When I asked my mom if I could go surprise Emily her immediate response was that she had to go too. So off we went at an unusually early hour to see the middle sister. After sleeping most of the ride, we finally arrived in Montgomery. BJ had been expecting us and let us in quietly. I walked up behind Emily, who was watching 'Say Yes To The Dress' on a Sunday morning and simply said.. Happy birthday! I honestly could not have asked for a better response. She fairly immediately began to cry and said "I DREAMED some of you would come but I never even imagined it would happen!" in her slightly over-dramatic crying voice. We spent the rest of the day picking out a wonderful camera that was BJ's gift to Emily and just spending the day together. It was a wonderful day. When I left I told Emily I did not have an entirely pure motive. "Did I make your day?" I finally asked when we were leaving. She assured me that I did, but then again, I am her needy little sister.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Emily's 23rd Birthday
Emily turned 23 on August 1st. In the past 20 years, there have been very few times I have not been present for Emily's birthday so I was not letting a little thing like the fact that Emily is married and living nearly 3 hours away stop me from being present for one more. We have an unusually close family and and even more unusually close relationship between my sisters and me. It has been one of the most incredible blessings of my life. Being able to go to school with Emily was by far the best gift. To have her encourage me and want to show me off and be proud of me and take classes with me are some of the most memorable moments of my life.
When I asked my mom if I could go surprise Emily her immediate response was that she had to go too. So off we went at an unusually early hour to see the middle sister. After sleeping most of the ride, we finally arrived in Montgomery. BJ had been expecting us and let us in quietly. I walked up behind Emily, who was watching 'Say Yes To The Dress' on a Sunday morning and simply said.. Happy birthday! I honestly could not have asked for a better response. She fairly immediately began to cry and said "I DREAMED some of you would come but I never even imagined it would happen!" in her slightly over-dramatic crying voice. We spent the rest of the day picking out a wonderful camera that was BJ's gift to Emily and just spending the day together. It was a wonderful day. When I left I told Emily I did not have an entirely pure motive. "Did I make your day?" I finally asked when we were leaving. She assured me that I did, but then again, I am her needy little sister.
20. Make someone's day.
When I asked my mom if I could go surprise Emily her immediate response was that she had to go too. So off we went at an unusually early hour to see the middle sister. After sleeping most of the ride, we finally arrived in Montgomery. BJ had been expecting us and let us in quietly. I walked up behind Emily, who was watching 'Say Yes To The Dress' on a Sunday morning and simply said.. Happy birthday! I honestly could not have asked for a better response. She fairly immediately began to cry and said "I DREAMED some of you would come but I never even imagined it would happen!" in her slightly over-dramatic crying voice. We spent the rest of the day picking out a wonderful camera that was BJ's gift to Emily and just spending the day together. It was a wonderful day. When I left I told Emily I did not have an entirely pure motive. "Did I make your day?" I finally asked when we were leaving. She assured me that I did, but then again, I am her needy little sister.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Silks.
Y'all. My sister is amazing.
Well, they BOTH are but Katie especially impressed me with her willingness and excitement about joining me in an aerial silks class. She tore herself away from her kids for a few hours to humor me in my quest. If you don't know what aerial silks are, it looks a little something like this. Well, it looks like that when someone other than myself does it.
Needless to say, the thought of trying to learn this recreationaly was thrilling to me and interesting to Katie. So we suited up in our spandex and headed for the gym. Upon arrival (which was an adventure of its own) we sat down with the other class members and the teacher and began to chat. Quite quickly we discovered that Katie was one of two people there that had no dance experience (the other claimed to be a "beginner triathlete" but that was very debatable). This may have caused some sweaty palms on her part, but no more. She is hilarious. She kept me (and everyone else) laughing and happy the whole time. She was confident and strong and so great. And it was hard. I'm not talking 'waking up at 7 to go on a run' hard, I'm talking 'do you think my arms will ever function correctly again?' hard. In case you are wondering, it is 4 days later and I am beginning to regain normal function. Just for proof I am including far too many pictures. They are embarrassing and not flattering but they are proof. Awesome proof.
Someone asked me last night why I decided to do my list. I stopped and kind of laughed at myself. "I don't know.." I answered. "I guess so I wouldn't have a boring summer." "And is that what you gotten out of it?" they continued. "No, not really. I mean it definitely has kept me doing interesting things I might not have done otherwise. But I guess it has gotten me to do them with people I might not have done them with if I hadn't had a goal.. Or if they hadn't supported me."
So thank you for supporting me in my dumb ideas, and more importantly for participating.
3. Go to a trapeze or aerial class.
Well, they BOTH are but Katie especially impressed me with her willingness and excitement about joining me in an aerial silks class. She tore herself away from her kids for a few hours to humor me in my quest. If you don't know what aerial silks are, it looks a little something like this. Well, it looks like that when someone other than myself does it.
Needless to say, the thought of trying to learn this recreationaly was thrilling to me and interesting to Katie. So we suited up in our spandex and headed for the gym. Upon arrival (which was an adventure of its own) we sat down with the other class members and the teacher and began to chat. Quite quickly we discovered that Katie was one of two people there that had no dance experience (the other claimed to be a "beginner triathlete" but that was very debatable). This may have caused some sweaty palms on her part, but no more. She is hilarious. She kept me (and everyone else) laughing and happy the whole time. She was confident and strong and so great. And it was hard. I'm not talking 'waking up at 7 to go on a run' hard, I'm talking 'do you think my arms will ever function correctly again?' hard. In case you are wondering, it is 4 days later and I am beginning to regain normal function. Just for proof I am including far too many pictures. They are embarrassing and not flattering but they are proof. Awesome proof.
Someone asked me last night why I decided to do my list. I stopped and kind of laughed at myself. "I don't know.." I answered. "I guess so I wouldn't have a boring summer." "And is that what you gotten out of it?" they continued. "No, not really. I mean it definitely has kept me doing interesting things I might not have done otherwise. But I guess it has gotten me to do them with people I might not have done them with if I hadn't had a goal.. Or if they hadn't supported me."
So thank you for supporting me in my dumb ideas, and more importantly for participating.
Monday, August 2, 2010
BOOKS.
If the title of my blog is any indication, I love to read. I love books and bookshelves and I always have and I always will. If you are ever at a loss of something to get me as a present, a book will be the key to my heart and always appreciated. Seriously. Or if you are just trying to clear out some space, I am always willing to receive..
With that said, the Atlanta Vintage Bookstore is.. my heaven. It was beautiful and amazing and so many GREAT BOOKS. I can't believe I have never been here before! Oh, and it was filled with cats. So appropriate.
13. Explore this place -> http://www.atlantavintagebooks.com/?page=shop/index
With that said, the Atlanta Vintage Bookstore is.. my heaven. It was beautiful and amazing and so many GREAT BOOKS. I can't believe I have never been here before! Oh, and it was filled with cats. So appropriate.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Artie.
Art Douglas is the wonderful husband of my oldest sister, Katie. He is also my teacher in all things mechanical or electronic. So when he saw that I wanted to learn how to change a tire, he jumped at the opportunity to help me out.
Art VERY patiently taught me how to change my tire, but not without a few groans, struggles and whines from me. He even whispered "righty tighty, lefty loosey.." in an impressively not sarcastic tone to me after a few seconds of me more or less jumping on the wrench. He tried to make me do the whole thing alone and he ALMOST succeeded, but lets be honest, I'm just not very strong. And it was HOT. So hot. I was sweating so much. As was he. But you can see the pictures to prove it.
Art has more or less been a part of our family since I was in elementary school. He has come to everything from my fifth grade graduation to my senior recital and been remarkably excited about all of those things. He has tutored me in math, science, woodworking, mechanics, boys, and generally being awesome. He has treated Emily and me as his sisters from day one and loved us immensely.When boys broke our hearts, he was ready to fight and when we were going to dances he oohed and ahhed over our dresses.
He is constantly surrounded by girls and I am very glad that he is there to teach me things like this when we really need a boy around. He is the best that I could have dreamed for Katie and especially my nieces.
YAY ARTIE.
19. Learn how to change a tire.
Art VERY patiently taught me how to change my tire, but not without a few groans, struggles and whines from me. He even whispered "righty tighty, lefty loosey.." in an impressively not sarcastic tone to me after a few seconds of me more or less jumping on the wrench. He tried to make me do the whole thing alone and he ALMOST succeeded, but lets be honest, I'm just not very strong. And it was HOT. So hot. I was sweating so much. As was he. But you can see the pictures to prove it.
Art has more or less been a part of our family since I was in elementary school. He has come to everything from my fifth grade graduation to my senior recital and been remarkably excited about all of those things. He has tutored me in math, science, woodworking, mechanics, boys, and generally being awesome. He has treated Emily and me as his sisters from day one and loved us immensely.When boys broke our hearts, he was ready to fight and when we were going to dances he oohed and ahhed over our dresses.
He is constantly surrounded by girls and I am very glad that he is there to teach me things like this when we really need a boy around. He is the best that I could have dreamed for Katie and especially my nieces.
YAY ARTIE.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Count.
Ok.
I finished The Count of Monte Cristo.
I don't know what I think about it. Don't get me wrong, it was an amazing book and I loved (almost) every minute of it, but I continue to find myself reflecting on it and thinking.. "What the heck? How can that happen? Is that what I would have done? HOW DID HE DO THAT? He ended up with HER??".
So I guess if the only complaint I can come up with for a book is that it made me think too much, then that's probably really only a good thing.
I finished the book on the way to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to visit my beautiful friends! I am going to take this time to thank them for being such wonderful hostesses and truly giving me a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you to Laurel for being my riding buddy, Laura for being my DH introducer, Morgan for being my wilderness guide, and Anna for being my bedmate. You all are truly more than I could have asked for!
P.S. Poor Mercedes..
2. Read The Count of Monte Cristo.
I finished The Count of Monte Cristo.
I don't know what I think about it. Don't get me wrong, it was an amazing book and I loved (almost) every minute of it, but I continue to find myself reflecting on it and thinking.. "What the heck? How can that happen? Is that what I would have done? HOW DID HE DO THAT? He ended up with HER??".
So I guess if the only complaint I can come up with for a book is that it made me think too much, then that's probably really only a good thing.
I finished the book on the way to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to visit my beautiful friends! I am going to take this time to thank them for being such wonderful hostesses and truly giving me a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you to Laurel for being my riding buddy, Laura for being my DH introducer, Morgan for being my wilderness guide, and Anna for being my bedmate. You all are truly more than I could have asked for!
P.S. Poor Mercedes..
Sunday, July 11, 2010
FB.
Guys.
Everyone should stop using facebook for just a little while. It is so freeing. And not nearly as big of a deal as people made it seem when I told them I wasn't on facebook. Anyways, I did it. It was great. I might do it again soon. Sorry if I missed your birthday in that time.
Hooray for real people time!
14. Spend a week (or mooooorrre) off of Facebook.
Everyone should stop using facebook for just a little while. It is so freeing. And not nearly as big of a deal as people made it seem when I told them I wasn't on facebook. Anyways, I did it. It was great. I might do it again soon. Sorry if I missed your birthday in that time.
Hooray for real people time!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
4 8 15 16 23 42
It saddens me just a little that I didn't even have to look those numbers up. I thought I would never remember them, but there they are.
If you don't watch 'Lost' already, then you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. I just watched every episode and I don't understand 99% of what I just watched. But did I love it? Yes, I did.
I surely did not understand the phenomenon when I began my journey. I couldn't imagine why everyone cared about this Island (which I now feel like should be capitalized out of respect) and simply watching how the people just survived on it. How they dragged 6 seasons out of it, I had no idea. But after having finished all 6 seasons I can honestly say, I was wrong. If you are reading this, you probably know that that is not an easy statement for me to admit. I am sorry to my friends who I didn't believe (yes, you, David Roy). I fought the fact that I could be so easily pulled in. You totally called it. I actually even got through most of the first season without being totally absorbed.. but I was taken after that. I actually just cried, CRIED, while watching the finale. Partly because I was so sad it was over. I have never cried during a TV show. I cannot imagine having had to wait an actual six years to understand (mostly) everything instead of the 6 months I spent on it. Bravo to you who held on through that time..and to my 'Lost' guides.. thank you for humoring my random texts, calls, general confusion and all of the ridiculousness that I required.
So here is to Jack and Kate, Sawyer and Kate, Sawyer and Juliet, Sawyer and Ana Lucia (bet you forgot about that one..), Jack and Juliet, Jack and his father, Jin and Sun, Sun and the bald guy, Sayid and Shannon, Boone and Shannon (his sister, which I will never get over), Sayid and Nadia, Hugo and Libby, The Dharma Initiative and the polar bears, Alex and Carl, Charlie and Claire, Charlie and heroin, Claire and Aaron, Kate and Aaron, Mr. Eko and being awesome, Ben and Jacob, Jacob and his brother, John Locke and Ben, John Locke and the Island, and of course, Desmond and Penny.
See you in another life, brotha.
4. Finish 'Lost'.
If you don't watch 'Lost' already, then you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. I just watched every episode and I don't understand 99% of what I just watched. But did I love it? Yes, I did.
I surely did not understand the phenomenon when I began my journey. I couldn't imagine why everyone cared about this Island (which I now feel like should be capitalized out of respect) and simply watching how the people just survived on it. How they dragged 6 seasons out of it, I had no idea. But after having finished all 6 seasons I can honestly say, I was wrong. If you are reading this, you probably know that that is not an easy statement for me to admit. I am sorry to my friends who I didn't believe (yes, you, David Roy). I fought the fact that I could be so easily pulled in. You totally called it. I actually even got through most of the first season without being totally absorbed.. but I was taken after that. I actually just cried, CRIED, while watching the finale. Partly because I was so sad it was over. I have never cried during a TV show. I cannot imagine having had to wait an actual six years to understand (mostly) everything instead of the 6 months I spent on it. Bravo to you who held on through that time..and to my 'Lost' guides.. thank you for humoring my random texts, calls, general confusion and all of the ridiculousness that I required.
So here is to Jack and Kate, Sawyer and Kate, Sawyer and Juliet, Sawyer and Ana Lucia (bet you forgot about that one..), Jack and Juliet, Jack and his father, Jin and Sun, Sun and the bald guy, Sayid and Shannon, Boone and Shannon (his sister, which I will never get over), Sayid and Nadia, Hugo and Libby, The Dharma Initiative and the polar bears, Alex and Carl, Charlie and Claire, Charlie and heroin, Claire and Aaron, Kate and Aaron, Mr. Eko and being awesome, Ben and Jacob, Jacob and his brother, John Locke and Ben, John Locke and the Island, and of course, Desmond and Penny.
See you in another life, brotha.
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