Daybed question

POLL: Daybeds...are they cool and practical, or weird?

We have a twin bed in our extra room that just doesn't fit very well sticking out in the room the "normal way".

However, it looks pretty good nested between the two windows in that room.

But is it weird to sleep in a bed sideways?  Or is it no big deal?  Anyone out there tried one?

I like the concept and how it looks but am concerned about the functionality. Also, feng shui...wonder how that factors in?

Oh the decisions of life.

Welcome royal baby!

I don't understand why so many people around me are "over" the new little English prince that was born Monday.

I am thrilled for them! 

I for one, while not following the duchess's pregnancy super closely, do remember she had trouble in the beginning and was hospitalized. 

Then, more recent photos showed her stylishly showing off her bump while still maintaining all her duties and appearances.

Best wishes to William and Kate and their new bundle of joy!

If it would ever stop raining...

Well.   Harumphhh.  It rained all 4th of July week. Its been "threatening" rain for almost 2 weeks. 80% humidity when its not raining. I'm OFFICIALLY over it!!

Jeff has decided to just be super productive and try to ignore it. Enter: the power washer.

He borrowed one from our neighbor on Friday and spent a pretty significant amount of time washing stuff...

It started out as moving everything off the deck and getting all the algae off (yes, in Georgia its algae and not dirt you are cleaning).

Then as long as the patio furniture was down, might as well do that.

Oh, and we've been struggling with a damn racoon eating our birdseed and hummingbird nectar...and he broke my birdbath...so might as well take all that stuff down, clean it, and rearrange it...

Gosh, the back looks so much better, we ought to do the front porch. And the rocking chairs.  And the weatherproof cushions.  And the table.  Oops a chair is broken, haul it to the basement...

Hmmm...what else? Well the mower smells a bit like wet grass so we will do him too. 

And that, my friends, is how a project takes on a life of its own! And I am so grateful because everything looks MUCH better. 

Our Favorite: Fort Mountain recap

We took some time to ourselves in early June to visit our favorite state park, Fort Mountain State Park in Chatsworth, GA.

We were afraid of rain (AGAIN)...and on the drive up on Friday it rained, and it rained Friday night...but Saturday dawned a wonderful - if not humid - morning!

We had a leisurely breakfast of oatmeal and prepared for our hike while waiting for some of the humidity to burn off.  We decided hiking in 65 degrees but 95% humidity is much worse than 75 degrees and 70% humidity, so the couple hour delay was no big deal.

Fort Mountain is one of our favorite places for a couple reasons - but one is the hiking trails.  Our very favorite trail is the Gold Rush trail where you literally hike up a running creek bed, dodging in and out of the magnolias in bloom.  It is tricky, and uphill, but it's so beautiful and fun - like you're playing in the water - that the work doesn't seem like work at all!

Once we got to the end of that trail, we made the decision to carry on to the backcountry trail.  It's a trail with beautiful vistas and waterfalls, and a really cool boulder field to traverse.  As we approached the boulder field this time, we saw maybe 75 people dressed in pioneer costumes, hauling wagons (like old timey wagons), and gear, and themselves, all while hooting and hollering.  It was QUITE the sight in the middle of nowhere and I'm certain we won't see anything in the backcountry like that again!  (When we got back to the main area we asked a ranger who they were.  They were a local LDS church group who make the trek every year to honor their families who settled in the area.)

After almost 6 miles of hiking, we got back to camp..and it was HOT.  So we put on our suits and headed to the BEACH!!!  After having a quick hot dog of course (we were starving!! A Clif bar on the trail is not enough sustenance).

The water was COLD but felt good on the nice hot day.  We have so much fun bobbing around together, and I play this game where I swim away and then swim towards Jeff as fast as I can.  Then we bob around some more, and people watch the parents on the beach.  My favorite people watching moment this time was this kid who backed all the way up to the stone wall, and then seriously WENT FOR IT running into the water and tried to body surf.  In a lake.  It was hilarious, the reckless abandon he showed!

Back to the camper for a quick dinner outside, then a great campfire and smores!  It was just what we needed to reconnect, forget our grief for awhile, and relax.

Ms Maddie Moo

Our Maddie went up to heaven Memorial Day weekend.

She had cancer, and the final week of her life we tried everything we could to make her better. But her kidneys and pancreas were failing and she stopped eating and drinking.  We had to make the hardest decision we have ever made as a couple, and put her down at 3:30pm on Monday, May 27, 2013. She was 10 years old.

We miss her so, so much.

As a matter of fact, I haven't been able to share anything on here since our hearts were broken so completely. I needed some time and space.

Maddie was such a huge part of our lives. We called her our cat-dog.  She waited by the back door when she heard the garage open, she was usually less than 5 feet away from us, she LOVED to "help" with projects, and she was so friendly...she loved everyone.

She was content when Jeff had a project going.  She would hop up and immediately flop on her side, whacking her tail and flopping enough that papers or whatever would go flying. 

Sometimes, if the project involved a rubber band or enticing piece of string, it was on!  She loved those thick Livestrong type bracelets; she would sit and chew and chew and chase and chew.

Maddie was so friendly that the first night she came home from the shelter, she bounded onto the bed and marched up between us, like "Hi guys!  I love you already!" and settled right in.

She was a purr machine, but snuggled in her own way.  She loved to tuck up against your leg while still sprawling out. Her favorite spot was right by Jeff's left thigh while he was on the sofa, getting petted while he watched TV.  When she was done being petted she would jump down and rest her head comfortably on scratchie, after giving it hell.  She also loved to lay on and paw at crocheted blankets. 

Some kitties are nocturnal but not Maddie.  She was a sundowner.  Most nights she'd put herself to bed - on our bed where your feet go - way before WE were ready for bed.

She loved to go outside and hang out.  One time, we let Bella and Maddie outside to explore.  While Bella was content to munch on the grass off the concrete pad, Maddie stealthily walked down the rocks lining the path, and then proceeded to stalk Bella from across the yard, sneaking up on her. Bella wasn't impressed at all when Maddie pounced!

Maddie was a constant companion for both of us.  She was hilarious, entertained us, loved us, and gave both of us so, so, so much happiness. 

I truly believe that heaven is filled with everyone you ever loved, and I know Maddie was extraordinarily loved. I know I WILL see her again someday.  But I sure do miss her today.

Reasons to Celebrate

I feel so incredibly lucky.  I spent Mother's Day weekend with my mom and sister in Chicago for some serious girl time.

After a long trip of planes,  trains,  and automobiles,  I met up with the pair of them at the Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago.

We arrived just in time to see my girl Jillian Michaels. What better way to hear her message of "Maximize Your Life" than with two of my biggest supporters!

We learned about food and food quality (preaching to the choir on that one); exercise (I heard the phrase 'move your ass FASTER' in my head this morning; and probably the most impactful, the self-exploration session. As in, figure out your Why.  What is standing in your way. What destructive pattern are you playing out over and over. And why. A bit of light discussion :/ 

Saturday morning brought a leisurely brunch and then Spa Day!!!!! I have not had a massage since we went to Vegas and let me tell you - this did not disappoint. I think I need to go again because man was my lower back on the right side tender. Ever since I injured it a few years ago, it still flares up from time to time but I was really surprised how sore it was as she started working on it. Even after 70 lbs gone...I guess I just better keep going and strengthening the core and back! 

Saturday afternoon was a late lunch at Gage with Amy's friend Elizabeth, where apparently I ordered like a Korean because I chose five dishes...oops... Back to the hotel to drop of some stuff, then cabbed our way over to the Magnificent Mile Bloomingdale's to shop for a dress and shoes for Amy, and a new purse for Mom. 

We freshened up again to get ready for dinner at Trencherman...which also happens to be the first time Mom met Amy's new boyfriend. I think it went extremely well - the conversation flowed all evening!

Many hugs upon awakening on Sunday morning - it's Amy's birthday AND Mother's Day!!!  After an early rise to get to the airport on time, I was back in ATL for the afternoon.

Whirlwind but so worth it :)...love my family!

What to do when it's your birthday weekend

And you're determined to go camping but it's pouring rain.

1) Sleep in till 8:30AM
2) Take a long time to get dressed
3) Head to the bathroom but hang out with your honey under the overhang and watch it rain
4) Suit up with a poncho, head scarf, and umbrella to take a walk around the campground

5) Make lunch and eat by 11AM

6) Invent new names for the pop-up lake accumulating outside the door

7) Reject Lake Eloise (too ghostlike) and Lake Raven (too spooky) and settle on Lake Blackchair

8) Close eyes while waiting for birthday surprise

9) Woohoo!  Eat cake!!!

10) Open gifts - geocache swag doubling as a representative horse I am gping to learn to ride this year

11) Go for another walk while it's misting, not pouring

12) Try to rearrange outside chairs in hope of not floating away

13) Naptime...for one of us

14) Load up crockpot with chicken and veggies

15) Clean up a bit and read magazines

16) Go into town because you are a bit stir crazy and shop at the only place we could find...the Dollar Store

17) Have a Pizza Hut birthday pizza because it's STILL raining

18) Back to the campsite and tuck in for the night

32 looks good on me YALL!

An Amazing Rekindling

What an amazing vacation.

People use that term all of the time - but in this case, the Alumni Weekend was truly magical.

Starting off, Jeff and I flew in on Wednesday, April 17th to snow flurries on the ground.  We thought about upgrading our rental to a Tahoe or something like that, but decided we could get around just fine in the snow and ice in a Maxima.

After a super quick lunch at Taco Bell (YES CHURROS!!!!), we headed over to the SDSMT campus to take a look at the new ChE building(s) and talk to a few professors.  Man, oh man...that place has really changed since we went to school.  As Jeff said on way more than one occasion, "It looks legit."  Multiple labs, no scary White Elephant, air conditioning...it was really startling.  We had a really nice chat with a few professors as well, who gave us the skinny on happenings within the department and what other alumnae were up to.

Then we headed over to Old Gym...er new Music Building...to say HELLO to Dr. Feiszli and Michelle - who just happened to be some of the most influential people in my college life.  We got the GRAND TOUR of the new facility, practice rooms, offices, stage.  I think I said on more than one occasion, "It looks legit."  Truly impressive.

We checked into our hotel, then met Jason and Bobbie (Jeff's brother and wife) for dinner at - where else - Qdoba!  It was redecorated from the days when Jeff and I had puppy love, but the food still basically tastes the same :).

On Thursday morning woke up, hit the gym (WHOOP), headed over to campus for a late lunch at Grubby's, and more walking around before rehearsal started.  As folks starting trickling in for the Alumni Choir rehearsal there were many SCREECHES,  HUGS, HAIR FLUFFING, HANDSHAKES, HIGH FIVES, and general EXCITEMENT to see people for the first time in...5 years? 8 years? 10 years?  Then we all got on stage to make some pretty dang good music for old fogies...I think there were about 70 people that made it back, but from our little group back in the day, we probably had 10-15 and truly some of our bestest bestest best friends in attendance.  (Nikki, Jaaron and Megan, Jenny, Steve, Marci E, Marci M, Amanda, plus others listed later...)

Thursday night was a really cool after-hours event at Speakeasy, which is an underground bar of an establishment in Rapid City.  We had the whole place rented out, with drinks and apps, and spent some good time catching up.  Then the party moved to Paddy O'Neils where of course everyone drank a LEETLE too much...with overtones reminiscent of being 21 but with the bodies of 30-somethings (the recovery in the morning was tough).

Speaking of mornings, Angela, Aaron, Jeff, and I all decided to go to Perkins on Friday morning to help our aging, dehydrated bones recover with pancakes, eggs, toast, coffee...it was perfect.  We had a great time laughing about our lives, tearing up at some memories, and reconnecting.

Friday afternoon held more rehearsal time, and then THE BIG EVENT!  Four choirs, over 100 singers...and in case you missed it, here's the encore:

Friday evening was an after hours black tie event at the Vertex bar, atop the Alex Johnson hotel.  (More chatting, drinking, eating, and laughing!).

Saturday events began to wind down and after a nice breakfast, several of our group went over to our friends house to hang out: Tad, Kelli, and Olive; Isaac, Alison, and Brooke, Aaron; Angela, Abram, and Asher...it was a full house but so fun.  Almost like college days, but with a few more little feet running around.

Sunday we had brunch with Jason and Bobbie again before heading home for Atlanta.  Our flights went great - no issues - but we were mentally and physically exhausted.

It's overwhelming the deep love and respect I have for my friends from college.  Even now, I look back at the weekend with a sense of longing, and also gratitude for the events and experiences that brought us all together.  I miss you guys.

Support, Fitness Competition Style

A couple weeks ago, I headed to Chi-town (Chicago) to support my friend Morven compete in a fitness competition. 

We have a little "group" that talks about fitness, workouts, nutrition, trends, and is one of the BEST support systems around!!!!!!!!!!!  So it was so exciting for me to see her hard work pay off (finally).  (She's been signed up and then moved dates for like, 6 months.)

I have to be honest, it was one of the coolest, and also a bit weird, things I have witnessed. 

We started out at the morning competition, where all of the judging occurs.  There were thousands (not literally) different categories - fitness, figure, men's, women's, by age, by height...lots and lots of categories!  And the folks came on stage only in groups of 4-5 people.

Which meant tons of different bodies, shapes, sizes - all BUFF though.  Here's an example of one of the men's categories:

Although extremely lean, fit, and strong, these guys do not look too crazy huge to me.  This was a "Natural" bodybuilding federation - meaning no drugs and limited supplements.  My friend even had to take a lie detector test!  (The weirdest question: "Have you ever lied to the police to get a friend in trouble?".  Hm.)

After lots of watching and waiting, and giggling at some of these things with my sissy, and seeing some WAY too dark of spray tans and sweat, it was SHOWTIME!  (she's on the left)

Unfortunately, my phone's camera sucks.  And I wanted to scream and cheer more than I wanted to take photos.  So that's all I have.  Except for this one, post-morning judging:

What an awesome cheering section - most of us all the way from ATL!!! 

A special shout-out to the sisters in the group - my sister Amy for attending (I think her feminist butt puckered often throughout the day) and Morven's sister Sho for hosting all of us at her house during the afternoon!

What is the white space for?

I have been busy.

Like, really busy.  At work.  (Not complaining though.  Seriously.  It's tough, but manageable.  Sort of.)

Let me explain...

I was asked to participate on a special project - which turned out to be manning a colleague's desk and daily responsbilities while they are working on the special project.

I am truly not complaining.  It's actually kind of fun (I really like learning new things).  It's tough, but manageable.  Sort of.  Let me explain the situation further...

Last year I volunteered for a role that has expanded into a 2-year stint.  Originally the scope of the role was a bit o' reporting and some trade shows.  This year a different vision has been set forth, which includes acting as a conduit of a bunch of activity (ie, lots more work that I had first signed up for).

Again, not complaining. It's tough, but manageable. Sort of.

It's all good stuff. 

The problem is the white space.  Or lack of it.

The white space is the "negative space" on a written page.  It exists so our eye doesn't get overwhelmed, so we can communicate clearly, so people pay attention.

All of this "other stuff" crowds out the margins on the page.  Makes the font size smaller.  Eliminates the photos.  Creeps into the white space.

And now I have no room in the margins to scribble my notes, to put things in ALL CAPS when required, and turn memories into photos.

That's good stuff too.