Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish all of you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving!

What I am thankful for: I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for Ryan. I am thankful for a job and a wonderful house. I am thankful for life. I am thankful for the soldiers and their families that unselfishly gave up their holiday for us. To protect us and all of the innocent people that just want freedom.


Where are you going? Ryan and I are heading to Southeastern Arizona to my Grandmother's. We are having Thanksgiving lunch at my Uncle and Aunt's home. Then on Friday afternoon, we are going to LAS VEGAS! YAY! We have a Black Jack tournament. I am hoping to do good. I did VERY well my first tournament. I got to round three out of five. I barely missed round four. Wish us luck.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday....LOVE to eat and be with family.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Is it 18 lives or just 9?

She-He-They was/were born in Perth, Australia and still doing good.

May I Point Out....

That a published author read my blog and made comment! The author, John of "The Go Giver" found my blog and made a comment under the new books. I think that is pretty cool that blogs are linking people from all around the world. I had someone from Portugal make a comment and had a few people email me from around the U.S. I like that I am able to speak my mind or share my thoughts and a few people do read them. On the other hand, people from all around the world read your blog.....try to keep your personal stuff, personal. You never know who can stalk you! =)

As that said.....I am very sorry for my grammar and spelling. It is ridiculously bad. Never thought published authors would read your blog!!

Books

I have read a few more books that I thought I would like to share.

Thousand Splendid Suns
Currently I am reading "Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. The same author of "The Kite Runner". I just really love this book. It follows the lives of two woman living in Afghanistan. I am so shocked this stuff that the woman go through is real. I knew the laws for woman are very tight and stricked, but it is just heart braking to hear what their lives in tale. It is also interesting about how the Taliban came to play and how the power shifted to them. Afghanistan was in war with several Countries and rebels. Jihad. The Taliban was a welcome to the people at first. They came with the promise of "change". (We have all heard that word lately). The citizens welcomed them. A lot like how the Nazis came to power and how the citizens welcomed them at first and the as well came with the promise of "change". (So you see why I am scared to death of Obama, the "change" word and how he came to power in the United States. It parallels with the history.) Anyway, I am almost finished and I am just in love. The author tells a story that is detailed and I can picture these woman is such detail. He also uses Afghan words.


The Go Giver
I also just finished "The Go Giver" by Bob Burg and John David Mann. They did a fantastic job in making a business book into and enjoyable story that you can relate to and even more important....learn from. I can't stand business books, but really enjoyed reading this book. It teaches the five secrets to success. You can use these steps in your work as well as personal life. The “secret” is in the following five strategies. I sincerely hope you take the opportunity to spend an hour of your time and read this great book. Until you do:

1. Value: Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment
2. Compensation: Your compensation is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them
3. Influence: Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other peoples’ interests first
4. Authenticity: The most valuable thing you have to offer is yourself
5. Receptivity: The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving


The Virgin Suicides
I did an Audio Book of "The Virgin Suicides" by Jeffrey Eugenides. It is about the lives of an eclectic group of men who live in an affluent American suburb in the '70s are forever changed by their obsession with five doomed sisters. I do recommend it. I did get connected with the characters and I am dieing to see the movie!!

My next book will be "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. People who have read both....say that Kite Runner is better. If I am absolutely LOVING "Thousand Splendid Suns", I am sure "The Kite Runner" will be fantastic!

Amanda and Bretts Wedding in Hawaii!

Aloha!! Ryan and I went to his sister's wedding in Hawaii. The island of Oahu. It was so GORGEOUS!!!! Just absolutely paradise. It made me want to move there. I can see why people go on vacation and never return. Just breath taking beautiful.

Speaking of beauty......look at what a gorgeous couple Amanda and Brett make!

Amanda and Brett planed a great wedding with tons of stuff to do. Their fun, gorgeous wedding was held at Ke Iki Beach Bongalows on November 1st. The wedding was right on the beach in North Shore.

Wednesday: BBQ at their resort/bungalows that we were staying at and were the wedding was held. (Ryan and I unfortunately had to miss it. No vacation days left)

Thursday: The day Ryan and I arrived, we went on a charted boat around the island. So much fun!!! The weather was kind of crappy, but what a fantastic way to start the trip. Plus we got to see family and meet family for the first time. We also got to meet some of Amanda and Brett's friends and meet Brett's family. His family was very nice and hosted a great event.

Friday: Luncheon rehearsal at Turtle Bay Resort. Very nice!!!! The food was great!

Saturday: The big day! Ryan and I woke up and had a great breakfast and decided to hit the beach.....please read all about that experience below. I got my hair done along with Amanda, Mother-in-law, June and Amanda's bridesmaid.
The ceremony was right on the beach at almost sunset. It was just romantic and very, very sweet.

(I had a little snag....my dress broke right before the ceremony...it sucked big time. I just wore the dress that I wore at the luncheon, but I was very upset at that very mad at myself.)

Everyone one in the wedding look very posh and just perfect for the big day!!

The reception was super fun and we all had a BLAST! It was so nice. They had lanterns and outside seating areas. They also had hula dancers, fire dancers and an incredible band. Just a good time with friends, family and lots of bottles of wine!! Ryan's dad, Dave, danced with all the pretty ladies and even got up and sang a song with the band......just a side of him I don't think people have seen in a LOOOONNNGGG time! It was too cute.

Brett's mom made these fantastic parasols and hand painted for gifts. AMAZING! June, painted this great painting of sea turtles for Amanda and she and Brett bottled their favorite wine and used the painting as wine labels. June does a really great job at painting!! Between the two moms....Amanda and Brett are going to have some pretty creative kids!

Congratulations Amanda and Brett!!!

Overall, Hawaii was a blast. I definitely want to go back and do more things. We only got to really spend one day at the beach....wow! First off, we were on North Shore....where the surfers go to surf! Huge ass waves, the locals call them neck breaker waves and I can see why. We first started getting our feet wet...then it got to our knees....some how we were thrown in the sea. Those waves were so big and the current was super strong. I can see why people drown and are pulled into sea in knee high water. CRAZY! One really big wave picked me up....beached me like a whale. It picked up Ryan and through him all over the place. Knock off his glasses. His favorite sunglasses. The poor guy spent the next hour looking for them. Waves picking him up so high and knocking him over. All you see is surf and feet. I helped him look for a bit, but this wave really knocked me over and beached my ass. It really hurt my neck and all I could think about was that I am going to die for a pair a sunglasses. I was out of the ocean. Believe it or not...after over an hour....some snorkeler found them down the beach. Ryan is one luck guy! He did have a lot of fun though. He was having a blast in the ocean. However, the waves hurt his back so bad. He spranged and through out his back. So the rest of the trip (including the wedding) he was in agony over his back. Got him out of dancing at the wedding.

We also visited Dole Pineapple Farm and a small Sea World type of place called Sea Life Park. We got to feed sea lions and see a Whalphin. It is a hybrid of a dolphin and a whale (False Killer Whale). It looked like a dark, large dolphin. It just kept swiming around in his tank, upside down. It is the only one in the world in captivity. She is 22 years old and had one offspring. Really cool! (These photos I found off the internet. We missed the show.)

Ryan couldn't walk because of his back....so I pushed him around in a wheel chair. Good times! Gave me an insight of what it will be when we are 90.

Next time....I really want to go snorkeling. I liked being in the ocean. Plus the water was such a great temperature. I want to see all the fisheys!!!

You Want Flower???

I was referred to a FANTASTIC nail tech by my friend Mya. She is super creative and cheap. Plus, she is legit and keeps a very clean shop. My toes had died and gone to heaven!!!!! So the days of......"You want flower?" Is so gone.....hello leopard!

Lisa

602.790.4830

Villa Bella

59th Avenue and Union Hills

$20 pedi

$30 for a full set / nails

Mya sported the cutest toes I had ever seen. Lisa, the nail genius that she is, did argyle toes. How creative and fantastically cute is that! Argyle Toes...Click here

Thanks Mya!

Paul T. Anderson, 1925 ~ 2008

My Great Grandfather passed away on Saturday, November 1st. Here is a brief story of his life.

Paul T. Anderson, 85, of Celoron, formerly of Pt. Stockholm, died at 1:45 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 1, 2008) in WCA Hospital.

He was born March 4, 1925, in Jamestown, the son of Abert and Vila Hedund Anderson, and was a 1943 graduate of the former Celoron High School.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Gatling.

Prior to retiring in 1991, he had been the steward at the Jamestown Veterans Club. Following his retirement he had spent winters in Hollywood, Fla., where he was employed at Joe Robbie Stadium. In earlier years, he had been a member of the Jamestown Police Department, and had also worked at Jamestown Lounge Co.

He was a life member of John W. Tiffany Post 53, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was also a member of Henry Mosher Post 683 American Legion, Loyal Order of the Moose, James-town Lodge 1681 and the Celoron Senior Citizens.

Always a very patriotic person, he was proud of his Naval service, and was always sure to fly the American Flag. He was an avid New York Yankees fan, and attended the final game in Yankee Stadium this past September. A great teaser, and possessed with a wonderful sense of humor, he always had a nickname for each of his grandchildren. He enjoyed attending all of his grandchildren's sporting events, and loved all sports, fishing, and gardening. He maintained an on-going good natured tomato growing competition with two of his daughters-in-law.

Mr. Anderson is survived by his wife, Barbara H. Rensfeldt Anderson, whom he married Aug. 14, 1942, in Frewsburg; four sons: Timothy P. Anderson of Fluvanna, David B. Anderson of Celoron, Dennis L. Anderson of Corry, Pa., and Todd K. Anderson of Shel-don Hall; two daughters: Lynda L. Anderson of Celoron, and Paula B. Langworthy of Point Stockholm; twenty-three grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; and a sister, Sally Blair of Gainesville, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Gregory W. Anderson in 1991; a daughter, Lisa M. Bargar in1998; a grand-daughter, Teri Lyn Dahlbeck in 2007; and by a brother, Richard O. Anderson.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Powers, Present & Sixbey Funeral Home. The Rev. Douglas Kibbe of Bemus Point United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Fluvanna Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 3 to 8 P.M. Tuesday and for one hour prior to the funeral service Wednesday in the funeral home. Messages to the family may be sent by visiting the Web site www.presentsixbeyfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made of a charity of one's choice.