Monday, July 13, 2015

Lunch with the Kids

Mal, James One, Lila and Jon


I met the kids in Greensboro for lunch at Mellow Mushroom. Ate too much and spent too much money, but we had a good time and a nice visit. Downtown Greensboro was a ghost town when I was in college. It has since been revitalized and filled up with shops, galleries, restaurants and clubs. I like the energy of a buzzing downtown area. It's nice to see. Same thing is happening in Durham. Unfortunately Chapel Hill has become nothing but high rise condos for rich people. There's more action in Carrboro these days. And HEY! even little Pittsboro is starting to come alive. Both the grandboys are in the process of cutting teeth--so feeling a little grumpy. But it doesn't affect their adorable-ness. Being a grandmother is the BEST.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Supporting the Troops

ME! Hard at work and stuffed full of pizza.
Our employee network, VetNet, held a donation drive during May and June in support of the USO, Operation Gratitude, Operation Paperback and the MMIA. There are a lot of very caring, generous people working here. It's very heart warming. We collected a ton of stuff for active duty soldiers and/or their familiies, for veterans at the VA hospitals and MMIA-a local charity that provides assistance to homeless veterans. Thanks Steve for providing the lunch pizza!

Eve of Destruction

Cole Park Shopping Center
The shopping center near the house is getting a face-lift. The kids went to Woods Charter School (marked by the arrow). I think the school moved the year after Bert graduated. They have a huge fancy new building now. When the kids were at Woods it was grades 4-12 and there were probably less than 150 students total. It was great. Everyone knew everyone. I am a fan of small schools. They didn't have all the extra-curriculars, like sports teams, a cafeteria and all that, but it was a close-knit community....too small for gangs and all that other high school weirdness.

Double Selfie

Me and the old man