Fall

It has been a long time, the login even took a little convincing that it was actually me trying to write a post. I have no real or good excuses for the severe lack of writing. I've been slightly busier at work, but for those who know about my job going from doing nothing to being "busier" doesn't take up that much time. But none the less I'm Back.

And if I remember correctly I was working on listing my favorite things and I have thought of way to cheat the system because one of my favorite things encompasses most of the things I love most in life- and that is Fall.

I want to say it again... its FALL.

First, fall means football- going home to Athens, cooking, regularly schedule time to hang out with my favorite people, a topic that always annoys my sister, drinking (just a little), screaming until I can't talk anymore. And this is only the first thing I love about fall.


Anything pumpkin flavored and make fun of this if you like, but just think about how excited you were when you saw that Starbuck's Pumpkin Lattes were back. Also, in the pumpkin family I really enjoy cooking squash. I played with alot of recipes last year and I'm excited for another season.

Which brings me to one of my other favorites about fall- cooking. There is football and the squash and then Thanksgiving is just around the corner. And thank goodness for my love of cooking, I have Thanksgiving twice. One of my absolute favorite traditions is our family of friends Thanksgiving. Its changed slightly over the years: now everyone insists the turkey actually be cooked all the way through. And the guys who join us do it b/c they don't really have a choice, not b/c they are mooching for free food, but either way I love it.

I won't go into unnecessary details on this one, but the weather- obvious. Which I'm even more excited about b/c the new apt has a great tree view for watching the leaves fall and as long as Noah doesn't make his way back to Atlanta, the trail by the Chattahoochee should be a really nice place to run.

Ok, I could go on indefinitely about why I love Fall, but I suppose I'll end with b/c it looks good on me. What can I say red heads look good in Autumn colors. So the pretty fall weather and trees in the background help me look better even if I haven't showered in a while.

So yes, I love fall because I look decent even when I smell- what a great season.

Whew...

So it's been quite the week. Emma and I are officially in our new apartment. As sad as I am to lose my old roomies (particularly Ash, it was a great five years)... I really like our place. The apartment itself is pretty basic, but it will be quite snazzy by the time we are done. Best of all the Chattahoochee Park is our backyard. They told us that when we first looked at the place and I liked the woodsy feel of the complex, it's more like little moutain condos than a normal high-rise apartment. Which Sukie would not have handled. But I wasn't expecting it to be so nice. The park, at least what I have seen, is this great path by the river, it is street-wide and completely flat. Now that's my kind of running. Plenty of people for people watching and dogs for Sukie to smell and then be scared of. I love it. And I have seen people in kayaks going down the river. As much as you may laugh.. I want to rent a kayak.

Best of all, I really like living with Emma. I had concerns nothing major, but i figured it may be difficult. And don't get me wrong we fight. But in a lot of ways I love that we fight. Ash & Mols & I reached a sisterly level were we fought, screamed usually and then got over it. But even that isn't comparable to fighting with your actual sister. We fight and then justare done. We don't have to make up we just move on. I love being able to say, "that looks like crap" and not have to worry about being the negative roommate. It's great. I've loved all my former roommates, but this should be fun. Oh and the fam can't seem to stop themselves from "dropping by". Both the brother and the Dad work pretty close to our apartment. And lets face it, Mom has always liked us best. So I think this will be a year of familly bonding. My family is super tight, kind of like The Family Stone, but a little less liberal and dysfunctional. So I don't know that it will be increased family bonding but I like how little effort it takes. They just come to us.

Anyways, that's the overview. Its been a long week, but good. It's the start of a new semester (I will always be on the semester schedule no matter how long I work outside of the education field) and I have a feeling its going to be a great year.

Hmmm...

When your boss starts what is certain to be a long conversation with, "I just want to make sure we are aligned" and you don't ever have the opportunity to speak. Do you really have a choice but to align?

Favorites and Not So Much

We can consider this a pre-post, because I'm fairly certain there will be a better story to go with this idea in a couple weeks. My sister and I are moving into an apartment together...which I'm stoked about, that part is not the "not" of the post title(super odd double negative-type thing I just did). Anyways, this weekend included moving extravaganza part one, which sadly will have at least two more parts. Though it really wasn't that bad and this time we had BF, who will conveintly be absent for the big event. It did however remind me moving is no fun. There is just no way around it the lifting, the organizing, the "I said your left"... not a good time. But I know (though again I'm certain there will be a much funnier/sadder story to tell of the offical moving weekend) it'll be worth it in the end, but one of my favorite things: Is NOT moving. :)

OK. Actual Favorite Thing: Cooking.

I LOVE cooking. It all started when I studied abroad in Italy, we didn't have ovens, Italians are apparently too used to quality meals to partake in the American tradition on frozen TV dinners therefore I had to cook to survive. And there were a few little "gourmet" chefs in our group that gave me a feeling of inferiority I had to overcome.

Now, cooking is something I really enjoy. Trying new recipes, making things up or trying to recreate a restaurant favorite all make me happy. I like having someone to cook for... so if you are hungry let me know. Oh and I watch Food Network obsessively I really can't help myself. This weekend we had cedar plank salmon, fennel & orange salad and grilled asparagus.

Grilled Pizza- A Bobby Flay recipe we recently tried out using a pilsbury pizza crust instead of making our own... So Good!

One last thing, BF and I partook in Downtown Restaurant Week. We went to Cafe Circa and enjoyed a 3-course tasting meal for $25.00 a piece. It was delicious. Creative cuisine with a relazed atmosphere. If you like plaintains you must go to Cafe Circa... if you don't like them or have never had them you should go there to learn to. Its cute too in Edgewood area, so its not so fussy.

Favorite Thing Number One

In order not to overwhelm myself and mirroring Ash's blog. I'm going to spread out my seven favorite things as they come to me. Due to an interesting and enlightening Thursday evening my first favorite thing:

Spontaneous Moments.

I love unexpected events, if you read my blog then you know at the very least spontaneous moments are likely to be enjoyable because they come without expectations. And being a person who tries, with all her might, to analyze future happenings... spontaneity is good for me. Last night was the epitome of unexpected....

After I finish watching SYTYCD. Aud asked if I wanted to go out, but as she was heading to Midtown I declined. Instead, I took an uncharacteristic shower(I think showering is highly overrated) and was about to get in bed with Wuthering Heights when I receive a text from the BF.

"We are going to the Pony...Are you in?".

My immediate reaction was of course, "Haha, you serious?"...Apparently he was. So at 11:30 I departed the warmth and comfort of my home for The Pony. I don't want to frighten the children so I will leave out the details. However, needless to say an impulsive evening.

The Pressure of Praise

My sister gave me a Kreativ Award for my rarely updated blog (Fairly bias award, but I'll take it!). However, there is slight problem I now feel compelled to follow along with the rules of the award...at least a modified version. I'm supposed to tell you 7 of my favorite things and then nominate 7 of my favorite blogs that rock my world. I know 7 is a significant number in myths, religion and literture, but I can't remember why.

Anywho. I have problems staying within the lines of this award. I only follow two blogs besides my sister's, Ash and Tiff. Both great reads. Additionally those three people are the only ones who follow me... I'm not very popular it's ok. Basically, I'm going to give 2 awards and hope my blogging friends can take this shtick further. Problem number two: I'm overwhelmed by this concept of listing my seven favorite things. I can't even pick a movie or place to eat without it being narrowed down to a list of three. Seven of my favorite things... so broad. And Julie Andrews is totally in my head right now so I can barely think. Therefore, I will have to get back to this later but I will prevail.

For now: Ash and Tiff you win the Kreativ Award... Woo Hoo. I'd give it to my sister too but think that breaks the rules. Congratulations on this esteemed accomplishment.

Some Days

Some days... life throws you a curve ball. Curve balls are tricky because in theory they may be a pretty decent opportunity. Pitchers don't expect you to hit a curve ball back at their face, that's why they throw them. So it'd be great to be able to take that curve ball and smack the crap out of it. However, it is so easy to put all your might into it and miss. And then well, your OUT.

So today I'm working on my swing.

P.S. Sorry for the baseball analogy, I went to a Braves game on Saturday.