Brother, it's COLD outside!!

31°! It was 31° this morning! It's supposed to be 28° tomorrow morning! What's up with that? I thought I was in the South. The grass was CRUNCHY this morning when I walked the dog. He looked like a little ballerina dog as he tiptoed around, trying to get as little of his paws as possible on the ground.

I don't want to say that we're in the bible belt, but all three local channels are broadcasting the funeral of a Southern Baptist pastor who died recently. I mean, yeah, his church had 29,000 members, but still... This on the heels of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) holy convocation of some 50,000 people this past week!

One week until Thanksgiving! I can't wait. It's been way too long since we've seen everyone. I think the boys are getting used to us being gone, because we used to get phonecalls every couple of days, but lately that has stopped. I hope they don't get too comfortable, because we are planning to return eventually!

Katrina claims have topped $23 Billion (yup, with a "B"). Wow! Wish they'd send some of that my way. Let's hope that we don't get hit with a disaster of such proportion any time in the near future.

Do you watch CSI:NY? I was watching it for a bit last night. The cops were interviewing possible witnesses to a homicide at 3AM. The actors got some of the attitude right, but no New York accents. They really ought to try harder. Part of the charm of NY is the accents of the people. Plus, a good New york accent is very similar to some areas of New Orleans. So, we can be homesick in NY or NO!

Watching the leaves change and going to work with crisp air and frost on the ground brings back memories of growing up in Upstate NY. Raking leaves into huge piles just so we could jump in them, crawl through them and throw handfuls of leaves at one another. What fun we had. Then came winter, and a beautiful white blanket of snow covering the world outside, and sledding, tobogganing, hay rides, popcorn and hot chocolate in front of a fire, snow angels and snowball fights. Good times that living in the South as my kids grew up meant they never got to experience those things. If we get any decent snow in Memphis this year, I hope they'll come up, especially the grandkids.

Of course I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the other memories that go with those listed above: bagging the leaves, shoveling snow, especially after it's been packed down so hard that you have to chip it with the shovel edge to get it up, the pain in ears and fingers and toes as they begin to thaw after going ice skating on the pond, or at the skating rink (which was a tennis court in the summer). And how about the dingy gray snow and slush after the exhaust from all the cars, trucks and buses has settled, and the salt on the roads has melted the snow. Not to mention getting cars stuck, or sliding off the road or into another car.

We wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. Take care and God bless! - Dean