T minus eight to grandson kisses

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The last time I got hugs and kisses from Bubby and Mac was last October.

The kisses part of the package looked a little like this:

Funny how quickly a photo shoot can morph into a kiss fest.

I loved it!

And look forward to it again.

In eight days!

Today's question:

What do you look forward to in the next seven days?

Saturday movie review: 'Captain Phillips'

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Sometimes movies based on true stories fail to intrigue viewers because audiences already know the full story, the outcome. Not the case with CAPTAIN PHILLIPS. At all.

Captain Phillips DVD

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS was released on DVD Tuesday, and Jim and I were thrilled to have it in our hands Tuesday afternoon. (Thank you, Netflix!) We watched ...

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On energy and wishing for more

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tired pointer pit dog

I used to have a neighbor on the block where we lived before the nest emptied whose boundless energy rivaled that of the Energizer Bunny. She was continually working on some major home improvement or landscaping project. I'd see her down the street tugging and lugging boulders and boards from the front yard to the back on a fairly regular basis.

When not sawing or painting, she cleaned in ways most might...

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Saturday movie review: 'The Kings of Summer'

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While it's cold outside across much of the country, viewing THE KINGS OF SUMMER is an easy way to heat things up on the inside. The coming-of-age comedy — which dazzled at last year's Sundance Film Festival — features chuckles and charm that will provide plenty of warm fuzzies to get you through these chilly winter days.

The Kings of Summer movie

THE KINGS OF SUMMER tells the story of three teenage boys and...

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Saturday movie review: 'Lion Ark'

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Humans can inflict unimaginable horrors of cruelty upon animals. Thankfully other humans — better, kinder, compassionate humans — can lift those animals that suffer at the hand of the unscrupulous out of deplorable conditions and into a life that, though not what natured intended for them, is the next best thing.

Lion Ark the MovieThe documentary film LION ARK chronicles cat rescue on a grand scale. BIG cats. As in African lions held captive, tortured, neglected, underfed and abused in all manner of ways by the illegal circus owners of Bolivia. Even after...

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My will-do list: 14 for 2014

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I mentioned yesterday that I'm not big on resolutions, that I didn't think I was big on resolutions. I am, though, big on compiling lists of things I want to do in the coming year. It's not a bucket list, it's what I call a will-do list.

Here's what I have so far...

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Resolutions? Plus GRAND Social No. 85 link party for grandparents

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It's the last Monday of 2013. Hooray!

link party

I always tell myself — and others — that I'm not much for making New Year's resolutions. That's a lie, though, I recently realized. I do find myself on the brink of each new year going over in my head and heart the changes I want to make for the bright and shiny months ahead. The last week or so, I've mulled over more than a few changes I hope to put in place, new directions I plan to take.

If you're like me and are considering ways to...

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