tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210806147224768892024-02-06T21:45:30.817-05:00Growing Up ThymeThis blog is devoted to several things (listed in no particular order): my attempt at a green thumb, the harsh realization that sometimes I need to be an adult in dealing with my baby boomer rents, and finally my attempt at cooking, baking, decorating, aka "playing house"Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-40721667563813992702012-02-23T19:38:00.000-05:002012-02-23T19:38:32.211-05:00What's your walkability number<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I found this great website where you type in your exact address and it gives you a walkability score for you house. Mine is 42, which is "car dependent" it thens provides you with restuarants, schools, and parks nearby. Atlanta's average is 56....I can't believe I am below average!<br />
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What is your walkability number? Check it out <a href="http://www.walkscore.com/">http://www.walkscore.com/</a>. I think the next house I rent or buy will need a 75 or higher! I would love to be able to walk to more places.<br />
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[Pic from my garden] - that being said - I really love my home. I have this pretty little angel in my garden - it makes me happy!<br />
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</div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-84568788004183037512012-01-26T20:49:00.000-05:002012-01-26T20:49:25.276-05:0010 years...wowzer!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">10 years ago in January Elliot and I went on our first date</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">. It is crazy to think of how long 10 years really </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">is. Since we started dating, I have graduated high school, college, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">grad school, and lived in Raleigh, Santiago, Chapel Hill, Singapore, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Mexico, Chapel Hill, and Atlanta. I could make this post sappy, but I </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">just ate a banana and already feel gaggy. I love lists, so here we go:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">In honor of growing up, here are ten things I want to do in the next ten years:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">1) Travel more (I want to go to New Orleans, Alaska, Maine, Buenos </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Aires, Rio, New Zealand, just to name a few)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">2) Learn to cook</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">3) One day have a garden and grow veggies</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">4) Remember to bring in my own grocery bags</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">5) I have always wanted to be able to do a pull-up, one day I will!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">6) Host more often</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">7) Learn Spanish (again)</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">8) Floss every day</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">9) Take more naps</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">10) Work on my vocabulary, and use all my new fancy words to impress the world</span> </div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-7923373574742057412012-01-23T21:51:00.000-05:002012-01-23T21:51:38.341-05:00IGA...what!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">So in case you have been under a rock for 4 years, the economy stinks. So I am always looking for ways to save some cash. You may have read my past post exploring the discount grocery store of Aldi. Which overall was a nice surprise. So I got adventurous and decided to check out IGA, another discount grocery store, and see if I was lucky again….I was not.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">IGA was very odd, smelled kinda bad, many of the shelves were empty, the produce sparse, I am not even going to comment on the meat department. Overall, I felt the immediate need to run out as quickly as possible. I guess one plus, was there were a few interesting items from other countries, notice the pictures of ghee!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">[note- I think I have been in nice IGA’s before, just not this one].</div><br />
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</div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-5105390301899828652012-01-18T19:59:00.000-05:002012-01-18T19:59:31.985-05:00Fantasy Football.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">As we move in to 2012, it is important to reflect on 2011 and what you learned. Every year you should find something to challenge yourself. Some might try to learn a new language, others may try to learn to cook, do a triathlon, or workout to look good in pajama jeans. For 2011, I challenged myself by playing fantasy football.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You might say “Gaya playing fantasy football…are you crazy?” I have probably never watched a full football game in my life. A few of my girlfriends in Atlanta had a league going, and I decided to challenge myself. I had no idea what a Tight End was, I am still confused if football is in halves or quarters….and I still don’t! ahahha.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I picked my players at first based on how they looked, but I found I had a bunch of quarterbacks and no other positions. Later, I learned the error in my ways, and started picking players based on their averages. There were 6 girls in the league, and guess what – I think I got 2<sup>nd</sup> place! I am not completely sure though, because the ESPN website is confusing sometimes (or most times!).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Lessons for next time:</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If you want to be good, you should care (about winning and about the sport).</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You should put a little money in the pot (we played without any cash on the table….so it is easy to stop caring).</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You should set a reminder on your calendar to switch out players each week</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t emotionally attach yourself to a player or how good the player was supposed to be….if they start doing poorly, give them the boot.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t pick players just upon their looks.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I won’t be trying to be a professional football player anytime soon, there are sooo many injuries, torn this, pulled that…no thanks!</span></li>
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<div class="MsoNormal">What challenging stuff are you doing for 2012?</div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-23433477844948687662011-12-21T18:27:00.000-05:002011-12-21T18:27:14.603-05:00I'm back<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I got back from Africa 2 ½ weeks ago and have been meaning to blog….but I have not….I would like to blame jet lag, or a super busy holiday schedule – but really it is because I’m lazy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So we went to South Africa, to Cape Town for 5 nights and Kruger on Safari for 4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an awesome trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard to try to sum up an awesome trip, so I am going to do a top 10 list and some pics.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Top Ten Moments my South Africa Trip</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The flights….I love long flights - it is pretty awesome having no contact to the outside world for a very long time, no crackberry, email, facebook, etc. Awesome time to watch movies and not feel guilty, read a book, and nap a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Warning – don’t take Ambien (a sleep aid) if you are not used to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had an outer body experience with hallucinations mixed in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not sure if the experience was traumatic or awesome – the jury is out.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cape Town’s botanical garden was a real treat. It was beautiful; we had excellent weather and enjoyed a nice meal outside. There was a smell and touch exhibit, where you were instructed to touch and smell certain plants. Elliot loved it!</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Safari - seeing 2 black mambas – a very poisonous snake….a truly traumatic experience, I also saw 2 scorpions!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Safari – seeing elephants from my room…nuff said</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Cape Town and Safari, Wine, wine, and sparkling wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do love a nice bubbly. The vineyard we visited was simply de-VINE!</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Elliot and I taking 2,000 pictures of lions sleeping – what can I say, I am still learning to use my camera.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A rhino charging our vehicle, luckily it was only doing it so we would remember who the boss is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Seeing a different side of the world, and still realizing it can be a small place. I saw my co-worker from Atlanta in the Johannesburg airport, and we ended up staying in the same hotel in Cape Town (a hotel with only 8 rooms)…talk about 2 ladies with good taste!</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the animals were amazing, not just on Safari but near Cape Town too [see facebook account for full idea].<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elliot was pretty pumped to get his big 5 certificate!</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Getting to spend 11 days straight with Elliot…WINNING!</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ehGC6s4QPjQ/TvJqpbYK-WI/AAAAAAAACp4/D9mk1tcrE94/s1600/DSC_1653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ehGC6s4QPjQ/TvJqpbYK-WI/AAAAAAAACp4/D9mk1tcrE94/s400/DSC_1653.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BXeW-q7bEnU/TvJqyNo0B_I/AAAAAAAACqI/mwjNjB0Yq8U/s1600/DSC_2994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BXeW-q7bEnU/TvJqyNo0B_I/AAAAAAAACqI/mwjNjB0Yq8U/s400/DSC_2994.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-91954377807427703072011-11-22T18:22:00.000-05:002011-11-22T18:22:41.073-05:00Harry Potter World - family style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So a few weeks ago my family (Mom, Dad, Spectra, her hubby Sawyer, Elliot, and me) went down to <city style="text-align: left;" w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Orlando</place></city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left;"> to celebrate my dad’s retirement. And by, went to </span><city style="text-align: left;" w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Orlando</place></city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left;"> to celebrate, I really mean went to Harry Potter world to celebrate our own wizard and witch skills!</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Before I get started on Harry Potter world, let me first say crazy that my dad is retiring, for several reasons i) he is a really magical teacher and seems to have so much fun with it all (from dressing up as a knight and knighting a child from each class who exhibits strong character, to using Google earth to pretend he is an astronaut with the kids landing on Mars….this is just the beginning, ii) he does not really have much gray hair, which seems like it would be a requirement for retiring, iii) my parents have crazy amounts of energy….as an example – when we were planning Orlando they decided they wanted to do theme parks 3 days in a row, and when I say theme parks I mean arrive at 9am leave at 10pm after the fireworks…..wow-zer, I really needed a vacation after the vacation, and finally iv) for him to retire, means I am really old enough to be an adult (hence the name Growing Up Thyme – always weird when I remember I am an adult)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Here are some highlights of the trip</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">1)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Butter Beer, butterscotchy cream soda goodness…nuff said</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">2)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Picking out own wands at Ollivander’s Wand shop….now most people would select a wand by either their birth month or which character in Harry Potter they most relate to….not my family – Wally (dad) insisted of having us open a bizzillion wand boxes (without him knowing which wand was which) and glide the wand over his head until his Chakra energy felt powerful….let’s just say it is kinda scary Elliot felt the Voldemort and Harry Potter! I hope my hubby is not evil!!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">3)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Moaning Myrtle moaning in the bathrooms</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">4)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>The amazing window displays</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">5)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>The state of the art ride where I got to fly….so neat! Even the line was amazing – going through Hogwarts</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">6)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Honeydukes candy shop – yes I did buy a chocolate frog and bertie botts jelly beans (my favorite of the weird flavors was grass and pepper!)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">7)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Unrelated to Harry Potter, but playing Settler’s of Catan late night with the fam</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having geek parents that would rather do Harry Potter world vs. some stiff dinner or party sure is awesome…WINNING!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some pics</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{Wandering the streets}</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cNSAsjBcRZE/TswtZpOCuYI/AAAAAAAACek/5pomw1oOVUc/s1600/harry+potter+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cNSAsjBcRZE/TswtZpOCuYI/AAAAAAAACek/5pomw1oOVUc/s400/harry+potter+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{Obvi they are in costume}</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FGLEMIRkCqE/TswtaIBN7MI/AAAAAAAACe0/VoL2bqKDwFU/s1600/harry+potter+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FGLEMIRkCqE/TswtaIBN7MI/AAAAAAAACe0/VoL2bqKDwFU/s400/harry+potter+5.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPlS5DV4azI/TswtapbFviI/AAAAAAAACe8/3tREAPagDaM/s1600/harry+potter+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PPlS5DV4azI/TswtapbFviI/AAAAAAAACe8/3tREAPagDaM/s400/harry+potter+6.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2c_VGNgp_Pk/Tswta--8ApI/AAAAAAAACfA/ODEe-q0M_co/s1600/harry+potter+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2c_VGNgp_Pk/Tswta--8ApI/AAAAAAAACfA/ODEe-q0M_co/s400/harry+potter+7.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NCHBHs6ZNtc/TswtbKrNVjI/AAAAAAAACfI/SCJgshKZ3x4/s1600/harry+potter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NCHBHs6ZNtc/TswtbKrNVjI/AAAAAAAACfI/SCJgshKZ3x4/s400/harry+potter.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{Family Photo - don't pretend you don't like the fanny pack!}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K_KDVEFpneY/Tswuc2Em1lI/AAAAAAAACfk/Ra13NGSXFvE/s1600/harry+potter+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K_KDVEFpneY/Tswuc2Em1lI/AAAAAAAACfk/Ra13NGSXFvE/s400/harry+potter+9.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{Hogwarts}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MRDlJyDs8o4/TqVu_8VKrJI/AAAAAAAACNk/qRUWFu01qrs/s1600/IMAG0705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MRDlJyDs8o4/TqVu_8VKrJI/AAAAAAAACNk/qRUWFu01qrs/s400/IMAG0705.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{Enjoying a butter beer}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SS1uYFPIQy8/TqVu4PXkDkI/AAAAAAAACNU/b_piLXDXFCE/s1600/IMAG0707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SS1uYFPIQy8/TqVu4PXkDkI/AAAAAAAACNU/b_piLXDXFCE/s400/IMAG0707.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTvj1ULIEDM/TswuHKZ8cEI/AAAAAAAACfc/FPYvEnNHmJs/s1600/harry+potter+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTvj1ULIEDM/TswuHKZ8cEI/AAAAAAAACfc/FPYvEnNHmJs/s400/harry+potter+4.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{It moved around the talked!}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RDHt4HzoVkc/Tswt7FMhq4I/AAAAAAAACfU/GGo_DzpLivQ/s1600/harry+potter+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RDHt4HzoVkc/Tswt7FMhq4I/AAAAAAAACfU/GGo_DzpLivQ/s400/harry+potter+8.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{Mandrake}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eFir7BYryCk/TqVuKN_HDEI/AAAAAAAACMc/icMYYNH3Asw/s1600/IMAG0716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eFir7BYryCk/TqVuKN_HDEI/AAAAAAAACMc/icMYYNH3Asw/s400/IMAG0716.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--1b1ZNHeMTQ/TswtZ2iTzkI/AAAAAAAACes/fWonIeyvPaI/s1600/harry+potter+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--1b1ZNHeMTQ/TswtZ2iTzkI/AAAAAAAACes/fWonIeyvPaI/s400/harry+potter+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{Frog choir}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GBCkylCQa3E/TqVt2az8xQI/AAAAAAAACL8/YmaIHXOViJg/s1600/IMAG0719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GBCkylCQa3E/TqVt2az8xQI/AAAAAAAACL8/YmaIHXOViJg/s400/IMAG0719.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{Lots of small touches scattered around}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TyxfL5Nkx8o/TqVtvmrV5aI/AAAAAAAACL0/qI6aVGBrwsY/s1600/IMAG0721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TyxfL5Nkx8o/TqVtvmrV5aI/AAAAAAAACL0/qI6aVGBrwsY/s400/IMAG0721.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">{Wally wearing his sorting hat drinking another butter beer - non alc. of course!}</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TNlBiZjva88/TqVtKC95VRI/AAAAAAAACLE/RNHbhI1iL70/s1600/IMAG0727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TNlBiZjva88/TqVtKC95VRI/AAAAAAAACLE/RNHbhI1iL70/s400/IMAG0727.jpg" width="238" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-23474671251070532452011-11-14T21:43:00.000-05:002011-11-14T21:43:14.042-05:0010 days till Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In less than 10 days I will be in South Africa!! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I am going for a little R&R and will spend 5 nights in Cape Town and 4 nights on a Safari to Kruger Sabi Sands!<br />
<br />
Here are some pics of the loveliness!<br />
<br />
{High Tea}<br />
<div></div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/468725914/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/75505731222243941_Ro9Qxm2f_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.mountnelson.co.za/web/ocap/afternoon_tea.jsp" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">mountnelson.co.za</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
{Penguins}<br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/468667776/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/75505731222243924_1H67aaZC_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=boulders+beach+cape+town&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&rlz=1I7ADFA_en&biw=1366&bih=468&tbm=isch&tbnid=qypGUqr5Pt94XM:&imgrefurl=http://news.travelhouseuk.co.uk/destinations/picnic-with-the-penguins-at-boulders-beach.htm&docid=M-DWFYui3wKwVM&imgurl=http://news.travelhouseuk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Boulders-Beach-South-Africa.jpg&w=600&h=396&ei=y0-5TpSeIKfs2QW3vc3DBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=540&vpy=166&dur=1753&hovh=182&hovw=276&tx=193&ty=140&sig=100507535511510067020&page=1&tbnh=127&tbnw=196&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">google.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
{Fabulous Neighborhoods}<br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/468661652/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/75505731222243921_lJ8jz0PC_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bo+kaap+cape+town&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&rlz=1I7ADFA_en&biw=1366&bih=468&tbm=isch&tbnid=cUUz-glN6rqgSM:&imgrefurl=http://www.tourdeforks.com/culinary_travel_SthAfrica_CapeTown.shtml&docid=cO13eoBHkLsWaM&imgurl=http://www.tourdeforks.com/BoKaap.jpg&w=200&h=198&ei=dU-5Tu3_O8fe2AWPrqXHBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=138&sig=100507535511510067020&page=2&tbnh=110&tbnw=120&start=12&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:12&tx=49&ty=57" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">google.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div></div><br />
<br />
{Wine Galore!}<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/468610366/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/75505731222243894_t9gKkQfo_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=Constantia+Uitsig+Wine+Estate&hl=en&sa=X&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&rlz=1I7ADFA_en&biw=1366&bih=507&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=YNIvM2MBvhST9M:&imgrefurl=http://www.toursandtrails.com/restaurants/ct-finedining.html&docid=V4uwxIaWA15jhM&imgurl=http://www.toursandtrails.com/restaurants/images/constantia-uitsig.jpg&w=320&h=227&ei=_0q5TuD_O6-02AXru_DQBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=125&sig=100507535511510067020&page=1&tbnh=146&tbnw=181&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0&tx=124&ty=85" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">google.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<div></div>{Nice view from hotel}<br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/468574161/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/75505731222243879_RNGOr2nL_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g312659-d316621-Reviews-Kensington_Place-Cape_Town_Western_Cape.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">tripadvisor.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
{Safari - making friends}<br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/468594765/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/75505731222243888_O0N8PdlY_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g471846-d306240-Reviews-Elephant_Plains_Game_Lodge-Sabi_Sand_Game_Reserve.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">tripadvisor.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
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<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/468587573/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/75505731222243885_K0Ga80mz_c.jpg" width="285" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g471846-d306240-Reviews-Elephant_Plains_Game_Lodge-Sabi_Sand_Game_Reserve.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">tripadvisor.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/468602868/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/75505731222243892_NwjycyTh_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.elephantplains.co.za/manyeleti-romantic-honeymoon-suite/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">elephantplains.co.za</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-73806627473526234032011-11-10T15:49:00.000-05:002011-11-10T15:49:16.024-05:00And the winner is....drumroll please!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The lady bug is the winner!<br />
<br />
Thank you Tamara for submitting your cute pic Sophie Mae dressed up in her lady bug costume for Halloween! It was a close race (5 of us voted for our top 3, and she came up with the most points). A 10 dollar target gift card will be mailed to you home! Congrats!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mP8xBadlbj4/Trv8GFXjOjI/AAAAAAAACU8/ApGQu6MLkbw/s1600/Tamara+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mP8xBadlbj4/Trv8GFXjOjI/AAAAAAAACU8/ApGQu6MLkbw/s400/Tamara+1.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>All the pets are of course winners, here are just a few of my favorites. I really love costumes when they have attached arms!<br />
<br />
Look at this squirrel - I love the arms!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oGvrx8LC9fY/Trv78F17kXI/AAAAAAAACSg/RkPWT40wm4s/s1600/Erica+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oGvrx8LC9fY/Trv78F17kXI/AAAAAAAACSg/RkPWT40wm4s/s400/Erica+1.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
Very cute cowboy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3RAvvDAhGM/Trv778k_ocI/AAAAAAAACSc/5WKvPaMHBMs/s1600/Erica+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3RAvvDAhGM/Trv778k_ocI/AAAAAAAACSc/5WKvPaMHBMs/s400/Erica+2.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
A tiny bumblebee named Oliver<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4j9FWwosZC8/Trv79dh_paI/AAAAAAAACS0/n96KYPAgUsc/s1600/Georgia+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4j9FWwosZC8/Trv79dh_paI/AAAAAAAACS0/n96KYPAgUsc/s400/Georgia+1.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
Cute little froggy...if I ever saw a real frog this big I might just die!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oO6Zk8Go7Jo/Trv7-LTVsKI/AAAAAAAACTA/utlDYS4r1Q8/s1600/Georgia+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266px" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oO6Zk8Go7Jo/Trv7-LTVsKI/AAAAAAAACTA/utlDYS4r1Q8/s400/Georgia+2.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> I love how this is part Diva part princess. I think my sister in law Em girl might want the same sweater.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-movE9bhw-po/Trv8Cq9YM5I/AAAAAAAACUA/SSyPpw0yqgo/s1600/Kirsten+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-movE9bhw-po/Trv8Cq9YM5I/AAAAAAAACUA/SSyPpw0yqgo/s400/Kirsten+1.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
This cute kitty did well in the competition too!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sUDdmszsJaI/Trv8BwX2NVI/AAAAAAAACTw/0o8_G1Zuu7U/s1600/Kiran+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297px" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sUDdmszsJaI/Trv8BwX2NVI/AAAAAAAACTw/0o8_G1Zuu7U/s400/Kiran+1.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
This turtle is seriouslly killing me!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s_0gPB46RmA/Trv8Bq_HvkI/AAAAAAAACTs/Lv053IzbQLY/s1600/Kimmee+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s_0gPB46RmA/Trv8Bq_HvkI/AAAAAAAACTs/Lv053IzbQLY/s400/Kimmee+3.JPG" width="300px" /></a></div><br />
Turtles and bunnies tend to get along. This pic scored in the top 3!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1KyGbvG15zA/Trv8A97Q6kI/AAAAAAAACTk/-dGx6Wzxlco/s1600/Kimmee+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1KyGbvG15zA/Trv8A97Q6kI/AAAAAAAACTk/-dGx6Wzxlco/s400/Kimmee+2.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>A lazy little cow! Moooo. I love the utter!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nS3BH_YsvvY/Trv7-5GFx9I/AAAAAAAACTM/3mSgNuWz8iQ/s1600/Kerry+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nS3BH_YsvvY/Trv7-5GFx9I/AAAAAAAACTM/3mSgNuWz8iQ/s400/Kerry+2.JPG" width="298px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> I love the hat - I want one!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-En3_tE2S3-I/Trv8DGh0u3I/AAAAAAAACUM/JgFwN3TOmYg/s1600/Kirsten+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308px" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-En3_tE2S3-I/Trv8DGh0u3I/AAAAAAAACUM/JgFwN3TOmYg/s400/Kirsten+3.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
Once again the arms kill me! I love this little chicken. Even the cute husband and TV could not steal his thunder!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H-dw0RJvPBI/Trv8Dja9s_I/AAAAAAAACUQ/MpQcpxJ8dQA/s1600/Kristy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H-dw0RJvPBI/Trv8Dja9s_I/AAAAAAAACUQ/MpQcpxJ8dQA/s400/Kristy+1.jpg" width="280px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Clifford the big red dog....no need for a costume sucka!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BfyePIIHhnQ/Trv8FbiVVwI/AAAAAAAACUo/jCRbLNKhevA/s1600/Laura+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BfyePIIHhnQ/Trv8FbiVVwI/AAAAAAAACUo/jCRbLNKhevA/s400/Laura+3.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div><br />
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Congrats to all of you who have super cute pups! I am sooo jealous.<br />
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Elliot - are you reading this?</div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-27679377645154296742011-10-29T13:09:00.000-04:002011-10-29T13:09:01.394-04:00CONTEST: Halloween costumes for your pet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I am doing my first contest. It is short notice, but awesome none the less.<br />
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As we all know from previous posts, I want a dog, someone to love me and greet me when I come home. In order to keep my hopes up slash convince Elliot about how awesome a dog would be, I have decided the first competition will be for a gift card of 10 dollars to Target (where they sell pet stuff). Not quite the big leagues - but everything counts!<br />
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Send me a pic of your pet (dog, cat, turtle, gerbil, etc) in their Halloween costume. I will vote, and will find 2 random co-worker who does not know any of you vote also - to minimize bias! <br />
<br />
Rules:<br />
- You could submit up to 3 pics (of the same animal or of different animals).<br />
- You must submit photos of animals you personally know (you don't have to be the owner, but if the owner submits a photo, you can't)<br />
- You can NOT submit random photos you found online<br />
<br />
Send me the pics to my email gaya.myers@gmail.com by Friday, November 4th.<br />
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Here is some inspiration:<br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/405309044/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/75505731222222311_SWvEVOS7_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=cat+lion+costume&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1267&bih=607&tbm=isch&tbnid=54uZh2RHpPW_vM:&imgrefurl=http://mydisguises.com/2011/01/31/king-of-the-jungle/&docid=XYUgukeL_GzH2M&w=525&h=700&ei=2FaFTu6LJMz_sQLzn_iZDw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=322&page=1&tbnh=146&tbnw=116&start=0&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=85&ty=61" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">google.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/405302926/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/75505731222222309_ptQ6EjKp_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/costumes/pets/PRD~904747/Raptor+Pet+Costume.jsp" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">kohls.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/405298363/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/75505731222222307_Rb0SWxKN_c.jpg" width="352" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/344865788_w7DkDKSf_b.jpg" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-76384274476171798202011-10-18T21:19:00.000-04:002011-10-18T21:19:08.959-04:00Thank you cornea burning laser!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Top 10 reasons I am loving my new 20/20 vision thanks to Lasik</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 36pt;"><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">More bathroom counter and drawer space. Sigh-a-nar-a crap (see pic below)</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Waking up in the morning, reaching for my glasses and realizing I don’t need them</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Seeing the clock in the morning</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Getting to wear different sunglasses on a whim</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Being able to play tennis, jog, etc without the dang glasses shaking around</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">No more expensive contact solution</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In the shower being confident I am using shampoo in my hair, instead of body wash</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">No more smudges on the eyeglasses – woot woot!</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Seeing the individual leaves on a tree super far away…loving all these fall colors</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Having the best vision I have had since 5<sup>th</sup> grade</span></li>
</ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here is a boat load of crap....mostly contacts, including an entire unopened box....adios!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-62gHSZ62VV8/TpyNqFEF0tI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/4--mMeLENSw/s1600/IMAG0677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-62gHSZ62VV8/TpyNqFEF0tI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/4--mMeLENSw/s400/IMAG0677.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you are considering Lasik, start with this website: <a href="http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/SurgeryandLifeSupport/LASIK/ucm061358.htm" style="color: #114170;" target="_blank">http://www.fda.gov/<wbr></wbr>MedicalDevices/<wbr></wbr>ProductsandMedicalProcedures/<wbr></wbr>SurgeryandLifeSupport/LASIK/<wbr></wbr>ucm061358.htm</a></span></div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-82374091644505828132011-10-16T20:07:00.000-04:002011-10-16T20:07:20.707-04:00A reminder to be mindful<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few weeks ago I was in Raleigh visiting the family, when I noticed a small bell hanging from the doorway down to the basement (ie my dad’s shrine). I asked my dad what the bell was for and he explained to me, each time he walks directly in to it, bumping his head against the bell, which then chimes, and serves as a reminder to be mindful. Silly Gaya, I should have figured! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will have to ask my dad more about what mindfulness means to him, but in the meantime, google told me “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In its Buddhist context, mindfulness has three overarching purposes: knowing the mind; training the mind; and freeing the mind.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are photos of the rents demonstrating:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aQMcEcGoQdY/Toue5d0O2fI/AAAAAAAAB3I/2aakqwgqZTg/s1600/IMAG0602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aQMcEcGoQdY/Toue5d0O2fI/AAAAAAAAB3I/2aakqwgqZTg/s400/IMAG0602.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><br />
{To bad my mom is too short to be reminded to be mindful!}<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nuuac1w1CR8/ToufsaWoArI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/2nn3pXDhRYU/s1600/IMAG0604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nuuac1w1CR8/ToufsaWoArI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/2nn3pXDhRYU/s400/IMAG0604.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-85302831743221777682011-10-14T19:06:00.000-04:002011-10-14T19:06:09.034-04:00Do you Aldi?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So I went t<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">o Aldi the other day and have some thoughts to share:</span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">First off, Aldi is a grocery store, according to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wikipedia, ALDI is </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">short for "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Al</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">brecht </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Di</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">scount</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">", and is a discount grocery store that started in Germany. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interesting enough,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Trader Joe’s began from a family trust of one of the two founders of ALDI. There are over 1,000 Aldi’s in the US, and over 9,000 worldwide (while there are less than 400 Trader Joe’s).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aldi has staples (food, drinks (including wine)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, toilet paper, and other inexpensive household items. it seemed the majority of the products were their own brand (think trader joe's but not cutesy).</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">{Pretty crisp!}</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ks2BvK28NZM/Touf6DE5YPI/AAAAAAAAB3U/1fR-neUOEQg/s1600/IMAG0609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ks2BvK28NZM/Touf6DE5YPI/AAAAAAAAB3U/1fR-neUOEQg/s400/IMAG0609.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
{I should have tried these}<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6FIwcBkoeA/ToujC-MLzqI/AAAAAAAAB3k/h9UkvgBtsMk/s1600/IMAG0612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6FIwcBkoeA/ToujC-MLzqI/AAAAAAAAB3k/h9UkvgBtsMk/s400/IMAG0612.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IDR65tWu_r4/ToujYJXWJiI/AAAAAAAAB3o/wbFcYHHTxgw/s1600/IMAG0613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IDR65tWu_r4/ToujYJXWJiI/AAAAAAAAB3o/wbFcYHHTxgw/s400/IMAG0613.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
{Need a crock-pot?}<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yHZFV2Y4I3c/ToujzlKikAI/AAAAAAAAB3w/gnAYk1TCvqc/s1600/IMAG0615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yHZFV2Y4I3c/ToujzlKikAI/AAAAAAAAB3w/gnAYk1TCvqc/s400/IMAG0615.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some pro's:</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Not hard to make a decision, there is usually no more than two different brands for one kind of product. You want green beans - BAM - 1 choice, done!</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-It was a small grocery store, and more manageable to leave without buying crazy items you never knew existed much less wanted (I have a problem at big grocery stores).</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Near my job</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-The prices were good (especially on salsa, hummus, and pita chips).</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-The products tasted fine (minus the hummus which was wayyyy to garlicky (although with Halloween and loose vampires..maybe I need to reconsider))</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-No decorations and marketing tricks</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Some neutral items:</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-I think you have to pay for a cart, I was confused slash cheap so just carried stuff in the store and looked like a crazy lady</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-They don't give you bags at the end (pro - for the environment, con - for me forgetting my own bags...dangit!)</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Some con's:</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Them not taking credit card, and me having to leave the store, find an ATM, and come back! Kinda embarrassing, but I love my CC and the delta miles...</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall I would rate my experience a B, not B+, not B-. It is no trader joe's on fun-ness, but it was nice on my wallet. My next stop is IGA. What are you thoughts on discount grocery stores? Any winning items I should look out for</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-69541907946877666542011-10-09T22:31:00.001-04:002011-10-09T22:33:32.219-04:00Happy 1 year anniversary to my sister Spectra and her hubby Sawyer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Yes, my sister's name is Spectra....don't act like you are suprised.<br />
<br />
A year ago today, Spectra and Sawyer got married in Minnesota in a Harry Potter themed wedding. 2 reactions happen when I tell people that it was a Harry Potter wedding, reaction 1, people are insanely jealous and wish they could have a sister as cool as mine, or reaction 2, they roll their eyes and secretly judge it. I don't care if Glamour magazine said having a Harry Potter wedding is a "don't"<br />
<br />
I was skeptical myself, but trust me, they kept it classy.<br />
<br />
A few highlights:<br />
1) spells and wands used during the ceremony<br />
2) spontaneous combustion in the ceremony<br />
3) butter beer<br />
4) chocolate frogs <br />
5) gourmet s'mores <br />
6) the savenger hunt "Hunt for the Horcruxes"<br />
7) sitting with our "houses" at the seated dinner<br />
8) the owl decor<br />
9) lots of tweed<br />
10) late night dance party<br />
<br />
Here are some pics:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rdMf_ipp6Is/TpJYFIcgZ1I/AAAAAAAAB9g/5DIw65v2t2A/s1600/spectra+wedding+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rdMf_ipp6Is/TpJYFIcgZ1I/AAAAAAAAB9g/5DIw65v2t2A/s400/spectra+wedding+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxoQedaCt_0/TpJYIcq80OI/AAAAAAAAB9k/PjTvEP7g09M/s1600/spectra+wedding+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxoQedaCt_0/TpJYIcq80OI/AAAAAAAAB9k/PjTvEP7g09M/s400/spectra+wedding+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mQSA_JCSNPI/TpJYKwQUjiI/AAAAAAAAB9o/mJPzA5-mboI/s1600/spectra+wedding+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mQSA_JCSNPI/TpJYKwQUjiI/AAAAAAAAB9o/mJPzA5-mboI/s400/spectra+wedding+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GH8f8M9PeT4/TpJYNqX31nI/AAAAAAAAB9s/YaMzLKQdlzg/s1600/spectra+wedding+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GH8f8M9PeT4/TpJYNqX31nI/AAAAAAAAB9s/YaMzLKQdlzg/s400/spectra+wedding+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ljztFaX0aaA/TpJYQUCBtlI/AAAAAAAAB9w/InZZ5tijgBo/s1600/spectra+wedding+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ljztFaX0aaA/TpJYQUCBtlI/AAAAAAAAB9w/InZZ5tijgBo/s400/spectra+wedding+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gaQ6D-6Yt1o/TpJYS9wjIlI/AAAAAAAAB90/rESP3yCZfu4/s1600/spectra+wedding+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gaQ6D-6Yt1o/TpJYS9wjIlI/AAAAAAAAB90/rESP3yCZfu4/s400/spectra+wedding+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Love you two! Happy Aniversary! Can't wait for Orlando in a few weeks and going to Universal for Harry Potter World! Count down!</div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-27358983361948897702011-10-05T07:56:00.000-04:002011-10-05T07:56:31.510-04:00cleaning silver - domestic fail<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So my in-laws gave Elliot and me this beautiful silver platter serving dish that I think belonged to one of the grandparents. I wanted to spiff it up and remove any tarnish, and this lady at an antique store told me about a technique that "easily removes tarnish" - well 2 attempts later (approximately 45 minutes, which mind you is about as long as an episode of Mad Men) I still have a tarnished platter.<br />
<br />
Here are specific instructions from a university chemisty deptartment (aka legit) - <a href="http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/homeexpts/tarnish.html">http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/homeexpts/tarnish.html</a><br />
<br />
They even give the fancy formula (I have no idea what this means, but I like the idea of having equations and such in my blog!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" valign="top">3 Ag<sub>2</sub>S</td><td align="center" valign="top"> + </td><td align="center" valign="top">2 Al</td><td align="center" valign="top"> <img alt="--/>" border="0" height="22" src="http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/homeexpts/Graphics/ARROW.GIF" width="72" /> </td><td align="center" valign="top">6 Ag</td><td align="center" valign="top"> + </td><td align="center" valign="top">Al<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center">silver<br />
sulfide</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">aluminum</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">silver</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">aluminum<br />
sulfide</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">So chemistry...why did you not work for me!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span id="goog_1317212293"></span><span id="goog_1317212294"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Here are pic of the process (although, what is the point of looking, since it did not work!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">{Before}</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JccDztl8hRU/TovcL9cWfcI/AAAAAAAAB6A/9VBrph3_OSY/s1600/IMAG0651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JccDztl8hRU/TovcL9cWfcI/AAAAAAAAB6A/9VBrph3_OSY/s400/IMAG0651.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> {The supplies - thank god it was all free!}<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1g-P2memKn0/TovgryLgq8I/AAAAAAAAB6I/U-8ExzJXbC4/s1600/IMAG0656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1g-P2memKn0/TovgryLgq8I/AAAAAAAAB6I/U-8ExzJXbC4/s400/IMAG0656.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> {Action shot!}<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VlByeQs3Aug/TovlASOXKiI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/HTEzUVuBCJs/s1600/IMAG0657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VlByeQs3Aug/TovlASOXKiI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/HTEzUVuBCJs/s400/IMAG0657.jpg" width="238" /></a></div> {Chemistry - bubbles!}<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a7llFWkI82M/TovlOi4qLxI/AAAAAAAAB6U/otZ-i2w58H8/s1600/IMAG0659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a7llFWkI82M/TovlOi4qLxI/AAAAAAAAB6U/otZ-i2w58H8/s400/IMAG0659.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> {Hoping this magic would work}<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nXlFULv35a0/TovleGmL4rI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/bSRYxcggqJY/s1600/IMAG0661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nXlFULv35a0/TovleGmL4rI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/bSRYxcggqJY/s400/IMAG0661.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> {The after pic - which looks the same as the before pic = domestic fail}<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4vh36y-3erI/TovycG8hjoI/AAAAAAAAB6g/wBpFhyzmvYM/s1600/IMAG0662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4vh36y-3erI/TovycG8hjoI/AAAAAAAAB6g/wBpFhyzmvYM/s400/IMAG0662.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">So can someone just tell me who I can pay to fix this?</span></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-5188722201427685112011-09-22T21:04:00.000-04:002011-09-22T21:04:23.718-04:00Meet my friend/ Lessons learned from a month in Atlanta’s coffeshops<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">So, sorry that I have been bad about blogging. But - don't worry - I have a ton good blog topics coming up. So, I have a special treat for you today - a guest blogger. So, meet Missy. Missy is a person, she has brown curly hair, she was a dancer for a big chunck of her life, and she is in med school in Isreal. She came down to Atlanta to spend time with her sister and to study. Here are here lessons learned from a month in Atlanta’s coffeshops</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">"I spent a little over a month living with my sister in Atlanta and studying for Step 1 of the US Medical Licensing Exam; most of my studying was done at various cafes throughout the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I first thought was reverse culture shock since I go to medical school abroad, became a working list of lessons learned through encounters observed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Apart from the occasional patio, cafes are indoor spaces, which means indoor voices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apart from the occasional voyeur, people in cafes are usually there for their own reasons and don’t need to be party to the conversations around them.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nobody likes bananas poked, poked in their faces.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When productivity is drawing to a lull, there are two options for continuing in a café: the blended coffee beverage or, if already shaky from caffeine, the 2 for 1 cookie special.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Running lines for a production in a cafe is only acceptable when done in a language other than English.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HR confrontations should probably occur in confidential locations—a cafe is not one of those.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">When it is over 85 degrees outside, wearing a wool scarf as a fashion statement might be met with: ‘oh, hell to the no!’</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">If things are going wrong in life, it is probably a direct result of ignoring God’s very clear message to go do development work in South Africa.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">The decision to take a 2 hour work call on a cell phone at a cafe should be followed by treating tablemates with to a delicious beverage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While teleworking is an important alternative to being in an office, there are more stringent rules of decorum; it is highly inappropriate to assume that it is socially acceptable to subject other patrons to business meetings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although, in all fairness, who ever really wants to listen to any one-sided cell phone conversations. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Internet variability within a cafe offering free wi-fi is unacceptable, but the staff still has a moral obligation to report that to the clientele.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">White male privilege can be described as many things, but ‘oh, you know’ is not one of them.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">"</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">My two favorite were the HR confrontations and the wool scarf! My other friend here in Atlanta has a rule that for each hour or so you are there, you should buy 1 item. <strong>What coffee shop rules do you have?</strong></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Also - I want to start a blog feature called "what is in your purse/ wallet/ bag" - you know what I am talking about they are always asking famous people to look in their bag and see their fancy beauty products etc. So I asked Missy - what is in your purse?</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">"I don't carry a purse, but I'm happy to tell you what's currently in the bag I carry most days:</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Nalgene<br />
Peruvian small shopping bag holding the tupperware from my lunch<br />
Bills that I need to pay<br />
White coat<br />
Stethescope<br />
Packet for history and physical in Hebrew<br />
"Rapid Interpretation of EKGs"<br />
Small notebook for writing down all of the things I have no clue about in the day</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">White cardigan<br />
Mint mojito gum from the States<br />
iPod<br />
Hand sanitizer from Trader Joe's<br />
Pens<br />
A shell from my mom (probably from Cape Cod)<br />
My wallet<br />
A giant bobby pin</span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
That's probably more than you needed/wanted to know. And it sort of looks like I'm more studious and medical than I really am."</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">My favorites of these were the giant bobby pin and a random shell!!</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">Better be careful, I might pick on your next - what is in your bag?</div><br />
</span></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-27352383986839561932011-09-07T21:15:00.000-04:002011-09-07T21:15:09.114-04:00Professional sports<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some memories from growing up:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
- Being dressed as a toddler in a cheerleading outfit of my parents favorite college football team<br />
- Fun tailgates outside of a football game of my parents alma mater<br />
- Hotdogs with lots of toppings on it at a professional baseball game<br />
- My parents always in the stands at my soccer games, cheering me on<br />
<br />
Oh wait….those things did not happen….reminder – I was a child of hippies. I have tons of fabulous memories from growing up, but none of them involved sports. I did actually play soccer my freshmen year in HS in Oklahoma, and my parents showed up to a few games, but definitely brought a book to read!<br />
Because I did not grow up with any of this, you can imagine, I am slightly overwhelmed at these types of events as an adult. Here are some of my recent experiences:<br />
<br />
1) Went to my first professional football game (it was just a pre-season game though, but I still count it). It was the Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins. I might rather be at Callaway Gardens watching the “birds of prey” show with a real falcon swishing over our heads, or at the Atlanta Aquarium watching the dolphin show. Elliot and I took MARTA in and it surprisingly easy. We had great seats that Elliot got super discounted from some girl on craigslist. <br />
<br />
{Pics from the game}<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTL2aO_9U6iG5r9yeUkUhnyy_eNyJ9gI2Ann1PTX-WYdh7B9hZCMAq3RMHxtPOM-HoG6HXiw3FqX8s3lMPACI5X7_f7Pm5p571uL6SILKuKvLKz6WIptVkrc_DM_hZ7OHT-I1oMhjzoeL/s1600/IMAG0569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTL2aO_9U6iG5r9yeUkUhnyy_eNyJ9gI2Ann1PTX-WYdh7B9hZCMAq3RMHxtPOM-HoG6HXiw3FqX8s3lMPACI5X7_f7Pm5p571uL6SILKuKvLKz6WIptVkrc_DM_hZ7OHT-I1oMhjzoeL/s400/IMAG0569.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvsA5sfLfuGpYTG0UuVZJhxqRuARc56G9EZ2QwSGztYpJL1iasmPhdPPBuoJ1iQn1YrL1I8knWoBmnyDXZjUt1tHfrzfeOUpoQIlGwZtobyP2sTxj-RvyzjFUE_T0AorN1XBk-0cHS3zY/s1600/IMAG0567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvsA5sfLfuGpYTG0UuVZJhxqRuARc56G9EZ2QwSGztYpJL1iasmPhdPPBuoJ1iQn1YrL1I8knWoBmnyDXZjUt1tHfrzfeOUpoQIlGwZtobyP2sTxj-RvyzjFUE_T0AorN1XBk-0cHS3zY/s400/IMAG0567.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0_1N8ULzvXkA6GGEkRU91qAXwVvh2yw06YQt21fnZ2fMKAJO1GVWAOG0if0sjJqzO5C3IlW0sz7uf95n1xsjX0nYraCybNcUSDMSaq5EnMS6ZLSiKbfQZdcedZWIid6up2etpNl5Fxgb/s1600/IMAG0566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0_1N8ULzvXkA6GGEkRU91qAXwVvh2yw06YQt21fnZ2fMKAJO1GVWAOG0if0sjJqzO5C3IlW0sz7uf95n1xsjX0nYraCybNcUSDMSaq5EnMS6ZLSiKbfQZdcedZWIid6up2etpNl5Fxgb/s400/IMAG0566.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6InkvWwPB5rsmPlA0MXCCoU_CBke-k-4Ru_0NNDt_-nXn_gckHUlM0FOARq9Vp5_GW0tweI1sEcJ7UaaIpZET1JXgdc5rd9jF30b7KFvdBlTd98HuPMCYOWtFMyreVKWyq1m8S7Lechgr/s1600/IMAG0552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6InkvWwPB5rsmPlA0MXCCoU_CBke-k-4Ru_0NNDt_-nXn_gckHUlM0FOARq9Vp5_GW0tweI1sEcJ7UaaIpZET1JXgdc5rd9jF30b7KFvdBlTd98HuPMCYOWtFMyreVKWyq1m8S7Lechgr/s400/IMAG0552.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
Here is what I enjoyed:<br />
Half time- they had tiny children playing football – this was wayyyy more entertaining than watching the professionals. Although I was concerned about the risk of concussion and traumatic brain injury. People were falling all over the place, and some of the kids were really good and fast, and could skirt around the other kids and make touch-downs. I loved this part! The tiny baby cheerleaders were also entertaining. I wonder if Elliot and I have kids if we would ever allow them to do something like this, or if we would pay them to play Oregon trail at home instead (read previous posts)<br />
<br />
Here is what I spent the majority of my time doing: <br />
Staring at 2 guys in their 30’s who came to the game with 3 dads in their 30’s, and their 3 sons. The dad’s were fully enjoying themselves, drinking a brewsky and watching the game, they would occasionally tell their 3 boys to stop climbing the railing and stop hitting each other. The 2 guys who did not have kids (at least with them), seemed slightly annoyed, and the 3 kids who were having a great time. I also enjoyed watching the couple sitting in front of the kids and turning around and giving evil looks to the kids (but not the dads). I guess some might consider this father son bonding time?<br />
<br />
What I did not enjoy:<br />
People making fun of me as we walked to MARTA after the game because I walk faster than them. ANDDD that lack of vegetarian options at the game.<br />
<br />
<br />
I also went to a Braves game – I used to go a lot when I first moved to Atlanta, but have not been in 2 or 3 years (wow-zer). It was a fun game, school was back in session and it was a week night, so it was not too crowded (which I liked). I also got a free tumbler – plastic glass with a plastic straw from Publix. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-glwmmaQe-Ns/TmgV1x0gwyI/AAAAAAAABu8/-cqqUc7qZ6c/s1600/baseball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-glwmmaQe-Ns/TmgV1x0gwyI/AAAAAAAABu8/-cqqUc7qZ6c/s400/baseball.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ohhhh – and big announcement – Gaya joined a fantasy football league – so more to come on that in the near future.<br />
<br />
What is your favorite memory from a sports game?<br />
<br />
Ps – I would love to know who my readers are. Leave me a comment sometime and or click the link “join this site” – gracias!<br />
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<br />
</span></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-24185177619131222632011-08-30T20:48:00.001-04:002011-08-30T20:53:03.702-04:00Why do people do yoga?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_48tctv="159"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well according to a random website I found (http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/info/why-practice-yoga.asp), here are a few reasons:</span></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><div closure_uid_48tctv="159"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yoga relaxes the body and the mind.</span></div></li>
<li closure_uid_48tctv="166"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yoga can help normalize body weight.</span></li>
<li closure_uid_48tctv="166"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yoga improves your resistance to disease.</span></li>
<li closure_uid_48tctv="166"><span closure_uid_48tctv="167" style="font-family: inherit;">Yoga increases your energy level and productivity.</span></li>
<li closure_uid_48tctv="166"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yoga leads to genuine inner contentment and self-actualization.</span></li>
</ol><div closure_uid_48tctv="168"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t disagree with any of those, but I wanted to add a few other ideas. Here are some hypotheses, that me and a friend came up with on why yoga is increasing in popularity:</span></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><div closure_uid_48tctv="168"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To be trendy. Yoga has been “in” for several years. This includes expensive memberships and fancy pants yoga clothes, and fancy pants yoga gear/equipment. I am amazed by how expensive some exercise clothes are. I am also amazed by how put together people often look at these yoga classes. They get all cleaned up, like I would if I was going on a big date! Although yoga does not want you to be competitive, my friend and I hypothesized that many folks enjoy competing against others and themselves.</span></div></li>
<li><div closure_uid_48tctv="168"><span style="font-family: inherit;">T</span><span closure_uid_48tctv="169" style="font-family: inherit;">o improve their performance or experience (wink wink, in other ways, not just improving their half marathon personal bests!).</span></div></li>
<li><div closure_uid_48tctv="168"><span closure_uid_48tctv="170" style="font-family: inherit;">Because you can see improvement fairly quickly in regards to these poses. Literally each time they are a bit easier.</span></div></li>
<li><div closure_uid_48tctv="168"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To be touched – I personally love hands on adjustments or enhancements, when the instructor comes around and helps align you or gives you a mini massage….heaven. The power of human contact and touch!!!</span></div></li>
</ol><div closure_uid_48tctv="414"><span closure_uid_48tctv="171" style="font-family: inherit;">My yoga history: So in previous posts I have mentioned that I am trying to get in to yoga. I have done yoga about 1-2x a year since I was 16, and never really got in to it, most of the time I would get discouraged that I can’t touch my toes, then I would hold my breathe for the full hour grimacing in pain and boredom….but not anymore my friends, times are a changing. Here are my favorite new moves all of which make me feel strong and calm (although, I don’t remember some of these being called these names?):</span></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="414"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_48tctv="414">{Pics by </div><div closure_uid_48tctv="172"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.bing.com/browse?g=yoga_poses&qpvt=yoga+positions&FORM=SGEWEB">http://www.bing.com/browse?g=yoga_poses&qpvt=yoga+positions&FORM=SGEWEB</a> }</span></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><div closure_uid_48tctv="175"><span closure_uid_48tctv="385" style="font-family: inherit;">Corpse Pose</span></div></li>
</ol><div closure_uid_48tctv="175"><img class="rbtileimg true" height="200" src="http://az25936.vo.msecnd.net/rbi/28/28801b05edf003ef28c3ff06a805f2.jpg" style="-webkit-transform: none; left: 0px; opacity: 1.1; visibility: visible;" tag="" width="200" /></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="175"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_48tctv="175"> 2. <span closure_uid_48tctv="386" style="font-family: inherit;">Legs Up The Wall Pose</span></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="250"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_48tctv="250"><img class="rbtileimg " height="200" src="http://az25936.vo.msecnd.net/rbi/9e/83adb17559f0badfb857161733410c.jpg" style="-webkit-transform: none; opacity: 1; visibility: visible;" tag="" width="200" /></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="249"><span closure_uid_48tctv="408" style="font-family: inherit;"> 3. Lord of the Dance Pose – I am shockingly good at this one – woot woot!</span></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="249"><img class="rbtileimg " height="200" src="http://az25936.vo.msecnd.net/rbi/3c/024e0d8430bbd320fd94da49c6e7d0.jpg" style="-webkit-transform: none; opacity: 1; visibility: visible;" tag="" width="200" /></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="304"><span closure_uid_48tctv="409" style="font-family: inherit;"> 4. Child’s Pose, I love being in a tiny ball. I want to see if I can fit in to a small box</span></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="304"><img class="rbtileimg true" height="200" src="http://az25936.vo.msecnd.net/rbi/32/6237aa0e74abe2b58ed48802687bc2.jpg" style="-webkit-transform: none; left: 0px; opacity: 1.1; visibility: visible;" tag="" width="200" /></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="331"><span closure_uid_48tctv="410" style="font-family: inherit;"> 5. Wide Leg forward bend</span></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="331"><img class="rbtileimg true" height="200" src="http://az25936.vo.msecnd.net/rbi/c0/947aa5de28fc8c289f0d56ea8f0b1e.jpg" style="-webkit-transform: none; left: 0px; opacity: 1.1; visibility: visible;" tag="" width="200" /></div><br />
<div closure_uid_48tctv="358"><span closure_uid_48tctv="411" style="font-family: inherit;"> 6. Handstand (against a wall obvi)</span></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="358"><img class="rbtileimg " height="200" src="http://az25936.vo.msecnd.net/rbi/5d/b22037b2446fffc8df01e2bb233abd.jpg" style="-webkit-transform: none; opacity: 1; visibility: visible;" tag="" width="200" /></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="174"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_48tctv="174"><span closure_uid_48tctv="173" style="font-family: inherit;">You might notice several of them are pretty passive – hence why I love it, I am workin out while resting at the same time – WINNING!!</span></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="419"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One day, I might just do some of these:</span></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="419"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_48tctv="419"><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div closure_uid_48tctv="447"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/149544360/" target="_blank"><img 500?="" border="0" height="400" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/149544360_4XR7Olxz_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://liliezencoach.tumblr.com/post/7933479880" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">liliezencoach.tumblr.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/149542038/" target="_blank"><img 600?="" border="0" height="400" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/149542038_3YljPrfl_c.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.pics-site.com/2010/08/03/strange-yoga-poses/strange-yoga-poses-22/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">pics-site.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/149538475/" target="_blank"><img 600?="" border="0" height="400" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/149538475_Ruom56iH_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://healthful.tumblr.com/page/56" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">healthful.tumblr.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/149537136/" target="_blank"><img 640?="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/149537136_ubp6LeMo_c.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://marasu3.tumblr.com/post/8149433886" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">marasu3.tumblr.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div closure_uid_48tctv="497"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/149523282/" target="_blank"><img 248?="" border="0" height="400" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/149523282_cSDOxx89_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/2470" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">yogajournal.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="524"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_48tctv="524"><br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/149517609/" target="_blank"><img 397?="" border="0" height="400" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/149517609_BdjPwybb_c.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.kimberlysnyder.net/yoga.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">kimberlysnyder.net</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
</div><br />
<div closure_uid_48tctv="576"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So basically if I keep this up, I might be able to do some of these crazy poses. AAANDDD If public health does not work out, I could join cirque de soleil!</span></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="576"><br />
<div closure_uid_48tctv="561"><span closure_uid_48tctv="559" style="font-family: inherit;">A couple questions for you?</span></div><span closure_uid_48tctv="559" style="font-family: inherit;">Do you love or hate yoga (or somewhere in the middle) and why?</span><br />
<div closure_uid_48tctv="560"><span closure_uid_48tctv="559" style="font-family: inherit;">If you love yoga, what is your favorite pose?</span></div><div closure_uid_48tctv="560">Any great yoga DVD's out there?</div></div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
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Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-19892613063889044852011-08-25T21:46:00.001-04:002011-08-25T21:50:35.412-04:00So many great gifts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So my birthday is coming up – woot woot! I got 4 early gifts so far:<br />
1) A free beverage to starbucks – I need to still use it, I am thinking iced chai…oh the good ole days<br />
2) A 50% off massage or facial from my gym, Exhale Spa (read previous posts to get caught up!)<br />
3) A bi-weekly membership to a fruit and vegetable delivery service. This was a surprise gift from Elliot. I am pretty pumped about this one, mainly because it allows me to be lazy and not battle traffic and annoying people in the grocery store. My first delivery arrived earlier this week. Between Elliot and I, we have almost polished off the bananas (organic, mind you!). I love gifts that allow me to be lazy. What else can I outsource?<br />
<br />
{First order}<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rhRaucv5zNM/Tlb6Tb8Zz4I/AAAAAAAABsg/yNKwQYPU534/s1600/fruitsandveggies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rhRaucv5zNM/Tlb6Tb8Zz4I/AAAAAAAABsg/yNKwQYPU534/s400/fruitsandveggies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
4) This awesome map from my parents, where you use a coin and scratch off the countries you have visited.<br />
5) A beer bottle opener that you screw in to the wall from Marlboro. I have no idea why Marlboro keeps sending me ads and coupons, and for my b-day they decided to send me a bottle opener. First let me start with a few facts about Gaya<br />
a. I have never smoked a cigarette…Ever. I can’t even remember a time I have touched a cigarette (other than candy ones when I was a kid). Now I have picked up cigarette buds but that is when I have participated in a trash/litter pickup (I was in an environmental club in h.s.).<br />
b. I have opened less than 5 beers in my life, maybe less. I have no need for a permanent bottle opener on my wall<br />
c. Even if I did have a need for a permananet bottle opener, I am too lazy to install it (read comment above and fruit and veggies)<br />
d. I am in public health…nuff said<br />
e. I find the word Marlboro hard to pronounce, so even if I did smoke, I would not smoke these - I could not even order them at a grocery store!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ce_vm-FWgrE/Tlb6hfs2CnI/AAAAAAAABsk/i8KgGOmNB5I/s1600/mar+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ce_vm-FWgrE/Tlb6hfs2CnI/AAAAAAAABsk/i8KgGOmNB5I/s400/mar+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GqAXrvuQIU/Tlb6hnezIhI/AAAAAAAABso/WL1lQGQMFNw/s1600/mar+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GqAXrvuQIU/Tlb6hnezIhI/AAAAAAAABso/WL1lQGQMFNw/s400/mar+2.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l5geeEPXph4/Tlb6iBS8oHI/AAAAAAAABss/qgV4Y4eqF4g/s1600/mar+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l5geeEPXph4/Tlb6iBS8oHI/AAAAAAAABss/qgV4Y4eqF4g/s400/mar+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Literally, Marlboro people – where are you buying people’s names from. You might need to rethink your marketing strategy….<br />
<br />
Happy early early bday to me!</div><br />
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Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-16972437178027936412011-08-22T22:16:00.001-04:002011-08-22T22:19:33.294-04:00Trying to stay cool<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It is a lost cause for me to try to become cool (as in the cool kid on the block) – so this blog post is simply devoted to how to stay cool from a temperature perspective – which pretty much means – leave Atlanta in search of a body of water. Here are a few summer highlights in my attempt to stay cool</span><br />
<br />
1) Go to Callaway Gardens ‘Aqua Island’ – pretty much the most fun I have had in at least a year (this sounds like sad in writing). I had to go to a leadership camp for work (really intense 1 week experience that I am still traumatized from). One evening after training, a bunch of my colleagues and I went to Aqua Island – a bunch of connected bouncy things in the middle of the water. You paid 10 dollars and got to be a kid again. It was straight up like wipeout – super exhausting and awesome. I highly recommend going to Callaway’s man made beach this time of year (school is back in session so you can cuss as needed as you play – and because it is still hot). Of course being type A we had to have a competition - let's just say I am a weak link!!<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/131461019/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img 415'="" border="0" height="299" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/131461019_E8gDF6KX_c.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Source: likeitalatte.blogspot.com <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=callaway+gardens+aqua+island&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rlz=1R2ADFA_enUS436&biw=1093&bih=406&tbm=isch&tbnid=XWQQEOvRwhZlsM:&imgrefurl=http://likeitalatte.blogspot.com/2011/06/callaway-gardens-in-pine-mountain-ga.html&docid=ix-6nyb_iDmeRM&w=1600&h=1200&ei=FAhTTumeLYTGgAeyjsk5&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=172&page=2&tbnh=108&tbnw=153&start=10&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:10&tx=118&ty=66" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;">google.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></span></div></div><br />
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2) Natural Rock sliding – Elliot and I decided a few weeks ago to do a weekend away. We went up to Clayton, GA to the Beechwood Inn (super charming inn with literally the best dinner I have eaten in years). Clayton has all these wineries and antique shops and makes for a lovely weekend. Best part – me sliding down a tiny natural rock slide and flipping out each time. I loved it!!! Except for water getting in my nose each time and me worrying about the <i>Naegleria, </i>a microscopic ameba that can get in your nose and infect your brain (eeek!) - <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/">http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/</a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/131376252/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img 322'="" border="0" height="266" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/131376252_5NRIpRDj_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 0px;">Source</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76838b; line-height: normal;">: <a href="http://www.swimmingholes.org/GAWILD1.jpg" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;">swimmingholes.org</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76838b; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> {Pic - 2 from a winery, 2 from the Inn}</div></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YTXDlWXLeno/TlMFwIQtONI/AAAAAAAABqU/vaUNysCKUfc/s1600/IMAG0532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YTXDlWXLeno/TlMFwIQtONI/AAAAAAAABqU/vaUNysCKUfc/s400/IMAG0532.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e6zBN5-VJ8A/TlMFikOFZsI/AAAAAAAABqQ/4YmznM8fVvs/s1600/IMAG0536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e6zBN5-VJ8A/TlMFikOFZsI/AAAAAAAABqQ/4YmznM8fVvs/s400/IMAG0536.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">{{</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QQf9XPfrAGQ/TlMFBxvNIdI/AAAAAAAABqI/hf74RHcBF0M/s1600/IMAG0548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QQf9XPfrAGQ/TlMFBxvNIdI/AAAAAAAABqI/hf74RHcBF0M/s400/IMAG0548.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2xdTTmFcEek/TlMFRTB8Y4I/AAAAAAAABqM/OYXLyaPWu9I/s1600/IMAG0543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2xdTTmFcEek/TlMFRTB8Y4I/AAAAAAAABqM/OYXLyaPWu9I/s400/IMAG0543.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 4) Shoot the hooch – also known as float down the Chattahoochee – this is an interesting one. Tons of river operators have floating companies just outside of Atlanta, so you can rent inter-tubes and float down the river with your friends. I use the term ‘River’ loosely. I suggest drinking before you get there as the water is fairly dirty. I am 98% sure we saw a guy going to the bathroom (use your imagination) – you also just see lots of trash. That being said, with the right group it is quite fun. Be weary if the operator is too cheap, they might make you wait 2.75 hours in their parking lot before you get to go. I did not get to take too many pics so I found some good ones online. There is also a famous song by Alan Jackson about the river – to get you in the mood <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW5UEW2kYvc&ob=av2e">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW5UEW2kYvc&ob=av2e</a> (although I can’t imagine water skiing on this river?)</div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(this pic is from one of the nicer operations)</span><br />
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<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/131389591/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img 125'="" border="0" height="200" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/131389591_DWSixiUn_c.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Source: <a href="http://www.shootthehooch.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62:tubes&catid=38:tubes&Itemid=74" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;">shootthehooch.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">{Pic from the bus ride - I have never been so glad to finally get on a bus!)</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4)<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> 4) </span>Lake Allatoona and surrounding lakes. So a few months ago, Elliot and I and my book club friends (and their partners), went and rented a pontoon boat on Lake Allatoona for the afternoon. It was fairly cheap when you divided it by 4 couples and it was a super short drive from Atlanta. There were these coves called “cocktail coves” where all the cool fancy pants boats would drop anchor and all float near each other and play loud music. We almost joined in on that fun, but noticed the pontoon might not fit in super well. I will say at one point Elliot was waving to another boat (he realllllly loves waving at people and having them wave back) and the guy gave him the bird. Elliot was pretty sad. So maybe this is not the most family friendly lake around. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> {Pic of Elliot jumping off the boat trying to catch a frisbee --- makes me want a dog}</span><br />
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{Pic of the ladies going for a swim, I look like I am wearing a white shirt...I am not...I am just that pale!)<br />
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Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-68375787398267604112011-08-10T21:56:00.001-04:002011-08-10T22:21:55.289-04:00Country Music<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_kohz6g="128"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span closure_uid_kohz6g="145" style="font-family: inherit;">So - a little background about me. My parents are hippies (you obviously know that if you regularly follow my blog) and enjoy Celtic music and Enya and such (I also am a big Enya fan). Sorry to disappoint, they are not the concert going drug using type hippies. So in the 2nd grade we move to Oklahoma where county music is fairly popular (at least compared to Santa Cruz, California where we had been living). I found country music to be fairly obnoxious and assumed it was just about trucks, heartbreak, and Jesus - all of these things were fine, but wrapped up together it was just too much for my ears to handle. Then we move to NC - also a fair contingent of country music lovers. Once again, I found this to be obnoxious. Then I move to Atlanta - an interesting music mix to say the least. A few of my close friends here were pretty big country fans, and once again, I had a distaste for the music....until one day I started loving it!!!</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It all started after I got in to a car accident in Atlanta, and found that I became extra stressed while driving, it also happened because NPR was doing a fundraiser and interrupted their normal programming. I accidently started listening to country and quickly began to like it!! For someone who had judged country music for so long, I found this new enjoyment of country music somewhat disconcerting and too hypocritical to deal with. What had changed? Who am I? Why am I enjoying this?</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div closure_uid_kohz6g="153"><span style="color: black;"><span closure_uid_kohz6g="146" style="font-family: inherit;">So, obviously I had to do an analysis. I listened to the top 6 most popular country songs and did some light qualitative coding and grouping to find main topics....and this is what I found (in visuals):</span></span></div></div><div closure_uid_kohz6g="147" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_kohz6g="400" style="line-height: 0px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/101268867/" target="_blank"><img 415?="" border="0" height="299" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/101268867_LOcM02wg_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div closure_uid_kohz6g="147" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://winerecipes.blogspot.com/2008/04/honeysuckle-wine.html">http://winerecipes.blogspot.com/2008/04/honeysuckle-wine.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/101266961/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img 400?="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/101266961_ABEAEPP7_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_kohz6g="511"><br />
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</div><div closure_uid_kohz6g="541"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/101265791/" target="_blank"><img 133?="" border="0" height="266" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/101265791_VNDuRye2_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://luxmagnadesigns.com/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">luxmagnadesigns.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div closure_uid_kohz6g="602"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/101262389/" target="_blank"><img 250?="" border="0" height="306" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/101262389_7W2K9fRP_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.couldntbeparve.com/2011/06/fathers-day-cornbread-and-a-winner/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">couldntbeparve.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/101254206/" target="_blank"><img 337?="" border="0" height="269" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/101254206_eAqXIPM4_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/8462507?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weheartit+%28We+Heart+It%29&utm_content=Google+Reader" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">weheartit.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/101251501/" target="_blank"><img 478?="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/101251501_yUTEKtQT_c.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://attractions.uptake.com/blog/valentines-day-kiss-sarasota-florida-2420.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">attractions.uptake.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/101248445/" target="_blank"><img 278?="" border="0" height="222" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/101248445_07coitXs_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/6652508" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">weheartit.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/gayamyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Gaya</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So the songs had a couple focuses:</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">1)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Drinking – whiskey, tequila, wine, and a cold beer were mentioned…I am noticing a theme here</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">2)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span closure_uid_kohz6g="510" style="color: black;">Love – holding on to it and cherishing it, and losing it and missing it</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">3)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Partying – use your imagination</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">4)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">Water – shores, boats, paradise</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="color: black;">Small towns and woods and truckss</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So some of my stereotypes held true, but over all the themes were fairly diverse, and the lyrics actually make sense vs. a lot of music now days is just a bunch of silly lines with a good beat.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_kohz6g="131" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span closure_uid_kohz6g="130" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So as I grapple with my new ‘like’ of country music – I wonder, what do I hate now that I will like in 5 years?? </span></span></div><br />
I also want to know what you used to hate that now you like (excluding guacamole and greek yogurt!)</div></div><br />
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</script></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-81460150879940646002011-08-05T16:49:00.000-04:002011-08-05T16:49:29.964-04:00Exhale<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span closure_uid_8swhat="134" style="font-family: inherit;">So a few months ago I joined this super posh gym in midtown, called Exhale. Unfortunately for me, I had a horrible softball injury (a sprained hand…right hand....mind you!) and was not able to use the membership for like a month while I healed and recovered (both emotionally and physically).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know people who know me must be thinking “Gaya playing softball, that is weird” – they would be right, it was not a good fit at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news is that I am good now and back to the gym and off the field.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Top 10 reasons I love my gym:</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Cucumber water</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Trail mix<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- the good kind</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Nice towels for you to use</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Very clean equipment</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Free easy parking</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>The locker rooms have a sauna, hamman, fancy robes to use, and awesome rain showers with free razors, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, mouthwash etc. (You know I love “free” stuff)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" closure_uid_8swhat="135" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">{Pic of the hammam = turkish bath}</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" closure_uid_8swhat="135" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_8swhat="199" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x6BzOHCXqpg/TjxT8RMYLvI/AAAAAAAABlg/358UJBkjBXU/s1600/hammam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x6BzOHCXqpg/TjxT8RMYLvI/AAAAAAAABlg/358UJBkjBXU/s400/hammam.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>The classes are pretty awesome – although on the hard side. They have spinning, yoga (several types, including crazy crazy cirque de soleil type freak stuff), and these core classes, according to the website are “based on Lotte Berk Method fundamentals, Pilates, and 50 years of combined fitness expertise, to achieve a strong, athletic, flexible, and youthful body”</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" closure_uid_8swhat="200" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">{Here is a pic of studio}</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" closure_uid_8swhat="200" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_8swhat="227" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZ8zoNmoOdQ/TjxUDsqw6jI/AAAAAAAABlk/Q8DhF_oSbhI/s400/exhale-Atlanta_Yoga.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></span></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_8swhat="227" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" closure_uid_8swhat="246" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span closure_uid_8swhat="271" style="font-family: inherit;"> {Here is their signature logo - a butt ---- uhhhh, hysterical, minus the fact my key chain scan card has this pic on it also - like I really want to look at this perfect butt, and then go work out....maybe it inspires some people - I just find it ridiculous right next to my Kroger discount card}</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" closure_uid_8swhat="246" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_8swhat="300" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8dbyvl7_mEQ/TjxUhG0vfoI/AAAAAAAABlo/KTj0VaZgG34/s1600/exhale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="327" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8dbyvl7_mEQ/TjxUhG0vfoI/AAAAAAAABlo/KTj0VaZgG34/s400/exhale.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" closure_uid_8swhat="246" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" closure_uid_8swhat="246" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span closure_uid_8swhat="271">8)</span><span closure_uid_8swhat="270" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span closure_uid_8swhat="245">The instructors learn your name</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" closure_uid_8swhat="302" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span closure_uid_8swhat="244">9)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span closure_uid_8swhat="301">People are fairly friendly. There</span> is a funny mix of folks here though!</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" closure_uid_8swhat="302" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>They have a little boutique, where I bought hot diggity dog- a toy dog that you heat up in the microwave that smells like lavender and you wrap him around your neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess it is second best thing since Elliot is still anti-dog.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_8swhat="303" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">{Here is a pic of hot-diggity dog}</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_8swhat="303" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_8swhat="353" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SVWVd6lLDCE/TjwIWSE6zeI/AAAAAAAABlE/T22ylYTBC40/s1600/IMAG0520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SVWVd6lLDCE/TjwIWSE6zeI/AAAAAAAABlE/T22ylYTBC40/s400/IMAG0520.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_8swhat="354" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ohhh and I love how there are these cool hammocks outside – nice place to recover and get some fresh air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_8swhat="354" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span closure_uid_8swhat="372" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>In a future blog post I will tell you all about me becoming a yogi.</span></div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-2468043421291140522011-08-03T21:54:00.000-04:002011-08-03T21:54:03.242-04:00The final rose....and final lessons learned from The Bachelorette!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Sisters being protective = cute/ sisters being crazy and judgmental = not cute</div><div class="MsoNormal">Being rationale does not mean judging someone after chatting with them for 15 minutes</div><div class="MsoNormal">People are crazy</div><div class="MsoNormal">People are allowed to be wrong – that is part of life and learning</div><div class="MsoNormal">Bad moments are a part of life</div><div class="MsoNormal">Bad TV can be really good</div><div class="MsoNormal">People look good in professional suits – but on the beach it might be too hot</div><div class="MsoNormal">Waterproof mascara is key</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you break up with someone, don’t make them take a long boat ride and flight to get home </div><div class="MsoNormal">I am so glad my engagement was not on national TV </div><div class="MsoNormal">Don’t have bangs if you are going to play with them<sub><o:p></o:p></sub></div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-80772208828007679162011-08-01T22:23:00.000-04:002011-08-01T22:23:04.081-04:00Gaya's top 10 things I love in my phone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="138">Top 10 favorite things in my phone (Droid Incredible):</div><br />
<div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">1) I have this android app called push ups, it is pretty low tech, but it has you enter your goal of how many continuous push ups you want to do, and develops a plan to get you there. Then it gives you a series to do each day. My goal is to be able to do 50 continuous push ups - aka watch out - gaya's getting cut!</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">2) GPS on the phone - this is obvious, but I love it. Atlanta is crazy and there are always 100 ways to get somewhere, and this handy feature on my phone let's me check traffic.</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">3) Endomondo - is a running app - I used to love this one, then I started to get worried someone could see how slow I was running (some people's endomondo shows up on facebook). I don't need all those random friends knowing it takes me forever to run a mile. But in theory it is cool, it shows where you are on the GPS and your pace.</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">4) Lookout phone app - let's me GPS my phone to see where it is - aka answers the question "did I leave my phone at work, or is it here burried in my purse." You can also log on online from anywhere and disable your phone if needed ($), or send out a loud siren to help you find it.</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">5) Zillow - have you ever driven by a house for sale (and of course it is out of the brochures), and thought "I wonder how much that house is?", well Zillow looks at where you are (gps feature), and sees what homes are for sale, and links you to the MLS data.</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">6) Discount websites like Scoutmob and Sparkquest - no need to buy anything, nor do you have to clip coupons!</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">7) Mint.com - the app and the website. I love this site - however, be warned, it is scary. It helps you track all your finances from all your financial institutions (investments, checking, work 401k, credit card, another credit card), it tracks your spending and sends you an email when you have gone over your budget....scary when you get the email mid-month saying "you are over your budget for groceries..." (EEEK - I will blog on this in the future- my need to buy insane amounts of groceries). </div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">8) Facebook and google+ of course - no need to explain this one!</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">9) Calorie counter - in theory this is cool. However, of the 200+ days I have had this app, I have only entered my food maybe 5 times. Standard food diary- but neat barcode scanner, so after I eat a yogurt, I can scan the cup, and it will pop up in to the food diary - pretty snazzy</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">10) Most importantly, I have lots of phone number of friends and family, most of which I need to call and catch up with.</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">Do: Use technology to help make life easier</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">Don't: Be the crazy person always on your phone, scrolling through facebook and not looking up to say hello.</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_vz9qfj="134">ohh - and I love my flashlight app! </div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-13490534659059722202011-07-27T17:02:00.000-04:002011-07-27T17:02:14.930-04:00Life Lessons from The Bachelorette: Episode 8 and 9<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Here are some more life lessons:</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_t8cm8e="133" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Week 8:</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_t8cm8e="168" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Sagging pants are not cute</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span closure_uid_t8cm8e="132" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Kissing in a skating rink can be fine (making out- not so fine)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Greek people are allowed to make other types of food (not just Greek food)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Dressing a dog up is usually super adorable, but sometimes it can be over the top</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Shows like this expect the woman to move to the man at the end of the show (not the other way around)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">It takes time to know someone well</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Throwing money at anyone dancing can be awkward </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span closure_uid_t8cm8e="137" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">There is a lot of magic in the ordinary (so opposite of the TV show really – unless ordinary to you is flying on a helicopter over crystal clear water regularly).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" closure_uid_t8cm8e="136" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Week 9</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Putting sunscreen on for someone’s back is sweet – applying it to their whole body on national TV is weird</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Fantasy suite card – I can’t pull any large life lessons from this one….just overwhelmed by the awkwardness of the show!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">First step to recovery: knowing you have a euro mullet</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Taking time and putting in effort to make sure your partner is “the one” is usually a good thing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Wanting a man-cave is not necessarily a good sign that the guy is ready to commit</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Honesty is a good thing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Back muscles can be lovely</span></div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721080614722476889.post-70132336435766273152011-07-23T10:32:00.000-04:002011-07-23T10:32:52.706-04:00Nerd Alert: Settlers of Catan: Might be my gateway to LARP'ing (Live Action Role Playing) and other strategy games<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div closure_uid_9ngq2w="140">So before I begin about Settler's of Catan, let me give you an overview of Gaya's game history</div><br />
<div closure_uid_9ngq2w="148">1) Spectra (my sister) and I would draw elaborate paper dolls (well done ones too), and we would <span style="background-color: white;">create story lines for them (all of this is normal), but then we would sometimes role play and take on the <span closure_uid_9ngq2w="583">persona</span> of the paper dolls, for example we would be in the mall and rather than Spectra and Gaya chatting and window</span> shopping, it would be Tiffany and Whitney (this begins to transcend normal). It was quite fabulous, Tiffany and Whitney had such great lives and it was so fun taking on these identites. They were smart, athletic, popular, and awesome. I don't remember all the details, but I would say this went on for at least a year or two!</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="148"> </div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="148">{The paperdolls}</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="148"> </div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="582" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hxkm0X_Xmc4/TirayMro6_I/AAAAAAAABkc/nZ5-dhxgosg/s1600/paperdolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hxkm0X_Xmc4/TirayMro6_I/AAAAAAAABkc/nZ5-dhxgosg/s400/paperdolls.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="148">{Spectra and me being bird like}</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="148"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iwtzXtgpFd0/Tinpwny6wVI/AAAAAAAABkA/Y-u9_iwGNNM/s1600/bird+pic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iwtzXtgpFd0/Tinpwny6wVI/AAAAAAAABkA/Y-u9_iwGNNM/s400/bird+pic" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="148"> </div><div> </div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="196">2) Tetris and other computer games - my parents decided that they would pay Spectra and I to play computer games (interesting parenting strategy- but I guess we both turned out ok). BOYYYYYY - it was awesome. One day I literally spent 8 hours playing Oregon Trail (forge the river!) and made sweet sweet cash (that I would stash to pay for my math camp for 4 weeks at <span style="background-color: white;">Mount <span closure_uid_9ngq2w="585">Holyoke</span></span> college - no I am not kidding). Needless to say, I was quite good at these games. But sometimes it showed a negative side to myself (a competitive side (Spectra would call it my slythein side)). In colonizaiton (a game about colonizing the new world), I would often attack other settlers, stealing the resouces, and destroying those that stood in my way. In the game civilization I would conquer the wonders of the world, explore new lands, and was always prepared for barbarians to attack!!! I am pretty sure I was awesome at these games. I also really excelled at tetris - I was so good and could play for hours (this addiction resurfaced my 2nd year in grad school when I should have been working on a thesis). </div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="196"> </div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="196">{pic of Colonization and Civilization - old school versions}</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="196"> </div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="224" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jatJF-_tCto/TinqH0f6aXI/AAAAAAAABkE/k_nDdb7850o/s1600/civilization.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jatJF-_tCto/TinqH0f6aXI/AAAAAAAABkE/k_nDdb7850o/s400/civilization.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="250" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PY0J34wlaWo/TinqKlYw7nI/AAAAAAAABkI/BhW44x38J5I/s1600/civilization_550x413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PY0J34wlaWo/TinqKlYw7nI/AAAAAAAABkI/BhW44x38J5I/s400/civilization_550x413.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="439"> </div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="439">{Oregon Trail - thanks to <a href="http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2007/06/the_history_beh/">http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2007/06/the_history_beh/</a> for the pic}</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="439"> </div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="470" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LN04SMfuKzs/TinsYwHpjeI/AAAAAAAABkU/_h8b7Lqep38/s1600/oregon_1_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LN04SMfuKzs/TinsYwHpjeI/AAAAAAAABkU/_h8b7Lqep38/s400/oregon_1_large.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="470" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="470" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">{Pic of Tetris, thanks to <a href="http://vadim.oversigma.com/Tetris.htm">http://vadim.oversigma.com/Tetris.htm</a>}</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="470" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="470" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="522" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rULvdm4ba4Q/Tins1qXGNLI/AAAAAAAABkY/1MbmafQAJOY/s1600/tetris.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rULvdm4ba4Q/Tins1qXGNLI/AAAAAAAABkY/1MbmafQAJOY/s400/tetris.gif" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="439"> </div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="142">3) Traditional board games- my family loves normal board games too, although to be honest they don't often take advantage of my ruthless nature. I just can't compete at the scrabble and badlerdash's of the world - my parents are just too well read and have decent vocabularies! </div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="142"> </div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="142">4) Other - I love that <span style="background-color: yellow;">werewolf</span> murder game, where you sit in a circle and close you eyes....yes, that one!</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="141"> </div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="143">All of this history leads me to this: Settlers of Catan: A few months ago my friend Lauren introduced me to this board game....oh it is awesome, according to wikipedia, "Players assume the role of settlers on the game board, each attempting to build and develop their settlement while trading and acquiring resources. Players are rewarded points as their settlements grow; the first to reach a set number of points is the winner." The games rules are initially intimidating and complicated, but soon, you might start dreaming about your strategy and how to get more bricks, or wood! Literally, I had a dream about my strategy, I needed more stone!!</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="251"> </div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="251">{pic of Settlers <a closure_uid_9ngq2w="252" href="http://www.catan.com/">http://www.catan.com/</a>}</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="251"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="349" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66GIo8_-EVA/Tinq8wbXkcI/AAAAAAAABkM/0l49aND_P-g/s1600/Settlers_of_Catan-p2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66GIo8_-EVA/Tinq8wbXkcI/AAAAAAAABkM/0l49aND_P-g/s400/Settlers_of_Catan-p2.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="144">I am thinking this might be my new addiction. I really need to be careful or before you know it I will be LARPing (Live Action Role Playing).</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="144"> </div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="145">{Pic: A larper Photo by <a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/elf%20larp/onionsaregross/436590271_768c3dcb1a_o.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: #336699;">onionsaregross</span></a>}</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="145"> </div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="523" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qWq6RYpjAHM/Tinri_Ey50I/AAAAAAAABkQ/GvYC2tRldI0/s1600/Larp%2527ing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qWq6RYpjAHM/Tinri_Ey50I/AAAAAAAABkQ/GvYC2tRldI0/s400/Larp%2527ing.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="523" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9ngq2w="523" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Growing up time does not mean no more game time, right?</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="145"> </div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="145">2 questions for my readers (including those lurkers out there):</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="146">1) Any other games I should get my hands on?</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="146">2) What game addiction have you had?</div><div closure_uid_9ngq2w="146"> </div><div> </div></div>Gayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478971038254800677noreply@blogger.com8