Happy Birthday Uncle Charlie!

Happy Birthday Uncle Charlie!
We hope you're having a great day!
xoxoxo

Spin-off

Some of you might be interested to check out the latest spin-off family site... The Baby Cooke.

Happy Birthday Lee!!!!

Can't let this day go by without acknowledging the anniversary of the birth of that beloved would-be-patriarch-but-far-too-young, Lee Ewing.
I started to write a tribute, but my description made him sound too much like Oprah...I guess that's about the highest tribute anybody can get these days anyway.
I myself intend to celebrate Lee's birthday by toasting him at my favorite piano bar tonight and suggest you all do the same. Here's my toast:

"Just yesterday was Thanksgiving and we all have a lot to be thankful for. Accordingly, I'm officially extending Thanksgiving in EwingUniverse so we can all be thankful for having a *%#$!+@ like Lee in our lives. Amen."
Charlie

Happy Birthday Uncle David!

Look who's turning fifty-three (looks bigger when I write it out like that doesn't it?).

Hope you have a great birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday Shannon! I am thinking of you. Did you and Rick do anything special for your anniversary? What are you doing to celebrate your special day? I hope you make it fun! xoxoxo

Memorial Day Memory Found

While working on genealogy this weekend I found notes from Aunt Margaret that have their 22 year anniversary today. Sharing below - the content has been edited to highlight the best parts.

Monday, Memorial Day, May 26, 1986
I made another dream come true!

Here I am in the County of Wythe - where one or several of my great ancestors lived. I left (this morning)...drove over 300 miles! Tomorrow I'll drive to Wythesville to Oral Jones Real Estate to see if they can direct me to Ewing Mountain and other areas.

Tuesday & Wednesday

Research, refuge in the only motel within 16 miles of Gate City (VA), Scott County Library, found a better motel.

Thursday

...drove to Gate City to get more info on Fort Houston. I arrived at their library where I located the Scott County Cemetery map which told me where the Jonathan Wood Cemetery was which "is past the Fort Houston historical marker." So I decided I'd drive around and see if I could find it on my own. I found a dirt road but it was not right. I tried another one that turned out to be a driveway. The couple sittin' on the front porch were old but very nice - told me to keep going down the road till I saw a brick house with a trailer, "those folks is Woods" and they could help me... Fortunately I found the Houston marker and I took some photos of it and the area. So I drove on a bit more and finally saw the dirt road on the left side while the cemetery came into view. AMEN! I slowly and carefully drove down the road - it was a bit hairy because it was on a ridge - would have been a bit of a drop with no shoulder. I introduced myself to the couple and asked them if this is the Jonathan Wood Cemetery - when they said YES - my heart nearly stopped - I told them how excited I was and asked if I could go see it and take pictures, they said sure.

...started walking up the hill. The grass was up to my hips - the temp was 80 degrees or more - it was quite an uphill walk but I did it - I really found it. I took a few pictures and walked down the hill and thanked the folks again...Gosh, what a day!

Laura again here. As with a lot of Margaret's notes it was clear she was watching every penny. She documented each expense throughout her trip. But on Friday of her journey she had experience that did her heart and mine some good. She had breakfast at the Waffle House and went about as all out as she ever would with a full breakfast of waffles, eggs, bacon, juice and coffee. It was $4.99, she hit it off so well with the waitress, she told her, "You're the most pleasant person I've seen in over 700 miles." which was especially pleasing because the Assistant Manager was right next to her. And then she tipped $3 on her $4.99 breakfast. Well, you know, that's Margaret.

What we've been up to!

A whole lot! Spring is definitely making it's way into Summer here in Lake Wylie. I don't know who knows what so here's the run down with me...

I got a job at a full-service advertising agency in Gastonia, NC.

Here's the link- http://www.sumnergroup.com/

I love it- recently made my first sale and have a whole bunch in the pot. I am covering the promotional products (trade show giveaways, corporate apparel, etc.) pretty much anything with your name and logo on it. If you need anything give me a shout! I got to go to a fancy photo shoot and get my picture taken:

I've been attending many after hours events trying to network. I've also joined the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce, The Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce, River Hills Country Club and a couple of leads groups. So right now I am a very busy girl!

The kids are doing great. Kaiya is attending First Wesleyan Christian School in Gastonia until fall and then she'll be going to Pre-K in our neighborhood at Crowder's Creek Elementary with Anthony. In just a few short months she has learned all of her days of the week, months of the year, and is writing her name and all her letters and numbers- yay Kaiya! She is growing up very fast and enjoying our new house.

Anthony is doing great at his new school and is very ready for summer vacation. He will be spending 4 weeks with Craig in Va Beach and will come home on the 4th of July. Both the kids are already enrolled for Camp Thunderbird in the fall. They will be going afterschool together. Anthony has been at Camp Thunderbird since the beginning on April and absolutely loves it.

Steve is enjoying his new job at Lake Wylie Marina. New boats sales are down significantly but luckily used boat sales are up! We've been doing quite a lot of boating and I am quickly becoming a "boater"- even bought me a new pair of Sperry's!

We've also been checking out the local attractions. Last week we went to The Evening Muse and say Ben Taylor...he is the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon. It was fantastic! We also saw David Saw and my new favorite up and coming artist Carrie Tree- you have GOT to check her out! http://www.myspace.com/carrietree I got some pics but haven't downloaded them quite yet... because (drum roll please) might as well leave them on there since Steve and I am going to Atlanta Monday to see...

Steve Miller Band

Oh and Joe Cocker will be there too! It will be a very short vacation but we are looking forward to it.

Today Steve's sister Lisa and her boyfriend Dave are coming down from Virginia Beach to go to the Coca Cola 600 Nascar race. They'll be staying until Monday. We are looking forward to seeing them-they are loads of fun! My mom is coming down on Sunday with her friend and they are staying until Thursday! Whew! Yess...lots to do. I am making my famous (well it's not my recipe but I make it for everyone) BREAD PUDDING...top notch recipe right there!! Everyone will love it. You should come for a visit and then you can have some too!!

Well I guess I'll go and clean...lots of it to do. Anyone headed down (or UP) I-85 needs to stop and see me. Miss you all and love you!!!

Dottie and Lee 's Excellent Paris Adventure

Bon jour to our far-flung family. Dottie and Lee are home after celebrating (a little belatedly) their 20th anniversary with a trip to Paris April 12-19. We stayed at a pleasant hotel conveniently located near Notre Dame, and visited the main sights, including the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, Musee d'Carnavalet (where Lee posed with the original of "Parisienne, Place de la Concorde," which was the subject of s short story he wrote), Eiffel Tour, Sacre Coeur and Montmartre and the Pantheon, where France buries her heroes.

Paris was unseasonably cold and windy, which limited our boulevard strolling and leisurely window shopping, and all the prices were outrageous, but we had a great time.
Of course, we managed to find our way to some charming cafes, bistros and restaurants, and took pictures of everything, including food stands where fresh seafood and produce such as white asparagus were on display.

If you want to see some of our pix, with captions, you can go to our web album at: http://picasaweb.google.com/lee.ewing/Paris

Now that we're back in sunny Carolina, y'all come see us, y'heah?
Love, Lee and Dottie

Like a good little sister...

always trying to be like her big sis... Laura got a new puppy so, of course, so did I!! :)
Meet Hershey!!!

Charlie Vs. McDonalds

Well,for those who care, I heard from my lawyer regarding the defendant in my case,
Joseph Bryant. There was a court date on April 1st and he pled guilty to assault in the third degree. That helps my case a bit. Then we found out he had a prior arrest in 2002, just for disorderly conduct, but it strengthens our case that McDonald's screening process is questionable at best. I should be seeing the dvd from the surveillance tapes that recorded the entire incident pretty soon. But it will still probably take a long time to resolve. Manny says I will have to do a deposition where I advocate for myself, but the defense can ask me questions about anything in my past. Hmmm. Not looking forward to that, but I guess it's a necessary part of the process. He's going to coach me on that, which will probably be amusing. He's a character. Manny Moses. Oy. Le Chaim!

Happy Friday

Happy Friday everyone! Andy is in Boston for work so I am here taking care of cats and dogs. This is Kirby last weekend on his first trip to the river. He took one look at the dock and thought, "I could jump off of that!" He is a water lover. Lexi looked on as Kirby and mom's shepherd Kahu played in the water. Lexi knows a dip in the river means a real bath and blow drying. Anyway, suffice to say he's coming out of his shell. Where a couple weeks ago every single sound scared the bejeezus out of him, now he just wonders, "What's that?!"

I'm just wondering if Andy's flight home tomorrow will be canceled or delayed with the flood of maintenance checks these last few days.