Sick Puppy

This little guy is not feeling well...He has a terrible ear infection. The doctor flushed it, gave him a shot, gave us antibiotics and flush stuff, and told us to use the drops we already had. Poor Guy. But he was a trooper.

Tonight he is getting dropped off at his girlfriend's until next Tuesday. We are heading to FL. Hopefully he will be okay. I just hate to drop him off with a bunch of medicine and instructions.

NCAA Men's Basketball

(image courtesy of www.streetball.com)

One of the reasons I did not post last weekend is that I was pretty absorbed in the NCAA tournament. The boys (J &R - who are working from the house as well, not sure I mentioned that) and I filled out brackets on Thursday. We didn't wager for anything other than bragging rights. So far I am kicking butt!!!

I was 16-0 on Thursday, 11-5 on Friday, 8-0 on Saturday, 5-3 on Sunday. Overall 40-8...not too bad for someone who didn't watch a lot of bball this season. Looking forward to seeing how my bracket turns out....I have UNC winning it all. They will need all the help they can get from Ty Lawson and Hansbrough better play better than he did on Sunday.

How are you doing in your brackets? Any other ladies out there kickin' butt and taking names?!?!?!

Tennis

ALTA Spring league has started in Atlanta. James and I are both playing. Its been an interesting season so far. Both of our teams are ranked C1. My team hasn't taken a line yet. But we sure do have a good time!!! We're going to miss our matches this weekend. Hopefully someone will bring home a win!

So far my scores have been 4-6, 2-6 and 0-6,1-6. YIKES....

It is crazy how big tennis is here in a Atlanta. You see round stickers celebrating city championships on cars all over. Maybe one day I'll have one of my own....guess I better get practicing ;)

Grandparents Visit

We are actually becoming a halfway house...
My grandparents and cousins were headed to Florida to visit with my grandfather's family. They arrived around 4 on Friday (a couple weeks ago) and we went to eat a Lent friendly dinner at Norman's Landing. Not too bad, I had tilapia, yummy!! Then our friends came over and the 8 of us played cards* until after midnight. Really fun! But not good for my travelling family as they intended to be on the road at 7. No worries, they were on the road right on time! We had a wonderful visit and I am glad they were able to see our house!

*I grew up in a card playing family, mainly euchre, which I have discovered is definitely a Northern game. So much fun! And cheap...and due to this we find ourselves playing more and more!

so much to update

so little time....hubby is gone tomorrow...will try to bring you up to date....we've had visitors, started tennis, celebrated birthdays and are on our way to Florida on Thursday! YEA!

(Hopefully I will remember to tell you about James cleaning the garage)

Pop Goes the Weasel

Well, not really the weasel, just my shoulder...Yesterday was horrible as far as pain in my shoulder and neck. My muscles were really tight, Tylenol and Advil weren't working, and my whole right side felt tingly. Well fast forward to last night. I told James if I could get a good stretch I thought I would feel better. So he pulled on my arm to stretch my shoulder and it popped...loud, scary kind of pop....and today it feels MUCH better!!! I didn't feel as strong lifting, but my right side isn't tingly anymore.

Shew....hopefully that bad spell was broken and it won't bother me again for awhile. (i know it won't be forever, it will come back, I just hope its awhile before it does)

ughghg

So I had pain/muscle soreness down the whole right side of my body yesterday. Its either from going up in weight on Monday or just my sad recurring muscle spasms from a car accident 11 YEARS AGO, yes ELEVEN, or a combination of both.

So, I took a muscle relaxer (I take flexeril and the lowest dose, 5mg - which usually isn't too bad for me) and 2 Advil last night. SLOW start to the morning. 2 cups of coffee (which I made pretty strong) and I am feeling a little more awake. Motivated, not really, awake, yes.

I'm hoping to at least get a run in sometime today. Tonight is bunco and usually that leads to a little overeating/overimbibing. (Plus last week was a slim 4 trips to the gym, though 2 in one day and 1 tennis match)......ugh what's a girl to do...I am too young to say, "oh my back"

Happy St. Patrick's Day

(image from www.wondercliparts.com)

Hope you all are wearing your green! I am (v-neck cotton JCrew sweater)! Not sure if we will be drinking any Green or Irish beer tonight (I'm a Guinness girl*), but I did have a Guinness on Saturday! Have a wonderful and lucky (hopefully) day!

*How I became a Guinness Girl: James and I started dating at the end of 2004. His BF in Europe was getting married in Sept 2005 in Ireland. Early 2005, James decided I might be cool enough to take to the wedding and introduce to his european friends. So, we booked a 9 day trip, half in London, the other half in Ireland. While in Ireland (which we drank our way through), we went to the Guinness brewery. I had my first one at the bar in the top of the building. YUM - it was great, had a taste of coffee and chocolate...loved it! So now, back in the US, I will order Guinness - but only on tap, because the bottle does not do it justice and it just does not taste right! Below is a picture of me and my first Guinness!

Kreativ Blogger

JWM tagged me with the Kreativ Blogger award....I have to name 7 things I love and then tag 7 bloggers.

Things I love:

1. My hubby (and his crooked smile)

2. My Dog (isn't he pretty standing there?!)

3. Our family and friends, love them all. Especially, when they visit!!! We love visitors at the Halfway House! (sorry no pictures, it would be too many)

4. Reading books - on a lazy day, on the beach, by the pool. It seems I only read with those 3 scenarios, other times, I just don't make time for it.

5. DVR - because I really don't like watching commercials and sometimes, the shows are on too late for me.

6. The high from a great workout....spinning, running....its fantastic and can be a great motivator to go at it again!

7. The blog world...its such a great outlet and its fun "meeting" new people!

I am supposed to tag 7 people, but I see a lot of people were tagged over the weekend...so if you have not been tagged, consider yourself TAGGED - You're IT!

Happy Friday

Hope you are having a good Friday the 13th! Not too bad here...Busy cleaning the sh** out of my house and waiting for it to rain!

UK win

Shew...glad they pulled out a WIN in Round 1....

I'll be watching tomorrow! Or at least following on ESPN.com because I can't find the games televised here in Catlanta :)

Slow Start, Busy Day

This morning started slow...my body said "hell no I am not getting out of bed before 8:15" I woke up with a headache and sore back, and just overall tired. (maybe working out 8 of the last 9 days was a bit much...buy man I was feeling good while I was working out)

By lunch I was rocking and rolling with work stuff and reading blogs while waiting for reports to run. James and I took a break at lunch to eat and watch an episode of The Tudors (that's for another post). And since I've been back at the computer its been busy. I am pulling together data for an analysis and its crazy. Hubby wants me to help load names in a database, so I guess I should get moving and finish my last 2 files and then go help him...

Oh wait, the house needs cleaned, visitors on Friday and we have dinner plans at 7:30 (have to leave by 7).....hmm, maybe I won't be able to help him, unless he agrees to help with the house tomorrow....now that's not a bad deal...

Tennis

So ALTA tennis has started back up (or at least we have started practicing). First match is this Sunday. Unfortunately we've been put in a level higher than where we expected...should prove to be an interesting season....at least from practice on Friday, I can tell we are going to have a fun team...we may not win a bunch of matches, but we'll have fun doing it! Looking forward to it and getting to know some of the new girls on the team.

This household will be all about tennis for the next several week. James practices on Thursday, I practice on Friday, James has matches on Saturday morning and my matches are on Sunday afternoon...BUSY, BUSY....but it will be nice to get back to playing!!!

Sunny and Warm

I've been enjoying the sunny and warm weather here in Atlanta....I ran outside Saturday, walked on Sunday, and ran again on Monday. I think Barley is enjoying it, too, because he is finally getting his workout. He's been pooped today after all the exercise...though its good for him...My MIL thinks he has put on weight.

Internet Connection

Seriously...you don't realize how much you enjoy a fast internet connection until it slows down...I have no idea what is wrong with our service, but for some reason my computer is running SLOW today...it really hinders my ability to read blogs, comment on them, and update my status or comment on Facebook...
I know, I know, I have better things to do than blogging and Facebook (namely, my real job), but come on now....I NEED MY FAST INTERNET CONNECTION.
Oh its so bad that GMAIL has disabled chat because of the internet problems..now how I am supposed to send snarky, I mean sweet, little chats to my hubby? Now I actually have to walk up the stairs to talk to him.
So, hopefully this internet thing will get cleared up and I can tell you all about tennis starting, the warm weather, getting the outside cleaned up for spring, etc....but until then, all you have this rant on the slow connection...hope you're having a good Friday.

Customer Service - Apple

I just had a wonderful customer service experience and thought I would share it with you....

I received a gift card for iTunes. When I tried to redeem it, I received an error message that it was not valid. After several (read almost 20) attempts, I decided to email Apple Customer Service. I received a response within 24 hours. They had tested my card and it was in fact valid and active (this I already knew of course) and they gave me instructions to fix what might have been wrong. Yesterday was a bit busy with cleaning day (i'll update on that later) and all, so I didn't get to check to see if the card would now redeem. Well, I received a follow up email today asking if the suggestions had worked. So, I took a minute and followed the instructions on the email...easy as pie, my card redeemed immediately. I sent a thank you to them for the original instructions and then the follow up. This is the email I just received:

Hi Jessi,
You're very welcome. I'm glad to hear that you were able to redeem your gift card successfully.
Nothing makes Apple happier than to hear that we have pleased our customers. I hope that you continue to enjoy the iTunes Store.
Jessi, please let me know if I may be of further assistance. Thank you for being an iTunes Store customer. Have a great day.

(BTW - the original emails contained the customer support employee and her hours so that I could contact her if I needed further assistance)
In these times, where its hard to get great customer service (and when you would most expect it since you are actually spending money with them), I just thought I would pass this along.

THANK YOU APPLE FOR WONDERFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE!

Preppy Giveaway

Go visit Misadventures of a Newlywed....She's having a great giveaway...the tote would be perfect for a Spring Break beach vacation or as a pool tote!!!

But hurry .... you have to enter by Monday the 9th! Good Luck.

The Bachelor

So everyone and their mom is talking about the bachelor last night. I have not watched any of this season (or the last 3-4 for that matter), but have seen lots of talk out here in Blog World. I turned on the TV as we were going to bed last night and the After the Rose was just starting...Knowing what I had read on your blogs, I thought maybe I will listen for a few minutes....AWFUL...seriously...I only watched the first bit with Melissa, missed everything with Molly, but those poor girls...they have been put through the ringer all in the name of Love....REALLY?!? I hope they each find happiness and love in their futures...

Me, well, I went to sleep at 10:20 and made it to the gym at 5:45 and am feeling wonderful.....Maybe I should pass some of my good vibes on to the girls.

Trying New Recipes

We got a set of great cookbooks for our wedding - Williams-Sonoma Foods of the World. There are 8 cities: New Orleans, San Francisco, New York, Paris, Rome, London, Florence and Barcelona. The books are great because they are also little travel guides. The first 20 pages or so are dedicated to a culinary description of the region, typical foods, restaurants to try, etc. The books are great and we've just started looking at them. So, we decided to start trying recipes out of each book.

In honor of Mardi Gras, we tried a recipe from the New Orleans book last Sunday. It was okay, nothing overly exciting.

This week we tried a recipe from the Paris Book...YUMMY.

The recipe was for Duck Breast with Figs and Port. It was a bit difficult to make (having to heat things, keep them warm, do the sauce, etc.) but ended up only taking about 30 minutes once we started cooking. Prep was another 20 minutes or so. We served it with green beans and mushrooms. We also had a great Cote-du-Rhone wine, YUMMY.

If you are interested in the recipe, let me know....