Writings by Diane

A few nights ago, my family and I went out to eat at Smoky Mountain Pizzeria Grill , a local restaurant that specializes in Italian food. Evidently, that night everyone in the valley decided to eat here as well. We soon discovered this when we saw many people milling around the entrance, sitting on benches, all with a glazed look in their eye. As I gave our name to the hostess, I asked how long of a way it would be. I was informed it would be 15-20 minutes.  We decided that would be fine and we sat down on a cushioned bench, joining the other hungry patrons. Sitting a few feet away from the other diners wasn't pleasant. The aromas of garlic, marinara and pesto hung heavily in the air, making my stomach gurgle. If I hadn't figured it out, my son kept reminding me how hungry he was. I caught myself surveying the dining area, seeking out empty tables just vacated that may soon be ready. Then, out of the blue, another host started walking through the waiting lobby with a baske...

The other day I was attending a Toastmasters International meeting. When Table Topics rolled out, I was called to make a 1-2 minute impromptu speech on the question: when was the last time you went camping and what happened? I shared that I didn't particularly like camping—my idea of camping was staying at a Holiday Inn with a black and white TV. I had married a man who loved camping—he could take a knife and a sleeping bag and he was set!  I ended my short speech with the last time we went camping, we compromised by staying in a campsite with showers, sinks and restrooms. After I left the meeting, I was able to digest the question more thoroughly and came up with a deeper answer to:  What happened the last time you went camping? The last time I went camping was with my husband about 16 years ago.  We were at a camp site near Pioche, NV that had showers and bathroom facilities.  We compromised, since camping is not my favorite vacation and my husband would tak...