a few hours at the polls

So today, as mentioned in my last post, I VOTED! 

It took two and half hours for me to get to the front of the line, where, as usual, the State of Georgia did not fail to disappoint with the confusion of its employees.  

[I won't bore you with the details but, while I have grown quite fond of Georgia, every time I interact with any form of the local government it is quite a debacle.  The only exception to this statement happened Sunday night when I got excused from jury duty before I even arrived at the courthouse.  Thank you Fulton County!]  

Anyway, it was freezing (please don't judge, you Coloradoans... 50 in Georgia feels like 30 in Colorado and it was below 40 this morning), but despite the weather and time spent waiting, it was a great experience!  I chatted with some lovely people while I waited, including a girl who works for a company that sells used books and donates the proceeds to charities that promote literacy around the world [cool job!].  I haven't checked out the website yet, but I was totally excited about this and plan to look at it later.  In case you're interested, it is www.betterworldbooks.com .  Speaking as someone who, at least once a week, encounters an ADULT who cannot read, I am extremely interested in literacy promotion (plus, to all of you Pi Phis out there, we worked with this all through college)!

As I often do, while I was standing in line, chatting with strangers, and freezing my you-know-what off, I did an extensive amount of people watching, which is one of my favorite pastimes.  I watched people from all walks of life walk, run, dance, roll, limp, stroll, etc. to the front of this massively long line...and why?  So that THEY could cast THEIR VOTE for things such as the next PRESIDENT of the United States.  After I gave it some thought, I thought it was pretty remarkable that injured people, elderly people (and I mean really elderly people), young people, poor people, rich people, handicapped people, 'normal' people, black people, white people, mothers, fathers, unemployed people, fat people, and skinny people all took three hours out of their day to make their voice heard.  

Honestly, I was moved.  Perhaps the thing that struck me the most was the sight of a father walking his child through the voting process by teaching him what to think about and why voting is important.

We are blessed to live in a country where we have the right to do this, and I was touched by the sacrifices that certain people made in order to CAST THEIR VOTE.  It would have been so much easier for the guy on crutches to just skip voting this year.  It would have been easier for the 60 year old woman to leave her parents at home instead of taking both of them in wheel chairs to vote.  Instead, these loyal American citizens took maybe the less convenient road, and casted their votes.  

How important voting must be... I was truly touched and my perspective on voting will be changed forever.  

i am not a *barack star*

Ok, this picture is hilarious to me.

But on a serious note, let's all step back and think about this election!  Go vote [for McCain!]...!! 

Just teasing... but on a really serious note, no matter who you vote for, please exercise the right that so many fought so hard for before us...VOTE!

it's easy being green

Ok, I hate 'buzz words', but this one is important!

Contrary to what Kermit tells us, it IS easy to be GREEN.  Now, I know that *being green* stirs up many reactions in different people... Some think it's for the hippies.  Some think that it's purely political.  Some think it takes too much effort... Blah, blah, blah.  

The bottom line for me is that God gave us this planet (or at least that's what I believe) and we are to be good stewards of that gift.  To be wasteful and careless is really a moral issue for me, but for those of you that disagree, thinking of future generations should be sufficient motivation for conservation.

I've taken a while to get on this bandwagon, but now that I'm here, I have found that it's the little steps that add up to make a big difference [or at least I feel like the little steps are impactful... maybe I'm completely delusional].  Here are a few things I'm trying to do to be more GREEN:

-  Water Conservation:  Maybe I am keenly aware of the amount of water I use because I grew up in a drought stricken state and moved to another drought stricken state,  [we may actually physically run out of water in Georgia!] but, needless to say, I really try to watch how much water I waste.

-  Use the Garberator:  This is one of my favorite words [thanks to my crazy Canadian friend Adriene!]  For those of you who don't know, garberator = garbage disposal, and my point here is that I try to put everything that I can down the drain instead of into a trash bag, where it will just fill up the landfills.  My dad would tell you that this backfired when my garberator broke this week, but the plumber told me that it was just old and the fact that I put flower stems down the drain had nothing to do with the disposal crapping out.

-  Minimize Use of Disposable Items:  I try to use tupperware instead of ziploc bags, a coffee mug or glass instead of styrofoam or paper cups, etc.  I also try not to use disposable plastic water bottles.  Again, just trying to contribute LESS to the landfills. ;o)

-  Get Rid of Paper Phone Books:  A girl that I work with sent me a link to a website where you can sign up to NOT receive paper phone books (which obviously is a huge paper savings!).  Who uses paper anyway with the advent of the internet?!  If you're interested, just click here:  www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org .

-  Recycle:  While we don't immediately have access to recycling at our condo complex, Sara has been kind enough to take our recyclables to the house where she is a nanny, since they do have recycling pick-ups.  I'm trying to make the jokers at work recycle too, but due to the nature of burly construction guys, sometimes they're not so interested.

-  Bring My Own Bags:  I think most grocery stores now-a-days offer fabric shopping bags for about $2.  I did purchase a few of them and try to use them rather than continuing to collect plastic shopping bags at my house.

-  LEED:  My final effort is to take the LEED exam and hopefully become LEED accredited.  [LEED is an organization that is encouraging sustainable building practices in many facets of construction].  The test is supposedly pretty tricky, and my date is set for the middle of November, so wish me luck!

Basically, what I'm learning is that if everyone takes little steps, it adds up to a big change... so let's all try to be a little more friendly to mother earth ;o).

best words, part 2

"No longer forward nor behind I look in hope or fear,

But grateful take the good I find, the best of now and here."

-  John Greenleaf Whittier

[Again, no clue on who this guy is, but wise words about living in the present, eh?]

one year in the PEACH

I am just about a week from my one year anniversary in Georgia...CRAZY!

Now that I have reached such a 'monumental' day, I've been reflecting a lot on the passed (intentionally not past) year.  Here are some things that have changed in and around me:

• The obvious one... physical location.

• I can understand most hick talk / southern accents, though South Georgia accents still elude me most of the time [for example, 'shit' (pardon my language) in South Georgia speak has two syllables and is pronounced 'shee-it'.  While this alone to me is quite hilarious, my favorite word variation cannot be fully conveyed through typing, so remind the next time you see me to tell you about 'here'].  

• I have tried boiled peanuts, enjoyed some SEC football, tried brunswick stew, learned what a "low county boil" is, learned how to drive in Atlanta, and met great people from all over. 

• I have learned that Georgia peaches can't hold a candle (is that real saying?!) to Colorado peaches... Isn't this state KNOWN for peaches?!

• My friend Kim introduced me to the Twilight books, with which I was immediately obsessed.  I stayed up late reading on many occasions to finish all four books.  And for those of you out there who know what this means, I do love Edward Cullen.

• I have stopped [for the most part] using plastic grocery bags and water bottles in an effort to help our planet.

• I went to 5 weddings, 4 of which were out of state, and I still missed a few along the way.  It was a great blessing to celebrate with so many people that I adore.

• I bought myself a new car [a 2007 Honda CR-V] which I absolutely LOVE!!  (And truth be told, this happened before I moved, but it was only 3 days before and it was a part of the whole transition so it counts).  While we're on the topic of the car... I've already put 24,000 miles on it!  Ouch...

• Ok, now for those of us from the 'Wild West' and 'Above the Mason Dixon Line', the next word I'm about to write is normally a cuss word... BUT... here I go.  I have learned to deal with humidity... And truth be told, it was much less of an issue than I thought it would be.  Sure there were days where I felt like I was hydrating every time I breathed in and broke into a full sweat instantly upon stepping outside, but those days were few and far between.  Overall, the weather here is pretty amazing (and strangely, much like Colorado).

• I have fallen in love with the trees and old southern homes that are all over this area.  It's absolutely gorgeous (especially right now since all the leaves are turning)! 

• I have learned a TON at work.  This is probably the most stunning thing to me as I reflect on this past year... When I think back to when I first arrived on the jobsite here and think about what I knew then (or didn't know then) versus what I know now, it's pretty amazing.  And while there are always new things for me to learn in my job, I feel like this job has taught me a lot, partially because of the people with whom I work (both good and bad) and also because of simply getting to watch the entire cycle of construction for a building from start to finish.  
  

Anyway, it's been a good ride so far, and I am always looking for whatever is next...  But for now, goodnight from Georgia.

the deep rabbit hole called GEORGIA FOOTBALL, part 1

Just ponder this for a minute...

Yesterday, I saw a car that was all decked out (magnets, flags, etc.) in Georgia Bulldog decor.  

[Side note #1:  This is not the weird part of the story... it is actually extremely common to have a majority of the cars on the roads on Saturdays decorated with college stuff.  It's crazy.  Commonly spotted are Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, and Alabama.]  

[Side note #2:  Only in Georgia can you get a license plate for your car with an out-of-state college logo on it... that's how deep the obsession runs.]

Anyway, not only was this car OVERLY decorated, but there was shoe polish writing on the windows (you know, like we used to do in high school?!).  The shocking part comes when I tell you what was written on the back window...

"Our grandson attended his first Georgia game today."

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you know it's a serious business when the elderly are decorating their cars in honor of a baby going to a football game.  Huh.

best words, part 1

[I LOVE good quotes].

"When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth, you are weeping for that which has been your delight." - Khalil Gibran

I don't know much about Khalil Gibran, but I do know that I find a lot of truth in these words.

What can I say... I'm an optimist!  And I have been blessed.

solo car singing

One of my favorite pastimes is to belt amazing songs in my car (by myself).  Every once in a while, I pause, and laugh, and think about what it must look like to someone watching me.  [Sometimes the belting gets so intense that there are dance moves associated with it or, depending on the music, sometimes directing a choir is involved].

That being said, I saw this lady jamming out in her car a few days ago, and she was getting into it pretty seriously... I couldn't help but smile while I watched her go nuts, and I was absolutely DYING to know what song was playing.

It made me chuckle... and I could only hope she was enjoying herself as much as I do when I perform solos in the car.

My best performance to date is actually a duet with Gabby [La Vie Boheme, of course!].  We know EVERY word....

what i'm working on...

Here are some pictures of where I spend much of my time...

[Note that the aerial pictures are from August, so they are nearly two months old].

Haw Creek Elementary School and Lakeside Middle School:

-  $20 million each

-  150,000 square feet each

-  1 million bricks

-  550,000 blocks

-  Start Date: August 2007

-  Finish Date: May 2008

georgia on my mind...

Some thoughts after 11 months in Georgia...

[Disclaimer:  This next sentence is going to sound asinine, but I assure you it is accurate.... just go with me for a minute].  What I didn't know about Atlanta prior to moving here is that there is an extreme difference between Atlanta (the city) and Georgia (the low country state)... Let me offer up an explanation via two 'Top 10' lists...

Top 10 Reasons I LOVE Atlanta

10.  Skyline:  Self explanatory, but I actually love the way the city looks...it's quite distinct and I love it.  Check it out...I took this picture! ;o)

9.  Driving:  Everyone drives fast, all the time (for those of you know that know how I drive, you understand why this excites me) and the police are rarely an issue. I continue to be amazed, however, at how ridiculous the roads are here - no grid system - and how DUMB people can be while driving.  I see things done everyday that I can't believe anyone would ever do (and every now and then, I pull something similar...oops!).  I firmly believe that I will never cease to be amazed. 

8.  Piedmont Park:  Atlanta's version of Central Park in NYC is one of my favorite Sunday afternoon destinations.  It's right in the heart of midtown, and is always a great spot for playing frisbee with a group or even just reading by myself and people watching.  [Of course, I don't get there as often as I'd like to ;o)].  This has been the scene for many impromptu photo shoots and many hours of fun.

7.  Buckhead Church:  This is the church that Sara and I have both settled into as a church home.  The church part is great, and the people part is great.  This church is doing more stuff for 'post college singles' than any I've ever seen anywhere else, and they do it well.  Many of my non-work friends have been made through Buckhead Church and their outreach to people my age.  Ultimately, I'd love to be move involved, though I'm not sure what that looks like yet.

6.  So Much To Do:  In general, there is just a ton of stuff to do here.  Much of it we have been exploring, but there are a few things I've saved for when (and if) I have visitors down here.  Some highlights include: Centennial Olympic Park, World of Coke, CNN Center, Georgia Aquarium (the biggest in the world, supposedly, and pretty sweet regardless), Stone Mountain, North Georgia Mountains, beaches and many other great towns within driving distance, Apple Festivals, etc.  Basically, there's never a dull moment! 

5.  The Spring and the Fall:  The Spring, though there is always a layer of pollen on everything and allergies are horrendous, is absolutely beautiful.  [Literally, there was a green layer on my black car every morning.  Insane.]  Also, Fall is beautiful here because there are trees changing colors EVERYWHERE!  It's absolutely gorgeous.

4.  Virginia Highlands:  Quite similar to the Highlands in Denver...  It's a cute neighborhood with small, cute, older houses, tons of delicious restaurants, and many little gift shops.  If only I could afford a house in the Highlands...

3.  FOOD!!:  It has an amazing variety of absolutely delicious restaurants.  I even found a pasta place that is better (please contain yourselves, Noodles lovers...I did just say BETTER) than my old favorite, Noodles & CO. in Denver... Hard to believe, I know!

2.  The People:  Everyone is so nice, the accents are amazing (though there are fewer in the city than outside), the culture, the all around diversity, work friends, church friends, other friends, etc.  I haven't met any bad ones yet! 

1.  The Overall Experience:  I think I am particularly fond of this city because it has been home to my first 'branching out' experience, and therefore will always be special to me.  I already have many fond memories here, and I look forward to whatever else comes my way.

Top 10 Interesting Things About Georgia  

[Note:  This is where the difference between city and country will have to be noted.  Atlantans use 'OTP' and 'ITP' (Outside The Perimeter being country and Inside The Perimeter being city...The Perimeter is the loop highway circling Atlanta).  And yes, people actually do use the acronyms.  It's unbelievable.  Most of these items are OTP only].  

10.  People who are named Chris, Elmer, and Wendell go by names like Bubba, Cody, and Dale, respectively.  Don't you see the similarities [dripping in sarcasm, of course]...?!  Bubba is one of our carpenters at work, and we call his workers the "Bubbettes"...

9.  Days with Nascar races are more important than national holidays... 

8.  'Sweetie', 'Ma'am', and 'Darlin' are normal parts of the vocabulary here, and while I would normally be irritated if someone at work directed one of these towards me, here I am unable to get mad.  I just have to accept it and move on!...

7.  Sadly, I have never seen as many illiterate people in my life as I have seen here.  It truly is a problem generally being ignored by most Americans.  

6.  County inspectors that say (with a thick accent, of course) "My Diddy could cook a squirrel so good that you wouldn't even know it was a squirrel!"  Please don't be confused...'Diddy' = Daddy.  This is not a reference to P. Diddy.

5.  People still display Confederate flags as a monument to the 'War of Northern Aggression' commonly called the 'Civil War' to us 'Yankees / Westerners'.  Who knew that people still referred to things in reference to the Mason Dixon Line?!

4.  I am one of approximately five people in the state of Georgia that doesn't own a gun.

3.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it snows in Georgia.  Please don't be confused...I use the term 'snow' very loosely, as not even one inch accumulated, yet the ENTIRE city shut down.

2.  Trees, boiled peanuts, greens, grits, gizzards, trees, roaches, locusts, everyone going to church on Sunday, high heels in the grocery store, trees, strange pronunciations of EVERY word, outhouses instead of indoor plumbing, kudzu, trees, riding mowers, chivalry...alive and well, hunting, racism, history, confederate monuments, bad traffic, and some trees.  

1.  The Georgia Bulldogs (to a Georgian) are the only football team in America that matters, and everyone has every type of memorabilia (earrings, flip flops, car decals, blankets, tents, you name it, they make it in BULLDOG).  The depth of this obsession / perversion extends even to Fischer, the little boy that Sara nannies:  his first words were 'GO DOGS.  WOOF WOOF.'  Ridiculous.

Anyway, enough for now, but please feel free to come experience this for yourself.  I would love to see any / all of you!  I assure you, you won't forget your trip and it would be worth it..

love love