This weekend was so so busy and fun. There was Halloween night, where we dressed up to hand out candy to the 15 trick or treaters that came to our door before we had to leave to head downtown to meet friends at a local restaurant that was hosting a Monster Bash for Halloween. Dave dressed as an undertaker and I was his fairy assistant, complete with pointy ears and wings. We met up with Oscar the Grouch, Dr. Feelgood, Catwoman, The Queen of the Nile, A Mime, and others. There was drinking, eating, and dancing. We got home around 4 am and slept in late.
On Saturday morning, we spent the day piddling around, finally deciding to go watch the Gators kick some Bulldog butt when our neighbor came over and invited us to be a part of his Halloween party that night. So we dressed up again...this time I was a witch...and we headed down the street. The neighbor had made a haunted trail behind his house and Dave and I got to participate in the scaring. Dave hid in a tree and jumped out at people and I got to be one of the trail guides. It was a lot of fun and we are planning to do it again next year. Saturday night we moved all the clocks back an hour and enjoyed an extra hour of sleep. The neighbor had invited us to join him and some of his friends on bike ride to the local swap meet, so off we went.
I got to experience my first ride in a pack of other bikes and it was so much fun. I also scored some lined leather chaps and winter gloves for $45 ($65 if you add in the $20 it cost us to get in to the swap meet.) On the way back from the swap meet, we left the pack and went to meet Dad for a ride to Lake Jackson. We had lunch with Dad and then came right back to the house. Total miles covered: 100. My longest ride yet. I am quickly improving, now that I am riding the bike to work everyday, and it is beginning to be a lot of fun. Now I just need a bigger bike so it's a little easier to keep up! I also need a day of relaxation to recover from my busy weekend...so jealous of Dave for having today off.
And now we return to our regularly scheduled programming
I am Joan
My friend Bluesleepy just completed this quiz and I figured I'd follow suit. It's pretty neat...you should try it!
Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...
You Are a Joan!
You are a Joan -- "I need to succeed"
Joans are energetic, optimistic, self-assured, and goal oriented.
How to Get Along with Me
- * Leave me alone when I am doing my work.
- * Give me honest, but not unduly critical or judgmental, feedback.
- * Help me keep my environment harmonious and peaceful.
- * Don't burden me with negative emotions.
- * Tell me you like being around me.
- * Tell me when you're proud of me or my accomplishments.
What I Like About Being a Joan
- * being optimistic, friendly, and upbeat
- * providing well for my family
- * being able to recover quickly from setbacks and to charge ahead to the next challenge
- * staying informed, knowing what's going on
- * being competent and able to get things to work efficiently
- * being able to motivate people
What's Hard About Being a Joan
- * having to put up with inefficiency and incompetence
- * the fear on not being -- or of not being seen as -- successful
- * comparing myself to people who do things better
- * struggling to hang on to my success
- * putting on facades in order to impress people
- * always being "on." It's exhausting.
Joans as Children Often
- * work hard to receive appreciation for their accomplishments
- * are well liked by other children and by adults
- * are among the most capable and responsible children in their class or school
- * are active in school government and clubs or are quietly busy working on their own projects
Joans as Parents
- * are consistent, dependable, and loyal
- * struggle between wanting to spend time with their children and wanting to get more work done
- * expect their children to be responsible and organized
Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy
he's always a winner to me
We went to another Scottish Games, this time in Blairesville, GA. The weather was rainy, then it wasn't. But it wasn't hot, and this was a good thing. Dave placed in every event, and finally claimed first place overall in his division. The best part: I got to take the winner home with me.
One month later
Oh, hello. You're still here? I know, I've been a slacker and have not updated for almost a month. But only because I've been busy doing fun things!
I went to Florida twice - once for Mom's birthday and once for a beach weekend with friends. Mom's birthday was on the 27th and I rode down with my older bro to visit with her and to catch some much needed rays on the beach. I was also able to swing by and visit with my dad's parents on the way back to Atlanta. I really should email / call them more often; they are such cool cats and we had a blast and did not want to leave. Their house is like a vacuum. You feel safe and loved and well-fed when you are there and time just seems to slow down. But Time is a bitch and doesn't stop for anybody, so we eventually had to say our goodbyes and head home.
The second visit was on Mother's Day weekend, though I didn't get a chance to hang out with mom. I made it up to her, though, with really great seats at an Eagles concert in Alpharetta the following weekend.
Jessica's friend Rebecca had rented a beach house in South Walton and we all shared the expenses. It was a lot of fun, but it was one of those experiences that I do not wish to repeat. Rebecca is a very selfish person who wants to be the constant center of attention and I do not plan to hang out with her ever again. I hate to sound harsh, but I do not have time in my life for people of her toxicity. And that's that. I will, however, be hanging out with Jessica as much as possible in the future because she is such a strong, beautiful, non-judgmental person and I think I am a little bit in love with her. I also found out that she rides a bike similar to mine, so we can start going on rides together. Someday. When we aren't so busy.
Mom arrived on Wednesday and we went to our concert on Wednesday night. She stayed the weekend and we did a lot of nothing which is just how I like it! Saturday we walked around a local arts festival for about twenty minutes until we got too hot and tired and wanted to leave. Then we went home and watched Juno and I have to say, it is a really great movie and you should go watch it right now if you haven't yet.
Sunday, I did not feel so good because of a newcomer in my life named Allergies. I hate you, Allergies, and think you should take a long walk off a short pier. I was miserable until I took some drugs and then I ended up feeling loopy and had to go lay down. I woke up with two cats fighting over the spot in bed next to me, so I got up and tried to do chores while waiting for mom to call saying she got home safely. Sunday night was dinner with dad and my stepmother. A weird experience that becomes even more so when you are souped up on antihistamines.
Here is a funny picture I took just for you!
Lesson: Do not leave your car parked in Home Depot's parking lot for very long, or they might prepare it for shipping!
An update
There has been so much excitement around here lately, I'm not sure where to start. So I will make a list:
1) Gavin is better. He tested negative for all sorts of nasty-sounding things and after two enimas, three separate overnight stays at two separate veterinary clinics, and our emptying of our wallets over six hundred dollars, he has finally pooped, has stopped throwing up, and is back to treating us like his royal majesty's personal servants.
2) I went to Savannah over the weekend. Dave went to Huntersville, NC. Both trips were for fun. He was participating in yet another Scottish Highland Athletic Competition and I was ghost hunting, drinking, and soaking up the sunshine. Our lovely, though a bit nosy, across the street neighbors fed the dogs and have offered to do so in the future for our little over-nighters. This is a really good thing when you own two labs that are not easily transported everywhere you would like to go.
3) I have learned that I am not a person who is sensitive to paranormal energy. No spirits tried to communicate with me and I did not get to witness even an unexplained noise or movement. Ghosts, if you want to talk to me, better not be subtle!
4) I miss the ocean! We visited Tybee Island before leaving for home on Sunday and I highly recommend it as a place to visit if you ever want to visit an East Coast beach.
5) Do not ever stay at the Savannah River Inn. It is ghetto. The "lobby" is a desk in what used to be a hotel room. And the person manning said desk is rude. I am happy that Hotwire refunded my money and I was able to stay at a much nicer hotel in the historic district.
6) Sunday evening I was productive! I cleaned litter boxes. I did laundry. I washed dishes. And then I dropped dead from exhaustion.
7) Today is Tuesday and I rode the bike to work today for the first time since purchasing her at the beginning of last month. And just in time, too. Gas prices ain't lookin' so good.
Baby steps
Thanks for the kind comments on my last post. Gavin is back to normal, with a slightly improved disposition. I think the two days away made him realize just how good he's got it!
*****
Last night, Dave and I took the bikes to dinner. We went to our favorite sushi place that's about 5 miles away from our house. Dave let me lead, and we made it there and back with out any mishaps on my part. And I even had to ride over railroad tracks and a large puddle of water on the road. We definitely weren't traveling as fast as I'm sure Dave would have liked, but he is being patient with me as I take baby steps toward mastering this motorcycle. And I am so happy with the progress I am making! I am no longer apprehensive about the twist throttle or the shifting and can now concentrate a little more on how I should be riding. When to lean and how far when turning. How to sit more comfortably. And soon I may just be able to wave back at the other bikers we pass.
Bikers have a special "wave" that they give other bikers when they pass each other, much like boaters wave at other boaters. When passing another boat, you just give a friendly wave, but on a bike, you are supposed to take whatever hand is closest to the other rider, make the peace sign, and hold you hand down by your side, fingers pointed toward the ground. I have not been able to do this yet, because I usually have a death-grip on the handlebars. But I'll get there, fellow bikers, just give me time.
Foolishly fun
Today is Tuesday, It is also the first day of April and The Day of the Prank. I've never been a big prankster and I'm rarely the one on whom pranks are pulled. I guess I'm not very gullible; or maybe it's that I tend to take a swing at people who try and trick me.
This past weekend was Dave's first Scottish Athletic competition of the year, the Mint Hill Scottish Games. He came in second overall, winning first place in the Caber toss, the 56# weight for height and the 28# weight for distance. I went for moral support and I froze my butt off. I spent a good portion of the time sitting in the car, reading my book, so there are very few pictures. Plus, it rained on and off all day. Here are someone else's pictures if you are interested: http://highlandgames.us/2008Pages/08MintHill.htm.
I have decided that I am not going to attend any more of Dave's games, unless, of course, friends and family are present. It really is a very manly sport and there is a great deal of camaraderie between the players and I end up feeling like I am intruding when I try to hang out around Dave. So this will be his "man time" and I will either travel with him and go do my own thing in whatever city we are in, or I will stay home and babysit the pets.
I drove us home Saturday night, through the rain and it was so lovely to be home and in my own bed again. Sunday was a lazy day, until dinner. We met my Dad and his family, and my aunt and her family at our favorite sushi restaurant. Then my aunt et al came over to my house for coffee and to visit a little longer. My cousin is looking at colleges and was here from Jacksonville to tour Georgia Tech, though I am trying to convince her that Florida would be a MUCH better choice.
This week, Dave is on nights, so it will be quiet for me at the house, which is perfect. I've been needing some me time. I left my book at work today, which is a bummer, but maybe I should watch a movie instead. I guess I could always start another one, even though it feels like cheating on the first one.
I'm am currently being stared at by a few pairs of beady eyes. I think the cats are trying to telepathically tell me that it is time to be fed.
Things that make me happy:
* I am switching my company's web hosting to a new company because our current company needs to learn the art of customer service.
* A good friend is sending me a mixed cd and I cannot wait to get it.
* I unexpectedly received pretty magnets in the mail from another friend yesterday and I love them! Totally made my day.
* Text messages from Catiecake.
* New parts for a broken motorcycle were waiting on my front porch today. My mechanic (Dave) should have all repairs completed by this weekend. Yay!
* 10 Cakes
broken
I am still a little sore today from tiling this past weekend. The areas completed this time were the kitchen, hallway, laundry room and foyer. Oh, tiling, I am so over you!
We got a very late start back home Sunday, so I only got three hours of sleep before I had to be up for work on Monday morning. We are having a training class the first two days this week, so I could not take the day off. Plus, I do not have enough vacation days and want to save them for fun stuff, not sleeping. Dave did not have to work, so he was able to sleep in. Lucky bastard.
Last night after work, four of us gals from the office went to a local bar for drinks after work. Since it was St. Patrick's Day, the bar was packed. I drank two green beers in honor of the holiday and got to gossip about office politics. Yay! Our receptionist, B, had a few margaritas and got a teensy bit tipsy. So our drinks after work turned into dinner, which turned into dancing. L and I finally ordered coffee to help everyone sober up and we finally called it a night around 9. Which doesn't seem that late, but we needed to be back at the office at 8am. This morning, I got a call from B saying she wasn't going to be in to work because she thinks she may have broken her wrist. ACK! You see, B is 64 but last night she was partying like a rock star. L and I are both in our twenties and we felt like we were barely keeping up! At one point, B fell on the dance floor and that's when she must have hurt her wrist, but she doesn't remember. She is getting it checked out today and I hope she is okay. But man, what a party!
Weeeee-hooooo
I have had three days of riding Stella and so far so good. I totally missed that kamikaze mailbox that decided to jump out in front of me. And the wobbly starts? That's just how I roll.
I took the written portion of the motorcycle exam yesterday and passed with flying colors. In Georgia, you must take a two-part written exam in order to get a learner's permit to ride. Since I passed, I can now (legally) ride Stella during daylight hours, as long as I don't take her on the interstate or ride with a passenger. I guess that means no more picking up hitchhikers for me. (Kidding, Mom!)
So I gave Dave a month before he caved and bought a bike for himself, right? Well I was wrong, wrong, wrong. He bought this bike yesterday and now I will be forever saying, "WAIT FOR MEEEEEEEEE!" We brought it home last night, borrowing a trailer from my work. Dave towed it with the Yukon and I followed in his truck. About a mile from the house, one of the two straps holding the bike secure on the trailer came undone and the whole bike shifted. I was talking on the cell phone with mom and had to hang up really fast, scaring her to death by saying something like. "IT JUST BROKE I HAVE TO GO." I called Dave and told him to slowly come to a stop or else his new baby was going to fall over. We pulled into someone's driveway (Thanks, strangers, for letting us use your conveniently located circular driveway!) and Dave reconnected the strap that had slipped.
The moral of the story: Check your tie-downs after driving a few miles. Oh and watch those mailboxes. They can be a tad unpredictable.
She's Got A Ticket To Ride
So that scooter I was going to borrow from my Dad? Well, that isn't going to happen. Because I bought this instead:
Isn't she a beauty? I am going to get to know her a little better before deciding on a name for her. Preferably without killing myself.
If it makes you happy, it can't be that baaa-aaa-ad
I am excited about the next few days and I cannot wait to get out of work so that I may share my great mood with the world. Well, with my world, anyway. Which consists of Dave, three cats and two dogs. Oh, puppies, I have so much to tell you!
Here are 5 things that I am excited about:
1) February is almost over. And you know what that means...it's almost spring, baby!
2) I have two new (used) cds on order and should be holding them in my actual hands early next week. Also, they are shipping to me at work, so Dave does not even have to know! (Unless he reads this...then I'm busted. But still happy!)
3) I am cooking up a plan that is good for me and may even increase my productivity at work. Stay tuned for details.
4) I have discovered Bookmooch. And I have just requested my first two books. (Thanks, Craige, for introducing me to this!)
5) I am planning to get my permit to drive a motorcycle. And I will be negotiating the use of a scooter similar to this bad boy with my Dad, who owns two like this and has mentioned teaching me how to drive one. My commute to work is pretty easy for Atlanta, (I don't have to get on the interstate) but it is still 30 minutes one-way and if gas prices continue to increase the way they are increasing right now, then a scooter or smaller motorcycle may be just the thing.
This weekend, is going to be fun, I just know it. I have a mission from Baby Catie to do something really fun before the week is out and I get bonus points for not spending any money. Catie, mission accepted. I think it's time to go exploring around Atlanta. I may even talk Dave into giving geocaching a try.
Because I am not smarter than a Fifth Grader
I have been busy! (and lazy) And that is why there has been no updating.
We had a Chinese businessman and his translator visit at work last week. And we decided it would be a nice gesture to offer them tea while they were here. So I went shopping for a teapot.
Have you ever tried shopping for one specific item that you know you have seen almost everywhere you have shopped in the past, but when you actually need to purchase said item yourself, it becomes elusive? That's exactly what happened.
After hours of searching, I finally found a beautiful tea set in Pier One, along with matching platters that I just had to have. And you know what? No visitors drank any tea.
This weekend, I rested. I was beginning to get a little weary from all of the traveling and excitement that has been occurring in my life lately. So I decided to try and do As Little As Possible this weekend. I think I may have been relatively successful! Dave and I had a nice day Saturday, driving around the area where we live and trying to find boutiques with handmade goods. We failed on that count, though we did discover a plethora of junk at a couple of antique shops. We were competing to find the weirdest thing and I really regret not having brought my camera, because those places are treasure troves for the Strange and Bizarre. I found a published book called something like "A Book About My Cat" where you actually fill in the pages with facts about your cat. Like a baby book. There were places for pictures and even a place for a little bit of fur. It was very disturbing. We found insect candle holders that you hang on the wall, a pillow with a picture of a pug's head on a human body that was dressed like Louis XIV, a religious painting depicting heaven and hell as two opposite worlds bridged by a cross. We may have to go back just for documenting purposes. My brain got too full after a while so we decided to head home. Dave played more of his favorite video game while talking to himself and occasionally yelling at his virtual persona, while I lounged on the couch and read one of my sex books. (That's what Dave calls the romance novels I enjoy reading.)
Sunday, we headed to an open area near Dave's gym where he likes to practice throwing his heavy Scottish-Highland-Games-Competition weights. I do not usually accompany him, but he said he needed "coaching" and he also wanted me to film him so he could see what he was doing wrong. He is very hard to coach because he wants to be perfect and he gets So Angry when he is not. And he yells at himself. But I think progress was made, though I suggested that he start filming himself every time. We need to get a camcorder and a tripod so he can set it up near him and just record his entire practice. And I can stay home.
Last night, we played some of our new game on the XBox. It is the Simpsons Game and it is muy raro. Each character has a separate skill set and you have to work together to complete the levels. At the end, it shows the time it took us to complete the level along with the time it "should" have taken. I think my favorite was when it took us 53 minutes to complete a level that "should" have taken 8. We have decided it is because we are OLD. And this game was written at a 5th grade level. Therefore, as Jeff Foxworthy would point out, Dave and I combined are not smarter than a fifth grader.
And the sunshine echoed with laughter
I feel like I should write this post in stream of consciousness because that is what the memories of this past weekend feel like to me:
The plane touches down where the sun is shining. I begin to shake and wonder "is this wrong?" as I let them know I have arrived. A red bag. Wheeling toward the unknown. Strangers all around. I've never done something like this. Never been this daring. A warm bench. A cool breeze. Waiting. Watching. Wondering. I remove my jacket and feel the wind on my arms. Nervousness. Cannot sit still. What if? A shiny car. Friendliness. A new beginning. The intangible becoming real. Driving surrounded by mountains, conversation, sunlight. A new place. So many faces. Second guesses, Hesitation. Then, laughter. Surrounding me like a soft blanket. Hugs. Calzones. The doubts float away like dust motes. And then there is love. Sharing. Intelligent conversations.
Smiles. So much laughter. Easiness. Cats and sunlight. Food and cool drinks. The color pink. A celebration of someone special. Magical. The reason we are here. The universe is smiling. I think "Where is the drama?" And there is none.
A long table. Beautiful people. Cameras everywhere. Fresh sushi and endamame and miso soup. The low buzz of conversation. Operatic singing. Sated and sleepy. Trees with white lights. A hotel room. Yellow walls. Games and more laughter. An open window. A warning delivered meekly. Attempted hushing. A crescendo of noise. Singing. Drinking. Carousing. Sleep.
A new day. A beautiful breakfast. Strong coffee. Multiple cups in saucers. Paper plates decorated with cupcakes. Shifting the focus. Surprise and tears. Hugs and comfort. Passing around tissues. Weeping dissolves into laughing. A flurry to gather supplies. Moving to another gathering place. Glue and scissors with the alphabet as inspiration. To adorn a baby's room. L and R, M and C are taken. 14 spectacular results. Night falls. Dinner is paella and sangria. My brother arrives late, but safe.
A trip to the airport. The first goodbye.
Games and more laughter. More goodbyes. Then sleep. Morning. Dress warm. Riding behind my brother. I am scared, but won't show it. I trust him implicitly and ride perched behind him. Don't fall. Speeding down the freeway. The wind whistling. A beautiful coast. 10 foot tall dinosaurs welded out of metal. Camera trouble. New card, continue on our way. Driving through the city. It is cold and overcast. Surrounded by fog and cars.
A huge cable bridge spanning the bay. A famous prison. I take lots of photos. At least for me. I am beginning to ache as I realize it's time to go back. Perched for what seems like eternity. Burning between my legs. I hold on. Stopping to say "We're allmost there." Understanding.
Dinner in a small space. Good food. A smaller group. More games. A sense of melancholy. Knowing it will soon end. Heading to the Anchev house. Comfortable and homey. A cat jump into a basket. More sharing. My brother opens up about our dad and for a moment I am sad. Back to the hotel. Everyone is sleepy. Worried about his ride home, I fall asleep.
Packing. Waiting for a ride to breakfast. The mood is subdued. We know we are leaving. Laughter, eggs and coffee. Then alone time with Catie. Decompressing from the excitement. A ride to the airport. Hugs goodbye. Too tired for tears. Feeling small and alone as I wait for the plane. Four hours airborne. A shaky landing. A hug from Dave and I'm home.
Photo Meme
A photo meme of my life, inspired by Bluesleepy. Because I want to be cool like Karyl!
The rule was do an image search on Google using the answers to each of the following questions, and then post one of the search results after your answer. Here's mine:
1. My first car: 1994 Toyota Tercel
(Though mine was missing its passenger's side view mirror and was a pretty sea-green!)
2. Where I grew up: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
God, I miss this place.
3. Where I live now: Atlanta, Georgia
4. My first name: Chelle
That would be sooo tasty right about now.
5. My grandma’s first name: June
June Lockhart=so pretty.
6. My favorite food: Sashimi
Yum!
7. My favorite drink: Ice water with lemon
Boring, I know.
8. My favorite song: "Mandolin Rain," by Bruce Hornsby and the Range
I want this song played at my funeral someday. Yes, I am morbidly weird.
9. My favorite smell: the salty smell of the ocean
Ahhh...
10. My favorite pair of shoes: flip-flops
Wish I was wearing them right now.
11. My first pet: Katie, the cat
Meow!
12. My favorite color: Blue, unless I am wearing it, then Black
This pic is...strange.
13. My least favorite smell: Rotten anything
Ha! Completely unrelated...or is it?
14. My biggest fear: Helplessness
I think this is how Dave pictures our marriage in his mind!
15. My favorite hobby: Reading!
Yay!
Viva Las Vegas
D and I are in Vegas. We arrived Sunday after 6 hours in a very uncomfortably full airplane. It SHOULD have only taken 4 hours, but they made us board a broken plane, where we sat for two hours while they fixed the navigational system. I had to use the teeny tiny bathroom on a plane TWICE before we even left the gate, that's how long the fixing took. Then our plane needed to be de-iced, so that added additional wait time before we were finally airborn. Our 9:53 arrival time became 11:45, so we grabbed a quick bite before heading straight to the convention center to start setting up work's trade show booth.
Set-up went extremely smoothly, thanks to Dave. He is very good at putting things together and I'm not sure my coworkers and I would have been able to put the booth together so quickly if he hadn't been there to correct our mistakes.
The first day of the show was busy! We got lots of good leads and I found 40 bucks on the floor of the convention center. I decided it was to become my lucky money and needed to be gambled with, though it's more accurate to say it was gambled away. I think all I have left of it after an hour at a $5 Blackjack table is 3 fifty cent pieces. I hit 21 three times and the dealer "rewards" you with a dollar-fifty.
Since arriving, we've eaten WAY too much food, spent more money than we should have on clothes, gambled away someone else's money, and saw "Zumanity" which is a Cirque du Soleil show that is pretty risque. It was beautifully done and has probably been my favorite part of this trip. I also experience a moronic moment when I jumped into a cab to head from my hotel to the convention center only to remember that I had no cash on me. I had to get the cabbie, who spoke very little English, to drive me to an ATM. The ATM was "out of order" so I had to run across the street to a Walgreens to get some cash back, all while the meter was running. I think a ten dollar cab ride ended up costing twice that. But hey, it could have been worse!
Tonight I finally convinced Dave to stay in and enjoy a quiet night in the hotel room. I have been able to catch up with my awesome flickr group, answer some emails, and take a nap! I am finally beginning to feel human again. Hopefully, the break will be good for my poor little abused feet. Only one more day of working the tradeshow booth. Tomorrow we pack it up and can have some fun before getting on the airplane Saturday afternoon. I can't wait to get back home and see how my furry kids are doing. The pet sitter I hired is excellent, but I still worry about my babies when I am not there to take care of them!
I need to remember to take my camera with me tomorrow and actually use it! I am sad to say I have not taken a single picture the whole time I've been here. I wish we had been allowed to photograph parts of Zumanity, but at least I have a show program.
So to wrap it up, I am going to take a note from my beautiful new friend, Catie, and list the 5 things I have most enjoyed about Vegas:
1) Having Dave here with me. It is much more fun with him around, even if we have to share a hotel bathroom.
2) The sushi buffet Todai in the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood. All-You-Can-Eat-Sushi=Happy Chelle.
3) my new jeans from The Limited. Even though I had to buy a larger size than I usualy wear, they fit BEAUTIFULLY and I think I am in love with them.
4) The sanctuary that is my hotel room. When you are constantly surrounded by people, and are not a people person, there is nothing better than returning to the serenity that is your space.
5) Zumanity. The sensual side of Cirque du Soleil.
Again?!
It is snowing. Again. One of the cats sat at the window, fascinated by all of the small white dots floating to the ground outside. So I decided to properly introduce Gavin to the wonders of snow. Here's his reaction:
I felt sorry for him, because Dave was barring him from the safety of the garage. Dave is just mean like that. So I picked him up to carry him back inside, as Dave took photos. I think we can safely say that Gavin does not appreciate snow.
Poor guy. At least I have someone in the house that feels the same way about snow as I do.
The White Stuff
I drove home last night in the snow. I live in Atlanta. Those two things should not go together, but last night they did.
I am not a fan of snow, so I suppose it is a good thing that I live in the south. Here are the reasons I do not like snow:
1) Snow makes people stupid. They forget how to drive cars. They forget how to work. Around here, they make a HUGE deal out of it.
2) Snow is wet. I do not like to be wet. My feet especially do not like to be wet.
3) Snow is cold. It requires you to wear a lot of clothes. And a big coat. Which makes it hard to move. I do not like to wear coats. I don't really like wearing clothes, come to think of it.
4) Snow is slippery. Who knew?!
5) Snow is tempting. The snow tempted Dave to throw snowballs at me. Please refer to reasons #2 and 3 for why this is a problem.
Reasons I like snow:
I documented this spectacle for posterity. Here's the footage of my neighborhood being besieged by snow:
“Is there anything worn under the kilt? No, it's all in perfect working order.”
This past weekend we went to a Scottish Games, which is a festival celebrating the clans and culture of Scotland. Dave has decided to become an "Highland Athlete" and compete in all of the heavyweight and strength competitions in as many Scottish Games as we can possibly afford.
This was actually his first time competing and he did really well. He placed ninth overall in his division and he walked away with a first place medal for the caber toss, where you attempt to balance a tree trunk and then throw it end over end trying to get it to land as close to the 12-o'clock position as possible.
We had a great time, though it did kind of remind me of field day in elementary school. There was a great deal of waiting your turn and a lot of curiosity about your place in terms of points. Plus, it took all day and it isn't getting any cooler in Georgia, even though we are currently in the middle of October. What's up with that!?
