The Birthday Weekend Part 1

This weekend Wes and I celebrated my 28th birthday by going down to Midtown for a show that we were supposed to (and did) go to in October but Ryan Adams and the Cardinals walked off the stage after 37 minutes of playing. We got make-up tickets at the Fox, which was awesome because we'd never been there. We decided to make a day/night out of it by me leaving work early, heading on Marta to Midtown Station and taking in a little city life. We stopped in a couple of places to hang out and as you can see, the weather was georgeous! These two pics show us at Joe's on Juniper and here we got a couple of ideas for our deck that we will be building soon with a little help from out friends.

Next, we walked a couple of blocks to this gem: The Steamhouse. We saw this a long time ago when we were down that way and I wanted to go to it so bad but we'd already eaten. I've been planning this for weeks now and it was totally worth it! I love steamed seafood but there's not a whole lot of places that do it up right around us so I was so excited to go here. We sat outside again and loved it!

When finised at the restaurant, we walked a few more blocks to the Fabulous Fox Theatre.  I was amazed by this venue. It's so cool because they make the ceiling look like you are outside and the stage is like a castle or something. Here's a picture of that

The show was really great but almost halfway through I got a migraine and had no medication, so needless to say, it was a long Marta ride home. 

Here's Wes enjoying the show:

They can't be serious...

Today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution had an article that was a little weird. Read this.

I can't imagine that they think the government is actually taking them seriously. I mean, give me a break. First, the quotes from this article are as if big guys in the the industry actually think that Americans can't be sexual without pornography. That's just insulting. Secondly, a porn star actually commented that she thought it was crazy that these gentlemen are asking for a bailout. She seems to be doing fine since she makes $1,200-$2,000 for one scene in an "adult film". I can't imagine what senators and representatives will think or do when they actually ask for this. Or maybe they already have at this point. Still, I'd like to see their faces during the request. CNN's Campbell Brown even reports, "They concede the $13 billion industry is in no fear of collapse, but say in this environment, why take chances?" People are losing their houses to foreclosures, being laid off after 30 years of service and losing their retirement savings because of the economy and this is where American tax payers money should go?

Thoughts?

p.s. I apologize if any of those Google ads are advertising any adult or inappropriate websites through my blog. I don't choose which ads pop up!

Dogs/Gators

Living in Atlanta has given us a chance to see how SEC fans view football. It's like ACC basketball I think. Well, maybe just UNC vs Duke basketball. It's a culture here different from any other place and, perhaps, conference. Everyone in Atlanta is either a UGA or Georgia Tech fan. We haven't really picked a side but we did see this really awesome video story on College Game Day about Matt Richt (headcoach for UGA) about his family and their adoption story. The heartstrings were pulled and I cheered for Georgia this weekend against LSU (sorry, Ryan).

This Saturday is a big day in Atlanta and probably everywhere else in the South with a vested interest in football. Saturday is Georgia v Florida. I thought this picture was priceless on the AJC this morning:



I only know two people that actually went to Florida and they don't look anything like this but Kevin and Faydra, I think you should dress up like this for Halloween or at least get your kids to dress up like this!

The Derby Alpharetta Team Trivia

Team Triva guy asks Final Question:
Put the following Magazine Titles in order from highest circulation to lowest in 2006:
1)Web MD
2)Woman's Day
3)Weight Watchers
4)Watercolor Magic

Alexis: Well, that's easy, Watercolor Magic is obviously lowest.
Wes: No, I think it's WebMd, who would by that when it's free online?
Alexis: OK, if you think so. So, Web MD is last, then Watercolor Magic?
Wes: Right, what do you think is first?
Alexis: Woman's Day
Wes: Ooo, I don't know, I think Weight Watchers, don't you?
Alexis: Well, I think it's Woman's Day because I have at least heard of it. I was in Weight Watchers and don't remember the magazine.
Wes: Weight Watchers seems like the answer, I think it would be more popular than Woman's Day.
Alexis: Fine. (Writes our answer on the card: Weight Watchers, Woman's Day, Watercolor Magic, Web MD) and then turns it in.
Music plays, we watch Olympic Volleyball on one screen and Braves on other
Team Trivia Guy: OK, answers in...the correct order is: Woman's Day, Weight Watchers, Web MD, Watercolor Magic!

...thank you and good night!

A long week for Baseball fans

If any of you knew me before Wes and I moved to Atlanta, you know that I didn't like baseball. OK, I hated it, despised it, even loathed it. I won't go into details other than say, it was for personal reasons. In fairness, I had never been to a real baseball game. I mean, I went to high school games that my friends played in, American Legion games and even some NC State games only because one of my friends dated the catcher. But I would never commit to enjoying the experience. Then, we moved here and everything changed. Before we moved last summer, Wes and I decided that we didn't necessarily have to love baseball but we should at least give the Braves a chance. We started watching games (there really is nothing else to watch on summer nights and when it's 100 degrees at sundown, why be outside?). We got to know the players and kinda liked the announcer guys but the games were still on TBS so they came on every night even in Wilmington but we only watched a couple of games a week and still didn't really think that we would like being baseball fans. One of the times that we came to visit for interviews, we stayed with the Tutterows and asked them, well, here's the conversation:

Me: So, will y'all be watching/going to a Braves game this week?

Vicki: Um, it's the All-Star break...

Me: Oh, yea, I knew that...

Of course I didn't know that. They get a break??? Then, we moved to Atlanta on August 3 and went to our first live Braves game shortly after...

...we left on MARTA changed forever... Thanks to Delta, we received our first Braves merchandise free on a hat giveaway night. This season, in April, we bought jerseys in Underground Atlanta (they're way cheaper there than anywhere else if you're looking). I don't really know how to explain our transformation other than being in a city with a team like the Braves is fun. Everyone talks about it at work the next day and everyone is a Braves fan. Everyone hates the Mets and Phillies. It's fun to be in a community like that...and it's actually cheaper for us to go to a game than a movie. That's right!

On Sunday, we were a little sad that we wouldn't be able to watch the Bravos for a week and since nothing else decent comes on TV anymore, we were forced into watching the Home Run Derby if we would watch anything. Fortunately for us, records were broken and it was actually entertaining. Until that guy that hit 28 home runs stopped, then it was boring until he came back on...but then he lost, weird.

I read this girl's blog often because it's about the Braves from a girl's perspective: http://braveslove.blogspot.com/
She kept up with the derby last night and I enjoyed these quotes:

8:12pm --

Chase Utley is a doll. I wish he wasn't a Phillie, so I could love him more.

8:15pm --

Erin Andrews' blouse is fit for a Disney Princess.

8:19pm --
I'm still not tired of "the most interesting man in the world". Love those Dos Equis commercials.

That Dos Equis guy really is amazing...

My love of TiVo

I'll admit it, I'm addicted to two TV shows. One is a guilty pleasure: American Idol. I don't know what it is because I really don't think that Idol can ever get better than the first three seasons, but for some reason...I can't miss an episode. So, thank goodness for TiVo. I watched Tuesday and Wednesday's episodes back to back last night (fast-forwarding, of course through commercials and the parts where they just show what I've already seen). I'm not even attached to any contestant yet. But for some reason, I have to watch it. Does anyone have any first week predictions? Nobody has really stood out to me. I'm trying to think of who I even remember. I think we'll know the top 12 next week after hearing them all perform just once. I can't imagine how long the show will go on. I kinda wish this would be the last season so I would stop watching it, but I think that millions of other people are just like me and have to know what's going on with the show. I think this girl is my fav so far:

My other show that I can't get enough of is LOST. I know, I was a pessismist at first about it. I thought the idea was stupid too. But Wes and I watched season two and got hooked. Now, I find myself reading message boards about theories and missing peices and I try to figure out what goes on. It's cool when you Tivo it because you can rewind and see things in slow motion and catch fast things like Jacob in the cabin and Christian Shepherd, too. It's crazy how many people blog and message about this show. There are so many theories out there.

How does anyone else feel about these shows?

p.s. All of my former roomates will be happy to know that I also Tivo old favorites like Friends, 30 minute meals, Golden Girls and Who's the Boss!