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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 21
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Love, money, muscles all worth thanks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thanksgiving 2007. This year, Peach Buzz readers — both in sickness and in health — are thankful. And as always, some of your submissions caught us a little off guard. But as some of you point out, even horror movies, moves not made and the occasional obscene phone call are all reasons to celebrate today. Read on!
Jerry Niemeyer, Acworth: “I am most thankful for Sandy, my wife of 36 years. She’s been my strength for a long time. We met almost 40 years ago through an obscene phone call.”
Joni Pelta, Atlanta: “To live in one of only four cities in the U.S. with pandas at our zoo. The pandas, especially the antics of 1-year-old Mei Lan, never fail to make me smile and feel great on my frequent visits to Zoo Atlanta.”
Jerry Schwartz, Alpharetta: “Every Thanksgiving, I take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the left side I list all the events that year that were happy ones and on the right, I list those that were unhappy. I’m thankful that the left hand column is much, much longer than the right.”
David and Billie Sims, north Fulton: “For the wonderful public school teachers that have worked with our daughter, Ali, who was born with Down syndrome. She will graduate this year from Centennial High School, thanks to the efforts of many teachers.”
Vicky Hagan, Marietta: “One year ago, I joined a women’s gym. I never thought at 50 I could develop muscles in my arms, but I have a nice set of pecs now. I love this feeling of strength. My husband calls me Mighty Mouse. I am thankful I have taken control and hope to be hotter at 50 years old than I was at 40.”
Meta Shore, Smyrna: “After being almost deaf for nearly 30 years, I had a Cochlear implant, and now I can hear birds, music, phone, the doorbell ring. Conversations with friends and strangers have been a pleasure.”
Marie McIntyre, Monroe: “Last Thanksgiving, my husband had just completed months of chemotherapy and was facing a stem cell transplant. This year, because of the remarkable people at Emory Winship Cancer Institute, he’s in complete remission and feels wonderful. At our house, every day is Thanksgiving.”
Kathy Hooks, Atlanta: “My old dog Abbey. She has consoled me during the two greatest losses I have ever faced. Just when it seemed my heart would indeed heal, Abbey became very sick. But it wasn’t our time to part, and I am thankful I got the chance to return the favor by never leaving her side.”
Lenny Player, Sandy Springs: “I’m highly appreciative of the highs and lows I experience as my mom’s caregiver. She has Lou Gehrig’s disease. The experience has helped me see what’s good about her as well as my deficiencies as a man and son. It has all been extremely worthwhile.”
Virginia Ashmore, Monroe: “In July 1999, my husband had emergency open heart surgery that required quadruple bypasses. In February, he was diagnosed with an intracranial bleed. After months of healing and many, many prayers, my husband is alive, walking and talking, without any physical hindrance.”
Jane Wilgus, Atlanta: “To be a part of a blended family. We may not be the Brady Bunch, but we have such fun when we’re together and respect each other.”
Carole Hager, Smyrna: “For cheap wine, the money I buried in my backyard and the ability to laugh out loud and at myself.”
Stephanie Vaughn, Atlanta: “After many terrible years, I found love and news that I was expecting a baby. I never thought I would be able to have another child. In September, I welcomed a baby boy. I’m thankful for the life of my beautiful children and the God that has allowed my life to completely transform when I had admittedly lost faith.”
Ric Burnett, Doraville: “For a wonderful wife, Betty, for 27 years and no kids for 27 years. But I’m not thankful for stores that have 20 cash registers and only two are being used.”
Barbara King, Doraville: “My husband was diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer. After his first round of treatments he was stable for a year and a half. Now the cancer has now metastasized. He feels well and will be alive for another holiday season. We will travel out of town to be with family.”
Sandy Perkins, Roswell: “My husband and I decided to ‘retire’ in our family home rather than downsize. Our many cul-de-sac neighbors chose to leave, and now we have several new younger families. We are so very thankful for them because they think of us as the ‘older fun couple’ who they invite to parties and family celebrations.”
Ted Shomake, Lawrenceville: “For the example my father, Don, has set for me on how to be a good husband and father. Soon after his retirement, my mother contracted senile dementia, a condition which has forced him to quit his dream retirement job at a golf course. He has demonstrated to me what real love is about as he cares for my mom.”
Harriet Harris, Atlanta: “My son — when he was about age 8 — offered this as we went around the table expressing our gratitude: ‘I’m thankful for the Earth because it gives me a place to stand.’ “
Steven Warren, Atlanta: “I’m thankful that I got to torture young men for fun and profit as the star of ‘Scarce,’ a Canadian independent horror film that premiered in Toronto last month. It’s the first feature in which I’ve received top billing in my midlife crisis career as an actor.”
Celebrity birthdays
Actor Robert Vaughn (“The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”) is 75. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis is 49. Actress Scarlett Johannsson (“Lost in Translation”) is 23.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Artist gets ‘princess’ prize at ‘Enchanted’ preview
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta artist Erica Ramsey exited Monday night’s advance screening of “Enchanted” at the AMC Parkway Pointe theatre with much more than just memories of “happily ever after.”
As the winner of Disney’s local “Princess For a Day” contest, the 36-year-old walked away with a $500 shopping spree at the Mall at Stonecrest, a $100 Sephora gift card, a designer frock made especially for her. Oh, and a “fairy godfather.”
“Project Runway” finalist and Atlanta designer Mychael Knight himself was on hand to announce the winner before the screening. And as many plucky Disney princesses have taught us throughout the decades, a sense of humor and a way with words can come in handy as you try on glass slippers.
Knight told Buzz that the cleverness of Ramsey’s winning essay made it stand out among the other eight finalists in the contest.
In her entry, Ramsey whimsically reflected on her recent 36th birthday, choosing to look at it through the eyes of her former princess-aspiring 6-year-old self.
“I started mentally reviewing my success to date as a princess,” she wrote. “I noted that my tresses are not golden, flowing, or even trimmed. I saw I also had a gray hair sticking out. Nice.”
“I then regarded my house, which is not a castle with a moat, staff and a tower. It’s a condo and it’s got a very un-fairytale-like adjustable rate mortgage to go with it. (Evil spells do exist!) … None of this looked at all familiar to my younger princess self, so I wondered — what about ‘Happily Ever After?’ Is there at least that?”
“Please let Mychael Knight be my fairy godfather and I could at least posture as a princess for a day.”
As she read the entry aloud to the entire packed theater, Knight told Ramsey: “We’re going to do an amazing, amazing dress for you.”
But Knight told us the outfit will only be started after he gets to know its future wearer.
“Clothing and fashion is such an expression of who you are as a person,” he explained. “It has to reflect her.”
The movie itself, a self-deprecating Disney mix of live action and animation, was a hit with the audience, a smattering of families and older folk. Actor James Marsden’s Prince Edward, an over-the-top spoof on the arch-typical thick-jawed Disney hero, got laughs throughout as did Susan Sarandon’s deliciously campy turn as the evil queen Narissa.
“Enchanted” officially opens today.
Turkey via T.I.
“T.I. and the Grand Hustle K.I.N.G. Foundation to host Thanksgiving dinner” read the top of the news release that landed on Buzz Central’s desk Tuesday. But wait, what was that underneath, by the asterisk? “Please note: T.I. will not be in attendance.”
Sigh.
Guess being under house arrest for weapons charges means you can’t leave your lakefront home for a charitable event, either. Nevertheless, a free dinner will be held for the needy at the rapper-actor’s nightclub, Club Crucial (2517 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway N.W.), from 6 to 9 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. And according to the release from his label rep, 400 turkeys also will be donated to the Atlanta Parks & Recreation Center on behalf of T.I. and his foundation. And he also is asking his “celebrity friends” to help raise $150,000 for the annual Hosea Williams Feed The Hungry Thanksgiving Day Dinner.
Getting Grammy nod?
The nominations for the 50th annual Grammy Awards will be announced Dec. 6, and if Grammy announcement tradition holds true this time around, we already can bet on one Atlantan being included on that list. Multimillion-selling local rapper-singer Akon will join legendary producer Quincy Jones, rockers Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park and breakout country singer Taylor Swift at the podium at 8:30 a.m. in Hollywood, Calif., to unveil the major contenders. And Grammy doesn’t generally ask you to announce the nominees unless you are among the nominees.
The Grammy Awards will air on CBS Feb. 10 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Pssst!
Remember that 1979 Trans Am that Braselton custom car shop Year One recently delivered to “Smokey and the Bandit” star Burt Reynolds after it was faithfully restored on DIY Network’s “Celebrity Rides?” Now DIY is giving one away.
To enter, automotive buffs need to create a video that illustrates why you should get the car and then upload this video at www.Heavy.com by Nov. 30. The bandit himself will help select the winner, who will be announced on the Dec. 14 one-hour special, “Celebrity Rides: Burt Builds a Bandit,” airing on DIY at 10 p.m. For more info: www.diynetwork.com.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actress Marlo Thomas is 70. Singer Dr. John is 67. Actress Juliet Mills (“Passions,” “Nanny and the Professor”) is 66. Actor-director Harold Ramis is 63. Actress Goldie Hawn is 62. Singer Livingston Taylor is 57. Actress-singer Lorna Luft is 55. Actress Nicollette Sheridan is 44. Singer Bjork is 42.
Contributing: Sonia Murray and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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