atlanta: scarecrows in the garden
As long-time members at and regular visitors to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we’ve watched it go through some major changes through the past decade. I am always playing old-timer with the girls — “Remember when the entrance used to be here, then there and then over there?” “Remember when this used to be the gift
volunteering: smoke detector blitz
This weekend is the Fall Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detector Blitz here in Decatur. As a member of the Fire CAPS (Citizens Assisting Public Safety) team, I am welcomed and encouraged to join along. While in the past, I’ve ridden along in one of the big firetrucks, yesterday I was lucky enough to get to ride with
photo friday: lieutenant island
For our summer vacation this year, we headed up to Cape Cod to join my parents and sister and Luis for a week at the beach. The house my mom found was on a lovely little island called “Lieutenant Island” on the bay side of Wellfleet. This “for residents only” island is connected to the
once every 21 years
I’ll admit it; I have taken *terrible* care of my teeth. Nonetheless, I’ve been extremely lucky on the dental front. As a child, it was easy for me to go to the dentist, despite the 12 hour trip to get to my appointment. My granddaddy was my dentist and that worked out quite well for
to-do list conquered!
Ever since school started back after the summer, my “to-do” list has been absolutely out of control. I don’t have any idea how it managed to get as long as it did. Did the summer heat drain me of energy? Was I too busy? Today, at long last, that to-do list is done. It has
photo friday: whale watching
While on Cape Cod this summer, one thing I knew we must do was to take Chloe on a whale watch. She insists on going to every aquarium we see and cannot get enough of marine animals. And boat rides, from ferries to kayaks are also high on her list. Despite the sudden, unexpected rain
volunteering: CERT Drill
I woke up nervous. I couldn’t shake it. My weeks of CERT classes back in April were going to be put to the test. What if I did everything wrong. But I put on my jeans and sneakers, grabbed my backpack and headed out to DeKalb Fire/Rescue HQ. I soon saw people I knew from
photo friday: a few hours in washington, dc
I was so happy that day back in July when a Rumpus Room invitation came in my email – a concert that coincided perfectly with our roadtrip up to Cape Cod! It had been such a long time since the last time we were able to attend a concert at XM! Instead of planning to
incremental steps forward, but big steps back
Or lots of extra steps for me today. Or hours behind at work. Or “My house looks great FINALLY!” When we moved to Decatur, I gave up the cleaning service that we had for over ten years, even through a move across county. We moved from a large house to a two-bedroom apartment — how
volunteering: red cross โ step 3
Moving forward in my volunteering this week. After a week out of town for September break (where I happily saw a Red Cross office just outside of Savannah), this week I dove back in to my training. Last Saturday I went to a training on the new assignment tool — akin to attending a training
back home.
We came home from “break” on Thursday. While the girls were on break, I did my best to keep up at work while we were away at the beach. I kept up overall, but still managed to feel like I fell behind. Deadlines were not communicated properly, and I now see that I’ve missed one.
photo friday: fox theatre tour
One of the hopes on our Summer 2013 Passport List was to finally take a tour of the Fox Theatre. The girls, my parents and I finally made it there this past July. After years of going to plays, movies, and ballets at the beautiful theater, we finally had the chance to learn the fascinating
try. and try again.
While we were on the beach the other day, Chloe and I watched some kids playing in the surf and the tidepools on skimboards. Chloe, of course, wanted to give it a try too. The store in town had rows and rows of boards. I agreed; skimboarding looked right up her alley. After choosing the
go fly a kite.
that’s what I said. and that’s what she did today. At the start of the summer, I made us a long list of fun things that we might like to do this summer. While we didn’t do everything on the list, we gave it the ole college try. The list helped me convince all of
september break.
This past week, my Facebook feed was filled with “back to school” photos. But for us in Decatur, where school started on August first, we are finishing up the first “term” and are starting our first break. As we headed down the highway to Tybee, we didn’t see car after car of families heading to
photo friday: cloudland canyon state park
Back in early June, we headed out for our second camping trip of the summer. This time around, both Rod and Phelix joined us. I’ve always wanted to visit Cloudland Canyon — from all reports, it was sure to be a magical place. We were not disappointed. On Saturday, we headed out to hike to
volunteering: red cross – step 2
As I’ve written before (volunteering: red cross and volunteering: red cross โ Step 1), I’ve been working towards becoming a Red Cross volunteer. And after the 9.5 hours I’ve volunteered in the past two days, I suppose I am no longer “working towards it” but I am one — as a trainee on the Disaster
overcoming inertia.
It’s a strange phenomenon. I know that I am happier when I take the time to go out, whether to go to the library on my own, to go out to lunch with friends or to volunteer in town. I’m fairly good at setting up the opportunities to get out, but as they approach, I
overdoing it.
Labor Day here in Decatur means, at the minimum, Dragon*Con and the Decatur Book Festival. This year as with last year, Rob and the girls have gotten a hotel room at Dragon*Con in order to have a comfortable place to crash during the day and to allow them to spend more time with friends and
photo friday: tugaloo state park
As summer approached, I realized that our summer weekends were filling up already and that I had better make camping plans right away if I wanted to get in any camping before school started back up again. Thus, the weekend after Memorial Day found the girls and I at Tugaloo State Park right on the
GBK Gwyneth
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