Running Toward Myself

My Weekly Recap (May 28 - June 1, 2012)


I'm sure you just couldn't wait for installment #2 of my weekly recap. With such exciting events such as napping, running, picking up dog poo, and general lawn and home maintenance, my life reads an awful lot like a New York Times Bestseller. A real page-turner. I know...don't hate.

Monday:  Memorial Day! The official start of summer, ya'll! And, in typical Hot-Lanta fashion, you guessed it...it was H-O-T hot. So, one might think this would have found me bellied up to a nice, cool pool, relaxing as  is only natural on a holiday. However, one would be wrong. So wrong. So very wrong. Instead, Memorial Day 2012 found me and my father, the Master of Everything, atop the roof of  my house, fixing a pesky little annoyance better known as a leaky roof. Tricky thing about a leaky roof (a NEW one nonetheless)...it's sorta hard to find where it is leaking. Therefore, smart people like the Master of Everything and me, go overboard, tarring...but not feathering....every inch of open(ish) space between the shingles. Hot tar. On a hot roof. In Hotlanta. FAN-freaking-TASIC!

But it was all worth it,  my friends, when, in true Memorial Day and Truelove-family spirit, we hit up KFC for dinner. This was seriously the first fried food I've had in ages and ages. And, yeah. I got sick...a little. But that greasy, crunchy, fried chicken was completely and utterly and totally worth it. So worth it, I took a picture to memorialize it.

Tuesday:  Going back to work the day after the official start of summer is cruel and unusual punishment in its own right. Your body tells you, "Summer, summer, sleep in, stay up late, be lazy!" But your mind knows better, "Work. More work. Ugh. Money. Food. Must be responsible for one more week." So, it was back to work I went.

However, getting to leave early is one of the bonuses of that nearly-end-of-the-year period, so since Tuesday had morphed into my rest day this week, I spent time reading at Barnes and Noble...reading Chrissy Wellington's new book, A Life Without Limits. Pretty stellar little read in only the first few chapters. It will be on my list of poolside books (hah!) this summer.

The Amazing Little Miss M.!

My evening was spent running to the grocery with the GERMinator and picking up around the house (okay, it's really never dirty or messy but I always insist on doing this anyway) because my BFF J and her husband D, fur-baby Denali, and baby Little Miss M stayed overnight as they passed through town. This was J's first visit to my new Atlanta digs and it was great to have time to eat, visit, and be merry. Babies (human ones, not the furry variety) aren't my area of expertise, but I enjoyed holding Little Miss M for the amount of time she was happy and required neither being fed or changed. Super times. Super times.

Wednesday:  After two late, late, SUPER late evenings, both the GERMinator and I were walking zombies. Of course, that meant a nap for me as soon as I hit the door, then an evening of lounging and general laziness. I did manage to get in a decent 6-mile run, but as soon as I returned I was on the couch and out for the count. We didn't even cook. I think I had soup and the GERMinator had cereal. It was an early night. Like old-people early. Like 8:00. Don't be jealous of our life. Just don't.

Thursday:  The GERMinator and I had been anxiously awaiting this day all week for two reasons:

1) We bought our first house phone. Yes, as in landline. I know this might sound odd, but for both of us this was a pretty big deal. Yet another hallmark of why you should envy our lives, right? When we arrived home, discussed, disagreed, and finally compromised on where to put the handsets, we quickly received no fewer than five calls from telemarketers. Hmmmm. Guess we should have seen that coming when our cable bill became cheaper when we added a phone line. Shady, Charter, very shady. Next course of action? We registered for the Do Not Call List. Take that. Now our phone will never ring again. My heart breaks a little about that.

2) We toured a new gym and decided to become members. Although we love our YMCA in Buckhead, it has been a bit of a pain for me to get there during the week since we moved to Smyrna. The Y is ten miles from home, which isn't that much, but it's ten miles in a direction I have no cause to travel unless I am going to the Y. During cross country season I am never able to get there...at all....for three months. Not ideal. We will always have a special place in our heart for the gym we've called home since moving to Georgia, but it was time to move on. Onward and upward, both literally and figuratively.

Last week I met a friend for dinner at Taco Mac at the Prado just off Roswell Road, and as I was exiting the parking garage, I noticed a new Lifetime Fitness. Like it just popped up, rising out of the ground like a phoenix, in the past few weeks. The GERMinator goes to Taco Mac at the Prado no less than once a week for wheat-related research projects (wink, wink), and I was stunned that he was clueless about it. Stunned mainly because this is right on my way to and from work each day. Stunned that we could be members of a REAL club...one that is four-times the size of the Y with amenities beyond belief, exactly the same distance from home.  And, the real selling point for this girl? They let you SHAVE YOUR LEGS in the shower! This was, amazingly, a real sticking point for me at the Y. Small, I know, but important, people! Combined with all of the other ridiculous things this gym offers (THREE pools, TWO whirlpools, a spa/salon, a food bar, indoor and outdoor lounges, a bizillion pieces of cardio equipment, TRX systems, a crazy offering of classes, etc, etc, etc) I was sold. Even with a higher monthly fee, I was sold. And....just ask the GERMintor....this NEVER happens. I NEVER spend more money than I need to. However, this is an investment that will pay dividends, and I am smart enough to see that. So, if you want to find me this summer? I'll be at the gym. All day. Every day. Just forward my mail.

Friday:  And today started where yesterday left off, at Lifetime Fitness. From the time I pulled into the parking lot a bit before 6:00 AM, I knew it was true love. The parking lot was a ghost town. That meant all of that super amazing equipment was vacant and at my disposal. This. Never. Happened. At. The. Y. Never. One more bonus? Their shampoo and conditioner smells like mint and makes my curls super cute...and they provide disposable razors! Truly..don't wake me if I'm dreaming.

Celebrating Summer with Cupcakes!

Another wonderful part of today is that it is officially my LAST day of work. Yes, June 1st is my last day of work and July 31st is my first for next year. That means just 59 days to squeeze in as much as I can, and I plan to use it wisely. Starting this afternoon....cause I am headed to Nashville to have a wild and wacky girls weekend with my best college BFFs Dana, Tia, and Amanda! We haven't gotten together in nearly four years and in forever and a day without kids. This weekend is going to be epic. I just feel it. Starting with cupcakes. Yes...I'm bringing them Jilly's. Watch out, Music City. We are gonna rock you!


Have a safe weekend.....see you on the run!