Day 184 - Lisa

Back in my day, this would have been me with a Nancy Drew book or an Archies comic book.  One thing that hasn't changed over the years is the appeal of Mad magazine.  I could never get enough of those either.  Ah, the good life, the summer vacation nights of laying in bed or on the floor reading till 3am with no where to go the next day.

Day 184 - Sis

Unpacking has had it's oooh and ah moments but this one made me wonder if I'm a great sale shopper or a future cookie making queen.  And the bigger question is how soon can we get the shelves up in the garage to store these bonus buys?

Day 183 - Lisa

I drive past this store all the time, never ever thought I'd go inside but news to me is that my Godson is into comic books.  Our first adventure into here was to find the latest Mad magazine with Spiderman on the cover.  Today it was to buy two more Batman books.  I forgot being we are away from all kids just how much running around is required when you have little ones.  LOL  I'm weakening as each day passes.

Day 183 - Sis

I love apricots.  When I was little, my Aunt Mary and Uncle Frank, ( Mom's older sister, by 21 years and brother-in-law), owned apricot orchards and it was like heaven for me and my siblings to visit. We would go to the ranch  during the summer when the "cots" were covering all the tree branches and we could play in the trench with cool water flowing from the pump all around the orchard.  We would also set up our team, some to stand watch at the small, wooden, garage doors, others to go in and grab some dried apricots before someone caught us!  Still think the apricots from Hollister was one of the best reasons to travel there. ;-)

Day 182- Sis

Back to Atlanta for a tour of CNN at 2:30 and the Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil at 4. The CNN tour was interesting but think I'd do it during the week next time.  It was a pretty quiet news day so you didn't get the feel of a vibrant work atmosphere.  The tour guide was very informed and reeled of news broadcasting points quite fast.  I enjoyed seeing how they set up the different screens and how quickly they must process and deliver the news on air. The whole building besides newsrooms has restaurants, souvenir stores and the hotel.  The Cirque du Soleia was outstanding!.  Of course if you're a Michael Jackson fan it is a treat in so many ways and if you're not, it's a treat in so many ways.  Dancing, music, acrobatics, it's all there with lights and pyrotechnics.  People of all walks of lives, races and ages were having a fantastic time.  It was nice to leave there watching everyone with smiles on their faces.

Day 182 - Lisa

Today we all slept in a little.  We went to CNN for the Studio Tour in the early afternoon because it is "right" next door to Philips Arena where the Michael Jackson, THE IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR, by Cirque du Soleil was playing and we had tickets.  We are multi-generational fans of MJ so we were all looking forward to it.  The show did not disappoint.  Yes, I think you have to be a fan and no, it did not have the typical Cirque acrobats I've seen before in their other shows but it was still fantastic.  The special effects, imagination, dancing, costumes and live band along with the play against the videos was awesome to us.  Seems everyone around us loved it too.  We were 2 rows from center stage on the floor.  The performers would come right up to our area.  The opening about Michael's childhood and the projected pictures in the opening segment had me bawling like a baby, really emotional.  I mean this was my first crush, my childhood was filled with Jackson Five music.  I waited for each 45 and album to come out, watched the cartoons, read all about them in Tiger Beat.  LOL!  So for me, personally, it was a bit of closure regarding his death.  Say what you want about his later issues, Michael was a musical genius and we grew up together so I was very pleased to be able to see this show as I never got to see him perform live.

Oh yeah the picture on the bottom is me sweating while playing peewee golf last night.  The kid so owes us when he's older!

Day 181 - Sis

The Coke Museum was our first stop today with plans to visit the Georgia Aquarium. We spent so much time in the museum that we decided to head home for an early dinner, pshaw!  Of course when got home and by the time I got dinner on the table it was 7 p.m.  Oh yeah it was also hot, 106, so Lisa and her Godson made the decision to go play miniature golf when it got dark and a bit cooler, (suppressing a laugh here).  We ventured out to the course which must have been new during the Civil War! Scraggly shape is a compliment for this place, but it was only $7 per person.  We also were delayed due to a very inept clerk, a young woman with a large attitude, who slowed our entrance to the fairways. By then it was cooler, 99%, but considerably much more humid. The highlight of the whole day was arriving on the 18th hole. Despite the drive back to Atlanta looks like the aquarium might have been a better choice. :-(

Day 181 - Lisa

It was 106 degrees today, apparently record breaking summer heat here in SWEATlanta!!  We decided we'd still head to the World of Coke today.  My mom the heat miser was unaffected by the heat while we stood in line in the blazing sun.  Meanwhile, Jacob and I were melting.  He looked pretty funny wiping himself down with a Kleenex over and over again.  Once inside, Jacob only had one thing on his mind, the Tasting Room.  So I'm sure he thought we "forced" him to see the other exhibitions and guess what he had fun.  Wow!  All in all, it took us about 3 hours to see it all, do some shopping in the Coke store and walk back to the truck.  We decided it was enough for the day.  Walking Centennial Park was out, the sidewalks were melting.  LOL!

Day 180 - Sis

So the story of the boy and his Teddy bear wasn't exactly age appropriate for my great-nephew. But after the movie we were able to make it an all age appropriate run to Baskin Robbins. It was little late and I was a little tired, and that sundae will be finished off tomorrow when I'm fully alert.  That's something to look forward to, being awake I mean.

Day 180 - Lisa

Neither of us had read much about the movie Ted.  I knew it had Mark Wahlberg in it and it was about a teddy bear that comes to life.  I did not know it was in the same vain as the Hangover, American Pie, etc.  You could tell we are tired because I did not scope this out when Jacob asked to go see it and then I asked his mom if it was ok and she did not know much about it either and said yes.  LOL!

Crass, crude, vulgar and well, pretty dang funny but also a lot of cringing because Jacob was with us.  However, the kid is like teflon, he was only focused on how hysterical the bear was and anyone who got smashed, crushed, beat up or blown up in the movie so I doubt he will be scarred for life or anything.

Aye yi yi!

Day 179 - Lisa

My mom found this picture to show to Jacob.  It's of my sister Yolanda, sister Alesia and cousin Monica (Jacob's mom) back on October 27, 1974.  We were camping at Hogan's Lake in California.  My parents were not expert campers so everything was an adventure.  We all woke up with headaches cause my dad pitched the tent slanted downhill.  He got so frustrated trying to light our campfire, he reached for the gasoline, poured it on the fire and blew his eyebrows off.  We had to sacrafice a jar of blueberry jam to get all the bees wasted so they'd leave us alone to eat.  And we camped next to a group of single guys who blared Ray Stevens Ahab the Arab and his other songs till about 3 in the morning.  And when I look back on this weekend I just remember it was so much FUN!

Day 179 - Sis

Today I served, well I was one among thirty in my group who were chosen for a trial but didn't make the jury.  I managed to dodge the bullet for three days this week but was notified that today was my turn and I had to show up at the courthouse by 8 a.m.   It took a round trip taxi ride to fulfill my civic duty, (not cheap), five hours of moving and sitting in three different rooms plus the courtroom itself. The judge thanked us all for willingly, (snort!), serve.  They picked only seven for this trial jury and the rest of us practically ran out of the building.

Day 178 - Lisa

I need this vacation so badly.  I cannot wait to get to New Orleans and s l o w things down!  Unwind and have a good time with my sister, brother-in-law Steve and my mama.  

Day 178 - Sis

My, soon to be first grade, grand-niece and I have a running feud, like many females, over who "owns" Johnny Depp.  She recently sent me a message that obviously fought the good fight to get here.  No way Autumn, you are too late, I knew about him long before I even knew you! ;-p

Day 177 - Lisa

In trying to find my Godson some outdoor activities I ended up along with a basketball buying a Croquet set for us to play.  I did not anticipate it being 100 degrees every night <rolling eyes>.  He was pretty excited to give the game a try.  He set up the course on  a hill.  We didn't play uphill or downhill we played sidehill.  So naturally the balls kept rolling and rolling and rolling.  He didn't care he kept slamming the ball all over the yard working up a sweat as I dinked my ball around the course, through the little gates patiently.  LOL!  It dawned on him after his shirt was soaking wet that he was working really hard and going nowhere, meanwhile Nina was smoking him.  I told him, "that's what GodMamas are for; to prep you for life."  He then hit his ball right besides mine setting me up for the kill.  See you downhill son....like a long long way downhill.  Life is hard kid, put on your big boy drawers!

Day 177 - Sis

This is a binder filled with operational manuals for the new appliances, warranties to fill out,  receipts from hardware stores, final signed paperwork for the purchase of the house.  I'm tired from lifting it besides thinking about all the reading I have to do and where to file all of it.

Day 176 - Sis

When I was a kid, (no pun intended), my dad would go to the auction and buy a baby goat at least once a year.  He would bring it home with every intention of raising it to feed his wife, seven kids and whatever company that would show up.  The chink in this plan is that his children would make the goat a pet, every time. How can you see them at this age, watch them grow bigger, always entertaining and so smart, then see that pet cooked and on your dinner plate?!  Tears flowing we would refuse to eat Nanny or Billy and my father would lecture us on how lucky we were compared to those famous other countries where children were starving.  "Daddy it's hard to eat with a great big lump in your throat."  I like to bring these happy memories into others lives, your welcome.;-

Day 176 - Lisa

Once an athlete, always an athlete.  Mama schooling the youngster @ BBall.  ;>

Day 175 - Sis

My great-nephew who is visiting has two traits of his mother: never at a lost for words and shopping. But today he proved that he does not shop until he drops, but until others with him drop while waiting in the heat for him to finalize his choices! We're very happy to have him here for two weeks.

Day 175 - Lisa

The goal was to be up and out by 9am but a certain young man was still sleeping so we got a late start.     I finally had to have oneeya and sunii jump on the bed and wake him with walking on his head and wet kisses. After a very long breakfast in Stone Mountain at a new diner we wanted to try (won't be going back), we headed to Tallulah Falls to show Jacob the Gorge and the old store with lots of cool toys from the 40's/50's/60's.  After melting in the store I had to tell him you have 10 minutes to make up your mind what you actually want to buy and we gotta go.  He loved the store and found everything inside really interesting.  We then headed for I think my mom and my favorite place in Georgia - Goats on the Roof.  If you don't get the giggles and smile visiting here, there's something wrong with you.  Jacob had a blast.  It was screaming hot today.  I forgot to tell yesterday that within two minutes of being outside from the airport last night Jacob exclaimed, "OMG Nina, it's so hot!"  Welcome to JoJah kid.

Day 174 - Sis

Can't you just hear her singing, "My Eyes Adore You?"  Alright then more likely she's thinking, " When are you going to feed me?"

Day 174 - Lisa

Jacob is coming, Jacob is coming!  Today was all about running errands, stocking up of favorite foods and prepping his bedroom.  We spent way too much time at Costco, there's a big surprise but they were selling these variety packs and I could not resist.  My mom and I will fight over the Orange soda. I'm betting 2 to 1 Jacob takes a Grape and I bet the Bubble Up is the last to go. 

The boys' flight was delayed by one hour.  His mom (my cousin Monica) sent us pictures of him at the SFO airport and I did the same when he landed.  He was a happy boy.  Not scared was the verdict, he loved it and oneeya loves him.  So every thing is good!

Day 173 - Lisa

Ha!  No, but Maria Elena aka Sis does!

Day 173 - Sis

Recently we went out for dinner and decided to take home a dessert.  My choice was key lime pie.  I rarely have it and when I opened up the carton, saw this pretty presentation, the taste buds started to flow.  One bite told me it was all about presentation. Sigh.

Day 172 - Sis

Music is important but stereo equipment still in boxes so you make do.  This old boombox has come in quite handy and so portable too.  Makes me want to watch Spike Lee's movie, " Do the Right Thing," and hear, " Fight the Power."

Day 172 - Lisa

I have never had to pay when moving out of a place due to damages or wear and tear;  my string of cleanliness states in tact.  We got a refund for moving out.  Woohoo!

Day 171 - Sis

My office, set up by designer daughter.  It's quite nice and I have a calming view of the backyard  through another window across from me.  Of course when the designer is sitting there the view isn't quite the same. Next week it will even be harder to enjoy when the "kitty' garden window is installed and these two windows are removed.  The feline in the house will surely use the whole thing to stalk bugs, birds and bathe for hours.

Day 171 - Lisa

Now that's a plastic food container!  Finally.  I'm so sick of our warped ZipLock throw aways!  It's the little things in life...

Day 170 -Sis

Listen you have to understand that alcohol isn't in my daily life.  A drink or two while on a vacation, glass of wine with a nice dinner or a beer on a hot summer evening, pretty much accounts for my intake.  So I really don't have to explain why I packed a bottle of California wine to be stored for three years, except that a nicely aged wine will be enjoyed in Georgia! Disclaimer: The previous statement does not include trips to New Orleans!

Day 170 - Lisa

My sister know how to take care of her sis.  As I texted her complaining about all my aches and pains since moving she kept texting back - "just wait your birthday gift is on the way."  Thank you George!  More Spa stuff - mom stop rolling your eyes!

Day 169 - Lisa

My crazy friend Kim and her husband Ronn sent us the below housewarming gift.  Only a true Giants fan can understand the coolness of this gift.  LOL!  I sense that Aye ChiaPanda will come to life and go on many adventures with Dos Dames as his owners.  ;>  First quest?  To grow the most Gigantes Chia Afro ever!

Day 169 - Sis

I just love it when I get paid to wash, it would be better if it wasn't out of my own pants pockets. Hmmm, need to work on a wage increase, I mean come on Sis, 30 cents?!

Day 168 - Sis

It's turning into a good day to unpack with this bonanza find, the wonderful cast iron pans!

Day 168 - Lisa

Father's Day is kind of surreal with my Dad having passed 8 years ago now.  So today I say "Thank you Dad for giving me many life skills.  Today I salute your open-mindedness to share your mechanical skills & knowledge with your "girls."  don't know how I'd manage without them or your tools."