ello, my name is Dee Canale, and here is a little bit about myself:

     My story is probably a familiar one to many. I am a grandmother, although I might say at least I'm a young grandmother having just turned 50. My husband and I have with us now two granddaughters, ages 12 and 5, since their mother passed away last summer after a long battle with cancer.

      I work as a medical transcriptions at home, so I can be with my family full time (whether they want me around or not). I'm always here to plan skate nights, dances, and trips to the lake or beach. We have a van for trips to the lake for swimming or fishing. We live in the refreshingly clear cool mountains of North Georgia just a few miles away from a lake. We have a 6-year-old cat named "Spot" and hamsters named Romeo, Juliette, and Fluff.

      When things are dull or anyone is feeling "down in the dumps" we play a game at our house. Everyone gets a piece of paper then walks around the house, inside or out, and writes down at least three things that need to be done, i.e. dirty window that needs cleaning, leaves on the deck to be swept off, cob webs in the corner, whatever. Then each person has to write down two things that they would really like to do for fun, like watch a favorite TV program, rent a certain movie, get an ice cream cone, or even go fishing, whatever it is. Then everyone reviews each others paper and we set a specific amount of time to get the first three items done. Then we start. At the end of the time the first one to finish gets to add a third item to his "fun list" but that one must be inclusive for everyone's pleasure. Then at that point everyone in the house is bright, happy, and full of enthusiasm, having overcome the barriers to get to their most treasured part of their list. Then we proceed to carryout the "fun list" part. I suppose this little game we play could be titled our "Mini Road Map to Happiness."

      Try it some time, you can try it out by yourself even and be sure to get the third item added onto your 'fun list'.