New Years, 2008

Today is the first day of the New Year. Last night, Cindy and I had reservations at a nice restaurant in Atlanta. We were going to celebrate the twentyfifth anniversary of our first date in New Orleans, the day before the Sugar Bowl. In the morning, I went into work early to find the town deserted. Patti, my secretary, came in a little bit later and we took care of the business we needed to complete and I sent her home at noon.

That left me with a half a day to run errands before we went to Atlanta. Kate and I piled into the Toyota and drove toward PTC. About the time we got to Senoia, the car started overheating (there is a leak in the top of the radiator), so I headed back to Griffin to change cars and try again.

When we finally got back to PTC, we actually found a parking space and were able to go into Joseph Banks. Kate and I found a suit, a tie to match and a sweater (not matching). At that point, we found out that Cindy was too tired to go into the ATL, so Kate and I went up to Fayetteville and bought champagne at Cost Plus World Market and Kate bought a movie and a book at Barnes & Nobles (formerly 'Barnes & No Books'). On our way back we stopped at Kroger and bought steaks and spinach salad fixings to add to Cindy's iron deficiency.

We returned to Griffin and cooked supper and then we all fell asleep around 10.30.

Early this morning, I woke up, took Tex out and cooked breakfast for the crowd. At 9:00, I woke everyone else up and served cheese grits, Ky sausage and champagne. Finally, the women got showered, primped and dressed for travel to Dunwoody.

On our way up, we stopped at the Starbucks in Lovejoy. We placed our order and as I got my drink, I noticed the little area they had set up in the corner with cushy chairs and a nice coffee table. I suggested we sit for awhile. So, Cindy, Kate and I sat down and enjoyed the warmth, the quiet and the hot drinks while the wind whipped around the building and keened a scream over the roof of the building.

After awhile, we drove on to Dunwoody and enjoyed a nice dinner of country ham, black eyed peas, collards and macaroni and cheese. Some sweet tea and it was almost hard to beat.

Now is the time to nap and watch football until the Sugar Bowl tonight. Tomorrow is foreclosure day, and I get to sell the homes of people all over North Georgia. Dispossessing the hillbillies. Fun stuff.

Afterward we'll go whistling in the graveyard for amusement.