Rant

[Disclaimer:  If you've been thinking I'm a pretty nice person, you might want to skip this post.]

Dear Frequent-ers of the John P. Thayer YMCA (aka the Downtown Y),

If you are going to enjoy the track upstairs - please read the sign that greets you when you walk up the stairs and follow the instructions:

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday:  Walk/run <--
Tuesday, Thursday:  Walk/run -->

Seems simple, huh?  Last week I almost got mowed over by a really fast runner going the WRONG way around a turn.  Come on people!

Also on the sign:  The outside lane is for running or passing.

Running or passing, that's it... note what the outside lane should NOT be used for:

1.  TWW:  Texting while walking.

2.  Catching up on the latest gossip (it is particularly hard to pass 2 side-by-side walkers)

3.  Stretching

4.  Just standing still (really, it happened today)

5.  Congregating before your BodyPump class

Don't ge me wrong.  I love sharing the track with you... just follow the rules.  I have a hard enough time running my 2-3 miles.  Dodging slowpokes makes it that much harder.

Seattle

We. Love. Seattle.

So enjoyed our time there.  Lucky for Columbus, we love you too.  Otherwise the River Town might lose us to the Emerald City.

Here are pictures to document the fun that was had... more on my Facebook page.

The top of the Space Needle

Loved this bakery at Pike Place Market... ate breakfast here twice!

Really loved the market...

Such a neat place...

From the Chattahoochee to the Puget Sound

Explored Chinatown... the most authentic meal we've had since last summer in East Asia

Park under the Space Needle

Harbor Cruise

Unfortunately I left my beloved SPF at home

Continued Springer's quest to visit every MLB stadium in America

How to Throw a Perfect Party

Step 1:  Marry a culinary genius... which is Springer, not me, in case you were wondering.

Step 2:  Invite a group of good friends... some new, some old, some quiet, some loud, some funny, some that like to laugh, some good cooks, some that really know how to pick out something yummy from the Publix deli or a blueberry farm.

Step 3:  Start cooking at midnight the night before.  (I am convinced that smoking BBQ is Springer's spiritual gift.)

Step 4:  Clean up the house, but don't stress out about it.

Step 5:  Set up yard games, such as bocce ball, monkey golf, and croquet.  Eventually turn the front yard into a wiffleball field.

Step 6:  DON'T WORRY about the fact that you just ripped up the linoleum in the kitchen, exposing hardwood floors, yet to be refinished.  Remember what the Nester says, "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful."

Step 7:  Have fun!  Take lots of pictures!  (Unfortunately, I had so much fun that I didn't take many pictures.  I think Becca did though, so I'm hoping she'll share.)

Thanks to our Fourth of July crowd!  It was fun!