Donald Chandler

Good Morning, Mates...

Connie... I am so sorry to hear of the death of your mother-in-law.  I know from personal experience that the loss of family in the Christmas season is especially tough.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

I'm glad to hear you had a great birthday, Jim.  I've never had a pedicure myself, but I have had a body massage.  I went to a chiropractor some years back and that was part of the therapy.  Maybe you could find a masseuse in a little black dress and give it a try sometimes.  :-)

Diane... hope you and Dick have a nice trip to Colorado, and a safe one.  Enjoy your visit with family.

Thanks, Gary... for the "Beethoven's 9th Symphony" joke.  I wondered where you were going with that, but anything that takes my mind back to baseball is a good thing.  :-)

And speaking of baseball and good things... I think that I will drive out to Coolray Field tomorrow (Home of the Gwinnett Braves) for a Charity Sports Show sponsored by Venture Sports to collect toys and raise money for TOYS FOR TOTS... I plan to make a donation myself.  A variety of celebrities, sports and otherwise, will be on hand to contribute to the effort, including Phil Niekro... maybe I can get Knucksie to sign a poster for me.  And one of my former clients, Candi Staton, international soul/gospel singer known as the "Sweetheart of Southern Soul", is supposed to be there too. I designed several album covers for Candi back in the late 80s / early 90s (she has almost 30 albums now), and it would be nice to see her again.

We have a busy weekend ahead.  Tonight and Sunday night is our annual Christmas Musical production at church.  Liz has been practicing for weeks and will sing with the choir in both services. 

Have a great weekend mates... reporting live from Marietta, this is Don, game warden in training. 

Jimmy Willis

THAT'S A GREAT IDEA DON!!!  MAYBE I CAN GET THAT FROM SANTA IF

I ASK REAL NICE!!!

RIGHT!!!  I'D HAVE A BETTER CHANCE GETTING ON GOLF'S SENIOR

TOUR!!!  O WELL!    HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND MATES!

LATER

Diane Harris (Moore)

Jingle, Jingle Everybody!

I know you are all busy as can be, because I am, and I don't work, take care of grandkids, etc. Don't know how some of you do it. 

Connie, you were a dear, dear daughter-in-law. I'm sorry about Mrs. White's passing, but it's wonderful that you could be nearby through the years to visit and give the attention that I know she cherished. Love to you and to Kyle and Trent.

Gary, I hope things are calming down at your house, and that your daughter is by now doing much, much better. Good health is the best present, and I pray that is what she gets. Also hope your patio stuff is all finished by now. 

Don, give Liz a hug for us. I also hope she feels well this Christmas. I know she is a beautiful singer, and that she enjoys singing in your church. It is the season for the most beautiful music.

Jim, may all your Christmas wishes come true. If that includes a deer in a black dress, so be it.

Love to all my gal pals. You are the best, and are getting better all the time!

Seriously, I wish all a Merry Christmas. I know there have been losses this year. Inez left us, and Stephanie lost her husband, Ross his daddy, and others as well who I am too hurried to remember. Christmases are tough when you miss someone. It can seem like the whole world has gone mad, and no one remembers your loved one. I remember feeling that way. I pray that we will all look at the soft twinkle of the Christmas lights, and remember with greatest joy the gift that our loved ones were to us, and know that our happiness is a way of keeping the very best part of them alive.

Busy, busy here. Dick and I leave Tuesday for about 6 weeks, and I am no where near ready. Too many irons in the fire lately, and trying not to say "no" to anyone has left me with much of my own stuff undone. Oh, well, it will come together. It always does.

Fianlly, Beverly, have a happy, happy birthday, you sweet soul!!

God bless everyone!

Gary Grice

Greetings and salutations one and all and Happy Birthday Beverly!  May your day be filled with much joyous celebration.   Connie, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.  There is never a good time to lose a loved one but around this time of year when everyone is trying to be in a festive mood, the feelings of loss just seem deeper.  Well just another week of Great Grice Adventures.  Yes, Erin is pretty well recovered from her surgery, however.....  On Sunday evening after returning home from partying and visiting all afternoon, the phone rang and it was Erin.   "Dad, can you meet me at Saint Mary's Emergency Room?"  Seems little Jackson (3) had a reaction to something and his eyes swelled shut.  She was headed to the ER with him when she spotted a UGA Policeman on the by-pass and had him call an ambulance.   Needless to say, mom, daddy, papa and grandma aged 100 years.  He was able to go home later that night but looked so pitiful laying in a hospital bed all puffed up.  By Tuesday he was almost back to normal - fighting with his sister and just being a little boy!  I had to text my builder and tick him off when he didn't show up Monday or Tuesday to finish the work on my house.  He said the job would take 3 - 4 weeks.  We are now starting the 3rd MONTH!  His work is good but my word .....   GET 'ER DONE!!!!!  Hopefully he will be 99% complete today or tomorrow morning at the latest.  He is still waiting on the slab for the grill.  Our son-in-law flew in from Minnesota with two of our grand children on Thursday.  He will return on Sunday to drive our daughter and third grand child home for Christmas.  We will have our oldest grand daughter (Reese) with us from Saturday until sometime next week.  I just returned from a meeting on the eastside and walking back to the office noticed a jumper was perched atop the College Avenue parking deck.  Not being one who enjoys SPLAT, I didn't stop to watch.  Just heard that the police were able to talk them down.  Someone else made the leap into eternity from there a few years back.  The weather is BEAUTIFUL . . . for JUNE!  But a little ridiculous for December - so the following cartoon doesn't make much sense but couldn't pass up the opportunity to poke a little fun at our LOVED ONES in Ohio.  Honest, I didn't change a thing!!  I hope everyone has a VERY BLESSED weekend and if you are traveling, like our loved ones in Ohio, please be safe.  Later. 

Donald Chandler

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEVERLY!

Hope you have a great day filled with Blessings!

Gary Grice

Greetings and salutations one and all and happy Monday.  I suppose everyone is busy with last minute Christmas shopping which is my segue into today's funny story.  Guys, let it be a lesson for you.  I hope everyone has a blessed week.  Later.

A married couple had been out Christmas shopping at the mall for most of the afternoon.

Suddenly, the wife realized that her husband had “disappeared”.

The somewhat irate spouse called her mate’s cell phone and demanded: Where the hell are you?

Husband: Darling you remember that Jewelry shop where you saw the Diamond Necklace and totally fell in love with it and I didn’t have money that time and said Baby it’ll be yours one day.

Wife, with a smile blushing: Yes, I remember that my Love.

Husband: Well, I’m in the bar next to that shop.

Donald Chandler

Well, mates... this week is a great opportunity for me to practice my patience... lots of traffic everywhere in the ATL and long lines in stores.  I visited the local post office yesterday and finished my shopping... PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE!  And we are off to a Christmas party tonight... BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!  If you find yourself in the same situation, check out these Alaskan 5th graders who have something to soothe your soul and bring a smile to your face...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyviyF-N23A&feature=share

Diane Harris (Moore)

Hello Old Pals,

Here we are in Topeka, KS for the night. Hopefully we will make it into Colorado Springs tomorrow, and by this time tomorrow night will be acting silly with Chuck's family. Greg and Christy plan to fly in Thursday. Once everyone is safely together I can finally relax.

It has rained all day, and been thoroughly yucky, but no snow. That lies just ahead, and I-70 was closed earlier today because of snow drifts, but is now open. That is what we think at least. Good thing we didn't leave yesterday.

It is only 7:30 CT, but I think we will both be conking out soon. Dick took THREE conference calls while we were driving today, during which time I could not talk, sing, or verbally complain. That just wore me out. 

Well, no news. In case I don't write again, I sincerely do wish you all a very merry Christmas. As Vince Gill sings in one of my favorite songs, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me". Peace to all, my friends.

Gary Grice

Season's Greetings one and all!  Last day of work before Christmas and the place looked like a ghost town coming in this morning.  I'm busying myself looking for something to busy myself.  Not putting a lot of effort into it.  No need in trying to impress anyone now with just 106 days to retirement.  Diane and Dick, I hope you got to Colorado okay.  The weather has been a bear along your route and I heard a moment ago that Denver is looking to pick up another foot of snow starting this evening.  I read about Dick's fall.  I hope he is doing okay.  He need to remember "when you get to be our age ..........".  I'm attaching a holiday funny that he will enjoy.  At least it will be a test to see if he has recovered from the fall.  I hope everyone has a Very Merry Christmas and will stay safe.  Later.

A man went to his dentist because he felt something wrong in his mouth. The dentist examined him and said, ‘That new upper plate I put in for you six months ago is eroding. What have you been eating?’

The man replied, ‘All I can think of is that about four months ago, my wife made some asparagus and put some stuff on it that was delicious…hollandaise sauce! I love it so much now that I put it on everything; meat, toast, fish, vegetables, everything!’

The dentist said, ‘Well, that’s probably it. Hollandaise sauce is made with lots of lemon juice, which is highly corrosive. It’s eaten away your upper plate. I’ll have to make you a new one, and this time, I’ll use chrome’.

‘Why chrome?’ asked the patient.

‘It’s simple,’ said the dentist. ‘Everyone knows there’s no plate like chrome for the hollandaise.’

Donald Chandler

Greetings, Mates...

Hope you are all doing well here three days before Christmas.  Liz and I are taking a day trip tomorrow (Friday) to visit my sister and niece in Oglethorpe County.  Saturday night, we will attend the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at our church here in Marietta, and then return to church on Sunday morning for a special Christmas Day worship service.  Of course, we will spoil each other with gifts too, and I expect to get a new LEXUS... or maybe I've just been watching too many TV commercials during those football games.  :-)  I think Jim stands a lot better chance of getting that masseuse in a black dress than I do of getting a Lexus.  Anyway, should I get that Lexus, Gary has already let me know that he can beat me in a race with his Mini-Cooper.  Well, Connie, hope you enjoyed, or are still enjoying your children and grandchildren's visit.  I see on Facebook that Dick and Diane made it safely to Colorado through that midwest snow storm.   If any of you others are traveling, I pray you have a safe journey and enjoy the holiday with your family and friends. And if any of our other classmates check in here, may you have a blessed holiday too. 

May God bless you all.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

DON... we now our gay apparel...

Connie Morgan (White)

Happy Christmas Eve....

I hope this will be a very Merry Christmas for you all!   You are often in my thoughts and prayers, and I love you .

Jimmy Willis

MERRY CHRISTMAS MATES!!! I WISH EACH OF YOU A SAFE HAPPEN

CHRISTMAS! AND MAY ALL YOU WISHES COME TRUE!

JIM

Donald Chandler

Merry Monday, Mates...

Communication in a marriage is so important... take for instance, buying Christmas gifts.  When those Lexus commercials came on, I would hint to Liz that it would be nice to have something new and comfortable to ride in.  Well... she bought me some new underwear.  And when I asked her what she would like for Christmas, she suggested that I should go to Jared's.  Well, I thought she was talking about the fat guy who went on a diet at Subway... so I bought her a sandwich.   

Just kidding, mates.  Even though we didn't get luxury cars or diamonds for Christmas, we had a very nice Holyday.  Hope you did too.  Enjoy your week.   

Gary Grice

Greetings and salutations one and all and I echo Don's Merry Monday.  I trust everyone had a GREAT Christmas and Santa was good to all you boys and girls.  And it is so good to hear that Don is "feeling good all under".  I was starting to worry about that race.  Well we had a VERY busy schedule leading up to Christmas.  After running all day Christmas Eve, Sherron sang "O Holy Night" at our church's candle light service.  It has become somewhat of a tradition and many say that's the only reason they attend.  She did a beautiful job and her performance left me breathless ...... literally.  So about 10:30 after a rescue inhaler and two breathing treatments failed to give me the relief I felt I needed, we headed to the ER.  You know that is a great time to go to the ER.  NO ONE was in the waiting room.  They took me right in and took care of me in short order.  By 1:30 AM we were at Walgreen Drug picking up a stack of prescriptions.  You know, that is a GREAT time to shop, 1:30 AM on Christmas Day at Walgreens.  They had all of their Christmas stuff on sale and NO CROWDS.  Sherron said it was a little scarey to her but I felt completely comfortable with the three policemen at the front door.  We finally got to bed a little after 2:00 ....  only 7 hours til the house will be filled with screaming kids!  We hit the floor running at 7:30 and didn't slow down until 7:30 PM.  Had a GREAT time with my three beautiful daughters and their husbands and all seven grand kids.  Today is our down day.  Did a little picking up this morning, admired our gifts once more and then settled in on the sofa for a Doris Day movie.  Sherron's close friend just called and wanted to bring her Christmas present by, so I brewed a fresh pot of coffee and broke out the coconut cake.  Sherron makes a killer - literally.  No telling how bad that thing is clogging my arteries but I will risk life and limb for her coconut cake. I'm supposed to go back to work tomorrow.  I still have a pretty rough cough so I'll see how I feel in the morning.  I hope you all have a VERY BLESSED week.  Later. 

Gary Grice

If Christ Had Not Come

If Christ had not come, there’d be no Christmas Day.
There’d be no Christmas trees, with gifts on display;
There’d be no present given and no carols sung,
There’d be no Christmas stockings, on bed to be hung.
There’d be no cards sent to let friends know,
The Saviour came down to this earth below.
There’d be no Peace on earth, or goodwill to men,
Or hope of Christ Jesus returning again.
There’d be no New Testament, with stories to tell,
How Christ performed miracles, and made people well.
How he set us examples, and showed us the way,
To help one another and taught us to pray.
There’d be no bridge gulfed between God and man,
Of the promised fulfillment of the salvations’ plan.
There’d be no cross to remind us that God once came,
Revealed in Christ Jesus this world to reclaim.
So let us remember and thankfully say,
We are glad Christ was born and we have Christmas Day.

That about says it all.  Later.

Diane Harris (Moore)

Good Morning, friends. It has been busy for us, as it has been for all of you, and I hope I have not missed anyone who had a Christmas birthday. I sure haven't been checking in, and I know I will fail to comment on some of your news.

Gary, I am glad your ER visit did not end upmwith you being admitted. Timing is everything and getting sick over Christmas, or having an appliance break  when company's coming just compounds the stress. Hope you, and all our classmates are well and enjoyed a special Christmas.

We are in Colorado, and got here just as the snow started falling. We had a beautiful white Christmas. It's beginning to melt now, and the temps are to be in the 50s today, and sunny. Of course I have come down with the first chest cold I have had in years, so I'm coughing a lot. Hopefully it  will be short lived..

We are enjoying being with the grandkids so much. We hope to take them to a movie this afternoon. We are lucky in that we are able to stay in a little 1 bedroom apt. about a mile from the kids, which means we get to have plenty of visits, but also have a quiet place to come back to. The apt. belongs to parents of some of our kids friends who also like to visit occasionally. They were kind enough to make it available to us while they were not using it.

Well, I'll go for now. I wish each of you a Happy New Year! We never know what it will hold, but God has seen us all through much, and He will continue to do so. But I pray that we will all stay well, and so will those we love.

  Until next year! 

Donald Chandler

Greetings, Mates...

I was looking back at the year 2011 the other day, and remembering several friends that I have lost... including our sweet Inez from the Class of 68.  It is still hard to believe that she is gone.  But the year had many blessings as well, including our regular class forum here on the website and our get together back in October at Connie's house.  I am thankful for all of you. 

Gary... sorry to hear you had to visit the ER on Christmas Eve.  It reminds me of five years ago... Liz and I were at a New Year's Eve gathering and she wasn't feeling well.  We ended up spending New Year's Day 2007 in the ER and the next few months were Hell.  She ended up in the hospital with an infection in her back (she had three back surgeries prior to this).  When she was released, I became her home nurse, and ended up having to give her IV antibiotics at home twice a day through a PIC line for about six to eight weeks.  She was very, very sick and I was very, very stressed out!  It was worse than any of her surgeries.  And to add to that, Liz's Mom, a widow, ended up hospitalized several times during all of this and I had to help tend to her as well.  At one point, Liz and her Mom were in the hospital at the same time, two different hospitals 20 miles apart, and I had to drive from one hospital to the other to take care of their needs.  And Liz's Mom died just a few months later.  It was a tough year, but we are both stronger people as a result.

I'm sorry that our car race is off, Gary since I didn't get that new Lexus.  And I guess a race with you in your Mini-Cooper against me in my new Hanes just wouldn't be the same... it might be just a little too "racy".  :-)

Do any of you have big plans for New Year's Eve?  In recent years, we have stayed at home, but have decided to get out this year.  We were considering going to the Possum Drop at Tallapoosa, but decided instead to buy tickets to "Jubilate 2012" at Gwinnett Arena... a concert by Bill Gaither and his Homecoming Friends that will welcome in the new year with a good mix of traditional and contemporary worship and praise music.  Hallelujah!

And, of course, I plan to watch our Georgia Bulldogs in the Outback Bowl on Monday.  My great-niece Deenene has been down in Tampa all week with the training crew helping the team prepare for the game... and have a little fun too!  GO DAWGS!

The thing I would like the most for 2012 is for my Liz to be healthy... and good health for all of you as well.  And I am praying for our country... that the American people will have the wisdom to replace the current President and his socialist/marxist, big-spending administration with one that believes in freedom and fiscal responsibility.  And let's see what else would I like in 2012... oh yes, a World Series title for the Atlanta Braves!  :-)

If you have plans to be out and about this weekend, please be safe.  I wish you a...          

HAPPY & HEALTHY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2012.

God bless you all, and God bless America.     

Gary Grice

Greetings and salutations one and all.  2011 is almost history and I'm sure everyone is reflecting upon those days gone by.  I thought back upon last year's resolutions and I've got to loose 30 lbs. in the next 36 hours and jump upon a lightship to visit all the places I had hopes of seeing.  Yes, a lot of friends passed away this year and I didn't do all I had hoped, but I guess all in all as "ole Blue Eyes" sang, it was a very good year.  I am looking forward to retiring in the coming year and hopefully will be able to go see some of the sights I missed the year.  But come what may, it too will be a very good year.  I wish you all the very Happiest of New Years and know that you are all in my prayers and thoughts.  May God richly bless each of  you in the coming year.  Later.

Jimmy Willis

HELLO MATES<

I WANT TO WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A VERY SAFE HAPPY

NEW YEAR!

JIM

Connie Morgan (White)

Wishes for a good 2012  to each of you!

love you guys!

Jimmy Willis

GOOD MORNING MATES,

WELL HERE WE GO AGAIN ANOTHER YEAR. PROBLEM IS WE SEEM

TO BE STARTING IT THE SAME WAY AS LAST YEAR. WE HAVE GOT

TO FIND AN ANSWER FOR OUR BELOVED DAWGS . THIS PROBLEM 

THEY SEEM TO BE HAVING  ON DEFENSE. THEY JUST CAN'T SEEM

TO PLAY  FOR FOUR FULL QUARTERS WITH THE SAME INTENSITY!

IF THEY COULD DO THAT, NO ONE COULD STAY ON THE FIELD

WITH OUR GUYS! IT IS SO FRUSTRATING.

ANYWAY, WE HAVE STARTED ANOTHER YEAR. AND TO LISTEN TO

ALL THE PROGNOSTICATORS THIS YEAR COULD BE LIKE NO

OTHER. THERE ARE SO MANY PERDICTIONS / GUESS AS TO WHAT

COULD LIE AHEAD FOR US. I KNOW THE GOOD BOOK SAYS NO

ONE KNOWS THE HOUR OF HIS RETURN. BUT IT'S SO STRANGE

THAT ALL THESE UNRELATED ANCIENT CULTURES  SHOULD

PREDICT ALL THESE THINGS WILL COME TO PASS ON THE SAME

DAY. IT KIND OF MAKES YOU WONDER JUST WHAT DOES LIE

AHEAD OF US. GUESS WE WILL FIND OUT ON 12/21/2012!

HAVE A GREAT DAY! AND I PRAY A GREAT YEAR! AND THANKS

AS ALWAYS GARY FOR YOUR HELP UPLOAD THE PICTURE  

0F MY  "BUDDY"! HE THINKS HE'S A BULL DOG!!! AND I TOLD

HIM HE COULD BE WHAT EVER HE WANTS TO BE!

LATER 

Gary Grice

Greetings and salutations one and all and HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I trust everyone enjoyed the holidays and is ready to attack this new year with all the gusto one can muster.  Jim, I too am amazed at the similarity of all of the predictions for 2012.  I for one "am ready" and I pray that all who pass this way are as well.  Every ready to share my new found knowledge, I came across a Recipe for A Happy New Year and thought others might enjoy it as well.  I pray blessings of joy and peace upon each of you throughout this new year.  Later.

Take twelve, fine, full-grown months,
see that these are thoroughly free from all old memories of bitterness, rancor, hate and jealousy;
cleanse them completely from every clinging spite:
pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness;
in short, see that these months are freed from all the past;
have them as fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts.
This batch will keep for just one year.
Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot in this way), but prepare one day at a time, as follows:

Into each day put twelve parts of faith,
eleven of patience,
ten of courage,
nine of work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest),
eight of hope,
seven of fidelity,
six of liberality,
five of kindness,
four of rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad, don't do it),
three of prayer,
two of meditation,
and one well selected resolution.

put in about a teaspoonful of good spirits,
a dash of fun,
a pinch of folly,
a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

Pour in lots of love mix with vigour.
Cook thoroughly in a fervent heat; garnish with a few smiles and a sprig of joy;
then serve with quietness, unselfishness, and cheerfulness,
and a Happy New Year is certain.

Donald Chandler

Jimmy Willis

WHAT CAN I SAY DON?!!!! SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!

Gary Grice

Greetings and salutations and happy Thursday.  Warming up a bit outside so much more comfortable walk today.  The last two days it has been painful when I turned into the wind.  Well I've made my New Year's "Revolutions"  .... let's see how long I can keep them.  One is to find out "why ...... ?"  I've had a lot of questions over the years that have gone unanswered, so I'm determined to try to answer some of them.  For instance, "Why do women's blouses button left over right and men's shirts button right over left?"  Don't the buttons go through the button-holes the same?  Well for anyone else that has ever wondered "why ...... ?", here is the answer.  Later.

It is hardly surprising that clothing manufacturers might adhere to uniform standards for the various features of garments bought by any given group.

What seems strange, however, is that the standard adopted for women is precisely the opposite of the one for men. If the standard were completely arbitrary, that would be one thing. But the men’s standard would appear to make more sense for women as well.

Around 90 per cent of the world’s population is right-handed, and it is easier for right-handers to button shirts from the right. So why do women’s garments button from the left?

This is an example in which history seems to matter. When buttons first appeared in the 17th century, they were seen only on garments of the wealthy. At that time it was the custom for rich men to dress themselves and for women to be dressed by servants.

Having women’s shirts button from the left thus made things easier for the mostly right-handed servants who dressed them. Having men’s shirts button from the right made sense not only because most men dressed themselves, but also because a sword drawn from the left hip with the right hand would be less likely to become caught in the shirt. Today, virtually no women are dressed by servants, so why is buttoning from the left still the norm for women?

In economics, a norm, once established, resists change. At a time when all women’s shirts buttoned from the left, it would have been risky for any single manufacturer to offer women’s shirts that buttoned from the right.

After all, women had grown accustomed to shirts that buttoned from the left and would have to develop new habits and skills to switch.

Beyond that practical difficulty, some women might also have found it socially awkward to appear in public wearing shirts that buttoned from the right, since anyone who noticed would assume they were wearing men’s shirts.