Our House

“A two-year old is kind of like having a blender, but you don’t have a top for it.”
Jerry Seinfeld

December 31, 2009

Greetings from Snellville!

Ten years ago we were counting down to 2000; most of us “dialed up” at 12:01am to see if our desktops worked or if the Y2K world-ending prophecy had been fulfilled. The advances in technology this decade are amazing; now most folks access email via cell phones! As the ‘Aughts’ come to a close society is well-versed in digital music, reality tv, blogs, internet social sites and a host of other fantabulous ways to be friends without ever actually talking face to face or mailing a note (with a real .44 stamp)! Thus the reason it is important to at least POST this annual letter and maybe, just maybe, in eleven months we’ll have one ready to mail with the actual Christmas photo card!

This week on NPR a commentator stated “2008 will be remembered as the fall of Wall Street and 2009 might very well be called the fall of Main Street.“ We concur. However, getting back to the basics is not all bad. Choosing to share, be kind and to laugh out loud do not cost a penny!

On January 15^th we watched in awe as courageous Captain Sullenberger landed his jet safely in the Hudson River saving the lives of its 155 passengers and crew; it really was a Miracle on the Hudson. During the summer we were saddened by the deaths of Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and Senator Ted Kennedy. Fawcett, an actress and beauty queen, recorded and shared her cancer battle to encourage others reminding us that cancer is no respecter of person. Jackson was a genius; Maya Angelou’s poem “We Had Him” captures best how both fanatic and casual fans were drawn to him. Senator Kennedy, a patriarch and politician, carried the weight of a family’s legacy on his shoulders.

Witt turned two in March; bubbles and party horns adorned the celebration as Witt sported his I AM TWO monkey shirt. Dear friends mailed him a “starter” Thomas & Friends train set; we’ve been adding to it ever since. Over Spring Break we were in Gulf Shores with our neighbors; Marc taught Tammy and Witt to fly a kite. In May Witt caught his first fish and Tammy started (to be continued summer 2010) purging twenty years of paperwork and stuff! June found us in the Great Smokey Mountains with Poppy & Mimi and in August we celebrated our 16^th wedding anniversary – where has the time gone?

In September Marc turned 45 and the weekend of the historic Atlanta flood Tammy hit 39. Witt chewed gum for the first time in October and requested to be an octagon for Halloween (really into street signs); he was the cutest Stop Sign ever! We enjoyed a Thanksgiving Feast with Witt’s Montessori School in November after he participated in his first school program – lots of fun. Witt continues to amaze us; he has a great sense of humor and asks lots of questions…especially “Was Dat?”

Glaser Annual Review: Our family gives four paws up to the movie Marley & Me (tissue please!). For three years running the following have not changed: We look forward to Monk and Psych and the TNT drama The Closer. (Update: Monk came to a close this fall. Tammy could not stop boohoo-ing; what a brilliant finale! We will miss the cast much.) Witt is a huge fan of Thomas & Friends, but works Wonder Pets, Dora and Diego into his schedule. DVR has changed how and when we watch our favorite shows; we take time to view The Mentalist and Lie to Me and are smitten by the new series GLEE. Marc enjoys Burn Notice and Tammy is always game for Law & Order. New category – music: We were moved to tears this year by the Susan Boyle’s voice; buy her cd I DREAMED A DREAM. Tammy read a wide variety of books; the year started with The Book Thief and ended with Gilead. Check our blog <dogjot.blogspot.com> later in January for a more extensive list with comments.

Ten years ago we had no idea what we would face on September 11, 2001; we really are proud to be Red, White and Blue Americans! Say a prayer each day for our troops; they bravely and boldly protect the freedoms we enjoy as Americans!

From our hearts to yours -- peace (of mind), kindness (given and received) and opportunity to expand your territory in 2010!

Marc, Tammy, Witt & Ilene Glaser

Witt on Killian Hill Road with the Yellow River behind him --- over the bridge. Witt is holding the "little Thomas book" and "my nother big Thomas." He would not get our of the car without them!

This picture was taken on Tuesday 9/22, thirty-six hours after the Yellow River flooded a small bridge on Killian Hill Road. Witt accompanied Mommy as she went in search of a route to school.
In this shot you can see how the water has receded -- note the darker marks just below the tree branch and just above the bottom of the picture.

Horrible shot; however, the car splashing water was coming our way. I had to snap and move. The water plant area of Tom Smith Road is totally under water!

Looking for a route to school is easy and a blessing compared to what so many folks across our great city are going through even as I type. I drive over the Yellow River at least twice a day and by it a dozen times en route to school; oh how much I take for granted.