Rain soaked, Work swamped

So I don't know if you guys got the serious rain/thunder storm we had here tonight, but my cigarettes got soaked. In my desperation, I pulled out the hair dryer and saved a few. Is that desperate or what? Hope you guys have a good week. The semester is winding down which means my work load is piling up.. papers, tests, quizzes to grade. The reading is growing old but the end is in sight.

Just a suggestion

Last week, sister, Mom and I ventured out (only after stuffing our faces silly) to see Pride and Prejudice. Believe me, I don't claim to have read the book (that would require me to concentrate for longer than 5 minutes...KDHD), but this movie was a-mazing! It was an absolutely beautiful movie with a score to match. I was VERY impressed with 20 year old Keira Knightley's performance. At 20, I was busy learning how to counsel kids in the Poconos. I was definitely not reliving the life of Jane Austen...oh whatever. I highly recommend you guys see this movie...and if you need someone to go with, well, you know where to find me...

(Not to worry, you'll be able to spot me. I won't be the one wearing camo. ; )

just so you know...

i have crossed over ... i went to see "my friend" this weekend and he took me hunting! you should have seen me decked out in camo! we went on a dove shoot - don't worry - i just sat and hung out in the field - no shooting of guns for me! it was fun and funny at the same time! i can't wait to read the comments on this one! x-mas break for me is dec. 16, but i am headed to new york for a couple of days that weekend! what about a week night???

wedding date weekend

um...so, yes, he invited me down to albany for a wedding where he was an usher! we had a great time! i met his family, saw his new house he just built, rode around his hunting farm, and met a bunch of people. he is great! i feel weird putting this as a post - so i am going to stop now - but i would love to tell you details over the phone (OR in person)! i need to see yall soon!

Dr McDreamy

Today a powerpoint was sent my way featuring a little information on the upcoming 8th season of the Bachelor. Everyone knows I'm a television junky, but I can honestly say that I've never ever sat down to watch one single minute of this show. Just wasn't my cup of tea. Then I read the powerpoint presentation introducing the latest Bachelor. Check out this background:

A native of Fort Collins, Colo., Travis Stork graduated from Duke University and went on to medical school at the University of Virginia. He's now finishing up his residency at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Tennessee. He's also a cyclist and outdoorsman who enjoys hiking and kayaking.

Not bad huh? I mean, this guy might actually be a superhuman right? I mean just look at the degrees this guy has. Nice. A guy this intelligent, this driven couldn't possibly be attractive, could he? Well ladies, he is...



And I for one will now be watching. Thank you ABC. Thank you.

You'll never believe this

Ok, my small world has come full circle. I took Lady to the vet today, she had a little cyst on her head. The girl giving me her report looked super familiar, but I couldn't place her. So here's the report. First, notice that Lady weighed in at 56 pounds, she's gained another 6 pounds in 3 months. Will she ever stop growing? Second notice the name at the top of who prepared the report (double click on the image to enlarge). Yep, it's S. Youngblood, the girl whose license I found in Rome, Italy. And the kicker? I've also confirmed that she is the Savannah of the Chris and Savannah show- Scarlett Letter Video. Can you believe this? So I actually knew who she was before I found her license and now she works at my vet. PS- I also put together, from a news bulletin from GHC, that she was on a trip with my now employer (GHC)- it was an international trip to Italy through the college. Their are so many connections.. scary larry.

DC Zoo

My DC weekend last weekend was a blast. Here's a shot that my friend Liz took. The adolescent elephant keep kicking back and crossing his leg. It was great. I keep saying that he's so cute in this photo that I don't know whether to give him a hug or slap his ass. Also included in the weekend was a walk around the Georgetown neighborhood area which was beautiful, a visit to the American History museum, and some nice stopovers in local bars. Included was the National Press Club, Mr. Smiths- friendliest saloon in town, and The Big Hunt Club (a purposefully cheesy dive/sports bar in which unfortunately we saw the Bulldogs give one away to Auburn).

This weekend I have grading and cleaning in order (see comment on previous post). Wish me luck. You guys have a good weekend as well. Leigh Ann let us know how the wedding/date with you new good ole' boy goes. Already taking him to a wedding huh? Most guys would run on that one.

You guys aren't even gonna believe this one...

So, I just got off the phone with my mom. She just came from one of her many Spanish classes tonight. Everybody remember Dolores? You know, Ronnie's mom...one of my mom's students?? Of course you do. Is everyone sitting down for this one??? Hold on tight...

She wants to come to my wedding ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

After laughing hysterically, I tried to calm my mom down. This is an interesting situation we have here. On one hand, this would be a turbulent event. On the other hand, this turbulent event would give us endless hours of fabulous stories.

Please post your thoughts here.

I expect some seriously good responses ladies.

it keeps getting funnier.

When you have some free time, please visit this website.

Go to Bat Day. Enjoy

377southpopestreet..cool location in a cool city

Thanks to Lisa who informed me of the below content...
This is great. I didn't want to clog up the blog, but I thought the top two choices were just perfect for our little website.

7 cool cities with cheap rents

Forget New York. Our top towns for young professionals are both fun and affordable.
By Jane Bennett Clark, Kiplinger.com

Tempting as it may be to launch your career in Boston, New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco, you may find it just as rewarding--and a heck of a lot cheaper--to look beyond the bright lights and high rents of those meccas for twentysomethings. We found seven locations that are perfect for young professionals. These cities all have a healthy head count of people under 30 and a solid or improving job market. Each city's cost of living is at or near the national average for students and young wage earners, based on numbers from the Economic Research Institute. For neighborhood and rental information, we culled local resources and Craigslist.org; recent listings are under "what you just missed." As a bonus, we asked relocation experts at Salary.com to calculate the extra money you'd pocket if you left a job that paid $35,000 in New York City and found a comparable position in one of our hip havens.

#1 Athens, Georgia
The town that gave the world R.E.M., the B-52's and Widespread Panic boasts 400 bands and more than a dozen recording studios. It also offers free Wi-Fi downtown, a thriving arts community and a college football team--the Bulldogs--that even the rockers root for. The University of Georgia and two regional hospitals help keep the city's unemployment rate impressively low.

Where to rent: Five Points, West Side, downtown
What you'll pay: $650-$750 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, or $750-$850 for a two-bedroom unit
What you just missed: a one-bedroom stone cottage with fireplace in Five Points, $750
Where to be at 11 p.m.: 40 Watt Club, Georgia Theatre Not-in-NYC bonus: $8,752


#2 Atlanta
Southern hospitality here means serving up free Wi-Fi: Atlanta ranks fourth among U.S. cities for wireless hot spots, according to MetroFreeFi.com. A magnet for college-educated young people, the area has lost jobs in technology but added them in the fields of education, hospitality and government. The city's serious side includes Emory University and the Carter Center. Scene hoppers hit Buckhead for the clubs and Little Five Points for the coffeehouses, bars and restaurants.

Where to rent: Midtown, Virginia Highlands, East Atlanta
What you'll pay: $600-$900 a month for a one-bedroom, $800-$1,350 for a two-bedroom
What you just missed: a three-bedroom house with a fireplace and front porch in Virginia Highlands, $1,650
Where to be at 11 p.m.: Django, Bazzaar, Compound Not-in-NYC bonus: $10,735

it is true...

I have a thing for Johnny Depp. Obviously, the guy is gorgeous, but really, the man is an incredible actor. I watched Finding Neverland yesterday. If you haven't seen it, do. You will not be disappointed. You may cry a little (or if you're me, a lot), but this movie is just such a dear, dear movie. That's the only way I can describe it.


On a much different note, I've been visibly absent from the blog and I apologize. Work is getting the best of me in that I'm just so busy that it pains me to get on the computer at home. That and if I do, I'll be on it for hours. I think I'm getting a case of carpal tunnel.

Also, Mary Ellen, thank you so much for the wondrous tour of Rome, GA. I had such a blast! It's hard to believe there is so much history packed into such a tiny town. You really should give tours, you know? So, when are we back up there to go riding? Or, like I mentioned, you should come down here and we can hit the Silver Comet Trail.

Heather, I'm so glad you found Baby Cat! Just give us the scoop on Jane...
Leigh Ann, heard you were under the weather...feeling better? Hope so.

Talk soon ladies-

ps. watch Finding Neverland!

Insomnia

So I drank a pretty good bit this weekend. Because of this, I decided to lay off the sauce tonight. Of course (Murphy's Law) I can't go to sleep- tired but no rest. I would pay lots of money to have an on/off button for sleep. It is one of my biggest problems- always has been at that.

Heather, don't know if you're checking but I'm so glad you found Baby Girl. And why the hell did Janet pop in town? How did you handle it?

Leigh Ann- feeling better?

So the plan was for Katie and Sister (a.k.a. Jennifer 'da bomb' Slattery) to come in and ride bikes Saturday. Our plan was thwarted by a faulty bike rack but fornunately they came ahead bikeless.

It turned out for the best.. they got a history tour and a mini-leaf trip (the leaves were awesome) and we never even broke a sweat. Perhaps the highlights include seeing "Poison" Oak Hill- the site of the plantation home in Sweet Home Alabama- and meeting Charcoal Kitty whom Jennifer wanted to swipe. Thanks for coming it was a blast and Lady says hello.. all 60 pounds of her (internal commentary- "Dear Lord when will the growing stop?" And while I'm typing my thoughts I would like to think aloud- "How many patio chairs will it take to stop the destruction?").

Ok enough talk, I'm going to try the sleep thing again. Have a good week all.

Mouse in da house

I don't know if you guys have heard my horrific mouse colony story from my second country cottage.. but to say the least.. I am not scared of mice anymore- I loathe them. And tonight? While watching a little ER and winding down and Mr. Mouse ran across my hearth and under my t.v. table. Lady did nothing- this is when I need a cat. Then it ran back across the room and into the hall. So now I have strategically placed two mouse traps and am waiting for the sweet sound of the 'snap' that means I've got a hit. Wish me luck.