I'm back!...my weekend in Atlanta

hi lovely friends,

i'm sorry it's been a while since I've written.  I have not abandoned my blog, but have just been very busy.  I'm certain this is the longest I've gone without a post in almost 4 years of blogging.  There's been a lot going on in August and this whole summer that I shall do my best to catch up on.

I've been working out lots, so pretty much i'm getting up around 6am going to the gym for a short or long workout, get ready at the gym, do my breakfast thang and get to work by 9am.  I work until 7pm, then rush to a class at the gym.  Depending on what time the class is (just dance starts at 8:10p on Mondays) then I'm home between 8:45pm and 9:45pm.  I know sleep is SUPER important for me when it comes to staying on a healthy diet and working out.  I get home, jump in a shower, eat a snack and go to bed about 11p so I can get up and do it all over again.

I've lost about 10 lbs and am gaining tons of muscle.  it's so much better for me to be getting healthy and losing my stress-eating weight. I'm feeling so much better already, even with another 10lbs to go at least.

I went to Atlanta over the weekend on a quick trip back home.  My cousin was coming to visit, but what with the hurricane and all, he wouldn't likely be able to get his free student airtran ticket, so I used some of those travelling us air points i accrued while working on the circuit and flew myself to Hotlanta!

On the way through I had a layover in Charlotte where my awesome friends brought Chickfila to the airport and we picnicked in the cell phone lot.

I spent Friday and Saturday with cousins at their pools. Saturday my cousins were running a 5k and asked me to join. My aunt paid my way in and I ran with them.  I am so glad I did, it was really fun.  It was nice to run just for fun, and since i've been practicing faster shorter distances, I was able to run the 5k in 32min 10sec, which for me was amazing!!!!

the funny thing is when I run and don't know how far I've gone, I can go for a very long time.  I saw the 1-mile marker and was just "gettin' after it"  I never saw the 2-mile marker or the 3-mile marker....so I was still looking for the 2-mile marker when I rounded the corner and saw the big FINISH sign!!!  I was ecstatic and quite shocked.  then when I saw the time, I was pointing at my mom like LOOOK!  LOOK what time it is!  that was unbelievable.

Saturday night we shrimp boiled and the boys (my mid-30 yo cousins and my GT cousin and his friend) set off fireworks leftover from July 4th, in the street in front of the house.  the neighborhood kids and my cousins' kids ran around the front yard like crazy people.

Then Sunday my aunt (on my mom's side) cooked a ton of food  - my fave steak and ribs - and my family in Warner Robins on  my dad's side came up to see me.  My mom visited Fri/Sat but had to work on Sunday.  My dad...now that I think about it...he hasn't called since I saw him, AND he also didn't call when i might have been washed away from the hurricane.  oh well dad. whatever.

Then Monday, I went to breakfast with my cousin Matthew who I call Moo!  He is a really smart Georgia Tech student and an even funnier person than he is smart. THAT is REALLY funny.  We went to breakfast at Highland Bakery which was Delicious...and THEN. then I got to meet my favorite babies and see Brocco and Gou and Arti and Rye Bread.  Geez Louise I love these people!

I just wish we were closer because i wish I could huge those babies all the time.  look how cute they are.

Then I came back home on Sunday night, but my flight was delayed so I missed my connection late in Charlotte, so my good friend Nat picked me up and housed me for the couple hours I was there.

here are some fun photos.

my crew in charlotte right before i got on my ATL flight on thursday night, so it's sans Twix.
the guy at the airport told me i looked like I was ready to go out like a flapper. I wore this outfit all day, so not exactly sure what to think of that. i just laughed.

this one is funny because my cousin is pouring water on me.  because he is a pain in my a$$.  ha! look at the guy behind us looking and laughing.  it might be because I'm getting water dumped on me and it might be because I am the only person at the christian run without a tshirt on.  not sure which.

this is the racing crew.  my 2 cousins on the left.  and Kellee - jeff's wife on the far right.  we had a lot of fun.  I ran faster than the sun could catch me though so I didn't have to wear sunscreen

this is my mom and my aunt. they are cray!  they were good photographers for the event.  and they were like, "well, we had to walk about a quarter of a mile to the finish to meet yall, we're tired."
do i look like them?!  my mom is on the right.  she has been skinny for life, even though she tries to act like she has been fat before.  my aunt and i know better and we don't believe her, but we let her think it.

I hope this was a good "I'm back post"
and if nothing else, I've moved the Blood Sausage off the top of the page.