Chicao, Part Duex

I woke up at 4:45 am on Sunday, about 30 minutes before my alarm. #Fail I got up and starting drinking my #prelongrun six ounces of strong coffee. I finished all the #prerace essential tasks and Boyfriend and I were off to the races... #literally. After security--oh so much security--and another bathroom stop, I was in my corral (#CorralC) with about half an hour until the gun sounded. I remember anxious runners budging their way to the front of the corral before I stumbled upon a nice lady, willing to pass the time through conversation with me. I was so thankful for her company.

(Dear Mystery Runner Woman, 

I hope you ran your #BostonQualifier. I enjoyed meeting and chatting with you. I hope Texas isn't still basking in the summer-like temperatures. If so, send warmth. #Winterishere in Washington, D.C.

Best, S)

At promptly 7:30 am, I was off with 40,000 plus runner friends. And I ran and ran and ran those 26.2 miles (I have yet to recap) until I crossed the finish line in #GrantPark. The walk to the 27th Mile Post-Race Party felt like another couple miles. I remember how hard I had to concentrate on putting one front in front of the other for a l-o-n-g period of s-l-o-w-l-y passing time. Boyfriend eventually found me and we walked to meet my parents, who were tired from running their #spectatormarathon. We grabbed food at Epic Burger for calories. And Dairy Queen for more calories. The burger was eh. I still wasn't totally feeling food. I must have recovered quickly though because the ice cream tasted better than anything I had ever consumed.

That is, until I stepped in the doors of Girl and the Goat. (Before I was ready for dinner, I showered (#gome) and spent a few minutes with my brother and his friend at The Aberdeen Tap to end the dry period. My parents dined at Girl and the Goat on their #30thAnniversaryTrip to Chicago a few years back. They, especially Pops, have hyped up the restaurant ever since. We ate and ate and ate until dessert, when we ate some more. #WasNotLetDown The cocktails. The meal. The wine. The dessert. The coffee. The experience is all more than my meager words can describe. Add #GirlandtheGoat to your #bucketlist and, to make this dream a reality, be sure to make your reservations at least 90 days in advance. #NotJoking

I would like to say I crashed after this meal--both from exhaustion and the food coma, but I found sleeping difficult to come by. My body was writhing in pain. I "woke up" ready to be home. We made a few plans for our remaining day: North Avenue Beach, Magnificent Mile, and Portillo's. I felt as though concluding with a #Chicagohotdog complimented the trip perfectly.While I loved the views from North Avenue Beach and under normal circumstances could have shopped the Magnificent Mile all day, my body was too spent to find real pleasure in moving and viewing. #WishIWouldHaveKnown

All in all an excellent trip, I must say. #Takemeback, OK?

A Chicago Trip Hashtagged

The calendar indicates November 2014 is one-third behind us. #TimeFlies In the first third of October, I found myself (and several #importantpeople) in Chicago, Illinois. To avoid the depressing discussion about how the #marathonhigh has been replaced with a purposeless low, I'll recap Chicago. #BetterLateThanNever

After checking in and dropping our bags at the lovely, not so conveniently located South Loop Hotel, we walked to Eleven City Diner for a lunch/dinner combination meal. And from there, we were off to enjoy the #TheArtInstituteofChicago for free. #ThanksMarathonEntryFee As we moved from Impressionism to Blue Period Picasso, Boyfriend impressed me with his art history interest and knowledge per usual. I made him browse the Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary Life, 1926-1938 exhibition with me as it was being featured. If you have more knowledge of art than myself, you would have been prepared for the weirdness and suggested a more pleasurable exhibit. I honestly couldn't walk through fast enough.

I'll fondly remember the art institute for the warmth provided. The temperatures outsider were more chilly than I arrived prepared for. #WindyCity We braved the cold at Millennium Park, #ournextstop. The Cloud Gate (#TheBean) was real crowded--#bigsurprise; we managed a #photoshoot anyway.

 

Still full for from our linner, we grabbed popcorn at Garrett Popcorn for dessert and called it a night at the wild hour of 7:30 pm. Garret's was offering a seasonal pumpkin spice caramel crisp recipe. #PopcornHeaven The night ended rejoicing in the #CentralTimeZone; I watched the entire first half of a #TNF game with my eyes open.

On Friday I was in for the surprise of my life. #MoreOnThatLater Boyfriend and I began the day with breakfast at Yolk. We walked over to the #NavyPier and then the #ChicagoRiverwalk afterwards to kill time before our Chicago Architecture Boat Tour. The boat tour came highly recommended and did not disappoint. I could have floated on the Chicago River all day had it not been freezing and shaded by fancily architect-ed buildings. We combination bused and strolled our way to #LincolnPark for an afternoon coffee at Elaine's Coffee Call. #CoffeeHeaven And this is where the day really picked up, our next stop: #LincolnParkZoo. When we finished perusing the petting zoo #intendedforchildren, we found #mybrother wandering around the zoo. #WTF He came to Chicago for the #bigrace via bus from Atlanta, Georgia. After the shock wore off, I was able to speak (and thank him profusely) again. #NotOneForSurprises We continued to browse the zoo, where my brother served as an excellent tour guide, having walked the premises in search of us.

We walked towards downtown to find my parents, who were also in Chicago. #PlannedInAdvance The rest of the afternoon was spent lounging before dinner. We "treated" my parents to their first ever Uber experience. #WorstRideEver #WeSurvived In need of drinks and food, we dove right in at Nando Milano Trattoria. The Italian--perfect for the #continuationofcarbloading--meal was divine.

The night ended after dinner. I headed straight to bed for the most important night of sleep before #raceday. I woke up late on Saturday morning for my #finalrun before the #marathon. I did an easy four-mile out-and-back run over to the #ChicagoLakefrontTrail, right past #SoldierField. #CityRun With the conclusion of run and shower, Boyfriend and I made our way to the #MarathonExpo, where I proceeded to race through as fast as I could to avoid a further settling in of nerves. The expo was exhilarating and overwhelming and loud but organized and therefore efficient. The mandatory pictures were taken... and we moved on to Little Goat Diner for bagels and later relaxed in a random park in the #WestSide before meeting #friendsandfamily at Haymarket Pub & Brewery for drinks.

We left the group for an early dinner at Giordano's. #DeepDish And that was the day before The Day.

I tried not to drag this Chicago recap out too much and #failedmiserably. I’ll be squeezing the final two days into one post later on this evening. #AtLeastThereArePictures

Thank You So, So Much

By this time, due to the shared efforts of social media, my fan base, and myself--who understandably proud, did some of my own bragging--the world knows that I completed the Chicago Marathon on Sunday. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of so, so many.

Thank you to my parents for traveling to Chicago, Illinois to cheer me on at four separate miles--2, 13, 17, and 26--along the course, completing their own marathon of sorts. An additional thanks to them for all the meals they provided to fuel me before and after the race. Thank you to C.D.H. for riding a bus from Atlanta, Georgia to surprise me! I'm not one for surprises, but this one--oh man, it meant a lot. Further thanks to him for breaking down the marathon with me on at least three different occasions. And lest I forget my youngest brother, the fastest H as far as 5Ks are concerned; he sent me a wonderfully encouraging text the night before the longest race of my life. For him, I'm thankful.

To H.M.M. for being at mile 7, when her out of town family was in town, and screaming for the nine seconds I spent running past. Thanks for providing the burst I needed. To Boyfriend's parents for using the Runner Tracker feature to track me during the race--for caring because I cared. To J.L.W. for always thinking I can, for knowing I could, and for responding to my texts of agony with understanding. To R.D.S. for sending a timely card right before the race. And repeatedly asking about training throughout the course of the year. To A.J.S. and S.D.G. for dealing with an exhausted, moody friend and accepting "Sober S.M.H." into their lives. To K.A.B. for listening with intent as I spewed running jargon over multiple weekend stays. To K.S.D. for pulling me out of the apartment for timely calorie-dense meals when the stress of training turned me hermit-esque. To S.K.H. for the Instagram well wishes and for playing the role of "cousin" so well. To Sweet Neighbor for sending me a bazillion emojis to lighten the intensity of the experience. To K.F.A. for letting me know I was in the "speedster" coral, which was actually more terrifying than helpful. Thanks, K.F.A., thanks a whole bunch.

Before Boyfriend, a final thank you to M.E.K. for encouraging me to enter the Chicago Marathon Lottery and, after winning said lottery, later assuring me I could run 26.2 miles regardless of how impossible that sounded way back (in January) when I was barely running at all--during the marathon winter.

And last but not least, Boyfriend, thanks for doing all of the above on repeat. Since March. It should be noted, Boyfriend has zero interest for running, participating in sports (outside of downhill skiing, ugh), or the thrill of a good sweat. Yet he managed to manage me during several long months of marathon training, which rest assured was no easy feat.

Thank you all--and so, so many more--for caring so, so much about my race. There is no way I would have made it to the finish line without all of you; this much is true.

I'll continue to speak miles and paces and training until Boston because I QUALIFIED. Y'all will be around in April 2016, right?

An August Weekend

Let’s talk weekend, my very favorite subject of all. There were 10 things, or maybe 8 – I'll type them all out and see just how many things there were – worth sharing.

1. Boyfriend and I began my three day weekend with Stuffed Zucchini Enchilada Boats and ice cream at Larry’s Homemade Ice Cream. I then enjoyed my second Friday off of the second AWS cycle. The schedule is not all it’s cracked up to be but I do enjoy my freedom Fridays, as I refer to them. I spent the entire morning cooking – a triple batch of granola and Fresh Corn Salad before heading out to the ‘burbs.
2. I met my youngest brother for a coffee date at The Bucks. We chatted this (music and running) and that (school and work), until the panic of his unpreparedness set in; he was Richmond-bound for his sophomore year of college the very next day.
   
3. Friday night I attended Sweet Neighbor’s housewarming party. There was so much food goodness, I tried to behave. There were also cocktails galore.
   
4. The Braves beat the Oakland Athletics’, who came to Atlanta with the best record in baseball in the first, second, and third game of their three-game series. After Sunday, when the Braves were finished sweeping the A’s, they – the A’s – no longer held that record. Hooray! (Note: This win streak would be much more impressive, if the Washington Nationals were not on a tear of their own.)
5. Mom and I went to the Farmers’ Market on Saturday. She bought white peaches and yellow tomatoes and other things. I would have bought the most beautiful zucchinis ever had I not left my wallet at home. I was treated me to Pain au Chocolat from Bread House, Inc., forever reminding me of A.L.R.L., who introduced me to such goodness at The Village Bakery & Café at the ripe old age of two. This also reminded me that the no longer little A.L.R.L. will celebrate her ninth birthday in three days. Oh my aging!
   
6. I managed to find time to cuddle up with Louis for a nap on Saturday. Pure joy!
7. I ran 18.2 miles on Sunday. That is the farthest I have ever run in my life. In.My.Life. I have eight weeks to add an additional eight miles to that number and I should be good to go in October. Except, major except, I felt like death the last mile and for about three hours afterwards. This marathoning is no joke.
8. There was lots of deck time over the weekend – morning coffee and stretching; phone calls (with the recently engaged J.L.W. and my now “famous” brother) throughout the day; and dinner on Saturday night.
9. Folks, the banana boat is back in business! My ever handy boyfriend built a rack for the current ride. And it held like a champion. We paddled from White Ford Regional Park to the Monocacy Aqueduct on the Cheasapeake & Ohio Canal and leisurely floated back down the river, cleaning up the Potomac River along the way. In route home, we stopped at Temple Hall Farm Regional Park to admire the sunflowers – gorgeous!
   
   
10. Two years ago Sunday, Boyfriend visited me for the first time after his motorcycling around Southern Africa. How did we celebrate the time? Five Guys, obviously.

So it was a pretty good weekend, filled with pretty good people and puppies. (And another engagement!) 

Looq Here: C.D.H. Visits and Another Weekend Captured

Are you sick of weekend recaps? I’m not. So on I will write. And as to whether you continue on reading is entirely up to you.

At this point in my life, The Blog is a place to talk about the weekends I live for as my job is oh so rough. Even yesterday, a day that was supposed be easy breezy, collapsed before my eyes. We had a Team Lunch scheduled to watch the United States/Germany World Cup game at one of my favorite Washington, D.C. establishments, Busboy’s and Poets.  But the following events supervened: First, our 90-minute Team Meeting ran over. Then Busboy’s and Poets released our table by the television, the only television, to another party. This required Busboy’s and Poets to set up a projector in the back, since our Team Captain specifically requested a table within view of The Game in the reservation. And, last, the projector did not work, so instead of relocating to a more spirited environment, we listened to the game… not actually watching any. I monitored the play-by-play on Twitter and angrily stewed.

This is why I don’t talk about The Dark Period, my nine to five. I already have to endure it. I find extending the day by venting to family, to friends, to the world unhealthy.

Last week, my brother drove up from Atlanta, GA to visit the family in Northern Virginia. And I’m not sure who was most excited to see him; my excitement level was pretty high! Though he arrived on Tuesday, I had to wait until Thursday night to see him. When that time came, I walked over to Nationals Park, where I was meeting both of my brothers for a Washington Nationals/Atlanta Braves game. C.D.H. is not a Braves superfan; it was pure coincidence the Braves were in town to battle the Nationals. I do, however, appreciate his taking the time to indulge me for a game. I teleworked on Friday, providing time for a Starbucks run with my brothers before heading out to the suburbs for the weekend. We made time for Melt on Friday because duh. And we might have over-consumed leaving us not as hungry for the Birthday Boy’s dinner at Fords Fish Shack. I still feel as though I managed to consume my fair share. Everything I put in my mouth was delicious, specifically the French fries. Afterwards I watched the second game in the Braves/Nationals series (on DVR), then hit the sack. 

On Saturday, C.D.H. and I met up with Boyfriend and some friends at the Northern Virginia Beer Fest. There was kettle korn, so this designated driver was delighted. And the rain held off. And Louis got to join us briefly before I was escorted out by police—no dogs allowed, dumb. Despite Boyfriend probably having contracted Lyme Disease, it was a wonderful time with wonderful people. I hear the beer was nice too!

My mom graciously gifted me a Looq, a selfie arm; oh the joy! 

My parents cooked an incredible dinner on Saturday night. We all sat around and ate merrily.

I mostly remember sitting around waiting for the 6:00 pm start of the US/Portugal World Cup match on Sunday. And I think we the people of the United States of America will forever remember how that game ended – a final play in the final seconds – in a deflating blow. (But hey, writing a week later pays off, we’re moving on to the Round of 16 – Belgium beware!) There was a run to the dog park with Louis, which my friends and I might have enjoyed even more than Louis—oh the spectating to be had!

Leaving home is always hard, especially so when it means saying goodbye a brother I’m not sure when I’ll see next.

The DC Bucket List, Part 2: Food

Moving right along to the food category, I have stuffed my face at these establishments and mostly enjoyed my time.

Hank’s Oyster Bar – Eh, real tight space and real loud. In addition, I found myself nursing a stomach ache for the duration of the evening. And while everything I managed to eat was delicious, I found everything I ate to be a bit overpriced. It was also a real stressful situation, which might have further dampened the experience, as this is where Boyfriend’s parents met my own. I would go back for the AK-47, my drink of the evening. It was everything I need a good drink to be—a strong, not sweet, spice-infused tequila concoction.

Bathroom? Real tight and real loud, just like the dining hall.

DGS Delicatessen – Without a doubt, the best Rueben I have consumed to date. And I have been to Detroit, Michigan! I foresee this as the only place I will Rueben henceforth. So much goodness in one sandwich. Also of note, incredible iced coffee. The biggest disappointment was the fact DGS does not have to-go cups because otherwise refill, stat. I will go back. And I would be OK sitting in a basement, which was originally seemed disappointing.

Bathroom? DGS bodes the most confusing bathrooms! After some trial and error, the picture of the female led me to the correct bathroom. Not all females are so obvious! Further, I had never seen this as a way to label bathroom sex prior to DGS, I have since seen this style fifty bajillion times. I do not prefer this style, no, not one bit.

Lavagna – As a substitute for Ted’s Bulletin, it was not that great. However, had I given this place a fair shot, I think I would have enjoyed my meal more. The chicken and waffles were not what I was expecting. It wasn’t bad, just not like other chicken and waffles I have had. The biscuits and gravy, which I split with Boyfriend were also very different than what either of us pictured. Everything was locally sourced, perhaps that’s the price you pay? There are so many places to try, I doubt I will wind up at Lavagna again.

Bathroom? I did not visit. I used the bathroom at Ted's Bulletin twice while we waited, only to be later served by Lavagna instead. Tough Sunday.

The Greek Deli – I visited The Greek Deli prior to my The W experience. I stood in line with all of Washington, D.C. And I enjoyed my experience as much as all these bystanders I assumed to be regulars did theirs. My only complaint was the placement of a random plant, which hid the entire menu, preventing me from making my selection until it was almost too late. Oh and no bathrooms, big complaint. The staff was incredibly friendly, almost too friendly. I will go back, even knowing it’s a hike from my office and there will be the aforementioned line. This establishment is only open for the weekday lunch. The Greek Deli is clearly doing something right, I would kill for hours like those.

Bathroom? Again, no. Wah.

Toki Underground – My third attempt was what could be called a success. We got there before 6:00 pm on a Saturday. We patiently waited an hour and a half to be seated. And then we dined on heaven in a bowl. I opted for Kimchi Ramen, Boyfriend went for the classic. They were both scrumptious. I was totally sold on the poached egg floating in my soup. I love eggs, especially when poached… and oh my goodness, such a fine addition to a bowl of noodle dough in broth. The biggest up or downside to Toki is the 29 total seats, so don’t expect to be seated (quickly or) with a party bigger than three. And, I guess I should mention while I left stuffed, I was hungry about two hours later. I will go back, though. Often, I hope.

Bathroom? It is only as I write now I’m realizing I did not visit the bathroom. Poorly played.

Food Trucks – Captain Cookie provided my first true Food Truck experience, serving up of the greatest combination of time: Trickling Spring Creamery chocolate milk and two cookies—chocolate chip and Nutella. It was so delicious. I have been dying to go back for seconds. But lucky for my waistline, the Food Trucks rotate streets throughout the week in a rather unpredictable fashion. (The trucks can be followed online… but time.) Then this past weekend, Boyfriend and I were out doing our grocery shopping and stumbled upon… Astro Donuts. If there is anything to be noted about my food priorities, know donuts rank in my top three (with bagels and M&Ms). So we had to stop! We intended to share one donut as we were minutes away from attending a barbeque, but the Food Truck Man messed up our order and we ended up with an extra donut. What a problem! These were ahhhh-mazing donuts. And guess what? I don’t have to stalk this truck because they have a permanent location near my office. Life is so good.

We purchased the maple bacon donut and were gifted a cinnamon donut. For my Kansas readers, the frosting on both donuts was identical to the butterscotch frosting at Daylight Donuts, when Mr. Ken was in charge. Food speaks to my soul when it brings back memories of my formative years.

This was truly a life highlight. Last comment (and I’ll stop with the analysis), these donuts were so good I could have gone sans frosting, sugar, or toppings. The core donut was just right. It’s an impressive feat, really. I will be back. I will introduce friends.

Bathroom? Food Trucks don’t have bathrooms, so no comment there.

The Italian Store –This off-the-beaten-path gem has been written up more than I can count. Boyfriend and I like sandwiches, bunches and bunches. But ever since the C.A.H. began his career at Jimmy Johns, I have been hooked on their #6 and have had no reason to seek sandwiches out elsewhere. I did try Taylor Gourmet, which makes a decent roast beef for almost $3.00 more than my Jimmy John’s go-to, no thank you. Anyway, being in the general vicinity, we decided to finally give The Italian Store a go. The sandwiches were simple and delicious, with an essence of Jimmy Johns provided in the hot and sweet peppers topping on our Carpri and Marini sandwiches. There are no cups for water, rude. (There were bottled drinks for purchase.) I went to the neighboring establishments—Starbucks, CVS, and Giant—in search of free water to no avail. I ended up with a pre-tax $1.00 gallon of water from Giant. If you have to pay for water, you must price compare! I would go back, if I was in the area and hungry and had a water bottle and an empty bladder. I would not go out of my way to visit.

Bathrooms? Nonexistent, huge con.

My summer targets include Bayou Bakery, BonChon Chicken, Le Diplomate, Mussel Bar and Grille, and Ted's Bulletin. Is your stomach calling? You're invited.

Holy Sports

I'm not a statistician. And I'm particularly awful at remembering stats for athletes, whether the sport be baseball or basketball. I rely on Pops, C.D.H., or Boyfriend for knowledge that might be of interest to me. This year, though, I was aware of one prominent fact: The last time the Atlanta Braves won the World Series was also the last time the Government shutdown - 1995.

From the first pitch in April, the stars seems aligned for the Braves. This is the year. 

Until 12:56 am on Tuesday, October 8 when they weren't.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Braves were up 3-2. I felt hopeful. To force that Game 5 in Atlanta, where victory in the National League Division Series would be SO sweet, we needed to close out Game 4.  In the seventh, Louis Avilian (of the Braves) took the mound. The announcers told me he's held left handed batters to a 0.144 batting average. With two runners on, A.J. Ellis was up to bat. And from the announcers I learned he leads the league with 39 RBIs against left handed pitchers. The Braves prevailed, there; the Los Angeles Dodgers stranded those two runners.  At the end of the seventh, the Braves, still up by one, needed just six. more. outs. to solidify a fifth game. Then in the bottom on the eight, there stood David Carpenter, already having given up one hit to deep right field. My worry set in. I haven't been a fan since we acquired him from the Boston Red Sox, however, I try to treat all my Bravos as equals and put full faith in Carpenter. Then in the blink of an eye the 2013 Season was gone. Juan Uribe of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit a towering, two-run homer... and the Braves wouldn't come back in the top of the ninth.

Our Super Star closer - Craig Kimbrel - never even saw the mound.

The season was a particularly fun one. I got the see the Braves in action several time, including once at Turner Field. I finished only eight articles behind in my challenge to read as many articles as there were games this season. I learned how to keep score. And I'm not as depressed as I ended 2011 and 2012. I'm certainly disappointed. I really wanted, as any fan does, to see my Bravos play in the World Series.

Assuming Brian McCann doesn't ditch us for greener pastures, I should be a confident fan going into 2014 and beyond.

Southern Exposure

Before you realized you’ve lost half your day, I'll give you fair warning. This is an epically long play-by-play of my weekend down South. If you’ve just got a minute, I won’t hold you up. Here’s what you need to know: The preseason ranked No. 8 Clemson Tigers defeated the fifth ranked Georgia Bulldogs at Memorial Stadium, more popularly known as Death Valley. That’s a win for this girl in the brother/sister rivalry. On Sunday, the Atlanta Braves let me all sorts of down at Turner Field. And Monday I got to spend with two folks I adore – my brother, C.D.H., and his girlfriend – and don’t see nearly enough. Along the way, I introduced Boyfriend to my past – friends, college town, etc. – and that meant… a whole lot of Southern exposure.

On Friday night, I met Boyfriend at Union Station for the quick train ride to Baltimore Washington International Airport. He insisted on being eight hours early for our 8:15 pm flight,  for fear of missing the last plane bound for Atlanta, GA of the evening. He really had nothing at stake. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand the urgency in being HOURS early to the airport. As far as I’m concerned, arriving while the plane is boarding is ideal. But I guess that’s a difference the two of us will have to work on. Being extra early meant we had time for a five-course airport meal. I can honestly say that’s the first time in my recorded memory I have had food from the airport. Alas, the sub-par food was made up for in lengthy conversation. It’s really sad that I’ve allowed my schedule to get beyond my control, and now have to consider pre-departure time as 'date time'. So – no surprise – we arrived it to Atlanta late, got our rental car, and arrived at Brother’s place even later. This was opening weekend of college football; I could hardly contain my excitement – the Bulldogs were set to play the Tigers in Clemson. And I was going to be there to kick things off right.

Flashback: This was College GameDay’s second trip to dear ol’ Clemson. Their first was in 2006, during my sophomore year of college. My friends and I camped throughout the night to be front and center inside the magic GameDay parameters. And when I use the term “camp”, what I actually mean is we stood on our feet… in a single file line waiting for the 10:00 am show. To validate all my hard efforts, my then 83-year old grandma saw me on television multiple times during the span of the two, now three, hour program. I’m glad I have her to document my big break the patience I exhibited. J.L.W. and I – shockingly – couldn’t walk after 22 hours on our feet. So instead of tailgating and further amping up for the 8:00 pm start, we found ourselves recovering in bed. By game time, we were ready to take on the Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech… and another four hours of standing. Ahhh yes, those were the days.

When you stay up too late, morning, especially early morning, comes quickly. And that it did. Before the clock struck eight, Boyfriend and I were on the road to Pendleton, SC for brunch with the R.L.’s before tailgating. My charges – now five and eight – have certainly sprouted in my absence. I could tell you tale after tale of my time with that tribe; they’re brilliant bubbles of goodness. (I’ll spare you a second flashback, for now.) My time with them was cherished. But now I have to focus on recovering; I miss this family oh so much. From there, Boyfriend and I laced up our walking shoes and proceeded to Clemson. To embrace the Solid Orange spirit, we stopped off downtown. There he saw it all – five bars and 13 sub shops. The newest addition: Jimmy Johns. The town of Clemson is clearly moving up, Up, UP. The next stop: Tailgating. Our first mission was to find J.M.M., her husband, and crew in the sea of orange near Doug Kingsmore Stadium. It rained, so we stayed awhile longer than intended. But this ended up being a win as Boyfriend found a fellow Bostonian, from his neighboring hometown, to talk him off his the-South-is-scary ledge.

Then it was on to tailgating with J.L.W. and gang. This was a moving tailgating... allowing me to give Boyfriend a through-campus tour as we migrated back downtown. The insanely overpriced tickets I had seen before my departure were hardly available outside the stadium gates prior to the game. I was not wasting time with the ridiculous price tags and lack of tickets any further. And while it pains me a little still to have missed the opportunity to see the Tigers live, downtown ended up being a lot of fun. Until the bar closed before the end of the game. And we had to evade an oncoming riot.

Flashback 2: In Clemson… on Saturdays – all bets for bars and booze are off at midnight.

(I do think for this particular occasion, all would have welcomed the idea of an open bar serving only water and beverages of the non-alcoholic variety. I suppose that’s not profitable?)

The R.L.’s had us for the night… and graciously Grandma J cooked us yet another elaborate breakfast. We sort of took things easy that morning. And that was OK because it rained all morning/afternoon anyway. In fact, it rained so hard I almost cried behind the wheel (once we did make a move back towards Atlanta) because I was oh so scared navigating the 22 nonsensical lanes of traffic heading South on 1-85. But then when the rain cleared, I still wanted to cry because I kind of missed the South for the epic thunderstorms. I just don’t get that kind of shower in Washington, DC.

Sunday, for a late lunch, we met with E.L.P at Ormsby's. The food was delicious folks, I highly recommend this establishment for those of you in the Atlanta area. After that, Boyfriend and I headed to Turner Field because duh. S.M.S., the darling girlfriend of my brother, got us THE BEST seats. So that was awesome. But not so awesome was the Braves being shutout… by the Miami Marlins… in nine painful innings.  And worse, they gave up – none of my favorites even played. Oh well. The seats were excellent and we dodged (more) rain. Despite Clemson’s win, we were welcomed back in Brother’s apartment… where we did some serious rehashing of Saturday’s events. C.D.H. was slightly comforted by Liverpool’s win over Manchester United but otherwise wasn’t handling the loss so well.   

The final day was a touristy one. We started the day by watching the rain. Because, that’s right, it was raining again… for the third day in a row. Raining hard. My brother lives in a loft with gigantic – I’m estimating 16' x 12' – windows, so I opened them right up and relished in the rain. Then we walked to brunch at Java Jive. That was tasty (and quite filling). And from there, we went to Starbucks. That was an unlikely move considering this was Boyfriend’s first trip to Atlanta… but my brother’s Starbucks is one of 500 of 18000 Starbuck’s with a Clover machine. Have you experienced this yourself? Heaven. In a cup. This joy had a strong and oily depth my coffee-sensitive taste buds had never been exposed to. I'm not going to lie – watching the barista construct your made-to-order cup is half the fun.

Then we traveled up the street for some pretend shopping at Paris on Ponce, a fancy oddities store. Basically, we all wanted everything. And could afford nothing. By this point, the rain has subsided enough for us to take a stroll on the Atlanta Beltline. C.D.H. has been dying to reveal this masterpiece to me for some time now. In a city that demands a car and has 65 streets with Peachtree in the name – not at all confusing, this revitalization efforts exists to connect all of Atlanta's neighborhoods. I was surprised by the number of people out, even on this not so nice day, as we moved up and down the the Eastside Trail. The many bizarre art exhibits lining the pathway provide ample conversation starters. And smells radiating from restaurants backing up to the trail give a happening vibe.

Not having walked enough, we wandered around Piedmont Park’s niceness. That was lovely… and provided us a stopping point for a picture of the Altanta skyline. The last stop was Little Five Points for some window shopping of the Bohemian variety. We paused for smoothies at Arden’s Garden where I proceed to slurp my spinach intake for the year. The four of us made one last pit stop at Publix for subs in route to the airport. So yummy!

It was whirlwind. And there was definitely a lot I missed. But... here's to hoping the Braves make a statement in the playoffs... and I just can't resist making my way down South again real soon.