Walt Handelsman

Someone sent me an animated cartoon by Walt about Baby Boomers. I passed it on to some but I've gotten such a kick out of his blog, I wanted to share with you all. He is a Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist and animator. Click here to take a look back at his "07 cartoons. On the left of the blog if you click on the animations you'll get more laughs! Enjoy and

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

"Let's Go!"

Here's my bud, Sport. As you can see, he's ready for some ball or a walk. Just about whatever I want to do, just as long as we do something. He's always ready to go. Couldn't ask for a better dog. Highly recommend Golden's to anyone. Also, you may notice his gray mustache and goatee. He will be 7 years old this spring and that is 49 in dog years. Most 49 year old men have gray so I guess it's not unusual for dogs to go gray, too.

I Will Know

I requested and received this book as a Christmas gift. Tonya Reiman is a regular on the Bill O'Reilly show. I absolutely love to watch these segments. I find it interesting how she analyzes what a person is really saying or feeling in spite of the words actually spoken.

This handy little book will enable me to "know the hidden meaning behind specific gestures, facial cues, stances, and body movements". From now on no one will ever be able to pull the wool over my eyes again. I will also be able to tell when someone is lying, which I can usually do anyway.

Everyone take notice. The next time we are face to face having a conversation, I will be expertly analyzing what you are really saying. For example, when you tell me that you love my new Posh Spice hairdo, I will know that you are really thinking "she should have saved her money and stayed with the blond and gray flip."

This From Santa

Hello Barrs!
Gosh, how the year has flown by. I'm taking a little break and trying to catch my breath - this is my busy time of year of course. I just want to take a moment to wish all of you a Happy Christmas. I read this blog from time to time when I get a chance. But, I have to tell you, it's one of my elves, Lulu, that is absolutely hooked. I can't get her off the computer - she's an absolute blog fanatic.

Tom, I'm glad your power is back on after that recent mean winter storm. I wish I could take credit for turning it back on, but that goes to the hard working power technicians. I hope Tulsa gets back to normal very soon.

Jerry, your recent trip to the Sea of Cortez sounded fantastic - a trip of a lifetime. When things settle down here at the North Pole, the Mrs. and I hope to take a similar trip just to get in a little R & R.

Chris, you and Mel are enjoying retirement more than any couple I know. But more than that, your grandsons Jake and Josh seem to bring you a tremendous amount of joy. Those boys are really great!

Peggy, your year started out fairly normal, but when Tim had his bicycle accident, that really threw you a curve ball. I know he will recover fully; it's just taking a very long time. Hang in there, girl.

And John, you've really been busy with your wonderful family. What a good looking group they are! You may not know this, but I can swing a pretty mean ping-pong paddle myself, so one of these days you and I will have to go one on one.

So, Barrs, keep up the blogging so I'll know what's going on with each of you. Remember that every one of you is blessed to be part of a close, loving family. Always stay that way.

Gotta run, folks .... just got a text message from Rudolph. He says his nose is redder than ever and we better get a move on.
C U L8R!

He's alive!

I actually looked it up today and saw that June 7th, 2007 was the last time I made a post. I have no excuse, not that you would believe one at this time. It's been too long and I will truly try to do better in 2008.

The Barrs in Shreveport have been doing fine. Busy with the kids taking semester exams and shopping for Christmas. I'm planning on taking off work next week and hope to get in some tennis and pingpong.

You should be getting our annual Christmas picture in the mail soon. This is the one I wanted to send but I got out-voted 4-1. So I will show it to you on this site. Merry Christmas to all.

About Cakes

Having first hand knowledge of planning a wedding, I am now more attuned to the details of a ceremony and reception. When I have the good fortune to be invited and attend a wedding, I notice the details more than ever. I understand the time and effort that goes into making this event appear seamless.

This past weekend Melanie and I attended a wedding in Charlotte. The MOB is my good friend and the bride is Melanie's friend. Even though it rained the entire night, the ceremony and reception were both very beautiful.

One major detail of a wedding is the all important cake. Not to sound like an old person, but I remember back in my day a wedding cake was simply two or three layers of white circular cakes with white frosting and topped with a small artificial bride and groom.

Here are two present day wedding cakes. Both are gorgeous and very detailed. They almost do not look real. But not only were they beautiful and unique, they were very delicious.

Cake from last weekend.

Melanie and Jason's cake.

The bride and groom can customize their cake to their own unique style. Beautiful wedding cakes are truly works of art.

Tammi

When the retail store "Build A Bear Workshop" opened 10 years ago, I was intrigued with the concept. Create your own bear and make it your own. As time went on, Build A Bear added to the concept by not limiting the choices to just bears. When they added the pink poodle to their line of stuffed animals, I couldn't resist.

Let me introduce Tammi, my adopted stuffed animal from Build A Bear.

Here she is in her new Christmas outfit. She thought the red might clash with her pink fur tone, but after she put it on, she knew she looked terrific.

For Melanie's wedding, she celebrated with her own version of the wedding gown.

When I go to our local mall I will oftentimes walk into the Build A Bear Workshop just to browse. It is such a bright and colorful store, almost a Disney type setting. Most times young children are there choosing their bears and having such a good time.

If you've never been in a store, I recommend a visit. I promise, you will be a kid again.

Weekend Get-Together

The Barrs from Tulsa and Shreveport came in over the weekend to attend the beautiful Christmas Festival at Prestonwood Baptist Church. You can click here to see highlights of the show. As usual, we had a great time visiting, reminiscing, and kidding around with each other.

When John and family arrived, Jacob and Josh greeted them wearing Ohio State shirts (notice John is in purple). In this photo, the boys are saying "Go, Bucs". John's reply of course was

"Go, Tigers".

These photos were taken Sunday just before we left for the Festival.

The plan was for all to return home after the concert but Tom and Linda had to stay over until Tuesday morning because of icy roads in Oklahoma. I talked to Tom today and they did make it home safely but they along with thousands of others have no electricity and are staying with friends. Hopefully, their electricity will be restored soon and not as long as a week as Tom had heard it may take!

Numero Uno

Michael David Patton

Happy Birthday to our first born!

It's Pretty

Our live tree has now been decorated. For the first time in my life, I put the lights on our Christmas tree. Tim has always done this before but this time he is not quite able to do the bending and twisting.

There are two special ornaments that are on our tree every year - ones made when we lived in Texas in the 1980's. Click the photo to catch a closer look.

I see from the calendar that it is just 16 days until Christmas. Still there is lots to do.

The Best

Happy Birthday Tim

my one and only

November Trips

You don't get that fresh tree fragrance from this one but it is beautiful to look at. Every year the week following Thanksgiving, we go to the Galleria to view this beauty. Once each hour the tree lights dance to Christmas music.

Jacob and Josh enjoy the view and also love to watch the ice skaters skating around the tree.

We couldn't pass up the beautiful weather last week so headed east on Tuesday. As you can see we didn't have much company in the usually crowded Lake View section.

Sitting around our camp fire, this is the view we have of the other side of the lake. We took hikes through the trails around the lake each day and love the beauty of fall in East Texas.

Now here are some bikes that look like they'd be fun to ride. May try these when the water temp is a bit warmer. A fall might really chill us out in November.

A Live One Afterall

So as not to break our recent honored tradition of having a live North Carolina Christmas tree in our home, the Bostics dropped by today bearing this.

Oh, that fresh tree fragrance - nothing like it. Thanks so much, Melanie and Jason. We love our tree and appreciate so much your kindness.