a few more

I finally decided to stop being a baby and got up at 6 this morning to, um, begin marathon training, a tad late. It has been blistering hot here, so any run I have attempted after work has turned into a long, grumpy walk. I decided the only way to be motivated was to go a totally different route and have some new scenery, so I ran through downtown Atlanta. It was really fun, and I noticed a few things I've never seen before, like the emergency room entrance to Emory Hospital (which = peace of mind because even though I've lived here for almost 5 years, I still have no idea where to go if someone needs an ER), the Patriotism Museum (which might be a neat suggestion for wedding guests to visit), and someone's very creative use of shrubbery at the Georgian Terrace Hotel (and I never look at gardening).

When "I Want You Back" came on my iPod, I had a few more MJ memories so here is Part 2:

The Jackson 5 Greatest Hits album was some the only music my mom and I could agree upon during my slightly tempermental late teens and early twenties. I think we wore it out on car trips. My best college friend and her sorority sisters did a choreographed dance to PYT at her wedding reception that was awesome, but not quite as good as my girls' Greece Mega Mix number. I have certain songs that I can count on to build me up on a long run if I'm losing steam, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough is one of them. Try it. And lastly, during a photo shoot with New York Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes, we couldn't all agree on music. So Phil requested ABC and the rest just flowed. It's universal!

my Michael Jackson memories

probably wouldn't have chosen that typeface, but who am I to judge?

I have the fondest memories of being little and driving through the neighborhood with my dad blaring the Thriller cassette on the tapedeck, alternating that with the Dirty Dancing soundtrack... How cool were we. And a kid down the street had the vinyl album cover with the baby tiger. Jealous. I am embarrassed to admit now, but back then I was obsessed with Weird Al's Fat and Eat It, especially the videos. To the point that I was pissed if the real video came on. But I also loved Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, so not too surprising. I remember watching the Black and White video on Sunday night, probably pre-empting America's Funniest Home Videos or the Magical World of Disney or something else equally corny (and awesome at the time).  McCauley Culkin was in that, I think I had a teensy crush on him... I remember watching the last girl who morphed from another face in that video. She had bouncy boobs, I had no boobs. I wanted boobs. Now I just want her skinny arms and good skin. Funny how priorities change. Nice memories; thanks, MJ!

number three

I know I said I would update with more posts about art and painting, so I thought I'd let you know that I am working on painting number three. This one is an official commission. The baby who will receive this has a very creative name! To protect privacy, I'll just let you know that Dragonslayer is one of two middle names. I am not normally a fan of crazy first names, but I am up for anything for the middle. Since this is the first boy painting I am doing, thought I would do more modern, clean, sans serif type. 

Did I mention this is "due" by July 4? Eek! I primed the canvas tonight and want to start painting tomorrow. It has been sooo hot here lately that the idea of staying inside and working for the better part of the weekend sounds great.

will run for money

2/5 of team Run Hon. Here we are doing the opposite of running, eating Krispy Kreme donuts!

okay not really money, donations. I am doing a relay in a few weeks with Katie and Courtney and a few girls I have yet to meet. We each run three 8.5 mile legs in 24 hours. I don't have many details about how this works, but I am thinking it might be kind of like a slumber party with running! Sounds fun. 

We are raising money for a GREAT organization, Back on My Feet. Katie is one of the founding members of the Baltimore chapter. This group gives homeless folks the gear and opportunity to enter a running program. It was written up in Runners World a few months ago, what an amazing story. Here is a link if you'd like to check it out:

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-297--13022-0,00.html

I'd love your donation, no matter how big or small. Please visit my fundraising page and show your support! Thanks!

http://www.active.com/donate/bomf20in24/20n24TPike

@ work on Sunday :(

Yuck, I needed a little catch up time at work. So after 2 bbq's yesterday and a fun double date to see the Hangover on Friday, I'm here at the office and Brett's shooting a piece in North Georgia (he's a producer). I am so not psyched to be here that even writing my soon-to-be-married name over and over again (pathetically, one of my favorite activities) is not helping. Neither is checking all my favorite blogs, not to mention writing on mine! Okay, signing off now to buckle down for a few hours. Enjoy YOUR Sunday.

That's what husbands are for.

Last night I had a work event at the World of Coke downtown. We were not allowed to expense the $10 parking fee, so a bunch of us met up at a coworker's place first for a glass of wine and then carpooled to the event. As soon as I got to the event, I noticed that my keys were "missing" from my purse. Even after a full dump out in the bathroom (that sounds so wrong) they were officially MIA. So I texted Brett to go check it out. He rode his bike over there and sure enough calls me back all excited a few minutes later because he just scored a sweet silver Jetta! Better yet it was free, the keys were right there in the ignition! Awesome! Ha ha, babe. Very funny. 

I confessed to a friend at the dinner and she replies, ah, I see you've discovered what husbands are for!

On another note, my company continually hosts big events at a few fun venues in Atlanta, we always seem to be dining at either the Fox Theatre, the World of Coke or the Georgia Aquarium. These are great places but at this point, I really never feel the need to visit the aquarium again (unless of course I have friends visit, hint hint). Which makes me wonder, do other companies in cities with venues of less universal appeal have events at the quirkier spots around the US? The Corn Palace in Iowa? The Zippo Lighter Museum in Pennsylvania? Pikes Place Market in Seattle? Are those employees soooo sick and tired of their own local culture, too? I wish we could swap. Personally, I would love to see that Corn Palace!

Ooooh, pretty!

I always thought that those ready-made blog backgrounds were kind of cheesy and unoriginal and that I liked the simple white layout best. Then my friend Amy got on me today about my boring blog with lots of "white space" so I wandered over to shabby blogs.com to see what all the fuss was about. So stinkin' cute. Lots of cute orange-esque designs, this one is called Little Miss Sunshine.

Hmmm, what else. I bought a wedding dress! I went to eight shops and hated pretty much everything I saw but one, which was of course at the top of my price range. Or as my mom said, cost prohibitive... I spent a week moping about it, googling it, trying not to use my AC to save money, etc. I went back to the shop to try it on again on Sunday after a depressing weekend of tulle, rhinestones and bustles and -- score, it was on sale! That kind of got the ball rolling on the rest of the wedding plans. If anyone knows of a good Atlanta wedding photographer that works for less than the cost of  decent house down payment, let me know :)

I had a terrific birthday, I really owe a good post to that and I will get to it. I think I got more cards, gifts and good wishes for my 30th than any other birthday. I felt so loved! 

Sorry, 2008; 2009 is slowly gaining on you.