Really Cool Person Day - Troy Michael

This is my nephew, Troy. He is the middle child of my sister's 3 boys. They are more like brothers to me than nephews. Troy is truly one of the coolest people I know.

Troy has 2 doctorates (Dr. of Divinity, Dr. of Metaphysics), he is a Master Groomer, an amazing cook, costume maker, interior designer (you should see his beautiful house!) and he is the manager of

The Magnolia Room in Marietta, GA. He is happily married and has 2 dogs and I don't know how many cats. There's a turtle, too.

Troy has always been an amazingly creative person. He was always the one to introduce us to new music. He's listening to Bulgarian music now, I think. When my daughter was 4, she needed a costume because she was going to be in The Nutcracker at the Civic Center. My sister made her a red velvet dress. Troy, thinking she needed more, made her a matching cape with a real fur collar!  He just made the bride's bouquet and boutineers for my son's wedding. At one point people were paniking because someone needed a boutineer and Troy went to a flower arrangement, snipped off a piece and created a beautiful boutineer right on the spot! That's how amazing he is!

But I want to tell you about The Magnolia Room that he manages and buys for. It is so cool! They have such a collection of interesting items. It's a pleasure just to go to the store. I can't possibly tell you about everything in it that I like, there's just so much! So, here's some pictures.

This next picture is super cool. These are chunks of salt in a salt bowl. Troy told me that they ionize the air and naturally kill odors.

And these pictures don't show the whole shop! So, you must go and see for yourself. I hope when you go you'll meet Troy. He is very interesting. He can talk to you about almost any subject and give you information that you never knew!!

When you go, be sure to go around lunch time and get a bite at Gabriel's it's adjacent to The Magnolia Room

They have great country cooking (meat, 2 vegetables, bread and 2 homemade cookies) , a deli (the chicken salad is terrific) and bakery. Be sure to leave room for dessert!

I love you, Troy! You are a VERY cool person!

Really Cool Person Day - Dr. Corky Alexander

Yesterday, my brother was awarded his doctorate. It's a big deal. Really big. But he won't make a big deal out of it. I want to make a big deal out of it, so he is my Really Cool Person of the Day!

This is Corky in his robes on a street corner in California. He's crazy! 

His name is Jack (and I'm Jill, what was my mother thinking?) Our mother gave him the nickname Corky. I've never heard anyone, anyone call him Jack. He's 9 years older than me and 9 years younger than our sister (who's passed away some 16 odd years now). 

He was about 11 years old when "The Wreck of the Hesperus" happened: our mother died. I was 2 and our sister older. I believe it was harder on the older two than myself. After she died, things were just not right. My brother dropped out of school, got into drugs and alcohol. During that time, however, he honed his musical talents. He can play about any instrument, but my favorite is his awesome guitar playing. I love to hear him play blues on an electric guitar! Years later, at the bottom, Jesus found him. He got things straightened out, he got his GED and went to Bible college. He got married and began to pastor. He went back to college and got his master's. He started a church in Smyrna, GA and one in Rhode Island. After many years, he decided not to pastor formally and began to work with the mentally impaired doing music therapy. Yesterday, he got his doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary, the School of Intercultural Studies. His work has been in Native American studies.

So, it's been a long road for him and I'm sure a difficult one, but he's done it!

He is happily married has 3 daughters, my beautiful nieces, 2 sons-in-law, and 2 grandsons.

He is one of the most interesting people you will find. He can talk to you about theology, barrel racing, music, BBQ, and the chupacabra, just to name a few topics.

If you'd like to follow his exploits, and they are many, go to: http://www.facebook.com/#!/caiford

I love you, my brother and congratulations!

Pop-Pop and his two grandsons

Playing mandolin...

Me and my big brother