For my 40th birthday today, I decided to trade my 2008 Jeep Liberty Limited 4X4 for a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. Umm...just kidding. Seriously, Murphy's Law is still in effect and my Liberty is at the dealership getting the blower fan (for the heater, front defroster, and air conditioning) repaired as well as a few minor other things. The Liberty was to be fixed within a matter of two hours. However, it was DELAYED because the part was not in stock at the dealership. The part had to be ordered locally. Well, when the part was pulled from the shelf at another dealership, the part was found to be damaged and had to be reordered! Therefore, since the Liberty has to stay overnight at the dealership, I don't have a vehicle to drive...and the extended warranty covers a "loaner" (the Caravan). I am thankful for the loaner, especially since this is NOT how I wanted my 40th birthday to be like...along with clouds, rain, and some wind. Oh, what fun! LOL!

[SANSDADDY] 2010 Christmas Holiday Greetings

Below is a copy of my annual Christmas Holiday Greeting email which I usually send out. However, since some of you who used to receive them are NOW on Facebook, I'm not sending you an email cause I'm basically stating the same thing. (There might be some emails which slip past me though.)

From: gregory edward johnson
Sent: Saturday, December 25, 2009 2:00 AM
To: gregory edward johnson
Subject: [SANSDADDY] 2010 Christmas Holiday Greetings

Hi All,

I just wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of Holidays as well as a great start to 2011! What a year it has been...and it really does seem very strange that 2010 is practically over. Time certainly flies when you get older...and I'll be officially in my "late 30's" in February...but, I will say I'll be two years from forty. (When I did get older???)

It is also hard to believe that it's THIS time of year again...and I'm still breaking a tradition of mine and NOT sending out a long email (post on the blog/notes) since some of you are on Facebook, Twitter, etc. and can read up on what's happening in my life there. (Same goes for the blog. I've also been in contact with practically all of you this past year too in some form.)

Here are "some" of the web sites of my blog, Facebook profile, Fotki (photography) site, etc....

http://rettaman.blogspot.com/ (which isn't updated that much anymore since I'm on Facebook more)

http://public.fotki.com/rettaman (the same photo site which I've been using since 2003, but I've been uploading photos to Facebook more lately)

http://www.facebook.com/rettaman (FACEBOOK really has changed my life, especially how I've contacted people lately! It's rare that I send email now. In fact, I've trimmed my email list now since quite a few people on the list are part of my FB contact "friend" list.)

http://www.youtube.com/user/rettaman (my YouTube account...some video which I've recorded of the North Carolina State Fair, etc.)

http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryedwardjohnson (my LinkedIn profile...strictly professional)

http://www.twitter.com/rettaman

http://www.friendfeed.com/rettaman

As far as what I'll be doing for Christmas, I'll be spending time with my Dad's side of the family (even though it's now been six years since Dad's passing) and Grandma Thelma (Mom's mom) who's 95...and this year, I'll actually miss her cooking since she's not able to cook anymore. Some of you know that her health has failed in the past year with various countless concerns...and she has encountered many falls and broken bones too. In February, she fell and broke her neck (but not paralyzed or anything like that). My Mom stayed with Grandma for a few months then. In late June / early July, she fell and broke her left shoulder and while she was in the rehab facility, she was transferred to a rest home.

As a result of these falls and other reasons not disclosed, Grandma's not living in her own home anymore. Even during her stay in the rest home, she's had a few falls...the latest on October 31st and she broke her left arm near the shoulder then. This really has been trying for the family, but it's good she's still here and it's also good to be able to spend another Christmas with her because I know that these Christmases will be fewer as time passes. It truly is a miracle that Grandma is still here with us!!!

As far as my job, I'm still with the same company I've been with since May of 2008. I still am doing photography on the side as a personal hobby as well as a "business" (which still has NOT grown as much as I would like for it too) and a ministry for various churches, etc. I am still not quite as disciplined at doing some aspects (more like the editing and uploading) of the photography as I used to be. But, I still am glad that I am still doing it.

Well, I need to close for now. (I think my long emails might be a thing of the past???) Anyway, take care of yourselves, enjoy fellowship with family & friends, and be safe if any of you are traveling! (Hope to hear from you!)

Sincerely,

Gregory E. Johnson

PS - As I mentioned to several of you previously, September 30th marked the six year anniversary of my Dad's death from brain/lung cancer. Hard to believe it's been SIX years, but it has.

Remembering Petey - R.I.P. - May 19th, 1985 @ 1:55 PM

Even though it's been twenty-five years since Parvo took you from us after you graced us with your presence for only two months, you're still in thought.

I remember when I got you with my Dad from the Starway Flea Market in Wilmington in late March of 1985. (I think my Dad drove the Scout to get you.) You were the runt of the litter and you literally won over our hearts...especially my sister's. You actually were allowed in the house and that was a FIRST!!! No pet we had could ever be allowed in the house, but you were.

I remember that you actually were taken to Wallace for Easter and I think everybody loved you. I remember how you loved to chase the tennis balls I threw to you. I remember when you got sick and my Dad tried his best to get the vets to make you well. I remember the day you died. I was swimming with a friend of mine (Jeff Wiggs) at the KOA campground in Ogden and when I got home, my parents told me you died. I literally was hurt and felt lost. I cried very hard. I was only twelve at the time. Little would I know what the next twenty-five years would hold...including my family moving away from Wilmington to Garner as well as several deaths of family members (including Dad).

Even though you were just a puppy, you did hold a special place in our lives for a couple of months. So, today, you're back in my thoughts again.

A LONG AWAITED VACAY TO THE OUTER BANKS!!! :-)

I'm so happy that I'm finally taking a vacay to the Outer Banks (more specifically Duck) next week!!! It's been DECADES since I've been to the OBX (with the exception of the Crystal Coast beaches) and I've been wanting to go back for years.

I went to the OBX first time in 1973 when I was a few months old with my parents, sister, and my Dad's brother and his family, then in 1982 with my parents and sister, and finally in 1988 for a day trip with the history club in my high school. My family's been to the OBX more times than I have! (My parents, sister, and nephews even went in the summer of 2004...a few months before my Dad passed away from cancer. Then, my Mom, sister, and nephews went back in 2006...and I decided not to go.) Obviously, friends of mine have been there more than I have too...such as some of you.

I'll be driving my Jeep Liberty and I hope I'll be doing some four-wheelin'...probably up in Corolla. Need to check out the lighthouses too. Obviously, I'll be taking pictures and doing some sight-seeing in addition to the lighthouses. Hopefully, I'll have a great time and I'll be spending it with friends. :-)

PS - Do any of you have suggestions of what to do? I know Jockey's Ridge is there as well as Kitty Hawk, the Wright Brothers Memorial, the Lighthouses (duh!), the Lost Colony (not open yet, though), and other attractions.