Are you lonesome tonight, today, every weekend?

I feel fortunate that, for the most part, my husband's hobbies don't take him too far from me. (Unlike my brothers-in-law, who ride motorcycles each and every weekend unless it's too cold. And by too cold I mean snow or ice is on the ground.)
But I know there are some of you out there who have husbands (or even wives) who are either fans of some sport or have hobbies that most likely leave you alone during the week or on the weekends.
I'm looking for you.
I am working on a story called "Loving the man (or woman), not the fan." If you fit into this category, give me a call at (704) 669-3330.

Are you an Emma or a Jane?

In Saturday's paper is a story about how pop culture and trends help determine what names will be popular.
Here are the most popular names over the decades, according to the Social Security Administration. Names are listed in order of popularity. The rankings don’t factor in different spellings of a name, so a popular name such as Mackenzie might not make it on the government list because there are so many variations in spelling. For more name trivia, go to www.socialsecurity.gov. The site lists the top 1,000 names by birth year and popular names by state, and chronicles how the popularity of a name has changed in rank over the years.
2005
Boys: Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Ethan, Andrew, Daniel, Anthony, Christopher, Joseph Girls: Emily, Emma, Madison, Abigail, Olivia, Isabella, Hannah, Samantha, Ava, Ashley
2000
Boys: Jacob, Michael Joshua, Matthew, Andrew, Christopher, Joseph, Daniel, Nicholas, Ethan Girls: Emily, Madison, Hannah, Emma, Ashley, Abigail, Alexis, Olivia, Samantha, Sarah, Elizabeth
1990s
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Jacob, Nicholas, Andrew, Daniel Tyler, Joseph Girls: Jessica, Ashley, Emily, Sarah, Samantha, Amanda, Brittany, Elizabeth, Taylor, Hannah 1980s
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, David, James, Daniel, Robert, John, Joseph Girls: Jessica, Jennifer, Amanda, Ashley, Sarah, Stephanie, Melissa, Nichole, Elizabeth, Heather
1970s
Boys: Michael, Christopher, Jason, David, James, John, Robert, Brian, William, Matthew
Girls: Jennifer, Amy, Melissa, Michelle, Kimberly, Lisa, Anita, Heather, Stephanie, Nicole
1960s
Boys: Michael, David, John, James, Robert, Mark, William, Richard, Thomas, Jeffrey
Girls: Lisa, Mary, Susan, Karen, Kimberly, Patricia, Linda, Donna, Michelle, Cynthia
1950s
Boys: James, Michael, Robert, John, David, William, Richard, Thomas, Mark, Charles
Girls: Mary, Linda, Patricia, Susan, Deborah, Barbara, Debra, Karen, Nancy, Donna
1940s
Boys: James, Robert, John, William, Richard, David, Charles, Thomas, Michael, Ronald
Girls: Mary, Linda, Barbara, Patricia, Carol, Sandra, Nancy, Sharon, Judith, Susan
1930s
Boys: Robert, James, John, William, Richard, Charles, Donald, George, Thomas, Joseph
Girls: Mary, Betty, Barbara, Shirley, Patricia, Dorothy, Joan, Margaret, Nancy, Helen
1920s
Boys: Robert, John, James, William, Charles, George, Joseph, Richard, Edward
Girls: Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Betty, Margaret, Ruth, Virginia, Doris, Mildred
1910s
Boys: John, William, James, Robert, Joseph, George, Charles, Edward, Frank, Thomas
Girls: Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Margaret, Ruth, Mildred, Anna, Elizabeth, Frances, Virginia
1900s
Boys: John, William, James, George, Charles, Robert Joseph, Frank, Edward, Thomas
Girls: Mary, Helen Margaret, Anna, Ruth, Elizabeth, Dorothy, Marie, Florence, Mildred
1890s
Boys: John, William, James, George, Charles, Joseph, Frank, Robert, Edward, Henry
Girls: Mary, Anna, Margaret, Helen, Elizabeth, Ruth, Florence, Ethel, Emma, Marie
1880s
Boys: John, William, James, Charles, George, Frank, Joseph, Thomas, Henry, Robert
Girls: Mary, Anna, Emma, Elizabeth, Marge, Minnie, Ida, Bertha, Clara, Alice

Joyeux Noel in November

I have a dirty little secret.
It's not even a week past Halloween, and I'm already listening to Christmas music.
It's sad, right?
Christmas has ALWAYS been my favorite holiday. I love it. As a kid I'd stage productions of the Nativity with my favorite doll as Jesus and my other stuffed animals as wise men, etc. I decorate the day after Thanksgiving. I'm actually a little sad to put up the Christmas tree.
Christmas was a big deal in my family. It was - and still is - one of the few times my entire family is together under one roof. As a child that meant 8 grandkids (me included) running around opening gifts and eating candy and cookies.
Now we're all grown and our children are the ones running around waiting for gifts.
So I'll keep right on listening to Christmas music and reminiscing ...