Father's Day, 2012:  We took a drive from Chattanooga to Crossville to Spring City and back to Chattanooga.  On some previous sorties in the area, we discovered a spot on Hwy 68 between Crossville and Spring City that is absolutely gorgeous.  You might describe it as a cove.  It's a beautiful mountain valley surrounded on all sides by the Cumberland Mountains.  It appears to support cattle and sheep ranches.  It's near impossible to capture the true beauty of this cove with a camera.  Nevertheless here is our feeble attempt to do so.

In April 2012, BlueCross sent me to the SAS Global Forum at Disney  World (For those of you unfamiliar with SAS, it is the programming language with which I work and put "bread on the table.").  Carolyn went with me and we were able to get a taste of Disney World each evening after my day's attendance at the forum's classes.  


Although Disney World is a very clean and beautiful place, it is also very expensive.  We did enjoy the Epcot Center.  If I were to return, that would probably be my focal point of interest.  However, except for our grandchildren, I'd never go back.  Nevertheless, here are some pictures of our trip for your viewing pleasure.

Here is a shot taken from our room in the Dolphin Hotel.

Walking between the Dolphin and Swan hotels.

Aw.  The classical tourist shot of Mimi and Papa at the Swan/Dolphin Hotel complex.  The SAS Global Forum was held in the Dolphin where we stayed.

We rode the monorail from the Epcot Center to The Magic Kingdom and back.

There was a beutiful flower display at the Epcot Center.

We actually rode in a car on a track throughout this sphere.  That's right, sphere, not spear.

This is our retirement home.  They're working on the heating and air conditioning as I write.

Gracie and Liana, Look here.  These are some of your favorite characters.

I met my secret love in Downtown Disney.  Carolyn was kind enough to take a picture.

Raising your grandson right!

Cadan, Mimi is standing beside a Lego figure from the movie, "Toy Story."  There were Lego figures outside the store that made this one look small.

Chattanooga: January 2011

After traveling north to Indiana for Christmas to visit with Ray, Mel, and Cadan, we returned to Chattanooga for 2 and a half days before flying to Austin, TX, to visit with Kim, Dan, Gracie, and Liana over the New Year's holiday.  Upon our return from Texas, my PTO time at BlueCross/BlueShield was extended for two days because of a snow storm that brought 7.5-inches of snow to Chattanooga the night before returning to work.  Since a 1-inch snow fall in Chattanooga brings it to its knees, you can imagine what 7.5-inches did.  Here are some pictures taken from our house of our 7.5-inch snow event:

Looking down our street from our front door

Looking across our backyard from upstairs

Three days after the storm