Victory

Saturday night (actually really early Sunday morning) I finished my first 5K!  And Springer kicked his last year's time's butt.  I'm not going to lie and say it was fun, but when this photo was snapped, I did have quite a feeling of accomplishment and extreme sweaty-ness.

aarti's first show!

The Next Food Network Star revealed the winner a couple of weeks ago, and it is AARTI (my favorite)!  Hooray!

In honor of the new FN star, tonight we cooked Sloppy Bombay Joes, the first recipe Aarti made on her new show Aarti Party.  They were fantastic!

For more deliciousness, you can watch Aarti on Sunday afternoons at noon on Food Network.

Midnight Express

If:

1.  You live in the Columbus vicinity (but if you live somewhere else, you can stay with us)

2.  You can stay up until midnight (it will seriously be a struggle for me)

3.  The idea of running 3.1 miles does not seem entirely overwhelming (again a struggle - but I THINK I CAN!  I THINK I CAN!)

Then:

You should run the Midnight Express!  It will be fun!  BBQ sandwich and sweet tea at the finish line... you can't beat that!

miss you

For some reason I really miss my siblings tonight.  I'm not sure why... maybe because I've been thinking that the next time I go "home" none of us will actually full-time live there.  That's so weird.  I wish for just a little while we could all live in the same place again.  Split up between Columbus, Athens, Milledgeville, and Atlanta stinks sometimes.  I miss you guys.

Watching this made me feel better though...

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!