Go Bucs!!

Heading back home....

What a nice time Alabama has been the last few days.

I've enjoyed leaving the 'rat race' and spending time with family, and hope you have as well.

Right now I'm travelling on Interstate 280 headed north to Birmingham to catch our flight back home. Southwest has been such a blessing for us. If you believe it, the to fly from Tampa to Birmingham is less than our commute from Birmingham to Hissop. The flight is right around an hour, and the drive is about an hour and half. Needless to say, my road trips to Alabama are few and far between.

When we get back home, there's lots to do. Donna loves Christmas and all the decorating that comes along with it. She's also a freak about taking everything down as soon as the holidays are over. So i'm sure my "honey do" list will start to pile up the minute our plane's tires touch the Tampa tarmac. Wish me luck!

Oh wait, I just remembered Donna and Lorrie got Jim & I Club level Bucs tickets for tomorrow's game - so it looks like I have at least one more day to enjoy. GO BUCS!!

Has anyone made any New Year's resolutions? Or did they go out of style? If you're tackling some resolutions, I wish you the best of luck. For me, I am setting my sights on incrementally improving some things, in the hopes of making things better in 2008.

I see we're looking at getting cold front by mid next week - I would like some cooler weather and break out some of those warm clothes that have been caged up in the closet for so long - we'll see what happens.

Well, my iphone has gotten a workout on this trip and for the most part done pretty well. I hear the next iPhone comes out this Spring - it should be awesome!

Wishing you all the best in 2008!! Signing off from Harpersville, Alabama (speedtrap, USA),

Frank

Anthony driving the mini truck

The new ride

Alabama Relaxation

I love coming to Alabama!! At home I find ways to do work no matter
how hard I try to relax. Up here, however, it's impossible to find the
motivation to even ponder work related thoughts.

It's got to be the fresh air, the remarkable silence of the woods, and
well, the lack of a dedicated high speed Internet connection.

The last few days we've spent some quality time playing Guitar Hero
with my nephew Chris, along with countless hours of Nintendo DS games
with Anthony & Tyler. To be honest, I've enjoyed the mindless
entertainment these video games provide because I think I can actually
begin to feel my brain unwinding from the yearlong stess that's been
cluttering it up.

In addition to video games, I've been absorbed with such television
greats as. Two and Half Men & The Andy Griffith Show - true wonders, I
must say!

Have I mentioned I've strayed a but from my diet since we've been in
Alabama? Yup, it's try. Cookies here, pies there... Sweet Alabama Tea,
are just a dew of the dietary sins I've indulged in. I'm afraid to
weigh in when I get back.

Today we were able to get out for a ride. Donna, her Mom, and myself
went into the city (I use that term very loosely). Our first stop was
the only McDonalds in town. There I had the unique pleasure of paying
$2.95 to download my email to my laptop-- can you feel the excitement
or what??

Next,we were off to the only Walmart in a fifty mile radius. I was
surprised it wasn't packed to the walls with today being the largest
"return day" of the year, but it wasn't all that busy, thank goodness!

When we returned, Don (my father in law) took me to a buddy's hunting
lodge. That's the view off the back porch below. Very nice lodge-it
even has a flat screen TV! There's also a pretty unique "motorcycle
club" up here. It's $5.00 to join. Pretty affordable, huh??

Well, it's pretty late, and Donna & Anthony have been to bed for a few
hours, so I better hit the sack and get some rest.

I would have been to bed sooner but we were playing Xbox's Madden NFL
Football 2006. I almost beat Chris in the last seconds of the game.

Vacation, isn't it great??? Good nite.

Signing off from Hissop, Alabama,

Frank

Hope your Christmas is Amazing!!

Amazing! What can you say about these times we are living in. This morning we hoped on a Southwest flight from Tampa to Birmingham - got here in an hour(the plane was half full and airport was remarkably pleasant. ... Amazing.

Right now I'm riding shotgun and my sister in law Kelly is driving us to Donna's parents' place. We'll be enjoying the peace and quiet of the Alabama hills (photos to follow) - the natural beauty here is amazing. The fact that I'm sending this via my iPhone makes it even more amazing.

Last night we had a wonderful Christmas party for family. My sister Missy and her children, Devin, Drew and Elle drove all the way from Texas to be here with all of us - the fact that she drove that far with kids - what can I say... Amazing!

What a great time of the year! Sure it gets a little more stressful, and time seems to disappear. However, the days we have off that allow us to spend time with family and friends is Amazing!

There's lots of things I want to accomplish this year, but most of all I want to spend more time with everyone. Making time to have more fun is my main priority. Anthony will be five in April - to me that is amazing! We had lots of fun over the past four years, since Anthony was born, but I'm aiming for lots of more good times ahead.

2008 is here... Ready or not. I'm not sure if I'm equipped for all the new year has to offer (good or bad), but I am excited about all of the great surprises and opportunities that are bound to amaze us!

When I look back at the blog and my ofoto albums I'm amazed of all that has happened and we've done in the last twelve months. All the birthdays, anniversarys, parties, trips, milestones and acheivements. Each and everyone of them is amazing!

I hope that all of you enjoy Christmas, your time off, and many special times with those you care about. I also want to thank all of you for also being such amazing people. We feel very blessed to have all of you in our lives!

Love,

Frank, Donna, & Anthony DiCosola

We're in Alabama!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Opening Presents

Merry Christmas!!

Our Special Dance for YOU!

Check out our special dance for the holidays - just for YOU!

View it by clicking here at the:

THE CHRISTMAS DANCE LINK