Access Anisa

Pete Yorn

2009-11-11T15:21:00.002-05:00

Last night, I went with my dear friend Misha to hear Pete Yorn at a local dive. It was incredible! If you don't know Pete Yorn's music, you should definitely check it out. My favorite of his CDs is musicforthemorningafter. I was pleasantly surprised that he played tons of songs off that album, as it was his first album and he's now on #5 I believe.

Music is soothing for the soul...I had an absolutely fantastic night.

And so, I got to thinking about all my favorite concerts. And I love lists, so I decide to make one right here. Here are my favorite concerts in rank order:

1. Guster at the Georgia Theatre (Hello, I met the lead singer of one of a band that I adore that night. It was amazing!)
2. Coldplay: X&Y Tour at Philips Arena
3. Rolling Stones at the Georgia Dome ('97 or '98...somewhere in there. My parents checked me and my sister out of school. Awesome.)
4. Ben Folds at the Tabernacle
5. Guster at Chastain Park
6. Better than Ezra at Rick's Cafe (This was many, many moons ago...got to meet them too! They do a great live show.)
7. Pete Yorn at the 40 Watt
8. Charlie Mars at Rick's Cafe (Fun college memory)
9. Page & Plant (Can't remember exactly where...some place in Tupelo, MS...another excursion with the parents)
10. Better than Ezra at the Mississippi State Amphitheatre ('97 or '98 - such a fun night with my high school girlfriends)

And there you have it. What's your favorite act to see live?

The Perfect Jean

2009-11-09T12:47:00.003-05:00

First of all, I can't believe this is my 500th blog post. WHOA!

Now on to the topic at hand - the perfect jean. No, I don't have them, but oh, I wish I did!

I do have two pairs of jeans that I consider fabulous. One is a dark Gap jean from several years ago. It is perfect with heels and has a bit of a high rise in the back so that I never have anything hangin' out the back. In the front, it is a mid-rise. Slight flare leg. Love it. The second is a recent purchase from Ann Taylor Loft. They are a dark, curvy bootcut fit jean. Ladies with some boo-tay and curves: you must purchase these. They are super comfy AND you get to go down a size from your regular jeans! I got these in petite so I could wear them with flats. Only problem is that I cannot dry them in the dryer or they would be too short. Oh well. Can't have it all.

So, while I give both of theses jeans an 8/10, I am still in search for perfection. Do tell me, readers - what is your favorite denim? I am on a mission.

Running Red Lights

2009-11-06T13:52:00.004-05:00

Friday afternoon...I think it's a perfect time for a meme.

1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?
So, it depends where I am. In my small Mississippi hometown, yes. Guilty as charged. Where I live now...depends on where I am. This feels like one of my dirty little secrets coming out!

2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
Actually, no. OK - one thing. I would eat less candy.

3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email that person)
I usually reply in my own comments.

4. Your favorite Disney movie is:
Sleeping Beauty.

5. Do you recycle?
Yes. I do believe in recycling and the price to recycle is already included in our trash service. We recycle plastic, glass and paper at home. At work, I do the same. I am on the Solid Waste Task Force in my town (representing my workplace) to try and get more policies in place to encourage recycling!

6. Games of strategy or games of chance?
Games of chance. That way, the outcome has nothing to do with my intelligence. And it's less competitive. Just more relaxed.

7. Do you have any recurring dreams?
I have a lot of nightmares. They are scary. I'll spare details.

8. What did you learn from your first real job?
That I do not like manual labor. I worked for an apartment owner/appraiser and I did 95% office work, which was good because I HATE manual labor.

9. Do you buy or borrow most books?
Buy. Something about a book I love sitting on my shelf makes me happy.

10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?

Hmmm...can't really think of any. I can think of some trends I said I'd never follow and did, though. I said I'd never wear Birkenstocks or gray New Balances, but I definitely did both. I have owned probably 5 pair of gray New Balances actually.

11. When do you start Christmas shopping?
Early December.

12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?
Nah, but I have squealed with delight before. Takes a lot to get me to engage in physical activity. See manual labor sentence above.

Halloween Fiasco

2009-11-03T10:00:00.004-05:00

I was Miss Piggy for all of 5 minutes on Halloween. Here is me while I was still really excited.

Here is me again - fake eyelashes, boa, giant purple ring, blonde wig, tiara and all:

Bert and I were invited to a party on Saturday - Halloween, right? And the invitation even said "Feel free to don your scariest costume."

Well, honestly, I didn't pay that much attention to it - this is, until, Bert's friend called and asked what we were going to be. He was going to be a gorilla, his wife the zookeeper and their daughter a banana. The hostess was to be a vampire.

So I figured, why not? I decided that Bert and I would go as swine flu. Get it? I am the swine and Bert is the...

flu. I put make-up on him to make him look pale, feverish and some darkness under his eyes. He was in pajamas and that's a thermometer in his mouth.

So off we go...

I start getting this feeling in my stomach that we're going to be the only ones dressed up. I try to shake it off since the invitation references costumes, it's on Halloween and our friends are dressing up - as well as the hostess.

We pull up. I feel fabulous. Then, I see someone walk outside in a Georgia t-shirt and jeans. I panic. We walk in. The extent of the hostess' costume is a witch hat.

I feel sick.

There is a room full of older people - none of which are in costume. Several people are outside walking up to the house - none of which are in costume.

"I can't BELIEVE you dressed up," said the hostess.

I panic. I tell Bert I want to go home and change. This is all despite the hours it took to get everything together for the costume, as well as get ready.

I get in the car. I might as well have been in elementary school because I start crying. I HATE feeling embarrassed. I rip off my fake eyelashes, put on my pajamas and get in the bed.

Bert tried to cheer me up. Bless his heart.

Our friends showed up about 20 minutes after we left, and they had dressed as a family of bugs. I wish they would've been there when we showed up. But, alas, it was too late.

The moral of the story is: BE CLEAR. If it's a costume party, say. If it's not, don't put anything about costumes on the invitation. Be totally honest that the party is indeed just for the second half of the Georgia/Florida game (which I don't want to talk about either).

And so, Halloween was a big fat fiasco.

Meeting Olivia

2009-11-02T13:19:00.002-05:00

Here I am, FINALLY holding my niece, Olivia! You see, although I was there the day she was born, the hospital had a policy that only significant others, parents or grandparents were allowed on the Labor/Delivery areas of the hospital due to swine flu. Needless to say, I have been ACHING to finally meet her!

She is a doll. I think she looks just like my sister. Speaking of which - Sara looks FABULOUS! Sorry I don't have any pics of her; I took those with her camera so she has them. I'm telling you - she doesn't look like she had a baby just a few weeks ago. In her regular jeans and everything.

Bert and I had a great time just being with the newest member of our family. Clearly, she already adores me.

Weekend Belligerence

2009-10-26T11:16:00.004-04:00

What happened to restful weekends? If I would have known all I was going to do this past weekend, I think I would've hidden under the covers.

This is what I did:

-Cleaned the whole house, including sweeping, mopping, dusting, bathrooms, etc.
-4 loads of laundry including sheets and rugs
-Balanced the checking account
-Shopped for Halloween costumes
-Went to the grocery store
-Went to the pet store
-Changed out the shower curtain liners in my clawfoot tub, which involved cutting the liners because they come too long
-Cooked
-2 community service projects
-Went to the gym

Somewhere in there, I found time to watch an episode of Project Runway, read Us Weekly and go to dinner with a friend. Bert was out of town, so I stayed at said friend's house - I am such a scaredy cat. We stayed up late and watched "Grand Torino" - it was incredible. Two big thumbs up.

I am exhausted and sore from the gym today. I was actually a little relieved to go to work today so that I could get some rest. And my job is hectic!

Is this adulthood? The loss of the relaxing weekend?

Blues

2009-10-22T15:11:00.006-04:00

I'm really upset about something right now. What that is...well, I'm not going to disclose it. What I do want to talk about, though, is how people react when they are upset.

For me, if I am truly upset about something, it becomes all-consuming. I can't talk about anything else. I can't think about anything else. I shut down. If I have to clean, I can't. If I need to work, I can't. Granted, if I'm just simply ticked off, I can continue...but if I am deeply upset by something, I can't. No compartmentalizing here. And lucky for Bert, if I'm upset, he has to hear about it 24-7 until I'm OK. Thank goodness he plays along.

If I'm stressed, I eat. If I'm upset, I don't. I also become super sleepy and lethargic - as in, I can hardly stay awake.

And you can tell that I've been crying because my nose is bright red.

Being sad is hard work. Maybe that's why I get so sleepy.

And I go through the stages. First is either no emotion or lots of crying. Second is assessing the situation. Third is blaming. (I think second and third flip flop based on the situation.) Fourth is accepting what I did wrong. Fifth is trying to make it right. And sixth is moving on, I suppose. And an underlying problem is that I obsess over it. I can't think about anything else. At all.

I am incredibly blessed that most of my life is happy. It's a good thing because being sad is exhausting. I would be interested to know how you function when being upset and also, any and all virtual hugs are welcome! :)

A Glimpse

2009-10-21T17:09:00.003-04:00

I'm too busy to be interesting anymore. Alas, between work and 3 different volunteer organizations, I am swamped. And we're completely caught up on Lost, so I've been having withdrawals.

I am obsessed with Olivia. I am not really qualified to offer any parenting advice, so I do what any good aunt would do - spoil. I am always on the lookout for cute clothes and I am helping my sister is whatever creative ways I can. So much fun.

I'm boring, but I'm happy. Pictures to follow after next week's visit with Olivia and Halloween party. I'm pretty pleased with myself for my creative costume idea...

Olivia

2009-10-12T09:40:00.004-04:00

She's here! My niece, Olivia Amy L___, arrived at 5:20 p.m. on Saturday, October 10 at 7 lbs. 1 oz. and 18.5 inches long. She is a doll with a head full of dark hair just like her Mama! Mama and baby are doing very well and they expect to be released from the hospital this morning.

Olivia is a name they really liked, and Amy is a family name in Sara's husband Tim's family that has been passed down for at least 4 generations. Olivia is beyond precious.

I'm finally officially Aunt Nisa!

Eid Weekend

2009-09-21T09:59:00.005-04:00

Bert and I had a wonderful Eid weekend together. As most of my regular readers know, Eid is the Islamic celebration after the month of Ramadan (fasting).

I must say, this is one of the best Eids I have ever had. We went to Atlanta Saturday so I could find a new outfit, and I was so happy to find something in my favorite color - hot pink! We then ate dinner with my cousins, Omer and Naima, who we were visiting to celebrate Chaand Raat. Literally "Night of the Moon," it is a celebration that takes place in the Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cultures the night before Eid. The significance of the moon sighting is that is how you know that the next day is Eid, as it is all based on the lunar calendar.

We heard a wonderful sermon the next morning for the special Eid prayer. I wish "people" would know what we really preach. Some of the sermon's major themes were about respecting your spouse, spending time with your children, understanding the importance of community, and remembering what's really important all year through - not just during holy times.

After the sermon, we had brunch at my great-aunt and great-uncle's house. It was so nice to be with family. We came home late in the afternoon and got ready for the week. And even though it's Monday, I feel energized and happy today, as I had a fantastic weekend. I had a weekend celebrating faith and family - and really, what's more important than that?

Excitement

2009-09-17T09:39:00.002-04:00

I am so excited I can hardly stand it.

You know when you're little, the night before your birthday or Christmas, it is SO HARD to sleep in anticipation of the next day. Well, I am felling those childlike butterflies yet again because Bert and I are going to SIX FLAGS this weekend!

It all came about because someone was selling two season passes for $20 cheaper than the promo they're currently running (kid's price for everyone). Bert gets motion sick, so we have never gone to an amusement park together. BUT I LOVE AMUSEMENT PARKS!

Bert forwarded me the email where the guy was selling the tickets and we are going for it. Roller coasters, here I come. Tacky souvenirs, here I come. Cotton candy and other assorted junk food, here I come. Overpriced caricature, I might be coming for you too.

Dramamine, here Bert comes. :)

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it.

Totally Lost

2009-09-09T09:07:00.002-04:00

I'm lost in "Lost." It's an obsession, really. I can't believe how long I've put off watching this show! It all started back in the day when Bert and I were newly married and had just moved. We had cable, but this was long before the days of fancy shmancy DVRs and HDTV - at least for us. So, we had to make a decision. Bert wanted to watch "Lost" and I wanted to watch "Grey's Anatomy." Well, of course I won. I always have the bargaining chip of reminding him how many Yankees games he watches.

But alas, we had been missing out!

Some of our BFFs had been telling us that we needed to watch "Lost." Finally we caved and watched the Pilot. We were hooked. That was August 24. We started Season 3 last night. We were warned that we would end up "losing" the next month of our lives, but it has been so much fun.

I highly, highly recommend!

Yummy To My Tummy

2009-08-28T15:54:00.004-04:00

Well, this is our month of fasting. You might think I've lost weight, considering I can't eat until ~8pm at night. WRONG! I have lost all self-control and have been eating Peanut Butter Dove chocolates like it's my job. It's awful. Each day, I start off well. Tons of water and a Balance Trail Mix bar (4 points). And on Weight Watchers, that would leave me a solid 21 points at night (if I don't save any.) And I can't even do it. I have lost all sense when the time comes to eat. Oh well.

You might think I'm going to post about getting healthy again. Maybe next week. But FIRST, I want to try this dessert I saw on Paula's Home Cooking yesterday. It's a dessert by Paula Deen that does NOT involve butter. I know, shocking.

Lemon Blossoms
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen via the Food Network

Ingredients
18 1/2 ounce package yellow cake mix
3 1/2 ounce package instant lemon pudding mix
4 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil

Glaze:
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons water

Directions
1. Preheat the over to 350 degrees F.
2. Spray miniature muffin tins with vegetable oil cooking spray. Combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs and oil and blend well with an electronic mixer until smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour a small amount of batter, filling each muffin tin half way. Bake for 12 minutes. Turn out onto a tea towel.
3. To make the glaze, sift the sugar into a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, zest, oil and water. Mix with a spoon until smooth.
4. With fingers, dip the cupcakes into the glaze while they're sill warm, covering as much of the cake as possible, or spoon the glaze over the warm cupcakes, turning them to completely coat. Place on wire racks with waxed paper underneath to catch any drips. Let them glaze set thoroughly, about 1 hour, before storing in containters with tight-fitting lids.

Yield: 5 dozen (uh oh...might need to rethink this...could be dangerous!)

From Miss to Mrs.

2009-08-16T15:06:00.001-04:00

Bert and I recently took the loooooooooong trek to Hot Springs, AR for a dear friend's wedding. My friend Amber and I met while we were interns in DC and just hit it off. We moved back up right after college and lived in the same building. She was one of my bridesmaids when I got married 5 years ago...wow 5 years!

So, since it was around an 11 hour drive, we decided to break it up on the way there. We stopped in Memphis to visit Bert's BFF and his wife. LOVE THEM. It was a blast. The next morning, we got up and drove to Little Rock to see the Clinton Library. It was amazing to see the history and his accomplishments. What prosperity and goodwill we had around the world!

Bert pretending to be Mr. Prez

They did an excellent job with the library and then we found a cute seafood dive right down the street called the Flying Fish. Highly recommend. After that, purchasing some Jackie Kennedy paper dolls for me and scoring some red velvet cupcakes, we made the final 2 hour drive to Hot Springs.

The rehearsal dinner was at the country club and the and the bride was radiant. We had such a fun bridesmaids brunch the next morning and I got my hair "did." It had been a LONG time since I had a professional updo, so that was fun. The wedding was very nice, the bride was gorgeous and the reception was spectacular. It was definitely one of the best times I've ever had at a wedding. Just a blast...and the couple was so happy.

Bridesmaid's Butt Broach Assembly Line

Me with "Cousin" Emily

Me and the beautiful bride!

And so, all in all, it was a great weekend. But I am DEFINTIELY ready for a weekend with zero plans, as you can tell from this and the previous two posts that I have had three jam-packed weekends in a row. I need a break!

5 Years With My Main Man

2009-08-14T13:20:00.003-04:00

Man, I was a lucky girl to have TWO wedding ceremonies! The top picture is of our wedding on August 14, 2004. The bottom is a formal portrait we took in our Nikah (Muslim wedding) attire. The date of that ceremony was August 13, 2004.

Bert knows that I love to speak to him in song, so here is my song lyric of the day:

I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.

I mean it. Love you.

Aunt Nisa...Well, Almost

2009-08-11T14:57:00.008-04:00

I can't believe I am going to be an aunt! That's right...my LITTLE sister is having a baby! I can hardly believe it. AND...it's going to be a girl! I love love love baby girls. I plan on being the one that interjects lots of pink and frou-frou-ness into her life. :)

Sara and her husband recently moved two hours from my house, so immediately I thought BABY SHOWER! And that's just what I did. We have a lot of family that lives within 1-2 hours of my house, so it was a great central location.

She got some of the cutest stuff...those tiny clothes are really something. And the cake - isn't it amazing? Mama and I did most of the food - Asian salad, chicken salad croissants, black-eyed pea salsa, fruit and cream cheese dip, mini parathas (Indian bread), spinach dip and more. My grandmother made kabobs and gulab jamuns (an Indian dessert), my great-aunt made delicious potato samosas and my aunt made brownies. It was all delicious! I am hungry just thinking about it!

Sara loved her gifts...she really racked up. After opening her gifts, I had all the mothers go around and give her a bit of advice. It was all very sweet. My favorite was when Sara said that she wanted to do what our mom did and make "everything magical." She talked about how in thunderstorms, we would go sit on the porch and we were allowed to play in rainshowers...just how everything was special. And it was.

Mama, Sara and Me

It was a lovely weekend, and I can't wait to be Aunt Nisa!

No Squealing

2009-08-11T14:48:00.004-04:00

First things first. I have several posts in me, but have been waiting to download pics. First up: whitewater rafting down the Chattooga River!

For those of you that have seen "Deliverance," this was the same river in the movie. We rafted and swam at many of the exact same sites. I was fine until I saw an Appalachian man playing the banjo. I hate that song from that movie...gives me the creeps.

Anyway, I went on this excursion as part of a leadership group I am a member of. This was for our retreat, and it was a BLAST. I usually hate retreats because they are a total waste of time. Not this one! And I was TERRIFIED to whitewater raft...but totally ended up rocking a Class 4 rapid. So much fun!

I learned a lot about myself - that I actually am more capable than I thought without Bert. I can do outdoorsy/athletic stuff even if he's not there to give me extreme amounts of support. I learned I can pull myself together and DO IT. I was proud. He was proud too.

I also became good friends with a girl in our group - also a displaced Mississippian in Georgia! So much fun. This picture above is of my group (there were around 25 of us total in different groups) with our guide. I spent the first 30 minutes of the rafting trip silent because I knew our guide was the spitting image of a celebrity.

"JAMES FRANCO!" I finally yelled out. He laughed and said he knew I was thinking really hard about something. My team was impressed my celebrity cross-reference. Usually I am much quicker, but his blond hair threw me for a bit.

Anyway, it was a great, great weekend in late July. I will definitely be back!

Quick Hello

2009-07-30T12:36:00.002-04:00

I'll be back soon.

Life is crazy with school starting next week! Here's a few teasers of posts to come:

1. Whitewater rafting with a James Franco look-a-like guide
2. Baby shower for my LITTLE sister

Coming soon...well, soonish at least.

You Know I Love These

2009-07-16T11:29:00.003-04:00

This idea was stolen from Laura, who stole it from Facebook. I have a sore throat and this is what I feeling like doing. I realize you don't REALLY care to read a bunch of confession questions about me, so pick a few to read and consider doing it too! I happen to enjoy these. :)

1. The phone rings. Who do you want it to be? Like Laura, I love talking on the phone...always have. There are a few folks who I let go straight to voice mail (NONE of y'all...I promise!), but other than that, I love it.

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart? Yep.

3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener? Depends on my mood. Would love for someone to chime in and tell me which one I am!

4. Do you take compliments well? Perhaps a little too well. Just kidding! But I do need lots of affirmation, so I have to say I enjoy a compliment.

5. Do you play Soduku? No. Whenever I think of Soduku, I think of Patrick Davis - the master.

6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive? I'm tougher than you might think.

7. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? No and I wouldn't let my kids go to an overnight camp either. I'm too paranoid.

8. What was your favorite game as a kid? I loved to play "teacher" and as far as board games, my fave was Life.

9. Would you slow dance with someone that you knew was married? No way Jose.

10. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you? I did...and he converted. :)

11. Do you like to pursue or be pursued? These girls today...I tell ya. Ladies, be pursued! Any time I tried to pursue, I ended up looking like a fool.

12. Use three words to describe yourself. Extroverted, introspective, passionate

13. Do any songs make you cry? Yes, the most bizarre of which is "Hate it or Love It" by the Game feat. 50 Cent. I am pro-choice, but when he says in the song that any time he gets exhausted, he thinks about what if his mom got that abortion. Then he says, "I love you, Ma." I'm crying now.

14. Are you continuing your education? Would love to be Dr. Anisa one day! When Bert gets done with his, I'd like to go back for mine.

15. Do you know how to shoot a gun? When your daddy is from Sturgis, Miss., you better believe you know how to shoot!

16. If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed? My cat Matty...and if Bert had him, then our wedding album.

17. How often do you read books? Not nearly enough. The last book I read was probably 6 months ago. Bad Anisa. I started "The Secret Life of Bees" a few weeks ago and need to pick it back up. Any reviews on this book?

18. Do you think more about the past, present or future? I think of all of it...but I do think of the future more than I should. I need to focus more on the here and now rather than waiting for this or that to happen.

19. What is your favorite children's book? I have lots. One is "A Time to Keep" by Tasha Tudor...quite a magical book.

20. What color are your eyes? brown

21. How tall are you? 5'4" and a HALF

22. Where is your dream house located? Somewhere closer to family.

23. Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth? Yes...some of my favorites!

24. When was the last time you were at Olive Garden? Like 2 months. Love their pasta e fagioli.

25. What is the furthest place you traveled today? Starbucks to get a hot chocolate...like I said, my throat hurts. :(

26. Do you like mustard? GROSS. Well...honey mustard is good (only if it is not dijon).

27. Do you prefer to sleep or eat? Sleep.

28. Do you look like your mom or dad? I look like my own person, but you can tell they are my parents. I guess a tiny bit more like my dad.

29. How long does it take you in the shower? 20 minutes. I know.

30. Can you do the splits? Like Laura, I can't do that, cartwheel or dive.

31. What movie do you want to see right now? Harry Potter...going tonight!

32. Do you think The Grudge was scary? SO SCARY.

33. Do you own a camera phone? Yes.

34. Was your mom a cheerleader? Nope

35. What's the last letter of your middle name? My birth middle name ends in "T" (Margrett)...my maiden is now my middle and it ends in an "N"

36. How many hours of sleep do you get a night? Not enough! Usually close to 8, but not quite. I think my body needs at least 9.

37. Do you like care bears? No strong feelings one way or another

38. What do you buy at the movies? BUY? I sneak my stuff in!

39. Do you know how to play poker? Kinda

40. Do you wear your seatbelt? Yes, or my car makes this ANNOYING beeping sound that won't stop

41. What do you wear to sleep? T-shirt and shorts/capris/pants. I wish I was the kind of person who wore cute nighties like they do on TV every night.

42. Anything big ever happen in your hometown? Johnny Cash was arrested there for picking flowers while drunk, George H.W. Bush spoke at graduation one year and that's about it! Oh - one of the American Idol contestants was from my hometown and I went to Jr. High with a former Miss USA.

43. How many meals do you eat a day? 2 or 3.

44. Is your tongue pierced? No.

45. Do you like funny or serious people better? Funny people that can be serious.

46. Ever been to L.A.? Nope...would love to.

47. Did you eat a cookie today? No, but that's a great idea.

48. Do you use cuss words in other languages? Oh yes! Urdu. Bert's favorite is the one I say that translates to "low class shoeshine owl." SO lost in translation! :)

49. Do you steal or pay for your music downloads? Pay - iTunes.

50. Do you hate chocolate? I LOVE CHOCOLATE.

51. What do you and your parents fight about the most? We don't fight hardly at all any more now that I don't live with them! :)

52. Are you a gullible person? NO. I am quite the opposite...always skeptical.

53. Do you need a boyfriend/girlfriend to be happy? I'm married...and the happiest I've ever been because I'm happy with myself.

54. If you could have any job (assuming you have the skills) what would it be? Novelist. Hands down. My dream.

55. Are you easy to get along with? I think so...not to say I can't be difficult and/or bossy, but I would like to think I'd be friends with me. :)

56. What is your favorite time of day? The moment I get home, put on jams and relax with Bert.

I Left My Home in Georgia, Headed for the 'Frisco Bay

2009-07-09T14:26:00.032-04:00

Going from Pacific Coast time to East Coast time makes for a doozy of a jetlag, but I finally feel normal today. And for all of you that have ever visited San Francisco, you know that it was totally and completely worth it. We were gone nearly a week, and got home this past Friday. Let's go on a photo tour. I'll start at the beginning.

We arrived at noon on a Saturday, checked in at the Westin St. Francis, and headed to Fisherman's Wharf via cable car. Had lunch and the waitress said we had to go to this old-timey arcade, the Musee Mechanique. It was so neat, and of course Bert beat the machine in arm wrestling on the highest level. :)

After the arcade and checking out the sea lions, we walked a short distance to Ghiradelli Square, where we shared the best ice cream sundae I have ever had in my life. I was worried about all the calories, but shouldn't been have due to the walk from hell we had to take straight up several hills to Lombard Street, the "curviest street in America":

The GPS on my phone was messed up, so after all that, we ended up walking really far through Chinatown back to the hotel in Union Square. Exhaustion.

Day two. We got up, caught a MUNI bus and went to Golden Gate Park. I LOVED the Japanese Tea Garden. If you go to San Francisco, I highly recommend this. Pictures cannot do it justice; it is truly one of the most magical places I have ever been:

We walked through Golden Gate Park and saw stunning flowers on the trek to Haight-Ashbury, the hippie district. We got some fabulous peace posters, but the most memorable part of this area was Scooter Girl:

Why, yes, she is only wearing a tutu and rainbow colored knee-socks. Why? Well, she was probably on her way to the Gay Pride Parade. Yep, we were there while 1.5 million people were there for a gay pride extravaganza. The nudity freaked me out.

Anyway, then, we ended up walking a crazy long way AGAIN to get to the Painted Ladies:

There are lots and lots of houses that look like this in San Fran. When we FINALLY got there, we were exhausted. Bert and I proceeded to get into an argument about if the Tanner Family lived in one of these. No really. But first, I belted out the "Full House" theme song. No really.

Side note. I was right. The Tanners did NOT live in a Painted Lady. See here. Bert should know to never question my pop culture knowledge. :)

That evening and for the next few days, I had a conference to attend. It was fabulous and I learned so much and made great contacts. Really wonderful professional experience.

In the evenings, Bert and I enjoyed some fabulous meals. Our two favorites were Naan-N-Curry, an Indian restaurant and our very top - Michael Mina. The Indian restaurant was delicious and reminded me of my family. Nice having a moment with "my people." And Michael Mina - WOW.

I had wanted to go to this restaurant since seeing it on the show "Giada's Weekend Getaways". She ate a lobster pot pie there that looked divine. So, Bert and I went and ordered off the prix fixe menu (which you have to do). For my first course, I chose something that sounded good and involved strawberries. It was called foie gras.

FOIE GROSS!

Little did I know it was liver. It was disgusting. I actually did not find out it was liver until the day we left when I remembered to Google it. I started gagging in the airport. Thank goodness that waiter was super nice and not hoity-toity at all. Plus Bert said it was my first time to try it, as we didn't want the chef to think it was HIS foie gras that I didn't like. It's all foie gras that I despise.

Anyway, the lobster pot pies came out - divine. It was all I had hoped for. Then, our waiter came back and said, "The chef is concerned you didn't have enough. He will send out a cheese course with his compliments." WOW. Talk about service. The cheese was delicious. The shining star of the meal was a root beer float (with root beer and sassafras sorbet) and two warm and ooey-gooey chocolate chip and pecan cookies. It was not just a good meal; it was an incredible dining experience. Five stars. After that, we went to a super cool speakeasy recommended by Alli.

Our next big excursion some days later was the Golden Gate Bridge. Magnificent.

We were told we could walk the bridge (It took around 30 minutes of crazy windiness and super noisiness with all the cars whizzing by) and would be right in Sausalito. WRONG. After walking nearly two hours, Bert and I FINALLY arrived in Sausalito. Here I am really depressed and tired:

Anyway, we FINALLY arrived, and it was gorgeous. I cried at lunch because the food was gross, but that's another story. Here is a snapshot of lovely Marin County:

I was still upset until we found a candy store, and I got some new gorgeous earrings. Then all was well.

Our last big excursion was to Napa Valley. It was nice to be back in a car and not reliant on walking belligerently long distances or taking public transportation. We went to V. Sattui, which had a fabulous lunch, and Mumm Napa. It was so very beautiful. We went on a tour at Mumm Napa, and also went to a gallery at Mumm where they had Ansel Adams photography. It was a great day, and we felt very cultured.

We had time left before having to take the car back, so we went to Twin Peaks to see a truly incredible view:

In fact, there were lots of postcard views. Sometimes the scenery was so incredible that it was hard to truly absorb what you were seeing. Magnificent. It was a great week, and after a long stretch of being crazy busy for me and Bert, it was just what we needed. And while there's no place like home and the South is that for me, I definitely heart San Francisco.

Start Spreadin' The News

2009-06-25T14:29:00.002-04:00

As much as I feel like a baseball widow sometimes and even though I have yelled, "I HATE THE YANKEES!" before, I have to say that I am looking forward to heading to Turner Field in just a bit to see the Yankees and Braves battle it out.

Bert LOVES baseball and me - not so much. I grew up in a house with a dad that also thought it was dreadfully boring. BUT knowing that Bert loves it (and was/is a fabulous player), I decided we'd get these tickets for Valentine's Day. We went to Hibbett's last weekend and I got the cutest vintage inspired Yankees t-shirt. Smart move, Bert - bribe me with new clothing.

No, I don't hate the Yankees - I am just not a big fan of their constant presence in my life. But for tonight, ladies and gents, tonight I shall be a hard core Yankees fan.

The Big 2-9

2009-06-22T11:55:00.006-04:00

This is a close-up of the stunning flowers I received this morning from Mama and Daddy. What a great birthday already! And I enjoyed talking to my Daddy yesterday for Father's Day as well...love him so.

The weekend was all I could hope for - "Jersey Boys" was so much fun, and the Sundial a.k.a. Revolving Restaurant was delicious and provided an amazing 360 view of the Atlanta skyline. I have received gifts, cards, calls, texts and Facebook messages - each meaning so much to me. Also today, my assistant gave me the sweetest card and some stationery I really wanted. She and Bert had been in cahoots! :)

And tonight, I can't wait to open my surprises from Bert. And later, we'll eat Italian with friends.

I am loved. I am blessed. Welcome, 29. Just please don't go by too fast!

Bachelorette Bash

2009-06-17T09:06:00.005-04:00

As promised, here are a few pics from my friend Amber's Bachelorette Weekend in DC:

Bridesmaids at Sequoia in Georgetown...a fabulous place for lunch on the water. Yum!
L-R: Me, Emily, Amber, Lindsay and Robin

This is me at JFK and Jackie's former home in Georgetown. I am pretending that I'm going inside. A modern day Jackie, don't ya think? ;)

Out on the town with the bride-to-be! We were either at Policy or Marvin's. Rahm Emmanuel, the White House Chief of Staff, was also at Marvin's, but we did not see him. We just read about it in the next day's paper.

Fun times. Can't wait until the wedding in August!

Birthday Buildup

2009-06-16T11:23:00.004-04:00

On Monday, June 22, I shall celebrate the last birthday in my 20s. That is such a crazy thought. Right now, I am in the giddy pre-birthday phase because I am so looking forward to this weekend. That's right - Bert and I are going to see "Jersey Boys" at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on Saturday night. I can't wait! I have high hopes because I really like the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons...I think it'll be a lot of fun. And pre-dinner, we're going to the Sundial Restaurant, a.k.a. what my little cousin and I used to call the Revolving Restaurant. I am excited to enjoy a fabulous meal high above the Atlanta skyline.

And, well, I've seen a few boxes on our front steps, so I have a feeling I'll be getting some birthday loot Monday as well. This is already shaping up to be a mighty fine birthday.

I'm trying to savor all the moments of anticipation, like deciding what to wear (check!). I know it'll be lots of fun, but I also have learned in my nearly 29 years to enjoy each moment as it comes, as planning and preparing for something fun is as much a part of the experience as the actual event. And I don't want to miss a minute of it.

MeMeMe

2009-06-08T08:58:00.006-04:00

I'm in a horrible mood this Monday morning, so let's see if filling this out helps...

Stolen from LT

FOOD-OLOGY
What is your salad dressing of choice? Balsamic vinaigrette
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Porterhouse (Georgia) and Harvey's (Mississippi)
What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it? Probably Papa John's cheese pizza
What are your pizza toppings of choice? Only cheese
What do you like to put on your toast? I hardly ever eat toast, but I do like butter and strawberry or grape jelly.

TECHNOLOGY
How many televisions are in your house? 3 - one LCD in the living room, one in the guest room (that is only used for Nintendo or watching VHS) and one in our bedroom. I used to tell Bert I didn't want a TV in our bedroom, but shortly thereafter, I got the flu and was so grateful I could watch movies from the bed.
What color cell phone do you have? Black iPhone - I love it.
What does the first text message in your inbox say and who sent it? It simply says ":-)" and is from Bert.
Who was the last person to call you? My sister Sara

BIOLOGY
Are you right-handed or left-handed? Right
Have you ever had anything removed from your body? Wisdom Teeth
What is the last heavy item you lifted? Me? Lift heavy items? :)

CRAP-OLOGY
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? No way Jose.
If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I love my name...I just wish I would've kept my maiden name. :)
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? I don't think so...yuck.

DUMB-OLOGY
How many pairs of flip flops do you own? 5ish
Last time you had a run-in with the cops? Eff the police. Kidding, kidding.
Last person you talked to in person? My assistant
Favorite Month? June, my birthday month!

CURRENT-OLOGY
Missing someone? Yes
Mood? Foul
What are you listening to? Pandora - a song called "Babies" by Pulp is on...not bad!
Watching? I'm just looking at the computer...so I'm watching this. Weird question.
Worrying about? Something we need to sell

RANDOM-OLOGY
What’s the last movie you watched? "Taken" with Liam Neeson - it was great.
Do you smile often? I think so.
Do you always answer your phone? Mostly
It’s four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it? I don't get many 4am texts...most likely it would be a wrong number.
If you could change your eye color what would it be? Green
What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? Cherry
Do you own a digital camera? Yep
Have you ever had a pet fish? I don't think so...we had dogs.
Favorite Christmas song? "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear"
What’s on your wish list for your birthday? Stationery, shoes...what I REALLY wanted, I am getting -- tickets to see "Jersey Boys" at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. So excited!!
Can you do push-ups? Yeah, if they're "girl" push-ups.
Can you do a chin up? Not without the assistance of a machine at the gym!
Does the future make you more nervous or excited? Excited
Do you have any saved texts? Yes
Ever been in a car wreck? Yes
Do you have an accent? Southern accent
What is the last song to make you cry? "I'm Not Over" by Carolina Liar. For some reason, it makes me think of my grandfather...I know that's weird because the song is about a break-up or something, but instead, it always makes me think about how I'll never get over his death.
Plans tonight? Bert and I are attending a reception and then dinner for this leadership program I'm starting.
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? Yes
Name 2 things you bought yesterday. Wheat sub rolls and 100-calorie packs of sour cream Pringles
You ever been given roses? Yes...I love flowers!
Current hate right now? Monday
Met someone who changed your life? Yes
What song represents you? "Careful" by Guster used to represent me somewhat...not sure what it is now.
What were you doing 12 AM last night? Watching like 10 minutes of "I Dream of Jeannie" before drifting off to sleep
What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I am so tired.

Still in a mood, but better. :)