I am 50 years old now. Have been since November 4th, 2002. Since 2003 is just around the corner I am going to try to develop the discipline to write down the happenings of my life. I wish my parents or grandparents had done this. It would have been nice to read about their lives. Maybe my children or grandchildren will be interested in reading this at some point in their lives.

I will bring you up to date with what has happened since I turned 50 and then attempt to write something every few days or weeks to keep you updated.

My birthday was a very low key affair. I asked Linda to keep it that way and she did. None of this "Nifty Nifty, Dennis is fifty crap. She baked me a chocolate cake and it was very good. She and the kids sang Happy Birthday.

I got a cold on November 15th and was miserable for a few days.

The weekend of 11/23-24 at the What Guys Want Expo, I talked to Lisa Fields about a new position the stations were creating in NTR sales and event marketing. We met a few days later with Sharon Day about it. They offered me the job towards the end of December. I start the new position on January 2nd of 2003. Looking forward to it.

We all got sick Thanksgiving weekend. Caitlin first on the night before Thanksgiving, me on Friday after Thanksgiving, Daniel and Rebecca on Saturday. Linda got it the next weekend. An intestinal bug. Very nasty.

We got a huge ice and snow storm on December 4th and 5th. Our power was out for 14 hours. Our cable and internet access was out for 3 days. Now that was roughing it.

That weekend, Cristina was in a play at UNCG called the Hobbit. She was Nori, a dwarf. She also played a goblin. Caitlin and I went since Linda was sick. Cristina was very good in the play.

The next week, on Thursday, Rebecca had her band concert at Welborne.

Linda finished up her Biology course at GTCC in pursuit of a nursing degree. She made an A.

My dad had his 80th birthday party on Saturday 12/14. His birthday was December 15th. I had strep throat and couldn't go. Everyone else went though.

The next day on Sunday the 15th, Linda and I, the twins and Miranda (my neice) went to see The Shakespeare Festivals production of Charles Dickens, "A Christmas Carol." That night we went to First Baptist Church to see Caitlin sing in the childrens choir.

I started my vacation on December 20th. 13 consecutive days off. I can't remember the last time I was able to do that. In fact I don't think I've ever done it before.

We went to Eden to Keith's house on the Sunday before Christmas for the Elliott family gathering. We gathered at the Brice house on Christmas eve.

We spent a quiet day at home on Christmas Day. George and Judy, Gary and Amanda and Jeremy came by to visit us. Cristina spent the day in Richmond with Jeff's family.

My mom and dad brought our new water bed to us on Friday 12/27. He made it for our Christmas present.

Which brings us to the present day. Joy and Neno are going to Brazil for 2 weeks. We are keeping one of their dogs for them. Hopefully, the one that doesn't bark, Baby. I went to Neno's house today to help him learn how to use his new digital camera and get him set up on Dot Photo.