First, this was the last week of Colon Cancer Awareness Month. My dear sister, Angie, died in 2003 of colon cancer at the age of 35. Since then, my family has discovered we do have a genetic predisposition to it. I had a polyp in my early 30s. It was the kind that would have turned into cancer. It apparently comes from my father's side of the family. His brother succumbed to it in 1994. Once other relatives started talking from our extended family, we realized quite a few of ours passed away due to the 2nd leading cause of cancer related deaths. So each year, we wear the color blue and promote screening and healthy habits. Visit the Colon Cancer Alliance for more information.
This is me wearing blue and a colon cancer awareness shirt for the Honolulu Rainbow Ekiden 5k. This was by far the most fun thing I did and wore for Colon Cancer Awareness Month.
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Now for the week...
Monday I was a precision driver on a TV show. Yes, bucket list item checked. It wasn't nearly as exciting as that, but it did require some skill since several drivers had to drive fairly fast through a narrow space and not hit other vehicles, cameras or actors. It was fun and I hope to do it again. Actually, I'd love to learn to do some real stunts like J turns and such. Sounds like the makings of another adventure. :)
My dad let me borrow his CTS for this one. I see why he likes this car.
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Tuesdays are usually full of City of Newnan business. Since we have our council meetings on Tuesdays, I try to stack my day with City related things. I had a conference call for the officers of the 4th District of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA). I'm the 2nd VP and will move up this year in June to 1st VP putting me on the Board of GMA. I can't begin to say how valuable GMA is to all of its member cities across the state. They arrange training for us, monitor legislation that affects cities on the state and federal levels, and they facilitate networking and best practices forums to help all of our cities from our largest to the smallest.
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The City Council had a workshop and then our regular city council meeting at 6:30 PM. The highlight of that meeting was watching two officers receive their promotions. I've known Deputy Chief Cooper and Lt. Reese for years. Both are great guys who have been wonderful human beings in and out of uniform. It was so sweet to see their families pin them.
Lt. Reese
Deputy Chief Cooper
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Wednesday was office work and catching up on things after the epic Hawaiian vacay. Guess I need to blog about that trip. :)
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Thursday was full of community activities. After work, I rushed to East Coweta High (my alma mater) for the first meeting of a board with a mission to help students become workforce ready. Naturally we talked about technical skills, but focused largely on soft skills. It has been painfully apparent that many people of different age groups lack some of the soft skills (professional dress, networking skills, verbal and written communication skills to start) that are important tools for anyone who wants to be successful in business.
I left that meeting and rushed to the Bob and Millie Coggin Oratorical Competition for the Newnan-Coweta Boys and Girls Club. I missed the speeches this year. Usually the students club members have powerful speeches about their own lives, struggles and triumphs. It is an inspiring event. If you have time to come to this annual program, you won't regret it. It's usually held in April at the Warehouse across the street from First Baptist Church in Downtown Newnan. One of the reason I attend each year is that the Newnan Youth Council presents a check to the Newnan-Coweta Boys and Girls Club each year to support the Loula J. Davenport Scholarship Fund. Loula was one of my dearest friends. She was my campaign manager when I ran for office in 2003. She was a 2nd mom, crazy aunt and co-conspirator sister friend all in one. She was also the chair of the Newnan-Coweta Boys and Girls Club as well as one of the founding members of the Youth Activities Commission that advises the Newnan Youth Council. Bob and Millie Coggin host the Oratory Program and they started the Loula J. Davenport Scholarship before Loula passed away of liver cancer so that she would live on in the organizations that she loved so much. The Newnan Youth Council has committed to honoring her and helping fellow youth citizens by donating to the fund each year. This year, the group donated $1,000 from selling water at the semi-annual Taste of Newnan.
Newnan Youth Council members selling water at the Spring Taste of Newnan in a stunt! So proud. My inner cheerleader was so happy. :)
Presentation of the $1,000 donation to the Loula J. Davenport Scholarship by Director Mike Furbush and NYC member Hannah Furbush to NCBGC Executive Director Lauren Odom
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Ok. This is getting long! So Friday was a packed day, too. I started the day in our annual city council retreat where we discussed everything from a $60M road widening project, a new dog park, noise ordinance, downtown alleyway trash service and maintenance, a new leisure and quality of life management program, storm water management and several other items. Piedmont Newnan Hospital hosted us in their administrative conference room.
Newnan City Councilmembers and Newnan City Manager at the annual retreat
After that I drove to Savannah, GA to attend the Savannah Film Commission's screening for local crew of the movie Gifted, starring Chris Evans, McKenna Grace, Octavia Spencer, Lindsey Duncan and Jenny Slate. I was Octavia Spencer's stand in for most of the movie when it filmed in Savannah and Tybee Island in the Fall of 2015. I don't have the time or your pleasure of your attention span for how fun that experience was! Besides, I don't know how much of that I can tell you anyway. The movie hasn't come out yet and I don't want to be the one who spills set beans. :) I will say that Octavia Spencer is one of the nicest and funniest people I've ever met. Little McKenna Grace the child star of this movie is incredible. She has quite the personality and is all that she is because of her awesome mom Crystal. Crystal and I found out we had college cheerleading in common and our faith. Keep her on your radar. I'll be able to tell this story of McKenna Grace years from now when she's a huge A-lister. ;) Too bad I don't have a photo of her and her mom.
Academy Award Winner, Octavia Spencer right after she wrapped her role on Gifted. At the last minute I was put in a scene that did make the movie. So look for me.
At the Savannah screening of Gifted: Marty Siu is the Extras Casting Director, what an awesome woman of God. I love her! Top right: Adrienne Ballenger was the stand in for Jenny Slate and is now doing stunts like she always wanted to do. She's beautiful, talented and a sweet soul. Bottom right: Teresa L. Graves played the grandmother of the family in the scene I was in. She was hired as a Day Player. I was just an extra. I learned a lot watching her.
Adrienne and I were seated with my friend, Arneja who lives in Savannah. Arneja opened her home to me during filming for 2 months. I can't thank her enough for hosting me. I was in an out of her house at all hours of the night. I was working on an architectural contract down there and the film at the same time. She was a great plus 1 for the event.
Then I drove back home after hanging out with the crew in Savannah. Yeah, I got home at 4AM after starting the day at 6AM. Talk about tired. But it was fun. Oops almost forgot. I tried a new natural hairstyle, too. A youtuber did a tutorial to recreate a hairstyle that Teyonah Parris wore. I did my own adaptation of this style https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0vtFNrTXHc
So there ya go. My week.
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