Four Wheelin'

We took the new four wheeler out to the land in Palestine today and wore the new off of it pretty quickly! It was fun, but I'd rather wait for some trails of some sort before doing much more riding, especially perched behind Rodney. I didn't mind going over logs and getting slapped in the face by limbs, but going down a steep slope was more than I could stand. We found the area where the lake will be, and it has some pretty serious dropoffs leading down to it. I had to whoa at that point.

'Tis the Season for Parties!

My staff Christmas party was great fun! The turnout wasn't as large as expected, with the cold weather and so many other things going on at the same time, but those who braved the cold and the long drive to Tyler had a really fun time! We had lots of good food, and the champagne punch warmed everyone up nicely. The hit of the party seemed to be the Wii--I didn't know some of those mild-mannered folks had such a competitive streak! I only took a few pictures--Rodney was the party photographer, but the cord to download photos from his camera is missing and I had to order a new one. So we'll have to wait on the official party photos.

National Historic Overlay Dedication

Yesterday, I attended a dedication for the first National Historic Overlay in the city of Tyler. It's a small 2-3 block section near the Charnwood, Brick Street, and Azalea Districts which includes our house and 14 other residences, the Presbyterian Church behind us, and the Fitzgerald House and the Woman's Building. Basically, it means that when our grandchildren come back to visit this area with their grandchildren, they can say, "It looked just like this when we were young." If you look at this news broadcast, I'm sitting listening to the mayor speak. It was followed by a reception in Don and Bonny Edmund's house. They are the nice folks who let Susan photograph in the lovely area behind their home.

An American Icon

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Rodney and I were fortunate today to meet one of the legends of the automotive industry. Wikipedia gave the following information about him and his impact on the industry.

"Carroll Shelby has had an impressive impact on automotive racing and design over the last 50 years. Starting out amateur, he soon became a driver for the Cad-Allard, Aston Martin, and Maserati teams during the 1950s. Driving for Donald Healey, in a streamlined and supercharged, specially-modified, Austin-Healey 100S, he set 16 US and international speed records. Teamed with Roy Salvadori, and driving for Aston Martin, he won the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans. He drove in the Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race in a specially prepared Ferrari roadster, to a record run of 10:21.8 seconds on his way to victory in 1956. He was Sports Illustrated's driver of the year in 1956 and 1957. After retiring from driving in October 1959 for health reasons, he opened a high performance driving school and the Shelby-American company. In the shop he designed and built the famed "Cobra" cars, which were derived from an AC chassis and powered by Ford V-8 engines. Shelby went on to help design some of the most successful and beautiful cars of the era: the GT40, the Mustang-based Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT500, and of course the 427 Shelby Cobra. Parting with Ford, Shelby moved on to help develop performance cars with divisions of the two other Big 3 American companies, Dodge, and Oldsmobile. The most memorable of these cars was the Dodge Viper. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1991, and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1992."

He signed the dashboard of both Rodney's Shelby Cobras and was gracious enough to pose with us for photos. Many thanks to him and to Mike Craig Ford for arranging this meeting!

Thanksgiving in Florida

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Tampa with Susan and Matt and the boys, but missed the rest of our family spread out in Texas. I hope everyone had a wonderful day, also, and remembered to be thankful for all our family's blessings. Here are a few moments of our time in Tampa. It was such fun getting to know Benjamin better. He's developed quite a personality--not only does he look like his PaPa, I think he probably acts like PaPa did as a toddler. He's an adorable little stinker! And it was a joy welcoming Alexander! He is so, so cute! After getting home, I put up the tree. It wasn't nearly as much fun as when all the little boys help, but I had to make do with help from PaPa. 'Tis the season! Merry Christmas!

Some things I'm thankful for...

I've been posting little updates on Facebook lately about the things in my life for which I am thankful. For my non-facebooking friends and family, I want to share them here...

Donna Thomas Goforth Is thankful for my three incredible kids who now have incredible kids of their own!

Donna Thomas Goforth Is thankful for all of her grandchildren. They are the greatest gifts we could have ever wished for!

Donna Thomas Goforth Is thankful for my husband of 37 years. Rodney is my best friend and the person who knows me best and loves me anyway! Through good and bad, happy and mad, we made a history together, raised a family, and are enjoying the best times of our lives!

Donna Thomas Goforth Is thankful for the accident of birth that made me an American. Having lived in another country, I appreciate so many things other people take for granted. I can vote, or not, for anyone I choose, and say anything I want about anyone in office. I don't have to worry about anyone in my family being dragged out of their beds at night by armed thugs. I can worship, or not, wherever I choose. I can decide my own career and know anything is an option if I'm willing to work for it. I can find anything I want to eat at the market and know virtually everyone else can, too, when obesity and not starvation is the major health concern of the poor. Everyone who wants an education can get one, when the biggest problem with the educational system is the lack of appreciation of the opportunities it can provide. I especially am thankful for all the men and women through the years who sacrificed, at the least, their innocence of youth, and, at the most, their all, so we can live in this incredible country of ours.

Alexander Joseph Gentile

He's here! He weighed 8 lbs, 9 ozs, and is 20.5 inches long. He looks like he's going to have curly black hair. Very attentive, looking around at everyone, especially big brother Benjamin, who very much wanted to share his graham cracker with Alexander.

The Day Before...

Susan is to be at the hospital at 6:30 in the morning. We'll be welcoming Alexander sometime tomorrow!

Thank You, Rodney!

This Veteran's Day, I'd like to honor my favorite veteran. Thank you, Rodney, for your service to our country. PaPa served in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971. He was so young, as you can see from the photos, so far from home, and so very brave. He was and is my hero.

Special Day!

I'm heading off to Tampa Monday to help welcome Alexander into this big old world! I'll be posting here and on Facebook to let everyone know the details of this very special occasion as they become available!

Letterboxing

A found a site perfect for young (and not so young) explorers in the family. Letterboxing.org is the site where you can find out how and where to begin. Getting Started explains how the "sport" started and how to get started on it yourself. At this site are links to kids activities that will introduce them to letterboxing and a map of the U.S. that will help you find letterboxes in your area. If anyone wants to take Nana letterboxing, let me know!

Pledge of Allegiance

Happy Halloween!

Cindy and Ray and their four came over Halloween day and the boys practiced trick or treating. They had some of Nana's chicken spaghetti for lunch, but the real treat was pulling long-legged plastic spiders out of the cup cakes we had for dessert. After getting those little boogers wired with plenty of sugar, we sent them home! Somehow, I didn't get a picture of Tyner, but he was decked out in hunting gear. I can't believe how tall he is! I stole a pic of Tommy and Allison's three little trick or treaters from their blog. Can't wait to see Benjamin!

Our Houston Visit

With two very good excuses (both involving cars), we headed South to Houston this weekend. I needed to get my car serviced for the first time at the dealership where we bought it and Rodney had to pick up his latest Ebay find, an Avanti. Of course, while there, we had to pay a visit to the Houston branch of our family. As usual, we had lots of fun, involving playing in the very welcome sunshine and watching Dade and Luke's soccer match.