HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2010 !

Although an electronic greeting, it still carries wonderful holiday wishes for you all !  For many who have followed along this year on this blogspot, you already know what I have been up to but here's the rest of the story:

BLAKE is starting his third year with Grant Thornton in Charlotte.  Still living "uptown" and now thankfully- as a Senior Audit Associate- his client list is mainly local-walking to work each day versus sitting in airports makes the long hours of a CPA's life bearable.  Kayla-the grand dog -still shares time between Charlotte and Winston-Salem (with us).

What a year for LESLIE !  Beginning her USAID career in Amman, Jordan in January, she settled into life there quickly and is enjoying her experience. Our visit in May was grand - having the opportunity to spend time with her and then to explore such an interesting country was so much fun.  Duncan and I are excited to be returning in May 2011 to explore even more of this part of the world. As  for Leslie, her travels this year included: Bangkok,  Thailand; Cairo, Egypt; Nairobi, Kenya and Kathmandu, Nepal for work and and for fun she went to Bahrain in February, Istanbul and Kas in Turkey in September as well as Delhi and Kerela in India for Thanksgiving. What adventures !

GLENDA & DUNCAN-Still loving the dancing, golf, the beach BUT a change is coming !  We are moving to downtown Winston-Salem - hopefully in the spring of 2011.  The condo is  in the process of being completed (One Park Vista ) and there is still the home to sell......we are very excited about this lifestyle change-will keep you posted ! 

Our year has been filled with many blessings for our family and from our friends.  We wish the same for you & your family during the new year...HAPPY 2011 !

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, NEW YORK !!!

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of...

there's nothin' you can't do.

Now you're in New York,

these streets will make you feel brand new.

Big lights will inspire you-

let's hear it for New York, New York, New York !

Kudos to Alicia Keys and Jay-Z----LOVE THAT SONG ----"Empire State of Mind " .  What a great adventure-just three musketeers this year (Betty, Nan & myself); our fourth musketeer, Darlene, was unable to go with us due to family health issues.  We tried our best to make up the difference for the New York economy and may I say?  WE WERE SUCCESSFUL !  Quick notes: 

*Wonderful "window shopping" at the Ralph Lauren flagship store 

*Canal Street shopping (although the mayor has clamped down on street sales that excluded collected taxes for the city) the number of vendors was reduced but we still managed a number of  back street purchases from Tiffany, Chanel & Prada

*Jewelry treasures (the costume kind) in the District (what bargains!)

*It snowed-commercial set up for a L'Oreal ad using magnesium sulfate-looked like the real thing

*Nan enjoyed a Manhattan in Manhattan-with fabulous views of the skyline from the 18th floor bar at The Standard-well worth the trip !

*Jim Carrey was filming "Mr. Popper's Penguins" on the 45th floor above Broadway

* Sean Hayes &  Molly Shannon were spectacular in "Promises, Promises"

I just love my girlfriend trips-does not have to be as spectacular as New York-anywhere with friends make it special.  Thanks, ladies !  Already looking forward to 2011 !

UNDER THE LIGHTS OF... BROADWAY !

 Still figuring out the system but you know the drill..right click on photo and open link-

enjoy our New York adventure !  

2010 RALLY FOR THE CURE

The sixth annual Rally For The Cure event on October 26 was a tremendous success !  Betty Martin (my friend and co-chair) along with the Rally Committee are very proud of our efforts.  All monies raised for this event were donated to the Komen/NC Triad Affiliate to help raise awareness -the first step in eliminating breast cancer.  The community support through sponsorships, donations, a Rally Raffle, Silent Auction and the 100 plus participants raised over $ 27,800-the most monies in the event's history.  Thanks to all my "blogging" friends for your kind words and support-you made a difference !

BE"WITCHED" & BEWILDERED !!!

      Yes, bewildered...I have issues with trying to get the photo link in the text blog !  Sorry to create so many links but will solve this at some point-I hope !  Check out the storyline in the next post-ENJOY !

"BE" WITCHED !!

Fall is definitely here-again, where does the time go?  Just finished summer and Thanksgiving is almost here! Hoping to slow down a bit going into the holiday season-the "fast track" misses a lot of the moments to remember with family & friends.
But that is now and here is then....beginning with my Mom & family at the beach in late September-just us girls-was lots of fun!  Fall is football-we went to just one game-enough for me and a great mountain weekend with friends Nan & Pat.  We celebrated Nan's birthday with an "inside" picnic and then had lots of fun playing Mexican Train-a great dominoes influenced game.  Spent mid-October with friends Janis & Jerry Campbell at Haig Point on Dafuskie Island...strangely in the '80s when we visited Hilton Head for family vacations, I remember promos for Dafuskie-nothing can match the actual experience.  It is like a step back in time-no cars and dark is dark.  With the sound on one side and the ocean on the other of the two by five mile expanse-it was charming.  We loved it!  And yes we were be"witched" in late October-our annual "Witches & Warlocks" weekend of golf and fellowship with friends from Winston-Salem traveling to the beach and enjoying glorious weather and a great time-22 this year and a good time was had by all !  Ever hummed a song that was obvious to you and no one else?-my sad experience playing "Keep on Humming"....who doesn't recognize "99 Bottles of Beer On The Wall"?   ...harder than you might think! 
By the way, the annual holiday update will follow in the next few weeks...ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON !