The Rest of the Story

On Tuesday we headed to Hollywood (can't leave the area without stopping at Pink's Hot Dogs). We stopped by Modesto and visited with my Aunt Terri; it was such a treat to visit with her. She has recently had some health concerns and lost her license because of them but she is in good spirits and always a kick to visit.


Wednesday we headed for Red Bluff. Our first stop: Hope's best friend Melissa. Hope practically jumped out of the car to see her. Then we went to see my parents. It was good to see them and catch up face to face. Thursday we dropped the girls off at their old schools which is ironic since it would have been their last day of school in TN. Hope spent the day with her favorite Jr. High teacher, Miss Rogers along with her eighth grade classmates and Grace ran into the arms of her old classmates. Her teacher, Mr. Threlkeld invited her to spend the day and even sing at the open house that night. We went and saw Bill and Vicki Greer while the kids were "in school". Later we went back to my parents house for dinner and then went to Jackson Heights to watch Grace and visit with the faculity. Oh, if we could only ship them to TN. What great people and what a blast catching up.

On Friday I went up to Graduation practice while Norm went to his old job to spend time with his former clients and co workers. I found out I made honors. We went back home saw Paul and Deborah Wright whom we are staying with but only briefly. We spent so much time at their home right before we left; it was good to see them. My aunt Carol came up for the festivities and we had dinner with Mom and Dad.
Graduation went great and reminded me of home since it stormed through the ceremony. Those should be some lovely pictures. I don't care. I was finished my last test yesterday and I couldn't be more happier.

Later we all went to Leatherby's, met my brother Gary there (he has a new job at Costco, yeah!) and visited with them and Kim and Dan Berry.

On Saturday (I can't believe we leaving so soon) we went to breakfast with Norm's family; Steve, Jay, Myrtle, Norma, Richard, Hallie and Michael. We caught up, passed the pictures and then went to Hope and Grace's pre-birthday, birthday party at my mom and dad's house. The girls had fun playing with Daniel and Matthew while we all chatted. My aunt Carol made Grace a beautiful dress (I see an opera in our future). We then went down to the Greers and met up with the Hagen's. Grace actually swam in the 60 degree weather. Once again we caught up and passed the pictures. These are what I miss; the people. It would be so great it everyone could come and visit.

That night the girls and Norm slept while I watched the clock; we left at 1:30am for our flight. It was sad saying goodbye, but I was looking forward to being home. We flew out, arrived in Knoxville by 5pm, picked up Mitchell (who had done great) and went home. It was a great trip and was such fun seeing everyone. We came home to beautiful weather and 8 foot tall bamboo.

-Tina

California Here We Come...

I am (finally) graduating from Shasta College.

I will now have an A.A. in Hospitality with a concentration in Culinary Arts. We decided to celebrate this occasion by going back to Cali for my graduation. Silly as it sounds, I really wanted to walk with my classmates. I took my last final the day we left but I am still in school (blogging) and have my last test on Thursday the day before I graduate. So while the girls are swimming I am doing homework. We decided since we were so close (yeah, right), we would take a little detour to Disneyland (the silliness just keeps getting sillier).

We drove to Nashville Airport even before I go to work (1:30am) and took a flight into San Francisco picked up the rental car and drove to Anaheim. Ah, the golden waves of ......weeds. The apmosphere hit back as we left SFO. Knoxville was about 75 degrees and overcast when we left. LA was 100 degrees and cloudless. I traded blossoming trees, rolling green hills for, well if you have been down I5 you know what I mean. I suprised myself how much I was missing TN (and maybe Mitchell a little; he is staying at a friend's house and has already been to DL).



The first day here we went to Disneyland California Adventures and had a blast. It was pretty crowded but we got to go on everything and had sourdough bread to boot (that and avocodo is what I miss food wise). The following day we tackled Disneyland and had a great time. We saw Bill Hill and the Hillbillies a few times (I guess I was missing people saying y'all). We crammed as much as you could in a day. Fun, fun, fun. It was great to have Norm there and no Mitchell. We handled the time change pretty well and had a great time I think secretly we are all looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. -Tina

An Answer To Soaring Gas Prices...........

I totally like Red Green. Unfortunately, none of our local stations carry his show, so I found some clips online. Hope you enjoy this one! -Norm

Rossini Festival

Two festivals in two weekends. This time it was an Italian opera festival. I guess it's an annual thing. Tosca was playing at the Tennessee theater and another opera was playing at the Bijou theater. On saturday the city closed of Gay St. downtown and had an Italian street fair replete with opera singers, Italian food and crafts (no country music this time).

It was great and packed with people. We all went to see Tosca; it was great, man what a pretty theater. I am really suprised the girls love opera but they begged to see it (I think partly due to fact they can dress up). -Tina

Dogwood Arts Festival

I must first start off by saying a shout out to our Lady Vols who won the championship in women's bastketball (they are on the cover of Sports Illustrated).

One more thing......you know you are from the south when
Dolly Parton does PSAs about major road closures.
Okay, Knoxville has kicked off their annual Dogwood Arts Festival. When I have inquired about what this was, I get puzzled looks and the 'you-aren't-from-around-here-are-you?' statement. Right now Knoxville is peppered with beautiful blossoms and
there are over seventy miles of trails dedicated to the viewing of the dogwoods. We have been on some of them. Plus they have begun sundown in the city, a larger but similar thing Red Bluff has like on Wednesday night. It's focus, though, is on local artists and each Thursday the stores stay open a little later. The farmers market starts April 26th and I can't wait. -Tina

Where's Miley?

Because this is Hannah Montana country, we, along with about 6,000 other hopefuls went to an open call for the new Hannah Montana Movie in Nashville. I love Nashville, it's like Knoxville but bigger and a littler soggier right now. The open call started at 11am so being seasoned Hollywood people, we got in line after spending the night in town, at 7am. We were by no means first in line but not too bad. As the day grew on, we would check out the growing line. They decided to take people early, so it went quicker than expected. By the time we (Hope) were finished, the line had went all the way around the convention center and was doubling.

We decided to walk around downtown; very cute; more country hopefuls than you could shake a stick at. We met up with Grace and Norm and had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe (saw a Dolly Parton's dress!) Then we began our way home. It was a great experience and we had a good time.

Oh, and spring has sprung here. It's beautiful. The Dogwood Arts Festival has kicked off featuring local artists, musicians and of course, the blooming dogwoods. Every morning I am struck by the sound of birds. We find cardinals, robin red breasts and morning doves just cooing through the day, its so pretty to hear. It sound like a jungle (sans the monkeys).

And another thing I am shocked to admit. I follow sports. Never in my life have I cared about football, basketball or any other ball for that matter. Now, I have succumbed to the sport fever everyone has here. Everything the UT Vols do is followed. I chatted with a coworker today (who also has never followed sports until moving here) about the Ladys Vols and their being in the final four. Once I found myself in the lobby of Grace's school surrounded by staff, parents and children huddled around the flat screen located in the lobby watching the Vols make it to the sweet sixteen. We didn't leave to pick up Hope until it was over. When I picked up Hope from school, I apologized for being late only to find out each class had watched the game in their classrooms forgoing the lessons. Go VOLS!

-Tina

The Biltmore

This week the girls are out of school. I decided we would take a little trip to Asheville NC, about 1 1/2 hours east of us. Asheville, as I am sure everyone knows but me, is the home of the Vanderbilts. A few years back RaChael, Leslie visited the Vanderbilt's summer home in Newport, Rhode Island which was stunning.

The main home is nothing short of breath taking. It is the largest home built in the United States and is so large, you have to drive around the property just to get to the barn and winery. We started out with the main house. The whole house is not on the tour but you can tour about 67 of the rooms, each uniquely appointed not to mention the indoor swimming pool, bowling alley and observation room and a library that would make Belle shiver (Disney reference). After the tour we went to the "stables" which are now converted to a restaurant, creamery, doll shop, merchantile and book store. We went around the house and found the gardens.

They were beautiful and I am sure in later in spring are stunning. The conservatory was about the size of our home and house all kinds of plants from around the world. (once again, thinking of Bill Greer).
We tracked back to the car and made our way to the "barn". There, guides explained the daily procedures and we visited the wood carver on sight as well as the residential smithy who comes from four hundred years of iron work. He was fascinating; he even played the anvil as an instrument. The barn area also housed another creamery and merchantile. We then went to the winery that housed the wines the Biltmore produces from their own vinyard and other southern food stuffs along with a bistro. After that we kind drove around Asheville (not necessarily on purpose). The same planner that built the house also built the Biltmore Village; very quaint. It was a great trip.

Hope: Reflections Winner

During the Reflections Program, a PTA sponsored event that encourages expression through the arts, Hope submitted a photograph. She has won this event in CA for the district (Red Bluff, Redding and Chico) two years. This year she won again for Knox County. We were invited to a dinner to honor all the winners in Knox County; about 500 people attended which was staggering; so much bigger than even the district awards for the aforementioned area in CA. Hope recieved a medal along with a certificate. Hope's achievement was announced by the principal the following day. The PTA seems to be very active here. We have not yet joined yet which is really weird, but plan to soon. We have met the president but that's about it.

Oh, and it snowed today. It was beautiful to wake up to a flocked yard but not enough to stick to the road. Playing with snowballs in March? Beautiful.

Where are you Crazy Bill?!

Grace and I spent this last weekend in Atlanta, GA. which is about 3 hours from us. We drove down and spent the day at Six Flags over Georgia and had a blast. I hadn't been to Atlanta since the early 90's and remembered visiting a old fast food joint called the Varsity. We found our way over to the 800 seat,eighty-year old fast food joint and ordered the greasiest hot dogs and onion rings ever made. All I could think of is 'where is Bill Greer when you need him'. He would be in hot dog heaven.

The next day we went to the IKEA store I had been dying to visit. It was so big we got lost and wandered around trying to find which level we had parked and where was the exit. It was about the size of the mall in Redding. Oh, if I had money and moving van. Next, we went to the Coke cola factory. After watching the bottling demo and a few soda-driven movies, we where able to sample about 70 different coke products from around the world. Very interesting flavors. Of course, we found ourselves once again, close to the Varsity, so went back. On the upper parking deck there was about 100 ninja motorcycles; very cool. It was a great little trip and Atlantica (that what Grace called it) was great.

-Tina

Heart Support Tour

What do you do when you have a free night in Knoxville TN? You go to someplace by Lexington KY to a concert. We heard about a christian organization called heartsupport.com that was doing a concert tour with The Beautiful Republic,Spoken, Falling Up(yea) and Family Force 5 (double yea). Lexington is only a couple of hours from us so we headed north, checked out Lexington and went to the concert.

It was first come first serve on the standing (yes, standing only) concert so we got there as soon as the doors opened. I, Hope, Grace and Norm were to determined to stand as close to the stage as we could. By the time Beautiful Republic was done, so was Grace-too many Kentucky boys trying to mosh. By the time Spoken was done, so was I. I am too old to enjoy my hair being pulled, my feet being stomped on and being a part of a mosh. The bands were great, I love Falling Up and Family Force 5 was as always fantastic. I enjoyed the rest of the concert with all the other forty-somethings-singing-along-looking-dorky-cause-we-know-all-the-words people.

We had a great time, my ears are still ringing. -Tina

And a video short by Grace (Family Force Five)

HAWK NELSON (no relation)

The event

we'd been looking

forward to finally arrived.

HAWK NELSON

in concert

in Knoxville!

It was a sold out

concert at

the Coliseum.

There is so

much energy in

their shows and

last night was

no exception!

Rock The City
was

sponsored by the
Franklin Graham Festival
coming to Knoxville in

April 2008.

-Norm

A Video Short By Grace..................

La Forza del Destino

Last night was to be our Valentine Day outing. It turned out to be a family event. One of the reasons I was attracted to Knoxville was, for being a town by mountains, it offers a lot of cultural events. Last night we attended Verdi's (in english) Force of Destiny Opera at the Tennessee theater. The tickets are less than what I paid for Hannah Montana in 3D (yes, we saw it) and was just fathoms better.

The Tennessee theater is one of the most slendid buildings I have ever been in; just a gorgeously restored theater. The people were as interesting as the building itself. You had the men in tuxedos, women in full length gowns, the business dressed and even the UT students in the orange (go vols!) hoodies and jeans.

The full orchestra was spot on and the cast was amazing. One of the main characters happens to be the owner of the store where I work. He is a vocal teacher at UT and offered us to go backstage. I love opera among other genres of music, but opera is what I would love to sing. I look forward to seeing Pucini's Tosca (one of my favs) in the spring at the Tennessee theater. Of couse Merle Haggard will also be performing there as well. Hey, it is the south!

-Tina

Storms and Sushi

I still monitor the weather and news in California. As storms have nailed the Sacramento Valley and just about all of the west coast. Here in Tennessee, another type of weather has made itself known. Tornados ripped through the Nashville area and surrounding states. We are happy to report all we experienced was high winds and rain. I think part of it might be the effect the mountains have in counteracting the wind patterns. Thankfully, we are all safe and sound.

Last night we went out to eat sushi. Our last experience with sushi was at a place in Redding. It was not a pleasant experience, but last night was a whole different story. The atmosphere was great at the Stir Fry Cafe in West Knoxville. Hope had a salad. Grace adventured with us in trying sushi. It was very fun trying something new and eating with chopsticks.

Friday evening Tina and I will be trying something else new. We will be attending the Knoxville Opera for an early Valentine's Day date. I hear the Tennessee Theater is something to see!

-Norm

Another Concert Coming Soon

PILLAR!!!

-Norm

Yankees in the Snow

Things have been hopping here in the southeast. The weather has been interesting. It never rains for more that a few hours and the temperature can change from 40 degrees to 60 in a day. Never boring. Last week as I was opening the store it began to rain. After the rain fell so did the temperature making all that rain freeze. I work downtown by UT and a hospital and it is extremely busy with traffic. I noticed, huh...no traffic. I looked out and there was an accident then I noticed later that the emergency vehicles were going the other way on the street and there was another accident the other way about two blocks from the store! All total there were ver 400 accidents in the Knoxville area that morning So many, they just had to push the cars off the road to deal with it all. Norm stayed home from work until roads were cleared and by the time I got off work, it had melted.
So funny, I was at work doing my daily report when I noticed something from the corner of my eye and thought, 'wow, those cottonwood are sure blowing'. I realized that was impossible and that it was snow. It was beautiful but didn't stick and didn't snow up where we live, but it was lovely.

I am still enjoyed my job, I am starting to adjust to getting up so early. By 8pm I am a zombie. Norm has been a trooper helping get the girls ready and off to school. I get home in time to pick up the girls so it works out well. I have stopped drinking coffee. I can drink as much as I want and I noticed I was not sleeping well and was nervous and agitated. So now, surrounded by all the coffee I want, I drink herbal tea.

Hope attended a Christian abstinence rally called The Silver Ring Thing. Six hundred teens came and Norm said it was excellent. Hope was very excited about it when she came home showing us her purity ring.

-Tina

Hawk Nelson Is Coming To Town

They're comin' to town and we've already got our tickets!!! It should be great.

-Norm

Latte Anyone?

Once the girls started school and my last two courses haven't started, I decided that I would find a job. A few weeks ago I started my search and was hired for a little drive thru cafe. After a couple of weeks of training, I am now the assistant manager with my very own key. Yes, I am getting up at the crack of dawn to open, but it works out great, Norm can take the girls to school (yes, I get everything ready for the day) and I am home in time to pick them up.

I am really enjoying the job and I have a great boss who is a professional opera singer by the way. I am really tempted just to sing at him someday (just kidding). Anyway, he is helping me get linked up to the theater/musical scene for me and the girls. Oh, and next week I am finishing my final two online courses for my A.S. FINALLY!

Everyone is doing well (much better that California). It has been quite beautiful here. Someone told me if you don't like the weather here be patient and it will change. I find this to be true. It only rains every few days and the most it has rained it about six hours. The temperature dropped one day but in a couple of days it was back to the sixtys. It flucuates quite a bit. Yes, there is a tornado watch in central TN, next to Nashville going up to Louiville in KY. Alas, we are in the east and only now are feeling the "effects". It's raining and windy but that's about all we will get. No, the "fun" stuff is never fully felt here.

By the way, New Years was a lot of fun. There's a cute park area in the middle of downtown adjacent to quaint shops and restaurants where they hold concerts and community events. We had our own "ball drop" replete with bands (mostly country, of course), games, ice skating and marshmellow roast. About 10,000 people attended the event. It was pretty neat.

-Tina

A Holler Joller Christmas

With much anticipation we awaited the arrival of our true Christmas gift, the Hollers. It took eleven hours but they finally arrived. The problem with showing people around is that I am still trying to find my own way around. It was so great to see everyone the girls have all grown (finally).

We went to Gatlinburg and Seiverville and went shopping. We had a great time with them. They were here for about four and half days, not long enough. RaChael kept commenting that it was too quiet and people were shockingly polite. We had opened our gifts on Christmas Eve and then shared Christmas with the Hollers. It was great cooking with my sister again. We had an Italian meal. On the last day we took them downtown town to the Sun Sphere and Chocolate Factory. With much pleading and begging for a longer stay on the girl's part, we said our goodbyes.

-Tina

For...

"...God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NIV

Merry Christmas from Tennessee!

Famous Last Words

I told Norm when we got here, we were going to take it easy...you know, just sit back enjoy the church service but not really get involved. This did not last. Last week we went to the convelescent home with our church and sang songs to/with the residents. The worship leader asked 'who is singing harmony'. Guilty as charged I said. We talked about me singing with worship team. I am excited about this. I have also signed to do children's church once a month with the help of Hope and Grace. We also enjoyed the Knoxville Christmas Parade along with 30,000 residents at the pastors loft overlooking the parade. If I have to explain why we came one more time............. It is funny; everyone that I have met that goes to our church are transplants; all have the same story (although not as crazy as ours). Each visited the area, fell in love and moved.

Yes, I have changed my mind. I have decided the best way to really feel a part of this new adventure is to jump in with both feet. Each week all of us have helped tear down the church (it is in a movie theater). Plus, we are getting involved with the girls' schools and have tried to attend various functions around town (although it would be impossible to attend everything). We went to the Art Museum and tomorrow after church, we will go to the Museum of Science and Energy. I am now going on job interviews and will be starting school again. I only have two more classes until I am finished with my Hospitality degree.

To feel even more at home, we went to a BBQ place. I would have asked for a veggie burger, but I am sure they would have no idea what I was talking about. What did we have? Four turkey sandwiches....okay, maybe we have a little ways to go.

Tina