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I recently took a tiny, 24-hour sized bite out of the Big Apple. This 24-hour trip was the fourth in a yearly series, if you delete 2020 out of your mind like I do. And despite the recent headlines claiming NYC is dead, we had a fantastic time and the city felt as alive as it has the past four years. I always leave New York and take renewed energy and inspiration back with me to the comparatively spacious ATL. This year was no different. We crammed a lot in 24 hours, but I'll focus this blog on two highlights of the trip: Bergdorf Goodman and Trump International. Our plane landed around 11am on the first Saturday of November. After a quick change of clothes at our hotel, we Ubered to our first planned activity: high tea at Bergdorf Goodman. If you've been to Harrod's or Galleries Lafayette, you understand that some department stores are like museums. Bergdorf Goodman had that same feel! The cafe on the 7th floor felt like a secret, sophisticated alcove for New York's elite to take a break from breaking the bank. I'd rate the high tea menu a 10/10. The service was not the best, but still good at an 8.5/10. We had no set plans after tea, so we walked along Central Park, past the Plaza toward Columbus Circle in search of a fancy cocktail bar. Randomly, we checked to see if Trump International was close. It happened to be a stone's throw away. We walked through the heavy gold doors and easily found three chairs at the Jean-Georges bar. Comfortable, quiet and sophisticated, it was the perfect setting to throw back two ginger margaritas before trekking back to our hotel to change and begin the night (the only night) of our trip. Savanna

Hi Friends, I hope you are all doing well. Thank you for the messages and comments on the last blog. Elder-parent care has arrived for us baby boomers, ready or not. And our children will be caring [cough] for us, in the not-too-distant future (hi kids ;). Thankfully, wound care, meal prep, dental visits, independent/assisted living, and on, aren’t the only things that inspire blog content these days. Jeff and I attended his 40th high school reunion on St. Simons Island a couple weeks ago. Ten years ago, he joined me at my 30th in Beaverton, Oregon. Jeff was voted most likely to succeed. Given that he helped raise two grounded, faith-filled girls, that superlative is validated. He was also valedictorian with a co-valedictorian (Tom). Tom (a physician practicing in Nashville, TN) was also at the reunion. The cool thing was that neither of them had ever attended a reunion and neither of them knew the other was going to be at this one. If you haven’t been to the Georgia barrier islands where Glynn Academy is located nearby, you’d be mesmerized by the indescribable live oak trees that are dripping and draped in spanish moss. The deck in this photo was built around the tree. Glynn Academy Class of 1981 was full of friendly, smart, partying people. Several of them remarked about how smart Jeff was. One person said that she rode the bus with him and that "he never took books home" while everyone else was lugging heavy bags. My reunion and overall high school experience was a lot different than Jeff's. His school was very preppy and mine was very liberal. Aloha High School class of 1980 was highlighted by friends, Rhonda and Lori. Friends were everything to me. I wasn’t “involved” in high school like Jeff was and I wasn't "someone" like he was, except maybe to my friends. Everyone knew Jeff at his, not so much at mine. A favorite part of mine was spent when friends met up separate from the reunion. When the high school fun and games were over, we headed to Urbana-Champaigne to celebrate Diana’s 24th birthday. Y’all: when you walk out of Diana’s front door you are in a botanical wonderland, like one step away. If you’ve ever been to Chicago's Botanical Garden, this is a smaller version. There’s even a Japanese garden section. I’ve heard the colors in the northeast are amazing in fall. The midwest might be a close second? Georgia is beautiful too, but a little behind Illinois. Fall happened twice for us this year. We stayed in an old, Victorian, bed and breakfast. Halloween decorations inside the house made the home legit spooky. One night, when Jeff was driving Diana home, I literally ran upstairs because the floor was creaking in different places but no one was around. We watched the Braves bat their way to World Series Champion in these pics. Does the house look a little spooky? Do you know what I mean?? When we got back to ATL it was time to check on mom. We drove to her house only to find her not home -- like the time I ended up in the ER with her. Lord have mercy. Where oh where could she be? Lo and behold we found mom and her friend Marilyn (93) in a booth in the very back of O’Brian’s Tavern, a British-style neighborhood pub. These two gals were chatting each other up, Marily sipping Chardonnay. We uprooted them from the booth to a table and caught up on happenings. I’m sorry to say Marilyn’s 10-year-old dog is not doing well :( Prayers appreciated. Nothing sucks more than losing a pet, imho. Needless to say, mom, Diane, Gam, Nana, Grandma, Aunt Diane, whoever she is to you is doing well. I mean, she was hanging out in a pub on Halloween for crying out loud?? Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love ~ John 4:18 But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’ ~ Matthew 19:26

Hi Friends, I hope you are all happy, healthy and unstressed. For the past three weeks I full-time cared for my mother, Diane (soon-to-be 92). If you read my last blog you know that. Mom has returned to her house with the help of my sister and her husband. Glory be to God. Geriatric care reminds me of toddler care. You can’t let either out of your sight but one you can control, the other you can’t. Both take particular knowledge and patience. Toddler tending is relatively easy as it’s afforded by motherly instinct. Geriatric care arrives with no inherent instinct. Put it this way, there’s a reason elder care is a thriving business. Unlike welcoming a baby home from the hospital, bringing an elder home from the hospital is complicated. A child easily adapts to drills, routines...how it’s going to be. Elders not so much. Most people are set in their ways by their 30s. Imagine how cemented you will be in the 90s? Recap: I stopped by my mom's house 3 ½ weeks ago and rushed her to an ER due to a fast moving infection indicated by a thick, red line that was half-way up her arm. Post-surgery, the surgeon commented that getting her on a big gun antibiotic that evening probably saved her life. I understood that mom needed medical attention immediately. The ER admitted her poste haste upon arrival. I also understood that I would be by her side, at the hospital, throughout treatment and recovery. I did the above instinctively, as anyone would do for a toddler or anyone else. What I don’t understand is how/why mom was discharged to my house, under my care, for three weeks. A toddler discharged to home after surgery is easy to comprehend. “Youth” is on the side of a patient's recovery from injury or illness. Geriatric recovery has variables, idiosyncrasies, that call for expertise to avoid further decline. Suddenly, I was a post-surgery-elder nurse with no RN after my name. Wound care 3x day for 5 days, three balanced meals, proper bedding, bathing, exercise, support -- all the while having no idea what the heck I was doing. What I knew for sure was that my heart pounded when I went to bed and was still pounding when I woke up... if I had the pleasure of waking up because many nights I didn't sleep a wink. When I caught my breath, I did research on how to care for elders. Here’s a snippet of what I found regarding how to best care for senior patients: Consider patients preferences and their needs - I put much consideration into what mom preferred and needed. But, as time went by I heard my heart calling out my desires. Praying in bed at night, asking God to guide the way, I thanked him for the gut-wretching struggle to keep mom going, comfortable. The honor of serving elderly parents is a delicate balance of heaven and hell -- like other invaluable experiences. Be kind, patient, and sympathetic towards them - During the “wound healing” process I was a pretty good nurse. But, after mom healed my brother, sister, and I worked tirelessly to come up with a future, secure living situation for her. Our efforts mostly failed. Dear Lord, hear my prayer: Prudence, Patience & Peace. Support their decision-making skill and encourage them for independence in making choices for themselves - Magnificently, I failed at this one. Wanting desperately to give mom optimum care going forward meant having her close to our home, in "independent" living. This was a gargantuan desire for me. However, what I wanted was not what she wanted. I/we had to surrender. Dear Lord hear my prayer to keep her safe. Help adults to achieve emotional stability - Bringing a new baby home is emotionally charged for all. Entering elder-care years is likewise emotionally amped. But unlike a baby that can be "formed," when parents enter "tender years," they do so with embeded, complex, dynamics of which...lets face it...can't be re-formed. Mom is home safe sound where she wants to be. I/we pray for her safety, health, and most of all the presence of the Lord in her soul and mind. "Tender times" are a natural part of life just like having a baby. We (American society) aren't well-prepared when elder care arrives (in the blink of an eye). May we all do the best we can with Eternal Life in our sight through Him. Give Diane a call, she’d love to hear from her friends and family. Thank you for reading. Love, Shelley But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever ~ Timothy 5:8 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent ~ Psalm 71:9

Hi Everyone, I hope you are all happy, healthy and blessed as fall slowly rolls into town. I’ve been away from my favorite hobby in the world (blogging) because life has taken a turn. My mom (a/k/a Gam, Gramma, Nana, Diane, Aunt Diane) went to the ER last Sunday (9/19) for a serious infection in her right thumb. On Monday she had surgery (nail removed, plus two stitches along the side.) Currently she is home with me and I am taking care of her needs. If you’ve ever been in a similar position you know how overwhelming yet gratifying elder care can be. It puts patience and patients to the test. Caring for an elderly person makes us better people! Doing so truly is an honor...and who knows, maybe one day the care will be returned my (your) way. God willing, a lot of us are headed toward our ‘90s. A few days ago I may not have said all of that. Caring for elders requires more hands on deck than just one person. I was on my own for the first three days. But, over the weekend, Savanna and Jeff pitched in and the gratifying part wafted through the house. I’m not saying it’s all wine and roses, it’s not. But time is [obviously] of the essence and being able to help out with care at this stage of mom’s life is a gift. Diane is VERY tough. It’s been less than a week since her thumb was operated on. After her check up appointment four days ago, she fell outside the office while walking just behind me. At 91-years-old she got right back up, sore but no broken anything. A brand new road is stretching out in front of us and we’re taking it one day at a time. I thought that everyone who knows and loves Diane would appreciate knowing what she is going through and what we are praying over her. God is good, we are blessed beyond measure and we live in awe of the pleasure of worshipping him. Mom loves her friends and family very much. Please don’t hesitate to call, text or email. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever ~ Psalm 73:26

Until last week, I’d only been to Urbana-Champaign, Illinois one time. Savanna (big sis) had never been. Urbana-Champaign is now penciled in our schedules every other month for the next three years, if we had our druthers that is. Savanna and I love Urbana-Champaign, Illinois -- because we love Diana. That is where lil sis is hunkered down absorbing yet more knowledge in her already amply-supplied brain. Saying good-bye to children (and little sisters) isn’t easy. Doing so is especially tricky for semi-control freaks, like me and big sis, Savanna. Not only do we want swift access for visiting lil sis, we want assurance that her living environment and social surroundings are spiffy and up to par. Diana moved herself to Illinois which means big sis and I have been bit-chomping to check things out and help her settle in ever since she left Atlanta four weeks ago. Last week we did just that. Savanna and I broke out of Atlanta gates and flew to Urbana-Champaign for a first glimpse into Diana's new, law school life. We hit the ground running and located the grad/family housing apartment complex where she lives before even laying eyes on her. The building Diana lives in is retro, oozing midwestern academia charm. Of particular note is the green, tree-filled outdoor surroundings where [truly] adorable children play freely. Outdoor noise is filled with kids running and playing, not "partying" nonsense. Savanna and I scrubbed, swept and exterminated the front porch that leads inside lil sis’s new home. For the interior, we made a list, checked it twice and headed to Walmart, HomeGoods, TJ, Staples, Target, Walgreens, and a furniture I can’t remember the name of. Naturally, we went back to some of those places a second time with returns. Savanna is a blue-ribbon sister who has tended to her lil sis’ dietary and environmental comfort since toddler times. She made a scrumptious Mexican casserole, portioned it out and froze individual containers for lil sis to enjoy later. Some things just never change. The kitchen has an adorable window that looks out over green grass, trees, a picnic table and kids running around. The pathway could use repaving but a little uneven walking ground is shameful to complain about when there is so much to be thankful for. As for dipping our toes in the social climate. We checked out a football game at the UIUC Memorial Stadium (dedicated to men and women who gave their lives in World War I. Their names appear on 200 columns that support the east and west sides of the stadium). Unfortunately UI lost 37-30 to UTSA. But that didn’t prevent the game from being energetic and full of devoted Illini fans. Triangle park is officially part of the Fighting Illini fan-family now. Savanna never fails to find fun things to do wherever we go. Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch was cute as it could be. There was apple picking, carriage rides, apple slushies (a lot of apple stuff) and kitten adoptions to boot. Diana’s digs are by no means “finished.” Jeff and I head that way in a few weeks for additional sprucing. But big sis and I accomplished what we set out to by sprucing up lil sis’ home away from home. Diana can now focus on increasing brain power and Savanna and I can sleep comfortably knowing she's comfortable. Wait! The most important thing is/was that we rely on promises of God where ever he takes us: "Behold. I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared." ~ Exodus 23:20 "Behold. I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." ~ Genesis 28:15 "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." ~ Deuteronomy 31:8 Savanna's blog Psst, Diana: Your brain is your superpower! Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley

Sometimes there is nothing to blog about (like a month ago) and other times there is so much to share I don’t know where to begin (like this past week). There are two things I haven’t done in 40 years: Travel with [only] a girlfriend Plan a surprise party for someone This past week I did both of those things. My friend, Gail, and I took a trip to see America’s most iconic monument, Mt. Rushmore. Brief-backstory: In the early ‘80s, I took a trip with a college friend, but I have spent three-quarters of my life travelling with family, or alone. Vacationing with a girlfriend at Mt. Rushmore in 2021 was extra unusual and exciting for me. Gail and I planned and executed car, flight and hotel details in a flash and before we knew it, we were standing in the Blackhills of South Dakota in awe of magnificent Mount Rushmore. While there we also: Reveled among the largest biker rally in the country, Sturgis ‘21! - Fancy bikes and bikers were literally everywhere. Many had American flags waving wildly behind their rides. I must add that the bikers themselves were a very nice group of people and Patriotic to boot; Took a train to an old mining town (Hill City) -- Though we missed our train back (nobody told us we only had ½ a second to eat, shop, and teetee) to Keystone, we hung out under a beautiful draping tree and enjoyed the shade, scenery and each others company before catching the next train, 2-hours later; Played saloon-girl dress up -- thankfully these two photos were bearable to come home with because the majority were o.m.g. dreadful; Met Sidney Powell -- Sidney was in Keystone speaking at the first annual Old Glory Patriot Ride and she was gracious as she could be; And, while the above fun and games were happening I mentally and emotionally prepared for a surprise going-away-to-UIUC-lawschool for Diana, immediately upon our return... Perhaps, you’ve bid farewell to college or grad school offspring? Perhaps you’ve planned a surprise party and visited Mt. Rushmore? All the above was unchartered territory for me. Savanna and I wanted to throw a surprise party to add a dash of happiness to an otherwise mixed-emotion farewell. We began organizing on a Tuesday with the following Saturday (8/14) being the “big day.” Typically Sav and I are far-in-advance, prior planners. Throwing an event inside a week (surprise to boot) put us outside our comfort zones. What was the hardest and easiest part of “surprise” planning? Easiest: Texting and email makes surprise-communicating virtually magic; Hardest: Lying is positively not my style. For four days I had to pause and make sure my “stories” were straight The gathering came together better than we ever dreamed of. Diana was truly surprised and all who attended [hopefully] had a good time and will cherish the memories as much as Jeff and I do. Diana is blessed with exceptional friends. What was the best part(s) of the whole ordeal? By FAR the best part of any party are the PEOPLE WHO COME! THANK YOU, EVERYONE! FELLINI'S PIZZA - Fellini’s virtually allowed us to occupy the entire back room. Thank you #fellinispizza for patience and accommodation! I have endless gratitude for loving friends, aspiring children and blessings from Above! ALL the Glory belongs to Him “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving And extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, The great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:1-3 As I write this, Diana and Elijah are on their way to Illinois. Here she is waving good-bye to all of us... Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley Side note video:

Like Grandma (Gam), like Grand-daughter! These two twin’n ladies sure look like they planned these outfits: What are you wearing? Let’s wear red shirts and white pants...it's 4th of July week. But it wasn’t planned at all. Like Grandma, like Grand-daughter, for real. We visited Gam yesterday and had fun (as usual) taking photos around her home. As long as she has her makeup and hair in place, Gam is always a great sport when it comes to snapping photos. Back in the day, she was quite a photographer herself. I have hundreds of pictures that she took and some how have managed to get them digitized for safe keeping. As many know, Gam doesn’t use the internet or a cell phone. Of course she’s perfectly capable of having and using both -- she chooses to forego modern technology. Most of Gam’s energy is put into making three wholesome meals a day and shopping for supplies to accomplish that. She even purchases and hauls home gallons of Deer Park water [on her own]. Now that COVID19 is in the rearview mirror, we’re happy and relieved that she goes out to dinner with us. We took her, for the second time post-COVID19, out for Italian food. She’s always game to ride with Jeff in the Porsche. Here she is climbing out of it...at 91-years-old. Getting in and out of that thing is no easy task, trust me. Having mom out and about is truly a blessing. IMHO, the past year is akin to fighting a war. There are too many people that are no longer with us. Though many of them didn’t succumb to the virus specifically, a collateral damage effect is hard to ignore. Sad. Really sad. Gam survived the insult that was COVID19 by shutting herself down [majorly]. We are thankful she did that. Now, Onward and upward, as she likes to say. It’s my hope and prayer that you and yours are also back to “normal.” God Bless YOU. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley

New York City is one of my favorite places in the world. I visited a few times as a child, fascinated by the lights, cabs, and stores. When visiting in my adulthood, my affections only grew. I love the food, atmosphere, shopping, sports, and cliches (and lack thereof) that come along with the city. Seeing it shut down during COVID-19 and thousands of people and businesses suffer was dismal. I’ve been fortunate to visit Elijah in New York a few times the past couple months and I’ve gotten the same questions from so many people, “Isn’t it dead? Can you basically go nowhere?” The answer is no. Actually, I’ve never seen it so alive. About a week ago, NYC formally lifted all remaining restrictions, declaring itself officially “back to normal”. I was there to witness it. At the time, everything (for the most part) was already open. Every neighborhood was bustling with restaurants, shops, music-playing, and happy people. Declaring the city officially open lifted any remaining restrictions and capacity limits. Eli and I were able to indulge in some of our favorite New York places that (thankfully) survived the COVID-19 pandemic: Thursday Kitchen, a Korean small plates restaurant with quite literally the best food I’ve had in my entire life. Los Tacos No. 1 in Chelsea Market, with some of the most incredible street tacos. Walking around the reservoir in Central Park (OK - I know this wouldn’t have necessarily been affected by COVID but we were so excited to do this again). Sporting events, specifically we went to the Yankee’s first game at full capacity (my first time, though we’ve seen the Mets at Citi field a few years ago). Being in one of the most iconic stadiums in sport-crazed NYC after COVID was electric. Some new highlights we were able to try: Stuffed, a dessert place not far from Thursday Kitchen that’s famous for their “cruffs” - a donut ice cream sandwich. REMI coffee, a flower-shop-coffee-shop that we went to WAY too many times, indulging in their rose lattes, lavender lattes, and toasted marshmallow mochas. I’m so happy New York is recovered and alive again. I’m so happy I get to support establishments and get “back to normal”. And I’m so excited to go back in just a couple weeks! xoxo Addendum To Diana’s NYC Take: Hi Friends, Mom here, a/k/a Shelley. Diana’s blog is interesting to me and I hope it is to you also. I was running around New York City around the same age that Diana is now (23). “The city” is electric (literally and figuratively). There is a magnetism to “rat racing,” if you will. I relate all too well to Diana’s draw toward NYC, while young. I was fortunate to live/stay in some nice places on Manhattan island (Diana’s aren't too shabby either) in my 20s. I once spent a month at the Helmsley Palace. But most of my lodging was with my aunt (Cathy), in her upper east side one-bedroom apartment on the 24th floor of the Continental Towers. I slept comfortably on a large sofa. Cathy’s place was upscale and I’m grateful she put up with me for as long as she did (a whole summer and from time to time thereafter). The two of us actually had a lot of fun together in NYC. When I wasn’t schlepping along to auditions with her we enjoyed shopping, movies, theatre, spotting stars, iced-chocolate drinks at Serendipity, visiting friends...all the normal stuff you do whilst living in NYC. -- Here’s my issue with New York City: It’s expensive. Like really expensive, especially when you’re 23-years-old. When I began shopping for a place of my own to rent, the sticker shock was shocking. Eventually, I found a room inside an elderly lady’s apartment in Greenwich Village. It was the size of a walk-in closet in my parent’s home and I only [maybe] could afford it. Plus, there was a caveat: I’d have to eat lunch every other day and completely give up buying shoes at Bloomies, but still...I could [maybe] afford it. Manhattan was the only burrough I considered back then and I guess I didn’t want to live there badly enough because I opted out of that closet-size room in the village rather quickly. Once Cathy’s boyfriend joked that he “knew of a pretty good size place around 225th Street.” I was excited until I realized 225th Street was in Harlem and it was dangerous at the time. Reading about Diana’s excitement to see “The city” come alive again, post covid, makes me smile big though! She and Eli met Cathy and her husband, Steve, for breakfast on the upper east side where Cathy still lives. They had a lovely time together, just like I used to have hanging out around there. I will likely never consider living in NYC again in my lifetime, but it is my hope for the Big Apple to thrive and survive, post-COVID and beyond. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley

Is it not true that we all have products in our bathroom we can’t live or travel without? Those tried and true personal-care items that, if left behind, must be found upon arrival...or we die. In other words, (y)our indespensible, ego shields. Since I haven’t been on note-worthy trips lately and don’t have exuberant photos from recent gatherings, this is a travel-imperative [cosmetic] reveal blog. Travel Imperatives, Cosmetics Seven Cosmetics I Can’t Travel/Live Without: Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser ($13.56 Amazon) - Rule No. 1: Never end the day without a freshly cleansed face. Cerave is gentle and void of irritants. Hotels have items to wash with but...gasp...that's just scary. Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with sunscreen SPF 50+ ($13.59 Target) Sometimes there are things that are so important they're also Rule No. 1: Use a safe, gentle, effective sunscreen. A dermatologist recommended Cetaphil ten years and I've used it ever since. Truth be told, your local drugstore has blue-ribbon facial moisturizers with ample sunscreen, such as Cetaphil. Aveda Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Lotion ($28 Aveda) I have used Aveda Hydrating Lotion for over 15 years. It has never clogged my pores or irritated. However, at 59 years old I find it's not enough during winter months. Nevertheless, Aveda lotion makes it in my suitcase regardless of season. Travel Imperatives, Cosmetics Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil (Nordstrom $34) Who can deny that stepping out of the house before filling in scattered brows is a major no-no? Admittedly, I have apx. four different brands of brow pencil in my arsenol but this is my fave that gets packed and replaced without fail. Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara ($7.49 Rite Aid) - Mascara takes precedence over shadow and liner IMHO. I like one that removes easily as this one does. Travel Imperatives, Cosmetics Mary Kay Eye Makeup Remover ($17 Mary Kay Consultant) You can get this AMAZING eye make up remover in travel sizes too. Everyone I know who uses it agrees that it is "the best!" Shiseido Sun Protection Stick Foundation SPF 30 ($27.20 Macy’s) Lightweight both on the skin and in a suitcase, this stick renders me relatively speechless. Not only might I die if this is left at home, I might also expire if Shiseido stops making it. Travel Imperatives, Cosmetics Honorable Mention (I can live without these but there’s no need to): Pacifica Coconut-Infused Mineral Eyeshadow ($17.99 Target) This eyeshadow palette is very blendable (important for aging skin...[phish] like mine). Pacifica's packaging is no-frills and light-weight making it an easy "throw in" decision if there's extra room. E.L.F. Shadow Lock Eyeshadow Primer ($3 Walgreens - that is not a typo!) On ocassion I want eyeshadow to last longer than a few hours while not having to freshen it. This $3 gem does the trick perfectly. There isn't a lot in the tube which is nice for infrequent users such as I. The above are indeed my indespensible ego shields, if you will. I have other things that don't qualify as travel "imperatives" in my drawers, but I aim to keep cosmetic inventory at a minimum which. Who can deny temptation and disappointment of beauty products and advertising that most of us ladies succomb to? As the saying goes, you live and learn. Skincare products can’t quite compete with travel, terrific times with friends and family or fancy hobbies (see previous posts) but when you find products that do what they say they will do...the race tightens, for sure. I would love to know a few of your favorite “can’t live without” cosmetics. Please do share! Thank you for stopping by! Travel Imperatives, Cosmetics Love, Shelley One More Thing I can't Live Without: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen - Hebrews 11:1

Welcome our guest blogger this week, Jeff Sweeney! I have always been interested in cars. When I was young, my birthday and Christmas gifts of choice almost always included things car-related, from Hot Wheels toys, to slot-car sets, to plastic models of various muscle cars and racers. As I grew older, those toys became real cars and I have been blessed to own some fun ones. My first car was a Firebird, and along the way I have parked various Infinitis, BMWs, a Jag, and a couple of Porsches in our carport. It probably goes without saying, but I also have a fascination with speed. I love roller coasters and go-karting, and even got to do a little Auto-crossing (racing around cones in a parking lot) in my first BMW. I am looking to add some hobbies to my routine as I start stepping away from my daily work responsibilities (I won't call that retirement, because honestly I am not sure what that will look like), and owning a dedicated track-toy to take out a couple of times a month sounds very appealing. I always thought I would enjoy time on a racetrack, and just recently was able to test that hypothesis. A few of my work colleagues and customers told me a couple of months ago that they signed up for a track night at a private circuit called Atlanta Motorsports Park (AMP) in Dawsonville, GA. No need to ask twice. I signed up for the event, secured track-day insurance (thank you Opentrack.com) for my 911 Carrera S, and made arrangements to buy the requisite safety gear. On the day of the event, it was time to check the tightness of all the lug nuts on my wheels, adjust tire pressure to optimal numbers for the track, and head to Dawsonville. I arrived an hour early to pick up the racing helmet I ordered from Discovery Parts (a great resource for both novice and experienced drivers alike) and to get a lay of the land at AMP. As a novice driver, attendance at a drivers’ orientation meeting was mandatory—and we learned about the rules of the road for the track: when and when not to pass, what the various flags meant, and most of all to enjoy a safe but fun evening with our fellow drivers on the track. Just after the drivers’ meeting, we were then in our cars, helmets on, and taken out on the course behind a pace car for a few laps to get to know the track. After getting that paced taste of the track, it was a long 40 minutes to wait while the experts and intermediate drivers each held their 20-minute live track sessions. While I was anxious to get on the track myself, I did enjoy watching the more experienced petrol-heads tear up the track. I tried to observe the lines they took through the turns and when they braked into and how they accelerated out of the corners. At last, it was 5 PM and time for our first 20-minute hot-lap session. As we left the pits and entered the track, adrenaline surged as fast as gas and air exploded in the cylinders and the turbo-chargers spun up. After a lap or two, I ended up behind some slower cars/drivers and excitement turned to frustration. Fortunately, the drivers heeded the advice they learned in the mandatory meeting and one by one they pointed me by for a pass. After clearing the slower cars, I really got to open my car up for the rest of the session and to explore the capabilities of the 911. In a word: phenomenal. I have always had a sincere respect for German Engineering, but the engine, suspension, and the dual-clutch transmission were so at home on the track that I am in awe of the designers of this machine. The evening, and the next two 20-minute sessions were all a blur from there---literally on the track as I hit speeds north of 115 mph on the straights and figuratively as banter with the other drivers and anticipation filled the downtime. The only glitch all evening, a rookie mistake, is that I had showed up to the track with half a tank of gas which was gone by the end of the 2nd session. Driving fast makes the car gulp fuel. After a quick stop at the track’s pump, where understandably the cost of 93 Octane is double what one would pay at the neighborhood station, all was well. I learned three important things from my first track night: show up with a full tank, drive safely but aggressively on the correct line to have the most fun, and I will be back for more of this. I have been bitten by the track bug and look forward to more (legal) speeding in my future!

Joe and I spent the past week in Falmouth, Jamaica, about 30 minutes outside of Montego Bay. This was our favorite trip to date! To read my thoughts on the hotel, Excellence Oyster Bay, see my TripAdvisor review below. And feel free to reach out with any questions. This blog is less about the resort, and more about vacation fashion. After struggling to find outfits for a few weeks, my mom was gracious to purchase a few items for me while out at dinner one night. I tried them on the next day and they were all absolute hits! I was so thankful. Here's a little virtual fashion show of the outfits she styled for me: Hot pink midi dress Comfortable thick fabric made this a great option for enjoying pounds of pasta. Here we are pictured in the Excellence Club bar area. Contrasting mini romper Received lots of compliments on this unique dinner look. Here we are pictured before hibachi while enjoying views of Oyster Bay. Open back floral dress Love the party in the back. The sleeves were nice for chilly walks back to our room. Another pictured at, you guessed it, the Excellence Club! My Trip Advisor Review My husband and I had a wonderful 5-night stay at EOB beginning May 28th, just 8 days after their reopening. This was our first all-inclusive experience. The resort: One the of the prettiest and well-laid out resorts I have ever seen! The lobby is gorgeous, the restaurants are gorgeous (I particularly liked the fancy cafeteria vibe of The Kitchen Table), the pools were awesome (we spent a lot of time at the rooftop infinity pool, sometimes completely by ourselves), the rooms were clean and inviting (however not family friendly), and the beach is UNREAL. 10/10 to the resort itself. The food: My review is actually closer to a 4.9 because of the food. Our first day and a half of meals were disappointing. I described them as "Trader Joe's frozen meals." The breaking point was when we ordered a room service pepperoni pizza that arrived with practically raw dough and huge slabs of bologna. I decided to reach out to management and voice my concern, since we didn't want to suffer through meals the rest of our trip. From the point of complaining through the rest of our trip I can confidentially say that we liked and even enjoyed the rest of our meals! We learned how to order, to sample multiple things and we also discovered that The Kitchen Table is the best breakfast on property. (The Magna breakfast is horrible as a side note). Shoutout to the juice selection at TKT. Unreal and a highlight of my trip! The drinks: Bartenders and drink selection = A+. The Spa: A+! We loved our hydrotherapy session. Excellence Club: Not worth it from a food perspective. We actually thought the food was worse at Magna than other restaurants. However, the bar area and patio are truly beautiful for evening drinks. For that alone, I recommend upgrading. The service: Top touch. Everyone wanted to help and we rarely had to seek out service. Activities: We enjoyed water sports almost every morning and did not have to wait long. We also took advantage of beach yoga which was relaxing and challenging at the same time. The shows at night were fun and better than I expected. When all is said and done, this was my favorite vacation of my life thus far. So relaxing and so beautiful. We will be back! -- Savanna

A big HELLO to TriangleParkATL readers -- I love you more than these blogs let on. How was your Memorial Day, May 31, 2021? What an honor to celebrate the men and women who bravely fought and often died for [our] freedom. And what an honor to also celebrate the men and women who are ready at this very minute to do the same thing! If I had my druthers, every day would be Memorial Day. The only thing I don’t like about Memorial Day is the pressure of being on a lake or beach, around a pool, or barbecuing in the backyard. I love all of those things but not necessarily on the last Monday in May, year after year. “Variety is the spice of life”...when celebrating, anything. This Memorial Day, we celebrated by treating mom (91) and her “best friend” Marilyn (93) to an Italian dinner in Dunwoody. Not your typical, traditional M-D celebration but it was fun to be with two people who remember World War II well. Who says life slows down in your 90s, or because of Covid19? These two girls were ready to go! Here they are heading to Marilyn’s red-hot sports car. I wanted mom to look at the camera in this shot but she defied me and set it up sideways. The older she gets, the more she disobeys me. Isn’t that how it goes with children? Even elderly children, when the tables turn? It was mom’s first restaurant-outing since locking down last year. Marilyn has gone out many times. Not only were we celebrating Memorial Day, we were celebrating mom getting back out on the social scene. Sometimes I dread getting wrinkly, out of shape and slow -- the ripple effect, if you will. But after a night with these spunky 90+ers, I’m rather looking forward to, well, not exactly wrinkles and slowing down, but sharing stories and time with generations other than my own. Marilyn told me about her six children; 19 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren and how at this point in life she has decided to stop keeping track. She went to secretarial school in Manhattan and is thankful to have lived during the era that she did. On her sports car she has stickers for Perdue, Notre Dame, Indiana, a nursing school, a military school and others I can’t remember. Diane and Marilyn have a lot in common. Growing up in the same era bonds them specifically and of course they both have a lot of grand and great grandchildren (Mom has about half as many). Of note is that Diane has a grandson who is an F35 Marine pilot and Marilyn has a grandson who is a Navy Seal. But, when they’re together, they enjoy sharing news of all their children and grandchildren. Not just the TopGuns. Letting mom invite her “best friend” to dinner was a lot of fun for all of us. It was also a pleasure having Elijah (in town from New York City) join us with Diana. Obviously, those two are young but they are mature beyond their years and a joy on par with the elder guests of honor. All age groups matter, magnificently! Did you notice that I said I “let” my mother invite her best friend? “Letting” her sounds like she’s a toddler. The circle of life? Whatever it is, loads of fun was had by all. I thank God for their presence. Diane and Marilyn make “getting up there” something to look forward to...assuming there will be people around to enjoy us (psst, hi girls :-). God Bless the United States Military and all those who served and are serving! And God Bless us all… Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley