iPhone Apps

Ok. It's true. I have (a little) iPhone envy. My phone does everything I need, but I mean really, any tech-gadget-geek would. I can't help myself. It is just so fun and functional. However, here are two of the most ridiculous apps I have seen so far.

1: The BubbleWrap App. I mean who doesn't love popping bubble wrap right?



2: Rotary Dialer
Come on, even though you have the latest and greatest piece of technology on the market ... why not pretend you are dialing on a rotary phone?? That just screams good times.

-- photos courtesy of maclife.com --

LEGOLAND!!

I think LEGO George & Barbara is hilarious!!


-- PHOTOS COURTESY OF GUARDIAN.CO.UK --

I have always loved and been fascinated by Legos. The Master Model Designers at LEGOLAND California have amazingly recreated the 56th Annual Presidential Inauguration!! I can't even believe how incredible this is. Here are some quick facts about the Legoland California display: - it contains over 1,000 mini-figures participating in the festivities
- the Capitol in Miniland Washington D.C. is made out of 380,792 LEGO bricks and stands 7-feet tall!
- the Capitol alone took 1,200 hours to build and was established when the family theme park opened in 1999
- the entire Capitol was constructed by TWO Master Model Designers ... WHAT?!?!
For more photos click here ... LEGOLAND INAUGURATION 2009!

Help Home Depot build a DREAM

Help Raise money to build a home for the King Papers.
The home Depot is proud to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the advancement of his dream. that's why we are working to build a permanent exhibition home for the personal writings and papers of Dr. King at the Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta. You can help!! Purchase a collector's editions "DREAM" gift card between January 9 and February 28, and we will make a donation equivalent to 5% of the value you put on the card, up to one million dollars.

If you are purchasing a gift card for someone during this time, please consider participating in this effort and help support this wonderful cause. Thanks!

Be a facebook friend of the Center for Civil & Human Rights and receive listings of support & volunteer opportunities you can participate in.

Way to go South Cobb HS Marching Band!!!

I love that they made it there and so many people in the community played a tiny part in getting them there. What a wonderful memory each of these kids will have with them for the rest of their lives. Amazing!!

Inaguration Day

Today begins a new chapter in our country's history. One I am grateful to have witnessed in my lifetime. May we continue to grow as a people, change as a culture and develop as a country.

Quote

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
~Leonardo da Vinci

Book vs. Movie

I try to make it a point to read a book before I see the movie adaptation of it. I don't always succeed, but I am definitely in the over for titles I have both read & seen on screen. In the past I have been both pleased and disappointed by the movie version. I get ultra invested when I read. If it is a great author, the mental picture of the characters and the scene is so vivid it might as well be your own personal movie playing in your head. My visions don't often translate to what the producers and directors choose in order to make a blockbuster hit. Mine tend to be slightly more mundane and a tad closer to reality. 

I decided to treat myself to a matinée on my day off. (I've been cleaning and organizing all weekend ... I needed a break.) Anyhow, I was a little under-whelmed by my cinematic choice. I opted to see Twilight since I completed the entire series of books. I went in with an open mind even though I have heard both good and bad reviews. I can honestly say I would recommend the book series with far greater enthusiasm than I would the movie. It was maybe a 7 on a 1-10 scale. The soundtrack was intriguing and unexpected which was nice. I do also give it credit for doing a great job of setting the plot and tone up the sequel empire that is in the works. 

Regardless of my less than stellar rating, I was happy to have the me-movie-time. It has been a very, very long time since I have done that and it used to be one of my favorite things. Here's hoping that as the sequels evolve they get better and not worse. 

Meehan’s Public House

NEWS: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, January 12, 2009

Irish pub planned in former Macy’s building downtown

Meehan’s Public House has locations in Sandy Springs and Vinings. Meehan’s Public House will open a restaurant in the former Macy’s department store building in downtown Atlanta, the owners of the building said.
Meehan’s, an Irish restaurant and pub owned by Atlanta-based 101 Concepts, has locations in Sandy Springs and Vinings. The downtown restaurant at 180 Peachtree is expected to open in November.
The new location will be 4,200 square feet with a Peachtree Street entrance and interior entrance to the lobby of the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel. 108 Peachtree Retail Group, a partnership of Atlanta investors, bought the former Macy’s building in July 2008 and is redeveloping the building as a mixed-use retail, dining, entertainment and special events center.

Taking home the bling

I am so impressed with the movies and television shows that were honored at this year's Golden Globe Awards. As if I didn't already take in far too much electronic media, my list of "must see" movies and programs has grown tremendously after tonight's telecast. I may have to invest in Netflix after all since I don't plan on adding HBO or Showtime to my already premium cable package. I am also glad to see that so many of the nominated films are based on novels. I hope that the film adaptations do the original work justice.


Cheers to Kate Winslet who is amazing and so deserving of the TWO awards she won last night - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (Revolutionary Road) and Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (The Reader). Both of these films were already on my must see list!! Her second speech was so raw and sincere it almost made me cry. Almost.


My girl Tina Fey also got a nice nod for Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy (30 Rock). Her acceptance speech was my favorite: "... and if you ever start to feel too good about yourself, they have this thing called the Internet...". Classic Fey, classic.

Some of the other films on my very long list:
Burn After Reading
Benjamin Button
Vicky Christina Barcelona
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Gran Torino
Milk

Some TV shows that looks so good that it is probably best for my procratination problem that I do not have the ability to see them on my tube:
In Treatment
Mad Men
The Tudors
Weeds

Pssst. A little birdie told me.

As if we needed one more way to social network ... TWEET, TWEET ... along came Twitter. I am jumping on board. I have to be honest, I mostly signed up to see what other folks are up to and get tips on interesting things happening downtown. I'm going to try and keep up. So, if you need even more unnecessary information about me you can find me here on Twitter. 

hum?

"What if you,
could wish me away?
What if you,
spoke those words today?
I wonder if you'd miss me ...
when I'm gone."
- Joshua Radin

Goodbye.

To my dear friend,
I will miss you so much. You aren't even gone and I can already feel the pain of your absence. Much of our relationship is unspoken and lies just below the surface, but we always manage to communicate exactly what needs to be said. We don't rely on constant contact and endless conversations to stay connected. We just are. I am certain that our unique bond will withstand the miles that will soon be between us.
I hope that you know how proud I am of you. Hold your head high for making it a priority to fulfill a purpose that is important to you. Congratulate yourself for desperately fighting to keep a commitment through such a tumultuous time. Honor your bravery for not doing the easy thing. Find contentment in the fact that you are fighting against future regrets. Find joy in the knowledge you are able to share with others for their benefit. Find hope in knowing that life happens for reason and there is something to gain from each moment - even the most challenging. Find peace in knowing that you are only as far away as the thoughts of those that love you.
As much as I hate to see you go, I hope this experience is all you need it to be and more than you could ever imagine. Take it all in. Live & learn through every opportunity that presents itself. Try to remain open. Do yourself the ultimate favor ... don't be your own worst critic. You are talented, capable, worthy and wonderful. I love you. Please come home soon. There will always be room for you here.
All my love. AB
PS: I promise only a few tears. ;)

What FONT are you?

This made me laugh and I enjoyed my description. Click to take the font quiz.

You're like an industry standard. Classic. Reliable. Okay, maybe a bit boring. But you don't let haters get you down - after all, you've still got plenty of friends who think you're the best.

The Slanket

Don't be jealous. I got one of these for Christmas and it is awesome. If you haven't seen the "Snuggie" commercial that has been inundating the airways lately, then I have to wonder if you actually own a TV. My version is actually called a Slanket, but it is the same exact product. For those of you who stay cold all winter or those of you who live in the Arctic Tundra (um, actually that's probably only me) this little bundle of blanket goodness is a perfect solution!! Check out the website for further laughs and details on this gem.

-- apparently slanket parties are all the rage? --

Post Holiday Haze

The holidays are always such a blur. Between the food, family, friends and fun it is just hard to find a moment to breathe and take it all in. Christmas was the usual traveling from home to home and meal to meal. Each time we entered the home of someone we loved, I paused to be grateful for the fact they sill had their home to welcome us in to. Each time another meal was served and I felt like I couldn't possibly cram another bite of delicious homemade this-or-that in my mouth, I paused to consider how excess can so easily become expectation. With each gift received, I paused to comprehend how truly extravagant my life is. Certainly not in the traditional sense that some might think, but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that my life is truly blessed. I have so much to be thankful for. I am not proud to say that I take everything for granted more often than I should.

Extravagance can manifest itself in the most benign ways. The simplistic love that my husband showers on me everyday. The effortless way my friends share their laughter with me, as if it was not a truly precious commodity. The spoiled way I overlook my abilities to read and write with ease. The luxury fate has dealt me with that ability to be healthy for so many consecutive years of my life. The job that I too often don't want to drive to. The selfless, unconditional love and life lessons that my grandmother has shared with me so many times over the years. The guidance and support from my parents. The friends who surround me with love and acceptance even when times are tough and moods aren't so great. The people that make up my biological and extended families who are always so willing to give of themselves.

My life is so much more than I deserve. So much more than I believe I can truly appreciate. I have one "New Year's Resolution" ... to seize the moments of my life. Especially the ones that are easily overlooked, the ones that have gradually morphed into expectations and the ones that are truly wonderful in their simplest form.

I wish you all a very happy new year. As we all get a fresh start, take a moment for some self reflection. Try to evaluate objectively. We all have areas to improve on. I wish you luck on yours because I know that mine will be a struggle.

All American Rejects cover "Womanizer"

Um. Yeah. I love Brit, but this is pretty funny stuff. Way to go guys.

Weather Channel

My work campus is part of a Weather Channel feature: 2008 Top Ten Weather Stories. This is the story that just won't go away. We are all glad to say that we made it through and it is nothing more than a memory now.

Family photo shoot

I was hired to shoot some special family pictures on Sunday. I spent a few hours with the family and had so much fun with the daughters. I never knew how funny a set of pre-teen fraternal twins could be. Them ganging up on the oldest sister was hilarious. They had me in stitches. It reminded me of a time when things were simple and laughter was easy to come by. It was a much needed reality check. Life is as humorous as you make it. Sometimes it is hard to remember that you even have to laugh when it hurts. Sometimes laughter is the only thing that gets us through.

-- thanks girls! --

Showin' some love to South Cobb High -- GO EAGLES!

Here's the scoop: South Cobb High School's Blue Eagle Marching Band was selected to be the ONLY band to represent Georgia in the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade. The School was selected from over 350 applications to represent our state of Georgia. South Cobb High School and Q100 need your help to make this historic event happen.

The anticipated cost for this trip is approximately $700 per student, which totals a $71,000 expense. This expense includes everything from transportation to thermal clothing to wear along the parade route. We can't let this opportunity pass by for the students of South Cobb High School's Marching Band. Please make a donation quickly because South Cobb High School must officially accept the invitation by early next week. All payments must be sent no later than THIS Friday, 12/12.

I realize the economy is crazy and we are all strapped for cash, but if you can spare a couple of bucks please donate. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for these kids. Most of them would never be able to pay the $700 without a little help. Think about all the times you (or your kids) sold candy bars, wrapping paper, popcorn, t-shirts OR did car washes, spaghetti dinners & pancake breakfasts to raise money for something. Think about all those people that gave $1 to help you with your cause. PAY IT FORWARD!!

** UPDATE 12/11 ** in one day the Atlanta community stepped up to this challenge and raised $50,000+!!! That is an incredible number, but they are still approx. $20,000 short of the necessary funds to get all the band members to DC. If you can find it in your heart to donate anything just click here.

nice quote

"Consciously cultivating thankfulness is a journey of the soul, one that begins when we look around us and see the positive effects that gratitude creates."
-- MJ Ryan