And so it begins: college football season in the South.

I think I need to go back to school. 

Not because I need it to advance my career, but because I have zero college football affiliations and therefore am a bit of an outcast in the South. And I really can't relate to all the hoopla down here around football. The dressing up, the signage and memorabilia at my coworkers' desks, and the vanity plates, my god, the vanity plates. 

Let's just say the Alfred University Saxons didn't ignite such passions...

why do I do it?

First it was friendster, then it was myspace. And now stupid facebook. I finally caved. Maybe I'll stick to it, maybe not. But once a blogger always a blogger :)

our first big trip = success!

I like this picture since we look a little like brother and sister playing I'm Not Touching You, fitting if you consider how much time we spent in the rental car.

Since this blog claims to be partially about dating, I thought I'd give an update from that arena of my life. Brett and I have been talking about making a trip to Michigan to visit his fam and my rents for a while. Well, we finally did it. We bought the tickets a few months ago and I think the doubting, negative side of me was like, what if something happens and we break up and don't go? Or what if we get sick of each other on day 2 of an 8 day trip? What if I can't stand his parents and I am trapped in their home for 5 days? Can I limit myself to one bag and one personal item so we don't have to check a bag and I can retain my low-maintenance glam status?

Also, I might add that when we were sitting on the couch with our dualing MacBook Pros planning the trip, B turned to me and said, so if we leave on Monday, what day should we come back? I'm thinking in my head, hmmm, how about Thursday? since the idea that the first time I meet his parents is by staying at their home is in itself frightening and I think 2 days is plenty. But he quickly follows up the "question" with how about the next Monday? And not wanting to burst the dear boy's bubble, I agree.

Well, I can happily report that it was smooth, smooth sailing. Not one moment of loathing, lots of pleasant parental interaction and thanks to Dave who suggested that we go mountain biking during the Butler leg of the trip, I got to check a nice big bag because we had to pack our helmets and other biking gear (not to mention the 2 extra pairs of shoes and full size toiletries I snuck amongst the gear).

Fun times. We have two more big trips planned for the fall, go us!

pretty please

Coach Tera, complete with Hawaiian lei, every runner's must have accessory

So as some of you may know, I am running in the Nike Women's Marathon October 19, eek! But I have been training hard (15 miles this morning, 20 miles last Sunday morning) and I think I'm up for he challenge. BUT, there is a bigger challenge out there and I am asking for your help!

Last fall I volunteered as a coach for Girls on the Run. It is an awesome group that teaches middle school girls all kinds of life lessons and skills through running. I had a great time doing it, but this year I don't have the time to devote, so I am doing the next best thing and supporting their charity, Team Tiara. I have to raise at least $262 that will be used as a scholarship to help a needy girl get to go through the Girls on the Run program. Coincidentally, it also works out to about $10.10 per mile of my marathon! So if I could get 26 buddies and bloggers to each donate $10, I'd be real close to my goal and a cute, sweet little girl would be introduced to running and learn that drugs are not a positive choice, but vegetables are!

If you want to donate, you can mail me a check, made out to me. I am also going to a meeting in a week or so after which I think I'll have a website through which you can donate.

Thanks!

mmmm... pie

I just couldn't pass up this photo op a couple weeks ago in Michigan. I think you can see why...

Across the street from this landmark was a yellow house with an old man sitting on a lawn chair in the driveway. I think he must sit there often, getting a kick out of us tourists. We exchanged a wave.

I'd love to design a font based on the wooden letters someone (not so) carefully crafted!

funny money

The other day at the dentist I found out they owe me $377. Great, right? Check's in the mail. Then yesterday, I got an invoice from the Art Institute of Atlanta, where I took a class, oh maybe three years ago? Apparently I owe them $0.21. Yes, folks, that is 21 cents! So it has already cost them more than 21 cents to process this info and send me a letter. And now they want me to spend more money use up a check, an envelope and a stamp. So I could call and dispute it, but then I would spend more in cell phone minutes than the 21 cents. I wish I knew this on Wednesday when I went to the dentist. Then I could have asked them to send 21 cents to AIA and a check for $367.79 to me. such sillyness! But I'd rather not end up in collections, so I think the best answer is to call from my work ohone for free and charge it on my credit card.

In other news, I got a text message the other day that read like this:
yo the next time u dont want to hang out u dont have 2 lie 2 go hang with jamie

I'll keep that in mind.

really?

I am sucked into the vortex of another gross show on TLC. I don't even know the name of it, but basically it is brides trying on dresses and being whiny little brats. Ugh. One girl brought her WHOLE family, including teenage brothers. Weird. I don't have a problem with wanting what you want especially when you're paying a lot for it, but I feel like these girls are far removed from what they are actually doing when they are dress shopping. They just don't seem to acknowledge at all the fact that they are totally lucky to have found someone that they want to be with forever, they don't even seem happy. I mean, I know it needs to be perfect and how you imagined it as a kid, but seriously, I would endure the torture of walking down the aisle in my bathing suit if it meant I had found that person! I just hope that somewhere deep inside their flat-ironed heads, they appreciate what they have.