Another Southern Lesson

Sooo I'd just like to say that the way this town, and the south in general, freaks out about snow and ice is quite amusing to a Northerner... I mean closing schools a night in advance for an inch of snow that actually turned into half an inch is really funny.

Now, I am starting to wrap my head around the fact that cities just don't have resources to react appropriately to these kinds of situations, i.e. salt, sand, snow plows. But it really wasn't that bad out there today and I just really can't believe that, that little bit of weather literally shuts the city down.

Oh, and don't plan to have a non-emergency urgent healthcare issue because even Urgent Care closes early "due to ice". Seriously? Yep, found out for myself today when I went to get my irritated eye checked out. Thank god the pharmacist at my local CVS was not freaked out by all that ice and snow we got because I'm all set now.

It is seriously no joke about winter weather down here, if it is even suggested to ice or snow don't plan to go anywhere or do anything, because even if you can manage, no one else can.

How to not pick up a girl...

Start the conversation by saying I look like someone in a show I have never seen, such as Californication.

Follow this, when I politely ask what brought you to this particular city, by detailing your newly-founded porn company. Only to then say you aren't really a porn co. owner, but that is your life goal someday.

And finally...

Blatantly stare at my chest and when I catch you say "You have really nice tits".

The end.

And yes this all really did happen to me on Friday night.

Foodie Friday

Another fun-themed day for blogging. So since I've been on this yeast-free diet I have had to take up the art of cooking, which has proven to be not entirely as difficult as I thought it might be. It's actually a really good thing though because I've always wanted to learn how, but kind of stuck to just preparing meals not actually cooking. My grandmother (straight from Italy) was an phenomenal cook and baker, my mom claims to have received 1/4th of her skill, though she too is an amazing cook also. And then there is my sister and I. Now, I am the better cook between the two of us (even she will admit to this as I had to make her mac and cheese growing up and yes, I am the younger sister).

So I while I have been forced into this whole cooking thing, its been kind of fun to see how things will turn out and just play with ingredients. I haven't ventured into the cooking seafood yet, but I think I might have my mom train me when I'm home over the holidays :) I have mastered ground beef and chicken though haha and I have always been pretty spectacular at cooking eggs.

Anyway, so tonight I wanted to try a new grain Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-WA) and there was a really good recipe on the box for a pilaf using it. And then I was going to pair with with some sauted chicken breast. The whole process took me a little over an hour, but I was pretty pleased with the result and at least I not only tried something new, but also refined the skills a little bit more. I also documented the process with photos :)

Cutting the veggies for the pilaf

The quinoa and veggies cooking with herbs, garlic and butter (smelled awesome)

Sauteing the chicken in some herbs and olive oil

All done :)

Yumsies!!! I really was very good and I have leftovers so I don't have to cook at least one meal this weekend :)

Happy Friday!

Music Monday

So now Monday's are going to be reserved for me to talk about whatever tunes I can't seem to keep out of my head at the moment. For the first installment, I give you "Edge of Desire" by John Mayer, from his new album, Battle Studies.

The whole album is pretty decent and goes to a different place then last one, Continuum. For some reason the lyrics in the songs for Battle Studies, in particular "Edge of Desire" are really resonating with me right now. I'm not sure if Mr. Mayer has actually experienced any of what he is singing about, but my golly you could have fooled me.

It's amazing how he is able to put just the right type of music to the lyrics he is singing. It intensifies just as it would if you were actually saying the things he sings about to someone or thinking through your feelings about a person or situation.

As far as "Edge of Desire" is concerned, it could literally be the explanation for what I am feeling with that possible person back in the mitten. Here is a sample of the lyrics I am talking about:

"Don't say a word, just come over and lie here with me

'Cause I'm just about to set fire to everything I see

I want you so bad I'll go back on the things I believe

There I just said it, I'm scared you'll forget about me"

I not so tactfully basically said the first line above when I saw said person over Thanksgiving, but because of the drunken taxi that was my life that weekend, it didn't so much pan out. The next line kind of symbolizes me leaving the new prospects that I was hoping for here in Atlanta, if there is something more worth it elsewhere. Next, I was badly burned by someone about six months ago and it really made me think twice about the possibility of a long distance relationship because that turd of person couldn't handle it. So that certainly left a scar on what was a reasonable option before and now is something I'm not sure I can handle either, but like the lyrics say, I could. And finally, I am in Atlanta after all and there is always that fear that my friends in general, especially said person could forget about it.

Damn you John Mayer for speaking the words that my walled up feelings/heart don't want to say or admit to.

What are your sweet jams for this chilly Monday?

Sunday Funday

So in my attempt to try and keep up with my blogging I have decided to try and enact a few preset writing topics based on days of the week... a.k.a "Sunday Funday" (also look for Music Mondays and Photo Fridays in the near future :))

Anyway, so for my first installment of Sunday Funday, a weekend in review. It really was a fun weekend. Still going strong on my yeast free diet cleanse and sober as a jug of water. But Friday night Carl invited me out with the law school kiddos to go bowling. Which was a much better option then my attempt to enjoy Texas county and we had a blast at Midtown Bowl. It took a while for me to get warmed up, but my former bowling captain skills (heck yes I was captain of the bowling team in high school) came rushing back at the beginning of game two. So much so that even though we didn't get to bowl the last frame because our hour ran out, I had everyone beat :)

Saturday, I worked out while listening to the TV blaring the Atlanta Christmas parade thanks to the psycho trainer behind me on the stair climber. That was pretty amusing actually though because the reporters were warning about the 20 degree wind chill and the attendees of the parade looked like they were dressed for Antartica... silly southerners. Anyway, then I got ready and left to go shopping with Miss Jill. It was great to catch up with her since I hadn't seen her in over a week and there was lots to talk about. We also had a good time shopping together and even managed to get some gifts for people we needed to get them for in addition to a few selfish purchases :)

Then Saturday night, I went out with Christy and Laura in Duluth to their favorite local bar, the Leafing Leprechaun for its last night of business. It seemed like a really fun place and it makes me sad to think that now its closed, but if you ever want to have a blow out great time at a bar go to the closing night. Even though I was sober, it was a good time and all the servers were just having fun with everyone and it was a very happy atmosphere.

Today, I discovered the North Georgia Premium Outlets, and they were phenomenal. They have not one, but two BCBG stores! And I bought a really cute work dress there and I had the perfect NYE dress picked out, but while I was taking it off, after deciding to purchase it, it ripped right by my arm pit. I was so bummed out and they didn't have any other ones in my size. I thought twice about buying it anyway and sewing it up, but even at an outlet BCBG isn't exactly budget friendly and I couldn't justify having to fix it if I bought it. I did however walk away with 5 pairs of shoes for about $160 at the fabulous shoe outlet stores there :) Now, the real purpose I went there was not for myself, but to try and find Julie (my sister) her Burberry scarf, and they too were sold out- I can't order it online, or find it in any stores near me :/

Finally, I found the greatest little boutique in Decatur called Heliotrope. I finally found a majority of my friend's christmas presents there and my christmas cards there so all was not lost in my selfish purchases today haha. I will definitely be going back to Heliotrope also and the rest of downtown Decatur which looked just adorable.

Hope you all had a great weekend too!

"I'm going to Miami, welcome to Miami"

I just got back from a trip to Miami for work, and I'm glad to be home. There was some really bad news that quite frankly is a PR girl's nightmare walking into this particular program and by the grace of God it didn't overshadow the good things we were doing on our program, but its still got me all rattled. Do you ever have those moments that you stop and wonder if what you do is worth it and if it is making a difference? I had a great big one when I found out that news. But I'm trying to get over it and hopefully I can chalk it up to more learning early in my career someday.

Anyway, it was so weird to be somewhere that was 85 degrees and muggy for the first week of December. Light-adorned palm trees and ginormous santa statues just don't feel like Christmas to me so I'm having a hard time believing its only 22 days away! Don't get me wrong though, Miami was beautiful and I wish I would have had more time to chill out by the gorgeous pool by my hotel and check out the night life, but 4 a.m. wake-up calls made for a very sleepy lady at night.

In better news, the situation back at home that I mentioned in my last post looks like it could be brightening. I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, but I'm not ruling this out either. I'm excited to see what could happen with this, if anything at all.

Another day, another dollar...

Some days that's what work feels like anyway. I think the Mondays after vacations/holidays are some of the worst days out there.

It wasn't a particularly bad day in actuality, but it was one of those catch up days. You know the kind, you cut some corners just to finish everything in time to not be bugged too much during your vacation so now you have some crumbs to sweep up. But I guess the good news is I'm going to Miami for work tomorrow, and I've never been there so that should be fun :)

Otherwise, today I ran a lot of errands. Picked up my comforter and pillow cases from the dry cleaners (note- I won't ever buy another dry clean only comforter, its so expensive to clean!). Went grocery shopping, went to my ALC appointment and was introduced to a new tool I didn't know existed- a high-powered cool blower to counter act the hot snap of the laser. Packed for Miami, cleaned my apartment a little bit. I also tried to sneakily snag another key fob for my apartment complex; however my plan was scumped when they deactivated the other one I had claimed to lose and still charge me the $25 for replacing it- fail. Oh well, you live you learn, I guess my complex deserves more credit for the job they do keeping bad guys out of the complex.

Happy monday all :)