it.  But thanks to all who had me come and speak.  I really enjoyed meeting everyone, getting to go to new places and found some new friends.  What can be better than that?

Foggy days

Those "foggy days" keep coming. It's bad because I never really know when to expect them. Last week, I went to go play golf with my husband. On the way to the golf course I couldn't remember where we were going. I didn't say anything at the time, because I knew that eventually we would get somewhere, right? I did realize we were at a golf course though when we arrived. My husband paid and my husband handed me the scorecard since I'm always the one that keeps score -- or at least I try. I couldn't figure out where to put our names on the scorecard. I kept having to ask my husband "how this thing worked". He helped me through it. Once we were on the golf course, it wasn't very good. I couldn't concentrate, had to ask my husband what club to use. I couldn't keep track of the way the game was going. Needless to say, I had a very high score that day! But today, we went golfing again and things were much better === my score wasn't that much better, but my day wasn't so foggy! I guess I should be grateful I can still walk the course and enjoy the exercise.

My Fishing Buddies

My friends, the Comptons, took pity on me and took me fishing yesterday! I was so excited to be going. As you can see I caught a fish -- more than one actually -- this is small but there were some keepers. I can't thank them enough for inviting me to go along. I was going to call Joe Compton my "fishing fairy godfather" but I didn't think he would like that -- so let's just say he was a great captain of the boat (the boat has no name by the way) and a great sport to take me along. I promised Suzanne I wouldn't post any photos of her -- so here is Joe and my catch! Thanks again.

New article

My Optum Health is a website for various medical topics and wellness. Ginny Greene wrote a very nice article about me and I wanted to post a link to it. I don't usually do that but she did a great job and I wanted to share it. You can find it here:

http://bit.ly/S2Ftnw

Thanks Ginny for a great article.

Alz. in the news

You have probably seen a lot of news lately a bout some research regarding Alzheimer's. Here is a link to all the news from the recent Alzheimer's meeting in Vancouver that detailed many of the stories dealing with new drugs in the pipeline.
http://www.alz.org/aaic/

I'm pretty pathetic

I have to laugh at myself sometimes. I "tried" to go fishing last week. I think I have mentioned here that I wanted to go fishing as I used to fish with my dad years and years ago. So, I wanted to do it again -- I guess in his honor -- I don't know. My son bought me a new rod and reel for Mother's Day so I was all excited to give it a go. My husband loathes fishing so I was all set to do this by myself. Well, I am not going to go into the gory details, let me just say that it was pretty much a disaster. First of all, I don't have a boat. So, I called around to several area state parks and were told they had fishing boats to rent. After finally getting all my gear ready I trekked off to the lake. The john boat I was renting was extremely heavy, the boat did not have oar locks on it so how is one person suppose to paddle a john boat? Of course, there was no anchor and it just kept getting worse. Like I said I am not going to go into all the gory details, other than to say I'm going to try to again -- but with a new strategy. I will prevail over this....one way or another. Or I'll find someone to take pity on me and actually take me with them!!! But I will conquer it!

New House!

Father's Day in Atlanta with Jen and Alan

Here is a photo of Alan and Jen with the dads, and then with the moms.

They just bought a new house in Atlanta. we went over yesterday to see the house for the first time. We had seen the outside, but they just closed this week so they just got the keys. The photos I'm posting here are from the posting of the house when it was for sale. It's a beautiful house and I know they will enjoy fixing it up and making it a home.

I have always wanted a screened in back porch -- so their screened in porch is

where I am going to be most of the time when I visit!

The previous owners had a baby grand piano, but Jen's mom and dad have a baby grand piano they are giving Alan and Jen so I would think it may go in the same place.

I attempted to make a cake that "looked" like their house --it wasn't great, but it wasn't good enough to show here but it served the purpose long enough for us to cut into it.

Bucket List revisited

Back in July I posted this bucket list:

Skydive
Go to Australia
Win a tennis tournament
Shoot a hole in one
Meet Maria Shriver
Own a red Mazda Miata
Have a screened in porch
Be skinny
Make a difference to someone

I've decided to revisit it since many have commented on it.

List now:

Skydive
Go to Australia - DONE
Win a tennis tournament -DONE -- actually several people pointed out that I have won several tennis tournaments when I was younger -- so I guess this didn't really count.
Shoot a hole in one
Meet Maria Shriver - DONE
Own a red Mazda Miata
Have a screened in porch
Be skinny
Make a difference to someone (this one is weighing pretty heavy on me right now)

Visit the Grand Canyon

Go fishing again - my son bought me a new rod and reel for Mother's Day so I'm ready!

Travel to Europe again

Go on a girls weekend somewhere fun

Have all of my girl friends over to my house at one time for coffee

Have more patience with myself and my family

Learn to sew

Hopefully someday become a grandparent -- but that is definitely out of my control

I need to work on some of these -- some I can make happen -- others we'll have to wait and see. What's on your bucket list?

MIA?

No I am not Missing in Action. I just haven't gotten around to putting my thoughts down lately. I can't seem to get everything organized in my brain -- I'll be back shortly.

Illinois

I've just returned from Illinois visiting family.  Alan hadn't been in four years so we made a quick visit over Mother's Day and it was great to see everyone.  All my great nieces and nephews are growing and I got to meet my best friend Pody's little grand daughter Jane for the first time.  Jane was one year old in March.  They just happened to be in the area over the weekend so I was so glad to meet her.  

This is my niece Nicola and my great niece Dakota.

This is my great nephew Oliver with Alan and I.

This is my great nephew Henry -- isn't that hair fabulous?

And, this is Jane with her family -- dad Mark, mom Rachel, Alan granddad Rick, Grandma Pody and me.

And, Alan and I went with my brother and sister in law to a minor league baseball game while in Peoria -- the Peoria Chiefs.  It would not be a proper visit with Alan anywhere to not go to a baseball game!